Brain maturation in the first 3 months of life,measured by electroencephalogram: A comparison between preterm and term-born infants

ObjectivePreterm infants are at risk for altered brain maturation resulting in neurodevelopmental impairments. Topographical analysis of high-density electroencephalogram during sleep matches underlying brain maturation. Using such an EEG mapping approach could identify preterm infants at risk early in life.Methods20 preterm (gestational age < 32 weeks) and 20 term-born infants (gestational age > 37 weeks) were recorded by 18-channel daytime sleep-EEG at term age (GA 40 weeks for preterm and 2–3 days after birth for term infants) and 3 months (corrected age for preterm infants).ResultsPreterm infant’s power spectrum at term age is immature, leveling off with term infants at 3 months of age. Topographical distribution of maximal power density however, reveals qualitative differences between the groups until 3 months of age. Preterm infants exhibit more temporal than central activation at term age and more occipital than central activation at 3 months of age. Moreover, being less mature at term age predicts being less mature at 3 months of age.ConclusionTopographical analysis of sleep EEG reveals changes in brain maturation between term and preterm infants early in life.SignificanceIn future, automated analysis tools using topographical power distribution could help identify preterm infants at risk early in life.     

Hypovitaminosis D in patients with osteoporotic hip fractures

BackgroundInadequate serum vitamin D levels are associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, increased bone turnover, bone loss and increased fracture risk. Vitamin D is well recognized to be suboptimal in older patients when compared to age-matched controls. There are no published studies on the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in Indian population with fragility fractures around the hip associated with osteoporosis and comminution at the fracture site.AimTo investigate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients admitted with osteoporotic hip fractures and associated fracture site comminution in a South Indian Institute.Material & MethodsA prospective cross sectional study was conducted on 100 patients admitted with osteoporotic hip fracture. Measurement of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D was done and the same was correlated with the degree of osteoporosis using Singh’s index and fracture site comminution.ResultsOut of 100 patients studied, 92% had hypovitaminosis D with mean vitamin D level of 16.08 ± 5.95 ng/dl (65% vitamin D deficiency with mean 13.16 ± 4.24 ng/dl and 27% vitamin D insufficiency with mean 23.11 ± 2.62 ng/dl) and 94% had osteoporosis with Singh’s index grade 3 or less. Out of the 36 patients with fracture site comminution 34 patients (94%) had hypovitaminosis D and 33 patients (91.6%) had osteoporosis. Statistical significance was established for all the variables.ConclusionSignificant association was found between hypovitaminosis D, osteoporosis and fracture site comminution. High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients presenting with hip fractures and fracture site comminution implicates the necessity for proper evaluation and effective supplementation of vitamin D in elderly patients along with anti-osteoporotic regimens for effective prevention and appropriate management of osteoporotic hip fractures.     

Ketorolac use and anastomotic leak in patients with esophageal cancer

ObjectivesRecent evidence has shown an association between postoperative ketorolac use and anastomotic leak in patients undergoing intestinal and colorectal operations, but this relationship has been minimally explored after esophagectomy. As the use of nonopioid pain control and enhanced recovery protocols is increasingly prioritized, determination of a possible correlation between perioperative ketorolac use and leak is essential.MethodsRecords of patients undergoing esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma at a single institution from 2006 to 2018 reviewed for occurrence of anastomotic leak. Institutional pharmacy records were queried for ketorolac administration during the surgical case through the time of discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between ketorolac administration and anastomotic leak.ResultsA total of 1019 patients met inclusion criteria, the majority of whom were male (907, 89%) with a median age of 62 years. Patients predominantly presented with locoregionally advanced disease and were treated with initial chemoradiation. Ketorolac was administered to 686 patients (67%); use was observed to increase over the study period from 49% in 2006 to 92% in 2016. Conversely, anastomotic leak occurred in 87 patients (9%) overall and decreased over time from 15% (11/72) in 2006 to 2% (2/83) in 2018. Upon multivariable analysis, neither ketorolac administration evaluated as a categoric variable (odds ratio, 0.99; P = .958) or as a continuous variable using dose (odds ratio, 1.00; P = .843) demonstrated an association with anastomotic leak.ConclusionsKetorolac in the postoperative period after esophagectomy has become an integral component of enhanced recovery pathways and does not appear to be associated with anastomotic leak.     

Adherence to a Mediterranean Lifestyle and Changes in Frequency,Severity, and Localization of Pain in Older Adults

ObjectiveTo assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle and changes in pain, and its characteristics over time in older adults.Patients and MethodsWe analyzed data from 864 and 862 community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ years from the Study on Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition and Frailty in Older Adults in Spain (Seniors-ENRICA) Seniors-ENRICA-1 (2008–2010 to 2012) and Seniors-ENRICA-2 (2015–2017 to 2019) cohorts, with a median follow-up of 2.8 and 2.4 years, respectively. Adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle was assessed at baseline with the 27-item Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index. Pain changes over time were calculated with a pain scale that assessed the frequency, severity, and the number of pain locations both at baseline and follow-up. Multivariable-adjusted relative risk ratios (RRRs) were obtained using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsIn the pooled cohorts, after a median follow-up of 2.6 years, pain worsened for 697 participants, improved for 734, and did not change for 295. Compared with the lowest category of MEDLIFE adherence, those in the highest category showed an RRR of improvement vs worsening of overall pain of 1.85 (95% CI, 1.28 to 2.67; P-trend<.001). MEDLIFE adherence was also linked to improvement in pain frequency (RRR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.01; P-trend=.001), pain severity (RRR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.33 to 3.00; P-trend=.001), and a reduction in the number of pain locations (RRR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.50; P-trend=.004). Limitations of this study are the use of self-reported lifestyle data.ConclusionA Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with improvement of pain characteristics in older adults. Experimental studies should assess the efficacy of an integral lifestyle approach for the management of pain in older adults.     

Preparation,characterization, and antibacterial activity of plaunotol and plaunoi extracts complexed with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Croton stellatopilosus (Plaunoi) leaves accumulate several diterpenes and possess various pharmacological activities. The present study aimed to prepare, characterize and assess the antibacterial activity of inclusion complexes prepared by mixing plaunotol (PL) or plaunoi extract (PE) with cyclodextrins (CD), including α-CD, β-CD, γ-CD, and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). The inclusion complexes were characterized using SEM, XRD, DSC, and FT-IR and evaluated for aqueous solubility and thermal stability. The PL and PE lyophilized complexes with HP-β-CD were further evaluated for their antibacterial activity against acne-causing bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of PL, PE, and the inclusion complexes evaluated using the agar dilution method revealed that the MIC and MBC values of the inclusion complexes were lower than those of PL or PE alone. Interestingly, the complexes had a synergistic activity with clindamycin after testing with checkerboard assay. The hydrogel containing the inclusion complex and clindamycin were assessed for antibacterial activity using the agar well diffusion method. The results indicated that the hydrogels showed significant inhibition of bacterial growth. In conclusion, the prepared solid dispersion of PL or PE with HP-β-CD could enhance antibacterial activity by increasing the drug solubility. The hydrogels containing PL or PE complex and clindamycin could be considered as a candidate for the treatment of acne vulgaris.     

微创超声乳化手术前后角膜前后表面及不同区域范围角膜参数的变化

目的：比较白内障微创超声乳化手术前后角膜前表面屈光力(ASF)、角膜真实净屈光力(TNP)和总角膜屈光力(TCRP)分布特点及角膜前后表面曲率半径比(B/F ratio)差异。

方法：前瞻性研究。收集2020-12/2021-05就诊于潍坊眼科医院行2.2mm微切口超声乳化白内障吸除联合人工晶状体植入术的年龄相关性白内障患者156例156眼。术前及术后3mo行Pentacam眼前节生物测量仪检查，收集以角膜顶点和以瞳孔为中心2、4、6mm环上和区域内ASF、TNP和TCRP，以及手术前后B/F ratio。

结果：术后3mo，以角膜顶点为中心2mm直径环上和区域内ASF值较术前均无差异(均P>0.05)，而4、6mm直径环上和区域内ASF值较术前均有差异(均P<0.05)； 以瞳孔为中心2mm直径环上及区域内ASF值较术前均无差异(均P>0.05)。以角膜顶点为中心和以瞳孔为中心2、4、6mm直径环上和区域内TNP、TCRP值较术前均有差异(均P<0.05)。术前以角膜顶点为中心和瞳孔为中心在2mm与6mm之间环上和4mm与6mm之间环上TCRP值均有差异(均P<0.0167)； 在2mm与6mm区域内TCRP值均有差异(均P<0.0167)； 术后3mo，以角膜顶点为中心和瞳孔为中心环上TCRP值在2mm与6mm之间、4mm与6mm之间均有差异(均P<0.0167)，而以角膜顶点为中心和瞳孔为中心区域内TCRP值仅在2mm与6mm直径范围内有差异(P<0.0167)。B/F ratio术前为81.79%±1.87%，术后3mo为80.68%±2.23%(P<0.001)。

结论：白内障手术前后以角膜顶点和以瞳孔为中心的不同直径环上及区域内各项角膜屈光力参数会有一定的变化和差异，人工晶状体度数计算的K值选择及基于角膜特性的人工晶状体个体化选择时应予以考虑。     

Dual-Energy Computed Tomography as an Adjunct in the Evaluation of Peripheral Chronic Total Occlusions: A Feasibility Study

This study investigated the role of dual-energy computed tomography (CT) for lesion characterization in patients with peripheral arterial disease manifesting with chronic total occlusions (CTOs). Forty-one symptomatic patients with CTOs underwent dual-energy CT angiography before endovascular treatment. The lesions were subsequently analyzed in a dedicated workstation, and 2 indexes—dual-energy index (DEI) and effective Z (Z_eff)—were calculated, ranging from 0.0027 to 0.321 and from 6.89 to 13.02, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between the DEI and Z_eff values (P < .001). The interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91 for the mean Z_eff values and 0.86 for the mean DEI values. This technique could potentially provide useful information regarding the composition of a CTO.