Seasonal Variations and Factors that Influence Diverticular Bleeding in the United States of America.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal variation in hospitalizations for diverticulitis has a sinusoidal pattern, peaking in summer. Little is known about seasonal, regional trends, and risk factors associated with hospital admissions regarding diverticular bleeding in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional population database review using the healthcare cost and utilization project's national inpatient sample. METHODS: Patients that had diagnoses of diverticulitis with bleeding or diverticulosis with bleeding admitted from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2017, were identified and stratified by month and season. Then, the potential effects of region, age, gender, race, and patient risk factors on seasonal admissions for diverticular bleeding were explored, and data were analyzed in SAS and presented in Excel using chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 54191 hospitalized cases for diverticular bleeding, the peak and the lowest seasons were spring and summer (25.5% vs. 24.2%, P<0.0001). A significant seasonal pattern in comorbidities was also identified, and those with diabetes (P<0.0001), hypertension (HTN) (P<0.0001), obesity (P<0.0001), and those on anticoagulants (P=0.016) all had more bleeding events in the spring. This was noted across US regions, gender, race, and age. Eventually, the southern region had the most admissions for diverticular bleeding at 40.9% (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: A better understanding of these seasonal and regional trends may provide a mechanism to identify a potential trigger for diverticular bleeding events. This helps identify individuals at greatest risk for hospitalization, as well as prepare hospitals to allocate supplies appropriately during the seasons.

Seasonal and Geographic Variation in Peptic Ulcer Disease and Associated Complications in the United States of America.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalization for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has been described outside of North America as peaking in the fall and winter. However, no recent literature has so far investigated the seasonal fluctuations and complications of PUD in the USA. Study Design: Cross-sectional population database review. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of either acute gastric or acute duodenal ulcers from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2017, were identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample. The proportion of admissions with either hemorrhage or perforation was determined for each season and further subdivided into geographic regions. RESULTS: Of 18829 hospitalizations for PUD, admissions were the highest in the fall (25.9%) while being the lowest in the summer (23.9%). Complications, hemorrhage or perforation, were the highest and the lowest in the fall and spring, respectively (75.7% vs. 73.6%; P=0.060 for comparing all 4 seasons). Geographically, the West had the highest rate of peptic ulcer hemorrhage (64.5%, P=0.004), while the northeast had the highest rate of perforation (14.3%, P=0.003). Hemorrhage was more common in males, those who used aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or anticoagulants, and diabetics (P<0.05). Perforation was less common in males, those with diabetes, obesity, or hypertension (HTN), or those using aspirin or anticoagulants (P<0.05). Helicobacter pylori infection was more associated with perforation in the fall and winter months. CONCLUSION: Seasonal and regional trends in hospitalizations due to PUD may help identify modifiable risk factors, which can improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes for patients by allowing for more targeted identification of vulnerable populations.

Safe perioperative tamoxifen use in autologous breast free flap reconstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative tamoxifen remains a valuable therapeutic modality for breast cancer patients. Studies in the existing literature have suggested a potential increased risk of thrombotic complications in autologous breast free flap reconstruction patients exposed to tamoxifen perioperatively. However, several recent publications have questioned the validity of these associations. Therefore, we aim to perform a systematic appraisal of the existing literature to determine if perioperative tamoxifen exposure increases the risk of flap complications in autologous breast-free flap reconstruction patients. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, EBSCOHost, ClinicalTrials.gov, and TRIP databases from their inception up to April 2021. Articles analyzing the impact of perioperative tamoxifen in autologous breast free flap patients were included. The outcomes assessed were total flap loss, overall flap complications, thrombotic flap complications, which was defined as the sum of arterial and venous flap thrombi, and systemic venous thromboembolism (VTE). Pooled estimates and relative risk were calculated using a random effects model. RESULTS: 9294 Articles were screened and 7 were selected for analysis, which included 3669 flaps in 2759 patients. Compared to patients who did not receive tamoxifen perioperatively, those who received tamoxifen did not have an increased risk of thrombotic flap complications (pooled RR 1.06; 95% CI 0.61-1.84), total flap loss (pooled RR 2.17; 95% CI 0.79-5.95), overall flap complications (pooled RR 1.04; 95% CI 0.76-1.41), or systemic VTE (pooled RR 1.93; 95% CI 0.72-5.13). The heterogeneity of the studies was not significant for any of the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The purpose of this study was to update the current understanding of the impact of perioperative tamoxifen on autologous breast free flap reconstruction outcomes. The existing literature supports that the perioperative continuation of tamoxifen in breast free flap patients is not associated with an increased risk of thrombotic flap complications, total flap loss, overall flap complications, or systemic VTE.

Acceleration of ß Cell Aging Determines Diabetes and Senolysis Improves Disease Outcomes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an age-related disease. Although changes in function and proliferation of aged ß cells resemble those preceding the development of diabetes, the contribution of ß cell aging and senescence remains unclear. We generated a ß cell senescence signature and found that insulin resistance accelerates ß cell senescence leading to loss of function and cellular identity and worsening metabolic profile. Senolysis (removal of senescent cells), using either a transgenic INK-ATTAC model or oral ABT263, improved glucose metabolism and ß cell function while decreasing expression of markers of aging, senescence, and senescence-associated secretory profile (SASP). Beneficial effects of senolysis were observed in an aging model as well as with insulin resistance induced both pharmacologically (S961) and physiologically (high-fat diet). Human senescent ß cells also responded to senolysis, establishing the foundation for translation. These novel findings lay the framework to pursue senolysis of ß cells as a preventive and alleviating strategy for T2D.