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.

Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy

Abstract: Tracheostomy, once thought of as a procedure with tremendous morbidity and mortality and only utilized in lifesaving circumstances, is now a routinely performed procedure in the intensive care unit. Indicated for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilator support, percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy can facilitate more aggressive ventilator weaning as well as liberate patients with poor airway control from mechanical ventilation. Since critically ill patients are maintained on mechanical ventilation for longer periods of time, the need for tracheostomy has grown and the development of the percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) technique has revolutionized the procedure.

Residency Prep Course Instills Confidence in Interns.

Abstract: Introduction. Physicians entering surgical residency often feel unprepared for tasks expected of them beginning July 1, including responding to pages, writing orders, doing procedures independently, and a multitude of other requirements. Our aim was to design a surgical boot camp to help graduating senior medical students feel more confident entering residency. Methods. A two-week intensive surgery residency prep course was conducted in the spring of 2019 at an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited General Surgery residency program. The course was designed combining aspects from existing prep courses and innovative ideas tailored to resources available at our institution. Medical students participated in the Surgery Residency Prep Course as an elective at the end of their fourth year of medical school. An anonymous survey was given pre- and post-prep course completion evaluating confidence in medical knowledge, clinical skills, and surgical skills. Data were compared using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results. Six students completed the course as a medical elective. Students felt more confident at course completion in most aspects, were significantly more confident in all areas of surgical skills taught and evaluated, and nearly all areas of medical knowledge. Subjectively, students felt as though the course was beneficial and helped them feel more prepared for starting internship. Conclusions. This course designed at our institution was successful in helping prepare and instill confidence in graduating medical students prior to starting their internship.

Bmet-26phase 2 study of vb-111, an anti-cancer gene therapy, as monotherapy followed by combination of vb-111 with bevacizumab, in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

Abstract: BACKGROUND: VB-111 is an anti-angiogenic agent consisting of a non-replicating adenovirus vector (Ad-5) with a modified murine pre-proendothelin promoter leading to apoptosis of tumor-vasculature by expressing a fas-chimera transgene in angiogenic-endothelial cells. Safety and efficacy of VB-111 alone and in combination with bevacizumab (BEV) were evaluated in recurrent-Glioblastoma (rGBM) patients in this Phase 1-2 dose-escalation study. METHODS: VB-111 was administered at 3x1012 or 1x1013 bimonthly until progression, followed by BEV standard-of-care (SOC). The protocol was amended to add-on BEV 10mg/Kg biweekly combined with VB-111 bimonthly, until further progression. Assessments included safety, pharmacokinetics, overall survival (OS) (Kaplan Meyer) and tumor response (RANO). RESULTS: 46 patients at 4 sites (US and Israel) received up to 13 doses of VB-111. Upon further progression, 24 received VB-111 with BEV, 22 were treated with BEV SOC. VB-111 was safe and well-tolerated alone and in combination with BEV. There were 30 grade ≥3 AEs, of which 6 were considered possibly related to VB-111: thrombocytopenia, pyrexia, brain edema, depressed consciousness, general weakness, pulmonary embolism. Median OS was 16 months for patients receiving combination therapy versus 8 months for those receiving SOC (p= 0.05). OS of combination therapy was superior to the historical control BELOB BEV arm, 16 versus 8 months (p = 0.003). Of 46 patients who received VB-111, 25 patients spiked a fever post-VB-111 dosing at least once, while 21 didn't. Feverish patients demonstrated a median OS of 16 months, compared to non-feverish patients, with a median OS of 8.5 months (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: VB-111 was safe and well-tolerated alone and in combination with BEV in rGBM patients. OS of patients who received VB-111 followed by combination therapy almost doubled compared to historical BEV data, and compared to patients who received VB-111 monotherapy. Toxicities were as expected in this population. A phase 3 randomized controlled trial is currently underway.

MRI feature tracking strain profiles distinguish patients with left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction with and without clinical heart failure

Abstract: Background Characterizing myocardial mechanical properties is valuable in understanding cardiomyopathy with and without clinical heart failure (HF). We sought to examine the incremental value of strain assessment in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction without HF (LVSD), HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), LV diastolic dysfunction without HF (LVDD) and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) during routine cardiac MR (CMR) evaluation.