Timeline to dysphagia resolution after endoscopic intervention of an interarytenoid defect based on Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study dysphagia severity

INTRODUCTION

We previously reported that endoscopic repair of a Type 1 Laryngeal Cleft (LC1) or Deep Interarytenoid Groove (DIG) improves swallowing function postoperatively. However, caregivers often ask about the timeline to resolution of the need for thickening. This study re-examines this cohort to answer this important caregiver-centered question.

METHODS

We reassessed a 3-year retrospective, single-center dataset of children with dysphagia found to have a LC-1 or DIG on endoscopic exam. The primary outcome was rate of complete resolution of dysphagia at 2, 6, and 12 months after endoscopic intervention. A sub-group analysis was made based on severity of dysphagia prior to intervention and by type of endoscopic repair.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients with mean age 1.35 years that had a LC-1 or DIG met criteria for inclusion. Rate of complete dysphagia resolution increased over time. Those with mild dysphagia (flow-reducing nipple and/or IDDSI consistency 1 or 2) had brisker resolution than those with moderate dysphagia (IDDSI consistency 3 or 4) at 2 months (67% vs 5%, p < 0.01) and at 6 months (80% vs 18%, p < 0.01) after endoscopic repair. There was no difference in dysphagia resolution between patients grouped by type of endoscopic repair.

CONCLUSION

Addressing an interarytenoid defect in patients will not result in immediate, complete dysphagia resolution in most patients. However, patients that only require a flow-reducing nipple and/or thickening to an IDDSI consistency 1 or 2 have brisker resolution of the need for thickening than those that require an IDSSI consistency 3 or 4 prior to intervention. These results inform pre-operative discussions of the timeline to resolution based upon severity of dysphagia and help manage caregiver expectations.

Critical Analysis of the Use of Semiempirical Models on the Dehydration of Thin-Layer Foods Based on Two Study Cases

Moisture transport during food drying can be phenomenologically described by Fick’s second law and by the so-called anomalous diffusion model. However, in the literature, many studies have shown the extensive use of empirical/semiempirical models (EMs/SEMs) to adjust experimental data for the drying of thin-layer foods. This research aims to perform a critical analysis of the most commonly used EMs/SEMs and compare them with Fick’s second law and an anomalous diffusion model using two different sets of hot-air drying data. Two waste byproducts from the food industry, spent coffee grounds and passion fruit peels, were selected for analysis. The selected EMs/SEMs were found to be mathematically interrelated (i.e., some are a subset of others), and their appropriateness was incorrectly justified mainly by their statistical goodness-of-fit. As shown, it is highly recommended that researchers start analyzing drying data with phenomenological models. The extensive use of EMs and SEMs can be replaced by the anomalous diffusion model, which has a high capacity to adjust empirical data and a sound phenomenological description of the process.

Ultra-compact x-ray spectrometer for high-repetition-rate laser-plasma experiments

We present in this work the development of an ultra-compact, multi-channel x-ray spectrometer (UCXS). This diagnostic has been specially built and adapted to perform at high-repetition-rate (>1 Hz) for high-intensity, short-pulse laser plasma experiments. X-ray filters of varying materials and thicknesses are chosen to provide spectral resolution up to ΔE ≈ 1 keV over the x-ray energy range of 1-30 keV. These filters are distributed over a total of 25 channels, where each x-ray filter is coupled to a single scintillator. The UCXS is designed to detect and resolve a large variety of laser-driven x-ray sources such as low energy bremsstrahlung emission, fluorescence, and betatron radiation (up to 30 keV). Preliminary results from commissioning experiments at the ABL laser facility at Colorado State University are provided.

Universal use of surgical masks is tolerated and prevents respiratory viral infection in stem cell transplant recipients

Prevention of respiratory viral infection in stem cell transplant patients is important due to its high risk of adverse outcome. This single-centre, mixed methods study, conducted before the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic, explored the barriers and facilitators to a policy of universal mask use by visitors and healthcare workers, and examined the impact of the first year of introduction of the policy on respiratory viral infection rates compared with preceding years, adjusted for overall incidence. Education around universal mask use was highlighted as being particularly important in policy implementation. A significant decrease in respiratory viral infection was observed following introduction.

Thermal decoupling of deuterium and tritium during the inertial confinement fusion shock-convergence phase

A series of thin glass-shell shock-driven DT gas-filled capsule implosions was conducted at the OMEGA laser facility. These experiments generate conditions relevant to the central plasma during the shock-convergence phase of ablatively driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. The spectral temperatures inferred from the DTn and DDn spectra are most consistent with a two-ion-temperature plasma, where the initial apparent temperature ratio, T_{T}/T_{D}, is 1.5. This is an experimental confirmation of the long-standing conjecture that plasma shocks couple energy directly proportional to the species mass in multi-ion plasmas. The apparent temperature ratio trend with equilibration time matches expected thermal equilibration described by hydrodynamic theory. This indicates that deuterium and tritium ions have different energy distributions for the time period surrounding shock convergence in ignition-relevant ICF implosions.

Direct Measurements of DT Fuel Preheat from Hot Electrons in Direct-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion

Hot electrons generated by laser-plasma instabilities degrade the performance of laser-fusion implosions by preheating the DT fuel and reducing core compression. The hot-electron energy deposition in the DT fuel has been directly measured for the first time by comparing the hard x-ray signals between DT-layered and mass-equivalent ablator-only implosions. The electron energy deposition profile in the fuel is inferred through dedicated experiments using Cu-doped payloads of varying thickness. The measured preheat energy accurately explains the areal-density degradation observed in many OMEGA implosions. This technique can be used to assess the viability of the direct-drive approach to laser fusion with respect to the scaling of hot-electron preheat with laser energy.

Is urinary incontinence associated with lichen sclerosus in females? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Background

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a scarring chronic inflammatory disease with a predilection for genital skin in both sexes. The aetiology of LS is controversial, but evidence increasingly suggests that the occluded exposure of susceptible epithelium to urine is involved in the pathogenesis of genital LS in males. This theory has not yet been robustly investigated in females.

Objectives

This review and meta‐analysis examined whether there is an association between urinary incontinence (UI) and genital lichen LS in females.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL to identify observational studies assessing the prevalence of UI in females with LS. DerSimonian and Laird random‐effects models were used to estimate the overall pooled prevalence and risk ratio compared to controls. Heterogeneity was assessed.

Results

In total, eight studies met the inclusion criteria and five studies were included in a meta‐analysis. Three studies were graded as moderate quality and five were poor. The pooled prevalence for UI in LS was 0.35 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13–0.58, I² = 98.4%). The risk ratio of UI in LS was 0.97 (95% CI 0.53–1.75, I² = 87.5%).

Conclusion

There appears to be no difference between patients with LS and those without LS in terms of UI. Studies are limited by clinical and methodological quality and heterogeneity is high. Well‐designed prospective studies are needed.

Trans-Atlantic aeromedical repatriation of multiple COVID-19 patients: a hybrid military-civilian model

Here, we report the first known transcontinental aeromedical evacuation of a large number (55) of patients with known and suspected positive COVID-19. These patients were evacuated from Havana, Cuba, to the UK through MOD Boscombe Down as part of Operation BROADSHARE, the British military's overseas response to COVID-19. We describe the safe transfer of patients with COVID-19 using a combined military-civilian model. In our view, we have demonstrated that patients with COVID-19 can be aeromedically transferred while ensuring the safety of patients and crew using a hybrid military-civilian model; this report contains lessons for future aeromedical evacuation of patients with COVID-19.

Perioperative intravenous contrast administration and the incidence of acute kidney injury after major gastrointestinal surgery: prospective, multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the impact of preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast for CT and the risk of developing postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre cohort study included adults undergoing gastrointestinal resection, stoma reversal or liver resection. Both elective and emergency procedures were included. Preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast was defined as exposure to contrast administered for the purposes of CT up to 7 days before surgery. The primary endpoint was the rate of AKI within 7 days. Propensity score-matched models were adjusted for patient, disease and operative variables. In a sensitivity analysis, a propensity score-matched model explored the association between preoperative exposure to contrast and AKI in the first 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 5378 patients were included across 173 centres. Overall, 1249 patients (23·2 per cent) received intravenous contrast. The overall rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery was 13·4 per cent (718 of 5378). In the propensity score-matched model, preoperative exposure to contrast was not associated with AKI within 7 days (odds ratio (OR) 0·95, 95 per cent c.i. 0·73 to 1·21; P = 0·669). The sensitivity analysis showed no association between preoperative contrast administration and AKI within 48 h after operation (OR 1·09, 0·84 to 1·41; P = 0·498).

CONCLUSION

There was no association between preoperative intravenous contrast administered for CT up to 7 days before surgery and postoperative AKI. Risk of contrast-induced nephropathy should not be used as a reason to avoid contrast-enhanced CT.

Infrared thermography and ulcer prevention in the high-risk diabetic foot: data from a single-blind multicentre controlled clinical trial

AIM

To assess the usefulness of monthly thermography and standard foot care to reduce diabetic foot ulcer recurrence.

METHODS

People with diabetes (n = 110), neuropathy and history of ≥ 1 foot ulcer participated in a single-blind multicentre clinical trial. Feet were imaged with a novel thermal imaging device (Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention System). Participants were randomized to intervention (active thermography + standard foot care) or control (blinded thermography + standard foot care) and were followed up monthly until ulcer recurrence or for 12 months. Foot thermograms of participants from the intervention group were assessed for hot spots (areas with temperature ≥ 2.2°C higher than the corresponding contralateral site) and acted upon as per local standards.

RESULTS

After 12 months, 62% of participants were ulcer-free in the intervention group and 56% in the control group. The odds ratios of ulcer recurrence (intervention vs control) were 0.82 (95% CI 0.38, 1.8; P = 0.62) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.21, 1.4; P = 0.22) in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively. The hazard ratios for the time to ulcer recurrence (intervention vs control) were 0.84 (95% CI 0.45, 1.6; P = 0.58) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.34, 1.3; P = 0.24) in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Monthly intervention with thermal imaging did not result in a significant reduction in ulcer recurrence rate or increased ulcer-free survival in this cohort at high risk of foot ulcers. This trial has, however, informed the design of a refined study with longer follow-up and group stratification, further aiming to assess the efficacy of thermography to reduce ulcer recurrence.

NPL contributions to the standardisation and validation of contemporary medical thermometry methods

Since the advent of reliable mercury-in-glass thermometers in the latter part of the 19th century the practice of clinical thermometry was thought to be a solved issue. However with advances in technology there has, in recent decades, been a proliferation of temperature measurement methods applied to medical science. Many of these have been introduced because of the clinical benefit they confer, nevertheless, in some cases the metrological foundation and infrastructure to ensure sound measurement was not in place. This paper will focus on the standardisation activity undertaken by the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to support reliable temperature measurement, using a number of innovative methods, in a clinical setting.

Optimization of hot-air drying conditions for cassava flour for its application in gluten-free pasta formulation

The design and development of gluten-free foods requires a comprehensive understanding of the behavior of the raw materials to attain the same cooking and nutritional quality as gluten-based food. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal hot-air drying conditions for elaboration of cassava flour to be used in a gluten-free pasta formulation. The results showed that the operational conditions to minimize the hot-air drying time (57 min) to produce cassava flour with higher water holding capacity was 57 ℃ at 3 m/s. Then, the optimal formulation for the pasta was found to be cassava (26 g/100 g), amaranth flour (12 g/100 g), and carboxymethyl cellulose (0.23 g/100 g), which maximized the A_w (0.160), moisture content (3.10 g/100 g), hardness (5.02 N), and protein content (9.30 g/100 g), and it is used for the sensorial analysis, which showed that an earthy taste was the main problem with consumer satisfaction.

Critical care usage after major gastrointestinal and liver surgery: a prospective, multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND

Patient selection for critical care admission must balance patient safety with optimal resource allocation. This study aimed to determine the relationship between critical care admission, and postoperative mortality after abdominal surgery.

METHODS

This prespecified secondary analysis of a multicentre, prospective, observational study included consecutive patients enrolled in the DISCOVER study from UK and Republic of Ireland undergoing major gastrointestinal and liver surgery between October and December 2014. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore associations between critical care admission (planned and unplanned) and mortality, and inter-centre variation in critical care admission after emergency laparotomy.

RESULTS

Of 4529 patients included, 37.8% (n=1713) underwent planned critical care admissions from theatre. Some 3.1% (n=86/2816) admitted to ward-level care subsequently underwent unplanned critical care admission. Overall 30-day mortality was 2.9% (n=133/4519), and the risk-adjusted association between 30-day mortality and critical care admission was higher in unplanned [odds ratio (OR): 8.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.51-19.97) than planned admissions (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.43-3.85). Some 26.7% of patients (n=1210/4529) underwent emergency laparotomies. After adjustment, 49.3% (95% CI: 46.8-51.9%, P<0.001) were predicted to have planned critical care admissions, with 7% (n=10/145) of centres outside the 95% CI.

CONCLUSIONS

After risk adjustment, no 30-day survival benefit was identified for either planned or unplanned postoperative admissions to critical care within this cohort. This likely represents appropriate admission of the highest-risk patients. Planned admissions in selected, intermediate-risk patients may present a strategy to mitigate the risk of unplanned admission. Substantial inter-centre variation exists in planned critical care admissions after emergency laparotomies.

Reliability of a novel thermal imaging system for temperature assessment of healthy feet

Background

Thermal imaging is a useful modality for identifying preulcerative lesions (“hot spots”) in diabetic foot patients. Despite its recognised potential, at present, there is no readily available instrument for routine podiatric assessment of patients at risk. To address this need, a novel thermal imaging system was recently developed. This paper reports the reliability of this device for temperature assessment of healthy feet.

Methods

Plantar skin foot temperatures were measured with the novel thermal imaging device (Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention System (DFUPS), constructed by Photometrix Imaging Ltd) and also with a hand-held infrared spot thermometer (Thermofocus® 01500A3, Tecnimed, Italy) after 20 min of barefoot resting with legs supported and extended in 105 subjects (52 males and 53 females; age range 18 to 69 years) as part of a multicentre clinical trial. The temperature differences between the right and left foot at five regions of interest (ROIs), including 1st and 4th toes, 1st, 3rd and 5th metatarsal heads were calculated. The intra-instrument agreement (three repeated measures) and the inter-instrument agreement (hand-held thermometer and thermal imaging device) were quantified using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Both devices showed almost perfect agreement in replication by instrument. The intra-instrument ICCs for the thermal imaging device at all five ROIs ranged from 0.95 to 0.97 and the intra-instrument ICCs for the hand-held-thermometer ranged from 0.94 to 0.97. There was substantial to perfect inter-instrument agreement between the hand-held thermometer and the thermal imaging device and the ICCs at all five ROIs ranged between 0.94 and 0.97.

Conclusions

This study reports the performance of a novel thermal imaging device in the assessment of foot temperatures in healthy volunteers in comparison with a hand-held infrared thermometer. The newly developed thermal imaging device showed very good agreement in repeated temperature assessments at defined ROIs as well as substantial to perfect agreement in temperature assessment with the hand-held infrared thermometer. In addition to the reported non-inferior performance in temperature assessment, the thermal imaging device holds the potential to provide an instantaneous thermal image of all sites of the feet (plantar, dorsal, lateral and medial views).

Trial registration

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention System NCT02317835, registered December 10, 2014

Upregulation of epidermal gap junctional proteins in patients with venous disease

Background

Leg ulceration is a feared complication of venous insufficiency. It is not known whether varicose veins predispose skin to poor wound healing. The expression pattern of gap junctional protein connexin, a known marker of poor wound healing, was investigated across various stages of venous disease.

Methods

Patients undergoing intervention for varicose veins were assessed according to the Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification of varicose veins. Paired 4-mm punch biopsies were taken from above the ankle (pathological) and above the knee (control). Tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and for connexin 43, connexin 30 and connexin 26.

Results

Forty-eight paired biopsies were taken (12 each for CEAP class C0, C2, C4 and C6). The pathological skin showed progressive epithelial hyperthickening, an increase in the number and depth of rete ridges, increased inflammation and loss of dermal architecture with disease progression from C4 onwards. The overall absolute connexin expression and mean connexin expression per cell in the pathological skin similarly increased across the CEAP classes from as early as C2. Increasing levels of connexin in control skin were also noted, indicating progression of the disease proximally. Connexin 43 expression showed the strongest positive correlation between pathological and control skin.

Conclusion

Connexins were overexpressed in patients with simple varicose veins, with a stepwise increased expression through venous eczema to ulceration. Connexin 43 is a potential biomarker for venous disease. This finding suggests that varicose veins predispose skin to poor wound healing. Surgical relevanceThe overexpression of connexins, a family of gap junctional proteins, is known to cause poor healing in venous leg ulceration. It is not known whether there is any association with superficial venous disease. Here, connexin proteins were overexpressed in patients with uncomplicated varicose veins, before histological skin changes. Connexin could be a biomarker of venous disease progression.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) is increasingly being used to improve outcomes such as stress and depression in a range of long-term conditions (LTCs). While systematic reviews on MBSR have taken place for a number of conditions there remains limited information on its impact on individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS

Medline, Central, Embase, Amed, CINAHAL were searched in March 2016. These databases were searched using a combination of MeSH subject headings where available and keywords in the title and abstracts. We also searched the reference lists of related reviews. Study quality was assessed based on questions from the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool.

RESULTS

Two interventions and three papers with a total of 66 participants were included. The interventions were undertaken in Belgium (n = 27) and the USA (n = 39). One study reported significantly increased grey matter density (GMD) in the brains of the MBSR group compared to the usual care group. Significant improvements were reported in one study for a number of outcomes including PD outcomes, depression, mindfulness, and quality of life indicators. Only one intervention was of reasonable quality and both interventions failed to control for potential confounders in the analysis. Adverse events and reasons for drop-outs were not reported. There was also no reporting on the costs/benefits of the intervention or how they affected health service utilisation.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review found limited and inconclusive evidence of the effectiveness of MBSR for PD patients. Both of the included interventions claimed positive effects for PD patients but significant outcomes were often contradicted by other results. Further trials with larger sample sizes, control groups and longer follow-ups are needed before the evidence for MBSR in PD can be conclusively judged.

Comparison of polystyrene scintillator fiber array and monolithic polystyrene for neutron imaging and radiography

The neutron imaging diagnostic at the National Ignition Facility has been operating since 2011 generating neutron images of deuterium-tritium (DT) implosions at peak compression. The current design features a scintillating fiber array, which allows for high imaging resolution to discern small-scale structure within the implosion. In recent years, it has become clear that additional neutron imaging systems need to be constructed in order to provide 3D reconstructions of the DT source and these additional views need to be on a shorter line of sight. As a result, there has been increased effort to identify new image collection techniques that improve upon imaging resolution for these next generation neutron imaging systems, such as monolithic deuterated scintillators. This work details measurements performed at the Weapons Neutron Research Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory that compares the radiographic abilities of the fiber scintillator with a monolithic scintillator, which may be featured in a future short line of sight neutron imaging systems.

Solid polystyrene and deuterated polystyrene light output response to fast neutrons

The Neutron Imaging System has proven to be an important diagnostic in studying DT implosion characteristics at the National Ignition Facility. The current system depends on a polystyrene scintillating fiber array, which detects fusion neutrons born in the DT hotspot as well as neutrons that have scattered to lower energies in the surrounding cold fuel. Increasing neutron yields at NIF, as well as a desire to resolve three-dimensional information about the fuel assembly, have provided the impetus to build and install two additional next-generation neutron imaging systems. We are currently investigating a novel neutron imaging system that will utilize a deuterated polystyrene (CD) fiber array instead of standard hydrogen-based polystyrene (CH). Studies of deuterated xylene or deuterated benzene liquid scintillator show an improvement in imaging resolution by a factor of two [L. Disdier et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75, 2134 (2004)], but also a reduction in light output [V. Bildstein et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 729, 188 (2013); M. I. Ojaruega, Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, 2009; M. T. Febbraro, Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, 2014] as compared to standard plastic. Tests of the relative light output of deuterated polystyrene and standard polystyrene were completed using 14 MeV fusion neutrons generated through implosions of deuterium-tritium filled capsules at the OMEGA laser facility. In addition, we collected data of the relative response of these two scintillators to a wide energy range of neutrons (1-800 MeV) at the Weapons Neutrons Research Facility. Results of these measurements are presented.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck: clinical predictors of outcome from a Canadian centre

OBJECTIVES

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (acc) is often treated with surgery, with or without adjuvant radiation therapy (rt). We evaluated disease characteristics, treatments, and potentially prognostic variables in patients with acc.

METHODS

Our retrospective analysis considered consecutive cases of acc presenting at a tertiary care hospital between 2000 and 2014. Factors predictive of overall survival (os) and disease-free survival (dfs) were identified by univariate analysis.

RESULTS

The 60 patients analyzed had a mean age of 58 years (range: 22-88 years), with a 2:1 female:male ratio. Tumour locations included the major salivary glands (40% parotid, 17% submandibular and sublingual), the oro-nasopharyngeal cavity (27%), and other locations (16%). Of the 60 patients, 35 (58%) received surgery with adjuvant rt; 12 (20%), rt only; 13 (22%), surgery only. Of 18 patients (30%) who experienced a recurrence within 5 years, 3 (5%) developed local recurrence only, and the remaining 15 (25%), distant metastasis. The 5-year os and dfs were 64.5% [95% confidence interval (ci): 45.9% to 78.1%] and 46.2% (95% ci: 29.7% to 61.2%) respectively. In patients without recurrence, 5-year os was 77% (95% ci: 52.8% to 89.9%), and in patients with recurrence, it was 42.7% (95% ci: 15.8% to 67.6%). Patients treated with rt only had a 5-year os of 9.2%. Predictors of 5-year dfs were TNM stage, T stage, nodal status, treatment received, and margin status; age, nodal status, treatment received, and margin status predicted 5-year os.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite surgery and rt, one third of patients with acc experience distant recurrence. Patients whose tumours are not amenable to surgery have a poor prognosis, indicating a need for alternative approaches to improve outcomes.

Human albumin eye drops as a therapeutic option for the management of keratoconjunctivitis sicca secondary to chronic graft-versus-host disease after stem-cell allografting

BACKGROUND

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca from chronic graft-versus-host disease (cgvhd) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation is common, leading to severe corneal damage and blindness if not treated. We retrospectively examined the efficacy and safety of pooled human albumin eye drops (haeds) for symptom relief in 40 stem-cell transplantation patients after other alternatives had failed.

METHODS

The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.0) and the cgvhd grading scale were used to compare response in the patients during January 2000 and July 2013. In addition, on days 1 and 30, the haeds were subjected to quality assurance testing for sterility, oncotic pressure, albumin measurement, viscosity, pH, and purity by protein electrophoresis.

RESULTS

Use of haeds resulted in symptom relief for 37 patients (92.5%); 3 patients (7.5%) failed to improve with use of haeds (p ≤ 0.0001). Of the 37 patients having symptom relief, 7 (19%) improved from grade 3 to no dry eye symptoms. Proportionately, post-treatment symptom improvement by two grade levels, from 3 to 1 (70%), was significantly higher than improvement by one grade level, from 3 to 2 (11%) or from 2 to 1 (19%, p ≤ 0.0001). Time to symptom relief ranged from 2 weeks to 28 weeks. Of the 40 patients, 38 (95%) had no adverse reactions. Days 1 and 30 quality assurance testing results were equivalent.

CONCLUSIONS

Complications of keratoconjunctivitis sicca were well managed and well tolerated with haeds when other remedies failed. Quality assurance testing confirmed that haeds were safe and stable in extreme conditions.

Demonstration of a time-integrated short line of sight neutron imaging system for inertial confinement fusion

The Neutron Imaging System (NIS) is an important diagnostic for understanding implosions of deuterium-tritium capsules at the National Ignition Facility. While the detectors for the existing system must be positioned 28 m from the source to produce sufficient imaging magnification and resolution, recent testing of a new short line of sight neutron imaging system has shown sufficient resolution to allow reconstruction of the source image with quality similar to that of the existing NIS on a 11.6 m line of sight. The new system used the existing pinhole aperture array and a stack of detectors composed of 2 mm thick high-density polyethylene converter material followed by an image plate. In these detectors, neutrons enter the converter material and interact with protons, which recoil and deposit energy within the thin active layer of the image plate through ionization losses. The described system produces time-integrated images for all neutron energies passing through the pinhole. We present details of the measurement scheme for this novel technique to produce energy-integrated neutron images as well as source reconstruction results from recent experiments at NIF.

Spiral tissue phase velocity mapping in a breath-hold with non-cartesian SENSE

PURPOSE

Tissue phase velocity mapping (TPVM) is capable of reproducibly measuring regional myocardial velocities. However acquisition durations of navigator gated techniques are long and unpredictable while current breath-hold techniques have low temporal resolution. This study presents a spiral TPVM technique which acquires high resolution data within a clinically acceptable breath-hold duration.

METHODS

Ten healthy volunteers are scanned using a spiral sequence with temporal resolution of 24 ms and spatial resolution of 1.7 × 1.7 mm. Retrospective cardiac gating is used to acquire data over the entire cardiac cycle. The acquisition is accelerated by factors of 2 and 3 by use of non-Cartesian SENSE implemented on the Gadgetron GPU system resulting in breath-holds of 17 and 13 heartbeats, respectively. Systolic, early diastolic, and atrial systolic global and regional longitudinal, circumferential, and radial velocities are determined.

RESULTS

Global and regional velocities agree well with those previously reported. The two acceleration factors show no significant differences for any quantitative parameter and the results also closely match previously acquired higher spatial resolution navigator-gated data in the same subjects.

CONCLUSION

By using spiral trajectories and non-Cartesian SENSE high resolution, TPVM data can be acquired within a clinically acceptable breath-hold.

Patient perceptions of a comprehensive cancer navigation service

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to determine the extent to which comprehensive navigation augments the provincial health system for meeting the needs of newly-diagnosed cancer patients (clients). We also assessed reactions of attending physicians to comprehensive navigation.

METHODS

Clients who completed navigation as an employee benefit or through membership in an insurance organization were polled to determine whether they needed help beyond that provided by the provincial health system and the extent to which that help was provided by navigation. Exit interviews were analyzed for perceptions of the clients about reactions by their attending physicians to navigation.

RESULTS

Of eligible clients, 72% responded. They reported needing help beyond that which the provincial system could provide in 64%-98% of specified areas. Navigation provided help in more than 90% of those cases. Almost all respondents (98%) appreciated having a designated oncology nurse navigator. Family doctors were perceived to be positive or neutral about navigation in 100% of exit interviews. Oncologists were positive or neutral in 92% (p < 0.001 for difference from family doctors).

CONCLUSIONS

In many areas, cancer patients need additional help beyond that which the provincial health system can provide. Comprehensive cancer navigation provides that help to a considerable extent. Clients perceived the reactions of attending physicians to comprehensive navigation to be generally supportive or neutral.

The CTSA Consortium's Catalog of Assets for Translational and Clinical Health Research (CATCHR)

The 61 CTSA Consortium sites are home to valuable programs and infrastructure supporting translational science and all are charged with ensuring that such investments translate quickly to improved clinical care. Catalog of Assets for Translational and Clinical Health Research (CATCHR) is the Consortium's effort to collect and make available information on programs and resources to maximize efficiency and facilitate collaborations. By capturing information on a broad range of assets supporting the entire clinical and translational research spectrum, CATCHR aims to provide the necessary infrastructure and processes to establish and maintain an open-access, searchable database of consortium resources to support multisite clinical and translational research studies. Data are collected using rigorous, defined methods, with the resulting information made visible through an integrated, searchable Web-based tool. Additional easy-to-use Web tools assist resource owners in validating and updating resource information over time. In this paper, we discuss the design and scope of the project, data collection methods, current results, and future plans for development and sustainability. With increasing pressure on research programs to avoid redundancy, CATCHR aims to make available information on programs and core facilities to maximize efficient use of resources.

A pilot study of an enhanced mental health assessment during routine and discharge medicals in the British Armed Forces

OBJECTIVES

A pilot study to assess the practicality of introducing an enhanced mental health assessment (EMHA) into all routine and discharge medicals of the UK Armed Forces in order to facilitate treatment prior to and on return to civilian life.

METHODS

A pilot study was conducted using an EMHA questionnaire with questions about depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol use, sleep and anger/irritability. At pilot sites, the EMHA was completed during all routine and discharge medicals between May 2011 and July 2011. At the end of the study period, qualitative data were collected from participating medical officers and practice managers regarding their opinions about the pilot study.

RESULTS

The quantitative data revealed an average pick-up rate for mental health (MH) problems. Out of the four military medical centres who participated and the 325 questionnaires collected, one referral to a Department of Community Mental Health was made. 26 (8%) patients were categorised as 'some concern and patient offered advice and/or reassurance'. The vast majority of patients were found to have no evidence of MH problems. However, using a validated alcohol screening tool, 64% of service personnel were found to have a score indicating 'higher risk drinking'. Analysis of the qualitative data suggests that the EMHA is an easy tool to implement with minimal additional time and resources needed. The interviewees pointed out a number of limitations and suggestions for possible further studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The pilot study successfully demonstrated that the EMHA questionnaire is easy to administer, does not take up a large amount of additional resources or manpower and provides a useful check of MH status. The study picked up an average number of MH cases and the questions on alcohol consumption highlighted that military personnel may be at a 'higher risk of drinking'.

The effects of pre-weaning undernutrition on the expression levels of free radical deactivating enzymes in the mouse brain

A mild degree of undernutrition brought about by restricting the amount of food in the diet is known to alter the life span of an animal. It has been hypothesised that this may be related to the effects of undernutrition on an animals anti-oxidant defense system. We have therefore, used real-time PCR (rt-PCR) techniques to determine the levels of mRNA expression for manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx 1) and catalase in the brains of Quackenbush mice undernourished from conception until 21-post-natal days of age. It was found that 21- and 61-day-old undernourished mice had a deficit in the expression of Cu/ZnSOD in both the cerebellum and forebrain regions compared to age-matched controls. The expression of MnSOD was found to be greater in the cerebellum, but not the forebrain region, of 21-day-old undernourished mice. There were no significant differences in the expression of GPx 1 and catalase between control and undernourished or previously undernourished mice. Our results confirm that undernutrition during the early life of a mouse may disrupt some of the enzymes involved in the anti-oxidant defense systems.