Treatment Outcomes of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy on Extra-cranial Oligometastatic and Oligoprogressive Breast Cancer: Mature Results from a Single Institution Experience

AIMS

Evidence shows stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is used as a non-invasive ablative therapy in the treatment of multisite oligometastatic (OM) and oligoprogressive (OP) diseases originating from metastatic breast cancer. This study aims to report the treatment outcomes and to investigate what factors that are prognostic in terms of local control, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients receiving SABR for extracranial OM and OP diseases originating from metastatic breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review on treatment records of patients with OM and OP from metastatic breast cancer who underwent SABR at a single was carried out. SABR was performed with daily image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) using a dedicated robotic SABR machine. Local control, PFS and OS were calculated using Kaplan-Meier statistics and the post-treatment toxicity data was scored following the CTCAE v4.0 protocol. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression tests were used in the subgroup analysis of prognostic factors on PFS and OS including patients' age, types of follow-up imaging (staging CT only vs whole-body MR/PET), metastases status (OM vs OP), primary breast cancer tumour grade, hormone receptors (ER/PR/HER2) status, change of systemic treatments at SABR, number of metastases, SABR treatment sites and doses.

RESULTS

56 metastatic breast cancer patients (38 patients with OM and 18 patients with OP) were involved in this retrospective review. The median follow-up was 35.6 months (range 4.0-132.9 months). The estimated local control at 1 , 2 and 5 years were 90.9%, 88.7% and 88.7%, respectively. The estimated median PFS was 19.2 months (95%CI 10.3-28.1 months); the PFS at 1, 2 and 5 years were 63.3%, 44.4% and 33.2%. The estimated OS at 1, 2 and 5 years were 98.0%, 91.9% and 74.3%, respectively with the estimated median OS of 105.1 months (95%CI 51.5-158.7 months). The vast majority of patients tolerated the treatment well with the commonest acute side effects as grade 1 fatigue. There were no statistically significant factors found in OS regression analysis. The types of follow-up imaging, metastases status, oestrogen receptor status, and number of metastases for SABR were statistically significant factors (p < 0.05) in the multivariate Cox regression analysis on PFS.

CONCLUSION

There are limited studies published on the efficacy and post-treatment toxicities of metastatic breast cancer OM and OP SABR with adequate length of follow-up. This study confirmed that SABR was a safe, non-invasive treatment option for patients with extracranial OM and OP diseases originated from primary breast cancer in terms of the acceptable post-treatment toxicities.

What's important in a contract beyond the salary? A primer for pain physicians and trainees

This manuscript is designed to complement the previously published primer on salary structures for new pain physicians. The previous manuscript "Employment Contract Financial Models for the Pain Physician: A Primer" had a goal of increasing understanding of financial models by pain fellows when preparing for contract negotiations. This manuscript illustrates the many equally important considerations of "non-monetary" values that are a significant part of contract negotiation outside of salary. It contributes to the overall education for trainees and pain physicians on benefits and job responsibilities.

Modification of physicochemical properties of chitosan to improve its pharmaceutical and agrochemical potential applications

Chitosan has received much more attention as a functional biopolymer with applications in pharmaceuticals, agricultural, drug delivery systems and cosmetics. The objectives of present investigation were to carry out modification of chitosan for enhancement of aqueous solubility, which will impart increased solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble drug itraconazole (ITZ) and also evaluate the modified chitosan for soyabean seed germination studies. The modification of chitosan was accomplished through the antisolvent precipitation method; employing five carboxylic acids. The resulting products were assessed for changes in molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, solubility and solid state characterization. Subsequently, the modified chitosan was complexed with itraconazole using the co-grinding technique. The prepared formulations were evaluated for solubility, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), PXRD (Powder X-ray diffraction), in-vitro dissolution studies. Furthermore the effect of modified chitosan has been evaluated on soybean seed germination. Results demonstrated that, modified chitosan improves self and solubility of itraconazole by six folds. As there was increased degree of deacetylation of chitosan leads to improvement in solubility. The results of FTIR showed the slight shifting of peaks in co-grind formulations of itraconazole. Formulations showed reduction in crystallinity of drug which leads to enhancement in dissolution rate as compared to pure itraconazole. Retention of property of seed germination was observed with modified chitosan at optimum concentration of 3 % w/v, with benefit of enhanced aqueous solubility of chitosan. This positive result paves the way for the advancement of pharmaceutical and agrochemical products employing derivatives of chitosan.

Publication Rates Vary Across Orthopaedic Subspecialties: A Longitudinal Analysis of AAOS Abstracts

Background

Presentation of research at national orthopaedic meetings and subsequent publication are important for both information exchange among surgeons and individual academic advancement. However, the academic landscape and pressures that researchers face may differ greatly across different subspecialties. This study attempts to explore and quantify differences in research presented at national conferences and its implication on ultimate likelihood of publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Methods

All abstracts from the Annual Meetings of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) from 2016 and 2017 were reviewed and categorized based on subspecialty focus. Resulting publications were identified using a systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Multivariate binary logistic regression modelling was used to assess the predictive value of abstract characteristics on eventual publication.

Results

A total of 1805 abstracts from the 2016 and 2017 AAOS conferences were reviewed. The overall publication rate of abstracts following the AAOS meetings was 71.6%, with an average time to publication from abstract submission deadline and impact factor of 19.8 months and 2.878, respectively. Statistical differences were observed across subspecialties with respect to publication rate (p<0.001), time to publication (p<0.001), and impact factor (p<0.001). The subspecialty with the highest publication rate, largest impact factor, and shortest average time to publication was Sports Medicine with 83.2%, 3.98, and 17.6 months, respectively; despite lower average sample size (p<0.001) and frequency of multicenter design (p<0.001) compared with other subspecialties. The subspecialty with the lowest publication rate and impact factor was Hand and Wrist with 53.3% and 1.41, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrates a lower likelihood for internationally authored abstracts (OR: 0.75, p=0.021) and higher likelihood for basic science abstracts (OR: 1.52, p-value=0.023) to reach publication.

Conclusion

Differences in publication rate across orthopaedic subspecialties were observed with articles in sports medicine more likely to be published, published quickly, and featured in a higher impact factor journals. Understanding these differences, and how they relate to the publication and promotion of novel research, is important for orthopaedic researchers. Level of Evidence: IV.

Technical Report: Protocol for Characterizing Phenotype Variants Using Phenome-Wide Association Study (PheWAS) Utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2020 in Individuals With Pancreatic Cysts and Lung Cancer

This technical report serves as a comprehensive guide for conducting a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) utilizing data extracted from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2020. Specifically tailored to individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cysts and lung cancer, the report establishes a step-by-step workflow designed to assist researchers in uncovering potential associations within this specific cohort. The methodology outlined in the report ensures clarity and reproducibility by employing a curated cohort sourced from the GitHub repository and executed using R for robust data analysis. The code encompasses pivotal steps, including the utilization of a QQ plot as a crucial diagnostic tool aimed at identifying systematic biases or associations. Additionally, the report incorporates the creation of a Manhattan plot, delving into essential mathematical considerations to enhance the interpretability of the results. Notably, the report elucidates the handling of the International Classification of Disease version 10 (ICD-10) codes, providing a sample approach for their segmentation to analyze associations by diagnostic categories. The segmentation aligns with the guidelines outlined in the American Medical Association's ICD-10-CM 2022, the Complete Official Codebook with Guidelines (American Medical Association Press, 2021), ensuring a standardized and rigorous analytical process. This comprehensive guide equips researchers with the tools and insights needed to navigate the complexities of PheWAS within the context of pancreatic cysts and lung cancer, fostering transparency, reproducibility, and meaningful scientific exploration.

Predictive Partition Dosimetry and Outcomes after Yttrium-90 Resin Microsphere Radioembolization of Colorectal Cancer Metastatic to the Liver: A Retrospective Analysis

PURPOSE

To characterize estimated absorbed tumor dose (ADT), objective response (OR), and estimated target dose of liver metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) after resin microsphere yttrium-90 (90Y) radioembolization using partition dosimetry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective, single-center study, multicompartment dosimetry of index tumors undergoing 90Y radioembolization from October 2013 to July 2022 was performed using MIM SurePlan and pretreatment technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin infusion data. Thirty-eight patients with mCRC underwent treatments for 59 index tumors. Patients were imaged every 2-3 months after treatment and then every 3-6 months after disease control to determine the best response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1. Responses were categorized as OR or nonresponse (NR). A Cox proportional hazards model evaluated the probability of tumor OR and local progression-free survival (LPFS) based on ADT.

RESULTS

Patients had a median follow-up of 116 days (interquartile range [IQR], 69-231 days). The ADT was higher for OR patients than for NR patients (median, 130.8 [IQR, 85.6-239.0] vs 40.6 [IQR, 26.0-66.3] Gy; P < .001). A greater percentage of OR than NR patients were treated with activities calculated by partition modeling (54% vs 12%; P = .005). Only ADT predicted response (P = .032). At 6 months, an ADT of 120 Gy predicted a 55% (95% CI, 0.0%-89%) probability of OR. Only ADT (P = .010) and female sex (P = .014) predicted LPFS. At 1 year, an ADT of 120 Gy predicted a 70% (95% CI, 35%-100%) probability of LPFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor dose was the strongest predictor of OR for mCRC. Administration of an estimated 120 Gy to mCRC predicted 55% OR with 90Y resin microspheres at 6 months.

Hyperon Polarization along the Beam Direction Relative to the Second and Third Harmonic Event Planes in Isobar Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam direction has been measured relative to the second and third harmonic event planes in isobar Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. This is the first experimental evidence of the hyperon polarization by the triangular flow originating from the initial density fluctuations. The amplitudes of the sine modulation for the second and third harmonic results are comparable in magnitude, increase from central to peripheral collisions, and show a mild p_{T} dependence. The azimuthal angle dependence of the polarization follows the vorticity pattern expected due to elliptic and triangular anisotropic flow, and qualitatively disagrees with most hydrodynamic model calculations based on thermal vorticity and shear induced contributions. The model results based on one of existing implementations of the shear contribution lead to a correct azimuthal angle dependence, but predict centrality and p_{T} dependence that still disagree with experimental measurements. Thus, our results provide stringent constraints on the thermal vorticity and shear-induced contributions to hyperon polarization. Comparison to previous measurements at RHIC and the LHC for the second-order harmonic results shows little dependence on the collision system size and collision energy.

Role of cosyntropin in the management of postpartum post-dural puncture headache: a two-center retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Research suggests that postpartum post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) might be prevented or treated by administering intravenous cosyntropin.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we questioned whether prophylactic (1 mg) and therapeutic (7 µg/kg) intravenous cosyntropin following unintentional dural puncture (UDP) was effective in decreasing the incidence of PDPH and therapeutic epidural blood patch (EBP) after birth. Two tertiary-care American university hospitals collected data from November 1999 to May 2017. Two hundred and fifty-three postpartum patients who experienced an UDP were analyzed. In one institution 32 patients were exposed to and 32 patients were not given prophylactic cosyntropin; in the other institution, once PDPH developed, 36 patients were given and 153 patients were not given therapeutic cosyntropin. The primary outcome for the prophylactic cosyntropin analysis was the incidence of PDPH and for the therapeutic cosyntropin analysis in exposed vs. unexposed patients, the receipt of an EBP. The secondary outcome for the prophylactic cosyntropin groups was the receipt of an EBP.

RESULTS

In the prophylactic cosyntropin analysis no significant difference was found in the risk of PDPH between those exposed to cosyntropin (19/32, 59%) and unexposed patients (17/32, 53%; odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% CI 0.48 to 3.98, P = 0.56), or in the incidence of EBP between exposed (12/32, 38%) and unexposed patients (6/32, 19%; OR 2.6, 95% CI 0.83 to 8.13, P = 0.095). In the therapeutic cosyntropin analysis, in patients exposed to cosyntropin the incidence of EBP was significantly higher (20/36, 56% vs. 43/153, 28%; OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.52 to 6.74, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show no benefits from the use of cosyntropin for preventing or treating postpartum PDPH.

Prostatic stromal tumour of uncertain malignant potential treated with robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: medium-term oncological and functional outcome of two cases

Stromal tumour of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) is a rare tumour of the prostate with variable and unpredictable risk and clinical progression. There is no clear consensus on how it should be managed. We describe two cases of patients who presented to their general practitioners with raised prostate-specific antigen in one instance and an abnormal digital rectal examination in the other. Biopsies were carried out and a diagnosis of STUMP was made. Both cases were managed with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and after 4.8 years of follow-up, there has not been any recurrence. This is the first reported UK case in which STUMP has been successfully managed with robotic surgery with excellent medium-term results. Radical prostatectomy can be used to treat STUMP tumour with good oncological and functional outcomes.

Erratum: Global Polarization of Ξ and Ω Hyperons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 162301 (2021)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.162301.

Measurements of the Elliptic and Triangular Azimuthal Anisotropies in Central ^{3}He+Au, d+Au and p+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The elliptic (v_{2}) and triangular (v_{3}) azimuthal anisotropy coefficients in central ^{3}He+Au, d+Au, and p+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV are measured as a function of transverse momentum (p_{T}) at midrapidity (|η|<0.9), via the azimuthal angular correlation between two particles both at |η|<0.9. While the v_{2}(p_{T}) values depend on the colliding systems, the v_{3}(p_{T}) values are system independent within the uncertainties, suggesting an influence on eccentricity from subnucleonic fluctuations in these small-sized systems. These results also provide stringent constraints for the hydrodynamic modeling of these systems.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) in an Atypical Patient Without Risk Factors and Prior Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a condition primarily seen in young women and is characterized by non-atherosclerotic arterial damage. It can occur with or without conventional risk factors for coronary heart disease and is often associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. Here, we present a unique instance of a 67-year-old woman without known risk factors who developed sudden onset chest pain in the setting of an asymptomatic coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection three weeks earlier. Subsequent evaluation revealed SCAD in the distal left anterior descending (LAD) artery.

Observation of Directed Flow of Hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H in sqrt[s_{NN}]=3 GeV Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report here the first observation of directed flow (v_{1}) of the hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H in mid-central Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV at RHIC. These data are taken as part of the beam energy scan program carried out by the STAR experiment. From 165×10^{6} events in 5%-40% centrality, about 8400 _{Λ}^{3}H and 5200 _{Λ}^{4}H candidates are reconstructed through two- and three-body decay channels. We observe that these hypernuclei exhibit significant directed flow. Comparing to that of light nuclei, it is found that the midrapidity v_{1} slopes of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H follow baryon number scaling, implying that the coalescence is the dominant mechanism for these hypernuclei production in the 3 GeV Au+Au collisions.

Beam Energy Dependence of Triton Production and Yield Ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}) in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the triton (t) production in midrapidity (|y|<0.5) Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=7.7-200  GeV measured by the STAR experiment from the first phase of the beam energy scan at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The nuclear compound yield ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}), which is predicted to be sensitive to the fluctuation of local neutron density, is observed to decrease monotonically with increasing charged-particle multiplicity (dN_{ch}/dη) and follows a scaling behavior. The dN_{ch}/dη dependence of the yield ratio is compared to calculations from coalescence and thermal models. Enhancements in the yield ratios relative to the coalescence baseline are observed in the 0%-10% most central collisions at 19.6 and 27 GeV, with a significance of 2.3σ and 3.4σ, respectively, giving a combined significance of 4.1σ. The enhancements are not observed in peripheral collisions or model calculations without critical fluctuation, and decreases with a smaller p_{T} acceptance. The physics implications of these results on the QCD phase structure and the production mechanism of light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions are discussed.

Measurement of Sequential ϒ Suppression in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV with the STAR Experiment

We report on measurements of sequential ϒ suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) through both the dielectron and dimuon decay channels. In the 0%-60% centrality class, the nuclear modification factors (R_{AA}), which quantify the level of yield suppression in heavy-ion collisions compared to p+p collisions, for ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) are 0.40±0.03(stat)±0.03(sys)±0.09(norm) and 0.26±0.08(stat)±0.02(sys)±0.06(norm), respectively, while the upper limit of the ϒ(3S) R_{AA} is 0.17 at a 95% confidence level. This provides experimental evidence that the ϒ(3S) is significantly more suppressed than the ϒ(1S) at RHIC. The level of suppression for ϒ(1S) is comparable to that observed at the much higher collision energy at the Large Hadron Collider. These results point to the creation of a medium at RHIC whose temperature is sufficiently high to strongly suppress excited ϒ states.

In silico Study to Investigate Targeting Ability of Genistein against Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in Peripheral Artery Disease

“Peripheral artery disease” or PAD, is considered as a most prevalent condition, and it commonly coexists with vascular diseases in other body parts. The epidemiology of PAD is well known and connected to age and, particularly, the predisposing factors of smoking and diabetes mellitus. Diagnosis on early basis is important for enhancing the quality of life (QOL) in addition to the reducing risk for the development of significant subsequent vascular events such as “acute myocardial infarction (AMI)” or “stroke”. There are a variety of treatments used to manage and treat the disease. However, there are negative effects and toxicities associated with that treatment in addition to higher costs. Hence, a surge in the hunt for natural compounds of botanical origin is gaining traction. The present study aims at exploring the targeting ability of phytocompound, and genistein against FABP4 which is an emerging target for PAD in diabetes patients. The study is conducted using a computation method employing Autodock4 and other accessory tools. The results of the docking process revealed a significant binding energy of -6.14 which demonstrated a stable complex formation between protein and selected compound. Thus, showing great potential for the treatment of PAD.

A Glass Ceiling in Orthopedic Surgery: Publication Trends by Gender

Women are underrepresented across the field of orthopedic surgery and may face barriers to academic advancement. Research presentation at national meetings and publication record are important drivers of advancement in academic orthopedic surgery. However, little is known regarding potential gender differences in publication after orthopedic conference research presentation. This investigation analyzed research presentations at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2016 and 2017. Author gender was determined through a search of institutional and professional networking websites for gender-specific pronouns. Resulting publications were identified using a systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases. A total of 1696 of 1803 (94.1%) abstracts from 2016 to 2017 had identifiable gender for both the first and last authors, with 1213 (71.5%) abstracts ultimately being published. There were no differences in average sample size or level of evidence between genders. Abstracts authored by women were significantly less likely to lead to publication compared with those by men (67.1% vs 72.1%, P=.023), with articles authored by women having a longer median time to publication (median, 20 months [interquartile range, 19] vs 17 months [interquartile range, 15]; P=.003). This discrepancy was most apparent in adult reconstruction, with women having a 15.5% lower rate of publication (55.1% [27/49] vs 70.6% [307/435]; P=.026) and lower publication journal impact factor (2.7±1.4 vs 3.4±3.4, P=.040) than men. Potential reasons for these discrepancies, including disproportionate domestic obligations, inadequate mentorship, and bias against female researchers, should be addressed. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(2):e118-e124.].

The appendix "mucocoele" misnomer: radiological terminology of "likely appendix mucinous neoplasm" better reflects pathology findings

AIM

To review the radiological terminology used to describe dilated mucin-containing appendiceal lesions with correlation to the histopathological diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Radiology and histopathology reports for all patients with an abnormally dilated appendix referred to a tertiary peritoneal malignancy centre, between January 2021 and December 2021, were reviewed.

RESULTS

Overall, 213 patients were included with a median appendiceal diameter of 25.5 mm (range 10-125 mm). Peritoneal disease was present in 109 patients, with the remaining 104 cases demonstrating a dilated appendix only. Local radiology reports were available for 201 cases with the appendix described in 168 cases as appendiceal mucocoele (n=104), appendiceal neoplasm (n=40), appendicitis (n=18), and dilated appendix (n=6). The appendix was not mentioned in 33/201 (15%), either misinterpreted as other pathology (n=15) or not reported (n=18). Peritoneal malignancy histopathology reports were available in 188 cases and reported as low-grade appendix mucinous neoplasm (LAMN, n=144), high-grade appendix mucinous neoplasm (HAMN, n=13), LAMN with foci of HAMN (n=2), LAMN with neuroendocrine tumour (n=2), LAMN with goblet cell adenocarcinoma (n=1), goblet cell adenocarcinoma (n=8), mucinous adenocarcinoma (n=14), non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (n=1), and benign histology (n=3). Only one case of a true inflammatory "mucocoele"/retention cyst was reported.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of patients, the overwhelming majority of dilated, mucin-filled appendices contained malignant cells and benign mucin-filled appendices were rare. The present authors advocate that the term "likely appendix mucinous neoplasm" should replace "appendix mucocoele" to represent the most likely pathology and facilitate less ambiguous interpretation in management decisions.

Beam Energy Dependence of Fifth- and Sixth-Order Net-Proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the beam energy and collision centrality dependence of fifth and sixth order cumulants (C_{5}, C_{6}) and factorial cumulants (κ_{5}, κ_{6}) of net-proton and proton number distributions, from center-of-mass energy (sqrt[s_{NN}]) 3 GeV to 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Cumulant ratios of net-proton (taken as proxy for net-baryon) distributions generally follow the hierarchy expected from QCD thermodynamics, except for the case of collisions at 3 GeV. The measured values of C_{6}/C_{2} for 0%-40% centrality collisions show progressively negative trend with decreasing energy, while it is positive for the lowest energy studied. These observed negative signs are consistent with QCD calculations (for baryon chemical potential, μ_{B}≤110  MeV) which contains the crossover transition range. In addition, for energies above 7.7 GeV, the measured proton κ_{n}, within uncertainties, does not support the two-component (Poisson+binomial) shape of proton number distributions that would be expected from a first-order phase transition. Taken in combination, the hyperorder proton number fluctuations suggest that the structure of QCD matter at high baryon density, μ_{B}∼750  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV is starkly different from those at vanishing μ_{B}∼24  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and higher collision energies.

Evaluating the implementation of a multi-level mHealth study to improve hydroxyurea utilization in sickle cell disease

Background

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a progressive genetic disease that causes organ damage and reduces longevity. Hydroxyurea is an underutilized evidence-based medication that reduces complications and improves survival in SCD. In a multi-site clinical trial, part of the NIH-funded Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium (SCDIC), we evaluate the implementation of a multi-level and multi-component mobile health (mHealth) patient and provider intervention to target the determinants and context of low hydroxyurea use. Given the complexity of the intervention and contextual variability in its implementation, we combined different behavioral and implementation theories, models, and frameworks to facilitate the evaluation of the intervention implementation. In this report, we describe engagement with stakeholders, planning of the implementation process, and final analytical plan to evaluate the implementation outcomes.

Methods

During 19 meetings, a 16-member multidisciplinary SCDIC implementation team created, conceived, and implemented a project that utilized Intervention Mapping to guide designing an intervention and its evaluation plan. The process included five steps: (1) needs assessment of low hydroxyurea utilization, (2) conceptual framework development, (3) intervention design process, (4) selection of models and frameworks, and (5) designing evaluation of the intervention implementation.

Results

Behavioral theories guided the needs assessment and the design of the multi-level mHealth intervention. In designing the evaluation approach, we combined two implementation frameworks to best account for the contextual complexity at the organizational, provider, and patient levels: (1) the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) that details barriers and facilitators to implementing the mHealth intervention at multiple levels (users, organization, intervention characteristics, broader community), and (2) the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), a conceptual model specific for explaining the intent to use new information technology (including mHealth). The Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to measure the outcomes.

Discussion

Our research project can serve as a case study of a potential approach to combining different models/frameworks to help organize and plan the evaluation of interventions to increase medication adherence. The description of our process may serve as a blueprint for future studies developing and testing new strategies to foster evidence-based treatments for individuals living with SCD.

Competency-based medical education and the McNamara fallacy: Assessing the important or making the assessed important?

The McNamara fallacy refers to the tendency to focus on numbers, metrics, and quantifiable data while disregarding the meaningful qualitative aspects. The existence of such a fallacy in medical education is reviewed in this paper. Competency-based medical education (CBME) has been introduced in India with the goal of having Indian Medical Graduates competent in five different roles - Clinician, Communicator, Leader and member of the health care team, Professional, and Lifelong learner. If we only focus on numbers and structure to assess the competencies pertaining to these roles, we would be falling prey to the McNamara fallacy. To assess these roles in the real sense, we need to embrace the qualitative assessment methods and appreciate their value in competency-based education. This can be done by using various workplace-based assessments, choosing tools based on educational impact rather than psychometric properties, using narratives and descriptive evaluation, giving grades instead of marks, and improving the quality of the questions asked in various exams. There are challenges in adopting qualitative assessment starting with being able to move past the objective-subjective debate, to developing expertise in conducting and documenting such assessment, and adding the rigor of qualitative research methods to enhance its credibility. The perspective on assessment thus needs a paradigm shift - we need to assess the important rather than just making the assessed important; and this would be crucial for the success of the CBME curriculum.

Collision-System and Beam-Energy Dependence of Anisotropic Flow Fluctuations

Elliptic flow measurements from two-, four-, and six-particle correlations are used to investigate flow fluctuations in collisions of U+U at sqrt[s_{NN}]=193  GeV, Cu+Au at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and Au+Au spanning the range sqrt[s_{NN}]=11.5-200  GeV. The measurements show a strong dependence of the flow fluctuations on collision centrality, a modest dependence on system size, and very little if any, dependence on particle species and beam energy. The results, when compared to similar LHC measurements, viscous hydrodynamic calculations, and trento model eccentricities, indicate that initial-state-driven fluctuations predominate the flow fluctuations generated in the collisions studied.

Intestinal Microbiota in Experimental Acute Kidney Injury

Recent studies have demonstrated an important role played by gut microbiota in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and host immune system function. Gut microbiota have been studied in experimental acute kidney injury (AKI) using different mice and rat models exposed to either ischemia or cisplatin-mediated tubular injury. Differences in inflammatory markers and severity of AKI have been observed between germ-free mice, wild-type mice, and mice treated with antibiotics or specific bacteria. Interventions modifying the gut microbiota after experimental AKI have had either beneficial or harmful effects on kidney tubular injury and recovery. These findings provide strong evidence for a modulatory role of gut microbiota during AKI. Ischemic and cis-platin-induced AKI have distinct stool microbial signatures based on 16s sequencing. Future in-depth studies exploring the mechanisms of how the microbiota influence AKI and development of feasible therapeutic options have the potential to improve outcomes in clinical AKI.

Amyloidosis-related echo features and mortality in patients with multiple myeloma

Background/Introduction

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are at increased risk of developing AL amyloidosis. It was determined by screening fat pad and bone marrow biopsy that 38% MM patients had amyloidosis at time of diagnosis and the majority were asymptomatic (1). However, whether amyloidosis-related echo features in MM affect survival remains unknown (1, 2).

Purpose

The goals of our study are to: 1) characterize prevalence of amyloidosis-related echo features in patients with multiple myeloma, 2) investigate whether decrease in longitudinal strain affect survival outcomes.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with MM between Jan 1, 2000 and Dec 31, 2017 at our institution were identified through Clinical Looking Glass. Those with echo within 1 year after myeloma diagnosis and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 40% were included. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) and LVEF measurements were done using EchoGo (Ultromics, Oxford, UK). The average of GLS obtained from apical 4-chamber and apical 2-chamber views was used for analysis, with decreased GLS defined as absolute value less than 18%. Statistical analysis was conducted with STATA13, using Chi square test and Kruskal-Wallis for univariable analysis and Cox regression model for survival analysis.

Results

From a total cohort of 909 patients, 252 met inclusion criteria, of which 59 (23.4%) patients had decreased average GLS (see Table 1). Patients' mean age was 63±11 years, 44.8% were male and most were Black (42.7%) and the rest Hispanic (33.3%) and White (7.9%). Median follow up time was 4.25 years. The group with decreased GLS had lower percentage of females (22% vs 51.8%, p&lt;0.01), higher percentage of previous MI (11.9% vs 1.6%, p&lt;0.01) and more prior diagnosis of heart failure (20.3% vs 1.6%, p&lt;0.01).

Among patients with decreased GLS, five-year mortality rate was 63.3% compared to 46.0% in those with preserved GLS (p&lt;0.036). Median survival time was 3.9 years among those with reduced GLS and 4.3 years in those without (see Figure 1; p&lt;0.01). Reduced GLS correlated with decreased survival (HR 1.6, p=0.03) even after adjusting for demographic variables (age, gender, race), history of MI, history of CHF, Charlson comorbidity index, myeloma RISS stage, and LVEF (≥50% vs 40–50%).

Forty-seven (18.6%) patients had end diastolic inter-ventricular septum (IVSd) thickness ≥1.2cm. Median GLS in patients with increased IVSd thickness was 19% compared to 21% in those without (p=0.01). Nine patients had the apical sparing strain pattern for amyloidosis.

Total of 158 patients had bone marrow specimen stained with Congo-red with 7 (4.4%) testing positive. Median GLS was 19% in the group staining positive for Congo-red compared 21% in the group with negative stain (p=0.03).

Conclusions

Decrease in GLS on baseline echo correlates with increased mortality in patients with MM and may be due to subclinical cardiac amyloidosis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

A novel scoring system to predict cardiac device implantation in patients presenting with syncope

Background

Cardiac syncope occurs when the heart fails to maintain cardiac output to match cerebral need and can occur due to either mechanical/structural defect of the heart or secondary to an arrhythmia. It has a raised 1-year mortality with some figures estimating this as high as 30%. Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are a useful diagnostic tool in patients presenting with syncope or pre-syncope to ascertain a cardiac cause. A higher number of patients are presenting with advancing age and undergoing ILR implantation. Subsequently, they end up requiring a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, adding to additional costs, exposure to procedural complications and frequent hospitalisations.

Purpose

To investigate the number of patients undergoing CIED implantation following implantation of ILRs for syncope and identify predictors of CIED implantation in patients presenting with syncope.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 736 patients who underwent ILR implantation at our teaching hospital trust between November 2012 to October 2020. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, pathology results, ECGs, holter findings and CIED implanted was collected using the local electronic patient record system. The data was analysed using SPSS software. Univariable and multivariable regression analysis and ROC curve analysis was carried out to determine prediction model for CIED implantation.

Results

The mean age of patients who underwent an ILR implantation was 65±19 years. 22% of patients required CIED implantation, 68% of patients did not require a cardiac device and were safely discharged and 10% of patients died during follow up. Age (p&lt;0.001), male sex (p=0.006), impaired left ventricular function (p=0.04) and presence of hypertension (p=0.04) were found to be independent predictors of CIED implantation on univariable and multivariable regression analysis (see Table 1).

Conclusions

Old age, presence of coronary artery disease, impaired left ventricular function and presence of hypertension are inter-linked and in our study were found to be key predictors of poor prognosis and thus requiring CIED implantation. We propose a scoring system based on age &gt;75, male sex, presence of ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and hypertension as key markers of conduction abnormalities requiring CIED implantation (see fi−ure 1).

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Should Radiology Residency Interviews Remain Virtual? Results of a Multi-institutional Survey Inform the Debate

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The recent completion of the inaugural virtual interview season has triggered calls for the permanency of virtual interviews in the radiology resident selection process. We designed a study to assess the inaugural 2020-2021 virtual interview season and inform the anticipated debate on the future of radiology residency interviews.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-four and 39-question survey instruments developed for program directors (PDs) and applicants, respectively, were distributed through the Radiology Residency Education Research Alliance to measure the demographics, experiences with technology, attitudes toward the virtual interview season and attitudes about proposed changes to the interview process. Comparisons were made between demographics and survey queries.

RESULTS

PD and applicant response rates were 74% (25/34) and 45% (84/186), respectively. Eighty percent (20/25) of PDs and 76% (64/84) of applicants described the virtual interview season as excellent or very good. Sixty percent of PDs agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "The benefits of the virtual interview season outweighed the drawbacks," while 24% disagreed or strongly disagreed, and 16% were neutral. Among applicants, 80% agreed or strongly agreed, 10% disagreed or strongly disagreed, and 10% were neutral toward the same statement. Ninety-two percent of PDs noted that their rank order list performed the same or better than in years prior. Both PDs and applicants identified applicant equity and wellness as major benefits of virtual interviews, while identifying over-application and interview hoarding as significant detriments.

CONCLUSION

The virtual interview provides an adequate substitute for the conventional in-person residency interview, with real and perceived benefits to applicant wellness, equity, and financial well-being. The downsides of virtual interviews, namely over-application and interview hoarding, have workable solutions.

Evidence for Nonlinear Gluon Effects in QCD and Their Mass Number Dependence at STAR

The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of back-to-back azimuthal correlations of di-π^{0}s produced at forward pseudorapidities (2.6<η<4.0) in p+p, p+Al, and p+Au collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. We observe a clear suppression of the correlated yields of back-to-back π^{0} pairs in p+Al and p+Au collisions compared to the p+p data. The observed suppression of back-to-back pairs as a function of transverse momentum suggests nonlinear gluon dynamics arising at high parton densities. The larger suppression found in p+Au relative to p+Al collisions exhibits a dependence of the saturation scale Q_{s}^{2} on the mass number A. A linear scaling of the suppression with A^{1/3} is observed with a slope of -0.09±0.01.

1015 Reducing Waiting Time to Surgery for Patients with Femoral Peri-Prosthetic Fractures (FPP#s): A Quality Improvement Project

Introduction

Research has shown that early fixation and return to mobility in femoral fragility fractures improves post-operative outcomes. Based on this, in patients with neck of femur fractures (NOF#), NICE guidelines advise fixation ‘on the day of or the day after admission’. However, no guidelines exist in the case of femoral periprosthetic fractures (FPP#) despite emerging evidence showing improved outcomes in this cohort of patients also.

Method

We retrospectively analysed the waiting times from admission to surgery for NOF#s and FPP#s admitted between 1/9/20 to 1/4/21 at St. Richard's and Worthing Hospitals that required surgery. 30 FPP# and 503 NOF# patients were admitted during this period. Data was collected on all FPP# patients and a randomly selected cohort of 30 patients from the NOF# group.

Results

There was an average waiting time of 1.3 days for NOF#s and 3.7 days for FPP#s from admission to surgery.

Conclusions

This initial data demonstrates the longer waiting times for FPP# patients. We identified key areas where improvements could be sought decreasing time until CT scanning for evaluation of fracture pattern and decreasing time until a specialist opinion from a hip surgeon to decide between operative fixation or conservative management. By addressing these and educating team members about the positive outcomes by reducing delays to surgery in FPP# patients we hope to decrease their waiting times. We are currently re-auditing to identify any improvements and any further facets for advances in the future.

181 Service Evaluation of the Utilisation and Impact of PredictProstate on Clinical Decision-Making in a Prostate Cancer Specialist Multidisciplinary Service

Aim

Patients with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer must decide whether to undergo radical treatment. The PredictProstate tool uses patient characteristics to quantify the relative benefit of radical treatment. It has been introduced in our prostate cancer specialist multidisciplinary team meeting (pcSMDT) and in subsequent communication with patients to facilitate informed decision-making. The aim of this study was to assess the utilisation and utility of PredictProstate in informing treatment decisions for men referred to Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) for consideration of radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Method

A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients referred to the CUH pcSMDT and robotic prostatectomy clinic (ROPD) between Sep 2019 and Aug 2021 for consideration of RARP. Data on patient characteristics, use of PredictProstate, and management decisions was collected from the EPIC EMR. A total of 841 patients were included in the analysis.

Results

The usage of PredictProstate in the pcSMDT increased in the second half of the study period (34.5% vs 23.8%, p&lt;0.001). The use of PredictProstate for men with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer was associated with an increased likelihood of attending ROPD (75% vs 61%, p&lt;0.001), but a reduced likelihood of RARP (41% vs 55%, p&lt;0.01). These effects were most pronounced for men of favourable intermediate risk (80% vs 63%, p&lt;0.004 and 34% vs 54%, p&lt;0.07 respectively).

Conclusions

PredictProstate provides personalised prognostic data for patients. Its increased use for men with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer is associated with increased attendance at specialist surgical clinic and a reduced chance of undergoing RARP.

Trends in 10-Year Predicted Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Associated With Food Insecurity, 2007-2016

Introduction

Consumption of a healthy diet improves cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and reduces the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Food insecure (FIS) adults often consume an unhealthy diet, which can promote obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HTN), and hyperlipidemia (HLD). The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to combat food insecurity by increasing access to healthy foods. However, there is a paucity of data on the association of SNAP participation among FIS adults and these CVD risk factors.

Methods

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a publicly available, ongoing survey administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics. We analyzed five survey cycles (2007-2016) of adult participants who responded to the CVD risk profile questionnaire data. We estimated the burden of select CVD risk factors among the FIS population and the association with participation in SNAP.

Results

Among 10,449 adult participants of the survey, 3,485 (33.3%) identified themselves as FIS. Food insecurity was more common among those who were younger, female, Hispanic, and Black. Among the FIS, SNAP recipients, when compared to non-SNAP recipients, had a lower prevalence of HLD (36.3 vs. 40.1% p = 0.02), whereas rates of T2DM, HTN, and obesity were similar. Over the 10-year survey period, FIS SNAP recipients demonstrated a reduction in the prevalence of HTN (p < 0.001) and HLD (p < 0.001) which was not evident among those not receiving SNAP. However, obesity decreased only among those not receiving SNAP. The prevalence of T2DM did not change over the study period in either group.

Conclusion

Over a 10-year period, FIS adults who received SNAP demonstrated a reduction in the prevalence of HTN and HLD, which was not seen among those not receiving SNAP. However, the prevalence of obesity and T2DM did not decline among SNAP recipients, suggesting that additional approaches are required to impact these important CVD risk factors.

Measurements of Proton High-Order Cumulants in sqrt[s_{NN}]=3 GeV Au+Au Collisions and Implications for the QCD Critical Point

We report cumulants of the proton multiplicity distribution from dedicated fixed-target Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3.0  GeV, measured by the STAR experiment in the kinematic acceptance of rapidity (y) and transverse momentum (p_{T}) within -0.5<y<0 and 0.4<p_{T}<2.0  GeV/c. In the most central 0%-5% collisions, a proton cumulant ratio is measured to be C_{4}/C_{2}=-0.85±0.09 (stat)±0.82 (syst), which is 2σ below the Poisson baseline with respect to both the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The hadronic transport UrQMD model reproduces our C_{4}/C_{2} in the measured acceptance. Compared to higher energy results and the transport model calculations, the suppression in C_{4}/C_{2} is consistent with fluctuations driven by baryon number conservation and indicates an energy regime dominated by hadronic interactions. These data imply that the QCD critical region, if created in heavy-ion collisions, could only exist at energies higher than 3 GeV.

Measurements of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H Lifetimes and Yields in Au+Au Collisions in the High Baryon Density Region

We report precision measurements of hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H lifetimes obtained from Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3.0  GeV and 7.2 GeV collected by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, and the first measurement of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H midrapidity yields in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3.0  GeV. _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H, being the two simplest bound states composed of hyperons and nucleons, are cornerstones in the field of hypernuclear physics. Their lifetimes are measured to be 221±15(stat)±19(syst)  ps for _{Λ}^{3}H and 218±6(stat)±13(syst)  ps for _{Λ}^{4}H. The p_{T}-integrated yields of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H are presented in different centrality and rapidity intervals. It is observed that the shape of the rapidity distribution of _{Λ}^{4}H is different for 0%-10% and 10%-50% centrality collisions. Thermal model calculations, using the canonical ensemble for strangeness, describes the _{Λ}^{3}H yield well, while underestimating the _{Λ}^{4}H yield. Transport models, combining baryonic mean-field and coalescence (jam) or utilizing dynamical cluster formation via baryonic interactions (phqmd) for light nuclei and hypernuclei production, approximately describe the measured _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H yields. Our measurements provide means to precisely assess our understanding of the fundamental baryonic interactions with strange quarks, which can impact our understanding of more complicated systems involving hyperons, such as the interior of neutron stars or exotic hypernuclei.

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide alters immune signatures and leads to impaired T cell reconstitution in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Despite the increased usage of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), our knowledge of immune reconstitution post-allo-HSCT in the setting of PTCy is limited. Adequate immune reconstitution is the key to a successful transplant. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of PTCy on the reconstitution of each immune component; more focus was placed on the immunophenotype and functions of T cells. Using blood samples from patients who underwent allo-HSCT under regimens containing PTCy (n = 23) versus those who received no PTCy (n = 14), we examined the impact of PTCy on the post-transplant immune response. We demonstrated a distinct T cell immune signature between PTCy versus non-PTCy group. PTCy significantly delayed T cell reconstitution and affected the T cell subsets by increasing regulatory T cells (Treg) while reducing naïve T cells. In addition, we observed remarkable enhancement of multiple inhibitory receptors (TIGIT, PD-1, TIM-3, CD38, CD39) on both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells on day 30 post-transplantation in patients who received PTCy. Importantly, upregulation of PD-1 on CD8 T cells was persistent through day 180 and these T cells were less functional, manifested by reduced cytokine production upon anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation of T cell immune phenotypes to clinical outcome (disease relapse and GVHD) in patients who received PTCy. Our novel findings provide critical information to understand the mechanism of how PTCy impacts immune reconstitution in allo-HSCT and may subsequently lead to optimization of our clinical practice using this treatment.

Familial hypercholesterolemia in community-based KHDC Nepal program-baseline data

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): HUG and Republic and Canton of Geneva – Service de solidarité internationaleBP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is either underdiagnosed or diagnosed after primary coronary events. Although homozygous variant of FH is considered rare, heterozygous FH is estimated to occur in about 1 in 200 to 300 individuals. There is no study pertaining to prevalence of FH in Nepal which could be a factor influencing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

We present a baseline data of FH in an ongoing in participants of community-based cardiovascular and kidney diseases preventive (KHDC Nepal) program in Mechinagar municipality in Eastern Nepal.

KHDC is a program to collaborate among health post, primary health center or equivalent, and local government along with community representatives created to educate, screen, and intervene for selective NCDs. This program is in alignment with the World Health Organization’s Package of Essential Noncommunicable (WHO PEN) disease interventions for primary health care in low-resource settings. General health status and lifestyle habits, physical examination, and blood pressure were assessed. Blood tests done included fasting lipid profile, serum creatinine, FBS, and HbA1c. A mechanism was developed to follow-up screened positive persons in the primary health centers. Referrals were made to the tertiary care center as needed.

We analyzed initial 7289 participants, 20 years or above, who were enrolled in KHDC program in the year 2020. We assessed for FH using Dutch Lipid Clinic Network(DLCN), Simon Broome and AHA criteria. Participants were categorized as definite, probable, possible, or no FH based on the scores of DLCN criteria; as definite and probable based on Simon Broome criteria and as clinically diagnosed FH based on AHA criteria.

The median age of the patient was 54 years, the majority being females (62.7%). A total of 70(0.96%) of the participants had elevated LDL-C levels of more than 190mg/dl detected during the screening and had no secondary cause for hyperlipidemia. According to DLCN criteria, 65(0.89%) participants were grouped under possible FH, 5(0.06%) were grouped under probable FH while none of them could be delineated as definite FH. According to Simon Broome criteria, 14(0.2%) participants were grouped under probable and none of them could be delineated as definite. According to AHA criteria, 10 (0.13%) participants were categorized as clinically diagnosed FH. DNA analysis was not available in our setup. Clinically manifested atherosclerotic disease was recorded in 5 participants. None of the participants were aware of the FH.

This community-based program of the adult population help create baseline data of FH in Nepal. Larger study with genetic analysis is likely to reveal true prevalence of FH in Nepal.

Probing the Gluonic Structure of the Deuteron with J/ψ Photoproduction in d+Au Ultraperipheral Collisions

Understanding gluon density distributions and how they are modified in nuclei are among the most important goals in nuclear physics. In recent years, diffractive vector meson production measured in ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs) at heavy-ion colliders has provided a new tool for probing the gluon density. In this Letter, we report the first measurement of J/ψ photoproduction off the deuteron in UPCs at the center-of-mass energy sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV in d+Au collisions. The differential cross section as a function of momentum transfer -t is measured. In addition, data with a neutron tagged in the deuteron-going zero-degree calorimeter is investigated for the first time, which is found to be consistent with the expectation of incoherent diffractive scattering at low momentum transfer. Theoretical predictions based on the color glass condensate saturation model and the leading twist approximation nuclear shadowing model are compared with the data quantitatively. A better agreement with the saturation model has been observed. With the current measurement, the results are found to be directly sensitive to the gluon density distribution of the deuteron and the deuteron breakup process, which provides insights into the nuclear gluonic structure.

Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect via Charge-Dependent Azimuthal Correlations Relative to Spectator and Participant Planes in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The chiral magnetic effect (CME) refers to charge separation along a strong magnetic field due to imbalanced chirality of quarks in local parity and charge-parity violating domains in quantum chromodynamics. The experimental measurement of the charge separation is made difficult by the presence of a major background from elliptic azimuthal anisotropy. This background and the CME signal have different sensitivities to the spectator and participant planes, and could thus be determined by measurements with respect to these planes. We report such measurements in Au+Au collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider. It is found that the charge separation, with the flow background removed, is consistent with zero in peripheral (large impact parameter) collisions. Some indication of finite CME signals is seen in midcentral (intermediate impact parameter) collisions. Significant residual background effects may, however, still be present.

258 The Impact of Types of Clerking Document on the Compliance of Initial HAT Risk Assessment on Admission in Trauma and Orthopaedic Patients

Aim

Assessment of risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is crucial as VTE is a significant problem in surgical patients. Trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) patients have additional risks given lower limbs and/or pelvic surgery with restricted mobility periods/ weightbearing status. Risks should be assessed as soon as possible after admission. At this point, clerking is a first point of patients’ information gathering. This study aims to examine the compliance of VTE risk assessment on admission against guideline and its relation to the types of clerking proforma.

Method

A QI project was undertaken using PDSA cycle analysing documents of clerking and VTE risk assessment in 44 T&O patients. Education sessions and routine reminder emails were conducted aimed at oncall doctors receiving admissions. A further 44 patients’ records were audited after 3 months. Primary outcome: VTE risk assessment completion on admission, secondary outcome: impact of types of admission pro-forma upon risk completion rate.

Results

Initial VTE risk assessment compliance was improved after interventions: from 77.27% to 88.63% generally and from 69% to 100% full compliance particularly in neck of femur cases. Use of structured pro-forma can increase the compliance rate of 91.3% (pre-intervention) to 100% (post-intervention) compared to other 2 freehand documents: 91% Vs 85.71% and 30% Vs 63.64%.

Conclusions

VTE risk assessment is improved through education sessions, and it is evident the use of structured clerking document can help to optimize the compliance rate although further sustained input is needed to achieve the targeted compliance rate.