Plos One
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Four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) ventilation is an emerging imaging modality. Functional avoidance of regions according to 4D-CT ventilation may reduce lung toxicity after radiation therapy. This study evaluated associations between 4D-CT ventilation-based dosimetric parameters and clinical outcomes. ⋯ Poorly ventilated lung regions identified on 4D-CT had higher AUC values than highly ventilated regions, suggesting that functional planning based on poorly ventilated regions may reduce the risk of lung toxicity in radiation therapy.
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Comparative Study
Maternal and neonatal outcome after vaginal breech delivery at term of children weighing more or less than 3.8 kg: A FRABAT prospective cohort study.
The clinical management of breech presentations at term is still a controversially discussed issue among clinicians. Clear predictive criteria for planned vaginal breech deliveries are desperately needed to prevent adverse fetal and maternal outcomes and to reduce elective cesarean section rates. The green-top guideline considers an estimated birth weight of 3.8 kg or more an indication to plan a cesarean section despite the lack of respective evidence. ⋯ A fetal weight above 3.79 kg does not predict increased maternal or infant morbidity after delivery from breech presentation at term. Neither the literature nor our analyses document evidence for threshold of estimated birth weight that is associated with maternal and/or infant morbidity. However, patients should be informed about an increased likelihood of cesarean sections during labor when attempting vaginal birth from breech position at term in order to reach an informed shared decision concerning the birth strategy. Further investigations in multi center settings are needed to advance international guidelines on vaginal breech deliveries in the context of estimated birth weight and its impact on perinatal outcome.
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ICU-acquired muscle atrophy occurs commonly and worsens outcomes in adults. The incidence and severity of muscle atrophy in critically ill children are poorly characterized. ⋯ In children receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, diaphragm and other skeletal muscle atrophy is common and rapid. Increasing age and TBI may increase severity of limb muscle atrophy. Prospective studies are required to link muscle atrophy to functional outcomes in critically ill children.
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Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) reduces left ventricular (LV) afterload and improves prognosis in aortic stenosis (AS) patients. However, LV afterload consists of both valvular and arterial loads, and the benefits of TAVR may be attenuated if the arterial load dominates. We proposed a new hemodynamic index, the Relative Valve Load (RVL), a ratio of mean gradient (MG) and valvuloarterial impedance (Zva), to describe the relative contribution of the valvular load to the global LV load, and examined whether RVL predicted patient outcome following TAVR. ⋯ RVL is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in severe AS patients undergoing TAVR. A pre-procedural RVL≤7.95ml/m2 identifies AS patients at increased risk of death despite TAVR and may assist with decision making on the benefits of TAVR.
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Comparative Study
The health care utilization of people in prison and after prison release: A population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada.
Many people experience imprisonment each year, and this population bears a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality. States have an obligation to provide equitable health care in prison and to attend to care on release. Our objective was to describe health care utilization in prison and post-release for persons released from provincial prison in Ontario, Canada in 2010, and to compare health care utilization with the general population. ⋯ Across care types, health care utilization in prison and on release is elevated for people who experience imprisonment in Ontario, Canada. This may reflect high morbidity and suboptimal access to quality health care. Future research should identify reasons for increased use and interventions to improve care.