Assessing the Relationship between Radiology Department Research Funding and Institutional Community Inclusion and Investment.

Background Health care access disparities and lack of inclusion in clinical research have been well documented for marginalized populations. However, few studies exist examining the research funding of institutions that serve historically underserved groups. Purpose To assess the relationship between research funding awarded to radiology departments by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Lown Institute Hospitals Index rankings for inclusivity and community benefit. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included radiology departments awarded funding from the NIH between 2017 and 2021. The 2021 Lown Institute Hospitals Index rankings for inclusivity and community benefit were examined. The inclusivity metric measures how similar a hospital's patient population is to the surrounding community in terms of income, race and ethnicity, and education level. The community benefit metric measures charity care spending, Medicaid as a proportion of patient revenue, and other community benefit spending. Linear regression and Pearson correlation coefficients (r values) were used to evaluate the relationship between aggregate NIH radiology department research funding and measures of inclusivity and community benefit. Results Seventy-five radiology departments that received NIH funding ranging from $195 000 to $216 879 079 were included. A negative correlation was observed between the amount of radiology department research funding received and institutional rankings for serving patients from racial and/or ethnic minorities (r = -0.34; P < .001), patients with low income (r = -0.44; P < .001), and patients with lower levels of education (r = -0.46; P < .001). No correlation was observed between the amount of radiology department research funding and institutional rankings for charity care spending (r = -0.19; P = .06), community investment (r = -0.04; P = .68), and Medicaid as a proportion of patient revenue (r = -0.10; P = .22). Conclusion Radiology departments that received more NIH research funding were less likely to serve patients from racial and/or ethnic minorities and patients who had low income or lower levels of education. © RSNA, 2024 See also the editorial by Mehta and Rosen in this issue.

Evaluation of health outcomes after the implementation of rotational thromboelastometry in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Viscoelastic tests (rotational thromboelastometry, ROTEM®), together with the implementation of a specific algorithm for coagulation management in cardiac surgery, enable perioperative coagulopathy to be better controlled. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including 675 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The incidence of allogeneic blood transfusions and clinical postoperative complications were analyzed before and after ROTEM® implementation. RESULTS: Following viscoelastic testing and the implementation of a specific algorithm for coagulation management, the incidence of any allogeneic blood transfusion decreased (41.4% vs 31.9%, p = .026) during the perioperative period. In the group monitored with ROTEM®, decreased incidence of transfusion was observed for packed red blood cells (31.3% vs 19.8%, p = .002), fresh frozen plasma (9.8% vs 3.8%, p = .008), prothrombin complex concentrate administration (0.9% vs 0.3%, p = .599) and activated recombinant factor VII (0.3% vs 0.0%, p = .603). Increased incidence was observed for platelet transfusion (4.8% vs 6.8%, p = .530) and fibrinogen concentrate (0.9% vs 3.5%, p = .066), tranexamic acid (0.0% vs 0.6%, p = .370) and protamine administration (0.6% vs 0.9%, p = .908). Similar results were observed in the postoperative period, but with a decreased incidence of platelet transfusion (4.8% vs 3.8%, p = .813). In addition, statistically significant reductions were detected in the incidence of postoperative bleeding (9.5% vs 5.3%, p = .037), surgical reexploration (6.0% vs 2.9%, p = .035), and length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (6.0 days vs 5.3 days, p = .026). CONCLUSIONS: The monitoring of hemostasis by ROTEM® in cardiac surgery, was associated with decreased incidence of allogeneic blood transfusion, clinical hematologic postoperative complications and lengths of ICU stay.

Postoperative costs associated with outcomes after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation: role of antithrombin levels.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact on postoperative costs of a patient's antithrombin levels associated with outcomes after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. DESIGN: An analytic decision model was designed to estimate costs and clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery in a typical patient with low antithrombin levels (<63.7%) compared with a patient with normal antithrombin levels (≥63.7%). The data used in the model were obtained from a literature review and subsequently validated by a panel of experts in cardiothoracic anesthesiology. SETTING: Multi-institutional (14 Spanish hospitals). PARTICIPANTS: Consultant anesthesiologists. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A sensitivity analysis of extreme scenarios was carried out to assess the impact of the major variables in the model results. The average cost per patient was €18,772 for a typical patient with low antithrombin levels and €13,881 for a typical patient with normal antithrombin levels. The difference in cost was due mainly to the longer hospital stay of a patient with low antithrombin levels compared with a patient with normal levels (13 v 10 days, respectively, representing a €4,596 higher cost) rather than to costs related to the management of postoperative complications (€215, mostly owing to transfusions). Sensitivity analysis showed a high variability range of approximately ±55% of the base case cost between the minimum and maximum scenarios, with the hospital stay contributing more significantly to the variation. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this analytic decision model, there could be a marked increase in the postoperative costs of patients with low antithrombin activity levels at the end of cardiac surgery, mainly ascribed to a longer hospitalization.

Neurolymphomatosis in Recrudescent Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.

Neurolymphomatosis is an uncommon manifestation of lymphoma, often presenting with painful polyneuropathy or polyradiculopathy and concomitant distal extremity weakness. Differentiation from other etiologies resulting in similar neuropathic symptoms such as compressive or inflammatory pathologies can be difficult and often results in delayed diagnosis. Here we describe a case of neurolymphomatosis affecting a 64-year-old man with a history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in remission presenting with a right-sided foot drop following a gunshot wound. MRI at that time demonstrated thickening and enhancement of the cauda equina nerve roots. Over the course of the subsequent eight months, he developed left lower extremity sensory symptoms, left-sided foot drop and signs of upper motor neuron involvement, including left facial weakness, dysphonia, and dysphagia. 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed intensely avid left lumbosacral nerve roots, bilateral lower extremity and left upper extremity neurovascular bundles. Left sural nerve biopsies showed infiltration of DLBCL and confirmed neurolymphomatosis. We highlight the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT, with histological verification, for the diagnosis of an extended course of neurolymphomatosis occurring in the absence of typical painful neuropathy but with cranial and peripheral neuropathies.

Alternativas de uso y eficacia analgésica en el dolor de origen dental en un servicio de urgencias de atención primaria / Alternatives for the use and analgesic efficacy in dental pain in a primary care emergency department

El propósito de esta investigación fue conocer las características del dolor de origen dental (DOD) urgente en un Servicio de Urgencias de Atención Primaria, las preferencias terapéuticas de los médicos de Urgencias y su eficacia clínica. Para ello se realizó un cuestionario a 114 médicos de Urgencias, analizando la frecuencia y alternativas analgésicas más usadas en el DOD. Se seleccionaron las cuatro más prevalentes: Metamizol, Diclofenaco, Metamizol+Diclofenaco y Metilprednisolona, y fueron las que recibieron, en ensayo simple ciego, los cuatro grupos formados aleatoriamente de una muestra de 300 pacientes. Registramos mediante Escala Visual Numérica (EVN) la intensidad del dolor inicial, dolor percibido a las 12 y 24 h tras tratamiento, grado de mejoría, tiempo de mejora percibida y analgesia de rescate. Los cuatro grupos se compararon estadísticamente utilizando el test de Chi Cuadrado y el test ANOVA. Entre otros datos, hemos conocido las características del DOD urgente en la población seleccionada, hayando resultados estadísticamente significativos en las valoraciones medias en la EVN tras el tatamiento, más bajos en los tratados con Metilprednisolona y más altos con Diclofenaco. De igual forma, se observó un mayor porcentaje de mejoría clínica notable en el grupo tratado con Metilprednisolona, seguido de Metamizol+Diclofenaco, y en el extremo opuesto, un porcentaje mayor sin mejoría con Diclofenaco, que además fue el de mayor uso de analgesia de rescate.

The purpose of this research was to know the characteristics of dental origin pain (DOP) in an Emergency Department of Primary Care, the therapeutic preferences of emergency physicians and clinical efficacy. A questionnaire was submitted to 114 emergency physicians by reporting the frequency and analgesic alternatives most used in the DOP. We selected the four most prevalent: Metamizole, Diclofenac, Diclofenac and Metamizole + Methylprednisolone, received in a single-blind trial. The four groups were selected randomly from a sample of 300 patients. We recorded by Visual Numeric Scale (VNS) the initial pain intensity, perceived pain at 12 and 24 h after treatment, the degree of improvement, the time improvement was perceived, and the analgesia relief. The four groups were compared statistically using the chi-square test and ANOVA test. Among other data, the characteristics of the urgent DOP were studied in the selected population, noting statistically significant results in average ratings on VNS following treatment, lower in those treated with methylprednisolone and higher with diclofenac. Similarly, a higher percentage of significant clinical improvements was recorded in the group treated with methylprednisolone group, followed by Metamizole + Diclofenac, and at the opposite end, a higher percentage without improvement with diclofenac, in which the highest use of analgesia relief was also observed.