A comparison of sub-concussive impact attenuating capabilities of ice hockey helmets with and without XRD foam.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the impact attenuating capabilities between ice hockey helmets manufactured with and without XRD impact protection foam, worn with and without a XRD skullcap, at reducing sub-concussive head accelerations. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental laboratory. METHODS: Ice hockey helmets were fit onto a Hybrid III 50th Head Form Head and dropped 25 times onto the left temporal side for each condition: XRD foam helmet, XRD foam helmet with XRD skullcap adjunct, non-XRD foam helmet, and non-XRD foam helmet with XRD skullcap adjunct. The helmets were dropped from a height that resulted in sub-concussive linear accelerations (25-80 g's). Using a tri-axial accelerometer, peak linear accelerations (g) were measured, and the average was used to compare impact attenuation properties across the four conditions. RESULTS: The highest linear accelerations were observed in the XRD foam helmet without skullcap (32.97 ±â€¯0.61 g) and were significantly greater (p < 0.001) than the XRD helmet with skullcap (21.38 ±â€¯0.76 g). The helmet without XRD foam elicited the lowest peak linear accelerations (16.10 ±â€¯0.73 g) which were significantly lower than the XRD foam helmet regardless of whether the skullcap was added (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although sub-concussive loads are potentially just as dangerous, much of the research regarding helmet and skullcap efficacy appears to be at high concussive impacts; <70 g's. The findings suggest that helmets with incorporated XRD foam, either within the design or added as an adjunct, are less effective at attenuating linear accelerations at sub-concussive levels than the low-density foam helmet.

Chronic Cognitive and Cerebrovascular Function after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats.

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in cognitive dysfunction in part due to vascular perturbations. In contrast, the long-term vasculo-cognitive pathophysiology of mild TBI (mTBI) remains unknown. We evaluated mTBI effects on chronic cognitive and cerebrovascular function and assessed their interrelationships. Sprague-Dawley rats received midline fluid percussion injury (n = 20) or sham (n = 21). Cognitive function was assessed (3- and 6-month novel object recognition [NOR], novel object location [NOL], and temporal order object recognition [TOR]). Six-month cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) using contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ex vivo circle of Willis artery endothelial and smooth muscle-dependent function were measured. mTBI rats showed significantly impaired NOR, with similar trends (non-significant) in NOL/TOR. Regional CBF and CBV were similar in sham and mTBI. NOR correlated with CBF in lateral hippocampus, medial hippocampus, and primary somatosensory barrel cortex, whereas it inversely correlated with arterial smooth muscle-dependent dilation. Six-month baseline endothelial and smooth muscle-dependent arterial function were similar among mTBI and sham, but post-angiotensin 2 stimulation, mTBI showed no change in smooth muscle-dependent dilation from baseline response, unlike the reduction in sham. mTBI led to chronic cognitive dysfunction and altered angiotensin 2-stimulated smooth muscle-dependent vasoreactivity. The findings of persistent pathophysiological consequences of mTBI in this animal model add to the broader understanding of chronic pathophysiological sequelae in human mild TBI.

Radioactive Iodine for the Treatment of Subclinical Thyrotoxicosis Grade 1 and 2: Outcome of up to 18-Year Follow Up.

Background: Subclinical thyrotoxicosis (SCT) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, specifically increased risk of atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular death. The management is ill-defined due to the scarcity of randomised controlled studies. Some clinicians recommend radioiodine (RAI) treatment however its long-term outcome is unknown. Therefore, further data is needed to provide robust evidence-based guidelines. Methods: A prospective, single-protocol analysis of the outcome of SCT patients (Grade 1; 0.1-0.4 mIU/L and Grade 2; <0.1 mIU/L) treated with mean dose of 427 MBq of I131, followed up for up to 18 years. Thyroid function tests were measured at 4-6 weeks, 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-RAI, and annually thereafter. Cure was defined as achieving a euthyroid/hypothyroid state. Results: Seventy-eight patients with a median age of 68 years (range 36-84) and varying aetiology [55 toxic multinodular goitre (TMNG), 10 toxic nodule (TN) and 13 Graves' disease (GD)] were followed up for a median period of 7.5 years (range 1-18). The cure rate was 100%. The rates of hypothyroidism in TMNG, TN and GD were 23.6%, 30% and 38.5% respectively. The median time to hypothyroidism was 6 and 12 months in GD and TMNG/TN respectively. No differences in outcome between Grade 1 versus Grade 2 were observed. Conclusion: RAI using single mean dose of 427 MBq is effective and safe, irrespective of aetiology or grade of TSH suppression. GD patients become hypothyroid within the first year, whilst TMNG/TN for up to 9-years. Thus after 12 months of follow up, annual thyroid function monitoring is advised.

Nanoliposomes Reduce Stroke Injury Following Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroprotective strategies for stroke remain inadequate. Nanoliposomes comprised of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and monosialogangliosides (nanoliposomes) induced an antioxidant protective response in endothelial cells exposed to amyloid insults. We tested the hypotheses that nanoliposomes will preserve human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells viability following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-reoxygenation and will reduce injury in mice following middle cerebral artery occlusion. METHODS: SH-SY5Y and human brain microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygenation (3 hours 0.5%-1% oxygen and glucose-free media followed by 20-hour ambient air/regular media) without or with nanoliposomes (300 µg/mL). Viability was measured (calcein-acetoxymethyl fluorescence) and protein expression of antioxidant proteins HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1), NQO1 (NAD[P]H quinone dehydrogenase 1), and SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) were measured by Western blot. C57BL/6J mice were treated with saline (n=8) or nanoliposomes (10 mg/mL lipid, 200 µL, n=7) while undergoing 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Day 2 postinjury neurological impairment score and infarction size were compared. RESULTS: SH-SY5Y and human brain microvascular endothelial cells showed reduced viability post-oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygenation that was reversed by nanoliposomes. Nanoliposomes increased protein expressions of HO-1, NQO1 in both cell types and SOD1 in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Nanoliposomes-treated mice showed reduced neurological impairment and brain infarct size (18.8±2% versus 27.3±2.3%, P=0.017) versus controls. CONCLUSIONS: Nanoliposomes reduced stroke injury in mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion likely through induction of an antioxidant protective response. Nanoliposome is a candidate novel agent for stroke.

The prevalence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in patients admitted with symptoms of peritonsillar abscess or cellulitis: A retrospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES: Anecdotal evidence suggests that oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) should be suspected in patients presenting with symptoms of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) or cellulitis (PTC). The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of OPSCC in patients presenting with symptoms of PTA/PTC. METHOD, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We retrospectively identified all adults with a coded diagnosis of PTA or PTC who presented between 2012 and 2016 inclusive, across six ENT units in Merseyside. Records were compared to that of the centralised regional head and neck cancer database. The clinical records of a subset of patients were reviewed for the purposes of data validation. RESULTS: A total of 1975 patients with PTA/PTC were identified. Three patients were subsequently diagnosed with OPSCC. None of the three actually had an objective underlying diagnosis of PTA/PTC on the same side. The prevalence of OPSCC in patients admitted with symptoms of PTA/PTC was 0.15% or approximately 1:650 admissions. The records of 510 patients who presented over a one-year period (2016) were reviewed in even greater detail. There were 298 patients with PTA (59.4%) and 151 with PTC (29.1%) and 61 had an alternative diagnosis (11.9%). High-risk features (age ≥40, tonsillar asymmetry or tonsillar lesion) were present in 106 patients (24%). Urgent follow-up was expedited for 77 patients (73%). CONCLUSION: This study estimates the risk of OPSCC in patients with peritonsillar symptoms. The prevalence is low, even in a region with a relatively heavy disease burden. Clinicians should, however, retain a high level of suspicion in patients with persistent symptoms.

Acute Kidney Injury During Treatment with Intravenous Acyclovir for Suspected or Confirmed Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of and risk factors associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) during acyclovir treatment in neonates and infants. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a multicenter (n = 4), retrospective cohort study of all hospitalized infants age <60 days treated with intravenous acyclovir (≥1 dose) for suspected or confirmed neonatal herpes simplex virus disease from January 2011 to December 2015. Infants with serum creatinine measured both before acyclovir (baseline) and during treatment were included. We classified AKI based on changes in creatinine according to published neonatal AKI criteria and performed Cox regression analysis to evaluate risk factors for AKI during acyclovir treatment. RESULTS: We included 1017 infants. The majority received short courses of acyclovir (median, 5 doses). Fifty-seven infants (5.6%) developed AKI during acyclovir treatment, with an incidence rate of AKI at 11.6 per 1000 acyclovir days. Cox regression analysis identified having confirmed herpes simplex virus disease (OR, 4.35; P = .002), receipt of ≥2 concomitant nephrotoxic medications (OR, 3.07; P = .004), receipt of mechanical ventilation (OR, 5.97; P = .001), and admission to an intensive care unit (OR, 6.02; P = .006) as risk factors for AKI during acyclovir treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Among our cohort of infants exposed to acyclovir, the rate of AKI was low. Sicker infants and those exposed to additional nephrotoxic medications seem to be at greater risk for acyclovir-induced toxicity and warrant closer monitoring.

The Liverpool Peritonsillar abscess Score: Development of a predictive score through a prospective multicentre observational study.

OBJECTIVES: While uncommon in the population at large, peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common subject of ENT referrals. Missed or uncertain diagnosis is a source of concern for non-specialist referrers. In line with the NHS England Second Sepsis Action Plan, we aimed to develop a predictive score for the presence of PTA. This would help to improve non-specialist colleagues' diagnostic certainty as well as to support ENT surgeons' triage of these referrals. DESIGN: Prospective, multicentre observational study. SETTING: Primary and secondary care. PARTICIPANTS: Patients >16 years with symptoms of sore throat. DATA: We prospectively collected comprehensive data on patient demographics, symptoms and clinical status. We documented whether the patient had aspiration-proven PTA or not. We performed binary logistic regression analysis, iterative development of a predictive score which we validated internally. RESULTS: 100 patients were included (46 PTA and 54 tonsillitis). Five variables added significantly to the logistic regression model: unilateral sore throat; trismus; male gender; pharyngeal voice change; and uvular deviation. Using the odds ratio outputs, we developed the Liverpool Peritonsillar abscess Score (LPS) iteratively. We validated the latest (third) iteration of the LPS internally (ie, on the same sample), yielding sensitivity 96%; specificity 85%; positive predictive value 85%; and negative predictive value 96%. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve was 0.970. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed the first predictive score for PTA based on symptoms and signs that do not require the user to have specialist experience. Its high negative predictive value may be particularly helpful to non-specialist colleagues.