A Review of the Psychology That Underpins the Creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Although all committee work can be fraught with difficulty and laborious time commitments, committees designed to disrupt the cycle of inequity and bias are particularly fraught with social and emotional land mines that come as baggage to years of unaddressed inequity. As such, leaders must take special care and attend to the complex psychology that underpins the difficult discussions that must be had by these committees as they begin to address topics of inequity within professional medical institutions. The authors describe, in an accessible summary format, how to lay the foundations for a smooth transition into the work of a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, the best steps to build a team, and the core concepts that should underpin all diversity, equity, and inclusion work, starting from the intrapersonal level and moving toward the organizational level. This is done with the help of available scientific data where they are available, including literature on teamwork, health equity, and psychological safety, among other topics.

Outcomes of radioembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with marginal functional hepatic reserve

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of radioembolization (RE) as a therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with marginal functional hepatic reserve.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 471 patients (1/2010-7/2015) treated with RE (Therasphere, BTG, UK) was performed. A total of 36 patients (mean age: 66.1±9.3, male: 86.1%) underwent therapy for HCC with a MELD≥15 (median: 16, range: 15-22). Baseline demographics of the study cohort were as follows: etiology (HCV: 26, 72.2%), cirrhosis (n=32, 88.9%), ECOG 0 (n=16, 44.4%), Child-Pugh class (A=15, B=19, C=2), unilobar distribution (n=27, 75%), AFP>200 (n=11, 30.6%), portal vein thrombosis (PVT, n=7, 19.4%), metastasis (n=3, 8.3%). Outcomes analyzed included CTCAEv4.03 laboratory toxicities (120-day), imaging response (mRECIST), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

A total of 42 treatments were performed with mean dose of 2.02±1.23GBq. The cumulative grade 3/4 toxicity was 28% overall and 21% for bilirubin at 120-days. The objective response and disease control rates were 48.3% (14/29) and 69% (20/29) respectively. The median (95% CI) PFS was 5.9 (4.4-7.7) months. Ten (27.8%) patients received additional locoregional therapy at a median (IQR) of 138 (102-243) days post RE. The mean (95% CI) OS was 21.9 (14.8-29.0) months. The absence of PVT was associated with improved OS (p=0.005) Disease control at 90-days was also associated with an OS benefit (p=0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with unresectable HCC and marginal functional hepatic reserve treated with RE had favorable objective response and disease control rates, both predictive of overall survival.

Radiation dose reduction utilizing noise reduction technology during uterine artery embolization: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the radiation dose reduction during uterine artery embolization utilizing dose reduction technology.

METHODS

A total of 58 women underwent uterine artery embolization. A total of 26 procedures were performed in a standard fluoroscopy suite; 32 procedures were performed utilizing a novel imaging platform. Radiation dose data and acquisition parameters were compared.

RESULTS

The new platform provided significant reduction in the median radiation dose (P<.001): from 389Gy cm(2) to 145Gy cm(2). There were no differences between the groups with regard to acquisition parameters.

CONCLUSION

The new imaging platform provided a 61% dose reduction during uterine artery embolization without a significant change in acquisition parameters.