A New Lung Ultrasound Protocol Able to Predict Worsening in Patients Affected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can generate severe pneumonia associated with high mortality. A bedside lung ultrasound (LUS) examination has been shown to have a potential role in this setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential prognostic value of a new LUS protocol (evaluation of 14 anatomic landmarks, with graded scores of 0-3) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and the association of LUS patterns with clinical or laboratory findings. METHODS: A cohort of 52 consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 underwent LUS examinations on admission in an internal medicine ward and before their discharge. A total LUS score as the sum of the scores at each explored area was computed. We investigated the association between the LUS score and clinical worsening, defined as a combination of high-flow oxygen support, intensive care unit admission, or 30-day mortality as the primary end point. RESULTS: Twenty (39%) patients showed a worse outcome during the observation period; the mean LUS scores ± SDs were 20.4 ± 8.5 and 29.2 ± 7.3 in patients without and with worsening, respectively (P < .001). In a multivariable analysis, adjusted for comorbidities (>2), age (>65 years), sex (male), and body mass index (≥25 kg/m2 ), the association between the LUS score and worsening (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.29; P = .003) was confirmed, with good discrimination of the model (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.82). A median LUS score higher than 24 was associated with an almost 6-fold increase in the odds of worsening (odds ratio, 5.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.29 to 24.8; P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: Lung ultrasound can represent an effective tool for monitoring and stratifying the prognosis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary involvement.

Preliminary results of autologous adipose-derived stem cells in early knee osteoarthritis: identification of a subpopulation with greater response.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and functional results of a series of patients with early knee osteoarthritis (KOA) treated with the intra-articular injection of autologous adipose-derived stem cells (aASCs) plus arthroscopic debridement. The hypothesis was that protocol would significantly improve the clinical and functional outcomes in patients with early KOA. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with early KOA, who received arthroscopic debridement followed by percutaneous injection of aASCs, were enrolled into the study and retrospectively analyzed with an average follow-up of 15.3 (range, 6 to 24) months. Patients were assessed through the IKS knee and function scores and VAS pain scale. RESULTS: The mean IKS knee score improved from 37.4 (range, 14 to 79) points pre-operatively to 62.6 (range, 27 to 95) points at the latest follow-up (p < < 0.01). The mean IKS function score improved from 57.2 (range, 25 to 100) points pre-operatively to 83.0 (range, 35 to 100) points at the latest follow-up (p < < 0.01). The mean VAS score decreased from 8.5 (range, 3 to 10) pre-operatively to 5.1 (range, 0 to 8) at the latest follow-up (p < < 0.01). Additionally, patients with a pre-operative VAS score greater than 8 were found to show greater clinical and functional benefits compared with patients with VAS score lower than 8. CONCLUSIONS: The knee injection of aASCs associated to arthroscopic debridement increased significantly the clinical and functional scores in patients with early KOA at a mid-term follow-up, especially those with higher pre-operative VAS scores.

Sonographic detection of massive colonic pseudopolyposis in inflammatory bowel diseases.

PURPOSE: Colonic pseudopolyps are a frequent finding in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet there are no published data describing the characteristics of pseudopolyposis in intestinal ultrasound (IUS). This study aimed at identifying the key features of pseudopolyposis in IUS. METHODS: This case-control study included 12 patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis with extensive left colon pseudopolyposis and 18 matched IBD patients without pseudopolyps at colonoscopy. Luminal (diameters, thickening, stratification, margins, and vascularity) and intraluminal (vascular signals at color Doppler), and extraluminal (mesenteric fat) parameters of the left colon were compared. Anonymized still images and videos of these patients were blindly reviewed to estimate the accuracy in detecting this condition. RESULTS: Among the IUS parameters assessed, the anteroposterior diameter ≥ 12 mm and the presence of luminal vascular signals were significantly correlated with pseudopolyposis. The detection of both these findings were able to detect extensive pseudopolyposis a sensitivity of 75% (CI 95%: 42.8-94.5%) and a specificity of 100% (CI 95%: 81.5-100%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study describing the IUS features of pseudopolyposis in IBD. The potential use of IUS to assess pseudopolyposis might have an impact on IUS monitoring and surveillance of IBD patients with condition.

Factors correlated with transmural healing in patients with Crohn's disease in long-term clinical remission on anti-TNF medication.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Transmural healing is a long-term target for patients with Crohn's disease. Factors contributing to its promotion are poorly understood. This study assessed factors correlating with transmural healing based on intestinal ultrasound, in patients in long-term clinical remission on anti-TNF. METHODS: 68 consecutive Crohn's patients on adalimumab (50) or infliximab (18) therapy with clinical remission ≥1 year were recruited and assessed for clinical features, trough serum levels of anti-TNF and intestinal ultrasound findings. Univariate analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis identified variables independently associated with bowel wall thickening behavior. RESULTS: Sixty eight patients were in remission for a mean of 4.1 years. Thirty-six patients (52.9 %) showed anti-TNF trough levels below the normal threshold. Twenty-two patients (38.4 %) showed transmural healing, 32 (47.1 %) transmural response, and 26 (38.2 %) no treatment response. Transmural healing correlated with higher BMI and lower baseline bowel wall thickening; transmural response correlated with short Crohn's disease duration, high drug levels, and with non-stricturing phenotype. Treatment non-response correlated with lower BMI, lower drug levels, higher baseline bowel wall thickening, and stricturing phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of transmural healing in stable remission Crohn's patients on anti-TNF therapy is multifactorial, mainly due to low anti-TNFs trough levels, development of strictures, and higher baseline bowel wall thickening at treatment initiation.

A case of symptomatic intramesenteric accessory spleen: The diagnostic role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Introduction: Accessory spleen is a congenital defect characterised by a separated ectopic splenic parenchyma usually located in the splenic hilum and the tail of the pancreas. It is present in about 10%-30% of the population and, generally, does not cause any symptoms. Case report: We report an interesting case of a woman with symptomatic intramesenteric accessory spleen detected and characterised by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The patient experienced a long history of intermittent pain in the left upper abdomen. The diagnosis was confirmed by post-operative pathology examination. Discussion: Accessory spleen usually appears as a well-circumscribed ovoid mass, 1-3 cm in diameter, infrequently located in the mesentery. It may rarely become symptomatic because of complications. Diagnosis of this condition as a cause of abdominal is difficult and rarely has been made pre-operatively. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging might help, but they should be performed with intravenous contrast injection, and they cannot provide direct evidence between the pain of the patient and the lesion. Conversely, real-time ultrasound can assess and diagnose the lesion showing the exact correspondence with abdominal pain of the patient. Furthermore, ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound are widely available, safe and relatively inexpensive. Conclusion: Apart from the rarity of this condition, this case report demonstrates the ability of ultrasound to localise the intramesenteric accessory spleen, assess the relationship between the lesion and the symptoms of the patient, and characterise the lesion.

Humeral shaft non-union in the elderly: Results with cortical graft plus stem cells.

INTRODUCTION: Humeral shaft is a common site of fracture non-union. Biology and bone quality represent some of the problems that the orthopaedic surgeon has to face up in the elderly. The goals of treatment of humeral shaft non-union are the achievement of mechanical stability and creation of a favourable biologic environment. Bone graft and stem cells are some of the augmentation techniques available to reach these goals. PURPOSE: Evaluation of the outcomes of humeral shaft non-union in elderly population treated with cortical allograft and stem cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort of 21 patients with humeral shaft non-union was reviewed. Inclusion criteria were patients aged more than 65 years, with a diagnosis of humeral shaft non-union treated with cortical allograft and stem cells. Primary endpoints were 'bone healing' and 'time-to-union'. Secondary endpoints were shoulder and elbow function and patients' quality of life with Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Constant score and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). RESULTS: 6 patients met the inclusion criteria. In 5 of them, the cortical allograft was opposite to a plate, whereas in the other one a "Sandwich" technique was chosen because of large osteolysis. 'Bone healing' occurred in all patients after a mean of 3.3 months (range 2-5). In all but two patients, the elbow range of motion was in almost normal range (15-130). The mean OSS was 35.8 (+/- 6.4), whereas the mean Constant was 53.3 (+/- 2.2). The mean EQ-5D index was 0.451 (+/- 0.21). DISCUSSION: Bone healing occurred in all patients, with a time-to-union comparable or even better compared with other series. The use of cortical bone graft provide both stability and biological benefit, whereas stem cells improve the non-union environmental biology. Functional outcomes were lower than other series and patients' quality of life was similar to Italian elderly women. CONCLUSION: The use cortical allograft with stem cells is a viable strategy to treat humeral shaft non-union in the elderly.

ABO system is not associated with proximal femoral fracture pattern in Southern Italy.

INTRODUCTION:: The mechanism that leads to a given fracture pattern is not understood. Heredity could act in this field through the ABO system. We investigated the relationship between ABO blood system and hip fracture pattern in a population from Southern Italy. METHODS:: Hip fractures were identified through a registry evaluation of the activity of a level I Hospital, and subsequently classified in 'intracapsular' or 'extracapsular' according to their anatomical location. Information on these patients' ABO blood type was collected and compared with general population data from the report on blood donors of the Salerno division of Italian Blood Volunteers Association (AVIS). RESULTS:: 590 hip fractures were included (414 extracapsular, 176 intracapsular) and compared with 709 blood donors. Fractured patients presented a blood group A more often and blood group O less often than the AVIS population ( p A vs. non-A = 0.0033; p O vs. non-O = 0.0024). None of the ABO blood groups were associated with fracture pattern ( p O vs. non-O = 0.5858, p A vs. non-A = 0.409; p B vs. non-B = 0.253; p AB vs. non-AB = 0.212). The rhesus factor was not associated the fracture pattern ( p = 0.34). CONCLUSIONS:: The ABO blood type could play a role as a risk factor for proximal femoral fractures, but in our population its relevance in influencing the fracture pattern is unclear.