Quantitative analysis validation for sclerotherapy treatment of lower limb telangiectasias

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of sclerotherapy efficacy for lower limb telangiectasias, which is the standard treatment for such condition, is commonly assisted by scores based on before and after pictures. This method is marked by its subjectivity, which impairs the precision of studies on the subject, making it unfeasible to evaluate and compare different interventions. We hypothesize that a quantitative method for evaluating the effectiveness of sclerotherapy for lower limb telangiectasias may present more reproducible results. Reliable measurement methods and new technologies may become part of the clinical practice in the near future.

METHODS

Before and after treatment photographs were analyzed using a quantitative method and compared with a validated qualitative method based on improvement scores. Reliability analysis of the methods was performed, applying the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and kappa coefficient with quadratic weights (Fleiss Cohen), for analysis of inter-examiner and intra-examiner agreement in both evaluation methods. Convergent validity was evaluated by applying the Spearman test. To assess the applicability of the quantitative scale, the Mann-Whitney test was used.

RESULTS

A better agreement between examiners is shown for the quantitative scale, with a mean kappa of .3986 (.251-.511) for qualitative analysis and a mean kappa of .788 (.655-.918) for quantitative analysis (P < .001 for all examiners). Convergent validity was achieved by correlation coefficients of .572 to .905 (P < .001). The quantitative scale results obtained between the specialists with different degrees of experience did not show statistical difference (seniors: 0.71 [-0.48/1.00] × juniors: 0.73 [-0.34/1.00]; P = .221).

CONCLUSIONS

Convergent validity between both analyses has been achieved, but quantitative analysis has been shown to be more reliable and can be applied by professionals of any degree of experience. The validation of quantitative analysis is a major milestone for the development of new technology and automated, reliable, applications.

Grayscale median (GSM) post-processing, posterizing, and color mapping for carotid ultrasound

Abstract Factors related to atherosclerotic plaques may indicate instability, such as ulcerations, intraplaque hemorrhages, lipid core, thin or irregular fibrous cap, and inflammation. The grayscale median (GSM) value is one of the most widespread methods of studying atherosclerotic plaques and it is therefore important to comprehensively standardize image post-processing. Post-processing was performed using Photoshop 23.1.1.202. Images were standardized by adjusting the grayscale histogram curves, setting the darkest point of the vascular lumen (blood) to zero and the distal adventitia to 190. Posterization and color mapping were performed. A methodology that presents the current state of the art in an accessible and illustrative way should contribute to the dissemination of GSM analysis. This article describes and illustrates the process step by step.

Nebulized enriched heparin to treat no critical patients with Sars-Cov-2: Triple-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory disease that spreads rapidly, reaching pandemic status, causing the collapse of numerous health systems, and a strong economic and social impact. The treatment so far has not been well established and there are several clinical trials testing known drugs that have antiviral activity, due to the urgency that the global situation imposes. Drugs with specific mechanisms of action can take years to be discovered, while vaccines may also take a long time to be widely distributed while new virus variants emerge. Thus, drug repositioning has been shown to be a good strategy for defining new therapeutic approaches. Studies of the effect of enriched heparin in the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro assays justify the advance for clinical tests.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A phase I/II triple-blind parallel clinical trial will be conducted. Fifty participants with radiological diagnosis of grade IIA pneumonia will be selected, which will be allocated in 2 arms. Participants allocated in Group 1 (placebo) will receive nebulized 0.9% saline. Participants allocated in Group 2 (intervention) will receive nebulized enriched heparin (2.5 mg/mL 0.9% saline). Both groups will receive the respective solutions on a 4/4 hour basis, for 7 days. The main outcomes of interest will be safety (absence of serious adverse events) and efficacy (measured by the viral load).Protocols will be filled on a daily basis, ranging from day 0 (diagnosis) until day 8.

Agenesia de segmento infra-hepático de veia cava inferior associada a trombose venosa profunda de repetição: relato de caso

Agenesis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) has been described in less than 1% of the population; a rare occurrence caused by embryonic abnormalities. Its correlation with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is certainly underestimated, since this change is hard to detect using ultrasound. The aim of the article is to report the case of a 41-year-old female patient with pain and edema up to the top of the right thigh after plastic surgery. Bilateral venous duplex ultrasound revealed bilateral DVT involving iliac-femoral-popliteal and distal segments. Venous angiotomography was requested because the IVC was not visible on ultrasound, revealing thrombosis of the right lumbar plexus and iliofemoral segment bilaterally and agenesis of the infrahepatic segment of the inferior vena cava, with ectasia and compensatory tortuosity of paravertebral veins and the azygos-hemiazygos system, and bilateral pelvic varices. Systemic and oral anticoagulation were administered, with a satisfactory clinical response.