Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Multiport Minimally Invasive Skull Base Surgery: How Many Ports Are Too Many?, Yaron A. Moshel, Theodore H. Schwartz

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Surgical access to the ventral skull base has evolved considerably over the past several years with the introduction of minimally invasive endoscopic and endoscope-assisted approaches. The accompanying manuscript by Ciporen et al. demonstrates an addition to this growing body of literature in their description of the feasibility of multiportal endoscopic approaches to the skull base, particularly the precaruncular transorbital approach, in a series of cadaver dissections. Similar to laparoscopic abdominal surgery, which utilizes multiple small ports to improve visualization and manipulation, they envision a modular combination of approaches that allows an endoscope to be placed in one port and surgery …

Evaluation Of A Novel Method For Measuring Cea Levels From Pancreas Cyst Aspirates, Vinay K. Katukuri, Md, Darren Andrade, Md, David E. Loren, Md, Thomas E. Kowalski, Md

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Conclusions:

The novel commercial method of cyst fluid analysis allows for accurate measurement of cyst fluid CEA even on cyst fluid aspirates of less than 1ml, and potentially less than 100ul of fluid.

This measurement tool increases the yield of EUS FNA for pancreatic cysts, particularly for those in whom cyst fluid volumes are small.

By optimizing specimen handling, it is possible to satisfy information needs more effectively thereby contributing to more comprehensive and better diagnosis and management.

Immunosuppressive Therapy For Autoimmune Disease And Pregnancy Outcomes, Karolina Paziana, Faith Carlin, Lisa A. Corcia, Carolyn H. Mcgrory, Dawn Armenti, Vincent T. Armenti

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

Cyclosporine exposure during pregnancy in the transplant population does appear to be associated with premature delivery and low infant birthweight.

Data from the NPR show that cyclosporine exposure during pregnancy in women with psoriasis does not appear to be associated with low gestational age or low infant birthweight.

Maternal comorbidities or other factors, such as multiple drug regimens, likely play a role in the higher rates of premature delivery and low birthweight infants in the kidney transplant population.

Further investigation is warranted to evaluate the impact of comorbidities and other factors on pregnancy outcomes of women taking Neoral®.

Loss Of Stromal Caveolin-1 Independently Predicts Poor Disease-Free Survival And Time To Recurrence In Patients With Prostate Cancer, M. Wagner, A. Dasgupta, F. Sotgia, R. B. West, M. P. Lisanti, A. K. Witkiewicz

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Results:

Of the 167 patients originally included in the study, 43 were either lost to follow up or had insufficient clinical data for comparison. Of the remaining 124 cases, 32 showed loss of stromal Cav-1. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between stromal Cav-1 loss and the usual markers of disease severity including Gleason grade, stage and presence of metastases. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a significant association between stromal Cav-1 loss and poor disease-free survival and time to recurrence (p<0.05), but no significant association with cancer-specific survival.

Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients And Breastfeeding While On Immunosuppression, Schweta Arakali, Faith Carlin, Lisa A. Coscia, Carolyn H. Mcgrory, Dawn Armenti, Vincent T. Armenti

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

The relatively small amount of drug transferred in breast milk and the lack of reported adverse effects along with the known benefits of breastfeeding may outweigh the risk of drug exposures in the transplant population.

The threshold for determining the level of exposure of an immunosuppressive agent that is acceptable is not known at present.

Continued study and follow-up of all breast-fed transplant recipient offspring is warranted.

Centers are encouraged to report all pregnancies in transplant recipients to the NTRR.

The Type 1 Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines, Zhengyu Wei, Phd, Tiziana Deangelis, M.S., Reginald Hurtt, B.S., Renato Baserga, M.D., Cataldo Doria, M.D., Ph.D

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Summary:

1. Human HCC cells have higher expression levels of IGF-1R, IRS1, and c-Met.

2. IRS1 interacts with c-Met. The role of IGF-1R in human HCC should be revisited.

3. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA delivery system targeting IGF-1R showed significant suppressive effects on HCC cell growth, promising a potential therapeutic treatment for human HCC.

Pregnancy Outcomes In Pancreas-Kidney Vs. Kidney-Alone Diabetic Female Transplant Recipients, Lyuba Gitman, Faith Carlin, Lisa A. Coscia, Carolyn H. Mcgrory, Dawn Armenti, Vincent T. Armenti

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

The high incidences of hypertension, preeclampsia, and infection during pregnancy underscore the high-risk nature of pregnancy in both pancreas-kidney and kidney alone recipients.

Although overall offspring outcomes are similar in both PK and K groups, pregnancy in PK recipients may be associated with higher incidences of maternal infections and overall graft loss.

Centers are encouraged to report all pregnancies in transplant recipients to the NTPR.

The Incidence, Severity And Distribution Of Colonic Bubbles After Bowel Preparation With Split Dose 2l Polyethylene Glycol-Electrolyte Solution With Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Ascorbate And Ascorbic Acid (Peg-Els): A Pilot Study, Carly Rubin, Constantine Daskalakis, Vicki Gordon, Rebecca Matro, David Kastenberg

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Conclusions:

1. Colonic bubbles that could interfere with polyp detection are present in 35% of patients receiving split dose PEG-ELS.

2. Most bubbles occur in the right and transverse colon.

3. Advanced age is an independent risk for bubbles.

Pregnancy Outcomes With Exposure To The Mycophenolic Acid Products (Mpa), To Dung K. Nguyen, Faith Carlin, Lisa A. Coscia, Dawn Armenti, Vincent T. Armenti

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

Reports to NTPR to date continue to reveal an increased incidence of birth defects in transplant recipients maintained on MPA products during gestation compared to those not maintained on these agents.

Structural birth defects consisting of microtia (ear deformity) and facial defects suggest a pattern of malformations.

Evaluation of the higher incidence of non-viable outcomes requires further study in this cohort.

Centers are encouraged to report all pregnancy exposures in transplant recipients to the NTPR.

Duration Of Maternal Human Papilloma Virus Infection And Risk Of Spontaneous Preterm Birth, K. Soin, Ms, N. S. Seligman, Md, A. Nnoli, Md, K. Dysart, Md, J. K. Baxter, Md, Mscp

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

Duration of HPV infection was not a significant risk factor for spontaneous PTB <37 weeks.

Cervical HPV DNA and HPV serology may further delineate the relationship between HPV infection and SPTB <37 weeks.

A larger sample size may be necessary to show a difference.

The 3.5x higher rate of fetal death > 23 weeks in our study (compared to fetal death > 20 weeks in the U.S.) needs further investigation.

Body Mass Index And Cerclage Success, A. Suhag, Md, N. S. Seligman, Md, V. Berghella, Md

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

Among women with a cerclage, pre-pregnancy BMI was not a significant predictor of SPTB <35 weeks.

There was a non-significant trend toward increased rates of SPTB at all gestational age cutoffs.

Morbidly obese women consistently had worse outcomes than obese and normal/overweight women.

Compared to normal/overweight, GA at delivery decreases by 1 week for obese and 2 weeks for morbidly obese women.

Recent Change In The Incidence Of Cervical Cerclage, Maria Bisulli, Md, Neil S. Seligman, Md, Komal Soin, Ms, Anju Suhag, Md, Vincenzo Berghella, Md

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

More selective indications for cervical cerclage based on recent randomized studies were associated with decreased cerclage placement.

The decrease in incidence of history-indicated cerclage may be due to the fact that more women with prior PTB are being followed by transvaginal cervical length measurements.

The decrease in incidence of ultrasound-indicated cerclage may be due to the use of 17-hydroxy progesterone caproate in women with PTB.

The Significance Of Percutaneous Aspiration Of The Zygapophysial Facet Joint Synovial Cyst: A Case Series, S. Kamal Fetouh, Nicholas Kaffl, Linqiu Zhou

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Cysts that are clearly associated with threat of progressive neurological loss or intractable, unremitting symptoms should be released by a decompression procedure.

In our case series, percutaneous aspiration has been successfully used for 3 of 4 PTs with marked decrease in size of cyst on imaging and clinical improvement.

Obstructing pathology and ultimately the location of the cyst can be major factors in determining the success of the procedure.

Our study demonstrated that a minimally invasive aspiration of a ZP SC can often achieve clinical improvement.

This may save the PT from undergoing an invasive surgical decompression.

The Significance Of A Triple Flexion Reflex In The Acute Spinal Cord Injured Patient: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, S. K. Fetouh, S. Kolli, R. J. Marino, N. D. Martin, A. L. Schreiber

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

The TFR is a sign of upper motor neuron impairment. It does not typically appear for several days after an injury but in patients with pre-existing myelopathy, an early onset exaggerated Babinski response exhibited as a TFR may occur. It is important not to misinterpret such responses as volitional movements, particularly in patients with cognitive dysfunction where the history and physical examination may be limited. Failure to immobilize the spine and to administer adjunct steroid therapy may be detrimental to the patient. Education of initial response physicians may prevent overlooking an acute SCI.

Reproductive Toxicology, Robert L. Brent

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Summary

1. WEC has many useful scientific purposes.

2. You cannot utilize WEC to label a drug or chemical as a teratogen if the exposures utilized will result in embryonic or fetal death in vivo.

3. WEC can indicate that a drug or chemical is embryotoxic.

4. If the exposure level for clinical use of a drug or environmental exposure of a chemical is known, it should be used in WEC studies along with higher exposures as well.

5. You cannot predict that a drug is a cardiac teratogen from WEC when no cardiac malformations are observed, as in this …

Autoimmunity In Transfusion Babesiosis: A Spectrum Of Clinical Presentations., Jay H Herman, Saleh Ayache, Danuta Olkowska

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Transfusion-acquired babesiosis can be an asymptomatic or self-limited febrile hemolytic illness in a healthy host. A persistent, relapsing, and/or fulminant course with the development of life-threatening complications may be seen in immunocompromised or splenectomized patients. As in malaria, erythrocyte parasitemia is often associated with nonimmune hemolysis, and can be treated with erythrocytapheresis. Just as warm autoantibodies have been reported in malaria infection, the development of autoantibody-mediated immune hemolysis has been reported in babesiosis. We treated a previously healthy male with multiple injuries from a motor vehicle accident necessitating massive transfusion. Late in the hospitalization, his blood smear revealed Babesia microti, …