Evaluation of Patient Education Materials From Large-Language Artificial Intelligence Models on Carpal Tunnel Release.

BACKGROUND: ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence technology, has the potential to be a useful patient aid, though the accuracy and appropriateness of its responses and recommendations on common hand surgical pathologies and procedures must be understood. Comparing the sources referenced and characteristics of responses from ChatGPT and an established search engine (Google) on carpal tunnel surgery will allow for an understanding of the utility of ChatGPT for patient education. METHODS: A Google search of "carpal tunnel release surgery" was performed and "frequently asked questions (FAQs)" were recorded with their answer and source. ChatGPT was then asked to provide answers to the Google FAQs. The FAQs were compared, and answer content was compared using word count, readability analyses, and content source. RESULTS: There was 40% concordance among questions asked by the programs. Google answered each question with one source per answer, whereas ChatGPT's answers were created from two sources per answer. ChatGPT's answers were significantly longer than Google's and multiple readability analysis algorithms found ChatGPT responses to be statistically significantly more difficult to read and at a higher grade level than Google's. ChatGPT always recommended "contacting your surgeon." CONCLUSION: A comparison of ChatGPT's responses to Google's FAQ responses revealed that ChatGPT's answers were more in-depth, from multiple sources, and from a higher proportion of academic Web sites. However, ChatGPT answers were found to be more difficult to understand. Further study is needed to understand if the differences in the responses between programs correlate to a difference in patient comprehension.

A Modified Protocol for the Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Human Smooth Muscle Cells from the Umbilical Cord.

BACKGROUND: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and vascular endothelial cells are key participants in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and VSMCs are useful models to design therapeutic strategies for many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, procuring a VSMC cell line by researchers, to model atherosclerosis, for example, is impeded by time and cost limitations, as well as by many other logistic problems in many countries. RESULTS: This article describes a protocol for the quick and cheap isolation of VSMCs from human umbilical cords using a mechanical and enzymatic method. This VSMC protocol yields a confluent primary culture that could be obtained within 10 days and sub-cultured for 8-10 passages. The isolated cells are characterized by their morphology and the expression of mRNA of marker proteins analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). CONCLUSION: The protocol described herein for the isolation of VSMCs from human umbilical cords is easy and is time- and cost-efficient. Isolated cells are useful models for understanding the mechanisms underlying many pathophysiological conditions.

Total Radial Artery Occlusion Following Transradial Access: Complete Recanalization via the Anatomical Snuffbox.

Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is a common complication of procedures requiring transradial access. While radial artery occlusion is most often asymptomatic, there is an elevated prevalence of ischemia in patients with inadequate palmar arch blood supply. Furthermore, treatment options for RAO remain severely limited. We describe a novel technique using distal transradial access in the anatomic snuffbox to recanalize a totally occluded thrombosed radial artery.

Content Evaluation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Websites.

BACKGROUND: Prospective Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) applicants commonly view residency program websites to make informed decisions about where to submit their applications. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review of the availability and accessibility of online content for PM&R residency programs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comprehensiveness of PM&R residency websites to inform prospective applicants about the information readily available to them and identify deficient areas for program directors to address. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of residency program websites using quantitative and descriptive statistics. SETTING: World Wide Web (Internet). SUBJECTS: 87 PM&R civilian residency program websites listed on the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The presence or absence of 25 predetermined criteria on residency program websites. RESULTS: The individual residency program websites had a mean ± SD of 12.3 ± 4.3 (49.1%) of the 25 criteria sought. The programs ranged from having as few as one to as many as 19 of the 25 criteria. Twenty programs had 9 or fewer criteria, 35 programs had 10 to 14 criteria, 31 programs had 15 to 18 criteria, and one program had 19 criteria available online. No PM&R residency website had all 25 criteria. There was a significant association between a program's Doximity ranking as top 20 or not and the citation of published research projects by faculty on a PM&R website (P = .026), but the other 24 criteria had no significant associations. CONCLUSIONS: Most PM&R residency websites currently do not include comprehensive information about their programs for prospective applicants.

Demographic and disease characteristics of multiple sclerosis in the Southwest Region of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the basic demographic and disease characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Southwest Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a retrospective study on demographics and risk factors of 82 MS cases registered in the Armed Forces Hospital, Khamis Mushayt, and the Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted from April 2017 to April 2018. Data was gathered through interview questionnaires and review of medical records. Frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations (SD) were used for descriptive statistics. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to investigate differences between male and female patients at 95% confidence intervals (CI). Differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. RESULTS: Out of the total of 82 patients, 50 were female, yielding a female-to-male ratio of 1.56:1. The mean age at disease diagnosis was 30.50+/-9.29 years. As compared to females, the proportion of male patients in the younger age group at disease diagnosis was significantly higher (78.1%, p=0.003) than that in the older age group. Mean disease duration was 4.07+/-3.65 years. The most common variant of the disease was the remitting-relapsing type (64.6%). Optic symptoms (37.8%) were the most common predominant symptom at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study provides the baseline information about patients with MS in the Aseer region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and offers useful insights into male-female differences in the manifestation of this disease. Further prospective studies are needed.