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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Bilateral simultaneous cochlear implantation is a safe method of hearing rehabilitation in adults

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s00405-023-07977-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Bilateral cochlear implantation is an effective treatment for patients with bilateral profound hearing loss. In contrast to children, adults mostly choose a sequential surgery. This study addresses whether simultaneous bilateral CI is associated with higher rates of complications compared to sequential implantation.

METHODS: 169 bilateral CI surgeries were analyzed retrospectively. 34 of the patients were implanted simultaneously (group 1), whereas 135 patients were implanted sequentially (group 2). The duration of surgery, the incidence of minor and major complications and the duration of hospitalization of both groups were compared.

RESULTS: In group 1, the total operating room time was significantly shorter. The incidences of minor and major surgical complications showed no statistically significant differences. A fatal non-surgical complication in group 1 was particularly extensively reappraised without evidence of a causal relationship to the chosen mode of care. The duration of hospitalization was 0.7 days longer than in unilateral implantation but 2.8 days shorter than the combined two hospital stays in group 2.

CONCLUSION: In the synopsis of all considered complications and complication-relevant factors, equivalence of simultaneous and sequential cochlear implantation in adults in terms of safety was found. However, potential side effects related to longer surgical time in simultaneous surgery must be considered individually. Careful patient selection with special consideration to existing comorbidities and preoperative anesthesiologic evaluation is essential.

PMID:37191916 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-023-07977-z

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Fat enhanced leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin versus fascia lata in endoscopic reconstruction of CSF leaks

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s00405-023-08010-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to use a new biological active fat enhanced leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin membrane (L-PRF) for skull base defect reconstruction and compare its validity and reliability with the time-honored fascia lata.

METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 48 patients with spontaneous CSF leaks who were divided into 2 matched groups by stratified randomization, 24 patients in each group. In group A we performed multilayer repair using fat enhanced L-PRF membrane. In group B we used fascia lata for the multilayer repair. In both groups we enforced the repair with mucosal grafts/flaps.

RESULTS: The two groups were statistically matched for age, sex, intracranial pressure, and site and size of the skull base defect. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the outcome of the repair or recurrence of CSF leak during the first postoperative year. Meningitis occurred in one patient in group B and was successfully treated. Another patient in group B developed thigh hematoma which resolved spontaneously.

CONCLUSION: The fat enhanced L-PRF membrane is a valid reliable option in repair of CSF leaks. The membrane is autologous, readily available, easily prepared, and has the advange of including stromal fat, stromal vascular fraction (SVF), and leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF). The present study showed that fat enhanced L-PRF membrane is stable, non-absorbable, not liable to shrink or become necrotic, and can establish good seal of the skull base defect and further enhance the healing process. The use of the membrane also has the advantage of avoiding thigh incision and possible hematoma formation.

PMID:37191915 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-023-08010-z

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Characteristics of traffic accident statistics for older road users

Unfallchirurgie (Heidelb). 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s00113-023-01323-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The comparison of different age groups both with respect to the number of traffic accident victims and in relation to the risk of causing an accident is the prerequisite for a differentiated assessment of persons likely to be a threat and the risk. For this purpose, selected accident statistics were analyzed and evaluated in the context of general population developments. It turns out that the accident risk for older drivers over 75 years of age is not exceptionally high; however, the risk of dying in a road traffic accident is more pronounced for the group of over 75-year-olds. The result varies depending on the means of transport. The findings are intended to stimulate further discussion and give indications for areas of action to increase road safety, especially for older road users.

PMID:37191894 | DOI:10.1007/s00113-023-01323-y

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Immunoexpression of SIRT1, 6, and 7 in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Odontology. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s10266-023-00816-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are a family of proteins involved in the metabolic process responsible for extending the lifespan. The role of SIRT1, 6, and 7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral leukoplakia (OLP), one of its precursors, is still elusive. In this study, 82 OLP and 77 OSCC were immunohistochemically examined for SIRT1, 6, and 7. Stained sections were thoroughly scanned and evaluated using a digital image analysis program. The SIRT1, 6, and 7 expressions were detected in the nuclei of epithelial and carcinoma cells in various degrees. Afterward, any correlations among SIRTs, including associations with clinicopathological features and the Kaplan-Meier curves were analyzed. OSCC demonstrated significantly higher SIRT1 expression than OLP, while non-dysplastic lesions showed significantly higher SIRT6 expression than other lesions. A strong correlation was observed between SIRT6 and 7 in OLP, SIRT1 and 6 in in OSCC and in SIRT6 and 7 when all lesion types were considered. There were no significant differences between SIRTs reactivity and the clinical features in OLP. For OSCC, SIRT1 and 6 was found to be directly associated with site of the lesion, while SIRT7 showed a direct relationship between gender, stromal lymphocytic infiltration, and depth of the invasion. OSCC with high SIRT7 expression revealed a slightly lower survival probability, although not statistically significant (p = 0.1019). Our findings suggest that SIRT1, 6, and 7 may play correlated and diverse roles in the development and advancement of OSCC.

PMID:37191889 | DOI:10.1007/s10266-023-00816-x

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Patient perceptions of urgency of their pelvic floor disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic

Int Urogynecol J. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s00192-023-05545-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many surgical societies released guidelines that included cancellation of elective cases. The aim of this study was to better understand our patients’ perceptions of the severity of their pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) and to determine what factors influenced this perception. We also aimed to better understand who might be amenable to telemedicine visits and what factors influenced this decision.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional quality improvement study that included women at least 18 years of age diagnosed with a pelvic floor disorder being evaluated within a university Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients whose appointments and procedures were being cancelled were queried on whether they would be willing to answer a telephone questionnaire developed by the clinical and research teams. We gathered descriptive data from 97 female patients with PFDs using a primary phone questionnaire. The data were analyzed using proportions and descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Of the 97 patients, the majority (79%) viewed their conditions as non-urgent. Factors that influenced patients’ perception of urgency included race (p=0.037), health status (p≤0.001), a history of diabetes (p=0.011), and willingness to attend an in-person appointment (p=0.010). Further, 52% of respondents were willing to attend a tele-health appointment. Statistically significant factors influencing this decision were ethnicity (p=0.019), marital status (p=0.019), and willingness to attend an in-person appointment (p=0.011).

CONCLUSION: The majority of women did not view their conditions as urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic and were amenable to a telehealth appointment.

PMID:37191888 | DOI:10.1007/s00192-023-05545-x

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Evaluation of a New Aptamer-Based Array for Soluble Suppressor of Tumorgenicity (ST2) and N-terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NTproBNP) in Heart Failure Patients

J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s12265-023-10397-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in multi-marker platforms offer faster data generation, but the fidelity of these methods compared to the ELISA is not established. We tested the correlation and predictive performance of SOMAscan vs. ELISA methods for NTproBNP and ST2.

METHODS: Patients ≥ 18 years with heart failure and ejection fraction < 50% were enrolled. We tested the correlation between SOMA and ELISA for each biomarker and their association with outcomes.

RESULTS: There was good correlation of SOMA vs. ELISA for ST2 (ρ = 0.71) and excellent correlation for NTproBNP (ρ = 0.94). The two versions of both markers were not significantly different regarding survival association. The two ST2 assays and NTproBNP assays were similarly associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. These associations remained statistically significant when adjusted for MAGGIC risk score (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: SOMAscan quantifications of ST2 and NTproBNP correlate to ELISA versions and carry similar prognosis.

PMID:37191882 | DOI:10.1007/s12265-023-10397-3

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Mental Health of Brazilian Immigrant Women: The Role of Discrimination, Social Support, and Community Strengths

J Immigr Minor Health. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s10903-023-01485-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Little is known about the mental health status of Brazilians living in the U.S. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of depression to guide the development of culturally relevant community-based mental health interventions. An online survey was conducted between July and August 2020 among a sample of Brazilian women living in the U.S. (age 18 and over, born in Brazil, English or Portuguese speaking) recruited through Brazilian social media pages and community organizations. The survey assessed depression using the Center for Epidemiological Study Depression Scale (CES-D-10), the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS), the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS), and community strengths (CS). We first assessed the correlation between CES-D-10 scores and EDS, OSSS, and CS. We found that half of the participants (52.2%) had CES-D-10 scores of 10 or greater, indicating the presence of depressive symptomatology. In a multivariable model controlling for significant covariates (age, time lived in U.S.), EDS was positively associated with CES-D-10 scores (β = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.45, 0.83), while OSSS was negatively associated with CES-D-10 scores (β = -0.53, 95% C I= -0.80, -0.27). No statistically significant relationship was observed between CES-D-10 and CS scores. In this sample of Brazilian immigrant women, depressive symptomatology was highly prevalent, and experiences of discrimination were associated with increased symptoms of depression. There is a need to understand and address mental health in Brazilian immigrant women.

PMID:37191876 | DOI:10.1007/s10903-023-01485-2

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Incidences of underlying causes of hypothermia in older patients in the emergency department: a systematic review

Eur Geriatr Med. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s41999-023-00791-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Hypothermia is a serious condition in older adults. Knowledge of a priori chances of underlying diseases may affect initial management, hence prognosis. This systematic review provided an overview of existing literature on the incidences of underlying causes of hypothermia in older patients at the emergency department.

METHODS: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched up to February 1st, 2022. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65 years, emergency department setting, and body temperature < 36.0 degrees Celsius. Exclusion criteria were iatrogenic hypothermia, no underlying cause reported, and patient selection based on specific diseases. Title/abstract and full-text were screened and quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. Data were presented using descriptive statistics and narrative analyses.

RESULTS: Forty-one reports were included, including 6 cohort studies and 35 case reports. The 6 studies involved 2173 hypothermic patients, whose age varied from a mean of 67 to a median of 79 years and temperature from a median of 30.8 to a mean of 33.7 degrees Celsius. One study reported about primary hypothermia (incidence of 44%). Acute medical illness was often reported as underlying cause of secondary hypothermia (49-51%). Reported incidences of infection and sepsis ranged from 10 to 32%, of trauma up to 14%, and of alcohol intoxication from 5 to 26%.

CONCLUSION: Limited studies have been published regarding this topic, and the overall quality of the evidence was graded as low. Causes that should not be missed include acute medical illness, trauma, alcohol intoxication, primary hypothermia, thyroid failure, and drug-induced hypothermia.

PMID:37191873 | DOI:10.1007/s41999-023-00791-0

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Comparison of Newly Proposed LDL-Cholesterol Estimation Equations

J Korean Med Sci. 2023 May 15;38(19):e145. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e145.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is an important marker highly associated with cardiovascular disease. Since the direct measurement of it is inefficient in terms of cost and time, it is common to estimate through the Friedewald equation developed about 50 years ago. However, various limitations exist since the Friedewald equation was not designed for Koreans. This study proposes a new low-density lipoprotein cholesterol estimation equation for South Koreans using nationally approved statistical data.

METHODS: This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2019. The 18,837 subjects were used to develop the equation for estimating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The subjects included individuals with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels directly measured among those with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol measured. We compared twelve equations developed in the previous studies and the newly proposed equation (model 1) developed in this study with the actual low-density lipoprotein cholesterol value in various ways.

RESULTS: The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol value estimated using the estimation formula and the actual low-density lipoprotein cholesterol value were compared using the root mean squared error. When the triglyceride level was less than 400 mg/dL, the root mean squared of the model 1 was 7.96, the lowest compared to other equations, and the model 2 was 7.82. The degree of misclassification was checked according to the NECP ATP III 6 categories. As a result, the misclassification rate of the model 1 was the lowest at 18.9%, and Weighted Kappa was the highest at 0.919 (0.003), which means it significantly reduced the underestimation rate shown in other existing estimation equations. Root mean square error was also compared according to the change in triglycerides level. As the triglycerides level increased, the root mean square error showed an increasing trend in all equations, but it was confirmed that the model 1 was the lowest compared to other equations.

CONCLUSION: The newly proposed low-density lipoprotein cholesterol estimation equation showed significantly improved performance compared to the 12 existing estimation equations. The use of representative samples and external verification is required for more sophisticated estimates in the future.

PMID:37191848 | DOI:10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e145

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The Effect of RAS/BRAF Mutation Status on Prognosis and Relapse Pattern in Early Stage Colon Cancers

J Gastrointest Cancer. 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s12029-023-00943-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: It is known that the RAS and BRAF mutations are predictive for targeted therapies in treating metastatic colon cancer and negatively affect the prognosis of the disease. However, there are limited studies in early-stage colon cancer about the relationship of this mutational condition with the prognosis and relapse pattern of the disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of mutational status on the clinical pattern of recurrence and survival in early-stage colon cancer in addition to classical risk factors.

METHODS: Patients with early-stage colon cancer at the first time of diagnosis and developing recurrence or metastasis on following up were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the at the time of relapse RAS/BRAF mutation status: mutant or non-mutant/wild types. Then, mutation analysis was performed again from the early-stage tissue of the patients if available. The relationship between early-stage mutation status and progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and relapse pattern was analyzed.

RESULTS: The number of patients with mutant and non-mutations in the early stage was 39 and 40, respectively. Mutant and non-mutant patients with stage 3 disease were similar (69% and 70%, respectively). OS (47.27 months vs. 67.53 months; p = 0.02) and PFS (25.12 vs. 38.13 months; p = 0.049) were statistically significantly lower in mutant patients, respectively. Most patients had distant metastases on both sides at recurrence (61.5% vs. 62.5%, respectively). There was no significant difference between mutant and non-mutant patients regarding distant metastasis and local recurrence rates (p = 0.657). A discordance of 11.4% between early-stage and late-stage tissue mutation status.

CONCLUSION: The presence of mutation in early-stage colon cancer is associated with shorter OS and PFS. The mutational status did not have a significant effect on the recurrence pattern. Because of the discordance of early-stage and late-stage mutational status, it is recommended to perform mutation analysis from tissue at relapse.

PMID:37191843 | DOI:10.1007/s12029-023-00943-2