Standardized reporting of spine and sacroiliac joints in axial spondyloarthritis MRI: from the ESSR-Arthritis Subcommittee.

OBJECTIVES: Apply a modified Delphi-based approach and produce a practical, radiology-specific set of definitions for interpretation and standardization of the multiple MRI findings in axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA), specifically to aid the general radiologist with a musculoskeletal interest, working with gold standard basic MRI protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report the results of a modified Delphi-based consensus of 35 experts from 13 countries in the Arthritis Subcommittee of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR). Seventeen definitions were created (i.e., nine for the spine and eight for the sacroiliac joint) and two Delphi rounds were conducted on an electronic database, collated and revised by the project leader with agreement. Group leads were appointed for each definition following the first round. Final definitions included only those that reached a consensus > 80%; if > 50% agreed on exclusion consensus, definitions were excluded. Final results have been shared during the Arthritis meeting at the Annual ESSR Congress. RESULTS: Fourteen definitions, eight for the spine and six for the sacroiliac joint were agreed for standardized reporting. Andersson's, anterior corner sclerotic and costovertebral joint inflammatory lesions of the spine, with active and non-active erosions, and fat metaplasia of the sacroiliac joint reaching the highest consensus (≥ 95%). More than 50% of the experts agreed to exclude joint space inflammation in the sacroiliac joint and tissue backfill. Syndesmophytes reached 76% agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Agreed definitions by expert radiologists using a modified Delphi process, should allow standardized actionable radiology reports and clarity in reporting terminology of ax-SpA. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The proposed definitions will support reporting from musculoskeletal and general radiologists working with gold-standard basic MRI, improve confidence in lesion assessment, and standardize terminology to provide actionable reports on MRI in patients with ax-SpA. KEY POINTS: Experts applied a modified Delphi method to optimize the definitions of MRI findings of ax-SpA. After two Delphi rounds and one in-person meeting, fourteen definitions reached the agreement threshold. These consensus-based definitions will aid in actionable reporting specifically for the general radiologist with a musculoskeletal interest.

Screening and early treatment for osteoporosis: Who are we missing under age 65?

For women under age 65, varying recommendations and the need to apply clinical risk calculators can lead to underscreening for osteoporosis. The resulting undertreatment may lead to a risk of osteoporotic fractures with significant morbidity and impact on functional status. Factors that must be considered when deciding to screen a woman under age 65 include a history of fragility fractures, race, family history, body mass index, smoking, high alcohol use, and secondary causes of osteoporosis. Secondary causes of osteoporosis are much more common in younger women. These include common conditions such as glucocorticoid use, hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, anticonvulsant use, rheumatoid arthritis, malabsorption, and a history of anorexia nervosa. The reasons why these conditions confer an increased risk of osteoporosis are discussed. Recommendations are provided for the clinician to be aware of when screening women under age 65 for osteoporosis and initiating treatment when indicated.

Long-Term Analysis of NRG Oncology RTOG 0415: A Randomized Phase III Noninferiority Study Comparing Two Fractionation Schedules in Patients With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer.

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.NRG Oncology RTOG 0415 is a randomized phase III noninferiority (NI) clinical trial comparing conventional fractionation (73.8 Gy in 41 fractions) radiotherapy (C-RT) with hypofractionation (H-RT; 70 Gy in 28) in patients with low-risk prostate cancer. The study included 1,092 protocol-eligible patients initially reported in 2016 with a median follow-up of 5.8 years. Updated results with median follow-up of 12.8 years are now presented. The estimated 12-year disease-free survival (DFS) is 56.1% (95% CI, 51.5 to 60.5) for C-RT and 61.8% (95% CI, 57.2 to 66.0) for H-RT. The DFS hazard ratio (H-RT/C-RT) is 0.85 (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.03), confirming NI (P < .001). Twelve-year cumulative incidence of biochemical failure (BF) was 17.0% (95% CI, 13.8 to 20.5) for C-RT and 9.9% (95% CI, 7.5 to 12.6) for H-RT. The HR (H-RT/C-RT) comparing biochemical recurrence between the two arms was 0.55 (95% CI, 0.39 to 0.78). Late grade ≥3 GI adverse event (AE) incidence is 3.2% (C-RT) versus 4.4% (H-RT), with relative risk (RR) for H-RT versus C-RT 1.39 (95% CI, 0.75 to 2.55). Late grade ≥3 genitourinary (GU) AE incidence is 3.4% (C-RT) versus 4.2% (H-RT), RR 1.26 (95% CI, 0.69 to 2.30). Long-term DFS is noninferior with H-RT compared with C-RT. BF is less with H-RT. No significant differences in late grade ≥3 GI/GU AEs were observed between assignments (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00331773).

Bedside Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in Critically Ill Patients-Outcomes in 51 Patients.

Purpose The aim of this study was to report technical and clinical success of bedside ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) tube placement in intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods This is a retrospective study of 51 patients (36 males:15 females, mean age: 67 years) who underwent ultrasound-guided PC from May 2015 to January 2020. The indication for cholecystostomy tube placement, comorbidities, imaging finding, technical success, clinical success, timing of surgery post-cholecystostomy tube placement, indwelling catheter time, complications, and follow-up were recorded. Results Indications for cholecystostomy tube placement were acute calculous cholecystitis ( n = 43; 84.3%), perforated cholecystitis ( n = 5; 9.8%), and emphysematous cholecystitis ( n = 3; 5.9%). Most of the patients had multiple comorbidities; these were diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, underlying malignancy, and multisystem disease with sepsis. All patients had undergone PC through transhepatic approach under ultrasound guidance in ICU. Technical success rate of the procedure was 100%. Clinical success rate was 92.1% (47/51) and among these 44/51 (86.2%) patients underwent definitive elective cholecystectomy, 3/51 (5.9%) patients had elective tube removal. Three of fifty-one (5.9%) patients did not improve; among these two underwent emergency surgery, while there was 1/51 (1.9%) mortality due to ongoing sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction. There were no procedure-related mortalities or procedure-related major complications. One patient had bile leak due to multiple attempts for cholecystostomy placement. Mean tube indwelling time was 13 days (range: 3-45 days). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided PC can be safely performed in ICU in critically ill patients unfit for surgery with high technical and clinical success rates. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be preferred after stabilization of clinical condition following cholecystostomy.

A small frontal lobe cavernoma presenting with headache mimicking migraine and complex focal seizure: A case report.

Cavernoma, or cerebral cavernous angioma, are hamartomatous lesions formed by sinusoidal vascular spaces without cerebral parenchyma in between. Cavernoma is a rare disorder that is diagnosed infrequently and incidentally, so it is called incidentaloma. However, cavernoma can present with seizures, headaches, and other focal neurological deficits, with seizures being the most frequent presentation. Cavernoma is angiographically concealed, and it's diagnosis is challenging. So, the cavernoma is diagnosed based on an MRI. We present the rare case of a patient who presented with a complex focal seizure and migraine-like headache caused by a small frontal lobe cavernoma.

Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after neonatal heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cholestasis characterised by conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is a marker of hepatobiliary dysfunction following neonatal cardiac surgery. We aimed to characterise the incidence of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia following neonatal heart surgery and examine the effect of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia on post-operative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all neonates who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) at our institution between 1/1/2010 and 12/31/2020. Patient- and surgery-specific data were abstracted from local registry data and review of the medical record. Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia was defined as perioperative maximum conjugated bilirubin level > 1 mg/dL. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier survival function. RESULTS: Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 8.5% of patients during the study period. Neonates with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia were more likely to be of younger gestational age, lower birth weight, and non-Caucasian race (all p < 0.001). Patients with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia were more likely to have chromosomal and non-cardiac anomalies and require ECMO pre-operatively. In-hospital mortality among patients with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia was increased compared to those without (odds ratio 5.4). Post-operative complications including mechanical circulatory support, reoperation, prolonged ventilator dependence, and multi-system organ failure were more common with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia (all p < 0.04). Patients with higher levels of conjugated bilirubin had worst intermediate-term survival, with patients in the highest conjugated bilirubin group (>10 mg/dL) having a 1-year survival of only 6%. CONCLUSIONS: Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is associated with post-operative complications and worse survival following neonatal heart surgery. Cholestasis is more common in patients with chromosomal abnormalities and non-cardiac anomalies, but the underlying mechanisms have not been delineated.

Effects of a patient-centered digital health intervention in patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation: the Smart HEART clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves outcomes in heart disease yet remains vastly underutilized. Remote CR enhanced with a digital health intervention (DHI) may offer higher access and improved patient-centered outcomes over non-technology approaches. We sought to pragmatically determine whether offering a DHI improves CR access, cardiac risk profile, and patient-reported outcome measures. METHODS: Adults referred to CR at a tertiary VA medical center between October 2017 and December 2021 were offered enrollment into a DHI alongside other CR modalities using shared decision-making. The DHI consisted of remote CR with a structured, 3-month home exercise program enhanced with multi-component coaching, a commercial smartphone app, and wearable activity tracker. We measured completion rates among DHI participants and evaluated changes in 6-min walk distance, cardiovascular risk factors, and patient-reported outcomes from pre- to post-intervention. RESULTS: Among 1,643 patients referred to CR, 258 (16%) consented to the DHI where the mean age was 60 ± 9 years, 93% were male, and 48% were black. A majority (90%) of the DHI group completed the program. Over 3-months, significant improvements were seen in 6MWT (mean difference [MD] -29 m; 95% CI, 10 to 49; P < 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD -11 mg/dL; 95% CI, -17 to -5; P < 0.01), and the absolute proportion of patients who reported smoking decreased (10% vs 15%; MD, -5%; 95% CI, -8% to -2%; P < 0.01) among DHI participants with available data. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of a DHI-enhanced remote CR program was delivered in 16% of referred veterans and associated with improved CR access, markers of cardiovascular risk, and healthy behaviors in this real-world study. These findings support the continued implementation of DHIs for remote CR in real-world clinical settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02791685 (07/06/2016).

A rare case of an intraneural ganglion cyst of the median nerve.

Aim of the study: Intraneural ganglion cysts are a relatively uncommon type of ganglion cyst that can affect peripheral nerves. They are particularly rare in the upper limb, and even more so in the median nerve, with the vast majority of them occurring in the peroneal nerves. This paper aims to make the reader aware of this relatively uncommon condition. Case description: We report a case of a 41-year-old male who presented with a gradually progressing mass on the volar aspect of the wrist extending to the index finger. The nonspecific presentation as well as the rarity of the condition may make diagnosis challenging. The patient was referred for surgical management under a specialist peripheral nerve hand surgeon. Conclusions: Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging as well as awareness of the typical imaging features of this entity are crucial in making the correct diagnosis as well as excluding other potential considerations such as neoplasm.

Monitoring Practices After Pediatric Liver Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to understand the current monitoring practices after pediatric liver transplantation (LT), specifically regarding follow-up clinic visits, outpatient laboratory testing, protocol biopsies, and diagnostic imaging, and to identify potential center and provider characteristics associated with such practices. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of pediatric LT providers at centers participating in the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) registry was conducted from February 2020 to April 2021. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 79% (38/48 SPLIT centers), with the majority representing large volume centers (>10 LTs per year). Frequency of clinic visits and laboratory monitoring varied by center, but all centers decreased frequency after the first post-transplant year. The most common practice included an annual clinic visit and laboratory sampling every 2-3 months. Surveillance liver biopsy is seldom done during the first post-transplant year, while being routinely performed by 50% of centers after this time period. Centers forgoing surveillance biopsies assert that the results would likely not change management. Only 39% of centers have a hepatologist perform the liver biopsy while the remaining centers consult interventional radiology. Most diagnostic imaging is obtained only as needed. Routine abdominal ultrasounds were obtained by only 50% of responding centers after the first year post-transplant. CONCLUSIONS: SPLIT centers vary widely in the routine management of LTs after the first year post-transplant. While common themes emerge, future studies will be needed to connect protocols to outcomes to determine best practice.

Prevalence, management and efficacy of treatment in portal vein obstruction after paediatric liver transplantation: protocol of the retrospective international multicentre PORTAL registry.

INTRODUCTION: Portal vein obstruction (PVO) consists of anastomotic stenosis and thrombosis, which occurs due to a progression of the former. The aim of this large-scale international study is to assess the prevalence, current management practices and efficacy of treatment in patients with PVO. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Portal vein Obstruction Revascularisation Therapy After Liver transplantation registry will facilitate an international, retrospective, multicentre, observational study, with 25 centres around the world already actively involved. Paediatric patients (aged <18 years) with a diagnosed PVO between 1 January 2001 and 1 January 2021 after liver transplantation will be eligible for inclusion. The primary endpoints are the prevalence of PVO, primary and secondary patency after PVO intervention and current management practices. Secondary endpoints are patient and graft survival, severe complications of PVO and technical success of revascularisation techniques. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Medical Ethics Review Board of the University Medical Center Groningen has approved the study (METc 2021/072). The results of this study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations at national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Netherlands Trial Register (NL9261).

A Pilot Study of Neurobiological Mechanisms of Stress and Cardiovascular Risk.

Objective: Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability. Although psychological stress has been identified as an important potential contributor, mechanisms by which stress increases risk of heart disease and mortality are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to assess mechanisms by which stress acts through the brain and heart to confer increased CHD risk. Methods: Coronary Heart Disease patients (N=10) underwent cardiac imaging with [Tc-99m] sestamibi single photon emission tomography at rest and during a public speaking mental stress task. Patients returned for a second day and underwent positron emission tomography imaging of the brain, heart, bone marrow, aorta (indicating inflammation) and subcutaneous adipose tissue, after injection of [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose for assessment of glucose uptake followed mental stress. Patients with (N=4) and without (N=6) mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia were compared for glucose uptake in brain, heart, adipose tissue and aorta with mental stress. Results: Patients with mental stress-induced ischemia showed a pattern of increased uptake in the heart, medial prefrontal cortex, and adipose tissue with stress. In the heart disease group as a whole, activity increase with stress in the medial prefrontal brain and amygdala correlated with stress-induced increases in spleen (r=0.69, p=0.038; and r=0.69, p=0.04 respectfully). Stress-induced frontal lobe increased uptake correlated with stress-induced aorta uptake (r=0.71, p=0.016). Activity in insula and medial prefrontal cortex was correlated with post-stress activity in bone marrow and adipose tissue. Activity in other brain areas not implicated in stress did not show similar correlations. Increases in medial prefrontal activity with stress correlated with increased cardiac glucose uptake with stress, suggestive of myocardial ischemia (r=0.85, p=0.004). Conclusions: These findings suggest a link between brain response to stress in key areas mediating emotion and peripheral organs involved in inflammation and hematopoietic activity, as well as myocardial ischemia, in Coronary Heart Disease patients.

Open versus percutaneous tube thoracostomy with and without thoracic lavage for traumatic hemothorax: a novel randomized controlled simulation trial.

Objective: To quantify and assess the relative performance parameters of thoracic lavage and percutaneous thoracostomy (PT) using a novel, basic science 2×2 randomized controlled simulation trial. Summary background data: Treatment of traumatic hemothorax (HTX) with open tube thoracostomy (TT) is painful and retained HTX is common. PT is potentially less painful whereas thoracic lavage may reduce retained HTX. Yet, procedural time and the feasibility of combining PT with lavage remain undefined. Methods: A simulated partially clotted HTX (2%-gelatin-saline mixture) was loaded into a TT trainer and then evacuated after randomization to one of four protocols: TT+/-lavage or PT+/-lavage. Standardized inserts with fixed 28-Fr TT or 14-Fr PT positioning were used to minimize tube positioning variability. Lavage consisted of two 500 mL aliquots of warm saline after initial HTX evacuation. The primary outcome was HTX volume evacuated. The secondary outcome was additional procedural time required for the addition of the lavage. Results: A total of 40 simulated HTX trials were randomized. TT alone evacuated a median of 1236 mL (IQR 1168, 1294) leaving a residual volume of 265 mL (IQR 206, 333). PT alone resulted in a significantly greater median residual volume of 588 mL (IQR 497, 646) (p=0.002). Adding lavage resulted in similar residual volumes for TT compared with TT alone but significantly less for PT compared with PT alone (p=0.002). Lavage increased procedural time for TT by a median of 7.0 min (IQR 6.5, 8.0) vs 11.7 min (IQR 10.2, 12.0) for PT (p<0.001). Conclusion: This simulation trial characterized HTX evacuation in a standardized fashion. Adding lavage to thoracostomy placement may improve evacuation, particularly for small-diameter tubes, with little added procedural time. Further prospective clinical study is warranted. Level of evidence: NA.

Neighborhood Deprivation and Rurality Associated With Patient-Reported Outcomes and Survival in Men With Prostate Cancer in NRG Oncology RTOG 0415.

PURPOSE: Rurality and neighborhood deprivation can contribute to poor patient-reported outcomes, which have not been systematically evaluated in patients with specific cancers in national trials. Our objective was to examine the effect of rurality and neighborhood socioeconomic and environmental deprivation on patient-reported outcomes and survival in men with prostate cancer in NRG Oncology RTOG 0415. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from men with prostate cancer in trial NRG Oncology RTOG 0415 were analyzed; 1,092 men were randomized to receive conventional radiation therapy or hypofractionated radiation therapy. Rurality was categorized as urban or rural. Neighborhood deprivation was assessed using the area deprivation index and air pollution indicators (nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) via patient ZIP codes. Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite measured cancer-specific quality of life. The Hopkins symptom checklist measured anxiety and depression. EuroQoL-5 Dimension assessed general health. RESULTS: We analyzed 751 patients in trial NRG Oncology RTOG 0415. At baseline, patients from the most deprived neighborhoods had worse bowel (P = .011), worse sexual (P = .042), and worse hormonal (P = .015) scores; patients from the most deprived areas had worse self-care (P = .04) and more pain (P = .047); and patients from rural areas had worse urinary (P = .03) and sexual (P = .003) scores versus patients from urban areas. Longitudinal analyses showed that the 25% most deprived areas (P = .004) and rural areas (P = .002) were associated with worse EuroQoL-5 Dimension visual analog scale score. Patients from urban areas (hazard ratio, 1.81; P = .033) and the 75% less-deprived neighborhoods (hazard ratio, 0.68; P = .053) showed relative decrease in risk of recurrence or death (disease-free survival). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with prostate cancer from the most deprived neighborhoods and rural areas had low quality of life at baseline, poor general health longitudinally, and worse disease-free survival. Interventions should screen populations from deprived neighborhoods and rural areas to improve patient access to supportive care services.

Diagnostic and therapeutic cystoscopy in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: systematic review of literature and consensus on methodology.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Cystoscopy has been routinely performed in patients suspected to be suffering from bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) across the globe. The methodology reported by various guidelines appears to have differences in the techniques and hence there is a need for a review of all those techniques in order to arrive at a consensus. The aim was to review the literature describing the prevalent techniques of cystoscopy for patients of BPS/IC and try to evolve a consensus. METHODS: The group the Global Interstitial Cystitis, Bladder Pain Society (GIBS) has worked collectively to systematically review the literature using the key words, "Cystoscopy in Hunner's lesions, bladder pain syndrome, painful bladder syndrome and interstitial cystitis" in the PubMed, COCHRANE, and SCOPUS databases. A total of 3,857 abstracts were studied and 96 articles referring to some part of technique of cystoscopy were short-listed for review as full-length articles. Finally, six articles with a description of a technique of cystoscopy were included for final tabulation and comparison. The group went on to arrive at a consensus for a stepwise technique of diagnostic and therapeutic cystoscopy in cases of BPS/IC. This technique has been compared with the previously described techniques and may serve to be a useful practical guide for treating physicians. CONCLUSION: It is important to have a uniform standardized technique for performing a diagnostic and therapeutic cystoscopy in patients with BPS/IC. Consensus on one such a technique has been arrived at and described in the present article.

Blunt traumatic aortic injury in the elderly population.

OBJECTIVE: Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. Although outcomes for BTAI have been described in younger patient populations, elderly patients may present with different patterns of injury and have unique factors contributing to morbidity and mortality. This study aims to describe patterns of presentation and management in elderly patients presenting with BTAI using a nationwide database. METHODS: Patients aged 65 years and older with BTAI from 2007 through 2016 were identified from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program database. Baseline demographics, initial physiologic variables, and clinical outcomes were extracted from the database. Our primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. An adjusted Poisson generalized regression model was used to compare rates of mortality for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), open repair, and nonoperative management. RESULTS: During the study period, 1322 patients aged 65 years and over sustained BTAI and survived past triage. Mean age was 74.7 years, and 60% were male. There were low incidence rates of concomitant major head (9.4%), spine (3.1%), and abdominal (5.7%) injuries. Three hundred fifty (26.5%) underwent TEVAR, 58 (4.4%) open repair, and 914 (69.1%) were managed nonoperatively. Utilization of TEVAR increased from 13.1% to 32.7% from 2007 to 2015, with subsequent decline to 19.9% in 2016 in favor of nonoperative management. Age, gender, and mean Injury Severity Scores (ISS) did not significantly differ by management. In-hospital mortality for the entire cohort was 37.9%. In an adjusted Poisson generalized regression model using inverse probability of treatment weighting controlling for age, race, gender, ISS, and hypotension, TEVAR was associated with the lowest mortality rate (1.31 deaths/100 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.46) compared with open repair (2.53; 95% CI, 2.32-2.75; P < .001) and nonoperative management (3.91; 95% CI, 3.60-4.25; P < .001). There was a higher incidence of acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and surgical site infection in the TEVAR group. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the management of and outcomes for BTAI in the elderly population. The majority of patients did not undergo operative repair, which was associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality. In an adjusted analysis, TEVAR was associated with the lowest mortality rate, compared with open repair and nonoperative management.

Comparing Expansion of Maxillary Antrum between Periapical Surgery and Extraction of Permanent Maxillary First Molar in Pediatric Patients Using CBCT.

AIM: To compare the expansion of maxillary antrum between periapical surgery and extraction of permanent maxillary first molar in pediatric patients using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 136 participants in the age-group of 11-18 years were included. The participants were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of patients who underwent extraction of the permanent maxillary first molars. Group B consisted of patients who underwent endodontic microsurgery in the periapical area. Group A included 68 participants while group B also included 68 study subjects. The expansion of the maxillary antrum was obtained after evaluating the change in volume of maxillary antrum at 6 months and 24 months in relation to the volume of maxillary antrum at the time of the procedure (baseline). For calculating the volume of the maxillary antrum, three parameters were taken into consideration. These parameters were an anteroposterior (AP) dimension, mesiodistal dimension (MD), and superoinferior (SI) dimension. Cone-beam computed tomography was used for carrying out these measurements with the help of Dolphin software. RESULTS: An expansion of 675.27 ± 32 mm3 was observed in group A between baseline and 6 months of extraction, while the expansion of 765.47 ± 24 mm3 was observed between 6 months and 24 months of extraction. This intragroup difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). On the other hand, an expansion of 652.28 ± 43 mm3 was observed in group B between baseline and 6 months after periapical surgery and expansion of 969.43 ± 12 mm3 was observed between 6 months and 24 months after periapical endodontic surgery. This intragroup difference was statistically significant. In the control group, an expansion of 152.11 ± 12.101 mm3 was observed between baseline and 6 months after procedures while an expansion of 347.01 ± 6.781 mm3 was observed between 6 months and 24 months of procedures. The intragroup difference was significant statistically. CONCLUSION: In this study, expansion of maxillary antrum was observed in both extraction of the maxillary permanent first molar in pediatric patients and the periapical endodontic surgery, and the expansion of maxillary antrum was more in cases of periapical endodontic surgery; however, the difference was non-significant statistically. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Maxillary antrum expansion is clinically important during maxillary permanent tooth extraction or endodontic periapical surgery in pediatric patients because the growth of maxillary bones is in the growing stage in these patients. There are certain limitations of conventional two-dimensional (2D) radiographic techniques such as shortening, elongation, and superimposition of images. Recently, three-dimensional technique (3D) such as CBCT has been introduced in which these disadvantages have been eliminated.

Outcomes of Cardiac Transplantation in Western Australia - A Contemporary Single Centre Experience.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac transplantation remains the gold standard therapy for select patients with end-stage heart failure and outcomes have improved significantly over the past few decades. We report the 5-year contemporary experience of cardiac transplantation in Western Australia, one of the most remote transplant centres worldwide. METHODS: Patients undergoing isolated cardiac transplant at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) from February 2015 until April 2021 were included. Donor details were collected using donor electronic records (Donate Life, Australia). Recipient data was collated from electronic medical records at FSH and the Australia and New Zealand Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery database. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative intensive care and total hospital length of stay and rates of acute kidney injury, rejection, serious infections, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Frailty indices were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included (mean age 53±14 yrs, 66.7% male). The commonest indication for transplant was a non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (46.7%). Mean donor age was 35±12 years and median donor ischaemia time was 171 minutes (IQR=138-240). After median follow-up of 3.7 years, there were no mortalities. Postoperative renal failure occurred in 21 (35.0%) patients, pneumonia in four (6.7%), deep sternal wound infection in three (5.1%), acute rejection in 17 (28.3%) and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in 23 (38.3%). CONCLUSION: With recipient and donor criteria comparable to national and international standards, compounded by the challenges of geographic isolation, we report the first published data on contemporary outcomes post isolated cardiac transplantation in Western Australia.

Child Maltreatment and Inflammatory Response to Mental Stress Among Adults Who Have Survived a Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Experiences of child maltreatment are associated with cardiovascular risk and disease in adulthood; however, the mechanisms underlying these associations are poorly understood. METHODS: We examined associations between retrospectively self-reported exposure to child maltreatment (Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report Short Form) and inflammatory responses to mental stress among adults (mean age = 50 years) who recently had a myocardial infarction ( n = 227). Inflammation was assessed as blood interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 concentrations, measured before and after a standardized public speaking stress task. We used mixed linear regression models adjusting for cardiovascular disease severity, medication usage, and psychosocial, demographic, and life-style factors. RESULTS: In women, increases in IL-6 levels and MMP-9 levels with stress were smaller in those exposed to sexual abuse, relative to those unexposed (IL-6 geometric mean increases = 1.6 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 1.4-1.9] pg/ml versus 2.1 [95% CI = 1.8-2.4] pg/ml; MMP-9 geometric mean increases = 1.0 [95% CI = 0.9-1.2] ng/ml versus 1.2 [95% CI = 1.1-1.4] ng/ml). No differences were noted for emotional or physical abuse. By contrast in men, individuals exposed to sexual abuse had larger IL-6 responses than those not exposed to abuse. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest sex differences in stress response among survivors of a myocardial infarction exposed to abuse early in life. They also underscore the importance of examining sex as an effect modifier of relationships between exposure to early life adversity and inflammatory responses to mental stressors in midlife.

Comparison between Different Combinations of Alendronate, Platelet-rich Fibrin, Hydroxyapatite in Bone Regeneration in Endodontic Surgeries Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography.

AIM: To compare different combinations of alendronate, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), and hydroxyapatite in bone regeneration in endodontic surgeries using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS AND SUBJECTS: During this study, 28 patients were selected who were found to have pathology in the periapical area in the anterior region, The study subjects were categorized into four categories, each consisting of seven subjects, Category one-there was no placement of any material; category two-PRF; category three-hydroxyapatite along with PRF; category four-alendronate along with PRF, Root canal treatment followed by endodontic surgery in each patient was carried out, Volumetric analysis of the lesions was carried out before surgery and 12 months after surgery using CBCT, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and Tukey post-hoc test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was a maximum change in the volume of lesions in the study subjects in which PRF was used along with hydroxyapatite in comparison to other combination of materials, There was no significant difference when PRF was placed along with alendronate in comparison to study subjects when PRF was placed alone, The difference was not significant when PRF was placed in defects of bone in comparison to study subjects when no materials were placed in the defects of bone. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from the current research that PRF along with hydroxyapatite is a better option for the healing of defects of bone in surgeries performed in the area around the root apex in endodontic patients, But further studies should be carried out with a large sample size and for a longer duration. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: It is a very important consideration that there should be healing of the lesion after surgery around the root apex by actual bone regeneration, The healing of the larger lesions does not take place easily as compared with the lesions having a small size, This is because there is healing by secondary intention where there is formation of scar instead of actual healing by formation of bone, There are several methods by which proper bone regeneration can be obtained.

Methodological Comparison of Mapping the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite to EuroQoL-5D-3L Using Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data: Secondary Analysis of NRG/RTOG 0415.

PURPOSE: To compare the predictive ability of mapping algorithms derived using cross-sectional and longitudinal data. METHODS: This methodological assessment used data from a randomized controlled noninferiority trial of patients with low-risk prostate cancer, conducted by NRG Oncology (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00331773), which examined the efficacy of conventional schedule versus hypofractionated radiation therapy (three-dimensional conformal external beam radiation therapy/IMRT). Health-related quality-of-life data were collected using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), and health utilities were obtained using EuroQOL-5D-3L (EQ-5D) at baseline and 6, 12, 24, and 60 months postintervention. Mapping algorithms were estimated using ordinary least squares regression models through five-fold cross-validation in baseline cross-sectional data and combined longitudinal data from all assessment periods; random effects specifications were also estimated in longitudinal data. Predictive performance was compared using root mean square error. Longitudinal predictive ability of models obtained using baseline data was examined using mean absolute differences in the reported and predicted utilities. RESULTS: A total of 267 (and 199) patients in the estimation sample had complete EQ-5D and EPIC domain (and subdomain) data at baseline and at all subsequent assessments. Ordinary least squares models using combined data showed better predictive ability (lowest root mean square error) in the validation phase for algorithms with EPIC domain/subdomain data alone, whereas models using baseline data outperformed other specifications in the validation phase when patient covariates were also modeled. The mean absolute differences were lower for models using EPIC subdomain data compared with EPIC domain data and generally decreased as the time of assessment increased. CONCLUSION: Overall, mapping algorithms obtained using baseline cross-sectional data showed the best predictive performance. Furthermore, these models demonstrated satisfactory longitudinal predictive ability.