Prevalence and clinical risk factors for esophageal candidiasis in non-human immunodeficiency virus patients:A multicenter retrospective case-control study

BACKGROUND Although esophageal candidiasis(EC)may manifest in immunocompetent individuals,there is a lack of consensus in the current literature about predisposing conditions that increase the risk of infection.AIM To determine the prevalence of EC in patients without human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)and identify risk factors for infection.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed inpatient and outpatient encounters from 5 regional hospitals within the United States(US)from 2015 to 2020.International Classification of Diseases,Ninth and Tenth Revisions were used to identify patients with endoscopic biopsies of the esophagus and EC.Patients with HIV were excluded.Adults with EC were compared to age,gender,and encounter-matched controls without EC.Patient demographics,symptoms,diagnoses,medications,and laboratory data were obtained from chart extraction.Differences in medians for continuous variables were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test and categorical variables using chi-square analyses.Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for EC,after adjusting for potential confounding factors.RESULTS Of the 1969 patients who had endoscopic biopsies of the esophagus performed from 2015 to 2020,295 patients had the diagnosis of EC.177 of 1969 patients(8.99%)had pathology confirming the diagnosis of EC and were included in the study for data collection and further analysis.In comparison to controls,patients with EC had significantly higher rates of gastroesophageal reflux disease(40.10%vs 27.50%;P=0.006),prior organ transplant(10.70%vs 2%;P<0.001),immunosuppressive medication(18.10%vs 8.10%;P=0.002),proton pump inhibitor(48%vs 30%;P<0.001),corticosteroid(35%vs 17%;P<0.001),Tylenol(25.40%vs 16.20%;P=0.019),and aspirin use(39%vs 27.50%;P=0.013).On multivariable logistic regression analysis,patients with a prior organ transplant had increased odds of EC(OR=5.81;P=0.009),as did patients taking a proton pump inhibitor(OR=1.66;P=0.03)or corticosteroids(OR=2.05;P=0.007).Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease or medication use,including immunosuppressive medications,Tylenol,and aspirin,did not have a significantly increased odds of EC.CONCLUSION Prevalence of EC in non-HIV patients was approximately 9%in the US from 2015-2020.Prior organ transplant,proton pump inhibitors,and corticosteroids were identified as independent risk factors for EC.

End-stage renal disease is associated with increased post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography adverse events in hospitalized patients

AIM To determine if end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a risk factor for post endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) adverse events (AEs). METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2011-2013. We identified adult patients who underwent ERCP using the International Classification of Diseases 9^(th) Revision (ICD-9-CM). Included patients were divided into three groups: ESRD, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and control. The primary outcome was post-ERCP AEs including pancreatitis, bleeding, and perforation determined based on specific ICD-9-CM codes. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, and admission cost. AEs and mortality were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis.RESULTS There were 492175 discharges that underwent ERCP during the 3 years. The ESRD and CKD groups contained 7347 and 39403 hospitalizations respectively, whereas the control group had 445424 hospitalizations. Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was significantly higher in the ESRD group (8.3%) compared to the control group (4.6%) with adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.4-2.1, ~aP < 0.001). ESRD was associated with significantly higher ERCP-related bleeding (5.1%) compared to the control group 1.5% (aOR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.4-2.4, ~aP < 0.001). ESRD had increased hospital mortality 7.1% vs 1.15% in the control OR = 6.6 (95%CI: 5.3-8.2, ~aP < 0.001), longer hospital stay with adjusted mean difference (aMD) = 5.9 d (95% CI: 5.0-6.7 d, ~aP < 0.001) and higher hospitalization charges aMD = $+82064 (95%CI: $68221-$95906, ~aP < 0.001). CONCLUSION ESRD is a risk factor for post-ERCP AEs and is associated with higher hospital mortality. Careful selection and close monitoring is warranted to improve outcomes.

Future technology-enabled care for diabetes and hyperglycemia in the hospital setting

Patients with diabetes are increasingly common in hospital settings where optimal glycemic control remains challenging.Inpatient technology-enabled support systems are being designed,adapted and evaluated to meet this challenge.Insulin pump use,increasingly common in outpatients,has been shown to be safe among select inpatients.Dedicated pump protocols and provider training are needed to optimize pump use in the hospital.Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)has been shown to be comparable to usual care for blood glucose surveillance in intensive care unit(ICU)settings but data on cost effectiveness is lacking.CGM use in non-ICU settings remains investigational and patient use of home CGM in inpatient settings is not recommended due to safety concerns.Compared to unstructured insulin prescription,a continuum of effective electronic medical record-based support for insulin prescription exists from passive order sets to clinical decision support to fully automated electronic Glycemic Management Systems.Relative efficacy and cost among these systems remains unanswered.An array of novel platforms are being evaluated to engage patients in technology-enabled diabetes education in the hospital.These hold tremendous promise in affording universal access to hospitalized patients with diabetes to effective self-management education and its attendant short/long term clinical benefits.

Emergency department approach to monkeypox

BACKGROUND:Monkeypox(mpox) is a viral infection that is primarily endemic to countries in Africa,but large outbreaks outside of Africa have been historically rare.In June 2022,mpox began to spread across Europe and North America,causing the World Health Organization(WHO) to declare mpox a public health emergency of international concern.This article aims to review clinical presentation,diagnosis,and prevention and treatment strategies on mpox,providing the basic knowledge for prevention and control for emergency providers.METHODS:We conducted a review of the literature using PubMed and SCOPUS databases from their beginnings to the end of July 2023.The inclusion criteria were studies on adult patients focusing on emerging infections that described an approach to a public health emergency of international concern,systematic reviews,clinical guidelines,and retrospective studies.Studies that were not published in English were excluded.RESULTS:We included 50 studies in this review.The initial symptoms of mpox are non-specific:fever,malaise,myalgias,and sore throat.Rash,a common presentation of mpox,usually occurs 2–4 weeks after the prodrome,but the presence of lymphadenopathy may distinguish mpox from other infections from the Poxviridae family.Life-threatening complications such as pneumonia,sepsis,encephalitis,myocarditis,and death can occur.There are documented co-occurrences of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections that can worsen morbidity.CONCLUSION:The initial presentation of mpox is non-specific.The preferred treatment included tecovirimat in patients with severe illness or at high risk of developing severe disease and vaccination with two doses of JYNNEOS.However,careful history and physical examination can raise the clinicians’ suspicion and point toward a prompt diagnosis.There are diff erent modalities to prevent and treat mpox infection.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis:A comprehensive review

Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs) are monoclonal antibodies that target downregulators of the anti-cancer immune response: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, programmed cell death protein-1, and its ligand programmed death-ligand 1.ICIs have revolutionized the treatment of a variety of malignancies. However,many immune-related adverse events have also been described which mainly occurs as the immune system becomes less suppressed, affecting various organs including the gastrointestinal tract and causing diarrhea and colitis. The incidence of immune-mediated colitis(IMC) ranges from 1%-25% depending on the type of ICI and if used in combination. Endoscopically and histologically there is a significant overlap between IMC and inflammatory bowel disease,however more neutrophilic inflammation without chronic inflammation is usually present in IMC. Corticosteroids are recommended for grade 2 or more severe colitis while holding the immunotherapy. About one third to two thirds of patients are steroid refractory and benefit from infliximab. Recently vedolizumab has been found to be efficacious in steroid and infliximab refractory cases. While in grade 4 colitis, the immunotherapy is permanently discontinued, the decision is controversial in grade 3 colitis.

Vitamin D:A new player in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Vitamin D through its active form 1a-25-dihydroxyvtamin D[1,25(OH)2D]is a secosteroid hormone that plays a key role in mineral metabolism.Recent years have witnessed a significant scientific interest on vitamin D and expanded its actions to include immune modulation,cell differentiation and proliferation and inflammation regulation.As our understanding of the many functions of vitamin D has grown,the presence of vitamin D deficiency has become one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies worldwide.Concomitantly,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has become the most common form of chronic liver disease in western countries.NAFLD and vitamin D deficiency often coexist and epidemiologic evidence has shown that both of these conditions share several cardiometabolic risk factors.In this article we provide an overview of the epidemiology and pathophysiology linking NAFLD and vitamin D deficiency,as well as the available evidence on the clinical utility of vitamin D supplementation in NAFLD.

Update on the prevention of local recurrence and peritoneal metastases in patients with colorectal cancer

The prevention of a disease process has always been superior to the treatment of the same disease throughout the history of medicine and surgery.Local recurrence and peritoneal metastases occur in approximately8%of colon cancer patients and 25%of rectal cancer patients and should be prevented.Strategies to prevent colon or rectal cancer local recurrence and peritoneal metastases include cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic perioperative chemotherapy(HIPEC).These strategies can be used at the time of primary colon or rectal cancer resection if the HIPEC is available.At institutions where HIPEC is not available with the treatment of primary malignancy,a proactive second-look surgery is recommended.Several phaseⅡstudies strongly support the proactive approach.If peritoneal metastases were treated along with the primary colon resection,5-year survival was seen and these results were superior to the results of treatment after peritoneal metastases had developed as recurrence.Also,prophylactic HIPEC improved survival with T3/T4 mucinous or signet ring colon cancers.A second-look has been shown to be effective in two published manuscripts.Unpublished data from MedStar Washington Cancer Institute also produced favorable date.Rectal cancer with peritoneal metastases may not be so effectively treated.There are both credits and debits of this proactive approach.Selection factors should be reviewed by the multidisciplinary team for individualized management of patients with or at high risk for peritoneal metastases.

Magnesium:pathophysiological mechanisms and potential therapeutic roles in intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) remains the second-most common form of stroke with high morbidity and mortality.ICH can be divided into two pathophysiological stages:an acute primary phase,including hematoma volume expansion,and a subacute secondary phase consisting of blood-brain barrier disruption and perihematomal edema expansion.To date,all major trials for ICH have targeted the primary phase with therapies designed to reduce hematoma expansion through blood pressure control,surgical evacuation,and hemostasis.However,none of these trials has resulted in improved clinical outcomes.Magnesium is a ubiquitous element that also plays roles in vasodilation,hemostasis,and blood-brain barrier preservation.Animal models have highlighted potential therapeutic roles for magnesium in neurological diseases specifically targeting these pathophysiological mechanisms.Retrospective studies have also demonstrated inverse associations between admission magnesium levels and hematoma volume,hematoma expansion,and clinical outcome in patients with ICH.These associations,coupled with the multifactorial role of magnesium that targets both primary and secondary phases of ICH,suggest that magnesium may be a viable target of study in future ICH studies.

Percutaneous devices for left atrial appendage occlusion: A contemporary review

Patient with atrial fibrillation(AF) are at risk of developing stroke with the left atrial appendage(LAA) being the most common site for thrombus formation. If left untreated, AF is associated with 4 to 5 folds increase in the risk of ischemic stroke in all age groups. About 5% to 15% of AF patients have atrial thrombi on transesophageal echocardiography, and 91% of those thrombi are located in the LAA in patient with nonrheumatic AF. Although oral anticoagulants are the gold-standard treatment for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular AF,some patients are at high risk of bleeding and deemed not candidates for anticoagulation. Therefore, LAA occlusion(LAAO) has emerged as alternative approach for stroke prevention in those patients. Surgical LAAO is associated with high rate of unsuccessful closure and recommended only in patients with AF and undergoing cardiac surgery. Percutaneous LAAO uses transvenous access with trans-septal puncture and was first tested using the PLAATO device.Watchman is the most common and only Food and Drug Administration(FDA)approved device for LAAO. LAAO using Watchman device is non-inferior to warfarin therapy in preventing ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism.However, it is associated with lower rates of hemorrhagic stroke, bleeding and death. Amplatzer is another successful LAAO device that has CE mark and is waiting for FDA approval. Optimal antithrombotic therapy post LAAO is still under debate and highly patient-specific. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the current literature to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different LAAO devices.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy and its evolving role in management of gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases

Advanced gastric cancer （GC） has been recognized as lethal disease when peritoneal metastases （PM） occurred.There is no standard treatment for advanced GC with PM.Until 1980s,the therapeutic arena for these patients had remained stagnant,with no therapeutic approach having shown a survival gain in GC with PM.However,cytoreductive surgery （CRS） with peritonectomy procedures and intraperitoneal chemotherapy （IPC） promising new combined therapeutic approach to achieve disease control for GC with PM.The recent publications changed the GC with PM treatment landscape by providing an evidence that CRS and IPC led to prolongation in overall survival （OS）.This review will provide an overview of the evolving role of CRS and IPC in the management of advanced GC with PM in the current era.

Current and future impact of clinical gastrointestinal research on patient care in diabetes mellitus

The worldwide rise in the prevalence of obesity supports the need for an increased interaction between ongoing clinical research in the allied fields of gastrointestinal medicine/surgery and diabetes mellitus. There have been a number of clinically-relevant advances in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome emanating from gastroenterological research. Gastric emptying is a significant factor in the development of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. However, it is not the only mechanism whereby such symptoms occur in patients with diabetes. Disorders of intrinsic pacing are involved in the control of stomach motility in patients with gastroparesis; on the other hand, there is limited impact of glycemic control on gastric emptying in patients with established diabetic gastroparesis. Upper gastrointestinal functions related to emptying and satiations are significantly associated with weight gain in obesity. Medications used in the treatment of diabetes or metabolic syndrome, particularly those related to pancreatic hormones and incretins affect upper gastrointestinal tract function and reduce hyperglycemia and facilitate weight loss. The degree of gastric emptying delay is significantly correlated with the weight loss in response to liraglutide, a glucagonlike peptide-1 analog. Network meta-analysis shows that liraglutide is one of the two most efficacious medical treatments of obesity, the other being the combination treatment phentermine-topiramate. Interventional therapies for the joint management of obesity and diabetes mellitus include newer endoscopic procedures, which require long-term follow-up and bariatric surgical procedure for which long-term follow up shows advantages for individuals with diabetes. Newer bariatric procedures are presently undergoing clinical evaluation. On the horizon, combination therapies, in part directed at gastrointestinal functions, appear promising for these indications. Ongoing and future gastroenterological research when translated to care of individuals with diabetes mellitus should provide additional options to improve their clinical outcomes.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome: An update

Hepatopulmonary syndrome(HPS)is characterized by defects in oxygenation caused by intra-pulmonary vasodilation occurring because of chronic liver disease,portal hypertension,or congenital portosystemic shunts.Clinical implications of portal hypertension are very well-known,however,awareness of its effect on multiple organs such as the lungs are less known.The presence of HPS in chronic liver disease is associated with increased mortality.Medical therapies available for HPS have not been proven effective and definitive treatment for HPS is mainly liver transplantation(LT).LT improves mortality for patients with HPS drastically.This article provides a review on the definition,clinical presentation,diagnosis,and management of HPS.

Racial disparities in immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors and association with survival based on clinical and biochemical responses

BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICPi)cause various immune-related adverse events(irAE)with thyroid dysfunction as a commonly reported abnormality.There is increasing evidence showing positive association with development of irAE and survival.However,prior trials with ICPi had underrepresentation of minorities with<5%African Americans.AIM To evaluate the association between development of irAE and survival outcomes among a racially diverse patient population.METHODS Data on patients with stage IV solid malignancies treated with programmed cell death-protein 1/programmed death ligand 1 blockers between January 2013 and December 2018 across MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute facilities were retrospectively reviewed.Patients treated with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitors were excluded.Progression free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)were primary endpoints and were calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods and Wilcoxon rank sum test for comparison.RESULTS Out of 293 patients who met eligibility criteria,91 pts(31%)had any grade irAE;most common AE were endocrine(40.7%)specifically TSH elevation,dermatological(23.1%)and rheumatologic(18.7%).Proportion of irAE was significantly higher in Caucasians vs African Americans(60.4%vs 30.8%),in patients with low programmed death ligand 1,lower LDH,older age,and those who had more treatment cycles with ICPi.Rate of progression was lower in patients with irAE(30.8%vs 46.0%,P=0.0140).Median PFS(5.8 vs 3.0 mo,P=0.0204)and OS(17.1 vs 7.2 mo,P<0.0001)were higher with irAE.Statistically significant difference in OS(17.1 vs 8.6 mo,P=0.0002)but not in PFS(5.8 vs 3.3 mo,P=0.0545)was noted with endocrine irAE.No differences in survival were observed among other commonly reported irAE.Differences in survival among subgroups of patients with irAE are described.CONCLUSION Development of irAE positively correlated with improved PFS and OS as reported in previous studies.To our knowledge,this is the first study observing differences in OS favoring endocrine AE and Caucasian race.These factors may be potential surrogate markers of prognosis pending replication of these results in large-scale studies.

Takotsubo syndrome: The past, the present and the future

Takotsubo syndrome is a wide spectrum disease with a dramatic clinical presentation mimicking acute coronary syndrome albeit without obstructive coronary disease and typically manifests in the backdrop of intense emotional or physical trigger.Pathophysiology is incompletely understood with multifactorial mechanistic pathways circling around a heart-brain-endocrine axis.Several anatomic and phenotypic variants exist with varied clinical manifestations.The aftermath of Takotsubo syndrome is not always benign and both short-and longterm complications can occur which may impact its prognosis.Several gaps in knowledge exist providing an impetus for tremendous future research opportunities.

Pericardial decompression syndrome: A comprehensive review

Pericardial decompression syndrome(PDS)is an infrequent,life-threatening complication following pericardial drainage for cardiac tamponade physiology.PDS usually develops after initial clinical improvement following pericardiocentesis and is significantly underreported and may be overlooked in the clinical practice.Although the precise mechanisms resulting in PDS are not well understood,this seems to be highly associated with patients who have some underlying ventricular dysfunction.Physicians performing pericardial drainage should be mindful of the risk factors associated with the procedure including the rare potential for the development of PDS.

Gastric intestinal metaplasia development in African American predominant United States population

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer significantly contributes to cancer mortality globally.Gastric intestinal metaplasia(GIM)is a stage in the Correa cascade and a premalignant lesion of gastric cancer.The natural history of GIM formation and progression over time is not fully understood.Currently,there are no clear guidelines on GIM surveillance or management in the United States.AIM To investigate factors associated with GIM development over time in African American-predominant study population.METHODS This is a retrospective longitudinal study in a single tertiary hospital in Washington DC.We retrieved upper esophagogastroduodenoscopies(EGDs)with gastric biopsies from the pathology department database from January 2015 to December 2020.Patients included in the study had undergone two or more EGDswith gastric biopsy.Patients with no GIM at baseline were followed up until they developed GIM or until the last available EGD.Exclusion criteria consisted of patients age<18,pregnancy,previous diagnosis of gastric cancer,and missing data including pathology results or endoscopy reports.The study population was divided into two groups based on GIM status.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard induced by patient demographics,EGD findings,and Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)status on the GIM status.RESULTS Of 2375 patients who had at least 1 EGD with gastric biopsy,579 patients were included in the study.138 patients developed GIM during the study follow-up period of 1087 d on average,compared to 857 d in patients without GIM(P=0.247).The average age of GIM group was 64 years compared to 56 years in the non-GIM group(P<0.001).In the GIM group,adding one year to the age increases the risk for GIM formation by 4%(P<0.001).Over time,African Americans,Hispanic,and other ethnicities/races had an increased risk of GIM compared to Caucasians with a hazard ratio(HR)of 2.12(1.16,3.87),2.79(1.09,7.13),and 3.19(1.5,6.76)respectively.No gender difference was observed between the study populations.Gastritis was associated with an increased risk for GIM development with an HR of 1.62(1.07,2.44).On the other hand,H.pylori infection did not increase the risk for GIM.CONCLUSION An increase in age and non-Caucasian race/ethnicity are associated with an increased risk of GIM formation.The effect of H.pylori on GIM is limited in low prevalence areas.

Low Dose Total Skin Electron Beam Radiation in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: Review

The treatment of advanced stage MF is especially challenging as single agent overall response rates are in the 35% range and chronic recurrence is the rule. The treatment of CTCL across all stages of disease is aimed at the goal of achieving and sustaining remission. Increasingly, low dose total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) is being utilized as a skin directed component in combination therapy for advanced stage CTCL. Researchers are seeking to better define the utility of low dose TSEBT as a method of debulking skin disease while simultaneously treating other disease compartments and in combination with sustained maintenance therapies of both the skin directed and systemic varieties. Data exists showing the efficacy of low dose TSEBT in early and advanced disease. There is also data documenting prolonged treatment responses with TSEBT plus adjuvant skin directed therapies such as PUVA and topical nitrogen mustard. Emerging data examining the role of low dose TSEBT in the prestem cell transplant preparation is also promising. This brief review summarizes the utility of low dose TSEBT in multiagent treatment regimens in CTCL.

Prognostic Value of Lymphocyte Vascular Density and E-Cadherin in Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Background: We recently evaluated four laboratory assays, vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D), E-cadherin, lymphatic vessel density (LVD) measured by podoplanin, and intra-lymphatic tumor emboli (ILTE), which showed notable differences between inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and non-inflammatory locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). In this study we investigated the potential of the three most quantitatively measured markers, E-cadherin, LVD and VEGF-D, to predict survival in the IBC patients. Materials and Methods: This study involved the 100 cases identified in the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Registry (IBCR) whose tumors were previously evaluated for the four assays noted above. Living patients were recontacted and survival data were available for up to 17 years. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed through the Kaplan-Meier method stratified by E-cadherin, LVD, VEGF-D, and response to chemotherapy. The differences in OS curves were compared using the log-rank test. Results: The median OS for patients with high LVD was 6.63 years (95% CI: 4.06 to 10.14), compared to median at 10 years not reached in those with low LVD (p = 0.03). There was a trend towards a longer median OS in patients with high E-cadherin (10.14, 95% CI: 6.63 to 11.67), compared with those with low E-cadherin (6.26, 95% CI: 3.42 to undeterminable). VEGF-D levels showed no correlation with survival. Conclusion: Low LVD significantly predicts better survival. High E-cadherin expression, as with non-IBC breast cancer and several other malignancies, tends to be associated with a better prognosis.

Post-endoscopic procedure satisfaction scores: Can we improve?

AIM To organize post-procedure satisfaction data into a useful reference and analyze patient-centered parameters to find trends that influence patient satisfaction.METHODS A robust database of two cohorts of outpatients that underwent an endoscopic procedure at Georgetown University Hospital at two separate three-month intervals ranging from November 2012 to January 2013 and November 2015 to January 2016 was compiled. Time of year was identical to control for weather/seasonal issues that may have contributed to the patient experience. The variables recorded included age, sex, body mass index(BMI), type of procedure, indication for procedure, time of the procedure, length of the procedure, type of prep used, endoscopist, satisfactory score, and comments/reasons for score. For continuous variables, differences in averages were tested by two sample t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and ANOVA as appropriate. For categorical variables, differences in proportions between two groups were tested by χ~2 test. Correlation test and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships between length of procedure and continuous predictors. A P value < 0.05 used to indicate statistically significant relationship.RESULTS The primary outcome of this study was to assess if telephone outreach after an endoscopic intervention was a satisfactory method of obtaining post-procedure satisfaction scores from patients at a tertiary care center. With the addition of post-procedure calls, instilled in January 2014, the response rate was 40.5%(508/1256 patients) from a prior completion rate of 3.4%(31/918) with the mail out survey initially. There was a statistically significant improved response rate pre and post intervention with P < 0001. The secondary outcome of this study was to assess if we could use predictive analytics to identify independent predictors of procedure length, such as gender, age, type of procedure, time of procedure, or BMI. The combined pre and post intervention data was used in order to optimize the power to identify independent predictors of procedure length. The total number of patient's data analyzed was 2174. There was no statistically significant difference in procedure length between males and females with P value 0.5282. However, there was a small(1 min), but statistically significant difference(P = 0.0185) in procedure length based on the time of day the procedure took place, with afternoon procedures having a longer duration than morning procedures. The type of procedure was an independent predictor of procedure length as demonstrated with P value < 0.0001. There is a statistically significant correlation between age and procedure length, although it is only a weak relationship with a correlation coefficient < 0.3. Contrary to patient age, BMI did not have a statistically significant correlation with procedure length(P = 0.9993), which was also confirmed by linear regression analysis.CONCLUSION Our study proves calling patients after endoscopy improves post-procedure satisfaction response rates and changing procedural time allotment based on patient characteristics would not change endoscopic workflow.

Unusual radiologic presentations of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

BACKGROUND Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an unusual disease process characterized radiologically by ascites and infiltration of the peritoneum by multiple small tumor nodules.Both parietal and visceral peritoneum are involved by the multiple malignant tumor nodules.Computed tomography(CT)has been used to identify the anatomic pathology induced by the progression of this malignant process.AIM To identify and then describe unusual CT images in patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.Recognition of these unusual radiologic findings can cause the radiologist to be suspicious of this rare malignant process.METHODS In 100 patients who were to undergo definitive treatment of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma,the findings on preoperative CT scans were catalogued.Many of these changes were repeatedly noted on the CT scans.Other pathologic CT images were less common.These unusual radiologic presentations were specially studied in this manuscript.RESULTS Eight unusual radiologic presentations of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma were selected for study.These unusual findings included a mass occurring within a Spigelian hernia,infiltration of the splenic parenchyma by spherical mesothelioma masses,infiltration of the lower mediastinum by tumor,a mesothelioma mass within a left inguinal canal,enlarged cardiophrenic angle lymph nodes,pleural plaques associated with the progression of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma,splenic notches caused by disease surrounding the spleen,and a mass greater than 5 cm associated with the proximal jejunum and directly adjacent to the anatomic location of the Treitz ligament.CONCLUSION There are unusual radiologic presentations of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma that are important to recognize in order to accurately diagnose this disease by CT.