History Of Steroid Use Research Articles

Factors related to surgical site infection in spinal instrumentation surgery: a retrospective study in Japan.

A retrospective study. To identify factors involved in surgical site infections (SSIs) after spinal instrumentation surgery performed at a single institution. SSIs after spinal instrumentation surgery are a serious complication. Despite reports on risk factors for SSIs in spine surgery, limited studies are related to spinal instrumentation surgery. In total, 828 patients (338 males and 490 females; mean age, 65.0 years) who underwent spinal instrumentation surgery from 2013 to 2021 in Kyorin University School of Medicinewere retrospectively investigated. Patients were divided into the SSI (group I) and non-SSI (group N) groups. Patient characteristics, comorbidity, laboratory, and surgical factors were investigated. Univariate analysis was performed for each item, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for items with significant differences. Fifteen patients (1.85%) had SSIs. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between groups I and N in history of steroid use, serum albumin, C-reactive protein, number of fixed vertebrae, and perioperative blood transfusion. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of steroid use (odds ratio [OR], 5.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-20.49; p=0.014), serum albumin (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13-0.84; p=0.020), and perioperative blood transfusion (OR, 5.85; 95% CI, 1.46-23.50; p=0.013) were independent risk factors for SSIs. The results of this study indicate that preoperative nutritional intervention, appropriate management of anemia, and intraoperative and postoperative bleeding control may decrease the incidence of SSIs. However, this study has several limitations, including its retrospective design, analysis of a few SSI cases, and inclusion of various surgical approaches and disease types. Future studies that address these limitations are desirable.

Geriatric nutritional risk index and controller nutritional status score before metastatic first-line chemotherapy predict survival in patients over 70 years of age with metastatic bladder cancer.

Several prognostic factors have been identified in patients with metastatic bladder cancer (BC). As it is known, older adult patients are prone to nutritional deficiency. The knowledge about nutrition and impact on survival in older patients with metastatic bladder cancer is missing. It is necessary to specifically examine this population. Because timely interventions can make a positive impact on this patients population. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effect of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Controller Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) before first-line chemotherapy in the metastatic stage in patients with metastatic bladder cancer over 70. Patients over 70 with pathologically confirmed denovo metastatic or recurrent metastatic bladder cancer were included in the study. Patients with infections diagnosed at the time of diagnosis, autoimmune diseases or history of steroid use were excluded. Since our population consists of a specific age group with a specific cancer, we found a new cut-off value by performing ROC analysis to ensure optimal sensitivity and specificity in terms of progression. Low GNRI value was related with poor nutritional status. Low PNI value was related with poor nutritional status and high CONUT score was related with poor nutritional status. Factors predicting overall survival (OS) and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) were assessed using both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses. 106 patients were included in the study and the average age was 75.5 years. In the GNRI-Low group, PFS was significantly shorter than that in the GNRI-High group [HR (95% CI) = 57.1 (12.8-255.5), (p < 0.001)]. Among those with a low-CONUT score, PFS was found to be longer than that in the high-CONUT group [HR (95% CI) = 1.7 (1.0-3.0), (p = 0.039)]. The median PFS of the PNI-Low group wasn't significantly shorter than that of the PNI-High group [HR (95% CI) = 1.8 (0.5-6.2), (p = 0.359)]. Our study suggests that the GNRI and CONUT scores are useful for predicting survival in patients over 70 years of age with BC.

Osseoscopy-assisted core decompression and debridement in the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Core decompression of the femoral head is a standard surgical procedure used in the early stages of the femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN) (Steinberg I to III). This study aimed to determine whether the advantages of osseoscopy-assisted core decompression using a standard arthroscopic set up in the early stages of AVN of the femoral head. Twelve hips of 12 patients who underwent osseoscopy-assisted core decompression and debridement with the diagnosis of AVN of the femoral head were reviewed between 2019 and 2021. The etiology was idiopathic in 2 patients; ten had a history of steroid use. The preoperative and postoperative first month Harris Hip Score (HHS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. Standard X-rays, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were noted at preoperatively and sixth month follow-ups. In a 1-year follow-up, X-rays and MRIs were reviewed. All patients significantly improved in the VAS and HHS after the osseoscopy-assisted core decompression (P = .002). Two of the 12 patients with an initial stage of Steinberg IIC and IIB and one with Steinberg IA had a progressive femoral collapse and, therefore, had a total hip replacement at the end of the follow-up. Nine patients (75%) had satisfactory functional and radiological results in 1-year of follow-up. However, 3 patients (25%) culminated in total hip arthroplasty in a 1-year follow-up. Using an arthroscopic set up during osseoscopy-assisted core decompression surgery of the femoral head AVN has the benefits of direct visualization and accurate debridement of the involved area. The osseoscopy-assisted core decompression technique avoids excessive debridement of the healthy bone tissue adjacent to the necrotic area.

A70 INABILITY TO AMBULATE FOLLOWING COLONOSCOPY: AN UNEXPECTED COMPLICATION

Abstract Background The peroneal nerve innervates the lower extremities. Compression injury has been documented in the adult patients following the lithotomy position perioperatively, but has rarely been described in pediatric patients following colonoscopy. Aims To report a rare complication following colonoscopy and discuss possible aetiologies. Methods A chart review of a post-colonoscopy peroneal nerve injury in a pediatric patient was conducted along with a literature review. Results A 12 year old boy with ulcerative colitis underwent a colonoscopy for flare symptoms. He was in the left lateral decubitus position for 60 minutes. Immediately after the procedure, he experienced loss of sensation from the left knee to the plantar aspect of the foot, and left foot drop. He had no symptoms of weakness or paresthesia in the right lower extremity or the upper extremities. Prior to the procedure, he reported normal strength, function, and sensation of all extremities. He had no history of injury, joint inflammation or previous surgery affecting his left leg. He had no recent history of steroid use or systemic illness. Two months post procedure he had some symptom improvement and could independently ambulate. He had normal range of motion, strength, and sensation in the upper extremities and right lower extremity. His left leg had 4/5 strength on dorsiflexion and decreased pinprick and light touch sensation. He had difficulty with heel-toe walking. Reflexes were normal. Left leg X-ray and spine MRI were normal. Electrodiagnostic evaluation supported a left common peroneal nerve injury, predominantly demyelinating in nature with minimal axonal contribution, likely secondary to compression around the fibular head during the time of the colonoscopy. He showed full recovery and returned to baseline by 7 months. Conclusions Peroneal nerve injury post colonoscopy is very rare. A study focusing on pediatric colonoscopy found that 3 of 746 patients experienced postoperative neuropathies in their lower extremities. Procedure times were between 70-120 minutes. Presentations and recovery periods were variable, lasting several days to 3 months. The mechanisms of this injury are unclear and felt unlikely to be secondary to positioning alone. It is speculated that BMI, procedure length, frog leg position and position changes, as well as systemic inflammation may be contributory. Factors such as hypothermia, dehydration, hypotension, hypoxia, and electrolyte disturbances may further place patients at risk. Awareness of this rare event and potential modifiable risk factors is important. Funding Agencies None

A Medium-Term Comparison of Quality of Life and Pain After Robotic or Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

IntroductionWe sought to compare medium-term outcomes between robotic-assisted cholecystectomy (RC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) using validated quality of life (QoL) and pain assessments. Materials and MethodsPatients who underwent RC or LC between 2012 and 2017 at a single academic institution were examined. Cases converted to open were excluded. Patients were contacted by telephone in 2019 and completed two standardized surveys to rate their QoL and pain. ResultsOf those screened, 122 (35.8%) completed both surveys. Ninety three (76.2%) underwent RC and 29 (23.8%) underwent LC. The groups (RC versus LC) were similar based on mean age (47.9 versus 45.5 y, P = 0.48), gender (66.7% versus 72.4% female, P = 0.56), race (86.0% White/5.4% Black versus 72.4% White/13.8% Black, P = 0.2), insurance status (98.9% versus 100.0% insured, P = 0.58), median body mass index (31.8 versus 31.3, P = 0.43), and median Charlson Comorbidity Index (1 versus 0, P = 0.14). Fewer RC patients had a history of steroid use compared to LC (16.1% versus 34.5%, P = 0.03). No overall significant difference in QoL was demonstrated. LC group had higher severity of “tiring-exhausting pain” (P = 0.04), “electric-shock pain” (P = 0.003), and “shooting pain” (P = 0.05). The “overall intensity” of pain in the “gallbladder region” between the groups was similar at the time of follow-up (P = 0.31). ConclusionsQoL over 2-7 y following time of surgery is comparable for robotic-assisted versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomies. The laparoscopic approach may be associated with a higher severity of subset categories of pain, but overall pain between the two approaches is comparable.

HbA1c: an independent risk factor for dysthyroid optic neuropathy.

We aimed to explore the frequencies of islet β-cell autoantibodies and insulin resistance (IR) in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and identify specific diabetes mellitus (DM) indicators as early predictors for dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). Ninety-eight TAO patients (57 DON and 41 non-DON patients) and 48 healthy control (HC) participants were recruited for this prospective cross-sectional study. Serum thyroxine, serum thyroid autoantibodies, serum humoral immune markers against islet β-cell, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting serum insulin (FINS), fasting c-peptide (FCP), and glycosylated hemoglobin A1 (HbA1c) were measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of patients' age, body mass index (BMI), FPG, HbA1c, and related indexes of islet β-cell function to the occurrence of DON. The DON group had higher FPG (P<0.001, 0.016) and HbA1c (P<0.0001, P<0.001) levels than the HC and non-DON groups. The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR level was the highest in the DON group (HC 2.15 ± 0.89, non-DON 2.41 ± 1.24, and DON 2.82 ± 2.65), while the HOMA-β level was the lowest (HC 101.8 ± 44.75%, non-DON 102.9 ± 54.61%, and DON 88.29 ± 52.75%), with no significant differences (P=1, P>0.05). On univariate analysis, age (P=0.006), BMI (P=0.022), history of steroid use (P=0.014), FPG (P=0.013), and HbA1c (P=0.001) levels were significantly associated with the presence/absence of DON. In addition, after adjusting for potential confounds, the HbA1c level was an independent factor associated with DON (P=0.009, OR=4.012). HbA1c is an independent risk factor for DON. Given the interconnected link between thyroid dysfunction and DM, the use of HbA1c as a potential biomarker for DON warrants further investigation.

FRI221 A Case Of Pulmonary Embolism Presenting As Adrenal Crisis

Abstract Disclosure: S. Guntaka: None. C. Barron: None. P. Zhou: None. Introduction: Adrenal crisis is not a typical presentation for iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency. We present a case of pulmonary embolism (PE) with a history of steroid use, to show the complexity of diagnosing adrenal crisis caused by iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency. Case Presentation: A 19-year-old woman with a history of severe atopic dermatitis, was treated with high dose prednisone for three weeks. One month after completing the course, she presented to the ED with rash, mid-sternal chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath. Vitals were significant for tachycardia and hypotension. BMP showed Na 129 mEq/L (135-145), K 6.1 mEq/L (3.5-5), glucose 140 mg/dl, BUN 22mg/dL (5-20), and Creatinine 1.25 mg/dl (&amp;lt 1.2). EKG showed peaked T waves and chest X-ray was normal. Adrenal crisis was the initial impression due to the history of steroid use and electrolyte abnormalities. She received hydrocortisone 100 mg IV for 2 doses. Hyperkalemia was treated with a calcium gluconate bolus, albuterol, insulin and glucose. She continued to endorse difficulty breathing, and chest pain, and so other etiologies were considered. A V/Q scan demonstrated multiple v/q mismatched defects in bilateral lung fields, suggestive of PE. She was admitted for anti-coagulation therapy and showed clinical improvement, without additional steroid use. An ACTH stimulation test demonstrated adequate function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with normal cortisol response. Baseline and post-stimulation androstenedione and 17OHP, aldosterone, plasma renin activity, DHEAS and TFTs were also normal. Extensive work-up for coagulative and autoimmune disorders was unremarkable. The patient was subsequently restarted on oral prednisone for worsening skin disease. Conclusion: Steroid use has been associated with the development of PE. Hyponatremia can be seen among patients with PE, occurring at rates of 21 to 26%.1 In contrast, secondary adrenal insufficiency presents with euvolemic hyponatremia, and uncommonly hypoglycemia. Hyperkalemia is not typically seen. Salt craving, postural dizziness, dehydration are also not common in secondary adrenal insufficiency as mineralocorticoid function is preserved. This case demonstrates the importance of evaluating for additional etiologies in the setting of hyponatremia with electrolyte abnormalities that are not usually seen with secondary adrenal insufficiency. This patient’s initial presentation is more consistent with PE and acute renal insufficiency. Understanding the presentation of iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency is necessary to make the correct diagnosis, and to ensure patients receive appropriate care.

Endometriyal Kanserde Delta Nötrofil İndeksinin Öngörücü Potansiyeli: Tanı için Yeni Bir Biyobelirteç

Aim: This study aimed to explore the potential of delta neutrophil index (DNI) as a predictive biomarker for the development of endometrial cancer (EC) in women with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 139 women diagnosed with EIN who underwent surgery between 2019 and 2022. Demographic data, medical history, and laboratory parameters, including DNI, were collected from the patients' medical records. Patients with other types of cancer, a history of steroid use, inflammatory, hematologic, or autoimmune diseases, or missing data were excluded. The patients' pathology reports were reviewed, and patients were divided into three groups by the final pathological diagnosis, benign (n=64), EIN (n=66), and EC (n=39). Results: The mean DNI level of the EC group was found to be significantly higher than the EIN and benign groups (4.85±2.31, 2.31±0.89, 1.48±1.03, p&amp;lt;0.001, respectively). The optimal cut-off value of DNI was determined as 2.75% with 82.1% sensitivity and 73.8% specificity. DNI levels &amp;gt;2.75% were found to be associated with an 11.56-fold (95% CI: 4-59-29.09, p&amp;lt;0.001) increased risk of EC. Smoking and postmenopausal status were also identified as independent risk factors for EC. Patients with smoking had a 4.13-fold (95% CI: 1.54-11.01, p=0.005), and postmenopausal status had a 2.8-fold (95% CI: 1.87-9.04, p=0.034) increased risk of EC. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that DNI may be a useful biomarker for predicting the risk of EC. The results also confirm that smoking and postmenopausal status are independent risk factors for EC.

A rare ocular complication of septicemia: a case series report and literature review

BackgroundSepticemia that leads to ocular involvement mostly presents as endophthalmitis or panophthalmitis. Contrarily, septicemia without intraocular involvement, known as hematogenous orbital cellulitis (HOC), involves only the orbit and is an extremely rare complication of septicemia and a rare type of orbital cellulitis.Case presentationFour male patients with septicemia presented with orbital involvement without intraocular infection were described in this study. They were 22 (case 1), 15 (case 2), 79 (case 3), and 30 (case 4) years old, with a mean age of 29.75 years. All patients were immunocompromised except for case 2. Cases 1 and 3 had a history of steroid use, whereas case 4 was in a post-chemotherapy myelosuppression phase. Septicemia in case 1 was community-acquired, cases 3 and 4 were hospital-acquired, and case 2 was secondary to acne squeezing. Blood cultures from cases 1, 2, and 3 were positive for Candida albicans, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. Case 4 had negative cultures; however, next-generation sequencing reported the presence of Enterococcus faecalis and Rhizopus oryzae. Case 1 had right eye involvement, and both eyes were involved in the other three cases. According to Chandler’s classification, case 1 was type 2, case 2 was type 2 (OD) and type 4 (OS), and cases 3 and 4 were type 1 orbital infections. All patients had eyelids erythema, and cases 1 and 2 had mildly decreased visual acuity, proptosis, and painful and restricted ocular motility. Hospital stays ranged from 13 to 43 days (mean, 24 days). All patients received systemic antibiotic therapy based on drug sensitivity and next-generation sequencing results, in combination with multidisciplinary treatment, resulting in complete recovery of ocular and systemic signs and symptoms; no ocular surgical interventions were performed. Extraocular muscle palsy was the last symptom to resolve.ConclusionHOC is predominantly seen in immunocompromised individuals with a high proportion of hospital-acquired infections and positive cultures for pathogens. Infection control using systemic antibiotics targeted at the causative organism guarantees a favorable prognosis.

Poster 254: Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation Using Dowell Technique for the Treatment of Steroid-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Condyles: Arthroplasty-Free Survival at 5 and 10 Years

Objectives: Steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles is a known complication of long- term or high dose steroid exposure. This is a not infrequent situation for patients with inflammatory conditions such as Lupus or Ulcerative Colitis and in patients with malignancies leukemia requiring bone marrow transplant. Historically, osteonecrosis was a contraindication for osteochondral allograft transplantation (OATS), however, recent evidence has indicated OATS maybe a durable treatment option. While results using the shell OATS technique has been reported in the steroid-associated osteonecrosis population, there is a dearth of information on the long-term survival for the newer dowel OATS technique. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze survival of OATS using the dowel technique for the treatment of steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles. Methods: Institutional database was queried to identify eligible patients. Inclusion criteria included diagnosis of aseptic or secondary osteonecrosis of the distal femur, osteochondral allograft transplantation surgical treatment, dowel OATS technique, and history of steroid use for a medical condition. Exclusion criteria included previous cartilage restoration or arthroplasty surgery and incomplete records. No age criteria were used to exclude patients. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic details, information about underlying pathologic condition and steroid exposure, surgical details, and revision OATS or conversation to arthroplasty. Primary outcomes were arthroplasty-free survival and revision-free survival. Results: 27 knees in 25 patients with an average age of 27.6 years (range 16-59 years) were identified with an average follow up of 6.2 years (range 0.7-22 years). Medical conditions included 10 malignancies (5 post-bone marrow transplant) and 13 autoimmune diseases. Distribution of osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles included 1 isolated medial condyle, 5 isolated lateral condyles, 21 medial and lateral condyles. All patients underwent dowel OATS technique. Patients received on average of 2.2 grafts (range 1-5 grafts) with an average combined graft area of 6.67 cm2 (range 1.5 to 20.4 cm2). 10 patients had concomitant procedures and 10 patients had supplemental graft fixation. All patients were treated between 2006 and 2020. Arthroplasty-free survival was 88%, 85%, 60% at 5, 8, 10 years. Revision OATS or arthroplasty free survival was 81%, 77%, 55% at 5, 8, 10 years. Graft failures included 1 revision OATS at 7.7 years secondary to cartilage delamination and 4 conversions to total knee arthroplasty at 1.6, 1.9, 8.7, 9.5 years. Conclusions: Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation is an acceptable and durable treatment option in patients with steroid-associated osteonecrosis with 88% arthroplasty-free survival at 5 years and 60% arthroplasty-free survival at 10 years. Future studies should capture patient reported outcomes and investigate factors leading to arthroplasty conversion such as age at time of OATS, etiology of osteonecrosis, extent of osteonecrosis. [Table: see text]

Spinal pseudoarthrosis following osteoporotic vertebral fracture: prevalence, risk factors, and influence on patients’ activities of daily living 1 year after injury

PurposeTo investigate the prevalence and risk factors and influence of pseudoarthrosis on activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF).MethodsSpinal pseudoarthrosis is defined as the presence of a cleft in the vertebral body on a lateral X-ray image in the sitting position at 1 year after admission. Of the total 684 patients treated for OVF between January 2012 and February 2019 at our institution, 551 patients (mean age, 81.9 years; a male-to-female ratio, 152:399) who could be followed up to 1 year were included in this study. Prevalence, risk factors, and influence of pseudoarthrosis on the ADL of patients as well as fracture type and location were investigated. Pseudoarthrosis was set as the objective variable. Total bone mineral density, skeletal muscle mass index, sex, age, history of osteoporosis treatment, presence of dementia, vertebral kyphosis angle, fracture type (presence of posterior wall injury), degree of independence before admission, history of steroid use, albumin level, renal function, presence of diabetes, and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis were set as explanatory variables for multivariate analysis of the influence of pseudoarthrosis on the walking ability and ADL independence before and 1 year after OVF.ResultsIn total, 54 (9.8%) patients were diagnosed with pseudarthrosis 1 year after injury (mean age, 81.3 ± 6.5 years; male-to-female ratio, 18:36). BKP was performed in nine patients who did not develop pseudoarthrosis after 1 year. In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of posterior wall injury was significantly correlated with the presence of pseudoarthrosis (OR = 2.059, p = 0.039). No significant difference was found between the pseudarthrosis group and the non-pseudarthrosis group in terms of walking ability and ADL independence at 1 year.ConclusionsThe prevalence of pseudoarthrosis following OVF was 9.8%, and its risk factor was posterior wall injury. The BKP group was not included in the pseudoarthrosis group, which may have led to an underestimation of the prevalence of pseudoarthrosis.SummaryThe prevalence, risk factors, and influence of spinal pseudoarthrosis on patients’ ADL following osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) were investigated. Pseudoarthrosis occurs in 9.8% 1 year after the injury in patients with OVF. Posterior wall injury was the risk factor of pseudoarthrosis.

Frequency of Breast Abscess among Lactating Women Presenting to Ambulatory Care of Tertiary care Hospital

Background: The excruciating build-up of pus in breast tissue is known as a breast abscess. This condition is more common in lactating women and is caused by bacterial infection at the nipple zone, which is primarily brought on by biting the child while breastfeeding, poor sanitation, blockage of the milk ducts, and the development of lumps that may be cancerous. Mastitis to abscess development is at different levels of severity for breast abscesses. Breast abscesses can be central or perieolar in location. Acute cases are readily treatable, but surgical intervention is required for chronic cases. Aim: To determine the frequency of breast abscess among lactating women presenting to ambulatory care of tertiary care hospital of Peshawar. Study design: Cross-sectional observational study. Place and duration of study: Department of General Surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from 1st March 2021 to 1st September 2021. Methodology: Three hundred and thirty four patients of ae groups 15–45 years old, lactating mothers up to 40 days after childbirth, and all women presenting with mastalgia (more than 3 on visual analogue scale) were included. Patients with an alternate infection site identified through clinical examination, those with diabetes (FBS &gt;120mg/dl), those with other immunosuppressive conditions like HIV, and those with a history of steroid use within the previous month were excluded. Results: There were 49(14.7%) cases belong to age group of 19-30 years, while 31(9.3%) belongs to &gt;30 years age (p 0.049). Thirty six (10.8%) of abscess was noted in those who had parity of 1-2 while 44(13.2%) had parity 3-4. The mean BMI of the study sample was 26.6+3.5kg/m2 amongst whom 29(8.7%) frequency of breast abscess was observed in 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, 36(10.8%) had BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2 and 15(4.5%) had &gt;30kg/m2. The mean postpartum day was 12.1±4.1 day. Fifty four (16.2%) abscess was noted in 6-12 postpartum day, while 26(7.8%) was noted in &gt;12-19 postpartum day. Conclusion: Breast abscess was fairly common (24%) in postpartum women and significantly associated with age of the patient (&gt;30 years). Keywords: Breast abscess, Parity, Lactating women, Post-partum, Body mass index

Effectiveness of Plantar Fascial Mobilization and Static Stretching on Hamstrings Flexibility among Overweight Individuals

Background: Hamstrings tightness is commonly found among obese individuals and athletes. Many factors can result in hamstrings tightness such as overuse, bad posture and sports activities. It can result in major muscle imbalance which can predispose a person to muscle injuries. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of plantar fascial mobilization and static stretching on hamstrings flexibility in overweight individuals. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Physiotherapy department of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore for 6 months. About 50 participants were selected after meeting the eligibility criteria through non-probability purposive sampling. Participants were divided into two equal groups, Group A received static stretching of the hamstrings and Group B received plantar fascial mobilization for three consecutive days. Pre and post-treatment readings of the numeric pain rating scale and active knee extension were recorded in this study. Overweight individuals with having body mass index between 25 to 30 and age ranging from 18 to 35 years presented with hamstring tightness (at least 20 degrees of active knee extension were included in this study). Patients were excluded if they showed any red flags such as rheumatoid arthritis, fracture, tumor, osteoporosis, history of steroid use, lower limb injuries or surgery. The normality of data was assessed through the Shapiro-Wilk test. The difference between pre and post-treatment readings was calculated using paired sample t-test for this parametric data. Independent sample t-test was estimated for finding difference between groups. Results: Patients presented in both groups had an age between 18 and 50 with a mean age of 38.56+9.243. Data were analyzed through independent sample t-tests and paired sample t-tests. The results showed that plantar fascial mobilization along with static stretching was superior in improving hamstring flexibility (83.20+1.65) and reducing pain (1.96+1.48) than static stretching alone in improving hamstring flexibility (76.40+0.02) and in reducing pain (3.45+1.45). Conclusion: It concludes that both the treatment techniques, plantar facial mobilization and static stretching were effective in improving hamstring flexibility by increasing active knee extension and decreasing pain intensity however plantar fascial mobilization along with static stretching was superior to static stretching alone in improving the hamstring flexibility in overweight individuals.

Clinicopathological association of mucormycosis in COVID 19 pandemic.

Coinfection and superadded infections in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported on multiple series. The emerging second wave of the pandemic has come with a lot of changes, especially in developing countries like India. One of such changes is sudden, significant rise in mucormycosis cases. To find out clinicopathological association of invasive mucormycosis with COVID-19 infection status and immunocompromised state. A cross-sectional study done at a tertiary care centre. All cases admitted in the dedicated mucormycosis ward between 1-06-2021 and 15-06-2021 were included in the study. The cases were admitted with suspicion of mucormycosis. The histopathological results were correlated with KOH mount and radiological reports. The clinicopathological association of occurrence of mucormycosis in post-covid and non-COVID patients along with other risk factors. Odds ratio, chi square test were used to find the association using MS Excel 2010 and SPSS. Thirty-six (81.82%) cases were of the post-COVID status, and 8 cases were non-COVID status. Out of 36 post-COVID patients, 33 (91.67%) showed evidence of invasive mucormycosis and of 8 non-COVIDpatients, 7 had evidence of mucormycosis (odds ratio = 1.57). Out of the total diagnosed cases of mucormycosis, 21 (52.5%) patients were known cases of diabetes mellitus (DM), and 7 (17.5%) cases of newly diagnosed hyperglycemia. Thirty (75%) patients out of 40 had some form of immunocompromised state. This shows statistically significant association of DM and immunocompromised state with the occurrence of mucormycosis in post-COVID patients (chi square value2 = 6.891, P value = 0.008). Twenty-five patients had the history of steroid use during the treatment of COVID-19. The infection with COVID-19 definitely increases the odds of contracting mucormycosis, but most of the cases had diabetes mellitus. So, it is possible that COVID-19 virus predisposes individuals to invasive fungal infection by precipitating DM.

Clinical Background Factors as Predictors of the Efficacy of 5-Aminosalicylic Acid Suppositories in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Introduction: Although the efficacy of 5-aminosalicylic acid (ASA) suppositories for ulcerative colitis (UC) has been reported in many studies, many studies have also described poor adherence to 5-ASA suppository regimens. We aimed to identify the clinical background factors that influence adherence to 5-ASA suppositories to improve adherence and efficacy of the treatment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 61 patients with active UC who were using 5-ASA suppositories. All patients underwent endoscopy and rectal biopsy for histological diagnosis prior to 5-ASA suppository treatment. The efficacy of 5-ASA suppository treatment was compared in relation to clinical background factors (sex, age, disease duration, disease type, clinical activity, Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity, histological activity, serum C-reactive protein level, concomitant use of immunomodulators, history of steroid use, and dose of oral 5-ASA). Results: The efficacy of 5-ASA suppositories was significantly related to low Lichtiger Colitis Activity Index (LCAI) scores and proctitis type prior to its use. In terms of sex, females tended to show higher efficacy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using these three factors showed high predictive value for the efficacy of 5-ASA suppositories (AUC, 0.788; sensitivity, 87.2%; and specificity, 63.7%). Conclusion: This study is the first to extract clinical background factors for predicting the efficacy of 5-ASA suppositories. The use of 5-ASA suppositories in patients who are expected to show efficacy will be effective in improving patient co-operation.

A cross-sectional study to describe the spectrum of ocular manifestations and risk factors of mucormycosis presenting to a tertiary hospital of East India.

To report the clinico-demographic profile of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) in patients during the "second wave" of the COVID-19 pandemic in eastern India, and their ophthalmic manifestations at presentation to our tertiary institute. Cross-sectional study amongst patients presenting to our center based on their hospital records. Demographic information, history related to COVID-19, records of detailed ocular examination, and microbiological, radiological, and histopathological investigation were entered into an online worksheet and analyzed using SPSS 26.0. A total of 219 patients with ROCM were treated from May to September 2021, and 110 of these had ocular manifestations at presentation (50.2%). The age of patients ranged from 22 to 83 years and the mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 49.9 ± 12.9 years. Ninety (81.8%) patients had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, 31 (34%) had hypertension, and 10 had other comorbidities. The duration between the onset of COVID-19 and mucormycosis symptoms was 0 to 60 days with a mean ± SD interval of 20.9 ± 12.6 days. Fifty-six (50.9%) patients had a history of steroid use. Unrelenting ocular or facial pain was the most common presenting symptom, ptosis was the most common anterior segment manifestation, and ophthalmic artery occlusion was the most common posterior segment manifestation. Our data from eastern India reinforces the relationship between COVID-19, diabetes, corticosteroid use, and ROCM. Knowledge of various presenting anterior and posterior segment manifestations of the disease as described in the present study will guide clinicians to recognize the disease early and make every effort to prevent complications.

COVID Associated Invasive Aspergillosis.

To study the possible association between invasive fungal sinusitis (aspergillosis) and coronavirus disease. An observational study was conducted at a tertiary care centre over 6months, involving all patients with aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses suffering from or having a history of COVID-19 infection. 92 patients presented with aspergillosis, all had an association with COVID-19 disease. Maxillary sinus (100%) was the most common sinus affected. Intraorbital extension was seen in 34 cases, while intracranial extension was seen in 5 cases. Diabetes mellitus was present in 75 of 92 cases. All had a history of steroid use during their coronavirus treatment. New manifestations of COVID-19 are appearing over time. The association between coronavirus and aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses must be given serious consideration. Uncontrolled diabetes and overzealous use of steroids are two main factors aggravating the illness, and both of these must be properly checked.

Perturbations of immune landscape in COVID-19 associated mucormycosis.

A rise in secondary fungal infections during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates a deeper understanding of the associated immunological perturbations. To evaluate the clinical and immunological characteristics observed in patients with COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) infection. Cases of mucormycosis with or post-COVID-19 infection were compared with cases of acute COVID-19 and convalescent COVID-19. Lymphocyte subsets, cytokines and other laboratory markers were compared between the groups. The frequency of proposed risk factors for CAM was diabetes mellitus (77%), recent history of steroid use (69%) and hypoxia during COVID-19 infection (52%). Iron metabolism was dysregulated in CAM patients with low TIBC and total iron. Further, CAM was accompanied with lymphopenia with drastic reduction in B cell counts; however, plasmablasts were not altered. Further, CAM patients had low immunoglobulin levels and antibodies specific to mucor peptide did not increase in CAM suggesting dysfunction in B-cell response. There was increase in activated effector cytotoxic CD8 T cells and NK cells in CAM compared with COVID-19 infection and healthy controls. Among T helper cells, Tregs were reduced and Th-1 frequency was increased in CAM compared with COVID-19 infection. A distinct cytokine signature was evident in CAM with increase in IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-22, IL-17A, IL-10, IL-2, IL-8, IL-7, IL-21 and GM-CSF. This is the first study on immunophenotyping in CAM suggesting the need for long-term monitoring of B-cell function after SARS-CoV-2 in patients with dysregulated glycaemic control and the possible benefit of therapeutic supplementation with intravenous immunoglobulins in CAM.

Central hypersomnia and chronic insomnia: expanding the spectrum of sleep disorders in long COVID syndrome - a prospective cohort study

IntroductionLong-onset COVID syndrome has been described in patients with COVID-19 infection with persistence of symptoms or development of sequelae beyond 4 weeks after the onset of acute symptoms, a medium- and long-term consequence of COVID-19. This syndrome can affect up to 32% of affected individuals, with symptoms of fatigue, dyspnea, chest pain, cognitive disorders, insomnia, and psychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to characterize and evaluate the prevalence of sleep symptoms in patients with long COVID syndrome.MethodologyA total of 207 patients with post-COVID symptoms were evaluated through clinical evaluation with a neurologist and specific exams in the subgroup complaining of excessive sleepiness.ResultsAmong 189 patients included in the long COVID sample, 48 (25.3%) had sleep-related symptoms. Insomnia was reported by 42 patients (22.2%), and excessive sleepiness (ES) was reported by 6 patients (3.17%). Four patients with ES were evaluated with polysomnography and test, multiple sleep latencies test, and actigraphic data. Two patients had a diagnosis of central hypersomnia, and one had narcolepsy. A history of steroid use was related to sleep complaints (insomnia and excessive sleepiness), whereas depression was related to excessive sleepiness. We observed a high prevalence of cognitive complaints in these patients.ConclusionComplaints related to sleep, such as insomnia and excessive sleepiness, seem to be part of the clinical post-acute syndrome (long COVID syndrome), composing part of its clinical spectrum, relating to some clinical data.

PSAT052 Iatrogenic Cushing's Syndrome With a Remote History of Synthetic Glucocorticoid Use in the Setting of a CYP3A4 Inhibitor – Location Matters

Abstract Introduction The most common cause of Cushing's syndrome is iatrogenic due to the exogenous administration of glucocorticoids (GCs). Exogenous GCs disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by reducing ACTH production, thereby suppressing cortisol production by the adrenal gland. The degree of HPA axis suppression and recovery varies by the formulation, dose, duration, frequency, timing, and location of GC administration. It is also well known that the clearance of GCs is delayed by inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 isoenzyme. Here we report a case in which a patient on cobicistat developed iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome (ICS) even with a remote history of GC use. Clinical Case A 34-year-old male with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on cobicistat and a history of a motor vehicle accident was referred for evaluation of ICS. The patient was started on triamcinolone epidural injections after the accident and developed a ruddy face, weight gain, posterior neck fat redistribution, and purple abdominal striae. He received a total of nine injections over three months at an unknown dose with the last injection being given two years ago. His symptoms improved after stopping the regimen. He received no GCs again until four months prior to presentation when he completed a 4 mg methylprednisolone taper and the cushingoid phenotype returned. Biochemical workup was consistent with HPA axis suppression: morning cortisol &amp;lt;0.5 mcg/dL (4-22 mcg/dL), ACTH &amp;lt;5 pg/mL (6-50 pg/mL), and DHEAS 18 mcg/dL (106-464 mcg/dL). Synthetic glucocorticoid screen was positive for methylprednisolone 5.3 mcg/dL (n &amp;lt;0.10 mcg/dL) and triamcinolone 0.29 mcg/dL (n &amp;lt;0.1 mcg/dL). The patient denied any surreptitious GC use. We concluded the patient still had unmetabolized triamcinolone even after two years due to drug interactions from cobicistat, which is a CYP3A4 inhibitor. Moreover, epidural triamcinolone has the longest half-life, 523 hours, compared to oral or intraarticular injections. Clinical Lesson: GCs are primarily metabolized in the liver by CYP3A4. Very few cases have been reported with the use of cobicistat and the cushingoid phenotype typically appears within 3-6 months of the GC use. However, our patient had detectable triamcinolone and return of ICS two years after epidural injections. It is not enough to know whether a patient received GCs; it is also essential to know how it was given and the location of the injection as the half-lives vary depending on said location. This case reinforces the importance of pharmacovigilance and performing a thorough medication reconciliation, as even a remote history of steroid use in the setting of CYP3A4 inhibitors could lead to ICS. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.