Rotator cuff repair: what questions are patients asking online and where are they getting their answers?

Background@#This study analyzed questions entered online by rotator cuff patients and determined types and quality of websites providing information at the top of queries. @*Methods@#Three strings related to rotator cuff repair were explored in Google Search. The result pages were manually collected under the “People also ask” function for frequent questions and associated webpages. Questions were categorized using Rothwell’s classification with further topical subcategorization. Webpages were evaluated by Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria for source quality. @*Results@#One hundred twenty “People also ask” questions were collected with their associated webpages. Based on the Rothwell classification of questions, queries were thematically organized into fact (41.7%), value (31.7%), and policy (26.7%) categories. The most common webpage categories were academic (28.3%) and medical practice (27.5%). The most common question subcategories were timeline of recovery (21.7%), indications/management (21.7%), and pain (18.3%). The average JAMA score for all 120 webpages was 1.50. Journal articles had the highest average JAMA score (3.77), while commercial websites had the lowest JAMA score (0.91). The most common suggested question for rotator cuff repair/surgery was, “Is rotator cuff surgery worth having?,” while the most common suggested question for rotator cuff repair pain was, “What happens if a rotator cuff is not repaired?” @*Conclusions@#The most common questions asked on Google pertaining to rotator cuff repair evaluate management options and relate to the timeline of recovery and pain management. Most information is provided by medical practice, academic, and medical information websites, which have highly variable reliability. By understanding the questions that rotator cuff repair patients are asking online, surgeons can tailor preoperative education to common patient concerns and improve postoperative outcomes.Level of evidence: IV.

Arteriovenous uterine malformation: case report

The case of a 49-year-old patient is reported, with a particular history of obstetric risk, who presented with severe transvaginal hemorrhage, was performed doppler arteriography and ultrasound, finding data suggestive of arteriovenous uterine malformation, surgery was decided due to heavy menstrual bleeding with anemia, the pathology report shows characteristics of an arteriovenous uterine malformation.

Management of Anabolic Steroid-Induced Infertility: Novel Strategies for Fertility Maintenance and Recovery

There is often inherent conflict in the overlapping fields of male fertility and andrology. While the goal of all male fertility specialists is to facilitate and preserve biologic paternity, many practitioners also care for a significant number of patients suffering from hypogonadism. Exogenous testosterone administration, the gold standard for the management of these patients, almost universally impairs spermatogenesis and can even completely eradicate it in some men. With steady increases in both the incidence of hypogonadism and average paternal age, practitioners are now encountering hypogonadal men who desire future fertility or men suffering the effects of earlier androgenic anabolic steroid use with increasing frequency. In this manuscript, we review management strategies for these complex patients and explore novel medications that may be of use in this population.

Atypical Imaging Characteristics of Metastatic Myxoid Liposarcoma

Myxoid liposarcoma accounts for 30% to 50% of all liposarcomas, which is the second most common soft tissue tumor. It is usually painless slowly growing mass in the deep-seated soft tissue of the lower extremities or the peritoneum, with a strong metastatic predilection to the spine. Metastatic myxoid liposarcoma typically shows low signal intensity on T1 sequences with hyper-intensities on T2 sequences. In contrast to vertebral hemangioma, it shows increased signal intensity in both T1 and T2 sequences. We demonstrate 2 cases of metastatic myxoid liposarcoma with atypical MRI pattern. According to the histopathology and the clinical signs, we believe that increasing round cell cellularity and fat content is correlated to the increased T1 signal intensity and clinical aggressiveness. In conclusion, the atypical MRI pattern for vertebral metastatic lesions in patients with myxoid liposarcoma should be taken into consideration to prevent the delay in diagnosis and standard of care.

Wearable EEG and beyond

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a widely used non-invasive method for monitoring the brain. It is based upon placing conductive electrodes on the scalp which measure the small electrical potentials that arise outside of the head due to neuronal action within the brain. Historically this has been a large and bulky technology, restricted to the monitoring of subjects in a lab or clinic while they are stationary. Over the last decade much research eff ort has been put into the creation of “wearable EEG” which overcomes these limitations and allows the long term non-invasive recording of brain signals while people are out of the lab and moving about. This paper reviews the recent progress in this fi eld, with particular emphasis on the electrodes used to make connections to the head and the physical EEG hardware. The emergence of conformal “tattoo” type EEG electrodes is highlighted as a key next step for giving very small and socially discrete units. In addition, new recommendations for the performance validation of novel electrode technologies are given, with standards in this area seen as the current main bottleneck to the wider take up of wearable EEG. The paper concludes by considering the next steps in the creation of next generation wearable EEG units, showing that a wide range of research avenues are present.

Intrawound Vancomycin Powder in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Increases Rate of Sterile Wound Complications / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a successful surgery for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis; however, the risk of a post-operative prosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains at 1% to 2%. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety profile of using vancomycin powder (VP) to reduce infection rates by reviewing acute postoperative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 265 consecutive patients undergoing THA was performed. The first 128 patients, the control group, did not receive VP, and the subsequent 137 patients, the VP group, received VP at the time of wound closure. Patient demographic data, medical comorbidities, and perioperative information were compared. RESULTS: The primary outcome was a post-operative surgical complication within 90 days from surgery. The control and VP group's demographic, medical comorbidities and perioperative information data were statistically similar. Deep infection rate in the control group was 5.5%, whereas the deep infection rate in the VP group was 0.7% (P=0.031). Sterile wound complication rate was 4.4% in the VP group, and 0% in the control group (P=0.030). Remaining complications were not statistically different between the groups. CONCLUSION: VP was associated with an increase rate of sterile wound complications compared to the control group. The rate of PJI was decreased with the use of VP. We do not recommend for or against the use of VP at time of wound closure to prevent PJI, and higher powered studies will need to be performed to demonstrate the efficacy of VP.

Possible local anesthetic resistance in Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy during regional anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Engineering of Anti-CD133 Trispecific Molecule Capable of Inducing NK Expansion and Driving Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The selective elimination of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in tumor patients is a crucial goal because CSCs cause drug refractory relapse. To improve the current conventional bispecific immune-engager platform, a 16133 bispecific natural killer (NK) cell engager (BiKE), consisting of scFvs binding FcγRIII (CD16) on NK cells and CD133 on carcinoma cells, was first synthesized and a modified interleukin (IL)-15 crosslinker capable of stimulating NK effector cells was introduced. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA shuffling and ligation techniques were used to assemble and synthesize the 1615133 trispecific NK cell engager (TriKE). The construct was tested for its specificity using flow cytometry, cytotoxic determinations using chromium release assays, and lytic degranulation. IL-15–mediated expansion was measured using flow-based proliferation assays. The level of interferon (IFN)-γ release was measured because of its importance in the anti-cancer response. RESULTS: 1615133 TriKE induced NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity and NK expansion far greater than that achieved with BiKE devoid of IL-15. The drug binding and induction of cytotoxic degranulation was CD133+ specific and the anti-cancer activity was improved by integrating the IL-15 cross linker. The NK cell–related cytokine release measured by IFN-γ detection was higher than that of BiKE. NK cytokine release studies showed that although the IFN-γ levels were elevated, they did not approach the levels achieved with IL-12/IL-18, indicating that release was not at the supraphysiologic level. CONCLUSION: 1615133 TriKE enhances the NK cell anti-cancer activity and provides a self-sustaining mechanism via IL-15 signaling. By improving the NK cell performance, the new TriKE represents a highly active drug against drug refractory relapse mediated by CSCs.

⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT Imaging Predicting Intraprostatic Tumor Extent, Extracapsular Extension and Seminal Vesicle Invasion Prior to Radical Prostatectomy in Patients with Prostate Cancer / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: ⁶⁸Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has shown promising results in patients with biochemical recurrence after primary therapy for prostate cancer. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of PSMA I&T (imaging and therapy) PET/CT prior to radical prostatectomy.METHODS: The study population consisted of 21 patients with prostate cancer who underwent ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA I&T PET/CT before either open or laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Intraprostatic tumor extent, extracapsular extension (ECE) and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) were assessed on the PET/CT scans. Tracer uptake was quantified in terms of standardized uptake values (SUVs). Imaging findings were correlated with final whole-gland histopathology.RESULTS: Of the 21 patients, two had T stage 2b disease, nine stage 2c, six stage 3a and four stage 3b. The median Gleason score was 7. The SUV(mean) of the primary tumors was 9.5 ± 8.8. SUV(mean) was higher in tumors with ECE than in organconfined tumors (13.8 ± 11.0 vs. 5.6 ± 3.2, p = 0.029). Peak tracer uptake was significantly positively correlated with Gleason score (r(s) = 0.49, p = 0.025). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were, respectively, 94.7%, 75.0%, 97.3% and 60.0% for tumor infiltration of an individual prostate lobe, 75.0%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 97.4% for SVI, and 90.0%, 90.9%, 90.0% and 90.9% for ECE, using an angulated contour of the prostate as the criterion. Tumor volume derived from ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA I&T PET/CT was significantly correlated with preoperative prostate-specific antigen value (r(p) = 0.75, p < 0.001) and tumor volume on histopathology (r(p) = 0.45, p = 0.039).CONCLUSIONS: ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA I&T PET/CT prior to radical prostatectomy can contribute to presurgical local staging of prostate cancer. In this pilot study, ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA I&T PET/CT showed promising results for prediction of lobe infiltration, ECE and SVI.

Expression of lymphatic markers and lymphatic growth factors in psoriasis before and after anti-TNF treatment

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is an early stage of psoriatic lesion development, but less is known about lymphagiogenesis and its role in the development of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of specific lymphatic markers and lymphatic growth factors in untreated psoriatic skin, in the unaffected skin of patients and skin of healthy volunteers, as well as their alteration after treatment with an anti-TNF agent. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry for the lymphatic markers D2-40 and LYVE-1, in addition to the VEGF-C and VEGF-D growth factors, was performed in the skin biopsies of psoriatic lesions and adjacent non-psoriatic skin of 19 patients before and after treatment with etanercept, as well as in the skin biopsies of 10 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The expressions of D2-40, VEGF-C and VEGF-D on lymphatic vessels underwent statistically significant increases in untreated psoriatic skin compared with non-lesional skin, in contrast to LYVE-1, which did not involve significant increase in expression in psoriatic skin. VEGF-C expression on lymphatic vessels diminished after treatment with etanercept. Moreover VEGF-C and VEGF-D staining on fibroblasts presented with higher expression in lesional skin than in non-lesional adjacent skin. CONCLUSION: Remodeling of lymphatic vessels possibly occurs during psoriatic lesion development, parallel to blood vessel formation. The exact role of this alteration is not yet clear and more studies are necessary to confirm these results. .

Leptin replacement therapy for the treatment of non-HAART associated lipodystrophy syndromes: a meta-analysis into the effects of leptin on metabolic and hepatic endpoints / Terapia de reposição de leptina para o tratamento de síndromes lipodistróficas não associadas ao uso de antirretrovirais: uma metanálise dos efeitos da leptina em parâmetros metabólicos e hepáticos

The clinical manifestations of lipodystrophy syndromes (LS) are hypoleptinemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. Leptin replacement therapy (LRT) is effective at improving these pathologies. Currently, there are no data compiling the evidence from the literature, and demonstrating the effect of LRT in LS patients. A systematic review of the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases was conducted to identify studies assessing the effect of LRT on metabolic and hepatic endpoints in patients with LS not associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals of pooled results were calculated for overall changes in glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, and hepatic physiology, using an inverse-variance random-effects model. After screening, 12 studies were included for review. Meta-analysis of results from 226 patients showed that LRT decreased fasting glucose [0.75 SMD units (range 0.36‐1.13), p=0.0001], HbA1c [0.49 (0.17‐0.81), p=0.003], triglycerides [1.00 (0.69‐1.31), p<0.00001], total cholesterol [0.62 (0.21‐1.02), p=0.003], liver volume [1.06 (0.51‐1.61), p=0.0002] and AST [0.41 (0.10‐0.73) p=0.01]. In patients with non-HAART LS, LRT improves the outcome of several metabolic and hepatic parameters. Studies were limited by small populations and therefore large prospective trials are needed to validate these findings.

As manifestações clínicas das síndromes lipodistróficas (SL) incluem hipoleptinemia, hiperglicemia, resistência insulínica, dislipidemia e esteatose hepática. A terapia de reposição de leptina (TRL) melhora tais parâmetros, mas atualmente não há dados compilados demonstrando tal efeito. Uma revisão sistemática dos bancos de dados MEDLINE e Cochrane Library identificou estudos avaliando os efeitos da TRL sobre parâmetros metabólicos e hepáticos em pacientes com SL não associadas ao uso de antirretrovirais. Diferenças médias padronizadas (DMP) e intervalos de confiança de 95% foram calculados a partir dos resultados, para os efeitos da TRL sobre a homeostase da glicose, perfil lipídico, e morfologia/função hepática, usando um modelo de variação inversa e efeitos randômicos. Após a triagem, 12 estudos foram incluídos para revisão. A metanálise dos resultados de 226 pacientes mostrou que a TRL reduziu a glicemia de jejum [0,75 DMP (amplitude 0,36‐1,13), p=0,0001], HbA1c [0,49 (0,17‐0,81), p=0,003], triglicerídeos [1,00 (0,69‐1,31), p<0,00001], colesterol total [0,62 (0,21‐1,02), p=0,003], volume hepático [1,06 (0,51‐1,61), p=0,0002] e AST [0,41 (0,10‐0,73), p=0,001]. Em pacientes com SL não associada ao uso de antirretrovirais, a TRL melhora vários parâmetros metabólicos e hepáticos. Os estudos avaliados foram limitados pelo pequeno número de pacientes. Maiores estudos clínicos prospectivos são necessários para validar tais achados.

Microsatellite Instability within the CD30 Gene Promoter Distinguishes between Normal and Neoplastic Cells in Lymphoma.

Aims:As differences in promoter activity and CD30 surface expression between CD30+ lymphoid cell-lines and peripheral blood leukocytes have been shown previously to be independent of the size of the CD30 promoter microsatellite, in this study we investigate the instability within the region in a range of neoplasms including malignant lymphoma, breast and colon carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. Study Design:A representative sample of CD30+ and CD30- lymphomas and cell lines as well as non-haemopoietic malignancies and normal tissues were typed for CD30 microsatellite length and compared. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomical Pathology, Pathwest Laboratory Medicine WA, Perth, Australia and School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Western Australia, 2000-2012. Methodology: DNA was prepared from archived biopsy specimens and used to PCR ampify the CD30 microsatellite region prior to size determination using an Genescan instrument (Applied Biosystems). Results: This study has identified instability within the CD30 promoter microsatellite region in DNA from the tumour tissue of cases of malignant lymphoma, colon carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma but not in DNA from benign lymphoid cells or normal tissues. Conclusion: These findings indicate that variability in the length of the CD30 microsatellite may be a general characteristic of the neoplastic phenotype and may reflect defects in the mismatch repair system in these malignancies rather than a specific feature of CD30- positive neoplasms. Our results suggest that the CD30-MS may be a useful marker to distinguish between normal lymphoid tissue and lymphoid malignancy.

Multimodal neuromonitoring in pediatric cardiac anesthesia.

Despite significant improvements in overall outcome, neurological injury remains a feared complication following pediatric congenital heart surgery (CHS). Only if adverse events are detected early enough, can effective actions be initiated preventing potentially serious injury. The multifactorial etiology of neurological injury in CHS patients makes it unlikely that one single monitoring modality will be effective in capturing all possible threats. Improving current and developing new technologies and combining them according to the concept of multimodal monitoring may allow for early detection and possible intervention with the goal to further improve neurological outcome in children undergoing CHS.

Predictors of Intensive Care Unit Morbidity and Midterm Follow-up after Primary Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot

BACKGROUND: Fallot (TOF) repair, and identify predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity. METHODS: We analyzed perioperative and midterm follow-up data for all cases of primary TOF repair from 2001 to 2012. The primary endpoint was early mortality and morbidity, and the secondary endpoint was survival and functional status at follow-up. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients underwent primary repair. The median age was 4.9 months (range, 1 to 9 months), and the median weight was 5.3 kg (range, 3.1 to 9.8 kg). There was no early surgical mortality. The incidence of junctional ectopic tachycardia and persistent complete heart block was 2% and 1%, respectively. The median length of ICU stay was 6 days (range, 2 to 21 days), and the median duration of mechanical ventilation was 19 hours (range, 0 to 136 hours). By multiple regression analysis, age and weight were independent predictors of the length of ICU stay, while the surgical era was an independent predictor of the duration of mechanical ventilation. At the 8-year follow-up, freedom from death and re-intervention was 97% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Primary TOF repair is a safe procedure with low mortality and morbidity in a medium-sized program with outcomes comparable to national standards. Age and weight at the time of surgery remain significant predictors of morbidity.

Antibiotic Resistance: How Serious Is the Problem, and What Can Be Done?

No abstract available.

Fast-tracking in pediatric cardiac surgery - The current standing.

Fast-tracking in cardiac surgery refers to the concept of early extubation, mobilization and hospital discharge in an effort to reduce costs and perioperative morbidity. With careful patient selection, fast-tracking can be performed in many patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD). In order to accomplish this safely, a multidisciplinary coordinated approach is necessary. This manuscript reviews currently used anesthetic techniques, patient selection, and available information about the safety and patient outcome associated with this approach.

Human myiasis in western Jamaica: five years after the implementation of a screwworm eradication programme

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of cases of human myiasis admitted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), Jamaica, between 1999 and 2003, following the inception of the National Screwworm Eradication Programme (NSEP) in 1998, and the risk factors associated with the condition. METHOD: A total of 144 cases of myiasis were retrieved from the database of the department of Medical Records at the CRH for the years 1999 to 2003. A data extraction form was devised to review the circumstances of each case. The data were analyzed using EpiInfo version 6. RESULTS: Of 144 cases, 54.9% were female and 45.1% male. The largest groups were < 10 years, 52.8% [76/144 (M-21, F-55)] and 60years and over, 18.8% [27/144 (M-16, F-I)] (p < 0.001). Case distribution for the years 1999-2003 showed 16, 39, 31, 30, and 28 cases respectively. Three-quarters (74.6%) of all cases affected the scalp/head one-fifth (20.3%) affected the lower limbs. Ninety-six per cent of those < 10 years had scalp/head myiasis (p < 0.001; OR = 23.29; CI: 6.14 < OR < 104.11). Two-thirds (66.6%) of those 60 years and over had lower limb myiasis (p < 0.001; OR = 19.09; CI: 6.20 < OR < 61.12). Mean duration of treatment was 3.5 days (SD = 1.4 days) and 69.7% required hospitalization for seven or more days. There was no difference in duration of treatment for myiasis or in length of hospitalization in relation to method used to eliminate maggots. Risk factors identified included Tinea capitis for myiasis of the scalp/head (p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus for lower limb myiasis (p < 0.001; OR = 14.48; CI: 2.37 < OR < 133.25). CONCLUSION: Human myiasis remains a public health issue in western Jamaica with no significant decreasing trend in the number of cases admitted to the CRH since 1999. It is recommended that this zoonosis become a Class 1 notifiable disease to the Ministries of Health and Agriculture because of the existing NSEP.

Can anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-CagA antibodies be used to select patients with dyspepsia for gastroscopy?

BACKGROUND: agA IgG antibody in sera may indicate presence of peptic ulcer disease among dyspeptic patients and therefore may be used as a serological marker to identify high risk patients for peptic ulcer who can be subjected to endoscopy. Present study was performed to identify association of CagA IgG antibody in patients with peptic ulcer. METHODS: Consecutive patients with dyspepsia were subjected to endoscopy and sera was collected from each. Rapid urease test in antral tissue collected from each patient by endoscopic biopsy was performed. Antral tissue was also examined histologically. IgG Antibody against H. Pylori and CagA IgG antibody was tested in each patients sera. RESULTS: Out of 82 patients with dyspepsia included in the study 28 had peptic ulcer. Of whom 26 were positive for anti IgG H. Pylori antibody. More than 80% patients with peptic ulcer patients had detectable anti Cag A antibody in contrast to 33% patients with non ulcer dyspepsia (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anti-Cag A antibody may be used as a screening test in patients with dyspepsia to select high risk patients for peptic ulcer for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.