Effect of fecal immunochemical test cut-off levels on adenoma detection rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is higher after a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) compared to direct screening colonoscopy. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis evaluated how ADR, the rates of advanced adenoma detection (AADR), colorectal cancer detection (CDR), and sessile serrated lesion detection (SSLDR) are affected by different FIT positivity thresholds. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and EBM Reviews databases for studies reporting ADR, AADR, CDR, and SSLDR according to different FIT cut-off values in asymptomatic average-risk individuals aged 50-74 years old. Data were stratified according to sex, age, time to colonoscopy, publication year, continent, and FIT kit type. Study quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 4280 articles were retrieved and fifty-eight studies were included (277,661 FIT-positive colonoscopies; mean cecal intubation 96.3%; mean age 60.8 years; male 52.1%). Mean ADR was 56.1% (95% CI 53.4 - 58.7%), while mean AADR, CDR, and SSLDR were 27.2% (95% CI 24.4 - 30.1%), 5.3% (95% CI 4.7 - 6.0%), and 3.0% (95% CI 1.7 - 4.6%), respectively. For each 20 µg Hb/g increase in FIT cut-off level, ADR increased by 1.54% (95% CI 0.52 - 2.56%, p < 0.01), AADR by 3.90% (95% CI 2.76 - 5.05%, p < 0.01) and CDR by 1.46% (95% CI 0.66 - 2.24%, p < 0.01). Many detection rates were greater amongst males and Europeans. CONCLUSIONS: ADRs in FIT-positive colonoscopies are influenced by the adopted FIT positivity threshold, and identified targets, importantly, proved to be higher than most current societal recommendations.

Hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hyponatremia are associated with acute kidney injury in patients treated with cisplatin.

INTRODUCTION: Cisplatin-associated acute kidney injury (C-AKI) is common. Predictive factors include age >60 years, hypertension, cisplatin dose, diabetes, and serum albumin < 3.5 g/L. The association between C-AKI and hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia or hyponatremia has not been well characterized. METHODS: Data from a previous retrospective observational study was obtained. Patients were separated into three groups with similar cisplatin doses and schedules. Group A received cisplatin 60-100 mg/m2 every three weeks with laboratory assessments before treatment, group B received cisplatin 60-75 mg/m2 every three weeks with laboratory assessments before days 1 and 8 and group C had weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m2 with weekly laboratories assessments. The association between hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and risk of AKI was determined using a counting process specification of Cox's regression models. RESULTS: A total of 1301 patients were separated into groups A (n = 713), B (n = 204), and C (n = 384). The proportion of patients with at least one event of hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or hyponatremia was lower in group A (29.2%, 57.6%, 36.2%) compared to groups B (43.6%, 67.2%, 59.8%) and C (49.0%, 78.7%, 51.0%). The incidence of all grade C-AKI was 35.6% (group A), 46.6% (group B), and 18.2% (group C). In group A, the risk of AKI doubled with hyponatremia or hypomagnesemia and tripled with hypokalemia. This association was not seen with other groups. CONCLUSION: Among patients with the highest doses of cisplatin, the presence of one electrolyte disorder was associated with an increased risk of C-AKI. Other studies are needed to characterize the presence of an electrolyte disorder as a predictive risk factor of C-AKI in this subpopulation.

Hypothermic Perfusion Modifies the Association Between Anti-LG3 Antibodies and Delayed Graft Function in Kidney Recipients.

We previously reported associations between autoantibodies to the LG3 fragment of perlecan, anti-LG3, and a higher risk of delayed graft function (DGF) in kidney transplant recipients. Here, we aimed to determine whether some factors that modulate ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) can modify this association. We performed a retrospective cohort study in kidney transplant recipients in 2 university-affiliated centers. In 687 patients, we show that high pre-transplant anti-LG3 are associated with DGF when the kidney is transported on ice (odds ratio (OR): 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.02-3.00), but not when placed on hypothermic perfusion pump (OR: 0.78, 95% CI 0.43-1.37). In patients with DGF, high pre-transplant anti-LG3 are associated with a higher risk of graft failure (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR): 4.07, 95% CI: 1.80, 9.22), while this was not the case in patients with immediate graft function (SHR: 0.50, 95% CI 0.19, 1.29). High anti-LG3 levels are associated with a higher risk of DGF in kidneys exposed to cold storage, but not when hypothermic pump perfusion is used. High anti-LG3 are also associated with a higher risk of graft failure in patients who experience DGF, a clinical manifestation of severe IRI.

Validation of the Augmented Renal Clearance in Trauma Intensive Care scoring system for augmented renal clearance prediction in a trauma subgroup of a mixed ICU population.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Augmented renal clearance is prevalent in trauma patients and leads to subtherapeutic levels of renally eliminated medications with potentially unfavourable clinical outcomes. The Augmented Renal Clearance of Trauma in Intensive Care (ARCTIC) score has been developed to predict augmented renal clearance in critically ill trauma patients. Our primary objective was to validate this score among the trauma subgroup of a mixed intensive care patient cohort. METHODS: This single-centre, retrospective, observational cohort study assessed augmented renal clearance using a timed 24-h urine collection performed weekly. ARC was defined as a measured creatinine clearance of ≥130 ml/min/1.73 m2 . ARCTIC score performance was evaluated through a receiver operator characteristic curves and analysis of sensitivities and specificities for the trauma subgroup, the medical/surgical subgroup and the pooled cohort. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Augmented renal clearance was observed in 33.9% (n = 58) of trauma patients (n = 171) and 15.7% (n = 24) of medical/surgical patients (n = 153). Examination of different cutoffs for the ARCTIC score in our trauma population confirmed that the optimal cutoff score was ≥6. Comparison between ROC curves for ARCTIC score and for regression model based upon our data in trauma patients indicated validation of the score in this subgroup. Comparison of sensitivities and specificities for ARCTIC score between trauma (93.1% and 41.6%, respectively) and medical/surgical subjects (87.5% and 49.6%, respectively) showed no clinical nor statistical difference, suggesting validation for the medical/surgical subgroup as well. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: In our mixed ICU population, the ARCTIC score was validated in the trauma subgroup. We also found that the score performed well in the medical/surgical population. Future studies should assess the performance of the ARCTIC score prospectively.

Effect of mannitol on acute kidney injury induced by cisplatin.

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent dose-limiting toxicity induced by cisplatin. Mannitol has been used in hydration protocols to mitigate this adverse event but its role remains controversial. The aim of this study is to define the impact of mannitol on AKI in patients receiving cisplatin. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted in cancer patients who received at least one dose of cisplatin between September 2010 and December 2016 at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal. The primary outcome of this study was the comparison of all grade cisplatin-associated AKI between hydration protocols with or without mannitol. RESULTS: A total of 1821 patients were included of which 658 received mannitol whilst 1163 received hydration alone. The risk of all grade cisplatin-associated AKI was significantly lower for the mannitol group (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.62; 95% CI [0.42, 0.89]). This result was mainly driven by gynecologic (HR = 0.50), upper gastrointestinal (HR = 0.32), urinary tract malignancies (HR = 0.29) and lymphoma (HR = 0.33). No significant difference was seen for head and neck (HN), lung, germ cells and other cancers. However, HN cancers patients receiving mannitol had fewer grade 2 and 3 AKI. Significantly fewer AKI events were observed in HN, lung, upper gastrointestinal and urinary tract cancer when mannitol was added for cisplatin dose <75 mg/m2. CONCLUSION: Although the results were generally driven by a decrease of grade 1 AKI for most cancers, the greatest benefit of mannitol was seen with cisplatin doses lower than 75 mg/m2 and should probably be reinstated in this setting.

Abnormal glucose tolerance in a pediatric cystic fibrosis cohort: Trends in clinical outcomes and associated factors in the preceding years.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Deterioration of anthropometric and lung function parameters was shown to precede the onset of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) in adults. In children, studies have been conducted in small cohorts with relatively short observation period. Study objectives were to document the longitudinal trends of anthropometric, pulmonary, nutritional and metabolic parameters from cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis to the ascertainment of abnormal glucose tolerance and identify parameters associated with the incidence of such abnormalities in a pediatric CF cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective cohort study of 281 children with CF. Longitudinal trends of anthropometric, lung function, nutritional and metabolic data were generated from CF diagnosis to the ascertainment of abnormal glucose tolerance defined as the presence of either impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), unconfirmed CFRD or CFRD. Cox models and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to identify factors associated with developing abnormal glucose tolerance. Forty-five percent of cohort had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 27% IGT, 10% unconfirmed CFRD and 18% CFRD. Children who developed CFRD displayed lower height z-scores from a very early age. Conversely, HbA1c levels began to rise closer to CFRD ascertainment. Height z-scores (HR: 0.45; CI 95% [0.29-0.69]) and HbA1c (HR: 2.43; CI 95% [1.86-3.18]) in years preceding ascertainment were associated with the risk of developing CFRD. CONCLUSION: Children who developed CFRD display distinctive trends for height z-scores from a very early age, whereas HbA1c appears as a marker of established glucose metabolism derangements.

Adrenal vein sampling: External validation of multinomial regression modelling and left adrenal vein-to-peripheral vein ratio to predict lateralization index without right adrenal vein sampling.

BACKGROUND: Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) failure is mainly due to right adrenal vein unavailability. Multinomial regression modelling (MRM) and left adrenal vein-to-peripheral vein ratio (LAV/PV) were proposed to predict the lateralization index without the right AVS. OBJECTIVE: To assess external validity of MRM and LAV/PV to predict lateralization index when right adrenal vein sampling is missing. DESIGN: Diagnostic retrospective study. PATIENTS: Development and validation cohorts included AVS of 174 and 122 patients, respectively, from 2 different centres. MEASUREMENTS: Development and validation cohort data were used, respectively, for calibration and for validation of MRM and LAV/PV to predict the lateralization index without the right adrenal vein sampling. Sensitivity and specificity of MRM and LAV/PV were compared between both centres at different pre-established specificity thresholds based on receiver operating characteristic curves generated from the development cohort data. RESULTS: At a specificity threshold of 95% set in the development cohort, specificity values exceeded 90% (range, 90.6%-98.8%) for all verified MRM and LAV/PV models in the validation cohort. Corresponding sensitivities for MRM and LAV/PV, respectively, range from 54.1% to 83.7% and 32.8% to 88.4% for the development cohort compared to 33.3%-87.5% and 2.8%-79.2% for the validation cohort. Overall, diagnostic accuracy of both methods was higher to detect right (82.8%-93.5%) than left (70.2%-80.6%) lateralization index status in both centres. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal changes in specificity from development to validation cohorts validate the use of MRM and LAV/PV to predict the lateralization index when the right AVS is missing. Both methods had better accuracy for right than left lateralization detection.

Measuring clinical uncertainty and equipoise by applying the agreement study methodology to patient management decisions.

BACKGROUND: Clinical uncertainty and equipoise are vague notions that play important roles in contemporary problems of medical care and research, including the design and conduct of pragmatic trials. Our goal was to show how the reliability study methods normally used to assess diagnostic tests can be applied to particular management decisions to measure the degree of uncertainty and equipoise regarding the use of rival management options. METHODS: We first use thrombectomy in acute stroke as an illustrative example of the method we propose. We then review, item by item, how the various design elements of diagnostic reliability studies can be modified in order to measure clinical uncertainty. RESULTS: The thrombectomy example shows sufficient disagreement and uncertainty to warrant the conduct of additional randomized trials. The general method we propose is that a sufficient number of diverse individual cases sharing a similar clinical problem and covering a wide spectrum of clinical presentations be assembled into a portfolio that is submitted to a variety of clinicians who routinely manage patients with the clinical problem. DISCUSSION: Clinicians are asked to independently choose one of the predefined management options, which are selected from those that would be compared within a randomized trial that would address the clinical dilemma. Intra-rater agreement can be assessed at a later time with a second evaluation. Various professional judgments concerning individual patients can then be compared and analyzed using kappa statistics or similar methods. Interpretation of results can be facilitated by providing examples or by translating the results into clinically meaningful summary sentences. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring the uncertainty regarding management options for clinical problems may reveal substantial disagreement, provide an empirical foundation for the notion of equipoise, and inform or facilitate the design/conduct of clinical trials to address the clinical dilemma.

Benefits of a Pole Walking Program Offered by Community Organizations on Physical Fitness, Psychological Well-Being, and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults.

The authors examined the effects of a 12-week pole walking program on function and well-being in 123 older adults aged 60 years and older, recruited by community organizations. The results showed a significant improvement in the participants' upper and lower limb strength in the experimental groups compared with those in the control groups (p < .05) and a significant deterioration in the walking speed and grip strength in women in the control groups compared with those in the experimental groups (p < .05). Although not statistically significant, the results also showed a trend toward greater improvement in global cognitive function in the participants in the experimental groups (p = .076). These results suggest that a pole walking program provided in natural conditions can improve physical capabilities in older adults. Other studies are warranted to further explore the impact of pole walking programs on older adults offered in such conditions, especially their impact on cognitive functions.

Sex Differences in Attaining Cigarette Smoking and Nicotine Dependence Milestones Among Novice Smokers.

There may be sex differences in the response to nicotine, according to findings of studies in animals; however, sex differences in the natural course of cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence are documented in few studies. Prevalent (n = 240 girls; n = 184 boys) and incident (n = 231 girls; n = 184 boys) cigarette smokers from the Nicotine Dependence in Teens Study were followed up to 5 years after first puff, from age 12 to 18 years (1999-2005). We used Cox proportional hazards models to compare time to development of 3 cigarette-use (i.e., whole cigarette; 100 cigarettes lifetime; regular smoking), and 3 nicotine-dependence symptom (i.e., "really need a cigarette"; mentally addicted; physically addicted) milestones across sex. Girls were at higher risk than boys of attaining all milestones; hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) ranged from 1.35 (1.06, 1.72) for 100 cigarettes lifetime to 1.74 (1.44, 2.10) for "really need a cigarette." Among nonregular smokers, 26% (8%; 43%) and 25% (6%; 44%) more girls than boys reported "really need a cigarette" 1 and 2 years, respectively, after first puff. Preventive interventions may need adjustment to incorporate these findings. Additional research should clarify the relative contribution of biological and social underpinnings of these sex differences.

LI-RADS for MR Imaging Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Performance of Major and Ancillary Features.

Purpose To evaluate the performance of major features, ancillary features, and categories of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) version 2014 at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods This retrospective institutional review board-approved study included patients with liver MR imaging and at least one pathologically proved lesion. Between 2004 and 2016, 102 patients (275 observations including 113 HCCs) met inclusion criteria. Two radiologists independently assessed major and ancillary imaging features for each liver observation and assigned a LI-RADS category. Per-lesion estimates of diagnostic performance of major features, ancillary features, and LI-RADS categories were assessed by using generalized estimating equation models. Results Major features (arterial phase hyperenhancement, washout, capsule, and threshold growth) had a sensitivity of 88.5%, 60.6%, 32.9%, and 41.6%, and a specificity of 18.6%, 84.8%, 98.8%, and 83.2% for HCC, respectively. Ancillary features (mild-moderate T2 hyperintensity, restricted diffusion, mosaic architecture, intralesional fat, lesional fat sparing, blood products, and subthreshold growth) had a sensitivity of 62.2%, 54.8%, 9.9%, 30.9%, 23.1%, 2.8%, and 48.3%, and a specificity of 79.4%, 90.6%, 99.4%, 94.2%, 83.1%, 99.3%, and 91.4% for HCC, respectively. The LR-5 or LR-5 V categories had a per-lesion sensitivity of 50.8% and a specificity of 95.8% for HCC, respectively. The LR-4, LR-5, or LR-5 V categories (determined by using major features only vs combination of major and ancillary features) had a per-lesion sensitivity of 75.9% and 87.9% and a per-lesion specificity of 87.5% and 86.2%, respectively. Conclusion The use of ancillary features in combination with major features increases the sensitivity while preserving a high specificity for the diagnosis of HCC.

Cervical Internal Carotid Occlusion versus Pseudo-occlusion at CT Angiography in the Context of Acute Stroke: An Accuracy, Interobserver, and Intraobserver Agreement Study.

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of computed tomographic (CT) angiography to distinguish true cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion from pseudo-occlusion (defined as an isolated intracranial thrombus that impedes ascending blood flow) in the context of acute stroke. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent thrombectomy with preprocedural CT angiography that helps to demonstrate a lack of attenuation in the cervical ICA on the symptomatic side (24 men and 13 women; mean age, 63 years; age range, 30-86 years). Seven readers, including five neuroradiologists and two interventional neuroradiology fellows, independently reviewed the CT angiography images to assess whether there was true cervical ICA occlusion. Their results were compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting true occlusion as well as accuracy and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated, with inter- and intraobserver κ statistics. Results Cervical ICA pseudo-occlusion occurred in 12 of 37 patients (32.4%) with nonattenuation of the cervical ICA on the symptomatic side. Interobserver agreement coefficients did not reach the substantial value of 0.61 for either pairs or groups of readers. The cohort's average sensitivity and specificity was 68% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59%, 76%) and 75% (95% CI: 71%, 80%), respectively, with a diagnostic odds ratio of 8 (95% CI: 3, 18) and only fair interobserver agreement (κ = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.47). Conclusion In the context of acute ischemic stroke with ipsilateral ICA nonattenuation at single-phase CT angiography, even specialized radiologists may not reliably distinguish true cervical occlusion from pseudo-occlusion. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

A Nursing Intervention Increases Quality of Life and Self-Efficacy in Migraine: A 1-Year Prospective Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the impact of a combined nursing and medical approach to a medical follow-up only on headache outcomes, quality of life, and self-efficacy in a cohort of migraineurs. BACKGROUND: Interdisciplinary approaches have been proposed for migraine management. A nursing intervention could improve patient outcomes. METHODS: We prospectively studied new patients referred to our tertiary headache center for migraine. The control group was followed by a physician; the active group was also followed by a nurse with a personalized intervention including adaptation of the lifestyle. RESULTS: Two hundred patients (176 women and 24 men, mean age 40 years old) were included and classified according to headache frequency. Each group was followed for 12 months with daily headache diaries. One hundred and sixty-two completed the study. There were no significant differences between groups for the decrease in headache days, the percent of chronic patients reverting to episodic status or the cessation of medication overuse. Patients in the control group were more likely to find a successful prophylaxis (55.6 vs 27.7%, P = .002). Despite this, the mean decrease in HIT-6 scores at month 8 was 5.23 ± 9.18 for the active group compared with a decrease of 2.10 ± 9.27 for the control group (P = .030, clinically significant difference of 3.13). Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale (HMSE) scores, representing the feeling of self-efficacy, increased by 14.35 ± 18.41 for the active group vs 4.69 ± 21.22 in the control group (P = .002). CONCLUSION: A nursing intervention can lower the impact of migraines on the patient's life. The improvement in the HIT-6 score in this study was correlated with improvements in self-efficacy.

Efficacy of a Web-Based Tailored Intervention to Reduce Cannabis Use Among Young People Attending Adult Education Centers in Quebec.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use is common among young adults. Web-based interventions are an increasingly popular way to reach this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a Web-based tailored intervention, developed on theoretical and empirical grounds, to reduce cannabis use among young people by promoting a more positive intention to abstain. METHODS: An experimental design was employed to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention in reducing cannabis use (primary outcome) by bolstering intention (secondary outcome) to abstain from use. Participants were randomly assigned either to an experimental group that received the Web-based tailored intervention or to a control group that did not. RESULTS: Of 588 young adults (18-24 years of age) recruited, 295 were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 293 to the control group. At baseline, 343 reported using cannabis at least once in the past year. An intention-to-treat analysis showed that, at postintervention, a higher proportion of participants in the experimental group had reduced their cannabis use compared with the control group [10.8% vs. 5.1%, χ2(2) = 9.89, p = 0.007]. A mixed model for repeated measures revealed a statistically significant difference in terms of change in intention to abstain from cannabis use in the coming month [Group × Time interaction, F(1,474) = 8.03, p = 0.005]: intention increased for the experimental group (5.07 ± 2.07 to 5.45 ± 1.88; p < 0.001), but stayed stable for the control group (5.32 ± 2.03 to 5.36 ± 1.99; p = 0.779). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the intervention can be efficacious in reducing cannabis use among young people attending adult education centers.

Surgical clipping or endovascular coiling for unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a pragmatic randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are increasingly diagnosed and are commonly treated using endovascular treatment or microsurgical clipping. The safety and efficacy of treatments have not been compared in a randomised trial. How to treat patients with UIAs suitable for both options remains unknown. METHODS: We randomly allocated clipping or coiling to patients with one or more 3-25 mm UIAs judged treatable both ways. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as: initial failure of aneurysm treatment, intracranial haemorrhage or residual aneurysm on 1-year imaging. Secondary outcomes included neurological deficits following treatment, hospitalisation >5 days, overall morbidity and mortality and angiographic results at 1 year. RESULTS: The trial was designed to include 260 patients. An analysis was performed for slow accrual: 136 patients were enrolled from 2010 through 2016 and 134 patients were treated. The 1-year primary outcome, available for 104 patients, was reached in 5/48 (10.4% (4.5%-22.2%)) patients allocated surgical clipping, and 10/56 (17.9% (10.0%-29.8%)) patients allocated endovascular coiling (OR: 0.54 (0.13-1.90), p=0.40). Morbidity and mortality (modified Rankin Scale>2) at 1 year occurred in 2/48 (4.2% (1.2%-14.0%)) and 2/56 (3.6% (1.0%-12.1%)) patients allocated clipping and coiling, respectively. New neurological deficits (15/65 vs 6/69; OR: 3.12 (1.05-10.57), p=0.031), and hospitalisations beyond 5 days (30/65 vs 6/69; OR: 8.85 (3.22-28.59), p=0.0001) were more frequent after clipping. CONCLUSION: Surgical clipping or endovascular coiling of UIAs did not show differences in morbidity at 1 year. Trial continuation and additional randomised evidence will be necessary to establish the supposed superior efficacy of clipping.

MRI-determined liver proton density fat fraction, with MRS validation: Comparison of regions of interest sampling methods in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE: To assess the agreement between published magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based regions of interest (ROI) sampling methods using liver mean proton density fat fraction (PDFF) as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, internal review board-approved study was conducted in 35 patients with type 2 diabetes. Liver PDFF was measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) using a stimulated-echo acquisition mode sequence and MRI using a multiecho spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence at 3.0T. ROI sampling methods reported in the literature were reproduced and liver mean PDFF obtained by whole-liver segmentation was used as the reference standard. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Bland-Altman analysis, repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and paired t-tests were performed. RESULTS: ICC between MRS and MRI-PDFF was 0.916. Bland-Altman analysis showed excellent intermethod agreement with a bias of -1.5 ± 2.8%. The repeated-measures ANOVA found no systematic variation of PDFF among the nine liver segments. The correlation between liver mean PDFF and ROI sampling methods was very good to excellent (0.873 to 0.975). Paired t-tests revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) with ROI sampling methods that exclusively or predominantly sampled the right lobe. Significant correlations with mean PDFF were found with sampling methods that included higher number of segments, total area equal or larger than 5 cm(2) , or sampled both lobes (P = 0.001, 0.023, and 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: MRI-PDFF quantification methods should sample each liver segment in both lobes and include a total surface area equal or larger than 5 cm(2) to provide a close estimate of the liver mean PDFF.

Feeding-swallowing difficulties in children later diagnosed with language impairment.

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the relationship between feeding-swallowing difficulties (FSDs) and later language impairments in children. METHOD: Retrospective analyses were carried out using the clinical files of 82 children with language impairments from a large urban rehabilitation center. Two subgroups of these children were established: children with motor impairments, referred to as the language impairment with motor impairment ('LI+MI') subgroup (n=23, mean age 4y 6mo, SD 8.7mo), and children without motor impairments, referred to as the language impairment without motor impairment ('LI-MI') subgroup (n=59, mean age 5y, SD 8mo). The prevalence of food selectivity, difficulties in sucking, salivary control issues, and food transition difficulties was extracted. Data were compared with a general population estimate of FSDs. RESULTS: FSDs were documented in 62% of the clinical files; 87% of these files were from the LI+MI subgroup and 53% were from the LI-MI subgroup. Among each subgroup of children with language impairments, the prevalence of FSDs was significantly higher than the general population estimate of 20% (LI+MI:χ(2) =55.965, df=1, p<0.001; LI-MI: χ(2) =32.807, df=1, p<0.001). Furthermore, the prevalence of FSDs was significantly higher in children with language impairments and motor impairments than in those with language impairments but without motor impairments (χ(2) =6.936, df=1, p<0.01). Both food transition difficulties (χ(2) =14.99, df=1, p<0.001) and salivary control issues (χ(2) =5.02, df=1, p=0.02) were more frequent in the LI+MI subgroup than in the LI-MI subgroup. Combinations of two or more FSDs were also more frequent in the LI+MI subgroup than in the LI-MI subgroup (χ(2) =4.19, df=1, p=0.04). INTERPRETATIONS: These findings suggest that early FSDs may be used as a potential marker for language impairment. However, larger prospective studies are needed to confirm this.

The use and abuse of survival analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves in surgical trials.

BACKGROUND: Survival analysis based on Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curves, initially devised for oncology trials, have frequently been used in other contexts where fundamental statistical assumptions (such as a constant hazard ratio) are not satisfied. This is almost always the case in trials that compare surgery with medical management. METHODS: We review a trial that compared extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery (EC-IC bypass) with medical management (MM) of patients with symptomatic occlusion of the carotid or middle cerebral artery, where it was claimed that surgery was of no benefit. We discuss a hypothetical study and review other neurovascular trials which have also used survival analysis to compare results. RESULTS: The trial comparing EC-IC bypass and MM did not satisfy the fundamental proportional hazard assumption necessary for valid analyses. This was also the case for two prior EC-IC bypass trials, as well as for other landmark neurovascular studies, such as the trials comparing endarterectomy with MM for carotid stenoses, or for the trial that compared intervention and MM for unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations. While minor deviations may have little effect on large trials, it may be impossible to show the benefits of surgery when trial size is small and deviations large. CONCLUSION: Survival analyses are inappropriate in RCTs comparing surgery with conservative management, unless survival is calculated after the postoperative period. Alternative ways to compare final clinical outcomes, using for example a fixed follow-up period, should be planned for preventive surgical trials that compare intervention with conservative management.

Promotion of Physical Activity by Québec Primary Care Physicians: What Has Changed in the Last Decade?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the changes in the frequency of physical activity (PA) counseling and in the predictors of primary care PA promotion in Québec primary care physicians (PCPs) between 2010 and 2020. METHODS: In 2010, we conducted a survey among Québec PCPs. Questions included: frequency of promoting PA to patients, perceived barriers, needs to improve PA promotion practice, frequency of PCPs' PA practice, and sociodemographic information. In 2020, we took over the 2010 questionnaire to document the evolution of the PA promotion practice. RESULTS: The proportion of PCPs discussing PA with their patients significantly increased (P < .05) in 2020 for the following health conditions: depression, low back pain, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer; it declined (P < .05) for overweight patients, those with metabolic syndrome, and in primary prevention. Collaboration with PA professionals was the major need identified, and it increased in 2020. PCPs' own practice of PA was a predictor of PA promotion in 2010 (odds ratio = 6.679; P < .001) and in 2020 (odds ratio = 6.679; P < .001). In both 2010 and in 2020, older or more experienced PCPs were more likely to discuss PA with their patients without diagnosed diseases than younger ones or those with less experience. CONCLUSIONS: Over the last 10 years, there has been a significant increase in PCPs promoting PA in Québec; however, it has been mainly oriented toward secondary prevention. It is concerning that PA counseling in primary prevention has declined, notably among younger PCPs. The stronger claim for closer collaboration with kinesiologists suggests that PCPs are in favor of an interprofessional strategy, namely collaboration with PA specialists.

Ultrasound elastography of back muscle biomechanical properties: a systematic review and meta-analysis of current methods.

OBJECTIVES: To report the current elastography methods used to quantify back muscles' biomechanical characteristics in patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSKd) and inform on their reliability, validity, and responsiveness. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane library and grey literature were consulted. Predefined criteria allowed for study selection and data extraction. The quality of evidence was rated using the COSMIN tool. Data were meta-analyzed in terms of pooled intraclass correlation coefficient (pICC) for reliability and pooled standardized mean difference (pSMD) for validity and responsiveness. Heterogeneity was assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-nine studies were included in the meta-analysis (total number of participants N = 3178). Three elastography methods were identified: strain imaging (SI; number of cohorts M = 26), shear wave imaging (SWI; M = 50), and vibration sonoelastography (VSE; M = 3). Strain imaging and SWI studies reported good reliability measurement properties (pICC > 0.70) and a medium pSMD (0.58 for SI and 0.60 for SWI; p ≤ 0.020) in discriminating MSKd from controls' condition (validity). Strain imaging studies reported a medium pSMD (0.64; p = 0.005) in detecting within-group changes over time, whereas SWI pSMD was very high (1.24; p = 0.005). Only SWI reported significant but small pSMD (0.30; p = 0.003) in detecting between-group changes over time. The small number of VSE studies could not be meta-analyzed. Heterogeneity was high (I-squared > 90%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elastography presents good reliability results and a medium pSMD in discriminating MSKd from control conditions. Responsiveness data suggest detectable changes within groups over time using SI and SWI, calling for long-term longitudinal studies. Assessing changes between groups over time using elastography still needs to be proven. Highly significant heterogeneity limits meta-analytic results. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: While still in its early-stage exploration phase, musculoskeletal ultrasound elastography may reliably quantify back muscles' biomechanics in asymptomatic individuals, moderately discriminate back musculoskeletal disorders and detect biomechanical changes over time in these conditions, calling for long-term longitudinal studies. KEY POINTS: Ultrasound elastography is reviewed for back pain and related musculoskeletal disorder assessments. Growing literature supports good reproducibility, some validity and responsiveness. Back muscle elastography considers assumptions calling for standardized protocols.