RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Arthroscopy with lavage and synovectomy can remove tissue debris from the joint space and the synovial lining to provide pain relief to patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we developed an in vitro model to study the interaction of cartilage wear particles with fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) to better understand the interplay of cartilage particulates with cytokines on cells of the synovium. METHOD: In this study sub-10 µm cartilage particles or 1 µm latex particles were co-cultured with FLS ±10 ng/mL interleukin-1α (IL-1α) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Samples were analyzed for DNA, glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and collagen, and media samples were analyzed for media GAG, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2). The nature of the physical interaction between the particles and FLS was determined by microscopy. RESULTS: Both latex and cartilage particles could be phagocytosed by FLS. Cartilage particles were internalized and attached to the surface of both dense monolayers and individual cells. Co-culture of FLS with cartilage particulates resulted in a significant increase in cell sheet DNA and collagen content as well as NO and PGE2 synthesis compared to control and latex treated groups. CONCLUSION: The proliferative response of FLS to cartilage wear particles resulted in an overall increase in extracellular matrix (ECM) content, analogous to the thickening of the synovial lining observed in OA patients. Understanding how cartilage particles interface with the synovium may provide insight into how this interaction contributes to OA progression and may guide the role of lavage and synovectomy for degenerative disease.
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Cartílago , Látex , Membrana Sinovial/química , Sinovitis/patología , Animales , Bovinos , Células Cultivadas , Citocinas/farmacología , Fibroblastos/fisiología , Modelos Biológicos , Fagocitosis/fisiologíaRESUMEN
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Patients admitted to general medical units and emergency short-stay units are often complex with multiple comorbidities, polypharmacy and at risk for drug-related problems associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a partnered pharmacist charting model completed at the time of admission to prevent medication errors. METHODS: We conducted an unblinded cluster randomized controlled trial comparing partnered pharmacist charting to standard medical charting among patients admitted to general medical units and emergency short-stay units with complex medication regimens or polypharmacy. This trial was conducted at an adult major referral hospital in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, with an annual emergency department attendance of approximately 60 000 patients. The evaluation included patients' medication charts written in the period of 16 March 2015 to 27 July 2015. Patients randomized to the intervention were managed using the partnered pharmacist charting model. The primary outcome variable was a medication error identified by an independent assessor within 24 h of admission, who was not part of the patient's admission process. RESULTS: Of the 473 patients who received standard medical staff charting during the study period, 372 (78·7%) had at least one medication error identified compared to 15 patients (3·7%) on the partnered pharmacist charting arm (P < 0·001). The relative risk of an error with standard medical charting was 21·4 (95% CI: 13·0-35·0) with a number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one error of 1·3 (95% CI: 1·3-1·4), and the relative risk of a high or extreme risk error with standard medical charting was 150·9 (95% CI: 21·2-1072·9) with a NNT to prevent one high or extreme error of 2·7 (95% CI 2·4-3·1). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Partnering between medical staff and pharmacists to jointly chart initial medications on admission significantly reduced inpatient medication errors (including errors of high and extreme risk) among general medical and emergency short-stay patients with complex medication regimens or polypharmacy.
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Errores de Medicación/prevención & control , Admisión del Paciente/normas , Farmacéuticos/organización & administración , Servicio de Farmacia en Hospital/organización & administración , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Australia , Análisis por Conglomerados , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/organización & administración , Femenino , Hospitalización , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Polifarmacia , Rol ProfesionalRESUMEN
We present a case of a deep full thickness burn from topical formic acid. Our patient developed a burn over her proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) of her finger, secondary to inappropriate application of an anti-wart treatment. The burn required extensive deridement, and the resultant defect was reconstructed using a subcutaneous flap from the adjacent finger (a reverse cross finger flap). She was reviewed six months post-surgery, and overall she has a sub-optimal result. This incident was referred to the Irish Medicine's Board who have since reviewed the case and ordered the manufacturer to alter their usage instructions.
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Quemaduras Químicas/etiología , Fármacos Dermatológicos/efectos adversos , Traumatismos de los Dedos/etiología , Formiatos/efectos adversos , Verrugas/tratamiento farmacológico , Administración Cutánea , Adulto , Quemaduras Químicas/cirugía , Desbridamiento , Fármacos Dermatológicos/administración & dosificación , Femenino , Traumatismos de los Dedos/cirugía , Formiatos/administración & dosificación , Humanos , Medicamentos sin Prescripción/administración & dosificación , Medicamentos sin Prescripción/efectos adversos , Colgajos QuirúrgicosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Reconstruction of large abdominal wall defects is a challenging procedure, often contraindicated in critically ill patients, with high incidences of complications. We present a case of a patient with a large abdominal wall defect who had reconstruction with MatriDerm® (an engineered dermal template) and split thickness skin grafting (SSG) as an alternative to reconstruction with myo- or fascio-cutaneous flaps. Successful wound closure was achieved with a single technique, while providing a robust reconstruction and an interface between skin and underlying viscera, should further surgery be necessary.
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Pared Abdominal/cirugía , Abdominoplastia/métodos , Colágeno/uso terapéutico , Elastina/uso terapéutico , Fascitis Necrotizante/cirugía , Trasplante de Piel/métodos , Desbridamiento , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Terapia de Presión Negativa para Heridas , Cicatrización de HeridasRESUMEN
Under global cerebral ischemia, the effect of different brain temperature on cerebral ischemic injury was studied. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normothermic (37-38°C) ischemia, mild hypothermic (31-32°C) ischemia, hyperthermic (41-42°C) ischemia and sham-operated groups. Global cerebral ischemia was established using the Pulsinelli four-vessel occlusion model and brain temperature was maintained at defined level for 60 min after 20-min ischemia. The expression of c-fos protein and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate in brain regions were detected by immunochemistry and spectrophotometrical methods, respectively. C-fos positive neurons were found in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Mild hypothermia increased the expression of c-fos protein in both areas, whereas hyperthermia decreased the expression of c-fos protein in the hippocampus at 24 h reperfusion, and the cerebral cortex at 48 h reperfusion when compared to normothermic conditions. In normothermic, mild hypothermic and hyperthermic ischemia groups, the levels of MDA and lactate in brain tissue were increased at 24, 48 and 72 h reperfusion following 20-min ischemia as compared with the sham-operated group (P<0.01). The levels of MDA and lactate in mild hypothermic group were significantly lower than those in normothermic group (P<0.01). It is suggested that brain temperature influences the translation of the immunoreactive protein product of c-fos after global cerebral ischemia, and MDA and lactate are also affected by hypothermia and hyperthermia.
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Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Ácido Láctico/metabolismo , Malondialdehído/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-fos/metabolismo , Animales , Temperatura Corporal , Encéfalo/irrigación sanguínea , Encéfalo/fisiopatología , Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatología , Corteza Cerebral/irrigación sanguínea , Corteza Cerebral/metabolismo , Corteza Cerebral/fisiopatología , Hipocampo/irrigación sanguínea , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Hipocampo/fisiopatología , Inmunoquímica , Masculino , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-bcl-2/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Daño por Reperfusión/metabolismo , Daño por Reperfusión/fisiopatología , Espectrofotometría , Temperatura , Factores de Tiempo , Proteína p53 Supresora de Tumor/metabolismoRESUMEN
Escherichia coli isolates were recovered from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System retail meat program and examined for antimicrobial susceptibility. Retail meat samples (n = 11,921) from four U.S. states collected during 2002 to 2008, consisting of 2,988 chicken breast, 2,942 ground turkey, 2,991 ground beef, and 3,000 pork chop samples, were analyzed. A total of 8,286 E. coli isolates were recovered. The greatest numbers of samples contaminated with the organism were chicken (83.5%) and turkey (82.0%), followed by beef (68.9%) and pork (44.0%). Resistance was most common to tetracycline (50.3%), followed by streptomycin (34.6%), sulfamethoxazole-sulfisoxazole (31.6%), ampicillin (22.5%), gentamicin (18.6%), kanamycin (8.4%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (6.4%), and cefoxitin (5.2%). Less than 5% of the isolates had resistance to trimethoprim, ceftriaxone, ceftiofur, nalidixic acid, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin. All isolates were susceptible to amikacin. Compared to beef and pork isolates, the poultry meat isolates had a greater percentage of resistance to all tested drugs, with the exception of chloramphenicol, to which pork isolates had the most resistance. More than half of the turkey isolates (56%) were resistant to multidrugs (≥3 classes) compared to 38.9% of chicken, 17.3% of pork, and 9.3% of beef isolates. The bla(CMY) gene was present in all ceftriaxone- and ceftiofur-resistant isolates. The cmlA, flo, and catI genes were present in 45%, 43%, and 40% of chloramphenicol-resistant isolates, respectively. Most nalidixic acid-resistant isolates (98.5%) had a gyrA mutation in S83 or D87 or both, whereas only 6.7% had a parC mutation in either S80 or E84. The results showed that E. coli was commonly present in the retail meats, and antimicrobial resistance profiles differed according to the animal origin of the isolates.
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Antibacterianos/farmacología , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Escherichia coli/efectos de los fármacos , Escherichia coli/aislamiento & purificación , Carne/microbiología , Animales , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Genes Bacterianos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Prevalencia , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Distribution of intracranial hemorrhage in term and late-preterm neonates is relatively unexplored. This descriptive study examines the MR imaging-detectable spectrum of intracranial hemorrhage in this population and potential risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prevalence and distribution of intracranial hemorrhage in consecutive term/late-preterm neonates who underwent brain MR imaging between January 2011 to August 2018 were assessed. MRIs were analyzed to determine intracranial hemorrhage distribution (intraventricular, subarachnoid, subdural, intraparenchymal, and subpial/leptomeningeal), and chart review was performed for potential clinical risk factors. RESULTS: Of 725 term/late-preterm neonates who underwent brain MR imaging, intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 63 (9%). Fifty-two (83%) had multicompartment intracranial hemorrhage. Intraventricular and subdural were the most common hemorrhage locations, found in 41 (65%) and 39 (62%) neonates, respectively. Intraparenchymal hemorrhage occurred in 33 (52%); subpial, in 19 (30%); subarachnoid, in 12 (19%); and epidural, in 2 (3%) neonates. Twenty infants (32%) were delivered via cesarean delivery, and 5 (8%), via instrumented delivery. Cortical vein thromboses were present in 34 (54%); periventricular or medullary vein thromboses, in 37 (59%); and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, in 5 (8%). Thirty-seven (59%) had elevated markers of coagulopathy (international normalized ratio > 1.2, fibrinogen level < 234), 9 (14%) had a clinically meaningful elevation in the international normalized ratio (>1.4), and 3 (5%) had a clinically meaningful decrease in the fibrinogen level (<150). Three (5%) neonates had thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 × 103/µL). CONCLUSIONS: While relatively infrequent, there was a wide distribution of intracranial hemorrhage in term and late-preterm infants; intraventricular and subdural hemorrhages were the most common types. We report a high prevalence of venous congestion or thromboses accompanying neonatal intracranial hemorrhage.
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Enfermedades del Recién Nacido , Recien Nacido Prematuro , Hemorragias Intracraneales , Femenino , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Embarazo , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Hemorragia Cerebral/etiología , Fibrinógeno , Hematoma Subdural/complicaciones , Hemorragias Intracraneales/diagnóstico por imagen , Hemorragias Intracraneales/epidemiología , Imagen por Resonancia MagnéticaRESUMEN
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter spp. has been a growing public health concern globally. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and genetic relatedness of Campylobacter spp. recovered by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) retail meat program. Retail meat samples (n = 24,566) from 10 U.S. states collected between 2002 and 2007, consisting of 6,138 chicken breast, 6,109 ground turkey, 6,171 ground beef, and 6,148 pork chop samples, were analyzed. A total of 2,258 Campylobacter jejuni, 925 Campylobacter coli, and 7 Campylobacter lari isolates were identified. Chicken breast samples showed the highest contamination rate (49.9%), followed by ground turkey (1.6%), whereas both pork chops and ground beef had <0.5% contamination. The most common resistance was to doxycycline/tetracycline (46.6%), followed by nalidixic acid (18.5%), ciprofloxacin (17.4%), azithromycin and erythromycin (2.8%), telithromycin (2.4%), clindamycin (2.2%), and gentamicin (<0.1%). In a subset of isolates tested, no resistance to meropenem and florfenicol was seen. C. coli isolates showed higher resistance rates to antimicrobials, with the exception of doxycycline/tetracycline, than those seen for C. jejuni. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) fingerprinting resulted in 1,226 PFGE profiles among the 2,318 isolates, with many clones being widely dispersed throughout the 6-year sampling period.
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Antibacterianos/farmacología , Campylobacter coli/efectos de los fármacos , Campylobacter jejuni/efectos de los fármacos , Campylobacter lari/efectos de los fármacos , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Carne/microbiología , Animales , Campylobacter coli/aislamiento & purificación , Campylobacter jejuni/aislamiento & purificación , Campylobacter lari/aislamiento & purificación , Bovinos , Pollos , Análisis por Conglomerados , Dermatoglifia del ADN , Electroforesis en Gel de Campo Pulsado , Genotipo , Tipificación Molecular , Porcinos , Pavos , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: EU law requires a haemoglobin of > or = 12.5 g/dl for women or > or = 13.5 g/dl for men at the time of donation. As capillary and venous haemoglobin values may differ in the same subject, we examined whether a capillary haemoglobin level of 12.0 g/dl for women or 13.0 g/dl for men, is equivalent to a venous haemoglobin level of > or = 12.5 g/dl and > or = 13.5 g/dl, respectively, to avoid unnecessary loss of blood donations. METHODS: Over a continuous 42-month period, 36 258 paired capillary and venous samples were taken from 25 762 females and 10 496 males, when the capillary haemoglobin was < 12.5 g/dl and < 13.5 g/dl respectively. RESULTS: Venous haemoglobin levels were higher than capillary levels, with a mean difference of 1.07 g/dl (SD 0.68 g/dl), range -2.2 to +3.25 g/dl for men (P < 0.001), and a mean difference of 0.67 g/dl (SD 0.65 g/dl), range -2.5 to +5.4 g/dl for women (P < 0.001). The difference for the three consecutive winters was 0.78 g/dl (SD 0.081 g/dl) for females and 1.26 g/dl (SD 0.162 g/dl) for males and for the three consecutive summers was 0.56 g/dl (SD 0.089 g/dl) for females and 0.88 g/dl (SD 0.134 g/dl) for males: P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Capillary haemoglobin levels of 12.0-12.5 g/dl in healthy females or 13.0-13.5 g/dl in healthy males are substantively equivalent to venous haemoglobin levels of > or = 12.5 and > or = 13.5 g/dl for women and men respectively. This finding has permitted an additional 32 990 blood units to be collected over the period of the study, a gain of 9.4%.
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Donantes de Sangre , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Biomarcadores/sangre , Capilares , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del Tratamiento , VenasRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Vietnamese American men have smoking prevalence rates higher than the general population. We analyzed Vietnamese American smoking behavior by demographic and health-related factors, including some specific to Vietnamese, in the largest tobacco-specific survey yet targeting the Vietnamese population. METHODS: Using a statewide surname probability sample and computer-assisted telephone interviewing, we surveyed 1,101 Vietnamese men and 1,078 Vietnamese women in California (63.5% participation among successfully contacted eligible individuals) in 2007-2008. We conducted multivariate regression models to analyze the association between Vietnamese male smoking status and demographic and health-related factors. RESULTS: Among women, <1% were current smokers and <2% were former smokers. Among men, 25% were current and 24% were former smokers. Regression models for Vietnamese men delineated factors associated with both current and former smoking (vs. never smoking): being married, being employed, having lower educational attainment, and consuming alcohol. Other factors associated with current smoking (vs. never smoking) were having no health insurance, having seen a Vietnamese doctor or no doctor visit in the past year, having Vietnamese military or Vietnamese reeducation camp experience, having less knowledge about the harms of smoking, and reporting higher depression symptoms. Increasing age and not being Buddhist were associated with former (vs. never) smoking. DISCUSSION: Smoking patterns of Vietnamese women and Vietnamese men are significantly different from the general California population. Tobacco control efforts targeting Vietnamese men should include community outreach since current smokers have low health care access, utilization, and knowledge.
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Fumar/etnología , Fumar/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , California/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Análisis de Regresión , Fumar/psicología , Vietnam/etnología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the natural history of ultrasonically diagnosed ovarian dermoid cysts in a large group of women who were managed expectantly, and to assess the factors that were associated with failure of expectant management. METHODS: Our database was searched for dermoid cysts diagnosed on ultrasonography by a single expert operator between 2001 and 2007 in this retrospective study. In women who opted for expectant management, demographic data including age, gravidity and parity were recorded. Indications for scan, site of cysts, dimensions and the outcomes of expectant management were also recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-nine women were diagnosed with a total of 323 dermoid cysts by a single expert ultrasound operator. 93/289 (32.2%; 95% CI, 26.8-37.6%) women with 105/323 (32.5%; 95% CI, 27.4-37.6%) ovarian dermoid cysts were managed expectantly for longer than 3 months. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.8 (range, 13-79) years and the median duration of follow up was 12.6 (interquartile range, 7.6-29.3) months. The mean growth rate of dermoid cysts during follow up was 1.67 mm/year. There were no demographic or morphological features that could be used to predict the growth rate of dermoid cysts. After a period of expectant management, 24/93 (25.8%; 95% CI, 16.9-34.7%) women had surgical intervention. The risk of surgical intervention was significantly increased in younger women, those of parity > or = 2 and in women with bilateral cysts or larger-diameter cysts, and reduced in women with a past history of ovarian cyst. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of expectant management of dermoid cysts is high and this approach should be considered as a viable alternative to surgical management.
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Quiste Dermoide/diagnóstico por imagen , Quistes Ováricos/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias Ováricas/diagnóstico por imagen , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Ultrasonografía , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional single-shot FSE commonly used for fast MRI may be suboptimal for brain evaluation due to poor image contrast, SNR, or image blurring. We investigated the clinical performance of variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE, a variation of single-shot FSE with lower radiofrequency energy deposition and potentially faster acquisition time, as an alternative approach to fast brain MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively compared half-Fourier single-shot FSE with half- and full-Fourier variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE in 30 children. Three readers reviewed images for motion artifacts, image sharpness at the brain-fluid interface, and image sharpness/tissue contrast at gray-white differentiation on a modified 5-point Likert scale. Two readers also evaluated full-Fourier variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE against T2-FSE for brain lesion detectability in 38 children. RESULTS: Variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE sequences showed more motion artifacts (P < .001). Variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE sequences scored higher regarding image sharpness at brain-fluid interfaces (P < .001) and gray-white differentiation (P < .001). Acquisition times for half- and full-Fourier variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE were faster than for single-shot FSE (P < .001) with a 53% and 47% reduction, respectively. Intermodality agreement between full-Fourier variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE and T2-FSE findings was near-perfect (κ = 0.90, κ = 0.95), with an 8% discordance rate for ground truth lesion detection. CONCLUSIONS: Variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE achieved 2× faster scan times than single-shot FSE with improved image sharpness at brain-fluid interfaces and gray-white differentiation. Such improvements are likely attributed to a combination of improved contrast, spatial resolution, SNR, and reduced T2-decay associated with blurring. While variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE may be a useful alternative to single-shot FSE and, potentially, T2-FSE when faster scan times are desired, motion artifacts were more common in variable refocusing flip angle single-shot FSE, and, thus, they remain an important consideration before clinical implementation.
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Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Neuroimagen/métodos , Adolescente , Artefactos , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Aumento de la Imagen/métodos , Interpretación de Imagen Asistida por Computador/métodos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Posterior fossa tumors are the most common pediatric brain tumors. MR imaging is key to tumor detection, diagnosis, and therapy guidance. We sought to develop an MR imaging-based deep learning model for posterior fossa tumor detection and tumor pathology classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study cohort comprised 617 children (median age, 92 months; 56% males) from 5 pediatric institutions with posterior fossa tumors: diffuse midline glioma of the pons (n = 122), medulloblastoma (n = 272), pilocytic astrocytoma (n = 135), and ependymoma (n = 88). There were 199 controls. Tumor histology served as ground truth except for diffuse midline glioma of the pons, which was primarily diagnosed by MR imaging. A modified ResNeXt-50-32x4d architecture served as the backbone for a multitask classifier model, using T2-weighted MRIs as input to detect the presence of tumor and predict tumor class. Deep learning model performance was compared against that of 4 radiologists. RESULTS: Model tumor detection accuracy exceeded an AUROC of 0.99 and was similar to that of 4 radiologists. Model tumor classification accuracy was 92% with an F1 score of 0.80. The model was most accurate at predicting diffuse midline glioma of the pons, followed by pilocytic astrocytoma and medulloblastoma. Ependymoma prediction was the least accurate. Tumor type classification accuracy and F1 score were higher than those of 2 of the 4 radiologists. CONCLUSIONS: We present a multi-institutional deep learning model for pediatric posterior fossa tumor detection and classification with the potential to augment and improve the accuracy of radiologic diagnosis.
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Aprendizaje Profundo , Interpretación de Imagen Asistida por Computador/métodos , Neoplasias Infratentoriales/clasificación , Neoplasias Infratentoriales/diagnóstico por imagen , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Neoplasias Infratentoriales/patología , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Masculino , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for chlamydial infection in cross-border truck drivers. METHODS: 225 Hong Kong-based cross-border truck drivers were screened for chlamydial infection. Associations between infection and potential risk factors were determined by questionnaire. RESULTS: 8.5% of drivers were positive for chlamydial infection. Of 62% of drivers reporting recent sex with commercial sex workers (CSW), 39% had not used condoms. 75% of drivers with extramarital sex partners (ESP) also frequented CSW and 47% of this group had not used condoms with CSW. 43.3% PCR-positive cases reported symptoms. No risk factor was associated with chlamydial infection after adjustment, although "had sex with ESP" approached significance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of chlamydial infection among cross-border truck drivers was not strikingly high, although drivers engaged in sex with both ESP and CSW, with many admitting unprotected intercourse. The findings highlight the importance of promoting safe sex to truck drivers.
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Conducción de Automóvil/estadística & datos numéricos , Infecciones por Chlamydia/epidemiología , Chlamydia trachomatis , Transportes/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Hong Kong/epidemiología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Prevalencia , Factores de Riesgo , Parejas Sexuales , Viaje , Sexo Inseguro/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To allow direct comparison of bloodstream infection (BSI) rates between hospitals for performance measurement, observed rates need to be risk adjusted according to the types of patients cared for by the hospital. However, attribute data on all individual patients are often unavailable and hospital-level risk adjustment needs to be done using indirect indicator variables of patient case mix, such as hospital level. We aimed to identify medical services associated with high or low BSI rates, and to evaluate the services provided by the hospital as indicators that can be used for more objective hospital-level risk adjustment. METHODS: From February 2001-December 2007, 1719 monthly BSI counts were available from 18 hospitals in Queensland, Australia. BSI outcomes were stratified into four groups: overall BSI (OBSI), Staphylococcus aureus BSI (STAPH), intravascular device-related S. aureus BSI (IVD-STAPH) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus BSI (MRSA). Twelve services were considered as candidate risk-adjustment variables. For OBSI, STAPH and IVD-STAPH, we developed generalized estimating equation Poisson regression models that accounted for autocorrelation in longitudinal counts. Due to a lack of autocorrelation, a standard logistic regression model was specified for MRSA. RESULTS: Four risk services were identified for OBSI: AIDS (IRR 2.14, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.82), infectious diseases (IRR 2.72, 95% CI 1.97 to 3.76), oncology (IRR 1.60, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.98) and bone marrow transplants (IRR 1.52, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.03). Four protective services were also found. A similar but smaller group of risk and protective services were found for the other outcomes. Acceptable agreement between observed and fitted values was found for the OBSI and STAPH models but not for the IVD-STAPH and MRSA models. However, the IVD-STAPH and MRSA models successfully discriminated between hospitals with higher and lower BSI rates. CONCLUSION: The high model goodness-of-fit and the higher frequency of OBSI and STAPH outcomes indicated that hospital-specific risk adjustment based on medical services provided would be useful for these outcomes in Queensland. The low frequency of IVD-STAPH and MRSA outcomes indicated that development of a hospital-level risk score was a more valid method of risk adjustment for these outcomes.
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Infección Hospitalaria/epidemiología , Hospitales Públicos/estadística & datos numéricos , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Sepsis/epidemiología , Estudios de Cohortes , Humanos , Modelos Teóricos , Queensland/epidemiología , Análisis de Regresión , Estudios Retrospectivos , Ajuste de RiesgoRESUMEN
During the European Middle Ages, the opening of long-distance Asian trade routes introduced exotic goods, including ultramarine, a brilliant blue pigment produced from lapis lazuli stone mined only in Afghanistan. Rare and as expensive as gold, this pigment transformed the European color palette, but little is known about its early trade or use. Here, we report the discovery of lapis lazuli pigment preserved in the dental calculus of a religious woman in Germany radiocarbon-dated to the 11th or early 12th century. The early use of this pigment by a religious woman challenges widespread assumptions about its limited availability in medieval Europe and the gendered production of illuminated texts.
Asunto(s)
Silicatos de Aluminio/historia , Cálculos Dentales/historia , Literatura Medieval/historia , Monjas/historia , Datación Radiométrica , Restos Mortales , Color , Femenino , Alemania , Historia Medieval , Humanos , Microscopía Electrónica de Rastreo , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pinturas , Espectrometría por Rayos X , Espectrometría RamanRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffuse midline gliomas with histone H3 K27M mutation are biologically aggressive tumors with poor prognosis defined as a new diagnostic entity in the 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. There are no qualitative imaging differences (enhancement, border, or central necrosis) between histone H3 wildtype and H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas. Herein, we evaluated the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging to distinguish H3 K27M-mutant from histone H3 wildtype diffuse midline gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 31 pediatric patients (younger than 21 years of age) with diffuse gliomas centered in midline structures that had undergone assessment for histone H3 K27M mutation. We measured ADC within these tumors using a voxel-based 3D whole-tumor measurement method. RESULTS: Our cohort included 18 infratentorial and 13 supratentorial diffuse gliomas centered in midline structures. Twenty-three (74%) tumors carried H3-K27M mutations. There was no difference in ADC histogram parameters (mean, median, minimum, maximum, percentiles) between mutant and wild-type tumors. Subgroup analysis based on tumor location also did not identify a difference in histogram descriptive statistics. Patients who survived <1 year after diagnosis had lower median ADC (1.10 × 10-3mm2/s; 95% CI, 0.90-1.30) compared with patients who survived >1 year (1.46 × 10-3mm2/s; 95% CI, 1.19-1.67; P < .06). Average ADC values for diffuse midline gliomas were 1.28 × 10-3mm2/s (95% CI, 1.21-1.34) and 0.86 × 10-3mm2/s (95% CI, 0.69-1.01) for hemispheric glioblastomas with P < .05. CONCLUSIONS: Although no statistically significant difference in diffusion characteristics was found between H3-K27M mutant and H3 wildtype diffuse midline gliomas, lower diffusivity corresponds to a lower survival rate at 1 year after diagnosis. These findings can have an impact on the anticipated clinical course for this patient population and offer providers and families guidance on clinical outcomes.