Comparison of a dual antibody and antigen HCV immunoassay to standard of care algorithmic testing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing, although effective, may miss crucial diagnostic opportunities. The goal of this study was to assess the utility of an antibody (Ab) and antigen (Ag) combination immunoassay as an alternative to traditional HCV screening. Remnant specimens from 1,341 patients with concurrent third-generation serologic (Roche anti-HCV-II) and nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) were assessed using the HCV Duo Ab/Ag immunoassay (Roche). Patient demographics, risk factors, and standard of care (SOC) laboratory results from the medical records were recorded. Overall, 99.0% (197/199) of the HCV Duo Ab+/Ag+specimens accurately identified active infections as confirmed by NAAT, and 99.9% (670/671) Ab-/Ag- samples corresponded to those without HCV infections. Individually, the HCV Duo Ab component demonstrated a 95.6% positive percent agreement (PPA) (95% CI = 93.8-96.9) and 99.1% negative percent agreement (NPA) (98.8-99.6) compared with SOC anti-HCV II Ab assay. The HCV Duo Ag had a 73.5% PPA (67.9-78.4) and 99.8% NPA (99.3-100) with NAAT. Among RNA+ specimens, 73.4% (197/267) were HCV Duo Ag+, and 265/267 (99.3%) were successfully detected on the HCV Duo Ab component. Notably, 5/7 (71.4%) Ab-/RNA +specimens were detected by HCV Duo, which would have been missed by traditional algorithmic testing. Fourth generation HCV Duo Ab/Ag assay demonstrated comparable performance to SOC testing and shortens the diagnostic window but does not eliminate the need for NAAT in all patients. Ab/Ag testing identified several Ab-/RNA+ cases, a subgroup often undiagnosed by current algorithmic testing, demonstrating promise for improved diagnostic efficiency and accuracy in HCV detection.IMPORTANCEThis study highlights the potential of a combined hepatitis C virus (HCV) Duo antibody (Ab) and antigen (Ag) immunoassay to improve early detection of HCV infections. Traditional Ab-only screening methods recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may miss early-stage infections. The HCV Duo assay showed high accuracy, detecting nearly all active infections confirmed by nucleic acid amplification testing. Dual detection of HCV Ab and Ag shortens the diagnostic window, enabling intervention and treatment in a single visit, which is crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing HCV transmission, especially in areas with limited access to confirmatory molecular testing.

Modernizing Our Understanding of Total Hip Arthroplasty in the Pediatric and Young Adult Patient: A Single-center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric hip disorders represent a broad range of pathology and remain a significant source of morbidity for children and young adults. Surgical intervention is often required for joint preservation, but when salvage is not possible, joint replacement may be indicated to eliminate pain and preserve function. Although there have been significant updates in the management of both pediatric hip disease and the field of total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is a paucity of literature reflecting advancements in the area of pediatric and young adult (PYA) arthroplasty. No study has investigated the impact of approach on outcomes after PYA THA. The purpose of this study is to describe the indications, techniques, and early outcomes of THA in the PYA population in a modern practice setting. METHODS: We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis of all patients undergoing primary THA performed at a tertiary care children's hospital from 2004 to 2019. Ninety-three hips in 76 patients were evaluated. Demographics, intraoperative variables, postoperative pain and function ratings, and complication and revision rates were collected. RESULTS: Eighty-five hips in 69 patients were included. Patients were aged 12 to 23 years old, with males and females represented equally (33 vs. 36, respectively). The most common cause of hip pain was avascular necrosis (AVN, 56/85, 66%), most commonly due to slipped capital femoral epiphysis (13/56, 23%) idiopathic AVN (12/56, 21%), and chemotherapy (12/56, 21%). Half of all hips had been previously operated before THA (43/85). Thirty-six procedures were performed via the posterolateral approach (36/85, 42%), 33 were performed via direct anterior approach (33/85, 39%), and 16 were performed via the lateral approach (LAT, 16/85, 19%). At final follow-up, 98% (83/85) of patients had complete resolution of pain, 82% (70/85) had no notable limp, and 95% (81/85) had returned to all activities. There were 6 complications and 1 early revision. Average Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score for Joint Replacement scores increased by 37 points from 56 to 93. The overall revision-free survival rate for PYA THA was 98.8% (at average 19-mo follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: Modern PYA THA is dissimilar in indications and surgical techniques to historic cohorts, and conclusions from prior studies should not be generalized to modern practice. In our practice, PYA patients most commonly carry a diagnosis of AVN, and THA can be performed with modern cementless fixation with large cup and head sizes and ceramic-on-cross-linked polyethylene bearings utilizing any approach. Further study is required to better characterize middle-term and long-term results and patient-reported outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV-retrospective case series.

Towards a Low-Cost Solution for Gait Analysis Using Millimeter Wave Sensor and Machine Learning.

Human Activity Recognition (HAR) that includes gait analysis may be useful for various rehabilitation and telemonitoring applications. Current gait analysis methods, such as wearables or cameras, have privacy and operational constraints, especially when used with older adults. Millimeter-Wave (MMW) radar is a promising solution for gait applications because of its low-cost, better privacy, and resilience to ambient light and climate conditions. This paper presents a novel human gait analysis method that combines the micro-Doppler spectrogram and skeletal pose estimation using MMW radar for HAR. In our approach, we used the Texas Instruments IWR6843ISK-ODS MMW radar to obtain the micro-Doppler spectrogram and point clouds for 19 human joints. We developed a multilayer Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to recognize and classify five different gait patterns with an accuracy of 95.7 to 98.8% using MMW radar data. During training of the CNN algorithm, we used the extracted 3D coordinates of 25 joints using the Kinect V2 sensor and compared them with the point clouds data to improve the estimation. Finally, we performed a real-time simulation to observe the point cloud behavior for different activities and validated our system against the ground truth values. The proposed method demonstrates the ability to distinguish between different human activities to obtain clinically relevant gait information.

Leucine Supplementation Increases Muscle Strength and Volume, Reduces Inflammation, and Affects Wellbeing in Adults and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND: Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by muscle weakness owing, in part, to a blunted muscle protein synthetic response. This might be normalized by long-term leucine supplementation. OBJECTIVES: The study assessed the effects of 10 wk leucine supplementation in adolescents and adults with CP. METHODS: The study was a single-center randomized controlled trial. Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 12) or a leucine group (n = 12). l-Leucine (192 mg/kg body mass) was dissolved in water and administered daily for 10 wk. The primary outcome measures of elbow flexor muscle strength and muscle volume (measured by 3D ultrasound technique) and inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration] were assessed before and after the 10 wk, alongside the secondary outcomes of body composition (measured by CP-specific skinfold assessment), metabolic rate (measured by indirect calorimetry), and wellbeing (measured by a self-reported daily questionnaire). Data were compared via a series of 2-factor mixed ANOVAs. RESULTS: Twenty-one participants completed the intervention (control group: n = 11, mean ± SD age: 18.3 ± 2.8 y, body mass: 48.8 ± 11.9 kg, 45% male; leucine group: n = 10, age: 18.6 ± 1.7 y, body mass: 58.3 ± 20.2 kg, 70% male). After 10 wk, there was a 25.4% increase in strength (P = 0.019) and a 3.6% increase in muscle volume (P = 0.001) in the leucine group, with no changes in the control group. This was accompanied by a 59.1% reduction in CRP (P = 0.045) and improved perceptions of wellbeing (P = 0.006) in the leucine group. No changes in metabolism or body composition were observed in either group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in muscle strength and volume with leucine supplementation might provide important functional changes for adults and adolescents with CP and could be partly explained by reduced inflammation. The improved wellbeing highlights its capacity to improve the quality of daily living. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03668548.

Injury and treatment patterns of ballistic pelvic fractures by anatomic location.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic ballistic injuries threaten critical gastrointestinal, vascular, and urinary structures. We report the treatment patterns and injury profiles of ballistic pelvic fractures and the association between location of ballistic fractures of the pelvis and visceral injuries. METHODS: A prospectively collected database at an academic level I trauma center was reviewed for clinical and radiographic data on patients who sustained one or more ballistic fractures of the pelvis. Main outcomes compared included: procedures with orthopedic surgery, emergent surgery, concomitant intrapelvic injuries, and mortality. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were included. Eight patients (9.3%) underwent surgical debridement with orthopedic surgery, no ballistic pelvic fractures required surgical stabilization. The anatomical locations of ballistic pelvic fractures included: 10 (14.7%) anterior ring, 13 (19.1%) posterior ring, 27 (39.7%) anterior column, and 18 (20.9%) posterior column. There was a statistically significant association between anterior ring and rectal injury. The association between anterior ring injury and bladder injury approached significance. CONCLUSIONS: This case series included 86 patients with a ballistic fracture of the pelvis, none requiring pelvic ring surgical stabilization. The unpatterned behavior of these injuries demands a high suspicion for visceral injury, with special attention to the rectum and bladder in the setting of anterior ring involvement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Despite Growing Number of Women Surgeons, Authorship Gender Disparity in Orthopaedic Literature Persists Over 30 Years.

BACKGROUND: The most recent demographic data reveal that only 6.5% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons are women, and as far as we know, only two women have held chair positions in academic orthopaedic programs in the United States. Furthermore, orthopaedic surgery is the least gender-diverse speciality recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The factors that contribute to the lack of gender diversity in orthopaedics remain ill-defined. A lag in publication productivity may be a barrier to career advancement for women orthopaedic surgeons, but this has not been well studied. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What is the proportion of orthopaedic studies published in six major orthopaedic journals by women first or senior authors from 1987 to 2017? (2) Did men and women orthopaedic surgeons publish in equal proportions during the study period (measured in 5-year intervals)? (3) Are there differences in the characteristics (such as study type or subject focus) of orthopaedic publications authored by women and those authored by men? (4) Has the increased proportion of practicing women orthopaedic surgeons been matched by an equal increase in authorship by women orthopaedic surgeons during the study timeframe? METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was designed to characterize trends in authorship of orthopaedic studies by women over time. All publications from the first issue of each of six major orthopaedic journals were evaluated at seven time points (1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017). Characteristics of each first and senior author (including gender, academic degree, and specialty), and study category of each publication were collected. Articles for which this information was not available were excluded (35 of 1073, or 3.3% of published studies, no difference in proportion of excluded studies between journals). The proportions of women and men authors were compared at the seven time points and for six study categories (basic science, case report/technique article, clinical medicine, economics/practice management, editorial content [including true editorials, letters to the editor, commentaries, and book reviews] and review/meta-analysis) using a Fisher's exact test or chi-squared analysis. We compared the rates of change of women authorship, practicing women orthopaedic surgeons, and women orthopaedic residents during the study period using an ANOVA and Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) post-hoc test with Cohen's D measure of effect size. RESULTS: From 1987 to 2017, only 1.7% (15 of 880) of senior authors and 4.4% (46 of 1038) of first authors of orthopaedic publications were women orthopaedic surgeons. Based on population proportions (that is, percent of practicing women orthopaedic surgeons compared with men), the proportion of women senior authors was less than would be expected at each time point after 1987 compared with men. There were no differences between the types of studies authored by women or men. Finally, during the study period, the rate of growth of women senior authorship was less than the rates of growth of both practicing women orthopaedic surgeons (d = 5.3, 95% CI, 4.8-5.6; p = 0.023) and women first authorship (d = -4.3, 95% CI -4.6 to -3.6, p = 0.030; estimated mean 3.3, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Women orthopaedic surgeons published a small proportion of academic orthopaedic research from 1987 to 2017, and women senior authors consistently published less than would be expected based on their population proportion compared with men orthopaedic surgeons. Furthermore, the growth of practicing women orthopaedic surgeons has not been matched by growth in senior authorship by women over the same timeframe. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This discrepancy warrants further exploration because a low rate of publication may negatively impact the career advancement of women orthopaedic surgeons and contribute to the overall lack of gender diversity in orthopaedics. We suggest that journals and publishers review their editorial processes to ensure blinding of author names during peer review and editorial decision-making, and to disclose those review processes to authors. We also suggest that institutions encourage women trainees and junior faculty to participate in mentorship programs and specialty societies that promote academic productivity.

Relationship of Christian Beliefs to Attitudes Toward People With Mental Illness.

This study assessed the influence of Christian beliefs on attitudes toward people with mental illness. Participants (N=204) provided demographic information and completed the Christian Orthodoxy Scale, the Religious Fundamentalism Scale, and the Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire. Participants read vignettes of a person with a mental illness (schizophrenia), a general medical illness (diabetes), and a control condition (practicing Christian) and rated them on five criteria representing stigmatizing attitudes. The data were analyzed by sequential multiple regression. Religious fundamentalism, but not Christian orthodoxy, was a significant predictor of stigmatizing attitudes toward a person with mental illness. Consistent with past research, neither religious fundamentalism nor Christian orthodoxy were significant predictors of stigmatizing attitudes toward a general medical illness. As predicted, both religious fundamentalism and Christian orthodoxy were significant predictors of positive attitudes toward a practicing Christian. Sensitivity and discourse regarding stigmatization and deeply held fundamental religious beliefs are needed among mental health professionals, religious leaders, and laypersons.

Evaluating Acquisition of Knowledge about Infertility Using a Whiteboard Video.

OBJECTIVE: Myths about fertility are commonplace in society. Few studies have investigated educational approaches to bridge gaps in knowledge among consumers. We evaluated the effectiveness of an animated, 15-minute whiteboard video to effect change in knowledge about infertility. METHODS: We recruited medical students in their first or second year of training for participation. The students completed the study before their formal lectures on infertility issues. Participants completed questionnaires assessing infertility knowledge immediately before and one week after watching the educational video. Before and after scores (maximum = 50 points) were compared using paired t tests. RESULTS: The study cohort included 101 medical students; 69% (70/101) were female and 31% (31/101) were male. Overall, students increased their score by 4.0/50 (95% CI 3.2 to 4.8, P < 0.001) from 36.5/50 to 40.5/50. Female students improved slightly more in their responses than did male students (mean improvement 4.7/50 vs. 2.5/50). CONCLUSION: A whiteboard video presentation on infertility resulted in short-term improvement in medical students' knowledge of basic reproductive biology, infertility risk factors, treatments, and common myths associated with infertility.

Adaptation to Damaging Dance and Repeated-Sprint Activity in Women.

Brown, MA, Howatson, G, Keane, KM, and Stevenson, EJ. Adaptation to damaging dance and repeated-sprint activity in women. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2574-2581, 2016-The repeated bout effect (RBE) refers to the prophylactic effect from damaging exercise after a single previous bout of exercise. There is a paucity of data examining the RBE in women, and investigations using exercise paradigms beyond isolated eccentric contractions are scarce. In light of the limited literature, this investigation aimed to determine whether 2 different sport-specific exercise bouts would elicit a RBE in women. Twenty-one female dancers (19 ± 1 years) completed either a dance-specific protocol (n = 10) or sport-specific repeated-sprint protocol (n = 11). Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), limb girths, creatine kinase (CK), countermovement jump height, reactive strength index, maximal voluntary contraction, and 30-meter sprint time were recorded before and 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise. An identical exercise bout was conducted approximately 4 weeks after the initial bout, during which time the subjects maintained habitual training and dietary behaviors. DOMS and 30-meter sprint time decreased after a second bout of both activities (p = 0.003; (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.38 and p = 0.008; and (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.31, respectively). Circulating CK was also lower at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the second bout, independent of group (p = 0.010 and (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.23). Compared with the repeated-sprint protocol, the magnitude of change in DOMS was greater after a subsequent bout of the dance protocol (p = 0.010 and (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.19). These data are the first to demonstrate that dance and repeated-sprint activity resulting in muscle damage in women confers a protective effect against muscle damage after a subsequent bout.

Calcium ingestion suppresses appetite and produces acute overcompensation of energy intake independent of protein in healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: Prior evidence suggests that high-calcium intake influences postprandial appetite and insulinemia, possibly due to elevated incretins. In vitro and ex vivo models demonstrate that extracellular calcium and protein synergistically enhance secretion of incretins. This is yet to be shown in humans. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess energy intake compensation in response to protein and calcium ingestion. METHODS: Twenty healthy adults (13 men; 7 women) completed 4 trials in a randomized, double-blind crossover design separated by ≥48 h. During the trials, each participant consumed a low-calcium and low-protein control preload [(CON); 4 g and 104 mg, respectively], a high-protein preload (PRO; 29 g), a high-calcium preload (CAL; 1170 mg), or a high-protein and high-calcium preload (PROCAL). Blood samples were collected at baseline and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after preload ingestion to determine insulin and incretin hormone concentrations. Energy intake was assessed by a homogenous test meal 60 min after the preload. Visual analog scales were completed immediately before blood sampling to assess subjective appetite sensations. RESULTS: Relative to the CON, the PRO produced 100% (95% CI: 85%, 115%) energy compensation, whereas the CAL produced significant overcompensation [118% (95% CI: 104%, 133%)], which was significantly more positive than with the PRO (P < 0.05). The PROCAL resulted in energy compensation of 109% (95% CI: 95%, 123%), which tended to be greater than with the PRO (P = 0.06). The mean difference in appetite sensations relative to the CON was not significantly different between the PRO (-3 mm; 95% CI: -8, 3 mm), CAL (-5 mm; 95% CI: -9, 0 mm), and PROCAL (-5 mm; 95% CI: -10, -1 mm) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of protein to a preload results in almost perfect energy compensation, whereas the addition of calcium, with or without protein, suppresses appetite and produces overcompensation of subsequent energy intake. The role of circulating insulin and incretin concentrations in these responses, however, remains unclear. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01986036.

Lung clearance index as an outcome measure for clinical trials in young children with cystic fibrosis. A pilot study using inhaled hypertonic saline.

RATIONALE: Lung clearance index (LCI), measured by multiple breath washout (MBW), is a noninvasive measure of ventilation inhomogeneity that holds promise as an objective physiologic endpoint for clinical trials in infants and preschool children with cystic fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVES: To study the feasibility of using LCI to assess treatment effect outcomes in CF trials of infants and preschoolers. METHODS: The Infant Study of Inhaled Saline trial was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of hypertonic (7%) versus isotonic (0.9%) saline inhaled twice daily for 48 weeks in children with CF under 6 years of age. LCI measurements were performed in a single-center pilot substudy at baseline and 48 weeks using a respiratory mass spectrometer and sulfur hexafluoride as the tracer gas. LCI measurements were standardized using published normative data (zLCI) to account for height-related changes in LCI during early childhood. A generalized estimating equation model with an interaction between treatment group and test occasion was used to estimate a treatment effect. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 27 participants were randomized; 25 participants, aged (median [range]) 2.6 (0.34-4.95) years, had acceptable baseline and follow-up LCI measures. On average, LCI decreased in the hypertonic saline group (n = 12) by 1.19 z-scores units (95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.46 to 0.06), and remained stable in the isotonic saline group (n = 13) at 0.81 (95% CI = -0.40 to 2.02). A significant treatment effect was observed for zLCI (2.01; 95% CI = 0.26 to 3.76; P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: MBW testing is feasible in an interventional study in infants and preschool children with CF. These pilot findings support the development of MBW and LCI as an objective outcome measure in interventional trials in young children with CF, and provide estimates for sample size calculations for future studies.

Oncologic Staging Computed Tomography with IV Contrast Has Similar Efficacy to Dedicated Computed Tomography Angiography for Preoperative DIEP Flap Planning.

Background: Due to variations in perforator vasculature, deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap preoperative imaging can minimize operative time required to locate the most suitable perforators. Dedicated computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been the gold standard; however, many patients have already undergone a staging computed tomography (CT) per oncologic workup. The benefits from CTA may also be realized with a staging CT or CT with IV contrast. Methods: Ten patients who underwent DIEP flap reconstruction with staging CT and CTA within 3 years of one another were included in this study. Reviewers evaluated axial views of both imaging modalities separately to identify each visible perforator in reference to the pubic symphysis from the xiphoid to the pubic symphysis. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine agreement in location of perforators between the two imaging studies. Statistical analysis was performed using an ICC and Wilcoxon signed rank-tests. Results: The identified perforators within the patient cohort had an excellent correlation between their location on CT and CTA based upon ICC. The mean number of perforators identified in the CT group was 15.3 (SD 4.9) and in the CTA group was 18.8 (SD 6.4), which was not statistically different (P = 0.247). Conclusions: CT has similar efficacy in identifying number of perforators and perforator location to dedicated CTA for preoperative planning in DIEP flaps. This has the potential for decreased patient contrast and ionizing radiation exposure as well as improved patient and healthcare resource utilization.

Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax in coronavirus disease-2019: Description of a case series and a matched cohort study.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of COVID-19 patients with pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum (PTX/PM) and their association with patient outcomes. Patients and methods: Adults admitted to five Mayo Clinic hospitals with COVID-19 between 03/2020-01/2022 were evaluated. PTX/PM was defined by imaging. Descriptive analyses and a matched (age, sex, admission month, COVID-19 severity) cohort comparison was performed. Hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and predisposing factors were assessed. Results: Among 6663 patients, 197 had PTX/PM (3 %) (75 PM, 40 PTX, 82 both). The median age was 59, with 71 % males. Exposure to invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula before PTX/PM were 42 %, 17 %, and 20 %, respectively. Among isolated PTX and PM/PTX patients 70 % and 53.7 % underwent an intervention, respectively, while 96 % of the PM-only group was followed conservatively.A total of 171 patients with PTX/PM were compared to 171 matched controls. PTX/PM patients had more underlying lung disease (40.9 vs. 23.4 %, p < 0.001) and lower median body mass index (BMI) (29.5 vs. 31.3 kg/m2, p = .007) than controls. Among patients with available data, PTX/PM patients had higher median positive end-expiratory and plateau pressures than controls; however, differences were not significant (10 vs. 8 cmH2O; p = 0.38 and 28 vs. 22 cmH2O; p = 0.11, respectively). PTX/PM patients had a higher odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [95%CI]: 3.37 [1.61-7.07]) and longer mean LOS (percent change [95%CI]: 39 [9-77]) than controls. Conclusion: In COVID-19 patients with similar severity, PTX/PM patients had more underlying lung disease and lower BMI. They had significantly increased mortality and LOS.

Age and height dependence of lung clearance index and functional residual capacity.

The lung clearance index (LCI) is more sensitive than spirometry in detecting abnormal lung function in children with cystic fibrosis. LCI is thought to be independent of age, but recent evidence suggests that the upper limit of normal is higher in infants and preschool children than in older subjects. This study examines whether LCI remains independent of body size throughout childhood. Multiple-breath washout data from healthy children and adolescents were collated from three centres using the mass spectrometer system and the inert gas sulfur hexafluoride. Reference equations for LCI and functional residual capacity (FRC) were constructed using the LMS (lambda-mu-sigma) method. Data were available from 497 subjects (2 weeks to 19 years of age) tested on 659 occasions. LCI was dependent on body size, decreasing in a nonlinear pattern as height increased. Changes were particularly marked in the first 5 years of life. Height, age and sex were all independent predictors of FRC. Minimal between-centre differences allowed unified reference equations to be developed. LCI is not independent of body size. Although a constant upper normal limit would suffice for cross-sectional clinical assessments from 6 years of age, appropriate reference equations are essential for accurate interpretation of results during early childhood.

Prognostic indicators of 6-month mortality in elderly people with advanced dementia: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: For end-of-life dementia patients, palliative care offers a better quality of life than continued aggressive or burdensome medical interventions. To provide the best care options to dementia sufferers, validated, reliable, sensitive, and accurate prognostic tools to identify end-of-life dementia stages are necessary. AIM: To identify accurate prognosticators of mortality in elderly advanced dementia patients consistently reported in the literature. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched up to September 2012. Reference lists of included studies were also searched. Inclusion criteria were studies measuring factors specifically related to 6-month outcome in patients diagnosed with dementia in any residential or health-care setting. RESULTS: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, five of which were set in the United States and two in Israel. Methodology and prognostic outcomes varied greatly between the studies. All but one study found that Functional Assessment Staging phase 7c, currently widely used to assess hospice admission eligibility in the United States, was not a reliable predictor of 6-month mortality. The most common prognostic variables identified related to nutrition/nourishment, or eating habits, followed by increased risk on dementia severity scales and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of studies agreed that the Functional Assessment Staging 7c criterion was not a reliable predictor of 6-month mortality, we found a lack of prognosticator concordance across the literature. Further studies are essential to identify reliable, sensitive, and specific prognosticators, which can be applied to the clinical setting and allow increased availability of palliative care to dementia patients.

Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction following traumatic brain injury affects functional improvement during acute inpatient rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine its effect on functional improvement in acute inpatient rehabilitation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified male patients with a primary diagnosis of TBI with or without a skull fracture, an onset date within 6 months prior to admission, and were 16 years of age or older. The percentage of individuals in this population with abnormal hormone levels was determined on the basis of the established normal reference range for each hormone assay. The functional independence measure, which assesses functional outcomes in acute inpatient rehabilitation, was used to examine the relationship between hormone levels and functional improvement. RESULTS: Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction was identified in nearly 70% of men following TBI. Hypogonadism, or low testosterone levels, was observed in 66% of the patients, followed by low levels of free T4 in 46% and low levels of insulin growth factor-1 in 26% of patients. Hypopituitarism associated with impaired functional recovery. Specifically, the functional independence measure change per day was significantly lower in patients with low levels of testosterone and insulin growth factor-1. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the importance of testosterone and insulin growth factor-1 activity in the early stages of physical and cognitive rehabilitation.

Intracranial Hypertension Associated With Testosterone Therapy In Female-To-Male Transgender Patients: A Case Report And Literature Review.

We highlight a case of intracranial hypertension secondary to exogenous testosterone in a female-to-male transgender patient and present a systematic review of similar cases. Our review identified 19 female-to-male transgender individuals with intracranial hypertension. The mean age was 24.2 years and most common presenting symptom was headache (78.9% of patients). The most frequently associated ocular symptoms were transient visual obscurations (42.1%) and blurred vision (21.1%). Onset of symptoms occurred concurrently with exogenous testosterone therapy in 89.5% of the patients. The most common treatments were acetazolamide (89.5%), topiramate (31.6%), and alteration in hormone regimen (21.1%); four cases required surgery. These findings aid clinicians treating intracranial hypertension in patients undergoing gender affirmation therapy in a conscientious, patient-centered manner.

Managing Ulnar Nerve Subluxation With a Medial Intermuscular Septum Sling.

BACKGROUND: Cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) is a lifestyle-altering peripheral neuropathy lacking a consensus for optimal surgical management. We describe creation of a fascial "V-sling" without ulnar nerve transposition, which is associated with increased surgical morbidity compared with decompression. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a novel technique with effective ulnar nerve decompression and subluxation prevention by creating a fascial sling in patients with CuTS and ulnar nerve subluxation. METHODS: We reviewed records of 39 elbows in 35 patients who underwent in situ ulnar nerve decompression and creation of a fascial sling in a "V" configuration to stabilize the nerve in its native position. We examined patient demographics, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) scores, and patient outcomes. Chi-square and student's t test were used for all analysis. RESULTS: A total of 37 extremities in 33 patients undergoing nerve decompression had nerve subluxation confirmed intraoperatively. There was a statistically significant change in preoperative and postoperative SANE scores of 64.5 and 82.3, respectively. Mean QuickDASH scores decreased significantly from 49.3 preoperative to 10.8 postoperative. The long-term QuickDASH scores obtained at mean of 564 days were maintained at 10.76. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes a novel technique for treating CuTS by achieving in situ nerve decompression and addressing ulnar nerve subluxation with creation of an intermuscular septal sling. The technique improved functional outcomes and provided symptomatic relief, while avoiding risks commonly associated with nerve transposition.