Late Recovery Group Research Articles

Predictive Validity of the Work, Osteoarthritis, or Joint Replacement Questionnaire for Return to Work After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A 12-Month Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

BackgroundAfter total knee arthroplasty (TKA), a minority of working patients are dissatisfied and experience a late or no return to work (RTW). This study aimed to identify whether a predefined grouping based on self-reported ability to perform work-related activities at three months post-TKA was associated with the ability to perform work-related activities at six and 12 months and RTW at three, six, and 12 months post-TKA. MethodsA 12-month multicenter prospective cohort study was performed among working TKA patients intending to RTW. The Work, Osteoarthritis, or Joint Replacement questionnaire score (range, 0 to 100) was used to assess patients’ ability to perform work-related activities. Patients were grouped into early-, intermediate-, and late-recovery groups at three months post-TKA. The median age of the cohort (n = 182) was 59 years [interquartile range, 55 to 62], and 52% were women. Analyses included Spearman’s correlation tests, and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. ResultsThe early- (n = 54) and intermediate-recovery groups (n = 68) clinically improved their ability to perform work-related activities at three and 12 months, respectively, while the late-recovery group (n = 60) did not do so until 12 months (rs = 0.6, 0.27, and 0.25, respectively). The early-recovery group returned to work earlier (median 62 [interquartile range 41 to 90] days) compared to the intermediate- (75 [46 to 115] days) and late-recovery groups (84 [58 to 116] days) and resumed 100 percent of their working hours at six months versus 12 months in the intermediate- and late-recovery groups (rs = 0.37, 0.33, 0.1 at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively). ConclusionsAt three months post-TKA, the work, osteoarthritis, or joint replacement questionnaire can be used to distinguish early-, intermediate-, and late-recovery groups, which are associated with the ability to perform work-related activities at six and 12 months post-TKA and RTW at three and six months.

Exploring biomarkers as predictors of left ventricular recovery in a national registry of takotsubo syndrome patients (RETAKO)

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Introduction Tako-Tsubo Syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) of uncertain etiology, although considered a benign entity, TTS has a mortality rate and complications similar to STEMI patients (1). Late LV recovery (>10 days) has been associated with a worse prognosis. Currently, there is no data on biomarkers that can predict the disease's progression. Purpose We aim to correlate different biomarkers with LV recovery in TTS patients. Method We used data from the National Multicenter Registry on Tako-Tsubo Syndrome (RETAKO). Information on biomarkers, including NT-proBNP, C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocytes, and platelets, was collected both upon admission and at peak values. Early recovery was considered when it occurred within the first 10 days after the index event. A non-parametric correlation analysis was conducted to assess the predictive capacity of different biomarkers on LV recovery. Results Out of a total of 1,463 patients, 373 (25.5%) experienced late LV recovery. The average age was around 73 years, with the majority of the sample being women (86%). Significant differences were observed between the groups in NT-proBNP, CRP, and peak values of leukocytes and platelets, with higher levels in the late recovery group. In the linear correlation analysis, a significant association was found between late recovery and higher levels of NT-proBNP, peak leukocytes and platelets, however it was not statistically significant for the levels of CRP. Conclusions In a large national cohort of TTS patients, higher levels of NT-proBNP, peak of leukocytes and platelets during the hospital stay were significantly associated with late LV recovery. This recovery appears to depend on the degree of LV dysfunction and the inflammatory response.Biomarkers table 1

Clinical predictors of late left ventricle recovery in tako-tsubo syndrome

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Introduction Tako-Tsubo syndrome (TTS) or stress cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) and a clinical presentation that can mimic an acute coronary syndrome. Recovery from contraction abnormalities may occur hours to weeks after the acute event. Although traditionally considered a disease with a favorable prognosis, it has been observed to have a complication rate during hospitalization similar to acute myocardial infarction and a significant mortality rate during follow-up (greater than 5% per patient-year). The recovery time of LV function has demonstrated important prognostic value. Purpose The aim of this work was to determine the clinical predictors of late left ventricular recovery in TTS. Methods Data from the multicenter national registry on Takotsubo Syndrome (RETAKO) were utilized. Clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic, and other imaging test characteristics, as well as events during hospitalization and follow-up, were collected. Recovery within the first days after the acute event was considered early recovery. Patients who died within the first 10 days after the acute event were excluded. Results A total of 1,463 patients were analyzed, of whom 373 (25.5%) had late recovery. The mean age was 71 years, and 86.6% were women. In the late recovery group, factors more common were age over 75 years, male gender, neurological disease, lung disease, peripheral arterial disease, active cancer, physical trigger, initial presentation as dyspnea or syncope, presence of shock, greater left ventricular dysfunction at diagnosis, and higher levels of proBNP. In multivariate analysis, the presence of neurological disease, active cancer, shock during hospitalization, lower initial LV ejection fraction, and physical trigger were associated with late recovery. Conclusions Patients with TTS showing late recovery of LV function have different clinical characteristics and disease presentation compared to those with early recovery. Late recovery was associated with the presence of neurological disease or active cancer, shock during hospitalization, lower initial LV ejection fraction, and physical trigger.

Diffusion tensor analysis of white matter tracts is prognostic of persisting post-concussion symptoms in collegiate athletes

Background and objectivesAfter a concussion diagnosis, the most important issue for patients and loved ones is how long it will take them to recover. The main objective of this study is to develop a prognostic model of concussion recovery. This model would benefit many patients worldwide, allowing for early treatment intervention. MethodsThe Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) consortium study enrolled collegiate athletes from 30 sites (NCAA athletic departments and US Department of Defense service academies), 4 of which participated in the Advanced Research Core, which included diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI) data collection. We analyzed the dMRI data of 51 injuries of concussed athletes scanned within 48 h of injury. All athletes were cleared to return-to-play by the local medical staff following a standardized, graduated protocol. The primary outcome measure is days to clearance of unrestricted return-to-play. Injuries were divided into early (return-to-play < 28 days) and late (return-to-play >= 28 days) recovery based on the return-to-play clinical records. The late recovery group meets the standard definition of Persisting Post-Concussion Symptoms (PPCS). Data were processed using automated, state-of-the-art, rigorous methods for reproducible data processing using brainlife.io. All processed data derivatives are made available at https://brainlife.io/project/63b2ecb0daffe2c2407ee3c5/dataset. The microstructural properties of 47 major white matter tracts, 5 callosal, 15 subcortical, and 148 cortical structures were mapped. Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Mean Diffusivity (MD) were estimated for each tract and structure. Correlation analysis and Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis were then performed to assess the association between the microstructural properties and return-to-play. Finally, a Logistic Regression binary classifier (LR-BC) was used to classify the injuries between the two recovery groups. ResultsThe mean FA across all white matter volume was negatively correlated with return-to-play (r = −0.38, p = 0.00001). No significant association between mean MD and return-to-play was found, neither for FA nor MD for any other structure. The mean FA of 47 white matter tracts was negatively correlated with return-to-play (rμ = −0.27; rσ = 0.08; rmin = −0.1; rmax = −0.43). Across all tracts, a large mean ROC Area Under the Curve (AUCFA) of 0.71 ± 0.09 SD was found. The top classification performance of the LR-BC was AUC = 0.90 obtained using the 16 statistically significant white matter tracts. DiscussionUtilizing a free, open-source, and automated cloud-based neuroimaging pipeline and app (https://brainlife.io/docs/tutorial/using-clairvoy/), a prognostic model has been developed, which predicts athletes at risk for slow recovery (PPCS) with an AUC=0.90, balanced accuracy = 0.89, sensitivity = 1.0, and specificity = 0.79. The small number of participants in this study (51 injuries) is a significant limitation and supports the need for future large concussion dMRI studies and focused on recovery.

Recovery in children ages 5–10 years at three months post-concussion

Some children and adolescents have persistent concussion symptoms that extend beyond the typical 3–4 week recovery window. Our understanding about what to expect when recovery is atypical, particularly in elementary-age children, is incomplete because there are very few targeted studies of this age group in the published literature. Aims were to identify lingering symptoms that present at three months post-concussion and to determine what factors are associated with prolonged recovery in an elementary-age group. Participants were 123 children aged 5–10 years who were seen at specialized concussion clinics, divided into expected and late recovery groups. Parents rated concussion symptoms on a scale from the Sideline Concussion Assessment Tool-5 (SCAT-5). The most frequent symptoms were headache, irritability, feeling more emotional, and sensitivity to noise. Stepwise logistic regression determined that female sex and total symptom burden at initial visit, but not any specific symptom, predicted prolonged recovery. Clinicians are advised to carefully monitor children who report numerous symptoms after concussion, particularly when the concussed children are girls.

Prediction of recovery time of urinary incontinence following robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

Postoperative urinary incontinence recovery following robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is an important outcome. We investigated whether factors that affect urinary incontinence can predict the duration of postoperative incontinence recovery. A total of 310 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Continence recovery was defined as either pad-free or a safety pad only status. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on clinical variables to identify those that were associated with continence recovery. A scoring system to predict recovered continence was constructed using statistically significant variables. The validity of this tool was tested in a new cohort of 273 patients. Factors associated with recovery of urinary incontinence were membranous urethral length, preservation of bilateral neurovascular bundles, and a preoperative Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score of ≥3 in the apex. Age was related only to incontinence recovery at 1 month. To prepare the score, weighting was performed using the estimated values. Using the developed scoring system, participants in the verification set were divided into three groups. The early recovery group had a median incontinence recovery of 4 (4-12) weeks, the medium recovery group, 12 (4-24) weeks, and the late recovery group, 24 (24-48) weeks, which was a significant difference (p < 0.001). The applied scoring system based on preoperative factors related to incontinence and derived from patient groups was significantly associated with continence recovery time. In patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, our unit-weighted regression model of clinical variables can predict the duration of continence recovery.

Endothelial Damage and Muscle Wasting in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

This is a post-hoc analysis to assess the effect of anesthesia, surgical trauma, and extracorporeal circuit on endothelial integrity, microvascular permeability, and extracellular fluid balance, as well as on skeletal muscle catabolism, in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. We included 127 well-nourished patients undergoing "on-pump" elective cardiac surgery. One day prior to surgery (D0) and again on postoperative day 7 (POD7), body mass index, body composition assessment, hand-grip strength (HGS), and mid-upper arm muscle circumference (MAMC) were measured. Patients were assigned to early recovery (ER) and late recovery (LR) groups, depending on the duration of ICU stay (cut-off 48 hours). The magnitude of change (Δ) in all parameters studied was assessed in ER versus LR groups, regarding(i) epithelial tissue dysfunction (Δ-Extra-Cellular Water percentage (Δ-ECW%), Δ-Phase Angle (Δ-PhA)), (ii) skeletal muscle mass catabolism (Δ-Skeletal muscle mass reduction%, Δ-Hand Grip Strength (Δ-HGS) and Δ-Mid Upper-Arm Muscle Circumference (Δ-MAMC)). Baseline measurements were similar in both groups. A significant difference was observed in all Δ-parameters studied (Δ-ECW%, Δ-PhA and muscle catabolism, Δ-HGS, Δ-MAMC), the worse results being correlated to the LR group. The results raise the issue that patients with early recovery may silently have pathological conditions, continuing even on the day of discharge- further research should be planned.

Should We Prolong the Observation Period for Neurological Recovery After Cardiac Arrest?

OBJECTIVES:To evaluate whether the recommended observation period of 7 days for cardiac arrest survivors is sufficient for conscious recovery and to identify the variables associated with eventual neurologic recovery among patients with delayed awakening.DESIGN:A retrospective cohort study.SETTING:A single tertiary medical center.PATIENTS:Five-hundred twenty-nine nontraumatic adult cardiac arrest survivors with prearrest favorable neurologic function (Cerebral Performance Category 1–2) who survived to hospital discharge during 2011–2019.INTERVENTIONS:The enrolled patients were classified into favorable (Cerebral Performance Category 1–2) and poor (Cerebral Performance Category 3–4) neurologic recovery according to their neurologic function at hospital discharge. Among patients with favorable neurologic recovery, those who recovered within 7 days were assigned to the early recovery group or after 7 days as the late recovery group.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:There were 395 patients exhibiting favorable neurologic recovery (n = 357 in the early group, n = 38 in late group) and 134 patients exhibiting poor neurologic recovery (poor recovery group). Among patients who remained unconscious on day 7, delayed awakening was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.905; 95% CI, 1.153–13.221), prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (OR, 7.628; 95% CI, 2.084–27.922), therapeutic hypothermia (OR, 4.320; 95% CI, 1.624–11.488), and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR, 4.508; 95% CI, 1.414–14.371). Being transferred from another hospital, however, was less likely to be associated with delayed awakening (OR, 0.061; 95% CI, 0.009–0.431). The median duration for patients to regain clear consciousness in the late recovery group was 12.12 days. No patient who recovered consciousness had an unfavorable electroencephalography pattern, however, in patients with poor recovery, the 7-day electroencephalography showed 45 patients with generalized suppression (33.6%), two with burst suppression (1.5%), 14 with seizure/epileptic discharge (10.5%), and one with status epilepticus (0.7%).CONCLUSIONS:Up to 9.6% of cardiac arrest patients with favorable outcomes recover consciousness after the recommended 7 days of observation, indicating the observation time of 7 days seems justified but longer duration may be needed. The results of the culturally and clinically isolated population may limit the application to other population.

Recovery of Vocal Cord Motion Among Pediatric Patients.

Patients with vocal cord paralysis can experience feeding, respiratory, and vocal problems leading to disability and decreased quality of life. Current evidence suggests waiting a period of 12 months for spontaneous recovery before permanent interventions. This study aims to determine the time to recover spontaneously and vocal cord movement in a pediatric population and create a model for evidence-based patient counseling. Retrospective longitudinal cohort study. The report is a single institution longitudinal study on vocal cord paralysis recovery. Patients were categorized based on spontaneous recovery with vocal cord movement or no recovery. Recovery rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Of 158 cases of vocal cord paralysis over a 4-year period, 36 had spontaneous recovery with symptom improvement and motion return. The average recovery was 8.8 months for those who recovered, and 78% recovered within 9 months. Two groups emerged from the data: an early recovery group with spontaneous recovery before 12 months and a late recovery group after 12 months. Children with dysphonia and paralysis due to cardiac surgery were less likely to recover, and children with aspiration were more likely to recover. Children with gastrointestinal comorbidities were less likely to recover; however, those who did recover were more likely to have recovered after 12 months. Based on our model, there is about a 3% chance of recovery between 9 and 12 months. Patients should be counseled about earlier interventions. Waiting the conventional 12 months for only a 3% chance of spontaneous recovery without intervention or laryngeal EMG may not be the preferred option for some patients and their families.

Effects of comorbidities on the outcomes of manipulation under anesthesia for primary stiff shoulder.

Studies on the effects of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) for primary stiff shoulder when different comorbidities are present are lacking. Our aim was to assess how comorbidities influence the recovery speed and clinical outcomes after MUA. Between April 2013 and September 2018, 281 consecutive primary stiff shoulders in the frozen phase treated with MUA were included in this study. We investigated the comorbidities of patients and divided them into the control (n = 203), diabetes mellitus (DM) (n = 32), hyperlipidemia (n = 26), and thyroid disorder (n = 20) groups. The range of motion (ROM) and clinical scores for each group before MUA and 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months after MUA were comparatively analyzed. We identified the ROM recovery time after MUA and the responsiveness to MUA. Then, subjects were subdivided into early and late recovery groups based on their recovery time and into successful and nonsuccessful MUA groups based on their responsiveness to MUA. Significant improvements in ROM and clinical scores at 3 months after MUA were observed in all groups. Significant differences in ROM among the 4 groups were also observed during follow-up (P < .05). The DM group had significantly lower ROM values, even at 3 months after MUA, compared with the control group. The ROM recovery speed after MUA was slowest in the DM group, followed by the thyroid disorder, hyperlipidemia, and control groups. Most (90.6%) of the DM group experienced late recovery. The proportion of nonsuccessful MUA was higher in the DM and thyroid disorder groups than that in the control and hyperlipidemia groups (P = .004). During follow-up, there were no differences among groups regarding the visual analog scale, University of California at Los Angeles shoulder, and Constant scores. The ROM recovery speed and responsiveness to MUA for primary stiff shoulder were poorer for the DM and thyroid disorder groups than for the control group. In particular, compared with any other disease, outcomes were poorer when the comorbidity was DM. If patients have comorbidities, then they should be informed before MUA that the comorbidity could affect the outcomes of treatment.

A-066 Recovery in Elementary-Age Children at Three Months Post-Concussion

Abstract Objective Inclusion of broad age ranges in most pediatric concussion studies limits understanding of recovery in elementary-age children. This study’s aim was to investigate the most commonly reported symptoms at 3-months post-concussion in children age 6–10 and determine if factors from initial clinic visit predict prolonged recovery. Methods Participants (n = 73) age 6–10 who reported to clinic within 30 days of concussion (M = 10.4, SD = 7.8 days) were selected from the North Texas Concussion Registry (ConTex). Chi-square and independent t-test were used to examine symptoms at 3 months. Participants were then divided into early (14 days post-injury, n = 29) and late (1 month post-injury, n = 35) recovery groups based on days to symptom resolution. Logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors for prolonged recovery. Variables considered for the final model included sex, ethnicity, presence of LD/ADHD, mechanism of injury, and initial post-concussive symptoms. Results For the late recovery group, total symptom score at 3 months was 8.3/132 (SD = 14.8, Range = 0–61). The most common symptoms were heightened emotionality (34.3%), headache (31%), and noise sensitivity (31%). The final logistic regression model (2 = 15.7(3), p = .003) included mechanism of injury and initial emotional symptoms as significant predictors for prolonged recovery. For every 1-point (out of 5) increase in emotional symptoms, participants were 1.4x more likely to be in the late recovery group. Concussions sustained by hit or fall were 6x more common in the late recovery group (p = .006). Conclusions Similar to adolescents, emotional symptoms play a role in predicting delayed recovery in elementary-age children. Mechanism of concussion may also impact recovery.

Prognostic Factors Associated With Recovery in Children With Bell's Palsy.

The aim of the study was to determine the prognosis of children with Bell's palsy and analyze the prognostic factors affecting early recovery. The records of children with a diagnosis of Bell's palsy were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical features including age, gender, House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System House-Brackmann Grading Scale (HBGS) grade at admission and follow-up, and the dosage and onset of steroid treatment were reviewed. Laboratory findings such as red blood cell distribution width and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were noted. The patients who were recovered within the first month (early recovery) were compared with the patients who were recovered after first month (late recovery) in terms of demographic, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and treatment modalities in order to determine the risk factors affecting early recovery. A total of 102 children (65 girls and 37 boys) with a mean age of 10.37 ± 4.2 years were included in the study. The complete recovery was detected in 101 children (%99) with Bell's palsy. Statistically significant difference was found in terms of dosage and time of onset of steroid treatment (P = .04, P = .035, respectively) and House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System grade on the 10th day (P = .001) between the early and late recovery groups. The prognosis of Bell's palsy in children was very good. The prognostic factors affecting the early recovery were being House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System grade 2 or 3 on the 10th day and receiving steroid treatment in the first 24 hours. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and red blood cell distribution width were not found to be predictive factors for early recovery.

Prediction of recovery from supplementary motor area syndrome after brain tumor surgery: preoperative diffusion tensor tractography analysis and postoperative neurological clinical course.

OBJECTIVE Previous studies have suggested a correlation between interhemispheric sensorimotor networks and recovery from supplementary motor area (SMA) syndrome. In the present study, the authors examined the hypothesis that interhemispheric connectivity of the primary motor cortex in one hemisphere with the contralateral SMA may be important in the recovery from SMA syndrome. Further, they posited that motor cortical fiber connectivity with the SMA is related to the severity of SMA syndrome. METHODS Patients referred to the authors' neurological surgery department were retrospectively analyzed for this study. All patients with tumors involving the unilateral SMA region, without involvement of the primary motor area, and diagnosed with SMA syndrome in the postoperative period were eligible for inclusion. Preoperative diffusion tensor imaging tractography (DTT) was used to examine the number of fiber tracts (NFidx) connecting the contralateral SMA to the ipsilateral primary motor area via the corpus callosum. Complete neurological examination had been performed in all patients in the pre- and postoperative periods. All patients were divided into two groups: those who recovered from SMA syndrome in ≤ 7 days (early recovery group) and those who recovered in ≥ 8 days (late recovery group). Differences between the two groups were assessed using the Student t-test and the chi-square test. RESULTS Eleven patients (10 men, 1 woman) were included in the study. All patients showed transient postoperative motor deficits because of SMA syndrome. Tractography data revealed NFidx from the contralateral SMA to the ipsilateral primary motor area via the corpus callosum. The mean tumor volume (early 27.87 vs late 50.91 cm3, p = 0.028) and mean NFidx (early 8923.16 vs late 4726.4, p = 0.002) were significantly different between the two groups. Fisher exact test showed a significant difference in the days of recovery from SMA syndrome between patients with an NFidx > 8000 and those with an NFidx < 8000. CONCLUSIONS Diffusion tensor imaging tractography may be useful for predicting the speed of recovery from SMA syndrome. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first DTT study to identify interhemispheric connectivity of the SMA in patients with brain tumors.

Late recovery of awareness in prolonged disorders of consciousness –a cross-sectional cohort study

Purpose: To detect any improvement of awareness in prolonged disorders of consciousness in the long term.Methods: A total of 34 patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (27 vegetative state and seven minimally conscious state; 16 males; aged 21–73) were included in the study. All patients were initially diagnosed with vegetative/minimally conscious state on admission to our specialist neurological rehabilitation unit. Re-assessment was performed 2–16 years later using Coma Recovery Scale-Revised.Results: Although remaining severely disabled, 32% of the patients showed late improvement of awareness evidenced with development of non-reflexive responses such as reproducible command following and localization behaviors. Most of the late recoveries occurred in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (5/11, 45.5%). The ages of patients within the late recovery group (Mean = 45, SD = 11.4) and non-recovery group (Mean = 43, SD = 15.5) were not statistically different (p = 0.76).Conclusions: This study shows that late improvements in awareness are not exceptional in non-traumatic prolonged disorders of consciousness cases. It highlights the importance of long-term follow up of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness, regardless of the etiology, age, and time passed since the brain injury. Long-term follow up will help clinicians to identify patients who may benefit from further assessment and rehabilitation. Although only one patient achieved recovery of function, recovery of awareness may have important ethical implications especially where withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration is considered.Implications for rehabilitationLong-term regular follow-up of people with prolonged disorders of consciousness is important.Albeit with poor functional outcomes late recovery of awareness is possible in both traumatic and non-traumatic prolonged disorders of consciousness cases.Recovery of awareness has significant clinical and ethical implications especially where withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration is considered.

Trajectories of postsurgical pain in children: risk factors and impact of late pain recovery on long-term health outcomes after major surgery.

Over 1 million children undergo inpatient surgery annually in the United States. Emerging research indicates that many children have longer-term problems with pain. However, limited data exist on the course of pain over time and the impact of pain recovery on long-term health outcomes. We sought to prospectively characterize children's postsurgical pain trajectories using repeated assessments over 12 months. In addition, we identified presurgical child and parent psychological risk factors associated with persistent pain and examined relationships between pain trajectories and long-term health outcomes. Sixty children aged 10 to 18 years undergoing major surgery and their parent/guardian were enrolled. Participants completed assessments at 5 time points: presurgery, inhospital, 2 weeks, 4 months, and 1 year postsurgery. Child and parent pain catastrophizing was assessed during the week before surgery. Children completed daily monitoring with an electronic pain diary and reported on pain characteristics, health-related quality of life, and activity limitations. Group-based longitudinal modeling revealed 2 distinct trajectories of postsurgical pain: early recovery (n = 49, 82%) and late recovery (n = 11, 18%). In a logistic regression model controlling for age and sex, parental pain catastrophizing before surgery significantly predicted membership in the late recovery group (odds ratio = 1.11, P = 0.03), whereas child catastrophizing and baseline pain did not (Ps < 0.05). In a multivariate regression controlling for age and sex, late pain recovery was significantly associated with poorer health-related quality of life (β = -10.7, P = 0.02) and greater activity limitations (β = 3.6, P = 0.04) at 1 year. Our findings suggest that preoperative interventions that modify parent behaviors and cognitions might be beneficial in this population.

Acupuncture-induced changes in functional connectivity of the primary somatosensory cortex varied with pathological stages of Bell's palsy.

Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis. In China, Bell’s palsy is frequently treated with acupuncture. However, its efficacy and underlying mechanism are still controversial. In this study, we used functional MRI to investigate the effect of acupuncture on the functional connectivity of the brain in Bell’s palsy patients and healthy individuals. The patients were further grouped according to disease duration and facial motor performance. The results of resting-state functional MRI connectivity show that acupuncture induces significant connectivity changes in the primary somatosensory region of both early and late recovery groups, but no significant changes in either the healthy control group or the recovered group. In the recovery group, the changes also varied with regions and disease duration. Therefore, we propose that the effect of acupuncture stimulation may depend on the functional connectivity status of patients with Bell’s palsy.

Relationship between blood levels of propofol and recovery of memory in electroconvulsive therapy

Memory impairment is a potential major adverse effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Some reports have suggested that propofol, an intravenous anesthetic widely used for general anesthesia in ECT, can minimize adverse effects on memory and cognitive function following ECT. The relation between propofol blood level during ECT and memory impairment after the procedure is unknown. We aimed to determine the relation between predicted blood level of propofol administered by target-controlled infusion during ECT and memory impairment after the procedure. Thirty-six patients who underwent a total of 260 series of ECT were enrolled as subjects. Anesthesia was induced with intravenous injection of propofol with a target-controlled infusion pump for predicting blood levels. Orientation and memory testing were performed after completion of ECT. In a subsequent analysis, subjects were divided into early memory recovery (n = 195) and late memory recovery (n = 65) groups. Likewise, for orientation testing,subjects were divided into early recovery (n = 193) and late recovery (n = 67) groups. In both groups, predicted blood propofol levels, total propofol dose, and other variables, such as number of ECT treatments, stimulus energy volume, and spike and slow wave time, were determined for comparison. Predicted blood propofol levels and propofol total dose were significantly higher in the early memory recovery group, while no significant differences were observed for the other variables. As for orientation, there were no significant differences between the early and late orientation recovery groups. Our data shows that the predicted blood propofol levels and the total dose influences memory impairment after the ECT.

Early Recovery Of Absolute Lymphocyte Counts ≥ 0.2x109/L At Day 21 Can Predict Reduced Risk Of Relapse In Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

IntroductionPredicting transplant's outcome has been an important issue. Many factors have been elucidated. We evaluated impact of lymphocyte counts on transplant outcome including relapse in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. MethodsA total of 117 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) between year 1999 and 2012 at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada were evaluated for the occurrence of early recovery of absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) and their impact on transplant's outcome. Patients who received T cell depletion were excluded from analysis, a total of 94 cases were finally included in the analysis. ALCs were regularly monitored on daily basis for first 28 days. ResultsSixty two patients (66%) were matched related donor and 31 (33%) were female. Seventy one patients (75%) were in 1st complete remission (CR1) versus 23 (25%) beyond CR1. Thirty four patients (64%) were Philadelphia chromosome positive. GVHD prophylaxis was CSA/MMF (n=28, 30%), CSA/MTX (n=64, 68%), other (n=2, 2%). Conditioning regimen was myeloablative in 91 patients (97%) versus reduced intensity in 3 patients (3%). Fifty eight patients received peripheral blood stem cells as a stem cell source. Different cut offs of ALCs including 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0x109/L at day 21 and day 28 were evaluated for transplant outcomes in order to select the best cut off of ALC recovery. We selected ALC 0.2x109/L at day 21 as a cutoff of ALC recovery based on the p-value.With a median follow-up of 60 months for survivors (range 2 to 116.5 months), 71 patients (75%) showed early recovery of ALC at day 21 (i.e. patients with ALC ≥ 0.2 x109/L at day 21), while 23 patients did not reach 0.2x109/L of ALC at day 21 (i.e. patients with ALC ≤ 0.2 x109/L at day 21). The overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were not significantly different between the groups: for 3 years OS rate, 47% in early ALC recovery group vs 35% in late ALC recovery group (p=0.35 ); for 3 year NRM rate, 38% in early ALC recovery group vs 26% in late ALC recovery group (p =0.33 ). However, a lower incidence of relapse was observed in early ALC recovery group (17%) compared to late ALC recovery group (39% at 3 years; p=0.005).The cumulative incidence of acute GVHD grades 2 to 4, grades 3/4 at day 120 and overall chronic GVHD at 2 years was 62%, 32% and 45% for patients with ALC ≥ 0.2 x109/L versus 65%, 25% and 39% for those with ALC ≤ 0.2 x109/L at day 21. CMV viraemia rate was 44% versus 43% in early versus late ALC recovery groups. The median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 16 and 12 days in early ALC recovery group versus 23 and 21 days in late ALC recovery group.In multivariate analysis, ALC ≥ 0.2 x109/L at day 21 was an independent favorable risk factor for relapse (p=0.017, Hazard ratio [HR] 0.183) together with chronic GVHD (p≤0.001, HR 0.058). For overall survival, acute GVHD grade 3-4 (p=0.03, HR 2.857), chronic GVHD (p=0.001, HR 0.103) and age as continuous variable (p=0.05, HR 1.04) were independent factors. For NRM acute GVHD grade 3-4 was the only independent prognostic factor (p=0.006, HR 6.896) ConclusionEarly recovery of absolute lymphocyte counts ≥0.2x109/L at day 21 can predict reduced relapse risk in ALL patients following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The impact of lymphocyte counts on overall survival and non-relapse mortality was not statistically significant.▪ Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Acute phase myocardial edema was related to recovery process of regional left ventricular wall motion abnormality in takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC, stress cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome) is characterized by transient reversible systolic dysfunction of the apical and/or mid segments of the left ventricular (LV). However, the recovery process of LV systolic dysfunction is not known in detail. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 40 consecutive patients (38 women, 2 men) who were diagnosed as TC in our hospital between June 2007 and October 2012. Main outcome was complete recovery of LV wall motion. Clinical characteristics of early recovery group (n=16; LV wall motion recovered completely within 7 days) and late recovery group (n=24; abnormal LV wall motion remained after 7 days) were compared. Then, we recorded cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) within three days after hospitalization in 27 of 40 patients to evaluate an acute phase histological change of the diseased myocardium. Results: A stressful trigger could be identified in 26 patients (mental: 10, physical: 16). Average LV ejection fraction (LVEF) evaluated by left ventriculography was 50%. There were no statistically significant differences about age, coronary risk factor, laboratory data, QTc in electrocardiogram, and LVEF between two groups. Regional myocardial edema (high intensity in T2-weighted images of CMR) could be identified in 5 of 9 patients (56%) in early recovery group and 18 of 18 patients (100%) in late recovery group (P<0.05). ![Figure][1] Figure 1. Regional myocardial edema on CMR Conclusions: Acute phase myocardial edema detected by CMR images may relate to recovery process of LV wall motion abnormality in TC patients. [1]: pending:yes

Functional Outcomes in Traumatic Disorders of Consciousness: 5-Year Outcomes From the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems

ObjectiveTo characterize the 5-year outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) not following commands when admitted to acute inpatient rehabilitation. DesignSecondary analysis of prospectively collected data from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research–funded Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS). SettingInpatient rehabilitation hospitals participating in the TBIMS program. ParticipantsPatients (N=108) with TBI not following commands at admission to acute inpatient rehabilitation were divided into 2 groups (early recovery: followed commands before discharge [n=72]; late recovery: did not follow commands before discharge [n=36]). InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresFIM items. ResultsFor the early recovery group, depending on the FIM item, 8% to 21% of patients were functioning independently at discharge, increasing to 56% to 85% by 5 years postinjury. The proportion functioning independently increased from discharge to 1 year, 1 to 2 years, and 2 to 5 years. In the late recovery group, depending on the FIM item, 19% to 36% of patients were functioning independently by 5 years postinjury. The proportion of independent patients increased significantly from discharge to 1 year and from 1 to 2 years, but not from 2 to 5 years. ConclusionsSubstantial proportions of patients admitted to acute inpatient rehabilitation before following commands recover independent functioning over as long as 5 years, particularly if they begin to follow commands before hospital discharge.