Tag: nevin manimala

Eur Radiol Exp. 2023 Mar 27;7(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s41747-023-00329-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) has the potential to provide superior image quality compared to energy-integrating detector computed tomography (EID-CT). We compared the two systems for elbow imaging in off-center arm positioning, 90° flexion, and cast fixation in a simulated post-trauma setting.

METHODS: The institutional review board approved the study protocol. In a cadaver study, an olecranon fracture was artificially created in ten whole arm specimens. Two different scanning positions were evaluated: (a) arm overhead; and (b) arm on top of the abdomen of a whole-body phantom. The ultra-high resolution mode with three dose protocols and two reconstruction kernels was applied. Two blinded radiologists independently evaluated fracture and trabecular bone delineation. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and cortical sharpness measurements were performed. Cohen κ correlations, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used. A p value lower than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Dose-equivalent PCD-CT scans were rated better for fracture and trabecular bone evaluation (p < 0.001). SNR, CNR, and cortical sharpness were higher for all diagnostic (Br76) PCD-CT images (p < 0.001). The arm position had less effect on image quality in the PCD-CT compared to the EID-CT. The use of a sharp bone kernel (Br89) improved image quality ratings for PCD-CT. In the low-dose scan mode, PCD-CT resulted in more diagnostic scans (75%) compared to EID-CT (19%).

CONCLUSIONS: PCD-CT provided superior objective and subjective image quality for fracture and trabecular bone structures delineation of the elbow compared to EID-CT in a typical post-trauma setting.

KEY POINTS: • Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) preserved high image quality in elbow imaging with off-center positions. • PCD-CT was advantageous for bone evaluation in trauma elbows. • PCD-CT ultra-high-resolution mode and very sharp reconstruction kernels facilitated higher image quality.

PMID:36967394 | DOI:10.1186/s41747-023-00329-w

J Clin Monit Comput. 2023 Mar 27. doi: 10.1007/s10877-023-00986-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Repeated administration of high doses of propofol to patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has been shown to produce antidepressant effects in small clinical trials. These effects can be elicited when the patient’s EEG burst-suppression ratio (BSR) is maintained at 70-90% for 15 min in repeated treatments. This deep anesthesia domain lies beyond the range of current propofol pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models. In this study, we adapt the Eleveld model for use at deep anesthesia levels with a BSR endpoint, with the goal of aiding the estimation of the dosage of propofol needed to achieve 70-90% BSR for 15 min. We test the ability of the adapted model to predict BSR for these treatments. Twenty participants underwent 6-9 treatments of high doses of propofol (5-9 of which were included in this analysis) for a total of 115 treatments. To adapt the Eleveld model for this endpoint, we optimized the model parameters Ke0, γ and C_e50. These parameters were then used in the adapted model to estimate second-by-second BSR for each treatment. Estimated BSR was compared with observed BSR for each treatment of each participant. Median absolute performance error (MdAPE) between the estimated and observed BSR (25th-75th percentile) was 6.63 (3.79-12.96) % points and 8.51 (4.32-16.74) % between the estimated and observed treatment duration. This predictive performance is statistically significantly better at predicting BSR compared with the standard Eleveld model at deep anesthesia levels. Our adapted Eleveld model provides a useful tool to aid dosing propofol for high-dose anesthetic treatments for depression.

PMID:36967391 | DOI:10.1007/s10877-023-00986-7

Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2023 Mar 27;11(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s40478-023-01544-7.

ABSTRACT

Heterozygous mutations in the GRN gene and hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9orf72 are the two most common genetic causes of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) with TDP-43 protein inclusions. The triggers for neurodegeneration in FTD with GRN (FTD-GRN) or C9orf72 (FTD-C9orf72) gene abnormalities are unknown, although evidence from mouse and cell culture models suggests that GRN mutations disrupt lysosomal lipid catabolism. To determine how brain lipid metabolism is affected in familial FTD with TDP-43 inclusions, and how this is related to myelin and lysosomal markers, we undertook comprehensive lipidomic analysis, enzyme activity assays, and western blotting on grey and white matter samples from the heavily-affected frontal lobe and less-affected parietal lobe of FTD-GRN cases, FTD-C9orf72 cases, and age-matched neurologically-normal controls. Substantial loss of myelin-enriched sphingolipids (sulfatide, galactosylceramide, sphingomyelin) and myelin proteins was observed in frontal white matter of FTD-GRN cases. A less-pronounced, yet statistically significant, loss of sphingolipids was also observed in FTD-C9orf72. FTD-GRN was distinguished from FTD-C9orf72 and control cases by increased acylcarnitines in frontal grey matter and marked accumulation of cholesterol esters in both frontal and parietal white matter, indicative of myelin break-down. Both FTD-GRN and FTD-C9orf72 cases showed significantly increased lysosomal and phagocytic protein markers, however galactocerebrosidase activity, required for lysosomal catabolism of galactosylceramide and sulfatide, was selectively increased in FTD-GRN. We conclude that both C9orf72 and GRN mutations are associated with disrupted lysosomal homeostasis and white matter lipid loss, but GRN mutations cause a more pronounced disruption to myelin lipid metabolism. Our findings support the hypothesis that hyperactive myelin lipid catabolism is a driver of gliosis and neurodegeneration in FTD-GRN. Since FTD-GRN is associated with white matter hyperintensities by MRI, our data provides important biochemical evidence supporting the use of MRI measures of white matter integrity in the diagnosis and management of FTD.

PMID:36967384 | DOI:10.1186/s40478-023-01544-7

Asian J Surg. 2023 Mar 21:S1015-9584(23)00326-3. doi: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.03.056. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Surgery is the primary curative treatment of solid cancers. However, its safety has been compromised by the outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the safety of digestive tract cancer surgery in the context of COVID-19. We used the Review Manager software (v.5.4) and Stata software (version 16.0) for meta-analysis and statistical analysis. Sixteen retrospective studies involving 17,077 patients met the inclusion criteria. The data indicates that performing digestive tract cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased blood loss(MD = -11.31, 95%CI:-21.43 to -1.20, P = 0.03), but did not increase postoperative complications(OR = 1.03, 95%CI:0.78 to1.35, P = 0 0.86), anastomotic leakage (OR = 0.96, 95%CI:0.52 to1.77, P = 0 0.89), postoperative mortality (OR = 0.65, 95%CI:0.40 to1.07, P = 0 0.09), number of transfusions (OR = 0.74, 95%CI:0.30 to 1.80, P = 0.51), number of patients requiring ICU care(OR = 1.37, 95%CI:0.90 to 2.07, P = 0.14), postoperative 30-d readmission (OR = 0.94, 95%CI:0.82 to 1.07, P = 0 0.33), total hospital stay (MD = 0.11, 95%CI:-2.37 to 2.59, P = 0.93), preoperative waiting time(MD = – 0.78, 95%CI:-2.34 to 0.79, P = 0.33), postoperative hospital stay(MD = – 0.44, 95%CI:-1.61 to 0.74, P = 0.47), total operation time(MD = -12.99, 95%CI:-28.00 to 2.02, P = 0.09) and postoperative ICU stay (MD = – 0.02, 95%CI:-0.62 to 0.57, P = 0.94). Digestive tract cancer surgery can be safely performed during the COVID-19.

PMID:36967345 | DOI:10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.03.056

Semin Oncol. 2023 Mar 21:S0093-7754(23)00036-2. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2023.03.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Available evidence suggests that in patients with advanced BRAF V600-mutant melanoma treated with the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, gender could be associated with survival outcome. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) testing the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, to assess the interaction between treatment effect and patients’ gender. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus, for phase II and III RCTs up to January 30, 2022. We included all RCTs that enrolled patients with BRAF V600-mutant advanced cutaneous melanoma and assessed combinations of BRAF and MEK inhibitors versus BRAF inhibitor monotherapy. Our aim was to assess differences if any in treatment efficacy between men and women, measured in terms of the differences in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) log-hazard ratios (log-HRs). We calculated the pooled PFS- and OS-HRs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in men and women using a random-effects model and assessed the heterogeneity between the estimates using an interaction test. Five RCTs that enrolled a total of 2,113 patients were included in the analysis. In women, the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors halved the risk of progression or death as compared with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy with a pooled PFS-HR of 0.50 (95%CI 0.41-0.61). In men, the benefit obtained with BRAF and MEK inhibitors was smaller with a pooled PFS-HR of 0.63 (95%CI 0.54-0.74), P-heterogeneity = .05. A similar trend was observed for OS where the pooled OS-HR was 0.62 (95%CI 0.48-0.80) in women and only 0.78, (95%CI 0.67-0.92) in men, P-heterogeneity = 0.11. These results support meaningful gender-based heterogeneity of response to combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors targeted therapy in patients with advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma, that should be considered in future research to improve treatment effectiveness.

PMID:36967333 | DOI:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2023.03.003

Vet Anaesth Analg. 2023 Feb 20:S1467-2987(23)00041-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2023.02.009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate if modified passive leg raise (PLR_M) maneuver can be used for volumetric evaluation of fluid responsiveness (FR) by inducing cardiac output (CO) changes during experimental induction and correction of hypovolemia in healthy anesthetized dogs. The effects of PLR_M on plethysmographic variability index (PVI) and pulse pressure variation (PPV) were also investigated.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, crossover study.

ANIMALS: A total of six healthy anesthetized Beagle dogs.

METHODS: Dogs were anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane. They were mechanically ventilated under neuromuscular blockade, and normothermia was maintained. After instrumentation, all dogs were subjected to four stages: 1, baseline; 2, removal of 27 mL kg^-1 circulating blood volume; 3, after blood re-transfusion; and 4, after 20 mL kg^-1 hetastarch infusion over 20 minutes. A 10 minute stabilization period was allowed after induction of each stage and before data collection. At each stage, CO via pulmonary artery thermodilution, PVI, PPV and cardiopulmonary variables were measured before, during and after the PLR_M maneuver. Stages were sequential, not randomized. Statistical analysis included repeated measures anova and Tukey’s post hoc test, considering p < 0.05 as significant.

RESULTS: During stage 2, PLR_M at a 30° angle significantly increased CO (mean ± standard deviation, 1.0 ± 0.1 to 1.3 ± 0.1 L minute^-1; p < 0.001), with a simultaneous significant reduction in PVI (38 ± 4% to 21 ± 4%; p < 0.001) and PPV (27 ± 2% to 18 ± 2%; p < 0.001). The PLR_M did not affect CO, PPV and PVI during stages 1, 3 and 4.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In anesthetized dogs, PLR_M at a 30° angle successfully detected FR during hypovolemia, and identified fluid nonresponsiveness during normovolemia and hypervolemia. Also, in hypovolemic dogs, significant decreases in PVI and PPV occurred in response to PLR_M maneuver.

PMID:36967326 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaa.2023.02.009

J Clin Densitom. 2023 Mar 11:S1094-6950(23)00013-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jocd.2023.03.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Thyroid dysfunction and osteoporosis are conditions strongly associated with aging, and the prevalence of both conditions is expected to increase in the coming decades. Thyroid hormones regulate bone metabolism, and the role of subclinical hypothyroidism on bone mineral density (BMD) is still controversial. Hence, this study aims to assess the association of subclinical hypothyroidism with femoral osteopenia and osteoporosis in individuals aged 50 years or older.

METHODOLOGY: This retrospective cohort study was carried out with 864 outpatients having at least one result for TSH levels before the first record of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The primary endpoints were osteopenia (-2.5 standard deviation (SD) <T-score <-1.0SD) and osteoporosis (T-score ≤-2.5SD). Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the association of subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH ≥4.5 mIU/L) with osteopenia and osteoporosis in unadjusted and covariate-adjusted models. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated, and p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: There was no significant association between subclinical hypothyroidism and femoral osteopenia in either unadjusted [HR: 1.149 (0.835-1.580); p=0.394] or fully covariate-adjusted models [HR: 1.069 (0.774-1.477); p=0.687]. Subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with femoral osteoporosis in the unadjusted analysis [HR: 1.981 (1.044-3.757); p= 0.036], but a lack of association occurred and remained after successive covariate-adjustments analyses [HR: 1.392 (0.615-3.152); p=0.428].

CONCLUSION: Subclinical hypothyroidism is not independently associated with either femoral osteopenia or osteoporosis in individuals aged 50 years or older over a four-year follow-up time.

PMID:36967321 | DOI:10.1016/j.jocd.2023.03.001

Med Clin (Barc). 2023 Mar 24:S0025-7753(23)00091-X. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2023.01.022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the predictive performance of C-reactive protein (hsCRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at different times points of bloodstream infections (BSI) management.

METHODS: The cases were collected from January 2020 to June 2021 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University (n=185). We collected patients’ records of hsCRP, PCT, and IL-6 serum levels and calculated the clearance of these biomarkers on day 1, day 3, and day 5 (hsCRP-1, hsCRP-3, hsCRP-5, so do PCT, and IL-6). We analyzed these predictive performances for 30-day mortality with ROC and Logistic regression. The correlation between biomarkers and their clearance rates was performed by a rank correlation method.

RESULTS: The 30-day mortality was 11.35% (21/185). Serial serum hsCRP-3, IL-6-3, PCT-1, PCT-3, and PCT-5 were statistically higher in BSI mortality than survivors. Significant predictive ability was found for 30-day mortality with blood culture (BC) reported fungi (OR, 0.033; 95% CI: 0.002-0.535) and PCT-5 (OR, 1.045; 95% CI: 1.013-1.078) levels, respectively. The AUC of PCT-5 levels for 30-day mortality was 0.784 (95% CI 0.678-0.949), and the cut-off value was 5.455ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONS: PCT-5 is more valuable for the prognosis of 30-day mortality in patients with BSI compared to the other inflammatory biomarkers.

PMID:36967305 | DOI:10.1016/j.medcli.2023.01.022

J Perianesth Nurs. 2023 Mar 24:S1089-9472(22)00592-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2022.11.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the knowledge and attitudes of cardiac surgery nurses regarding the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol.

DESIGN: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study.

METHODS: The sample consisted of 50 nurses working in the cardiovascular surgery clinic of a university hospital in the province of Izmir, Turkey. A questionnaire consisting of three sections was prepared by the researchers to collect data. The first section of the form captured sociodemographic and descriptive characteristics; the second section examined the level of knowledge about the enhanced recovery protocol for cardiac surgery; the third section captured the nurses’ attitudes regarding the enhanced recovery protocol. The questionnaire was distributed to the nurses and the research data were collected after a certain amount of time. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the data.

FINDINGS: The mean age of the nurses was 31.26 ± 6.74 (min = 23, max = 47); 78% were female; 76% had a bachelor’s degree; 48% were employed in the intensive care unit. The mean score of the nurses regarding their level of knowledge on the enhanced recovery protocol for cardiac surgery was 18.70 ± 5.29 (min = 0.00, max = 28.00); the mean score regarding attitude towards the enhanced recovery protocol after surgery was 30.00 ± 3.86 (min = 12.00, max = 33.00). There was a positive, moderate, statistically significant correlation (r = 0.396, P = .005) between the mean knowledge level score and the mean attitude level score.

CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that nurses’ knowledge was at a moderately positive level. Increasing the level of knowledge increased positive attitudes. Recommendations include disseminating protocol information and providing necessary training to increase positive attitudes in an effort to ensure protocol adherance.

PMID:36967302 | DOI:10.1016/j.jopan.2022.11.005

Vaccine. 2023 Mar 22:S0264-410X(23)00320-1. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.036. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragmented nature of governmental policy decisions in Europe. However, the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination policies differed between European countries remains unclear. Here, we mapped the COVID-19 vaccination policies that were in effect in January 2022 as well as booster regulations in April 2022 in Austria, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.

METHODS: National public health and health policy experts from these ten European nations developed and completed an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire included a series of questions that addressed six critical components of vaccine implementation, including (1) authorization, (2) prioritization, (3) procurement and distribution, (4) data collection, (5) administration, and (6) mandate requirements.

RESULTS: Our findings revealed significant variations in COVID-19 vaccination policies across Europe. We observed critical differences in COVID-19 vaccine formulations authorized for use, as well as the specific groups that were provided with priority access. We also identified discrepancies in how vaccination-related data were recorded in each country and what vaccination requirements were implemented.

CONCLUSION: Each of the ten European nations surveyed in this study reported different COVID-19 vaccination policies. These differences complicated efforts to provide a coordinated pandemic response. These findings might alert policymakers in Europe of the need to coordinate their efforts to avoid fostering divergent and socially disruptive policies.

PMID:36967287 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.036