A multitest regimen of pain provocation tests as an aid to reduce unnecessary minimally invasive sacroiliac joint procedures

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of a multitest regimen of 5 sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain provocation tests with fluoroscopically controlled double SIJ blocks using a short- and long-acting local anesthetic in order to reduce the exposure of patients to unnecessary invasive SIJ procedures. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Hospital setting. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients with chronic low back pain. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scale score and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients responded positively to the blocks, of whom 23 were found positive after the multitest regimen and 4 were negative. For the nonresponders (n=33), these figures were 7 positive and 26 negative. The calculated sensitivity and specificity were .85 (95% confidence interval [CI], .72-.99) and .79 (95% CI, .65-.93), respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were .77 (95% CI, .62-.92) and .87 (95% CI, .74-.99), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 4.02 (95% CI, 2.04-7.89); the negative likelihood ratio was .19 (95% CI, .07-.47). The area under the ROC curve was .799. CONCLUSIONS: The test regimen with 3 or more positive tests is indicative of SIJ pain. It can be used in early clinical decision making to reduce the number of unnecessary minimally invasive diagnostic SIJ procedures.     

Plasma transfusion in critically Ill patients with abnormal coagulation tests before invasive procedures: A propensity-adjusted cohort study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between plasma transfusion and bleeding complications in critically ill patients with an elevated international normalized ratios undergoing invasive procedures.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted to evaluate a consecutive sample of critically ill adult patients undergoing invasive procedures (N = 487) with an international normalized ratio ≥ 1.5 between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Among the followed patients, 125 were excluded due to incomplete case records and 362 were finally included in this investigation. The exposure was whether plasma had been transfused within 24 h before the invasive procedure. The primary outcome was the occurrence of postprocedural bleeding complications. Secondary outcomes included transfusion of red blood cells within 24 h of the invasive procedure, and additional patient-important outcomes such as mortality and length of stay. Tests were performed with univariate and propensity-matched analyses.ResultsOf the 362 study participants, 99 (27.3 %) received a preprocedural plasma transfusion. In the propensity score-matched analysis, the rate of the occurrence of postprocedural bleeding complications between two groups was not statistically different (OR, 0.605[95 % CI, 0.341–1.071]; P = .085). The rate of postoperative red blood cell transfusion in the plasma transfusion group was higher than that in the non-plasma transfusion group (35.5 % vs 21.5 %; P < .05). No statistically significant difference in mortality was observed between the two groups (29.0 % vs 31.6 %; P = .101).ConclusionsProphylactic plasma transfusion failed to reduce postprocedural bleeding complications in ill critically patients with a coagulopathy. Meanwhile, it was associated with increased red blood cell transfusion after invasive procedures. Findings suggest that abnormal preprocedural international normalized ratios should be managed more conservatively.     

Techniques for noninvasive diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections. Which tests to order, when to consider invasive procedures

Although sputum culture and Gram's staining have been the traditional methods for determining the cause of lower respiratory tract infections, oropharyngeal contamination and improper sputum collection can limit their usefulness. Nevertheless, these noninvasive techniques remain a rapid means of gathering diagnostic clues. Alternative approaches include acid-fast sputum stains, direct immunofluorescence examination, enzyme immunoassays, DNA probes, and serologic testing. However, for critically ill patients, invasive procedures (such as bronchoscopy and thoracentesis) can provide more definitive diagnoses to guide selection of antimicrobial therapy.     

(1,3)-β-D葡聚糖检测联合其他微生物学检测在侵袭性真菌病诊断中的相关性分析

目的研究(1,3)-β-D葡聚糖检测(G 试验)联合真菌涂片、真菌培养及隐球菌荚膜抗原检测等微生物学检测在侵袭性真菌病(IFD)诊断中的临床意义。方法收集2018年2-12月在复旦大学附属华山医院同时进行G试验、真菌涂片、真菌培养的942例患者资料,其中184例另行隐球菌荚膜抗原检测。回顾性分析G试验、真菌检测和隐球菌荚膜抗原检测结果,分别计算不同检测方法及联合检测的灵敏度、特异度、阳性和阴性预测值。结果 942例患者中,确诊IFD 115例,拟诊33例,疑似154例,非感染640例。对除隐球菌病外的IFD诊断的灵敏度、特异度:G试验单独检测时为92.9%、59.0%;真菌涂片为57.5%、96.6%;真菌培养为77.9%、93.0%;三者联合检测时为97.3%、93.2%。对于隐球菌病,G试验灵敏度、特异度分别为77.1%、81.2%。结论 G试验灵敏度良好,特异度一般。将G试验与传统真菌学检测方法联合使用,能弥补单项检测不足,可作为辅助指标为临床及时正确诊断提供帮助。     

Make tests and break tests of elbow flexor muscle strength

The purposes of this investigation were 1) to compare the forces produced by the elbow flexor muscles during make tests and break tests and 2) to determine the reliability of each of the test procedures. I used a hand-held dynamometer to perform two make tests and two break tests on 27 young women. The forces produced by the elbow flexor muscles during break tests were significantly larger than (p less than .001), albeit correlated with (r greater than .80), the forces produced during make tests. Each testing procedure was reliable (r = .909 for make tests; r = .922 for break tests). On the basis of reliability, one type of testing cannot be considered clearly superior to the other.     

Nomenclature of function tests

We examined the vitamin D receptor genotypes (BB, Bb and bb) defined by the BsmI restriction endonuclease in relation to biochemical indices of bone metabolism in healthy Caucasian infants. We measured the serum concentrations of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the urinary excretion of total pyridinoline, free, total and bound deoxypyridinoline, the type I collagen N-terminal and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides. The concentrations of the urinary indices are expressed relative to creatinine. Subjects with BB genotype had the highest mean concentrations of free, total and bound deoxypyridinoline and of the N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide (P_ANOVA = 0.0016, 0.0004, 0.0002 and 0.0053, respectively). BB boys had a higher excretion of the C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide than the other genotypes (P_ANOVA = 0.0253). In a subgroup of homozygotes aged 10 (1) months, BB subjects had the highest levels of the C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide (p=0.03), and of total deoxypyridinoline (p=0.02) and pyridinoline (p=0.06) concentrations. No significant association between the vitamin D receptor genotype and PICP was found. These data suggest that there may be a contribution of the vitamin D receptor genotype to skeletal metabolism in early childhood.     

Validation of diagnostic tests

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Validation of diagnostic tests

     

Minimally invasive surgery

During the last 10 years, minimally invasive surgery has influenced the techniques used in every specialty of surgical medicine. This development has not only led to the replacement of conventional procedures with minimally invasive ones, but has also stimulated surgeons to reevaluate conventional approaches with regard to perioperative parameters such as pain medication. However, two major drawbacks have emerged with the introduction of this new technique: firstly, the prolonged learning curve for most surgeons, in comparison with the learning process in open surgery; and secondly, increased costs due to investment in the equipment required and the use of disposable instruments, as well as longer operating times. In the various health-care systems around the world, these increased costs are not always compensated for by shorter hospital stays. This review focuses on major areas of indication for minimally invasive surgery in the gastrointestinal tract. These include functional disorders of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, obesity surgery, minimally invasive techniques in gastric and hepatobiliary surgery and in other solid organs, and laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The shortening of the hospitalization period has led to increasing use of outpatient laparoscopic surgery, and many centers specializing in day-care surgery are using these techniques. The frontiers are being pushed even further, as the size of the instruments is reduced to achieve better cosmetic results. Clinical research has also focused on the topic of expanding the indications for minimally invasive approaches in the elderly and in high-risk patients, to take advantage of the shorter hospital stays and reduced surgical trauma that are possible. A considerable amount of basic research has been carried out on the stress response during and after minimally invasive procedures, and an improved immune response with the minimally invasive approach has been observed, leading to better results after extensive oncological procedures. Robotic surgery and telesurgery involve new computer-aided methods that allow greater precision in surgical technique, as well as offering an opportunity to supply surgical skill and expertise remotely, over long distances. Minimally invasive surgical techniques are thus now fully established in routine use, and the indications are continuing to expand.