Validation of a Length-Adjusted Abdominal Arterial Calcium Score Method for Contrast-Enhanced CT Scans.

BACKGROUND: The Agatston score on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans is the gold standard for calcium load determination. However, contrast-enhanced CT is commonly used for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs), such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Currently, there is no validated method to determine calcium load in the aorta and peripheral arteries with a contrast-enhanced CT. This study validated a length-adjusted calcium score (LACS) method for contrast-enhanced CT scans. METHOD: The LACS (calcium volume in mm3/arterial length in cm) in the abdominal aorta was calculated using four-phase liver CT scans of 30 patients treated between 2017 and 2021 at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) with no aortic disease. Noncontrast CT scans were segmented with a 130 Hounsfield units (HU) threshold, and a patient-specific threshold was used for contrast-enhanced CTs. The LACS was calculated and compared from both segmentations. Secondly, the interobserver variability and the influence of slice thickness (0.75 mm vs. 2.0 mm) was determined. RESULTS: There was a high correlation between the LACS from contrast-enhanced CT scans and the LACS of noncontrast CTs (R2 = 0.98). A correction factor of 1.9 was established to convert the LACS derived from contrast-enhanced CT to noncontrast CT scans. LACS interobserver agreement on contrast-enhanced CT was excellent (1.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.0-1.0). The 0.75 mm CT threshold was 541 (459-625) HU compared with 500 (419-568) HU on 2 mm CTs (p = 0.15). LACS calculated with both thresholds was not significantly different (p = 0.63). CONCLUSION: The LACS seems to be a robust method for scoring calcium load on contrast-enhanced CT scans in arterial segments with various lengths.

Measuring socioeconomic and health financing inequality in maternal mortality in Colombia: a mixed methods approach.

BACKGROUND: Understanding health financing reforms and means is key to evaluate how maternal health has improved. Problems related to health financing policies are contributing to inadequate quality of care and inequitable use of healthcare by pregnant women, resulting in poor maternal health outcomes. The purpose of the study was to measure socioeconomic and health financing related inequality in maternal mortality in Colombia as well as identifying potential epicenters of this inequality. METHODS: The data used was obtained from National Information of Social Protection (Sispro), the Department of Planning and National Statistics Department. Maternal mortality ratios were calculated by health insurance scheme and disaggregated by health spending per capita quintiles to allow for closer examination of inequality. The Slope Index of Inequality and Concentration Index were estimated to express absolute and relative inequality. We conducted interviews with key informants involved in the implementation of health financing and maternal health policies. RESULTS: The main finding shows inequality in maternal mortality across regions and in particular in the subsidized health insurance. The contributory health insurance scheme is closing gaps over time, but inequality in the subsidized scheme is significantly widening, which impacts the severity of overall measurements of inequality. 20% of territories with the lowest health spending per capita have reached 35% of maternal mortality, and it such rates are worsening. This means that there is a marginal exclusion in which most of maternal deaths still occur in the regions with lowest resources. CONCLUSIONS: Beyond the key issues in health financing, issues of quality of care must be addressed. The country must define its own approach to financing for maternal health coverage given its unique situation and starting point. Potential policy implications that emerged are: i) afro-Colombian, indigenous, poorer and migrant women must be put at the center of the maternal health care services; ii) better skills, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health RMNCH training and health worker retention strategies and training in rural, insular and remote geographical areas; ii) a better understanding of provider payment mechanisms and the incentives that influence provider behaviors; and iv) inequality prompt calls for a targeted approach, whereby care is directed toward the most disadvantaged regions.

Telescoping With Multiple Revolution Cranial Osteotomies in Patients With Simple Craniosynostosis.

Simple craniosynostosis is a cranial disease characterized by the premature closure of the cranial sutures, it develops during the first years of life and affects 1 in every 2000 to 2500 births worldwide (1). The cranial growth alteration occurs as parallel flattening to the compromised sutured with compensatory bulging in a perpendicular vector. Currently, The Suturectomy is the gold validated surgical treatment, that besides the dynamic Cranioplasties of multiples revolutions allows the design of bone flaps and therefore the correction of the secondary deformities caused by the synostosis. This multicenter descriptive study assessed a 20 series of cases (6 Plagiocephaly, 13 Scaphocephaly, 1 Brachycephaly) obtained in Cali, Colombia, that underwent surgery between January of 2014 and December of 2017, applying a Suturectomy surgery with additional telescoping of multiple revolution cranial osteotomies. The authors observe no clinical complications in the recruited patients regarding postoperative period of the described surgical technique (1, 90, and 180 days), thereby obtaining excellent outcomes on the maintained suture distraction focused on the assessment of the 3D reconstruction computed tomography scans.

How do we reach the girls and women who are the hardest to reach? Inequitable opportunities in reproductive and maternal health care services in armed conflict and forced displacement settings in Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: This paper assesses inequalities in access to reproductive and maternal health services among females affected by forced displacement and sexual and gender-based violence in conflict settings in Colombia. This was accomplished through the following approaches: first, we assessed the gaps and gradients in three selected reproductive and maternal health care services. Second, we analyzed the patterns of inequalities in reproductive and maternal health care services and changes over time. And finally, we identified challenges and strategies for reaching girls and women who are the hardest to reach in conflict settings, in order to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage and to contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals of good health and well-being and gender equality by 2030. METHODS: Three types of data were required: data about health outcomes (relating to rates of females affected by conflict), information about reproductive and maternal health care services to provide a social dimension to unmask inequalities (unmet needs in family planning, antenatal care and skilled births attendance); and data on the female population. Data sources used include the National Information System for Social Protection, the National Registry of Victims, the National Administrative Department of Statistics, and Demographic Health Survey at three specific time points: 2005, 2010 and 2015. We estimated the slope index of inequality to express absolute inequality (gaps) and the concentration index to expresses relative inequality (gradients), and to understand whether inequality was eliminated over time. RESULTS: Our findings show that even though absolute health care service-related inequalities dropped over time, relative inequalities worsened or remain unchanged. All summary measures still indicated the existence of inequalities as well as common patterns. Our findings suggest that there is a pattern of marginal exclusion and incremental patterns of inequality in the reproductive and maternal health care service provided to female affected by armed conflict. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the effects of conflict continue to threaten reproductive and maternal health in Colombia, impeding progress towards the realization of universal health care (UHC) and reinforcing already-existing inequities. Key messages and steps forward include the need to understand the two distinct patterns of inequalities identified in this study in order to prompt improved general policy responses. Addressing unmet needs in reproductive and maternal health requires supporting gender equality and prioritizing the girls and women in regions with the highest rates of victims of armed conflict, with the objective of leaving no girl or woman behind. This analysis represents the first attempt to analyze coverage-related inequality in reproductive and maternal health care services for female affected by armed conflict in Colombia. As the World Health Organization and global health systems leaders call for more inclusive engagement, this approach may serve as the key to shaping people-centred health systems. In this particular case, health care facilities must be located in close proximity to girls and women in conflict and post-conflict settings in order to deliver essential reproductive and maternal health care services. Finally, reducing inequalities in opportunities would not only promote equity, but also drive sustainable development.