Lung Ultrasound for the Emergency Diagnosis of Pneumonia,Acute Heart Failure,and Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Asthma in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Lung ultrasound can accelerate the diagnosis of life-threatening diseases in adults with respiratory symptoms.

The value of different resistance parameters in distinguishing biopsy-proved dysfunction of renal allografts

The data concerning the value of duplex sonography in diagnosingparenchymatous renal allograft dysfunction are controversial.Most early studies did not take into consideration the manyfactors influencing resistance parameters. We therefore performeda prospective, biopsy-controlled study with exclusion of allknown sources of error regarding resistance parameters. Furthermorewe investigated the value of a new resistance parameter, thesystolic deceleration percentage. Forty-seven duplex sonographicstudies were performed on 43 patients (30 male, 13 female, medianage 47 years, range 7–70). Fourteen studies were doneon normally functioning grafts (control group) an average of33 days after transplantation. Thirty-three studies were performedon dysfunctional grafts immediately prior to biopsy. Graftswhich had been transplanted more than a year previously or withvascular findings or any other clinical or sonographic pathologyprobably explaining function deterioration were excluded. Inall patients, the resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI)and systolic deceleration percentage (DP) were calculated inthe main renal artery and in the interlobar artery. Of the 33grafts with dysfunction, nine had vascular rejection (VR), 11interstitial rejection (IR), 11 cyclosporin A toxicity (CAT)and two other histologies (OR). The mean RI in normal grafts(NO) was 0.71±0.06 in the main artery and 0.68±0.06in the interlobar artery, in VR 0.86±0.12 and 0.80±0.18,in IR 0.72±0.05 and 0.70±0.07, in CAT 0.67±0.06and 0.65±0.07 and in OR 0.64±0.07 and 0.60±0.01.For PI, the values were 1.45±0.23 and 1.41±0.28(NO), 3.5±2.13 and 2.92±2.16 (VR), 1.55±0.26and 1.46±0.33 (IR), 1.32±0.25 and 1.27±0.26(CAT) and 1.30±0.34 and 1.13±0.04 (OR). For DPwe calculated 28±5% and 29±6% (NO), 43±14%and 36±6% (VR), 29±9% and 27±9% (IR), 31±8%and 32±7% (CAT ) and 32±4% and 28±3% (OR).The sensitivity/specificity for VR with a cutoff mean+2 SD was0.44/1 for RI, 0.55/0.97 for PI and 0.33/0.89 for DP. It wasconcluded that:(1) despite the high selection of our patientgroup, diagnostic accuracy of duplex sonography for diagnosingparenchymatous function disorder in renal allograft remainsinsufficient; (2) in vascular rejection only, the resistanceparameters differ significantly from the values of normal allografts;(3) the higher the cutoff of resistance parameters, the betterthe specificity and the worse the sensitivity for diagnosingvascular rejection; (4) of all investigated resistance parameters,the RI is the most practical due to a simple measurement technique.     

The accuracy of a fiberoptic oximeter over a wide range of arterial oxygen saturation values in piglets

A piglet model was used to evaluate the accuracy of a fiberoptic oximeter over a wide range of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) values. In eight anaesthetized piglets, the inspired oxygen concentration was varied from 30% to 6% resulting in a SaO₂ range from 100% to 15%. Paired data of the Opticath® fiberoptic catheter, which was placed in the descending aorta, and blood sample SaO₂ values assessed by a multiwavelength oximeter, were analysed. After in vitro calibration according to the manufacturer's instruction, the fiberoptic catheter started to underestimate the SaO₂ below 78%, worsening towards lower SaO₂ values. The overall bias was -3. 4% and the precision 3. 8%. An off-line fit with a non-linear model resulted in a standard deviation of residuals of 2. 6%. After several in vivo calibration adjustments when the Fiberoptic oximeter deviated more than 4% from the blood sample value, the bias was eliminated over the total SaO₂ range and the precision was 3. 7%. The Opticath® fiberoptic oximeter could have an accuracy for the whole SaO₂ range between 15–100% close to the accuracy of the multiwavelength oximeter, when the fiberoptic oximeter is adapted for the underestimation below 78% SaO₂.     

Diagnostic value of DNA flow cytometry combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy in lymphomas

The nuclear DNA content of cells from 45 malignant lymphomas and from 60 benign lymph nodes obtained by fine needle aspiration was analysed to investigate the diagnostic value of DNA flow cytometry combined with routine diagnostic cytology in lymphomas. DNA aneuploidy was found in 43 per cent of lymphomas of high grade malignancy (NCI Working Formulation) but only rarely in lymphomas of intermediate- or low-grade malignancy or in Hodgkin's disease, and never in benign lymph nodes. The median percentage of proliferative cells (S + G2/M) was 22.6 per cent in diploid high-grade lymphomas, 15.3 per cent in intermediate-, and 8.1 per cent in low-grade lymphomas, as compared with 4.9 per cent in benign lymph nodes (P less than 0.0001). If the presence of DNA aneuploidy or more than 12 per cent of proliferative cells is used as a criterion for malignancy, the diagnostic accuracy of DNA flow cytometry in detecting lymphoma is 81 per cent. DNA flow cytometry suggested correct diagnosis in 10 of the 19 false positive, false negative, or indeterminate cytological findings encountered during the study. It is concluded that DNA flow cytometry combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy has diagnostic value in lymphomas, but false negative results are common especially in low-grade lymphomas; the method should therefore be used in conjunction with light microscopy.     

一种新型18°×4扇形网织红细胞计数窥盘

目的研制一种新型18°×4扇形网织红细胞计数窥盘。方法使用安瓿刀在玻片上刻制,再与国际血液学标准化委员会(ICSH)推荐的Miller窥盘进行网织红细胞对比分析。结果新型网织红细胞计数窥盘和ICSH推荐的Miller窥盘的准确度是一致的,但新型网织红细胞计数窥盘的精密度显著优于ICSH推荐的Miller窥盘。其参考范围也与其他报道一致。结论新型网织红细胞计数窥盘做法简单,不需特殊设备,值得推广应用。     

Diagnostic Utility of Platelet Count/Lymphocyte Count Ratio and Platelet Count/Mean Platelet Volume Ratio in Periprosthetic Joint Infection Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundDiagnosing a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be challenging and often requires a combination of clinical and laboratory findings. Monocyte/lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and platelet/mean platelet volume ratio (PVR) are simple predictors for inflammation that can be readily obtained from complete blood count. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of these markers in predicting PJI in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.MethodsA total of 538 patients who underwent revision TKA with calculable marker ratios prerevision in 2 groups were evaluated: (1) 206 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of PJI (group I) and (2) 332 patients treated for revision TKA for aseptic failures (group II). The diagnostic abilities of the markers were assessed via receiver operator characteristic curve analysis.ResultsThe optimal threshold of PVR at 30.82 had the highest sensitivity of 87.7%, while the optimal threshold of PLR at 234.13 had the highest specificity of 82.5%. Both PLR and PVR, when combined with Musculoskeletal Infection Society thresholds for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, synovial WBC, and PMN%, achieve significantly higher sensitivity and specificity rates for PJI at or above 97% (PLR: 99.03%; 98.80%; PVR: 98.54%;97.89%).ConclusionOur study demonstrates that PVR and PLR, which are readily available and inexpensive to obtain from complete blood counts, when combined with serum and synovial fluid markers have increased sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of alpha defensin. This suggests that PVR and PLR can be used together with other hematologic and aspirate markers to increase the accuracy of PJI diagnosis in TKA patients.     

Accuracy of Preoperative Templating in Total Hip Arthroplasty With Special Focus on Stem Morphology: A Randomized Comparison Between Common Digital and Three-Dimensional Planning Using Biplanar Radiographs

BackgroundAccurate preoperative planning is a key component of successful total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of the present study was to compare the accuracy and reliability of three-dimensional (hipEOS) and common digital two-dimensional (TraumaCad) templating with special focus on stem morphology.Methods51 patients undergoing THA were randomized to two groups. Preoperative planning was performed on 23 patients with hipEOS (3D) and on 28 patients with TraumaCad (2D) planning software. Planning results were compared with the implanted component size. Inter- and intraobserver reliability as well as planning accuracy of both planning methods with special focus on straight and short stem design were recorded.ResultsIntraobserver reliability of both planning methods was good for component planning (ICC_2,1: 0.835-0.967). Interobserver ICC_2,1 for stem and cup planning were higher for 3D templating (3D ICC_2,1: 0.906-0.918 vs. 2D ICC_2,1: 0.835-0.843). Total stem and cup size predictions were within 2 sizes for 3D and within 3 sizes for 2D planning. Comparing short stem planning accuracy of both planning methods, absolute difference between implanted and planned component size was significantly lower in 3D planning (P = .029). There was no significant difference in straight stem (P = .935) and cup (P = .954) planning accuracy.ConclusionOur findings suggest that 3D templating with hipEOS software has a good overall reliability and may have a better planning accuracy of short stem prostheses than digital templating with TraumaCad software. Assuming that the number of implanted short stem prostheses will further increase in coming years, a more precise planning with 3D technique can contribute to improve surgery outcome.     

Evaluating Alternate Registration Planes for Imageless,Computer-Assisted Navigation During Total Hip Arthroplasty

BackgroundImageless computer navigation improves component placement accuracy in total hip arthroplasty (THA), but variations in the registration process are known to impact final accuracy measurements. We sought to evaluate the registration accuracy of an imageless navigation device during THA performed in the lateral decubitus position.MethodsA prospective, observational study of 94 patients undergoing a primary THA with imageless navigation assistance was conducted. Patient position was registered using 4 planes of reference: the patient’s coronal plane (standard method), the long axis of the surgical table (longitudinal plane), the lumbosacral spine (lumbosacral plane), and the plane intersecting the greater trochanter and glenoid fossa (hip-shoulder plane). Navigation measurements of cup position for each plane were compared to measurements from postoperative radiographs.ResultsMean inclination from radiographs (41.5° ± 5.6°) did not differ significantly from inclination using the coronal plane (40.9° ± 3.9°, P = .39), the hip-shoulder plane (42.4° ± 4.7°, P = .26), or the longitudinal plane (41.2° ± 4.3°, P = .66). Inclination measured using the lumbosacral plane (45.8° ± 4.3°) differed significantly from radiographic measurements (P < .0001). Anteversion measured from radiographs (mean: 26.1° ± 5.4°) did not differ significantly from the hip-shoulder plane (26.6° ± 5.2°, P = .50). All other planes differed significantly from radiographs: coronal (22.6° ± 6.8°, P = .001), lumbosacral (32.5° ± 6.4°, P < .0001), and longitudinal (23.7° ± 5.2°, P < .0001).ConclusionPatient registration using any plane approximating the long axis of the body provided a frame of reference that accurately measured intraoperative cup position. Registration using a plane approximating the hip-shoulder axis, however, provided the most accurate and consistent measurement of acetabular component position.