A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Ketamine versus Fentanyl for Procedural Sedation in the Emergency Department for Adults with Isolated Extremity Injury

Introduction

Alleviating pain and anxiety of patients during procedures is an essential skill for an Emergency Physician (EP). Several sedatives and dissociative agents are used for PSA (Procedural Sedation and Analgesia). In this study, we aimed to compare two drugs that is, ketamine and fentanyl for procedural sedation in adults with isolated limb injuries in the Emergency Department (ED).

Materials and methods

In this prospective, randomised controlled interventional trial, patients aged between 18 to 65 years with isolated extremity injury requiring PSA in the ED were recruited. A total of 200 subjects were included in the study and randomly allocated to either the fentanyl (n=100) or the ketamine (n=100) group. Patients were blinded to the intervention and subsequently premedicated with Midazolam. Following this, they received either ketamine or fentanyl based on the group they were allocated to. Vital signs, including but not limited to the level of sedation, were measured at predetermined time intervals. A Modified Aldrete Score of >8 was used as a criterion for disposition from the ED. Data were collected in a pre-designed proforma. We aimed to compare the effectiveness as well as ascertain the safety profile of the two drugs for PSA in the ED.

Results

There was no significant difference between the two groups when age, gender, mechanism of injury and comorbidities were compared. We found that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups when blood pressure, respiratory rate and depth of sedation were compared. In both groups, there was a significant decrease in pain on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) following drug administration from 8 to 3 (p<0.001). Patients in the fentanyl group had an increased incidence of transient oxygen desaturation (p<0.001). Vomiting was more common in the ketamine group (p<0.001).

Conclusion

PSA is a safe and efficacious procedure for patients undergoing painful procedures in ED. Patients in both the groups maintained hemodynamic stability throughout the procedure. From our study, we were able to conclude that both ketamine and fentanyl are similar in efficacy for PSA in the ED for adults with isolated limb injuries. In addition, no significant cardiovascular adverse events were noted in either group in our study.

Comparison of efficacy of ultrasound-guided platelet rich plasma injection versus dry needling in lateral epicondylitis-a randomised controlled trial

PURPOSE

To assess whether Ultrasound guided dry needling is adequate for both common extensor tendon tears and tendinosis or whether ultrasound guided platelet rich plasma (PRP) has a superior outcome when compared to dry needling when there are tears of the common extensor tendon.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a single-centre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial conducted between November 2018 and April 2020. 40 patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis based on clinical and sonographic features and having comparable baseline characteristics were randomly assigned to the two study groups (dry needling and PRP). Inclusion criteria were patients aged 20 years or more who were symptomatic for at least 3 months with sonographic evidence of lateral epicondylitis. Exclusion criteria were complete tear of common extensor tendon confirmed on ultrasound and presence of other associated diseases like osteoarthritis of shoulder and elbow.

RESULTS

There was significant improvement in the visual analogue scale pain score in PRP group compared to the dry needling group at 9 months. However, this difference was not evident at 3 and 6 months follow-up. Mean improvement in common extensor tendon thickness in PRP group (5.1 mm at 3 months and 4.3 mm at 6 months) was slightly better than dry needling (4.4 mm at 3 months and 4.0 mm at 6 months). There was no difference in tear (if present) healing between both groups at 3 months. However at 6 months follow up, PRP demonstrated significant (mean-2.5) healing in tear compared to dry needling (mean-3.1).

CONCLUSION

Two injections of Ultrasound guided PRP are more beneficial non operative treatment compared to ultrasound guided dry needling, in lateral epicondylitis.

Prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance in persons initiating and reinitiating antiretroviral therapy in Sri Lanka: results from a national representative survey

BACKGROUND

We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study to estimate pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) prevalence in adults initiating ART in Sri Lanka following the WHO's recommendations.

METHODS

HIV drug resistance was determined on dried blood spots (DBSs) using population-based sequencing of the protease and reverse transcriptase genes and interpretation was based on Stanford HIVdb v9.0. Analyses were weighted to adjust for multistage sampling and genotypic failure rate. We used logistic regression to assess differences between groups.

RESULTS

Overall, in 10% (15 of 150) of patients initiating ART, HIV drug resistance mutations were detected. The prevalence of resistance to NNRTI drugs efavirenz/nevirapine was 8.4% (95% CI 4.6-15.0) but differed among those reporting having prior antiretroviral (ARV) exposure (24.4%, 95% CI 13.8-39.5) compared with 4.6% (95% CI 1.6-12.8) for those reporting as being ARV naive (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.3-16.6, P = 0.021). PDR to efavirenz/nevirapine was also nearly twice as high among women (14.1%, 95% CI 6.1-29.4) compared with men (7.0%, 95% CI 3.1-14.7) (P = 0.340) and three times high among heterosexuals (10.4%, 95% CI 2.4-35.4) compared with MSM (3.8%, 95% CI 1.1-12.7) (P = 0.028). NRTI PDR prevalence was 3.8% (95% CI 1.1-12.1) and no PI PDR was observed in the study.

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of efavirenz/nevirapine PDR was reported, especially in patients with prior ARV exposure, in women and those reporting being heterosexual. These findings highlight the need to fast-track the transition to the WHO-recommended dolutegravir-based first-line ART.

Vitamin D metabolites and analytical challenges

Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient for bone health and the general cellular functions of the body. Its insufficiency/deficiency leads to the pathophysiology of disorders like diabetes, cancer, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases. Clinical interest in Vitamin D metabolites and their role in various medical disorders have contributed to an increase in laboratory demands for vitamin D measurements. For clinical and research laboratories worldwide, analysis of vitamin D and associated metabolites is a significant problem. The best way for determining vitamin D levels is constantly being debated. Various methods such as immunoassays and chromatographic techniques are available for determining vitamin D levels. Additionally, biosensors have recently been considered promising options for routine vitamin D analysis. The existing methods and other developments in the measurement of vitamin D metabolites and associated analytical challenges are discussed in this review.

LDL cholesterol an unmet target in diabetic, hypertensive population pan India exposing susceptive cardiovascular disorder risk

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Management and pathophysiology of diabetes and hypertension has always been the centre of research, with new insights being found consistently. CVD is the major cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and affects approximately 32.2% of people with type 2 diabetes. Southeast Asia stands out with a higher prevalence of CAD (29.4%) compared with other regions.

Purpose

The purpose of this EHR based real world study was to identify the proportion of patients with LDL-C out of control in people living with diabetes and hypertension who were under regular care of physicians. Specialized clinical care by super-specialists ensures management of specific disorders, yet risk factors for overall cardiovascular health continue to be expressed uncontrolled.

Methods

Patients reporting for routine care in 14 centers across the country were eligible to participate in the study. Patient recruitment at each site required informed consent signature, history of at least 6 months of diabetes mellitus type 2, was sequential and independent of other sites. An EMR (Medeva) integrated research proforma was created only for this study which collected data on medical history, comorbidities, diabetic complications, medications and laboratory values of relevance to the study. The recruitment started in March 2022 and ended in August 2022 (6 months).

Results

Average age of these patients was 54.36 years, and 1238 were male and 964 were female patients. Out of this sample, 1388 patients were only diabetic and 814 patients had diabetes as well as hypertension. 256 patients 44.8% patients had LDL-C within acceptable limits and the remaining 51.2% had hyperdyslipidemia. Average LDL-C value for all patients was 107.07, average LDL-C levels in only diabetic patients was 116.51, and LDL in patients with diabetes and hypertension is 90.97. In diabetes only patients, 37% patients had LDL-C under control whereas in diabetes and hypertension group 58% patients had LDL-C under control.

Conclusion

Although diabetic patients are under regular clinical care, their LDL-C values were higher in 55.2% of the patients. This is an alarming signal that calls all the stakeholders - diabetologists, researchers, educators, dieticians, policymakers, government agencies and people with diabetes must contribute towards the management of lipid profile for prevention of cardiovascular events. Also, the proportion of patients with LDL-C under control is lesser in patients who are only diabetic as compared to patients who are both diabetic and hypertensive. This finding suggests that there is either lesser focus or inadequate on lipid profile of patients who are only diabetic; more holistic management is an unprecedented requirement. More research is needed in this direction to recognize the loopholes, manage them and prevent them adequately.

BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) and risk of cancer - a study from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Introduction/Objective

BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) is well know for its toxicity via through environmental, occupational and recreational exposures. However, there is limited literature about the carcinogenic effect of BTEX. Hence, we aim to study the prevalence and association of cancer amongst individuals with exposure of BTEX.

Methods/Case Report

A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed between 2013 and 2018 utilizing the NHANES database. Adult individuals having data on socio-demographic questionnaires and lab findings on exposure to BTEX were included. Prevalence of cancer was identified amongst exposure to BTEX (vs no-BTEX). Univariate (chi-squre test and Mann–Whitney U test) and Multivariate (survey logistic regression) analysis was performed to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of individuals exposred to BTEX and association of cancer with BTEX exposure in comparison to no BTEX exposure.The p value of &lt;0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

124,162 participants were identified with BTEX exposure. Individuals with BTEX exposure were young (40 vs 51 year old), male (91% vs female: 87%), and Mexican American (92% vs Non-Hispanic Black: 89% vs Non-Hispanic White: 89% vs other Hispanic: 87%). Univariate analysis showed higher total prevalence of cancer in BTEX (9.3% vs. 1.3%; p&lt;0.0001) compared to no BTEX. Individuals with BTEX exposure had higher prevalnece of blood cancer (0.47% vs 0.00; p&lt;0.0001), leukemia (0.56% vs 0.00; p&lt;0.001), and lymphoma (1.72% vs 0.39%; p&lt;0.0001) in comparison with no exposure. Multivaritate analysis showed participants with BTEX exposure had 10% higher risk of cancer (aOR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.10-1.10; p&lt;0.0001) compared to no BTEX exposure. Additionally, exposure to individual components of benzene (aOR: 1.24; 95%CI: 1.24; p&lt;0.0001), ethylbenzene (aOR: 1.08; 95%CI: 1.08-1.08; p&lt;0.0001), and o-xylene (aOR: 1.19; 95%CI: 1.19-1.19; p&lt;0.0001) had higher risk of cancer compared to no exposure participants.

Conclusion

Our study conclude higher risk of cancer among participants with exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the association of various types of cancers in BTEX exposure.

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC).

FINDINGS

In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683-0·717]).

INTERPRETATION

In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required.

FUNDING

British Journal of Surgery Society.

Meta-analyses of the quantitative computed tomography data in dialysis patients show differential impacts of renal failure on the trabecular and cortical bones

Dialysis patients have compromised bone health that increases their fracture risk due to low bone mass and deterioration in bone microarchitecture. Through meta-analyses of published studies, we conclude that dialysis patients suffer from impaired compartmental bone parameters compared with healthy controls.

INTRODUCTION

We performed meta-analyses to determine the effect of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients under dialysis on the trabecular and cortical parameters of radius and tibia.

METHODS

This is a meta-analysis of cross-sectional and prospective clinical studies. PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched using various permutation combinations. Dialysis patients were compared with non-CKD healthy controls using quantitative computed tomography. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and pQCT data of dialysis patients were dissected from eligible studies for pooled analysis of each parameter.

RESULTS

Ten studies met the inclusion criteria that included data from 457 dialysis patients and 2134 controls. Pooled analysis showed a significant decrease (a) in total vBMD at distal radius [standard deviation of the mean (SDM) = -0.842, p = 0.000] and tibia (SMD = -0.705, p = 0.000) and (b) in cortical vBMD (SDM = -1.037, p = 0.000) at radius of dialysis patients compared with control. There were strong correlations between total vBMD and microarchitecture parameters at tibia in dialysis patients.

CONCLUSIONS

At radius and tibia, bone mass, microarchitecture, and geometry at trabecular and cortical envelopes displayed impairments in dialysis patients compared with control. Tibial vBMD may have diagnostic value in dialysis. HR-pQCT and pQCT may be used to further understand the compartmental bones response to CKD-induced loss at different stages of CKD.

Internship in the year of Covid-19: what has changed in internship dynamics?

The purpose of this research is to understand the changes in internship dynamics of MBA students in 2020 who undertook virtual full-time internships as compared to previous years when interns were required to be present physically. Sample was collected from two set of interns; one set interns were working through virtual internship and the second set were working on traditional model of on- site internship. For data collection, structured questionnaire was used. Data was collected on various parameters of internship processes and experience. The result from the current findings suggests that the experience of both set of interns differ significantly. This paper will essentially evaluate whether virtual full-time internships have been able to contribute, create & shape internship experience effectively for interns & understand which dimensions such as learning, productivity, communication, etc have seen changes due to the nature of work being changed. Research material in this area is limited, mainly due to students experiencing a remote working style in their internships for the first time which is why this research will be quite valuable for various stakeholders.

Impact of Adjuvant Treatment in pN3 Penile Cancer

AIMS

Due to the lack of high-quality evidence and consensus on adjuvant treatment for locoregionally advanced penile cancer, we reviewed the outcomes of pN3 patients to determine the suitable adjuvant treatment options.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All consecutive pN3 penile cancer patients treated at our institution between January 2010 and December 2018 were reviewed to assess the impact of demographical, pathological and treatment factors on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival. The DFS and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and association was tested using the Cox regression model (two-sided test with P < 0.05 considered significant).

RESULTS

Of 128 patients, 31 (24%) had pelvic nodal involvement. Twenty-six patients (20.3%) received no adjuvant treatment, 40 (31.3%) received single modality adjuvant treatment and 62 (48.4%) received multimodality adjuvant treatment (a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy). At a median follow-up of 22 months, the DFS and overall survival were 55.4 and 62%, respectively. The best DFS and overall survival was noted with chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation (C-CTRT; 93% each). On multivariate analysis, both DFS and overall survival were worse with pelvic node involvement (2.2 [1.3-4], P = 0.027 and 2.2 [1.3-4], P = 0.027, respectively) and better with any adjuvant treatment (single modality: 3 [1.5-5.5], P < 0.001; multimodality: 3.1 [1.6-6], P < 0.001). C-CTRT was associated with improved DFS over chemotherapy alone (0.17 [0.4-0.78], P = 0.02) but not over radiotherapy alone (0.35 [0.07-1.6], P = 0.19). In patients with no pelvic nodes involved, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as single modalities were associated with similar DFS and overall survival. In patients with pelvic nodes, multimodality treatment was associated with better DFS than single modality treatment (0.3 [0.1-1], P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

pN3 penile cancer is a diverse prognostic group with poorer outcomes associated with pelvic nodes. Single modality adjuvant treatment may be adequate in inguinal nodes with extranodal extension, but multimodality treatment should be given in patients with pelvic nodal involvement.

584 Novel Methods of Detecting Tumour Margins in Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery

Aim

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for 26% of global cancer incidence with prevalence projected to rise exponentially due to the ageing population and lifestyle choices. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment to remove the cancer in its entirety to achieve an R0 resection. Positive margins, when cancerous tissue has been left in situ, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Current margin assessment involves histopathological analysis, after resection of the specimen. Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) are novel imaging techniques that have the potential to provide real-time assessment of cancer margins intra-operatively to reduce the incidence of positive resection margins and improve patient outcomes. The aim of this review is to assess the current state of evidence for the use of novel imaging techniques in GI cancer margin assessment.

Method

A literature review was conducted of studies using DRS and HSI in GI cancers in adult patients, published from inception to October 2020.

Results

A total of 15 studies were analysed, nine of which used DRS and six used HSI and the majority of studies were performed ex-vivo. Current image acquisition techniques and processing algorithms vary greatly. The sensitivity and specificity of DRS ranged from 0.90-0.98 and 0.88-0.95 respectively and for HSI 0.63-0.98 and 0.69-0.98, respectively across five types of GI cancers.

Conclusions

DRS and HSI are novel imaging techniques, currently in their infancy but the outlook is promising. With further research focused on standardising methodology and in-vivo settings, DRS and HSI could transform intra-operative margin assessment in GI cancers.

Treatment options for leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is broadly classified into three types: cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral. The visceral form is most dangerous and can result in death. Although leishmaniasis is an ancient disease, its treatment is still challenging. Several drugs, differing in their cost, toxicity, treatment duration and emergence of drug resistance, are used for different types of leishmaniasis. To overcome these limitations, the search for newer drugs and other treatments continues. In this article, we discuss conventional drugs, other treatments, including newer options such as immunotherapy and immunochemotherapy, and future prospects for leishmaniasis treatment.

Effects of metformin on autoimmune immunoglobins and interferon-γ in patients with early diagnosed pemphigus vulgaris: a prospective clinical trial

The management of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulating effects of metformin on PV. The study was conducted in two phases: in the first phase, patients received routine first-line treatment (prednisolone plus azathioprine) for 2 months, then in the second phase, metformin was added to this regimen for another 2 months. After addition of metformin to the first-line medications, significant reductions were seen in serum IgG1 (reduced from 534.92 ± 134.83 mg/dL to 481.58 ± 130.46 mg/dL, P < 0.001), IgG4 (51.83 ± 27.26 mg/dL to 44.50 ± 26.05 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and interferon-γ (277.99 ± 108.71 pg/mL to 45.05 ± 17.080 pg/mL, P = 0.03) concentrations. The suppressant effect of metformin was greatest on IgG4 (coefficient of variation 1.28), the dominant subclass of IgG involved in PV. Metformin could have immunomodulating effects on PV with controlling effects on steroid complications.

Effect of Carbohydrate Loading on Resistance Exercise and Muscle Mass: A Prospective Study

The objective of the study was to assess the outcome of carbohydrate loading dietary strategy on resistance exercise and muscle mass. In this prospective study, conducted at Dr DY Patil Gym and Fitness Center, Navi Mumbai (India), young healthy male resistance-trained individuals (18-25 years) were recruited randomly. The duration for entire study was three months in the year 2019. Participants were divided into two groups (n=30 each): carbohydrate loading group and control group. Participants in the carbohydrate loading group consumed carbohydrate loading diet protocol and designed exercise program for seven days. The control group consumed a regular diet with an exercise program. Resistance exercise (strength) and body circumference (muscle mass) measurements were recorded after seven days of respective assigned diet and exercise program. In the carbohydrate loading group, performance in resistance exercise was not significant from baseline to day seven (63.5±6.45 vs. 64.0±6.75 kg; p>0.05). Changes in the arm girth (p=0.3256), thigh girth (p=0.3256) and calf girth (p=0.1608) were also not significant in the carbohydrate loading group when compared from baseline to seven days. Therefore, the result indicates that the carbohydrate loading regimen had no enhanced effect on resistance exercise as well as muscle girth. This study results suggest that carbohydrate loading has no additional advantage in improving resistance exercise and muscle mass in resistance-trained individuals.

Persistent headache and low back pain after accidental dural puncture in the obstetric population: a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study

Accidental dural puncture following epidural insertion can cause a post-dural headache that is defined by the International Headache Society as self-limiting. We aimed to confirm if accidental dural puncture could be associated with persistent headache and back pain when compared with matched control parturients. We performed a prospective multicentre cohort study evaluating the incidence of persistent headache following accidental dural puncture at nine UK obstetric units. Parturients who sustained an accidental dural puncture were matched with controls who had undergone an uneventful epidural insertion. Participants were followed-up at six-monthly intervals for 18 months. Primary outcome was the incidence of persistent headache at 18 months. Ninety parturients who had an accidental dural puncture were matched with 180 controls. The complete dataset for primary analysis was available for 256 (95%) participants. Incidence of persistent headache at 18 months was 58.4% (52/89) in the accidental puncture group and 17.4% (29/167) in the control group, odds ratio (95%CI) 18.4 (6.0-56.7), p < 0.001, after adjustment for past history of headache, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety) scores. Incidence of low back pain at 18 months was 48.3% (43/89) in the accidental puncture group and 17.4% (29/167) in the control group, odds ratio (95%CI) 4.14 (2.11-8.13), with adjustment. We have demonstrated that accidental dural puncture is associated with long-term morbidity including persistent headache in parturients. This challenges the current definition of post-dural puncture headache as a self-limiting condition and raises possible clinical, financial and medicolegal consequences.

Rac1 activation can generate untemplated, lamellar membrane ruffles

BACKGROUND

Membrane protrusions that occur on the dorsal surface of a cell are an excellent experimental system to study actin machinery at work in a living cell. Small GTPase Rac1 controls the membrane protrusions that form and encapsulate extracellular volumes to perform pinocytic or phagocytic functions.

RESULTS

Here, capitalizing on rapid volumetric imaging capabilities of lattice light-sheet microscopy (LLSM), we describe optogenetic approaches using photoactivable Rac1 (PA-Rac1) for controlled ruffle generation. We demonstrate that PA-Rac1 activation needs to be continuous, suggesting a threshold local concentration for sustained actin polymerization leading to ruffling. We show that Rac1 activation leads to actin assembly at the dorsal surface of the cell membrane that result in sheet-like protrusion formation without any requirement of a template. Further, this approach can be used to study the complex morpho-dynamics of the protrusions or to investigate specific proteins that may be enriched in the ruffles. Deactivating PA-Rac1 leads to complex contractile processes resulting in formation of macropinosomes. Using multicolour imaging in combination with these approaches, we find that Myo1e specifically is enriched in the ruffles.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining LLSM and optogenetics enables superior spatial and temporal control for studying such dynamic mechanisms. Demonstrated here, the techniques implemented provide insight into the complex nature of the molecular interplay involved in dynamic actin machinery, revealing that Rac1 activation can generate untemplated, lamellar protrusions.

[New botulinum toxins for aesthetic dermatology : A comprehensive review]

Facial rejuvenation is gaining immense popularity among patients and clinicians. Botulinum toxins derived from bacteria are well-tolerated options as minimally invasive interventions for facial rejuvenation or other aesthetic procedures. These products have revolutionized aesthetic treatments. Several types of botulinum toxins (BoNT) are available. Currently type A and B are clinically used and only BoNT‑A products are approved for use for cosmetic indications in the Germany and the United States. Each product is unique in terms of its composition. Understanding the various BoNT‑A products is essential in choosing the optimal treatment for our patients. In this article we discuss different BoNT‑A products used for aesthetic intervention.

Rapid whole cell imaging reveals a calcium-APPL1-dynein nexus that regulates cohort trafficking of stimulated EGF receptors

The endosomal system provides rich signal processing capabilities for responses elicited by growth factor receptors and their ligands. At the single cell level, endosomal trafficking becomes a critical component of signal processing, as exemplified by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. Activated EGFRs are trafficked to the phosphatase-enriched peri-nuclear region (PNR), where they are dephosphorylated and degraded. The details of the mechanisms that govern the movements of stimulated EGFRs towards the PNR, are not completely known. Here, exploiting the advantages of lattice light-sheet microscopy, we show that EGFR activation by EGF triggers a transient calcium increase causing a whole-cell level redistribution of Adaptor Protein, Phosphotyrosine Interacting with PH Domain And Leucine Zipper 1 (APPL1) from pre-existing endosomes within one minute, the rebinding of liberated APPL1 directly to EGFR, and the dynein-dependent translocation of APPL1-EGF-bearing endosomes to the PNR within ten minutes. The cell spanning, fast acting network that we reveal integrates a cascade of events dedicated to the cohort movement of activated EGF receptors. Our findings support the intriguing proposal that certain endosomal pathways have shed some of the stochastic strategies of traditional trafficking and have evolved processes that provide the temporal predictability that typify canonical signaling.

A review on human body fluids for the diagnosis of viral infections: scope for rapid detection of COVID-19

Introduction: The unprecedented outbreaks of corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) have highlighted the necessity of readily available, reliable, precise, and faster techniques for its detection. Nasopharyngeal swab has been the gold standard for the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, it is not an ideal screening procedure for massive screening as it implicates the patient's stay in the hospital or at home until diagnosis, thus causing crowding of the specimen at the diagnostic centers. Present study deal with the exploration of potential application of different body fluids using certain highly objective techniques (Optical and e-Nose) for faster detection of molecular markers thereby diagnosing viral infections.Areas covered: This report presents an evaluation of different body fluids, and their advantages for the rapid detection of COVID-19, coupled with highly sensitive optical techniques for the detection of molecular biomarkers.Expert opinion: Tears, saliva, and breath samples can provide valuable information about viral infections. Our brief review strongly recommends the application of saliva/tears and exhaled breath as clinical samples using technics such as high-performance liquid chromatography-laser-induced fluorescence, photoacoustic spectroscopy, and e-Nose, respectively, for the fast diagnosis of viral infections.

Channel flow of MHD bingham fluid due to peristalsis with multiple chemical reactions: an application to blood flow through narrow arteries

The present analysis emphasizes the effects of variable properties on Bingham fluid under MHD peristaltic transport. Due to the impact of mechanical forces on the applied magnetic field on the conducting fluid, the fluid stream gets altered. These principle targets drug transport and control of blood flow during surgeries; hence the impact of MHD flow with convective and porous boundary conditions is considered. Further, the implications of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions are analyzed by considering wall properties. The governing equations are turned dimensionless by appropriate similarity transformations. The series solution is obtained for temperature, velocity, and concentration by perturbation method with lubrication approach. The graphical representation of the pertinent parameters on the physiological flow quantities is depicted by applying for MATLAB 2019b program. The obtained results reveal that the rise in the magnetic parameter diminishes the velocity and temperature profiles. Further, the impact of variable viscosity slightly improves the magnitude of the trapped bolus. The homogenous and heterogeneous reaction parameters have a converse effect on the concentration distribution. Moreover, the present investigation finds its applications to perceive the complex rheological functioning of blood flow through narrow arteries.

COVID-19: a conundrum to decipher

OBJECTIVE

Recent worldwide outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of respiratory coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a current, ongoing life-threatening crisis, and international public health emergency. The early diagnosis and management of the disease remains a major challenge. In this review, we aim to summarize the updated epidemiology, causes, clinical manifestation and diagnosis, as well as prevention and control of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A broad search of the literature was performed in "PubMed" "Medline" "Web of Science", "Google Scholar" and "World Health Organization-WHO" using the keywords "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus", "2019-nCoV", "COVID-19, "SARS", "SARS-CoV-2" "Epidemiology" "Transmission" "Pathogenesis" "Clinical Characteristics". We reviewed and documented the information obtained from literature on epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical appearances of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

RESULTS

The global cases of COVID-19 as of April 2, 2020, have risen to more than 900,000 and morbidity has reached more than 47,000. The incidence rate for COVID-19 has been predicted to be higher than the previous outbreaks of other coronavirus family members, including those of SARS-CoV and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The main clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from asymptomatic stages to severe lower respiratory infection in the form of pneumonia. Most of the patients also presented with fever, cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, myalgia and breathlessness. Individuals at higher risk for severe illness include elderly people and patients with a weakened immune system or that are suffering from an underlying chronic medical condition like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer, respiratory illness or cardiovascular diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

SARS-Cov-2 has emerged as a worldwide threat, currently affecting 170 countries and territories across the globe. There is still much to be understood regarding SARS-CoV-2 about its virology, epidemiology and clinical management strategies; this knowledge will be essential to both manage the current pandemic and to conceive comprehensive measures to prevent such outbreaks in the future.

AB1174 TRACKING THE EFFECTS ON A CLINICAL SERVICE OF INTRODUCING ULTRASOUND FOR DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: DESIGN OF A SERVICE EVALUATION USING LEAN METHODOLOGY

Background:

In our large, multi-site hospital, patients with suspected GCA are started promptly on high-dose prednisolone but until 2019, patients waited for temporal artery biopsy (TAB) until the GCA diagnosis could be confirmed (“GCA”) or refuted (“not-GCA”). Reports of the impact of introducing temporal and axillary artery ultrasound (TAUS) have mainly come from smaller hospitals. Agreement between TAUS and TAB has been reported by others with a Cohen’s kappa of 0.35 [1] and 0.40 [2]. We used Lean methodology to identify metrics across 5 key domains: delivery, quality, service, morale and cost.

Objectives:

To design metrics for a service evaluation to measure impact of introducing TAUS, and to test their feasibility of measurement within routine care.

Methods:

Our primary driver was time from presenting to our service to diagnostic confirmation (lead time). Pathway mapping, value stream mapping and a driver diagram identified key ideas for improvement.

We chose to measure: Delivery (mean lead time for each month), Quality (proportion of patients with GCA and positive TAB/TAUS; total (cumulative) prednisolone dose in patients with not-GCA, Service (patient feedback), Morale (staff feedback) and Cost (number of patients; cost of tests per patient; overall costs). We plotted these by month on run charts and defined a significant shift as 6 consecutive monthly values below baseline median. Cohen’s kappa was calculated using GraphPad QuickCalcs.

Results:

Routine TAUS for suspected GCA was introduced from January 2019, alongside a multidisciplinary team monthly meeting. TAUS was done a median of 2.5 days from referral. Agreement between TAB and TAUS results was good (Table 1). The run chart showed a significant shift in our Delivery (median lead time fell from 28.7 days to 21 days after introduction of ultrasound) and both Quality metrics (proportion of GCA with positive TAB/TAUS increased from 29% to 69%; total prednisolone dose for not-GCA fell from 1.335g to 0.846g).

Table 1.

Concordance between temporal and axillary artery ultrasound (TAUS) and temporal artery biopsy (TAB) in scans performed through 2019. Cohen’s weighted kappa 0.59 (including equivocal results as separate category).

TAUS positiveTAUS negativeTAUS equivocalTAB positive1411TAB negative5275TAB equivocal030

Within Costs, average per-patient costs of TAB/TAUS declined from £1004/patient to £792/patient, but total referrals for TAB/TAUS increased from 6/month to 10/month, increasing overall costs. Staff and patient feedback (Service, Morale) revealed that further improvements to the care pathway were needed to manage the additional complexity.

Conclusion:

Lean methodology identified multiple metrics for evaluating the impact of TAUS on our service. Introducing TAUS improved Delivery and Quality, but measuring Costs, Morale and Service helped identify unintended consequences. Concordance between TAUS and TAB was good. We plan to continue to improve and monitor the care pathway based on our multi-stakeholder feedback.

References:

[1]Luqmani et al., HTA 2016

[2]Mukhtyar et al., Clin Rheum 2019

Disclosure of Interests:

Sarah Mackie Grant/research support from: Roche (attendance of EULAR 2019; co-applicant on research grant), Consultant of: Sanofi, Roche/Chugai (monies paid to my institution not to me), Andrew Barr: None declared, Alison Cracknell: None declared, Shannon Farrell: None declared, Jimmy Parvin: None declared, Ajay Patil: None declared, Ian Simmons: None declared, Kate Smith Grant/research support from: Medical education grants from Sanofi and Biogen, Speakers bureau: Novartis, Andrea Sweeting: None declared, Max Troxler: None declared, Tara Webster: None declared, Richard Wakefield Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, GE

Azathioprine induced pancreatitis, polyarthritis and panniculitis (PPP) syndrome in a patient with Crohn's disease

Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine have been widely used for maintenance of remission in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The use of thiopurines is associated with multiple adverse effects including dose dependent cytopenias or idiosyncratic reaction. We report about a case of azathioprine related pancreatitis associated with polyarthralgia and panniculitis. Pancreatitis, polyarthritis and panniculitis (PPP) syndrome is an uncommon phenomenon which may accompany a number of pancreatic diseases including acute or chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic malignancy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Azathioprine related PPP syndrome.

Abstract P3-03-03: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) vs Low axillary sampling (LAS) in predicting nodal status of post-chemotherapy axilla in women with breast cancer

Introduction

There is no safe method of avoiding complete axillary lymph node dissection in women with breast cancer after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has had prohibitively high false negative rate. We tested low axillary sampling (LAS) and SNB performed in same patient to predict axillary lymph node status in clinically node negative women undergoing breast conservation or modified radical mastectomy after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methodology

Post neo-adjuvant chemotherapy 751 women who had no palpable axillary lymph node underwent LAS (all lymph nodes below intercosto-brachial nerve). Of these 751 women, 730 also underwent SNB by dual technique after injection of blue dye as well as radio-isotope. SN was identified within and outside axillary sampling specimen. SN as well as LAS specimens were distinctly examined for nodal metastasis. The rest of the axillary dissection was completed in all patients. Post NACT 292/751(38.9%) had residual positive lymph nodes on pathology. The identification rate, false negative rate (FNR), and negative predictive value (NPV) of SNB and LAS were compared for predicting negative axillary lymph node status.

Results

The median clinical tumor size was 5cm (1-15cm) and 533(71%) patients were N1 or N2 at presentation. The SNB identification rate was 87.1% (636 of 730), with a median of 5 nodes and node positive in 238 of 636 (37.4%). LAS identification rate was 98% (736 of 751), with a median of 7 nodes and node positive in 292 of 736 (39.6%). In all but one case, the SN was found within the LAS specimen. The FNR of SNB (blue, hot and adjacent palpable nodes) was 19.7% (47 of 238, one sided 95% upper CI 24.0) compared to LAS with FNR of 9.9% (29 of 292, one-sided 95% upper CI 12.8) (p&lt;0.001). Comparative NPV for SNB and LAS were 89.4% and 93.9% respectively. If SNB was confined to blue/hot node excluding adjacent palpable nodes, FNR was 31.6% (74 of 234, 95% upper CI 36.6).

Conclusions

LAS is superior to SNB in identification rate, FNR and NPV in predicting node negative axilla post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy. LAS can be safely used to predict negative axilla with less than 10% chance of leaving residual disease.

Citation Format: Parmar V, Nair NS, Vanamali V, Hawaldar RW, Siddique S, Shet T, Desai SB, Rangarajan V, Patil A, Gupta S, Badwe RA. Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) vs Low axillary sampling (LAS) in predicting nodal status of post-chemotherapy axilla in women with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-03.

Decellularized Swine Dental Pulp Tissue for Regenerative Root Canal Therapy

In the current theme of dental pulp regeneration, biological and synthetic scaffolds are becoming a potential therapy for pulp revitalization. The goal is to provide a suitable environment for cellular infiltration, proliferation, and differentiation. The extracellular matrix (ECM) represents a natural scaffold material resembling the native tissue chemical and mechanical properties. In the past few years, ECM-based scaffolds have shown promising results in terms of progenitor cells recruitment, promotion of constructive remodeling, and modulation of host response. These properties make ECM-derived scaffolds an ideal candidate for pulp regenerative therapy. Development of strategies for clinically relevant tissue engineering using dental pulp extracellular matrix (DP-ECM) can provide an alternative to conventional root canal treatment. In this work, we successfully decellularized ECM derived from porcine dental pulp. The resulting scaffold was characterized using immunostaining (collagen type I, dentin matrix protein 1, dentin sialoprotein, and Von Willebrand factor) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (transforming growth factor β, vascular endothelial growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor) for extracellular proteins where the ECM retained its proteins and significant amount of growth factors. Furthermore, a pilot in vivo study was conducted where the matrix was implanted for 8 wk in a dog root canal model. Our in vitro and preliminary in vivo data show that the decellularized ECM supports cellular infiltration together with the expression of pulp-dentin and vascular markers (DSP and CD31) compared to the controls. Herein, we show the feasibility to produce a decellularized ECM scaffold and validate the concept of using ECM-based scaffolds for pulp regeneration.

Chitosan nanoparticles’ functionality as redox active drugs through cytotoxicity, radical scavenging and cellular behaviour

The goal of the present study is to explore the mechanism of the ROS mediated effect of chitosan nanoparticles on acute T cell leukemia as redox active drug.

Sustained-Release Delivery System of a Slow Hydrogen Sulfide Donor, GYY 4137, for Potential Application in Glaucoma

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) targets both underlying factors in glaucoma pathogenesis by reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and providing retinal neuroprotection, whereas the current clinical approaches targets only reducing IOP. Therefore, H₂S could be a potential superior candidate for glaucoma pharmacotherapy. However, H₂S could be toxic in a concentration greater than 200 μM and its donors are unstable in water. Therefore, this study investigated the preparation and characterization of a non-aqueous in situ gelling sustained-release delivery system for H₂S donors. The delivery system was prepared by dissolving GYY 4137, a H₂S donor, in poly lactide-co-glycolide polymer (PLGA) (Resomer® RG 502H) solution prepared by dissolving polymer in a mixture of benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate in a ratio of 7:3, respectively. The GYY 4137 formulation was characterized for syringeability/injectability, change in pH and tonicity, moisture content, GYY 4137 degradation, and toxicity using rheometer, pH and osmometer, Karl Fisher titrimeter, NMR spectrometer, and Y79 retinoblastoma cells, respectively. The formulation was easily syringeable and injectable as evidenced by rheological data (plastic flow pattern with 43.89 ± 3.21 cP viscosity and 1.12 ± 0.15 Pa yield value). The pH, tonicity, and moisture content values were within acceptable range. NMR spectroscopy indicated presence of 4-methoxyphenylphosphonic acid (GYY 4137 degradation product). The GYY 4137 formulation did not show any significant (p < 0.05) toxicity except the solvent mixture. A sustained release of H₂S was observed up to 72 h. The in situ gel forming PLGA-based system can be manipulated to achieve sustained release of H₂S from its donor GYY 4137.

A nomogram for predicting the risk of neck node metastasis in pathologically node-negative oral cavity carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To generate a nomogram for predicting the risk of neck node metastasis in pathologically node-negative patients using a combination of variables comprising of protein expression, ultrastructural alterations and clinicopathological parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Surgically removed oral tumours (n = 103) were analysed for the expression of desmosomal and hemidesmosomal assembly proteins by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural alterations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Protein expression, ultrastructural alterations and clinicopathological variables were used to construct nomogram from the training set in 75 patients. Clinical utility of the nomogram was validated in a discrete set of 28 patients.

RESULTS

Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the training set, and obtained significant variables comprising of integrin β4 expression (p = .027), number of hemidesmosomes (p = .027)/desmosomes (p = .046), tumour differentiation grade (p = .033) and tumour thickness (p = .024) were used for construction of the nomogram. The area under the curve was calculated for both training 0.821 (95% CI 0.725-0.918) and validation sets 0.880 (95% CI 0.743-1.000). The nomogram demonstrated a predictive accuracy of 73.3% and 78.6% with the sensitivity of 81.4% and 83.3% in the training and validation sets, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram constructed on postsurgical tumour samples will be a value addition to histopathology for the detection of neck node metastasis in pathologically node-negative patients.

Human papillomavirus/p16 positive head and neck cancer in India: Prevalence, clinical impact, and influence of tobacco use

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available on the prevalence and prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) in the Indian population.

AIM

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of HPV and p16 in an Indian cohort of SCCHN and assess their correlation and influence of tobacco use on patient outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The p16 and HPV status of 170 patients of SCCHN treated with curative chemoradiotherapy was determined using immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction, respectively, and further correlated with their demographic characteristics. In addition, genotyping of HPV-positive samples was performed. Survival outcomes were analyzed and compared for both p16 positive (p16 +ve) and p16 negative (p16 -ve) population. The influence of tobacco use on outcomes was assessed.

RESULTS

p16 expression was observed in 20% (34/170) cases whereas HPV positivity was detected in 39.4% (67/170) of SCCHN patients with HPV16 being the most common (91%) subtype. About 73.5% patients were p16 +ve among the tobacco users in this cohort (83.5%). Interestingly, p16 positivity was significantly associated with nonusers of tobacco (P = 0.02) and younger females (P = 0.06). The p16 +ve and p16 -ve groups did not exhibit a significant difference in the 5-year cause-specific survival (CSS) (79% vs. 72.2%), disease-free survival (DFS) (78.3% vs. 68.3%, P = 0.5), and locoregional control (LRC) (82.2% vs. 71.5%, P = 0.4). However, the outcome analyses in tobacco nonusers revealed a definite large improvement in CSS (P = 0.08) and a trend toward improvement in DFS (P = 0.15) and LRC (P = 0.11) in the p16 +ve versus the p16 -ve groups.

CONCLUSION

The low prevalence of p16 positivity (20%) and dual HPV and p16 positivity (38.8%) in the studied Indian cohort indicates the low utility of p16 as a surrogate for HPV in the background of high tobacco burden. The outcomes are largely improved in a small subset of SCCHN cases comprising p16 +ve tobacco nonusers.

Torque Control During Intrusion on Upper Central Incisor in Labial and Lingual bracket System - A 3D Finite Element Study

Background

The aim of present study was to investigate the difference of torque control during intrusive force on upper central incisors with normal, under and high torque in lingual and labial orthodontic systems through 3D finite element analysis.

Material and Methods

Six 3D models of an upper right central incisor with different torque were designed in Solid Works 2006. Software ANSYS Version 16.0 was used to evaluate intrusive force on upper central incisor model . An intrusive force of 0.15 N was applied to the bracket slot in different torque models and the displacements along a path of nodes in the upper central incisor was assessed.

Results

On application of Intrusive force on under torqued upper central incisor in Labial system produce labial crown movement but in Lingual system caused lingual movement in the apical and incisal parts. The same intrusive force in normal-torqued central incisor led to a palatal movement in apical and labial displacement of incisal edge in Lingual system and a palatal displacement in apical area and a labial movement in the incisal edge in Labial systemin. In overtorqued upper central incisor, the labial crown displacement in Labial system is more than Lingual system.

Conclusions

In labial and lingual system on application of the same forces in upper central incisor with different inclinations showed different responses. The magnitudes of torque Loss during intrusive loads in incisors with normal, under and over-torque were higher in Labial system than Lingual orthodontic appliances.

Key words:FEM, lingual orthodontics, intrusion, torque control, labial bracket systems