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A systematic review of the clinical impact of small colony variants in patients with cystic fibrosis

BMC Pulm Med. 2023 Sep 1;23(1):323. doi: 10.1186/s12890-023-02611-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting disorder that is characterised by respiratory tract inflammation that is mediated by a range of microbial pathogens. Small colony variants (SCVs) of common respiratory pathogens are being increasingly recognised in CF. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the prevalence of SCVs, clinical characteristics and health outcomes for patients with CF, and laboratory diagnostic features of SCVs compared to non-small colony variants (NCVs) for a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative respiratory pathogens.

METHODS: A literature search was conducted (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus) in April 2020 to identify articles of interest. Data pertaining to demographic characteristics of participants, diagnostic criteria of SCVs, SCV prevalence and impact on lung function were extracted from included studies for analysis.

RESULTS: Twenty-five of 673 studies were included in the systematic review. Individuals infected with SCVs of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were more likely to have had prior use of the broad-spectrum antibiotic trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (p < 0.001), and the prevalence of SCVs in patients infected with S. aureus was estimated to be 19.3% (95% CI: 13.5% to 25.9%). Additionally, patients infected with SCVs of Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens were identified to have a lower forced expiratory volume in one second percentage predicted (-16.8, 95% CI: -23.2 to -10.4) than those infected by NCVs. Gram-positive SCVs were commonly described as small and non-haemolytic, grown on Mannitol salt or blood agar for 24 h at 35°C and confirmed using tube coagulase testing.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this systematic review demonstrate that SCVs of S. aureus have a high prevalence in the CF community, and that the occurrence of SCVs in Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens is linked to poorer respiratory function. Further investigation is necessary to determine the effect of infection by SCVs on the CF population.

PMID:37658311 | DOI:10.1186/s12890-023-02611-4

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The effect of cognitive behavioral counseling on anxiety and worry level of women with intermediate risk during first trimester screening for down syndrome: a randomized controlled trial: a randomized controlled trial

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023 Sep 1;23(1):630. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05857-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anxiety related to prenatal screening programs negatively affects maternal and child health.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the effect of Cognitive Behavioral Counseling on the anxiety and worry levels of women with intermediate risk during first-trimester screening for Down Syndrome.

METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled trial conducted on 52 pregnant women with intermediate risk (1: 51 – 1:1500) during first-trimester screening for Down Syndrome and without additional structural anomalies that referred to three cities of Zanjan province in 2021. The eligible women were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, with a block size of four. The intervention group received CBC in four sessions of 120 min two times a week by phone. Data were collected using Vandenberg Anxiety Questionnaire, and Cambridge Worry Questionnaire in three phases baseline, after the intervention, and 6 weeks follow-ups. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, chi-square, and repeated measures ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. (P < 0.05).

RESULTS: In the counselling group, the mean (SD) of a total score of anxiety before the intervention was 67.11 (20.68) which decreased to 32.50 (13.58) in six weeks after the intervention. Furthermore, the mean (SD) of a total score of worry before the intervention was 56.19 (16.76) which decreased to 32.96 (8.89) six weeks after the intervention. Based on the repeated measures ANOVA test, the mean total score of anxiety and worry were statistically significant 6 weeks after the intervention compared with the control group(p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Based on the study results, CBC can reduce the anxiety and worry levels of women with intermediate risk during first trimester screening for Down Syndrome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials website under the code IRCT20160608028352N8, ( https://en.irct.ir/trial/49998 ). The first trial registration date was (29/08/2020).

PMID:37658307 | DOI:10.1186/s12884-023-05857-2

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Vaccine Hesitancy: Developing Competency in Nursing Students Through Simulation

Nurse Educ. 2023 Sep 1. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001505. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many Americans are undecided about or have barriers to receiving vaccines. Complacency, confidence, convenience, misinformation, and disinformation impact vaccine hesitancy (VH).

PROBLEM: During the COVID-19 pandemic, rates for flu and routine childhood vaccinations declined globally. As vaccination rates decline, the risk of disease outbreaks increases. Nursing students need to be prepared to address VH in the clinical setting.

APPROACH: Four simulation experiences were developed to build confidence and competency in the provision of vaccinations and addressing VH. Nursing students practiced communication skills critical to motivational interviewing, health education, health promotion, and goal setting.

OUTCOME: There were statistically significant increases in student confidence and perceived competence in vaccine administration and addressing VH through motivational interviewing.

CONCLUSIONS: High-fidelity simulation combined with a virtual simulation was effective in developing confidence among nursing students. Students demonstrated skill in addressing VH and motivational interviewing.

PMID:37657119 | DOI:10.1097/NNE.0000000000001505

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The role of surgery in recurrent ependymomas

J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2023 Sep 1:1-6. doi: 10.3171/2023.7.PEDS2373. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The role of surgery in recurrent ependymomas and its contribution to the outcome are not well defined. While gross-total resection (GTR) has shown benefit in newly diagnosed patients with improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), its impact after recurrence is not known. Its role in distant relapses or multiple local recurrences is similarly less well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate whether GTR could prolong survival after recurrence.

METHODS: In this paper, the authors identified patients with ependymomas who underwent surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital for recurrent ependymomas between December 2000 and December 2021. Surgical treatment was stratified as GTR, subtotal resection (STR), or a biopsy. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for PFS and overall survival (OS), and the log-rank test was used to assess statistical significance. The Cox regression model was used for multivariable analysis.

RESULTS: Forty children were identified with a first ependymoma recurrence and follow-up data were collected. The median age was 5.46 years (95% CI 4.52-6.39 years) with a mean follow-up of 3.92 years (95% CI 2.42-5.42 years). In 26 patients (65%), the original tumor was located in the infratentorial space. Twenty-nine patients (72.5%) presented with local recurrence. Within this group, the 5-year PFS rates for the GTR and STR groups were 40.1% and 26.8%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year OS rates were 58.3% and 50% in the GTR group and 51% and 16.7% in the STR group, respectively. Fifteen patients presented with a second recurrence. The 5-year PFS and OS rates in patients who had GTR after a second recurrence were 33% and 50%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: GTR of local recurrent ependymomas can result in long-term survival in first and second recurrences. Further and larger studies are necessary to elucidate the role of surgery in distal recurrences.

PMID:37657117 | DOI:10.3171/2023.7.PEDS2373

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Hemodynamic and morphological differences in cerebral aneurysms between before and after rupture

J Neurosurg. 2023 Sep 1:1-9. doi: 10.3171/2023.6.JNS23289. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Although it has been proposed that aneurysm morphology is different after rupture, detailed research of the morphological changes using 3D imaging acquired before and after rupture has not been conducted because of the difficulty of data collection. Similarly, hemodynamic changes due to morphological alterations after rupture have not been analyzed. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in morphology and hemodynamics observed after aneurysm rupture.

METHODS: For 21 cerebral aneurysms (21 patients) that ruptured during observation, 3D geometry of the aneurysms and parent arteries were reconstructed based on the angiographic images before and after their rupture. In addition, using the reconstructed geometry, blood flow was simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Morphological and hemodynamic parameters were calculated both before and after rupture, and their changes from before to after were compared.

RESULTS: In the morphological parameters, statistically significantly higher values were observed after rupture in height (before: 5.5 ± 2.1 mm, after: 6.1 ± 2.0 mm; p < 0.0001), aspect ratio (p = 0.002), aneurysm volume (p = 0.04), and undulation index (p = 0.005). In terms of hemodynamic changes, the mean normalized wall shear stress (NWSS) decreased significantly (before: 5.4 × 10-1 ± 2.9 × 10-1, after: 4.4 × 10-1 ± 2.8 × 10-1; p < 0.001) as well as the other NWSS parameters, including maximum and minimum NWSS, which were associated with stagnant flow due to the morphological changes after rupture.

CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysm morphology was found to change after rupture into an elongated and irregular geometry, accompanied by an increase in aneurysm volume. These morphological changes were also associated with statistically significant hemodynamic alterations that produced low wall sheer stress by stagnant flow. The authors’ results also provide the opportunity to explore and develop a risk evaluation method for aneurysm rupture based on prerupture morphology and hemodynamics by further exploration in this direction.

PMID:37657114 | DOI:10.3171/2023.6.JNS23289

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Feasibility of postoperative diffusion-weighted imaging to assess representations of spinal cord microstructure in cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Neurosurg Focus. 2023 Sep;55(3):E7. doi: 10.3171/2023.6.FOCUS23273.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) has shown promise in evaluating cervical spinal cord structural changes in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). DBSI may also be valuable in the postoperative setting by serially tracking spinal cord microstructural changes following decompressive cervical spine surgery. Currently, there is a paucity of studies investigating this topic, likely because of challenges in resolving signal distortions from spinal instrumentation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of DBSI metrics extracted from the C3 spinal level to evaluate CSM patients postoperatively.

METHODS: Fifty CSM patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in a single-center prospective study between 2018 and 2020. All patients and healthy controls underwent preoperative and postoperative diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI) at a 2-year follow-up. All CSM patients underwent decompressive cervical surgery. The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score was used to categorize CSM patients as having mild, moderate, or severe myelopathy. DBSI metrics were extracted from the C3 spinal cord level to minimize image artifact and reduce partial volume effects. DBSI anisotropic tensors evaluated white matter tracts through fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and fiber fraction. DBSI isotropic tensors assessed extra-axonal pathology through restricted and nonrestricted fractions.

RESULTS: Of the 50 CSM patients, both baseline and postoperative dMR images with sufficient quality for analysis were obtained in 27 patients. These included 15 patients with mild CSM (mJOA scores 15-17), 7 with moderate CSM (scores 12-14), and 5 with severe CSM (scores 0-11), who were followed up for a mean of 23.5 (SD 4.1, range 11-31) months. All preoperative C3-level DBSI measures were significantly different between CSM patients and healthy controls (p < 0.05), except DBSI fractional anisotropy (p = 0.31). At the 2-year follow-up, the same significance pattern was found between CSM patients and healthy controls, except DBSI radial diffusivity was no longer statistically significant (p = 0.75). When assessing change (i.e., postoperative – preoperative values) in C3-level DBSI measures, CSM patients exhibited significant decreases in DBSI radial diffusivity (p = 0.02), suggesting improvement in myelin integrity (i.e., remyelination) at the 2-year follow-up. Among healthy controls, there was no significant difference in DBSI metrics over time.

CONCLUSIONS: DBSI metrics derived from dMRI at the C3 spinal level can be used to provide meaningful insights into representations of the spinal cord microstructure of CSM patients at baseline and 2-year follow-up. DBSI may have the potential to characterize white matter tract recovery and inform outcomes following decompressive cervical surgery for CSM.

PMID:37657107 | DOI:10.3171/2023.6.FOCUS23273

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Impact of a reduced iodine load with deep learning reconstruction on abdominal MDCT

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Sep 1;102(35):e34579. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034579.

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the impact of a reduced iodine load using deep learning reconstruction (DLR) on the hepatic parenchyma compared to conventional iterative reconstruction (hybrid IR) and its consequence on the radiation dose and image quality. This retrospective monocentric intraindividual comparison study included 66 patients explored at the portal phase using different multidetector computed tomography parameters: Group A, hybrid IR algorithm (hybrid IR) and a nonionic low-osmolality contrast agent (350 mgI/mL); Group B, DLR algorithm (DLR) and a nonionic iso-osmolality contrast agent (270 mgI/mL). We recorded the attenuation of the liver parenchyma, image quality, and radiation dose parameters. The mean hounsfield units (HU) value of the liver parenchyma was significantly lower in group B, at 105.9 ± 10.9 HU versus 118.5 ± 14.6 HU in group A. However, the 90%IC of mean liver attenuation in the group B (DLR) was between 100.8 HU and 109.3 HU. The signal-to-noise ratio of the liver parenchyma was significantly higher on DLR images, increasing by 56%. However, for both the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and CNR liver/PV no statistical difference was found, even if the CNR liver/PV ratio was slightly higher for group A. The mean dose-length product and computed tomography dose index volume values were significantly lower with DLR, corresponding to a radiation dose reduction of 36% for the DLR. Using a DLR algorithm for abdominal multidetector computed tomography with a low iodine load can provide sufficient enhancement of the liver parenchyma up to 100 HU in addition to the advantages of a higher image quality, a better signal-to-noise ratio and a lower radiation dose.

PMID:37657067 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000034579

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A comparative study of using linear anastomosis with circular anastomosis in digestive tract reconstruction after laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy: A retrospective study

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Sep 1;102(35):e34588. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034588.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to compare the incidence of anastomotic leakage or stenosis, anastomotic bleeding, anastomosis time, postoperative exhaust time, pneumonia, gastroesophageal reflux, hospitalization and mental state after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, so as to provide a reliable basis for the safety selection of the 2 clinical anastomosis methods and postoperative care. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 160 gastric cancer patients treated by our medical team from February 2021 to December 2021. We divided them into side-to-side anastomosis with linear stapler (linear stapler) and end-to-side anastomosis with circular stapler (circular stapler), analyzed the incidence and clinical efficacy of anastomotic complications after laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy. There was a statistically significant difference between linear stapler and the circular stapler in the incidence of anastomotic complications such as the incidence of anastomotic stenosis; The incidence of anastomotic leakage, incidence of anastomotic bleeding, without statistical significant; At the anastomosis time, time of first postoperative discharge, incidence of pneumonia, length of hospital stay, without statistical significant; The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux without statistical significant; The Anxiety Self-rating Scale score, depression self-rating scale score points, the linear stapler was significantly lower than the postoperative circular stapler. The study showed that the anastomotic complications (absolute odds ratio of 1.08; 95% CI 1.02-1.15). This 2 protocol can be used safely and effectively common methods for gastric cancer. The linear stapler after laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy was better than the circular stapler, and was better than the circular stapler in terms of postoperative exhaust time, the incidence of pneumonia and the hospital time. However, the anastomosis time was longer than that of the circular stapler, and fees are also relatively expensive.

PMID:37657064 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000034588

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The efficacy of transcutaneous electronic acupoint stimulation for improving postoperative recovery after gynecologic surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Sep 1;102(35):e34834. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034834.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electronic acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for improving postoperative recovery after gynecologic surgery.

METHODS: We performed a thorough search of 6 databases until March 2023, identifying 12 randomized controlled trials that met our predefined inclusion criteria and encompassed a total of 1510 patients. For continuous outcomes, we calculated the weighted mean difference (WMD), and for binomial outcomes, we used the risk ratio (RR). We evaluated heterogeneity among the included studies using Cochran I2 and Q statistics, utilizing a random-effects model when the I2 value exceeded 50%. To assess publication bias, we employed Egger test.

RESULTS: Our analysis found that TEAS significantly reduced the risk of postoperative nausea (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.83, P = .002) and postoperative vomiting (RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.43-0.67, P < .001), visual analogue scale (WMD: -0.47, 95% CI: -0.76 to -0.17, P = .002), as well as shortened the time to first bowel movement (WMD: -18.43, 95% CI: -20.87 to -15.99, P < .001) and time to first flatus (WMD: -8.98, 95% CI: -12.46 to -5.51, P < .001) compared to the conventional group.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that TEAS may improve postoperative recovery following gynecologic surgery. However, to confirm these results, larger randomized controlled trials encompassing a more diverse range of patient populations are urgently required.

PMID:37657060 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000034834

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The effect of acupuncture on recovery after colorectal cancer resection: A systematic review meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Sep 1;102(35):e34678. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034678.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture by systematically reviewing the literature on colorectal cancer resection.

METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to February 28, 2023. Randomized controlled trials on acupuncture in patients after CRC resection were included. Two reviewers independently selected relevant trials, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to obtain summary effect estimates. The data were pooled and analyzed using RevMan 5.3. The heterogeneity of selected studies was evaluated by evaluating the I-squared (I2) statistics.

RESULTS: Twenty-two studies with 1878 patients were included. Results of the meta-analysis showed there was a low level evidence that acupuncture may improve early postoperative symptoms, such as time to first flatus (n = 876, MD -0.77h, 95% CI -1.22 to -0.33 h, I2 = 89%), time to first bowel movement (n = 671, MD -1.41h, 95% CI -2.20 to -0.63 h, I2 = 95%), time to first defecation (n = 556, MD -1.03h, 95% CI -1.88 to -0.18 h, I2 = 95%), and nausea/vomiting (n = 1488, RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.89, I2 = 49%) compared with usual care and sham acupuncture. However, there were no statistically significant differences in postoperative pain (n = 1188, MD-0.21, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.17, I2 = 74%). And there was no sufficient evidence of improving long-term functional outcomes. There was substantial heterogeneity across trials. The adverse events associated with acupuncture stimulation were minor in include studies.

CONCLUSION SUBSECTIONS: There is currently low-level evidence supporting the use of acupuncture on postoperative symptoms for patients after colorectal cancer resection. More investigations should be established based on the STRICTA statement strictly.

PMID:37657054 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000034678