Five-year outcomes for patients sustaining severe fractures of the lower limb from the Wound Healing in Surgery for Trauma (WHIST) trial.

Aims: The aims of this study were to report the outcomes of patients with a complex fracture of the lower limb in the five years after they took part in the Wound Healing in Surgery for Trauma (WHIST) trial. Methods: The WHIST trial compared negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings with standard dressings applied at the end of the first operation for patients undergoing internal fixation of a complex fracture of the lower limb. Complex fractures included periarticular fractures and open fractures when the wound could be closed primarily at the end of the first debridement. A total of 1,548 patients aged ≥ 16 years completed the initial follow-up, six months after injury. In this study we report the pre-planned analysis of outcome data up to five years. Patients reported their Disability Rating Index (DRI) (0 to 100, in which 100 = total disability), and health-related quality of life, chronic pain scores and neuropathic pain scores annually, using a self-reported questionnaire. Complications, including further surgery related to the fracture, were also recorded. Results: A total of 1,015 of the original patients (66%) provided at least one set of outcome data during the five years of follow-up. There was no evidence of a difference in patient-reported disability between the two groups at five years (NPWT group mean DRI 30.0 (SD 26.5), standard dressing group mean DRI 31.5 (SD 28.8), adjusted difference -0.86 (95% CI -4.14 to 2.40; p = 0.609). There was also no evidence of a difference in the complication rates at this time. Conclusion: We found no evidence of a difference in disability ratings between NPWT compared with standard wound dressings in the five years following the surgical treatment of a complex fracture of the lower limb. Patients in both groups reported high levels of persistent disability and reduced quality of life, with little evidence of improvement during this time.

The protocol of a clinical effectiveness trial comparing standard step-up care, early combination DMARD therapy and early use of TNF inhibitors for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis: the 3-arm parallel group SPEED randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of the Severe Psoriatic arthritis - Early intervEntion to control Disease trial is to compare outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with poor prognostic factors treated with standard step-up conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), combination csDMARDs or a course of early biologics. Design: This multicentre UK trial was embedded within the MONITOR-PsA cohort, which uses a trial within cohort design. Methods and analysis: Patients with newly diagnosed PsA and at least one poor prognostic factor (polyarthritis, C-reactive protein >5 mg/dL, health assessment questionnaire >1, radiographic erosions) were randomized equally and open-label to either standard care with 'step-up' csDMARD therapy, initial therapy with combination csDMARDs (methotrexate with either sulfasalazine or leflunomide) or to early biologics induction therapy (adalimumab plus methotrexate). The primary outcome is the PsA disease activity score at week 24. Ethics: Ethical approval for the study was granted by the South Central Research Ethics Committee (ref 18/SC/0107). Discussion: Treatment recommendations for PsA suggest more intensive therapy for those with poor prognostic factors but there are no studies that have previously used prognostic factors to guide therapy. Applying initial intensive therapy has shown improved outcomes in other inflammatory arthritides but has never been tried in PsA. Combination csDMARDs have shown some superiority over single therapies but there are limited data and concerns about side effects. Early use of biologics has also been shown to be superior to methotrexate but these drugs are costly and not usually funded first line. However, if a short course of biologics can rapidly suppress inflammation allowing treatment to be withdrawn and response maintained on methotrexate, this may be a cost-effective model for early use. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03739853) and EudraCT (2017-004542-24).

Plastic scintillator-based dosimeters for ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) electron radiotherapy.

This paper reports the development of dosimeters based on plastic scintillating fibers imaged by a charge-coupled device camera, and their performance evaluation through irradiations with the electron Flash research accelerator located at the Centro Pisano Flash Radiotherapy. The dosimeter prototypes were composed of a piece of plastic scintillating fiber optically coupled to a clear optical fiber which transported the scintillation signal to the readout systems (an imaging system and a photodiode). The following properties were tested: linearity, capability to reconstruct the percentage depth dose curve in solid water and to sample in time the single beam pulse. The stem effect contribution was evaluated with three methods, and a proof-of-concept one-dimensional array was developed and tested for online beam profiling. Results show linearity up to 10 Gy per pulse, and good capability to reconstruct both the timing and spatial profiles of the beam, thus suggesting that plastic scintillating fibers may be good candidates for low-energy electron Flash dosimetry.

Divertículo calicial. Técnica quirúrgica: nuestra casuística / Caliceal diverticula. Surgical technique: report of cases

Objetivo: evaluar la tasa libre de cálculo y de obliteración del divertículo, con la técnica percutánea, en el tratamiento quirúrgico de los divertículos caliciales asociados a litiasis. Materiales y Métodos: se revisaron las historias clínicas de pacientes operados por divertículo calicial asociado a litiasis en su interior de 2004 a 2010. Fueron evaluados con Urocultivo, Rx simple de árbol urinario, Urograma Excretor y Tomografía de abdomen y pelvis. Se determinó la presencia del divertículo, su asociación a litiasis y su proyección anterior o posterior. Se realizó nefrolitotricia percutánea (NLPC) más dilatación del cuello del divertículo en todos los casos. Con respecto a la técnica quirúrgica, en decúbito ventral, previa colocación de un catéter ureteral tipo "open end". Se accedió directamente al divertículo, con dilatación hasta 30 Fr. Luego de realizar la litotricia neumática y extraer los fragmentos litiásicos, se dilató el cuello del divertículo hasta 18 Fr, dejando luego un catéter doble jota o un tubo de nefrostomía a través del cuello del mismo hasta la pelvis renal. Los resultados respecto a los restos litiásicos y al divertículo se evaluaron en el postquirúrgico inmediato con Rx árbol urinario y urocultivo, a los 6 meses con Urograma Excretor y luego anualmente con ecografía. Resultados: 11 pacientes fueron tratados con NLPC por divertículos caliciales asociados a litiasis. La edad promedio fue de 41,8 años (14-58). El seguimiento medio fue de 29,7 meses (12-70). Los 11 divertículos tenían proyección posterior y estaban asociados a liltiasis renal. En todos los casos se pudo identificar el cuello diverticular y se realizó la dilatación del mismo. En 8 pacientes se dejó un catéter doble J desde el divertículo hasta la vejiga y en 3 un tubo de nefrostomía (K-11) desde el divertículo hasta la pelvis renal. Ninguno de los pacientes presentó sangrado con requerimiento de transfusión, neumotórax ni hemotórax. La tasa libre de cálculo fue del 10%...

Objective: Assessing the stone-free rate and diverticulum obliteration with percutaneous technique in the managment of the caliceal diverticula associated with stones. Material and methods: We reviewed medical records of patients undergoing surgery for calyceal diverticulum associated with lithiasis from 2004 to 2010. They were evaluated by urine culture, simple urinary Rx, intravenous urography and CT. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) plus dilatation of the diverticular neck was performed in all cases. First an ureteral catheter open end type was placed. In prone position the diverticulum was accessed directly. After pneumatic lithotripsy and extraction of fragments, diverticular neck was dilated to 20 Fr, leaving a double J catheter or a nephrostomy tube. The results were evaluated immediately after surgery with urinary Rx and urien culture, at 6 months with intravenous urography and annual follow-up with ultrasound. Results: 11 patients were treated with PCNL for caliceal diverticula with stones. The mean age was 41,8 years (range 14-58). The mean follow up was 29,7 months (range 12-70). All caliceal diverticulum had a posterior projection. In all cases the diverticular neck was identify and the dilation was performed. None of the patients experienced pneumothorax or hemothorax and blood transfusions were not required. The stone-free rate was 100%, all patients had complete remission of symptoms. No recurrence of the diverticulum was observed during the follow up. Conclusions: the results proves that percutaneous management with dilation of the diverticular neck is secure, effective and mini invasive technique for the treatment of the caliceal diverticula associated with stones

Tumores neuro-endocrinos del intestino / Neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine

Los tumores carcinoides son neoplasias poco frecuentes en el tubo digetivo y que se desarrollan a partir de las células que forman el sistema APUD o neuroendocrinas. El objetivo es analizar la nueva nomenclatura, la incidencia en el aparato digetivo, la presentación clínica, diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico

Atencion medica primaria en adolescentes. / Primary health care in adolescents

Se describe la experiencia en el Consultorio de Adolescentes de la Primera Catedra de Pediatria de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, que funciona en el Hospital de Clinicas Jose de San Martin. Se estudiaron retrospectivamente las historias clinicas de 807 adolescentes. Se analizo la distribucion de los pacientes desde la creacion del centro,segun: sexo, nacionalidad, edad, procedencia, domicilio, actividad principal y persona acompanante en la primera consulta. Dada la importancia que el grupo familiar tiene para el adolescente, se investigo la composicion de aquel de acuerdo con el estudo civil de los padres y su grado de instrucion. Finalmente, se analizaron los diversos motivos de consulta y diagnosticos encontrados en la muestra atendida