Hispanic Diabetes Peer Facilitator Training Needs and Connections to Hispanics With Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: There is a gap in the literature on the role of Hispanic peer facilitators (PFs) in online peer-support communities for Hispanics with diabetes. This paper explores bilingual Hispanic PFs' training experiences and their perspectives on their role in a continuous glucose monitoring and online peer support intervention for people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with five PFs. A three-stage triangulation of qualitative data using inductive and deductive reasoning was used for the data analysis. Results: We grouped emerging themes into three categories: (a) technical and practical training needs and experiences, (b) building connections through shared diabetes experience, and (c) challenges and benefits of being a PF, such as helplessness, to further support participants and find motivation for their diabetes management. Conclusion: Successful peer facilitation requires more than technical knowledge. PFs need additional communication skills and psychosocial training on diabetes distress, anxiety, and depression. PFs may derive personal benefits in managing their own diabetes and making positive lifestyle changes from participating in an online peer support community.

Evaluation of learning and exposure in the undergraduate interventional radiology curriculum (ELIXIR)

AIM

To gauge current final year medical students' exposure to interventional radiology (IR)and assess their perceptions of IR as a prospective career option.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online questionnaire comprising of questions that gauge final-year medical students' understanding of and exposure to IR based on the recommendations set out by the British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR), was sent out to final-year students across 34 UK medical schools.

RESULTS

Five hundred and ten responses were collected from 33 out of 34 eligible medical schools. Sixty-four per cent of respondents rated their own IR knowledge as inadequate. On average, only 50% of all subtopics proposed in the BSIR undergraduate curriculum was covered during medical school and 32.7% of respondents were not exposed to any fundamental IR principles and techniques recommended by the BSIR during medical school. Regarding careers, 2.7% of respondents reported a definite interest in pursuing a career in IR. Most respondents (89.8%) felt that there was insufficient undergraduate teaching on IR and that they lacked information to consider pursuing a career in IR (87.5%).

CONCLUSION

Insufficient exposure and teaching on IR throughout medical schools have led to a lack of awareness and consideration of IR as a future career choice amongst UK medical students. The re-evaluation of IR teaching in the medical school curricula is needed. In the long-term, such recommendations could provide the much-needed solution to the workforce shortages seen in IR.

Extending surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A: A novel application of the modified BCLC staging system

503

Background: Intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma is a heterogenous group of disease. We aimed to prognosticate survival after surgical resection of HCC stratified by stage with amalgamation of the modified Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system and location of tumour. Methods: This single-institutional retrospective cohort study included patients with HCC who underwent surgical resection between 1st January 2000 to 30th June 2016. Participants were divided into 6 different subgroups based on the Milan Criteria (MC), the “Up-to-7” criteria, and location of lesions: A-u) Within MC with Unilobar lesions; A-b) Within MC + Bilobar lesions; B1-u) Out of MC + within Up-To-7 + Unilobar lesions; B1-b) Out of MC + within Up-to-7 + Bilobar lesions; B2-u) Out of MC + Out of Up-To-7 + Unilobar lesions; B2-b) Out of MC + Out of Up-To-7 + Bilobar lesions. A separate survival analysis was conducted for solitary HCC lesions according to three subgroups: A-S (Within MC); B1-S (Out of MC + within Up-To-7); B2-S (Out of MC + out of Up-To-7). The respective primary and secondary time-to-event outcomes were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: 794 of 1043 patients with surgical resection for HCC were analysed. Groups A-u (64.6 %), A-b (58.4 %) and B1-u (56.2 %) had 5-year cumulative overall survival (OS) rates above 50% after surgical resection and median OS exceeding 60 months (P=0.0001). The 5-year cumulative recurrence-free survival rates (RFS) were 40.4% (group A-u), 38.2% (group A-b), 36.3% (group B1-u), 24.6% (group B2-u), and 7.3% (group B2-b)(P=0.0001). For solitary lesions, the 5-year OS for the subgroups were A-S (65.1%), B1-S (56.0%) and B2-S (47.1%) (P=0.0003). Compared to A-S, there was also a significant trend towards relatively poorer OS as the lesion sizes increased in B1-S (HR 1.46, 95%CI 1.03 – 2.08) and B2-S (HR 1.65, 95%CI 1.25 – 2.18). Conclusions: We adopted a novel approach combining the modified BCLC B sub-classification and dispersion of tumour to show that surgical resection may be curative in a select subgroup of patients with intermediate HCC that fall outside BCLC Stage A, specifically those with unilobar lesions and are within the “up-to-7” criteria. Furthermore, We found that size prognosticates resection outcomes in solitary tumours.

A proof of concept for a deep learning system that can aid embryologists in predicting blastocyst survival after thaw

The ability to understand whether embryos survive the thaw process is crucial to transferring competent embryos that can lead to pregnancy. The objective of this study was to develop a proof of concept deep learning model capable of assisting embryologist assessment of survival of thawed blastocysts prior to embryo transfer. A deep learning model was developed using 652 labeled time-lapse videos of freeze-thaw blastocysts. The model was evaluated against and along embryologists on a test set of 99 freeze-thaw blastocysts, using images obtained at 0.5 h increments from 0 to 3 h post-thaw. The model achieved AUCs of 0.869 (95% CI 0.789, 0.934) and 0.807 (95% CI 0.717, 0.886) and the embryologists achieved average AUCs of 0.829 (95% CI 0.747, 0.896) and 0.850 (95% CI 0.773, 0.908) at 2 h and 3 h, respectively. Combining embryologist predictions with model predictions resulted in a significant increase in AUC of 0.051 (95% CI 0.021, 0.083) at 2 h, and an equivalent increase in AUC of 0.010 (95% CI -0.018, 0.037) at 3 h. This study suggests that a deep learning model can predict in vitro blastocyst survival after thaw in aneuploid embryos. After correlation with clinical outcomes of transferred embryos, this model may help embryologists ascertain which embryos may have failed to survive the thaw process and increase the likelihood of pregnancy by preventing the transfer of non-viable embryos.

Investigation of Synthesis and Deposition Methods for Cesium-Based Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Cell Applications

The CsPbI2Br perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) have great potential in photovoltaic applications due to their phase stability and optoelectronic properties. In this work, the synthesis technique of CsPbI2Br PQDs with the investigation of their properties and applications are identified. The critical issues and precautions for preparing PQDs are also discussed. It is also interesting to find that the collected supernatant solutions during the purification of PQDs can be recycled for preparing other types of PQDs. Meanwhile, this work demonstrates different approaches (i) thermal annealing, usage of (ii) methyl acetate and (iii) ethyl acetate as anti-solvents for preparing CsPbI2Br PQDs in the form of thin films on glass substrates. The obtained samples are characterized in terms of morphology, structural and optical properties. The results of this work can provide useful information for researchers, particularly for those who are starting to synthesize PQDs for fabrications of solid-state devices.

Utility of advanced echocardiographic deformation measures to delineate cause of pathological left ventricular hypertrophy: value of a multiparametric approach

Background

Early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is warranted to initiate specific treatment and improve outcomes. Conventional echocardiography is unable to reliably differentiate CA from other causes of increased left ventricular (LV) wall thickness.

Purpose

To demonstrate the value of a multiparametric approach utilising both standard and advanced echocardiographic measures to distinguish CA from other pathological causes of increased LV wall thickness.

Results

Patients with HCM had the highest septal thickness, maximum LV wall thickness, septum/posterior wall (Sep/PW) thickness ratio and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient and lowest PW thickness (p<0.0001) among all groups. Patients with CA had the lowest global longitudinal strain (GLS), tissue Doppler-derived myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities and LV ejection fraction (EF) (p<0.0001). EF strain ratio (EFSR=LVEF/GLS) and LV longitudinal strain (apex/base) ratio were highest (largest number) in CA patients (p<0.0001). Multivariate linear regression identified 5 independent predictors (PW thickness, Sep/PW thickness ratio, LVOT gradient, LV longitudinal strain (apex/base) ratio and GLS) that discriminated CA from other causes of increased LV wall thickness. A regression equation (using multivariate linear regression) {CA prediction value = (0.230*LS apex/base) − (0.002*LVOT gradient) − [0.068*(Sep/PW ratio)] + (0.007*PW thickness) + (0.022*GLS) + 0.189; r=0.667)} was derived which allowed reliable distinction of CA with a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 91.2% at the optimal cut-off.

Conclusion

PW thickness, Sep/PW thickness ratio, LVOT gradient, LV longitudinal strain (apex/base) ratio and GLS are independent predictors of CA. We developed a multiparametric regression equation which allowed discrimination of CA from other causes of increased LV wall thickness. Future studies involving larger cohorts are required to validate these findings.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Use of advanced echocardiographic modalities to discriminate preclinical HCM mutation carriers from non-carriers

Background

It is a challenging goal to identify which family members of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) will subsequently develop HCM. Previous studies evaluating the utility of two-dimensional conventional Doppler echocardiography in HCM families with a known pathogenic variant identified on genetic testing have been unable to reliably distinguish preclinical genotype-positive, phenotype-negative (G+P−) individuals from their healthy genotype-negative, phenotype-negative (G−P−) relatives.

Purpose

To determine if advanced echocardiographic modalities can discriminate preclinical HCM mutation carriers (G+P−) from non-carriers (G−P−).

Methods

A total of 199 participants who had undergone genetic testing from HCM families with a known pathogenic variant were included in the study: 39 G−P−; 58 G+P− and 102 overt HCM patients (G+P+). Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and colour M-mode were performed on all participants and longitudinal, circumferential and radial strain, and torsion were compared.

Results

Patients with overt HCM had the highest septal, posterior wall thickness, septum/posterior wall (Sep/PW) thickness ratio and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient and lowest global longitudinal, circumferential and radial strain, and tissue Doppler-derived myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities. Comparing G−P− and G+P− individuals, there were no significant differences in LV cavity size, wall thickness, LVOT gradient, LVEF and tissue Doppler-derived myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities. However, G+P− individuals had significantly higher peak apical rotation, peak twist and colour M-mode flow propagation velocity (Vp). Multivariate linear regression identified two independent predictors (peak apical rotation and Vp), and a regression equation (using multivariate linear regression) {Mutation carrier prediction value = (0.210×peak apical rotation) − (0.002×Vp) + 0.156; r=0.655)} was derived which allowed reliable discrimination of G+P- individuals with a sensitivity of 95.2% and specificity of 94.1% at the optimal cut-off.

Conclusion

In HCM family members without overt HCM, peak apical rotation and Vp provide good sensitivity and specificity for identifying mutation carriers and may be a clinically useful early marker of HCM before the onset of hypertrophy. Future longitudinal studies involving larger cohorts are required to validate these findings.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

421 Improving Confidence with Difficult Catheterisations

Aim

The use of catheters is common amongst inpatients with variable successful completion rates resulting in frequent calls to the on-call urology team for assistance. A common concern from the urology team is that there is inadequate equipment stocked in A&E or CAU across NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Additionally, it is felt anecdotally that most “difficult” catheters are in fact easily inserted by urologists via the use of a larger silicone catheter. The aim was therefore to improve confidence with difficult catheters and knowledge of when to refer to Urology; and to improve access to equipment required for a difficult catheter.

Method

A questionnaire using Likert scales was distributed to medical and nursing staff across both acute sites within the health board to establish baseline confidence and ease of finding equipment. An intervention in the form of a guide to difficult catheters was introduced with work started on a difficult catheters trolley. A follow up questionnaire using Likert scales was distributed to assess confidence. The subsequent data was then collated and analysed.

Results

1st Cycle: 30 responses; 36.70% confident/very confident. 2nd Cycle: 7 responses; 85.70% confident/very confident and know when to refer; Ease of finding equipment remains variable; 71.5% found the guide to be clear/very clear.

Conclusions

Despite the lower response rate in the second cycle, the guide has been effective in improving the confidence of staff with difficult catheters and their knowledge of when to refer. Ease of finding equipment remains variable, however, due to the relative delay in establishing the trolley.

Multicenter analysis of neutrophil extracellular trap dysregulation in adult and pediatric COVID-19

Dysregulation in neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and degradation may play a role in the pathogenesis and severity of COVID-19; however, its role in the pediatric manifestations of this disease, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and chilblain-like lesions (CLLs), otherwise known as “COVID toes,” remains unclear. Studying multinational cohorts, we found that, in CLLs, NETs were significantly increased in serum and skin. There was geographic variability in the prevalence of increased NETs in MIS-C, in association with disease severity. MIS-C and CLL serum samples displayed decreased NET degradation ability, in association with C1q and G-actin or anti-NET antibodies, respectively, but not with genetic variants of DNases. In adult COVID-19, persistent elevations in NETs after disease diagnosis were detected but did not occur in asymptomatic infection. COVID-19–affected adults displayed significant prevalence of impaired NET degradation, in association with anti-DNase1L3, G-actin, and specific disease manifestations, but not with genetic variants of DNases. NETs were detected in many organs of adult patients who died from COVID-19 complications. Infection with the Omicron variant was associated with decreased NET levels when compared with other SARS-CoV-2 strains. These data support a role for NETs in the pathogenesis and severity of COVID-19 in pediatric and adult patients.

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC).

FINDINGS

In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683-0·717]).

INTERPRETATION

In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required.

FUNDING

British Journal of Surgery Society.

Combining CGM and an Online Peer Support Community for Hispanic Adults with T2D: A Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

Previous research has identified that people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) within the Hispanic community would benefit from an online peer support community (OPSC) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data to facilitate diabetes self-management.

METHODS

A mixed-methods feasibility study enrolled Hispanic, Spanish-speaking adults with T2D, not on insulin. Participants were provided with CGM and access to an OPSC for 12 weeks. Feasibility was assessed by number of eligible participants who enrolled, attrition, quantity of CGM data, validated clinical measures of self-efficacy, quality of life and adverse events. Engagement in the OPSC was measured using objective metrics on the online platform. Qualitative interviews were conducted upon conclusion of the intervention to assess feasibility, acceptability, participant satisfaction, and key recommendations for improvement.

RESULTS

Of 46 participants screened, 39 were eligible and 26 completed the study. Participants significantly improved self-efficacy scores. Posts in the OPSC related to goal setting had the highest engagement followed by mid-week and end of week check-in posts respectively. Participant interviews described challenges accessing the OPSC platform as a barrier to engagement. Despite this, all participants were satisfied with the intervention. Key recommendations for improvement included providing greater variety of and individualized education and the use of a peer support platform that is easily accessible.

CONCLUSIONS

The CGM + OPSC intervention tailored to the Hispanic community with T2D was feasible, acceptable and satisfactory and improved participant self-efficacy for diabetes management which may lead to improved clinical outcomes.

Effects of location, classroom orientation, and air change rate on potential aerosol exposure: an experimental and computational study

This study examined the dispersion of potentially infectious aerosols in classrooms by means of both a CO₂ tracer gas, and multizone contaminant transport modeling. A total of 20 tests were conducted in three different university classrooms at multiple air change rates (4.4-9.7/h), each with two different room orientations: one with the tracer gas released from six student desks toward the air return, and one with the same tracer gas released away from it. Resulting tracer concentrations were measured by 19 different monitors arrayed throughout the room. Steady-state, mean tracer gas concentrations were calculated in six instructor zones (A-F) around the periphery of the room, with the results normalized by the concentration at the return, which was assumed to be representative of the well-mixed volume of the room. Across all classrooms, zones farthest from the return (C, D) had the lowest mean normalized concentrations (0.75), while those closest to the return (A, F) had the highest (0.95). This effect was consistent across room orientations (release both toward and away from the return), and air change rates. In addition, all zones around the periphery of the room had a significantly lower concentration than those adjacent to the sources. Increasing the ventilation rate reduced tracer gas concentrations significantly. Similar trends were observed via a novel approach to CONTAM modeling of the same rooms. These results indicate that informed selection of teaching location within the classroom could reduce instructor exposure.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Plus an Online Peer Support Community Reinforces Healthy Behaviors in Hispanic Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Background

Previous research has suggested beneficial glycemic outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes with the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM); yet, there is a dearth of data examining CGM in diverse populations. Additionally, the use of online peer support communities (OPSCs) can further support the application of CGM information to improve health behaviors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess participant experiences with a CGM+OPSC intervention.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted after a 12-week combined CGM+OPSC intervention with Hispanic, Spanish-speaking people with type 2 diabetes not using insulin. The OPSC was managed by five trained bilingual peer facilitators. Interviews were conducted in Spanish. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed and then reviewed by the interviewer for accuracy. Emergent themes were identified through inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty-six participants completed interviews. Three main themes emerged from the data: 1) CGM supports participants' understanding of the relationship between glucose levels and health behaviors such as healthy eating, being active, taking medication, stress reduction, and improving sleep; 2) the OPSC reinforced how to make healthy choices through personal experiments, collective learning, and social support; and 3) CGM+OPSC supports behavior change and increases confidence.

Conclusion

When combined, CGM+OPSC interventions appear to create a positive feedback loop to reinforce and optimize healthy behaviors for diabetes self-management in individuals with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin. The provision of such an intervention tailored to Hispanic, Spanish-speaking individuals has the potential to address the health care disparity seen in this population.

Multicenter analysis of neutrophil extracellular trap dysregulation in adult and pediatric COVID-19

Dysregulation in neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and degradation may play a role in the pathogenesis and severity of COVID-19; however, its role in the pediatric manifestations of this disease including MIS-C and chilblain-like lesions (CLL), otherwise known as "COVID toes", remains unclear. Studying multinational cohorts, we found that, in CLL, NETs were significantly increased in serum and skin. There was geographic variability in the prevalence of increased NETs in MIS-C, in association with disease severity. MIS-C and CLL serum samples displayed decreased NET degradation ability, in association with C1q and G-actin or anti-NET antibodies, respectively, but not with genetic variants of DNases. In adult COVID-19, persistent elevations in NETs post-disease diagnosis were detected but did not occur in asymptomatic infection. COVID-19-affected adults displayed significant prevalence of impaired NET degradation, in association with anti-DNase1L3, G-actin, and specific disease manifestations, but not with genetic variants of DNases. NETs were detected in many organs of adult patients who died from COVID-19 complications. Infection with the Omicron variant was associated with decreased levels of NETs when compared to other SARS-CoV-2 strains. These data support a role for NETs in the pathogenesis and severity of COVID-19 in pediatric and adult patients.

Summary

NET formation and degradation are dysregulated in pediatric and symptomatic adult patients with various complications of COVID-19, in association with disease severity. NET degradation impairments are multifactorial and associated with natural inhibitors of DNase 1, G-actin and anti-DNase1L3 and anti-NET antibodies. Infection with the Omicron variant is associated with decreased levels of NETs when compared to other SARS-CoV-2 strains.

Contact Allergy to Topical Medicaments, Part 2: Steroids, Immunomodulators, and Anesthetics, Oh My!

Topical drugs are used to treat a variety of cutaneous and noncutaneous conditions. Direct application to the skin can result in adverse cutaneous effects, including allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). In part 2 of this series on topical medicament ACD, we focus on corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and anesthetics.

Comparative Effectiveness Analyses of Salvage Prostatectomy and Salvage Radiotherapy Outcomes Following Focal or Whole-Gland Ablative Therapy (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, Cryotherapy or Electroporation) for Localised Prostate Cancer

AIMS

Ablative therapy, such as focal therapy, cryotherapy or electroporation, aims to treat clinically significant prostate cancer with reduced treatment-related toxicity. Up to a third of patients may require further local salvage treatment after ablative therapy failure. Limited descriptive, but no comparative, evidence exists between different salvage treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare oncological and functional outcomes after salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SRARP) and salvage radiotherapy (SRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were collected prospectively and retrospectively on 100 consecutive SRARP cases and 100 consecutive SRT cases after ablative therapy failure in a high-volume tertiary centre.

RESULTS

High-risk patients were over-represented in the SRARP group (66.0%) compared with the SRT group (48.0%) (P = 0.013). The median (interquartile range) follow-up after SRARP was 16.5 (10.0-30.0) months and 37.0 (18.5-64.0) months after SRT. SRT appeared to confer greater biochemical recurrence-free survival at 1, 2 and 3 years compared with SRARP in high-risk patients (year 3: 86.3% versus 66.0%), but biochemical recurrence-free survival was similar for intermediate-risk patients (year 3: 90.0% versus 75.6%). There was no statistical difference in pad-free continence at 12 and 24 months between SRARP (77.2 and 84.7%) and SRT (75.0 and 74.0%) (P = 0.724, 0.114). Erectile function was more likely to be preserved in men who underwent SRT. After SRT, cumulative bowel and urinary Radiation Therapy Oncology Group toxicity grade I were 25.0 and 45.0%, grade II were 11.0 and 11.0% and grade III or IV complications were 4.0 and 5.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We report the first comparative analyses of salvage prostatectomy and radiotherapy following ablative therapy. Men with high-risk disease appear to have superior oncological outcomes after SRT; however, treatment allocation does not appear to influence oncological outcomes for men with intermediate-risk disease. Treatment allocation was associated with a different spectrum of toxicity profile. Our data may inform shared decision-making when considering salvage treatment following focal or whole-gland ablative therapy.

Comparison between pre-hospital and in-hospital ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) from 2003 to 2016 in New South Wales, Australia: a population-linkage data analysis

Background

Outcomes among patients presenting to hospital with STEMI (PH-STEMI) are favourably impacted by access to reperfusion, which has improved in Australia in recent years. Reperfusion rates and outcomes among patients with in-hospital STEMI (IH-STEMI) in Australia are not well described.

Purpose

We compared frequency of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and all-cause mortality trends between patients with PH-STEMI and IH-STEMI over 13-years in a statewide cohort.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with STEMI (both PH and IH) were identified from the NSW Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection registry from 2003 to 2016 and linked to the death registry until 31-December-2018. We calculated the proportion with PCI over time, and rate of long-term mortality was determined with adjustment for age, sex, year of presentation and PCI.

Results

66,794 STEMI patients were identified; 57,721 (86%) had PH-STEMI. Patients with IH-STEMI were older (mean±SD: 75±13 vs 66±14 years), and more likely to be female (46.2% vs 29.8%) than PH-STEMIs. Patients with IH-STEMI were less likely to undergo PCI (17.1% vs 55.8%). From 2003-4 to 2015-6, overall rate of PCI increased for STEMI, but remained lower for IH-STEMI compared to PH-STEMI (9.5% to 23.9% vs 40.4% to 65.5% respectively).

All-cause mortality from STEMI fell over time in both groups. Predictors of mortality improvement in the PH and IH-STEMI populations respectively included PCI: (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46–0.49 and (aHR=0.48 [95% CI: 0.44–0.53) and year of event: (aHR=0.74 [95% CI: 0.69–0.8] and aHR=0.79 [95% CI: 0.70–0.88]). Adding the interaction term PCI by year group to the mortality models showed that this progressive reduction in mortality by year grouping was accounted for by the performance of PCI in the PH-STEMI group (p<0.0001) but not in the IH-STEMI group (p=0.65).

Conclusion

A fall in mortality in patients with PH-STEMI in NSW was observed from 2003 to 2016 and was accounted for by increasing use of PCI. A more modest fall in mortality was seen in patients with IH-STEMI and this was independent of PCI which was under utilised in this population. Efforts to further improve outcomes in STEMI should include a greater focus on patients with in-hospital events.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

1420 ViRtual prOficiency Based prOgression for Robotic Training (VROBOT): A Prospective Cohort Study Protocol

Introduction

Robotic surgery is an evolving field that requires specialist training. Historically, robotic surgery training has lacked standardisation. Recently, training centres have introduced proficiency-based modules and curriculums to certify and progress the skills of novice robotic surgeons. However, training tends to be self-directed and non-interactive. Limited interactive teaching does exist but can be inaccessible and expensive. We aim to validate the effectiveness of the current Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery (FRS) training curriculum with the addition of interactive virtual classroom teaching.

Method

16 novice surgical trainees will be assigned to two training groups. The interventions will be implemented following a one-week robotic skills induction. Both groups will receive access to the FRS curriculum for one week. The intervention group will additionally receive virtual classroom robotic skills training. The primary outcome will be the objective performance scores after training using a synthetic model based on task errors, time taken and contact pressure. In week 3, each group will receive the alternate intervention and objective performance scores will be measured to determine the trajectory of scores.

Results

Significant objective performance improvement following the intervention will be indicative of intervention quality.

Conclusions

This will be the first feasibility study evaluating the efficacy of interactive virtual robotic surgery training. It will determine the effect size of virtual classroom training on the development of basic robotic surgical skills in addition to the proficiency-based FRS curriculum. The findings will assist the development and implementation of further resource-efficient virtual robotic surgical skills training programs.

1160 LEARN (Urological Teaching in British Medical Schools Nationally): A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Urology is a common rotation for UK Foundation Year (FY) doctors, and accounts for >25% of acute surgical referrals. In 2012, the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) produced ‘An Undergraduate Syllabus for Urology’, advising on common clinical areas of urology to be covered during medical school. However, its national uptake remains unknown. LEARN aims to assess undergraduate urology teaching across UK medical schools.

Method

LEARN is the largest ever multicentre cross-sectional study of undergraduate urology teaching. Year 2-5 medical students and FY1 doctors were invited to complete a survey between 3rd October-20th December 2020. The primary objective is to compare current undergraduate urology teaching against the BAUS syllabus. Secondary objectives investigate the type and quantity of teaching provided, the reported performance rate of GMC mandated urological procedures, and the proportion of those considering urology as a career.

Results

A total of 7,611/8,346 (91.2%) responses from 39 medical schools that met the inclusion criteria were analysed. 16.5% of responses were newly appointed FY1 doctors. In their undergraduate training, the most commonly taught topics were urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury and haematuria; the least taught topics were male urinary incontinence, male infertility and erectile dysfunction. 90.6% and 86.3% had reported performing catheterisation as undergraduates on male and female patients respectively, and 16.9% had considered a career in urology.

Conclusion

LEARN provides the largest evaluation of any undergraduate specialty teaching. It has identified areas to improve teaching, to equip the future workforce with the competencies to manage urological pathology, irrespective of future career choice.

1141 Robotic Assisted Surgery in Horseshoe Kidneys: A Safety and Feasibility Multicentre Case Series

Introduction

Horseshoe kidneys (HSK) are the most common renal fusion abnormality. However, they are only present in 0.2% of the population. Due to anatomical variation in vasculature, ectopia and malrotation, surgery has traditionally been performed via an open approach. We aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted surgery for HSK.

Method

Six patients (four female, two male) with HSKs were operated on between 2016 and 2019 across two high-volume centres by high-volume surgeons. All operations were robot-assisted, with three partial nephrectomies and one nephroureterectomy for renal masses and two benign nephrectomies for non-functioning kidneys. 3D reconstruction using CT renal angiograms was used to help identify vasculature and tumour location (where appropriate).

Results

The median age was 53 years (IQR 47-58.3) and the median BMI was 25 (IQR 25-25.8). Median tumour size in the four patients with renal masses was 35.5 mm (IQR 25.3-44.8). Median console time was 120 minutes (IQR 117-172.5) and the median estimated blood loss was 150 mL (IQR 112.5-262.5). The median pre-operative eGFR was 76 (IQR 70-86.5) and median post-operative eGFR was 65.5 (IQR 59.3-80.8). All operations were uneventful, there were no perioperative transfusions and no complications reported. Length of stay was two days for all patients.

Conclusions

We report the largest series of mixed robotic-assisted surgery on HSK. Robotic surgery is safe and feasible for HSK in high-volume centres with acceptable perioperative outcomes. Further prospective, longer-term, multi-centre studies are required to evaluative if robotic surgery for HSK is superior to open surgery.

Electron Kinetics Induced by Ultrafast Photoexcitation of Warm Dense Matter in a 30-nm-Thick Foil

We report on the study of electron kinetics induced by intense femtosecond (fs) laser excitation of electrons in the 5d band of Au. Changes in the electron system are observed from the temporal evolution of ac conductivity and conduction electron density. The results reveal an increase of electron thermalization time with excitation energy density, contrary to the Fermi-liquid behavior of the decrease of thermalization time associated with the heating of conduction electrons. This is attributed to the severe mitigation of photoexcitation by Auger decay. The study also uncovers the shortening of 5d hole lifetime with the increase of photoexcitation rates. These unique findings provide valuable insights for understanding electron kinetics under extreme nonequilibrium conditions.