Growth of the Social #RadOnc Network on Twitter

PurposeTwitter is an increasingly popular social media platform within the health care community. The objective of this analysis is to characterize the profile of radiation oncology–related tweets and Twitter users over the past 6 years.Methods and MaterialsUsing the web-based social media analytics platform Symplur Signals, we filtered tweets containing at least 1 of the following hashtags or key words: #radonc, #radiationoncology, "rad onc," or "radiation oncology." We evaluated radiation oncology–related Twitter activity between October 2014 and March 2020 for tweet frequency, tweet content, and individuals or groups posting tweets. We identified the most influential Twitter users contributing to radiation oncology–related tweets.ResultsFrom 2014 to 2020, the quarterly volume of radiation oncology–related tweets increased from 5027 to 29,763. Physicians contributed the largest growth in tweet volume. Academic radiation oncologists comprise 60% of the most influential Twitter accounts responsible for radiation oncology–related content. The number of radiation-oncology resident physicians on Twitter increased from 25 to 328 over the past 6 years, and 20% of radiation-oncology residency programs have a Twitter account. Seventy-one percent of radiation oncology–related tweets generated direct communication via mentions, and 59% of tweets contain links to external sources, including scientific articles.ConclusionsThe number of physicians contributing radiation oncology–related Twitter content has increased significantly in recent years. Academic radiation oncologists are the primary influencers of radiation oncology–related Twitter activity. Twitter is used by radiation oncologists to both professionally network and discuss findings related to the field. There remains the opportunity for radiation oncologists to broaden their audience on Twitter to encompass a more diverse community, including patients.     

The 5-Step family intervention in primary care: II. The views of primary healthcare professionals

Background: This is the second of two papers using qualitative methods from a study of an intervention for family members affected by close relatives' substance misuse problems.

Participants: 168 primary healthcare professionals (PHCPs: GPs, practice nurses and health visitors) working in general practices in two areas of England, and who took part in the study.

Data sources: Recruitment and post-session forms completed by PHCPs; telephone interviews with each PHCP 12 weeks after recruitment of a family member; interviews with PHCPs at the end of the study.

Results: At the end of the project PHCPs were overwhelmingly positive about the family member intervention and about primary care as the appropriate site. Difficulties were encountered, however, in identifying and engaging affected family members, who were often excluded on grounds of the complexity of their problems or the level of their distress. Shortage of PHCP time and other practice-related factors added to the difficulty. Active work by a PHCP was often necessary in order to make the link between presenting symptoms of physical or mental ill-health and the existence of a family substance misuse problem. When family members were identified and recruited, PHCPs were usually positive about what was achieved. Nearly all were in favour of an approach that combined giving a self-help manual with some follow-up contact with a family member as needed.

Conclusions: Taken in conjunction with statistical outcome findings of significant reductions in symptoms and changes in ways of coping, plus qualitative analysis of the views of family members, the present results encourage the view that a flexible form of this intervention should be developed for use in primary healthcare, and that further work should build on existing strengths and attempt to overcome weaknesses identified.     

Scleral dellen in strabismus surgery

This communication highlights scleral dellen as an unusual complication of strabismus surgery in a 55-year-old hypertensive male. The clinical significance, differential diagnosis and management of this condition has been discussed.     

Hazards of smoking

A strong association exists between cigarette smoking and several diseases namely, cancer of the lung, bronchitis and emphysema, cancer of the larynx, oral cavity and oesophagus, gastric and duodenal ulcers, Crohn's disease, cancer of the bladder, coronary artery disease, macrocytosis, polycythaemia, leukaemia, etc. This is due to the harmful constituents of cigarette and other modalities smoking. Smokers not only harm themselves but also harm those around. Foetal malformations, abortions, stillbirths, prematurity and low birth weight are common in smoker mothers. These are the effects of passive smoking. There is no safer cigarette in the market even by lowering its harmful constituents. Mass education about the hazards of smoking with emphasis on complete stoppage of smoking is the only way to prevent its rising incidence.     

Brain perfusion territory imaging applying oblique-plane arterial spin labeling with a standard send/receive head coil.

A new method for the selective spin labeling of left- or right-sided supplying arteries of the brain without the need for additional RF coils is demonstrated. A clinical 1.5 T scanner was used. The spatial selectivity of the labeling process is based on the limited coverage of the excitation field of a standard send/receive head coil together with an oblique positioning of the labeling plane. A computer simulation was used to optimize key labeling parameters under the condition of laminar flow. The validity of the computer model results was confirmed by MRI measurements with a flow model. For human studies, a double-inversion continuous arterial spin labeling (CASL) sequence was modified to allow for arbitrary positioning of the labeling plane. The obtained perfusion-weighted images showed a clear delineation of the perfusion territories of the selected arteries in the anterior circulation of the brain and good gray/white matter contrast.     

Unusual retinal manifestation in a combination of Sturge-Weber and Klipplel-Trenaunay syndrome--a case report

An unusual retinal manifestation of arteriovenous communications is reported in a case showing a combination of Sturge-Weber and Kippel-Trenaunay syndromes. The arteriovenous communications are thought to be similar to those seen in the limbs in Parkes-Weber syndrome. This retinal finding indicates that the three syndromes are intricately related to each other and may be an incomplete manifestation of a single pathophysiologic entity which may be named neurocutaneous angiomatosis.     

The role of selective beta 1-blocker in the preoperative preparation of thyrotoxicosis: a comparative study with propranolol

Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed for hyperthyroidism on 130 patients; 95 treated before surgery with propranolol (Group I) and 35 given only metoprolol before surgery (Group II). These patient groups were compared with reference to preoperative medication, operative and immediate postoperative course, and late results with follow-up for one to five years. Clinical response was 100% in group II and 94.7% in group I. The median length of preoperative treatment was 7.96 +/- 1.84 days in group I and 6.25 +/- 1.73 days in group II (P less than 0.05). There were no serious adverse effects of the drugs in either treatment group. No anaesthesiologic or cardiovascular complication occurred during operation in either group. Ten patients in group I (10.5%) and six patients in group II (11.4%) observed hyperthyroid manifestations in the immediate postoperative period, eliminated by the administration of the propranolol/metoprolol, and no case of thyroid storm occurred. One patient in group II developed clinical hypocalcaemia. Two patients, one in each group, presented temporary unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. There were two recurrences of toxicity in group I (2.1%) and none in group II. Hypothyroidism occurred in 3 patients (2.3%) two of them were from group I and one was from group II. The postoperative hospital stay was 4.62 +/- 1.61 days in group I and 2.81 +/- 1.32 days in group II (P less than 0.05). One patient from group I died on the third postoperative day due to pulmonary oedema. The results suggest that metoprolol can be safely used and offers the advantages of desired clinical response, shorter preoperative preparation time, simplicity of dosage and shorter postoperative hospital stay in comparison to propranolol for preoperative treatment of hyperthyroidism.