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Diagnostic radiology subinternships are uncommon. We started a diagnostic radiology subinternship at our institution in 2020 and present 3 years of data assessing the impact of the course on students' perceptions of and interest in diagnostic radiology. The initial course design consisted of daily shadowing shifts, small group lectures with attending radiologists, asynchronous self-paced learning assignments, an ultrasound skills session, multidisciplinary tumor board attendance, and completion of 2 formal case presentations. "Junior resident" shifts, where students dictated studies under attending supervision, an emergency radiology call shift, and an ultrasound procedures shift were subsequently added in response to student feedback. Students were asked to complete surveys before and after completing the course. Forty-seven fourth-year medical students completed the course over 3 years. The first 2 groups were predominantly male, whereas the third group showed near even gender representation (54% male). 21 (45%) chose to apply to diagnostic radiology for residency. Student reported interest in diagnostic radiology as a career, valuation of diagnostic radiology as a specialty, comfort with imaging interpretation, and perceptions of the availability of patient interaction and procedures in diagnostic radiology all significantly increased after participation in the course. Students ranked the junior resident shifts and small group attending lectures as the most valuable course components. Implementation of a diagnostic radiology subinternship significantly improved students' interest in and perceptions of the field. We encourage the creation of similar courses in other radiology departments and stress the importance of active learning experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate mid- to long-term survival of an all-polyethylene pegged glenoid component used in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The secondary aim was to review clinical and radiologic outcomes. A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected local arthroplasty register of consecutive patients undergoing TSA with an all-polyethylene pegged glenoid between January 2009 and December 2018 was undertaken. In total, 108 TSAs using this implant were performed in our unit in 98 patients (18 men and 80 women), with 10 patients undergoing bilateral TSA. The mean age at the time of the operation was 71.3 years (range, 44-87 years). The mean follow-up period was 5.1 years (range, 2-10.6 years). In addition to survival analysis, clinical evaluation included the postoperative Oxford Shoulder Score, Constant score, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, as well as range-of-motion assessment. Radiologic outcomes included an assessment of radiolucency based on the Lazarus grade. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a 6-year survival estimate of 94.1% for all-cause revision. Revision was required in 6 patients: 4 for cuff failure and 2 for instability. At follow-up, the mean Oxford Shoulder Score was 38.2 (standard deviation [SD], 12.3); mean Constant score, 59.3 (SD, 17.0); and mean VAS pain score, 1.8 (SD, 2.5). Mean forward elevation at final follow-up was 111⁰ (SD, 26.6⁰); mean abduction, 102⁰ (SD, 34.0⁰). Clinical outcomes were maintained at long-term follow-up (>8 years), with the exception of the VAS pain score, which increased by 2.1 points (P =.034). Radiologic assessment revealed that 28 patients had radiolucency consistent with Lazarus grade ≥ 3 with clinical outcomes not being affected. Mid- to long-term follow-up indicates a low revision rate and good clinical survivorship for cemented, all-polyethylene glenoid components. No patients, so far, have undergone revision for glenoid loosening, but radiographic follow-up has shown that 36% of these implants have signs of radiolucency. Further follow-up is required to determine longer-term survivorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus often is invisible on high-resolution white-light endoscopy (HRWLE). We compared the diagnostic accuracy for inconspicuous dysplasia of the combination of autofluorescence imaging (AFI)-guided probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) and molecular biomarkers vs HRWLE with Seattle protocol biopsies. Barrett's esophagus patients with no dysplastic lesions were block-randomized to standard endoscopy (HRWLE with the Seattle protocol) or AFI-guided pCLE with targeted biopsies for molecular biomarkers (p53 and cyclin A by immunohistochemistry; aneuploidy by image cytometry), with crossover to the other arm after 6 to 12 weeks. The primary end point was the histologic diagnosis from all study biopsies (trial histology). A sensitivity analysis was performed for overall histology, which included diagnoses within 12 months from the first study endoscopy. Endoscopists were blinded to the referral endoscopy and histology results. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy for dysplasia by real-time pCLE vs HRWLE biopsies. Of 154 patients recruited, 134 completed both arms. In the primary outcome analysis (trial histology analysis), AFI-guided pCLE had similar sensitivity for dysplasia compared with standard endoscopy (74.3%; 95% CI, 56.7–87.5 vs 80.0%; 95% CI, 63.1–91.6; P =.48). Multivariate logistic regression showed pCLE optical dysplasia, aberrant p53, and aneuploidy had the strongest correlation with dysplasia (secondary outcome). This 3-biomarker panel had higher sensitivity for any grade of dysplasia than the Seattle protocol (81.5% vs 51.9%; P <.001) in the overall histology analysis, but not in the trial histology analysis (91.4% vs 80.0%; P =.16), with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.83. Seattle protocol biopsies miss dysplasia in approximately half of patients with inconspicuous neoplasia. AFI-guided pCLE has similar accuracy to the current gold standard. The addition of molecular biomarkers could improve diagnostic accuracy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are an extensive global contaminant in the marine environment, known to be ingested by marine organisms. The presence of MPs in the commercially important marine decapod crustacean Nephrops norvegicus (Dublin Bay Prawn) has been documented for the North-East Atlantic and the Mediterranean, however, uncertainties remain about retention times of MPs in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of this species. This study aims to investigate the retention times of polyester MP fibres of three sizes (3, 5, and 10 mm in length) and to determine whether the egestion of MP fibres is size and time dependent. Results suggest that MP fibres of different lengths are retained for different periods of time, with larger MP fibres being retained for longer periods (e.g., minimum 96 h for 10 mm fibres). The present study also assesses for the first time, the size dependent relationship of MP fibres under controlled conditions for N. norvegicus. • Retention and egestion times of different length polyester fibres are size-dependent for Nephrops norvegicus. • Microplastic fibres of 3 mm in length were excreted within 24 hours. • Microplastic fibres of 5 mm in length were retained for a minimum 72 hours. • Microplastic fibres of 10 mm in length were retained for a minimum 96 hours. • Fibres of 5 and 10 mm were observed in entangled balls of unintroduced fibres, potentially increasing their retention time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: There has been a shift in the spine literature in reporting meaningful outcomes, including meaningful clinically important difference (MCID), after surgery. The evidence on the effect of tobacco smoking at the time of lumbar tubular microdecompression (LTMD) on meaningful outcomes is limited.Purpose: To compare differences in 1-year functional outcomes and rates of achieving MCID between current smokers and non-smokers who underwent LTMD for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).Study Design: A nested case control study to compare the difference in patient reported outcomes (PROs) between smokers and non-smokers 1-year after undergoing LTMD.Patient Sample: This study included patients that underwent single level LTMD by a single surgeon between January 2014 through August 2019.Outcome Measures: Preoperative and postoperative PROs were recorded using the questionnaires EQ-5D, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the visual analog scale (VAS) for back pain and leg pain. The MCID was also used.Methods: Current tobacco smokers at the time of surgery were matched 1:2 to non-smokers by age (+/- 1year). Preoperative and postoperative functional scores were compared between the two groups using independent t-tests. Additionally, thresholds for achieving MCID were calculated for each individual functional score, and were compared using Fisher's exact test.Results: Of the 183 patients with 1-year follow-up who met inclusion criteria, 35 patients were identified as smokers and were matched to 70 non-smokers. No statistical differences were identified between age, BMI, or gender. Comparison of preoperative PROs showed no statistically significant differences between smokers and non-smokers (p>0.05 for all), while smokers had statistically lower EQ-5D (p<0.001) and higher ODI (p=0.05), VAS back (p=0.033), and VAS leg (p=0.03) score averages at a minimum of one year follow-up. Evaluation of meaningful outcomes demonstrated non-smokers had higher rates of achieving MCID on at least 1 threshold score as compared to smokers (98.5% vs. 91.1%; p=0.043).Conclusions: Current smokers at the time of surgery have inferior postoperative EQ-5D scores, increased pain and disability, and lower odds of achieving the MCID at 1-year after undergoing LTMD when compared to patients without any smoking history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Integration of Nephrops and sediment as part of a holistic approach to monitoring microplastic pollution. • Varying MP levels have been recorded in Nephrops across their distribution with an average abundance ranging from 0.48 to 13.08 items per individual. • There is a need for standardization and harmonization of MP monitoring techniques in Nephrops and sediment. • Research suggests that MP fibres are more commonly ingested by Nephrops in comparison to other microplastic types. • Nephrops can be used as an indicator species for the presence of microplastic pollution. Microplastics are a major global concern in the marine environment. The use of marine biota to monitor MP pollution has been previously highlighted as a method of providing data. This review focuses on the current data available on the presence of microplastics in Nephrops norvegicus , a commercially important seafood species, highlighting the advantages and limitations of the species to determine its potential use for monitoring microplastic pollution. At present, there is no harmonized and standardised methodologies for microplastic analysis available, therefore, this review has proposed future research on microplastics at a European scale. Given the complexity of microplastics present in the marine environment, the authors recommend a more holistic approach with the integration of Nephrops and sediments along with other species and matrices to cover all ecosystem compartments to provide a comprehensive database of microplastic levels and trends in the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new coordination compound [HgL(ClO 4) 2 EtOH] (1) was fabricated from a mixture of Hg(NO 3) 2 and NaClO 4 with 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-bis((phenyl-(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)hydrazono)ethane (L). Complex 1 exhibits a mononuclear heteroleptic discrete structure, where the ligand L adopts a helical twist conformation. The Hg(II) cation is N 4 O 3 coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from L and by three oxygen atoms from two monocoordinated ClO 4 – anions and one ethanol molecule. The crystal structure is stabilized by the intermolecular O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds, and Cl–O⋯π Ph and C–H⋯π Ph interactions. The long Hg–N/O bonds have been analyzed in terms of coordination, semicoordination or spodium bonds using QTAIM and NCIplot index computational tools. [Display omitted] • [HgL(ClO 4) 2 EtOH] (1) was fabricated from a mixture of Hg(NO 3) 2 and NaClO 4 with L. • L stands for 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-bis((phenyl-(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)hydrazono)ethane. • Complex 1 exhibits a mononuclear heteroleptic discrete structure. • L adopts a helical twist conformation. In this work we have synthesized and characterized a new coordination compound [HgL(ClO 4) 2 EtOH] (1), fabricated from a mixture of Hg(NO 3) 2 and NaClO 4 with 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-bis((phenyl-(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)hydrazono)ethane (L). Single-crystal X-ray crystallography revealed the formation of a mononuclear heteroleptic discrete structure with one molecule [HgL(ClO 4) 2 EtOH] in the asymmetric unit. The ligand L adopts a helical twist conformation. The Hg(II) cation is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from L and by three oxygen atoms from two monocoordinated ClO 4 – anions and one ethanol molecule. The crystal structure of 1 is stabilized by the intermolecular O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds, and Cl–O⋯π Ph and C–H⋯π Ph interactions, yielding a supramolecular 3D framework. Moreover, the long Hg–N/O bonds have been analyzed in terms of coordination, semicoordination or spodium bonds using QTAIM and NCIplot index computational tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]