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Comparative Performance of Common Fecal Immunochemical Tests : A Cross-Sectional Study

Ann Intern Med. 2024 Sep 3. doi: 10.7326/M24-0080. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread use of fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, data to guide test selection are limited.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance characteristics of 5 commonly used FITs, using colonoscopy as the reference standard.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03264898).

SETTING: Three U.S. academic medical centers and affiliated endoscopy units.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 50 to 85 years undergoing screening or surveillance colonoscopy.

INTERVENTION: Participants completed 5 different FITs before their colonoscopy, including 4 qualitative tests (Hemoccult ICT, Hemosure iFOB, OC-Light S FIT, QuickVue iFOB) and 1 quantitative test (OC-Auto FIT, which was run at the manufacturer’s threshold for positivity of >100 ng/mL).

MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was test performance (sensitivity and specificity) for each of the 5 FITs for advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN), defined as advanced polyps or CRC. Positivity rates, positive and negative predictive values, and rates of unevaluable tests were compared. Multivariable models were used to identify factors affecting sensitivity.

RESULTS: A total of 3761 participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 62.1 years (SD, 7.8); 63.2% of participants were female, 5.7% were Black, 86.4% were White, and 28.7% were Hispanic. There were 320 participants with ACN (8.5%), including 9 with CRC (0.2%). The test positivity rate varied 4-fold (3.9% to 16.4%) across FITs. Rates of unevaluable FITs ranged from 0.2% to 2.5%. The sensitivity for ACN varied from 10.1% to 36.7%, and specificity varied from 85.5% to 96.6%. Differences in sensitivity between FITs were all statistically significantly different except between Hemosure iFOB and QuickVue iFOB, and specificity differences were all statistically significantly different from one another. In addition to FIT brand, distal location of ACN was also associated with higher FIT sensitivity.

LIMITATION: The study did not assess the programmatic sensitivity of annual FIT.

CONCLUSION: Although considered a single class, FITs have varying test performance for detecting ACN and should not be considered interchangeable.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institutes of Health.

PMID:39222513 | DOI:10.7326/M24-0080

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Management of antimicrobial therapy in emergency department admissions and hospitalizations for firearm injuries: A single-center experience

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Sep;30(9):650-656. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.25442.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Firearm injuries (FI) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Antibiotic use, supported by guideline recommendations for preventing post-injury infections in FI cases, encounters uncertainties regarding the selection of anti-microbial agents and associated outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Injury Severity Scores (ISS) for FI cases presented to the emergency department.

METHODS: We empirically revised antimicrobial treatment protocols based on culture results and mortality rates. In the study, 164 firearm injury cases, admitted to the emergency department in 2022 and subsequently hospitalized in clinics and intensive care units (ICU), were evaluated. Cases included in the study were categorized into four groups based on ISS: mild, moderate, severe, and profound injury severity. The study compared the timing of hospital presentation following the injury, hospital length of stay, tissue or blood culture positivity, empirical treatment administered, antimicrobial revision based on culture results, need for ICU admission, mortality status, and ISS among the cases. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Variables in trauma patients were compared among various groups using Pearson Chi-Square tests. Binary logistic regression tests were performed to identify independent risk factors. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: The study included 164 patients, all of whom were male. The mean age was calculated as 28.9±4.51 years. The average hospital length of stay was 25.54±21.81 days. Eighty-three patients (50.6%) required intensive care. Tissue cultures were obtained from 79 patients (48%). Bacterial growth was observed in 45 of these 79 patients (57%). The appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment rate, assessed among patients who received empirical treatment followed by culture-based antibiotic sensitivity testing, was 48.9%. It was observed that empirical antibiotic regimens were appropriate in 80% of cases in the mild group and 16.7% in the profound severe group (p=0.005). Our study compared the relationship between hospitalization duration and ISS groups. It was observed that hospitalization duration was significantly shorter in the mild group compared to the other groups (p=0.003, p=0.000, p=0.000). It was also observed that the need for ICU admission was higher in groups with higher ISS, indicating a correlation between higher ISS and increased ICU requirements (p=0.000).

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, for cases of firearm injuries, we believe empirical antimicrobial therapy should be initiated with narrow-spectrum agents such as beta-lactam + beta-lactamase inhibitor or third-generation cephalosporin + nitroimidazole in the mild group, considering the lack of Pseudomonal activity.

PMID:39222499 | DOI:10.14744/tjtes.2024.25442

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The management of testicular torsion: A survey of Turkish pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Sep;30(9):685-693. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.52932.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the approaches of pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists in Türkiye regarding the diagnosis and treatment of testicular torsion (TT) and their adherence to the European Association of Urology (EAU) pediatric urology guideline.

METHODS: A survey consisting of 19 questions, accompanied by an annotation describing the objective of the study, was emailed to pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists in June and July 2023.

RESULTS: Of the 95 respondents, 62.1% had over 10 years of experience, and 48.4% treated more than five cases of TT annually. Of the participants, 87.4% stated that scrotal Doppler ultrasonography (US) was always used, and 12.6% stated that US was used in cases of doubtful diagnosis. Concerning treatment, 14.7% reported performing manual detorsion, 70.5% never did, and 14.7% did so only if the operating room was unavailable soon. A total of 92.6% of participants opted for emergency surgery. Among participants who perform manual detorsion, 71.4% perform surgery within 24 hours after successful manual detorsion. Regarding fixation of the contralateral testicle, 14.7% never performed it, and 27.4% did so only when they performed an orchiectomy on the torsion testicle.

CONCLUSION: While most participants follow EAU pediatric urology guidelines by performing emergency surgery, the rate of manual detorsion is low. Few participants stated that emergency surgery may not be performed after manual detorsion. While all of the participants performed fixation of the torsion testicle in accordance with the guidelines, the same adherence was not observed in the contralateral testicle.

PMID:39222498 | DOI:10.14744/tjtes.2024.52932

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Evaluation of the effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat isogenic and allogeneic muscle and skin transplant models

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Sep;30(9):626-634. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.77415.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a phenomenon that affects transplant survival. The aim of our study was to examine the effects of IRI in isogenic and allogeneic muscle and skin transplantation models exposed to prolonged warm ischemia.

METHODS: Forty-eight Lewis rats and 16 Brown-Norway rats were used to create four groups: Isogenic Inguinal Flap Transplantation (IST), Isogenic Gastrocnemius Muscle Flap Transplantation (IMT), Allogeneic Inguinal Flap Transplantation (AST), and Allogeneic Gastrocnemius Muscle Flap Transplantation (AMT). Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured on postoperative days 1, 7, 21, 35, 63, 100, and 120 in all groups. Donor-specific chimerism (DSC) in peripheral blood was evaluated in the allogeneic groups on postoperative days 7, 21, 35, 63, 100, and 120. The microRNA-21 and microRNA-205 levels were evaluated on postoperative days 1, 7, and 120 in all groups. At the end of the study, a histopathological examination was performed.

RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of MDA and SOD levels. DSC was detected in the AMT group. A significant increase in microRNA-205 was observed, especially in the AMT group. There was no significant difference in the number of functional muscle units between the muscle transplantation groups.

CONCLUSION: The presence of DSC in the AMT group and the lack of a significant difference in the number of functional muscle units in the IMT and AMT groups are noteworthy findings.

PMID:39222497 | DOI:10.14744/tjtes.2024.77415

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Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of mortality among aortic dissection patients in the emergency department

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Sep;30(9):644-649. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.78241.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection (AD) is a serious cardiovascular condition associated with high mortality rates. The systemic inflammatory response can influence the prognosis of AD, and in this context, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) emerges as a simple and rapid inflammatory biomarker.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 103 patients diagnosed with AD and treated in the emergency department between 2018 and 2023. Patient demographics, clinical features, and laboratory results were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for potential confounders such as age, mean systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, hemoglobin, lactate values, and the presence of coronary artery disease. The ability of NLR to predict mortality was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS: The study population was divided into two groups: non-survivors (68% mortality rate) and survivors (32% survival rate). The non-survivor group had significantly higher NLR values compared to the survivor group (median NLR 7.66 vs. 2.5, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified NLR as an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-3.82, p<0.001). ROC analysis for NLR demonstrated high discriminative power with an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.851 (95% CI 0.768-0.914). The determined cut-off point was >5.08 with a sensitivity of 77.14% and specificity of 81.82%.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that high NLR is strongly associated with increased mortality risk in patients with AD and can be used in emergency clinical settings to predict mortality.

PMID:39222496 | DOI:10.14744/tjtes.2024.78241

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Comprehensive examination of etiological factors and clinical manifestations of maxillofacial traumas in forensic cases: A five-year retrospective study

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Sep;30(9):677-684. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.70045.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial injuries, due to their diverse etiological causes, are often considered a component of multi-trauma and constitute a significant portion of trauma. This study aims to elucidate the incidence of maxillofacial traumas, particularly among military personnel, various clinical courses, and characteristics, thereby contributing to the literature.

METHODS: Forensic reports, primarily related to military personnel and organized between 2011 and 2016 at the Forensic Medicine Department of Gülhane Medical Faculty, Health Sciences University, were retrospectively examined. The study involved a detailed analysis of cases with maxillofacial injuries resulting from trauma, focusing on aspects such as age, gender, the origin of the trauma, degree of injury, the presence of bone and dental fractures, and the occurrence of psychiatric disorders as a result of the trauma.

RESULTS: This study demonstrated that maxillofacial traumas predominantly occurred in young male individuals, particularly among military personnel. The most common etiological factor identified was interpersonal violence. The majority of injuries were soft tissue damages, with the nasal bone being the most frequently fractured area. Injuries to the head and upper extremities were also detected in some of the cases, showing that multiple injuries are common in such cases. Post-traumatic psychological disorders developed in some cases, with anxiety disorders being the most commonly observed.

CONCLUSION: It has been determined that maxillofacial injuries can affect multiple body regions, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach. This study underscores the importance of developing comprehensive strategies and policies for understanding and managing maxillofacial traumas, providing a fundamental reference for future studies in this field.

PMID:39222495 | DOI:10.14744/tjtes.2024.70045

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Prevalence and risk factors of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children admitted to the emergency department due to traumas

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Sep;30(9):664-670. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.07834.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and the associated risk factors in children admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) due to traumas.

METHODS: EChildren aged 3-16 years admitted to the ED for traumas were included in the study. The control group consisted of children aged between 3-16, who visited the pediatric ED for non-traumatic reasons. The Revised Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-R) was administered to parents who agreed to participate following initial intervention and stabilization. Trauma patients were divided into two groups: those diagnosed with ADHD and those without ADHD. Risk factors likely to increase the identification of ADHD were assessed.

RESULTS: The study included 917 children, with both groups showing similar characteristics regarding age, sex, demographic, and cultural factors. The most common reason for ED visits was extremity traumas, accounting for 296 (35.2%) cases. The majority of trauma patients (95.9%) were discharged from the ED after outpatient interventions. All subscale scores of the CPRS-R, except for the social problems subscale, were significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group. Factors that increased the risk of ADHD included admission with extremity traumas (p<0.001), previous ED admissions due to traumas (p<0.001), and having a family member previously diagnosed with ADHD (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ADHD symptoms may be higher in children admitted to the ED due to traumas. Furthermore, extremity traumas, previous trauma-related ED-admissions, and a family history of ADHD increase the risk of ADHD.

PMID:39222494 | DOI:10.14744/tjtes.2024.07834

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Validation of the Turkish version of the Modified Early Obstetric Warning System (MEOWS) chart

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Sep;30(9):635-643. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.87099.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Modified Early Obstetric Warning System (MEOWS) is a score-based or color-coded system that detects changes in physiological parameters and enables earlier diagnosis and care of worsening obstetric patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the tool’s performance and contribute to its use in Türkiye by translating MEOWS into Turkish.

METHODS: This prospective and descriptive study, approved by the local ethics committee, included 350 obstetric in-patients who gave birth at Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Gynecology and Children’s Hospital between April and August 2022. The study involved patients with a gestational week greater than 28 weeks and up to six weeks postpartum.

RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 28.9±5.9 (18-40) years, with trigger values occurring in 34.6% (n=121) and morbidity occurring in 30.9% (n=108) of the cases. The most common trigger among the individual physiological indicators was high systolic blood pressure (28.3%). When the performance of MEOWS was evaluated, a statistically significant correlation was found between trigger and morbidity (Kappa=0.605; p<0.001). The sensitivity of MEOWS in estimating morbidity was 77.78% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 68.76-85.21%), specificity was 84.71% (95% CI: 79.55-89.00%), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 69.42% (95% CI: 62.40-75.64%), Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was 89.52% (95% CI: 85.67-92.43%), and accuracy was 82.57% (95% CI: 78.18-86.40%).

CONCLUSION: MEOWS was found to be an effective screening tool for predicting morbidity in this study and performs well in Turkish with sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. However, the inclusion of long-term results would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of MEOWS.

PMID:39222490 | DOI:10.14744/tjtes.2024.87099

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Association of TLR4 polymorphisms (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) with sepsis: a meta-analysis and trial sequence analysis

APMIS. 2024 Sep 2. doi: 10.1111/apm.13463. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Several investigations have been carried out to explore the genetic association of TLR4 codon variants, specifically Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile, and susceptibility to sepsis, but the results have been contradictory. The present study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the role of TLR4 genetic variants (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) in sepsis. A thorough literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were established to ensure the accuracy of the data. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software v4 was utilized to perform the meta-analysis and related analyses. A total of 13 studies were analyzed, including 2328 sepsis cases and 2495 healthy controls for the TLR4 Asp299Gly variant. Eight studies provided genotype data for the rs4986791 polymorphism. The Asp299Gly variant showed a marginal protective effect in the allele (p = 0.08, odds ratio = 0.71) and dominant (p = 0.09, odds ratio = 0.71) genetic models, although it was not statistically significant. The trial sequential analysis indicated that further case-control studies are necessary to draw definitive conclusions about the TLR4 polymorphisms in sepsis. The TLR4 Asp299Gly variant may have a protective effect against sepsis. However, additional research with larger sample sizes across diverse populations is required to validate this finding.

PMID:39222487 | DOI:10.1111/apm.13463

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Perceived acceptability of online volunteer-led exercise classes: Perspectives of rural volunteer exercise leaders and older people

Australas J Ageing. 2024 Sep 2. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13359. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed perceived acceptability of online rural volunteer-led exercise classes among volunteer leaders and older people during the COVID-19 pandemic and interrogate differences in acceptability between older people who were currently participating in regular exercise and those who were not.

METHOD: A case study was conducted of an existing volunteer-led exercise program using a cross-sectional preintervention survey (38 volunteer exercise leaders and 172 program participants).

RESULTS: Thirty per cent (n = 11) of the volunteer leaders reported an interest in running the online classes. Motivations included providing opportunities for participants and keeping themselves and participants fit. Thirty-four per cent (n = 42) of the older participants reported an intent to join the online classes, which was primarily attributed to the desire to keep active and to socialise. However, over 60% of the respondents across both categories did not want to engage in online exercise classes. This was primarily attributed to a preference for face-to-face classes and lack of confidence in conducting or using online activities or services. Older participants who did not regularly exercise were statistically more likely to report perceived challenges attending an online class, and to identify the use of internet-based technologies as a barrier to attendance.

CONCLUSION: Digital literacy was a challenge for the older respondents, particularly for those who were not currently engaged in regular exercise. Organisations implementing online exercise programs should recognise that this form of delivery will pose challenges to cohorts of rural older people who are not undertaking regular physical activity and address the individual and environmental barriers to digital uptake.

PMID:39222465 | DOI:10.1111/ajag.13359