The photoplethysmography dictionary: practical guidance on signal interpretation and clinical scenarios from TeleCheck-AF

Introduction During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous centres in Europe used on-demand photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to remotely assess heart rate and rhythm in conjunction with teleconsultations within the TeleCheck-AF project. Purpose To develop an educational structured stepwise practical guide on how to interpret PPG signals and to study typical clinical scenarios how on-demand PPG was used in the TeleCheck-AF project. Methods During an online conference, the structured stepwise practical guide on how to interpret PPG signals was discussed and further refined during an internal review process. We provide the number of respective PPG recordings and number of patients managed within a clinical scenario during the TeleCheck-AF project. Results To interpret PPG recordings, we introduce a structured stepwise practical guide and provide representative PPG recordings. In the TeleCheck-AF project, 2522 subjects collected 90.616 recordings. The majority of these recordings was classified by the PPG algorithm as sinus rhythm (57.6%), followed by atrial fibrillation (AF) (23.6%). In 9.7% of recordings the quality was too low to interpret. Other observed rhythms were tachycardia (1.4%), extra systoles (4.7%), bigeminy episodes (1.8%), trigeminy episodes (0.6%) and atrial flutter (0.2%). The most frequent clinical scenario where PPG technology was used in the TeleCheck-AF project was follow-up after AF ablation (1110 patients) followed by heart rate and rhythm assessment around (tele)consultation (966 patients), sometimes including remote PPG-guided adaption of rate or rhythm control. 275 patients were followed around cardioversion, either (semi-)acute or elective. Other possible scenarios are assessment of palpitations, assessment of symptom-rhythm correlation and monitoring during up-titration of heart failure medication. Conclusion We introduce a newly developed structured stepwise practical guide on PPG signal interpretation developed based on presented experiences from TeleCheck-AF. The present clinical scenarios for the use of on-demand PPG technology derived from the TeleCheck-AF project will help to implement PPG technology in the management of arrhythmia patients. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. TeleCheck-AF clinical scenarios Classification of PPG recordings

Pragmatic Strategy for Fecal Specimen Storage and the Corresponding Test Methods for Clostridioides difficile Diagnosis

The quality of fecal specimens is one of the factors responsible for successful Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) diagnosis. The quality depends largely on the storage conditions, including the temperature and time period. In this study, we organized the outputs of previous studies, filled experimental gaps in the knowledge of storage conditions, and introduced a pragmatic strategy for fecal storage for CDI diagnosis. A 5-step pathway was adopted to develop the fecal specimen storage strategy as follows: step 1, bibliomic analysis; step 2, experimental gap-filling; step 3, comparative evaluation; step 4, strategy development; step 5, internal review. Step 1 identified eight articles providing experimental information on the effects of fecal specimen storage conditions on the effectiveness of C. difficile detection methods. Step 2 provided additional quantitative data on C. difficile vegetative and spore cell viability and DNA stability. All previous and current results were compared (step 3). In step 4, fir general and nine special strategies were developed, followed by an internal review of the overall approaches (step 5). It is recommended to separate fecal samples into aliquots before testing and storing them. It is particularly recommended that fecal specimen samples be stored for CDI diagnosis at 4 °C for up to 60 days for all test methods.

The photoplethysmography dictionary: Practical guidance on signal interpretation and clinical scenarios from TeleCheck-AF

Aim Within the TeleCheck-AF project, numerous centers in Europe used on-demand photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to remotely assess heart rate and rhythm in conjunction with teleconsultations. Based on the TeleCheck-AF investigator experiences, we aimed to develop an educational structured stepwise practical guide on how to interpret PPG signals and to introduce typical clinical scenarios how on-demand PPG was used. Methods During an online conference, the structured stepwise practical guide on how to interpret PPG signals was discussed and further refined during an internal review process. We provide the number of respective PPG recordings (FibriCheck®) and number of patients managed within a clinical scenario during the TeleCheck-AF project. Results To interpret PPG recordings, we introduce a structured stepwise practical guide and provide representative PPG recordings. In the TeleCheck-AF project, 2522 subjects collected 90616 recordings in total. The majority of these recordings was classified by the PPG algorithm as sinus rhythm (57.6%), followed by AF (23.6%). In 9.7% of recordings the quality was too low to interpret. The most frequently clinical scenarios where PPG technology was used in the TeleCheck-AF project was follow-up after AF ablation (1110 patients) followed by heart rate and rhythm assessment around (tele)consultation (966 patients). Conclusion We introduce a newly developed structured stepwise practical guide on PPG signal interpretation developed based on presented experiences from TeleCheck-AF. The present clinical scenarios for the use of on-demand PPG technology derived from the TeleCheck-AF project will help to implement PPG technology in the management of AF patients.

An internal review of chemotherapy toxicities in patients with pancreatic cancer.

e16258 Background: Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the standard of care in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). There is more excitement in the last few years regarding the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy even when the disease is resectable. In this analysis, we sought to study the different regimens used in our institutions, in regards to setting and toxicity. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma at Allegheny General Hospital between 2009-2020. Data was extracted from electronic medical records and de-identified. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Descriptive analysis was undertaken and multivariate analysis was performed to compare differences in the prevalence of toxicity across the regimens and demographics using Stata version 16. The primary outcome was the rate of toxicity that prompted dose adjustment, stratified by the setting chemotherapy was administered (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative). Results: Of the 121 patients studied, 88 patients received chemotherapy. Median age was 69 years. 66 patients (55%) were females. 40 patients suffered from adverse effects requiring a dose adjustment. 85% of the adverse effects occurred in Caucasians. 15 out of 37 patients (42.9%) who received Folfirinox, 15 out of 31 patients (48.4%) who received gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, 6 out of 10 patients (60.0%) who received gemcitabine and capecitabine, 3 out of 4 patients (75.0%) who received gemcitabine monotherapy required dose adjustment (table). Folfirinox and gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel were statistically compared and found to be not significant (p-value=0.12). No significant impacts of race, gender, or age were noted in a multivariate model. Conclusions: Approximately 42% of patients receiving chemotherapy suffered from toxicities that required dose adjustments. We found a trend toward more use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable PDAC with a similar toxicity rate compared with other settings.[Table: see text]

Rare case of ballooning herniation of the tympanic membrane

Herniation of the tympanic membrane is a rare benign malformation of the tympanic membrane into the external auditory canal. It may be asymptomatic or associated with symptoms such as aural fullness, tinnitus, otalgia or hearing loss. We present a case of a symptomatic herniation of the tympanic membrane and its surgical therapy with hernia excision and tympanoplasty. An internal review board exemption was obtained.