Palmar Warming for Radial Artery Vasodilation to Facilitate Transradial Access: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of palmar warming to induce radial artery vasodilation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After informed consent was obtained, healthy volunteers (n = 45) were randomized 2:1 in palmar warming and control groups, respectively, for this prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial (NCT03620383). The palmar warming group was given a warm, commercially available, air-activated heat pack (Kobayashi Consumer Products LLC, Dalton, Georgia) to hold in the left hand for palmar warming. The control group was given a deactivated version of the same heat pack. Left radial artery cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements were obtained at baseline and in 5-minute intervals up to 20 minutes in both groups. Differences in the trends of changes in the radial artery CSA between palmar warming and control groups were examined with the age- and sex-adjusted repeated measure analysis of variance. Propensity score-matched treatment effect analysis was conducted to quantify the effect of heat on radial artery CSA. RESULTS: The palmar warming group and the control group were significantly different in terms of subject sex (males/females: 7/23 and 10/5, respectively; P = .005) and baseline CSA (2.5±0.2 mm2 vs 3.2±0.3 mm2, respectively; P = .014). Radial artery CSA showed an increasing trend over time in the palmar warming group compared to a stable trend over time in the control group (P < .0001). Propensity score-matched comparison showed a 43.9% increase (95% confidence interval: 34.1%-53.8%) in CSA in the palmar warming group compared to the control group (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The palmar warming technique is effective at dilating the radial artery and may be a beneficial technique to facilitate transradial access.

Embolization of Arteriovenous Malformations: Effect of Flow Control and Composition of n-Butyl-2 Cyanoacrylate and Iodized Oil Mixtures with and without Ethanol in an in Vitro Model.

Purpose To elucidate the effect of flow control (ie, balloon occlusion) and the composition of various mixtures of n-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and iodized oil, with and without the addition of ethanol, for the treatment of arteriovenous malformations in an in vitro model. Materials and Methods A simulation circuit device that featured an artificial nidus was filled with heparinized swine blood obtained during exsanguination from another Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee-approved protocol and was constructed to generate pulsatile flow. Mixtures of NBCA and iodized oil (NL) at a 1:1 ratio (NL 1:1); NL and ethanol (NLE) at a 1:1:3 ratio (NLE 1:1:3) with or without flow control; and NL at 1:3, 1:5, and 1:10 ratios without flow control were injected six times each for a total of 42 trials. Embolization was classified as complete filling, proximal occlusion, pass through, or distal overpenetration after occlusion balloon deflation, and the trial results were compared. The results of the embolization test were evaluated by using the Fisher exact probability test to compare optimal and suboptimal embolization groups. Results NLE 1:1:3 with flow control completely filled the nidus in all six trials. NL 1:1 delivered with flow control achieved complete nidus filling in three of six injections, as did the NL 1:5 ratio trial without flow control. Complete embolization with NLE 1:1:3 with flow control was more feasible to achieve complete nidus filling than was NL 1:1 with flow control or NL 1:5 without flow control, although there was no statically significant difference (all, P = .09). None of the other mixtures produced complete embolization. Conclusion NLE 1:1:3 showed consistent and reproducible complete embolization with flow control and was stable after balloon deflation, making it an acceptable material for embolization in an in vitro arteriovenous malformation model. Further study should be performed before the NLE 1:1:3 mixture is used in routine clinical practice. (©) RSNA, 2015.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Elevated Blood Lead in Children in Gold Ore Processing Communities, Zamfara, Nigeria, 2012.

BACKGROUND: In March 2010, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders detected an outbreak of acute lead poisoning in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, linked to low-technology gold ore processing. The outbreak killed more than 400 children ≤5 years of age in the first half of 2010 and has left more than 2,000 children with permanent disabilities. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to estimate the statewide prevalence of children ≤5 years old with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in gold ore processing and non-ore-processing communities, and to identify factors associated with elevated blood lead levels in children. METHODS: A representative, population-based study of ore processing and non-ore-processing villages was conducted throughout Zamfara in 2012. Blood samples from children, outdoor soil samples, indoor dust samples, and survey data on ore processing activities and other lead sources were collected from 383 children ≤5 years old in 383 family compounds across 56 villages. RESULTS: 17.2% of compounds reported that at least one member had processed ore in the preceding 12 months (95% confidence intervals (CI): 9.7, 24.7). The prevalence of BLLs ≥10 µg/dL in children ≤5 years old was 38.2% (95% CI: 26.5, 51.4) in compounds with members who processed ore and 22.3% (95% CI: 17.8, 27.7) in compounds where no one processed ore. Ore processing activities were associated with higher lead concentrations in soil, dust, and blood samples. Other factors associated with elevated BLL were a child's age and sex, breastfeeding, drinking water from a piped tap, and exposure to eye cosmetics. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood lead poisoning is widespread in Zamfara State in both ore processing and non-ore-processing settings, although it is more prevalent in ore processing areas. Although most children's BLLs were below the recommended level for chelation therapy, environmental remediation and use of safer ore processing practices are needed to prevent further exposures. PATIENT CONSENT: Obtained. ETHICS APPROVAL: The study protocol was approved by the US Centers for Disease Control Institutional Review Board-A and the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare no competing financial interests.