Bullous Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Successfully Treated With Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Mycophenolate Mofetil.

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) is a rare autoimmune blistering disorder of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) that typically manifests as an acute vesiculobullous eruption in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Also, it can rarely present as the initial clinical manifestation of SLE. There is no established US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) therapy for BSLE. We report a case of a 71-year-old Hispanic woman with SLE and lupus nephritis classes III and V who presented to the hospital with a worsening rash with painful, ruptured blisters involving the upper arms, chest, and back. Our patient did not respond to topical or systemic steroids but improved rapidly to combination therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in pediatric cochlear implant recipients with complex needs: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) encompasses all forms of unaided and aided modes of communication, but typically excludes codified language such as spoken words or American Sign Language (ASL). In pediatric patients with a documented additional disability (population of interest), deficits in communication may pose a barrier to language development. While forms of AAC are frequently mentioned in the literature, recent innovations have permitted the use of high-tech AAC in the rehabilitation process. Our objective was to review the implementation of AAC in pediatric cochlear implant recipients with a documented additional disability. METHODS: A scoping review of existing literature examining the use of AAC in pediatric CI recipients was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases. Studies with pediatric cochlear implant recipients with a concomitant diagnosis requiring additional therapeutic intervention outside the scope of standard post-CI follow-up care and rehabilitation from 1985 to 2021 met inclusion criteria (population of interest). Studies limited to spoken or formal sign language (e.g., American Sign Language, ASL) as communication modalities were excluded. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty studies were screened of which 29 were included. 13 were prospective, 10 were retrospective, 1 was cross-sectional, and 5 were case reports. Of these 29 studies, 378 patients met the inclusion criteria (age <18, CI user, additional disability, utilized AAC). Fewer studies (n = 7) utilized AAC as the primary intervention for investigation. Autism spectrum disorder, learning disorder, and cognitive delay were frequently mentioned as additional disabilities in conjunction with AAC. Unaided forms of AAC included gesture/behavior, informal sign, and signed exact English, while aided AAC included a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA), and touchscreen programs such as TouchChat® HD. Various audiometric and language development outcome measures were mentioned, most commonly the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) (n = 4) and the Preschool Language Scale, Fourth Edition (PLS-4) (n = 4). CONCLUSION: There is a gap in the literature regarding the use of aided and high-tech AAC in pediatric CI users with a documented additional disability. Given the use of multiple different outcome measures, additional exploration of the intervention of AAC is warranted.

Temporal changes in endolymphatic hydrops on MRI with or without intervention: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of Meniere's Disease (MD) involves endolymphatic hydrops (ELH) of the inner ear. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been shown to detect ELH, but changes in ELH have been poorly described using this modality. Our objective was to review MRI-measured changes in ELH over time and after medical and/or surgical intervention in patients with MD. We secondarily aim to associate changes in ELH with changes in MD symptomatology. DATABASES REVIEWED: Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases. METHODS: A systematic review of articles was performed to identify studies utilizing MRI to measure ELH changes over time, and after medical or surgical treatment. Articles on non-human subjects and without direct measurement of ELH were excluded. RESULTS: Of 532 studies identified, 12 were included, involving 170 patients (mean age 56.3 years). Ten studies were prospective; two were retrospective. Five studies strictly utilized medical means of intervention, four utilized surgical treatments, one utilized both, and two observed temporal changes without treatment. Across all interventions, 72.1 % of patients exhibited the same or worsening ELH on imaging. In studies reporting vertigo outcomes, 95.9 % of patients exhibited improvement after the treatment period. CONCLUSION: Medical and surgical interventions often yield symptomatic relief of vertigo in MD patients despite stable or increasing ELH volume. MRI may have greater clinical utility in diagnosing ELH as opposed to assessing treatment response.

Otolaryngology consultations for COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study of indications, interventions, and considerations.

OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in inpatient otolaryngology consultations and interventions for patients based on COVID-19. METHODS: Records were reviewed for all patients for whom otolaryngology was consulted at a high-volume tertiary care hospital from April 30, 2020 to October 1, 2020. Demographic information, length of stay, COVID-19 status, indication for consultation, and otolaryngology interventions were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. RESULTS: Bleeding composed a significantly higher proportion of otolaryngology consults in COVID-19 positive patients (28% vs. 8.4%, p<0.0001). Management of bleeding was the most common procedure performed in positive patients (n=37, 35%), and they had a higher median number of interventions performed when compared to bleeding patients who tested negative (1, IQR 1-2 vs. 1, IQR 0-1, p=0.04). COVID-19 positive patients with bleeding were more likely to expire than those with other indications for otolaryngology consultation (50% vs. 7%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Bleeding and associated interventions comprised the predominant discrepancy between COVID-19 positive and negative patients in our cohort. We encourage routine use of simple and cost-effective methods to decrease risk of bleeding.

Violence Prevention Programs Are Effective When Initiated During the Initial Workup of Patients in an Urban Level I Trauma Center.

This study represents the first attempt at evaluating the ability of the CureViolence Hospital-Response Intervention Program (previously CeaseFire) to disrupt the pattern of violent reinjury. The clinical data points of 300 African American men who presented to our trauma center with a gunshot wound and received intervention at the bedside between 2005 and 2007 (with a 48-month follow-up) were collected. This cohort was matched with a post hoc historical control group using hospital records from 2003 to 2005. The mean age for both groups was 23.9 years. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were obtained. Using a binary logistical regression model, we assessed the performance of three variables of interest: age at the time of the initial injury, treatment group, and initial disposition group to predict recidivism. We utilized the Nagelkerke R square method, which described the proportion of the variance of the reinjury rate and validated our findings using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (for goodness-of-fit). Six percent (n = 18) of subjects in the treatment group and 11% (n = 33) in the control group returned with a new injury, yielding a total reinjury rate of 8.5%. Most patients returned only once with another violent injury. Individuals who did not receive CureViolence services were nearly twice as likely (odds ratio = 1.94; 95% confidence interval = 1.065, 3.522) to return with a violent reinjury. This finding suggests that Hospital-Response Intervention Programs (HRIP) have a protective effect in violently injured patients. We therefore conclude our HRIP positively affected at-risk patients and prevented violent reinjury.

Fast Run-Length Compression of Point Cloud Geometry.

The increase in popularity of point-cloud-oriented applications has triggered the development of specialized compression algorithms. In this paper, a novel algorithm is developed for the lossless geometry compression of voxelized point clouds following an intra-frame design. The encoded voxels are arranged into runs and are encoded through a single-pass application directly on the voxel domain. This is done without representing the point cloud via an octree nor rendering the voxel space through an occupancy matrix, therefore decreasing the memory requirements of the method. Each run is compressed using a context-adaptive arithmetic encoder yielding state-of-the-art compression results, with gains of up to 15% over TMC13, MPEG's standard for point cloud geometry compression. Several proposed contributions accelerate the calculations of each run's probability limits prior to arithmetic encoding. As a result, the encoder attains a low computational complexity described by a linear relation to the number of occupied voxels leading to an average speedup of 1.8 over TMC13 in encoding speeds. Various experiments are conducted assessing the proposed algorithm's state-of-the-art performance in terms of compression ratio and encoding speeds.

Predicting clinical outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients using both local and published models.

BACKGROUND: Many models are published which predict outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The generalizability of many is unknown. We evaluated the performance of selected models from the literature and our own models to predict outcomes in patients at our institution. METHODS: We searched the literature for models predicting outcomes in inpatients with COVID-19. We produced models of mortality or criticality (mortality or ICU admission) in a development cohort. We tested external models which provided sufficient information and our models using a test cohort of our most recent patients. The performance of models was compared using the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC). RESULTS: Our literature review yielded 41 papers. Of those, 8 were found to have sufficient documentation and concordance with features available in our cohort to implement in our test cohort. All models were from Chinese patients. One model predicted criticality and seven mortality. Tested against the test cohort, internal models had an AUC of 0.84 (0.74-0.94) for mortality and 0.83 (0.76-0.90) for criticality. The best external model had an AUC of 0.89 (0.82-0.96) using three variables, another an AUC of 0.84 (0.78-0.91) using ten variables. AUC's ranged from 0.68 to 0.89. On average, models tested were unable to produce predictions in 27% of patients due to missing lab data. CONCLUSION: Despite differences in pandemic timeline, race, and socio-cultural healthcare context some models derived in China performed well. For healthcare organizations considering implementation of an external model, concordance between the features used in the model and features available in their own patients may be important. Analysis of both local and external models should be done to help decide on what prediction method is used to provide clinical decision support to clinicians treating COVID-19 patients as well as what lab tests should be included in order sets.

Prolonged immunosuppression does not improve risk of sensitization or likelihood of retransplantation after kidney transplant graft failure.

The optimum approach towards immunosuppression withdrawal following kidney transplant failure is unclear. Prolonged weaning may be associated with reduced sensitization, less graft nephrectomy and greater likelihood of retransplantation, but conversely increased risk of infection, malignancy and death. We conducted a single-centre retrospective analysis of patients experiencing graft failure between 2007 and 2017, comparing rates of sensitization, retransplantation, nephrectomy, infection, malignancy and death between patients who had immunosuppression weaned over <90 vs. 90-180 vs. >180 days. Patient survival after immunosuppression withdrawal over <90 vs. 90-180 vs. >180 days was 73.3%, 72.1% and 80.4%, respectively (P = 0.35), with no differences in cPRA (80.06 vs. 81.21 vs. 85.42, P = 0.66) or retransplantation rate [24/31 (77.4%) vs. 21/35 (60.0%) vs. 22/36 (61.1%), P = 0.13]. There was significantly less nephrectomy after late immunosuppression cessation [10/42 (23.8%) vs. 7/42 (16.7%) vs. 3/43 (7.0%), P = 0.01] but no differences in infections or malignancy. On competing risk regression (death as competing risk) controlling for cofactors including age, nephrectomy and rejection, prolonged immunosuppression did not predict likelihood of retransplantation (SHR 1.000, P = 0.88). Prolonged immunosuppression withdrawal does not reduce sensitization or improve retransplantation rates but is associated with less nephrectomy. Immunosuppression withdrawal should be tailored to individual circumstances after graft failure.

Does Auditory Environment Predict Speech Perception Outcomes in Elderly Cochlear Implant Patients?

INTRODUCTION: Cochlear implantation (CI) is a reliable and safe means by which sensorineural hearing loss can be ameliorated in the elderly population. However, a high degree of variation exists in postimplantation hearing outcomes for which some modifiable factors of the daily natural auditory environment may be contributory. In this study, we analyze the relationship between cochlear implant patient age, natural auditory environment, and postimplantation speech perception among older adults. METHODS: Data log from automatic environment classification enabled sound processors of postlingually deafened CI recipients ≥50 years old (n = 115) were obtained retrospectively and analyzed for time spent (hours per day) in listening environment and loudness (SPL dB). Speech perception testing was assessed in a subset of patients (n = 27) using open-set word recognition in quiet Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant in the short and intermediate postoperative period. RESULTS: The mean subject age was 70 years (range, 53-99 years). Average daily implant use was 10.8 h and was not significantly correlated with age (p = 0.23, Spearman's rho). Age was positively correlated with the percentage of hours spent at <40 and 40-50 dB and negatively correlated to proportional CI use at higher volume (60-70, 70-80, and >80 dB; rs = 0.21, 0.20, -0.20, -0.35, -0.43; p = 0.021, 0.036, 0.033, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). Age was positively correlated with CI use in the quiet scene (rs = 0.26, p = 0.006) and negatively correlated with scenes containing speech and noise (rs = -0.19, -0.25; p = 0.046, 0.007). Total hours of device use and time spent at <40, 40-50 dB, and quiet environments were significantly correlated with improved CNC word scores (rs = 0.48, 0.48, 0.51; p = 0.01, 0.01, <0.01, Spearman's rho). While all speech (speech in noise + speech) was not significantly correlated to improvements in speech perception, a medium effect size was observed (rs = 0.37, p = 0.057). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: This study supports a relationship between auditory environment and age, with older CI recipients spending a greater proportion of time in quiet. Older CI users demonstrated greater improvements in speech perception with longer daily device use. Additional examination of the relationship between auditory environment and speech perception is necessary to conclusively guide future auditory rehabilitation efforts.

Basic Tests of Autonomic Function.

SUMMARY: Over the past 3 decades, tests of autonomic function have become increasingly standardized across most laboratories, particularly with commercially available equipment similar to other neurophysiologic tests. Most neurologically based laboratories perform four or five tests of autonomic function. Two of these, the sudomotor axon reflex response and the thermoregulatory sweat test (which some laboratories do not perform because it requires extensive equipment), examine sudomotor autonomic function. The remaining three, the cardiovascular response to a tilt table test, the cardiovascular response to the Valsalva maneuver, and the cardiac response to deep breathing examine cardiovascular autonomic function. Tests of sweating typically localize the lesion in the neuraxis, differentiating between central nervous system pathways, the spinal cord, or pre- or postganglionic roots or nerves. Tests of cardiovascular function delineate specific autonomic subsystem involvement, whether vagal parasympathetic as reflected in the deep breathing response and specific phases of the Valsalva maneuver or sympathetic adrenergic as reflected in the tilt table test and the other phases of the Valsalva. This review details the basic performance, analysis, and interpretation of these and a few other tests, with illustrative patient cases.

ANCA: Alignment-Based Network Construction Algorithm.

Dynamic biological networks model changes in the network topology over time. However, often the topologies of these networks are not available at specific time points. Existing algorithms for studying dynamic networks often ignore this problem and focus only on the time points at which experimental data is available. In this paper, we develop a novel alignment based network construction algorithm, ANCA, that constructs the dynamic networks at the missing time points by exploiting the information from a reference dynamic network. Our experiments on synthetic and real networks demonstrate that ANCA predicts the missing target networks accurately, and scales to large-scale biological networks in practical time. Our analysis of an E. coli protein-protein interaction network shows that ANCA successfully identifies key temporal changes in the biological networks. Our analysis also suggests that by focusing on the topological differences in the network, our method can be used to find important genes and temporal functional changes in the biological networks.

Traumatic abdominal wall hernias: a single-center case series of surgical management.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWHs) are a rare clinical entity that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. There is no consensus on management of TAWH due to its low incidence and complex concomitant injury patterns. We hereby present the largest single-center case series in the USA to characterize associated injury patterns, identify optimal strategies for hernia management, and determine outcomes. METHODS: Patients who presented with a TAWH from blunt trauma requiring operative management were retrospectively identified over a 14-year period. Demographic data, Injury Severity Score (ISS), associated injuries, type of repair, durability of repair, and complications were collected, and descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were identified. The average age was 31±11 years, ISS 15±9, and body mass index 33.4±7.1 kg/m2. Mechanisms included falls (13%), motor vehicle collisions (60%), motorcycle accidents (20%), and pedestrian versus motor vehicle collisions (7%). The most commonly associated injuries included colonic injuries (53%), long bone fractures (47%), pelvic fractures (40%), and small bowel injuries (33%). Nineteen hernia repairs were performed: 6 underwent primary suture repair (32%) and 13 used mesh (68%). There were four recurrences. We could not find any significant relationship between contamination and mesh use or recurrence. There was one mortality related to sepsis. DISCUSSION: TAWHs have an associated injury pattern involving fractures and abdominopelvic visceral injuries where a tailored approach is advisable. Without hollow viscous injuries and gross contamination, these hernias can be repaired safely with mesh in the acute setting. However, in patients with gross contamination or hemodynamic instability, the risk of recurrence with primary repair must be weighed against the risk of infection and prolonged surgery with mesh repair. In those cases, a delayed reconstruction in the elective setting may be optimal.

A Case Report of Malignant Eccrine Porocarcinoma Involving the Palm Requiring Surgical Excision and Free Flap Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) was first described in 1963 as an epidermotropic eccrine carcinoma. Fifty years later, its etiology remains poorly understood. The infrequent nature of this disease merits further inquiry into its etiology, presentation, and standards of management. Furthermore, the propensity for metastasis, which may be as high as 31% on presentation, increases the importance of investigating this rare disease. CASE REPORT The patient was a 63-year-old mechanic who presented with the lesion as a chronic wound following a chemical exposure. The lesion involved the ulnar aspect of his right palm and had concern for extension to the underlying tendons. He underwent a wide excision extending from the wrist to the proximal interphalangeal joint, preserving the ulnar neurovascular bundle. The hand was reconstructed with an anterolateral thigh fascia perforator flap and a skin graft. He had an excellent functional and cosmetic recovery. Unfortunately, he developed metastases to the lymph nodes, necessitating an axillary lymphadenectomy followed by adjuvant chemoradiation using concurrent cisplatin and docetaxel with radiation for 6 weeks. Follow-up at 18 months found no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Cases of EPC presenting in the fingers have been managed with amputation of the involved phalanges; however, in addition to obtaining complete excision with negative margins, surgeons who deal with tumors of the hand must also consider the goals of limb preservation, functional preservation, and functional reconstruction. Options for reconstruction following excision include primary closure, dermal regeneration templates, skin grafts, flaps, and free-tissue transfer, depending on what tissue types are needed.

Microdrill in endoscopic stapes surgery: Is it safe?

PURPOSE: To assess the safety of using a microdrill in endoscopic vs microscopic stapes surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 29 adult ears with otosclerosis who underwent either an endoscopic or microscopic approach to microdrill stapedotomy. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Determine if transcanal endoscopic stapes surgery with the microdrill is as safe as microscopic stapes surgery. Secondary outcome: Bone and air pure-tone averages, air-bone gap, speech discrimination, overall surgical cost, and operative time were measured and analyzed. Complications such as post-operative dysgeusia, vertigo, readmission, revision and hearing loss were noted. RESULTS: 29 patients with otosclerosis were retrospectively reviewed, in total 14 endoscopic and 15 microscopic approaches were included, all performed over one-year period. None of the endoscopic surgeries require conversion to the microscope. No statistically significant audiometric differences between the endoscopic vs microscopic approaches in air pure-tone averages and air-bone gap. There were 82.8% air-bone gap closure to <15 dB with no significant difference in the percent of such closures between the endoscopic (85.7%) and microscopic groups (80%, P = .68). Three prostheses were used: 4.25 mm (17.2%), 4.5 mm (58.6%) and the 4.75 mm (24.1%) smart/eclipse. Endoscopic median operative time was 51 min vs 42 min for microscopic approach (P =.004). CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic with microdrill approach is criticized to lack depth perception, especially when using a microdrill to perform in stapedotomies. Our study showcases that using the microdrill use produces minimal differences in outcomes, cost, and is a safe modality to stapes surgery in both approaches.

Use of IL-5 Inhibitor Benralizumab as a Novel Therapy for Eosinophilic Otitis Media: Clinical Capsule and Review of Literature.

OBJECTIVE: We report a case of recurrent eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) successfully treated with the novel monoclonal IL-5 inhibitor benralizumab. We also review literature relevant to EOM diagnosis and potential for biologic treatment. PATIENT: A 24-year-old woman with bilateral otitis media with effusion unresponsive to standard treatment. INTERVENTION(S): Multidisciplinary treatment using subcutaneous benralizumab after diagnosis of EOM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Behavioral audiometry, peripheral serology, otomicroscopy, and eosinophilic otitis media symptom severity. RESULTS: Recalcitrant otitis media with effusion (OME) in the setting of nasal polyposis and asthma prompted clinical suspicion for EOM, which was confirmed by pathologic examination of middle ear effusion and soft tissue biopsy. Treatment with benralizumab was initiated by pulmonology and well-tolerated. Within 2 months of treatment onset there was a cessation of EOM symptoms, a reduction of peripheral eosinophil levels, and an improvement in conductive hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: Monoclonal antibodies such as benralizumab may be an effective treatment option for EOM. A high level of clinical suspicion in patients with bronchial asthma, nasal polyposis, and recalcitrant OME may allow early diagnosis of EOM. Awareness of emerging biologic treatment options is important in the management of this challenging entity and may prevent long-term sequelae.

Outcomes in patients with gunshot wounds to the brain.

INTRODUCTION: Gunshot wounds to the brain (GSWB) confer high lethality and uncertain recovery. It is unclear which patients benefit from aggressive resuscitation, and furthermore whether patients with GSWB undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have potential for survival or organ donation. Therefore, we sought to determine the rates of survival and organ donation, as well as identify factors associated with both outcomes in patients with GSWB undergoing CPR. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study at 25 US trauma centers including dates between June 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Patients were included if they suffered isolated GSWB and required CPR at a referring hospital, in the field, or in the trauma resuscitation room. Patients were excluded for significant torso or extremity injuries, or if pregnant. Binomial regression models were used to determine predictors of survival/organ donation. RESULTS: 825 patients met study criteria; the majority were male (87.6%) with a mean age of 36.5 years. Most (67%) underwent CPR in the field and 2.1% (n=17) survived to discharge. Of the non-survivors, 17.5% (n=141) were considered eligible donors, with a donation rate of 58.9% (n=83) in this group. Regression models found several predictors of survival. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. CONCLUSION: We found that GSWB requiring CPR during trauma resuscitation was associated with a 2.1% survival rate and overall organ donation rate of 10.3%. Several factors appear to be favorably associated with survival, although predictions are uncertain due to the low number of survivors in this patient population. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. These results are a starting point for determining appropriate treatment algorithms for this devastating clinical condition. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.