P614Comparison of echo parameters with cardiac MRI in the assessment of right ventricular function

Introduction

Systolic right ventricular (RV) function has prognostic significance both in acquired and congenital heart diseases. However accurate assessment of RV ejection fraction (EF) with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) remains challenging due to the complex geometric shape of the RV. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the gold standard modality for assessment of RV function; however the cost and availability limits the regular use of MRI in clinical practice. The RV strain measured by speckle tracking (RVS) is a novel method of assessing RV EF.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to assess the accuracy of RVS compared RV fractional area change (FAC%), tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion (TAPSE) and Doppler tissue imaging-derived isovolumic acceleration and peak systolic velocity (S') at the lateral tricuspid annulus in the assessment of impaired RV EF.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients who had a cardiac MRI between 2012- 2017 and only included patients with a TTE within 1 month of the MRI for our final analysis. Baseline characteristics, TTE and MRI parameters were extracted from chart review. RV strain was measured retrospectively using ECHOINSIGHT software. Four TTE parameters including RVS, TAPSE, S' and FAC% were tested for accuracy to identify impaired RV EF (defined as EF<45%) using receiver operator curves.

Results

The study cohort included 500 patients with mean age 55 yr ± 18 and right ventricular systolic pressure 33.7±13.6 mmHg. The proportion of female gender, diabetes, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea were 38%, 15.6%, 43% & 19.8% respectively. The area under ROC for TAPSE, S', FAC% and RVS were 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51–0.65, p=0.03), 0.59 (95% CI 0.52–0.66, p=0.03), 0.67 (95% CI 0.61–0.73, p=0.03) and 0.70 (0.64–0.76, p=0.03) for assessing RV EF <45%.

Conclusion

Right ventricular strain most accurately detected impaired right ventricular ejection fraction as obtained by MRI.

Acknowledgement/Funding

None

The Landscape of Cellular and Gene Therapy Products: Authorization, Discontinuations, and Cost

Background: Cell and gene therapy products belong to a diverse class of biopharmaceuticals known as advanced therapy medicinal products. Cell and gene therapy products are used for the treatment and prevention of diseases that until recently were only managed chronically. The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of market authorizations, discontinuations, and prices of cellular and gene therapy products worldwide. Data and Methods: We conducted an electronic search of authorized cell, tissue-engineered, and gene therapy products from the databases of the main drug regulatory agencies. The analysis excluded hematopoietic progenitor cell cord blood products authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Price information was derived from the Red Book (Truven Health Analytics) for the United States, health technology assessment agencies for Europe, and other public sector sources and company news for other countries. We also searched the scientific literature for authorizations, discontinuations, and price information using MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and EMBASE databases. All cost data were converted to U.S. dollars. Descriptive analysis was conducted in this study. Results: There were 52 different cell, tissue engineering and gene therapy products with 69 market authorizations in the world as of December 31, 2018. The products included 18 (34%) cell therapies, 23 (43.4%) tissue engineered products, and 12 (22.6%) gene therapies. There were 21 (30.4% of all authorizations) cell therapy, 26 (37.7%) tissue-engineered, and 22 (31.9%) gene therapy market authorizations. The EMA withdrew the authorization for two tissue engineering products, one cell therapy and one gene therapy, and New Zealand lapsed approval of one cell therapy. Most products were first authorized after 2010, including 10 (83.3%) gene therapies, 13 (72.2%) cell therapies, and 13 (56.5%) tissue-engineered products. The treatment price for four allogenic cell therapies varied from $2,150 in India to $200,000 in Canada. The treatment price for three autologous cell therapies ranged from $61,500 in the United Kingdom to a listed price of $169,206 in the United States. Tissue-engineered treatment prices varied from $400 in South Korea to $123,154 in Japan. Gene therapy treatment prices ranged from $5,501 for tonogenchoncel-L in South Korea to $1,398,321 for alipogene tiparvovec in Germany. Conclusions: A significant number of new cell, tissue, and gene therapies have been approved in the past decade. Most products were conditionally authorized and targeted rare cancers, genetic diseases, and other debilitating diseases. However, there are also products approved for cosmetic reasons. Cell, tissue, and gene therapies are among the most expensive therapies available. Healthcare systems are not prepared to assume the cost of future therapies for a myriad of rare diseases and common diseases of epidemic proportions.

The toxicity of organic fractions from aged oil sands process-affected water to aquatic species

The process of surface mining and extracting bitumen from oil sand produces large quantities of tailings and oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). The industry is currently storing OSPW on-site while investigating strategies for their detoxification. One such strategy relies on the biodegradation of organic compounds by indigenous microbes, resulting in aged tailings waters with reduced toxicity. This study assessed the toxicity of OSPW aged statically for approximately 18 years. Dissolved organics in aged OSPW were fractionated using a preparative solid-phase extraction method that generated three organic fractions (F1-F3) of increasing polarity. Eight aquatic species from different trophic levels were exposed to whole OSPW (WW) and the derived OSPW organic fractions to assess toxicity: Pimephales promelas, Oryzias latipes, Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna, Lampsilis cardium, Hyalella azteca, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Hexagenia spp. Broad comparisons revealed that P. promelas and H. azteca were most sensitive to dissolved organics within aged OSPW, while WW was most toxic to L. cardium and H. azteca. Three cases of possible contaminant interactions occurred within whole OSPW treatments, as toxicity was higher than organic fractions for H. azteca and L. cardium, and lower for P. promelas. As such, the drivers of toxicity appeared to be dependent on the species exposed. Of the organic fractions assessed, F3 (most polar) was the most toxic overall while F2 (intermediate polarity) displayed little toxicity to all species evaluated. This presents strong evidence that classical mono-carboxylic naphthenic acids, mostly present in F1 (least polar), are not primarily responsible for the toxicity in aged tailings. The current study indicates that although the aged tailings source (≥18 years) did not display acute toxicity to the majority of organisms assessed, inorganic components and polyoxygenated organics may pose a persistent concern to some aquatic organisms.

Improving child weight management uptake through enhanced National Child Measurement Programme parental feedback letters: A randomised controlled trial

This single-blind, pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial aims to investigate uptake of children's weight management services in response to enhanced National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) letters providing weight status feedback to parents in three English counties in 2015. Parents of 2642 overweight or very overweight (obese) children aged 10-11 years received an intervention or control letter informing them of their child's weight status. Intervention letters included (i) a visual tool to help weight status recognition, (ii) a social norms statement, and for very overweight children, (iii) a prepopulated booking form for weight management services. The primary outcome was weight management service enrolment. Additional outcome measures included attendance at and contact made with weight management services, and a number of self-report variables. A small effect was observed, with intervention parents being significantly more likely to enrol their children in weight management services (4.33% of Intervention group) than control parents (2.19% of Control group) in both unadjusted (OR = 2.08, p = .008) and adjusted analyses (AOR = 2.48, p = .001). A similar picture emerged for contact with services (4.80% Intervention vs. 2.41% Control; OR = 2.10, p = .003; AOR = 2.46, p < .001) and attendance at services, although group differences in the latter measure were not significant after corrections for multiple comparisons (1.89% Intervention vs. 1.02% Control; AOR = 2.11, p = .047). No effects were found on self-report variables. Theoretically informed weight status feedback letters appear to be an effective strategy to improve enrolment in paediatric weight management services.

How can transition to adult care be best orchestrated for adolescents with epilepsy?

Objective evidence is limited for the value of transition programs for youth with chronic illness moving from pediatric to adult care; however, such programs intuitively "make sense". We describe the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of transition programs from around the world for adolescents with epilepsy. Consequences of poorly organized transition beyond suboptimal seizure control may include an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), poor psychological and social outcome, and inadequate management of comorbidities. The content of transition programs for those with normal intelligence differs from those with intellectual disability, but both groups may benefit from an emphasis on sporting activities. Concerns that may interfere with optimal transition include lack of nursing or social work services, limited numbers of adult neurologists/epileptologists confident in the treatment of complex pediatric epilepsy problems, institutional financial support, and time constraints for pediatric and adult physicians who treat epilepsy and the provision of multidisciplinary care. Successful programs eventually need to rely on a several adult physicians, nurses, and other key healthcare providers and use novel approaches to complex care. More research is needed to document the value and effectiveness of transition programs for youth with epilepsy to persuade institutions and healthcare professionals to support these ventures.

Innovation in Medical Technology Driven by Advances in Aerospace

The International Space Medicine Summit II sought to identify mature data with significant clinical implications for Terrestrial populations. This work aims at identifying space medical technology which has been translated for use by private costumers, those in remote locations on Earth and areas affected by natural disasters.

METHODS

Following PRISMA Guidelines, we sought to review the published literature and NASA technical resources (from 2012 to 2017). Search terms used included "Medical AND Technology AND Diagnosis AND Monitor".

RESULTS

23 applications were identified of medical technology arisen from the Space industry. Of these, 5 were treatment based; 6 diagnostic; 10 medical measurement devices.

DISCUSSION

The Aerospace industry has provided a significant transfer in knowledge and technology which can improve our management of patients on Earth.

SIGNIFICANCE

Highlighting the use and benefits of Aerospace medical research for terrestrial medical care.