Trans-Pacific tele-ultrasound image transmission of fetal central nervous system structures

Objective: To assess the quality of images and video clips of fetal central nervous (CNS) structures obtained by ultrasound and transmitted via tele-ultrasound from Brazil to Australia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 15 normal singleton pregnant women between 20 and 26 weeks were selected. Fetal CNS structures were obtained by images and video clips. The exams were transmitted in real-time using a broadband internet and an inexpensive video streaming device. Four blinded examiners evaluated the quality of the exams using the Likert scale. We calculated the mean, standard deviation, mean difference, and p values were obtained from paired t tests.

Results: The quality of the original video clips was slightly better than that observed by the transmitted video clips; mean difference considering all observers = 0.23 points. In 47/60 comparisons (78.3%; 95% CI?=?66.4–86.9%) the quality of the video clips were judged to be the same. In 182/240 still images (75.8%; 95% CI?=?70.0–80.8%) the scores of transmitted image were considered the same as the original.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that long distance tele-ultrasound transmission of fetal CNS structures using an inexpensive video streaming device provided images of subjective good quality.     

Pathways in the association between sugar sweetened beverages and child asthma traits in the 2nd year of life: Findings from the BRISA cohort

Studies on the exposure of children to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) at an early age may contribute to better understand the common causes and the temporal order of the relationships between obesity and asthma in early childhood. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between SSB and child asthma traits in the 2nd year of life, modeling direct and indirect pathways mediated by the highest BMI-z of the child and allergic inflammation. Data from the BRISA cohort, São Luís-MA, Brazil (n = 1140), were obtained from the baseline and from the follow-up performed at the 2nd year of life. The main explanatory variable was the calories from added sugars in SSBs as a percentage of the total daily energy intake. The outcome child asthma traits was a latent variable deduced from four indicators: medical diagnosis of asthma, wheezing, emergency visit due to intense wheezing, and medical diagnosis of rhinitis. A high percentage of daily calories from sugars added to SSBs was directly associated with higher values of child asthma traits (standardized coefficient (SC = 0.073; P = .030)). High levels of eosinophils were also directly associated with child asthma traits (SC = 0.118; P = .049). No mediation pathways were observed via greater BMI-z or eosinophil counts. Therefore, early exposure of children to SSB may contribute to increased risk of childhood asthma, preceding the link between sugar consumption and overweight/obesity, not yet evident in children in the first 2 years of life.     

Predictive factors of stroke in patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting: statins are protective.

BACKGROUND: Despite major improvement in surgical techniques and intensive care management, stroke remains one of the most devastating complications of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We aimed to determine factors predicting the occurrence of stroke during CABG. A special interest was focused on preoperative therapies. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 810 consecutive candidates for CABG alone in a specific database, including all pre- and perioperative data (history, clinical, therapeutic, cardiac catheterization, surgical and intensive care data). Univariate tests and then multiple logistic regression analysis were used to determine independent predictive factors. RESULTS: During the first postoperative month, stroke occurred in 11 cases and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 4 additive cases (cumulative rate: 1.85%). After the multivariate analysis, the following factors remained significant (p<0.05) in the predictive model, with corresponding odds ratios between brackets: redo cardiac surgery (7.45), unstable cardiac status (4.74), past history of cerebrovascular disease (4.14), past history of peripheral arterial disease (3.55), whereas the presence of preoperative statins was protective (0.24, 95% IC: 0.07-0.78). The addition of perioperative data (aortic calcification, postoperative arrhythmia, on/off-pump surgery) did not change the final predictive model. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first real-world observational report highlighting the interest of statins for the prevention of stroke in the very special situation of CABG. Even though according to randomized trials coronary patients have a benefit from these drugs, a special level of interest should be directed towards those presenting the above-mentioned risk factors.     

Conversion from mycophenolate mofetil to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in liver transplant patients presenting gastrointestinal disorders: a pilot study.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are one of the main adverse events in patients treated by mycophenolic acid (MPA). The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of conversion from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) in liver transplant patients presenting GI side-effects Since January 2003, stable liver transplant patients receiving MMF and presenting GI disorders, without evidence of other origin than MMF were enrolled. Conversion was performed without a washout period at an equimolar daily dosage. Thirty-six patients were included after a median delay of 45 months after liver transplantation (LT) (16 women and 20 men, median age of 47 years). Diarrhoea was the main clinical symptom (n = 28, 77.7%). At the time of inclusion, patients were treated with MMF since 18 months (range 3-28) and GI disorders were known for 9 months (range 3-12). After a median follow-up of 12 months after conversion, GI disorders were resolved in 20 patients (55%), improved in 6 patients (17%) and not modified or worsened in 10 patients (28%). Our results strongly suggest that conversion from MMF to EC-MPS in liver transplant patients can improve gastrointestinal disorders in a majority of the patients, and therefore might be considered as the best therapeutic option.     

A comparative study of two preservative-free tear substitutes in the management of severe dry eye

Between mid-May and mid-July 1987 we performed a prospective crossover study of two unit-dose preservative-free artificial tear solutions, 1.4% polyvinyl alcohol (Refresh) and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate (Hylorin) in 14 female patients with severe dry eye syndrome. The patients were examined before treatment and after each of two trials with both products. A significant reduction in the mean score for dry-eye-induced keratitis (p = 0.001) and for mucous strands (p = 0.03) was observed following the second of two trials with sodium hyaluronate. A significant reduction in the mean score for burning and irritation was observed with both solutions (p = 0.009). We believe that the elimination of preservatives from artificial tear preparations may substantially reduce the iatrogenic effects of these frequently applied medications.     

Bioplastique as a Complement in Conventional Plastic Surgery

This research presents reports of cases where a biocompatible and alloplastic biomaterial—Bioplastique—was used, associated with conventional plastic surgery or as a complement to it, with the aim of achieving a better final aesthetic result. Four cases are presented where Bioplastique was used in association with rhytidoplasty, rhinoplasty, and other surgical techniques. This material has shown itself to be appropriate to complement surgery; achieving a final result which would not be possible without any resort to a complement or any other hard procedure by the surgeon and is not more traumatic for the patient.