Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia due to digoxin-diuretic interaction in post-cardiac surgery patient: a case report.

Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (BVT) is a rare form of malignant ventricular arrhythmia characterized by beat-to-beat alternation in the QRS axis. BVT is a hallmark of digitalis toxicity, but digoxin-induced BVT secondary to digoxin-diuretic interaction in cardiac surgery patients is not widely reported. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman undergoing mitral valve replacement with tricuspid annuloplasty who developed postoperative congestive heart failure and vasoplegic syndrome requiring norepinephrine, vasopressin, and loop diuretics. During postoperative care, she presented atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, achieving rate control with digoxin, but later displayed hemodynamically stable BVT associated with digitalis toxicity. The case highlights the importance of physicians monitoring digoxin toxicity when prescribing digoxin to patients with a diuretic regimen, particularly loop diuretics. During digoxin-induced-BVT, supportive treatment, including discontinuing digitalis coupled with potassium and magnesium supplements, can be considered as long as digoxin-specific antibodies are unavailable, and the patient is hemodynamically stable.

La taquicardia ventricular bidireccional (TVB) es una arritmia rara caracterizada por alternancia latido a latido en el eje QRS. La TVB es característica de intoxicación digitálica; sin embargo, la TVB secundaria a interacción digoxina-diurético en pacientes posoperados de cirugía cardíaca no se ha reportado ampliamente. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 62 años sometida a cirugía cardiaca que desarrolló falla cardiaca congestiva y síndrome vasopléjico en el posoperatorio por lo que requirió noradrenalina, vasopresina y diurético de asa. Durante la hospitalización presentó fibrilación auricular con respuesta ventricular rápida; se logró control con digoxina, pero posteriormente presentó TVB asociada a intoxicación digitálica. Este caso resalta la importancia de detectar intoxicación digitálica durante la prescripción de digoxina a pacientes con un régimen diurético, especialmente diuréticos de asa. Durante la TVB inducida por digoxina, el tratamiento de soporte se puede considerar cuando no haya disponible anticuerpos específicos para digoxina y el paciente este hemodinámicamente estable.

Preliminary clinical and radiological evaluation of osteosynthesis using the Femoral Neck System (FNS) for subcapital fractures of the femur.

Addressing subcapital fractures of the femur poses a substantial clinical challenge, complicated by the diverse range of available osteosynthesis materials. This study is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of the clinical and radiological implications linked with the implementation of the Femoral Neck System (FNS) in osteosynthesis procedures. A descriptive study was conducted involving patients who underwent osteosynthesis for subcapital fractures of the femur utilizing the FNS during the period from 2019 to 2022. The investigation encompassed various facets, including the classification of fractures according to the Garden and Pauwells classifications, criteria for achieving precise reduction based on the Garden criteria and Tip Apex Distance (TAD). At the one-year follow-up, factors such as fracture consolidation, loss of reduction, fracture collapse, complications, and functional outcomes were evaluated utilizing the Harris Hip Score (HHS) scale. The study cohort included a total of 26 patients, among whom 22 exhibited non-displaced subcapital femur fractures categorized as Garden I and II. Successful reduction was accomplished in 23 cases, in which 24 cases (92.3%) displayed a TAD measurement below 25 mm. According to the HHS, patients achieved an average score of 90.9 (ranging from 63 to 100) following the surgical intervention, with predominantly "excellent" and "good" outcomes. The outcomes derived from our investigation corroborate the viability of the Femoral Neck System (FNS) as a reliable option for osteosynthesis in femoral neck fractures. The results obtained are comparable to those achieved with other available implants, as highlighted by previous studies.

-A machine learning model to predict surgical site infection after surgery of lower extremity fractures.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop machine learning algorithms for identifying predictive factors associated with the risk of postoperative surgical site infection in patients with lower extremity fractures. METHODS: A machine learning analysis was conducted on a dataset comprising 1,579 patients who underwent surgical fixation for lower extremity fractures to create a predictive model for risk stratification of postoperative surgical site infection. We evaluated different clinical and demographic variables to train four machine learning models (neural networks, boosted generalised linear model, naïve bayes, and penalised discriminant analysis). Performance was measured by the area under the curve score, Youdon's index and Brier score. A multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) was used to optimise predictor selection. RESULTS: The final model consisted of five predictors. (1) Operating room time, (2) ankle region, (3) open injury, (4) body mass index, and (5) age. The best-performing machine learning algorithm demonstrated a promising predictive performance, with an area under the ROC curve, Youdon's index, and Brier score of 77.8%, 62.5%, and 5.1%-5.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed predictive model not only assists surgeons in determining high-risk factors for surgical site infections but also empowers patients to closely monitor these factors and take proactive measures to prevent complications. Furthermore, by considering the identified predictors, this model can serve as a reference for implementing preventive measures and reducing postoperative complications, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. However, further investigations involving larger datasets and external validations are required to confirm the reliability and applicability of our model.

Repaglinide Induces ATF6 Processing and Neuroprotection in Transgenic SOD1G93A Mice.

The interaction of the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), a key effector of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum, with the neuronal calcium sensor Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonist Modulator (DREAM) is a potential therapeutic target in neurodegeneration. Modulation of the ATF6-DREAM interaction with repaglinide (RP) induced neuroprotection in a model of Huntington's disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no cure, characterized by the progressive loss of motoneurons resulting in muscle denervation, atrophy, paralysis, and death. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential therapeutic significance of DREAM as a target for intervention in ALS. We found that the expression of the DREAM protein was reduced in the spinal cord of SOD1G93A mice compared to wild-type littermates. RP treatment improved motor strength and reduced the expression of the ALS progression marker collagen type XIXα1 (Col19α1 mRNA) in the quadriceps muscle in SOD1G93A mice. Moreover, treated SOD1G93A mice showed reduced motoneuron loss and glial activation and increased ATF6 processing in the spinal cord. These results indicate that the modulation of the DREAM-ATF6 interaction ameliorates ALS symptoms in SOD1G93A mice.

Structural modeling and analysis of fuel cell: a graph-theoretic approach.

A fuel cell, an energy conversion system, needs analysis for its performance at the design and off-design point conditions during its real-time operation. System performance evaluation with logical methodology is helpful in decision-making while considering efficiency and cross-correlated parameters in fuel cells. This work presents an overview and categorization of different fuel cells, leading to the developing of a method combining graph theory and matrix method for analyzing fuel cell system structure to make more informed decisions. The fuel cell system is divided into four interdependent sub-systems. The methodology developed in this work consists of a series of steps comprised of digraph representation, matrix representation, and permanent function representation. A mathematical model is evaluated quantitatively to produce a performance index numerical value. With the aid of case studies, the proposed methodology is explained, and the advantages of the proposed method are corroborated.

Review of bone deficiency in total elbow arthroplasty revision.

Total elbow arthroplasty revision rates have been increasing over time due to the increasing use of the procedure with the accompanying increase in complications. The most common complications that typically require revision surgery include aseptic loosening, periprosthetic fractures, infection, and component failure. The associated instability has an overall revision rate reported to be as high as 13%. One important factor when performing a revision surgery is bone quality and bone loss; this represents a challenge during the clinical decision-making process. Currently, there are several strategies used to address bone loss such as arthrodesis, resection arthroplasty, impaction grafting, allograft-prosthetic composite reconstruction, and custom prostheses. The aim of this review article is to provide a comprehensive review of the current strategies to improve diagnosis of failed total elbow arthroplasty and improve management and outcomes of this patient population.

The Most Popular YouTube Videos About Shoulder Replacement Are of Poor Quality for Patient Education.

Purpose: To characterize the quality of YouTube total shoulder arthroplasty videos as a source of patient information using the DISCERN instrument. Methods: An analysis of the YouTube video library was performed, using a string of 6 search terms related to "total shoulder replacement" and "total shoulder arthroplasty" in the YouTube search engine. The first 20 videos from each search (n = 120) were selected. The top 25 most viewed videos were compiled, screened, and evaluated with the DISCERN score in the final analysis. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to assess the correlation of DISCERN scores and video characteristics. Inter-rater reliability was calculated with the conger kappa score for multiple raters. Results: Twenty-five videos met inclusion criteria, 13 (52%) were produced by academic institutions, 7 (28%) by physicians, and 5 (20%) by commercial entities. Median total DISCERN score was 33 out of 80 (IQR: 28-44). The overall total DISCERN scores, showed no correlation with video likes or views and was negatively correlated with video power index (r = -0.75, P = .001). No association between total shoulder arthroscopy video source and DISCERN score could be demonstrated. All videos analyzed scored poorly by the DISCERN instrument. Conclusions: The current most popular shoulder replacement videos on YouTube are low-quality patient education resources. Furthermore, our study found no correlation between video popularity, as measured by the number of views and the DISCERN score. Clinical Relevance: Successful outcomes following total shoulder arthroplasty may be influenced by the quality of information patients receive.

Influencia de la edad de la madre en los desenlaces perinatales y maternos / Influence of maternal age on perinatal and maternal outcomes

Resumen OBJETIVOS: Describir y comparar la influencia de la edad materna en los desenlaces maternos y perinatales. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo y unicéntrico en el que se reunieron todos los partos ocurridos en el año 2020 en un hospital español. La edad de la mujer se categorizó en tres tramos (1: menores de 35 años; 2: más o menos mayores de 35 años y menores de 40 años; 3: mayores de 40 años). RESULTADOS: Se reunió una población de estudio de 1700 mujeres y encontró una clara correlación entre la edad materna avanzada y el riesgo de cesárea y una tendencia no significativa hacia una mayor cantidad de partos instrumentados. La edad materna avanzada es un factor de riesgo de sufrir distintas enfermedades relacionadas con el embarazo y con malos desenlaces perinatales. Puesto que la tendencia actual marca un aumento de este tipo de embarazos es indispensable conocer los riesgos obstétricos a fin de informar y asesorar correctamente a las embarazadas y llevar a cabo las actuaciones pertinentes que eviten las complicaciones más frecuentes. CONCLUSIONES: Existe mayor tasa de cesárea en embarazos en edad avanzada después de ajustar los factores de confusión. Los desenlaces fetales no se ven afectados por la edad materna ni con otros eventos perinatales.

Abstract OBJETIVE: To describe and compare the influence of maternal age on maternal and perinatal outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, retrospective, single-center, retrospective study in which all deliveries that occurred in the year 2020 in a Spanish hospital were collected. The age of the women was categorized into three groups (1: under 35 years; 2: more or less older than 35 years and younger than 40 years; 3: older than 40 years). RESULTS: A study population of 1700 women was assembled and found a clear correlation between advanced maternal age and risk of cesarean section and a nonsignificant trend toward a higher number of instrumented deliveries. Advanced maternal age is a risk factor for various pregnancy-related diseases and poor perinatal outcomes. Since the current trend shows an increase in this type of pregnancies, it is essential to know the obstetric risks in order to correctly inform and advise pregnant women and to carry out the pertinent actions to avoid the most frequent complications. CONCLUSIONS: There is a higher rate of caesarean section in advanced age pregnancies after the confounding factors were adjusted. Fetal outcomes are not affected by maternal age, as well as other perinatal events.

Analysis of cattle movement networks in Paraguay: Implications for the spread and control of infectious diseases.

Beef exports represent a substantial part of Paraguay's agricultural sector. Cattle movements involve a high risk due to the possible spread of bovine diseases that can have a significant impact on the country's economy. We analyzed cattle movements from 2014 to 2018 using the networks analysis methodology at the holding and district levels at different temporal scales. We built two types of networks to identify network characteristics that may contribute to the spread of two diseases with different epidemiological characteristics: i) a network including all cattle movements to consider the transmission of a disease of rapid spread like foot and mouth disease, and ii) a network including only cow movements to account for bovine brucellosis, a disease of slow spread that occurs mainly in adult females. Network indicators did not vary substantially among the cattle and cow only networks. The holdings/districts included in the largest strongly connected components were distributed throughout the country. Percolation analysis performed at the holding level showed that a large number of holdings should be removed to make the largest strongly connected component disappear. Higher values of the centrality indicators were found for markets than for farms, indicating that they may play an important role in the spread of an infectious disease. At the holding level (but not at the district level), the networks exhibited characteristics of small-world networks. This property may facilitate the spread of foot and mouth disease in case of re-emergence, or of bovine brucellosis in the country through cattle movements. They should be taken into account when implementing surveillance or control measures for these diseases.

Fibroadenoma gigante juvenil y cirugía de reconstrucción: reporte de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía / Giant juvenile fibroadenoma and reconstruction surgery: A case report and literature review

El fibroadenoma es la lesión mamaria benigna más frecuente en la mujer joven, siendo el fibroadenoma gigante juvenil una entidad que aparece principalmente en menores de 25 años. Con una etiología actualmente no bien establecida, se caracteriza por ser una lesión tipo masa mayor de 5cm que puede ocupar más del 80% de la mama y que presenta un importante crecimiento con las consecuencias físicas y psicológicas que ello conlleva. A pesar de ser una lesión benigna, su evolución progresiva con un rápido crecimiento obliga a descartar malignidad, lo cual ocurre en menos del 0,2% de los casos. El diagnóstico se basa en una correcta anamnesis, exploración física y pruebas complementarias, siendo preferible la ecografía. El estudio anatomopatológico mediante biopsia permite confirmar el diagnóstico clínico de benignidad o descartar malignidad ante una evolución sospechosa. El tratamiento es quirúrgico y consiste en la escisión completa de la lesión variando la técnica quirúrgica realizada (desde cirugía conservadora hasta mastectomía con reconstrucción) según el tamaño de la lesión, las características de la mama y la edad de la paciente. (AU)

Fibroadenoma is the most common benign breast lesion in young women, being the giant juvenile fibroadenoma an entity that appears mainly in those under 25 years. With an etiology currently not well established, it is described as a mass type lesion greater than 5cm or that occupies more than 80% of the breast and presents significant growth, with the physical and psychological consequences that this entails. Despite being a benign lesion, its fast evolution and growth makes it necessary to rule out malignancy, which occurs in less than 0.2% of the cases. The diagnosis is based on a correct anamnesis, physical examination and complementary tests, preferable with ultrasound. The anatomopathological study by biopsy allows to confirm the clinical diagnosis of benignity or to rule out malignancy in the event of a suspicious evolution. Its management is surgical and consists of complete excision of the lesion, varying the surgical technique performed (from conservative surgery to mastectomy with reconstruction) according to the size of the lesion, the characteristics of the breast, and the age of the patient. (AU)

Desempeño de PSI/PORT y SOFA para predicción de ventilación mecánica invasiva en neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 / Performance of PSI/PORT and SOFA in predicting mechanical invasive ventilation in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia / Desempenho de PSI/PORT e SOFA para prever ventilação mecânica invasiva na pneumonia por SARS-CoV-2

Resumen Introducción: Son escasas las publicaciones sobre aplicación de escalas pronósticas para predecir el uso de ventilación mecánica invasiva (VMI) en neumonía por SARS-CoV-2. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el desempeño de las escalas PSI/PORT y SOFA para predecir el uso de VMI en pacientes con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo que incluyó pacientes hospitalizados con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 del 01 de abril al 31 de mayo de 2020. Se realizó análisis de curvas ROC, calculando el área bajo la curva de las escalas PSI/PORT y SOFA, así como sensibilidad, especificidad y valores predictivos. Resultados: Se incluyó a 151 pacientes, con edad de 52 años (IQR 45-64); 69.5% eran hombres. Del total, 102 pacientes necesitaron VMI (67.5%). Las áreas bajo las curvas ROC para predecir VMI fueron: SOFA 0.71 (IC 95% 0.64-0.78) y PSI/PORT 0.78 (IC 95% 0.71-0.85). Al compararlas, no hubo significancia estadística (p = 0.08). Conclusiones: Las escalas SOFA y PSI/PORT pueden infraestimar la necesidad de VMI en la neumonía por SARS-CoV-2. En nuestro estudio, SOFA y PSI/PORT no tuvieron un buen desempeño para predecir el uso de VMI en pacientes hospitalizados con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract Introduction: There are few publications on the application of prognostic scales to predict the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Therefore, the study's objective was to evaluate the performance of PSI/PORT and SOFA in predicting the use of IMV in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Material and methods: A retrospective study that included hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia from April 01, 2020, to May 31, 2020. Analysis of ROC curves was performed, calculating the area under the curve for PSI/PORT and SOFA scores, as well as sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Results: 151 patients were included, aged 52 years (IQR 45-64); 69.5% were men. Of the total, 102 patients required IMV (67.5%). Area under the curve to predict IMV were: SOFA 0.71 (95% CI 0.64-0.78) and PSI/PORT 0.78 (95% CI 0.71-0.85). When comparing them, there was no statistical significance (p = 0.08). Conclusions: In patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, SOFA and PSI/PORT may underestimate the need for IMV. In our study, SOFA and PSI/PORT score performed fair in predicting IMV use in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Resumo Introdução: Existem poucas publicações sobre a aplicação de escalas prognósticas para prever o uso de ventilação mecânica invasiva (VMI) na pneumonia por SARS-CoV-2. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o desempenho do PSI/PORT e SOFA para prever o uso de IMV em pacientes com pneumonia por SARS-CoV-2. Material e métodos: Estudo retrospectivo que incluiu pacientes internados com pneumonia por SARS-CoV-2 entre 1o de abril de 2020 e 31 de maio de 2020. Foi realizada análise da curva ROC, calculando a área sob a curva PSI/PORT e SOFA, bem como a sensibilidade, especificidade e valores preditivos. Resultados: Foram incluídos 151 pacientes, com idade de 52 anos (IQR 45-64); 69.5% eram homens. Do total, 102 pacientes necessitaram de VMI (67.5%). As áreas sob as curvas ROC para predizer VMI foram: SOFA 0.71 (IC 95% 0.64-0.78) e PSI/PORT 0.78 (IC 95% 0.71-0.85). Ao compará-los, não houve significância estatística (p = 0.08). Conclusões: SOFA e PSI/PORT podem subestimar a necessidade de VMI na pneumonia por SARS-CoV-2. Em nosso estudo, SOFA e PSI/PORT não tiveram bom desempenho na previsão do uso de VMI em pacientes hospitalizados com pneumonia por SARS-CoV-2.

Technical considerations and early results of magnetic compressive intramedullary nailing for humeral shaft delayed unions and nonunions.

Background: Expandable magnetic rods and intramedullary nails are being used in a number of innovative ways, including limb length discrepancy and scoliosis correction. However, recently, the full complement of these devices has been further explored, with the utilization of their compressive capacity to improve fracture healing. The purpose of the present study was to report on early results of compressive magnetic intramedullary nailing for humeral shaft delayed unions and nonunions. Methods: This retrospective case series was completed at a level 1 trauma center, with adult patients who underwent compressive intramedullary nailing from 2017 to 2021 for humeral shaft nonunion or delayed union. The primary indication for this procedure was nonunion in the setting of previous conventional fixation, but a subset of patients with atrophic nonunions and risk factors for recalcitrant nonunion were also included. Results: Fourteen patients, with a mean age of 51 ± 17 years, underwent compressive magnetic intramedullary nailing. Nine patients had previously underwent surgery, 6 of which had undergone multiple prior procedures. Five others were initially treated nonoperatively and underwent surgery 4.1 ± 2.9 months out from injury. Ten patients went on to union at a mean of 2.9 ± 2.4 months. One patient experienced hardware failure with nail cut-out at 2 weeks, and one required revision surgery for a wound infection. Three other patients were lost to follow-up, one of which was deceased for reasons unrelated to surgery. Conclusion: Compressive magnetic intramedullary nails are a viable solution for complex humeral shaft nonunions, particularly in the setting of previously well-fixed fractures and those at risk of recalcitrant nonunion. However, comparative and prospective studies looking at union rates and secondary procedures are needed to more clearly define their role in treatment and assure their safety, given recent concerns regarding osteolysis at the nail modular junction.

Joint aspiration and serum markers - do they matter in the diagnosis of native shoulder sepsis? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Septic arthritis of the native shoulder is traditionally diagnosed with the same strategies as knee or hip septic arthritis. However, septic arthritis of the shoulder is frequently a missed or delayed diagnosis. Reliance on aspiration and serum markers has been called into question recently. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review investigating the value of joint aspiration and serum markers in the diagnosis of native shoulder joint sepsis. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were used in the systematic literature search from January 1, 1960, through January 23, 2021. The primary outcome was to report on the synovial white cell count of patients with native shoulder sepsis. Descriptive statistics using percentages, means, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were used to summarize the results. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies, including 25 case series, one case-control, and five cohort studies with a total of 7434 native shoulder joints, were included. There was no standardized approach to diagnosing septic arthritis of the shoulder. Only 10 studies (32%) reported on synovial white cell count with the majority yielding aspiration counts greater than 50,000 cells/mm3, although one study was as low as 30,000 cells/mm3. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of native shoulder joint sepsis lacks uniformity. Methods used to evaluate shoulder sepsis are heterogeneous and may lead to delays or misdiagnosis with devastating sequelae. Synovial white cell count is underutilized and may also present with a lower value than expected, which is likely related to the time interval between symptom onset and diagnosis.

Coma mixedematoso asociado a infección por SARS-CoV-2 / Myxedema coma associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection / Coma mixedematoso associado à infecção por SARS-CoV-2

Resumen: Aunque se sabe que la infección por SARS-CoV-2 es una causa importante de enfermedad pulmonar, se han observado múltiples manifestaciones extrapulmonares asociadas a COVID-19. Existen en la literatura reportes de tirotoxicosis secundarios a COVID-19, pero los casos de hipotiroidismo descompensado por COVID-19 son escasos. Reportamos el caso de una paciente de 37 años con obesidad que presentó coma mixedematoso asociado a infección por SARS-CoV-2. El estado proinflamatorio secundario a obesidad, el daño directo a la glándula tiroidea por SARS-CoV-2 y la elevación de mediadores inflamatorios en sangre observados durante la infección viral podrían ser mecanismos que desencadenen el coma mixedematoso. En pacientes con COVID-19 severo es importante la búsqueda intencionada de signos de coma mixedematoso y su confirmación con un perfil tiroideo al ingreso hospitalario.

Abstract: Although SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to be an important cause of lung disease, multiple extrapulmonary manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been observed. There are reports of thyrotoxicosis secondary to COVID-19 in the literature, but cases of decompensated hypothyroidism due to COVID-19 are rare. We report the case of a 37-year-old female patient with obesity who presented myxedema coma associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The pro-inflammatory state secondary to obesity, direct damage to the thyroid gland by SARS-CoV-2, and the elevation of inflammatory mediators in the blood observed during viral infection could be mechanisms that trigger myxedema coma. In patients with severe COVID-19, the intentional search for signs of myxedema coma and its confirmation with a thyroid profile at hospital admission is important.

Resumo: Embora a infecção por SARS-CoV-2 seja conhecida por ser uma causa importante de doença pulmonar, foram observadas várias manifestações extrapulmonares associadas ao COVID-19. Há relatos na literatura de tireotoxicose secundária à COVID-19, mas os casos de hipotireoidismo descompensado por COVID-19 são raros. Relatamos o caso de um paciente de 37 anos com obesidade que apresentou coma mixedematoso associado à infecção por SARS-CoV-2. O estado pró-inflamatório secundário à obesidade, o dano direto à glândula tireoide pelo SARS-CoV-2 e a elevação de mediadores inflamatórios no sangue observados durante a infecção viral podem ser mecanismos que desencadeiam o coma mixedematoso. Em pacientes com COVID-19 grave, é importante a busca intencional de sinais de coma mixedematoso e sua confirmação com perfil tireoidiano na admissão hospitalar.

IQM-PC332, a Novel DREAM Ligand with Antinociceptive Effect on Peripheral Nerve Injury-Induced Pain.

Neuropathic pain is a form of chronic pain arising from damage of the neural cells that sense, transmit or process sensory information. Given its growing prevalence and common refractoriness to conventional analgesics, the development of new drugs with pain relief effects constitutes a prominent clinical need. In this respect, drugs that reduce activity of sensory neurons by modulating ion channels hold the promise to become effective analgesics. Here, we evaluated the mechanical antinociceptive effect of IQM-PC332, a novel ligand of the multifunctional protein downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator (DREAM) in rats subjected to chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve as a model of neuropathic pain. IQM-PC332 administered by intraplantar (0.01-10 µg) or intraperitoneal (0.02-1 µg/kg) injection reduced mechanical sensitivity by ≈100% of the maximum possible effect, with ED50 of 0.27 ± 0.05 µg and 0.09 ± 0.01 µg/kg, respectively. Perforated-patch whole-cell recordings in isolated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons showed that IQM-PC332 (1 and 10 µM) reduced ionic currents through voltage-gated K+ channels responsible for A-type potassium currents, low, T-type, and high voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, and transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels. Furthermore, IQM-PC332 (1 µM) reduced electrically evoked action potentials in DRG neurons from neuropathic animals. It is suggested that by modulating multiple DREAM-ion channel signaling complexes, IQM-PC332 may serve a lead compound of novel multimodal analgesics.

Risk of Surgical Site Infections in OTA/AO Type C Tibial Plateau and Tibial Plafond Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the current incidence of postoperative infection for OTA/AO type C fractures of the tibial plateau and tibial plafond. DATA SOURCES: Three medical databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library, were used in our systematic literature search. Search results were restricted to articles transcribed in English/Spanish and publication date after January 1, 2000, to present day. STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria were studies reporting postoperative infection data for OTA/AO type 41C, 43C, or equivalent fractures of skeletally mature individuals. A minimum of 6 total fractures of interest and a frequency of 75% overall were required. Studies reporting on pathologic fractures, stress fractures, or low-energy fracture types were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently screened abstracts, evaluated full-text manuscripts, and extracted relevant data from included studies. Any instances of discrepancy were resolved within the study committee by consensus. DATA SYNTHESIS: Outcomes were expressed using direct proportions (PR) with a 95% confidence interval. The effects of comorbidities on infection rates were reported using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. All analyses used a DerSimonian-Laird estimate with a random-effects model based on heterogeneity. The presence of publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's tests. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with these specific fractures develop infections at a notable frequency. The rates of deep infections were approximately 6% in tibial plateau fractures and 9% in tibial plafond fractures. These results may be useful as a reference for patient counseling and other future studies aimed at minimizing postoperative infection for these injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Nutrition and Vitamin Deficiencies Are Common in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients.

Macro- and micronutrients play important roles in the biological wound-healing pathway. Although deficiencies may potentially affect orthopaedic trauma patient outcomes, data on nutritional deficiencies in orthopaedic trauma patients remain limited in the literature. The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the prevalence of macro- and micronutrient deficiencies in orthopaedic trauma patients with lower extremity fractures and (2) evaluate the impact of such deficiencies on surgical site complications. This retrospective study identified 867 patients with lower extremity fractures treated with surgical fixation from 2019 to 2020. Data recorded included albumin, prealbumin, protein, vitamins A/C/D, magnesium, phosphorus, transferrin and zinc, as well as wound complications. Nutritional deficiencies were found for prealbumin, albumin and transferrin at 50.5%, 23.4% and 48.5%, respectively. Furthermore, a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies (vitamin A, 35.4%; vitamin C, 54.4%; vitamin D, 75.4%; and zinc, 56.5%) was observed. We also recorded a statistically significant difference in wound complications in patients who were deficient in prealbumin (21.6% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.0142) and vitamin C (56.8% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.0236). Our study outlines the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies in an orthopaedic trauma population and identifies areas for possible targeted supplementation to decrease wound complications.

Design of an Automated Multiposition Dynamic Wheelchair.

This work presents a design for an automatized multiposition dynamic wheelchair used to transport quadriplegic patients by reconfiguring a manual wheelchair structure. An electric actuator is attached to a four-bar mechanism fixed to each side of a wheelchair's backrest to reach multiposition. The entire device is actuated through a PID controller. An experimental test is carried out in a simplified wheelchair structure. Finally, the structure of the wheelchair is evaluated through the Dynamic analysis and Finite Element Method under the payload computed with the most critical position reached by the mechanism.