The relationship between Vaspin,Nesfatin-1 plasma levels and presence of fragmented QRS with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis

PurposeDespite continuous efforts to address classical risk factors for atherosclerosis, the battle to control the disease is far from over and atherosclerosis is still a major factor in all-cause mortality. To investigate the relations between early diagnosis and severity of coronary atherosclerosis we examined vaspin and nesfatin-1 levels, and the presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) in admission electrocardiograms.Materials and methodsWe divided 168 patients into asymptomatic control (18%), <50% coronary artery stenosis (28%), >50% stenosis (31%) and myocardial infarction (MI) (23%) groups. Patients were also evaluated in anatomically significant (>50%stenosis ?+ ?MI) and non-significant atherosclerosis (control+<50%stenosis) groups. Vaspin and nesfatin-1 levels were measured using ELISA methods.ResultsVaspin in MI and >50% stenosis groups was lower than in other groups (p ?< ?0.001). Nesfatin-1 in MI and >50% stenosis groups was lower only than in <50%stenosis group (p0.007). The presence of fQRS was higher in MI and >50% stenosis groups than other groups (p ?< ?0.001). In the anatomically significant atherosclerosis group, vaspin, nesfatin-1 and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values were lower while Gensini score and the presence of fQRS were higher (for all p ?< ?0.001). Lower vaspin levels and fQRS were related to in-hospital mortality (p ?< ?0.001 and p ?= ?0.02,respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that male gender, diabetes mellitus, smoking, family history, lower LVEF, lower vaspin and fQRS were defined as independent risk factors for anatomically significant atherosclerosis (p ?= ?0.001).ConclusionsOur results indicate that low vaspin and fQRS were found to be novel independent risk factors for anatomically significant atherosclerosis and were predictors of mortality.     

Genomic tools for health: Secondary findings as findings to be shared

PurposeWhether and how to disclose secondary finding (SF) information to children is ethically debated. Some argue that genetic testing of minors should be limited to preserve the child’s future autonomy. Others suggest that disclosure of SFs can occur if it is in the best interests of the child. However, the ways that parents conceptualize and weigh their child’s future autonomy against the interests of their child and other family members are unknown.MethodsTo explore how parents understand SF disclosure in the context of their child and other family members’ lives, we conducted semistructured interviews with 30 families (40 parents in total). All parents had children who were enrolled in a genetic sequencing protocol that returned results by default.ResultsWe found that parents did not routinely conceptualize SFs as distinctive health information. Rather parents saw this information as part of their child’s overall health. To make decisions about disclosure, parents weighed their child’s ability to understand the SF information and their other family member’s need to know.ConclusionBecause most families desired SF information, we argue that disclosure of SF be reconceptualized to reflect the lived experiences of those who may receive this information.     

Global Alignment and Proportion (GAP) score in asymptomatic individuals: is it universal?

BACKGROUNDThe global alignment and proportion (GAP) score was established based on American and European subjects, which might limit its applicability to the Chinese population due to ethnicity-related difference of sagittal alignment.PURPOSETo analyze the applicability of GAP score in the Chinese population and to investigate the age- and gender-associated differences of spinopelvic and GAP score parameters.STUDY DESIGNA prospective cross-sectional radiographic study.PATIENTS SAMPLEOf 692 asymptomatic Chinese volunteers aged between 20 and 79 prospectively recruited between January 2017 and June 2019, 490 subjects were eventually included in this study.OUTCOME MEASURESThe pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), L1-S1 lordosis, L4-S1 lordosis, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 pelvic angle (TPA) and global tilt (GT) were measured on lateral X-rays. The GAP scores and its parameters including relative pelvic version (RPV), relative lumbar lordosis (RLL), lordosis distribution index (LDI) and relative spinopelvic alignment (RSA) were calculated for each subject.METHODSSubjects were divided into four groups: Group 1M: male subjects <60 years old; Group 1F: female subjects <60 years old; Group 2M: male subjects ≥60 years old and Group 2F: female subjects ≥60 years old. The GAP scores and categories were determined and compared between groups. The results of sagittal alignment were compared with the previous studies evaluating the normative sagittal alignment in other populations. Univariate linear regression analysis was carried out between pelvic incidence (PI) and sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL) and global tilt (GT) in each group.RESULTSThe distributions of GAP categories and the updated Roussouly classification were statistically different from other populations. Significantly different distribution of GAP categories was observed between Group 1M and Group 2M, Group 1F and Group 2F, and Group 1M and Group 1F. Radiographic measurements and GAP parameters were significantly different between Group 1M and Group 2M, and Group 1F and Group 2F. Gender-related difference of parameters was more prominent between Group 1M and Group 1F. Linear relationship of PI with SS, LL and GT were different from the regression models of “ideal” sagittal alignment in GAP score.CONCLUSIONSThe GAP score might be inappropriate in Chinese population due to ethnicity-related alignment difference. Worse feasibility of GAP score was observed in female and old subjects.     

MPF-net: An effective framework for automated cobb angle estimation

In clinical practice, the Cobb angle is the gold standard for idiopathic scoliosis assessment, which can provide an important reference for clinicians to make surgical plan and give medical care to patients. Currently, the Cobb angle is measured manually on both anterior-posterior(AP) view X-rays and lateral(LAT) view X-rays. The clinicians first find four landmarks on each vertebra, and then they extend the line from landmarks and measure the Cobb angle by rules. The whole process is time-consuming and subjective, so that the automated Cobb angle estimation is required for efficient and reliable Cobb angle measurement. The noise in X-rays and the occlusion of vertebras are the main difficulties for automated Cobb angle estimation, and it is challenging to utilize the information between the multi-view X-rays of the same patient. Addressing these problems, in this paper, we propose an effective framework named MPF-net by using deep learning methods for automated Cobb angle estimation. We combine a vertebra detection branch and a landmark prediction branch based on the backbone convolutional neural network, which can provide the bounded area for landmark prediction. Then we propose a proposal correlation module to utilize the information between neighbor vertebras, so that we can find the vertebras hidden by ribcage and arms on LAT X-rays. We also design a feature fusion module to utilize the information in both AP and LAT X-rays for better performance. The experiment results on 2738 pair of X-rays show that our proposed MPF-net achieves precise vertebra detection and landmark prediction performance, and we get impressive 3.52 and 4.05 circular mean absolute errors on AP and LAT X-rays respectively, which is much better than previous methods. Therefore, we can provide clinicians with automated, efficient and reliable Cobb angle measurement.     

脊柱结核手术失败的处理及危险因素分析

目的探讨脊柱结核初次手术失败的危险因素及治疗方案。方法回顾性分析2013年1月至2019年12月接受病灶清除植骨融合术的317例脊柱结核患者,男206例、女111例;年龄(53.5±16.7)岁(范围11~86岁)。随访1年以上,期间出现①~③中任意一条定义为手术失败:①同一结核病灶接受手术≥2次;②与结核病灶相关的非计划再入院次数≥1次;③结核耐药或迁延不愈,出现冷脓肿或窦道;或合并其他细菌感染,或发生内固定松动。未发生失败病例定义为治愈。收集两组患者症状、用药史、辅助检查、手术方案进行单因素分析,对手术失败的潜在危险因素行二分类变量Logistic回归分析。手术失败病例均针对病因进行治疗,穿刺引流(含置管冲洗)14例、清创10例、内固定翻修3例。术中采集脓液、坏死或肉芽组织行结核杆菌培养+药敏试验、宏基因组二代测序和实时荧光定量PCR检测。结果确定手术失败27例。脓肿或窦道形成17例,占63%(17/27);其中3例异烟肼或利福平单药耐药、2例异烟肼和利福平耐药(耐多药);经针对性抗结核治疗(17例)、穿刺引流或穿刺置管冲洗(14例)、清创缝合(3例)治愈。切口感染或愈合不良7例,占26%(7/27);其中病原菌检出5例,均未检出结核耐药;经抗感染及清创缝合治愈,其中2例取出内固定。内固定松动3例,占11%(3/27),经内固定翻修手术治愈。手术失败组与临床治愈组是否累及复合或跳跃节段、有无2型糖尿病史、有无三种以上基础疾病史、术后1周C反应蛋白、术后1周白细胞计数、首剂时间、手术时间和术中出血量的差异有统计学意义(P<0.10)。回归分析结果显示,累及复合或跳跃节段(OR=3.513,P=0.047)、术后1周C反应蛋白(OR=1.021,P=0.005)、首剂时间≥20周(OR=2.895,P=0.039)、出血量≥800 ml(OR=5.950,P=0.001)和患有三种以上基础疾病(OR=3.671,P=0.027)为手术失败的独立危险因素。结论脊柱结核,特别是耐药脊柱结核应早期诊断,并尽早开始规范抗结核治疗;脓肿穿刺引流是治疗脓肿或窦道形成的有效手段;复合或跳跃节段的脊柱结核术后失败发生率高,应强调手术病灶节段的稳定性重建。     

Cefazolin prophylaxis in spine surgery: patients are frequently underdosed and at increased risk for infection

BACKGROUND CONTEXTPerioperative antibiotics are critical in reducing the risk of postoperative spine infections. However, the efficacy and optimal weight-based prophylactic cefazolin dosing is unclear.PURPOSETo determine (1) if inadequate weight-based prophylactic dosing of cefazolin affects infection rates after spinal fusions, and (2) identify the optimal dosing of cefazolin.STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGSingle center retrospective cohortPATIENT SAMPLEPatients undergoing posterior cervical or lumbar spinal fusion between January 2000 and October 2020OUTCOME MEASURESPostoperative surgical site infection statusMETHODSPatients were grouped based on our institutionally derived dosing adequacy standards, 1 g for <60 kg, 2 g for 60 to 120 kg, and 3 g for >120 kg. Univariate comparisons and multivariate regressions identified the effect of inadequate dosing on infection rate. Patients were subsequently regrouped into cefazolin dose (grams) administered and logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves were compiled to determine the probability of infection based on cefazolin dose and patient weight. Alpha was set at 0.05.RESULTSA total of 2,643 patients met inclusion criteria and 95 infections (3.6%) were identified. The infection rate was higher in the inadequate dosing group (5.86% vs. 2.58%, p<.001). Adequate dosing was a predictor of decreased infections after lumbar fusion (OR: 0.43, p<.001), but not posterior cervical fusions (OR: 0.47, p=.065). Patients were subsequently regrouped into 1 g or 2 g of cefazolin administered resulting in a 5.01% and 2.77% infection rate, respectively (p=.005). The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval for one (0.850 [0.777–0.924]) and two (0.575 [0.493–0.657]) g of cefazolin demonstrated lower infection rates for patients given 2 g cefazolin.CONCLUSIONSPatients receiving an inadequate weight-based dose of preoperative cefazolin had an increased risk of infection following spinal fusion surgery. Two grams prophylactic cefazolin significantly reduces the likelihood of infection.     

Quality of prospective controlled randomized trials regarding platelet-rich plasma injection for osteoarthritis of the knee

BackgroundRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for study design and are considered to have the highest level of evidence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate quality of evidence of prospective RCTs that investigated the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments for knee osteoarthritis. We hypothesized that a high level of clinical evidence does not correlate with a high-quality scientific study.Material and methodsA systematic literature search to identified RCTs that evaluated the efficacy of PRP treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Inclusion criteria included studies that contained key terms “Platelet-rich plasma,” “PRP”, “knee”, and “osteoarthritis”. Exclusion criteria excluded studies that were not prospective RCTs. Ten RCTs were evaluated by four independent reviewers. The studies were assessed according to the Oxford Levels of Evidence, a modified Coleman Methodology Score, and the revised Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) score.ResultsThree of the four Observers rated all 10 studies as Level I, while one Observer rated 80% of the studies as Level I. Using the Coleman Methodology Score, the average score for all studies was 58.0 out of 100 points, designating the studies as “fair.” Areas of deficiency included clinical effect measurement and intent-to-treat analysis. Using the CONSORT checklist, the average score was 16.9 out of 22 points, designating the studies as “good”. Areas of deficiency included inadequate implementation of randomization and interpretation of results.DiscussionClinicians should critically evaluate research studies regardless of study design. A sophisticated study design and high level of evidence designation does not guarantee quality research. We determined that RCTs for PRP treatment of knee osteoarthritis were not as robust in quality despite their Level I Oxford Level of Evidence rating.     

Alpelisib for the treatment of PIK3CA-related head and neck lymphatic malformations and overgrowth

PurposePIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) conditions of the head and neck are treatment challenges. Traditionally, these conditions require multiple invasive interventions, with incomplete malformation removal, disfigurement, and possible dysfunction. Use of the PI3K inhibitor alpelisib, previously shown to be effective in PROS, has not been reported in PIK3CA-associated head and neck lymphatic malformations (HNLMs) or facial infiltrating lipomatosis (FIL). We describe prospective treatment of 5 children with PIK3CA-associated HNLMs or head and neck FIL with alpelisib monotherapy.MethodsA total of 5 children with PIK3CA-associated HNLMs (n = 4) or FIL (n = 1) received alpelisib monotherapy (aged 2-12 years). Treatment response was determined by parental report, clinical evaluation, diary/questionnaire, and standardized clinical photography, measuring facial volume through 3-dimensional photos and magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsAll participants had reduction in the size of lesion, and all had improvement or resolution of malformation inflammation/pain/bleeding. Common invasive therapy was avoided (ie, tracheotomy). After 6 or more months of alpelisib therapy, facial volume was reduced (range 1%-20%) and magnetic resonance imaging anomaly volume (range 0%-23%) were reduced, and there was improvement in swallowing, upper airway patency, and speech clarity.ConclusionIndividuals with head and neck PROS treated with alpelisib had decreased malformation size and locoregional overgrowth, improved function and symptoms, and fewer invasive procedures.