Detection of myocardial iron overload by two-dimensional speckle tracking in patients with beta-thalassaemia major: a combined echocardiographic and T2* segmental CMR study

We aimed to evaluate the role of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2DSTI) in detecting early changes of myocardial deformation in patients affected by thalassemia major (TM) and its relation with myocardial iron overload (MIO) detected by T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). We studied 28 TM patients (15 males, 37.4?±?10 years). All patients underwent CMR and echocardiography in the same day. Segmental and global T2* values were measured. Values of global longitudinal strain (GLS) were derived from the three apical views, while radial and circumferential strain were obtained as average strain from the short axis views at basal, mid and apical level. Six patients (21.4%) showed significant MIO (global heart T2*?<?20 ms). GLS showed a significant correlation with T2* values (R?=??0.49; P?=?0.001) and it was significantly lower in patients with a significant MIO than in those with no significant MIO (?18.3?±?2 vs. ?21.3?±?2.7, P?=?0.02). No significant difference was found for radial and circumferential strain in relation to the severity of MIO. Patients with impaired GLS (<?19.5%) had a significant higher risk of showing significant MIO (Odds-ratio-OR?=?17; 95%). GLS is related with global T2* in TM patients. Moreover, GLS can identify TM patients with severe MIO detected by CMR.     

Relative Oral Bioavailability of an Abuse-deterrent,Extended-release Formulation of Morphine Versus Extended-release Morphine: A 2-period,Single-dose,Randomized Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects

Purpose

Morphine ARER is a novel oral, abuse-deterrent, extended-release (ER) formulation of morphine sulfate with physical and chemical properties that deter misuse and abuse by nonoral routes of administration. Here we evaluate the relative bioavailability of morphine ARER and extended-release morphine.

Negative effect of lockdown on juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients

Clinical Rheumatology - The aim of this study is to evaluate a possible negative action of lockdown, during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, in the...     

Clinical trials of the pneumatic antishock garment in the urban prehospital setting

As a result of experimental data and favorable clinical impressions, the pneumatic antishock garment (PASG) has gained widespread acceptance as a reasonable standard of care in emergency medical services (EMS) systems. It is currently legislated as required equipment for medical rescue vehicles in two-thirds of the United States. But despite a decade of widespread use, prospective, randomized, controlled trials that demonstrate the efficacy of the PASG have not been published. Furthermore, certain complications have been reported and concerns have been raised about the use of the PASG under certain circumstances, such as penetrating thoracic injury. In the fall of 1983, the City of Houston EMS system embarked on a long-term prospective evaluation of PASG use in hypotensive victims of injury in the urban prehospital setting. All victims of injury whose systolic blood pressure was 90 mm Hg or less when they initially presented to paramedics in the field were entered into the study. All patients received the identical treatment protocol, with the sole exception of PASG application and inflation to full pressure prior to intravenous catheterization on an alternate day basis. Prospectively collected demographic data have demonstrated that the two resulting groups of PASG and no-PASG patients are well matched in terms of age, sex, injury type, anatomic location of the injury, initial field trauma score, injury severity score and probabilities of survival, as well as the amounts of IV fluids infused in the prehospital setting and the response, scene, and transport times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)