Concomitant contraceptive implant and efavirenz use in women living with HIV: perspectives on current evidence and policy implications for family planning and HIV treatment guidelines

Introduction : Preventing unintended pregnancies is important among all women, including those living with HIV. Increasing numbers of women, including HIV‐positive women, choose progestin‐containing subdermal implants, which are one of the most effective forms of contraception. However, drug–drug interactions between contraceptive hormones and efavirenz‐based antiretroviral therapy (ART) may reduce implant effectiveness. We present four inter‐related perspectives on this issue. Discussion : First, as a case study, we discuss how limited data prompted country‐level guidance against the use of implants among women concomitantly using efavirenz in South Africa and its subsequent negative effects on the use of implants in general. Second, we discuss the existing clinical data on this topic, including the observational study from Kenya showing women using implants plus efavirenz‐based ART had three‐fold higher rates of pregnancy than women using implants plus nevirapine‐based ART. However, the higher rates of pregnancy in the implant plus efavirenz group were still lower than the pregnancy rates among women using common alternative contraceptive methods, such as injectables. Third, we discuss the four pharmacokinetic studies that show 50–70% reductions in plasma progestin concentrations in women concurrently using efavirenz‐based ART as compared to women not on any ART. These pharmacokinetic studies provide the biologic basis for the clinical findings. Fourth, we discuss how data on this topic have marked implications for both family planning and HIV programmes and policies globally. Conclusion : This controversy underlines the importance of integrating family planning services into routine HIV care, counselling women appropriately on increased risk of pregnancy with concomitant implant and efavirenz use, and expanding contraceptive method mix for all women. As global access to ART expands, greater research is needed to explore implant effectiveness when used concomitantly with newer ART regimens. Data on how HIV‐positive women and their partners choose contraceptives, as well as information from providers on how they present and counsel patients on contraceptive options are needed to help guide policy and service delivery. Lastly, greater collaboration between HIV and reproductive health experts at all levels are needed to develop successful strategies to ensure the best HIV and reproductive health outcomes for women living with HIV.     

Coronary computed tomography–angiography quantitative plaque analysis improves detection of early cardiac allograft vasculopathy: A pilot study

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is an increasingly important complication after cardiac transplant. We assessed the additive diagnostic benefit of quantitative plaque analysis in patients undergoing coronary computed tomography–angiography (CCTA). Consecutive patients undergoing CCTA for CAV surveillance were identified. Scans were visually interpreted for coronary stenosis. Semiautomated software was used to quantify noncalcified plaque (NCP), as well as its components. Optimal diagnostic cut‐offs for CAV, with coronary angiography as gold standard, were defined using receiver operating characteristic curves. In total, 36 scans were identified in 17 patients. CAV was present in 17 (46.0%) reference coronary angiograms, at a median of 1.9 years before CCTA. Median NCP (147 vs 58, P < .001), low‐density NCP (median 4.5 vs 0.9, P = .003), fibrous plaque (median 76.1 vs 31.1, P = .003), and fibrofatty plaque (median 63.6 vs 27.6, P < .001) volumes were higher in patients with CAV, whereas calcified plaque was not (median 0.0 vs 0.0, P = .510). Visual assessment of CCTA alone was 70.6% sensitive and 100% specific for CAV. The addition of total NCP volume increased sensitivity to 82.4% while maintaining 100% specificity. NCP volume is significantly higher in patients with CAV. The addition of quantitative analysis to visual interpretation improves the sensitivity for detecting CAV without reducing specificity.     

Combining robotic exoskeleton and body weight unweighing technology to promote walking activity in tetraplegia following SCI: A case study

Context: To investigate the feasibility of combining the lower-limb exoskeleton and body weight unweighing technology for assisted walking in tetraplegia following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Findings: A 66-year-old participant with a complete SCI at the C7 level, graded on the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) as AIS A, participated in nine sessions of overground walking with the assistance from exoskeleton and body weight unweighing system. The participant could tolerate the intensity and ambulate with exoskeleton assistance for a short distance with acceptable and appropriate gait kinematics after training.

Conclusion: This report showed that using technology can assist non-ambulatory individuals following SCI to stand and ambulate with assistance which may promote general physical and psychological health if used in the long term.     

Retrograde Versus Antegrade Nerve Sparing During Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Which Is Better for Achieving Early Functional Recovery?

Background

Although the retrograde approach to nerve sparing (NS) aimed at maximizing NS during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been described, its significant benefits compared to the antegrade approach have not yet been investigated.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of NS approaches on perioperative, pathologic, and functional outcomes.

Design, setting, and participants

Five hundred one potent (Sexual Health Inventory for Men [SHIM] score >21) men underwent bilateral full NS and were followed up for a minimum of 1 yr. After propensity score matching, 344 patients were selected and were then categorized into two groups.

Surgical procedure

RARP with antegrade NS (n = 172) or RARP with retrograde NS (n = 172).

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Functional outcomes were assessed using validated questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied.

Results and limitations

Positive margin rates were similar (11.1% vs 6.9%; p = 0.192), and no correlation with the NS approach was found on regression analysis. At 3, 6, and 9 mo, the potency rate was significantly higher in the retrograde approach (65% vs 80.8% and 72.1% vs 90.1% and 85.3% vs 92.9%, respectively). The multivariable model indicated that the NS approach was an independent predictor for potency recovery at 3, 6, and 9 mo, along with age, gland size, and hyperlipidemia. After adjusting for these predictors, the hazard ratio (HR) for the retrograde relative to the antegrade approach was 2.462 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.482–4.089; p = 0.001) at 3, 4.024 (95% CI, 2.171–7.457; p < 0.001) at 6, and 2.145 (95% CI, 1.019–4.514; p = 0.044) at 9 mo. Regarding continence, the recovery rates at each time point and the mean time to regaining it were similar, and the method of NS had no effect on multivariable analysis. The absence of randomization is a major limitation of this study.

Conclusions

In patients with normal erectile function who underwent bilateral full NS, a retrograde NS approach facilitated early recovery of potency compared to that with an antegrade NS approach without compromising cancer control.     

Proceed? Mesh for Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair

Background and Objectives:

Laparoscopic technique to repair ventral hernia offers advantages over conventional open surgery such as shorter recovery time, decreased pain, and lower recurrence rates. There are a myriad of meshes available for laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias. This study evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias with Proceed mesh (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) in a single academic institution.

Methods:

An institutional review board–approved retrospective review was performed for 100 consecutive patients with ventral hernia who underwent a laparoscopic approach at our institution from August 2006 to February 2009. All patients were operated on by a single surgeon using a standard technique with transabdominal suture fixation and tacks.

Results:

The study included 100 consecutive patients (57 female and 43 male patients). The mean age was 55 years (range, 16–78 years), and the mean body mass index was 33.3 kg/m² (range, 19.6–68.9 kg/m²). Of the repairs, 27% were performed for a recurrent hernia. The mean and median size of the defect were 128 cm² and 119.5 cm² (range, 4–500 cm²), respectively. To ensure appropriate mesh overlap, the mean size of mesh was 253 cm² (range, 36–700 cm²). There were 4 conversions. The mean operative time was 117 minutes (range, 35–286 minutes). The mean length of stay was 1.9 days. There were no major abdominal complications. With a mean follow-up period of 50 months (range, 38–68 months), we have not recorded any recurrences. No mesh-related complications have been documented.

Conclusions:

The laparoscopic approach to ventral hernia repairs using Proceed mesh is associated with a low conversion rate and no major complications. At 50 months of follow-up, the recurrence rate is 0%. There were no mesh-related complications.     

The role of osteotomy in advanced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in sickle-cell disease: a case report

For young people, osteonecrosis of the femoral head (OFH) is one of the most debilitating complications of sickle-cell hemoglobinopathies. Management of advanced (Ficat and Arlet stage III or IV) OFH remains a challenging clinical problem: There is no ideal treatment, and management by total hip arthroplasty has a high failure rate. Consequently, the search continues for procedures that preserve the femoral head--such as vascularized and nonvascularized bone grafting and osteotomy. Various osteotomies have been used to try to salvage hips with stage II or III OFH. The Sugioka transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy is a technically demanding procedure with a variable success rate. Failure rates have also been variable for varus and valgus osteotomies after short-term follow-up. In this report, we present the case of a 13-year-old girl with stage III OFH caused by sickle-cell disease that had been successfully treated with a valgus-flexion osteotomy of the proximal femur, with 42-month postoperative follow-up. We suggest that stage III OFH in a young patient with sickle-cell disease can be successfully treated with corrective proximal femoral osteotomy.     

MRI analysis of in vivo meniscal and tibiofemoral kinematics in ACL-deficient and normal knees.

The objectives of this study were to analyze simultaneously meniscal and tibiofemoral kinematics in healthy volunteers and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient patients under axial load-bearing conditions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten healthy volunteers and eight ACL-deficient patients were examined with a high-field, closed MRI system. For each group, both knees were imaged at full extension and partial flexion ( approximately 45 degrees ) with a 125N compressive load applied to the foot. Anteroposterior and medial/lateral femoral and meniscal translations were analyzed following three-dimensional, landmark-matching registration. Interobserver and intraobserver reproducibilities were less than 0.8 mm for femoral translation for image processing and data analysis. The position of the femur relative to the tibia in the ACL-deficient knee was 2.6 mm posterior to that of the contralateral, normal knee at extension. During flexion from 0 degrees to 45 degrees , the femur in ACL-deficient knees translated 4.3 mm anteriorly, whereas no significant translation occurred in uninjured knees. The contact area centroid on the tibia in ACL-deficient knees at extension was posterior to that of uninjured knees. Consequently, significantly less posterior translation of the contact centroid occurred in the medial tibial condyle in ACL-deficient knees during flexion. Meniscal translation, however, was nearly the same in both groups. Axial load-bearing MRI is a noninvasive and reproducible method for evaluating tibiofemoral and meniscal kinematics. The results demonstrated that ACL deficiency led to significant changes in bone kinematics, but negligible changes in the movement of the menisci. These results help explain the increased risk of meniscal tears and osteoarthritis in chronic ACL deficient knees.