Optimal oncologic and perioperative outcomes of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are attainable at a community center.

BACKGROUND: CRS with HIPEC is a complex operation that has shown survival benefit in patients with a variety of primary and metastatic peritoneal surface malignancies. While optimal oncologic and perioperative outcomes have been defined by expert consensus and demonstrated at university-affiliated, academic centers, similar results have never been presented from a non-university-affiliated, community center in the literature to date. METHODS: All cases of CRS with HIPEC performed at a non-university-affiliated, community center were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Oncologic and perioperative outcomes were compared Chicago Working Group benchmarks and with results from university-affiliated, academic centers recently published in high-impact-factor, peer-reviewed journals. RESULTS: All 112 cases completed over 5 years were reviewed. 3 were excluded from analysis since they were palliative HIPEC procedures for distressing ascites-related symptoms only without CRS. A wide variety of tumors were treated. Average PCI was 18±9.1. Median PCI was 14. CC 0-1 was achieved in 89% of patients. Average length of stay was 11.6±9.3 days. Serious perioperative morbidity, defined as a Clavien-Dindo Grade III or IV complication, was observed in 22% of patients. The frequency of major complications decreased after the first year. There were no perioperative deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal oncologic and perioperative outcomes of CRS and HIPEC are attainable at a non universityaffiliated, community center. A multidisciplinary team and high clinical volume are necessary to obtain these results.

3D Printing of Antibacterial Polymer Devices Based on Nitric Oxide Release from Embedded S-Nitrosothiol Crystals.

Controlled release of drugs from medical implants is an effective approach to reducing foreign body reactions and infections. We report here on a one-step 3D printing strategy to create drug-eluting polymer devices with a drug-loaded bulk and a drug-free coating. The spontaneously formed drug-free coating dramatically reduces the surface roughness of the implantable devices and serves as a protective layer to suppress the burst release of drugs. A high viscosity liquid silicone that can be extruded based on its shear-thinning property and quickly vulcanize upon exposure to ambient moisture is used as the ink for 3D printing. S-Nitrosothiol type nitric oxide (NO) donors in their crystalline forms are selected as model drugs because of the potent antimicrobial, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties of NO. Direct ink writing of the homogenized polymer-drug mixtures generates rough and ill-defined device surfaces because of the exposed S-nitrosothiol microparticles. When a low-viscosity silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) is added into the ink, this silicone diffuses outward upon deposition to form a drug-free outermost layer without compromising the integrity of the printed structures. S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) or S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) embedded in the printed silicone matrix releases NO under physiological conditions from days to about one month. The microsized drug crystals are well-preserved in the ink preparation and printing processes, which is one reason for the sustained NO release. Biofilm and cytotoxicity experiments confirmed the antibacterial property and safety of the printed NO-releasing devices. This additive manufacturing platform does not require dissolution of drugs and involves no thermal or UV processes and, therefore, offers unique opportunities to produce drug-eluting silicone devices in a customized manner.

Is interval appendectomy really needed? A closer look at neoplasm rates in adult patients undergoing interval appendectomy after complicated appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The treatment algorithm for appendicitis is evolving, with recent interest in non-operative management. However, the safety of non-operative management for patients with complicated appendicitis has been questioned due to concern for increased risk of occult appendiceal neoplasm in this patient population. Our study aims to determine the rate of neoplasms discovered during interval appendectomy for patients with complicated appendicitis and determine the necessity of interval appendectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on interval appendectomies performed in adult patients for complicated appendicitis at our institution over a 9-year period. Interval appendectomy was defined as appendectomy delayed from initial presentation with appendicitis. Complicated appendicitis was defined as perforation, phlegmon, and/or abscess as seen on computed tomography at time of presentation. RESULTS: We identified 402 patients who underwent interval appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. A total of 36 appendiceal neoplasms were discovered on final pathology with an overall neoplasm rate of 9%. Patients with an appendiceal neoplasm were significantly older (56.6 years vs 45.1 years, p < 0.01). No patients under the age of 30 had a neoplasm. The rate of appendiceal neoplasms in patients 30 years and older was 11%. The rate for patients 50 years and older was 16%. For patients 80 years and older, the rate of appendiceal neoplasm was 43%. CONCLUSION: The risk of occult appendiceal neoplasm is low in patients under the age of 30; however, there was an 11% rate of appendiceal neoplasm in patients 30 years and older. The risk increases with increased age, with a 16% risk in patients 50 years and older. Given these findings, we recommend consideration of interval appendectomy in all patients 30 years and older with complicated appendicitis.

Endoscopic transpapillary stenting for the management of acute cholecystitis.

INTRODUCTION: Cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment of acute cholecystitis. Patients who are considered not to be candidates for cholecystectomy are commonly recommended to undergo percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) tube placement; however, external drainage is undesirable for many patients. Endoscopic transpapillary stent placement (ETSP) has been described as an alternative method for decompression of the gallbladder. Data in support of this technique is limited to a handful of observational studies with variable indications. Our study sought to expand on the available data for the use of ETSP exclusively in the context of acute cholecystitis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with cholecystitis who underwent ETSP at our institution between January 2012 and July 2018. We collected data on indication, comorbidities, length of stay, laboratory values, outcomes, additional procedures, and whether cholecystectomy was eventually performed. RESULTS: During the study period, 12 patients underwent ETSP. The mean age was 68.2 years (± SD 12.4) with an average Anesthesia Society Assessment (ASA) class of 3.2. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was greater than seven in 75% of patients, indicating a 0% estimated 10-year survival. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) surgical risk calculator was used to estimate an average mortality risk for laparoscopic cholecystectomy of 4.8% (± 3.3, 95% CI) in our study population; the estimated risk in the general population is 0.1%. Immediate resolution of symptoms with endoscopic drainage was achieved in 11 of 12 patients (91.7%); one patient experienced no symptom resolution with endoscopic drainage nor subsequent PTGBD tube placement. Six of 12 (50%) patients experienced recurrence of symptoms requiring hospitalization, and two of 12 patients (16.7%) died secondary to biliary sepsis. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic transpapillary stent placement is an alternative method for the management of acute cholecystitis patients who are not candidates for surgery. ETSP has a high technical success rate; however, it may result in a high rate of symptom recurrence and should only be utilized in select patients. Randomized studies would be beneficial to further investigate the utility and safety of ETSP in the management of acute cholecystitis.

Outcomes following early versus delayed cholecystectomy performed for acute cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: Early cholecystectomy following an episode of gallstone pancreatitis is data supported, however, there is minimal literature regarding the optimal timing for cholecystectomy following an episode of acute cholangitis. Our study aims to determine the ideal timing for laparoscopic cholecystectomy following an episode of acute cholangitis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done on cholecystectomies performed for cholangitis at our institution from 2008 to 2015. Patients were compared based on timing of cholecystectomy (i.e., index admission versus delayed) and Tokyo severity grade (I-III). RESULTS: We identified 151 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for cholangitis at our institution from 2008 to 2015. Cholecystectomy was performed during the index admission for 61.6% of patients and Tokyo grade (TG) did not affect the rate of cholecystectomy during index admission (TG1 65.2%, TG2 64.1%, TG3 52.8%; p = 0.46). There was no difference in average operative time (89.0 min vs. 96.6 min; p = 0.36) or conversion to open cholecystectomy (5.4% vs. 10.3%; p = 0.34) between early and late cholecystectomy groups. There was also no statistically significant difference in intra-operative complications (9.7% vs. 15.5%; p = 0.28) or overall complication rates (16.1% vs. 29.3%; p = 0.05) based on timing of cholecystectomy; however, post-operative complications were significantly higher for the delayed cholecystectomy group (20.7% vs. 6.5%; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Early cholecystectomy after cholangitis is safe to perform and is not associated with higher operative times or rate of conversion to open, regardless of Tokyo grade. Due to the risk of developing recurrent cholangitis and a higher rate of post-operative complications seen with delayed cholecystectomy, our recommendation is to perform cholecystectomy during the index admission.

Adaptive systems influence both learning and conscious attention.

The scientific study of animal behavior had its beginnings in two separate scientific traditions. Adaptive explanations, as expanded by ethological studies of natural behavior, emphasized that behavioral traits were guided by innately organized stimulus and response dispositions. Associative explanations, as expanded by conditioning studies, emphasized that behavior was shaped by learned connections formed between stimuli, responses, and motivational outcomes. When William Timberlake began his career as a learning psychologist, he adopted a behavior systems approach that helped to reconcile the different emphases of these two traditions. Behavior systems argued that pre-organized adaptive dispositions also contribute to learning. They bias what stimulus and response features are most likely to be engaged and influence patterns of behavioral expression during conditioning. The first half of this paper surveys Timberlake's early research and highlights some of his many explanations of conditioning outcomes using this approach. The second section of this paper describes my extension of this approach to reconcile differences between adaptive and associative accounts of consciousness. It argues that pre-organized biological dispositions for attention contribute to conscious awareness. These "attention systems" bias what topics are most likely to be noticed and influence the affective dispositions that are activated during conscious attention.

ZnS Nanoparticles Sensitize Luminescence of Capping-Ligand-Bound Lanthanide Ions.

2,6-Bis(diethylamide)-4-oxo(3-thiopropane)pyridine (BDP) and 2,6-bis(methyl ester)-4-oxo(3-thiopropane)pyridine (BMP) were synthesized. These compounds chelated LnIII ions and sensitized their emission. The 3:1 complexes of BDP displayed efficiencies of 18% and 12% for EuIII and TbIII, respectively. The analogous complexes of BMP had efficiencies of 23% and 18% for EuIII and TbIII, respectively. Both BDP and BMP were used to cap ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) in a one-pot synthesis, and then LnIII ions were added, resulting in systems with metal ions at the surface of the capped NPs. Photoexcitation of the EuIII and TbIII systems through NPs capped with these two ligands, with the carboxylato derivative of BMP [dicarboxylato-4-oxo(3-thiopropane)pyridine] and the nonchromophore 3-mercaptopropionate, resulted in sensitized LnIII-centered emission. The EuIII-containing systems displayed higher efficiencies in the range 0.04-0.23% than the corresponding TbIII-containing systems with efficiencies in the range 0.01-0.15%. The NPs capped with BDP were the exception; in this case, efficiencies of 0.36% and 0.79% for EuIII and TbIII, respectively, were observed.