Assessment of cochlear trauma and telemetry measures after cochlear implantation: A comparative study between Nucleus® CI512 and CI532 electrode arrays

The aim of this study was to compare the new Cochlear™ Nucleus® Profile with Slim Modiolar Electrode (CI532, Cochlear Ltd., Sidney, Australia) with the previous Contour Advance® (CI512) implant through postoperative residual hearing (RH) threshold shift and telemetry measurements as indirect measures of cochlear trauma. We compared 21 patients implanted with the CI532 and 20 patients implanted with the CI512, matching the 2 groups for age and for hearing loss etiology. All subjects received audiological pure tone average (PTA) calculation pre- and postimplant. Electrode impedance was measured, followed by AutoNRT® to measure and evaluate the Neural Response Telemetry (NRT®) thresholds. Telemetry recordings were made intraoperatively, one month after surgery and one month after activation. The NRT-Ratio was calculated to evaluate full scala tympani (ST) insertion. The results showed a higher number of patients with preserved measurable hearing with the CI532 (10/15; P>0.05) compared to the CI512 (5/14; P<0.05). A significant difference in post-operative low frequency PTA was observed between the two groups. There were no significant differences for telemetry measurements and NRTRatio evaluation of full ST insertion (CI512: 81%; CI532: 95%). A significantly higher number of patients who preserved measurable hearing with the CI532, and a significantly higher post-operative low frequency PTA threshold compared with the CI512 confirmed better RH preservation and lower apical cochlear damage with the CI532. There was a high number of full ST insertions for both electrode arrays. Future studies should investigate the audiological effect of implantation in patients with higher levels of RH, correlating the results with the scalar position, to assess any lesser trauma of the CI532.

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Influence of Physical Therapy Modalities on Pain in Osteoporosis Patients: initial results of the treatment with physical therapy

Macedonian Medical Review ◽

10.1515/mmr-2016-0004 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 19-23

Author(s):

Valentina Koevska ◽

Snezana Perchinkova-Mishevska ◽

Erieta Nikolik-Dimitrova ◽

Biljana Mitrevska

Keyword(s):

Physical Therapy ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Chronic Back Pain ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Physical Therapy Modalities ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Therapeutic Exercises ◽

Significant Difference ◽

A Prospective Study

Abstract Introduction. Osteoporosis causes chronic back pain leading to restriction of functional capacity and quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of physical therapy modalities on pain in patients with osteoporosis. Methods. This is a prospective study of patients with osteoporosis, randomly chosen and followed for three months in the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IPMR). Physical therapy consisted of physical modalities and therapeutic exercises. Physical therapy modalities included interferential currents and pulsed low-frequency electromagnetic field conducted each day with weekend breaks, 21 in total. Patients had therapeutic exercises 3 times a week during the entire follow-up period. Patients were assigned into two groups. The first group consisted of nine patients who underwent physical procedures and the second group consisted of nine patients who did not receive physical therapy modalities. Two check-ups were made on day 21 and at the end of the third month. Assessment of pain intensity was made by the use of a numeric pain rating scale. Results. No significant difference between the groups was observed regarding mean age of patients (p<0.21). The first check-up showed a significantly higher pain score in the second group of patients (p=0.0003). There was no significant difference in pain intensity between both groups of patients in the three-month period of investigation (p<0.63). Conclusion. Physical therapy modalities influence on pain in patients with osteoporosis. Our investigation included a small number of patients and hence further studies are necessary.

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Cochlear Implantation with the CI512 and CI532 Precurved Electrode Arrays: One-Year Speech Recognition and Intraoperative Thresholds of Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potentials

Audiology and Neurotology ◽

10.1159/000504592 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 299-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pernilla Videhult Pierre ◽

Martin Eklöf ◽

Henrik Smeds ◽

Filip Asp

Keyword(s):

Speech Recognition ◽

Cochlear Implantation ◽

Action Potentials ◽

Electrode Array ◽

University Hospital ◽

Electrode Arrays ◽

Neural Response Telemetry ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Compound Action Potentials ◽

Compound Action

Introduction: Precurved cochlear implant (CI) electrode arrays were developed in an attempt to improve the auditory outcome of cochlear implantation, which varies greatly. The recent CI532 (Cochlear Corp., Sydney, Australia) may offer further advantages as its electrode array is thinner than previous precurved CI electrode arrays. The aims here were to investigate 1-year postoperative speech recognition, intraoperative electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs), and their possible relation in patients implanted with a CI532 or its predecessor CI512. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from 63 patients subjected to cochlear implantation at the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, was performed. Speech recognition of the implanted ear was evaluated using phonemically balanced monosyllabic Swedish words at 65 dB SPL. ECAPs were evaluated using the intraoperative ECAP threshold across ≥8 electrodes generated by the automated neural response telemetry of the CI. Results: The median aided speech recognition score (SRS) 1 year after implantation was 52% (quartile 1 = 40%, quartile 3 = 60%, n = 63) and did not differ statistically significantly between patients with CI512 (n = 38) and CI532 (n = 25). The mean ECAP threshold was 188 CL (current level; SD = 15 CL, n = 54) intraoperatively and did not differ statistically significantly between patients with CI512 (n = 32) and CI532 (n = 22), but the threshold for each electrode varied more between patients with a CI512 (p < 0.0001). A higher mean ECAP threshold was associated with a worse SRS (Spearman’s ρ = –0.46, p = 0.0004, n = 54). The association remained among those with a CI512 (Spearman’s ρ = –0.62, p = 0.0001, n = 32) when stratified by CI electrode array. Conclusion: No statistically significant difference in speech recognition 1 year after cochlear implantation or in mean threshold of ECAP intraoperatively was found between patients with a CI512 and the more recent, slim CI532, but the ECAP thresholds varied more between those with a CI512. A statistically significant association between SRS and mean ECAP threshold was found, but stratified analysis suggests that the association may be true only for patients with a CI512.

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Real Ear Sound Pressure Levels Developed by Three Portable Stereo System Earphones

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/1059-0889.0104.52 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 52-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gail L. MacLean ◽

Andrew Stuart ◽

Robert Stenstrom

Keyword(s):

High Frequency ◽

Sound Pressure ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Test System ◽

Output Frequency ◽

Frequency Effects ◽

Adult Men ◽

Frequency Responses ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Sound Pressure Levels

Differences in real ear sound pressure levels (SPLs) with three portable stereo system (PSS) earphones (supraaural [Sony Model MDR-44], semiaural [Sony Model MDR-A15L], and insert [Sony Model MDR-E225]) were investigated. Twelve adult men served as subjects. Frequency response, high frequency average (HFA) output, peak output, peak output frequency, and overall RMS output for each PSS earphone were obtained with a probe tube microphone system (Fonix 6500 Hearing Aid Test System). Results indicated a significant difference in mean RMS outputs with nonsignificant differences in mean HFA outputs, peak outputs, and peak output frequencies among PSS earphones. Differences in mean overall RMS outputs were attributed to differences in low-frequency effects that were observed among the frequency responses of the three PSS earphones. It is suggested that one cannot assume equivalent real ear SPLs, with equivalent inputs, among different styles of PSS earphones.

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Perbedaan sensitivitas tetes telinga antibiotik terhadap Pseudomonas aeruginosa pada otitis media supuratif kronik

Oto Rhino Laryngologica Indonesiana ◽

10.32637/orli.v42i2.22 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Anton Budhi Darmawan ◽

Dwi Utami Anjarwati

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media ◽

Test Results ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Suppurative Otitis Media ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Cochran Test ◽

Post Hoc

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is one infectious disease of the middle ear, most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A high number of patients come to the ENT outpatient clinic with active benign type of CSOM. The bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of producing biofilm which protects itself from penetration of antibiotics, and therefore creates resistance towards antibiotics and difficult to eradicate. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity levels of chloramphenicol, polymyxin-neomycin, cyprofloxacin and ofloxacine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with active benign type CSOM in ENT clinic. Method: The method used was across sectional study on 25 patients, from August 2010 until December 2010. Samples were taken withear swab and then put on sensitivity test to chloramphenicol, polymyxin-neomycin, cyprofloxacin andofloxacine using the diffusion disc method. The analysis used in this study was Cochran test. Results: Results showed a significant difference in sensitivity among chloramphenicol (38,70%), polymyxinneomycin(83,87%),cyprofloxacin(90,32%)andofloxacin(58,06%)withp=0,000(p<0,05).PostHocanalysisusing the Mc Nemar indicated that there were significant differences in sensitivity betweenpolymyxin-neomycin to chloramphenicol with p=0,000 (p<0,05), ciprofloxacin to chloramphenicol andciprofloxacin to ofloxacine with p= 0,002, but there were no significant differences between cyprofloxacinto polymyxin-neomycin with p=0,687, polymyxin-neomycin to ofloxacin p=0.057 and ofloxacin tochloramphenicol p=0,109. There were significant differences in antibiotic ear dropssensitivity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with active benign type of CSOM. Cyprofloxacin andpolymyxin-neomycin were more sensitive than ofloxacin and chloramphenicol. Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, active benign type of chronic suppurative otitis media, antibioticear drops. Abstrak : Latar belakang: Otitis media supuratif kronik (OMSK) merupakan penyakit infeksi kronik telinga tengah yang sering dijumpai di klinik THT. Penyebab tersering OMSK adalah bakteri Pseudomonasaeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa mempunyai kemampuan untuk membentuk biofilm yangmelindunginya dari penetrasi antibiotik sehingga menimbulkan resistensi terhadap antibiotik dan sulituntuk eradikasinya. Tujuan: Untuk mengetahui perbandingan tingkat sensitivitas kloramfenikol,polimiksin-neomisin, ciprofloksasin dan ofloksasin terhadap isolat Pseudomonas aeruginosa padapasien OMSK benigna aktif di klinik THT RSMS. Metode: Metode yang digunakan adalah crosssectional terhadap 29 pasien OMSK di klinik THT RSMS periode bulan Agustus 2010 - Desember2010. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan dengan swab telinga. Uji sensitivitas terhadap kloramfenikol,polimiksin-neomisin, ciprofloksasin dan ofloksasin dilakukan dengan metode cakram secara difusi.Analisis yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Cochran dan analisis post hoc. Hasil: Didapatkansensitivitas kloramfenikol sebesar 38,70%, polimiksin-neomisin sebesar 83,87%, ciprofloksasin sebesar90,32% dan ofloksasin sebesar 58,06% dengan p=0,01 (P<0,05), yang menunjukkan adanya perbedaansensitivitas yang bermakna antara kloramfenikol, polimiksin-neomisin, ciprofloksasin dan ofloksasinterhadap Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Analisis post hoc menggunakan Mc Nemar menunjukkan bahwaterdapat perbedaan sensitivitas yang bermakna antara tetes telinga polimiksin-neomisin terhadapkloramfenikol, dan ciprofloksasin terhadap kloramfenikol p=0,000 (p<0,05), serta terdapat perbedaanyang bermakna antara tetes telinga ciprofloksasin terhadap ofloksasin, p=0,002, tetapi tidak terdapatperbedaan yang bermakna antara ciprofloksasin terhadap polimiksin-neomisin, p=0,687, polimiksinneomisinterhadap ofloksasin p=0,057, dan kloramfenikol terhadap ofloksasin p=0,109. Kesimpulan:Terdapat perbedaan sensitivitas yang bermakna tetes telinga antibiotik terhadap Pseudomonas aeruginosa pada pasien OMSK benigna aktif. Ciprofloksasin dan polimiksin-neomisin tetes telinga mempunyai sensitivitas yang lebih baik dibanding ofloksasin dan kloramfenikol. Kata kunci: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, otitis media supuratif kronik, tetes telinga antibiotik

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288. Follow-Up Blood Cultures in Gram-Negative Bacteremia: How Do They Impact Outcomes

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.331 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S144-S144

Author(s):

Azza Elamin ◽

Faisal Khan ◽

Ali Abunayla ◽

Rajasekhar Jagarlamudi ◽

aditee Dash

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Antibiotic Treatment ◽

Readmission Rate ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background As opposed to Staphylococcus. aureus bacteremia, there are no guidelines to recommend repeating blood cultures in Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia (GNB). Several studies have questioned the utility of follow-up blood cultures (FUBCs) in GNB, but the impact of this practice on clinical outcomes is not fully understood. Our aim was to study the practice of obtaining FUBCs in GNB at our institution and to assess it’s impact on clinical outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of adult patients, ≥ 18 years of age admitted with GNB between January 2017 and December 2018. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes in those with and without FUBCs. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, presumed source of bacteremia and need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Presence of fever, hypotension /shock and white blood cell (WBC) count on the day of FUBC was recorded. The primary objective was to compare 30-day mortality between the two groups. Secondary objectives were to compare differences in 30-day readmission rate, hospital length of stay (LOS) and duration of antibiotic treatment. Mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables, frequency and proportion were used for categorical variables. P-value < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. Results 482 patients were included, and of these, 321 (67%) had FUBCs. 96% of FUBCs were negative and 2.8% had persistent bacteremia. There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality between those with and without FUBCs (2.9% and 2.7% respectively), or in 30-day readmission rate (21.4% and 23.4% respectively). In patients with FUBCs compared to those without FUBCs, hospital LOS was longer (7 days vs 5 days, P < 0.001), and mean duration of antibiotic treatment was longer (14 days vs 11 days, P < 0.001). A higher number of patients with FUBCs needed ICU care compared to those without FUBCs (41.4% and 25.5% respectively, P < 0.001) Microbiology of index blood culture in those with and without FUBCs Outcomes in those with and without FUBCs FUBCs characteristics Conclusion Obtaining FUBCs in GNB had no impact on 30-day mortality or 30-day readmission rate. It was associated with longer LOS and antibiotic duration. Our findings suggest that FUBCs in GNB are low yield and may not be recommended in all patients. Prospective studies are needed to further examine the utility of this practice in GNB. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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551. Convalescent plasma early in disease course improves survival in COVID-19

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.745 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S341-S342

Author(s):

Varidhi Nauriyal ◽

Anita Shallal ◽

Amit T Vahia ◽

Linoj Samuel ◽

Robert Tibbetts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scale Score ◽

Medical Records ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Ordinal Scale ◽

Optimal Timing ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Future Studies ◽

Patient Gender ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pcr Test

Abstract Background Convalescent plasma (CP) has been described as a potential therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Given paucity of data, we sought to describe characteristics of CP recipients in survivors and non-survivors. Methods We conducted retrospective review of electronic medical records which included any patient with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test who received CP at an 890-bed quaternary care hospital in Southeast Michigan between March-May 2020. Data collected included: demographics, co-morbidities, mSOFA score on admission, laboratory values, and treatment. Outcomes assessed included inflammatory markers and clinical status based on an 8-point ordinal scalea. These values were recorded on admission, the date of CP (day 1), day 3, 7, and day 30 post-CP. Patient outcomes were stratified by ordinal scale score and compared using Mann-Whitney U tests to examine differences in clinical characteristics: scale of 1–4 (“meaningful survivor”), 5–7 (“survivor”), and 8 (“non-survivor”). Results Results of our study are summarized in Table 1 and 2. Non-survivors were older than survivors (62 vs 71 years; p=0.026). There was no statistically significant difference between patient gender, race, number of days from positive PCR test to CP, treatments, and co-morbidities. There was a trend toward higher mSOFA score on admission in non-survivors (p=0.056). A lower ordinal scale score on the date of receiving CP was significantly associated with meaningful survivorship (6 vs 7, p=0.005). Comparisons of Characteristics Based on Ordinal Scale at Day 30 Comparisons of Outcomes Based on Ordinal Scale at Day 30 Conclusion Patients who have a lower ordinal scale score on the date of CP administration are most likely to have meaningful survivorship at day 30. Future studies should evaluate optimal timing and outcomes for CP therapy in COVID-19. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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The impact of nationwide lockdown on acute coronary syndromes hospitalization rate in the Western Macedonia regional hospital of Greece

European Heart Journal Acute Cardiovascular Care ◽

10.1093/ehjacc/zuab020.088 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

I Kanellos ◽

V Vasilakopoulos ◽

S Daios ◽

S Lampropoulos ◽

M Petridou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Coronary Syndromes ◽

Hospitalization Rate ◽

Regional Hospital ◽

Morbidity And Mortality ◽

World Health ◽

Cardiology Department ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Coronary Syndromes ◽

Pandemic Wave

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The pandemic is associated with more than 75 million cases and more than 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Greece implemented a nationwide lockdown on March 23, 2020, to control the pandemic wave and prevent reducing morbidity and mortality due to Covid-19. During this period, acute coronary syndromes (ACS) hospitalization in the cardiology department was reduced. In addition, the second pandemic wave also led to a new national lockdown on November 7, 2020, although it was implemented 15 days earlier in the relative regional hospital area due to high viral load. Purpose Our study evaluated the number of hospitalized patients with ACS during the nationwide lockdown period, comparing them with the previous years (period 2018 and 2019). Material and Methods Data recordings regarding ACS (unstable angina, NSTEMI, STEMI) hospitalization rates in the Cardiology department were collected from the hospital"s register. Each year"s data analysis interval included the periods of the nationwide lockdown of 2020; March 23 to May 3 and October 14 to December 10. Statistical analysis was performed between periodic groups using the chi-square test (IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 23.0). Results During 2018, the number of patients hospitalized for ACS was 81 and consisted of 39,1% of the total hospitalizations in the Cardiology Department. In 2019 the number of patients hospitalized for ACS was 62 and consisted the 48,8% of the total hospitalizations, while in 2020, the number of patients hospitalized for ACS was 30 and consisted the 27,5% of the total hospitalizations. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0,05) regarding ACS event hospitalization rate between the period of lockdown (March to May and October-December 2020) and the COVID-19-free period of the previous year (March to May and October to December 2019). There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0,05) regarding ACS event hospitalization rate between the period of lockdown (March to May and October to December 2020) and the COVID-19-free period of the year 2018 (March to May and October to December). Finally, there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0,05) in ACS event hospitalization rate between March to May and October to December regarding the years 2018 and 2019. Conclusion Our results are in compliance with the ESC"s comparative survey regarding the observed worldwide reduction of hospitalizations for ACS during the COVID-19 lockdown era, suggesting a potential impact of lockdown in both non-environmental and environmental risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Factors of the relative epidemiological reduction are complexed and puzzled, while morbidity and mortality of ACS remained relatively stable even after the lockdown, so future studies are necessary to further investigate them.

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Adverse reactions of targeted therapy in cancer patients: a retrospective study of hospital medical data in China

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-07946-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ruofei Du ◽

Xin Wang ◽

Lixia Ma ◽

Leon M. Larcher ◽

Han Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Targeted Therapy ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Adverse Reactions ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Target Therapy ◽

Skin Damage ◽

Data Set ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background The adverse reactions (ADRs) of targeted therapy were closely associated with treatment response, clinical outcome, quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer. However, few studies presented the correlation between ADRs of targeted therapy and treatment effects among cancer patients. This study was to explore the characteristics of ADRs with targeted therapy and the prognosis of cancer patients based on the clinical data. Methods A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted within an ADR data set including 2703 patients with targeted therapy from three Henan medical centers of China between January 2018 and December 2019. The significance was evaluated with chi-square test between groups with or without ADRs. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression with backward stepwise method were applied to assess the difference of pathological characteristics in patients with cancer. Using the univariate Cox regression method, the actuarial probability of overall survival was performed to compare the clinical outcomes between these two groups. Results A total of 485 patients were enrolled in this study. Of all patients, 61.0% (n = 296) occurred ADRs including skin damage, fatigue, mucosal damage, hypertension and gastrointestinal discomfort as the top 5 complications during the target therapy. And 62.1% of ADRs were mild to moderate, more than half of the ADRs occurred within one month, 68.6% ADRs lasted more than one month. Older patients (P = 0.022) and patients with lower education level (P = 0.036), more than 2 comorbidities (P = 0.021), longer medication time (P = 0.022), drug combination (P = 0.033) and intravenous administration (P = 0.019) were more likely to have ADRs. Those with ADRs were more likely to stop taking (P = 0.000), change (P = 0.000), adjust (P = 0.000), or not take the medicine on time (P = 0.000). The number of patients with recurrence (P = 0.000) and metastasis (P = 0.006) were statistically significant difference between ADRs and non-ADRs group. And the patients were significantly poor prognosis in ADRs groups compared with non-ADRs group. Conclusion The high incidence of ADRs would affect the treatment and prognosis of patients with cancer. We should pay more attention to these ADRs and develop effective management strategies.

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Evaluation of emotional arousal level and depression severity using voice-derived sound pressure change acceleration

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-92982-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shuji Shinohara ◽

Hiroyuki Toda ◽

Mitsuteru Nakamura ◽

Yasuhiro Omiya ◽

Masakazu Higuchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sound Pressure ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Emotional Arousal ◽

Pressure Change ◽

Arousal Level ◽

Depression Severity ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

National Defense Medical College ◽

Significant Difference

AbstractIn this research, we propose a new index of emotional arousal level using sound pressure change acceleration, called the emotional arousal level voice index (EALVI), and investigate the relationship between this index and depression severity. First, EALVI values were calculated from various speech recordings in the interactive emotional dyadic motion capture database, and the correlation with the emotional arousal level of each voice was examined. The resulting correlation coefficient was 0.52 (n = 10,039, p < 2.2 × 10−16). We collected a total of 178 datasets comprising 10 speech phrases and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score of outpatients with major depression at the Ginza Taimei Clinic (GTC) and the National Defense Medical College (NDMC) Hospital. The correlation coefficients between the EALVI and HAM-D scores were − 0.33 (n = 88, p = 1.8 × 10−3) and − 0.43 (n = 90, p = 2.2 × 10−5) at the GTC and NDMC, respectively. Next, the dataset was divided into “no depression” (HAM-D < 8) and “depression” groups (HAM-D ≥ 8) according to the HAM-D score. The number of patients in the “no depression” and “depression” groups were 10 and 78 in the GTC data, and 65 and 25 in the NDMC data, respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean EALVI values between the two groups in both the GTC and NDMC data (p = 8.9 × 10−3, Cliff’s delta = 0.51 and p = 1.6 × 10−3; Cliff’s delta = 0.43, respectively). The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve when discriminating both groups by EALVI was 0.76 in GTC data and 0.72 in NDMC data. Indirectly, the data suggest that there is some relationship between emotional arousal level and depression severity.

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The Role of Transthoracic Ultrasound in the Study of Interstitial Lung Diseases: High-Resolution Computed Tomography Versus Ultrasound Patterns: Our Preliminary Experience

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11030439 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 439

Author(s):

Donato Lacedonia ◽

Giulia Scioscia ◽

Angelamaria Giardinelli ◽

Carla Maria Irene Quarato ◽

Ennio Vincenzo Sassani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

High Resolution ◽

Lung Diseases ◽

Interstitial Lung Diseases ◽

High Resolution Computed Tomography ◽

Pleural Line ◽

Complementary Role ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Transthoracic Ultrasound

Transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) is a readily available imaging tool that can provide a quick real-time evaluation. The aim of this preliminary study was to establish a complementary role for this imaging method in the approach of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). TUS examination was performed in 43 consecutive patients with pulmonary fibrosis and TUS findings were compared with the corresponding high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. All patients showed a thickened hyperechoic pleural line, despite no difference between dominant HRCT patterns (ground glass, honeycombing, mixed pattern) being recorded (p > 0.05). However, pleural lines’ thickening showed a significant difference between different HRCT degree of fibrosis (p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with functional parameters. The presence of >3 B-lines and subpleural nodules was also assessed in a large number of patients, although they did not demonstrate any particular association with a specific HRCT finding or fibrotic degree. Results allow us to suggest a complementary role for TUS in facilitating an early diagnosis of ILD or helping to detect a possible disease progression or eventual complications during routine clinical practice (with pleural line measurements and subpleural nodules), although HRCT remains the gold standard in the definition of ILD pattern, disease extent and follow-up.

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