A novel post stamp technique for conservative management of OKC: Rai Technique

A novel technique of Conservative management of OKCs via post stamp method of removing the buccal cortical plate of posterior mandible to expose the cystic lesion and carried out enucleation, curettage and chemical cauterization has been described in the present paper. Also the diseased bone has been used as a bone graft to maintain the contour deformity of the mandible. The present technique has been used in 9 patients with good quality of life and postoperative esthetic results with five years follow up.

A proposed ''A to Z RAM (Radiograph Assessment Method)'' for triage of patients with a suspected bone tumour

INTRODUCTION

We propose a ''A to Z RAM (Radiograph Assessment Method)'' for evaluation of Radiograph of patients with a suspected bone tumour.

METHODS

In the current study, ten radiological features with letters 'A, B, C, D, E, F and Z' were used and which included the age of the patient, involved part of the bone, characteristics, content, distinctiveness, the exterior of the bone, fracture, and zone of transition. Four independent observers (orthopaedic oncologists and surgical oncologists) evaluated a set of 30 radiographs of bone tumour selected at random from our hospital database based on A to Z RAM. We classified the lesions into two groups according to the traffic signal system; Green (suspected benign lesion) and Red (suspected malignant lesion).

RESULTS

There were 18 (60%) benign bone lesions and 12 (40%) malignant lesions in the current study. 91.6% of malignant tumours and 88.8% of the benign tumours were identified correctly by the four observers. The inter-observer variability with Fleiss kappa was 0.884 (95% CI 0.7-1.03 p-value < 0.05), suggestive of agreement not by chance. These radiographs were again reassessed by the four observers after 3 months. The interobserver variability by Fleiss kappa was 1.0 (95% CI 0.8-1.1) suggesting complete agreement amongst the observers. Both orthopaedic oncologists had intra-observer kappa as 1.0 each and both surgical oncologists had 0.795 and 0.930 respectively.

CONCLUSION

The proposed A to Z RAM is an easy to use and reproducible method for reviewing radiographs in the out-patient department along with clinical findings for better management of patients with suspected bone lesions. The A to Z RAM can be a medical triage tool and subdivide bone lesions into two subgroups i.e. suspected benign lesion with a suggestion of further investigations with MRI and biopsy and suspected malignant lesion with a suggestion of MRI or early referral to a tertiary cancer center with expertise in orthopaedic oncology.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The A to Z RAM (Radiologic Assessment Method) is a reproducible method for reviewing radiographs in the out-patient department and can be an aid for better management of patients. A to Z RAM is useful as a medical triage system, subdividing patients according to the probable diagnosis into a suspected benign lesion and suspected malignant lesion.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices towards hydroxy chloroquine pre-exposure prophylaxis among health care professionals

Background: There is an urgent need for developing potential drug targets to protect the health care professionals (HCPs) who are at high risk of infection from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) as they are directly and/ indirectly involved in treatment facility. We aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices towards hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among HCPs directly and/ indirectly involved in COVID-19 treatment. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was multi-centric, and data was collected from HCPs (only doctors and nurses) involved directly or indirectly with COVID-19 patient treatment. The study questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic profile; assessment of HCQ knowledge, attitude, practices, and related adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Results: Of the recruited 374 HCPs, 302 fulfilled the study criteria. Mean age of participants was 33.30 {±standard deviation 7.65}. 64.2% of the participants were male. 16.9% of the individuals (n=51) had co-morbidities. All the HCPs had basic knowledge of COVID-19 and 87.42% were aware of the role of HCQ as PEP. Further, 269 participants (89.07%) were aware that HCQ can cause ADRs.  56.6% participants agreed that HCQ had a protective role against COVID-19 and 54.3 % participants considered that PEP with HCQ had ‘more benefit’ than risk. 52.32% (n=158) HCPs had used HCQ as PEP and 52.53 % (n=83) of these participants had completed the recommended drug course. Twenty participants (12.67%) had experienced ADR, and 12 had reported it to ADR monitoring centre. Conclusion: Our data shows that HCPs are aware of COVID-19 and HCQ prophylaxis. Approximately 57% of the participants agreed that HCQ has a protective role against COVID-19 and 50% of the participants had taken HCQ prophylaxis. Only 12.67% of the participants reported an ADR and in none of them, it was serious enough to discontinue the drug.

Incomplete surgical excision of keratinocyte skin cancers: a systematic review and meta‐analysis*

BACKGROUND

Keratinocyte or nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the commonest malignancy worldwide. The usual treatment is surgical excision. Current guidelines underestimate incomplete excision rates.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to determine the risk of incomplete excision of NMSCs through a systematic review and meta-analysis of primary clinical studies.

METHODS

A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using methodology proposed by Cochrane (PROSPERO CRD42019157936). A comprehensive search strategy was applied to MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, EMCare, Cochrane Library and the grey literature (January 2000-27 November 2019). All studies were included except those on Mohs micrographic surgery, frozen section or biopsies. Abstract screening and data extraction were performed in duplicate. Risk of bias was assessed using a tool for prevalence/incidence studies. The primary outcome was the proportion of incomplete surgical excisions. A random-effects model for pooling of binomial data was used. Differences between proportions were assessed by subgroup meta-analysis and meta-regression, which were presented as risk ratios (RRs).

RESULTS

Searching identified 3477 records, with 110 studies included, comprising 53 796 patients with 106 832 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and 21 569 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The proportion of incomplete excisions for BCC was 11·0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9·7-12·4] and for SCC 9·4% (95% CI 7·6-11·4). Proportions of incomplete excisions by specialty were: dermatology, BCCs 6·2% and SCCs 4·7%; plastic surgery, BCCs 9·4% and SCCs 8·2%; general practitioners, BCCs 20·4% and SCCs 18·9%. The risk of incomplete excision for general practitioners was four times that of dermatologists for both BCCs (RR 3·9, 95% CI 2·0-7·3) and SCCs (RR 4·8, 95% CI 1·0-22·8). Studies were heterogeneous (I²  = 98%) and at high risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of incomplete excisions is higher than previously reported. Excisions performed by specialists may lower the risk of incomplete excision.

Augmenting aesthetic chills using a wearable prosthesis improves their downstream effects on reward and social cognition

Previous studies on aesthetic chills (i.e., psychogenic shivers) demonstrate their positive effects on stress, pleasure, and social cognition. We tested whether we could artificially enhance this emotion and its downstream effects by intervening on its somatic markers using wearable technology. We built a device generating cold and vibrotactile sensations down the spine of subjects in temporal conjunction with a chill-eliciting audiovisual stimulus, enhancing the somatosensation of cold underlying aesthetic chills. Results suggest that participants wearing the device experienced significantly more chills, and chills of greater intensity. Further, these subjects reported sharing the feelings expressed in the stimulus to a greater degree, and felt more pleasure during the experience. These preliminary results demonstrate that emotion prosthetics and somatosensory interfaces offer new possibilities of modulating human emotions from the bottom-up (body to mind). Future challenges will include testing the device on a larger sample and diversifying the type of stimuli to account for negatively valenced chills and intercultural differences. Interoceptive technologies offer a new paradigm for affective neuroscience, allowing controlled intervention on conscious feelings and their downstream effects on higher-order cognition.

Tipping the immunostimulatory and inhibitory DAMP balance to harness immunogenic cell death

Induction of tumor cell death is the therapeutic goal for most anticancer drugs. Yet, a mode of drug-induced cell death, known as immunogenic cell death (ICD), can propagate antitumoral immunity to augment therapeutic efficacy. Currently, the molecular hallmark of ICD features the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) by dying cancer cells. Here, we show that gemcitabine, a standard chemotherapy for various solid tumors, triggers hallmark immunostimualtory DAMP release (e.g., calreticulin, HSP70, and HMGB1); however, is unable to induce ICD. Mechanistic studies reveal gemcitabine concurrently triggers prostaglandin E2 release as an inhibitory DAMP to counterpoise the adjuvanticity of immunostimulatory DAMPs. Pharmacological blockade of prostaglandin E2 biosythesis favors CD103+ dendritic cell activation that primes a Tc1-polarized CD8+ T cell response to bolster tumor rejection. Herein, we postulate that an intricate balance between immunostimulatory and inhibitory DAMPs could determine the outcome of drug-induced ICD and pose COX-2/prostaglandin E2 blockade as a strategy to harness ICD.

Gravity steam reprocessing in healthcare facilities for the reuse of N95 respirators

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly impacted the health of millions of people around the world. The shortage of personal protective equipment, including N95 respirators, in hospital facilities has put frontline healthcare professionals at high risk for contracting this virus.

AIM

To develop a reproducible and safe N95 respirator reprocessing method that satisfies all presented regulatory standards and that can be directly implemented by hospitals using existing available equipment.

METHODS

A non-toxic gravity steam reprocessing method has been developed for the reuse of N95 respirators consisting of 30 min of steam treatment at 121°C followed by 30 min of heat drying. Samples of model number 1860, 1860s, 1870+, and 9105 N95 respirators were either collected from hospitals (for microbiology testing) or purchased new (for functionality testing), with all functionality tests (i.e. filter efficiency, fit evaluation, and strap integrity) performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention using standard procedures established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

FINDINGS

All tested models passed the minimum filter efficiency of 95% after three cycles of gravity steam reprocessing. The 1870+ N95 respirator model is the most promising model for reprocessing based on its efficient bacterial inactivation coupled with the maintenance of all other key functional respirator properties after multiple reprocessing steps.

CONCLUSIONS

The gravity steam method can effectively reprocess N95 respirators over at least three reprocessing cycles without negatively impacting the functionality requirements set out by regulators. Enabling the reuse of N95 respirators is a crucial tool for managing both the current pandemic and future healthcare crises.

Olfactory and taste dysfunction in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: its prevalence and outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the occurrence, clinical course and outcomes of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in patients with laboratory confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 infection.

METHODS

This is a prospective cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 infection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction over two months. The epidemiological and clinical outcomes studied were: age, sex, general symptoms, and olfactory and taste dysfunction.

RESULTS

A total of 410 coronavirus disease 2019 infected patients were included in the study, with 262 males (63.9 per cent) and 148 females (36.1 per cent). Ninety-nine patients (24.1 per cent) reported chemosensory dysfunction, of which 85 patients (20.7 per cent) reported both olfactory and taste dysfunction. Olfactory and taste dysfunction were proportionally more common in females. The mean duration of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 4.9 days, with a range of 2-15 days.

CONCLUSION

Olfactory and taste dysfunction are prevalent symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 patients. In this study, they were more common in females than males. The occurrence of such dysfunctions is lower in the Indian population than in the European population.

Predictors of intra-procedural stent thrombosis (IPST) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): a pooled data analysis

Background

Among all PCI related intraprocedural thrombotic events, IPST is rare but associated with worst outcomes.

Purpose

We conducted this study to identify specific patient and procedural characteristics that are associated with higher incidence of IPST.

Methods

Data on patient and procedural characteristics from all the studies comparing IPST without IPST was pooled for the purpose of analysis.

Results

5 studies with a total of 21251 patients were included. IPST occurred in 170 patients (0.8%). History of a prior PCI (assumed to be on dual or single anti-platelet agent)was associated with decrease in IPST. IPST occurred more in smokers, patients with abnormal cardiac enzymes at presentation, presentation with STEMI. Incidence of IPST was significantly higher in interventions involving left main artery or bifurcation or with bare metal stent placement. A low pre-TIMI flow of 0 or 1, baseline thrombus, not using upstream GpIIb inhibitors also significantly increased incidence of IPST.

Conclusion

Further studies are needed to validate above described patient and procedural risk factors. Using upstream GpIIb inhibitors in this specific high-risk population may help in prevention.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Impact of intraprocedural stent thrombosis on outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis

Background

Intraprocedural stent thrombosis (IPST), defined as the development of occlusive or nonocclusive new thrombus in or adjacent to a recently implanted stent before completion of PCI. IPST even though a rare entity, yet is associated with worse prognosis amongst all intraprocedural thrombotic events.

Purpose

Data regarding the impact of IPST is scarce and needs further investigation.

Methods

We performed literature search of all published full-length articles that studied and compared data on patients with IPST and with no IPST during PCI. We calculated odds ratios via the random effects model for 30 day and 1 year outcomes.

Results

Our literature search yielded 3 studies (1 retrospective, 2 observational post-hoc analysis) relevant to the meta-analysis. Total 19272 patients were included. IPST occurred in 159 patients (0.8%). At 30 days, IPST was associated with statistically significant higher all-cause mortality (OR 10.79, 95% CI [6.31, 18.45] p&lt;0.00001), MI (OR 4.82, 95% CI [2.39, 9.73] p&lt;0.0001), target vessel revascularization (TVR) (OR 6.70, 95% CI [3.38, 13.29] p&lt;0.00001), definite stent thrombosis (OR 10.44, 95% CI [5.87, 18.58] p&lt;0.00001), definite or probable stent thrombosis (OR 9.28), 95% CI [5.54, 15.56] p&lt;0.00001) and death or MI or TVR (OR 7.20], 95% CI [4.10, 12.64] p&lt;0.00001), than those without IPST. At one year, results remained statistically significant for higher mortality (OR 4.27, 95% CI [1.92, 9.49] p=0.0004) and death or MI or TVR (OR 2.91, 95% CI [1.58, 5.36] p=0.0006) in patients with IPST.

Conclusions

IPST even though is a rare occurrence, is associated with more adverse ischemic events, including higher mortality at 30 days and 1 year.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Yoga could reduce the burden and symptoms of atrial fibrillation as well as medication related side effects and the complications with cardiac ablation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that affects around three million people worldwide. Thromboembolic stroke, myocardial ischemia and congestive heart failure with significant financial burden are bad outcomes of AF. It is associated with significant morbidity and is also an independent risk factor for mortality. The treatment of AF and its associated complications increases healthcare resource utilization and contributes to increasing costs of healthcare, particularly costs associated with recurrent hospitalization.

Methods

538 patients of atrial fibrillation are enrolled in our multicentric study from 2012 to 2017 that brought to light the therapeutic impact a noninvasive, medication-free intervention has on a costly disease.The unique approach of this study involved patients serving as their own controls; for the first 12 weeks, patients continued standard AF medical or catheter ablation therapy, followed by 16 weeks of 30-min alternate day yoga sessions (Savasana / Sun Salution Yoga Posture, Ujjayi Breath and Anulom –Vilom Pranayam). Patients were also encouraged to practice yoga at home on a daily basis.We divided into two group Yoga and Non Yoga and compared the data after 16 weeks of training.

Results

Yoga training reduced symptomatic AF episodes (14.8±4 vs. 8.2±3.2, p&lt;0.005), symptomatic non-AF episodes (12.8±2.8 vs. 9.2±2.2; p&lt;0.004), asymptomatic AF episodes (2.4±0.4 vs. 1.3±0.20; p&lt;0.005), and depression and anxiety (p&lt;0.005) used Goldberg anxiety score 2.5 fold improved as compared to non yoga group while improving, QoL parameters including physical functioning, vitality, social functioning, and mental health as assessed using the SF-36 (p=0.017, p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.001, p=0.019, and p&lt;0.003, respectively). There were significant decreases in heart rate and systolic (11±3 mmhg) and diastolic (6±2 mmhg) blood pressure after yoga training (p&lt;0.002). This may directly result in decreased hospitalization (38% in yoga vs 16% in non yoga group) and healthcare costs reduction in yoga group. Yoga is also an intervention free from medication-related side effects or the complications observed with cardiac ablation.

Conclusions

The primary outcome was a composite of the reductions in symptomatic AF, symptomatic non-AF, and asymptomatic AF episodes as recorded by a diary and correlated with a non-looping event monitor with low cost. Strikingly, the results validate the ability of yoga practice to reduce patient-reported AF symptoms. It also demonstrated a statistically significant impact on quality of life (QoL), mental health, physical functioning, depression, and anxiety with avoid of side effects of medication or ablation.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None