Project description:BackgroundManagement of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is still subject to debate. Although encouraging results of recent studies about outpatient management with chest drains fitted with a one-way valve, no data exist concerning application of this strategy in real life conditions. We assessed how SP are managed in Emergency departments (EDs), in particular the role of outpatient management, the types of interventions and the specialty of the physicians who perform these interventions.MethodsFrom June 2009 to May 2013, all cases of spontaneous primary (PSP) and spontaneous secondary pneumothorax (SSP) from EDs of 14 hospitals in France were retrospectively included. First line treatment (observation, aspiration, thoracic drainage or surgery), type of management (admitted, discharged to home directly from the ED, outpatient management) and the specialty of the physicians were collected from the medical files of the ED.ResultsAmong 1868 SP included, an outpatient management strategy was chosen in 179 PSP (10%) and 38 SSP (2%), mostly when no intervention was performed. Only 25 PSP (1%) were treated by aspiration and discharged to home after ED admission. Observation was the chosen strategy for 985 patients (53%). In 883 patients with an intervention (47%), it was performed by emergency physicians in 71% of cases and thoracic drainage was the most frequent choice (670 patients, 76%).ConclusionsOur study showed the low level of implementation of outpatient management for PS in France. Despite encouraging results of studies concerning outpatient management, chest tube drainage and hospitalization remain preponderant in the treatment of SP.
Project description:ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to identify the characteristics associated with spontaneous labor onset in pregnant patients undergoing expectant management at greater than 39 weeks' gestation and delineate perinatal outcomes associated with spontaneous labor compared with labor induction.Study designThis was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies at ≥390/7 weeks' gestation delivered at a single center in 2013. The exclusion criteria were elective induction, cesarean delivery or presence of a medical indication for delivery at 39 weeks, more than one prior cesarean delivery, and fetal anomaly or demise. We evaluated prenatally available maternal characteristics as potential predictors of the primary outcome-spontaneous labor onset. Multivariable logistic regression was used to generate two parsimonious models: one with and one without third trimester cervical dilation. We also performed sensitivity analysis by parity and timing of cervical examination, and compared the mode of delivery and other secondary outcomes between patients who went into spontaneous labor and those who did not.ResultsOf 707 eligible patients, 536 (75.8%) attained spontaneous labor and 171 (24.2%) did not. In the first model, maternal body mass index (BMI), parity, and substance use were identified as the most predictive factors. Overall, the model did not predict spontaneous labor (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61-0.70) with high accuracy. The addition of third trimester cervical dilation in the second model did not significantly improve labor prediction (AUC: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.61-0.70; p = 0.76). These results did not differ by timing of cervical examination or parity. Patients admitted in spontaneous labor had lower odds of cesarean delivery (odds ratio [OR]: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.21-0.53) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.15-0.94). Other perinatal outcomes were similar between the groups.ConclusionMaternal characteristics did not predict spontaneous labor onset at ≥39 weeks' gestation with high accuracy. Patients should be counseled on the challenges of labor prediction regardless of parity and cervical examination, outcomes if spontaneous labor does not occur, and benefits of labor induction.Key points· Majority of patients will attain spontaneous labor at ≥39 weeks.. · Maternal characteristics do not predict labor at ≥39 weeks.. · Spontaneous labor has associated lower perinatal risks.. · A shared decision model should be utilized in counseling patients who may choose expectant management..
Project description:BackgroundExpectant management is an alternative for curettage in women with a miscarriage.AimTo assess the pattern of vaginal bleeding and pain in expectantly managed women with a miscarriage, and to analyse the factors predictive of a relatively quick spontaneous loss of pregnancy.Design of studyPart of a study comparing expectant management with surgical evacuation.SettingTwo hospitals in Amsterdam.MethodIn expectantly managed women with a miscarriage, the pattern of vaginal bleeding and pain and the probability of a spontaneous loss of pregnancy was analysed.ResultsOf the 188 expectantly managed women 95 (51%) experienced a spontaneous loss of their pregnancy. In women with bleeding at inclusion, 52% had a completed miscarriage loss, while of the women without bleeding but with a coincidentally diagnosed non-viable pregnancy during routine ultrasonographic examination, 46% had a completed miscarriage. In the multivariate analysis an increasing bleeding pattern at inclusion was predictive of a relatively quick spontaneous loss of pregnancy. The median daily levels of bleeding and pain were the most prominent during the first 8 days after the start of the bleeding and decreased thereafter.ConclusionsExpectant management is effective in 51% of unselected women with a miscarriage. An increasing bleeding pattern is predictive of a relatively quick spontaneous loss of pregnancy in first-trimester miscarriages. The graphical representation of our findings can be used to inform women about the natural course of miscarriages and a well-informed treatment choice.
Project description:In cells, RNA polymerase (RNAP) must transcribe supercoiled DNA, whose torsional state is constantly changing, but how RNAP deals with DNA supercoiling remains elusive. We report direct measurements of individual Escherichia coli RNAPs as they transcribed supercoiled DNA. We found that a resisting torque slowed RNAP and increased its pause frequency and duration. RNAP was able to generate 11 ± 4 piconewton-nanometers (mean ± standard deviation) of torque before stalling, an amount sufficient to melt DNA of arbitrary sequence and establish RNAP as a more potent torsional motor than previously known. A stalled RNAP was able to resume transcription upon torque relaxation, and transcribing RNAP was resilient to transient torque fluctuations. These results provide a quantitative framework for understanding how dynamic modification of DNA supercoiling regulates transcription.
Project description:Introductionand importance: We reported a case of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) in a 70-years-old male with acute exacerbation of COPD (AE COPD) managed with improvised chest tube drain (ICD).Case presentationHe presented with sudden onset breathlessness and oxygen saturation of 78%. With prolonged expiration on auscultation, he was treated as AE COPD with oxygen therapy, nebulization with albuterol/ipratropium, and injectable antibiotics and steroids. The patient was not improving with treatment on third day, and non-critical respiratory distress continued. Considering the alternative diagnosis, the chest X-ray was done which revealed right sided spontaneous pneumothorax and COPD. Due to his reluctancy to go to higher center for chest tube insertion during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we inserted ICD (intravenous set put in saline bottle) at our primary care. Following drainage, breathlessness improved and saturation increased. Then inpatient symptomatic treatment for COPD was continued for three more days. He was discharged on inhalers after fifth day and asked for follow up after 10 days. He came after 1 month and on repeat chest X-ray, his right sided pneumothorax resolved completely and COPD was in control with inhaled medications. There was no recurrence of pneumothorax in five months follow up.Clinical discussionICD is a safe, and an alternative option in resource limited setting. However, the guidelines recommend chest tube insertion as appropriate treatment.ConclusionThis would remind the physicians to anticipate the alternative possibility, and to re-examine those with AE COPD who are not improving as expected with oxygen and nebulization therapy.
Project description:BACKGROUND:To determine the inter-study reproducibility of MR feature tracking (MR-FT) derived left ventricular (LV) torsion and torsion rates for a combined assessment of systolic and diastolic myocardial function. METHODS:Steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine LV short-axis stacks were acquired at 9:00 (Exam A), 9:30 (Exam B), and 14:00 (Exam C) in 16 healthy volunteers at 3 Tesla. SSFP images were analyzed offline using MR-FT to assess rotational displacement in apical and basal slices. Global peak torsion, peak systolic and peak diastolic torsion rates were calculated using different definitions ("twist", "normalized twist" and "circumferential-longitudinal (CL) shear angle"). Exam A and B were compared to assess the inter-study reproducibility. Morning and afternoon scans were compared to address possible diurnal variation. RESULTS:The different methods showed good inter-study reproducibility for global peak torsion (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.90-0.92; coefficient of variation [CoV]: 19.0-20.3%) and global peak systolic torsion rate (ICC: 0.82-0.84; CoV: 25.9-29.0%). Conversely, global peak diastolic torsion rate showed little inter-study reproducibility (ICC: 0.34-0.47; CoV: 40.8-45.5%). Global peak torsion as determined by the CL shear angle showed the best inter-study reproducibility (ICC: 0.90;CoV: 19.0%). MR-FT results were not measurably affected by diurnal variation between morning and afternoon scans (CL shear angle: 4.8 ± 1.4°, 4.8 ± 1.5°, and 4.1 ± 1.6° for Exam A, B, and C, respectively; P = 0.21). CONCLUSION:MR-FT based derivation of myocardial peak torsion and peak systolic torsion rate has high inter-study reproducibility as opposed to peak diastolic torsion rate. The CL shear angle was the most reproducible parameter independently of cardiac anatomy and may develop into a robust tool to quantify cardiac rotational mechanics in longitudinal MR-FT patient studies.