Effect of reverse manual wheelchair propulsion on shoulder kinematics,kinetics and muscular activity in persons with paraplegia

Objective: Shoulder pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) is attributed to increased mobility demands on the arms and negatively impacts independence and quality of life. Repetitive superior and posterior shoulder joint forces produced during traditional wheelchair (WC) locomotion can result in subacromial impingement if unopposed, as with muscular fatigue or weakness. ROWHEELS^® (RW), geared rear wheels that produce forward WC movement with backward rim pulling, could alter these forces.

Design: Cross sectional.

Setting: Research laboratory at a rehabilitation hospital.

Participants: Ten manual WC users with paraplegia.

Outcome measures: Propulsion characteristics and right upper extremity/trunk kinematics and shoulder muscle activity were collected during ergometer propulsion: (1) self-selected free speed reverse propulsion with RW, (2) matched-speed reverse (rSW), and (3) forward propulsion (fSW) with instrumented Smartwheels (SW). Inverse dynamics using right-side SW rim kinetics and kinematics compared shoulder kinetics during rSW and fSW.

Results: Free propulsion velocity, cycle distance and cadence were similar during RW, rSW and fSW. Overall shoulder motion was similar except that peak shoulder extension was significantly reduced in both RW and rSW versus fSW. Anteriorly and inferiorly directed SW rim forces were decreased during rSW versus fSW propulsion, but posteriorly and superiorly directed rim forces were significantly greater. Superior and posterior shoulder joint forces and flexor, adductor, and external rotation moments were significantly less during rSW, without a significant difference in net shoulder forces and moments. Traditional propulsive-phase muscle activity was significantly reduced and recovery-phase muscle activity was increased during reverse propulsion.

Conclusion: These results suggest that reverse propulsion may redirect shoulder demands and prevent subacromial impingement, thereby preventing injury and preserving independent mobility for individuals with paraplegia.     

How well do platelets prevent bleeding?

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A second wave of COVID-19 in Cook County: What lessons can be applied?

During the ongoing public health crisis, many agencies are reporting COVID-19 health outcome information based on the overall population. This practice can lead to misleading results and underestimation of high risk areas. To gain a better understanding of spatial and temporal distribution of COVID-19 deaths; the long term care facility (LTCF) and household population (HP) deaths must be used. This approach allows us to better discern high risk areas and provides policy makers with reliable information for community engagement and mitigation strategies. By focusing on high-risk LTCFs and residential areas, protective measures can be implemented to minimize COVID-19 spread and subsequent mortality.  These areas should be a high priority target when COVID-19 vaccines become available

During the current public health crisis, many agencies and media outlets are reporting COVID-19 health outcome information based on the overall population of Cook County. As we have demonstrated, overall COVID-19 case counts and mortality can be misleading (details in >Story Map 1). Moreover, they offer little guidance for delivering public health interventions to high risk populations, a critical need during this second and potentially more devastating wave of the pandemic. The University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health’s Public Health Geographic Information System Program (UIC-SPH-PHGIS) and Purdue research team has been examining spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 mortality with a focus on the significant loss of life from COVID-19 among Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF) residents in contrast to mortality in the community among residents of private households (non-LTCF; referred to as household population, HP). The goals of the study are:

• Improve the accuracy of commonly quoted COVID-19 mortality indicators;
• Gain a better understanding of spatial and temporal distribution of COVID-19 deaths;
• Examine the role of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in COVID-19 mortality;
• Identify population and organizational parameters that can inform strategies for public health interventions.

Prioritizing the allocation of resources based on reliable information is a prerequisite of a successful mitigation strategy and immunization plan. Findings from our research have significant practical implications. The state and federal government face a series of policy decisions both due to the recent surge in positive cases and, when the time comes, the need to rationalize distribution of vaccines to high priority groups beyond healthcare workers and nursing home residents in critical areas. The research team seeks to modify prevailing practices in order to derive reliable information that guides policy decisions. At this stage of the study, we identified high-risk LTCFs and residential areas (HP) of Cook County from readily available, real-time mortality data.     

Immunoblot and Polymerase Chain Reaction to Diagnose Ocular Syphilis and Neurosyphilis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative Patients

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate immunoblot (IB) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose ocular- and neurosyphilis.

Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Aqueous humor (AH) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were tested for treponemal DNA or antibodies to treponemal antigens.

Results: Thirteen of 106 cases had positive syphilis serology of which 69.2% were HIV+ (median CD4+ = 181 cells/µL). Four cases met CDC criteria for neurosyphilis (3 confirmed, 1 probable) and 2 additional cases required neurosyphilis treatment according to UpToDate algorithms. All AH and CSF samples tested PCR negative. Five cases were CSF IB+ and 3 cases AH IB+. Using our classification, eight patients had confirmed neurosyphilis, one had probable neurosyphilis, three had confirmed ocular syphilis and nine had probable ocular syphilis.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that IB of AH and CSF provides additional evidence to diagnose ocular and neurosyphilis and allows us to classify them as probable or confirmed.     

Transgender and gender non-conforming bereavement (TGNC): A case study on complicated grief experienced and the effect of partner suicide on interpersonal relationships and subsequent partnerships of the bereaved

Abstract

Grief, death, bereavement, and loss do not discriminate based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Limited attention has been given to the bereaved partners of transgender and gender non-conforming persons (TGNC). Despite recent efforts to protect the rights of TGNC persons, the death of a TGNC partner is often complicated, marked by family members and friends who might never have known or refused to acknowledge the deceased in his, her, or their preferred gender. The present study adopted a single case study design to examine the death of a TGNC spouse through the unique lens of a bereaved partner.     

Does ablation of atrial fibrillation at the time of septal myectomy improve survival of patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

ObjectiveTo evaluate the outcomes after septal myectomy in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy according to atrial fibrillation and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation.MethodsWe reviewed patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent septal myectomy at the Mayo Clinic from 2001 to 2016. History of atrial fibrillation was obtained from patient histories and electrocardiograms. All-cause mortality was the primary end point.ResultsA total of 2023 patients underwent septal myectomy, of whom 394 (19.5%) had at least 1 episode of atrial fibrillation preoperatively. Among patients with atrial fibrillation, 76 (19.3%) had only 1 known episode, 278 (70.6%) had recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and 40 (10.2%) had persistent atrial fibrillation. Surgical ablation was performed in 190 patients at the time of septal myectomy, including 148 with pulmonary vein isolation and 42 with the classic maze procedure. Among all patients, operative mortality was 0.4%, and there were no early deaths in patients undergoing surgical ablation. Over a median follow-up of 5.6 years, patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation had increased mortality (hazard ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.91; P = .070) after multivariable adjustment for comorbidities. When considering the impact of atrial fibrillation with or without surgical treatment, the adjusted hazard ratio for mortality in patients undergoing ablation compared with no ablation was 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.52-1.69; P = .824).ConclusionsAtrial fibrillation is present preoperatively in one-fifth of patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoing myectomy and showed a trend toward higher all-cause mortality. Survival of patients undergoing septal myectomy with preoperative atrial fibrillation was similar between those who did and did not receive concomitant surgical ablation.     

Patterns of Use of Induction Therapy for T2N0 Esophageal Cancer

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Novel Risk Factors for Progression of Diabetic and Nondiabetic CKD: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study

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A Diagnostic Algorithm for Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children: A Validation Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Primary posterior fossa tumors comprise a large group of neoplasias with variable aggressiveness and short and long-term outcomes. This study aimed to validate the clinical usefulness of a radiologic decision flow chart based on previously published neuroradiologic knowledge for the diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors in children.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted (from January 2013 to October 2019) at 2 pediatric referral centers, Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia, United States, and Great Ormond Street Hospital, United Kingdom. Inclusion criteria were younger than 18 years of age and histologically and molecularly confirmed posterior fossa tumors. Subjects with no available preoperative MR imaging and tumors located primarily in the brain stem were excluded. Imaging characteristics of the tumors were evaluated following a predesigned, step-by-step flow chart. Agreement between readers was tested with the Cohen κ, and each diagnosis was analyzed for accuracy.RESULTS:A total of 148 cases were included, with a median age of 3.4 years (interquartile range, 2.1–6.1 years), and a male/female ratio of 1.24. The predesigned flow chart facilitated identification of pilocytic astrocytoma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma sonic hedgehog tumors with high sensitivity and specificity. On the basis of the results, the flow chart was adjusted so that it would also be able to better discriminate atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors and medulloblastoma groups 3 or 4 (sensitivity = 75%–79%; specificity = 92%–99%). Moreover, our adjusted flow chart was useful in ruling out ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytomas, and medulloblastoma sonic hedgehog tumors.CONCLUSIONS:The modified flow chart offers a structured tool to aid in the adjunct diagnosis of pediatric posterior fossa tumors. Our results also establish a useful starting point for prospective clinical studies and for the development of automated algorithms, which may provide precise and adequate diagnostic tools for these tumors in clinical practice.

In the past 10 years, there has been an exponential increase in knowledge of the molecular characteristics of pediatric brain tumors, which was only partially incorporated in the 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System.¹ The main update in the 2016 Classification was the introduction of the molecular profile of a tumor as an important factor for predicting different biologic behaviors of entities which, on histology, look very similar or even indistinguishable.² A typical example is the 4 main groups of medulloblastoma: wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH) with or without the p53 mutation, group 3, and group 4. Although they may appear similar on microscopy, these categories have distinct molecular profiles, epidemiology, prognosis, and embryologic origin.³Subsequent to the publication of the 2016 World Health Organization Classification, further studies have identified even more molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma with possible prognostic implications⁴ and also at least 3 new molecular subgroups of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT)⁵ and several subgroups of ependymoma.⁶ MR imaging shows promise as a technique for differentiating histologic tumors and their molecular subgroups. This capability relies on not only various imaging characteristics but also the location and spatial extension of the tumor, evident on MR imaging, which can be traced to the embryologic origin of the neoplastic cells.^5,7-10One approach to the challenge of identifying imaging characteristics of different tumors in children is to use artificial intelligence. Yet despite this exciting innovation, correctly identifying the location of the mass and its possible use as an element for differential diagnosis still requires the expertise of an experienced radiologist. Previously, D''Arco et al¹¹ proposed a flow chart (Fig 1) for the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors in children based on epidemiologic, imaging signal, and location characteristics of the neoplasm. The aims of the current study were the following: 1) to validate, in a retrospective, large cohort of posterior fossa tumors from 2 separate pediatric tertiary centers, the diagnostic accuracy of that flow chart, which visually represents the neuroadiologist''s mental process in making a diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors in children, 2) to describe particular types of posterior fossa lesions that are not correctly diagnosed by the initial flow chart, and 3) to provide an improved, clinically accessible flow chart based on the results.Open in a separate windowFIG 1.Predesigned radiologic flow chart created according to the literature before diagnostic accuracy analysis. The asterisk indicates brain stem tumors excluded from the analysis. Double asterisks indicate relative to gray matter. Modified with permission from D''Arco et al.¹¹