Dry Eye Disease Symptoms Among Glaucoma Patients at a Portuguese Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Glaucoma-related dry eye disease (DED) is often underestimated, but it is an important comorbidity affecting 40% to 59% of glaucoma patients. It may be an exacerbation of a pre-existing condition or a novel disease starting after the initiation of topical medication. The cumulative effect of medication, preservatives and excipients leads to an alteration in tear film composition and ocular surface stability. The main purpose of this investigation was to study a group of Portuguese glaucoma patients regarding the presence of DED symptoms and correlate the severity of the symptoms with the usage of different types of glaucoma topical medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational study of patients diagnosed with primary and secondary open-angle glaucoma. The questionnaire Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) translated to Portuguese (SPEED-Vp) was taken by patients followed in the Glaucoma Department of Unidade Local de Saúde Entre Douro e Vouga, Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal. Data was collected regarding their age, gender, type of topical medication in use as well as frequency and duration of usage. A statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients answered the SPEED-Vp questionnaire. The mean age was 72 ± 7 years old. Fifty-two percent (n=39) were male, and 48% (n=36) were female patients. About 49.33% (n=37) had been on intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering eyedrops for more than five years. About 61.43% (n=43) of patients used IOP-lowering eyedrops with preservatives. Most of the patients used prostaglandin analogs (75.71%, n=53) and beta-blockers (72.86%, n=51). SPEED score average was 2.75. About 25.33% (n=19) had no DED symptoms, 58.67% (n=44) had mild symptoms, 8% (n=6) had moderate symptoms and 8% (n=6) had severe symptoms. No statistically significant correlation was found between SPEED score and age, gender, number of eyedrop containers, number of active principles, application frequency, presence of preservatives, number of eyedrop containers with preservatives, duration of eyedrops usage or any of the medication groups. CONCLUSION: Although a high percentage of patients were on eyedrops with preservatives, this low rate of symptoms might be because patients tended to devalue these symptoms; were already on treatment with artificial tears; or have an underestimation of the sensation of dry eye due to decreased neuronal corneal nerve responses and density. These results were surprisingly positive. This might also be the result of the healthcare provider's sensibilization to this issue (early diagnosis, early prescription of artificial tears and change from preservative to preservative-free medication).

Radiation dose reduction and image quality improvement with ultra-high resolution temporal bone CT using deep learning-based reconstruction: An anatomical study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the achievable radiation dose reduction of an ultra-high resolution computed tomography (UHR-CT) scanner using deep learning reconstruction (DLR) while maintaining temporal bone image quality equal to or better than high-resolution CT (HR-CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: UHR-CT acquisitions were performed with variable tube voltages and currents at eight different dose levels (volumic CT dose index [CTDIvol] range: 4.6-79 mGy), 10242 matrix, and 0.25 mm slice thickness and reconstructed using DLR and hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) algorithms. HR-CT images were acquired using a standard protocol (120 kV/220 mAs; CTDI vol, 54.2 mGy, 5122 matrix, and 0.5 mm slice thickness). Two radiologists rated the image quality of seven structures using a five point confidence scale on six cadaveric temporal bone CTs. A global image quality score was obtained for each CT protocol by summing the image quality scores of all structures. RESULTS: With DLR, UHR-CT at 120 kV/220 mAs (CTDIvol, 50.9 mGy) and 140 kV/220 mAs (CTDIvol, 79 mGy) received the highest global image quality scores (4.88 ± 0.32 [standard deviation (SD)] [range: 4-5] and 4.85 ± 0.35 [range: 4-5], respectively; P = 0.31), while HR-CT at 120 kV/220 mAs and UHR-CT at 120 kV/20 mAs received the lowest (i.e., 3.14 ± 0.75 [SD] [range: 2-5] and 2.97 ± 0.86 [SD] [range: 1-5], respectively; P = 0.14). All the DLR protocols had better image quality scores than HR-CT with HIR. CONCLUSION: UHR-CT with DLR can be performed with up to a tenfold reduction in radiation dose compared to HR-CT with HIR while maintaining or improving image quality.

A Single-Port, Multiple-Access, Custom-Made Device Used in Laparoscopically Assisted Cryptorchidectomy in Standing Horses-A Preliminary Study.

This study evaluates a new multiport device with single access to the abdominal cavity produced with routine hospital supplies that could be applied to laparoscopically assisted cryptorchidectomy in standing horses. Initially, the new device was evaluated on five cadavers of bovine fetuses (n = 5), placed assisted in a minilaparotomy performed in the flank region. Subsequently, the device was evaluated in four cryptorchid horses treated during the hospital routine. During the evaluation of the new device, the possibilities of exploring the abdominal cavity, inspection, and intra-abdominal manipulation with two Babcock forceps were verified. The possibilities were described, and surgical time data were recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. In the cadavers, a wide exploration of the abdominal cavity was possible, with a laparoscopic inspection through the right paralumbar fossa and manipulation of intra-abdominal structures with Babcock forceps inserted by the new device. In cryptorchid horses, laparoscopically assisted cryptorchidectomy with a new device was feasible in two patients, and in the others, it allowed the diagnosis of adhesions and ectopic locations in the inguinal region of testicles retained in the cavity. Therefore, the new device was efficient in exploring the inguinal region of cryptorchid horses in the standing position. The present study is preliminary and can support future studies that aim to improve the developed prototype.

Measurement of stapes footplate thickness using ultra-high-resolution computed tomography: stapes axial plane correlates better with otosclerosis than lateral semicircular canal plane.

BACKGROUND, AIMS: Stapes footplate thickness measurement using ultra-high-resolution CT has been described only in the lateral semicircular canal plane. The purpose of this study was to compare stapes footplate thickness between the lateral semicircular canal and stapes axial planes in patients with otosclerosis compared to controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective single-center study of patients undergoing high-resolution temporal bone CT. Two radiologists measured stapes footplate thickness in both the lateral semicircular canal and stapes axial planes. RESULTS: Between February 2020 and October 2022, we collected 81 ears from 49 patients (75% of women; mean age 51.22 ± 16.6 years, 17 otosclerosis, and 64 controls). In the stapes axial plane, there was a significant anterior thickening in otosclerosis patients (Reader 1: 0.52 ± 0.12 [0.3-0.7] vs. 0.41 ± 0.08 [0.3-0.6], p = 0.001; Reader 2: 0.54 ± 0.06 [0.5-0.7] vs. 0.39 ± 0.08 [0.2-0.6], P < 0.001) compared to controls. These differences were not significant using the lateral semicircular canal plane. CONCLUSION: The stapes footplate was thickened at its AC in otosclerosis patients using only the stapes axial plane. SIGNIFICANCE: We propose to use the stapes axial plane instead of the lateral semicircular canal plane when analyzing the stapes.

Ultra-high-resolution CT of the temporal bone: The end of stapes prosthesis dimensional error and correlation with patient symptoms.

PURPOSE: To describe the reliability of ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (UHR-CT) in the measurement of titanium stapes prostheses using manufacturer data as a reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients treated by stapedectomy with titanium prostheses who underwent UHR-CT between January 2020 and October 2023. Images were acquired using an ultra-high-resolution mode (slice thickness: 0.25 mm; matrix, 1024 × 1024). Two radiologists independently evaluated the length, diameter, and intra-vestibular protrusion of the prosthesis. Post-operative air-bone gaps (ABGs) were recorded. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were enrolled (mean age, 44.3 ± 13.8 [SD] years, 9 females), resulting in 16 temporal bone UHR-CTs. The exact length was obtained in 81.3 % (n = 13/16) and underestimated by 0.1 to 0.3 mm in the remaining 18.7 % (n = 3/16) CT scans for both readers (mean misestimation: -0.02 ± 0.06 [SD] mm, overall underestimation of 0.43 %). The exact diameter was reported in 75 % (n = 12/16) and 87.5 % (n = 14/16) of the CT scans for readers 1 and 2, respectively, and was off by 0.1 mm in all discrepancies (mean misestimation: 0.01 ± 0.04 [SD] mm, overall overestimation of 2.43 %). Intravestibular prosthesis protrusion was of 0.5 ± 0.43 [SD] mm (range: 0-1) and 0.49 ± 0.44 [SD] mm (range: 0-1.1) for readers 1 and 2, respectively, and did not correlate with ABGs (r = 0.25 and 0.22; P = 0.39 and 0.47 for readers 1 and 2, respectively). Intra and interobserver agreements were excellent. CONCLUSION: UHR-CT provides 99.6 % and 97.6 % accuracy for prosthesis length and diameter measurements, respectively.

Stress Load and Ascending Aortic Aneurysms: An Observational, Longitudinal, Single-Center Study Using Computational Fluid Dynamics.

Ascending aortic aneurysm (AAoA) is a silent disease with high mortality; however, the factors associated with a worse prognosis are not completely understood. The objective of this observational, longitudinal, single-center study was to identify the hemodynamic patterns and their influence on AAoA growth using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), focusing on the effects of geometrical variations on aortic hemodynamics. Personalized anatomic models were obtained from angiotomography scans of 30 patients in two different years (with intervals of one to three years between them), of which 16 (53%) showed aneurysm growth (defined as an increase in the ascending aorta volume by 5% or more). Numerically determined velocity and pressure fields were compared with the outcome of aneurysm growth. Through a statistical analysis, hemodynamic characteristics were found to be associated with aneurysm growth: average and maximum high pressure (superior to 100 Pa); average and maximum high wall shear stress (superior to 7 Pa) combined with high pressure (>100 Pa); and stress load over time (maximum pressure multiplied by the time interval between the exams). This study provides insights into a worse prognosis of this serious disease and may collaborate for the expansion of knowledge about mechanobiology in the progression of AAoA.

Evaluation of the Prognostic Value of Pretherapeutic Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Predicting Soft Tissue Sarcoma Radiation Response: A Retrospective Study from a Large Institutional Sarcoma Imaging Database.

Background: RT-induced hyalinization/fibrosis was recently evidenced as a significant independent predictor for complete response to neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and survival in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Purpose: Non-invasive predictive markers of histologic response after neoadjuvant RT of STS are expected. Materials and Methods: From May 2010 to April 2017, patients with a diagnosis of STS who underwent neoadjuvant RT for limb STS were retrieved from a single center prospective clinical imaging database. Tumor Apparent Diffusion Coefficients (ADC) and areas under the time-intensity perfusion curve (AUC) were compared with the histologic necrosis ratio, fibrosis, and cellularity in post-surgical specimens. Results: We retrieved 29 patients. The median ADC value was 134.3 × 10-3 mm2/s. ADC values positively correlated with the post-treatment tumor necrosis ratio (p = 0.013). Median ADC values were lower in patients with less than 50% necrosis and higher in those with more than 50% (120.3 × 10-3 mm2/s and 202.0 × 10-3 mm2/s, respectively (p = 0.020). ADC values higher than 161 × 10-3 mm2/s presented a 95% sensitivity and a 55% specificity for the identification of tumors with more than 50% tumor necrosis ratio. Tumor-to-muscle AUC ratios were associated with histologic fibrosis (p = 0.036). Conclusions: ADC and perfusion AUC correlated, respectively, with radiation-induced tumor necrosis and fibrosis.

The impact of methylene blue in colorectal cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis study.

PURPOSE: In patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), the most important factor to decide the need of adjuvant chemotherapy is the histological lymph node (LN) evaluation. Our work aimed to give a broad view over the use of methylene blue and its consequences in the number of lymph node harvest. METHODS: PUBMED, WEB OF SCIENCE and EMBASE databases were consulted, retrieving clinical trials, which mentioned the used of intra-arterial methylene blue in patients with colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Eighteen clinical trials analyzing the use of intra-arterial methylene blue in specimens of colorectal cancer were selected. The articles show a statistical difference between the use of methylene blue and the classical dissection in both variable at study. The results of the statistical analysis of the lymph node harvest variable demonstrate a significant statistical difference between the group that received methylene blue injection and the group that underwent conventional dissection. There is a significant statistical difference between the experimental and control groups for the ideal lymph node harvest (lymph node harvest count greater than 12). CONCLUSION: The use of intra-arterial methylene blue revealed a high potential for the quantification of lymph nodes, considering the increase of lymph node harvest and the higher percentage of cases with more than 12 lymph nodes count, albeit the high heterogeneity between the studies in terms of reported results. Future investigations with controlled double blinded studies obtaining better categorized results should be conducted in order to better evaluate this technique and compare it to the current paradigm.

Barriers to Breastfeeding During Surgery Residency.

OBJECTIVE: Breastfeeding is a highly demanding experience, especially for surgical residents who pump after returning to work. We believe that there are obstacles to pumping and opportunities exist to improve support for this group. The objective of this study was to understand the experience of breastfeeding surgery residents and find opportunities for increased support. DESIGN: Surveys were sent out through the Association of Program Directors in Surgery for distribution among current residents. A survey was also conducted in a private group of surgeon mothers to identify those who had previously been breastfeeding during residency. SETTING: All surveys were performed online with results collected in a REDCap web-based application. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were those who gave birth during their surgical residency. RESULTS: 67% of the 246 survey respondents stated that they did not have adequate time for pumping and 56% rarely had access to a lactation room. 69% of mothers reported a reduction in milk supply and 64% stated that the time constraints of residency shortened the total duration they breastfed. 59% of women did not feel comfortable asking to pump. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical residents reported a lack of space, resources, and dedicated time for pumping. These deficiencies contribute to shorter breastfeeding duration. It is crucial to provide lactation rooms and to foster a supportive culture.

Computed Tomography Evaluation of Frozen or Glycerinated Bradypus variegatus Cadavers: A Comprehensive View with Emphasis on Anatomical Aspects.

Bradypus variegatus has unique anatomical characteristics, and many of its vascular and digestive tract aspects have yet to be clearly understood. This lack of information makes clinical diagnoses and surgical procedures difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical aspects of frozen and glycerinated corpses of B. variegatus using computed tomography (CT), emphasizing vascular and digestive contrast studies. Nine corpses that died during routine hospital were examined via CT in the supine position with scanning in the craniocaudal direction. In frozen cadavers, the contrast was injected into a cephalic vein after thawing and, subsequently, was administered orally. In addition to bone structures, CT allowed the identification of organs, soft tissues, and vascular structures in specimens. Visualization of soft tissues was better after contrast been administered intravenously and orally, even without active vascularization. Furthermore, the surfaces of the organs were highlighted by the glycerination method. With this technique, it was possible to describe part of the vascularization of the brachial, cervical, thoracic, and abdominal regions, in addition to highlighting the esophagus and part of the stomach. CT can be another tool for the evaluation of B. variegatus cadavers by anatomists or pathologists, contributing to the identification of anatomical structures.

Assisting the implementation of screening for type 1 diabetes by using artificial intelligence on publicly available data.

The type 1 diabetes community is coalescing around the benefits and advantages of early screening for disease risk. To be accepted by healthcare providers, regulatory authorities and payers, screening programmes need to show that the testing variables allow accurate risk prediction and that individualised risk-informed monitoring plans are established, as well as operational feasibility, cost-effectiveness and acceptance at population level. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to contribute to solving these issues, starting with the identification and stratification of at-risk individuals. ASSET (AI for Sustainable Prevention of Autoimmunity in the Society; www.asset.healthcare ) is a public/private consortium that was established to contribute to research around screening for type 1 diabetes and particularly to how AI can drive the implementation of a precision medicine approach to disease prevention. ASSET will additionally focus on issues pertaining to operational implementation of screening. The authors of this article, researchers and clinicians active in the field of type 1 diabetes, met in an open forum to independently debate key issues around screening for type 1 diabetes and to advise ASSET. The potential use of AI in the analysis of longitudinal data from observational cohort studies to inform the design of improved, more individualised screening programmes was also discussed. A key issue was whether AI would allow the research community and industry to capitalise on large publicly available data repositories to design screening programmes that allow the early detection of individuals at high risk and enable clinical evaluation of preventive therapies. Overall, AI has the potential to revolutionise type 1 diabetes screening, in particular to help identify individuals who are at increased risk of disease and aid in the design of appropriate follow-up plans. We hope that this initiative will stimulate further research on this very timely topic.

Nonoperative Management for Low-Grade Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the standard of care for the treatment of blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) requiring intervention. Data suggest that low-grade BTAI (grade I [intimal tears] or grade II [intramural hematoma]) will resolve spontaneously if treated with nonoperative management (NOM) alone. There has been no comparison specifically between the use of NOM vs TEVAR for low-grade BTAI. We hypothesize that these low-grade injuries can be safely managed with NOM alone. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of all patients with a low-grade BTAI in the Aortic Trauma Foundation Registry from 2016 to 2021 was performed. The study population was 1 primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included complications, ICU length of stay, and ventilator days. RESULTS: A total of 880 patients with BTAI were enrolled. Of the 269 patients with low-grade BTAI, 218 (81%) were treated with NOM alone (81% grade I, 19% grade II), whereas 51 (19%) underwent a TEVAR (20% grade I, 80% grade II). There was no difference in demographic or mechanism of injury in patients with low-grade BTAI who underwent NOM vs TEVAR. There was a difference in mortality between NOM alone and TEVAR (8% vs 18%, p = 0.009). Aortic-related mortality was 0.5% in the NOM group and 4% in the TEVAR group (p = 0.06). Hospital and ICU length of stay and ventilator days were not different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: NOM alone is safe and appropriate management for low-grade BTAI, with lower mortality and decreased rates of complication when compared with routine initial TEVAR.

Ultra-high-resolution CT of the temporal bone: Comparison between deep learning reconstruction and hybrid and model-based iterative reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (UHR-CT) to assess stapes and chorda tympani nerve anatomy using a deep learning (DLR), a model-based, and a hybrid iterative reconstruction algorithm compared to simulated conventional CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT acquisitions were performed with a Mercury 4.0 phantom. Images were acquired with a 1024 × 1024 matrix and a 0.25 mm slice thickness and reconstructed using DLR, model-based, and hybrid iterative reconstruction algorithms. To simulate conventional CT, images were also reconstructed with a 512 × 512 matrix and a 0.5 mm slice thickness. Spatial resolution, noise power spectrum, and objective high-contrast detectability were compared. Three radiologists evaluated the clinical acceptability of these algorithms by assessing the thickness and image quality of the stapes footplate and superstructure elements, as well as the image quality of the chorda tympani nerve bony and tympanic segments using a 5-point confidence scale on 13 temporal bone CT examinations reconstructed with the four algorithms. RESULTS: UHR-CT provided higher spatial resolution than simulated conventional CT at the penalty of higher noise. DLR and model-based iterative reconstruction provided better noise reduction than hybrid iterative reconstruction, and DLR had the highest detectability index, regardless of the dose level. All stapedial structure thicknesses were thinner using UHR-CT by comparison with conventional simulated CT (P < 0.009). DLR showed the best visualization scores compared to the other reconstruction algorithms (P < 0.032). CONCLUSION: UHR-CT with DLR results in less noise than UHR-CT with hybrid iterative reconstruction and significantly improves stapes and tympanic chorda tympani nerve depiction compared to simulated conventional CT and UHR-CT with iterative reconstruction.

Olfactory cleft stenosis and obstruction on paranasal sinus CT scan in pre-septo-rhinoplasty patients: normal variants or pathologic findings?

OBJECTIVE(S): To determine the frequency of olfactory cleft (OC) stenosis and obstruction on paranasal sinus CT scans in pre-septorhinoplasty of patients who had septal deviation, septopyramidal deformation or nasal obstruction without other sinonasal conditions. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients referred to our institution between December 2013 and December 2021 for septorhinoplasty due to nasal obstruction without other sinonasal or neurological conditions. All patients underwent preoperative paranasal sinus CT scan and olfactory testing. OC stenosis was quoted as none, partial, or total (less than 1/3 contact between nasal septum and ethmoid turbinates, 1/3-2/3, more than 2/3, respectively), as well as OC obstruction as none, partial, or complete (obstruction of less than 1/3 of OC, 1/3-2/3, more than 2/3, respectively). Radiologic evaluation was validated by near perfect interobserver agreement. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (32 women, 43 men) with a mean age of 44.2 ± 15.64 (23-74) years were included, of which 36 were normosmic and 39 hyposmic. OC stenosis was partial in 58.7% (n = 44) of the patients, absent in 28% (n = 21), and total in 13.3% (n = 10), without difference between normosmic and hyposmic patients (p = .66). OC obstruction was absent in 52% (n = 39) and partial in 46.7% (n = 35), without difference between normosmic and hyposmic patients (p = .51). Only one normosmic patient had complete OC obstruction. CONCLUSION: OC partial stenosis and partial obstruction were frequent findings in pre-septorhinoplasty patients without respiratory mucosa disease and did not influence their olfactory status. Total stenosis and complete obstruction were rarer and require further investigation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Isolated partial olfactory cleft stenosis and obstruction should be considered normal variants, whereas the impact of complete olfactory cleft stenosis and obstruction on patient's olfactory status remains to be determined. KEY POINTS: • The incidence of olfactory cleft stenosis and obstruction in asymptomatic patients remains unknown, even though it is encountered in clinical practice. • Partial and total olfactory cleft stenosis occurred in 58.7% and 13.3% of the patients; partial obstruction occurred in half of the cases, but complete obstruction was extremely rare. • There are frequent findings of partial olfactory cleft obstruction and stenosis, but complete obstruction and total stenosis should be further investigated.

Left-Ventricular Unloading With Impella During Refractory Cardiac Arrest Treated With Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is the implementation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) during refractory cardiac arrest. The role of left-ventricular (LV) unloading with Impella in addition to VA-ECMO ("ECMELLA") remains unclear during ECPR. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize patients with ECPR receiving LV unloading and to compare in-hospital mortality between ECMELLA and VA-ECMO during ECPR. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and abstract websites of the three largest cardiology societies (American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and European Society of Cardiology). STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies with adult patients with refractory cardiac arrest receiving ECPR with ECMELLA or VA-ECMO until July 2023 according to the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis checklist. DATA EXTRACTION: Patient and treatment characteristics and in-hospital mortality from 13 study records at 32 hospitals with a total of 1014 ECPR patients. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CI were computed with the Mantel-Haenszel test using a random-effects model. DATA SYNTHESIS: Seven hundred sixty-two patients (75.1%) received VA-ECMO and 252 (24.9%) ECMELLA. Compared with VA-ECMO, the ECMELLA group was comprised of more patients with initial shockable electrocardiogram rhythms (58.6% vs. 49.3%), acute myocardial infarctions (79.7% vs. 51.5%), and percutaneous coronary interventions (79.0% vs. 47.5%). VA-ECMO alone was more frequently used in pulmonary embolism (9.5% vs. 0.7%). Age, rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and low-flow times were similar between both groups. ECMELLA support was associated with reduced odds of mortality (OR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.30-0.91]) and higher odds of good neurologic outcome (OR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.17-4.22]) compared with VA-ECMO support alone. ECMELLA therapy was associated with numerically increased but not significantly higher complication rates. Primary results remained robust in multiple sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: ECMELLA support was predominantly used in patients with acute myocardial infarction and VA-ECMO for pulmonary embolism. ECMELLA support during ECPR might be associated with improved survival and neurologic outcome despite higher complication rates. However, indications and frequency of ECMELLA support varied strongly between institutions. Further scientific evidence is urgently required to elaborate standardized guidelines for the use of LV unloading during ECPR.

The effectiveness of spiritual care training on medical students' self-reported competencies: A quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual care training on medical students' self-reported competencies. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental (controlled and non-randomized) study including 115 Brazilian medical students. Participants were enrolled into 2 groups: fourth-year students (n = 64) who received spiritual care training and sixth-year students (n = 51) who did not receive this training - control group (i.e., usual teaching). Participants answered a self-reported Spiritual Care Competence Scale. Comparisons between groups were performed and effect sizes were reported. RESULTS: Providing a spiritual care training resulted in significantly higher self-reported scores for the dimensions of "Assessment" (d = 0.99), "Improvement of care" (d = 0.69), "Counseling (d = 0.88)," "Referral" (d = 0.75), and "Total Spiritual Care" (d = 1.044) as compared to the control group. Likewise, 21 out of 27 items of the Spiritual Care Competence Scale were significantly higher for the intervention group, presenting effect sizes (d) ranging between 0.428 and 1.032. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Medical students receiving spiritual care training showed greater self-reported competencies as compared to those in the usual teaching. These results reinforce the importance of promoting spirituality teaching in medical schools.

Reconstruction of the ulnar artery in Guyon's canal with an arterial graft: Anatomical study.

Ulnar artery thrombosis in Guyon's canal can lead to vascular insufficiency in the fingers. The recommended treatment is resection and reconstruction of the pathological area. A bypass may be necessary, which may be venous or arterial. Arterial bypasses have better long-term patency; however, they are a source of donor-site complications. We carried out an anatomical study on 11 upper limbs and 7 lower limbs from cadavers to identify a technically accessible arterial graft, of a diameter suitable for bypassing the ulnar artery in Guyon's canal and with acceptable scar sequelae (few predicted postoperative complications, discreet size and/or location of scar). Three grafts were considered: anterior interosseous artery, radial recurrent artery and descending genicular artery. The various grafts were dissected and harvested from cadaver specimens, then their lengths and diameters were measured. The diameter of the candidate grafts was compared to the diameter of the distal ulnar artery. The diameter of the descending genicular artery matched the ulnar artery better than the radial recurrent artery or the anterior interosseous artery (103% vs 44% and 67%, respectively). Mean graft length was 6.6 cm. The anatomical configuration of the descending genicular artery allowed Y-shaped bypasses to be performed. Harvesting this artery appears to cause little damage and allows bypasses up to 6 cm to be performed. Despite its smaller diameter making it necessary to perform a microvascular size adjustment, the anterior interosseous artery is a candidate graft because it is long enough (119 mm) and located near the surgical site. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

Prevalence of abnormalities seen on orthopantomograms performed for forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence of radiological anomalies on orthopantomograms (OPT) performed as part of forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minors. METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted on 208 OPT examinations requested by a magistrate. These OPTs were interpreted independently by two readers to establish the number of missing teeth (MT), presence of dental fillings (DF), and dental anomalies (DA). The presence of radiolucent (RL), radiopaque, and mixed lesions was also assessed. RESULTS: Most radiologic anomalies were RL, detected on 41% and 39% of the subjects evaluated for R1 and R2, respectively, with a mean of 1.3 ± 2.4 (1-16) and 1.1 ± 2 (1-13) RL lesions per subject. Among the RL identified, the majority were dental (70% for R1 and 65% for R2), all of which had a suspected infectious origin. Among readers, 43% and 41% of the subjects evaluated presented MT, 21% and 15% presented DF, and 22% and 20% presented DA for R1 and R2, respectively. The inter- and intra-observer reproducibility for OPT classification was considered excellent (Kappa = 0.84, 95% CI 0.78-0.90, and Kappa = 0, 95, 95% CI 0.86-0.99). DISCUSSION: There was a non-negligible prevalence of radiological anomalies in OPT studies performed for forensic age estimation. Most of these lesions were suspected to be infectious in origin, potentially requiring medical care. This constitutes an ethical dilemma inherent in the judicial expertise injunction requiring a limited specific response. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This study highlights a non-negligible prevalence of supposedly infectious radiological abnormalities. The restricted possibility for the legal expert to declare these abnormalities raises ethical and medical questions. KEY POINTS: • Orthopantomograms can be performed as part of forensic age estimation. • Results indicate the majority of radiological anomalies detected on OPTs were of suspected infectious origin. • These findings give rise to ethical and medical questions about the way in which these forensic examinations are carried out.