Rural barriers to early lung cancer detection: Exploring access to lung cancer screening programs in New Hampshire and Vermont

BackgroundRural populations face many health disadvantages compared to urban areas. There is a critical need to better understand the current lung cancer screening landscape in these communities to identify targeted areas to improve the impact of this proven tool.MethodsData from the County Health Rankings of New Hampshire and Vermont was reviewed for population density, distribution of adult smokers, and level of education compared to the distribution of Lung Cancer Screening Facilities throughout these two states.ResultsScreening programs in southern counties of Vermont with lower levels of education have decreased access. In New Hampshire, there are no programs within 30 miles of the areas with the largest distribution of smokers, and decreased access in some areas with the lowest levels of education.ConclusionsImproving equitable access to high-quality screening services in rural regions and the creation of targeted interventions to address decreased access in areas of high tobacco use and low education is vital to decreasing the incidence of latestage presentations of lung cancer within these populations.     

Combinatorial Inhibition of Myostatin and Activin A Improves Femoral Bone Properties in the G610C Mouse Model of Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a collagen-related bone disorder characterized by fragile osteopenic bone and muscle weakness. We have previously shown that the soluble activin receptor type IIB decoy (sActRIIB) molecule increases muscle mass and improves bone strength in the mild to moderate G610C mouse model of OI. The sActRIIB molecule binds multiple transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) ligands, including myostatin and activin A. Here, we investigate the musculoskeletal effects of inhibiting activin A alone, myostatin alone, or both myostatin and activin A in wild-type (Wt) and heterozygous G610C (+/G610C) mice using specific monoclonal antibodies. Male and female Wt and +/G610C mice were treated twice weekly with intraperitoneal injections of monoclonal control antibody (Ctrl-Ab, Regn1945), anti-activin A antibody (ActA-Ab, Regn2476), anti-myostatin antibody (Mstn-Ab, Regn647), or both ActA-Ab and Mstn-Ab (Combo, Regn2476, and Regn647) from 5 to 16 weeks of age. Prior to euthanasia, whole body composition, metabolism and muscle force generation assessments were performed. Post euthanasia, hindlimb muscles were evaluated for mass, and femurs were evaluated for changes in microarchitecture and biomechanical strength using micro–computed tomography (μCT) and three-point bend analyses. ActA-Ab treatment minimally impacted the +/G610C musculoskeleton, and was detrimental to bone strength in male +/G610C mice. Mstn-Ab treatment, as previously reported, resulted in substantial increases in hindlimb muscle weights and overall body weights in Wt and male +/G610C mice, but had minimal skeletal impact in +/G610C mice. Conversely, the Combo treatment outperformed ActA-Ab alone or Mstn-Ab alone, consistently increasing hindlimb muscle and body weights regardless of sex or genotype and improving bone microarchitecture and strength in both male and female +/G610C and Wt mice. Combinatorial inhibition of activin A and myostatin more potently increased muscle mass and bone microarchitecture and strength than either antibody alone, recapturing most of the observed benefits of sActRIIB treatment in +/G610C mice. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Improving the safety of neuromuscular blocking agents: a statement from the USP Safe Medication Use Expert Committee.

PURPOSE: Recommendations of the interdisciplinary Safe Medication Use Expert Committee of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) to assist health care professionals, manufacturers, and organizations in handling neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) safely and effectively are discussed. SUMMARY: Review and analysis of the USP Medication Errors Reporting Program and MEDMARX program databases showed a continuing risk of patient harm or death due to errors with NMBAs. Medication errors involving wrong concentrations, wrong doses, wrong drugs, look-alike packaging, and sound-alike names, combined with lack of monitoring and communication, have been associated with the use of NMBAs in health care institutions. Serious adverse events occur when NMBAs are used without adequate safeguards. Recommendations for improving safety were developed through review and discussion of root causes and areas of concern with these medications. CONCLUSION: Medical errors with NMBAs continue to result in patient morbidity and mortality. Increased awareness and action on the part of all parties involved are needed to improve the safety of this class of medications.     

全膝关节置换术后的骨溶解：胫骨盘表面的修饰及聚乙烯衬垫灭菌方法对其的影响术 后5至10年的报告

背景：从关节和胫骨假体聚乙烯衬垫后表面转移磨损碎屑，是全膝关节置换术后假体周围骨溶解的主要原因。全膝人工关节假体设计随时问而发生变化，例如对胫骨盘近端表面的粗糙度和聚乙烯衬垫的灭菌方法。我们假设胫骨盘表面抛光和采用空气中γ射线照射之外的其他方法对衬垫灭菌，可降低骨溶解的发生率。方法：从1987年至1998年，我们采用后十字韧带保留型的解剖型组配式全膝人工关节假体系列。对300名患者施行365例全膝关节置换术。术后5至10年，对这些患者的膝关节摄正、侧位X线片。由两位关节置换专家对X线片上的骨溶解状况进行单独评定（骨溶解的界定标准为假体周围存在边缘清晰的非线性松质骨丢失区）。结果：在粗糙表面的胫骨盘的242例膝关节中，使用空气中γ射线照射灭菌的衬垫固定，有34％（82例）骨溶解阳性。用惰性气体中γ射线照射或没有照射的衬垫与抛光表面连接的98例膝关节中，有9％（9例）骨溶解阳性。骨溶解与六项因素相关，这些因素为：一项与患者（男性）相关、一项与胫骨盘（近端表面抛光）相关、三项与聚乙烯衬垫（加工的原材料、灭菌方法及存放时间）相关及一项与手术技术（股骨假体与胫骨假体间的过伸）相关。结论：在这类假体设计中，胫骨盘近端表面采用抛光及衬垫采用更为先进的灭菌方法（不用空气中γ射线照射灭菌）能显著减少骨溶解的发生率，但不能避免骨溶解。     

Use of CO2 to move structures as an aid to percutaneous procedures

By injecting small amounts of CO2 through a needle, one can move bowel or bladder from the intended path of instruments during interventional procedures. The technique worked well in six of seven cases in the pelvis and retroperitoneum; it was not effective in the mediastinum or midabdomen (n = 6).