Community- vs. hospital-based management of multidrug-resistant TB in Pakistan

BACKGROUND Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) treatment takes 18-24 months and is complex, costly and isolating. We provide trial evidence on the WHO Pakistan recommendation for community-based care rather than hospital-based care.METHODS Two-arm, parallel-group, superiority trial was conducted in three programmatic management of drug-resistant TB hospitals in Punjab and Sindh Provinces, Pakistan. We enrolled 425 patients with MDR-TB aged >15 years through block randomisation in community-based care (1-week hospitalisation) or hospital-based care (2 months hospitalisation). Primary outcome was treatment success.RESULTS Among 425 patients with MDR-TB, 217 were allocated to community-based care and 208 to hospital-based care. Baseline characteristics were similar between the community and hospitalised arms, as well as in selected sites. Treatment success was 74.2% (161/217) under community-based care and 67.8% (141/208) under hospital-based care, giving a covariate-adjusted risk difference (community vs. hospital model) of 0.06 (95% CI -0.02 to 0.15; P = 0.144).CONCLUSIONS We found no clear evidence that community-based care was more or less effective than hospital-based care model. Given the other substantial advantages of community-based care over hospital based (e.g., more patient-friendly and accessible, with lower treatment costs), this supports the adoption of the community-based care model, as recommended by the WHO.

Heart rate variability and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

Hyperglycemia and autonomic dysfunction are bidirectionally related. The implications from former cross-sectional studies regarding the association of autonomic dysfunction and diabetes are limited due to the potential reverse causation. We aimed to investigate the association of longitudinal evolution of heart rate variability (HRV) with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) among the general population.

Methods

Using data from the prospective population-based cohort study, 7630 participants with available repeated assessments of HRV, who were free of T2D and atrial fibrillation, were included. Measurements of HRV were analyzed from standard 10-s electrocardiograms records, including heart rate and two time-domain HRV markers: the heart-rate corrected standard deviation of the normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNNc) and heart-rate corrected root mean square of successive RR-interval differences (RMSSDc). Joint models with the Bayes approach were performed to assess the associations between longitudinal evolutions of heart rate and different HRV metrics with incident T2D during follow-up. Models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, use of blood pressure-lowering or lipid-lowering medication, and prevalent cardiovascular disease. Spearmen correlation was used to examine the associations between HRV metrics and glycemic traits (fasting blood glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-β)) at baseline.

Results

During a median follow-up time of 8.6 years, 871 individuals developed T2D. Based on joint models, one standard deviation (SD) increment of heart rate (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09–1.34), log(SDNNc) (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.94–1.27), and log(RMSSDc) (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02–1.31) was associated with the risk of developing T2D in fully-adjusted models. Subgroup analyses suggested stronger associations among men. The HRs of incident T2D per SD increment were 1.25 (1.09, 1.43) for men and 1.16 (0.99, 1.35) for women for heart rate, 1.23 (1.01, 1.51) for men and 0.97 (0.78, 1.20) for women for log(SDNNc), and 1.24 (1.05, 1.48) for men and 1.09 (0.89, 1.31) for women for log(RMSSDc). Results did not change after excluding participants who were prediabetes at baseline or after exclusion of underweight participants. Spearmen correlation indicated that heart rate was significantly associated with baseline glycemic traits, while RMSSDc was only related to fasting blood glucose.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that both higher heart rate and heart rate variability are associated with an increased risk of T2D development, especially among men.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Erasmus MC and Erasmus University Rotterdam; Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw); Research Institute for Diseases in the Elderly; Netherlands Genomics Initiative; Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports; European Commission; and Municipality of Rotterdam. We would like to thank the China Scholarship Council for the scholarship to K.W. Forest plot

Reinfection or relapse of COVID-19 in health care workers; case series of 2 patients from Pakistan

During an ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, main question which has arisen in everyone's mind is about the immune response that may protect from reinfection. Coronaviruses are known for short-term immunity. Their ability of mutations enables them to escape host immunity, thus increasing chances of reinfection. Here we report two cases of reinfection among health care workers who presented with symptoms of COVID-19 disease, after 3 months of first infectious course. Such documentations are necessary for epidemiological purposes and also to monitor response of virus on re-exposure.

789 Improving Compliance of The MUST Tool Through Multiple Interventions, Improves Documentation and Assessment of Nutritional Status in Trauma and Orthopaedic Patients Undergoing Surgery

Introduction

The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is a nationally validated risk tool, used to identify adults who are malnourished. 40% of surgical patients are malnourished which significantly impacts the outcomes of elderly patients. The primary aim of this study was to ascertain its utilisation in elderly patients undergoing trauma and orthopaedic surgery in a district general hospital.

Method

We completed a closed-loop audit from October2019-June2020 over two, three-week periods Inclusion criteria was age ≥65 years, and patients undergoing surgery. Data collected included MUST score, nutritional support, pre-operative fasting time, and prescription of fluids. Our intervention included departmental teaching sessions, posters, and the addition of the MUST tool to clerking proformas.

Results

We included analysis of 70 patients. Following our intervention, admission MUST score calculation improved by 8%, and providing nutritional support increased by 21%. However, there was no improvement in reducing pre-operative fasting time and prescription of pre-operative fluids.

Conclusions

Through our intervention’s documentation and assessment of nutritional status in elderly patients has improved. However further work must be completed to reduce time spent ‘nil-by-mouth’ and prescribe fluids for maintenance before surgery. This requires better pre-operative planning and communication between the surgical and ward-based teams.

Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Masks: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented strain on healthcare supplies. Currently there is a global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially N95 masks. In order to safeguard healthcare personnel in this critical time and to mitigate shortages of N95 respirators, reuse of N95 respirators has to be considered.

METHODS

Using PubMed and Science Direct, a literature search was conducted to find and synthesize relevant literature on decontamination of N95 respirators for their subsequent reuse. Peer-reviewed publications related to methods of decontamination from January 2007 to April 2020 in the English language are included in this narrative review. Bibliographies of articles for relevant literature were also scrutinized. Findings. A total of 19 studies are included in this narrative review. The appraised methods include ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), moist heat incubation (MHI), ethylene oxide (EtO), hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV), microwave steam bags (MSB), microwave-generated steam (MGS), dry microwave oven irradiation, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (HPGP), dry heat, liquid hydrogen peroxide, and bleach and alcohol.

CONCLUSION

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, reuse of N95 respirators, although suboptimal, can be considered. Evidence reveals that UVGI, MHI, and HPV are amongst the safest and efficacious methods for decontamination of N95 masks. More research is needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of MGS, MSB, dry heat, EtO, liquid hydrogen peroxide, and HPGP. Alcohol, microwave irradiation, and bleach are not recommended because they damage N95 respirators.

How well can step-off and gap distances be reduced when treating intra-articular distal radius fractures with fragment specific fixation when using fluoroscopy

INTRODUCTION

Although fragment specific fixation has proved to be an effective treatment regime, it has not been established how successfully this treatment could be performed using fluoroscopy and what the added value of arthroscopy could be. Establish gap and step-off distances after in intra-articular distal radius fractures that have been treated with fragment specific fixation while using fluoroscopy.

MATERIAL

Forty-four patients with an intra-articular distal radius fracture were treated with fragment specific fixation while using fluoroscopy.

METHODS

After the treatment of the intra-articular distal radius fracture with fragment specific fixation and the use of fluoroscopy, but before the completion of the surgical intervention, all gap, and step-off distances were determined by using arthroscopy. In addition, the joint was checked for any other wrist pathologies.

RESULTS

Arthroscopy after the surgical intervention showed that in 37 patients no gap distances could be detected, while in six patients a gap distance of≤2mm was found and in one patient, a gap distance of 3mm. Similarly, arthroscopy revealed no step-off distances in 33 patients, while in 11 patients a step-off distance of≤2mm was found. Although additional wrist pathologies were found in 48% of our population, only one patient needed surgical intervention. Three months after the surgical intervention wrist flexion was 41±10°, wrist extension 51±17°, ulnar deviation 19±10°, radial deviation 32±12° while patients could pronate and supinate their wrist to 85±5° and 74±20°, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Intra-articular distal radius fractures can be treated successfully with fragment specific fixation and the use of fluoroscopy. As almost all gap and step-off distances could be reduced to an acceptable level, the scope for arthroscopy to further improve this treatment regime is limited. The functional outcome scores that were found 3 months after the surgical intervention were similar to what has been reported in other studies using different treatment option. These findings suggest that fragment specific fixation is a good alternative for treating intra-articular distal radius fractures. As in most cases, only fluoroscopy is needed for fragment specific fixation, this treatment technique is a good treatment option for resource-limited hospitals, setting who do not have access to arthroscopy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, case-control study.

Genome-wide association analysis of coffee drinking suggests association with CYP1A1/CYP1A2 and NRCAM

Coffee consumption is a model for addictive behavior. We performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on coffee intake from 8 Caucasian cohorts (N=18 176) and sought replication of our top findings in a further 7929 individuals. We also performed a gene expression analysis treating different cell lines with caffeine. Genome-wide significant association was observed for two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 15q24 region. The two SNPs rs2470893 and rs2472297 (P-values=1.6 × 10(-11) and 2.7 × 10(-11)), which were also in strong linkage disequilibrium (r(2)=0.7) with each other, lie in the 23-kb long commonly shared 5' flanking region between CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes. CYP1A1 was found to be downregulated in lymphoblastoid cell lines treated with caffeine. CYP1A1 is known to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are important constituents of coffee, whereas CYP1A2 is involved in the primary metabolism of caffeine. Significant evidence of association was also detected at rs382140 (P-value=3.9 × 10(-09)) near NRCAM-a gene implicated in vulnerability to addiction, and at another independent hit rs6495122 (P-value=7.1 × 10(-09))-an SNP associated with blood pressure-in the 15q24 region near the gene ULK3, in the meta-analysis of discovery and replication cohorts. Our results from GWASs and expression analysis also strongly implicate CAB39L in coffee drinking. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed significantly enriched ubiquitin proteasome (P-value=2.2 × 10(-05)) and Parkinson's disease pathways (P-value=3.6 × 10(-05)).

Evaluation of thin-layer agar 7H11 for the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

We evaluated the thin-layer agar (TLA) method for the recovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and compared the results with the BACTEC Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960 system. A total of 53 mycobacterial isolates were isolated on both media. The recovery rates of mycobacteria on TLA and BACTEC MGIT 960 system were respectively 90.6% and 96.2%. Mean time to detection of mycobacteria on TLA was 12.5 compared to 11.2 days on BACTEC MGIT 960. TLA is a simple technique and can be used as an alternative to the Löwenstein-Jensen medium and BACTEC MGIT 960 for the isolation of mycobacteria in resource-poor settings.

Ultrasonography detection of radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissue compared to computed tomography scan

Thirty-one patients with suspected radiolucent foreign bodies (wooden splinters) in soft tissues of extremities were investigated by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography to the area suspected clinically. Ultrasonography detected and localized radiolucent foreign bodies in 18 of the 31 patients, while only 14 were seen on CT scan. Following surgical exploration, the presence of foreign bodies was confirmed in 20 patients; thus, the accuracy of ultrasonography was 90% while that of CT scan was 70%. The size of foreign body, the presence of infection or the delay in diagnosis had no effect on results. Ultrasonography is clearly a reliable method of detecting radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissues of extremities.

Characteristics of travelling waves under various conditions

In this mapping study, the goal was to investigate in 10 subjects the phenomenon of the travelling waves (TW), especially of alpha activity, under conditions of (1) rest, (2) calculations, (3) emotional experience and (4) pain. The TW during wakefulness usually arose from the areas with the highest amplitude of alpha, called major peaks, for both positive (pos.) and negative (neg.) polarities. These areas were Pz (pos. and neg.) at rest, O2 (pos.) and Pz (neg.) during calculation, O1 (pos.) and O2 (neg.) during emotion and T6 (pos.) and O1 (neg.) during pain. When differences were determined between the latter 3 conditions and the resting state, a focal event-related desynchronization (ERD) became evident on T5 during math, on Pz during emotion and on both CP areas during pain. Surrounding the areas of ERD were areas of event-related synchronization (ERS). The TW were related to phase differences between the different electrode locations, seen more frequently with the pos. polarity, and more often with emotion or calculation. The direction of the TW was most often toward the midline during rest, from the right to midline (calculation), from the left to midline (emotion) and from the midline to the left (pain). Changes on one side of the head were often associated with opposite types of changes on the other side. Sleep spindles were also analyzed showing the major peaks on Fz and F4 with pos. polarities often seen anteriorly and neg. polarities posteriorly. TW were also seen with spindles, more often with the positive polarity. The direction was usually from the midline for the positive polarity and toward the midline for the neg. phase. The phenomenon of the TW is discussed, especially its possible neurophysiological significance as a means of transmitting information throughout the brain.

Free fibular graft still has a place in the treatment of bone defects

We report on 27 patients illustrating the use of non-vascularized single fibular strut graft, augmented with a corticocancellous bone graft to bridge bone defects. The indications were varied and included infection, fracture with bone loss, non-union, bone tumour, bone cyst and congenital pseudarthrosis. Primary union was achieved in 92 per cent. Stress fracture occurred in 26 per cent and no significant fibular graft hypertrophy occurred. The aim of this paper is to show that the non-vascularized single fibular graft, if augmented with corticocancellous bone graft along its whole length, is a simple procedure that is still valid to bridge bone defects.

Treatment of ipsilateral fractures of the femoral neck and shaft

We studied 43 patients with ipsilateral femoral shaft and femoral neck fractures who had dynamic hip screw fixation alone or in combincation with dynamic compression plate. All patients except two were diagnosed early; 37 patients had other associated injuries. There were 41 males and two females. The follow-up ranged from eight months to four years (mean 2-1/2 years). Six patients were lost to follow-up. Fracture of the neck of the femur healed in all 37 patients. Four patients had delayed union and two patients developed nonunion of the shaft of the femur. The aim of this paper is to show our experience and results using one technique for the treatment of such fractures.