Development and validation of a predictive model for choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone-related conditions affect a significant portion of the population, with varying prevalence among different ethnic groups. Complications such as pancreatitis and cholangitis are associated with the presence of common bile duct (CBD) stones. Existing guidelines for diagnosing choledocholithiasis lack precision, leading to excessive use of invasive procedures like endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted at Hospital Central "Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto," involving 374 patients in the development cohort and 154 patients in the validation cohort. Patients meeting inclusion criteria underwent biochemical testing and ultrasonography. A predictive scoring system was developed using logistic regression and validated in an independent cohort. Clinical and laboratory variables were collected, and model performance was assessed using receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The predictive model incorporated variables such as age, pancreatitis, cholangitis, bilirubin levels, and CBD stone presence on ultrasound. The model demonstrated an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 93.81% in the validation dataset. By adjusting the threshold defining high-risk probability to 40%, the model improved specificity and sensitivity compared to existing guidelines. Notably, the model reclassified patients, leading to a more accurate risk assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The developed algorithm accurately predicts choledocholithiasis non-invasively in patients with symptomatic gallstones. This tool has the potential to reduce reliance on costly or invasive procedures like magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and ERCP, offering a more efficient and cost-effective approach to patient management. The user-friendly calculator developed in this study could streamline diagnostic procedures, particularly in resource-limited healthcare settings, ultimately improving patient care.

Validation of the Simplified Inguinal Pain Questionnaire for assessing postoperative pain and disability following hernioplasty.

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Simplified Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (sIPQ) and compare it to the regular Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (IPQ) for external validation. To do so, the IPQ and sIPQ were telephonically administered at 7 and 28 days postoperatively for a cohort of 25 patients who underwent Lichtenstein hernioplasty. A psychometric analysis of the scores was done using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest assessments. The agreement rate of the mean-standardized values between scores was afterwards calculated. We found closely similar psychometric values for the IPQ and sIPQ. The agreement rate between scores was 97% (p < 0.001). Taken together, the results demonstrate that the sIPQ has psychometric values that are very similar to those of the full IPQ. Its shorter number of items is specifically designed to enable telephonic follow-up and streamline both postoperative care and telemedicine.

Postoperative inguinal pain and disability after Lichtenstein versus ONSTEP hernia repair: analysis of responses to the inguinal pain questionnaire in Spanish.

PURPOSE: To validate the Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (IPQ) in the Spanish Language and test its use in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of hernia repair using the Lichtenstein technique vs. the ONSTEP technique. We simplified the IPQ using a principal component analysis (PCA) approach as a secondary objective. METHODS: The IPQ was translated into Spanish and validated in a cohort of 21 patients. Thereafter, 40 patients were randomized to undergo hernia repair by the Lichtenstein technique or the ONSTEP technique. IPQ and pain visual analogue (VAS) score trends over time were compared using a repeated-measures mixed-effects model. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the IPQ showed an internal consistency similar to that of the original score. No significant differences were found in the IPQ responses, pain VAS, or the rate of self-reported pain between patients who underwent the Lichtenstein technique and those who underwent the ONSTEP technique. Following PCA analysis, the number of items on the IPQ was reduced from 18 to 10. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the IPQ measures postoperative inguinal pain adequately. Based on our findings, the ONSTEP technique was not superior to the Lichtenstein technique. The simplified version of the IPQ is not significantly different from the full version and it is easier to complete. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04138329, registered on October 24, 2019.

Effects of Local Use of Insulin on Wound Healing in Non-diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials have shown the positive effects of local insulin therapy in the formation of new vessels and fibrosis in acute and chronic diabetic wounds without major adverse effects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of local insulin use on wound healing in non-diabetic patients. METHODS: A randomized, split-plot, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Ten non-diabetic patients with full-thickness acute wounds were recruited (5 due to trauma, 3 to burns, and 2 to pressure). All wounds received standard bedside treatment. Each wound was divided into 2 zones. One side received a standard care plus insulin, while the other received standard care plus injection of saline solution. A biopsy specimen was taken from both sites on days 0 and 14. The amount of blood vessel growth and the percentage of fibrosis were evaluated. RESULTS: A significant difference in the number of new vessels was observed on the insulin-treated site (70.6 [29.21]) compared to saline only (26.5 [34.3]; P < .04). The percentage of fibrosis (insulin 34.7 [28.02] vs saline 27.8 [29.9]) showed no significant difference. No adverse events related to the study occurred. The clinical implications of this study are considerable in terms of the formation of blood vessels but not fibrosis. CONCLUSION: We suggest that local insulin administration is a safe therapeutic option for angiogenesis in wounds of non-diabetic patients.

HISTORIQUE: Les essais cliniques démontrent les effets positifs de l'insulinothérapie localisée pour former de nouveaux vaisseaux ou une fibrose en cas de plaies aiguës ou chroniques causées par le diabète, sans entraîner de réactions indésirables majeures. OBJECTIF: La présente étude visait à évaluer les effets de l'utilisation localisée d'insuline chez des patients non diabétiques. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Les chercheurs ont réalisé un essai aléatoire et contrôlé contre placebo, en parcelles divisées et à double insu. Ils ont recruté dix patients non diabétiques ayant des plaies aiguës de pleine épaisseur (cinq à cause d'un traumatisme, trois à cause de brûlures et deux à cause de pression). Toutes les plaies ont fait l'objet de soins standards au chevet du patient et chacune a été divisée en deux zones. Une zone faisait l'objet de soins standards avec l'ajout d'insuline et l'autre zone, de soins standards avec l'injection de soluté physiologique. Les chercheurs ont prélevé une biopsie dans chaque zone les jours 0 et 14. Ils ont évalué la croissance des vaisseaux sanguins et le pourcentage de fibrose. RÉSULTATS: Les chercheurs ont observé une différence significative dans le nombre de nouveaux vaisseaux de la zone traitée à l'insuline (70,6 ± 29,21) par rapport à celle traitée à l'aide de soluté physiologique (26,5 ± 34,3; P <0,04). Ils n'ont pas constaté de différence significative dans le pourcentage de fibrose (insuline 34,7 ± 28,02 et soluté physiologique 27,8 ± 29,9) ni de réactions indésirables liées à l'étude. Les conséquences cliniques de la présente étude sont considérables à l'égard de la formation de vaisseaux sanguins, mais pas de la fibrose. CONCLUSION: Selon les chercheurs, l'administration localisée d'insuline serait sécuritaire pour l'angiogenèse des plaies des patients non diabétiques.

Local use of insulin in wounds of diabetic patients: higher temperature, fibrosis, and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of systemic and local insulin therapy in improving wound healing. Diabetic wounds remain a challenge for healthcare providers. Impaired angiogenesis and reduced granulation tissue formation contribute to inadequate wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of local insulin administration in acute and chronic diabetic wounds. METHODS: Eight diabetic patients presenting with full-thickness wounds, of different causes, were included in this study. Five wounds were due to necrobiosis, one to trauma, and two to postneoplasm resection. All wounds were treated with regular bedside treatment. In addition, half of the wound surface was treated with insulin and the other half did not receive insulin. Thermographic and biopsy specimens of the two sides were obtained on days 0 and 14. The presence of fibrosis, change in temperature, and amount of blood were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant differences in the number of vessels were observed on the insulin-treated side (96 ± 47) when compared with the no-insulin side (32.88 ± 45) (p < 0.026). The percentage of fibrosis (insulin: 44.42 ± 30.42 percent versus no insulin: 12.38 ± 36.17 percent; p < 0.047) and the mean temperature (insulin: 1.27 ± 1.12°C versus no-insulin: 0.13 ± 1.22°C; p < 0.001) were also significantly different between sides. No adverse events related to the study occurred. CONCLUSION: The use of local insulin improves the formation of new blood vessels, increases fibrosis, and correlates with increased temperature. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.