Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis for management of acute sternal fracture pain

Background

Establishing adequate analgesia for rib and sternal fractures remains a challenge due to the prolonged nature of the associated pain. Historically, cryoneurolysis has demonstrated beneficial in treating chronic pain, and the recent development of hand-held devices has allowed its functionality to expand into the management of acute pain.

Case

We present a polytrauma patient with sternal and multiple rib fractures that underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal cryoneurolysis at bedside, resulting in significant analgesia lasting several weeks and improving mobilization. This is the first report of the utilization of cryoneurolysis to treat acute sternal fracture pain.

Conclusion

The most common sternal fracture pattern is transverse which only requires treatment of four intercostal nerves, making cryoneurolysis feasible in trauma centers. This portable, minimally invasive, and low risk technique has the added benefits of reducing opioid requirements, decreasing length of hospital stay, and improving mobility in polytrauma patients.

Associations among Self-Reported Mental Health, Physical Activity, and Diet during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Understanding the relationship between physical activity, diet, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic may help inform resources encouraging healthy lifestyle choices during the time of an increased threat to health and wellbeing. Aim: Our objective was to examine how self-rated mental health was associated with engagement in physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study utilized cross-sectional survey data from adults (≥18 years of age) living, working, and/or receiving healthcare in Arkansas (n  =  754). Multivariable regression models were used to examine the associations between self-rated mental health and the number of days respondents engaged in 30 min of physical activity and the number of days respondents consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables. Results: Respondents who reported somewhat poor/poor mental health reported engaging in at least 30 min of physical activity fewer days per week (β  =  -.77, p  =  .018) compared with those reporting excellent mental health, after controlling for sociodemographic factors and self-rated health. The significant association observed in the first two models between mental health and number of days consuming five or more servings of fruits and vegetables became non-significant after inclusion of self-rated health. Conclusion: The relationship between mental health and physical activity and diet reaffirms a need for healthcare providers to promote the importance of maintaining both a healthy physical activity level and a nutrient-rich diet in the face of challenging circumstances, such as a global pandemic.

Scoping Review of Healthcare Literature on Mobile, Wearable, and Textile Sensing Technology for Continuous Monitoring

Remote monitoring of health can reduce frequent hospitalisations, diminishing the burden on the healthcare system and cost to the community. Patient monitoring helps identify symptoms associated with diseases or disease-driven disorders, which makes it an essential element of medical diagnoses, clinical interventions, and rehabilitation treatments for severe medical conditions. This monitoring can be expensive and time-consuming and provide an incomplete picture of the state of the patient. In the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the adoption of mobile and wearable devices, along with the introduction of smart textile solutions that offer the possibility of continuous monitoring. These alternatives fuel a technology shift in healthcare, one that involves the continuous tracking and monitoring of individuals. This scoping review examines how mobile, wearable, and textile sensing technology have been permeating healthcare by offering alternate solutions to challenging issues, such as personalised prescriptions or home-based secondary prevention. To do so, we have selected 222 healthcare literature articles published from 2007 to 2019 and reviewed them following the PRISMA process under the schema of a scoping review framework. Overall, our findings show a recent increase in research on mobile sensing technology to address patient monitoring, reflected by 128 articles published in journals and 19 articles in conference proceedings between 2014 and 2019, which represents 57.65% and 8.55% respectively of all included articles.

P334 Heart model method: could it be a new echocardiographic gold-standard for the assessment of the left ventricular systolic function in a population under chemotherapy treatment?

Background

Echocardiographic assessment of the left ventricular systolic function is essential in diagnosis and during the follow up of cardiovascular diseases. Although subjective visual approach method is easily applied, quantitative systems give more objective information about systolic function analyses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the different quantitative methods of estimating systolic function basal in non-invasive techniques

Methods

We used a group of 40 patients, prospectively collected, under chemotherapy treatment with preserved systolic function. Same echocardiography device (Philips EPIQ-7) has been used in all studies (acquiring apical 4 and 2 chambers and 3 D of apical volume by an experimented operator). We compare three standard methods with impact in the literature (Speckle tracking and 3D Heartmodel system) to the echocardiographic gold-standard (Simpson’s biplane method). The Bland-Altman method has been used for the graphic comparison of the values of the resulting measures while the statistical comparison was made by a T-student method.

Results

Three quantitative methods were used to compare left ventricular systolic function assessment (Heart Model 3D (60.4% ± 5.2%), Strain (60.50% ± 7.1%), global longitudinal strain (-19.7 ± 3.15%) to Simpson’s biplane (mean 62.10% ± 5.75%). Values of differential means (2.73 with Heart model 3D and 2.08 with Strain) compared to Simpson’s biplane were translated to a Bland-Altman plot and means were compared with a T-student method. A statistically significant difference was found in case of the Heartmodel method compared with Simpson’s biplane (p < 0.05), though it does not imply any clinical difference. Less time consuming and better segmentation of the cardiac cavities in just one beat with the 3D-Heart Model technique was a magnificent point compared to the Strain method that needed a postprocessing modification

Conclusions

Heartmodel method is probably the most time-saving and with a good accuracy of left ventricular systolic function assesment and it is not inferior compared to the echocardiographic gold-standard Simpson’s biplane method.

Abstract P334 Figure 1. Bland-Altman analysis

P923 Ultrasound follow-up of left atrial appendage occlusion devices

Background

Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion devices represent an important alternative to anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with high risk of bleeding and who have suffered any hemorrhagic event. At first, a transesophageal ultrasound is performed to examine cardiac cavities, take measures of LAA and discharge the presence of thrombi. We redo a new transesophageal ultrasound as a control three months later after having installed the device. The purpose of this article is to show our experience in ultrasound follow up of LAA occlusion.

Methodology

All measures of LAA were taken with the transoesophageal ultrasound device by the same operator. According to the size acquired from the appendage of each patient, they were divided into a first group with the implementation of the Watchman device (23 patients) and Amplatzer (6 patients). A transthoracic echocardiography control was performed on each patient to rule out the presence of complications after the intervention, before to be discharged from hospital. After three months, a new transoesophageal study was repeated to assess the correct position of the device and to rule out the presence of any disfunctions or clot formation.

Results

A total of 29 patients with AF (CHADSVASC 4.09 HASBLED 2.96) with a high risk of bleeding and after having suffered any complications (41% brain bleeding, 31% major gastrointestinal bleeding, 27% advanced chronic kidney disease) were presented for the implantation of a LAA closure device. Firstly, LAA size was confirm and the presence of a thrombi was rule out. No patient suffered complications during the procedure that was confirmed with transthoracic echocardiography (discharging the presence of perforation, pericardial effusion or tamponade). At three months later, we performed a new transoesophageal as a control for the assessment of the place and presence of GAPs, if any (80% correct-placed, 15% placed with a gap of 2-4 mm with passage of flow throughout). In a 10-month follow-up, it was found that practically 93% of patients were still without anticoagulation, except two patients, one of them (CHADSVASC 4 HASBLED 2) had to reintroduce oral anticoagulation due to the fact of the clot formation on the device. The second one (CHADSVASC 4 HASBLED 2) had to reintroduce temporarily fractionated heparin due to stent thrombosis in the femoral artery. None of them presented any ischemic complications or new haemorrhagic events.

Conclusions

LAA occlusion devices are an effective and safe alternative to anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation with predisposition to bleeding where ultrasound techniques play an essential role in all stages of procedure (prior to implantation of the device, during and at the follow-up).

Street dust from a heavily-populated and industrialized city: Evaluation of spatial distribution, origins, pollution, ecological risks and human health repercussions

Emissions from vehicles include particles from tire and brake wearing that can settle down and join industrial discharges into street dust. Metals present in street dust may create ecological and health threats and their analysis is of great environmental relevance. The city of Monterrey, Mexico is an industrial pillar of the country and shows an increasing fleet during the last years, which has yielded higher traffic and emissions. This study analyzes 44 street dust samples taken across the city for total element concentrations by using X-ray fluorescence. Associations and indicators are calculated to define possible origins, levels of pollution, natural or anthropogenic sources, and ecological and human health risks. High concentrations of As, Ba, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, and Zn were found. Main sources of metals were defined as: tire wearing for Zn and Fe; brake wearing for Ba, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zr; additional industrial sources for Mo, Ni, Pb, and Ti; and other natural sources for As. Ecological risk was found to be moderate across the city and risk due to Pb concentrations was established for children.

Prevalence, geographic distribution and phenotypic differences of Piscirickettsia salmonis EM-90-like isolates

Early reports accounted for two main genotypes of Piscirickettsia salmonis, a fish pathogen and causative agent of piscirickettsiosis, placing the single isolate EM-90 apart from the prototypic LF-89 and related isolates. In this study, we provide evidence that, contrary to what has been supposed, the EM-90-like isolates are highly prevalent and disseminated across Chilean marine farms. Molecular analysis of 507 P. salmonis field isolates derived from main rearing areas, diverse hosts and collected over 6 years, revealed that nearly 50% of the entire collection were indeed typed as EM-90-like. Interestingly, these isolates showed a marked host preference, being recovered exclusively from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) samples. Although both strains produce undistinguishable pathological outcomes, differences regarding growth kinetics and susceptibility to the antibiotics and bactericidal action of serum could be identified. In sum, our results allow to conclude that the EM-90-like isolates represent an epidemiologically relevant group in the current situation of piscirickettsiosis. Based on the consistency between genotype and phenotype exhibited by this strain, we point out the need for genotypic studies that may be as important for the Chilean salmon industry as the continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.

Prevalence, geographic distribution and phenotypic differences of Piscirickettsia salmonis EM-90-like isolates

Early reports accounted for two main genotypes of Piscirickettsia salmonis, a fish pathogen and causative agent of piscirickettsiosis, placing the single isolate EM-90 apart from the prototypic LF-89 and related isolates. In this study, we provide evidence that, contrary to what has been supposed, the EM-90-like isolates are highly prevalent and disseminated across Chilean marine farms. Molecular analysis of 507 P. salmonis field isolates derived from main rearing areas, diverse hosts and collected over 6 years, revealed that nearly 50% of the entire collection were indeed typed as EM-90-like. Interestingly, these isolates showed a marked host preference, being recovered exclusively from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) samples. Although both strains produce undistinguishable pathological outcomes, differences regarding growth kinetics and susceptibility to the antibiotics and bactericidal action of serum could be identified. In sum, our results allow to conclude that the EM-90-like isolates represent an epidemiologically relevant group in the current situation of piscirickettsiosis. Based on the consistency between genotype and phenotype exhibited by this strain, we point out the need for genotypic studies that may be as important for the Chilean salmon industry as the continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.

Prevention of infectious complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Infection and sepsis is a complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy that can lead to morbidity, mortality, and increased costs. Herein we review the current relevant literature on the topic of prevention of sepsis after percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Prevalence and correlates of rest tremor in essential tremor: cross-sectional survey of 831 patients across four distinct cohorts

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Essential tremor (ET) is amongst the most commonly encountered neurological disorders. Its hallmark feature is kinetic tremor. However, other tremors may also occur in ET patients, creating considerable diagnostic confusion amongst treating physicians. Hence, characterizing the prevalence and clinical accompaniments of these other tremors is of value. Surprisingly, there are few data on the prevalence of rest tremor in ET patients, and even fewer data on the clinical correlates of such tremor.

METHODS

Eight hundred and thirty-one patients in four distinct settings (population, genetics study, study of environmental epidemiology, brain bank) underwent a detailed videotaped neurological examination that was reviewed by a senior movement disorders neurologist. Rest tremor was evaluated in several positions (seated, standing, lying down).

RESULTS

The prevalence of rest tremor whilst seated or standing was lowest in the population-based setting (1.9%), highest in the brain bank study (46.4%) and intermediate in the remaining two settings (9.6% and 14.7%, respectively). Rest tremor was restricted to the arms and was not observed in the legs. Rest tremor was associated with older age, longer disease duration (in some studies), greater tremor severity and, to some extent, the presence of cranial tremors.

CONCLUSIONS

Rest tremor can be a common clinical feature of ET. Its prevalence is highly dependent on the setting in which patients are evaluated, ranging from as low as 1% to nearly 50%. Rest tremor seems to emerge as a clinical feature with advancing disease. The anatomical substrates for this type of tremor remain unknown at present.

The microtubule associated protein tau H1 haplotype and risk of essential tremor

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Two recent studies investigated the association of the microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT) H1 haplotype, a known risk factor for neurodegenerative disease including progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease (PD), with essential tremor (ET).

METHODS

To confirm this association in a different population the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies for the MAPT H1/H2 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1052553 in ET cases and controls enrolled in a clinical-epidemiological study of ET at Columbia University was analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, no association was observed between ET and the MAPT H1 haplotype. The analysis was also restricted to clinical subtypes including early-onset (≤40 years of age), Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, white non-Ashkenazi, or ET cases with a 'definite' or 'probable/possible' diagnosis; none of these stratified analyses showed evidence of association with ET. A meta-analysis of the H1/H2 tagging SNP rs1052553 in published data sets and the H1 haplotype with risk for ET in the current study was also performed and did not find evidence for association.

CONCLUSIONS

The inconsistent reports of association of MAPT H1 in three emerging studies (our own and two published studies) may reflect sampling issues and/or clinical heterogeneity in these populations.

Cerebral functional asymmetry and phonological performance in dyslexic adults

Developmental dyslexia is a frequent language-based learning disorder characterized by difficulty in reading. The predominant etiologic view postulates that reading impairment is related to phonological and orthographic dysfunction. The aim of this fMRI study was to evaluate the neural bases of phonological processing impairment in remediated dyslexic adults (DD). We used a rhyming words judgment task contrasted with an unreadable fonts font-matching judgment task to compare patterns of activation and functional asymmetry in DD and normal-reading young adults. We found evidence of a link between asymmetry in inferior frontal gyrus and performance during the phonological processing. We also observed that DD recruit a network including regions involved in articulatory control in order to achieve rhyme judgment suggesting that, due to a lack of hemispheric specialization, DD recruit the latter network to achieve rhyme judgment.

Discrimination between biological motion with and without social intention: a pilot study using visual scanning in healthy adults

Human beings have a detailed understanding of others' action and body language allowing them to adapt their behaviour for effective social interaction. A proper selection of human motion deserving a social intention over the many human motion surrounding them may be executed by overt visual-spatial attention. The aim of this study was to characterize eye movements in 32 healthy adults while exploring Social and Non-social human biological motion using an eye tracking method according to two paradigms. The "preferential looking paradigm" revealed that the first fixation is more often on the Non-social Motion than Social Motion but the first fixations duration are longer on Social Motion. Moreover, with the same paradigm, subjects spent a greater looking time percentage on Social Motion than Non-social Motion, no matter whether discrimination between categories was asked for or not. In the "blocks paradigm" the looking time percentage varied by the body parts (chests, pelvis and legs) and its distribution was different between categories. Eye movements revealed a spontaneous, fast and durable bias of overt visual-spatial attention favouring the perception of Social Motion and a different visual scanpath for Social compared to Non-social human biological motion. These findings constitute a basis for the investigation of a 'social intention' bias in perception of human biological motion.

SU-E-T-180: The Radiological Physics Center's Anthropomorphic Quality Assurance Phantom Program

PURPOSE

To describe the phantoms, program logistics and current results for the Radiological Physics Center's (RPC) anthropomorphic QA phantom program for credentialing institutions for participation in NCI-sponsored advanced technology clinical trials.

METHODS

The RPC has developed an extensive phantom credentialing program consisting of four different phantoms designs: H&N, pelvis, lung and spine. These QA phantoms are water-filled plastic shells with imageable targets, avoidance structures, and heterogeneities that contain TLD and radiochromic film dosimeters. Institutions wishing to be credentialed request a phantom and are prioritized for delivery. At the institution, the phantom is imaged, a treatment plan is developed, the phantom is positioned on the treatment couch and the treatment is delivered. The phantom is returned and the measured dose distributions are compared to the institution's electronically submitted treatment plan dosimetry data.

RESULTS

The RPC currently has an inventory of 31 H&N, 10 pelvis, 9 lung, and 8 spine phantoms that are mailed to institutions nationally and internationally. In 2011, 444 of these phantoms were mailed out for credentialing. Once the phantom is sent, it takes the institution an average of 26 days to return it to the RPC. On average the dosimeters are analyzed within 17 days and the report is sent 21 days after receipt of the phantom data. In 2011 the percent of phantoms meeting the acceptance criteria increased by 12, 13 and 6 percentage points for the H&N, spine and lung phantoms, respectively. It fell by 5 percentage points for the pelvis phantom.

CONCLUSIONS

The RPC's QA phantom program has been an effective and responsive QA tool for assessing the use of advanced technologies in NCI sponsored clinical trials. The RPC has been efficient in its mailing of phantoms, and analyzing and reporting results. Work supported by PHS grant CA10953 and CA081647 (NCI, DHHS).

Nanopore detection of single molecule RNAP-DNA transcription complex

In the past decade, a number of single-molecule methods have been developed with the aim of investigating single protein and nucleic acid interactions. For the first time we use solid-state nanopore sensing to detect a single E. coli RNAP-DNA transcription complex and single E. coli RNAP enzyme. On the basis of their specific conductance translocation signature, we can discriminate and identify between those two types of molecular translocations and translocations of bare DNA. This opens up a new perspectives for investigating transcription processes at the single-molecule level.

Therapeutic compliance: a prospective analysis of various factors involved in the adherence rate in type 2 diabetes

It's established that adherence rates to treatment are bad in chronic illnesses. The number of medicines prescribed and the rates of daily dosages have been shown to be of major influence for therapeutic compliance in AIDS or hypertension. Nevertheless, data on adherence to prescribed medications amongst diabetics are scarce. The aim of our study was to evaluate parameters influencing therapeutic compliance in type 2 diabetes. Adherence to treatment was evaluated by a questionnaire filled out during patient's hospitalisation in the diabetology department of a French general hospital of 450 beds. Factors influencing compliance were quantified taking into account demographic characteristics of our population, the treatments used, biological and medical data. 94 patients hospitalised for uncontrolled diabetes, aged 41-89 years, were studied. Non-adherence rate was high, 33 of them showed poor adherence to their drug treatment. Non-compliers were younger than compliant patients (56.5+/-12.1 vs. 65.5+/-12.5 years old; P<0.0001) and with a lower social position. Clinically, they were characterised by a shorter duration of diabetes and a lower number of clinical complications as macroangiopathy (6.9 vs. 33.3%; P=0.006). The number of daily doses or medicines didn't affect adherence rate. Improved control in therapeutic compliance may lead to better diabetic patients education. The implication is that instead of increasing the dose, changing the medication, or adding a second drug when glucose and HbA(1c)levels are high, clinicians should consider counselling patients on how to improve therapeutic compliance.