Treatment Interventions Research Articles

Evidence Supporting Conservative Scar Management Interventions Following Burn Injury: a review article.

Conservative management for hypertrophic scars (HSc) and scar contractures is of utmost importance to optimally reintegrate burn survivors into society. Many conservative treatment interventions have been described in the literature for the management of HSc. Recent advancements in the literature pertaining to post-burn scarring and HSc formation, have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms that support or refute the use of common rehabilitation treatment modalities after burn injury. This is particularly relevant for recent advancements in the fields of mechanotransduction and neurogenic inflammation resulting in the need for rehabilitation clinicians to reflect upon commonly employed treatment interventions. The aim of this review article is to summarize and clinically apply the evidence that supports or refutes the use of common conservative treatment interventions for scar management employed after burn injury. The following treatments are discussed and mechanotransduction and neurogenic inflammation concepts are highlighted: 1) edema management (compression, positioning/elevation, pumping exercises, retrograde massage, manual edema mobilization), 2) pressure therapy (including custom fabricated pressure garments, inserts, face masks, and other low-load long duration orthotic devices), 3) gels or gel sheets, 4) combined pressure therapy and gels, 5) serial casting, 6) scar massage, and 7) passive stretching. This review supports the following statements: 1) Compression for edema reduction should be initiated 48-72 hrs post-injury and continued for wounds that require longer than 21 days to heal until scar maturation; 2) Elevation, pumping exercises and retrograde massage/MEM should be used in combination with other edema management techniques; 3) Custom fabricated pressure garments should be applied once the edema is stabilized and adequate healing has occurred. Garments should be monitored on a regular basis to ensure that optional pressure, >15mm Hg, is maintained, adding inserts when necessary. The wearing time should be >16 hrs/day; 4) Gels for post-burn scar management should extend beyond the scar; 5) Serial casting should be applied when contractures interfere with function; 6) Forceful scar massage should be avoided early in the wound healing process or when the scar is inflamed or breaks down; 7) Other treatment modalities should be prioritized over passive stretching for scar management.

Assessing optimal timing for orthodontic intervention: A scoping review

There is still debate over the ideal time to begin orthodontic treatment. To optimize growth potential and patient cooperation, definitive treatment typically is delayed until the late mixed dentition and is used to resolve functional issues and anomalies of dental development. However, for specific types of malocclusion, some medical professionals advise beginning treatment earlier. The degree of the malocclusion, the patient's age and level of development at the time the patient sought treatment, and the timing of the treatment interventions all had an impact. This article explains over all review of the timing of the orthodontic treatment.

Multiple Treatment Strategies of Accessory Renal Artery Related Hypertension: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is a primary cause of secondary hypertension, primarily driven by the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation. Recently, growing studies suggested accessory renal artery (ARA) might also contribute to RVH. However, the treatment of ARA-related hypertension and whether to take interventional treatment lack consensus. Herein, we report two cases of ARA-related hypertension in our hospital. Imaging studies of both patients showed ARA stenosis. One patient had ARA occlusion well-compensated through tortuous collateral branches, achieving normal blood pressure by medical treatment alone. The other patient had ARA stenosis coexisted with main renal artery stenosis, and revascularization of both arteries led to a significant postoperative reduction in blood pressure. A literature review was conducted to summarize overall treatment strategies for ARA-related hypertension and clarify the relationship between ARA and hypertension. Recent research supported an association between ARA and hypertension. While medical therapy remains the first-line treatment for ARA-related hypertension, interventional procedures should be considered for patients whose blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite conservative management.

Physicians' perspectives on cancer-related fatigue management and their suggestions for improvements in medical training: a cross-sectional survey study in Germany.

Contrary to guidelines, many cancer patients are not screened for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and do not receive information or adequate treatment. As physicians play a key role in cancer therapy, their knowledge of this common sequela and perspectives on its management are of major interest. For an online survey, physicians working in oncology in Germany were systematically drawn from registers and invited by using institutional newsletters or colleagues. Descriptive analyses, logistic regression analysis of physicians' knowledge, and Mann‒Whitney U tests were performed. Two-thirds of the 148 surveyed physicians felt (rather) well informed about CRF and capable of counseling patients. Only 32% of the sample were aware of CRF-specific guidelines. Despite of this, participants rated the scientific evidence for recommending physical activity, exercise programs, and psychotherapeutic interventions in accordance with guidelines as being mostly (very) strong. However, despite 82.4% of the physicians being (rather) aware of its evidence, only 56.1% often to almost always recommended psychotherapeutic interventions. CRF was rarely covered in medical studies and medical specialist training. The completion of advanced training for palliative care increased the likelihood of knowing guidelines (OR = 2.6, 95% CI [1.1-6.0], p < 0.05). Suggestions for improving training included the mandatory coverage of CRF in medical training or its consideration in interprofessional supportive care workshops. Although awareness and recommendation rates were adequate for some interventions in CRF treatment (such as physical activity), there were lower recommendation rates for others, including psychotherapy. Studies are required assessing for the reasons of this knowledge-to-practice gap. Moreover, training is needed among physicians in order to enhance knowledge of CRF guidelines. Clinicaltrials.gov , identifier: NCT04921644. Registered in June 2021.

Impact of PNPLA3 in Lean Individuals and in Cryptogenic Steatotic Liver Disease.

Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is strongly associated with obesity, around 20% of individuals with hepatic steatosis may nonetheless have normal body mass index, a condition often referred to as lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Under the new nomenclature and definition of MASLD, lean NAFLD can be further divided into lean MASLD (when there is one or more cardiometabolic risk factors) and cryptogenic steatotic liver disease (when there is no cardiometabolic risk factor). Current studies suggest that the at-risk PNPLA3 rs738409 variant is more common among individuals with lean NAFLD than their overweight and obese counterparts. However, even in this group, cardiometabolic risk factors are often required for the development of hepatic steatosis and liver injury. In the general population, PNPLA3 gene polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of MASLD, more severe liver histology (i.e., the presence of steatohepatitis and fibrosis) and future development of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhotic complications. Emerging data also suggest that individuals carrying the PNPLA3 GG genotype might have a greater reduction in hepatic steatosis and liver enzymes with lifestyle intervention and metabolic treatments, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Studies have not specifically examined the impact of PNPLA3 in lean individuals.

Novel approaches to define responders to interventional treatment in hypertension: insights from the SPYRAL HTN-OFF and HTN-ON MED trials.

Multiple sham-controlled clinical trials have demonstrated significant reductions in both office and 24-h blood pressure (BP) following radiofrequency renal denervation (RDN) in the uncontrolled hypertension population. Notably, the blood pressure response varies widely within individual participants, thus showing a clinical need to identify potential RDN "responders" prior to the procedure. Despite multiple analytic efforts, no single parameter, aside from baseline blood pressure, has been consistently associated with BP reduction following RDN. However, this failure may be due to limitations in empiric definitions of responders. Indeed, commonly applied responder definitions based on the difference between two point-in-time BP measurements are fraught due to visit-to-visit variability in office and 24-h blood pressure endpoints. Several factors should be considered to develop a more clinically useful operational definition of procedural response including relative changes in office and 24-h BP, consideration of the temporal response to RDN, as well as adjustment for baseline BP. The current evidence may provide incentives for future expert consensus to precisely define responders to hypertension treatments.

The effect of cardiac rehabilitation prescription on medication complications and ET-1, WMSI in elderly patients with coronary heart disease.

To explore the effects of cardiac rehabilitation prescriptions on medication complications, Endothelin 1 (ET-1), and Wall Motion Score Index (WMSI) in elderly patients with coronary heart disease. 98 elderly patients with coronary heart disease admitted to the Department of Cardiology of a hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 are selected. According to the red and blue ball method, 98 research subjects are divided into a control group and an observation group. The control group receives routine treatment and exercise intervention, while the observation group receives cardiac rehabilitation prescriptions. After a follow-up of 6 months, the incidence of medication complications between the two groups is compared. The changes in ET-1 and WMSI levels are compared before treatment, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment. The two groups had no significant difference in ET-1 and WMSI levels before intervention. After intervention, both groups showed significant reductions in ET-1 and WMSI compared with baseline. The ET-1 of the observation group decreased significantly faster than the control group after 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of intervention. The WMSI decreased more significantly at 6 months. The repeated measurement variance showed that there was a significant difference in the trend of ET-1 changes between the two groups, while the difference between the WMSI groups was not significant. The incidence of medication complications in the observation group was 10.20%, significantly lower than the 26.53% in the control group. Cardiac rehabilitation prescriptions can reduce the incidence of medication complications in elderly patients with coronary heart disease. It can reduce ET-1 levels faster, improve myocardial motor function, which has better myocardial function and medication safety than conventional treatment.

Common sports-related nerve injuries seen by the electrodiagnostic medical consultant.

The high physiologic demands of sports create dynamic stress on joints, soft tissues, and nerves which may lead to injuries in the athlete. Electrodiagnostic (EDx) assessment is essential to identify the correct diagnosis, localization, and prognosis, to guide management of sports-related neuropathies. A comprehensive review was performed to provide the EDx medical consultant with a practical approach to the common peripheral nerve disorders seen in athletes. Sports-related neuropathies reviewed include transient traumatic irritation of the brachial plexus and/or cervical nerve roots ("Burners and stingers,") suprascapular and axillary neuropathies, ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) in throwers, ulnar neuropathy at the hand/wrist in cyclists, multi-ligamentous knee injury, and foot/ankle neuropathies including tarsal tunnel syndrome. A thorough understanding of peripheral anatomy, possible entrapment sites, mechanisms of injury, and key physical examination findings is essential for correct diagnosis. EDx assessments beyond routine studies are generally required for sports-related neuropathy, which may not necessarily follow typical entrapment patterns. Adjunct diagnostic imaging, such as point-of-care ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, are helpful tools to identify associated musculoskeletal pathology such as compressive cysts or nerve entrapment, which may be amenable to interventional or surgical treatment. When no clear reversible structural pathology exists, management of sports-related neuropathy is athlete-specific and generally multi-modal, involving a combination of physical rehabilitation techniques to address muscle imbalances, load management, protective equipment, and interventional pain procedures.

Predictive value of 68[Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/CT volumetric parameters in assessing treatment response to long-acting somatostatin analogues in patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours.

Over the past decade, numerous treatment options have emerged for patients with locally advanced and metastatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Nevertheless, the optimal timing of treatment interventions remains uncertain, given the highly variable disease course observed in these patients, even when patients have the same tumour stage and grade. The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive role of standardized uptake values (SUVs) and volumetric parameters obtained from pretreatment [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE for response to SSA therapy in patients with NET. In this retrospective study, we included 42 patients (21 women, 21 men; age range: 46-84years) with histologically confirmed, metastatic, NET (G1 13, G2 28 cases); median Ki-67 index 5%, range 1-16) who received long acting SSA as a first line treatment and underwent [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/CT before SSA treatment. For all [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE avid lesion SUVmax, SUVmean, somatostatin receptor expression tumour volume (STV), total lesion somatostatin receptor expression (TLD, STV multiplied by SUV mean) and Tmean/Smean (SUVmean of tumours/metastases divided by SUVmean of normal spleen) were measured. Finally, the sum of STV (total STV, TSTV) and TLD (total TLD, TTLD) was calculated for each patient and used in the analysis. During the study period, 14 patients had stable disease (33.3%) and 28 patients experienced progression (66.7%), among whom 12 patients died. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 26.5 and 46.5months, respectively. In the univariate and multivariate analysis, in the whole population study, Tmean/Smean ratio (HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.06-3.35, p = 0.03), Ki-67 index (HR 1.14, CI 1.03-1.26, p = 0.01) and pre-treatment chromogranin A serum concentration (HR 1.01, CI 1.0-1.03, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with PFS. Among patients with small intestinal NETs, TSTV (< 125.85 cm3 vs. ≥ 125.85 cm3, p = 0.023) and TTLD (< 4168.95 vs. ≥ 4168.95, p = 0.026) were significantly associated with PFS in the univariate analyses. No significant correlation was found between measured volumetric parameters and OS. Volumetric parameters of pretreatment 68[Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/CT may be useful in prediction of the response to SSA (used in monotherapy as a first-line therapy) in patients with NET.

Abstract 4140149: Differences in Interventional Treatment Outcomes of Peripheral Arterial Disease between African American Females, African American Males, and Caucasian Females

Introduction: Several recent publications demonstrated worse outcomes of interventional treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients of African American (AA) descent compared to Caucasians (C), and in female patients compared to male patients. However, studies addressing sex differences in outcomes, included predominantly white female patients. To our knowledge, there are no published studies specifically addressing outcomes of interventional treatment of PAD in female patients of African American descent. Aims: 1. To determine if the outcomes of interventional treatment of PAD in female patients of African American (FAA) descent differ from male African American patients (MAA), and Caucasian female patients (FC). If such differences exist, to identify factors associated with it. Methods: This study has a cross-sectional design with systematically retrospective data collection by the National Vascular Quality Initiative. Included in this study was data on patients treated with endovascular and open surgical options for symptomatic PAD. Statistical analysis was done using IBM Statistic SPSS V25. Results: 447,263 unique cases containing required data were available in the VQI database. Among them, 171,250 were female patients, of which 32,966 were FAA, 126,519 FC, and 39,461 MAA. This race and gender distribution is not significantly different from the US population structure (US Census Bureau 2023). 1 However, female to male ratio was higher in AA (0.83) compared to C (0.58, p&lt;0.0001). FAA were younger (65.143+/-9.59) compared to FC (69.16+/-10.32, P&lt;0.00001). Comparison of comorbidities, smoking rates, pre-interventional medications and post-interventional outcomes are listed in Table 1. Multivariate analysis confirmed higher amputation rate among FAA compared to FC and to MAA and showed no significant difference in mortality. Conclusions: FAA patients who require interventional treatment for PAD have significantly higher rate of hypertension and diabetes compared to FC and MAA patients and have higher amputation rates. It appears that differences in clinical outcomes of PAD treatment in FAA are related mostly if not entirely to poorly managed comorbidities existed prior to intervention.

Abstract 4122710: Impact of cigarette smoking on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with coronary chronic total occlusion lesions

Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, evidence regarding on the long-term clinical effects of smoking in the Asian population with chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) is insufficient. This study aimed to assess the effects of smoking on 5-year (median follow-up period 4.2 ± 1.5 years, interquartile range 4.06-5.0 years) clinical outcomes in patients with CTO lesions who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or medical treatment (MT). We enrolled 681 consecutive patients with CTO who had undergone diagnostic coronary angiography and subsequent PCI or MT. Patients were categorized into smokers (n = 304) and non-smokers (n = 377). The primary endpoint encompassed major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization over a 5-year period. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to adjust for potential baseline confounders. After PSM analysis, two propensity-matched groups (200 pairs, n = 400) were generated, and the baseline characteristics of both groups were balanced. The smokers exhibited a higher cardiovascular risk of MACE (29.5% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.010) and non-target vessel revascularization (17.5 vs. 10.5%, p = 0.044) than those of the non-smokers(Table 1). In a landmark analysis using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curvesat the 1-year, the smokers had significantly higher rate of MACE in early period (up to 1-year) (18.8% and 9.2%, p=0.008) compared with non-smokers(Figure 1). Cox hazard regression analysis by propensity score-adjustedwith , revealed that smoking was independently associated with an increased risk of MACE. The findings indicate that smoking is a strong cardiovascular risk factor in patients with CTO, regardless of treatment strategies (PCI or MT) (Figure 2). In addition, in a subgroup analysis, the risk of MACE was most prominently elevated in the group of smokers who underwent PCI.

Abstract 4120966: Outcomes Following Balloon Angioplasty with Drug Coated Versus Uncoated Balloons in Patients with Coronary In-Stent Restenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt;The development of in-stent restenosis (ISR) has emerged as a substantial barrier to interventional treatment for coronary heart disease. Drug-coated balloon (DCB) is an efficacious interventional technique for the management of ISR. This meta-analysis compares the efficacy of DCB in the treatment of ISR with that of an uncoated balloon (UCB).&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt;Methods&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt;We comprehensively searched literature on MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.gov using MeSH terms and relevant keywords for “Balloon Angioplasty” and “in-stent Restenosis” from inception to June 1, 2024, followed by a meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess both strategies for treatment of ISR. Random effects model was used to aggregate the risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous and mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt;Results&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt;The search strategy retrieved 2330 studies. Duplicates and irrelevant articles were removed and data from seven RCTs (1,408 patients) was extracted. The mean age ranged from 64 to 74 years. The mean clinical follow-up ranged from 1 to 10 years. DCB was found to be superior to UCB at latest follow up in terms of target lesion revascularization (TLR) (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.19-0.58; p 0.0001; I2 79%), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23-0.73; p 0.003; I2 84%), late lumen loss (LLL) (MD -0.46 mm, 95% CI -0.64- -0.28]; p &lt;0.00001; I2 64%), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.29-0.70; p 0.0003; I2 67%). The two groups were comparable at latest follow up in terms of mortality (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.65-1.16; p 0.35; I2 0%), cardiac death (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.66-1.19; p 0.43; I2 0%), myocardial infarction (MI) (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.39-1.24; p 0.22; I2 28%) and stent thrombosis (RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.04-1.10; p 0.06; I2 46%).&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt;Conclusion&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt;DCB showed promising results in the treatment of patients with coronary ISR. DCB outperformed UCB in significantly reducing TLR, MACE, LLL and TVR risks. The risk of mortality, cardiac death, MI, and stent thrombosis was similar between DCB and UCB.&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;

Improved emergency activation in interventional radiology reduces procedure delay and facilitates treatment success in patients with acute arterial bleedings.

Research of interventional treatment success in arterial bleeding cases is almost exclusively focused on technical and procedural factors. This study investigates the effect of an improved preprocedural activation algorithm for acute arterial bleedings treated by interventional radiology. During the three-year study period (2018-2021), the authors implemented an always-reachable, simple-to-remember emergency phone number routed to the responsible interventional radiologist on call and compared this pathway to the previous activation process. Data were acquired for all emergency cases with active arterial bleeding detected in CT scans and the diagnosis to treatment intervals before and after implementation were retrospectively analysed. Time signatures in CT and angiography were used to determine the interval. 1322 calls or contacts occurred during the study period. In general, 625 emergency procedures were conducted; 120 bleeding interventions met the study requirements. In the study 44 patients were treated via the conventional pathway and 76 via the emergency phone activation. The activation algorithm utilizing the emergency phone led to a slight decrease in radiation doses and fluoroscopy time and a significant reduction (15min) in diagnosis to treatment intervals (p = 0.019). After implementing the emergency phone, the technical success rate increased significantly from 68% to 94% (p<0.001). This study shows that effective communication structures, such as implementing a standardized activation pathway via an emergency phone, can significantly reduce diagnosis to treatment intervals and increase technical success rates. Effective communication is crucial for interventional radiology to deal with acute and life-threatening conditions requiring immediate treatment. This study presents a possible improvement and provides valuable insight for interventional radiology clinics seeking to optimize their communication and management strategies for emergency cases.

Over-the-Scope Clips vs Standard Endoscopic Interventions for First-line Treatment of NVUGI Bleeding: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

Background and Aims: Recently, over-the-scope clips (OTSCs) have been extensively studied for hemostasis of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB). Our goal was to compare the efficacy of OTSCs with standard endoscopic interventions (SEIs) as first-line treatments. Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed to identify Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) comparing OTSCs with SEIs as first-line therapy for NVUGIB. This search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Out of 819 reviewed studies, 5 RCTs comprising a total of 555 patients (277 OTSCs vs. 278 SEIs) were included. The OTSC group had a lower 30-day rebleeding rate (Risk Ratio [RR]: 0.43; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.24, 0.77; I²: 0%; p = 0.004) and a higher clinical success rate (RR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.28; I²: 0%; p &lt; 0.00001). There was no significant difference in technical success (RR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.14; I² = 73%; p = 0.13), 30-day all-cause mortality (RR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.22, 1.14; I²: 0%; p = 0.10), need for further intervention (RR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.43, 3.47; I²: 0%; p = 0.71), or length of hospital stay (Mean Difference: 0.31; 95% CI: -1.08, 1.70; I²: 0%; p = 0.66). The risk of bias, which was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool, indicated some concerns of bias. Conclusion: OTSCs are more efficient than SEIs as a first-line treatment in terms of rebleeding within 30 days and clinical success rates.

Collaboration strategies affecting implementation of a cross-systems intervention for child welfare and substance use treatment: a mixed methods analysis.

Collaboration strategies refer to policies and practices used to align operations and services across organizations or systems. These strategies can influence implementation of cross-system interventions focused on improving integration of care, but remain under-specified and under-examined. This study identifies collaboration strategies and the conditions under which they affected implementation of Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START), an evidence-based intervention focused on integrating child welfare and behavioral health services for families involved with both systems. Our study sample included 17 county child welfare agencies that implemented START. Data on collaboration strategies and organizational context were obtained from key informant interviews, frontline worker surveys, and contracts. Contextual data were drawn from secondary data, and fidelity data were drawn from an administrative database. Qualitative and quantitative data were integrated using coincidence analysis, and used to identify combinations of conditions that uniquely differentiated agencies with higher and lower fidelity to START. Fidelity was lower for intervention components requiring cross-system collaboration. Although key informants acknowledged the importance of collaboration for START implementation, few agencies used formal collaboration strategies other than staff co-location or reported high communication quality between frontline staff in child welfare and behavioral health. In coincidence analysis, four conditions differentiated agencies with higher and lower fidelity with 100% consistency and 88% coverage. We found that either strong leadership support or, in high need communities, third-party resource support from local behavioral health boards were sufficient for high fidelity. Similarly, in high need communities, absence of third-party resource support was sufficient for low fidelity, while in low need communities, absence of communication quality was sufficient for low fidelity. Administrators, frontline workers, and interested third parties (i.e., other stakeholders not directly involved in implementation) can use collaboration strategies to facilitate implementation. However, the effectiveness of collaboration strategies depends on local context. In agencies where internal leadership support for implementation is low but need for intervention is high, third-party resource support may still be sufficient for high fidelity. Further research is needed to test effectiveness of collaboration strategies in different conditions and on a broader range of process and implementation outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03931005, Registered 04/29/2019, https://classic. gov/ct2/show/NCT03931005 .

Voiding sonography: Technical description of a novel ultrasound method for assessment of micturition in women

AbstractVoiding sonography (VS) is a novel non‐invasive method that can be used to assess micturition in real time. When performed in a functional seated position and combined with free uroflowmetry, detailed evaluation of voiding can be conducted. VS presents advantages over current invasive assessment methods such as urodynamics. This methodological paper describes the rationale; advantages and disadvantages of VS; participant preparation; technique; a practical approach to obtain the video/image (including transducer placement to achieve an assessment of voiding with minimal obstruction of urine flow); recommended machine and transducer specifications; and the potential usefulness of ultrasound measurements. These measurements might provide information regarding the function of the pelvic floor muscle and urethral dynamics during voiding. Measures assessed with VS can also provide information regarding urine storage. In summary, VS is a new method to assess female voiding. Future work should evaluate the potential utility of the method to evaluate characteristics and mechanisms for voiding dysfunction in females with a variety of relevant clinical conditions. Use of VS as a screening tool before and after surgical or non‐surgical treatment intervention may also be a future consideration to assess progress and provide feedback to clinicians and patients.

Re-evaluating cardiovascular risk in systolic-dominant, diastolic-dominant and parallelly-elevated hypertension: insights from northeast rural cardiovascular health study

BackgroundHypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), with a high prevalence in rural northeastern China. This study assesses the cardiovascular risk associated with different blood pressure patterns: systolic dominant, diastolic dominant, and parallel elevation.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Northeast Rural Cardiovascular Health Study (NCRCHS), which included 8,189 participants aged 35 and above. Baseline surveys from 2012 to 2013 and follow-ups in 2015 and 2018 provided a median follow-up of 4.66 years. Participants were categorized into ten subgroups based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure elevations. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used to examine CVD incidence and cardiovascular risk across these groups.ResultsThe incidence of CVD varied significantly among hypertension categories. Patients with grade 1 hypertension had no significant increase in cardiovascular risk at nearly 5 years. Notably, parallel elevations in systolic and diastolic pressures posed the highest cardiovascular risk, while a predominant rise in diastolic pressure alone did not significantly increase risk. This highlights the importance of analyzing blood pressure comprehensively for cardiovascular risk stratification and suggests rethinking treatment strategies for diastolic dominant hypertension.ConclusionsOur findings call for a nuanced approach to cardiovascular risk assessment in hypertension, taking into account distinct patterns of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The study supports personalized treatment interventions and reinforces current hypertension treatment guidelines. We advocate for prioritizing non-pharmacological management in grade 1 hypertension and further clinical evaluation of treatment thresholds for diastolic dominant hypertension.

Automatic segmentation and visualization of cortical and marrow bone in mandibular condyle on CBCT: a preliminary exploration of clinical application.

To develop a deep learning-based automatic segmentation method for cortex and marrow in mandibular condyle on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and explore its clinical application. 825 condyles of 490 CBCT images from 3 centers of Stomatology hospitalaffliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicinewere collected. A deep learning model was developed for simultaneous segmentation of cortex and marrow in mandibular condyle. It included a region of interest extraction network and a segmentation network based on 3D U-net, with modifications made to improve the segmentation boundaries. To evaluate its clinical potential, the model's segmentation efficiency and accuracy were compared with those of both junior and senior oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Additionally, the model's ability to assist junior radiologists in diagnosis through visualization and quantitative analysis of the generated 3D model was also assessed. The Dice similarity coefficient of the deep learning model was 0.901 (cortex), 0.969 (marrow), and 0.982 (entire condyle). Hausdorff distance was 0.755mm (cortex), 0.826mm (marrow), and 0.760mm (entire condyle). The model outperformed radiologists across all segmentation metrics, completing the task in merely 15.06s. With the assistance of visualization and quantitative analysis generated from the model's segmentation, the diagnostic accuracy of junior radiologists significantly improved. The proposed deep learning-based model achieved accurate and efficient segmentation for mandibular condylar cortex and marrow. It possessed capability to generate precise 3D models, facilitating visual quantitative measurement and aiding in the diagnosis of condylar bony changes. This model holds potential for clinical applications in orthognathic surgery, orthodontic treatment, and other TMJ-related interventions.

The Q2-Approach for Percutaneous Peripheral Neuromodulation Stimulator Implant Targeting C2 Dorsal Root Ganglion at C2 Lamina for Treating Intractable Headache: A Technical Note.

Despite significant medical treatment advancements, interventional treatments for intractable headache disorders are limited. This study's objective is to detail a novel percutaneous approach ("Q2-approach") and its technical considerations for implanting peripheral neuromodulation stimulators (PNS) to the C2 dorsal root ganglion (C2-DRG) at C2 lamina, a previously unattempted target, as a treatment for intractable headache. In an outpatient setting, PNS electrodes could be percutaneously implanted at C2-DRG in patients under moderate sedation using combined ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance. The final electrode position was determined by intraoperative patient feedback to ensure optimal stimulation. Four patients were included to demonstrate technical parameters and feasibility. Follow-ups were conducted on postoperative days 10, 30, 60, and 100-120. The Q2-approach allows safe C2-DRG PNS implants in an outpatient setting. Average operative duration was <60 minutes. All four patients achieved >50% pain relief during the 60-day implant period and 3/4 demonstrated sustained benefit beyond the implant period. No complications (e.g., lead migration or infection) were observed. The current technical note demonstrated the feasibility of a novel, safe, minimally invasive approach to access C2-DRG at the C2 lamina for the treatment of intractable headaches. The utilization of PNS on C2-DRG fills an important gap in headache management as it provides an alternative neuromodulation treatment modality to the existing destruction/denervation-based techniques.

Herbal medicine for the treatment of non-erosive reflux disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) is the most prevalent gastroesophageal reflux disease. Currently, proton pump inhibitors are the most commonly used treatment for NERD. Recently, the demand for herbal medicines with relatively few side effects is increasing and trials confirming the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for the treatment of NERD have been conducted. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine in the treatment of NERD through published randomized-controlled trials. Ten electronic databases were searched from inception until May 2023. Disease, intervention-related terms, and publication type keywords were combined as search terms. Studies designed as randomized controlled trials, including participants diagnosed with NERD with any type of herbal medicine as a treatment intervention were included. Data extraction and analysis were conducted by 2 independent reviewers. The total clinical efficacy rate was assessed as a primary outcome, while the secondary outcomes were recurrence rate, reflux diagnostic questionnaire score, short-form 36 health survey score, and serum motilin level. The risk of bias in each study and quality of evidence were assessed. Thirty-four randomized controlled trials involving 3759 patients were analyzed. Herbal medicine was significantly more effective in improving total clinical efficacy, recurrence rate, reflux diagnostic questionnaire score, some domains of short-form 36 health survey, and serum motilin levels in patients with NERD than conventional medical therapy. No severe intervention-related adverse effects were observed. Regarding the quality of evidence, most outcomes were revealed to have moderate to low levels of evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that herbal medicine can be an effective and safe therapy for NERD; however, there are several limitations regarding the methodological quality of the included studies. Further research with high methodological quality is necessary to improve the quality of evidence.