Design and assessment of a penile fracture simulation model

OBJECTIVE

To design and assess a novel penile fracture simulation model for teaching penile fracture repair.

METHODS

We used a validated circumcision simulator to create a model. Foreskin for a circumcision was divided into two halves. A transverse slit ("simulated fracture") was created on one part of the first half of the foreskin (mimicking "tunica") and was applied over the penile model. A red jelly tablet ("clot") was placed underneath the cut. A second full-length of foreskin was applied over it to cover the defect. The model was assessed by participants and expert faculty at the Urology Simulation Boot Camp. Evaluation was performed using a 5-point Likert Scale questionnaire. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics V25. The intra-class correlation was calculated using a "One-way random model".

RESULTS

Twenty-two urology trainees and four experts participated in the evaluation. The majority of trainees strongly agreed (59%, n=13) the model is useful for training with experts similarly agreeing in 75% of cases. The appearance of penile fracture was considered good by both trainees (68%, n=14) and faculty (75%). Overall, the ability of the model to represent a realistic simulation of the task was considered excellent by 23% of participants and good by 64%. Personal confidence after simulation in managing a similar situation was considered high among trainees. The main difficulties reported were related to fascial planes and urethra.

CONCLUSION

This is the first simulation model for penile fracture repair and has demonstrated face validity at a national urology bootcamp.

Cortical responses before 6 months of life associate with later autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common, highly heritable, developmental disorder and later-born siblings of diagnosed children are at higher risk of developing ASD than the general population. Although the emergence of behavioural symptoms of ASD in toddlerhood is well characterized, far less is known about development during the first months of life of infants at familial risk. In a prospective longitudinal study of infants at familial risk followed to 36 months, we measured functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain responses to social videos of people (i.e. peek-a-boo) compared to non-social images (vehicles) and human vocalizations compared to non-vocal sounds. At 4-6 months, infants who went on to develop ASD at 3 years (N = 5) evidenced-reduced activation to visual social stimuli relative to low-risk infants (N = 16) across inferior frontal (IFG) and posterior temporal (pSTS-TPJ) regions of the cortex. Furthermore, these infants also showed reduced activation to vocal sounds and enhanced activation to non-vocal sounds within left lateralized temporal (aMTG-STG/pSTS-TPJ) regions compared with low-risk infants and high-risk infants who did not develop ASD (N = 15). The degree of activation to both the visual and auditory stimuli correlated with parent-reported ASD symptomology in toddlerhood. These preliminary findings are consistent with later atypical social brain responses seen in children and adults with ASD, and highlight the need for further work interrogating atypical processing in early infancy and how it may relate to later social interaction and communication difficulties characteristic of ASD.

Predictability of excimer laser treatment of myopia and astigmatism by the VISX Twenty-Twenty. Melbourne Excimer Laser Group

BACKGROUND

To determine the predictability of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to correct myopia, astigmatism, or both between -1.00 and -19.00 diopters (D).

SETTING

Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia.

METHODS

This study comprised 1218 consecutive eyes treated with a VISX Twenty-Twenty excimer laser and followed prospectively for 12 months. Low myopia was treated with one ablation zone (6.0 mm), high myopia with two ablation zones (5.0 and 6.0 mm), and extreme myopia with three ablation zones (4.5, 5.0, and 6.0 mm). Maximum spherical treatment was 15.00 D at the corneal plane. Data were analyzed to determine the predictability of the postoperative outcomes by preoperative refraction.

RESULTS

Nine hundred eighty eyes (80.5%) were available for the 12 month follow-up. The predictability of refraction and uncorrected and best corrected visual acuities progressively decreased with increasing myopia, although a comparable percentage of spherical correction was achieved at each diopter of myopia. The likelihood of losing lines of best corrected visual acuity and corneal haze increased with increasing myopia.

CONCLUSION

These data can be used to counsel patients of likely outcomes of excimer laser PRK to correct myopia.

Three Multizone Photorefractive Keratectomy Algorithms for Myopia

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and complications of three different excimer laser algorithms for multizone photorefractive and photoastigmatic keratectomy.

METHODS

Three different software algorithms were applied to treat myopia and myopic astigmatism with the VISX 20/20 excimer laser. Each algorithm had a maximum ablation zone of 6 mm but differed in the number of zones employed, the proportion of the total treatment allocated to each ablation zone, and the treatment of astigmatism. The Melbourne multizone technique equally divided myopia correction into a maximum of three ablation zones. The Pop multizone technique biased myopia treatment into the smaller diameter zones to a maximum of six ablation zones, with one central island pretreatment. The Alpins multizone technique equally divided myopia treatment through all zones up to a maximum of six, with one central island pretreatment.

RESULTS

A total of 585 patients (780 eyes) were treated and 625 eyes (80%) were followed for more than 6 months. The mean baseline spherical equivalent refractive error was -5.63 D (-1.00 to -19.50 D). Between 71 and 79% of eyes were treated for astigmatism. There was no statistically significant differences in baseline refractive error or other characteristics among the three groups. At 6 months, the Alpins multizone algorithm had more eyes with a refractive error within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia (p = 0.01) and more within +/- 2.00 D of emmetropia (p < 0.01). This new algorithm produced more eyes with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better at 6 months (p < 0.01). When multiple logistic regression was used to correct for any differences in baseline myopia among the three groups, this algorithm also had a higher odds ratio for achieving 20/20 or better uncorrected visual acuity (OR = 1.58).

CONCLUSION

At 6 months, all three algorithms were effective in the reduction of myopia. Significantly better visual acuity and refractive results were achieved with the Alpins multizone algorithm that spread the total treatment over a larger number of ablation zones, with an equal number of diopters of treatment in each zone.

Ergonomic education for nursing students

An educational package of common ergonomic training as well as behavioural training was implemented in nursing education. The teaching methods also had the aim of increasing students' awareness of the importance of total work environment for the prevention of back injuries. The experimental group was, on the whole, more pleased with their education than the control group. The experimental group judged their ability to analyse the work environment higher than the control group did. Observations in some practical work-tasks showed that students from the experimental group worked in physically more favourable positions with less strain on the body.

Clinical significance of immune complexes in rheumatoid disease

Circulating immune complexes were measured by the Clq binding assay in 49 cases of rheumatoid disease. Raised levels showed a positive correlation with activity of the arthritis, the number of involved joints and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. No correlation was found with age, sex, duration of disease, rheumatoid nodules, presented of radiographic joint erosions or other haematological and serological parameters. In 12 patients the arthritis subsequently remitted and this remission in disease activity correlated with reduced levels of immune complexes.

Successful valve replacement for aortic incompetence in rheumatoid arthritis with vasculitis

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), vasculitis, and aortic valve incompetence of the histologically nonspecific type is described. Valve replacement was undertaken, and an excellent haemodynamic result was achieved. Both arthritis and vasculitis subsequently remitted. Valve replacement can be successfully performed in RA despite active vasculitis.