Case Report of the Use of an Intravascular Cooling Device in the Management of Malignant Hyperthermia.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare, life-threatening condition caused by alterations in skeletal muscle calcium channels inherited through an autosomal dominant pattern. The use of specific agents in anesthesia such as inhaled anesthetics and succinylcholine can precipitate a hyperthermic crisis. Patients experience a rapid increase in muscle rigidity, secondary to skeletal muscle calcium dysregulation, leading to acute rhabdomyolysis and possible hyperthermia. Providers must have a high index of suspicion of this disease process because early diagnosis is critical to mortality reduction. Management centers around removal of the offending agent, dantrolene, and supportive care including cooling if hyperthermic. Intravascular cooling devices have been used in thermodynamic regulation after cardiac arrest and have shown to be more effective than dermal cooling techniques; however, they have not been well described in other disease processes. The following case report is the first to describe a patient suffering from MH to undergo invasive intravenous cooling in order to counteract the effects of this life-threatening disease.

Reduced Concussion Symptom Burden in Early Adolescent Athletes Using a Head-Neck Cooling Device.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an investigational head-neck cooling device, Pro2cool, can better reduce symptom severity compared with standard postconcussion care in early adolescent athletes after a sports-related concussion. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, randomized trial design conducted over a 28-day period. SETTING: Six pediatric medical centers in Ohio and Michigan. PARTICIPANTS: The study enrolled 167 male and female 12- to 19-year-old athletes who experienced a sports-related concussion within 8 days of study enrollment and registering a Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) composite score >7. INTERVENTIONS: Pro2cool, an investigational head-neck cooling therapy device, was applied at 2 postinjury time points compared with postconcussion standard of care only. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline SCAT5 composite symptom severity scores were determined for all subjects. Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 5 scores for concussed athletes receiving cooling treatment were analyzed across 6 independent postenrollment time points compared with subjects who did not receive cooling therapy and only standard care. Adverse reactions and participate demographics were also compared. RESULTS: Athletes who received Pro2cool cooling therapy (n = 79) experienced a 14.4% greater reduction in SCAT5 symptom severity scores at the initial visit posttreatment, a 25.5% greater reduction at the 72-hour visit posttreatment, and a 3.4% greater reduction at the 10-day visit compared with subjects receiving only standard care (n = 88). Overall, 36 adverse events (increased blood pressure, decreased pulse, and dizziness) were reported, with 13 events associated with the device, of which 3 were classified as moderate in severity. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the efficacy and safety of head and neck cooling for the management of concussion symptoms in adolescent athletes of an age group for which little to no prior data are available.

Duration of Device-Based Fever Prevention after Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend active fever prevention for 72 hours after cardiac arrest. Data from randomized clinical trials of this intervention have been lacking. METHODS: We randomly assigned comatose patients who had been resuscitated after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac cause to device-based temperature control targeting 36°C for 24 hours followed by targeting of 37°C for either 12 or 48 hours (for total intervention times of 36 and 72 hours, respectively) or until the patient regained consciousness. The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause or hospital discharge with a Cerebral Performance Category of 3 or 4 (range, 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating more severe disability; a category of 3 or 4 indicates severe cerebral disability or coma) within 90 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes included death from any cause and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (range, 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive ability) at 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 393 patients were randomly assigned to temperature control for 36 hours, and 396 patients were assigned to temperature control for 72 hours. At 90 days after randomization, a primary end-point event had occurred in 127 of 393 patients (32.3%) in the 36-hour group and in 133 of 396 patients (33.6%) in the 72-hour group (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 1.26; P = 0.70) and mortality was 29.5% in the 36-hour group and 30.3% in the 72-hour group. At 3 months, the median Montreal Cognitive Assessment score was 26 (interquartile range, 24 to 29) and 27 (interquartile range, 24 to 28), respectively. There was no significant between-group difference in the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Active device-based fever prevention for 36 or 72 hours after cardiac arrest did not result in significantly different percentages of patients dying or having severe disability or coma. (Funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation; BOX ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03141099.).

Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion Reduces Early Allograft Injury and Improves Post-transplant Outcomes in Extended Criteria Donation Liver Transplantation From Donation After Brain Death: Results From a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (HOPE ECD-DBD).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate peak serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and postoperative clinical outcomes after hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) versus static cold storage (SCS) in extended criteria donation (ECD) liver transplantation (LT) from donation after brain death (DBD). BACKGROUND: HOPE might improve outcomes in LT, particularly in high-risk settings such as ECD organs after DBD, but this hypothesis has not yet been tested in a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). METHODS: Between September 2017 and September 2020, 46 patients undergoing ECD-DBD LT from four centers were randomly assigned to HOPE (n = 23) or SCS (n = 23). Peak-ALT levels within 7 days following LT constituted the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included incidence of postoperative complications [Clavien-Dindo classification (CD), Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI)], length of intensive care- (ICU) and hospital-stay, and incidence of early allograft dysfunction (EAD). RESULTS: Demographics were equally distributed between both groups [donor age: 72 (IQR: 59-78) years, recipient age: 62 (IQR: 55-65) years, labMELD: 15 (IQR: 9-25), 38 male and 8 female recipients]. HOPE resulted in a 47% decrease in serum peak ALT [418 (IQR: 221-828) vs 796 (IQR: 477-1195) IU/L, P = 0.030], a significant reduction in 90-day complications [44% vs 74% CD grade ≥3, P = 0.036; 32 (IQR: 12-56) vs 52 (IQR: 35-98) CCI, P = 0.021], and shorter ICU- and hospital-stays [5 (IQR: 4-8) vs 8 (IQR: 5-18) days, P = 0.045; 20 (IQR: 16-27) vs 36 (IQR: 23-62) days, P = 0.002] compared to SCS. A trend toward reduced EAD was observed for HOPE (17% vs 35%; P = 0.314). CONCLUSION: This multicenter RCT demonstrates that HOPE, in comparison to SCS, significantly reduces early allograft injury and improves post-transplant outcomes in ECD-DBD liver transplantation.

Selective intra-carotid blood cooling in acute ischemic stroke: A safety and feasibility study in an ovine stroke model.

Selective therapeutic hypothermia (TH) showed promising preclinical results as a neuroprotective strategy in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to assess safety and feasibility of an intracarotid cooling catheter conceived for fast and selective brain cooling during endovascular thrombectomy in an ovine stroke model.Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 3 h) was performed in 20 sheep. In the hypothermia group (n = 10), selective TH was initiated 20 minutes before recanalization, and was maintained for another 3 h. In the normothermia control group (n = 10), a standard 8 French catheter was used instead. Primary endpoints were intranasal cooling performance (feasibility) plus vessel patency assessed by digital subtraction angiography and carotid artery wall integrity (histopathology, both safety). Secondary endpoints were neurological outcome and infarct volumes.Computed tomography perfusion demonstrated MCA territory hypoperfusion during MCAO in both groups. Intranasal temperature decreased by 1.1 °C/3.1 °C after 10/60 minutes in the TH group and 0.3 °C/0.4 °C in the normothermia group (p < 0.001). Carotid artery and branching vessel patency as well as carotid wall integrity was indifferent between groups. Infarct volumes (p = 0.74) and neurological outcome (p = 0.82) were similar in both groups.Selective TH was feasible and safe. However, a larger number of subjects might be required to demonstrate efficacy.

Efficacy of the DigniCap System in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients is not related to patient characteristics or side effects of the device.

BACKGROUND: The DigniCap System is an effective scalp cooling device for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in early breast cancer patients. AIM: This prospective study was designed to confirm the efficacy and tolerability of the device, to explore potential factors associated with its efficacy and to collect data on patient perceptions and satisfaction. METHODS: Between January 2016 and June 2018, 163 early breast cancer patients eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. Hair loss was assessed using the Dean scale, where a score of 0-2 (hair loss ≤50%) was defined as successful. RESULTS: Hair preservation was successful in 57% of patients in the overall series. The proportion was even higher (81%) in the patient subgroup treated with a paclitaxel and trastuzumab regimen. Side effects (feeling cold, headache, head heaviness, scalp and cervical pain) were mild to moderate and did not correlate with the rate of hair loss. Lifestyle, anthropometric factors and hair characteristics failed to be associated with device efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The DigniCap System was well tolerated and found to be effective in preventing alopecia in early breast cancer patients. Our study failed to identify factors other than type of chemotherapy regimen associated with hair preservation.

Theoretical basis for the use of non-invasive thermal measurements to assess the brain injury in newborns undergoing therapeutic hypothermia.

The aim of this paper is to propose a new non-invasive methodology to estimate thermogenesis in newborns with perinatal asphyxia (PA) undergoing therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Metabolic heat production (with respect to either a neonate's body mass or its body surface) is calculated from the newborn's heat balance, estimating all remaining terms of this heat balance utilising results of only non-invasive thermal measurements. The measurement devices work with standard equipment used for therapeutic hypothermia and are equipped with the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), which allows one to record and monitor the course of the therapy remotely (using an internet browser) without disturbing the medical personnel. This methodology allows one to estimate thermogenesis in newborns with perinatal asphyxia undergoing therapeutic hypothermia. It also offers information about instantaneous values of the rate of cooling together with values of remaining rates of heat transfer. It also shows the trend of any changes, which are recorded during treatment. Having information about all components of the heat balance one is able to facilitate comparison of results obtained for different patients, in whom these components may differ. The proposed method can be a new tool for measuring heat balance with the possibility of offering better predictions regarding short-term neurologic outcomes and tailored management in newborns treated by TH.

Effects of a cooling vest with sham condition on walking capacity in heat-sensitive people with Multiple Sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Heat sensitivity is a common contraindication in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), and physical fatigue is one of the most frequently reported symptoms that can affect quality of life. Increases in body temperature may exacerbate fatigue and heat-related symptoms. Decreasing body temperature via cooling devices may mitigate disease symptoms and improve physical abilities and quality of life. This study evaluates the effects of a cooling vest with sham condition on walking capacity using a commercially-available cooling vest specifically designed for pwMS. METHODS: A counter-balanced, cross-over design was used to assess the effects of a cooling vest (CryoVest Comfort, CryoInnov, France) (COLD) from a menthol-induced sham condition (CON) on ground walking time to exhaustion (Tex, s) and distance at exhaustion (Dex, m) in ambulatory pwMS. Secondary outcomes were heart rate (HR, bpm), thermal sensation (Tsens), skin chest (Tchest) and back (Tback) temperature. RESULTS: Ten females with Multiple Sclerosis (59 ± 9 years, EDSS 3.0-5.5) participated to the study. During COLD, pwMS walked significantly longer (1896 ± 602 vs. 1399 ± 404 s, p < 0.001) and farther (1879 ± 539 vs. 1302 ± 318 m, p < 0.001) than CON. Importantly, Tsens and HR at exhaustion were not significantly different between conditions, although Tchest (- 2.7 ± 1.8 °C, p < 0.01) and Tback (- 3.9 ± 1.8 °C, p < 0.001) were lower at volitional fatigue during COLD. CONCLUSION: The lightweight cooling vest improved total walking time and distance in heat-sensitive pwMS. These physiological improvements were likely due to feeling perceptually cooler in the COLD trial, compared to the corresponding point of fatigue in the CON condition.

Effective intranasal cooling in an 80 year old patient with heatstroke.

Intranasal cooling by the evaporation of perflourcarbon is almost exclusively used for the induction of therapeutic hypothermia in post-resuscitation care. This method has proven to be effective and safe. This case presents a successful application to a patient with external heatstroke. The 80 year old male patient was found in deep coma (GCS 4) by emergency medical services (EMS) showing a core temperature around 42 °C. Despite of preclinical physical cooling, the patient showed a persistent temperature of 41.5 °C upon reaching the emergency department. After endotracheal intubation intranasal evaporation cooling was performed and the patient's core temperature was reduced efficiently. We recorded an excellent cooling rate of 2.8 °C per hour. 16 h later the patient was successfully extubated with a good neurological outcome. This case shows that although intranasal cooling is mostly known for post-resuscitation care, there is a sensible application in heatstroke with imminent cerebral oedema.

Effects of Extended Lower Extremity Cooling Following Zone 3 REBOA in a Porcine Hemorrhage Model.

INTRODUCTION: External cooling of ischemic limbs has been shown to have a significant protective benefit for durations up to 4 hours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was hypothesized that this benefit could be extended to 8 hours. Six swine were anesthetized and instrumented, then underwent a 25% total blood volume hemorrhage. Animals were randomized to hypothermia or normothermia followed by 8 hours of Zone 3 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta, then resuscitation with shed blood, warming, and 3 hours of critical care. Physiologic parameters were continuously recorded, and laboratory specimens were obtained at regular intervals. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups at baseline. There were no significant differences between creatine kinase in the hypothermia group when compared to the normothermia group (median [IQR] = 15,206 U/mL [12,476-19,987] vs 23,027 U/mL [18,745-26,843]); P = 0.13) at the end of the study. Similarly, serum myoglobin was also not significantly different in the hypothermia group after 8 hours (7,345 ng/mL [5,082-10,732] vs 5,126 ng/mL [4,720-5,298]; P = 0.28). No histologic differences were observed in hind limb skeletal muscle. CONCLUSION: While external cooling during prolonged Zone 3 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta appears to decrease ischemic muscle injury, this benefit appears to be time dependent. As the ischemic time approaches 8 hours, the benefit from hypothermia decreases.

Effects of endovascular and surface cooling on resuscitation in patients with cardiac arrest and a comparison of effectiveness, stability, and safety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness, stability, and safety of mild therapeutic hypothermia (TH) induced by endovascular cooling (EC) and surface cooling (SC) and its effect on ICU, survival rate, and neurological function integrity in adult CA patients. METHODS: We developed inclusion criteria, intervention protocols, results, and data collection. The results included outcomes during target temperature management as well as ICU stay, survival rate, and neurological functional integrity. The characteristics of the included population and each study were analyzed. RESULTS: Four thousand nine hundred thirteen participants met the inclusion criteria. Those receiving EC had a better cooling efficiency (cooling rates MD = 0.31[0.13, 0.50], p < 0.01; induced cooling times MD = - 90.45[- 167.57, - 13.33], p = 0.02; patients achieving the target temperature RR = 1.60[1.19, 2.15], p < 0.01) and thermal stability during the maintenance phase (maintenance time MD = 2.35[1.22, 3.48], p < 0.01; temperature fluctuation MD = - 0.68[- 1.03, - 0.33], p < 0.01; overcooling RR = 0.33[0.23, 0.49], p < 0.01). There were no differences in ICU survival rate (RR = 1.22[0.98, 1.52], p = 0.07, I2 = 0%) and hospital survival rate (RR = 1.02 [0.96, 1.09], p = 0.46, I2 = 0%), but EC reduced the length of stay in ICU (MD = - 1.83[- 3.45, - 0.21], p = 0.03, I2 = 49%) and improved outcome of favorable neurological function at discharge (RR = 1.15[1.04, 1.28], p < 0.01, I2 = 0%). EC may delay the hypothermia initiation time, and there was no significant difference between the two cooling methods in the time from the start of patients' cardiac arrest to achieve the target temperature (MD = - 46.64[- 175.86, 82.58]). EC was superior to non-ArcticSun in terms of cooling efficiency. Although there was no statistical difference in ICU survival rate, ICU length of stay, and hospitalization survival rate, in comparison to non-ArcticSun, EC improved rates of neurologically intact survival (RR = 1.16 [1.01, 1.35], p = 0.04, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Among adult patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation, although there is no significant difference between the two cooling methods in the time from the start of cardiac arrest to achieve the target temperature, the faster cooling rate and more stable cooling process in EC shorten patients' ICU hospitalization time and help more patients obtain good neurological prognosis compared with patients receiving SC. Meanwhile, although EC has no significant difference in patient outcomes compared with ArcticSun, EC has improved rates of neurologically intact survival.

A prospective comparative study between a cooling device and manual cooling after total knee arthroplasty.

Studies have shown that the use of cryotherapy after a total knee arthroplasty can have beneficial effect on blood loss, pain and medication usage. In this study, the effect of the applied cryotherapy procedure is investigated. 52 patients underwent a total knee arthroplasty. The test group received continuous cooling, whereas the control group received manual conventional cooling with ice dressing. The knee circumference and range of motion, medication use, satisfaction and pain were investigated. There is no statistical significant difference in pain and medication usage. A significant difference is observed in the swelling of the knee on the first postoperative day, the range of motion on the 7 th , 10 th , 11 th and 12 th postoperative day, and the satisfaction rate. This study shows that continuous cooling has a positive effect on the swelling and range of motion of the knee, and on the satisfaction of the treatment. Clinical trial registration number : Clinical trial number : EudraCT2015-000259-26.

Inducing Brain Cooling Without Core Temperature Reduction in Pigs Using a Novel Nasopharyngeal Method: An Effectiveness and Safety Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute brain lesions constitute an alarming public health concern. Neuroprotective therapies have been implemented to stabilize, prevent, or reduce brain lesions, thus improving neurological outcomes and survival rates. Hypothermia is the most effective approach, mainly attributed to the reduction in cellular metabolic activity. Whole-body cooling is currently implemented by healthcare professionals; however, adverse events are frequent, limiting the potential benefits of therapeutic hypothermia. Therefore, selective methods have been developed to reduce adverse events while delivering neuroprotection. Nasopharyngeal approaches are the safest and most effective methods currently considered. Our primary objective was to determine the effects of a novel nasopharyngeal catheter on the brain temperature of pigs. METHODS: In this prospective, non-randomized, interventional experimental trial, 10 crossbred pigs underwent nasopharyngeal cooling for 60 min followed by 15 min of rewarming. Nasopharyngeal catheters were inserted into the left nostril and properly positioned at the nasopharyngeal cavity. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal cooling was associated with a decrease in brain temperature, which was more significant in the left cerebral hemisphere (p = 0.01). There was a reduction of 1.47 ± 0.86 °C in the first 5 min (p < 0.001), 2.45 ± 1.03 °C within 10 min (p < 0.001), and 4.45 ± 1.36 °C after 1 h (p < 0.001). The brain-core gradient was 4.57 ± 0.87 °C (p < 0.001). Rectal, esophageal, and pulmonary artery temperatures and brain and systemic hemodynamic parameters, remained stable during the procedure. Following brain cooling, values of oxygen partial pressure in brain tissue significantly decreased. No mucosal lesions were detected during nasal, pharyngeal, or oral inspection after nasopharyngeal catheter removal. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a novel nasopharyngeal cooling catheter effectively induced and maintained exclusive brain cooling when combined with effective counter-warming methods. Exclusive brain cooling was safe with no device-related local or systemic complications and may be desired in selected patient populations.

Using Esophageal Temperature Management to Treat Severe Heat Stroke: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is defined by a core body temperature that exceeds 40°C with associated central nervous system dysfunction, skeletal muscle injury, and multiple organ damage. The most important initial focus of treatment involves reduction of patient temperature. First approaches to achieve temperature reduction often include ice packs, water blankets, and cold intravenous fluid administration. When these measures fail, more advanced temperature management methods may be deployed but often require surgical expertise. Esophageal temperature management (ETM) has recently emerged as a new temperature management modality in which an esophageal heat transfer device replaces the standard orogastric tube routinely placed after endotracheal intubation and adds a temperature modulation capability. The objective of this case study is to report the first known use of ETM driven by bedside nursing staff in the treatment of EHS. METHOD: An ETM device was placed after endotracheal intubation in a 28-year-old man experiencing EHS over a 5-day course of treatment. RESULTS: Because the ETM device was left in place, when the patient experienced episodes of increasing temperature as high as 39.1°C, which required active cooling, nursing staff were able to immediately adjust the external heat exchange unit settings to achieve aggressive cooling at bedside. CONCLUSION: This nurse-driven technology offers a new means to rapidly deploy cooling to critically ill patients without needing to implement advanced surgical approaches or obstruct access to the patient, freeing the provider to continue optimal care in high-morbidity conditions.

Myocardial tissue salvage is correlated with ischemic border region temperature at reperfusion.

OBJECTIVES: Our pilot study investigated the association between region-specific myocardial tissue temperature and tissue salvage using a novel tri-lumen cooling catheter to provide rapid localized cooling directly to the heart in an open-chest porcine model of ischemia-reperfusion. BACKGROUND: Therapeutic hypothermia remains a promising strategy to limit reperfusion injury following myocardial ischemia. METHODS: Large swine underwent 60 min of coronary occlusion followed by 3 hr of reperfusion. Prior to inducing ischemia, six temperature probes were placed directly on the heart, monitoring myocardial temperatures in different locations. Hemodynamic parameters and core temperature were also collected. Approximately 15 min prior to reperfusion, the cooling catheter was inserted via femoral artery and the distal tip advanced proximal to the occluded coronary vessel under fluoroscopic guidance. Autologous blood was pulled from the animal via femoral sheath and delivered through the central lumen of the cooling catheter, delivering at 50 ml/min, 27°C at the distal tip. Cooling was continued for an additional 25 min after reperfusion followed by a 5-min controlled rewarming. Hearts were excised and assessed for infarct size per area at risk. RESULTS: Although cooling catheter performance was consistent throughout the study (38 W), the resulting tissue cooling was not. Our results show a correlation between myocardial tissue salvage and ischemic border region (IBR) temperature at the time of reperfusion (R2 = 0.59, p = 0.027). IBR tissue is the tissue located at the boundary between healthy and ischemic tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that localized, rapid, short-term myocardial tissue cooling has the potential to limit reperfusion injury in humans.

The Efficacy of Warm Compresses in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Demodex Folliculorum Blepharitis.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the effect of warm compresses on meibomian gland dysfunction and Demodex folliculorum blepharitis.Methods: Forty-two subjects (13 males, 29 females; mean age of 56.45 years) enrolled and completed the two-month warm compress treatment study. Three warm compress therapies were compared: Warm face cloth, MGDRx EyeBag® and OPTASETM Moist Heat Mask. Subjects attended for four visits: baseline, two weeks, four weeks, and eight weeks. Subjective symptoms, osmolarity, non-invasive tear break-up time, ocular surface staining, Schirmer I test, meibum expressibility and clarity, and eyelash manipulation and epilation to assess for the presence of Demodex folliculorum, were measured at each visit.Results: Meibomian gland dysfunction, based on a composite score of meibum quality and expressibility, reduced significantly with the MGDRx EyeBag® and the OPTASETM Moist Heat Mask (p < .05). There was no significant difference in efficacy for treating meibomian gland dysfunction between the two devices (p = .29). No improvement in meibomian gland dysfunction was detected with the warm face cloth. Only the OPTASETM Moist Heat Mask significantly reduced the quantity of Demodex folliculorum over eight-weeks of treatment (p = .036, only baseline to week eight significant p = .008). Symptoms and ocular surface staining improved significantly in all three groups (p < .05). There was no significant change observed in osmolarity, non-invasive tear break-up time or Schirmer I test within each group (p > .05, respectively).Conclusion: The MGDRx EyeBag® and the OPTASETM Moist Heat Mask exhibited superior efficacy in treating signs and symptoms of meibomian gland dysfunction, compared to the use of a warm face cloth, over the eight-week period. The OPTASETM Moist Heat Mask demonstrated dual therapeutic abilities, treating both meibomian gland dysfunction and Demodex folliculorum blepharitis. Repeated application of heat for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction may continue to present a good home-remedy option for patients.

Influence of Different Partial Pressures of Oxygen During Continuous Hypothermic Machine Perfusion in a Pig Kidney Ischemia-reperfusion Autotransplant Model.

BACKGROUND: The optimal perfusate partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) during hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) is unknown. The aims of the study were to determine the functional, metabolic, structural, and flow dynamic effects of low and high perfusate PO2 during continuous HMP in a pig kidney ischemia-reperfusion autotransplant model. METHODS: The left kidneys of a ±40 kg pigs were exposed to 30 minutes of warm ischemia and randomized to receive 22-hour HMP with either low perfusate PO2 (30% oxygen, low oxygenated HMP [HMPO2]) (n = 8) or high perfusate PO2 (90% oxygen, HMPO2high) (n = 8), before autotransplantation. Kidneys stored in 22-hour standard HMP (n = 6) and 22-hour static cold storage (n = 6) conditions served as controls. The follow-up after autotransplantation was 13 days. RESULTS: High PO2 resulted in a 3- and 10-fold increase in perfusate PO2 compared with low HMPO2 and standard HMP, respectively. Both HMPO2 groups were associated with superior graft recovery compared with the control groups. Oxygenation was associated with a more rapid and sustained decrease in renal resistance. While there was no difference in functional outcomes between both HMPO2 groups, there were clear metabolic differences with an inverse correlation between oxygen provision and the concentration of major central metabolites in the perfusion fluid but no differences were observed by oxidative stress and metabolic evaluation on preimplantation biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: While this animal study does not demonstrate any advantages for early graft function for high perfusate PO2, compared with low perfusate PO2, perfusate metabolic profile analysis suggests that aerobic mechanism is better supported under high perfusate PO2 conditions.

Cascos fríos para la prevención de alopecia inducida por quimioterápicos / Cold caps for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia

Uno de los efectos adversos que generan mayor impacto psicosocial en los pacientes que se someten a quimioterapia es la pérdida de cabello. El uso de los cascos fríos podría representar una alternativa para prevenir la alopecia. Estos dispositivos producen vasoconstricción en los vasos sanguíneos del cuero cabelludo provocando que los quimioterápicos lleguen en menores concentraciones a los folículos pilosos, y por consiguiente, evitando que los citotóxicos alcancen el metabolismo de las células foliculares. Se propone que este proceso permita prevenir la alopecia, aunque existe una preocupación que es la posibilidad de metástasis en cuero cabelludo si la quimioterapia no llega a este tejido. Partiendo de la consulta de una paciente con diagnóstico reciente de cáncer de mama, surge el interrogante si en pacientes en tratamiento con quimioterapia el uso de cascos fríos en comparación con su no utilización, disminuye la caída del cabello y si aumenta el riesgo de metástasis en cuero cabelludo. Luego de realizar una búsqueda, se analizaron los resultados de tres artículos pertinentes. Se concluye que el uso de cascos fríos en pacientes que reciben quimioterapia representaría una opción válida para prevenir la alopecia sin indicios de problemas de seguridad y se realiza una reseña acerca de la disponibilidad de los cascos fríos en Argentina. (AU)

One of the adverse effects that generate greater psychosocial impact in patients undergoing chemotherapy is hair loss. The use of cold caps could represent an alternative to prevent alopecia. These devices produce vasoconstriction in the blood vessels of the scalp, causing chemotherapeutic agents to reach the hair follicles in lower concentrations, and there forepreventing toxins from being metabolized by the follicular cells. Thus, alopecia could be prevented but, there is a concern that is the possibility of metastasis to the scalp if the therapy does not reach this tissue. Based on a consultation of a patient recently diagnosed with breast cancer, the question arises whether in patients undergoing chemotherapy the useof cold caps compared to their non-use reduces hair loss and whether it in creases the risk of metastasis to the scalp. After performing a search, the results of three relevant articles were analyzed. It is concluded that the use of cold helmets in patients receiving chemotherapy would represent a valid option to prevent alopecia without indications of safety problems. Finally, a review is made about the availability of scalp-cooling devices in Argentina.