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Congenital Hypothyroidism among Infants Undergoing Thyroid Function Test in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2022 Jun 1;60(250):503-506. doi: 10.31729/jnma.7505.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Congenital hypothyroidism is the most preventable and treatable cause of mental retardation in newborns and infants. Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in newborns and infants is not a routine practice in our part of the world. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism among infants undergoing thyroid function test in a tertiary care centre.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Biochemistry, from laboratory records starting 14th April, 2013 to 13th April, 2020 after obtaining ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 1502/019). Data of infants whose thyroid function tests were performed were obtained using convenience sampling. Thyroid-stimulating hormone was categorised per the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology guidelines. Data were entered and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2011 and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 11.5. Point estimate at a 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentages for binary data.

RESULTS: Among 1243 infants, 56 (4.50%) (3.35-5.65 at 95% Confidence Interval) infants were diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism was higher than other studies done in similar settings. An unexpected finding of treatment-induced hyperthyroidism was observed, indicating a lack of regular and timely follow-up of infants diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism.

KEYWORDS: congenital hypothyroidism; Nepal; newborn screening; prevalence.

PMID:35690974 | DOI:10.31729/jnma.7505

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Urinary Tract Infection among Post-renal Transplant Patients in the Department of Nephrology of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2022 Jun 1;60(250):507-510. doi: 10.31729/jnma.7496.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection is the most common infection among renal transplant recipients and increases the risk of hospitalization or even death. The study aimed to find the prevalence of urinary tract infection among post-renal transplant patients in the Department of Nephrology of a tertiary care centre.

METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted among 217 post-renal transplant patients at the Department of Nephrology of a tertiary care centre from 1st November, 2017 to 31st October, 2018. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 245(6-11-E)2074-75). Convenience sampling was used. The data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2011 and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data and mean with standard deviation for continuous data.

RESULTS: Among 217 patients, urinary tract infection was seen in 27 (12.44%) (8.05-16.83 at 95% Confidence Interval). One (3.70%) patient had the infection within three months of transplant, and 17 (62.96%) had infection after more than a year of transplant.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of urinary tract infection among kidney transplant recipients in our study was lower than previous studies done in similar settings.

KEYWORDS: Escherichia coli; hypertension; kidney; transplants.

PMID:35690975 | DOI:10.31729/jnma.7496

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Antibiotics Use among Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Department of Internal Medicine of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2022 Jun 1;60(250):541-545. doi: 10.31729/jnma.7512.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a life-threatening condition triggered by infections or non-infectious agents. Antibiotics use in such cases prevents severe deterioration and treatment failure. Past studies have shown inappropriate use of antibiotics in different health care settings. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of antibiotics use in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Department of Internal Medicine of a tertiary care centre.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease admitted to Department of Internal Medicine of a tertiary care centre from 12th February, 2022 to 15th April, 2022 after taking ethical clearance from Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 417). Convenience sampling was done. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data along with median and interquartile range for continuous data.

RESULTS: The prevalence of antibiotics use among study participants was 106 (98.15%) (95.61-100 at a 95% Confidence Interval). Penicillin 82 (75.93%) was the most commonly used antibiotics group.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of antibiotics in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was higher as compared to other similar studies.

KEYWORDS: anti-bacterial agents; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; guideline adherence.

PMID:35690973 | DOI:10.31729/jnma.7512

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Positive Microbiological Stains of Corneal Scrapings among Patients with Keratitis in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2022 Jun 1;60(250):546-550. doi: 10.31729/jnma.7538.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Keratitis, an ocular emergency, requires rapid and accurate treatment to prevent vision impairment. Wet mount direct microscopy examination of corneal scraping smear using gram and 10% potassium hydroxide stain helps in early diagnosis and treatment. The main objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of positive microbiological stains of corneal scrapings among patients with keratitis in a tertiary care centre.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine from January, 2018 to December, 2019. Data collection was done after taking ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee of the hospital (Reference number: BEH-IRC-35/A). All corneal smear samples received in this department were included in this study. Case records with incomplete data were excluded. Whole sampling was done. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.0. Frequency and percentage was calculated for binary data.

RESULTS: Among 4631 corneal scrapings, microbiological stains were positive in 3538 (76.40%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of positive microbiological stains of corneal scrapings in our study was higher in comparison to other studies done in similar settings. This technique could be used where culture facilities are unavailable or unaffordable.

KEYWORDS: keratitis; microscopy; Nepal.

PMID:35690971 | DOI:10.31729/jnma.7538

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Intra-abdominal Adhesions among Patients Undergoing Repeat Caesarean Section in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2022 Jun 1;60(250):517-520. doi: 10.31729/jnma.7547.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Adhesions are one of the common complications encountered after caesarean section whose risk increases with the number of caesarean deliveries. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of intra-abdominal adhesions among patients undergoing repeat caesarean section in a tertiary care centre.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 74 pregnant women undergoing repeat caesarean section in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre from July, 2021 to December, 2021 after receiving the ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 2107202103). Pregnant women who met the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Convenience sampling was done. The severity of the adhesions was classified using the Tulandi and Lyell classification. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0 software. Point estimate at 90% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data along with mean and standard deviation for continuous data.

RESULTS: Out of 74 women undergoing repeat caesarean section, 55 (74.32%) (65.99-82.65 at 90% Confidence Interval) had developed intra-abdominal adhesions.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the prevalence of intra-abdominal adhesions among patients undergoing repeat caesarean section was higher when compared to similar studies conducted in similar settings.

KEYWORDS: postoperative complications; repeat caesarean section; surgical adhesions.

PMID:35690970 | DOI:10.31729/jnma.7547

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Gap balanced adjusted mechanical alignment versus measured resection mechanical alignment: a randomised controlled trial

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022 Jun 12. doi: 10.1007/s00402-022-04487-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Alignment goals in total knee replacement (TKR) is a topical subject. This study compares the short-term functional outcomes and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) of two philosophies for knee arthroplasty alignment: measured resection (MR) and an individualised alignment philosophy, with the tibia mechanically aligned and an instrumented gap balancer (GB) to align the femur in both flexion and extension.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 94 knees were enrolled in this randomised controlled trial. The surgical protocol used a MR technique for mechanical alignment or a GB technique for individualised alignment. Primary outcome was quadriceps strength. Secondary outcomes included validated functional tests and PROMs as well as patient satisfaction. Outcomes were assessed pre-operatively, at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively.

RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in the change from baseline mean quadriceps peak torque between the two groups (p = 0.988). Significant improvement in the change in range of motion (ROM) in the GB group compared to the MR group at 3 months (13° vs 6° p = 0.028) but this improvement was not significant at 1 year (20° vs 17° p = 0.21). The functional test of balance showed statistically significant improvement at 6 weeks (p = 0.03) in the GB group but this difference was not maintained. PROMs favoured the GB group, with the KOOS pain scoring statistically better (p ≤ 0.05) at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Individualised alignment philosophy utilising a GB technique did not demonstrate an improvement in the primary outcome measure quadriceps peak torque. Improvement was seen in the GB group in PROM pain scores that was significant, both statistically and clinically, out to at least 1 year. Gains that were seen in functional assessment with GB, although significant at some time points, were no longer significant at 1 year and no difference was seen in quads strength. Compared to a MR technique, the individualised GB technique appears to confer some improvement in pain, ROM and some functional tests following TKR in the short-term.

PMID:35690965 | DOI:10.1007/s00402-022-04487-1

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Gender-Affirming Surgeries: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Database Analyzing Demographics, Trends, and Outcomes

Ann Plast Surg. 2022 Jun 1;88(5 Suppl 5):S501-S507. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003157.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gender affirmation surgery is an exponentially growing field within plastic surgery. The aim of our study is to analyze demographics, procedure type, trends, and outcomes in the surgical management of gender identity disorder in the past few years.

METHODS: The American College of Surgeons NSQIP database was queried for the years 2015 to 2019. International Classification of Diseases codes were used to identify all gender-affirming cases. Patients were categorized by procedure type using Current Procedural Terminology codes for feminizing/masculinizing top, bottom and head/neck procedures. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were analyzed using SPSS statistics software. A comparative analysis was performed among the procedure type.

RESULTS: From 2015 to 2019, 4114 patients underwent a gender-affirming surgery (GAS) increasing the number of surgeries by over 400%, according to the NSQIP database. Demographics include age (mean = 32 years), body mass index (mean = 28 kg/m2), race (60% White, 22% unknown, 13% African American, 4% Asian, 1% other). Female to male procedures represented the most commonly performed (n = 2647; 64%), followed by male to female (n = 1278; 31%) with head/neck procedures representing 5% (n = 189) of all procedures. Top surgeries were also the most common (n = 2347, 57%), followed by bottom surgeries (n = 1578, 38%). The overall complication rate was 6% (n = 247), 2.1% (n = 4) for head/neck procedures, 8% (n = 134) for bottom procedures, and 3.5% (n = 84) for top surgeries.A reoperation within 30 days and related to the initial GAS occurred for 52 patients. Postoperative complication rates were statistically different between bottom surgeries compared with the top and head/neck procedure groups (P < 0.001). Increasing age and body mass index showed a significantly higher odds of having a complication.

CONCLUSIONS: Gender-affirming procedures have significantly increased over the past 5 years. Increased exposure through literature and research, as well as an improvement in social climates, including increasing insurance coverage have contributed to the expansion of these procedures. Low serious complication rates within 30 days prove GAS to be safe.

PMID:35690947 | DOI:10.1097/SAP.0000000000003157

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Mendelian randomization analysis for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: studying a broad range of exposures and outcomes

Int J Epidemiol. 2022 Jun 12:dyac128. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyac128. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and is often thought as an entry point into a negative life trajectory, including risk for comorbid disorders, poor educational achievement or low income. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the causal relationship between ADHD and a comprehensive range of related traits.

METHODS: We used genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for ADHD (n = 53 293) and 124 traits related to anthropometry, cognitive function and intelligence, early life exposures, education and employment, lifestyle and environment, longevity, neurological, and psychiatric and mental health or personality and psychosocial factors available in the MR-Base database (16 067 ≤n ≤766 345). To investigate their causal relationship with ADHD, we used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) with a range of sensitivity analyses, and validated MR findings using causal analysis using summary effect estimates (CAUSE), aiming to avoid potential false-positive results.

RESULTS: Our findings strengthen previous evidence of a causal effect of ADHD liability on smoking and major depression, and are consistent with a causal effect on odds of decreased average total household income [odds ratio (OR) = 0.966, 95% credible interval (CrI) = (0.954, 0.979)] and increased lifetime number of sexual partners [OR = 1.023, 95% CrI = (1.013, 1.033)]. We also found evidence for a causal effect on ADHD for liability of arm predicted mass and weight [OR = 1.452, 95% CrI = (1.307, 1.614) and OR = 1.430, 95% CrI = (1.326, 1.539), respectively] and time spent watching television [OR = 1.862, 95% CrI = (1.545, 2.246)], and evidence for a bidirectional effect for age of first sexual intercourse [beta = -0.058, 95% CrI = (-0.072, -0.044) and OR = 0.413, 95% CrI = (0.372, 0.457), respectively], odds of decreased age completed full-time education [OR = 0.972, 95% CrI = (0.962, 0.981) and OR = 0.435, 95% CrI = (0.356, 0.533), respectively] and years of schooling [beta = -0.036, 95% CrI = (-0.048, -0.024) and OR = 0.458, 95% CrI = (0.411, 0.511), respectively].

CONCLUSIONS: Our results may contribute to explain part of the widespread co-occurring traits and comorbid disorders across the lifespan of individuals with ADHD and may open new opportunities for developing preventive strategies for ADHD and for negative ADHD trajectories.

PMID:35690959 | DOI:10.1093/ije/dyac128

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A Comparison of Complication Rates in Wise Pattern Versus Vertical Breast Reduction

Ann Plast Surg. 2022 Jun 1;88(5 Suppl 5):S498-S500. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003158.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breast reduction has a well-chronicled history and remains a common reason for patients to seek plastic surgery consultation. The Wise pattern is the most common skin reduction pattern in the United States. Vertical pattern reduction is also widely used and offers the potential for decreased scar burden. Both patterns have been used with a variety of pedicles for preservation of the nipple areolar complex, which may also impact complication rate and patient satisfaction. There is a preponderance of literature on breast reduction surgery but limited comparative data on the safety profile of these patterns. The purpose of this article is to review the comparative literature, with emphasis on the overall risk of complications.

METHODS: OVID and PubMed were used to query the literature for articles comparing complication rates in both Wise pattern and vertical breast reduction. Inclusion criteria were case series that encompassed both vertical and Wise pattern reductions and cited the rate of complications. Complications included in our analysis of total complication rate were as follows: hematoma, seroma, infection, dehiscence, fat necrosis, skin necrosis, and nipple areolar complex necrosis. We excluded standing cutaneous deformity as a complication. Articles that included oncoplastic breast reductions were also excluded. The primary analysis was an inverse variance-weighted random-effect meta-analysis of overall complication rate, with the association between the technique and overall complication rate quantified using odds ratios.

RESULTS: Eight articles were identified that met inclusion criteria, representing 963 patients (525 Wise pattern and 438 vertical pattern). The overall complication rate pooled across the studies favored vertical pattern reduction, but the result was not definitive.

CONCLUSIONS: Vertical pattern breast reduction can be done safely. Our statistical analysis found a trend toward decreased complications with vertical reductions, but did not reach statistical significance. Patients seeking breast reduction are a heterogeneous population with respect to breast size, degree of ptosis, body habitus, body mass index, comorbidities, and acceptance of scars. It remains important to individualize the approach to the patient and their needs. More quantitative, comparative data, especially from randomized controlled trials, would be useful to further evaluate the relative safety profiles of the 2 patterns.

PMID:35690946 | DOI:10.1097/SAP.0000000000003158

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The Safety of Fat Grafting: An Institutional Retrospective Review

Ann Plast Surg. 2022 Jun 1;88(5 Suppl 5):S473-S477. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003234.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat grafting is a popular technique for volume replacement in the breast and face. The efficacy, safety, and complication rate of this technique at the division of plastic surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham will be described in this review.

METHODS: An institutional review board-approved retrospective review of patients undergoing fat grafting procedures from January 2015 to July 2018 was performed. Records were reviewed for fat graft recipient site, donor site, amount grafted, and complications. Continuous variables were compared using either a t test or one-way analysis of variance test. Categorical data were compared using χ2 test. A P value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant for all comparisons.

RESULTS: A total of 396 patients who underwent fat grafting procedures of the face and body from January 2015 through July 2018 met inclusion criteria. Average amount of fat grafted for all grafts was 124.4 +/- 6.74 grams. Two hundred fifty of the grafts (62.7%) involved the bilateral breasts with an average of 140.6 +/- 93.97 g used, 70 per side. Of the 396 patients, 110 (27.8%) experienced complications. Forty three of the complications (10.9%) were considered to be major, which included hematomas/seromas, fat necrosis, dermatitis/cellulitis, and infection. No statistical differences were seen among recipient site complication rate. Types of minor complications were statistically significant per recipient sites with bilateral breasts more likely to experience asymmetry than the other recipient sites (20% for bilateral breasts vs 16% overall, P < 0.05). Fifty nine of the 110 patients (53.6%) had the complications reported to be resolved.

CONCLUSIONS: Fat grafting is a reliable method for volumization of the breasts and face. Minor complications were not infrequent in this case series; however, no life-threatening complications were observed. Continued work needs to be done to use fat grafting beyond traditional measures.

PMID:35690941 | DOI:10.1097/SAP.0000000000003234