Validation of the modified NUTrition Risk Score (mNUTRIC) in mechanically ventilated,severe burn patients: A prospective multinational cohort study

BackgroundWhether nutrition therapy benefits all burn victims equally is unknown. To identify patients who will benefit the most from optimal nutrition, the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) Score has been validated in the Intensive Care Unit. However, the utility of mNUTRIC in severe burn victims is unknown. We hypothesized that a higher mNUTRIC (≥5) will be associated with worse clinical outcomes, but that greater nutritional adequacy will be associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with higher mNUTRIC score.MethodsThis prospective study included data from mechanically ventilated, severe burn patients (n = 359) from 51 Burn Units worldwide included in a randomized trial. Our primary and secondary outcomes were hospital mortality and the time to discharge alive (TTDA) from hospital. We described the association between nutrition performance and clinical outcomes.ResultsCompared to low mNUTRIC (n = 313), the high mNUTRIC group (n = 46) had higher mortality (61% vs. 19%, p = 0.001), and longer TTDA (>90 [87–>90] vs. 64 [38–90] days, p = <0.0001). Only in the high mNUTRIC group, increased calorie intake (per 20% increase) was associated with lower mortality and a faster TTDA.ConclusionsThe mNUTRIC score identifies those with poor clinical outcomes and may identifies those mechanically ventilated, severe burn patients in whom optimal nutrition therapy may be more advantageous.     

Can Machine Learning Methods Produce Accurate and Easy-to-Use Preoperative Prediction Models of One-Year Improvements in Pain and Functioning After Knee Arthroplasty?

BackgroundApproximately 15%-20% of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients do not experience clinically meaningful improvements. We sought to compare the accuracy and parsimony of several machine learning strategies for developing predictive models of failing to experience minimal clinically important differences in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) 1 year after TKA.MethodsPatients (N = 587) in 3 large Veteran Health Administration facilities completed PROMs before and 1 year after TKA (92% follow-up). Preoperative PROMs and electronic health record data were used to develop and validate models to predict failing to experience at least a minimal clinically important difference in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Total, KOOS JR, and KOOS subscales (Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, Quality of Life, and recreation). Several machine learning strategies were used for model development. Ten-fold cross-validation and bootstrapping were used to produce measures of overall accuracy (C-statistic, Brier Score). The sensitivity and specificity of various predicted probability cut-points were examined.ResultsThe most accurate models produced were for the Activities of Daily Living, Pain, Symptoms, and Quality of Life subscales of the KOOS (C-statistics 0.76, 0.72, 0.72, and 0.71, respectively). Strategies varied substantially in terms of the numbers of inputs required to achieve similar accuracy, with none being superior for all outcomes.ConclusionModels produced in this project provide estimates of patient-specific improvements in major outcomes 1 year after TKA. Integrating these models into clinical decision support, informed consent and shared decision making could improve patient selection, education, and satisfaction.Level of EvidenceLevel III, diagnostic study.     

Deltoid ligament reconstruction with autologous gracilis tendon in chronic medial ankle instability after ankle fracture surgery: A case report

IntroductionThe repair of a deltoid ligament injury, following an ankle fracture with involvement of the syndesmosis, has no univocal consensus. Also the surgical strategies in case of a subsequent chronic instability are still under debate. In this work the result of a double bundle anatomic reconstruction of deltoid ligament with ipsilateral autologous gracilis muscle tendon is presented.Case reportA 50 year old active male patient came to our attention with a catastrophic medial ankle instability, a severe pronation of the hindfoot and disabling ankle pain. He reported a Weber type B fracture of the left ankle with a lesion of the syndesmosis treated with anatomic plate and screws and a transyndesmotic screw 8 months before. The imaging showed a complete deltoid ligament lesion. Due to the impossibility of a direct repair of the ligament, we performed the reconstruction of the medial ligamentous complex with an autologous gracilis tendon graft. 10 months after the medial ligamentous complex reconstruction, the patient showed an excellent recovery of walking ability, disappearance of pain under load and resumed an active lifestyle.DiscussionThe deltoid ligament has a key role in ankle joint stability and its integrity promotes the recovery after ankle fractures. However, its lesion is often left untreated in the acute setting. The result of a chronic untreated deltoid ligament injury could be extremely disabling and the ligament reconstruction, when an optimal native deltoid ligament repair is not achievable, is the choice to restore ankle function and stability.ConclusionIn the delayed treatment of a deltoid ligament rupture the described double bundle anatomic reconstruction with autologous tendon graft can be an effective and suitable option.     

腹股沟脐内侧韧带滑动性疝的治疗体会(附13例报告)

目的:探讨腹股沟脐内侧韧带滑动性疝的诊断及治疗方法。方法:回顾性分析2018年1月至2020年1月收治的13例腹股沟脐内侧韧带滑动性疝患者的临床资料,患者均行腹腔镜经腹腹膜前疝修补术,观察治疗效果。结果:13例患者均成功实施腹腔镜经腹腹膜前疝修补术,手术时间36~56 min,平均(43.4±20.3)min;住院2~3 d,平均(2.5±1.2)d;术后随访8个月~2年,未损伤膀胱、精索等疝囊周围器官,术后未出现血清肿、术区慢性疼痛及复发等情况。结论:腹股沟脐内侧韧带滑动性疝只要术前仔细查体,术中细致解剖,可避免脏器损伤,但术者需具备腹腔镜疝修补的手术经验,熟悉解剖结构,术中及时作出诊断。     

Racism,stress and health in Asian Americans: A structural equation analysis of mediation and social support group differences

The buffering effect of social support on the negative effects of racism exposure on health outcomes has been mixed in prior studies regarding Asian Americans. Based on the stress-coping framework and using structural equation modelling (SEM) methods, we tested a theoretical model portraying simultaneous mediational paths from racism exposure to general physical and mental health through racism-related stress. Bootstrap analysis was used to test the indirect effects present in the model. Additionally, multi-group SEM analysis was conducted to investigate the moderation effect of social support from family and friends on the paths in the model. The sample consisted of 310 Asian American adults who completed an online survey. The results from the two-step SEM analysis and bootstrap analysis supported the theoretical model—racism exposure can simultaneously have a negative indirect effect on Asian Americans' physical and mental health via racism-related stress. Multi-group SEM analysis showed that there were no differences in model path coefficients based on having varying levels of social support from friends or family.