Exploring the differential effects of trust violations in human-human and human-robot interactions.

There is sparse research directly investigating the effects of trust manipulations in human-human and human-robot interactions. Moreover, studies on human-human versus human-robot trust have leveraged unusual or low vulnerability contexts to investigate such effects and have focused mostly on robot performance. In the present research, we seek to remedy these limitations and compare trust in human-human versus human-robot collaborations in an augmented and adapted version of the Trust Game. We used a mixed factorial design to examine the effects of trust and trust violations on human-human and human-robot interactions over time with an emphasis on anthropomorphic robots in a social context. We found consistent and significant effects of partner behavior. Specifically, partner distrust behaviors led to participants' lower levels of trustworthiness perceptions, trust intentions, and trust behaviors over time compared to partner trust behaviors. We found no significant effect of partnering with a human versus an anthropomorphic robot over time across the three dependent variables, supporting the computers as social actors (CASA; Nass and Moon, 2000) paradigm. This study demonstrated that there may be instances where the effects of trust violations from an anthropomorphized robot partner are not meaningfully different from those of a human partner in a social context.

The epidemiology of acromioclavicular joint excision.

BACKGROUND: With the development of arthroscopic procedures such as subacromial decompression (ASAD) and rotator cuff repair (RCR), it is hypothesized that there may have been a similar rise in the performance of acromioclavicular joint excision (ACJE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of ACJE to examine incidence, surgical technique, age, gender of patients and associated procedures in an urban population. METHODS: A prospectively collected surgical database was retrospectively examined to identify patients undergoing ACJE. Associated procedures such as ASAD or RCR were determined from these records. The demographic details (age and gender) were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 411 ACJEs were performed over the study period (n = 216 males, n = 195 female). The overall incidence increased from 9.3 per 100,000 in 2009, to a peak of 19.6 per 1,00,000 in 2013. In 349 patients, ACJE was undertaken as part of an arthroscopic procedure, of which 332 were ASAD+ACJE alone. The prevalence of arthroscopic ACJE in ASADs was 23.7% (349/1400). ACJE was performed as an open procedure in 62 (15%) cases. Those undergoing open ACJE were younger than those undergoing an arthroscopic procedure (mean difference 6.2 years, 95% CI 3.2-9.2, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate an increasing incidence of ACJE in the general population. The groups of patients most likely to undergo ACJE are women aged between 45 and 54 years old, men aged 55-64 years and the most socioeconomically deprived. The higher incidence of ACJE in the most deprived socioeconomic quintile may have public health implications. Level of Evidence: II; retrospective design: prognosis study.

Resorbable Plates in Secondary Cleft Nasal Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: The authors report on the use and complications of alloplastic resorbable plates and compare their use to autologous cartilage grafts in secondary cleft nasal reconstruction. DESIGN: Institutional review board (IRB)-approved retrospective chart review. SETTING: Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Center at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston. PATIENTS: Patients with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity who have undergone secondary correction of their nasal deformity with at least 1-year follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: During their reconstruction, some patients had cartilage grafts used for support, whereas others were reconstructed using resorbable plates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Complications (exposure, infection, malposition, hematoma/seroma) and rates of tertiary revisions. RESULTS: 197 patients underwent secondary cleft nasal reconstruction, with 30 patients in the resorbable plate group and 32 in the cartilage graft group. Age at surgery was 8.5±4.1 years with resorbable plates and 11.0±4.8 years with cartilage graft ( P = .03). Infection rate in the resorbable plate group and cartilage graft group were 0% and 3.25% ( P = 1). Extrusion occurred in 3 of the absorbable plate group and 2 patients with cartilage graft ( P = .67). Additional surgery was recorded in 43.3% of the resorbable plate group versus 53.1% of the cartilage graft group ( P = .459). CONCLUSION: The data provide evidence that the use of alloplastic resorbable plate in the pediatric population is a safe alternative to autologous septal cartilage in secondary cleft nasal reconstruction. There is no statistical difference in short-term complications or the incidence of additional nasal surgery.

Assessment of the introduction of an adolescent transition urology clinic using a validated questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with complex urological conditions are at risk of bladder dysfunction, metabolic disturbances, neoplastic changes and deterioration in renal function. Hence they require appropriate transition to the adult service to ensure lifelong urological care is adequately provided. OBJECTIVE: Barriers and difficulties to the transition process have been identified in the literature. To overcome these difficulties an Adolescent Transition Urology Clinic (ATUC) was established in 2009 where the patients are seen by a paediatric and an adult urologist, a urology nurse and if needed an adolescent gynaecologist. Our aim was to assess the ATUC and present the patient's perspective to this new service using a validated questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of all patients seen at the ATUC over the study period were prospectively recorded. Patients who completed the transition were contacted and asked to complete two online urological transition questionnaires: 1) The Care Transition Measure 15 (CTM-15) which is a validated questionnaire to assess the quality of care during transition from the patients' perspective. 2) The Transition Care Experience (TCE) which was created for the purpose of this study. RESULTS: Thirty patients attended the ATUC over 4.5 years, with 26 (87%) completing the transition to the adult urological care. Of the 26 patients there were 14 (54%) males with a mean age of 18 years. The most common underlying urological condition was neurogenic bladder (85%). Nineteen (73%) patients completed the questionnaires. Only 1 (5%) patient thought that attending the ATUC was not beneficial, 17 (89%) would recommend the ATUC to other adolescents and 9 (47%) patients considered 18 as the appropriate transition age. Overall, 74% thought that written information would have been useful and 21% considered the adult hospital as an inappropriate environment for young adults. After attending the ATUC, 2 (11%) patients thought their preferences were not met and 3 (16%) patients were not confident that they can take care of their health. DISCUSSION: Transition of patients with complex urological conditions should aim to facilitate transferring the care from the parent to the patient and preparing the adolescent to adult life by addressing their sexual and reproductive functions. Inadequate transition can have serious health consequences. On-going communication between the paediatric and the adult urologist facilitates the transition process even after the transfer of care has occurred. The CTM-15 has been considered as "the only available measure of quality of care during transition from the patients' perspective". Our study suggests that the large majority of adolescent attending the clinic are confident in looking after their complex urological condition. In addition one patient in 5 found the adult hospital environment an inappropriate place for adolescents and they would have preferred longer follow up in a children's hospital. The value of written information after clinic consultation seems to be a useful adjunct that might facilitate the complex transition process. CONCLUSION: This is the first report evaluating the transition of adolescents with complex urological conditions using a validated transition questionnaire. The combined paediatric/adult urology clinic is beneficial in addressing the patients' needs and allowing smooth transition of these complex patients to the adult service.

Intraoperative cone beam-computed tomography with navigation (O-ARM) versus conventional fluoroscopy (C-ARM): a cadaveric study comparing accuracy, efficiency, and safety for spinal instrumentation.

STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric laboratory study. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy, efficiency, and safety of intraoperative cone beam-computed tomography with navigation (O-ARM) with traditional intraoperative fluoroscopy (C-ARM) for the placement of pedicle screws. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Radiation exposure remains a concern with traditional methods of intraoperative imaging in spine surgery. The use of O-ARM has been proposed for more accurate and efficient spinal instrumentation. Understanding radiation imparted to patients and surgeons by O-ARM is important for assessing risks and benefits of this technology, especially in light of evolving indications. METHODS: Four surgeons placed 160 pedicle screws on 8 cadavers without deformity. Eighty pedicle screws were placed using O-ARM and C-ARM each. Instrumentation was placed bilaterally in the thoracic (T1-T6) spine and lumbosacral junction (L5-S1) using a standard open technique, whereas minimally invasive surgery technique was used at the lumbar 3 to 4 (L3-L4) level. A "postoperative" computed tomography (CT) scan was performed on cadavers where instrumentation was done using the C-ARM. An independent musculoskeletal radiologist assessed final images for screw position. Time required to set up and instrumentation was recorded. Dosimeters were placed on multiple aspects of cadavers and surgeons to record radiation exposure. RESULTS: There were no differences in breach rate between the O-ARM and C-ARM groups (5 vs. 7, χ= 0.63, P = 0.4). The setup time for the O-ARM group was longer than that for the C-ARM group (592 vs. 297 s, P < 0.05). However, the average total time was statistically the same (1629 vs. 1639 s, P = 0.96). Radiation exposure was higher for surgeons in the C-ARM group and cadavers in the O-ARM group. When a "postoperative" CT scan was included in the estimation of the total radiation exposure, there was less of difference between the groups, but still more for the O-ARM group. CONCLUSION: In cadavers without deformity, O-ARM use results in similar breach rates as C-ARM for the placement of pedicle screws. Time for instrumentation is shorter with the O-ARM, but requires a longer setup time. The O-ARM exposes less radiation to the surgeon, but higher doses to the cadaver. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Analysis of migration of press-fit porous-coated acetabular components with medial lucencies using Ein-Bild-Roentegen-Analyse.

A total of 136 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (154 hips) with press-fit acetabular components were evaluated for the presence of medial radiographic lucencies. Thirty patients (22.1%) demonstrated radiolucencies greater than 1 mm in zone 2 on initial postoperative films. Ein-Bild-Roentegen-Analyse (EBRA) was used to evaluate component migration over a 5-year follow-up period. Migration, measured by EBRA, was not observed during the first 6 months when the radiolucencies were noted to disappear. After 2 years, the mean total migration was 0.8 mm, and at 5 years, it was 1.6 mm. Our results indicate that disappearance of a medial radiolucency seen on early postoperative radiographs is not associated with component migration, which supports the concept that the medial radiolucency fills in with bone or represents bony remodeling around a stable implant.

Increases in voltage may produce false-negatives when using transcranial motor evoked potentials to detect an isolated nerve root injury.

OBJECTIVE: Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials (TcMEPs) are sometimes used during lumbar spine surgery in order to detect and prevent an intraoperative nerve root injury. Typically, a fixed stimulus is applied, and one monitors for changes in response amplitude from several myotomes. Increased stimulating voltage may or may not alter the response after an acute injury. METHODS: We suture ligated the dominant root innervating the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in 7 experiments in swine monitored with TcMEPs. Injury to the root was confirmed by an increase in threshold current needed to evoke an EMG response in the TA (from 0.32 ± 0.10 to 2.3 ± 0.9 mA, P < 0.01). We recorded TcMEPs at baseline, after injury, and with incremental 25 V increases in stimulation up to 100 V. RESULTS: After ligation, mean TcMEP amplitude in the TA decreased by 56% from baseline (P < 0.01). Adding voltage progressively restored mean amplitude to within 17% of baseline, but with wide variability in the response. In 1 experiment, there was no augmentation; 3 studies showed partial improvement toward baseline; and in 3 studies, the amplitude was augmented to levels above baseline. CONCLUSION: An acute nerve root injury may be detected by TcMEP monitoring. However, if the stimulating voltage is increased after injury, the response may or may not be affected. In complex spine procedures, adjustments to TcMEP stimulating parameters are often needed to maintain reproducible responses. However, if these changes are made during a period where injury might occur, this could mask the changes and lead to a false-negative interpretation.

Characterization of patients in the European Forsteo Observational Study (EFOS): postmenopausal women entering teriparatide treatment in a community setting.

OBJECTIVE: The European Forsteo Observational Study (EFOS) study was primarily designed to assess fracture incidence, degree of pain, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and compliance in women prescribed teriparatide in a community setting. This report describes the design of the study and characteristics of the patients at entry. METHODS: At entry, 1645 postmenopausal women with a diagnosis of osteoporosis and about to initiate teriparatide treatment were enrolled in eight European countries. Baseline data were collected on demographic characteristics, medical and osteoporosis history, disease status, prior use of medications and HRQoL. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of patients was 71.5 (8.4) years, lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) T-score was -3.3 (1.2), the mean number of previous fractures reported after 40 years of age was 2.9 (2.0), 70% had two or more vertebral deformities and 91.7% were pre-treated with bisphosphonates. HRQoL, evaluated by the health state value (HSV) (median: 0.59, Q1; Q3: 0.08; 0.71) and visual analogue scale (VAS) (median 50.0, Q1; Q3: 35.0; 69.0) status of the European quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D) was poor. Extreme problems were reported by 31% of patients for the pain/discomfort dimension, mobility was limited in 69% and anxiety/depression was reported by 57% of patients. Chronic or intermittent back pain was reported by 91% of patients, which occurred every day or almost every day within the last month in 66% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The post-menopausal women prescribed teriparatide were severely osteoporotic, with a high fracture risk and poor HRQoL, despite previous therapy for osteoporosis. Moderate to severe back pain was very common.

Validation of the human ozone challenge model as a tool for assessing anti-inflammatory drugs in early development.

This study aimed to test the utility of the ozone challenge model for profiling novel compounds designed to reduce airway inflammation. The authors used a randomized, double-dummy, double-blind, placebo-controlled 3-period crossover design alternating single orally inhaled doses of fluticasone propionate (inhaled corticosteroids, 2 mg), oral prednisolone (oral corticosteroids, 50 mg), or matched placebo. At a 2-week interval, 18 healthy ozone responders (>10% increase in sputum neutrophils) underwent a 3-hour ozone (250 ppb)/intermittent exercise challenge starting 1 hour after drug treatment. Airway inflammation was assessed at 2 hours (breath condensate) and 3 hours (induced sputum) after ozone challenge. Compared to placebo, pretreatment with inhaled corticosteroids or oral corticosteroids resulted in a significant reduction (mean [95% confidence interval]) of sputum neutrophils by 62% (35%, 77%) and 64% (39%, 79%) and of sputum supernatant myeloperoxidase by 55% (41%, 66%) and 42% (25%, 56%), respectively. The authors conclude that an optimized ozone challenge model (including ozone responders and ensuring adequate drug levels during exposure) may be useful for testing novel anti-inflammatory compounds in early development.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function after inhaled corticosteroids: unreliability of urinary free cortisol estimation.

Free cortisol in the urine (UFC) is frequently measured in clinical research to assess whether inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) cause suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Thirteen healthy male subjects received single inhaled doses (of molar equivalence) of fluticasone propionate (FP), triamcinolone acetonide (TAA), budesonide (BUD), and placebo in this single blind, randomized, cross-over study. UFC output was measured using four commercial immunoassays in samples collected in 12-h aliquots over 24 h. The cortisol production rate was assessed from the outputs of cortisol metabolites. UFC showed a 100% increase over placebo levels in the Abbott TDX assay after the administration of BUD. The other assays detected variable suppression (ranging from 29-61% suppression for FP, 30-62% suppression for TAA, and 25% suppression to 100% stimulation for BUD). Suppression was more pronounced in the first 12 h after TAA and in the second 12 h after FP. Similar suppression was found in each 12-h period after BUD. UFC estimation based on immunoassays after ICS may be an unreliable surrogate marker of adrenal suppression. Many of the published studies describing or comparing the safety of different ICS should be reevaluated, and some should be interpreted with caution.