Predictors of training-related improvement in visuomotor performance in patients with multiple sclerosis: A behavioural and MRI study.

BACKGROUND: The development of tailored recovery-oriented strategies in multiple sclerosis requires early identification of an individual's potential for functional recovery. OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of visuomotor performance improvements, a proxy of functional recovery, using a predictive statistical model that combines demographic, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. METHODS: Right-handed multiple sclerosis patients underwent baseline disability assessment and MRI of the brain structure, function and vascular health. They subsequently undertook 4 weeks of right upper limb visuomotor practice. Changes in performance with practice were our outcome measure. We identified predictors of improvement in a training set of patients using lasso regression; we calculated the best performing model in a validation set and applied this model to a test set. RESULTS: Patients improved their visuomotor performance with practice. Younger age, better visuomotor abilities, less severe disease burden and concurrent use of preventive treatments predicted improvements. Neuroimaging localised outcome-relevant sensory motor regions, the microstructure and activity of which correlated with performance improvements. CONCLUSION: Initial characteristics, including age, disease duration, visuo-spatial abilities, hand dexterity, self-evaluated disease impact and the presence of disease-modifying treatments, can predict functional recovery in individual patients, potentially improving their clinical management and stratification in clinical trials. MRI is a correlate of outcome, potentially supporting individual prognosis.

Comparing MRI metrics to quantify white matter microstructural damage in multiple sclerosis.

Quantifying white matter damage in vivo is becoming increasingly important for investigating the effects of neuroprotective and repair strategies in multiple sclerosis (MS). While various approaches are available, the relationship between MRI-based metrics of white matter microstructure in the disease, that is, to what extent the metrics provide complementary versus redundant information, remains largely unexplored. We obtained four microstructural metrics from 123 MS patients: fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), myelin water fraction (MWF), and magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR). Coregistration of maps of these four indices allowed quantification of microstructural damage through voxel-wise damage scores relative to healthy tissue, as assessed in a group of 27 controls. We considered three white matter tissue-states, which were expected to vary in microstructural damage: normal appearing white matter (NAWM), T2-weighted hyperintense lesional tissue without T1-weighted hypointensity (T2L), and T1-weighted hypointense lesional tissue with corresponding T2-weighted hyperintensity (T1L). All MRI indices suggested significant damage in all three tissue-states, the greatest damage being in T1L. The correlations between indices ranged from r = 0.18 to r = 0.87. MWF was most sensitive when differentiating T2L from NAWM, while MTR was most sensitive when differentiating T1L from NAWM and from T2L. Combining the four metrics into one, through a principal component analysis, did not yield a measure more sensitive to damage than any single measure. Our findings suggest that the metrics are (at least partially) correlated with each other, but sensitive to the different aspects of pathology. Leveraging these differences could be beneficial in clinical trials testing the effects of therapeutic interventions.

Implementing an evidence-based guideline to decrease opioids after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Deaths related to overdoses continue growing in the United States. The overprescription of opioids after surgical procedures may contribute to this problem. LOCAL PROBLEM: There is inconsistency in the prescription of opioids in cardiovascular surgery patients. Recommendations regarding the reduction of opioids at discharge are not fully implemented. METHODS: This is a single-center, pre-post quality improvement project in adult patients after elective cardiac surgery through sternotomy. INTERVENTIONS: Changes in guidelines, modification of order sets, creation of dashboards, and education to the providers to increase the prescription of acetaminophen around the clock on the step-down unit and at discharge, decrease the number of opioid tablets to 25 or less at discharge and decrease the prescription of opioids to 25 or less morphine milligram equivalents (MME) at discharge. RESULTS: The preintervention group included 67 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery from November to December 2021. The postintervention group had 67 patients during the same period in 2022. Acetaminophen prescription on the step-down unit increased from 9% to 96% ( p < .001). The proportion of patients discharged with 25 or less opioid tablets increased from 18% to 90% ( p < .001) and with 25 or less MME from 30% to 55% ( p < .01). Acetaminophen prescription at discharge increased from 10% to 48% ( p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our intervention increased the use of acetaminophen and decreased the overprescription of opioids in cardiac surgery patients at discharge. Further research is necessary to continue improving pain management to reduce the number of opioids prescribed at discharge.

The identification of synthetic cannabinoids in English prisons.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) are extremely prevalent within the prison system and cause problems for prisoners, law enforcement and health services. SC are often soaked into paper then posted into prisons therefore one of the aims of this research is to collaborate with Rapiscan Systems Ltd. and local prisons in England to measure the effectiveness of trace detection methods for the indication of SC in prison post using the Itemiser 3E®. To ensure compounds did not go undetected, samples with Ion Trap Mobility Spectrometry™ peaks indicative of synthetic cannabinoids on the Itemiser 3E® were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to identify chemical characteristics which allowed comparison to reference spectra. Sample data spanning three years from one prison's Itemiser 3E® were collated to identify trends in drug prevalence and the influence of library updates. To date, the method has identified four compounds: 5F-MDMB-PICA, MMB-4en-PICA, 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA and MDMB-4en-PINACA on prison post which were not already included on, or needed confirmatory analysis to update, the Itemiser 3E® library. As a result, the libraries on prison Itemiser 3E®s have been updated to ensure future detection of such compounds. Trends and influences from the processed Itemiser 3E® data were also reported back to the West Midlands Prison Group. This research directly benefitted both the West Midlands Prison Group and Rapiscan Systems Ltd. and it is anticipated that the continuation of this research could be expanded to a national scale.

Outcome following heart transplant assessment in adults with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are a growing group with end-stage heart failure. We aim to describe the outcomes of ACHD patients undergoing assessment for orthotopic heart transplant (OHT). METHODS: Case notes of consecutive ACHD patients (>16 years) assessed for OHT between 2000 and 2016 at our centre were reviewed. Decision and outcome were reported as of 2017. Data were analysed in three groups: systemic left ventricle (LV), systemic right ventricle (RV) and single ventricle (SV). RESULTS: 196 patients were assessed (31.8 years, 27% LV, 29% RV, 44% SV). 89 (45%) patients were listed for OHT and 67 (34%) were transplanted. 41 (21%) were unsuitable or too high risk and 36 (18%) were too well for listing. Conventional surgery was undertaken in 13 (7%) and ventricular assist device in 17 (9%) with 7 (4%) bridged to candidacy. Survival from assessment was 84.2% at 1 year and 69.7% at 5 years, with no difference between groups. Patients who were considered unsuitable for OHT (HR 11.199, p<0.001) and listed (HR 3.792, p=0.030) were more likely to die than those who were considered too well. Assessments increased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The number of ACHD patients assessed for OHT is increasing. A third are transplanted with a small number receiving conventional surgery. Those who are unsuitable have a poor prognosis.