Category: Nevin Manimala

J Paediatr Child Health. 2021 May 10. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15548. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the variability by ethnicity, socio-economic status and location in coverage and testability of the universal B4 School Check vision screening in children aged 4-5 years in New Zealand.

METHODS: Aggregated data from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2015 were sourced from the Statistics New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure. Sourced data were attendance at vision screening and record of visual acuity measurement stratified by ethnicity, socio-economic status and region. Children who attended screening were compared with the eligible population (n = 252 279) to calculate coverage. Testability was determined by comparing the children with a recorded visual acuity measurement in each eye with those who attended screening.

RESULTS: Overall vision screening coverage was 89.5% and testability was 97.8%. Ethnic differences were evident for coverage (85.7% in Pacific children, 92.5% in European children) and testability (96.4% in Māori children, 98.4% in European children). Socio-economic differences were also observed for coverage (86.4% in most deprived areas, 92.4% in least deprived), testability (most deprived 96.3%, least deprived 98.7%) and by region (coverage range of 80.4-96.4% and testability range of 93.2-99.3%).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant disparities exist in vision screening coverage and testability for New Zealand pre-school children. Equity-focused initiatives are required to improve outcomes for children from Māori and Pacific families, and those from households in lower socio-economic areas. Understanding region-specific challenges and successes could support more equitable access to vision screening between regions. Further research is required to determine sources of inequities and to investigate interactions between ethnicity, socio-economic status and location.

PMID:33969914 | DOI:10.1111/jpc.15548

Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021 Dec;29(1):1915940. doi: 10.1080/26410397.2021.1915940.

ABSTRACT

Reports of school and work absences due to unmet menstrual needs have prompted increased attention to menstruation in policy and practice. However, there appear to be few quantitative studies reported in published literature capturing the prevalence of this hypothesised absenteeism. This study undertook secondary analysis of nationally representative Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020) data from Burkina Faso and Nigeria, and city-representative data from Niamey, Niger to determine the extent of women’s and girls’ self-reported absence from school and work due to menstruation. Among women and adolescent girls aged 15-49 years who had worked outside the household in the past month in Burkina Faso (n = 998), Niger (n = 212) and Nigeria (n = 3638), 19%, 11% and 17%, respectively, reported missing work due to menstruation. Among those aged 15-24 years who attended school in the past year in Burkina Faso (n = 461), Niger (n = 213) and Nigeria (n = 1574), 17%, 15% and 23% reported missing school in the past year due to menstruation. Findings support the assertion that menstruation is a source of absenteeism in West Africa and indicate that greater attention from research, practice, and policy is needed. In presenting this data we also reflect critically on the performance of questions regarding menstrual-related absenteeism in national monitoring surveys. Future monitoring efforts should consider the interpretability of similar survey data when many respondents did not attend any school or work and were ineligible to answer questions regarding absenteeism. Further, without additional research identifying the reasons for absenteeism, findings from similar survey questions may be difficult to interpret with relevance for policy decision making.

PMID:33969811 | DOI:10.1080/26410397.2021.1915940

J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 May 10. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9382. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Short sleep duration (SD) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the relationship between objective SD and subclinical atherosclerosis employing hybrid PET/MRI with ¹⁸F-FDG tracer in the MESA cohort.

METHODS: We utilized data from MESA-SLEEP and MESA-PET ancillary studies. SD and sleep fragmentation index (SFI) were assessed using 7-day actigraphy. The primary and secondary outcomes were carotid inflammation, defined using target-to-background ratios (TBR), and measures of carotid wall remodeling (carotid wall thickness [CWT]), summarized by SD category. Multivariate linear regression was performed to assess the association between SD and SFI with the primary/secondary outcomes, adjusting for several covariates including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and CVD risk.

RESULTS: Our analytical sample (n=58) was 62% female (mean age 68±8.4 years). Average SD was 5.1±0.9 hours in the short SD group (≤6 hours/night, 31%), and 7.1±0.8 hours in the normal SD group (69%). Prevalence of pathologic vascular inflammation (TBRmax>1.6) was higher in the short SD group (89% vs. 53%, p=0.009). Those with short SD had a higher TBRmax (1.77 vs 1.71), though this was not statistically significant (p=0.39). CWT was positively correlated with SFI even after adjusting for covariates (Beta [SE]=0.073±[0.032], p=0.025).

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of pathologic vascular inflammation was higher among those who slept ≤6 hours, and vascular inflammation was higher among those with a SD of ≤6 hours. Interestingly, SFI was positively correlated with CWT even after adjustment for covariates. Our results are hypothesis-generating but suggest that both habitual SD and SFI should be investigated in future studies as potential risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis.

PMID:33969819 | DOI:10.5664/jcsm.9382

Laryngoscope. 2021 May 10. doi: 10.1002/lary.29600. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the clinical utility of postoperative contrast x-ray pharyngograms (XRP) for detecting pharyngoesophageal leaks following hypopharyngeal dysphagia surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS: Medical records were reviewed of patients undergoing endoscopic (E-) or open (O-) Zenker’s diverticulectomy (-ZD) with cricopharyngeal myotomy (-CPM) and CPM alone from 2008 to 2020 at one academic institution. Exclusion criteria were patients who were fed enterally or underwent repair of epiphrenic diverticula or O-CPM during laryngectomy. XRP clinical indication, impact on clinical care, and factors associated with use patterns were examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression (LR).

RESULTS: Of 152 subjects, 52% underwent O-ZD, 30% O-CPM, 15% E-ZD, and 3% E-CPM. An XRP was ordered for 65% of subjects, mostly routinely (94%). Among the four clinically apparent leaks observed in this cohort, early postoperative XRP confirmed one. It did not identify any clinically silent leaks. In univariate LR, undergoing XRP was associated with increasing day of diet advancement (odds ratio [OR] 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5-10.5) and hospital stay duration (OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.1-5.2), as well as surgeon specialty of otolaryngology compared to general surgery (OR 12.8, 95% CI 4.8-40.8) and procedure sub-type (O-CPM: OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.002-0.16). In multivariate LR, the following variables were significantly associated with XRP use: hospital stay (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1-3.0), otolaryngology (OR 105; 95% CI 15.4-2193), O-CPM (OR 0.03; 95% CI 0.002-0.16), and E-CPM (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.002-0.60).

CONCLUSIONS: Prospective, multi-institutional studies are needed to confirm the low clinical utility we observed of early, postoperative XRP following hypopharyngeal surgery for dysphagia.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2021.

PMID:33969887 | DOI:10.1002/lary.29600

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021 May 6:S0901-5027(21)00161-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2021.04.008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol was designed to improve patient outcomes and decrease complications, opioid use, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to examine the effectiveness of ERAS protocols implemented in orthognathic surgeries from 2017 to 2018 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital by measuring opioid use and PONV. Two groups were identified through chart review, a non-ERAS group (traditional) of patients who had surgery without a protocol and an ERAS group of patients who had surgery with the ERAS protocol. The anesthesia and surgical teams followed a standardized protocol for perioperative management. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon and included single- and double-jaw surgeries and adjunctive procedures. The patient charts were analyzed for postoperative opioid consumption (measured in morphine milligram equivalents, MME) and PONV. IBM SPSS Statistics version 26 was used to conduct the statistical analyses. The ERAS group received less opioids during the postoperative period than the control group (31.2 MME vs 54.6 MME, P= 0.002). The ERAS group also had a lower incidence of PONV, with 1.2 episodes of PONV compared to 2.4 episodes in the non-ERAS group (P= 0.008). This study demonstrates that the ERAS protocol is effective in decreasing postoperative opioid consumption and PONV.

PMID:33966966 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijom.2021.04.008

Wilderness Environ Med. 2021 May 6:S1080-6032(21)00038-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2021.02.002. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Bouldering has become a sport of growing interest, but little prospective evidence exists about injury proportions and patterns. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the cause of injuries sustained during indoor bouldering, proportion of affected body location, and injury severity.

METHODS: Proportions and patterns of injury among German-speaking indoor boulderers were evaluated prospectively in an explorative cohort study. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire assessing anthropometric data and sport-specific potential preventive and risk factors, followed by monthly injury questionnaires including injury location and injury severity over a period of 12 mo.

RESULTS: Out of 507 boulderers, 222 (44%) sustained 305 injuries. Of those, 78% (n=238) were classified as Union Internationale de Associations d’Alpinisme (UIAA) 1, 19% (n=57) as UIAA 2, and 3% (n=10) as UIAA 3. Injuries of the upper extremities accounted for 63% (n=191) of all injuries. Injuries of the lower extremities accounted for 23% (n=71) but were more often classified as UIAA≥2 (P=0.0071; odds ratio [OR] 2.23; 95% CI 1.23-4.04) and were more often caused by falling (P=0.0005; OR 2.92; 95% CI 1.57-5.42) and jumping off the wall (P<0.0001; OR 4.39; 95% CI 2.25-8.56) than injuries of other body locations. There was no statistically significant protective effect of the evaluated potential preventive measures. Participants who used heavily downturned climbing shoes had a higher risk of sustaining a UIAA ≥2 injury (P=0.0034; OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.34-4.95).

CONCLUSIONS: Injuries in indoor bouldering are common. Lower extremity injuries are associated with higher injury severity. Preventive measures need to be established to reduce bouldering injuries, especially during falls and landings.

PMID:33966976 | DOI:10.1016/j.wem.2021.02.002

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2021 May 4:S0748-7983(21)00475-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2021.04.043. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Primary leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is rare. Limited literature exists regarding the clinical characteristics and outcome for patients with localised and metastatic disease.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients greater than 18 years of age diagnosed with GI LMS at The Royal Marsden Hospital between 1 January 2000-1 May 2020. Descriptive statistics were performed. Patients were censored at data cut-off date of 27 June 2020.

RESULTS: Forty-six patients with a median age at diagnosis of 54 years (range 25-85) were identified. Fifteen percent (n = 7) of patients previously received abdominal radiation for an unrelated cancer. All patients with localised disease (n = 36) had resection with oncological margins. For patients who underwent potentially curative surgery, median recurrence-free survival (mRFS) was 13 months (0.4-183 months), and half of these patients (n = 18) developed recurrent disease post resection (distant n = 16, local n = 2). Median overall survival (mOS) was 27 months for patients with distant recurrence. Twenty-one percent (n = 10) of patients presented with synchronous metastatic disease and their mOS was 19 months. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) for patients treated with conventional chemotherapy ranged from 2.0 to 8.0 months.

CONCLUSION: The risk of recurrence is significant, and recurrence-free survival was short even with complete oncologic resection. The relationship of prior abdominal radiotherapy to the development of GI LMS warrants further investigation. Outcomes with systemic therapy for metastatic disease were poor and there is a need for the development of more effective systemic therapies.

PMID:33966946 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejso.2021.04.043

J Orthop Sci. 2021 May 6:S0949-2658(21)00126-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jos.2021.03.009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Proper identification of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) is important to characterize the relationship between the transitional segment and adjacent levels. Classical classification schemes are inaccurate with respect to the whole spine. We propose a precise vertebral numbering method and investigated the relationship between LSTV and whole-body sagittal alignment.

METHODS: A total of 291 healthy adult volunteers with no history of spinal disease were evaluated with biplanar slot scanning full body stereoradiography to determine the prevalence of LSTV. Vertebrae were counted from the first cervical vertebra using both coronal and sagittal plane images. We then investigated the influence of LSTV on whole-body sagittal alignment in 279 participants. Whole-body key parameters descriptive statistics were compared among groups according to the number of vertebrae (L4, L5, and L6). Statistical analysis was performed between normal and LSTV cases using the Steel-Dwass analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 291 subjects, 14 (4.8%) had 23 vertebrae and 16 (5.5%) had 25 vertebrae. Eleven (3.8%) had Th11, 3 (1.0%) had L4, and 1 (0.3%) had Th11 + L6, 16 (5.5%) had L6. Compared with the normal group, the sacral base in relation to the pelvis was higher in the L4 group and lower in the L6 group. The C2-C7 angle and lumbar lordosis (LL) were increased in both the L4 and L6 groups. All remaining parameters were decreased in the L4 group and increased in the L6 group. The relationship between LL and PI was similar in the normal and LSTV groups, despite the difference in the sacral base location.

CONCLUSIONS: We propose a precise method for numbering the vertebrae using coronal and sagittal full body images. The spinopelvic parameters of the LSTV population significantly differed from those in the normal spine population due to differences in the sacral base location.

PMID:33966957 | DOI:10.1016/j.jos.2021.03.009

Gynecol Oncol. 2021 May 6:S0090-8258(21)00351-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.04.031. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic performance and inter-observer agreement of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System Ultrasound (O-RADS US).

METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2018 a total of 1054 adnexal lesions in 1035 patients with pathologic results from two hospitals were retrospectively included. Each lesion was assigned to an O-RADS US category according to the criteria. Kappa (κ) statistics were applied to assess inter-observer agreement between a less experienced and an expert radiologist.

RESULTS: Of the 1054 adnexal lesions, 750 were benign and 304 were malignant. The malignancy rates of O-RADS 5, O-RADS 4, O-RADS 3, and O-RADS 2 lesions were 89.57%, 34.46%, 1.10%, and 0.45% respectively. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.960 (95% CI, 0.947-0.971). The optimal cutoff value for predicting malignancy was >O-RADS 3 with a sensitivity and specificity of 98.7% (95% CI, 0.964-0.996) and 83.2% (95% CI, 0.802-0.858) respectively. When sub-classifying multilocular cysts and smooth solid lesions in O-RADS 4 lesions as O-RADS 4a lesions and the rest cystic lesions with solid components as O-RADS 4b lesions, the malignancy rate were 17.02% and 42.57% respectively, which showed better risk stratification (P < 0.001). The inter-observer agreement between a less-experienced and an expert radiologist of O-RADS categorization was good (κ = 0.714).

CONCLUSIONS: The ACR O-RADS US provides effective malignancy risk stratification for adnexal lesions with high reliability for radiologists with different experience. Sub-grouping of O-RADS 4 lesions into two groups facilitated better stratification of the intermediate risk.

PMID:33966893 | DOI:10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.04.031

Dent Mater. 2021 May 6:S0109-5641(21)00155-X. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.04.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different chamfer preparations on the load capacity of reattached fractured incisors under lingual loading.

METHODS: Eighty #8 typodonts were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 20 each). They were sectioned to simulate crown fracture, and reattached with a self-etch adhesive and a resin composite. The preparation for each group was: (1) no chamfer; (2) buccal chamfer; (3) lingual chamfer; and (4) circumferential chamfer. Forty-eight human lower incisors were grouped and prepared similarly (n = 12 each). These teeth were tested for their load capacity under a lingual load on a universal testing machine. Finite element models were used to examine the stresses on the reattached surfaces to help interpret the experimental results.

RESULTS: The buccal chamfer did not increase the load capacity when compared with the no-chamfer group. Lingual and circumferential chamfers respectively increased the fracture load by 36.9% and 32.3% in typodonts, and 78.5% and 33.3% in human incisors. The increase was statistically significant (p < 0.05). A higher fracture load tended to be accompanied by a larger area of deflected cohesive fracture. Finite element analysis showed that lingual and circumferential chamfers reduced the fracture-causing tensile stress at the lingual margin of the reattachment interface by approximately 70% and 60%, respectively, in human upper incisors.

SIGNIFICANCE: It was the joint design, and not the size of the bond area, that affected the load capacity of reattached incisors. Among the preparations considered, only those with a lingual chamfer could increase the load capacity of reattached incisors under a lingual load.

PMID:33966913 | DOI:10.1016/j.dental.2021.04.003