One step at a time. Shaping consensus on research priorities and terminology in telehealth in musculoskeletal pain: an international modified e-Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth has emerged as an alternative model for treatment delivery and has become an important component of health service delivery. However, there is inconsistency in the use of terminologies and a lack of research priorities in telehealth in musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this international, multidisciplinary expert panel assembled in a modified three-round e-Delphi survey is to achieve a consensus on research priorities and for the standard terminology for musculoskeletal pain telehealth practice. METHODS: In this international modified e-Delphi survey, we invited an expert panel consisting of researchers, clinicians, consumer representatives, industry partners, healthcare managers, and policymakers to participate in a three-round e-Delphi. Expert panels were identified through the Expertscape website, PubMed database, social media, and a snowball approach. In Round 1, potential research priorities and terminologies were presented to panel members. Panel members rated the agreement of each research priority on a 5-point Likert scale and an 11-point numerical scale, and each terminology on a 5-point Likert scale for the "telehealth in musculoskeletal pain " field over rounds. At least 80% of the panel members were required to agree to be deemed a consensus. We analyzed the data descriptively and assessed the stability of the results using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. RESULTS: We performed an international e-Delphi survey from February to August 2022. Of 694 invited people, 160 panel members participated in the first round, 133 in the second round (83% retention), and 134 in the third round (84% retention). Most of the panel members were researchers 76 (47%), clinicians 57 (36%), and consumer representatives 9 (6%) of both genders especially from Brazil 31 (19%), India 22 (14%), and Australia 19 (12%) in the first round. The panel identified fourteen telehealth research priorities spanned topics including the development of strategies using information and communication technology, telehealth implementation services, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telehealth interventions, equity of telehealth interventions, qualitative research and eHealth literacy in musculoskeletal pain conditions from an initial list of 20 research priorities. The consensus was reached for "digital health" and "telehealth" as standard terminologies from an initial list of 37 terminologies. CONCLUSION: An international, multidisciplinary expert consensus recommends that future research should consider the 14 research priorities for telehealth musculoskeletal pain reached. Additionally, the terms digital health and telehealth as the most appropriate terminologies to be used in musculoskeletal telehealth research. REGISTER: Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/tqmz2/ ).

Implementation of physiotherapy telerehabilitation before and post Covid-19 outbreak: A comparative narrative between South American countries and Australia.

The continuous development in telecommunication tech-nologies has created opportunities for health professionals to optimise healthcare delivery by adopting digital tools into rehabilitation programs (i.e., telerehabilitation). These tech-nological advances, along with the demographic and social characteristics of each country, have made the implementa-tion of telerehabilitation a disparate process across regions. We have gathered the experience of four countries (Australia, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia) in two different regions (Ocea-nia and South America) to recompile the history pre- and post-Covid-19 outbreak until January of 2021, the barriers to, and facilitators of telerehabilitation, and outline the future challenges for these countries.

Impact of Cane Use on Bone Marrow Lesion Volume in People With Medial Knee Osteoarthritis (CUBA Trial).

BACKGROUND: No effective cure exists for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Low-burden self-management strategies that can slow disease progression are needed. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are a source of knee pain and accelerate cartilage loss. Importantly, they may be responsive to biomechanical off-loading treatments. OBJECTIVE: The study objective is to investigate whether, in people with medial tibiofemoral OA, daily cane use for 12 weeks reduces the volume of medial tibiofemoral BMLs and improves pain, physical function, and health-related quality of life. DESIGN: This study will be an assessor-masked, 2-arm, parallel-group, multisite randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The community will serve as the setting for this study. PARTICIPANTS: The study participants will be people who are 50 years old or older and have medial tibiofemoral OA and at least 1 medial tibiofemoral BML. INTERVENTION: The participants will be allocated to either the cane group (using a cane daily whenever walking for 12 weeks) or the control group (not using any gait aid for 12 weeks). MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes will be measured at baseline and 13 weeks. The primary outcome will be total medial tibiofemoral BML volume measured from magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary outcomes will include BML volume of the medial tibia and/or femur, knee pain overall and on walking, physical function, participant-perceived global change, and health-related quality of life. Additional measures will include physical activity, cointerventions, adverse events, participation, participant demographics, cane training process measures and feasibility, barriers to and facilitators of cane use, and loss to follow-up. LIMITATIONS: People who are morbidly obese will not be included because of difficulties with magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will help to determine whether cane use can alter disease progression in people with medial tibiofemoral OA and/or influence clinical symptoms. This study may directly influence clinical guidelines for the management of knee OA.

Cytology Preparations of Formalin Fixative Aid Detection of Giardia in Duodenal Biopsy Samples.

Giardiasis is the most common intestinal parasitic infection in the United States. The organism elicits no, or minimal, inflammatory changes in duodenal biopsy samples, so it can be easily overlooked. We performed this study to determine whether Giardia could be isolated from the formalin fixative of biopsy samples, and to evaluate the value of fluid analysis in the assessment for potential infection. We prospectively evaluated duodenal biopsy samples from 92 patients with a clinical suspicion of giardiasis or symptoms compatible with that diagnosis (ie, diarrhea, bloating, or abdominal pain) Biopsy samples were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histologic diagnoses included giardiasis (5 cases, 4%), normal findings (64 cases, 70%), peptic injury/active duodenitis (12 cases, 13%), and intraepithelial lymphocytosis with villous blunting (10 cases, 12%). Fifteen cases (13%) showed detached degenerated epithelial cells or mucus droplets in the intervillous space that resembled Giardia. Cytology slides were prepared from formalin in the biopsy container using the standard Cytospin protocol and reviewed by a cytopathologist blinded to the biopsy findings. Cytologic evaluation revealed Giardia spp. in all 5 biopsy-proven cases, and identified an additional case that was not detected by biopsy analysis. Organisms were significantly more numerous (mean: 400 trophozoites; range, 120 to 810) and showed better morphologic features in cytology preparations compared with tissue sections (mean: 129 trophozoites; range, 37 to 253 organisms; P=0.05). Our findings suggest that cytology preparations from formalin fixative can resolve diagnostically challenging cases and even enhance Giardia detection in some cases.

Assessment of pharmacological activities of two medicinal plant of Bangladesh: Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb in the management of pain, pyrexia and inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The current study aims at evaluating the analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic extract of the stem, bark and leaves of Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb. RESULTS: The AELS and AEAR extract presented a significant (***p < 0.001) dose dependent increase in reaction time in writhing method and showed inhibition of 63.1% and 57.1% respectively at the doses of 400 mg/kg body weight while standard drug showed (P < 0.001) inhibition of 69.23%. In tail immersion method, AELS and AEAR showed maximum time of tail retention at 30 min in hot water i.e. 6.93 sec and 6.54 sec respectively at highest doses of 400 mg/kg body weight than lower dose while standard pentazocine showed reaction time of 7.62 sec. The AELS and AEAR extract also exhibited promising anti-inflammatory effect as demonstrated by statistically significant inhibition of paw volume by 32.48% and 26.75% respectively at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight while the value at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight were linear to higher dose at the 3rd hour of study. On the other hand, Standard indomethacin inhibited 40.13% of inflammation (***P < 0.001). In Cotton-pellet granuloma method, AELS and AEAR extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight exhibited inhibition of inflammation of 34.7% and 29.1% respectively while standard drug showed (P < 0.001) inhibition of 63.22%. Intraperitoneal administration of AELS and AEAR showed dose dependent decrease in body temperature in brewer's yeast induced hyperthermia in rats at both doses. However, AELS significantly decreased body temperature (***p < 0.001) at 400 mg/kg compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: Present work propose that the methanolic extract of Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb possesses dose dependent pharmacological action which supports its therapeutic use in folk medicine possibly mediated through the inhibition or blocking of release of prostaglandin and/or actions of vasoactive substances such as histamine, serotonin and kinins.

Early improvement in depressive symptoms with desvenlafaxine 50 mg/d as a predictor of treatment success in patients with major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This post hoc analysis assessed the predictive value of improvement in depressive scores at early time points for treatment outcomes at week 8 in patients with major depressive disorder treated with desvenlafaxine 50 mg/d or placebo. METHODS: Pooled data from 6 double-blind, fixed-dose studies in adult patients with major depressive disorder. Patients were randomly assigned to desvenlafaxine or placebo. Primary end point was change in 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) scores from baseline to week 8 (or last observation carried forward). Optimal thresholds of improvement (percent change from baseline HAM-D17) at weeks 2 and 3 for predicting 4 levels of treatment success (≥ 45%, ≥ 50%, and ≥ 65% decrease from baseline HAM-D17, HAM-D17 ≤ 7) at week 8 (last observation carried forward) were determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Odds ratios of the predictability of improvement thresholds were computed from a logistic regression model adjusting for significant baseline predictors. RESULTS: Desvenlafaxine 50 mg/d (n = 1207) had significantly greater rates of treatment success for each level of treatment success at 8 weeks compared with placebo (n = 1067). Optimal early improvement thresholds for weeks 2 (20%-30%) and 3 (28%-41%) were highly predictive of all 4 levels of treatment success after adjusting for significant baseline predictors (odds ratios, 0.951-0.960; all P < 0.0001). Negative predictive value of early improvement increased, and positive predictive value decreased, for increasingly stringent definitions of treatment success at week 8. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical observations of patients' early response to desvenlafaxine 50 mg/d may have clinical value in predicting treatment success and guiding patient management.

Family history of diabetes and parental consanguinity: important risk for impaired fasting glucose in south east Asians.

OBJECTIVE: Offsprings of type 2 diabetics have increased risk of metabolic disturbances. The aim of the study is to assess the potential effect of family history of type 2 diabetes (FHD) and parental consanguinity on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Non-diabetic offsprings of one or both parents with type 2 diabetes and healthy controls of comparable age, without a FHD were the subjects of this study. Family history of type 2 diabetes was defined by the presence of type 2 diabetes in one or both parents of the subject. Consanguinity was defined as history of marriage with a first cousin. Fasting plasma glucose levels were determined in cases and controls. RESULTS: Impairedfasting glucose (IFG) was identified in 42% of subjects with FHD and in 14% without FHD. We found a strong independent association of FHD with impaired fasting glucose in both males and females by logistic regression analysis after adjusting the data for age, gender and body mass index (BMI). Parental consanguinity modifies the effect of FHD on IFG. CONCLUSION: We concluded that family history of diabetes and parental history of consanguinity determine the risk for impaired fasting glucose in this study population.

Family history of diabetes and parental consanguinity: important risk for impaired fasting glucose in South East Asians / Historia familiar de diabetes y consanguinidad de los padres: riesgo importante para la glucosa en ayunas alterada en Asiáticos Sudorientales

OBJECTIVE: Offsprings of Type 2 diabetics have increased risk of metabolic disturbances. The aim of the study is to assess the potential effect of family history of Type 2 diabetes (FHD) and parental consanguinity on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Non-diabetic offsprings of one or both parents with Type 2 diabetes and healthy controls of comparable age, without a FHD were the subjects of this study. Family history of Type 2 diabetes was defined by the presence of Type 2 diabetes in one or both parents of the subject. Consanguinity was defined as history of marriage with a first cousin. Fasting plasma glucose levels were determined in cases and controls. RESULTS: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was identified in 42% ofsubjects with FHD and in 14% without FHD. We found a strong independent association of FHD with impaired fasting glucose in both males and females by logistic regression analysis after adjusting the data for age, gender and body mass index (BMI). Parental consanguinity modifies the effect of FHD on IFG. CONCLUSION: We concluded that family history of diabetes and parental history of consanguinity determine the risk for impaired fasting glucose in this study population.

OBJETIVO: Los hijos con diabetes de Tipo 2 tienen un riesgo mayor de trastornos metabólicos. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el efecto potencial de la historia familiar en la diabetes Tipo 2 (HFD) y la consanguinidad de los padres en los niveles de glucosa plasmática en ayunas (GPA). SUJETOS Y MÉTODOS: Los hijos no diabéticos de uno o ambos padres con diabetes de Tipo 2 y controles sanos de edad comparable, sin HFD, constituyeron los sujetos de este estudio. La historia familiar de diabetes de Tipo 2 se definió por la presencia de la diabetes de Tipo 2 en uno o ambos padres del sujeto. La consanguinidad se definió como la historia del matrimonio con un primer primo o prima. Los niveles de glucosa plasmática fueron determinados en los casos y los controles. RESULTADOS: La glucosa en ayunas alterada (GAA) fue identificada en el 42% de los sujetos con HFD y en 14% sin HFD. Se halló una fuerte asociación independiente fuerte de HFD con la glucosa en ayunas alterada tanto en varones como en hembras, mediante el análisis de regresión logística después de ajustar los datos de edad, género e índice de masa corporal (IMC). La consanguinidad de los padres modifica el efecto de HFD sobre la GAA. CONCLUSIÓN: Se llegó a la conclusión de que la historia familiar de diabetes y la historia de consanguinidad de padre y madre determina el riesgo de glucosa en ayunas alternada en la población bajo estudio.

Combination nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor(s) plus nevirapine, nelfinavir, or ritonavir in stable antiretroviral therapy-experienced HIV-infected children: week 24 results of a randomized controlled trial--PACTG 377. Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 377 Study Team.

One hundred eighty-one antiretroviral-experienced, protease inhibitor-naive, clinically stable HIV-infected children between 4 months and 17 years of age were randomly assigned to receive one of four combination regimens to evaluate the change in plasma HIV RNA, safety, and tolerance when changing antiretroviral therapy to a protease inhibitor-containing combination regimen. All four regimens contained stavudine; in addition children received nevirapine plus ritonavir, lamivudine plus nelfinavir, nevirapine plus nelfinavir, or lamivudine plus nevirapine plus nelfinavir. Twelve additional children chose to receive stavudine plus lamivudine plus nelfinavir, with nelfinavir given bid, rather than tid as for the main regimens. Overall, 51% (89/176; 95% CI 43-58%) of the children on the randomized portion of the study had an HIV RNA response (< or =400 copies/ml) on at least two of the three HIV RNA determinations taken at Weeks 8, 12, and 16. At Week 24 the proportion of children with an HIV RNA response still on initial therapy was 47% (83/176; 95% CI 40-55%) and ranged from 41 to 61% for the four randomized treatment arms. Rash was frequently seen (27%) on the treatment arms containing nevirapine. At Week 24 64% (7/11, 95% CI 31-89%) of the children on the bid nelfinavir combination regimen were still on initial therapy with an HIV RNA response as compared with 46% (23/50; 95% CI 32-61%) on the corresponding tid nelfinavir combination regimen. A change in antiretroviral therapy to a protease inhibitor-containing regimen was associated with a virological response rate of approximately 50% for this patient population.

Discontinuation of long-term transfusion therapy in patients with sickle cell disease and stroke.

Long-term transfusion therapy in patients with sickle cell disease and stroke markedly decreases the risk of stroke recurrence. However, it is not known how long the transfusions should be continued. Published reports have documented a high risk of stroke recurrence after stopping transfusion. We report on nine consecutive patients with sickle cell disease and stroke whose long-term transfusion therapy was discontinued and in whom no ischemic strokes developed during 80.75 patient years of follow-up.

Leukocyte response to administration of corticosteroid in healthy black children with neutropenia.

After a challenge with corticosteroid, increments in the absolute neutrophil count were > 50% in eight healthy black children with neutropenia, and > 2.0 x 10(9)/L (> 2000/mm3) in all but one child. Decrements in the absolute lymphocyte count mirrored the increments. Stimulation with hydrocortisone may be useful in characterizing ethnic neutropenia.