Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

On December 5, 2022, an indirect drive fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a target gain G_{target} of 1.5. This is the first laboratory demonstration of exceeding "scientific breakeven" (or G_{target}>1) where 2.05 MJ of 351 nm laser light produced 3.1 MJ of total fusion yield, a result which significantly exceeds the Lawson criterion for fusion ignition as reported in a previous NIF implosion [H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 075001 (2022)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001]. This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles, is possible. This Letter reports on the target, laser, design, and experimental advancements that led to this result.

Subjective and objective responses to caloric stimulation help separate vestibular migraine from other vestibular disorders

BACKGROUND

Nystagmus generated during bithermal caloric test assesses the horizontal vestibulo-ocular-reflex. Any induced symptoms are considered unwanted side effects rather than diagnostic information.

AIM

We hypothesized that nystagmus slow-phase-velocity (SPV) and subjective symptoms during caloric testing would be higher in vestibular migraine (VM) patients compared with peripheral disorders such as Meniere's disease (MD) and non-vestibular dizziness (NVD).

METHODS

Consecutive patients (n = 1373, 60% female) referred for caloric testing were recruited. During caloric irrigations, patients scored their subjective sensations. We assessed objective-measures, subjective vertigo (SVS), subjective nausea (SNS), and test completion status.

RESULTS

Nystagmus SPV for VM, MD (unaffected side), and NVD were 29 ± 12.8, 30 ± 15.4, and 28 ± 14.2 for warm irrigation and 24 ± 8.9, 22 ± 10.0, and 25 ± 12.8 for cold-irrigation. The mean SVS were 2.5 ± 1.1, 1.5 ± 1.33, and 1.5 ± 1.42 for warm irrigation and 2.2 ± 1.1, 1.1 ± 1.19, and 1.1 ± 1.16 for cold-irrigation. Age was significantly correlated with SVS and SNS, (p < 0.001) for both. The SVS and SNS were significantly higher in VM compared with non-VM groups (p < 0.001), and there was no difference in nystagmus SPV. VM patients SVS was significantly different to the SVS of migraineurs in the other diagnostic groups (p < 0.001). Testing was incomplete for 34.4% of VM and 3.2% of MD patients. To separate VM from MD, we computed a composite value representing the caloric data, with 83% sensitivity and 71% specificity. Application of machine learning to these metrics plus patient demographics yielded better separation (96% sensitivity and 85% specificity).

CONCLUSION

Perceptual differences between VM and non-VM patients during caloric stimulation indicate that subjective ratings during caloric testing are meaningful measures. Combining objective and subjective measures could provide optimal separation of VM from MD.

Comparative study of functional outcomes of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using anteromedial portal and translateral all-inside technique

Background

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are common in the active population of the Armed Forces. Symptomatic instability prompts individuals to seek a cure or a sheltered appointment. Despite the increasing numbers of ACL reconstructions performed, the outcomes have not been so spectacular with only a meager percentage of our patients returning to preinjury levels of activity. With the premise that an all-inside ACL reconstruction is likely to result in better functional outcomes, the aim of this study was to compare the short-term functional outcomes of a large consecutive series of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction using the translateral all-inside ACL reconstruction technique (AI) and standard anteromedial portal technique (AM) with a minimum follow-up of one year.

Methods

A total of 240 patients with isolated ACL tear underwent ACL reconstruction via the AI or AM technique. Their preoperative and postoperative scores were compared to look for any significant differences in functional outcomes.

Results

The two groups were matched for age, BMI, mechanism of injury, and interval from injury to surgery. There was no difference in their preoperative scores. Postoperatively, although there were significant improvements across both groups, there was no significant difference between the groups at any point of time.

Conclusion

The AI technique has garnered interest in recent literature in addressing ACL injuries. This study found no discernible benefit of the AI technique when compared to the AM technique in terms of functionality following an ACL reconstruction at any point of time up to 1 year following surgery.

Classic ketogenic diet versus further antiseizure medicine in infants with drug-resistant epilepsy (KIWE): a UK, multicentre, open-label, randomised clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Many infancy-onset epilepsies have poor prognosis for seizure control and neurodevelopmental outcome. Ketogenic diets can improve seizures in children older than 2 years and adults who are unresponsive to antiseizure medicines. We aimed to establish the efficacy of a classic ketogenic diet at reducing seizure frequency compared with further antiseizure medicine in infants with drug-resistant epilepsy.

METHODS

In this phase 4, open-label, multicentre, randomised clinical trial, infants aged 1-24 months with drug-resistant epilepsy (defined as four or more seizures per week and two or more previous antiseizure medications) were recruited from 19 hospitals in the UK. Following a 1-week or 2-week observation period, participants were randomly assigned using a computer-generated schedule, without stratification, to either a classic ketogenic diet or a further antiseizure medication for 8 weeks. Treatment allocation was masked from research nurses involved in patient care, but not from participants. The primary outcome was the median number of seizures per day, recorded during weeks 6-8. All analyses were by modified intention to treat, which included all participants with available data. Participants were followed for up to 12 months. All serious adverse events were recorded. The trial is registered with the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (2013-002195-40). The trial was terminated early before all participants had reached 12 months of follow-up because of slow recruitment and end of funding.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 1, 2015, and Sept 30, 2021, 155 infants were assessed for eligibility, of whom 136 met inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned; 75 (55%) were male and 61 (45%) were female. 78 infants were assigned to a ketogenic diet and 58 to antiseizure medication, of whom 61 and 47, respectively, had available data and were included in the modifified intention-to-treat analysis at week 8. The median number of seizures per day during weeks 6-8, accounting for baseline rate and randomised group, was similar between the ketogenic diet group (5 [IQR 1-16]) and antiseizure medication group (3 [IQR 2-11]; IRR 1·33, 95% CI 0·84-2·11). A similar number of infants with at least one serious adverse event was reported in both groups (40 [51%] of 78 participants in the ketogenic diet group and 26 [45%] of 58 participants in the antiseizure medication group). The most common serious adverse events were seizures in both groups. Three infants died during the trial, all of whom were randomly assigned a ketogenic diet: one child (who also had dystonic cerebral palsy) was found not breathing at home; one child died suddenly and unexpectedly at home; and one child went into cardiac arrest during routine surgery under anaesthetic. The deaths were judged unrelated to treatment by local principal investigators and confirmed by the data safety monitoring committee.

INTERPRETATION

In this phase 4 trial, a ketogenic diet did not differ in efficacy and tolerability to a further antiseizure medication, and it appears to be safe to use in infants with drug-resistant epilepsy. A ketogenic diet could be a treatment option in infants whose seizures continue despite previously trying two antiseizure medications.

FUNDING

National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Angle Stable Plate Fixation vs Hemicallotasis in Medial Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy: A Comparative Study

Background

Varus alignment associated with medial compartment degeneration is the most common presentation of knee osteoarthritis and often presents in young active adults where arthroplasty might be unsuitable.

Purpose

To compare the accuracy of the angle stable medial high tibia plate and self-adjusting HTO (high tibial osteotomy) fixator in achieving correction of varus deformity of the knee by medial opening wedge HTO and to evaluate functionality between the groups.

Study Design

Prospective randomized control study.

Methods

Forty patients each underwent medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy with acute correction and stabilization using the angle stable plate (ASP group) or with the hemicallotasis technique using the self-adjusting HTO external fixator (HCO group). Anatomical and functional outcomes were compared to the pre-operative values at the 6th and 12th month.

Results

The FTA (femoro-tibial axis), mechanical axis, and functional scores improved significantly in both groups. There was also a significant change in the patellar height and tibial slope. Except for a better KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) in the angle stable plate group at the 6-month follow-up, there were no significant differences between the groups.

Conclusion

Both methods of performing a medially based proximal tibial osteotomy gave equivalent outcomes at the 1-year follow-up.

Age- And Gender-Based Predisposition Of MMP-9 -1562 C > T Genotype And Allele Frequencies With Serum MMP-9 Levels As Probable Risk Factors In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the third foremost reason of death worldwide in both men and women of different age groups, and is associated with 17.8 million mortalities annually due to unknown specific genetic background. Hence, we elucidated the age- and gender-based predisposition of MMP-9 -1562 C > T (rs3918242) genotype and allele frequencies along with serum MMP-9 levels as probable risk factors in the development of CAD. This case-control study comprised 150 CAD patients and 150 controls from the South Indian Population. PCR-RFLP was performed to determine different genotypes of MMP-9 gene and serum levels of MMP-9 were measured using ELISA. Age- and gender-based subgroup analysis was performed to assess the probable risk of genotype-based serum MMP-9 levels. CT heterozygote showed 25.4% increased frequency in overall CAD patients compared to controls (OR, 4.48; p < 0.0001); while it was 29.2% in men patients (OR, 6.68; p < 0.0001). The CT heterozygote incurred 25.2% increased risk of CAD in younger patients (p = 0.0033), and 25.6% in older patients (p = 0.001). Allele frequency analysis revealed 20% increased risk of minor T allele in younger patients (p = 0.001), and was 13% higher compared to older patients (p = 0.04). Patients with CC homozygote and CT heterozygote showed significantly increased serum MMP-9 levels. Further, comparative analysis showed significantly increased MMP-9 serum levels in women with CT heterozygote compared to men with the same genotype. Our findings clearly demonstrated that rs3918242 of MMP-9 gene and high serum levels of MMP-9 are associated with CAD in South Indian population specifically in older women.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-022-01073-5.

Outcomes of Children Diagnosed with Unilateral Retinoblastoma: Retrospective Audit

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate treatment outcomes of children diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Retrospective study of children diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma registered at the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai from January 2013 to December 2018 and completed the planned curative treatment protocol.

RESULTS

For the 98 cases that were analyzed, the median age of presentation was 24 months. The majority of patients had the intraocular disease (n = 72), whereas orbital retinoblastoma was in 26 patients. At the time of presentation, on imaging extra scleral spread was observed in 16 patients whereas 18 patients had optic nerve involvement, 11 patients had both extra scleral invasion and optic nerve involvement. We used the International Classification of Retinoblastoma for grouping. Out of 98 patients, 71 patients were in Group E, 21 were in Group D and 4 were in Group B and 2 were in Group C. For Staging of Retinoblastoma, we used International Retinoblastoma Staging System (IRSS) in our study and 14 patients had Stage 0 disease, 52 patients had Stage I disease, 10 patients had Stage II, 21 patients had Stage III A and 1 patient had Stage III B disease. High-risk features on surgical specimen histopathology were optic nerve cut margin positive in 6 patients, optic nerve involvement in 21 patients, extra scleral spread in 3 patients, Choroidal invasion in 38 and Iris involvement in 10 patients. Primary enucleation was offered in 52 patients whereas 26 patients underwent secondary enucleation. Systemic chemotherapy was received by the patient in the neoadjuvant setting in 17 patients as a form of chemo-reduction and 51 patients received systemic chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting. Intra-arterial chemotherapy was offered to 27 patients as a primary treatment or in conjugation with focal therapy (n = 11). Definitive radiotherapy was offered to only 2 patients and 22 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. At a median follow-up of 62 months, 2patients had local relapse, which was salvaged by focal therapy in one and enucleation in the other. Ten patients who had leptomeningeal relapse had died. The 5-year local control (LC) is 97.6%, event-free survival (EFS) is 88% and overall survival (OS) is 89.5%. Globe was salvaged in only 16 cases. On univariate analysis, we observed a significant association between overall survival and extraocular and intraocular disease (p-value 0.0), Extra scleral spread (p-value 0.0), optic Nerve involvement (imaging), and an optic nerve cut margin positive (p-value 0.045), ICRB Groups (p-value 0.0) and IRSS stage (p- value 0.024).

CONCLUSION

Retinoblastoma is curable if detected early. Extra ocular disease and high-risk features are associated with inferior outcomes and poor globe salvage rates.

Correlation Between Estrogen Receptor α Gene Polymorphism (c454-397T>C) with Serum Estradiol Levels and Known Risk Factors in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains the most common cause of cardiac failure and continuous increasing rate of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate the association of estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) gene polymorphism c454-397T>C with serum estradiol levels and dyslipidemia in 220 patients with MI in the age range of 35-70 years of both the genders. Genotyping study was performed through PCR-RFLP method using PvuII restriction enzyme. Serum estradiol level was estimated using the Access Sensitive Estradiol assay kit. Men patients had 43.2% increased risk for TC heterozygote in co-dominant (OR 10.66) and over-dominant models (OR 8.30), while women patients had 50% increased risk in co-dominant (OR 16.57) and over-dominant (OR 14.04) models. Variant C allele showed 25% increased risk of MI for in men (OR 2.24; CI 1.49-3.36; p = 0.0001), and 24% increased risk in women (OR 3.35; CI 1.95-5.76; p = 0.0001). Men patients had significantly increased serum estradiol levels compared to controls (25.28 ± 5.80 vs 17.04 ± 2.01; p < 0.0001). Significant difference was observed in estradiol levels between men and women patients (25.28 ± 5.80 vs 17.56 ± 3.32; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, significantly increased estradiol level was found in men patients compared to women for TT (25.46 ± 5.91 vs 16.71 ± 4.46; p < 0.0001), and TC genotypes (25.47 ± 5.91 vs 17.70 ± 2.86; p < 0.0001). Significantly increased HDL levels were observed in men patients with TC (43.10 ± 8.18 vs 38.91 ± 7.84; p < 0.01) and CC (47.16 ± 8.09 vs 38.91 ± 7.84; p < 0.001) genotypes compared to TT genotype. These findings suggest that TC heterozygote plays an important role as a genetic risk factor during MI pathogenesis in the South Indian population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-022-01104-1.

Efficacious Enactment of Ilizarov for Mangled Forearm: A Case Report on Our Resolution for the Revitalization of a "Nearly Lost Limb"

Introduction

Mangled is the evocative term for a grievance caused by crushing, resulting in a limb confiscation. Motor vehicle crashes and industrial/farm accidents are the leading causes of such occurrences. The verdict to reconstruct or to amputate still commonly lies with the surgical skills and experience of the treating surgeon.

Case Report

We present a case of 33-year-old male military personnel involved in a road traffic accident who presented to our center with a mangled forearm with segmental fracture radius and fracture shaft of ulna with vascular injury. He was immediately taken up for early debridement, intramedullary fixation, vascular repair, and temporizing skin graft. After definitive soft-tissue flap coverage and a period of convalescence, the patient underwent Ilizarov external fixator application with successful rehabilitation. The patient achieved pain-free limb with functional range of motions of both elbow and wrist with functional capabilities of basic needs and activities of daily living.

Conclusion

The combination of osseous, vascular, soft-tissue, and nerve injury after severe trauma to an extremity is a great challenge in the mangled extremity. However, in young patients without significant systemic involvement and borderline injury scores, limb salvage should be attempted.

Alcanivorax borkumensis biofilms enhance oil degradation by interfacial tubulation

During the consumption of alkanes, Alcanivorax borkumensis will form a biofilm around an oil droplet, but the role this plays during degradation remains unclear. We identified a shift in biofilm morphology that depends on adaptation to oil consumption: Longer exposure leads to the appearance of dendritic biofilms optimized for oil consumption effected through tubulation of the interface. In situ microfluidic tracking enabled us to correlate tubulation to localized defects in the interfacial cell ordering. We demonstrate control over droplet deformation by using confinement to position defects, inducing dimpling in the droplets. We developed a model that elucidates biofilm morphology, linking tubulation to decreased interfacial tension and increased cell hydrophobicity.

Retrieval of broken intra-medullary guide wire in femoral shaft fracture: A case report and surgical technique

Intramedullary Nailing is a standard procedure for fixation of various fractures in orthopedic practice. With the procedure also important is being aware of the complications and methods of managing them. A broken or stuck hardware can result in these procedures. We present a case with broken guide wire in a case of femoral shaft fracture in a young individual and the technique we used to retrieve it retrogradely from the fracture site. This technique shall be a useful technique to all the orthopedic surgeons if such a situation arises.

Management of Soft-tissue Defects of Hand in a Conflict Combat Zone: A Case Series

Introduction

Managing soft-tissue defects of hand is a challenging problem for any surgical team, even more in a field hospital setting of a conflict combat zone, where resources are scarce and such cases due to blunt trauma, gunshot wound and deep tissue infections are common.

Case Report

We present four different cases, all middle aged males, who sustained injuries due to crush, low velocity gun shot, and defects post-debridement of acute onset infections following abrasions. The first patient was managed with doubled pedicled abdominal flap, the second patient was managed with external fixation for fracture, and cross finger flap for the defect. The third and fourth patients had similar presentations of acute onset deep soft tissue and bony infection, out of which one was managed with full thickness skin graft from anterior abdominal wall and the other with bi-pedicled abdominal flap. All the patients had good functional outcomes with no functional restrictions at follow-up of 12 weeks.

Conclusion

All the cases were performed in a challenging situation of a highly active combat field zone, with limited resources and lack of availability of a trained hand surgeon. An early soft-tissue coverage, as soon as possible, was crucial in saving the hand function and guaranteeing a speedy return to function in view of lack of a professional hand surgery team and specialized microsurgery equipment.

Atraumatic Reciprocal Scapula Fracture - A Case Report and Review of Literature

Introduction

Scapula fractures are very rare and bilateral reciprocal involvement is rarest of all. Due to the protective nature of surrounding musculature, it is least prone to fracture with reported incidence of 1% of all skeletal fractures. However, synchronized firing of the periscapular muscles could overcome the bone strength resulting into the fracture as in the cases of electrocution and seizure attack.

Case Report

We present a case of 54-year-old ex-military male patient with a history of acute onset seizure of multiple episodes. Magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebrovascular thrombosis. The patient was admitted in the intensive care and complained pain over bilateral shoulder with restricted movement in the post-ictal phase. X-ray showed bilateral comminuted extra-articular scapular fractures. The severity of the injury and displacement of the fracture pronounced operative intervention. Modified Judet approach was used to approach the fractures. After a successful surgery, rehabilitation protocol constituted of passive range of motion exercises with gradual active exercises of shoulder. One-year follow-up showed good consolidation of both fracture with full recovery of function.

Conclusion

Periscapular musculature protects the scapula from traumatic events due to the significant bulk that it provides but these can on the other hand be source of deforming force in the patient who has history of simultaneous contraction as in the case of recurrent episodic seizure or electrocution. Scapular fracture should always be suspected in the patient with insidious development of shoulder pain following strong seizure attack. These fractures if indicated should be managed operatively.

Pediatric Traumatic Hip Dislocation: How Common is it in the Asian Population? A Case Report and Review of Literature

Introduction

Pediatric hip dislocation is a rare event in the pediatric population. The management involves a timely diagnosis and emergent reduction for successful outcome.

Case Report

We present a case of a 2-year-old male patient with a posterior dislocation of hip. The child underwent an emergent closed reduction using Allis maneuver. Subsequently, the child had an uneventful recovery and resumed his functional activity completely.

Conclusion

Posterior hip dislocation in a child is an extremely rare entity. The key to management in such a case is to timely diagnose and reduce it.

Association of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor (AT1R) Gene Polymorphism with Angiotensin II Serum Levels in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Essential hypertension (EH) is a multifactorial, polygenic condition, and is one of the most important comorbidities that contributes to stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, and renal failure. The continuous increasing rate of morbidity and mortality associated with EH presents an unmet need of population-based studies to explore pathophysiology as well as newer strategies for better diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. This study aimed to determine genotype and allele frequencies of A1166C polymorphism of AT1R gene in Indian patients with EH and correlated with serum levels of Angiotensin II. A total of 200 patients with EH and 200 age- and gender-matched control individuals were included in this study from the General Medicine Department Outpatient at Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. Patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg were considered as hypertensive. The findings of this study revealed significantly increased risk of C/A heterozygote and allele C in both men and women. Moreover, both men and women patients with EH showed higher serum levels of Angiotensin II with C/A as well as AA genotypes. These findings indicate a significant association of 1166 C/A polymorphism of the AT1R gene with increased risk of hypertension in Indian population.

Late Presentation of Giant Osteochondroma of Talar Neck in Elderly: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Introduction

Osteochondroma is a benign bone tumor of the bone primarily seen in younger age groups. However, late presentation of the same is a rare incidence, as the symptoms develop rapidly due to compression of nearby structures.

Case Report

We present a case of a 55-year-old male patient with a giant osteochondroma originating from the neck of the talus. The patient presented with a huge 100 × 70 × 50 mm swelling over the ankle. The patient underwent an excision of the swelling. Histopathological examination of the swelling confirmed the findings of an osteochondroma. The patient had an uneventful recovery after the excision and resumed his functional activity completely.

Conclusion

Giant osteochondroma around the ankle is an extremely rare entity. Even rarer is a late presentation in the 6th decade onward. However, the management like others involves the excision of the lesion.

A Rare Case of Soft Tissue Osteoma of Hand

Osteomas are benign, slow-growing, differentiated tumours, which are primarily located in the region of maxillofacial skeleton. Osteoma involving the soft tissues with no bony attachments is a very rare event. A 68-year-old woman with comorbidities (diabetes mellitus type II, primary hypertension, pacemaker in situ) presented with a painless solid mass in the thenar region of her right palm, which appeared almost 1 and half years ago and showed a progressive enlargement in the last few months. Under regional anaesthesia, an excisional biopsy was performed and the histopathological evaluation of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of soft tissue osteoma. The postoperative follow-up period was uneventful without any complication.

Quality of life and neurological disability in children and young people with ataxia telangiectasia

AIM

To explore neurological factors affecting quality of life (QoL) in children and young people with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), from both child and parent perspective.

METHOD

24 children/young people with A-T (mean age 11.2 ± 3.5 years; 13 males) and 20 parents were recruited, and 58% were reassessed after an average interval of 3.4 years. Participants completed the PedsQL QoL assessment. Participants with A-T underwent structured neurological examination. QoL data from 20 healthy controls and their parents was used for comparison.

RESULTS

Children/young people with A-T rated their QoL higher than parental ratings across time points, with no longitudinal change. Higher age of the child participant correlated with lower parental (r = -0.43, p = .008) but not child ratings of QoL (r = -0.16, p = .380). Child and parent QoL ratings from the A-T group were lower than respective ratings from controls (η_p² = 0.44 and η_p² = 0.75 respectively, both p < .0005, controlled for socioeconomic status). Parental, but not child, ratings of QoL was predicted by a regression model based on neurological scores (R² = 0.44, p=<.001).

INTERPRETATION

Neurological disability does not determine child/young person QoL ratings in A-T. While certain aspects of neurological disability predict parent-proxy ratings, there is no decline in QoL over time. These results may reflect resilience in the face of a complex life-limiting disorder.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

Prediagnosis pathway benchmarking audit in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

OBJECTIVE

To describe age and time at key stages in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) prediagnosis pathway at selected centres to identify opportunities for service improvement.

DESIGN

A multicentre retrospective national audit.

SETTING

Nine tertiary neuromuscular centres across the UK and Ireland. A prior single-centre UK audit of 20 patients with no DMD family history provided benchmark criteria.

PATIENTS

Patients with a definitive diagnosis of DMD documented within 3 years prior to December 2018 (n=122).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mean age (months) at four key stages in the DMD diagnostic pathway and mean time (months) of presentational and diagnostic delay, and time from first reported symptoms to definitive diagnosis. Type of symptoms was also recorded.

RESULTS

Overall, mean age at definitive diagnosis, age at first engagement with healthcare professional (HCP) and age at first reported symptoms were 53.9±29.7, 49.9±28.9 and 36.4±26.8 months, respectively. The presentational delay and time to diagnosis were 21.1 (±21.1) and 4.6 (±7.9) months, respectively. The mean time from first reported symptoms to definitive diagnosis was 24.2±20.9. The percentages of patients with motor and/or non-motor symptoms recorded were 88% (n=106/121) and 47% (n=57/121), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Majority of data mirrored the benchmark audit. However, while the time to diagnosis was shorter, a presentational delay was observed. Failure to recognise early symptoms of DMD could be a contributing factor and represents an unmet need in the diagnosis pathway. Methods determining how to improve this need to be explored.

Osteopenia in Scaphoid Fracture: An Indicator of Good Prognosis or Is it Cause for Concern?: A Case Report

CASE

A 32-year-old man sustained a scaphoid waist fracture and was managed nonoperatively in a short-arm cast. Radiographic follow-up at 6 weeks showed marked loss of radiodensity of the whole scaphoid, although the fracture was clinically united. Patchy ossification at 3 months was followed by the complete restoration of radiodensity and trabecular pattern by 20 weeks. The patient had an uneventful and full functional recovery.

CONCLUSION

This, perhaps unreported, finding seems to be an indicator of preserved vascularity in scaphoid fractures. Further research/reporting of this radiological pattern in these fractures will help improve their understanding and management.

673 Checklists Are A Spinal Surgeon’s Best Friend - A Post-Intervention Closed-Loop Re-Audit of Post-Operative Care in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)

Introduction

The post-operative care (POC) of paediatric patients undergoing spinal surgery is essential. Initial audits (2015/17) identified shortcomings in POC practice.

Aim

To evaluate improvements in compliance with local AIS guidelines following application of a simple POC checklist. To identify reasons where standards are not met with formulation of an action plan to ensure the AIS POC pathway continues to improve and provide optimum levels of care for our patients.

Method

Data was collected retrospectively for 30 patients over 2 years. Standards assessed were taken from local AIS guidelines consisting of 25 distinct domains (Appendix 1).

Results

Our post-intervention results showed that, 100% compliance within individual AIS guideline domains improved significantly from 12/25 domains (2015), to 21/25 (2019/20). In the domains that did not meet 100% compliance, post-intervention, 2 reached 93.33% compliance and 2 reached 80% (2019/20), a significant improvement upon 2015/17 where several domains were within 20-70% compliance.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that our intervention, a simple checklist, significantly improved the POC of our AIS patients and current practice is of an excellent standard. Standards were still not met in 2020 for a handful of measures. This was due to patients declining planned antiemetic/analgesic medication or rarely, incomplete documentation by health care professionals who were not yet fully familiar with the new checklist. Other centres offering surgical intervention for AIS may benefit from adopting/adapting this POC checklist and a similar audit may prove useful to optimise care for these paediatric patients undergoing significant surgery.

The efficacy, challenges, and facilitators of telemedicine in post-treatment cancer survivorship care: an overview of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine services have been increasingly used to facilitate post-treatment cancer survivorship care, including improving access; monitoring health status, health behaviors, and symptom management; enhancing information exchange; and mitigating the costs of care delivery, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. To inform guidance for the use of telemedicine in the post-COVID era, the aim of this overview of systematic reviews (SRs) was to evaluate the efficacy of, and survivor engagement in, telemedicine interventions in the post-treatment survivorship phase, and to consider implementation barriers and facilitators.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched. SRs that examined the use of telemedicine in the post-treatment phase of cancer survivorship, published between January 2010 and April 2021, were included. Efficacy data were synthesized narratively. Implementation barriers and facilitators were synthesized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine SRs were included. A substantive body of evidence found telemedicine to benefit the management of psychosocial and physical effects, particularly for improving fatigue and cognitive function. There was a lack of evidence on the use of telemedicine in the prevention and surveillance for recurrences and new cancers as well as management of chronic medical conditions. This overview highlights a range of diverse barriers and facilitators at the patient, health service, and system levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the benefits of telemedicine in addressing psychosocial and physical effects, but not in other areas of post-treatment cancer survivorship care. This large review provides practical guidance for use of telemedicine in post-treatment survivorship care.

A study of unprotected left main intervention in the ACS population 2013-2018

Objectives

Our objectives were to evaluate the outcomes of left main percutaneous coronary interventions in Acute Coronary Syndrome population.

Methods

This is a retrospective& observational study. Primary endpoint is a composite of death, stent thrombosis/MI, target lesion revascularization. Secondary endpoints include individual components of the primary events analyzed separately.

Results

Seventy five patients, two year follow – up data was analyzed. The primary event analysis showed that the Elective Double Stent (EDS) group had a higher primary events (36% vs. 14%, p value – 0.008, Hazard ratio – 0.76 (0.51–1.15, 95% CI), in secondary event analysis stent thrombosis (ST)/Myocardial infarction (MI) rates were higher in EDS group (8% Vs 36%, p Value – 0.008, Hazard ratio- 0.63(0.35–1.14, 95%CI), there is no difference in target lesion revascularization (TLR)and death rates in both the groups.

Conclusions

The provisional strategy is better than EDS in treatment of left main bifurcation lesions in the ACS population.

Status of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism and 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Deficiency with Essential Hypertension

Essential hypertension (EH) is a multifactorial and complex disease with high rate of incidence and associated co-morbidities. Previous studies do not provide unanimous results for the risk of hypertension and association with Fok I genotype frequency and serum vitamin D levels. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the status of Fok I vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism along with vitamin D levels and blood pressure in patients with EH. Four hundred (200 controls and 200 cases of essential hypertension) participants from general Indian population were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood samples were collected for genotyping Fok I-VDR gene polymorphism using PCR–RFLP method whereas 25-OH vitamin D levels in serum were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Significantly reduced 25-OH vitamin D levels were observed in patients with EH (24.04 ± 8.62 vs 50.46 ± 15.46) compared to control subjects (p = 0.0001). Homozygous recessive genotype ‘ff’ frequency was increased by 8.06 fold (CI: 3.71–17.47, p = 0.0001) in patients with EH compared to dominant ‘FF’ genotype frequency. In conclusion, recessive ‘ff’ genotype frequency correlates with reduced serum vitamin D levels and results in significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures leading to predisposition of EH.

Accumulation of Brain Hypointense Foci on Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in Childhood Ataxia Telangiectasia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

SWI hypointense cerebral lesions have been reported in adults with the inherited cerebellar neurodegenerative disorder ataxia telangiectasia. This study aims to establish the prevalence, age-dependency, and spatial distribution of these lesions in children and young people with ataxia telangiectasia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants with classic ataxia telangiectasia and matched controls underwent SWI acquisition at 3T at 1 or 2 time points. SWI hypointense lesions were manually labeled according to the Microbleed Anatomical Rating Scale. Differences in prevalence of lesion number between groups with ataxia telangiectasia and without ataxia telangiectasia were tested with the Fisher exact test, and differences in age between participants with ataxia telangiectasia with and without lesions were tested using independent samples Mann-Whitney U test. The relationship between age and lesion number was modeled as an exponential function.

RESULTS

Analyzable SWI datasets from 17 participants with ataxia telangiectasia (with median age at first scan of 12.4 years; range, 4.6-20.2 years; 8 [47%] were female) and 22 matched healthy controls showed prevalence of SWI hypointense lesions in 41% of participants with ataxia telangiectasia and 0% in controls (P = .001, Fisher exact test). Lesions were exclusively supratentorial and predominantly lobar. Participants with ataxia telangiectasia with SWI hypointense lesions were older than those without (median age 5.2 years versus 9.3 years, U = 10.5, P = .014). An exponential curve described the relationship between age and lesion number (R ² = 0.67).

CONCLUSIONS

SWI hypointense lesions are common in children and young people with ataxia telangiectasia, accumulating from 12 years of age onward. In contrast to cerebellar-dominant neurodegeneration in ataxia telangiectasia, SWI hypointense lesions were exclusively supratentorial. Further investigation is needed to establish the clinical relevance of these imaging-detected lesions.

769 Analysing the Change – Outcomes and Benefits of Clinic-Based Removal of Renal Transplant Stents Using A Disposable Cystoscope

Introduction

Literature is chock-full of data regarding the “when” of ureteric stent removal after renal transplantation. We have attempted to address the “who”, “where” and “how” components.

Method

The Isiris disposable scope was used to remove renal allograft stents from 383 patients in the Transplant Clinic from June 2018 to April 2020. An advanced nurse practitioner was trained in the procedure. The learning curve, incidence of complications, benefits and cost implications were studied, and compared with the cohort having stent removal with a traditional flexible cystoscope in theatres.

Results

There were 14 failures necessitating theatre removal. The transplant-to-stent-removal interval was significantly lower in the clinic cohort with a mean of 38.80 days (95%CI 37.26–40.34) to 46.55 days in theatres (95%CI 43.47–49.62). 11 patients had urgent bedside stent removal. The service was delivered independently by the nurse for 5.3% of the patients in June 2018 and progressed to over 80% by April 2019. Estimated net gain was £919/patient.

Conclusions

Moving transplant ureteric stent removals from a resource intensive all-day process in theatres to a one-stop event in the clinic is a safe and economical model that can streamline flow in patient pathway and inculcate new skills in other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Assessment of awareness and barriers to clubfoot treatment in the Indian scenario

Background:

We undertook this study to evaluate the awareness of the Primary Caregivers of children with clubfoot aka Congenital Talipes Equino Varus (CTEV) and their familiarity with the disease, their beliefs, knowledge and compliance to treatment, and barriers encountered during the treatment process.

Settings and design:

Cross-sectional, analytical study.

Materials and methods:

A standard questionnaire in the local vernacular language was prepared, on which 108 respondents were interviewed. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, version 21.0. Chi-square test was applied wherever suitable as a parametric test.

Results:

Approximately 57.40% of participants had no prior knowledge of clubfoot at all, till they had a child born of the deformity in the family. Superstitions like lunar eclipse (37.96%), punishment from God (37.03%), solar eclipse (34.26%) and black magic (26.85%) were widely prevalent as the perceived cause of the deformity. Only 25% of the participants believed that any kind of treatment should be started immediately after birth and 20.37% of the study population felt the first line of treatment should be a visit to a spiritual healer or to a shrine of a saint. Approximately 68.52% of the study participants were satisfied with the explanation of the disease process and treatment plan offered by the treating doctor. Approximately 52.77% perceived social stigma as an obstacle to treatment, whereas 58.33% had difficulties adjusting to change of home or workplace routines.

Conclusion:

The awareness level regarding clubfoot in the primary caregivers in the Indian scenario is low and has an implication on successful treatment and compliance.

Investigating ataxia in childhood

Ataxia is a common presentation to an acute paediatric unit and it can often be difficult to determine the cause. It is important to distinguish between serious causes, for example, brain tumours and encephalitis, and more benign causes in order to guide investigations and treatment. In this review, we describe the different types of ataxia, the causes associated with them, the examination findings and what investigations to perform in order to make a diagnosis.

BCL11B-related disorder in two canadian children: Expanding the clinical phenotype

The product of the BCL11B (B-Cell Leukemia 11) gene is a bi-functional transcriptional regulator that can act as either a repressor or an activator. It plays an important role in the development of the nervous, immune, and cutaneous systems, and is also involved in dental and craniofacial development. BCL11B-Related Disorder (BCL11BRD) is a novel rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with mutations in BCL11B. A total of 17 patients have been described in the literature thus far. The main symptoms of BCL11BRD include global developmental delay, speech impairment, dental anomalies, feeding difficulties, refractive errors, dysmorphic features, and immunological abnormalities. In this report, we describe two Canadian girls, with pathogenic de novo BCL11B variants, both diagnosed via exome sequencing. One of the patients had global developmental delay, dental anomalies, dysmorphic features, dyskinesia and hypotonia; the latter two symptoms have not been previously reported in patients with BCL11BRD. She also had dysgenesis of corpus callosum and dilatation of the frontal horns of lateral ventricles, a brain anomaly that has been previously reported in only one other patient. The second patient had developmental delay, dysmorphic features, spasticity in lower limbs and dental anomalies. Our report contributes to the knowledge of the BCL11BRD, expands the clinical phenotype, and can also aid with genetic counseling of newly identified patients.

Machine Learning Techniques for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting the elderly population. Efficient automated techniques are needed for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Many novel approaches are proposed by researchers for classification of Alzheimer’s disease. However, to develop more efficient learning techniques, better understanding of the work done on Alzheimer’s is needed. Here, we provide a review on 165 papers from 2005 to 2019, using various feature extraction and machine learning techniques. The machine learning techniques are surveyed under three main categories: support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), and deep learning (DL) and ensemble methods. We present a detailed review on these three approaches for Alzheimer’s with possible future directions.

Data on application of water quality index method for appraisal of water quality in around cement industrial corridor, Yerraguntla Mandal, Y.S.R District, A.P South India

The present paper aims at determining the status and trends of groundwater quality by applying water quality index method from 22 villages around Cement industries, Yerraguntla Mandal, Y.S.R District, A. P South India. Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated from fourteen physicochemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, Total hardness, Total alkalinity, Sodium, potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, chloride, Bromide, nitrate, sulphate and fluoride. The computed WQI values range from 123 to 1121 and water quality varies from poor water to water unsuitable for drinking. Most of the groundwater from this place is not suitable for drinking.

Multiparametric cerebellar imaging and clinical phenotype in childhood ataxia telangiectasia

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Linear decline in cerebellar volume in people with classical A-T across childhood.

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Divergent volume trajectories in children with and without A-T in the first decade.

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Alterations in metabolites seen in childhood A-T independent of age and volume.

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Fractional fourth ventricular volume predicts neurological status in childhood A-T.

Background

Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) is an inherited multisystem disorder with cerebellar neurodegeneration. The relationships between imaging metrics of cerebellar health and neurological function across childhood in A-T are unknown, but may be important for determining timing and impact of therapeutic interventions.

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that abnormalities of cerebellar structure, physiology and cellular health occur in childhood A-T and correlate with neurological disability, we performed multiparametric cerebellar MRI and establish associations with disease status in childhood A-T.

Methods

Prospective cross-sectional observational study. 22 young people (9 females / 13 males, age 6.6–17.8 years) with A-T and 24 matched healthy controls underwent 3-Tesla MRI with volumetric, diffusion and proton spectroscopic acquisitions. Participants with A-T underwent structured neurological assessment, and expression / activity of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase were recorded.

Results

Ataxia-telangiectasia participants had cerebellar volume loss (fractional total cerebellar volume: 5.3% vs 8.7%, P < 0.0005, fractional 4th ventricular volumes: 0.19% vs 0.13%, P < 0.0005), that progressed with age (fractional cerebellar volumes, r = -0.66, P = 0.001), different from the control group (t = -4.88, P < 0.0005). The relationship between cerebellar volume and age was similar for A-T participants with absent ATM kinase production and those producing non-functioning ATM kinase. Markers of cerebellar white matter injury were elevated in ataxia-telangiectasia vs controls (apparent diffusion coefficient: 0.89 × 10⁻³ mm² s⁻¹ vs 0.69 × 10⁻³ mm² s⁻¹, p < 0.0005) and correlated (age-corrected) with neurometabolite ratios indicating impaired neuronal viability (N-acetylaspartate:creatine r = -0.70, P < 0.001); gliosis (inositol:creatine r = 0.50, P = 0.018; combined glutamine/glutamate:creatine r = -0.55, P = 0.008) and increased myelin turnover (choline:creatine r = 0.68, P < 0.001). Fractional 4th ventricular volume was the only variable retained in the regression model predicting neurological function (adjusted r² = 0.29, P = 0.015).

Conclusions

Quantitative MRI demonstrates cerebellar abnormalities in children with A-T, providing non-invasive measures of progressive cerebellar injury and markers reflecting neurological status. These MRI metrics may be of value in determining timing and impact of interventions aimed at altering the natural history of A-T.

Inventory data on the sinkhole occurrences from Proterozoic Cuddapah Basin, India

This data article provides the inventory data on sinkhole occurrences for the first time from Proterozoic Cuddapah Basin, India. Unexpected ground subsidence incidents are taking place with ground breaking sounds and forming in the Cuddapah Basin since 2007 and their frequency increasing from 2015 to 2017 (15 sinkholes over night in and around Buggavanka River). Such incidents are creating panic situations in the general public of this area which was not experienced in this region ever before. It is interesting to note that majority of sinkholes are forming subsequent to heavy rains and sudden recharge, especially in and around Buggavanka and Chitravati River beds. Hence, there is a strong need for the data on the sinkhole occurrences for detailed field investigations in future. Since, sinkhole inventory is a vital and pioneering step in sinkhole hazard analysis, the consistency of sinkhole hazard and vulnerability maps and the efficiency of the mitigation measures chiefly rely on the accuracy, completeness, and fidelity of the sinkhole inventories. Geospatial technologies played a major role in this inventory in terms of data collection, editing and analysis of various thematic maps.

Bluetongue virus vaccine: conventional to modern approach

Bluetongue (BT) is an economically important, infectious and non-contagious disease of ruminant animals. BT disease is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) of the genus Orbivirus (the family Reoviridae). BTV is transmitted by certain species of biting midges of the genus Culicoides. Although originally BT was restricted to African continent, now it is present in all the continents except Antarctica. Conventional BT vaccines such as live attenuated and inactivated vaccines showed different degree of success in BT control. However, conventional vaccines have certain disadvantages of reversion to virulent strain and frequent booster dose requirement. Several BT outbreaks in India and the rest of the world open a new insight for development of better vaccines. The development in molecular biology techniques allowed the development and validation of several modern vaccines such as subunit vaccine, recombinant vector vaccine, disabled infections single cycle (DISC) vaccine, differentiating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) approach etc. Most of these vaccines are considered as safer, having better protective immune response and provided cross-protective immunization against more than one serotype. Keywords: bluetongue virus; live vaccine; inactivated vaccine; DISC; recombinant vaccine.

Fifteen-minute consultation: When medicines don't work-the child with poorly controlled seizures

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) occurs in 20%-30% of children with epilepsy with significant impact on their quality of life. Management of this group of children has greatly improved in the recent years with streamlining of epilepsy surgery services and associated quaternary multimodal evaluation. This article provides a review of DRE in children and management based on recent evidence and published opinion. We have also presented an algorithmic approach to the child with possible DRE.

Data on water quality index development for groundwater quality assessment from Obulavaripalli Mandal, YSR district, A.P India

Groundwater is a vital resource for most developmental activities. Demand for groundwater is increasing due to paucity of surface water and recurrent failures of monsoons. Increasing demand for groundwater causes water level to decline and water quality to deteriorate. This data article is aimed to investigate the quality of drinking water of Obulavaripalli Mandal YSR district based on water quality Index (WQI). To evaluate WQI in the study area, twenty groundwater samples were collected and different physico-chemical parameters viz., pH, EC, TDS, TH, total alkalinity (TA), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), chloride (Cl⁻), sulphate (SO₄²⁻) and fluoride (F^ˉ) were analyzed. WQI data for groundwater samples indicated that 30% of the samples fall under excellent rating, 40% of the samples fall under good category and another 30% of the groundwater is under poor category. Overall groundwater quality is not suitable for drinking purpose.

P16 Relation of timing of surgery to outcome from traumatic acute subdural haematoma

Objectives

Acute subdural haemorrhage (ASDH) is a neurosurgical emergency with high mortality and morbidity rates. Time to surgical intervention is implicated as an important factor affecting patient outcomes, however, more recent studies do not support this. We aimed to determine the correlation between time interval to surgery and outcome of patients with traumatic ASDH.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive ASDH patients who underwent haematoma evacuation in the period between 2010 and 2016 at this tertiary neurosurgical centre. 49 patients were included for the analysis. Patient data was extracted from theatre records, patient notes and electronic records.

Results

The median time interval from injury to surgery was 403 min (6 hours 43 min) with road traffic accident being the commonest mechanism of injury. 20 of 49 (34.7%) patients underwent evacuation within five hours from time of injury. Of these, 12 (41.4%) had good recovery (GOS 5), versus 15 (51.7%) amongst the 29 patients who underwent operation after five hours. Spearman rank correlation test (rs=0.07375) showed no statistically significant correlation between time interval to surgery and patient outcomes as measured by GOS. The overall mortality rate of evacuated patients at JCUH was 8.16% and the majority had good functional status, 55.1% with GOS 5.

Conclusions

Longer time interval of more than four hours from injury to surgical intervention was not associated with higher mortality rate, or worse functional outcome.

P118 A novel technique for repair of the vertebral artery during cranial surgery

Objectives

To demonstrate a novel/alternative technique for repair of the vertebral artery intraoperatively.

Design

Left-sided retromastoid craniotomy in one patient.

Subjects

A 61-year-old male patient with meningioma in the foramen magnum encasing the vertebral artery on the left side.

Methods

Standard retrosigmoid craniotomy performed with preservation of transverse and sigmoid sinuses. The dura was opened and the cerebellum was retracted with CSF release. The tumour was debulked gradually. The attempt to peel the tumour from the vertebral artery resulted in arterial bleeding. The hole in the artery was sealed using an N-hydroxysuccinimide functionalised polyethylene glycol-coated collagen patch (Hemopatch®, Baxter Healthcare Ltd) as an onlay, applying pressure for 2 minutes. Another patch was applied for further support and the artery checked for haemostasis. The dura was closed with 3–0 vicryl and Hemopatch® onlay after further tumour debulking.

Results

Haemostasis of the vertebral artery was achieved at 140 mmHg SBP and a catheter angiogram found no dissection or false lumen. The patient did not suffer postoperative haemorrhage and after three months of inpatient rehabilitation was discharged with significantly improved cranial nerve function. There was no CSF leak.

Conclusions

Haemostasis was successfully achieved in the vertebral artery with this novel technique. It can prove to be important in such scenarios where direct cross-clamping and arterial repair is technically challenging and can lead to brainstem ischemia.