Assessment of Lung Tumour Motion and Volume Size Dependencies Using Various Evaluation Measures

The purpose of the study was to assess internal target volume changes through the breathing cycle and associated tumour motion for lung patients and to establish possible correlations between different parameters. Respiration-induced volume changes with breathing cycle and the associated tumour motion were analyzed for 11 patients. Selected phases were the maximum and average intensity projections and the 10 phases of equal duration and separation obtained through the respiratory cycle. Tumour centre of mass (COM) motion planes were generated using least square fitting, and their angles and orientations were then compared between the cases studied. Trajectories that are composed by the points of COM location in different phases were identified, and their interrelation was assessed through different similarity measures. The results were used to determine if there is any correlation between parameters chosen and if the margins conventionally used for the planning target volume creation successfully encompassed lung tumour motion and volume change. The results show that the extent of tumour motion was related to its volume and location. The tumour displacement was predominantly left and inferior. Planar fitting to COM motion data through respiratory phases demonstrated some correlation in best fit motion plane positions between different data sets. In the plane fit comparison, for each patient, the lower root mean square error values showed that a good planar fit can be achieved for the COM motion path. The evaluation of the inhale and exhale trajectories may allow, for certain tumour locations and size, contouring on only inhalation or exhalation phases, knowing that tumour motion will be adequately covered on the other phases. Taking all the data into account and knowing the tumour size and location, a good estimate can be made of the motion plane position in the three-dimensional space and the required dosimetric margins.     

家庭雾化吸入治疗在哮喘预测指数阳性患儿急性发作中的应用研究

目的探讨家庭雾化吸入治疗在哮喘预测指数阳性患儿急性发作中的应用。方法选取我院门诊就诊的哮喘预测指数(PAI)阳性急性发作的患儿126例,根据其家长是否愿意租机回家治疗,随机分成治疗组和对照组,其中对照组62例,治疗组64例,并统计、对比、分析两组的花费、疗效及院内感染或交叉感染。结果治疗组的花费明显降低、疗效显著,院内感染或交叉感染较对照组均减少。结论对于哮喘预测指数阳性在急性发作期的患儿租雾化机雾化治疗的花费明显降低,院内感染或交叉感染与在医院雾化的患儿相比均明显减少,而治疗效果也明显提高,值得临床推广应用。     

Forward and backward digit span difficulties in children with specific learning disorder

This study examined performance in the forward and backward digit span task of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Edition (WISC–IV) in a large group of children with specific learning disorder (SLD) as compared with a group of typically developing children matched for age and sex. Our results further support the hypothesis that the intellectual difficulties of children with SLD involve working memory in the forward digit span task to a greater extent than in the backward digit span task. The correlation of the two spans with a General Ability Index (GAI) was similar in SLD, and smaller in magnitude than in typically developing children. Despite a GAI within normal range, children with SLD had difficulty with both digit span tasks, but more so for forward span. This pattern was similar for different SLD profiles with clinical diagnoses of dyslexia and mixed disorder, but the impairments were more severe in the latter. Age differences were also investigated, demonstrating larger span impairment in older children with SLD than in younger.     

透明质酸、Ⅲ型前胶原及Ⅳ型胶水平与肝纤维化程度的相关性研究

目的分析血清纤维化指标透明质酸(HA)、Ⅲ型前胶原(PCⅢ)、Ⅳ型胶(ⅣC)水平与肝纤维化程度的相关性。方法回顾性分析广西壮族自治区百色市人民医院2014年1月至2015年12月收治的肝病患者200例作为研究组,另选取同期健康体检者200例作为健康对照组,分别检查两组对象血清纤维化各项指标,并进行比较。结果研究组患者血清HA、PCⅢ、ⅣC水平均明显高于健康对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);研究组中肝病程度越重各项指标水平增加越明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);肝纤维化分期越高,血清HA、PCⅢ、ⅣC水平越高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论血清纤维化指标HA、PCⅢ、ⅣC水平能够明显反映肝纤维化的程度,3项指标与肝纤维化程度呈正相关,对临床诊断具有重要价值。     

Understanding Hispanic Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth During COVID-19

BackgroundRecent studies have described the use of telehealth for pediatric surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate equity in telehealth use by comparing rates of utilization and satisfaction with pediatric surgical telemedicine among Hispanic patients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients seen by a surgical subspecialty provider in the outpatient setting at a quaternary pediatric hospital between April 1 and June 30, 2020. Patients evaluated in the same three-month period in 2019 were analyzed as a historic control. Differences in Family Experience Survey (FES) responses based on race and ethnicity and preferred language of care were assessed using univariable and multivariable generalized linear modeling.ResultsThe pandemic cohort included fewer patients of Hispanic ethnicity and fewer Spanish-speakers. After controlling for visit type, comparison of Spanish-speaking and English-speaking patients revealed that Spanish-speaking families had significantly lower scores for FES items that evaluated healthcare provider explaining (IRR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61–0.90), listening (IRR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63–0.92), and time spent with the family (IRR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60–0.89). There were no differences in FES responses based on insurance status or degree of medical complexity.ConclusionsTelehealth services were less commonly used among Hispanic and Spanish-speaking patients. Language may differentially affect family satisfaction with healthcare and telehealth solutions. Strategies to mitigate these inequities are needed and may include strengthening interpreter services and providing language-concordant care.Level of evidenceLevel IV.     

Surgical blood ordering schedule for better inventory management: An experience from a tertiary care transfusion center

BackgroundOverordering of blood has been a challenge faced by the blood bank staff. The present study addresses the role of maximum surgical blood ordering schedule (MSBOS) in optimizing the blood inventory management.MethodsThe blood requests for elective surgical procedures from various surgical departments were reviewed to constitute MSBOS. Transfusion profile was assessed using crossmatch to transfused units (C/T) ratio, transfusion probability (TP), and transfusion index (TI). A cutoff of 0.3 and 5% value of TI and TP, respectively, was considered to decide on the type of crossmatch. The efficacy of MSBOS implementation has been determined prospectively by unpaired t test using SPSS software, version 20 (IBM, USA).ResultsA total of 2674 patients were studied. Overall red cell usage rate was 15%. The comprehensive C/T ratio was 4.57. The C/T ratios for the various departments ranged from 1 to 8.5 (adjusted C/T ratio). Highest C/T ratio was observed for surgical procedures performed in the specialties of otorhinolaryngology and urology. A C/T ratio greater than 5 was noted in 30.4% of different types of surgical procedures. Of the 176 different types of elective surgical procedures studied, type and screen protocol was applicable for 75.5% (133) of the procedures. After implementation of MSBOS, the number of crossmatches reduced by 2152 and total working time saved in our laboratory is close to 75,320 man hours.ConclusionMSBOS helps in identifying the common surgical procedures with low TP and is one of the efficient tools in preventing the overordering of the blood.     

Long-term Medical Outcomes of Living Kidney Donors

Historically, to minimize risks, living kidney donors have been highly selected and healthy. Operative risks are well-defined, yet concern remains about long-term risks. In the general population, even a mild reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is associated with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). However, reduction in GFR in the general population is due to kidney or systemic disease. Retrospective studies comparing donors with matched general population controls have found no increased donor risk. Prospective studies comparing donors with controls (maximum follow-up, 9 years) have reported that donor GFR is stable or increases slightly, whereas GFR decreases in controls. However, these same studies identified metabolic and vascular donor abnormalities. There are a few retrospective studies comparing donors with controls. Each has limitations in selection of the control group, statistical analyses, and/or length of follow-up. One such study reported increased donor mortality; 2 reported a small increase in absolute risk of ESKD. Risk factors for donor ESKD are similar to those in the general population. Postdonation pregnancies are also associated with increased risk of hypertension and preeclampsia. There is a critical need for long-term follow-up studies comparing donors with controls from the same era, geographic area, and socioeconomic status who are healthy, with normal renal function on the date matching the date of donation, and are matched on demographic characteristics with the donors. These data are needed to optimize donor candidate counseling and informed consent.     

广州市番禺区学龄儿童身高、体重、血压现况分析

目的通过对学龄儿童身高、体重、体质指数(BMI)、血压数据进行统计与分析,了解广州市番禺区学龄儿童生长发育、血压现况,为儿童保健、预防儿童高血压和儿童血压参照标准的建立提供依据。方法采用整群随机抽样方法从广州市番禺区小学抽取6¹2周岁的儿童3 972例,进行身高、体重、血压测量,并计算BMI。结果广州市番禺区学龄儿童身高增长速度没有达到全国标准;体重增长速度男童未达标,女童则超标;女童体型较全国标准胖。学龄儿童血压呈近似正态分布,血压随着年龄的增长呈上升趋势,同年龄段的男童血压高于女童。男童收缩压除6岁时低于全国标准外,其余均高于全国标准;舒张压则相反,除了9岁时高于全国标准外,其余均低于全国标准;女童收缩压9岁前低于全国标准,9岁后高于全国标准;舒张压除9岁时与全国标准吻合,其余均低于全国标准。结论广州市番禺区学龄儿童体质仍有待提高;广州市番禺区高血压标准与全国标准存在差别。     

Comparison among the BED capture enzyme immunoassay test and AxSYM avidity index assay for determining recent HIV infection and incidence in two Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres in Northeast Brazil

The aims of this study were to compare the automated AxSYM avidity assay index with the BED capture enzyme immunoassay test and to calculate the HIV-1 incidence using the BED capture enzyme immunoassay and AxSYM avidity assay index algorithms within a population seeking the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres in two municipalities in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Northeast of Brazil. An analysis was conducted in 365 samples that tested positive for HIV infection from frozen serum collected during the period 2006–2009. There was a similar proportion of males and females; most patients were heterosexual (86%) with a median age of 29 years. Of the 365 samples, 102 (28%) and 66 (18.1%) were identified as recent infections by BED capture enzyme immunoassay and AxSYM avidity assay index, respectively. The HIV-1 total incidence in the BED capture enzyme immunoassay and AxSYM avidity assay index algorithms were: 0.79 (95% CI: 0.60–0.98) and 0.34 (95% CI: −0.04 to 0.72), respectively. Incidence was higher among men. There was good agreement between the tests, with a kappa of 0.654 and a specificity of 95.8%. AxSYM avidity assay index may be helpful in improving the quality of the estimates of recent HIV infection and incidence, particularly when used in a combined algorithm with BED capture enzyme immunoassay.