Comment on the European position paper on diagnostic tools in rhinology â€" computational fluid dynamics

We read with interest the excellent paper authored by Rimmer et al. (1) entitled The European Position Paper on Diagnostic Tools in Rhinology. The authors are to be commended for their comprehensive, up-to-date and thorough summary of available tests in the assessment of rhinologic function. The paper describes traditional tools used in nasal airway obstruction (NAO); including subjective patient reported outcome measure questionnaires (PROMs) such as the NOSE scale; tests that are subjective to the clinician, such as clinical examination, nasendoscopy and imaging; and objective tests such peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), rhinomanometry (RM) and acoustic rhinometry (AR). Unfortunately, each of these readily available, traditional tools fail to meet several accepted criteria of an ideal diagnostic test (Table 1), as outlined (2,3). In our opinion, these limitations restrict the capacity of Rhinology to develop as a discipline founded on sound evidence-based science.

13 Amending Admission Protocol to Reduce Proton Pump Inhibitor-Induced Hyponatraemia on A Specialist Hip Fracture Unit

Introduction

Hyponatraemia is a common electrolyte disturbance amongst elderly patients. Defined as a sodium concentration below 135 mmol/L, the BNF cites hyponatraemia as a ‘rare’ side effect of Omeprazole, a common proton pump inhibitor (PPI). In elderly patients, hyponatraemia can have significant morbidity.

On our Hip Fracture Unit (HFU) at St Helier Hospital, all patients are commenced on Omeprazole on admission. We conducted a quality improvement project to reduce the incidence of PPI-induced hyponatraemia by altering standard protocol from Omeprazole to Ranitidine.

Methods

Phase 1: Retrospective analysis identifying incidence of PPI-induced hyponatraemia, defined as sodium concentration below 133mmol/L on two consecutive readings and resolving on switching to Ranitidine (Group A: n=86).

Phase 2: Identifying incidence of hyponatraemia following administration of Ranitidine from admission (Group B: n=62).

Exclusion criteria: Patients already on gastric protection or hyponatraemic on presentation. Chi squared analysis to establish statistical significance for risk of hyponatraemia associated with omeprazole.

Results

Total number of patients was 148. Age range 60-101 years (median 82 years). Incidence of PPI-induced hyponatraemia in Group A was 10.5% (9 cases). All resolved on switching to ranitidine.

Following change in admission protocol to Ranitidine (Group B), incidence of hyponatraemia was 1.6% (1 case). The chance of developing hyponatraemia with Omeprazole was significantly higher than with ranitidine (P=0.0454).

Conclusions

10.5% of admissions to the HFU experienced PPI-induced hyponatraemia. The European Medicines Agency defines side effects occurring at greater than 10% as very common. Whilst 45% of patients were on medication associated with hyponatraemia on admission, the absence of hyponatraemia at presentation and biochemical response when switching to ranitidine, demonstrates this is a significant side effect of PPIs. Given the increased morbidity associated with hyponatraemia, particularly in frail, elderly patients, amending protocol to ranitidine for gastric protection has the potential to reduce harm and improve patient outcomes.

Prospects for observing and localizing gravitational-wave transients with Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA

We present our current best estimate of the plausible observing scenarios for the Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA gravitational-wave detectors over the next several years, with the intention of providing information to facilitate planning for multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves. We estimate the sensitivity of the network to transient gravitational-wave signals for the third (O3), fourth (O4) and fifth observing (O5) runs, including the planned upgrades of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. We study the capability of the network to determine the sky location of the source for gravitational-wave signals from the inspiral of binary systems of compact objects, that is binary neutron star, neutron star-black hole, and binary black hole systems. The ability to localize the sources is given as a sky-area probability, luminosity distance, and comoving volume. The median sky localization area (90% credible region) is expected to be a few hundreds of square degrees for all types of binary systems during O3 with the Advanced LIGO and Virgo (HLV) network. The median sky localization area will improve to a few tens of square degrees during O4 with the Advanced LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA (HLVK) network. During O3, the median localization volume (90% credible region) is expected to be on the order of 10 5 , 10 6 , 10 7 Mpc 3 for binary neutron star, neutron star-black hole, and binary black hole systems, respectively. The localization volume in O4 is expected to be about a factor two smaller than in O3. We predict a detection count of 1 - 1 + 12 ( 10 - 10 + 52 ) for binary neutron star mergers, of 0 - 0 + 19 ( 1 - 1 + 91 ) for neutron star-black hole mergers, and 17 - 11 + 22 ( 79 - 44 + 89 ) for binary black hole mergers in a one-calendar-year observing run of the HLV network during O3 (HLVK network during O4). We evaluate sensitivity and localization expectations for unmodeled signal searches, including the search for intermediate mass black hole binary mergers.

Increasing the Astrophysical Reach of the Advanced Virgo Detector via the Application of Squeezed Vacuum States of Light

Current interferometric gravitational-wave detectors are limited by quantum noise over a wide range of their measurement bandwidth. One method to overcome the quantum limit is the injection of squeezed vacuum states of light into the interferometer's dark port. Here, we report on the successful application of this quantum technology to improve the shot noise limited sensitivity of the Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave detector. A sensitivity enhancement of up to 3.2±0.1  dB beyond the shot noise limit is achieved. This nonclassical improvement corresponds to a 5%-8% increase of the binary neutron star horizon. The squeezing injection was fully automated and over the first 5 months of the third joint LIGO-Virgo observation run O3 squeezing was applied for more than 99% of the science time. During this period several gravitational-wave candidates have been recorded.

Evaluation of Volumetric Doses of Organs at Risk in Carcinoma Cervix Patients with HDR Intracavitary Brachytherapy and Comparison of CT-based and Conventional Plans

Background:

Brachytherapy treatment planning in cervix carcinoma patients using two dimensional (2D) orthogonal images provides only point dose estimates while CT-based planning provides volumetric dose assessment helping in understanding the correlation between morbidity and the dose to organs at risk (OARs) and treatment volume.

Objective:

Aim of present study is to compare International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements Report 38 (ICRU 38) reference point doses to OARs with volumetric doses using 2D images and CT images in patients with cervical cancer.

Material and Methods:

In this prospective study, 20 patients with cervical cancer stages (IIB-IIIB) were planned for a brachytherapy dose of 7Gy per fraction for three fractions using 2D image-based treatment plan and CT-based plan. ICRU 38 points for bladder and rectum were identified on both 2D image-based plan and CT-based plan and doses (D_ICRU) at these points were compared to the minimum dose to 2cc volume (D_2cc) of bladder and rectum receiving the highest dose.

Results:

D_2cc bladder dose was 1.60 (±0.67) times more than D_ICRUb bladder dose whereas D_2cc rectum dose was 1.13±0.40 times D_ICRUr. Significant difference was found between D_ICRUb and D_2cc dose for bladder (p=.0.016) while no significant difference was seen between D_ICRUr and D_2cc dose for rectum (p=0.964).

Conclusion:

The study suggests that ICRU 38 point doses are not the true representation of maximum doses to OARs. CT-based treatment planning is more a reliable tool for OAR dose assessment than the conventional 2D radiograph-based plan.

Search for Subsolar Mass Ultracompact Binaries in Advanced LIGO's Second Observing Run

We present a search for subsolar mass ultracompact objects in data obtained during Advanced LIGO's second observing run. In contrast to a previous search of Advanced LIGO data from the first observing run, this search includes the effects of component spin on the gravitational waveform. We identify no viable gravitational-wave candidates consistent with subsolar mass ultracompact binaries with at least one component between 0.2  M_{⊙}-1.0  M_{⊙}. We use the null result to constrain the binary merger rate of (0.2  M_{⊙}, 0.2  M_{⊙}) binaries to be less than 3.7×10^{5}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1} and the binary merger rate of (1.0  M_{⊙}, 1.0  M_{⊙}) binaries to be less than 5.2×10^{3}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1}. Subsolar mass ultracompact objects are not expected to form via known stellar evolution channels, though it has been suggested that primordial density fluctuations or particle dark matter with cooling mechanisms and/or nuclear interactions could form black holes with subsolar masses. Assuming a particular primordial black hole (PBH) formation model, we constrain a population of merging 0.2  M_{⊙} black holes to account for less than 16% of the dark matter density and a population of merging 1.0  M_{⊙} black holes to account for less than 2% of the dark matter density. We discuss how constraints on the merger rate and dark matter fraction may be extended to arbitrary black hole population models that predict subsolar mass binaries.

P2502Intensity and duration of lifestyle interventions for long term weight loss and association with mortality: a meta-analysis of randomised trials

Background

Lifestyle interventions are widely recommended for weight management, particularly in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The intensity and duration of interventions needed to achieve sustained weight reduction are uncertain.

Objectives

To investigate the importance of the frequency and duration of lifestyle interventions for achieving weight loss over ≥ one year, and to evaluate associations between weight loss and all-cause mortality.

Method

Meta-analysis of randomised trials published in English-language journals from 1980 to June 2018 that assessed lifestyle compared to control interventions on weight loss in ≥100 subjects, and which reported weight change and mortality for ≥ one year.

Results

31 randomised trials with a total of 20 816 overweight or obese participants, 70% of whom had cardiometabolic risk factors, were included. The weighted mean difference in body weight between diet and lifestyle intervention and control arms at 1 year was −3.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) −4.66, −2.65 kg, and at 3 years was −2.45, 95% CI: −3.73, −1.17kg. Weight loss at one year was greater in studies with more compared to fewer interventions (>vs ≤28/year (−4.53 [IQR −5.93, −3.12] kg vs −2.38 [−3.98, −0.78] kg, p=0.001). There were 593 deaths (rate ∼0.3%/year), and the odds ratio for mortality for weight loss interventions compared to the controls was 0.86 (95% CI 0.74, 1.01), p=0.09.

Table 1. Association with intervention intensity with weight loss achieved and mortality Number of interventions in first year N studies# Number of patients Mean difference p Total deaths Odds ratio p Random effect model (kg) (95% CI) Fixed effect model (95% CI) ≤6 3 510 −0.84 [−1.40, −0.28] <0.0001 5 1.45 [0.22, 9.40] 0.7 7–12 6 2022 −2.04 [−3.24, −0.84] <0.0001 10 1.34 [0.35, 5.16] 0.67 13–24 6* 3490 −2.46 [−5.59, 0.67] <0.0001 23 1.20 [0.49, 2.96] 0.69 ≥25 18 13717 −3.53 [−4.13, −2.92] <0.0001 555 0.84 [0.71, 1.00] 0.05 Total 31 100 −2.98 Total 31 *2 studies reported mortality but not weight loss.

Conclusion

Lifestyle programs with frequent patient interactions sustained over a year or more achieve modest weight loss. The level of intervention needed for clinically meaningful weight reduction may be unrealistic for most medical practices. There is a modest non-significant reduction in mortality with lifestyle programs, but limited data on whether lifestyle interventions for obesity decrease mortality in persons at higher risk because of cancer, heart failure or ischaemic heart disease.

Acknowledgement/Funding

None

Donor considerations in pediatric heart transplantation

Donors for pediatric heart transplantation are accepted based on variety of donor factors. There is wide variability in practice across centers and lack of evidence to guide standardized approach for some donor characteristics. This article reviews current practice and evidence for donor evaluation in pediatric heart transplantation.

Sm3+ doped calcium orthovanadate Ca3(VO4)2 - A spectral study

Sm³⁺-doped vanadate-based phosphors, Ca_3-x (VO₄)₂:Sm_x(x = 0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.095), were synthesized by the citrate-based sol-gel method. The samples were characterized with XRD, SEM, diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy, aiming at the development of phosphor-converted wLED applications. Using diffuse reflectance spectra and the Kubelka-Munk function, the band gap energy was calculated to be 3.28 eV for the Ca_2.95(VO₄)₂:Sm_0.05 phosphor. Observation of the photoluminescence excitation spectra revealed a broadband excitation from the distorted VO₄ tetrahedron and a few narrow peaks from the 4f-4f intra-configuration transitions of the Sm³⁺ ions. Upon 404 nm excitation, ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_5/2 (564 nm), ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2 (601 nm), ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_9/2 (648 nm) and ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_11/2 (701 nm) transitions were observed. The optimum Sm³⁺ concentration for the studied phosphor is 0.05 mol, and the estimated critical distance between Sm³⁺ ions (R_c) is 19.1 Å. The observed quenching of Sm³⁺ emission is attributed to the dipole-dipole interactions. The possible cross-relaxation process between neighboring Sm³⁺ ions was discussed in detail. The CIE coordinates were calculated for all the samples, and they set on the orange region of CIE diagram. In addition, pure orange color emission was observed under 365 nm UV lamp. The results suggest that the Ca₃(VO₄)₂:Sm³⁺ phosphor could be a good candidate for the orange emitting component for wLED applications.