Category: Nevin Manimala

Ann Plast Surg. 2021 Mar 31. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000002839. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Conducting research during specialty training provides an opportunity to develop critical thinking and leadership skills along with a better understanding of the scientific literature. However, trainees often find it difficult to undertake research, in the context of labor-intensive surgical training. The aim of this study is to evaluate the research output and limitations of plastic surgery residents in different countries.

METHODS: An international cross-sectional study involving plastic surgery trainees and recent postgraduates from Brazil, Chile, Germany, and the United Kingdom was conducted. A survey inquiring into academic productivity, limitations to conducting research, and working-hours patterns was distributed among eligible participants.

RESULTS: From September to December 2019, 106 surveys were retrieved. Most respondents declared having participated in at least 1 project that resulted in a presentation or publication during their training (90.6% in national presentations, 68% international presentations, 67% in national publications, and 66% international publications). Having completed a previous research fellowship was associated with a statistically higher academic output (P < 0.05). Seventy-nine percent of respondents felt that their participation in research activities would have been greater if limiting factors had been addressed, including lack of time (72.5%) and insufficient supervision and mentoring (55%).

CONCLUSIONS: Optimizing plastic surgery trainees’ participation in scientific research is beneficial both for residents and their mentors. Research fellowships can provide an opportunity for academically oriented trainees to further develop their research skills. Protected time and adequate mentoring can help not only to increase residents’ research output, but also to recruit the next generation of academic plastic surgeons.

PMID:33833167 | DOI:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002839

Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Apr 4;13. doi: 10.18632/aging.202827. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Three polymorphisms in the Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene (C677T, A1298C, and A1793G) were reported associated with AD. However, their genotype distributions and associations with age at onset (AAO), homocysteine, and white matter lesions (WML) were unclear in the Chinese AD population.

METHOD: We determined the presence of C677T, A1298C, and A1793G polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene using Sanger sequencing in a Chinese cohort comprising 721 AD patients (318 early-onset AD patients (EOAD) and 403 late-onset AD patients (LOAD)) and 365 elderly controls. Additionally, the homocysteine level and WML were evaluated in 121 AD patients.

RESULTS: The frequency of allele T of C677T polymorphism was significantly higher in AD patients than in controls (P = 0.040), while no statistical difference was observed in A1298C and A1793G (P > 0.05). Besides, genotype distributions of C677T and A1298C polymorphisms statistically varied between AD patients and controls (P = 0.021, P = 0.012). Moreover, the AAO was significantly lower in CT/TT (C677T) genotypes carriers (P = 0.042) and higher in AC/CC (A1298C) and AG/GG (A1793G) genotypes carriers (P = 0.034, P = 0.009) in patients with LOAD. We also found that patients with CT/TT (C677T) genotypes were prone to present an increased homocysteine level (P = 0.036) and higher Fazekas score (P = 0.024). In comparison, patients with AG/GG genotypes (A1793G) had a significantly lower Fazekas score (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS: The genotype distributions of C677T and A1298C polymorphisms are associated with AD in the Chinese population. Moreover, AD patients with C677T polymorphism are prone to present an earlier onset, higher homocysteine level, and more severe WML.

PMID:33833133 | DOI:10.18632/aging.202827

Dis Colon Rectum. 2021 Apr 5. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000001923. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Barium defecography can assess structural and functional abnormalities in patients with chronic constipation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of individual and overlapping defecographic findings in this setting.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: University Hospital: tertiary gastrointestinal physiology department.

PATIENTS: Consecutive examinations of 827 consecutive patients presenting over a 30-month period with well-defined symptom severity (≥12 points on the Cleveland Clinic Constipation score): systematic evaluation of images with results stratified by sex.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Six individual functional or anatomical (intussusception, rectocele, enterocele, megarectum, excessive dynamic perineal descent) defecographic observations were defined a priori thus permitting 26 possible combinations of findings (i.e. 63 abnormal types + 1 normal).

RESULTS: Patients with constipation (mean symptom score, 19) were predominantly female (88%) with median age 49 (17-98) years. All 6 individual radiological findings were identified with a total of 43 combinations found in the cohort; the 14 most prevalent of these accounted for >85% of patients. Only 136 (16.4%) patients had a normal defecography (34.3% males vs. 13.9% females; P<0.0001). Overall, 612 (74.0%) patients had structural (n=508 [61.4%]) or functional (n=104 [12.6%]) abnormalities in isolation, with 79 (9.6%) others exhibiting combinations of both. Functional abnormalities in isolation were more common in males compared to females (22.5% vs.11.2%,P=0.025) as opposed to structural abnormalities (57.8% vs. 85.7%, P<0.0001). Expulsion time was longer in females compared to males (110 [60-120] vs. 90 [60-120] sec; P=0.049).

LIMITATIONS: Lack of multiorgan opacification.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide a contemporary atlas of defecographic findings in constipation. Several individual structural and functional features have been systematically classified, with overlap greater than previously acknowledged and profound differences among sexes that carry implications for tailoring management. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B552.

PMID:33833142 | DOI:10.1097/DCR.0000000000001923

Sex Transm Dis. 2021 Apr 1. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001435. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nearly 14% of US women report any lifetime infertility which is associated with healthcare costs and psychosocial consequences. Tubal factor infertility (TFI) often occurs as a result of sexually transmitted diseases and subsequent pelvic inflammatory disease. We sought to evaluate for and describe potential racial disparities in TFI and in vitro fertilization (IVF) prevalence.

METHODS: Records of women aged 19-42 years in our retrospective cohort from two US infertility clinics were reviewed. We calculated TFI prevalence, IVF initiation prevalence, and prevalence ratios (PR), with 95% confidence intervals for each estimate, overall and by race.

RESULTS: Among 660 infertile women, 110 (16.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.8-19.5%) had TFI which was higher in black compared to white women (30.3% [33/109] vs. 13.9% [68/489]; PR 2.2 [95% CI 1.5-3.1]). For women with TFI, IVF was offered to similar proportions of women by race (51.5% [17/33] versus 52.9% [36/68] for black versus white women); however, fewer black than white women with TFI started IVF (6.7% [1/15] versus 31.0% [9/29]; PR 0.2 [95% CI 0-1.0]), although the difference was not statistically different.

CONCLUSIONS: TFI prevalence was two-fold higher among black than white women seeking care for infertility. Among women with TFI, data suggested a lower likelihood of black women starting IVF than white women. Improved sexually transmitted disease prevention and treatment might ameliorate disparities in TFI.

PMID:33833148 | DOI:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001435

Pediatrics. 2021 Apr 8:e2020037887. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-037887. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:33833073 | DOI:10.1542/peds.2020-037887

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2021 Apr 8:ijgc-2020-002202. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2020-002202. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy response score (CRS) applied to interval debulking specimens quantifies histopathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma and correlates with progression-free and overall survival.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the chemotherapy response score could be applied to interval debulking specimens in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma and be a prognostic indicator.

METHODS: The study included patients with clinical stage III-IV endometrial carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. Chemotherapy response scores were assigned to omental and adnexal metastases, and categorized as no/minimal (CRS1), partial (CRS2), and complete/near-complete (CRS3) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate baseline characteristics and feasibility of chemotherapy response score assessment. Univariate analyses were used to evaluate associations between the chemotherapy response score, complete cytoreduction, and survival.

RESULTS: This study included 40 patients. The median age was 63.5 years, and 31 patients (78%) had stage IV disease. Thirty patients had an omentectomy, 22 patients (73%) had an omental chemotherapy response score assigned. Thirty-nine patients had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 28 patients (72%) had an adnexal chemotherapy response score assigned. Omental CRS2 and CRS3 were associated with improved progression-free survival (CRS2: HR=0.18, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.11, p<0.01) and overall survival (CRS2: HR=0.10, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.16, p=0.04). Adnexal CRS2 and CRS3 were associated with improved progression-free survival (CRS2: HR=0.23, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.20, p=0.03). Chemotherapy response scores were also associated with an increased likelihood of having a complete cytoreduction.

CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy response score can be applied to omental and adnexal metastases in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma and was associated with survival and complete cytoreduction. The score may be a prognostic indicator and help to guide first-line treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma.

PMID:33833085 | DOI:10.1136/ijgc-2020-002202

Tob Control. 2021 Apr 8:tobaccocontrol-2020-056310. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056310. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: One of the opposing arguments to restricting or banning the sale of tobacco products stem from a perception that this would adversely impact on small retail stores that rely on tobacco sales for viability. It has also been argued that purchases of tobacco leads to unplanned purchasing of other items that yield income for small store owners. This study tested the veracity of these arguments in the Australian context.

METHODS: Consumer intercept surveys (n=1487) were conducted outside a comprehensive sample of small stores (n=136) selling tobacco in lower socioeconomic suburbs. Data were collected over a 2-hour period outside each store using the same methodology (36% consumer response rate). Descriptive statistics examined the proportion of tobacco and non-tobacco purchases and most common products purchased.

RESULTS: Purchasing tobacco was the primary motivation for store visits for only 3% of consumers. The vast majority of products purchased (92%) were not tobacco, with hot food, groceries and lottery tickets most frequent. Only 8% of consumers purchased tobacco. When unplanned purchasing patterns were compared, consumers’ who purchased tobacco were no more likely to buy other products.

CONCLUSION: Tobacco purchasing was rarely the reason for store visits, indicating that it is not a key driver of consumer foot traffic for small retailers. There was also no evidence that tobacco contributes to spontaneous purchases of other products that might bring retailers profit. Findings suggest that restricting the retail availability of tobacco would be unlikely to have a pronounced negative impact on small retail stores.

PMID:33833091 | DOI:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056310

Inj Prev. 2021 Apr 8:injuryprev-2020-044115. doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2020-044115. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the voluntary safety standard for liquid laundry packets on the rate of child exposures reported to Poison Control Centers in the US.

METHODS: The analysis was based on an interrupted time series design. The voluntary safety standard for laundry packets was published at the end of 2015. Data on reported liquid laundry packet exposures involving children under age 6 years were collected for the July 2012 through December 2017 study period. A negative binomial multiple regression model for rate data was used to quantify the impact of the voluntary standard on (1) the rate of total reported exposures and (2) the rate of reported exposures that were medically treated. The analysis controlled for laundry packet sales, time trends and seasonal variations in reported exposures.

RESULTS: The voluntary safety standard was associated with a 28.6% reduction in the rate of total reported exposures and a 36.8% reduction in the rate of medically treated exposures. The analysis also provides some evidence that these estimated reductions may underestimate overall reductions in the rate of reported exposures if pre-standard packaging improvements and possible caregiver behavioural responses to laundry packet hazard warnings are considered.

CONCLUSIONS: The analysis suggests that the requirements of the voluntary standard have effectively reduced the rate of injury involving liquid laundry packets.

PMID:33833071 | DOI:10.1136/injuryprev-2020-044115

Heart. 2021 Apr 8:heartjnl-2021-319243. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2021-319243. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To inform a clinical practice guideline (BMJ Rapid Recommendations) considering sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes, we summarised the available evidence regarding the performance of validated risk models on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in these patients.

METHODS: We systematically searched bibliographic databases in January 2020 to identify observational studies evaluating risk models for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalisations, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), myocardial infarction (MI) and ischaemic stroke in ambulatory adults with type 2 diabetes. Using a random effects model, we pooled discrimination measures for each model and outcome, separately, and descriptively summarised calibration plots, when available. We used the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool to assess risk of bias of each included study and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach to evaluate our certainty in the evidence.

RESULTS: Of 22 589 publications identified, 15 observational studies reporting on seven risk models proved eligible. Among the seven models with >1 validation cohort, the Risk Equations for Complications of Type 2 Diabetes (RECODe) had the best calibration in primary studies and the highest pooled discrimination measures for the following outcomes: all-cause mortality (C-statistics 0.75, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.80; high certainty), cardiovascular mortality (0.79, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.84; low certainty), ESKD (0.73, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.94; low certainty), MI (0.72, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.74; moderate certainty) and stroke (0.71, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.74; moderate certainty). This model does not, however, predict risk of HF hospitalisations.

CONCLUSION: Of available risk models, RECODe proved to have satisfactory calibration in primary validation studies and acceptable discrimination superior to other models, though with high risk of bias in most primary studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020168351.

PMID:33833070 | DOI:10.1136/heartjnl-2021-319243

Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2021 Apr 9;56(4):370-373. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112144-20200603-00312.

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the clinical value of emergency endovascular embolization in the interventional treatment for oral hemorrhage caused by carcinoma, 32 patients with oral hemorrhage caused by carcinoma, who received emergency endovascular embolization due to unsatisfactory hemostatic effect of conventional conservative treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to December 2019, were included in this study and their clinical data, laboratory data and imaging information were retrospectively analyzed. There were 16 males and 16 females, aged (60.6±13.6) years (34-88 years). Technical successful rate of emergency endovascular embolization, immediate successful rate of controlling hemorrhage, blood pressure before and after operation, hemoglobin before and after operation, postoperative complications and recurrence rate of oral hemorrhage were statistically analyzed. Results showed that technical successful rate of operation and immediate successful rate of controlling oral hemorrhage are both 100% (32/32). Recurrent oral hemorrhage occurred in 4 patients (13%). The hemorrhagic shock symptoms of all patients were significantly improved after interventional therapy. After operation, local swelling happened in 34% (11/32) patients and intermittent local pain happened in 22% (7/32) within 24 hours; the swelling and the pain gradually disappeared from 2nd to 5th days. Mild complications of transient fever happened in 9% (3/32) patients and disappeared spontaneously in the short term. No serious complications such as blindness, cerebrovascular accident or central nervous system disturbance occurred in all patients after operations. During the whole follow-up period (1 to 12 months), a total of 8 patients died. The causes of death were progression and metastasis of carcinoma (n=4), heart failure (n=2), severe pneumonia (n=1) and respiratory failure caused by recurrent oral hemorrhage (n=1). Owing to the remarkable short-term curative effect, repeatable operation, low recurrence rate of oral hemorrhage and low incidence of complications, emergency endovascular embolization can be used in the clinical therapy and application of oral hemorrhage caused by carcinoma.

PMID:33832039 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112144-20200603-00312