Search

Study designRetrospective cohort study of prospectively accrued data.ObjectiveTo evaluate a large, prospective, multicentre dataset of surgically treated degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) cases on the contemporary risk of C5 palsy with surgical approach.Summary of background dataThe influence of surgical technique on postoperative C5 palsy after decompression for DCM is intensely debated. Comprehensive, covariate-adjusted analyses are needed using contemporary data.MethodsPatients with moderate to severe DCM were prospectively enrolled in the multicenter, randomized, Phase III CSM-Protect clinical trial and underwent either anterior or posterior decompression between Jan 31, 2012 and May 16, 2017. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative C5 palsy, defined as the onset of muscle weakness by at least one grade in manual muscle test at the C5 myotome with slight or absent sensory disruption after cervical surgery. Two comparative cohorts were made based on the anterior or posterior surgical approach. Multivariate hierarchical mixed-effects logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for C5 palsy.ResultsA total of 283 patients were included, and 53.4% underwent posterior decompression. The total incidence of postoperative C5 palsy was 7.4% and was significantly higher in patients who underwent posterior decompression compared with anterior decompression (11.26% vs. 3.03%, P =0.008). After multivariable regression, the posterior approach was independently associated with greater than four times the likelihood of postoperative C5 palsy ( P =0.017). Rates of C5 palsy recovery were comparable between the two surgical approaches.ConclusionThe odds of postoperative C5 palsy are significantly higher after posterior decompression compared to anterior decompression for DCM. This may influence surgical decision-making when there is equipoise in deciding between anterior and posterior treatment options for DCM.Level of evidenceTherapeutic Level-II.

Background: Frailty and functional decline are being recognized as important conditions in kidney transplant candidates. However, the ideal measures of functional status and frailty remain unknown as there is not a complete understanding of the relationship between these conditions and important post-transplant outcomes. Objective: The objective was to examine the association between different measures of frailty and functional status evaluated before or at the time of transplant with adverse clinical outcomes post-transplantation. Design: This study is a systematic review. Setting: Observational studies including cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies examining the effect of frailty and functional status on clinical outcomes. There were no restrictions on type of setting or country of origin. Patients: Adults who were waitlisted for kidney transplant or had received a kidney transplant. Measurements: Data including demographic information (eg, sample size, age, country), assessments of frailty or functional status and their domains, and outcomes including mortality, transplantation, graft loss, delayed graft function and hospital readmission were extracted. Methods: A search was performed in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials. Studies were included from inception to February 7, 2023. The eligibility of studies was screened by 2 independent reviewers. Data were presented by frailty/functional status instrument and clinical outcome. Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals from fully adjusted statistical models were reported or calculated from the raw data. Results: A total of 50 studies were identified, among which 36 unique instruments were found. Measurements of these instruments occurred mostly at time of kidney transplant, transplant evaluation, and waitlisting. The median sample size of studies was 457 patients (interquartile range = 183-1760). Frailty and lower functional status were associated with an increased risk for mortality. Similar trends were observed among other clinical outcomes such as graft loss and rehospitalization. Limitations: The heterogeneity in measurement instruments, study designs, and outcome definitions prevents pooling of the data. Selection bias and the validity of data collection could not be ascertained for some studies. Conclusion: Frailty and functional status measures are important predictors of post-kidney transplant outcomes. Further studies are needed to evaluate the best instruments to assess frailty and functional status, and importantly, interventional studies are needed to determine whether prehabilitation strategies can improve post-transplant outcomes. Registration (PROSPERO): CRD42016045251.

Most follicular cell-derived differentiated thyroid carcinomas are regarded as low-risk neoplasms prompting conservative therapeutic management. Here, we provide consensus recommendations reached by a multidisciplinary group of endocrinologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncology specialists, a surgeon and a medication reimbursement specialist, addressing more challenging forms of this malignancy, focused on radioactive iodine (RAI)-resistant or -refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (RAIRTC). In this document we highlight clinical, radiographic, and molecular features providing the basis for these management plans. We distinguish differentiated thyroid cancers associated with more aggressive behavior from thyroid cancers manifesting as poorly differentiated and/or anaplastic carcinomas. Treatment algorithms based on risk-benefit assessments of different multimodal therapy approaches are also discussed. Given the scarcity of data supporting management of this rare yet aggressive disease entity, these consensus recommendations provide much needed guidance for multidisciplinary teams to optimally manage RAIRTC.

Rationale & Objective: Research in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) has focused on reducing treatment toxicities, notably through reduction of exposure to glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoid-sparing therapies such as avacopan are not widely available in many countries, and patients are exposed to high glucocorticoid doses. There is little data concerning what clinicians should accept as the lowest glucocorticoid dosing that can be used in induction therapy for AAV. Study Design: International, online survey. Setting & Participants: Clinicians in various countries with experience in managing vasculitis. Exposure and Outcomes: Survey questions to gauge interest and preferences in studying an induction of remission regimen for severe AAV using only 2 or 4 weeks of glucocorticoids without avacopan. Data collected included general opinions about standard of care for induction agents, glucocorticoids, and avacopan. Respondents were presented with 3 candidate trial designs, 2 of which proposed a combination of cyclophosphamide and rituximab induction. Analytical Approach: Using a 10-point Likert scale, respondents ranked each candidate trial on its usefulness in demonstrating whether a minimal glucocorticoid regimen would be safe and effective and their willingness to randomize into the trial. Results: There were 210 respondents to the survey. The candidate trials were rated moderate-to-high for usefulness to demonstrate safety and efficacy (scores 6-7/10), and moderate (scores 5-6/10) for willingness to randomize. Four-week glucocorticoid duration was preferred to 2 weeks, and combination cyclophosphamide-rituximab with 4-week glucocorticoids was the most preferred design. Forty-two percent of respondents felt avacopan had to be incorporated into a minimal GC trial design to want to recruit patients. Limitations: Representativeness of survey sample and generalizability of findings. Conclusions: Combination cyclophosphamide-rituximab may be the ideal way of studying minimal glucocorticoid use in severe AAV. Given its increasing uptake, incorporating avacopan into a potential trial design is important. Plain Language Summary: Research in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) has focused on using less glucocorticoids to limit side effects. New drugs that drastically limit glucocorticoid use are not available in many countries. Studies are needed to find other ways of reducing glucocorticoid exposure to treat AAV, but it is unclear how best to achieve this. We administered a survey to doctors with experience in treating AAV and had them grade different combinations of widely available treatments with 2 or 4 weeks of glucocorticoids. We found that a combination of 2 doses cyclophosphamide with 2 doses rituximab and 4 weeks of glucocorticoids was the preferred treatment. The results will guide the development of a trial studying minimal use of glucocorticoids for the treatment of AAV.

Background: In patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and new-onset antero-apical wall motion abnormalities (WMAs), whether the rate of prophylaxis against left ventricular thrombus and outcomes differ between men and women is unknown. Methods: A multicentre retrospective cohort study of patients with STEMI and new-onset antero-apical WMAs treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention was conducted. Patients with an established indication of oral anticoagulation (OAC) were excluded. The rates of triple therapy (double antiplatelet therapy + OAC) at discharge were compared for women vs men. The rates of net adverse clinical events, a composite of mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack, systemic thromboembolism or Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 3 or 5 bleeding at 6 months were compared across sex using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1664 patients were included in the primary analysis, of whom 402 (24.2%) were women and 1262 (75.8%) were men. A total of 138 women (34.3%) and 489 men (38.7%) received a triple therapy prescription at discharge (P = 0.11). At 6 months, 33 women (8.2%) and 96 men (7.6%) experienced a net adverse clinical event (adjusted odds ratio 0.82; 95% confidence interval 0.49-1.37). No difference occurred in the risk of bleeding events and ischemic events between men and women, when these were analyzed separately. Conclusions: The rates of OAC prescription for left ventricular thrombus prophylaxis and clinical outcomes at 6 months were similar in women and men following anterior STEMI with new-onset antero-apical WMAs. Résumé: Contexte: On ignore si le taux de prophylaxie contre le thrombus ventriculaire gauche et les résultats thérapeutiques diffèrent entre les hommes et les femmes qui ont subi un infarctus du myocarde avec élévation du segment ST (STEMI) antérieur et ont des anomalies du mouvement pariétal (AMP) antéroapical d’apparition récente. Méthodes: Nous avons mené une étude de cohorte rétrospective multicentrique auprès de patients qui ont subi un STEMI et ont des AMP d’apparition récente traitées par une intervention coronarienne percutanée primaire. Nous avons exclu les patients chez lesquels il existait une indication établie à l’anticoagulation orale (ACO). Nous avons comparé les taux de trithérapie (bithérapie antiplaquettaire + ACO) à la sortie de l’hôpital entre les femmes et les hommes. Nous avons comparé les taux d’événements indésirables cliniques nets, le critère composite de mortalité, d’infarctus du myocarde, d’accident vasculaire cérébral ou d’accident ischémique transitoire, la thromboembolie systémique ou l’hémorragie de type 3 ou 5 selon le Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) après 6 mois entre les sexes au moyen du modèle de régression logistique multivariée. Résultats: Au sein des 1 664 patients de l’analyse principale, 402 (24,2 %) étaient des femmes et 1262 (75,8 %) étaient des hommes. Un total de 138 femmes (34,3 %) et de 489 hommes (38,7 %) ont reçu une ordonnance de trithérapie à la sortie de l’hôpital (P = 0,11). Après 6 mois, 33 femmes (8,2 %) et 96 hommes (7,6 %) ont subi un événement indésirable net (rapport de cotes ajusté 0,82 ; intervalle de confiance à 95 % 0,49-1,37). Aucune différence n’a été notée dans le risque d’événements hémorragiques et d’événements ischémiques entre les hommes et les femmes lorsque ces événements étaient analysés séparément. Conclusions: Les taux d’ordonnances d’ACO en prophylaxie du thrombus ventriculaire gauche et les résultats cliniques après 6 mois étaient similaires entre les femmes et les hommes à la suite du STEMI antérieur et des AMP antéroapicale d’apparition récente.

Many sexuality educators in the United States have noted that current sex education models do not meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body, and they have begun advocating for anti-racist sex education. Many sexuality instructors, however, work in public schools that require the use of prevention-focused, evidence-based sexuality curricula. This article explores the unique challenges for sexuality instructors in incorporating anti-racist content into the public school classroom. It outlines the intersections of racism and sexuality to manifest the need for anti-racist sex education and offers five strategies for sexuality instructors wishing to incorporate anti-racist frameworks into the evidence-based sex education classroom.

Abstract The absorption spectral slope, S275–295, is an optical metric frequently employed for characterizing chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). We collected CDOM absorption (aCDOM) and fluorescence spectra from the oligotrophic offshore South China Sea to identify the major determinant of S275–295 and to explore the potential of S275–295 as physical and biogeochemical tracers. S275–295 linearly decreased with increasing humic‐like fluorescent DOM, revealing the latter as the primary control on S275–295. The variability of S275–295 consistently declined from the surface to deep water, making S275–295 a potential indicator of CDOM molecular heterogeneity. The S275–295 vs. aCDOM plot was found to be a useful tool for characterizing water masses. The 14C content of dissolved organic carbon (Δ14C‐DOC) shows a strong correlation to S275–295, demonstrating S275–295 to be a proxy of the 14C‐age of DOM. A provisional equation, ln(−Δ14C‐DOC) = (−0.85 ± 0.06) × ln(S275–295) + (8.78 ± 0.19), was proposed to estimate Δ14C‐DOC from S275–295 for global oligotrophic oceans.

Abstract Background The incremental hospital cost and length of stay (LOS) associated with adverse events (AEs) has not been well characterized for planned and unplanned inpatient spine, hip, and knee surgeries. Methods Retrospective cohort study of hip, knee, and spine surgeries at an academic hospital in 2011–2012. Adverse events were prospectively collected for 3,063 inpatient cases using the Orthopaedic Surgical AdVerse Event Severity (OrthoSAVES) reporting tool. Case costs were retrospectively obtained and inflated to equivalent 2021 CAD values. Propensity score methodology was used to assess the cost and LOS attributable to AEs, controlling for a variety of patient and procedure factors. Results The sample was 55% female and average age was 64; 79% of admissions were planned. 30% of cases had one or more AEs (82% had low-severity AEs at worst). The incremental cost and LOS attributable to AEs were $8,500 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5100–11,800) and 4.7 days (95% CI: 3.4–5.9) per admission. This corresponded to a cumulative $7.8 M (14% of total cohort cost) and 4,290 bed-days (19% of cohort bed-days) attributable to AEs. Incremental estimates varied substantially by (1) admission type (planned: $4,700/2.4 days; unplanned: $20,700/11.5 days), (2) AE severity (low: $4,000/3.1 days; high: $29,500/11.9 days), and (3) anatomical region (spine: $19,800/9 days; hip: $4,900/3.8 days; knee: $1,900/1.5 days). Despite only 21% of admissions being unplanned, adverse events in these admissions cumulatively accounted for 59% of costs and 62% of bed-days attributable to AEs. Conclusions This study comprehensively demonstrates the considerable cost and LOS attributable to AEs in orthopaedic and spine admissions. In particular, the incremental cost and LOS attributable to AEs per admission were almost five times as high among unplanned admissions compared to planned admissions. Mitigation strategies focused on unplanned surgeries may result in significant quality improvement and cost savings in the healthcare system.

Abstract This paper focuses on energy-efficient resource allocation in reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted multiple-input-single-output (MISO) communication systems. Specifically, it revisits the solution to the energy efficiency (EE) problem using the alternating optimization (AO) approach. In each AO iteration, the RIS phase optimization is achieved using the gradient descent method, which unfortunately does not guarantee convergence. To overcome this limitation, we propose two alternatives: the Wolfe-based gradient-descent (GAW) EE maximization Algorithm and the trust region (TR)-based EE maximization algorithm. Additionally, we use Dinkelbach’s algorithm to obtain the optimal transmit power allocation. Our results demonstrate that the proposed methods outperform the existing approach that uses sequential fractional programming (SFP) for phase optimization and the traditional relay-based method.

Coastal Surveillance Through Observation of Ocean Color (COASTℓOOC) oceanographic expeditions were conducted in 1997 and 1998 to examine the relationship between the optical properties of seawater and related biological and chemical properties across the coastal to open-ocean gradient in various European seas. A total of 379 stations were visited along the coasts of the Gulf of Lion in the Mediterranean Sea (n=61), the Adriatic Sea (n=39), the Baltic Sea (n=57), the North Sea (n=99), the English Channel (n=85), and the Atlantic Ocean (n=38). Particular emphasis was placed on the collection of a comprehensive set of apparent and inherent optical properties (AOPs and IOPs) to support the development of ocean color remote-sensing algorithms. The data were collected in situ using traditional ship-based sampling but also from a helicopter, which is a very efficient means for that type of coastal sampling. The dataset collected during the COASTℓOOC campaigns is unique in that it is fully consistent in terms of operators, protocols, and instrumentation. This rich and historical dataset is still today frequently requested and used by other researchers. Therefore, we present the result of an effort to compile and standardize a dataset which will facilitate its reuse in future development and evaluation of new bio-optical models adapted for optically complex waters. The dataset is available at https://doi.org/10.17882/93570 (Massicotte et al., 2023).

Abstract Purpose Posterior uveitis is a common chorioretinal pathology affecting all ages worldwide and is a frequent reason for referral to the retina clinic. The spectrum of etiologies for uveitis is very broad and includes infectious and auto-immune diseases. Inflammation can be confined to the eye or may be a part of systemic disease. A useful outline is therefore proposed to aid in the correct diagnosis of these challenging entities. The situation is further complicated by the fact that many neoplastic conditions resemble features of posterior uveitis; they are known as “masqueraders of uveitis”. Here, we summarize different posterior uveitides that present with rare findings, along with masqueraders that can be difficult to distinguish. These conditions pose a diagnostic dilemma resulting in delay in treatment because of diagnostic uncertainty. Methods An extensive literature search was performed on the MEDLINE/PUBMED, EBSCO and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from January 1985 to January 2022 for original studies and reviews of predetermined diagnoses that include posterior uveitic entities, panuveitis and masquerade syndromes. Results We described conditions that can present as mimickers of posterior uveitis (i.e., immune check-points inhibitors and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like uveitis; leukemia and lymphoma associated posterior uveitis), inflammatory conditions that present as mimickers of retinal diseases (i.e., Purtscher-like retinopathy as a presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus; central serous chorioretinopathy masquerading inflammatory exudative retinal detachment), and uveitic conditions with rare and diagnostically challenging etiologies (i.e., paradoxical inflammatory effects of anti-TNF-α; post vaccination uveitis; ocular inflammation after intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic drugs). Conclusion This review of unique posterior uveitis cases highlights the overlapping features of posterior uveitis (paradoxical inflammatory effects of anti -TNF α and uveitis; Purtscher-like retinopathy as a presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus, …) and the nature of retinal conditions (ischemic ocular syndrome, or central retinal vein occlusion, amyloidosis, inherited conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, autosomal dominant neovascular inflammatory vitreoretinopathy (ADNIV), etc.…) that may mimic them is represented. Careful review of past uveitis history, current medications and recent vaccinations, detailed examination of signs of past or present inflammation, eventually genetic testing and/ or multimodal retinal imaging (like fluorescein angiography, EDI-OCT, OCT-angiography for lupus Purtscher-like retinopathy evaluation, or ICG for central serous retinopathy, or retinal amyloid angiopathy) may aid in correct diagnosis.