Multimorbidity and quality of life after blast-related injury among US military personnel: a cluster analysis of retrospective data.

BACKGROUND: Blast injury emerged as a primary source of morbidity among US military personnel during the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and led to an array of adverse health outcomes. Multimorbidity, or the presence of two or more medical conditions in an individual, can complicate treatment strategies. To date, there is minimal research on the impact of multimorbidity on long-term patient-reported outcomes. We aimed to define multimorbidity patterns in a population of blast-injured military personnel, and to examine these patterns in relation to long-term quality of life (QOL). METHODS: A total of 1972 US military personnel who sustained a blast-related injury during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were identified from clinical records. Electronic health databases were used to identify medical diagnoses within the first year postinjury, and QOL was measured with a web-based assessment. Hierarchical cluster analysis methods using Ward's minimum variance were employed to identify clusters with related medical diagnosis categories. Duncan's multiple range test was used to group clusters into domains by QOL. RESULTS: Five distinct clusters were identified and grouped into three QOL domains. The lowest QOL domain contained one cluster with a clinical triad reflecting musculoskeletal pain, concussion, and mental health morbidity. The middle QOL domain had two clusters, one with concussion/anxiety predominating and the other with polytrauma. The highest QOL domain had two clusters with little multimorbidity aside from musculoskeletal pain. CONCLUSIONS: The present study described blast-related injury profiles with varying QOL levels that may indicate the need for integrated health services. Implications exist for current multidisciplinary care of wounded active duty and veteran service members, and future research should determine whether multimorbidity denotes distinct post-blast injury syndromes.

Meta-Analysis of Electroacupuncture in Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture treatment has been employed in China for over 2500 years and it is used worldwide as analgesia in acute and chronic pain. Acupuncture is also used in general anesthesia (GA). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in addition to GA in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: We searched 3 databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science-from 1965 until January 31, 2017) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including patients undergoing cardiac surgery and receiving GA alone or GA + EA. As primary outcomes, we investigated the association between GA + EA approach and the dosage of intraoperative anesthetic drugs administered, the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), the postoperative dose of vasoactive drugs, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and the levels of troponin I and cytokines. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 477 citations, but only 7 prospective RCTs enrolling a total of 321 patients were included. The use of GA + EA reduced the dosage of intraoperative anesthetic drugs (P < .05), leading to shorter MV time (P < .01) and ICU stay (P < .05) as well as reduced postoperative dose of vasoactive drugs (P < .001). In addition, significantly lower levels of troponin I (P < .01) and tumor necrosis factor α (P < .01) were observed. CONCLUSION: The complementary use of EA for open-heart surgery reduces the duration of MV and ICU stay, blunts the inflammatory response, and might have protective effects on the heart. Our findings stimulate future RCT to provide definitive recommendations.

Utilization of Physical Therapy Intervention Among Patients With Plantar Fasciitis in the United States.

Study Design Retrospective observational study. Background Plantar fasciitis is responsible for 1 million ambulatory patient care visits annually in the United States. Few studies have investigated practice patterns in the treatment of patients with plantar fasciitis. Objective To assess physical therapist utilization and employment of manual therapy and supervised rehabilitation in the treatment of patients with plantar fasciitis. Methods A retrospective review of the PearlDiver patient record database was used to evaluate physical therapist utilization and use of manual therapy and supervised rehabilitation in patients with plantar fasciitis between 2007 and 2011. An International Classification of Diseases code (728.71) was used to identify plantar fasciitis, and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify evaluations (97001), manual therapy (97140), and rehabilitation services (97110, 97530, 97112). Results A total of 819 963 unique patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis accounted for 5 739 737 visits from 2007 to 2011, comprising 2.7% of all patients in the database. Only 7.1% (95% confidence interval: 7.0%, 7.1%) of patients received a physical therapist evaluation. Of the 57 800 patients evaluated by a physical therapist (59.8% female), 50 382 (87.2% ± 0.4%) received manual therapy, with significant increases in utilization per annum. A large proportion (89.5% ± 0.4%) received rehabilitation following physical therapist evaluation. Conclusion Despite plantar fasciitis being a frequently occurring musculoskeletal condition, a small proportion of patients with plantar fasciitis were seen by physical therapists. Most patients who were evaluated by a physical therapist received manual therapy and a course of supervised rehabilitation as part of their plan of care. Level of Evidence Treatment, level 2a. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(2):49-55. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.6999.

Effects of Acupuncture in Anesthesia for Craniotomy: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture treatment has been used in China for >2500 years, and at present it is used worldwide as a form of analgesia in patients with acute and chronic pain. Furthermore, acupuncture is regularly used not only as a single anesthetic technique but also as a supplement or in addition to general anesthesia (GA). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the level of evidence for the clinical use of acupuncture in addition to GA in patients undergoing craniotomy. DESIGN: This is a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analyses. DATA SOURCES: The literature search (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) yielded 56 citations, published between 1972 and March 01, 2015. No systematic review or meta-analyses on this topic matched our search criteria. Each article of any language was assessed and rated for the methodological quality of the studies, using the recommendation of the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine. Ten prospective randomized controlled clinical trials with a total of 700 patients were included. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Included in the meta-analysis were studies that involved any craniotomy under GA compared with a combination of GA and acupuncture. Exclusion criteria were no acupuncture during surgery, no GA during surgery, only postoperative data available, animal studies, and low grade of evidence. RESULTS: The use of acupuncture significantly reduced the amount of volatile anesthetics during surgery (P<0.001) and led to faster extubation time (P=0.001) and postoperative patient recovery (P=0.003). In addition, significantly reduced blood levels of the brain tissue injury marker S100ß 48 hours after operation (P=0.001) and occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (P=0.017) were observed. No patient studied suffered from awareness. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis suggests that the complementary use of acupuncture for craniotomy has additional analgesic effects, reduces the needed amount of volatile anesthetic, reduces the onset of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and might have protective effects on brain tissue. Our findings may stimulate future randomized controlled trials to provide definitive recommendations.

Early high flow nasal cannula therapy in bronchiolitis, a prospective randomised control trial (protocol): A Paediatric Acute Respiratory Intervention Study (PARIS).

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis imposes the largest health care burden on non-elective paediatric hospital admissions worldwide, with up to 15 % of cases requiring admission to intensive care. A number of previous studies have failed to show benefit of pharmaceutical treatment in respect to length of stay, reduction in PICU admission rates or intubation frequency. The early use of non-invasive respiratory support devices in less intensive scenarios to facilitate earlier respiratory support may have an impact on outcome by avoiding progression of the disease process. High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) therapy has emerged as a new method to provide humidified air flow to deliver a non-invasive form of positive pressure support with titratable oxygen fraction. There is a lack of high-grade evidence on use of HFNC therapy in bronchiolitis. METHODS/DESIGN: Prospective multi-centre randomised trial comparing standard treatment (standard subnasal oxygen) and High Flow Nasal Cannula therapy in infants with bronchiolitis admitted to 17 hospitals emergency departments and wards in Australia and New Zealand, including 12 non-tertiary regional/metropolitan and 5 tertiary centres. The primary outcome is treatment failure; defined as meeting three out of four pre-specified failure criteria requiring escalation of treatment or higher level of care; i) heart rate remains unchanged or increased compared to admission/enrolment observations, ii) respiratory rate remains unchanged or increased compared to admission/enrolment observations, iii) oxygen requirement in HFNC therapy arm exceeds FiO2 ≥ 40 % to maintain SpO2 ≥ 92 % (or ≥94 %) or oxygen requirement in standard subnasal oxygen therapy arm exceeds >2L/min to maintain SpO2 ≥ 92 % (or ≥94 %), and iv) hospital internal Early Warning Tool calls for medical review and escalation of care. Secondary outcomes include transfer to tertiary institution, admission to intensive care, length of stay, length of oxygen treatment, need for non-invasive/invasive ventilation, intubation, adverse events, and cost. DISCUSSION: This large multicenter randomised trial will allow the definitive assessment of the efficacy of HFNC therapy as compared to standard subnasal oxygen in the treatment of bronchiolitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000388718 (registered on 10 April 2013).

Nutrition therapy in adult patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a prospective, multicentre, observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe current nutrition delivery practices and to identify barriers to nutrition in patients receiving venovenous or venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in multiple centres in Australia and New Zealand. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective, multicentre, observational study, set in eight intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand, of adults treated with ECMO who were expected to receive enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy for > 72 hours. Data were collected from the start of ECMO until 7 days after ECMO cessation. RESULTS: There were 107 patients enrolled, with a median age of 42 years (interquartile range [IQR], 31-56 years), and 54 patients (50%) were men. EN was the most commonly delivered mode of nutrition (on 84% of days) although it was interrupted on 53% of days. The median interruption duration was 8 hours (IQR, 4-5 hours] per episode. The two most common barriers to EN delivery were fasting for a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure and high gastric residual volumes. Median daily calorie and protein deliveries from EN and/or PN were 1680 kcal (IQR, 960-2100 kcal) and 72 g (IQR, 42-98 g) of protein. For patients who received EN and/or PN, median calorie and protein deficits during the study period were -7118 kcal (IQR, -11 614 to -4510 kcal) and -325 g (IQR, - 525 to -188 g) of protein. CONCLUSIONS: EN was the most commonly used nutrition-delivery mode during ECMO treatment but was frequently interrupted. Compared with estimated calorie and protein requirements, lesser but reasonably acceptable amounts were delivered, although calorie and protein deficits still existed.

Wrist acupressure for post-operative nausea and vomiting (WrAP): A pilot study.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting are undesirable complications following anaesthesia and surgery. It is thought that acupressure might prevent nausea and vomiting through an alteration in endorphins and serotonin levels. In this two-group, parallel, superiority, randomised control pilot trial we aimed to test pre-defined feasibility outcomes and provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of PC 6 acupoint stimulation vs. placebo for reducing post-operative nausea and vomiting in cardiac surgery patients. Eighty patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention PC 6 acupoint stimulation via beaded intervention wristbands group (n=38) or placebo sham wristband group (n=42). The main outcome was assessment of pre-defined feasibility criteria with secondary outcomes for nausea, vomiting, rescue anti-emetic therapy, quality of recovery and adverse events. Findings suggest that a large placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of PC 6 stimulation on PONV in the post-cardiac surgery population is feasible and justified given the preliminary clinically significant reduction in vomiting in the intervention group in this pilot. The intervention was tolerated well by participants and if wrist acupressure of PC 6 acupoint is proven effective in a large trial it is a simple non-invasive intervention that could easily be incorporated into practice.

An engineered micropattern to reduce bacterial colonization, platelet adhesion and fibrin sheath formation for improved biocompatibility of central venous catheters.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) and catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) are common complications of central venous catheters (CVC), which are used to monitor patient health and deliver medications. CVCs are subject to protein adsorption and platelet adhesion as well as colonization by the natural skin flora (i.e. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis). Antimicrobial and antithrombotic drugs can prevent infections and thrombosis-related complications, but have associated resistance and safety risks. Surface topographies have shown promise in limiting platelet and bacterial adhesion, so it was hypothesized that an engineered Sharklet micropattern, inspired by shark-skin, may provide a combined approach as it has wide reaching anti-fouling capabilities. To assess the feasibility for this micropattern to improve CVC-related healthcare outcomes, bacterial colonization and platelet interactions were analyzed in vitro on a material common for vascular access devices. METHODS: To evaluate bacterial inhibition after simulated vascular exposure, micropatterned thermoplastic polyurethane surfaces were preconditioned with blood proteins in vitro then subjected to a bacterial challenge for 1 and 18 h. Platelet adhesion was assessed with fluorescent microscopy after incubation of the surfaces with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) supplemented with calcium. Platelet activation was further assessed by monitoring fibrin formation with fluorescent microscopy after exposure of the surfaces to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) supplemented with calcium in a flow-cell. Results are reported as percent reductions and significance is based on t-tests and ANOVA models of log reductions. All experiments were replicated at least three times. RESULTS: Blood and serum conditioned micropatterned surfaces reduced 18 h S. aureus and S. epidermidis colonization by 70% (p ≤ 0.05) and 71% (p < 0.01), respectively, when compared to preconditioned unpatterned controls. Additionally, platelet adhesion and fibrin sheath formation were reduced by 86% and 80% (p < 0.05), respectively, on the micropattern, when compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The Sharklet micropattern, in a CVC-relevant thermoplastic polyurethane, significantly reduced bacterial colonization and relevant platelet interactions after simulated vascular exposure. These results suggest that the incorporation of the Sharklet micropattern on the surface of a CVC may inhibit the initial events that lead to CRBSI and CRT.

The impact of acute lung injury, ECMO and transfusion on oxidative stress and plasma selenium levels in an ovine model.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of smoke induced acute lung injury (S-ALI), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and transfusion on oxidative stress and plasma selenium levels. Forty ewes were divided into (i) healthy control (n=4), (ii) S-ALI control (n=7), (iii) ECMO control (n=7), (iv) S-ALI+ECMO (n=8) and (v) S-ALI+ECMO+packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion (n=14). Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), selenium and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were analysed at baseline, after smoke injury (or sham) and 0.25, 1, 2, 6, 7, 12 and 24h after initiation of ECMO. Peak TBARS levels were similar across all groups. Plasma selenium decreased by 54% in S-ALI sheep (1.36±0.20 to 0.63±0.27µmol/L, p<0.0001), and 72% in sheep with S-ALI+ECMO at 24h (1.36±0.20 to 0.38±0.19, p<0.0001). PRBC transfusion had no effect on TBARS, selenium levels or glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma. While ECMO independently increased TBARS in healthy sheep to levels which were similar to the S-ALI control, the addition of ECMO after S-ALI caused a negligible increase in TBARS. This suggests that the initial lung injury was the predominant feature in the TBARS response. In contrast, the addition of ECMO in S-ALI sheep exacerbated reductions in plasma selenium beyond that of S-ALI or ECMO alone. Clinical studies are needed to confirm the extent and duration of selenium loss associated with ECMO.

Plasma selenium status in a group of Australian blood donors and fresh blood components.

The purpose of this study was to assess plasma selenium levels in an Australian blood donor population and measure extra-cellular selenium levels in fresh manufactured blood components. Selenium levels were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman background correction. The mean plasma selenium level in healthy plasmapharesis donors was 85.6±0.5 µg/L and a regional difference was observed between donors in South East Queensland and Far North Queensland. Although participants had selenium levels within the normal range (55.3-110.5 µg/L), 88.5% had levels below 100 µg/L, a level that has been associated with sub-optimal activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Extra-cellular selenium levels in clinical fresh frozen plasma (cFFP) and apheresis-derived platelets (APH Plt) were within the normal range. Packed red blood cells (PRBC) and pooled buffy coat-derived platelets (BC Plt) had levels at the lower limit of detection, which may have clinical implications to the massively transfused patient.

Management of acute smoke inhalation injury.

Pulmonary injury from smoke inhalation is common in burn victims, significantly contributing to the morbidity and mortality of fire-related injuries. The impacts of improvement in other aspects of burn care have not been mirrored in treatment of smoke inhalation. Smoke is heterogeneous and unique to each fire; it comprises particulates, respiratory irritants and systemic toxins as well as heat, all contributing to the pathological insult. Thermal injury below the vocal cords is rare because of effective heat dissipation in the upper airway. Particulate matter is the chief contributor to the pathophysiology of smoke inhalation injury, which has been extensively described. Of paramount importance is the cascade of inflammatory mediators following interaction of irritant substances with lung parenchyma, leading to pulmonary oedema, cast formation, airway obstruction, loss of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and ventilation/perfusion mismatch. Current treatment is based on supportive care, with airway management, mechanical ventilation, humidification and aggressive airway toilet the mainstays. Nebulisation of n2-agonists, heparin and N-acetylcysteine have a role in management, as does more specific treatment of carbon monoxide or cyanide intoxication. Many promising treatments are currently under investigation. The therapeutic strategy of decontaminating the lungs early after smoke exposure to prevent inhalation injury has received little attention and may be of significant value. This could potentially utilise amphoteric, hypertonic chelating agents developed for topical and ocular chemical exposures.

The staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 7 binds IgA and complement C5 and inhibits IgA-Fc alpha RI binding and serum killing of bacteria.

The staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs) are close relatives of the superantigens but are coded for by a separate gene cluster within a 19-kb region of the pathogenicity island SaPIn2. rSSL7 (formally known as SET1) bound with high affinity (K(D), 1.1 nM) to the monomeric form of human IgA1 and IgA2 plus serum IgA from primate, pig, rat, and horse. SSL7 also bound the secretory form of IgA found in milk from human, cow, and sheep, and inhibited IgA binding to cell surface FcalphaRI (CD89) and to a soluble form of the FcalphaRI protein. In addition to IgA, SSL7 bound complement factor C5 from human (K(D), 18 nM), primate, sheep, pig, and rabbit serum, and inhibited complement-mediated hemolysis and serum killing of a Gram-negative organism Escherichia coli. SSL7 is a superantigen-like protein secreted from Staphylococcus aureus that blocks IgA-FcR interactions and inhibits complement, leading to increased survival of a sensitive bacterium in blood.

Flammable liquid burns in children.

OBJECTIVES: To document and describe the effects of flammable liquid burns in children. To identify the "at risk" population in order to tailor a burns prevention programme. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND SETTING: Retrospective study with information obtained from the departmental database of children treated at the burns centre at The Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane between August 1997 and October 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and ages of children burned, risk factors contributing to the accident, injuries sustained, treatment required and long-term sequelae. RESULTS: Fifty-nine children sustained flammable liquid burns (median age 10.5 years), with a clear preponderance of males (95%). The median total body surface area burned was 8% (range 0.5-70%). Twenty-seven (46%) of the patients required debridement and grafting. Hypertrophic scars occurred in 56% of the children and contractures in 14%, of which all of the latter required surgical release. Petrol was the causative liquid in the majority (83%) of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified the population most at risk of sustaining flammable liquid burns were young adolescent males. In the majority of cases these injuries were deemed preventable.