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Time spent above optimal cerebral perfusion pressure is not associated with failure to improve in outcome in traumatic brain injury

BackgroundOptimal cerebral perfusion pressure (CPPopt) has emerged as a promising personalized medicine approach to the management of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Though literature demonstrating its association with poor outcomes exists, there is yet to be work done on its association with outcome transition due to a lack of serial outcome data analysis. In this study we investigate the association between various metrics of CPPopt and failure to improve in outcome over time.MethodsCPPopt was derived using three different cerebrovascular reactivity indices; the pressure reactivity index (PRx), the pulse amplitude index (PAx), and the RAC index. For each index, % times spent with cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) above and below its CPPopt and upper and lower limits of reactivity were calculated. Patients were dichotomized based on improvement in Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) scores into Improved vs. Not Improved between 1 and 3 months, 3 and 6 months, and 1- and 6-month post-TBI. Logistic regression analyses were then conducted, adjusting for the International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials (IMPACT) variables.ResultsThis study included a total of 103 patients from the Winnipeg Acute TBI Database. Through Mann–Whitney U testing and logistic regression analysis, it was found that % time spent with CPP below CPPopt was associated with failure to improve in outcome, while % time spent with CPP above CPPopt was generally associated with improvement in outcome.ConclusionsOur study supports the existing narrative that time spent with CPP below CPPopt results in poorer outcomes. However, it also suggests that time spent above CPPopt may not be associated with worse outcomes and is possibly even associated with improvement in outcome.

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Predictive factors for postoperative visual function in eyes with epiretinal membrane

Our current study aimed to investigate the association of preoperative OCT parameters with visual function after vitrectomy surgery in eyes with epiretinal membrane (ERM). This study enrolled 33 eyes with ERM that underwent vitrectomy surgery. In addition to visual acuity (VA), metamorphopsia was measured pre- and postoperatively for each eye. Using the preoperative horizontal and vertical OCT images, SUKIMA (the gap area between the ERM and retinal surface) was measured respectively and the average of horizontal SUKIMA and vertical SUKIMA was used for the analysis. The associations of baseline parameters (age, axial length, preoperative central retinal thickness [CRT], inner nuclear layer [INL] thickness, ectopic inner foveal layer [EIFL] and SUKIMA) with postoperative VA, the change in VA, postoperative metamorphopsia and the improvement in metamorphopsia were investigated using multivariate regression analysis followed by the model selection. The result suggested that age and INL thickness were related to the postoperative VA, whereas age and preoperative CRT were significantly associated with the change in VA. In contrast, only SUKIMA was correlated with the postoperative metamorphopsia, whilst age, EIFL and SUKIMA were associated with the improvement in metamorphopsia. Measuring SUKIMA might be useful for predicting postoperative metamorphopsia and the improvement in metamorphopsia in ERM eyes.

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Blood biomarkers for traumatic brain injury: A narrative review of current evidence

IntroductionA blood-based biomarker (BBBM) test could help to better stratify patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), reduce unnecessary imaging, to detect and treat secondary insults, predict outcomes, and monitor treatment effects and quality of care. Research questionWhat evidence is available for clinical applications of BBBMs in TBI and how to advance this field? Material and methodsThis narrative review discusses the potential clinical applications of core BBBMs in TBI. A literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Knowledge focused on articles in English with the words “traumatic brain injury” together with the words “blood biomarkers”, “diagnostics”, “outcome prediction”, “extracranial injury” and “assay method” alone-, or in combination. ResultsGlial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) combined with Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1(UCH-L1) has received FDA clearance to aid computed tomography (CT)-detection of brain lesions in mild (m) TBI. Application of S100B led to reduction of head CT scans. GFAP may also predict magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in CT-negative cases of TBI. Further, UCH-L1, S100B, Neurofilament light (NF-L), and total tau showed value for predicting mortality or unfavourable outcome. Nevertheless, biomarkers have less role in outcome prediction in mTBI. S100B could serve as a tool in the multimodality monitoring of patients in the neurointensive care unit. Discussion and conclusionLargescale systematic studies are required to explore the kinetics of BBBMs and their use in multiple clinical groups. Assay development/cross validation should advance the generalizability of those results which implicated GFAP, S100B and NF-L as most promising biomarkers in the diagnostics of TBI.

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Reducing the Gap in Neurosurgical Education in LMICs: A Report of a Non-Profit Educational Program

Central to neurosurgical care, neurosurgical education is particularly needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where opportunities for neurosurgical training are limited due to social and economic constraints and an inadequate workforce. The present paper aims (1) to evaluate the validity and usability of a cadaver-free hybrid system in the context of LMICs and (2) to report their learning needs and whether the courses meet those needs via a comprehensive survey. From April to November 2021, a non-profit initiative consisting of a series of innovative cadaver-free courses based on virtual and practical training was organized. This project emerged from a collaboration between the Young Neurosurgeons Forum of the World Federation of Neurological Societies (WFNS), the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, and UpSurgeOn, an Italian hi-tech company specialized in simulation technologies, creator of the UpSurgeOn Box, a hyper-realistic simulator of cranial approaches fused with augmented reality. Over that period, 11 cadaver-free courses were held in LMICs using remote hands-on Box simulators. One hundred sixty-eight participants completed an online survey after course completion of the course. The anatomical accuracy of simulators was overall rated high by the participant. The simulator provided a challenging but manageable learning curve, and 86% of participants found the Box to be very intuitive to use. When asked if the sequence of mental training (app), hybrid training (Augmented Reality), and manual training (the Box) was an effective method of training to fill the gap between theoretical knowledge and practice on a real patient/cadaver, 83% of participants agreed. Overall, the hands-on activities on the simulators have been satisfactory, as well as the integration between physical and digital simulation. This project demonstrated that a cadaver-free hybrid (virtual/hands-on) training system could potentially participate in accelerating the learning curve of neurosurgical residents, especially in the setting of limited training possibilities such as LMICs, which were only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Improved Kidney Risk Score in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis for Clinical Practice and Trials.

Reliable prediction tools are needed to personalize treatment in ANCA-associated GN. More than 1500 patients were collated in an international longitudinal study to revise the ANCA kidney risk score. The score showed satisfactory performance, mimicking the original study (Harrell's C=0.779). In the development cohort of 959 patients, no additional parameters aiding the tool were detected, but replacing the GFR with creatinine identified an additional cutoff. The parameter interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy was modified to allow wider access, risk points were reweighted, and a fourth risk group was created, improving predictive ability (C=0.831). In the validation, the new model performed similarly well with excellent calibration and discrimination ( n =480, C=0.821). The revised score optimizes prognostication for clinical practice and trials. Reliable prediction tools are needed to personalize treatment in ANCA-associated GN. A retrospective international longitudinal cohort was collated to revise the ANCA renal risk score. The primary end point was ESKD with patients censored at last follow-up. Cox proportional hazards were used to reweight risk factors. Kaplan-Meier curves, Harrell's C statistic, receiver operating characteristics, and calibration plots were used to assess model performance. Of 1591 patients, 1439 were included in the final analyses, 2:1 randomly allocated per center to development and validation cohorts (52% male, median age 64 years). In the development cohort ( n =959), the ANCA renal risk score was validated and calibrated, and parameters were reinvestigated modifying interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy allowing semiquantitative reporting. An additional cutoff for kidney function (K) was identified, and serum creatinine replaced GFR (K0: <250 µ mol/L=0, K1: 250-450 µ mol/L=4, K2: >450 µ mol/L=11 points). The risk points for the percentage of normal glomeruli (N) and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (T) were reweighted (N0: >25%=0, N1: 10%-25%=4, N2: <10%=7, T0: none/mild or <25%=0, T1: ≥ mild-moderate or ≥25%=3 points), and four risk groups created: low (0-4 points), moderate (5-11), high (12-18), and very high (21). Discrimination was C=0.831, and the 3-year kidney survival was 96%, 79%, 54%, and 19%, respectively. The revised score performed similarly well in the validation cohort with excellent calibration and discrimination ( n =480, C=0.821). The updated score optimizes clinicopathologic prognostication for clinical practice and trials.

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Risk stratification of prostate cancer with MRI and prostate-specific antigen density-based tool for personalized decision making.

MRI is now established for initial prostate cancer diagnosis; however, there is no standardized pathway to avoid unnecessary biopsy in low-risk patients. Our study aimed to test previously proposed MRI-focussed and risk-adapted biopsy decision models on a real-world dataset. Single-centre retrospective study performed on 2055 biopsy naïve patients undergoing MRI. Diagnostic pathways included "biopsy all", "MRI-focussed" and two risk-based MRI-directed pathways. Risk thresholds were based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density as low (<0.10 ng mL-2), intermediate (0.10-0.15 ng mL-2), high (0.15-0.20 ng mL-2), or very high-risk (>0.20 ng mL-2). The outcome measures included rates of biopsy avoidance, detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), missed csPCa, and overdiagnosis of insignificant prostate cancer (iPCa). Overall cancer rate was 39.9% (819/2055), with csPCa (Grade-Group ≥2) detection of 30.3% (623/2055). In men with a negative MRI (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System, PI-RADS 1-2), the risk of cancer was 1.2%, 2.6%, 9.0%, and 12.9% in the low, intermediate, high, and very high groups, respectively; for PI-RADS score 3 lesions, the rates were 10.5%, 14.3%, 25.0%, and 33.3%, respectively. MRI-guided pathway and risk-based pathway with a low threshold missed only 1.6% csPCa with a biopsy-avoidance rate of 54.4%, and the risk-based pathway with a higher threshold avoided 62.9% (1292/2055) of biopsies with 2.9% (61/2055) missed csPCa detection. Decision curve analysis found that the "risk-based low threshold" pathway has the highest net benefit for probability thresholds between 3.6% and 13.9%. Combined MRI and PSA-density risk-based pathways can be a helpful decision-making tool enabling high csPCa detection rates with the benefit of biopsy avoidance and reduced iPCa detection. This real-world dataset from a large UK-based cohort confirms that combining MRI scoring with PSA density for risk stratification enables safe biopsy avoidance and limits the over-diagnosis of insignificant cancers.

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Virtual versus in-person physiotherapy following total knee arthroplasty: a comparative analysis.

At our centre, we developed and implemented a video-based post-operative physiotherapy program for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our aims were to analyse and compare the outcomes of this program to in-person physiotherapy. We reviewed the outcomes of 112 patients and captured range-of-motion (ROM) measurements and pain scores (P4 questionnaire). We compared the outcomes to a cohort of 175 patients undergoing in-person therapy. Comparative analysis was performed using a two-tailed Student's t-test. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, sex, or initial post-operative knee ROM. On discharge from virtual physiotherapy, mean flexion was 122.6° (SD 7.6). There was no significant difference in improvement in knee flexion between the virtual and in-person groups (mean 30.6° vs 34.0°, p = 0.07). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients achieving ≥ 120° of flexion (85.0% virtual vs 91.3% in-person, p = 0.11) or those achieving an extension deficit of ≤ 5° (96.0% vs 98.3%, p = 0.25). There was no difference in the number of PTvisits to discharge (10.5 vs 11.1, p = 0.14) or final pain scores (12.4 vs 11.9, p = 0.61). Improvements in knee ROM measures are comparable between virtual and in-person physiotherapy with both groups achieving a good functional range. These findings have implications for the virtual delivery of healthcare, especially among remote populations and patients with mobility limitations.

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The management and clinical outcomes of pregnancies in women with urea cycle disorders: A review of the literature and results of an international survey

AbstractAn increasing number of women with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) are reaching child‐bearing age and becoming pregnant. Improved diagnostics and increased awareness of inherited metabolic diseases has also led to more previously undetected women being diagnosed with a UCD during or shortly after pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the risk of acute metabolic decompensation with hyperammonemia—which can occur in any trimester, and/or the postpartum period, and may lead to encephalopathy, psychosis, coma, and even death, if not diagnosed promptly and treated appropriately. There are also (theoretical) concerns that a maternal UCD, or its treatment, may cause potential risks for the unborn child. Currently evidence on management and outcome of pregnancies in UCDs is limited to case reports and there are no clear guidelines. In order to inform management and investigate outcomes of pregnancies in women with a UCD, we performed a retrospective review of published cases and analyzed data collected from an international online survey. We conclude that, although risk during the intra‐ and postpartum period exists, multidisciplinary management by an experienced team and a prospective plan usually result in successful pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum period. No deaths were reported in mothers managed accordingly. With the exception of male neonates with Ornithine Transcarbamylase deficiency, the clinical outcome of children born to mothers with UCDs appears positive, although follow‐up is limited. The outcome for women presenting with a first acute metabolic decompensation during pregnancy or postpartum is less favorable. Deaths were associated with diagnostic delay/late management of hyperammonemia in previously undiagnosed women.

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