Psychiatry training goes virtual: the experience of the first online edition of the EPA Research Summer School

Introduction

The European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Summer School allows psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from all over Europe to meet, network, and learn together. After the 2020 edition being cancelled due to COVID-19, the 10th edition in 2021 focused for the first time on research and was conducted remotely.

Objectives

To provide an overview and feedback about the first Virtual EPA Research Summer School as a new way to encourage international networking during COVID-19.

Methods

The School was organized by the EPA Secretary for Education, and 4 Faculty members. It started with a “breaking the ice session” one week before and then a two-days meeting on 23-24 September 2021 using an online video-platform. This was preceded by all the 21 participants (from 18 different countries) recording a short 4-minute video presentation, which was uploaded and shared with other participants and Faculty.

Results

Participants were divided on a voluntary basis into three working groups: 1) “Drug repurposing: overcoming challenges in pharmacoepidemiology” 2) “Psychopathological research in psychiatry”; 3) “How to conduct a cross-sectional survey?”. The Summer School program was composed of plenary sessions with lectures by the Faculty members, discussion sessions, and working groups time. At the end, each group presented a summary of the work done to the rest of the participants.

Conclusions

Although the remote format limits social interactions during the Summer School, overall participants’ high satisfaction and productivity indicate that not only online formats, but also the topic of research might be covered in future editions.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Making the most out of the EPA Research Summer School: from a group exercise to an international collaborative study protocol

Introduction

The 2021 Research Summer School took place virtually, and 7 psychiatric trainees or early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from 7 different European countries participated in a working group on how to conduct a cross-sectional survey study.

Objectives

To provide an overview of the process of developing an internationally collaborative protocol during the EPA Virtual Research Summer School.

Methods

All participants were asked by the Faculty mentor chairing this working group to write a research question that could be investigated through a cross-sectional survey. After a brainstorming discussion, it was decided to investigate the experiences, knowledge, and attitudes of psychiatric trainees and ECPs about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Europe, an effective yet controversial procedure.

Results

The process of developing a protocol entailed different phases. First, a literature search was conducted, which supported the need to explore more the attitudes towards ECT among ECPs. Through group discussion the study’s objectives were decided, as well as the most appropriate methodology (including data collection and questionnaire use). At the end of the course, the core of the research plan was presented to all participants at the Research Summer School, preceding its implementation.

Conclusions

Participating in the EPA Research Summer School is a unique experience, a great learning opportunity, and can also lead to fruitful collaborations. It enabled the learning of the key aspects of designing and conducting a survey. In a short period of time, it was possible to design a study protocol for a future international cross-sectional survey on ECT.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of marine biofilms formed by filamentous cyanobacterium

Cyanobacterial molecular biology can identify pathways that affect the adhesion and settlement of biofouling organisms and, consequently, obtain novel antifouling strategies for marine applications. Proteomic analyses can provide an essential understanding of how cyanobacteria adapt to different environmental settings. However, only a few qualitative studies have been performed in some cyanobacterial strains. Considering the limited knowledge about protein expression in cyanobacteria in different growing conditions, a quantitative proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS of biofilm cells from a filamentous strain was performed. Biofilms were also analysed through standard methodologies for following cyanobacterial biofilm development. Biofilms were formed on glass and perspex at two relevant hydrodynamic conditions for marine environments (average shear rates of 4 s^-1 and 40 s^-1). Biofilm development was higher at 4 s^-1 and no significant differences were found between surfaces. Proteomic analysis identified 546 proteins and 41 were differentially expressed. Differences in protein expression were more noticeable between biofilms formed on glass and perspex at 4 s^-1. When comparing biofilms formed on different surfaces, results suggest that biofilm development may be related to the expression of several proteins like a beta-propeller domain-containing protein, chaperone DnaK, SLH domain-containing proteins, an OMF family outer membrane protein, and/or additional uncharacterized proteins. Regarding the hydrodynamic effect, biofilm development can be related to SOD enzyme expression, to proteins related to photosynthetic processes and to a set of uncharacterized proteins with calcium binding domains, disordered proteins, and others involved in electron transfer activity. Studies that combine distinct approaches are essential for finding new targets for antibiofilm agents. The characterisation performed in this work provides new insights into how shear rate and surface affect cyanobacterial biofilm development and how cyanobacteria adapt to these different environmental settings from a macroscopic standpoint to a proteomics context.

The age again in the eye of the COVID-19 storm: evidence-based decision making

BACKGROUND

One hundred fifty million contagions, more than 3 million deaths and little more than 1 year of COVID-19 have changed our lives and our health management systems forever. Ageing is known to be one of the significant determinants for COVID-19 severity. Two main reasons underlie this: immunosenescence and age correlation with main COVID-19 comorbidities such as hypertension or dyslipidaemia. This study has two aims. The first is to obtain cut-off points for laboratory parameters that can help us in clinical decision-making. The second one is to analyse the effect of pandemic lockdown on epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory parameters concerning the severity of the COVID-19. For these purposes, 257 of SARSCoV2 inpatients during pandemic confinement were included in this study. Moreover, 584 case records from a previously analysed series, were compared with the present study data.

RESULTS

Concerning the characteristics of lockdown series, mild cases accounted for 14.4, 54.1% were moderate and 31.5%, severe. There were 32.5% of home contagions, 26.3% community transmissions, 22.5% nursing home contagions, and 8.8% corresponding to frontline worker contagions regarding epidemiological features. Age > 60 and male sex are hereby confirmed as severity determinants. Equally, higher severity was significantly associated with higher IL6, CRP, ferritin, LDH, and leukocyte counts, and a lower percentage of lymphocyte, CD4 and CD8 count. Comparing this cohort with a previous 584-cases series, mild cases were less than those analysed in the first moment of the pandemic and dyslipidaemia became more frequent than before. IL-6, CRP and LDH values above 69 pg/mL, 97 mg/L and 328 U/L respectively, as well as a CD4 T-cell count below 535 cells/μL, were the best cut-offs predicting severity since these parameters offered reliable areas under the curve.

CONCLUSION

Age and sex together with selected laboratory parameters on admission can help us predict COVID-19 severity and, therefore, make clinical and resource management decisions. Demographic features associated with lockdown might affect the homogeneity of the data and the robustness of the results.

Breast cancer screening: a survival analysis in Algarve, Portugal

Background

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide and it is an health concerns in Algarve, a southern region in Portugal. The mammographic screening is performed with the aim of early detection and reduce mortality due to breast cancer. However, there are some controversies with mass screening due to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and false-positive results. We examined whether tumor characteristics were different for women with breast cancer diagnosed via mass screening compared with women non-participants of the screening programme. We also explored the survival differences between the groups.

Methods

We performed a cohort study using the data obtained from Registo Oncológico Nacional, the Portuguese national cancer registry, and the regional breast cancer screening programme. The Chi-squared test, Fisher exact test, and Mann-Whitney test was performed to test the differences with the screening status. For survival analysis, the Kaplan-Meier curves were examined and then we used Cox regression to explore the differences in survival by screening status.

Results

The worsen stages and the HER2 expression were significantly associated with being a non-participant of the regional screening programme. The survival time was also different with women screened having a bigger survivance when compared with non-participant. After the adjustment for variables associated with screening status, there was no evidence that the risk of women with breast cancer screening-detected was different from women non-participant.

Conclusions

Screening status was associated with a better tumor stage and non HER2 expression. Despite the lead-time bias, it was not identified survival differences between screening status, which is in agreement with other breast cancers survival analysis. These results are in agreement with the commission of the regional breast cancer screening programme in identifying precociously the breast cancers.

Key messages

Breast cancer screening in Algarve identify precociously the breast cancers. There is no evidence that the risk of women with breast cancer screening-detected was different from women non-participant in breast cancer screening in Algarve.

COVID-19: age, Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and lymphocytes as key clues from a multicentre retrospective study

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has widely spread to become the greatest public health challenge to date, the COVID-19 pandemic. Different fatality rates among countries are probably due to non-standardized records being carried out by local health authorities. The Spanish case-fatality rate is 11.22%, far higher than those reported in Asia or by other European countries. A multicentre retrospective study of demographic, clinical, laboratory and immunological features of 584 Spanish COVID-19 hospitalized patients and their outcomes was performed. The use of renin-angiotensin system blockers was also analysed as a risk factor.

Results

In this study, 27.4% of cases presented a mild course, 42.1% a moderate one and for 30.5% of cases, the course was severe. Ages ranged from 18 to 98 (average 63). Almost 60 % (59.8%) of patients were male. Interleukin 6 was higher as severity increased. On the other hand, CD8 lymphocyte count was significantly lower as severity grew and subpopulations CD4, CD8, CD19, and NK showed concordant lowering trends. Severity-related natural killer percent descents were evidenced just within aged cases. A significant severity-related decrease of CD4 lymphocytes was found in males. The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with a better prognosis. The angiotensin II receptor blocker use was associated with a more severe course.

Conclusions

Age and age-related comorbidities, such as dyslipidaemia, hypertension or diabetes, determined more frequent severe forms of the disease in this study than in previous literature cohorts. Our cases are older than those so far reported and the clinical course of the disease is found to be impaired by age. Immunosenescence might be therefore a suitable explanation for the hampering of immune system effectors. The adaptive immunity would become exhausted and a strong but ineffective and almost deleterious innate response would account for COVID-19 severity. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors used by hypertensive patients have a protective effect in regards to COVID-19 severity in our series. Conversely, patients on angiotensin II receptor blockers showed a severer disease.

FRI0388 ARE WE OVERLOOKING OSTEOARTHRITIS? – A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PAIN, FUNCTION AND QUALIFY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH HAND OSTEOARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is frequently regarded by patients and health care providers as a normal consequence of ageing (1). On the other hand, it is well established that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a pathological condition requiring prompt and efficacious treatment and in which remarkable progresses have been achieved in the last decades. Pain and physical limitations are hallmarks of both conditions. Some previous studies suggest that OA and RA may have a similar burden (2,3).

Objectives:

To compare levels of pain, physical disability and health-related quality of life in patients with primary hand osteoarthritis (hOA) and with RA: active disease (aRA) or in remission (rRA).

Methods:

Observational cross-sectional study including patients of two clinical centres with hOA and RA, either in remission or with active disease (at least two swollen and/or tender hand joints). Matching for sex and age was performed. Patients were asked to complete a survey consisting of visual analogic scale (VAS) for pain, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Short Form 36 (SF36). Mean values for each domain were compared between the three groups using one-way ANOVA test with significance accepted for p<.05.

Results:

Thirty patients with hOA and 93 with RA (33 with aRA and 60 with rRA) were included. All patients were caucasian females with no significant differences in age between groups. Patients with hOA reported higher levels of pain in comparison with aRA patients (mean VAS 57.3vs49.3mm, respectively, p=.265) and with rRA patients (57.3vs28.6mm, respectively, p<.001) [F(2.120)=25.907, p<.001]. Regarding physical function, patients with hOA reported levels of disability similar to rRA patients, but significantly lower disability than patients with aRA [F(2.120)=6.962, p=.001]. Patients with hOA evaluated their quality of life significantly better than patients with aRA and in similar levels to patients with rRA, as measured by mental health and general health status domains of SF36.

Conclusion:

Our results show that hOA may have similar or even higher burden of pain than RA; this is in line with previous studies, although most of them did not consider the level of inflammatory activity of RA. On the other hand, patients with hOA seem to preserve function and have better health-related quality of life despite the higher levels of pain. These results highlight OA as a cause of severe pain, which should lead us to try an optimal symptom control for these patients. These findings should also encourage rheumatologists to endeavor efforts to perform more studies in the field of OA, to better understand its pathogenesis and to eventually find disease modifying drugs.

References:

[1]Gignac MAM, Davis AM, Hawker G, Wright JG, Mahomed N, Fortin PR, et al. “What do you expect? You’re just getting older”: A comparison of perceived osteoarthritis-related and aging-related health experiences in middle- and older-age adults. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Dec 15;55(6):905–12.

[2]El-Haddad C, Castrejon I, Gibson KA, Yazici Y, Bergman MJ, Pincus T. MDHAQ/RAPID3 scores in patients with osteoarthritis are similar to or higher than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study from current routine rheumatology care at four sites. RMD Open. 2017 Jul;3(1):e000391.

[3]Slatkowsky-Christensen B, Mowinckel P, Kvien T. Health status and perception of pain: a comparative study between female patients with hand osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol. 2009 Jan;38(5):342–8.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0192 RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: IS IT WORTH IT TO ADD LEFLUNOMIDE TO METHOTREXATE IN REFRACTORY DISEASE?

Background:

In refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA), adding other classic synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) such as leflunomide (LFN) to methotrexate (MTX) is one suitable option [1,2]. Yet, there are safety issues to consider which may limit this strategy, but also regarding its true effectiveness in avoiding exposure to biological DMARDs (bDMARD) or target synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARD).

Objectives:

To assess the effectiveness and safety of adding LFN to MTX and to evaluate the predictors of drug retention, toxicity and inefficacy.

Methods:

A retrospective clinical record review of adult RA patients followed on our rheumatology department in whom LFN was added to MTX was done. Sociodemographic information, comorbidities, disease related information, adverse reactions and disease activity according to Disease Activity Score 28 – C reactive protein (DAS28) were recorded at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months of combination therapy (3_DAS28; 6_DAS28; 12_DAS28, respectively). Information regarding toxicity (need to dose adjustment/suspension) and inefficacy (add/switch to bDMARD/tsDMARD) were recorded. Follow-up was considered until last medical record available. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Kaplan Meier and Cox-regression were used for univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively, significant level was 2-sidedp<.05.

Results:

In total, 77 patients were included, 66.20% females, with a mean age of 56±11 years old. There was a significant reduction of DAS28 only after 3 months of therapy (4.01±1.01 to 2.57±1.52,p=.003; ΔDAS28 = 1.58±1.17). However, during a median follow up time of 64 (IQR 39-83) months, 58.44% of patients needed to change treatment strategy, 66.67% due to toxicity (median time to toxicity 13 months, IQR 2-16) and 33.33% due to inefficacy (median time to inefficacy of 10 months, IQR 5.84-17.64). Gastrointestinal intolerance was the main reported toxicity (46.15%). In univariate analysis, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) positivity, alcohol consumption, lack of comorbidities, hepatic toxicity, higher 6_DAS28, swollen joint count and tender joint count on the 6thmonth were associated to lower retention rates.

In multivariate analysis, lack of comorbidities (HR=3.3, CI 95% 1.4-7.8,p=.006) and higher 6_DAS28 (HR=0.32, CI 95% 0.14-0.72,p=.006) were independent predictors of suspension of combination therapy. Moreover, both male gender (HR=2.87, 95%CI 1.2-6.56,p=.016) and positivity to ACPA (HR=0.1, 95%CI 0.01-0.73,p=.024) were independent predictors of toxicity. There was also higher tendency to toxicity, but without statistical significance, in alcohol consumers (p=.08). Regarding inefficacy, smoking habits (HR=0.15, 95%CI 0.04-0.52) and 3_DAS28 (HR=0.15, 95%CI 0.04-0.53) were independent predictors.

Conclusion:

Addition of LFN to MTX showed an early positive response. However, it was frequently associated to toxicity, and less than half of the patients continued with this therapeutic strategy after 5 years of follow up. Male gender, smoking habits and positivity to ACPA were predictors of worse outcome, as already reported in literature [1]. Lack of comorbidities was an independent predictor of suspension. This can be explained by the fact that physicians tend to adopt a more aggressive strategy on patients without comorbidities, switching earlier to bDMARDs/tsDMARDs.

This study also showed that early response to combination therapy is an independent predictor on drug retention, suggesting that decisions on treatment strategy should be made early after the beginning of MTX/LFN.

References:

[1]Smolen JS, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2020;0:1–15. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216655

[2]Kremer J, et al. J Rheumatol. 2004 Aug;31(8):1521-31. PMID: 15290730

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

FRI0533 SMOKING AS A PREDICTIVE FACTOR FOR SPONDYLOARTHRITIS RELATED UVEITIS: RESULTS FROM A SINGLE CENTRE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background:

Although spondyloarthritis (SpA) is primarily a musculoskeletal condition, ocular involvement is an important clinical feature and contributes to the burden of disease. Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) is classically described as the most frequent extra-articular manifestation of SpA and in some cases the first clinical presentation. The prevalence of AAU varies according to the subtype of SpA. In a systematic literature review, the mean prevalence of AAU was 32.7% and a positive association between HLA-B27 positivity, axial SpA, male sex and uveitis has been reported (1). More recently, some cross-sectional studies have described lower odds of spondyloarthritis-related uveitis (SpA-U) in smokers than in patients who are ex smokers or never smokers (2). Predictors of SpA-U are poorly defined in literature and the influence of smoking status remains controversial.

Objectives:

To analyse the factors associated with uveitis in SpA patients in a Tertiary Rheumatology Center.

Methods:

An observational cross-sectional study was performed including patients fulfilling the ASAS criteria for axial SpA with a follow-up visit between January and June 2019. Clinical patients’ charts were reviewed and the following variables were considered: age, gender, history of uveitis (confirmed by ophthalmologist observation), number of AAU episodes, smoking status (never smoker or ever smoker), HLA-B27, disease duration, disease involvement (exclusively axial or axial and peripheral), history of enthesitis and syndesmophytes. History of AAU and associated variables were determined in this subset of patients.

Statistical analysis was performed with logistic regression model. P value <.05 was defined as statistically significant.

Results:

The study included 164 patients (62.3% men) with median age of 44.0 years (IQR 37 to 54) and a median disease duration of 14.6 years (IQR 9.28 to 20.32). SpA diagnosis was ankylosing spondylitis in 70.7% cases and the remaining were non-radiographic axial SpA. HLA-B27 was positive in 84.8%, 31.1% of patients were ever smokers and 21% had both axial and peripheral joint involvement. Twenty four percent of patients had at least one AAU episode. Recurrence of uveitis occurred in 70% of patients. Ever smoking (OR=2.256; 95%CI [1.077-4.276]; p<.05) and syndesmophytes (OR=2.125; 95%CI [1.009-4.475]; p<.05) showed a statistically significant association with uveitis in univariated logistic regression. Althougth not statistically significant, a trend to association was found between smoking and recurrence of AAU (OR=2.235; 95%ICI [.973-5.135], p=.058). In multivariated logistic regression only ever smoking was independently associated with uveitis (OR=2.542; 95%CI [1.007-6.420]; p<.05). We did not find association between presence of uveitis and gender, age, disease duration, disease involvement, HLA-B27 positivity and enthesitis.

Conclusion:

Contrary to few cross-sectional studies showing a possible protective effect of smoking in SpA-U, and in line with new data from Zhaoet al(3), we report a statistically significant independent association between history of smoking and uveitis. Nevertheless, we emphasize the need of more studies to confirm these findings.

References:

[1] Zeboulon N, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of uveitis in the spondyloarthropathies: a systematic literature review. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 2008;67:955.

[2] Zhao S, et al. Associations between smoking and extra-axial manifestations and disease severity in axial spondyloarthritis: results from the BSR Biologics Register for Ankylosing Spondylitis (BSRBR-AS). Rheumatology 2018;69.

[3] Zhao S, et al. Smoking does not protect patients with axial spondyloarthritis from attacks of uveitis. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 2019;78(9).

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0236 DIFFERENCES AND DETERMINANTS OF PHYSICIAN’S AND PATIENT’S PERCEPTION IN GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background:

Patient’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PtGA) and Physician’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PhGA) are assessed as part of commonly used measures of disease activity in RA.1Both are important measures in treat-to-target strategies in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), but often provide discordant results.2,3This can provide an erroneous assessment of disease activity in patients under Biologic treatment and mislead treatment decisions, namely switches.

Objectives:

To assess differences and determinants of PtGA and PhGA in RA patients under biologic treatment.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study, including 46 patients with RA diagnosed according to the ACR/EULAR criteria, under biologic treatment, consecutively evaluated in day-care unit. Participants completed patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including PtGA, and sociodemographic characteristics. Physicians collected comorbidities and parameters of inflammatory activity (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and completed PhGA and disease activity score 28 with ESR (DAS28). SPSS was used for statistical analysis and significance level was defined as 2-sided p<0.05.

Results:

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients are shown in table 1. PtGA and PhGA were significantly different (36.1±27.6 mmvs8.7±14.2 mm, p< 0.001) and a positive discordance (PtGA>PhGA, more than 25mm in visual analogue scale [VAS]) was found in 54.3% of cases.

PtGA had a correlation with PROs (Pain VAS, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36], Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ], Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy [FACIT], EuroQol [EQ5D] and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), CRP, tender and swollen joint counts and an association with comorbidities like fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis (OA). No association was found between PtGA and age, sex, education level, profession, employment status, extra-articular manifestations, positivity of rheumatoid factor, ESR, years of disease evolution or number of biologic treatments. In multivariable analyse including SF-36, CRP, tender joints count and OA (R2adjusted= 0.672), the main predictors of PtGA were lower SF36, concomitant OA and higher CRP level.

PhGA had a correlation with PtGA, pain VAS, CRP, tender and swollen joints. No association was found between PhGA and patient or physician age, patient or physician sex, extra-articular manifestations, positivity of rheumatoid factor, ESR level, years of disease evolution or number of biologic treatments. In multivariable analysis including ESR, tender and swollen joints count and CRP (R2adjusted= .800), the main predictors of PhGA were swollen joint count and higher CRP level.

Conclusion:

This study showed the variability implied on global assessment of RA activity. Overall PtGA is based on function and also in subjective and emotional experience of pain, whereas the PhGA is based on more objective measures, more related to disease activity.

References:

[1]Kanekoa Y. et al, Determinants of Patient’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity and Physician’s Global Assessment of Disease Activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A post hoc analysis of overall and Japanese results from phase 3 clinical trials.Modern Rheumatology2018; 28(6):960–967

[2]Furu M. et al. Discordance and accordance between patient’s and physician’s assessments in rheumatoid arthritis.Scand J Rheumatol.2014; 43(4):291-5.

Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Sep;75(9):1661-6. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208251. Epub 2015 Oct 22.

[3]Portier A. et al, Patient-perceived flares in rheumatoid arthritis: A sub-analysis of the STRASS treatment tapering strategy trial.Joint Bone Spine. 2017; 84(5):577-581

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB1350-HPR SOCIOECONOMIC BURDEN OF NON-ATTENDANCE IN RHEUMATOLOGY CONSULTATION

Background:

Outpatient non-attendance refers to the phenomenon of patients who have a medical appointment but do not show up at the specified date, time, and location without giving previous notice.1In addition to affecting the efficiency and thereby increasing the healthcare total costs, nonattendance might also delay access to care for users on waiting lists.1Nonattendance at health appointments is costly to services, and can risk patient health.2There is very little data on the nonattendance prevalence and impact in Portugal. This knowledge might be fundamental to improve effectiveness of outpatient care in Portugal.

Objectives:

1) describe patient’s non-attendance rate; 2) assess and characterize the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among non-attending patients; 3) estimate the economic burden of non-attendance.

Methods:

Retrospective, cross-sectional and analytical study. We reviewed a one-month Rheumatology consultation period regarding performed medical consultations and non-attended consultations without previous notification from patients. Direct economic costs of non-attended appointments were calculated based on the “Amending Agreement to the ULSAM, EPE Program Agreement”.

Results:

982 consultations within January 2018 were included. Appointments episodes for therapeutic prescription, medical reports or programmed admissions were excluded. Fifty-seven (5.8%) of scheduled outpatient appointments were non-attended. Subsequent consultations represented 85.2% of attended appointments and 80.7% of non-attended appointments. Female gender was the most prevalent in both groups – 620 (67.0%) among attended consultations and 37 (65.0%) among non-attended consultations. Mean age was 57±15 years in the first group and 54±16 years in the second one. Among attended appointments, mean education level was 8±5 years versus 9±6 years among non-attended appointments. There were no differences between both groups in gender, age, education level, diagnosis, disease duration and activity or appointment type (first or subsequent consultation). A cost of 2,438 euros was estimated regarding non-attended appointments for this period, what could represent a burden of more than 29,000 euros yearly, in direct costs, only.

Conclusion:

Non-attendance at scheduled appointments in public hospitals seems to be influenced by other factors besides gender, age and education level. The burden of non-attended appointments is undeniable. In addition to the costs estimated in this study, further indirect costs such as poorer patients outcomes, impaired access to medical care and hospital penalties should be taken into account. Implementation of awareness strategies aiming the optimization and effectiveness of healthcare system are required.

References:

[1]Blæhr EE, Kristensen T, Væggemose U, Søgaard R. The effect of fines on nonattendance in public hospital outpatient clinics: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2016;17(1):288. doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1420-3

[2]Akter S. A qualitative study of staff perspectives of patient non-attendance in a regional primary healthcare setting.Australas Med J. 2014;7(5):218-226. doi:10.4066/AMJ.2014.2056

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Statistical Modeling of Lower Limb Kinetics During Deep Squat and Forward Lunge

Purpose

Modern statistics and higher computational power have opened novel possibilities to complex data analysis. While gait has been the utmost described motion in quantitative human motion analysis, descriptions of more challenging movements like the squat or lunge are currently lacking in the literature. The hip and knee joints are exposed to high forces and cause high morbidity and costs. Pre-surgical kinetic data acquisition on a patient-specific anatomy is also scarce in the literature. Studying the normal inter-patient kinetic variability may lead to other comparable studies to initiate more personalized therapies within the orthopedics.

Methods

Trials are performed by 50 healthy young males who were not overweight and approximately of the same age and activity level. Spatial marker trajectories and ground reaction force registrations are imported into the Anybody Modeling System based on subject-specific geometry and the state-of-the-art TLEM 2.0 dataset. Hip and knee joint reaction forces were obtained by a simulation with an inverse dynamics approach. With these forces, a statistical model that accounts for inter-subject variability was created. For this, we applied a principal component analysis in order to enable variance decomposition. This way, noise can be rejected and we still contemplate all waveform data, instead of using deduced spatiotemporal parameters like peak flexion or stride length as done in many gait analyses. In addition, this current paper is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first to investigate the generalization of a kinetic model data toward the population.

Results

Average knee reaction forces range up to 7.16 times body weight for the forwarded leg during lunge. Conversely, during squat, the load is evenly distributed. For both motions, a reliable and compact statistical model was created. In the lunge model, the first 12 modes accounts for 95.26% of inter-individual population variance. For the maximal-depth squat, this was 95.69% for the first 14 modes. Model accuracies will increase when including more principal components.

Conclusion

Our model design was proved to be compact, accurate, and reliable. For models aimed at populations covering descriptive studies, the sample size must be at least 50.

Impact of Introducing Full-time In-house Coordinators on Referral and Organ Donation Rates in Rio de Janeiro Public Hospitals: A Health Care Innovation Practice

Establishing an organization to promote organ donation and a good organ procurement team assure quality and improve performance on organ donation rates. Brazil's organ procurement structure is based on 2 models disseminated worldwide: the "Spanish model," based on in-house coordinators, and the "American organ procurement organization (OPO) model," with extra-hospital coordinators. In 2006, Brazil's Federal Government had formally introduced the in-house coordination model for every hospital equipped with a mechanical ventilator bed. In January 2012, the Rio de Janeiro State OPO, Programa Estadual de Transplantes, introduced an innovation in the organization of the in-house coordination model in 4 selected public hospitals with high organ donation potential. It consisted in launching full-time in-house coordination teams, with ≥1 physician and 2 nurses per hospital fully dedicated to organ procurement. The objectives were to observe the impact of this innovation in referral and organ donor conversion rates and to analyze the importance of middle managers in health care innovation implementation. Comparing the year before implementation (2011) and the year of 2014 showed that this innovation led to an overall increase in referrals-from 131 to 305 per year (+132%) and conversion rates-from 20% to 42% per year-resulting in an increase in number of donors from 26 to 128 per year (+390%). Despite wide variations among hospitals in the outcomes, our results seem very encouraging and express a positive impact of this model, suggesting that dissemination to other hospitals may increase the number of donors and transplants in our region.

Awake and unable to move: what can perioperative practitioners do to avoid accidental awareness under general anaesthesia?

I thought the last thing I would remember about my surgery was counting up to 10 ... but that didn't happen... I could hear people talking, instruments banging, the sound of my heart beat coming from the anaesthetic machine and all of a sudden, that horrible pain digging inside my body. Oh my God! I thought. I'm awake! I tried to tell someone but no sound came out of my mouth. I tried to kick my legs, shake my arms, blink, breathe... Nothing!! I couldn't move a muscle. I was paralysed and awake during my operation... I thought I was going to die!!!

Electronic excitation of carbonyl sulphide (COS) by high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption and electron-impact spectroscopy in the energy region from 4 to 11 eV

The electronic state spectroscopy of carbonyl sulphide, COS, has been investigated using high resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy in the energy range of 4.0-10.8 eV. The spectrum reveals several new features not previously reported in the literature. Vibronic structure has been observed, notably in the low energy absorption dipole forbidden band assigned to the (4π←3π) ((1)Δ←(1)Σ(+)) transition, with a new weak transition assigned to ((1)Σ(-)←(1)Σ(+)) reported here for the first time. The absolute optical oscillator strengths are determined for ground state to (1)Σ(+) and (1)Π transitions. Based on our recent measurements of differential cross sections for the optically allowed ((1)Σ(+) and (1)Π) transitions of COS by electron impact, the optical oscillator strength f0 value and integral cross sections (ICSs) are derived by applying a generalized oscillator strength analysis. Subsequently, ICSs predicted by the scaling are confirmed down to 60 eV in the intermediate energy region. The measured absolute photoabsorption cross sections have been used to calculate the photolysis lifetime of carbonyl sulphide in the upper stratosphere (20-50 km).

Elastic differential cross sections for C₄F₆ isomers in the 1.5-200 eV energy electron impact: similarities with six fluorine containing molecules and evidence of F-atom like scattering

We report absolute elastic differential cross sections for electron interactions with the C4F6 isomers, hexafluoro-1,3-butadiene (1,3-C4F6), hexafluoro-2-butyne (2-C4F6), and hexafluorocyclobutene (c-C4F6). The incident electron energy range is 1.5-200 eV, and the scattered electron angular range for the differential measurements varies from 15° to 150°. In all cases the absolute scale of the differential cross section was set using the relative flow technique, with helium as the reference species. Atomic-like behaviour in these scattering systems is shown here for the first time, and is further investigated by comparing the elastic cross sections for the C4F6 isomers with other fluorinated molecules, such as SF6 and CnF6 (n = 2, 3, and 6). We note that for all the six-F containing molecules, the scattering process for electron energies above 30 eV is indistinguishable. Finally, we report results for calculations of elastic differential cross sections for electron scattering from each of these isomers, within an optical potential method and assuming a screened corrected independent atom representation. The level of agreement between these calculations and our measurements is found to be quite remarkable in all cases.

Potassium-uracil/thymine ring cleavage enhancement as studied in electron transfer experiments and theoretical calculations

We report experimental and theoretical studies on ring cleavage enhancement in collisions of potassium atoms with uracil/thymine to further increase the understanding of the complex mechanisms yielding such fragmentation pathways. In these electron transfer processes time-of-flight (TOF) negative ion mass spectra were obtained in the collision energy range 13.5-23.0 eV. We note that CNO(-) is the major ring breaking anion formed and its threshold formation is discussed within the collision energy range studied. Such a decomposition process is supported by the first theoretical calculations to clarify how DNA/RNA pyrimidine base fragmentation is enhanced in electron transfer processes yielding ion-pair formation.

N-site de-methylation in pyrimidine bases as studied by low energy electrons and ab initio calculations

Electron transfer and dissociative electron attachment to 3-methyluracil (3meU) and 1-methylthymine (1meT) yielding anion formation have been investigated in atom-molecule collision and electron attachment experiments, respectively. The former has been studied in the collision energy range 14-100 eV whereas the latter in the 0-15 eV incident electron energy range. In the present studies, emphasis is given to the reaction channel resulting in the loss of the methyl group from the N-sites with the extra charge located on the pyrimidine ring. This particular reaction channel has neither been approached in the context of dissociative electron attachment nor in atom-molecule collisions yet. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed in order to provide some insight into the dissociation mechanism involved along the N-CH3 bond reaction coordinate. The calculations provide support to the threshold value derived from the electron transfer measurements, allowing for a better understanding of the role of the potassium cation as a stabilising agent in the collision complex. The present comparative study gives insight into the dynamics of the decaying transient anion and more precisely into the competition between dissociation and auto-detachment.

Microbiota benefits after inulin and partially hydrolized guar gum supplementation: a randomized clinical trial in constipated women

INTRODUCTION

Prebiotics positively affect gut microbiota composition, thus improving gut function. These properties may be useful for the treatment of constipation.

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the tolerance and effectiveness of a prebiotic inulin/partially hydrolyzed guar gum mixture (I-PHGG) for the treatment of constipation in females, as well as its influence on the composition of intestinal microbiota and production of short chain fatty acids.

METHODS

Our study enrolled 60 constipated female health worker volunteers. Participants reported less than 3 bowel movements per week. Volunteers were randomized to treatment with prebiotic or placebo. Treatment consisted of 3 weeks supplementation with 15 g/d IPHGG (fiber group) or maltodextrin (placebo group). Abdominal discomfort, flatulence, stool consistency, and bowel movements were evaluated by a recorded daily questionnaire and a weekly interview. Changes in fecal bacterial population and short chain fatty acids were assessed by real-time PCR and gas chromatography, respectively.

RESULTS

There was an increased frequency of weekly bowel movements and patient satisfaction in both the fiber and placebo groups with no significant differences. Total Clostridium sp significantly decreased in the fiber group (p = 0.046) and increased in the placebo group (p = 0.047). There were no changes in fecal short chain fatty acid profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Consumption of I-PHGG produced clinical results comparable to placebo in constipated females, but had additional protective effects on gut microbiota by decreasing the amount of pathological bacteria of the Clostridium genera.

Cuckoldry features of introduced pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) in contrasting environmental conditions in southern Europe

Reproduction of pumpkinseed sunfish ( Lepomis gibbosus (L., 1758)) in the species’ native range often involves cuckoldry, consisting of dominant nest-guarding (parental) males and the participation by small “sneaker” males. However, it remains unknown whether this behaviour occurs in populations of non-native pumpkinseed. Thus, the present study describes the phenotypic features of cuckoldry under contrasting environmental conditions (lentic versus lotic) in southern Europe. Parental and sneaker pumpkinseeds were captured in the summer of 2011 from the River Bullaque (central Spain) and from the Encinarejo Reservoir (southern Spain). No differences in total length were observed in sneaker males, although individuals of ages 1+ and 2+ were significantly predominant in the river and the reservoir, respectively. Parental males were larger and older in the reservoir than in the river. Gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices were significantly higher in sneaker than in parental males at both sites. Body condition was lower in sneaker males in the river. Both ingested biomass and the proportion of full stomachs were lower in parental males at both sites, being significant in all cases except ingested biomass in the river. Sneaker males achieved a higher gonadosomatic index than parental males. In contrast, parental males had higher body condition indices than sneakers. Results demonstrate the high ecological plasticity of pumpkinseed sunfish to display natural behaviours out of its native area.