Ongoing and future directions in percutaneous treatment of mitral regurgitation

Introduction: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the major valvular disease. Although surgical mitral valve (MV) repair is the standard of care for patients with severe MR, an unmet need exists in the management of patients with severe symptomatic MR and high surgical risk. Transcatheter MV therapies are alternative treatment option in such patients with moderate to severe and symptomatic MR.

Areas covered: Literatures to direct the reader to important further reading were searched with relevant websites; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed using search word ‘transcatheter mitral intervention’.

Expert commentary: A variety of transcatheter techniques have emerged for the percutaneous treatment of MR. We should carefully select one or combination procedure for each patient as an ideal tailor-made transcatheter MV therapy in order to improve the outcomes.     

The spectrum of mitral valve pathologies: relevance for surgical and structural interventions

Introduction: The mitral valve apparatus, both functionally and morphologically is composed of a constellation of individual structures, including the annulus, anterior and posterior leaflets, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles. Most also include the left ventricular wall and the left atrium which are essential for the valve to function normally.

Areas covered: The commonest conditions responsible for mitral valve dysfunction in the Western World are degenerative and functional mitral regurgitation, which are discussed in detail. Treatment strategies in patients at high surgical risk are rapidly evolving, as more options for transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement become available.

Expert commentary: Although surgery remains the gold standard, many elderly patients with severe comorbidities need intervention as surgery may no longer be an option. Today, transcatheter mitral valve therapies are in their infancy but with advances in technology they will likely become tomorrow’s therapy. The heart team plays an important role, discussing and addressing individualized strategies for each patient. However, a thorough knowledge and the understanding of mitral valve anatomy, pathology, and clinical assessment is mandatory in order to choose the best treatment possible.     

Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation: will it replace surgical pulmonary valve replacement?

Introduction: Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction is a common hemodynamic challenge for adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), including patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), truncus arteriosus (TA), and those who have undergone the Ross procedure for congenital aortic stenosis and the Rastelli repair for transposition of great vessels. Pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) has become one of the most common procedures performed for ACHD patients.

Areas covered: Given the advances in transcatheter technology, we conducted a detailed review of the available studies addressing the indications for PVR, historical background, evolving technology, procedural aspects, and the future direction, with an emphasis on ACHD patients.

Expert commentary: Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) is widely accepted as an alternative to surgery to address RVOT dysfunction. However, current technology may not be able to adequately address a subset of patients with complex RVOT morphology. As the technology continues to evolve, new percutaneous valves will allow practitioners to apply the transcatheter approach in such patients. We expect that with the advancement in transcatheter technology, novel devices will be added to the TPVI armamentarium, making the transcatheter approach a feasible alternative for the majority of patients with RVOT dysfunction in the near future.     

Frailty assessment and impact of frailty on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Introduction: Certain frail patients fail to achieve adequate functional or mortality benefit despite successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Therefore, frailty assessment methods are becoming an important tool to identify and intervene on this high-risk patient subset for improving clinical outcomes.

Areas covered: The authors provide an overview of frailty and frailty assessment tools being used in clinical practice and discuss the impact of frailty on the cardiac patients, particularly among the TAVR population.

Expert commentary: Available evidence suggests that frailty assessment is critical for identifying patients at high risk of morbidity and mortality after TAVR procedures. However, there is lack of consensus for the best methodology to determine frailty and its optimal management in TAVR populations. Although, physical exercise is a commonly employed intervention to reduce frailty, a greater attention towards improving nutrition may convey more benefit than either intervention alone. Ongoing studies are investigating the benefits of a multicomponent approach to improve clinical outcomes in frail patients undergoing TAVR.     

Mitral valve prolapse

Introduction: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common valve pathology with a spectrum of disease from isolated prolapse to myxomatous, multi-scallop Barlow’s disease. The main complications relate to progression of mitral regurgitation, endocarditis, sudden death, and stroke. The timing of intervention in patients with asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation is controversial.

Areas covered: This article reviews the pathophysiology, genetics, clinical features, diagnostic imaging, complications, long-term outcomes, and indications for intervention in MVP.

Expert commentary: Several key dilemmas in the management of MVP remain. Factors which influence progression of mitral regurgitation are unclear and therefore, we have no therapeutic targets to prevent progression. Evidence-based methods to reduce the risk of sudden death, stroke, and endocarditis have not been identified. In symptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation valve surgery is recommended. In asymptomatic patients, careful risk stratification incorporating markers of left ventricular dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, and valve reparability is required to identify the optimal timing of intervention.     

Evolution of hybrid interventions for congenital heart disease

Introduction: Surgical and transcatheter interventions have seen a tremendous evolution in last three decades. Hybrid technology combines the achievements of both disciplines to bring substantial hemodynamic benefit to patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) in a minimally invasive manner. This collaboration between surgeons and interventionalists will continue to grow as the technology evolves to meet the demands of CHD patients, potentially avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and vascular access complications as well as optimizing immediate technical outcomes with exit angiography.

Areas covered: This review covers application of such technology to initial palliation of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, ventricular septal defect closure, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, pulmonary valve replacement, intra-operative pulmonary artery stenting and vascular cut-down in small neonates.

Expert commentary: Careful planning and investment in infrastructure is necessary to optimize outcomes, however patients can benefit tremendously from integration of this approach into clinical practice.     

Minimally invasive mitral repair surgery: why does controversy still persist?

Introduction: Surgical treatment for mitral valve disease has evolved and remains a rapidly expanding field. Minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MI-MVR) is a well-known alternative to conventional sternotomy mitral valve repair (cMVR). However, controversy as to the efficacy of MI-MVR persists, hindering the adoption and potential benefits of this less invasive approach.

Areas covered: In this review, we provide an updated summary evaluation of the latest evidence, including observational studies, clinical trials and meta-analyses, regarding MI-MVR in comparison to cMVR.

Expert commentary: The controversy that persists around the widespread adoption of MI-MVR procedures is addressed with the wealth of evidence published establishing similarly excellent outcomes between MI-MVR and cMVR.     

The effect on the patient flow in a local health care after implementing reverse triage in a primary care emergency department: a longitudinal follow-up study

Objective: Reverse triage means that patients who are not considered to be in need of medical services are not placed on the doctor’s list in an emergency department (ED) but are sent, after face-to-face evaluation by a triage nurse, to a more appropriate health care unit. It is not known how an abrupt application of such reverse triage in a combined primary care ED alters the demand for doctors’ services in collaborative parts of the health care system.

Design: An observational study.

Setting: Register-based retrospective quasi-experimental longitudinal follow-up study based on a before–after setting in a Finnish city.

Subjects: Patients who consulted different doctors in a local health care unit.

Main outcome measures: Numbers of monthly visits to different doctor groups in public and private primary care, and numbers of monthly referrals to secondary care ED from different sources of primary care were recorded before and after abrupt implementation of the reverse triage.

Results: The beginning of reverse triage decreased the number of patient visits to a primary ED doctor without increasing mortality. Simultaneously, there was an increase in doctor visits in the adjacent secondary care ED and local private sector. The number of patients who came to secondary care ED without a referral or with a referral from the private sector increased.

Conclusions: The data suggested that the reverse triage causes redistribution of the use of doctors’ services rather than a true decrease in the use of these services.     

Factors associated with self-rated health in primary care

Background: Self-rated health (SRH) measures one’s current general health and is a widely used health indicator. Sleep problems, somatic health complaints, and unmet needs in interpersonal relationships are suspected to influence SRH, but studies in primary health care settings are sparse.

Objective: To examine the associations between patients’ self-rated health and their sleep problems, somatic health complaints, and unmet needs in interpersonal relationships.

Design: We collected data via questionnaires for this cross-sectional study from general practice.

Setting: Primary health care in Norway.

Subjects: 1302 consecutive patients participated.

Main outcome measures: The questionnaire included a single question about SRH, the Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), five questions on somatic health complaints, and three questions from the Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS) pertaining to the relationships domain. We analyzed our data using ordinal logistic regression models.

Results: Our response rate was 74%. The prevalence of fair/poor SRH was 26%, with no gender differences. We revealed a significant association between increasing age and reduced SRH. The study showed that sleep problems and somatic health complaints were strongly associated with SRH, and unmet needs in relationships were also significantly and independently associated with reduced SRH in a full model analysis.

Conclusion: Sleep problems, somatic health complaints, and unmet needs in interpersonal relationships were all associated with reduced SRH. These factors are all modifiable and could be managed both within and outside a primary care setting in order to improve SRH.

• Key Points

• There was a high prevalence of reduced SRH in clinical general practice

• Sleep problems, somatic health complaints, and unmet needs in interpersonal relationships were all associated with reduced SRH

• These predictors are all modifiable with a potential to improve SRH

     

A systematic review to determine the optimal type and dosage of land-based exercises for treating knee osteoarthritis

Background: Exercise has been acknowledged as an effective non-pharmacological intervention for osteoarthritis. Consensus regarding the type of exercise i.e., aerobic or resistance, weight bearing or non-weight bearing, and dosage i.e., frequency, loading, duration, or intensity, is yet to be reached.

Objective: The purpose of this review was to address two questions: (1) is there a difference in clinical outcomes between different exercise programmes; and (2) what is the optimal dosage of exercises for people with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted. A study of published (AMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library) and unpublished literature (WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, current controlled trials and the United States National Institute of Health Trials Registry, and Open Grey) was undertaken in January 2013. Studies assessing the clinical outcomes of different types and dosages of exercise for people with osteoarthritis of the knee were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal skills programme (CASP) randomized controlled trial (RCT) appraisal tool.

Results: Ten studies assessing 958 knees from 916 participants were included. Exercise significantly improved pain and function for people with knee osteoarthritis. There was no significant difference in outcomes for different types of exercise i.e., aerobic versus resistance, weight bearing versus non-weight bearing. There was no significant difference in respect to the intensity of exercise i.e., high- versus lower-intensity resistance or aerobic exercises. The quality of the literature was moderate to high.

Conclusions: While exercise appears to improve symptoms and optimize function for people with knee osteoarthritis, the optimal form and dosage of exercise remains unknown.

Funding: None.

PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42012002811.     

Resolution of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome with topical capsaicin in the emergency department: a case series

Background: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by symptoms of cyclic abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting in the setting of prolonged cannabis use. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor may be involved in this syndrome. Topical capsaicin is a proposed treatment for CHS; it binds TRPV1 with high specificity, impairing substance P signaling in the area postrema and nucleus tractus solitarius via overstimulation of TRPV1. This may explain its apparent antiemetic effect in this syndrome.

Purpose: We describe a series of thirteen cases of suspected cannabis hyperemesis syndrome treated with capsaicin in the emergency departments of two academic medical centers.

Methods: A query of the electronic health record at both centers identified thirteen patients with documented daily cannabis use and symptoms consistent with CHS who were administered topical capsaicin cream for symptom management.

Results: All 13 patients experienced symptom relief after administration of capsaicin cream.

Conclusion: Topical capsaicin was associated with improvement in symptoms of CHS after other treatments failed.     

Effects of numerical information on intention to participate in cervical screening among women offered HPV vaccination: a randomised study

Objectives: To investigate the effects of different types of information about benefits and harms of cervical screening on intention to participate in screening among women in the first cohorts offered human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination.

Design: Randomised survey study.

Setting: Denmark.

Subjects: A random sample of women from the birth cohorts 1993, 1994 and 1995 drawn from the general population.

Interventions: A web-based questionnaire and information intervention. We randomised potential respondents to one of the following four different information modules about benefits and harms of cervical screening: no information; non-numerical information; and two numerical information modules. Moreover, we provided HPV-vaccinated women in one of the arms with numerical information about benefits and harms in two steps: firstly, information without consideration of HPV vaccination and subsequently information conditional on HPV vaccination.

Main outcome measure: Self-reported intention to participate in cervical screening.

Results: A significantly lower proportion intended to participate in screening in the two groups of women receiving numerical information compared to controls with absolute differences of 10.5 (95% CI: 3.3–17.6) and 7.7 (95% CI: 0.4–14.9) percentage points, respectively. Among HPV-vaccinated women, we found a significantly lower intention to participate in screening after numerical information specific to vaccinated women (OR of 0.38).

Conclusions: Women are sensitive to numerical information about the benefits and harms of cervical screening. Specifically, our results suggest that HPV-vaccinated women are sensitive to information about the expected changes in benefits and harms of cervical screening after implementation of HPV vaccination.

• KEY POINTS

• Women were less likely to participate in cervical screening when they received numerical information about benefits and harms compared to non-numerical or no information.

• Specifically, numerical information about the potential impact of the reduced risk of cervical cancer among HPV-vaccinated women reduced the intention to participate among vaccinated women.

     

Identification of the affected ear in lateral canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Background:

The effective management of lateral canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (LC-BPPV) is dependent upon the accurate identification of the affected ear. The supine roll test is the gold standard for diagnosing LC-BPPV. However, in some cases, the elicited nystagmus has a similar intensity when the head is rolled to the right or to the left.

Objectives:

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of accessory diagnostic procedures, used in conjunction with the supine roll test, at accurately identifying the affected ear in individuals with LC-BPPV.

Methods:

The following databases were searched: (1) CINAHL Plus with Full Text, (2) ProQuest Medical Library, and (3) MEDLINE. The following search terms were used: (1) ‘lateral canal’ OR ‘horizontal canal’ AND (2) ‘positional vertigo’ OR ‘positioning vertigo’ OR ‘positional nystagmus’ OR ‘positioning nystagmus’. Evidence level was examined with the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 levels of evidence method, and methodological rigour was examined with the QUADAS method.

Results:

A database search originally identified 1348 records, and nine studies were ultimately included in the qualitative synthesis. This systematic review revealed four index tests that, when used in conjunction with the supine roll test, were able to accurately identify the affected ear in a majority of individuals with LC-BPPV.

Conclusions:

The pseudo-spontaneous test was found to be slightly superior to the other three index tests in terms of eliciting nystagmus during its administration and identifying the same affected ear as the supine roll test.     

Serum osmolal gap in clinical practice: usefulness and limitations

Background: Although serum osmolal gap can be a useful diagnostic tool, clinicians are not familiar with its use in clinical practice.

Objectives: The review presents in a series of questions-answers and under a clinical point of view the current data regarding the use of osmolal gap.

Discussion: The definition and the best formula used for the calculation of osmolal gap, the main causes of increased osmolal gap with or without increased anion gap metabolic acidosis, as well as the role of concurrent lactic acidosis or ketoacidosis are presented under a clinical point of view.

Conclusions: The calculation of osmolal gap is crucial in the differential diagnosis of many patients presenting in emergency departments with possible drug or substance overdose as well as in comatose hospitalized patients.     

What is the role of sutureless aortic valves in today’s armamentarium?

Introduction: Sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic bioprostheses represent an emerging and promising technology for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis. Unlike traditional aortic bioprostheses, these devices are not hand-sewn, thus allowing a significant reduction in operative times, while facilitating minimally invasive surgery and complex cardiac interventions. Sutureless aortic valve replacement represents a less invasive treatment option and an excellent alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement in elderly and higher risk patients.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the current literature on sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic bioprostheses, focusing on their hemodynamic and clinical performance. Moreover, we highlight clinical caveats associated with these devices and report the current recommendations for their use, as advocated by experts in the field.

Expert commentary: Finally, we summarize our group’s technical modification with regards to positioning of these bioprostheses and propose some technical aspects which could decrease post-procedural permanent pacemaker requirement.     

Content and bibliometric analyses of the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy

Background:

Article characteristics and trends have been elucidated for other physical therapy-focused journals using content and bibliometric analysis. These findings are important for assessing the current state of a journal and for guiding future publication of research. To date, these analyses have not been performed for the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy (JMMT).

Objective:

To describe content and trends for articles published in JMMT over a 20-year period (1993–2012).

Methods:

Journal articles were coded using previously-established domains (article type, participant type, research design, study purpose, and clinical condition). Total publications and proportion of publications based on domain were described. Articles specific to manual therapy intervention were examined and compared to data from other physical therapy-focused journals. Impact by citation and author was examined using bibliometric software.

Results:

Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy was found to have a recent acceleration in the number of articles published annually. Over time, topical reviews have decreased in favor of research reports. However, rigorous study designs have represented only a small portion of total journal content, and case reports have maintained a consistent publication presence. Manual therapy intervention articles in JMMT are predominantly case designs, however are similar in characteristics to manual therapy intervention articles published in other physical therapy-focused journals. For JMMT articles overall and manual therapy intervention articles across journals, young to middle-aged symptomatic adults with low back and/or neck pain were the most common study participants.

Discussion:

Increases in the number of papers and a move toward research reports were observed in JMMT over the 20-year period. Considerations for the future were outlined, including the publication of articles with more rigorous research designs. Manual therapy research for adolescents and older adults and for upper and lower extremity conditions should also be considered as priorities for the future.     

Parent-based diagnosis of ADHD is as accurate as a teacher-based diagnosis of ADHD

Objective: To review the literature evaluating the psychometric properties of parent and teacher informants relative to a gold-standard ADHD diagnosis in pediatric populations.

Method: We included studies that included both a parent and teacher informant, a gold-standard diagnosis, and diagnostic accuracy metrics. Potential confounds were evaluated. We also assessed the ‘OR’ and the ‘AND’ rules for combining informant reports.

Results: Eight articles met inclusion criteria. The diagnostic accuracy for predicting gold standard ADHD diagnoses did not differ between parents and teachers. Sample size, sample type, participant drop-out, participant age, participant gender, geographic area of the study, and date of study publication were assessed as potential confounds.

Conclusion: Parent and teachers both yielded moderate to good diagnostic accuracy for ADHD diagnoses. Parent reports were statistically indistinguishable from those of teachers. The predictive features of the ‘OR’ and ‘AND’ rules are useful in evaluating approaches to better integrating information from these informants.     

Use of panel testing for detection of antinuclear antibody in a resource-limited setting: an appraisal

Objectives: Despite an increase in the incidence of systemic connective tissue diseases (CTD), panel testing for detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is not a routine practice in many health centers of the Indian subcontinent. Consequently, the data on its significance is scanty.

Methods: To evaluate utility of panel testing, line immunoassay (LIA) and indirect immunofluorescence antinuclear antibody test (IIF-ANA) were performed in 321 cases of CTD.

Results: Out of 321 serum samples screened by the above tests, 227 were positive and 18 were negative by both LIA and IIF-ANA. Additional 11/321 (3.4%) cases were picked up by LIA. SSA was most common specificity in these cases followed by SSA/SSB, SSB, Ro-52, Jo-1, dsDNA and nRNP/Sm.

Conclusion: Use of LIA along with IF-ANA and ELISA improves sensitivity of CTD screening.