Sonographic Evaluation of Hidradenitis Suppurativa with Smartphone-Linked Portable Ultrasound

Dermatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Maximillian A. Weigelt ◽  
Yuval Hilerowicz ◽  
Jeffrey A. Leichter ◽  
Hadar Lev-Tov

Background: Clinical staging systems for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have poor interrater reliability and may underestimate disease activity. Sonographic staging systems may overcome these challenges, but conventional ultrasound (US) machines are expensive and bulky. Portable (p)US may facilitate the integration of sonography into routine practice. Objectives: To assess the ability of a novel smartphone-linked pUS device to identify key sonographic lesions of HS. Methods: The charts of 16 patients with HS who were assessed with pUS at the outpatient Dermatology and Wound Care Clinics of a university hospital center were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and sonographic images of the affected areas were examined. The main outcome measures were the number of patients with identifiable sonographic lesions and the number of patients with subclinical lesions detected by pUS. Results: All 3 key sonographic lesions of HS were identifiable with pUS. Sonographic lesions were identified in 10 patients (62.5%). Subclinical lesions were identified in 2 patients (12.5%); in both cases, this affected management decisions. Conclusions: We demonstrate the ability of pUS to identify the key sonographic lesions of HS. pUS is a simple and affordable way to integrate HSUS into clinical and research settings, with clear potential benefits to patients.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6575-6575
Author(s):  
Julio C. Chavez ◽  
Gelenis Domingo ◽  
Samir Dalia ◽  
Jason A. Dubovsky ◽  
Emmanuel Berchmans ◽  
...  

6575 Background: CLL is the most common leukemia in adults and has a variable course and prognosis. Clinical staging systems and the use of biomarkers such as cytogenetics and the IGVH mutational status remain the gold standard for stratification. Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) expression analyses have shown prognostic impact in other hematological malignancies such as acute leukemias and multiple myeloma. With the analysis of CTAs we aim to discover additional molecular markers that can help us predict the clinical course and outcome in CLL patients. Methods: We analyzed the expression by RT-PCR of 39 known CTAs including members of the MAGE, GAGE, MAD-CT and SSX CTAs families in a group of 59 CLL patients seen at our institution. The Moffitt Cancer Center Total Cancer Care (TCC) database was used to correlated these findings with relevant clinical and molecular markers such as Rai stage, demographic data, initial WBC count, IGVH mutational status, CD38 expression, cytogenetics by FISH analysis and treatment outcomes. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were calculated using Kaplan Meier curves with a SPSS statistical software Results: Deletion 13q was the most common gene abnormality in 35/59 (59.3%). 29/59 (49.1%) required at least one line of treatment. MAGE family CTAs were present in 53/59 (83.9%), MAD-CT in 24/59 (40.7%), SSX in 14/59 (23.7%) and GAGE in 12/59(20.3%). 35/59 (59.3%) CLL patients expressed 2 or more MAGE family CTAs. No differences were noted in the Rai staging, initial white blood cell count, B symptoms, extranodal disease, presence of CD38, or unmutated IVGH. The OS was not significantly different among all CTAs families with a tendency towards a better OS those expressing the SSX family (p=0.63). Additionally, CLL patients with single expression of MAD-CT1 (p=0.05) and MAGE-B2 (p=0.038) antigens correlated with improved survival. Conclusions: Patients with SSX family have a trend towards improved survival. When analyzed by individual antigen, MAD-CT1 and MAGE-B2 expression was associated with improved survival. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to assess the real value of the expression of CTAs in CLL.


2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
T C Biggs ◽  
P Baruah ◽  
J Mainwaring ◽  
P G Harries ◽  
R J Salib

AbstractBackground and objectives:There is currently little published guidance on the management of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication in patients admitted with epistaxis. The routine practice of withholding such medication in an attempt to control the epistaxis is common in the UK. However, this practice is not evidence-based, is often unnecessary, and can be associated with significant morbidity. This study introduces a treatment algorithm for oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in epistaxis patients, validated through a completed audit cycle.Methods:One hundred patients admitted with epistaxis to the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust were studied via a two-audit cycle covering the implementation of a new treatment algorithm formulated jointly by the otolaryngology and haematology departments.Results:On admission, 58 per cent of patients were taking some form of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. The number of patients having such medication withheld decreased significantly between the two audits, for all drugs studied (i.e. aspirin, clopidogrel and warfarin). There was no significant increase in re-bleeding or re-admission rates between the audits.Conclusion:Implementation of this treatment algorithm would help standardise management for epistaxis patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, and should reduce morbidity associated with unnecessary routine discontinuation of such medication.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-197
Author(s):  
Thomas Maitre ◽  
Patrice Muret ◽  
Mathieu Blot ◽  
Anne Waldner ◽  
Michel Duong ◽  
...  

Background: HIV infection is a chronic disease for which therapeutic adherence and tolerance require particular attention. Objective: This study aimed to assess whether and when therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) could be associated with a benefit in routine practice. Methods: All HIV-infected patients who underwent at least one TDM at the University Hospital of Dijon (France) between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2012 were retrospectively included. Compliance with the recommendations, the results (antiretroviral concentrations), any subsequent therapeutic modifications, and the virological results at 4-8 months were analysed each time TDM was performed. TDM was defined as “practically relevant” when low or high antiretroviral concentrations led to a change in therapy. Results: Of the 571 patients who followed-up, 43.4% underwent TDM. TDM complying with recommendations (120 patients) was associated with a higher proportion of antiretroviral concentrations outside the therapeutic range (p=0.03). Antiretroviral treatment was modified after TDM in 22.6% of patients. Protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and raltegravir were more significantly modified when the measured concentration was outside the therapeutic range (p=0.008, p=0.05 and p=0.02, respectively). Overall, 11.7% of TDM was considered “practically relevant”, though there was no significant correlation between subsequent changes in antiretroviral treatment and undetectable final HIV viral load. Conclusions: TDM may be a useful tool in the management of HIV infection in specific situations, but the overall benefit seems moderate in routine practice. TDM cannot be systematic and/or a decision tool per se, but should be included in a comprehensive approach in certain clinical situations.


Author(s):  
Panipak Katawethiwong ◽  
Anucha Apisarnthanarak ◽  
Kittiya Jantarathaneewat ◽  
David J. Weber ◽  
David K. Warren ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Limited data are available on the implementation of an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)–based dosing protocol with multidisciplinary team (MT) support to improve adherence with vancomycin dosing protocol. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an AUC-based dosing protocol with MT support intervention with adherence to a hospital-wide vancomycin dosing protocol at Thammasat University Hospital. Method: We conducted a quasi-experimental study in patients who were prescribed intravenous vancomycin. The study was divided into 2 periods; (1) the preintervention period when the vancomycin dosing protocol was already applied in routine practice and (2) the post-intervention period when the implementation of an AUC-based dosing protocol with MT support was added to the existing vancomycin dosing protocol. The primary outcome was the rate of adherence, and the secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury events, vancomycin-related adverse events, and 30-day mortality rate. Results: In total, 240 patients were enrolled. The most common infections were skin and soft-tissue infections (24.6%) and bacteremia (24.6%). The most common pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (19.6%) and Enterococcus spp (15.4%). Adherence with the vancomycin dosing protocol was significantly higher in the postintervention period (90.8% vs 55%; P ≤ .001). By multivariate analysis, an AUC-based dosing protocol with MT support was the sole predictor for adherence with the vancomycin dosing protocol (adjusted odds ratio, 10.31; 95% confidence interval, 4.54–23.45; P ≤ .001). The 30-day mortality rate was significantly lower during the postintervention period (8.3% vs 20%; P = .015). Conclusions: AUC-based dosing protocol with MT support significantly improved adherence with vancomycin dosing protocol and was associated with a lower 30-day mortality rate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 230949902199607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Lung Shih ◽  
Peng-Ju Huang ◽  
Hsuan-Ti Huang ◽  
Chung-Hwan Chen ◽  
Tien-Ching Lee ◽  
...  

Aim: Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) differed in that it successfully prevented the spread without having to shutdown or overburden medical services. Patients’ fear regarding the pandemic would be the only reason to reduce surgeries, so Taiwan could be the most suitable place for research on the influence of psychological factors. This study aimed to assess the impact of patients’ fear on orthopedic surgeries in Taiwan amid the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and Methods: The investigation period included the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to April 2020) and the corresponding period in the previous year. The following data on patients with orthopedic diseases were collected: outpatient visits, hospital admission, and surgical modalities. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 22%–29% and 20%–26% reduction in outpatients, 22%–27% and 25%–37% reduction in admissions, and 26%–35% and 18%–34% reduction in surgeries, respectively, at both hospitals. The weekly mean number of patients was significantly smaller during the COVID-19 pandemic for all types of surgery and elective surgeries at the university hospital, and for all types of surgery, elective surgeries, and total knee arthroplasties at the community hospital. Further, patients visiting the community hospital during the pandemic were significantly younger, for all types of surgery, elective surgeries, and total knee arthroplasties. Conclusions: The reduction in orthopedic surgeries in Taiwan’s hospitals during COVID-19 could be attributed to patients’ fear. Even without restriction, the pandemic inevitably led to a reduction of about 20%–30% of the operation volume.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Misset ◽  
Eric Hoste ◽  
Anne-Françoise Donneau ◽  
David Grimaldi ◽  
Geert Meyfroidt ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic reached Europe in early 2020. Convalescent plasma is used without a consistent evidence of efficacy. Our hypothesis is that passive immunization with plasma collected from patients having contracted COVID-19 and developed specific neutralizing antibodies may alleviate symptoms and reduce mortality in patients treated with mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory failure during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Methods We plan to include 500 adult patients, hospitalized in 16 Belgian intensive care units between September 2020 and 2022, diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, under mechanical ventilation for less than 5 days and a clinical frailty scale less than 6. The study treatment will be compared to standard of care and allocated by randomization in a 1 to 1 ratio without blinding. The main endpoint will be mortality at day 28. We will perform an intention to treat analysis. The number of patients to include is based on an expected mortality rate at day 28 of 40 percent and an expected relative reduction with study intervention of 30 percent with α risk of 5 percent and β risk of 20 percent. Discussion This study will assess the efficacy of plasma in the population of mechanically ventilated patients. A stratification on the delay from mechanical ventilation and inclusion will allow to approach the optimal time use. Selecting convalescent plasmas with a high titer of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 will allow a homogeneous study treatment. The inclusion in the study is based on the consent of the patient or his/her legal representative, and the approval of the Investigational Review Board of the University hospital of Liège, Belgium. A data safety monitoring board (DSMB) has been implemented. Interim analyses have been planned at 100, 2002, 300 and 400 inclusions in order to decide whether the trail should be discontinued prematurely for ethical issues. We plan to publish our results in a peer-reviewed journal and to present them at national and international conferences. Funding and registration The trial is funded by the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center KCE # COV201004 Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov registration number NCT04558476. Registered 14 September 2020—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04558476


Author(s):  
Pavel V. Chernyshov ◽  
Andrew Y. Finlay ◽  
Lucia Tomas-Aragones ◽  
Francoise Poot ◽  
Francesca Sampogna ◽  
...  

Knowledge on hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) is rapidly increasing. HS has a profound impact on patients and their family life. Several factors, such as comorbidities, unemployment and HS severity, make this impact even more severe. The most widely used instrument to measure this impact is the dermatology-specific DLQI. We also identified six HS-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments. Of them, HIDRAdisk, HSIA, HiSQOL and HSQoL-24 are better validated but there is still lack of experience of its use. Several treatment methods showed positive effect on patients’ HRQoL. Surgery remains a method with a substantial positive effect on HRQoL. Several studies confirming a positive effect of adalimumab on the HRQoL of patients with HS were published during the last three years. Data on the influence of several other biologics on HRQoL of HS patients are controversial or based on studies with a small number of patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Fellahi ◽  
Emmanuel Futier ◽  
Camille Vaisse ◽  
Olivier Collange ◽  
Olivier Huet ◽  
...  

AbstractDespite a large body of evidence, the implementation of guidelines on hemodynamic optimization and goal-directed therapy remains limited in daily routine practice. To facilitate/accelerate this implementation, a panel of experts in the field proposes an approach based on six relevant questions/answers that are frequently mentioned by clinicians, using a critical appraisal of the literature and a modified Delphi process. The mean arterial pressure is a major determinant of organ perfusion, so that the authors unanimously recommend not to tolerate absolute values below 65 mmHg during surgery to reduce the risk of postoperative organ dysfunction. Despite well-identified limitations, the authors unanimously propose the use of dynamic indices to rationalize fluid therapy in a large number of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, pending the implementation of a “validity criteria checklist” before applying volume expansion. The authors recommend with a good agreement mini- or non-invasive stroke volume/cardiac output monitoring in moderate to high-risk surgical patients to optimize fluid therapy on an individual basis and avoid volume overload. The authors propose to use fluids and vasoconstrictors in combination to achieve optimal blood flow and maintain perfusion pressure above the thresholds considered at risk. Although purchase of disposable sensors and stand-alone monitors will result in additional costs, the authors unanimously acknowledge that there are data strongly suggesting this may be counterbalanced by a sustained reduction in postoperative morbidity and hospital lengths of stay. Beside existing guidelines, knowledge and explicit clinical reasoning tools followed by decision algorithms are mandatory to implement individualized hemodynamic optimization strategies and reduce postoperative morbidity and duration of hospital stay in high-risk surgical patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 217-224
Author(s):  
Zouaouia Chama ◽  
Khedoudj Kanoun ◽  
Fatima Zohra Elkadi ◽  
Kara Turqui Douidi ◽  
Noria Harir ◽  
...  

Helicobacter pylori infection concerns half of the world’s population, mainly in developing countries. It causes several gastrodudenal pathologies such as gastritis, ulcer and gastric adenocarcinoma. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of H.pylori infection and to assess the impact of different epidemiological factors as well as principal gastric diseases associ-ated to this infection. We underwent a prospective study during 18 months (month 2016-month 2017) which implicated 201 symptomatic patients for gastric fiboptic endoscopy at the level of Sidi Bel Abbes University hospital. We collected patients’ biopsies to perform a histological study and H. pylori culture. H. pylori identification was carried out based on bacteriological and biochemical analysis. The middle age of our population was (47.29 ±15.97ans) and the sex-ratio =0,8. The global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is of 61.2% (123/201). This rate, after a statistic analysis, seems to be significantly related to age. It is particularly high especially for patients belonging to age range (20-30)-(51-60) years. The gender did not affect the infection prevalence that is more frequent in the gastritis case. We noticed also that HP infection prevalence was important in SBA the hospital. The range age (20-30)-(51-60) years had the highest prevalence of H. pylori and of gastritis which might be a risky ground of gastric cancer appearance. The ulcer pathology maximal rate concerned the group of 51 to 60 years. Above this age, this rate dropped whereas the number of patients suffering from gastric cancer, which presents an important rate in our study, increase for the group of 61-70 years.


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