Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection: Parasagittal versus Midline Approach in Patients with Unilateral Cervical Radicular Pain; A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare parasagittal interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (PSIL-CESI) and the classic midline interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (MIL-CESI) in terms of pain relief and functional improvement in patients with unilateral upper extremity radicular pain. METHODS: This was a randomized clinical trial being conducted in a single pain center in Tehran. Twenty-six patients were allocated into two groups of 13, undergoing either PSIL-CESI or MIL-CESI. After confirmation of radiocontrast spread in the epidural space by fluoroscopic guidance, dexamethasone 8 mg and bupivacaine 0.125% in a volume of 5 ml were delivered to the epidural space. Evaluation of functional state and pain intensity before and 1 month after the procedure was accomplished using the neck disability index (NDI) and the numeric rating scale (NRS) respectively. RESULTS: Demographic and baseline characteristics of the cases showed no significant statistical difference. Improvements in the NDI and the NRS were observed in both groups; meanwhile, improvements were more pronounced in the PSIL-CESI group as compared to the MIL-CESI group (P<0.001). With the PSIL approach the ventral spread of radiocontrast was significantly higher (38%) than with the MIL approach (0.7%) (P<0.001). All patients in PSIL group showed radiocontrast spread ipsilateral to the painful side and all patients in the MIL group showed a midline distribution of radiocontrast. CONCLUSION: PSIL-CESI provides superior pain relief and improvement of functional disability in patients with unilateral upper extremity radicular pain in comparison to the classic MIL-CESI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: IRCT20180524039816N1.

153Sm-EDTMP and 177Lu-EDTMP are equally safe and effective in pain palliation from skeletal metastases.

INTRODUCTION: Bone pain from multifocal blastic or mixed lytic-blastic metastatic lesions can be effectively addressed with radiopharmaceuticals with high affinity for such foci. 153Sm-ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid (153Sm-EDTMP) and 177Lu-ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid) (177Lu-EDTMP) are two such radiopharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to make a comparison of efficacy between 153Sm-EDTMP and 177Lu-EDTMP in terms of palliation of commonly encountered symptoms in cancer patients, functional status, and pain intensity as measured by Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and numeric rating scale (NRS) respectively. This study was a double blind randomized clinical trial conducted in a setting of three university hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a randomized double-blind clinical trial 50 patients will with documented painful bone metastases of blastic or mixed lytic-blastic nature were randomly allocated into two groups; group receiving 153Sm-EDTMP and group receiving 177Lu-EDTMP. Radiopharmaceuticals were given at a dose of 37.0 MBq / kg body weight in both groups. Scores on ESAS, ECOG performance status and NRS were recorded before the intervention and following the intervention at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks. Hematologic toxicity was evaluated by monitoring hematologic parameters at the baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 8 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: Fifty patients, 31 (62 %) females and 19 (38 %) males with the mean age of 66.08 ± 4.53 years were recruited. The baseline means and standard deviations for pain intensity as measured by the NRS were 8.4 ± 1.47 and 8.36 ± 1.43 in 153Sm-EDTMP- and 177Lu-EDTMP-treated subjects respectively. Patients of both groups showed significant alleviation of pain observed from the 2nd week (first follow up session) and continuing to the 12th week after treatment . No difference in response to the two radiopharmaceuticals were seen regarding their efficacy in pain alleviation (P < 1.0). Baseline "symptom distress scores" drawn from the ESAS-r in 153Sm-EDTMP- and 177Lu-EDTMP-treated groups were 5.5 ± 2.1 and 5.4 ± 2.1, respectively. The scores significantly improved in both groups with the most marked rate of improvement achieved within the first two weeks after treatment. The scores continued to improve until the 12th week of follow-up (P < 1.0, non-significant [ns]). Functional status as measured by ECOG performance status scores improved in both groups over the follow up period. Baseline scores on ECOG performance status in 153Sm-EDTMP- and 177Lu-EDTMP-treated groups were 2.5 ± 1.3 and 2.5 ± 1.3 (mean ± standard deviation). At 3 months post-treatment scores improved to 1.6 ± 0.6 and 1.6 ± 0.6 respectively (P < 1.0, n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: 153Sm-EDTMP and 177Lu-EDTMP are safe and effective radiopharmaceuticals in palliation of cancer pain from multiple skeletal metastases of blastic and mixed lyticblastic nature. EINLEITUNG: Knochenschmerzen von multifokalen blastischen oder gemischten lytisch-blastischen metastatischen Läsionen können mit Radiopharmazeutika mit hoher Affinität für solche Foki wirksam adressiert werden. 153Sm-EDTMP (Ethylendiamin-tetra[methylenphosphonsäure]) und 153Lu-EDTMP sind zwei dieser Radiopharmazeutika. Das Ziel der Studie war es, einen Vergleich der Wirksamkeit zwischen 153Sm-EDTMP und 177Lu-EDTMP im Hinblick auf die Linderung häufig auftretender Symptome bei Krebspatienten, den funktionellen Status und die Schmerzintensität, gemessen mit dem Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), der Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, durchzuführen (ECOG) Leistungsstatus bzw. numerische Bewertungsskala (NRS). Diese Studie war eine doppelblinde, randomisierte klinische Studie, die in drei Universitätskliniken durchgeführt wurde. MATERIAL UND METHODEN: In einer randomisierten doppelblinden klinischen Studie wurden 50 Patienten mit dokumentierten schmerzhaften Knochenmetastasen blastischer oder gemischter lytisch-blastischer Art auf zwei Gruppen randomisert: eine Gruppe erhielt 153Sm-EDTMP und eine Gruppe 177Lu-EDTMP. Radiopharmazeutika wurden in einer Dosis von 37,0 MBq / kg Körpergewicht in beiden Gruppen verabreicht. Die Ergebnisse zu ESAS, ECOG-Leistungsstatus und NRS wurden vor der Intervention und nach der Intervention nach 2, 4, 6 und 12 Wochen aufgezeichnet. Die hämatologische Toxizität wurde durch Überwachung von hämatologischen Parametern zu Beginn und nach 1, 3, 6 und 8 Wochen nach dem Eingriff bewertet. ERGEBNISSE: Fünfzig Patienten, 31 (62 %) Frauen und 19 (38 %) Männer mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 66,08 ± 4,53 Jahren wurden rekrutiert. Die Grundlinienmittelwerte und Standardabweichungen für die Schmerzintensität, gemessen durch die NRS, betrugen 8,4 ± 1,47 und 8,36 ± 1,43 in 153Sm-EDTMP-bzw. 177Lu-EDTMP-behandelten Patienten. Die Patienten beider Gruppen zeigten eine signifikante Schmerzlinderung, die von der 2. Woche (erste Nachuntersuchung) bis zur 12. Woche nach der Behandlung beobachtet wurde. Hinsichtlich ihrer Wirksamkeit bei der Schmerzlinderung wurde kein Unterschied in Bezug auf die zwei Radiopharmazeutika festgestellt (P < 1,0). Baseline "Symptom Distress Scores" aus dem ESAS-r in 153Sm-EDTMP- und 177Lu-EDTMP-behandelten Gruppen waren 5,5 ± 2,1 bzw. 5,4 ± 2,1. Die Werte verbesserten sich in beiden Gruppen signifikant, wobei innerhalb der ersten zwei Wochen nach der Behandlung die deutlichste Besserung erzielt wurde. Die Werte verbesserten sich bis zur 12. Woche der Nachuntersuchung (P < 1,0, nicht signifikant [n.s.]). Der funktionelle Status, gemessen anhand der ECOG-Leistungsstatuswerte, verbesserte sich in beiden Gruppen im Follow-up-Zeitraum. Die Baseline-Werte für den ECOG-Leistungsstatus in 153Sm-EDTMP- und 177Lu-EDTMP-behandelten Gruppen betrugen 2,5 ± 1,3 und 2,5 ± 1,3 (Mittelwert ± Standardabweichung). Nach 3 Monaten verbesserten sich die Ergebnisse auf 1,6 ± 0,6 bzw. 1,6 ± 0,6 (P < 1,0, n.s.). SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: : 153Sm-EDTMP und 177Lu-EDTMP sind sichere und wirksame Radiopharmaka zur Linderung von Tumorschmerzen bei multiplen skelettalen Metastasen blastischer und gemischter lytisch-blastischer Natur.

Pressure Ulcer and Nutrition.

Pressure ulcers can diminish global life quality, contribute to rapid mortality in some patients and pose a significant cost to health-care organizations. Accordingly, their prevention and management are highly important. Nutritional deprivation and insufficient dietary intake are the key risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers and impaired wound healing. Unplanned weight loss is a major risk factor for malnutrition and pressure ulcer development. Suboptimal nutrition interferes with the function of the immune system, collagen synthesis, and tensile strength. No laboratory test can exactly define an individual's nutritional status. Although serum albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and retinol-binding protein as well as anthropometric measures such as height, weight, and body mass index and the other laboratory values may be suitable to establish the overall prognosis, still they might not well represent the nutritional status. Although the ideal nutrient intake to encourage wound healing is unknown, increased needs for energy, protein, zinc, and Vitamins A, C, and E and also amino acids such as arginine and glutamine have been documented. Hydration plays a vital role in the preservation and repair of skin integrity. Dehydration disturbs cell metabolism and wound healing. Adequate fluid intake is necessary to support the blood flow to wounded tissues and to prevent additional breakdown of the skin. The main aim of the present article is to review the current evidence related to hydration and nutrition for bedsore prevention and management in adults.

Diagnostic accuracy of myocardial deformation indices for detecting high risk coronary artery disease in patients without regional wall motion abnormality.

BACKGROUND: The prediction of coronary artery disease (CAD) by conventional echocardiographic measurements is principally based on the estimation of ejection fraction and regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA). This study aimed to determine whether strain echocardiography of left ventricle measured by velocity vector imaging (VVI) method could detect patients with a high-risk CAD. METHODS: In a prospective study, a total of 119 consecutive patients who were assessed for eligibility were categorized into three groups: (1) without CAD as normal (n=59), (2) 1- or 2-vessel disease as low-risk (n=29), and (3) left main and/or 3-vessel disease as high-risk (n=31). The peaks of systolic strain and strain rate from 18 curves of apical views were averaged as global longitudinal strain and strain rate (GLS and GLSR), respectively; the 6 systolic peaks of strain and strain rate at base- and mid-ventricular of short axis views were averaged as mean radial strain rate (MRSR). RESULTS: GLS, GLSR, and basal MRSR of left ventricle were significantly lower in the high-risk group (P=0.047, P=0.004 and P=0.030, respectively). Receiver operating characteristics curve showed that the optimal values of GLS, GLSR, and basal MRSR for detecting the severe CAD were -17%, -1 s(-1), and 1.45 s(-1) with the sensitivities of 77%, 71%, and 71% and the specificities of 63%, 67%, and 62%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Decrements in the GLS, GLSR, and basal MRSR of the left ventricle can detect the high-risk CAD cases among patients without RWMA at rest.

Unusually prolonged motor and sensory block following single injection ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block with bupivacaine and dexamethasone.

We present a case of unexpectedly prolonged motor and sensory block following a successful single injection ultrasound - guided infraclavicular block with bupivacaine (0.25%) and dexamethasone (8 mg). ultrasound guidance and safety measurement such as injection of the local anaesthetic at a slow rate and verifying that usual resistance was felt throughout the injection, has been applied. It took 42 hours for the block to go away. Although there was no evidence of neurologic injury but we should always be prepared to consider the possibility of nerve injury and take appropriate measures.