How does cognitive behavior therapy for dissociative seizures work? A mediation analysis of the CODES trial.

BACKGROUND: We compared dissociative seizure specific cognitive behavior therapy (DS-CBT) plus standardized medical care (SMC) to SMC alone in a randomized controlled trial. DS-CBT resulted in better outcomes on several secondary trial outcome measures at the 12-month follow-up point. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate putative treatment mechanisms. METHODS: We carried out a secondary mediation analysis of the CODES trial. 368 participants were recruited from the National Health Service in secondary / tertiary care in England, Scotland, and Wales. Sixteen mediation hypotheses corresponding to combinations of important trial outcomes and putative mediators were assessed. Twelve-month trial outcomes considered were final-month seizure frequency, Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and the SF-12v2, a quality-of-life measure providing physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. Mediators chosen for analysis at six months (broadly corresponding to completion of DS-CBT) included: (a) beliefs about emotions, (b) a measure of avoidance behavior, (c) anxiety and (d) depression. RESULTS: All putative mediator variables except beliefs about emotions were found to be improved by DS-CBT. We found evidence for DS-CBT effect mediation for the outcome variables dissociative seizures (DS), WSAS and SF-12v2 MCS scores by improvements in target variables avoidance behavior, anxiety, and depression. The only variable to mediate the DS-CBT effect on the SF-12v2 PCS score was avoidance behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings largely confirmed the logic model underlying the development of CBT for patients with DS. Interventions could be additionally developed to specifically address beliefs about emotions to assess whether it improves outcomes.

Survey of rectal cancer MRI technique and reporting tumour descriptors in the UK: a multi-centre British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (BSGAR) audit.

AIM: To evaluate variation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique and reporting of rectal cancer staging examinations across the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, multi-centre audit was undertaken of imaging protocols and information documented within consecutive MRI rectal cancer reports between March 2020 and August 2021, which were compared against American and European guidelines. Inclusion criteria included histologically proven rectal adenocarcinoma and baseline staging MRI rectum only. RESULTS: Fully anonymised data from 924 MRI reports by 78 radiologists at 24 centres were evaluated. Thirty-two per cent of radiologists used template reporting, but these reports offered superior documentation of 13 out of 18 key tumour features compared to free-text reports including T-stage, relation to peritoneal reflection and mesorectal fascia (MRF), nodal status, and presence of extramural venous invasion (EMVI; p<0.027 in each). There was no significant differences in the remaining five features. Across all tumour locations, the tumour relationship to the MRF, the presence of EMVI, and the presence of tumour deposits were reported in 79.5%, 85.6%, and 44% of cases, respectively, and tumour, nodal, and distant metastatic stage documented in 94.4%, 97.7%, and 78.3%. In low rectal tumours, the relationship to the anal sphincter complex was reported in only 54.6%. CONCLUSION: Considerable variation exists in rectal cancer MRI acquisition and reporting in this sample of UK centres. Inclusion of key radiological features in reports must be improved for risk stratification and treatment decisions. Template reporting is superior to free-text reporting. Routine adoption of standardised radiology practices should now be considered to improve standards to facilitate personalised precision treatment for patients to improve outcomes.

Standing on shoulder of giants: the incredible legacy of the Judet family in orthopaedic surgery.

In orthopaedic surgery, as well as other areas in medicine, it is common for a surgical technique to carry the original authors' name describing the procedure. The Judet family represents a unique history, since several orthopaedic procedures are known as "Judet's technique". The aim of this historic review is to outline the genealogy of the orthopaedic arm of the Judet family, while crediting each surgical procedure to the specific family member that described the technique.

The relationship between meniscal pathologies, cartilage loss, joint replacement and pain in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review in order to understand the relationship between imaging-visualised meniscus pathologies, hyaline cartilage, joint replacement and pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: A search of the Medline, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) and Cochrane library databases was performed for original publications reporting association between imaging-detected meniscal pathology (extrusion or tear/damage) and longitudinal and cross-sectional assessments of hyaline articular cartilage loss [assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)], incident joint replacement and pain (longitudinal and cross-sectional) in knee OA. Each association was qualitatively characterised by a synthesis of data from each analysis, based upon study design and quality scoring (including risk of bias assessment and adequacy of covariate adjustment using Cochrane recommended methodology). RESULTS: In total 4,878 abstracts were screened and 82 publications were included (comprising 72 longitudinal analyses and 49 cross-sectional). Using high quality, well-adjusted data, meniscal extrusion and meniscal tear/damage were associated with longitudinal progression of cartilage loss, cross-sectional cartilage loss severity and joint replacement, independently of age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Medial and lateral meniscal tears were associated with cartilage loss when they occurred in the body and posterior horns, but not the anterior horns. There was a lack of high quality, well-adjusted meniscal pathology and pain publications and no clear independent association between meniscal extrusion or tear/damage with pain severity, progression in pain or incident frequent knee symptoms. CONCLUSION: Meniscal features have strong associations with cartilage loss and joint replacement in knee OA, but weak associations with knee pain. Systematic review PROSPERO registration number: CRD 42020210910.

Time-effectiveness and convenience of transvaginal ultrasound probe disinfection using ultraviolet vs chlorine dioxide multistep wipe system: prospective survey study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficiency, ease of use and user satisfaction of two methods of transvaginal ultrasound probe high-level disinfection: ultraviolet-C radiation (UV-C) and a chlorine dioxide multistep wipe system. METHODS: This was a prospective survey study. UV-C units were introduced into a busy early pregnancy assessment service and compared with a multiwipe system for disinfection. Before seeing each patient, healthcare professionals (HCPs) measured with a stopwatch the time taken to complete a cycle of disinfection using either UV-C or chlorine dioxide multistep wipes and responded to a quick-response (QR) code-linked survey. Additional essential tasks that could be completed before seeing the next patient during probe disinfection were also documented. Using another QR code-linked survey, data on ease of use, satisfaction with the system used and preferred system were collected. The ease of use and satisfaction with the system were rated on a 0 to 10 Likert scale (0 poor, 10 excellent). A free-text section for comments was then completed. RESULTS: Disinfection using UV-C (n = 331) was 60% faster than the chlorine dioxide multiwipe system (n = 332) (101 vs 250 s; P < 0.0001). A greater number of tasks were completed during probe disinfection when using UV-C, saving a further 74 s per patient (P < 0.0001). The HCPs using UV-C (n = 71) reported greater ease of use (median Likert score, 10 vs 3; P < 0.0001) and satisfaction (median Likert score, 10 vs 2; P < 0.0001) compared with those using the multiwipe system (n = 43). HCPs reported that the chlorine dioxide system was time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly, while the UV-C system was efficient and easy to use. Overall, 98% of the HCPs preferred using the UV-C system. CONCLUSIONS: UV-C technology is more time-efficient and allows more essential tasks to be completed during disinfection. For a 4-h ultrasound list of 15 patients, the use of UV-C would save 55 min 45 s. HCPs found UV-C preferable and easier to use. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

A practical guide to undergraduate radiology education.

The new Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) undergraduate curriculum and the impending introduction of a universal General Medical Council (GMC) medical licensing assessment (MLA) for all undergraduates in the UK heralds a new era of undergraduate radiology education. This is a practical guide to both implementing and delivering undergraduate radiology education using our experience and the available literature. It aims to provide ideas so that more universities and radiologists can integrate radiology into everyday learning and are ready to embrace the new RCR curriculum and GMC MLA. Allied to this, strategies are provided to show how to encourage early undergraduate interest in a career in radiology.

Ultrasound characteristics, serum biochemistry and outcome of ectopic pregnancies presenting during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the characteristics of ectopic pregnancies (EPs) in the year prior to vs during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of women diagnosed with an EP on transvaginal sonography conducted at a center in London, UK, providing early-pregnancy assessment, between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020. Women were identified via the Astraia ultrasound reporting system using coded and non-coded outcomes of EP or pregnancy outside the uterine cavity. Data related to predefined outcomes were collected using Astraia and Cerner electronic reporting systems. Main outcome measures included clinical, ultrasound and biochemical features of EP, in addition to reported complications and management. RESULTS: There were 22 683 consultations over the 2-year period. Following consultation, a similar number and proportion of EPs were diagnosed in 2019 (141/12 657 (1%)) and 2020 (134/10 026 (1%)). Both cohorts were comparable in age, ethnicity, weight and method of conception. Gestational age at the first transvaginal sonography scan and at diagnosis were similar, and no difference in location, size or morphology of EP was found between the two cohorts. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels at the time of EP diagnosis were higher in 2020 than in 2019 (1005 IU/L vs 665 IU/L; P = 0.03). The proportions of women according to type of final EP management were similar, but the rate of failed first-line management was higher during vs before the pandemic (16% vs 6%; P = 0.01). The rates of blood detected in the pelvis (hemoperitoneum) on ultrasound (23% vs 26%; P = 0.58) and of ruptured EP confirmed surgically (9% vs 3%; P = 0.07) were similar in 2019 vs 2020. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was observed in the location, size, morphology or gestational age at the first ultrasound examination or at diagnosis of EP between women diagnosed before vs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Complication rates and final management strategy were also unchanged. However, hCG levels and the failure rate of first-line conservative management measures were higher during the pandemic. Our findings suggest that women continued to access appropriate care for EP during the COVID-19 pandemic, with no evidence of diagnostic delay or an increase in adverse outcome in our population. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Reconstruction of Acetabular Defects With Impaction Grafting in Primary Cemented Total Hip Arthroplasty Produces Favorable Results: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Over 6.4 Years on Average.

BACKGROUND: Cemented primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) associated with acetabular reconstruction (AR) involving impacted bone grafting has been employed successfully in the revision of cavitary defects but the results are reportedly less predictable for segmental defects. The objective of the study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of patients who had presented cavitary, segmental, and combined acetabular defects and received THA/AR involving impacted morselized cancellous bone autografts followed by rigorous postoperative management. METHODS: Clinical outcomes were assessed retrospectively of 154 patients who had been submitted to 169 THA/AR procedures performed by a single surgeon over a 15-year period. The Harris Hip Score system was applied to 103 patients, and the degree of acetabular migration was determined from radiograph images of 91 AR procedures, of which 40 were segmental/combined and 51 were cavitary reconstructions. RESULTS: The frequency of aseptic acetabular loosening was 3% while that of thromboembolic events was 4.1%. According to Harris Hip Score, 87.4% of outcomes were classified as excellent/good after an average follow-up period of 6.4 years irrespective of the type of acetabular defect. Horizontal and/or vertical acetabular migrations and changes in angular tilt were observed in all ARs, although the minor movements detected did not undermine the structural stability of the reconstructions or the functional capacity of patients. CONCLUSION: The described THA/AR technique can be used effectively in the reconstruction of segmental/combined and cavitary acetabular defects. The success of the technique as applied to segmental/combined defects was attributed in part to the rigorous rehabilitation protocol with temporary postoperative weight-bearing restriction.

Safety and efficacy of the modified Judet quadricepsplasty in patients with post-traumatic knee stiffness.

BACKGROUND: Knee stiffness is a challenging complication following complex fractures around the knee. Several treatment strategies have been described in the last decades, but clinical results and complication rates still remain as potential drawbacks. The aim of this study was to access the clinical outcomes and complications of the modified Judet quadricepsplasty following knee stiffness secondary to complex fractures around the knee. METHODS: A total of 11 patients presenting post-traumatic knee stiffness underwent modified Judet quadricepsplasty from 2014 to 2017. All procedures were performed by the same surgical team, and all patients followed the same postoperative pain control and rehabilitation protocols. No patients underwent medial approach for medial release. When necessary, medial release was performed through the lateral approach. Patients were evaluated using the Judet criteria for final range of motion after 1-year minimum follow-up. RESULTS: According to the Judet criteria, 4 patients (36.4%) presented excellent, 6 (54.5%) good, and 1 (9.1%) poor clinical outcomes. Blood transfusion was required in 5 patients (45.4%). No patients presented infection or wound dehiscence. CONCLUSIONS: Although quadricepsplasty is considered a high morbidity surgical procedure, our favorable functional outcomes with very low complication rates using this modified Judet quadricepsplasty confirmed safety and efficacy of this helpful surgical procedure for the challenge of post-traumatic knee stiffness. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4 retrospective case series.

Expanding the indications for calcaneal plates beyond foot fractures: a technical trick and case series.

Although non-locking calcaneal plates are designed to treat calcaneal fractures, they present some interesting characteristics that justify using them beyond their current application in fractures of the foot. Calcaneal plates are malleable, have an increased footprint area for fracture containment or buttressing, and present several hole options for screw placement in different trajectories, thereby providing proper fixation even in comminuted fracture patterns. The aim of this study is to describe the unconventional use of calcaneal plates in the orthopaedic trauma scenario.

Non-negative data-driven mapping of structural connections with application to the neonatal brain.

Mapping connections in the neonatal brain can provide insight into the crucial early stages of neurodevelopment that shape brain organisation and lay the foundations for cognition and behaviour. Diffusion MRI and tractography provide unique opportunities for such explorations, through estimation of white matter bundles and brain connectivity. Atlas-based tractography protocols, i.e. a priori defined sets of masks and logical operations in a template space, have been commonly used in the adult brain to drive such explorations. However, rapid growth and maturation of the brain during early development make it challenging to ensure correspondence and validity of such atlas-based tractography approaches in the developing brain. An alternative can be provided by data-driven methods, which do not depend on predefined regions of interest. Here, we develop a novel data-driven framework to extract white matter bundles and their associated grey matter networks from neonatal tractography data, based on non-negative matrix factorisation that is inherently suited to the non-negative nature of structural connectivity data. We also develop a non-negative dual regression framework to map group-level components to individual subjects. Using in-silico simulations, we evaluate the accuracy of our approach in extracting connectivity components and compare with an alternative data-driven method, independent component analysis. We apply non-negative matrix factorisation to whole-brain connectivity obtained from publicly available datasets from the Developing Human Connectome Project, yielding grey matter components and their corresponding white matter bundles. We assess the validity and interpretability of these components against traditional tractography results and grey matter networks obtained from resting-state fMRI in the same subjects. We subsequently use them to generate a parcellation of the neonatal cortex using data from 323 new-born babies and we assess the robustness and reproducibility of this connectivity-driven parcellation.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport associated with internationally distributed raw goats' milk cheese, France, 2018.

Raw milk cheeses are commonly consumed in France and are also a common source of foodborne outbreaks (FBOs). Both an FBO surveillance system and a laboratory-based surveillance system aim to detect Salmonella outbreaks. In early August 2018, five familial FBOs due to Salmonella spp. were reported to a regional health authority. Investigation identified common exposure to a raw goats' milk cheese, from which Salmonella spp. were also isolated, leading to an international product recall. Three weeks later, on 22 August, a national increase in Salmonella Newport ST118 was detected through laboratory surveillance. Concomitantly isolates from the earlier familial clusters were confirmed as S. Newport ST118. Interviews with a selection of the laboratory-identified cases revealed exposure to the same cheese, including exposure to batches not included in the previous recall, leading to an expansion of the recall. The outbreak affected 153 cases, including six cases in Scotland. S. Newport was detected in the cheese and in the milk of one of the producer's goats. The difference in the two alerts generated by this outbreak highlight the timeliness of the FBO system and the precision of the laboratory-based surveillance system. It is also a reminder of the risks associated with raw milk cheeses.

Sensory perception testing by monofilaments in the digits of controls and workers with HAVS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if heavy manual work affects sensory perception in the digits and whether Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments (SWM) can be used as a screening tool to detect sensory neuropathy in the digits of workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of office workers, heavy manual workers not exposed to HTV and workers with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Sensory perception was measured in the digits by SWM using a forced-choice method to determine variability by sex, age, hand and digit. Frequency distributions were used to determine limit values and linear weighted kappa for intra-digit variability. Poisson regression was used to explore the relationship between sensory perception by SWM and abnormalities of thermal and vibration perception in the hands of workers with HAVS. RESULTS: The sensory perception threshold of office workers did not vary by hand or digit. It was significantly lower in women < 30 than women aged ≥ 30 years. The 95th percentile for heavy manual workers was 1.00 (95% CI 0.60-1.00) and significantly higher than for office workers at 0.16 (95% CI 0.16-0.16). Heavy manual workers > 50 years had the highest threshold at 1.40 (95% CI 1.00-2.00). Weighted kappa for reliability was 0.63 (95% CI 0.53-0.70). A mean SWM threshold of ≥ 1.0 gram-force had a 79% sensitivity and 64% specificity for detecting abnormalities of thermal and vibration perception in the ipsilateral index and little fingers of workers with HAVS. CONCLUSIONS: SWM are a useful screening tool for detecting sensory loss in the digits of workers exposed to HTV.

Expanding the horizons of clinical applications of proximal humerus locking plates in the lower extremities: A technical note.

Pre-contoured anatomical locking plates were designed to address the clinical need of fixing small epiphyseal segments with a larger number of screws. Those plates match the contour and shape of a variety of bones allowing for optimal buttress properties. The aim of this manuscript is to highlight the benefits of applying proximal humerus locking plates in the fixation of lower extremity bones. Although designed for the proximal humerus, the low-profile plate shape and anatomic contour also provides versatile use in certain areas of the lower extremity. This technical narrative highlights the versatile and reliable use of this plate for other anatomical areas than the one to which it has been originally conceived.

We know DAAs work, so now what? Simplifying models of care to enhance the hepatitis C cascade.

Globally, some 71 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Marginalized populations, particularly people who inject drugs (PWID), have low testing, linkage to care and treatment rates for HCV. Several models of care (MoCs) and service delivery interventions have the potential to improve outcomes across the HCV cascade of care, but much of the relevant research was carried out when interferon-based treatment was the standard of care. Often it was not practical to scale-up these earlier models and interventions because the clinical care needs of patients taking interferon-based regimens imposed too much of a financial and human resource burden on health systems. Despite the adoption of highly effective, all-oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies in recent years, approaches to HCV testing and treatment have evolved slowly and often remain rooted in earlier paradigms. The effectiveness of DAAs allows for simpler approaches and has encouraged countries where the drugs are widely available to set their sights on the ambitious World Health Organization (WHO) HCV elimination targets. Since a large proportion of chronically HCV-infected people are not currently accessing treatment, there is an urgent need to identify and implement existing simplified MoCs that speak to specific populations' needs. This article aims to: (i) review the evidence on MoCs for HCV; and (ii) distil the findings into recommendations for how stakeholders can simplify the path taken by chronically HCV-infected individuals from testing to cure and subsequent care and monitoring.

Mediators of increased self-harm and suicidal ideation in sexual minority youth: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority youth have elevated suicidal ideation and self-harm compared with heterosexual young people; however, evidence for mediating mechanisms is predominantly cross-sectional. Using a longitudinal design, we investigated self-esteem and depressive symptoms as mediators of increased rates of suicidal ideation or self-harm (SISH) among sexual minority youth, and the roles of childhood gender nonconformity (CGN) and sex as moderators of these relationships. METHOD: In total, 4274 youth from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort reported sexual orientation at age 15 years, and past-year SISH at age 20 years. Self-esteem and depressive symptoms were assessed at ages 17 and 18 years, respectively. CGN was measured at 30-57 months. Covariates included sociodemographic variables and earlier measures of mediator and outcome variables. Mediation pathways were assessed using structural equation modelling. RESULTS: Sexual minority youth (almost 12% of the sample) were three times more likely than heterosexual youth to report past-year SISH (95% confidence interval 2.43-3.64) at 20 years. Two mediation pathways were identified: a single mediator pathway involving self-esteem and a multiple-mediated pathway involving self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Although CGN was associated with past-year SISH, it did not moderate any mediation pathways and there was no evidence for moderation by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Lower self-esteem and increased depressive symptoms partly explain the increased risk for later suicidal ideation and self-harm in sexual minority youth. Preventive strategies could include self-esteem-enhancing or protecting interventions, especially in female sexual minority youth, and treatment of depression.

ASD and schizophrenia show distinct developmental profiles in common genetic overlap with population-based social communication difficulties.

Difficulties in social communication are part of the phenotypic overlap between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia. Both conditions follow, however, distinct developmental patterns. Symptoms of ASD typically occur during early childhood, whereas most symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia do not appear before early adulthood. We investigated whether overlap in common genetic influences between these clinical conditions and impairments in social communication depends on the developmental stage of the assessed trait. Social communication difficulties were measured in typically-developing youth (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, N⩽5553, longitudinal assessments at 8, 11, 14 and 17 years) using the Social Communication Disorder Checklist. Data on clinical ASD (PGC-ASD: 5305 cases, 5305 pseudo-controls; iPSYCH-ASD: 7783 cases, 11 359 controls) and schizophrenia (PGC-SCZ2: 34 241 cases, 45 604 controls, 1235 trios) were either obtained through the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) or the Danish iPSYCH project. Overlap in genetic influences between ASD and social communication difficulties during development decreased with age, both in the PGC-ASD and the iPSYCH-ASD sample. Genetic overlap between schizophrenia and social communication difficulties, by contrast, persisted across age, as observed within two independent PGC-SCZ2 subsamples, and showed an increase in magnitude for traits assessed during later adolescence. ASD- and schizophrenia-related polygenic effects were unrelated to each other and changes in trait-disorder links reflect the heterogeneity of genetic factors influencing social communication difficulties during childhood versus later adolescence. Thus, both clinical ASD and schizophrenia share some genetic influences with impairments in social communication, but reveal distinct developmental profiles in their genetic links, consistent with the onset of clinical symptoms.

Integration of a recent infection testing algorithm into HIV surveillance in Ireland: improving HIV knowledge to target prevention.

Recent infection testing algorithms (RITA) for HIV combine serological assays with epidemiological data to determine likely recent infections, indicators of ongoing transmission. In 2016, we integrated RITA into national HIV surveillance in Ireland to better inform HIV prevention interventions. We determined the avidity index (AI) of new HIV diagnoses and linked the results with data captured in the national infectious disease reporting system. RITA classified a diagnosis as recent based on an AI < 1.5, unless epidemiological criteria (CD4 count <200 cells/mm3; viral load <400 copies/ml; the presence of AIDS-defining illness; prior antiretroviral therapy use) indicated a potential false-recent result. Of 508 diagnoses in 2016, we linked 448 (88.1%) to an avidity test result. RITA classified 12.5% of diagnoses as recent, with the highest proportion (26.3%) amongst people who inject drugs. On multivariable logistic regression recent infection was more likely with a concurrent sexually transmitted infection (aOR 2.59; 95% CI 1.04-6.45). Data were incomplete for at least one RITA criterion in 48% of cases. The study demonstrated the feasibility of integrating RITA into routine surveillance and showed some ongoing HIV transmission. To improve the interpretation of RITA, further efforts are required to improve completeness of the required epidemiological data.

Use of a stainless steel locking calcaneal plate for quadrilateral plate buttress in the treatment of acetabular fractures.

Operative fixation of acetabular fractures involving the quadrilateral surface presents a challenging clinical scenario. Classically, quadrilateral plate buttress was achieved via the use of a "seven" plate. More recently, the use of an anatomic, pre-contoured design has been gaining popularity due to its pre-contoured shape and larger footprint, allowing for a wider quadrilateral plate buttress. The current study presents using a stainless steel locking calcaneal plate to obtain similar surface area coverage as the modern pre-contoured quadrilateral plate, but at a lower cost.Level of evidence IV.

Salbutamol-induced electrophysiological changes show no correlation with electrophysiological changes during hyperinsulinaemic-hypoglycaemic clamp in young people with Type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: Hypoglycaemia causes QT-interval prolongation and appears pro-arrhythmogenic. Salbutamol, a ß2 -adrenoreceptor agonist also causes QT-interval prolongation. We hypothesized that the magnitude of electrophysiological changes induced by salbutamol and hypoglycaemia might relate to each other and that salbutamol could be used as a non-invasive screening tool for predicting an individual's electrophysiological response to hypoglycaemia. METHODS: Eighteen individuals with Type 1 diabetes were administered 2.5 mg of nebulized salbutamol. Participants then underwent a hyperinsulinaemic-hypoglycaemic clamp (2.5 mmol/l for 1 h). During both experiments, heart rate and serum potassium (and catecholamines during the clamp) were measured and a high-resolution electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded at pre-set time points. Cardiac repolarization was measured by QT-interval duration adjusted for heart rate (QTc ), T-wave amplitude (Tamp ), T-peak to T-end interval duration (Tp Tend ) and T-wave area symmetry (Tsym ). The maximum changes vs. baseline in both experiments were assessed for their linear dependence. RESULTS: Salbutamol administration caused QTc and Tp Tend prolongation and a decrease in Tamp and Tsym . Hypoglycaemia caused increased plasma catecholamines, hypokalaemia, QTc and Tp Tend prolongation, and a decrease in Tamp and Tsym . No significant correlations were found between maximum changes in QTc [r = 0.15, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.341 to 0.576; P = 0.553), Tp Tend (r = 0.075, 95% CI -0.406 to 0.524; P = 0.767), Tsym (r = 0.355, 95% CI -0.132 to 0.706; P = 0.149) or Tamp (r = 0.148, 95% CI -0.347 to 0.572; P = 0.558) in either experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Both hypoglycaemia and salbutamol caused pro-arrhythmogenic electrophysiological changes in people with Type 1 diabetes but were not related in any given individual. Salbutamol does not appear useful in assessing an individual's electrophysiological response to hypoglycaemia.