Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

ORBIT II sub-analysis: Impact of impaired renal function following treatment of severely calcified coronary lesions with the Orbital Atherectomy System.

Abstract: Objectives To investigate the safety and efficacy of the coronary Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS) to prepare severely calcified lesions for stent deployment in patients grouped by renal function. Background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of severely calcified lesions is associated with increased rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) compared with PCI of non-calcified vessels. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk for MACE after PCI. The impact of CKD on coronary orbital atherectomy treatment has not been well characterized. Methods ORBIT II was a prospective, multicenter trial in the U.S., which enrolled 443 patients with severely calcified coronary lesions. The MACE rate was defined as a composite of cardiac death, MI, and target vessel revascularization. Results Of the 441 patients enrolled with known estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values at baseline, 333 (75.5%) patients had eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 108 patients had eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2. The mean eGFR at baseline in the eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 and eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 groups was 65.0 ± 0.9 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 109.1 ± 2.0 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Freedom from MACE was lower in the eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 group at 30 days (87.4% vs. 96.3%, P = 0.02) and 1-year (80.6% vs. 90.7%, P = 0.02). Conclusions Patients with renal impairment had a higher MACE rate through one year follow-up due to a higher rate of periprocedural MI. Interestingly, the rates of cardiac death and revascularization through 1-year were similar in patients with eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 and eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2. Future studies are needed to identify the ideal revascularization strategy for patients with renal impairment and severely calcified coronary lesions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Muehrcke's lines (Leukonychia striata) due to transretinoic acid therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Abstract: Transverse leukonychia (Leukonychia striata or Muehrcke's lines) has been described with the use of several drugs in oncology, mainly chemotherapeutic agents. This condition is thought to represent an abnormality of the vascular nail bed. As the diagnosis is clinical and the condition is self-limited, referral to other specialists is usually not required. We report the first case of transverse leukonychia related to the use of transretinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Physician awareness of transverse leukonychia is important in order to reassure the patients and avoid unnecessary (and often not inexpensive) diagnostic work-up.

Radiation Recall Pneumonitis During Systemic Treatment With Everolimus.

Abstract: Radiation recall syndrome is an acute inflammatory reaction developing at anatomical sites of previously irradiated tissue, weeks to months after the completion of radiation therapy. The distribution pattern of inflammation typically involves, and remains limited to, the boundaries of prior radiation treatment fields. Several classical chemotherapy drugs have been reported to have the potential for causing radiation recall syndrome. With the increasing availability and expanding use of novel biologic and targeted therapy anticancer drugs, isolated reports of radiation recall syndrome secondary to this class of agents are starting to appear in the literature. We describe a case of everolimus-induced radiation recall pneumonitis in a patient with metastatic renal cell cancer.

Evaluation of Posttransplantation Diabetes Mellitus After Liver Transplantation Assessment of Insulin Administration as a Risk Factor

Abstract: Background: Impaired glucose regulation posttransplantation can affect allograft survival and may lead to the development of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM). Objectives: The primary purpose of this study is to assess the difference in insulin burden between liver transplant patients who develop PTDM and patients who do not. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study. Adult liver transplant recipients transplanted between January 1, 2005, and August 1, 2013, were included. PTDM was defined as: (1) use of an oral antihyperglycemic agent for ≥30 consecutive days after transplant, (2) use of insulin ≥30 consecutive days after transplant, or (3) hemoglobin A1C ≥6.5 any time after transplant. Results: Of the 114 patients included, 48 (42%) developed PTDM. The average 24-hour insulin requirement on the medical floors was 17.2 ± 14.5 units in the PTDM group and 11.3 ± 12.2 units in the PTDM-free group; P = 0.02. The average blood glucose level on the medical floor was 184.7 ± 31.5 mg/dL in the...

Ultrasound in managing extrapulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized controlled two-center study.

Abstract: Patients with clinically suspected tuberculosis are often treated empirically, as diagnosis - especially of extrapulmonary tuberculosis - remains challenging. This leads to an overtreatment of tuberculosis and to underdiagnosis of possible differential diagnoses. This open-label, parallel-group, superiority randomized controlled trial is done in a rural and an urban center in Tanzania. HIV-positive and -negative adults (≥18 years) with clinically suspected extrapulmonary tuberculosis are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to an intervention- or control group, stratified by center and HIV status. The intervention consists of a management algorithm including extended focused assessment of sonography for HIV and tuberculosis (eFASH) in combination with chest X-ray and microbiological tests. Treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs is started, if eFASH is positive, chest X-ray suggests tuberculosis, or a microbiological result is positive for tuberculosis. Patients in the control group are managed according national guidelines. Treatment is started if microbiology is positive or empirically according to the treating physician. The primary outcome is the proportion of correctly managed patients at 6 months (i.e patients who were treated with anti-tuberculosis treatment and had definite or probable tuberculosis, and patients who were not treated with anti-tuberculosis treatment and did not have tuberculosis). Secondary outcomes are the proportion of symptom-free patients at two and 6 months, and time to death. The sample size is 650 patients. This study will determine, whether ultrasound in combination with other tests can increase the proportion of correctly managed patients with clinically suspected extrapulmonary tuberculosis, thus reducing overtreatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs. PACTR, Registration number: PACTR201712002829221, registered December 1st 2017.