Q-TWiST and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Endovascular versus Open Repair for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in a High Deliberate Practice Volume Center.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of endovascular aortic repair (rEVAR) versus open surgical repair (rOSR) for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA), where rEVAR is regularly performed outside of instructions for use (IFUs) (shorter and more angulated necks). Primary end point is incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of rEVAR versus rOSR and aneurysm-related mortality. Secondary end points are cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), perioperative morbidity and mortality, reintervention, and all-cause mortality. METHODS: All rAAA repairs performed between 2002 and 2016 in a single center were scrutinized. Between 2002 and 2007, most rAAAs were repaired using rOSR. From 2007 to 2016, we implemented a rEVAR with an anatomically possible protocol. During this time, severe angulation was rarely seen as a contraindication to rEVAR, and rEVAR was performed on aneurysms with an infrarenal aortic neck cranial to the aneurysm with a diameter of 20-33 mm and a length of at least 5 mm. Demographics and outcomes were reported according to the Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines. QALY was measured based on quality of time spent without symptoms of disease or toxicity of treatment (Q-TWiST) assessment. RESULTS: Eight hundred aneurysm surgeries were performed; of these, 135 were emergency surgeries of which 88 were for rAAA; (42 rEVARs and 46 rOSRs). Primary technical success (rEVAR 89.1% vs. rOSR 87.8%; P = 0.1), perioperative morbidity (rEVAR 56.5% vs. rOSR 64.3%; P = 0.457), and mortality (rEVAR 26.1% vs. rOSR 28.6%; P = 0.794) were nonsignificantly favorable in rEVAR patients. Freedom from reintervention was significantly lower in rEVAR patients at 3 years (rEVAR 74% vs. rOSR 90%; P = 0.038). Three-year aneurysm-related survival (rEVAR 65% vs. rOSR 62%; P = 0.848) and all-cause survival (rEVAR 56% vs. rOSR 51%; P = 0.577) were higher in rEVAR patients. At 3 years, rEVAR patients had a higher QALY of 1.671 versus OSR of 1.549 (P = 0.502). Operating room (P = 0.001) and total accommodation costs (P = 0.139) were lower in rEVAR patients, while equipment (P < 0.001), surveillance, and reintervention (P < 0.001) costs were higher. Median cost of rEVAR at 3 years was €23,352 vs. €20,494 for OSR (P < 0.084) (power>80%). Median cost per QALY of rEVAR at 3 years was €13,974 vs. €13,230 for rOSR (P = 0.296). ICER for rEVAR versus rOSR was €23,426 (95% confidence interval [CI] < €0 to > €30,000). At 3 years, the area under the curve and 95% CI for Q-TWiST was higher in rEVAR compared with OSR (rEVAR 500.819 vs. rOSR 437.838). CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant difference in cost or QALYs between rEVAR and rOSR even when rEVAR is performed on complex cases outside of IFU (shorter and more angulated necks). There is a significantly higher freedom from secondary intervention in rOSR patients compared with rEVAR patients at 3 years.

Effect of adding diaphragmatic breathing to corrective exercises on kyphotic angle and diaphragmatic excursion in postmenopausal kyphotic women: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Age-related thoracic kyphosis can impair posture, diaphragmatic excursion, respiratory function, and overall quality of life (QoL). PURPOSE: This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effects of corrective exercises alone versus combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises on thoracic kyphosis, diaphragmatic excursion, thoracic pain, and QoL in postmenopausal kyphotic women. METHODS: Forty postmenopausal women diagnosed with thoracic kyphosis were randomly divided into two groups. Group A received corrective exercises for 12 weeks (n = 20), while Group B received both diaphragmatic breathing exercises and corrective exercises for the same duration (n = 20). Primary outcome measures were thoracic kyphosis angle and diaphragmatic excursion, while secondary outcome measures were thoracic pain and QoL. Both groups were assessed pre- and post-intervention using a flexible curve ruler for the thoracic kyphosis angle, ultrasonography for the diaphragmatic excursion, the visual analog scale for thoracic pain, and the Arabic version of the QoL Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis for QoL. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in all measures post-intervention (p < 0.05). Between-group comparisons post-intervention revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) except for diaphragmatic excursion, where Group B showed significantly greater improvement (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week program of corrective exercises alone or combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises significantly improved kyphosis angle, thoracic pain, and QoL in postmenopausal kyphotic women. The addition of diaphragmatic breathing exercises provided further benefits by increasing diaphragmatic excursion to a greater degree compared with corrective exercises alone.

Role of Bedside Ultrasonography in Assessment of Diaphragm Function as a Predictor of Success of Weaning in Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

BACKGROUND: Weaning failure is common in mechanically ventilated patients, and if ultrasound can predict weaning outcome remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diaphragmatic function (thickness and excursion) measured by ultrasound as a predictor of the extubation outcome. METHODS: We included 62 mechanically ventilated patients from the chest intensive care unit in this study. Sixty-two patients who successfully passed the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) were enrolled. The transthoracic ultrasound of the diaphragm was performed during an SBT to the assess diaphragmatic function (excursion and thickness), and they were classified into the successful extubation group and the failed extubation group. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the successful extubation group in the diaphragmatic excursion and thickness fraction (p<0.001), a statistically significant negative correlation between the diaphragmatic function and the duration of the mechanical ventilation, and a statistically significant negative correlation between the diaphragmatic excursion and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II. The diaphragmatic excursion cutoff value predictive of weaning was 1.25 cm, with a specificity of 82.1% and a sensitivity of 97.1% respectively, and the diaphragmatic thickness cut-off value predictive of weaning was 21.5%, with a specificity of 60.7% and a sensitivity of 91.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The diaphragmatic ultrasonography was found to be a promising tool for predicting the extubation outcome for mechanically ventilated patients.

Modified Pectoral Nerve Block versus Serratus Block for Analgesia Following Modified Radical Mastectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Modified pectoral nerves (PECSII) and serratus blocks have been recently used for analgesia in breast surgery, but evidence comparing their analgesic benefits is limited. This prospective randomized, controlled study aims to examine the analgesic efficacy and safety profile of ultrasound-guided PECSII versus serratus blocks in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM) for breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One-hundred and eighty adult females scheduled for MRM were randomly allocated to three groups. PECS group patients received a PECSII block with 30mL of bupivacaine 0.25%, whereas SAPB group received a serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) using the same volume of bupivacaine 0.25% before induction of anesthesia. The control group received general anesthesia alone. Outcomes included 24 hours morphine consumption, intraoperative fentanyl requirements, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain at rest and during movement, time to first rescue analgesia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and sedation scores. RESULTS: Both PECSII and serratus blocks were associated with reduced postoperative morphine consumption compared to the control group (p<0.001). Both blocks were associated with reduced intraoperative fentanyl requirements, VAS scores, and PONV as compared with the control group. Also, they were associated with prolonged time to first rescue analgesia and better sedation scores in comparison with the control group. However, there were no differences between both blocks for all outcomes. CONCLUSION: PECSII and serratus blocks provide similarly adequate analgesia following modified radical mastectomy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02946294.

Role of ultrasonography in assessment of anatomic upper airway changes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Instroduction: Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder, characterized by recurrent narrowing and closure of the upper airway accompanied by intermittent oxyhemoglobin desaturation and sympathetic activation. Ultrasound imaging of the airways has advantages of being safe, quick, repeatable, portable and widely available. Airway ultrasound can visualize and assess the mouth and tongue, oropharynx, hypopharynx, epiglottis, larynx, vocal cords, cricothyroid membrane, cricoid cartilage, trachea, and cervical esophagus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study assessed the role of ultrasonography in detecting the level and degree of obstruction of airway passages in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its relation to OSA severity. It included thirty-three patients diagnosed as OSA, and ten healthy subjects as a control group. All participants were ≥ 18 years and were subjected to full medical history, Epworth sleepiness score (ESS), thorough clinical examination, complete overnight polysomnography and neck ultrasonography. RESULTS: Ultrasonography findings showed a statistically significant increase in lateral parapharyngeal wall thickness (LPWT) (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in distance between lingual arteries (DLA) (P < 0.01) among OSA patients. Moreover, there was a significant statistical decrease in the retropalatal pharynx transverse diameter (RPD) (P < 0.05) in the OSA group compared to those without OSA. LPWT and DLA are parameters that can be used to predict the severity of OSA. Combination of LPWT and RPD can achieve a 100% sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound is more objective and convenient than the questionnaire because it doesn't require overnight time consumption. It is also more relevant than pulse oximetry for examining pharyngeal airspace. Also, this study demonstrated that submental ultrasonography is sufficiently sensitive for differentiating OSA severity.

Diagnostic value of urinary molecular markers in bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: In an attempt to find a more sensitive and specific non-invasive diagnostic assay for the detection of bladder cancer cells, the authors assayed the exfoliated cells from patient's voided urine and bladder washing fluids for the presence of telomerase, an enzyme that maintains a cell's chromosomal length, metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which has been associated with tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Their results were compared with both voided urine cytology (VUC) and bladder wash cytology (BWC) for the detection of bladder cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors used preoperative voided morning urine samples from 110 subjects for telomerase, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cytology. Bladder wash samples were obtained for telomerase and cytology. Of 110 cases 73 were histologically diagnosed as bladder cancer, whereas the remaining 16 had benign urological disorders. A group of 21 healthy volunteers were also enrolled in this study. Cystoscopy was done for all patients as the reference standard for the identification of bladder cancer. Biopsy of any suspicious lesion was performed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal threshold values for telomerase activity in urine, bladder wash and MMP-9 [0.05, 0.088 and 0.51 (ng/ml), respectively]. The levels and the positivity rates of telomerase activity and MMP-9 were significantly higher in the malignant group compared to either the benign group or normal controls. Bladder cancer patients with positive cytology revealed positive telomerase activity in urine, bladder wash, and MMP-9 in 92%, 87% and 61%, respectively. Also, these positive rates were significantly higher in bilharzial bladder cancer cases (88%, 89%, 69%, respectively) compared to non-bilharzial cases (50%, 62.5%, 50%). The overall sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 88.6%, 86.3% and 78.3% for telomerase activity in urine, and in bladder wash, respectively. 66.6% and 80% for MMP-9, 58.5% and 100% for voided urine cytology and 64.4% and 100% for bladder wash cytology. Combined sensitivity of VUC with the 2 biomarkers together was higher than either combined sensitivity of VUC with one of the biomarkers or than that of the biomarker alone. CONCLUSION: Urinary telomerase and MMP-9 had superior sensitivities over VUC; moreover, combined use of these markers increased the sensitivity of cytology from 58.46% to 95%. The higher sensitivities of markers in bilharzial bladder cancer than non-bilharzial type highlight their clinical utility in screening patients with urinary bilharziasis.

Effect of a FastSkin suit on submaximal freestyle swimming.

PURPOSE: Nine male collegiate swimmers swam three 183-m freestyle trials at "moderate, moderately hard, and hard" paces while wearing a traditional brief-style suit and on another occasion while wearing a newly designed suit covering the torso and legs with a material designed to reduce drag (FS). METHODS: Postswim blood lactate concentration, V0(2), and rating of perceived exertion were measured. Average stroke length and rate, and breakout distance were determined for each swimming trial. Passive drag and buoyant force were also determined on swimmers while wearing both suits. RESULTS: Swimmers swam at a higher mean velocity while wearing the FS (pooled mean % difference = 2%), but this was accompanied by a significant increase in V0(2) (4% difference, P< 0.05) and blood lactate concentration (10% difference, P< 0.05). Comparison of physiological responses at standardized freestyle swimming speeds of 1.4 and 1.6 m.s revealed no significant difference between the two suit conditions. Passive drag of the swimmers while being towed was not significantly different between the suits. Swimmers were significantly more buoyant while wearing the brief-style suit than the FS suit (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings provide no evidence of either physical or physiological benefits of wearing these suits during submaximal freestyle swimming.

Influence of pulmonary hypertension on outcome of Egyptian patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: an experience in low-resource settings.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a rare congenital anomaly that includes pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension and associated with high mortality and morbidity. Pulmonary hypertension is considered the main cause of mortality in patients with CDH. Recently, many new management modalities mainly directed to control pulmonary hypertension have been introduced which led to improved survival. These modalities are not available in countries with low resource settings as in Africa and Asia. This work detected the effect of pulmonary hypertension on the outcome of patients with CDH in absence of such new management modalities. The study included retrospective analysis of 50 patients with CDH referred to the echocardiography unit, Cairo University Children's Hos-pital from the Neonatal Surgical Unit (September 2010 to September 2011). 60% of patients were male with a median age 6.5 days. (41) 82% had CDH repair at a median of 4 days from admission, 26 (63.4%) needed postoperative inotropic support. The median hospital stay was 8 days. There was 50% mortality rate, 18% of them without surgical intervention. The mean pre-operative PAP was significantly higher than postoperatively (p value .000). Non survival patients had significantly higher mean PAP both pre and post operatively, more inotropic support, more delayed surgery, and lower age at admission compared to survival. Patients were classificed regarding severity of PH, those with severe PH had significantly younger age, more delayed surgery, needed more inotropic support postoperatively and with highest mortality compared to the mild/moderate PH ones. There was a significant negative correlation between preoperative PAP and age at admission and positive correlation with both, day of surgery and postoperative PAP. Post-operative PAP had positive correlation with day of surgery and hospital stay. There was an association between both pre and postoperative PAP and use of inotropes. Logistic re-gression analysis showed that postoperative PAP is a significant predictor for morta-lity (P value .001, OR 1.164, 95.0% C.I. for OR 1.068:1.270).

The role of cyclins and cyclins inhibitors in the multistep process of HPV-associated cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 are associated with cervical carcinogenesis. This is possibly achieved through an interaction between HPV oncogenic proteins and some cell cycle regulatory genes. However, the exact pathogenetic mechanisms are not well defined yet. METHODS: We investigated 110 subjects (43 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC), 38 CIN III, 11 CIN II, 18 CIN I) confirmed to be positive for HPV16 and/or 18 as well as 20 normal cervical tissue (NCT) samples for abnormal expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK4, cyclin inhibitors (p21 (waf), p27, p16 (INK4A)) and Ki-67 using immunohistochemistry and differential PCR techniques. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the expression of Ki-67, cyclin E, CDK4, p16 (INK4A) (p=0.003, 0.001, 0.001) and a significant decrease in p27 (Kip1) from NCT to ISCC (p=0.003). There was a significant correlation between altered expression of p27 (KIP1) and p16(INK4A) (p<0.001), cyclin D1 and CDK4 (p=0.001), cyclin E and p27 (Kip1) (p=0.011) in all studied groups. In ISCC, there was significant relationship between standard clinicopathological prognostic factors and high Ki-67 index , increased cyclin D1 and cyclin E, reduced p27 (Kip1) and p21 (waf). CONCLUSION: 1) Aberrations involving p27 (KIP1), cyclin E, CDK4 and p16 (INK4A) are considered early events in HPV 16 and 18-associated cervical carcinogenesis (CINI & II), whereas cyclin D1 aberrations are late events (CINIII & ISCC) 2) Immunohistochemical tests for p16 (INK4A) and cyclin E could help in early diagnosis of cervical carcinoma 3) Only FIGO stage, cyclin D1, p27 (Kip1) and Ki-67 are independent prognostic factors that might help in predicting outcome of cervical cancer patients.

Comparison of telomerase activity and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in voided urine and bladder wash samples as a useful diagnostic tool for bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of telomerase in urine, and bladder wash and also the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in urine, compared with voided urine cytology (VUC) and bladder wash cytology (BWC) for the detection of bladder cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 110 subjects provided a single preoperative voided morning urine sample for telomerase, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cytology. Bladder wash samples were obtained for telomerase and cytology. Cystoscopy was done for all patients as the reference standard for the identification of bladder cancer. Biopsy of any suspicious lesion was performed for histopathological examination. Of 110 cases 73 were histologically diagnosed as bladder cancer, whereas the remaining 16 had benign urological disorders. A group of 21 healthy volunteers were also enrolled in this study. RESULTS: The optimal threshold values for telomerase activity in urine, bladder wash and MMP-9 were calculated by receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curves as 0.05, 0.088 and 0.51 (ng/ml), respectively. The levels and the positivity rates of the 2 parameters were significantly higher in the malignant group compared to either the benign group or normal controls. Of the entire group, telomerase activity in urine, bladder wash, and MMP-9 were positive in 92%, 87% and 61%, respectively in bladder cancer patients with positive cytology. Moreover, these positive rates for them were significantly higher in bilharzial bladder cancer cases (88%, 89%, 69%, respectively) compared to non-bilharzial cases (50%, 62.5%, 50%). The overall sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 88.6%, 86.3% and 78.3% for telomerase activity in urine, and in bladder wash, respectively; 66.6% and 80% for MMP-9 and 58.5% and 100% for voided urine cytology and 64.4% and 100% for bladder wash cytology. Combined sensitivity of VUC with the 2 biomarkers together was higher than either combined sensitivity of VUC with one of the biomarkers or than that of the biomarker alone. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that urinary telomerase and MMP-9 had superior sensitivities over VUC. The combined use of markers increased the sensitivity of cytology from 58.46% to 95%. The higher sensitivities of markers in bilharzial bladder cancer than non-bilharzial type highlight their clinical utility in screening patients with urinary bilharziasis.