Bifid median nerve as an anatomical risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis.

As the median nerve enters the carpal tunnel, it is a single nerve that soon bifurcates into lateral and medial branches into the hand. If the bifurcation is proximal to the carpel tunnel, a bifid median nerve (BMN) results. Carpal tunnel syndrome is often associated with a BMN with or without a persistent median artery. Individual keywords and MeSH phrases were searched in the Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and PubMed databases. Full texts were then collected and assessed for suitability. The prevalence of BMN at the wrist joint in normal and carpal tunnel syndrome wrists (precanal part) and the mean difference between groups were recorded. Only human data were used to test the findings. The pooled odds ratio (with minimal heterogeneity) was 1.50 [1.17-1.93, 95% CI]. The BMN cross-sectional area (CSA) was significantly greater than that of a solitary median nerve in normal wrists. The mean difference in CSA between the two was 1.50 mm2 [0.56-2.45 mm2 , 95% CI] without heterogeneity (i2  = 0). Sex and laterality distributions scarcely differed between the two types of wrists. Owing to the insufficiency of data, the relationships with mean height and weight were not examined. There was a 50% greater incidence of bifid median nerves in carpal tunnel syndrome patients than in normal subjects. A bifid median nerve increases the mean CSA at the wrist joint by 1.5 mm2 . These findings indicate that the bifid median nerve is an anatomical risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Artificial intelligence, nano-technology and genomic medicine: The future of anaesthesia.

Nanotechnology with artificial intelligence (AI) can metamorphose medicine to an extent that has never been achieved before. AI could be used in anesthesia to develop advanced clinical decision support tools based on machine learning, increasing efficiency, and accuracy. It is also potentially highly troublesome by creating insecurity among clinicians and allowing the transfer of expert domain knowledge to machines. Anesthesia is a complex medical specialty, and assuming AI can easily replace the expert as a clinically sound anesthetist is a very unrealistic expectation. This paper focuses on the association and opportunities for AI developments and deep learning with anesthesia. It reviews the current advances in AI tools and hardware technologies and outlines how these can be used in the field of anesthesia.

Estimation of the relationship between the sacral hiatus and other dorsal sacral parameters using principle component analysis.

PURPOSE: Correct localization of the sacral hiatus is essential for administering a successful caudal epidural block. The purpose of this study is to create a statistical model of sacral hiatus from dorsal sacral parameters to improve the location of the hiatus and thus, reduce the failure rate. The aim of this investigation was to examine the relationship of sacral hiatus morphology and dimension with sacral curvature. This study further examines the dorsal sacral parameters that could affect the sacral hiatus dimension. METHODS: Adult, human, dry sacra and three-dimensionally reconstructed sacra from computed tomography imaging of normal subjects were included in the study and measured using digital Vernier calipers of 0.01 mm accuracy and Geomagic freeform plus software, respectively. RESULT: The most frequent shape of the sacral hiatus was an inverted V (48%) followed by inverted U shape (32%), an irregular shape (12.3%), an M shape (4.7) and an A shape (2.8%). The data were represented by mean and standard deviation. Sacra with M-shaped hiatus had the lowest hiatal length (14.21 ± 5.44 mm), whereas sacra with an inverted V-shaped hiatus had the highest length (25.41 ± 11.3 mm). The anteroposterior diameter of the sacral hiatus at the base in males and females was found to be 3.46 ± 1.48 mm and 2.79 ± 0.83 mm, respectively (P < 0.001). The distance between the caudal end of the median sacral crest and the apex of the sacral hiatus (7.90 ± 6.74 mm, 4.4 ± 5.86 mm) also revealed sexual dimorphism (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The correlations between most of the dorsal sacral parameters and length of the sacral hiatus are significant. The intercornual distance is also moderately correlated with the distance between right and left lateral sacral crest S1 level. Dorsal sacral parameters predicts variance of the sacral hiatus dimension from 40 to 73% and this could be utilized for statistical model of the sacral hiatus.

Prevalence of anomalous or ectopic insertion of pectoralis minor: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 4146 shoulders.

INTRODUCTION: The proximal insertion beyond coracoid process of pectoralis minor is considered as hidden culprit of rotator cuff disorders. The ectopic insertion is also associated with thoracic outlet syndrome. The current review was conducted to provide a comprehensive evidence-based assessment of the anatomical characteristics of ectopic insertion of pectoralis minor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A through systematic search was conducted on the major electronic database, PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and Journals of Anatomy, orthopedics, plastic surgery, sports medicine. The primary outcome was to measure the prevalence of ectopic insertion of pectoralis minor tendons. The data extraction was conducted for pooled estimation and metanalysis. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies were included for systematic review. The overall pooled estimate of ectopic insertion of Pectoralis Minor was 19.27% (95% CI 15-24%). The prevalence rate in dissected specimen was 21% (CI 15-28%) and in arthroscopic evaluation was 22% (95% CI 5-59%) which was marginally higher with wide confidence interval due small sample size. The prevalence rate in MRI and USG were 15 and 12%, because MRI and USG have almost similar sensitivity in the detection of anomalous insertion of Pectoralis Minor. The distribution of subtypes of anomalous or ectopic insertion based on Le Double classification was 34% for type I, 42 and 9% for Type III. The incidence of ectopic insertion of pectoralis minor was highest in Japanese population. The female and left side have slightly higher incidence at insignificant level. CONCLUSION: The preoperative MRI or at least USG evaluation of shoulder joint must be conducted for appropriate surgical planning, because the prevalence of ectopic insertion is around 20%. The preoperative detection of anomalous insertion of pectoralis minor can be crucial in minimizing the incidences of iatrogenic injuries of tendon or post-operative complications.

Defecation and Micturition may Cause Syncope in COVID-19 Patients on High Oxygen Requirement.

How to cite this article: Naaz S, Kumar A, Sahay N, Kumar R, Ozair E, Valiaparambath A. Defecation and Micturition may Cause Syncope in COVID-19 Patients on High Oxygen Requirement. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(5):599-600.

Prolonged Use of Supraglottic Airway Device for Mechanical Ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit.

How to cite this article: Naaz S, Sahay N, Kumar R, Kumar A, Asghar A. Prolonged Use of Supraglottic Airway Device for Mechanical Ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(10):1001-1002.

Curious Case of Pediatric One-Lung Ventilation with Two Endotracheal Tubes: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: One-lung ventilation is indicated during thoracic surgery for visualization and exposure of surgical site. It is achieved with bronchial blockers, double-lumen endobronchial tube, single-lumen endotracheal tubes and Univent tube for infants and children. Fibreoptic bronchoscope is required for placing and confirming the correct position of these tubes. We report a perioperative management of safe conduct of one lung ventilation for a 6-year child undergoing left lower lobe lobectomy through C-MAC video laryngoscope guided two single lumen tubes in limited resource settings where paediatric-sized fibreoptic bronchoscope is unavailable.

Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes Associated With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women Diagnosed With COVID-19: A Comparative Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to compare risk factors and clinical outcomes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant versus non-pregnant women of reproductive age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included all women (18-45 years) with ARDS and confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection admitted during the study period from May 2020 to July 2021. Pregnant women were considered as case and non-pregnant women as control. Primary outcomes included ventilatory support, the need for high-flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO), severe ARDS, and death. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of hospital stay, and requirement of oxygen at discharge. RESULTS: We included 59 women diagnosed with ARDS and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, of them 12 were pregnant and 47 were non-pregnant. The non-pregnant women were significantly older than pregnant women (28.7±5 versus 35.5±8.2, p=0.008). Presenting symptoms were comparable among the groups. Diabetes was significantly higher in the non-pregnant group (8.3% versus 31.9%, p<0.02). Pregnant women had a significantly higher range of D-dimer (5.8±7.2 versus 1.8±1.9, p<0.01) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (212.0±300.8 versus 49.7±57.7, p<0.011) and lower platelet count (129.4±120.1 versus 197.6±92.9, p<0.05) compared to non-pregnant women. Pregnant women were more likely to experience primary outcomes including the need for HFNO (33% versus 8.5%, odds ratio (OR): 5.3, p<0.02) and death (50% versus 31.9%, OR: 2.1, p<0.04) compared to non-pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with severe COVID-19 and ARDS were at an increased risk for experiencing ICU admission, intubation, and mechanical ventilation compared to age-matched non-pregnant women, although comorbidities such as diabetes were higher among the non-pregnant cohort. These findings suggest that pregnancy itself is a potential risk factor for complications and morbidities among women with severe COVID-19.

An evaluation of mandibular canal variations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The inferior alveolar nerve and vessels are carried via the mandibular canal, which extends bilaterally from the inferior alveolar foramen to the mental foramen. Bifid and trifid mandibular canals result from abnormal fusions of nerve canals. The purpose of this study was to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the prevalence of mandibular canal variations among healthy adults, and to identify any potential ethnic, sex, or laterality predilections. The prevalence of the bifid mandibular canal was 18.87% and that of the trifid canal 1.3%. Unilateral variants were three times commoner than bilateral. Each mandibular half had four canals emanating from separate openings on the lingual surface of the mandibular ramus. Retromolar and forward canals were the predominant subtypes, followed by dental; buccolingual were the least frequent. The mean length and diameter of the bifid mandibular canal were 13.62 mm and 1.63 mm, respectively. The possibility of a bifid mandibular canal is a crucial consideration in dental medicine. Because anatomical variations of the mandibular canal are fairly common, awareness of them is essential for anatomy teachers and for surgeons who operate in the oromaxillofacial region.

Absence of the interthalamic adhesion (ITA) as a neuroanatomical association or risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This study aimed to provide an up-to-date account of the frequency of "the absence of interthalamic adhesion (AITA) as a risk factor or association" in healthy subjects and neuropsychiatric patients. Owing to the increased interest in the contribution of ITA to neurological function in previous literature, a meta-analysis of its frequency and sex dependency is required. Aim: This study aimed to study whether the AITA is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Settings and Design: This study is a meta-analysis and systemic review. Methods and Material: Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the keywords "interthalamic adhesion," "massa intermedia," "adhesio interthalamica," and "adhesion" along with the Boolean operators (OR, AND, and NOT). Three reviewers independently assessed the abstracts and full texts for validation based on the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2019 for descriptive studies and RevMan 5.2 for comparative studies. Results: The incidence of absent ITA was 15.3% in healthy subjects and 28.76% in neuropsychiatric subjects. The relative probability of AITA was 2.30 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.96-2.70] in neuropsychiatric illness. Healthy men were 1.91 times more likely, and men with neuropsychiatric disorders were 1.82 times more likely to have absent ITA than women. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, a consistent association of AITA with psychiatric disorders was observed, rendering the condition to be treated as an associated risk factor affecting the function of the habenula nuclear complex via the stria medullaris thalami. A cohort or longitudinal study is needed to compare the incidence of psychiatric disorders in individuals with or without ITA and to calculate the attributed risk.

Elastic Microstructures: Combining Biochemical, Mechanical, and Topographical Cues for the Effective Activation and Proliferation of Cytotoxic T Cells.

The ex vivo activation and proliferation of cytotoxic T cells are critical steps in adoptive immunotherapy. Today, T cells are activated by stimulation with antibody-coated magnetic beads, traditionally used for cell separation. Yet, efficient and controlled activation and proliferation of T cells require new antibody-bearing materials, which, in particular, deliver mechanical and topographic cues sensed by T cells. Here, we demonstrate a new approach for the activation and proliferation of human cytotoxic T cells using an elastic microbrush coated with activating and costimulatory antibodies. We found that the microbrush topography affects the protrusion of the cell membrane and the elastic response to the forces applied by cells and can be optimized to yield the strongest activation of T cells. In particular, T cells stimulated by a microbrush showed a three-fold increase in degranulation and release of cytokines over T cells stimulated with state-of-the-art magnetic beads. Furthermore, the microbrush induced a T-cell proliferation of T cells that was more prolonged and yielded much higher cell doubling than that done by the state-of-the-art methods. Our study provides an essential insight into the physical mechanism of T-cell activation and proliferation and opens the floodgates for the design of novel stimulatory materials for T-cell-based immunotherapy.

The prevalence and distribution of sternalis muscle: a meta-analysis of published literature of the last two hundred years.

The sternalis muscle (SM) is an anatomical variant that lies subcutaneously and is superficial to the pectoralis major muscle or sternum. The present meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the prevalence, anatomical features, and variance of the SM in different population. In total, 98 studies were included for this meta-analysis. Eighty-two studies dealt with adult subjects, and sixteen studies with fetuses. The worldwide prevalence of SM was observed to be 6% or 0.06 [0.05-0.7, 95% CI] in 27,470 adults, whereas it was 0.29 [0.20-0.39, 95% CI] in 673 fetuses. In 259 anencephalic fetuses, the prevalence was 44% or 0.44 [0.26-0.63, 95% CI], while the same in 414 fetuses without anencephaly was 16% or 0.16 [0.06-0.27, 95% CI]. The reported prevalence rate in Asian mongoloid population (9.1% = 0.091) was three times that of the Asian Caucasian population (3.33% = 0.0333). The prevalence in European descent was 3.93%. Interestingly, the reported prevalence rates in North and South American populations were 3.44% and 3.66%, almost being equivalent. The cadaveric investigations revealed that the SM had an overall prevalence of 5.96% in adults based on 76 studies, which was higher than other modalities of investigations. The multi-detector computerized tomography (MDCT) had shown the prevalence of approximately 4.33%. The same was reported in surgical studies and mammographic studies as 0.47% and 0.02%, respectively. The SM is not an unusual variant of the chest wall musculature. MDCT could be a new method to precisely demonstrate the morphology, course, and size of the SM in vivo.

Risk of self-contamination because of improper doffing of personal protective equipment: A randomised cross-over study.

Background and Aims: Many health care staff have been pressed into coronavirus disease-19 patient care with little experience of working in bio-hazard zones because of the overwhelming requirements of manpower. They wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all rules for their safety. However, despite precautions, during doffing, they carry a risk of self-contamination. This randomised cross-over study assessed the risk of self- contamination because of improper doffing of PPEs. Methods: A colourless lotion that glows with a bright-green fluorescent hue under ultraviolet light was applied to simulate germ contamination in various health care workers (HCWs) who volunteered for the study. The primary objective of this study was to know the percentage of HCWs getting self-contaminated. The secondary objectives were to assess which portions of the body get maximally contaminated and infestation of germs on which portions of the PPE carry more risk of self-contaminating after doffing. Results: A total of 152 doffings by 76 participants were analysed, and the volunteers self-contaminated in 43 doffings (28.28%). In 18 of these 43 doffings, self-contamination was noted at more than one location. The most commonly contaminated areas were the arms (33%), clothes on the abdomen (24%), and areas in the lower limb (23%). Germ infestation on the upper parts of a PPE is 2.39 times more likely to cause self-contamination after improper doffing. Conclusion: Faulty doffing resulted in self-contamination in 28.28% of all doffings. Risk is 2.39 times more when germs are nested in the upper body portions of the PPE suit.

Effectiveness of 3D-printed models prepared from radiological data for anatomy education: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of 22 randomized, controlled, crossover trials.

BACKGROUND: Many academicians suggested the supplementary use of 3D-printed models reconstructed from radiological images for optimal anatomy education. 3D-printed model is newer technology available to us. The purpose of this systematic review was to capture the usefulness or effectiveness of this newer technology in anatomy education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for quantitative synthesis. The included studies were sub-grouped according to the interventions and participants. No restrictions were applied based on geographical location, language and publication years. Randomized, controlled trial, cross-sectional and cross-over designs were included. The effect size of each intervention in both participants was computed as a standardized mean difference (SMD). RESULTS: Twenty-two randomized, controlled trials were included for quantitative estimation of effect size of knowledge acquisition as standardized mean difference in 1435 participants. The pooled effect size for 3D-printed model was 0.77 (0.45-1.09, 95% CI, P < 0.0001) with 86% heterogeneity. The accuracy score was measured in only three studies and estimated effect size was 2.81 (1.08-4.54, 95% CI, P = 0.001) with 92% heterogeneity. The satisfaction score was examined by questionnaire in 6 studies. The estimated effect size was 2.00 (0.69-3.32, 95% CI, P = 0.003) with significant heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: The participants exposed to the 3D-printed model performed better than participants who used traditional methodologies. Thus, the 3D-printed model is a potential tool for anatomy education.

Cytotoxic Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of Aminopyridine Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents.

BACKGROUND: The development of resistance to available anticancer drugs is increasingly becoming a major challenge and new chemical entities could be unveiled to compensate for this therapeutic failure. OBJECTIVES: The current study demonstrated whether N-protected and deprotected amino acid derivatives of 2- aminopyridine could attenuate tumor development using colorectal cancer cell lines. METHODS: Biological assays were performed to investigate the anticancer potential of synthesized compounds. The in silico ADME profiling and docking studies were also performed by docking the designed compounds against the active binding site of beta-catenin (CTNNB1) to analyze the binding mode of these compounds. Four derivatives 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d were selected for investigation of in vitro anticancer potential using colorectal cancer cell line HCT 116. The anti-tumor activities of synthesized compounds were further validated by evaluating the inhibitory effects of these compounds on the target protein beta-catenin through in vitro enzyme inhibitory assay. RESULTS: The docking analysis revealed favorable binding energies and interactions with the target proteins. The in vitro MTT assay on colorectal cancer cell line HCT 116 and HT29 revealed potential anti-tumor activities with an IC50 range of 3.7-8.1µM and 3.27-7.7 µM, respectively. The inhibitory properties of these compounds on the concentration of beta-catenin by ELISA revealed significant percent inhibition of target protein at 100 µg/ml. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the synthesized compounds showed significant anti-tumor activities both in silico and in vitro, having potential for further investigating its role in colorectal cancer.