Quantification of irrigated lesion morphology using near-infrared spectroscopy

There are currently limited means by which lesion formation can be confirmed during radiofrequency ablation procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of NIRS-integrated RFA catheters for monitoring irrigated lesion progression, ex vivo and in vivo. Open-irrigated NIRS-ablation catheters with optical fibers were fabricated to sample tissue diffuse reflectance. Spectra from 44 irrigated lesions and 44 non-lesion sites from ex vivo swine hearts (n = 15) were used to train and evaluate a predictive model for lesion dimensions based on key spectral features. Additional studies were performed in diluted blood to assess NIRS signatures of catheter-tissue contact status. Finally, the potential of NIRS-RFA catheters for guiding lesion delivery was evaluated in a set of in vivo pilot studies conducted in healthy pigs (n = 4). Model predictions for lesion depth (R = 0.968), width (R = 0.971), and depth percentage (R = 0.924) correlated well with measured lesion dimensions. In vivo deployment in preliminary trials showed robust translational consistency of contact discrimination (P < 0.0001) and lesion depth parameters (< 3% error). NIRS empowered catheters are well suited for monitoring myocardial response to RF ablation and may provide useful intraprocedural feedback for optimizing treatment efficacy alongside current practices.

Changing Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Dynamics Through Time in Montastraea cavernosa

Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is affecting corals across the Western Atlantic and displays species-specific and regional differences in prevalence, incidence, degree of mortality, and lesion morphology. We examined two Florida sites with different temporal histories of disease emergence; Fort Lauderdale where SCTLD is endemic and the Lower Florida Keys where SCTLD has recently emerged. Our objectives were to (1) assess the potential impact of SCTLD on overall reef condition by surveying reefs in each region, (2) in a single common species, Montastraea cavernosa, examine differences in SCTLD prevalence, colony mortality, and lesion morphology in each region, and (3) look for differences in contagion by conducting transmission experiments using lesions from each region. Reef surveys found sites in both regions had low coral cover, high algae cover, and similar coral species composition. SCTLD prevalence was higher in the Lower Keys than at Fort Lauderdale and two of the common species, M. cavernosa and S. siderea at Fort Lauderdale were dominated by smaller colonies (&lt;5 cm) whereas larger colonies occurred in the Lower Keys. Tagged M. cavernosa SCTLD-affected colonies were followed for 2 years at one site in each region. In both years, Fort Lauderdale colonies showed declining disease prevalence, low colony mortality, and disease lesions were mainly bleached spots lacking tissue loss. In contrast, Lower Keys colonies tagged in the first year maintained 100% disease prevalence with high mortality, and disease lesions were predominantly tissue loss with no bleached edges. However, SCTLD dynamics changed, with year two tagged colonies showing declining disease prevalence, low mortality, and lesion morphology switched to a mixture of bleached polyps and tissue loss with or without bleached edges. Lesion morphology on colonies was a significant predictor of amount of tissue loss. Aquaria studies found the rate of SCTLD transmission using lesions from the different zones (emergent and endemic) were similar. Our study highlights that differences in coral mortality from SCTLD are not necessarily linked to host species, lesion morphology is reflective of subsequent rate of mortality, and disease dynamics change through time on reefs where the disease has newly emerged.

IVUS-Guided Zero-Contrast PCI in CKD Patients: Safety and Short-Term Outcome in Patients with Complex Demographics and/or Lesion Characteristics

Background. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with significant renal dysfunction is challenging because of the lesion characteristics and the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). With the advent of intravascular ultrasound- (IVUS-) guided zero-contrast PCI, outcomes have improved considerably. Objective. To assess the safety and short-term outcomes of IVUS-guided zero-contrast PCI in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with complex demographics or lesion morphology. Methods. Patients who underwent IVUS-guided zero-contrast PCI at a tertiary center, from November 2019 to May 2020, were included in this prospective analysis. Clinical characteristics, procedural data, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Results. A total of 15 patients (27 vessels), all men (mean age, 70.0 ± 11.0 years), underwent zero-contrast PCI. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum creatinine were 30.8 ± 7.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 2.6 ± 1.3 mg/dL, respectively. The mean BMC2 risk for dialysis was 2.1 ± 1.1%, mean SYNTAX score was 20.3 ± 10.3, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 42.4 ± 11.6%. Four patients (26.6%) underwent left main coronary artery (LMCA) PCI including one LMCA bifurcation. One patient underwent chronic total occlusion PCI. Technical and procedural success were 100% without any periprocedural complications. No major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were reported, and no patient required dialysis within three months of follow-up. Conclusion. Zero-contrast PCI guided by IVUS is safe in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with moderate-to-severe CKD. High procedural success without complications can be achieved even in cases with complex clinical characteristics and lesion morphology.

Tumours and tumour-like lesions of joints: Differential diagnoses in a paediatric population compared to adults

Objective: To determine the differential diagnosis of intra-articular tumours and tumour-like lesions in a paediatric population compared to adults. Methods: Retrospective review of children up to the age of 18 years with suspected intra-articular tumours and tumour-like lesions referred to a specialist musculoskeletal oncology service from January 2019 to August 2020. Data recorded included patient age and gender, lesion location and morphology (based on the classification system of Adams et al.), and the final diagnosis made either by image-guided biopsy/resection or by clinical and imaging features. Comparison was then made with a group of adults presenting during the same period. Results: 28 paediatric patients were included (12 males and 16 females with mean age 11.2 years, range 3–18 years). Joints involved were the knee (n = 22; 78.6%), ankle (n = 4; 14.3%), hip (n = 1; 3.6%) and elbow (n = 1; 3.6%). Lesion morphology was Type 1 (n = 18; 64.3%), Type 2 (n = 3; 10.7%), Type 3 (n = 1; 3.6%) and Type 4 (n = 5; 17.9%). Final diagnosis was made by image-guided biopsy/resection in 18 (64.3%) patients. The commonest neoplastic lesion was tenosynovial giant cell tumour (n = 11; 39.3%), followed by synovial haemangioma (n = 5; 17.9%). There was only a single malignant lesion, a case of synovial sarcoma. Of eight (28.6%) non-neoplastic lesions, three were diagnosed as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and three as non-specific synovitis. There was no difference compared to adults regarding gender, joint involved or lesion morphology, but there was a significant difference in final diagnoses (p < 0.001). The range of intra-articular tumours and tumour-like lesions in children differs from that in adults, although tenosynovial giant cell tumour is the commonest diagnosis in both groups and malignant lesions are rare. Advances in knowledgeart: In our series, ~16% of tumours and tumour-like lesions of joints occur in the paediatric population. Tenosynovial giant cell tumour remains the commonest diagnosis in children as in adults. Synovial haemangioma and juvenile idiopathic arthritis were the next commonest diagnoses in children, while primary synovial chondromatosis and reactive synovitis were the next commonest diagnoses in adults. Malignant lesions are rare in both groups.

Levothyroxine-associated lichenoid drug eruption: A case report and review of levothyroxine-induced adverse reactions

Levothyroxine (LT4) is frequently used as thyroid hormone replacement to treat hypothyroidism. Adverse skin reactions are not common. Lichenoid drug eruption is a one such medication-related reaction. the lesion morphology and pathology mimic lichen planus. The current case describes a 47-year-old man who presented to us with a diffuse levothyroxine-induced lichenoid drug eruption. The Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability assessment score suggested this was likely an ADR to levothyroxine. The eruption resolved after discontinuation of the medication. We also reviewed the literature on levothyroxine-associated adverse events.

Association between pre-infarction angina and culprit-lesion morphology in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: an optical coherence tomography study

Background Previous studies reported the cardiac protection effect of pre-infarction angina (PIA) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the association between PIA and culprit plaques characteristics in AMI patients through optical coherence tomography (OCT)assessment remains unclear. Purpose We sought to identify culprit-plaque morphology associated with PIA in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) using OCT. Methods A total of 279 STEMI patients who underwent intravascular OCT of culprit-lesion were included. Baseline clinical data and culprit-plaque characteristics were compared between the PIA group the non-PIA group. Results Patients with PIA represented 54.8% of the study population (153 patients). No differences were observed in clinical and angiographic data between two groups, except STEMI onset with exertion was significantly less common in PIA group (24.2% versus 40.5%, P=0.004). Patients with PIA exhibited a significantly lower incidence of plaque rupture (40.5% versus 61.9%, P&lt;0.001) and lipid-rich plaques (48.4% versus 69.0%, P=0.001). The thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) prevalence was lower in PIA group, presenting a thicker fibrous cap thickness, although statistically significant differences were not observed (20.3% versus 30.2%, P=0.070; 129.1±92.0μm versus 111.4±78.1μm, P=0.088; respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that PIA was an independent negative predictor for plaque rupture (odds ratio: 0.44, 95% confidence interval: 0.268–0.725, P=0.001). Conclusion STEMI patients with PIA showed a significantly lower prevalence of plaque rupture and lipid-rich plaques in culprit-lesion than non-PIA group, implying different mechanisms of STEMI attack. Flow chart + Bar graphs of OCT findings Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Association between pre-infarction angina and culprit-lesion morphology in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: An optical coherence tomography study

A community-based validation of the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies Consensus Criteria by expert and non-expert examiners in Liberia

Background The International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS) recently published expert consensus criteria for scabies diagnosis. Formal validation of these criteria is needed to guide implementation. We conducted a study to provide detailed description of the morphology and distribution of scabies lesions as assessed by dermatologists and validate the IACS criteria for diagnosis by both expert and non-expert examiners. Methods Participants from a community in Monrovia, Liberia, were independently assessed by two dermatologists and six non-expert examiners. Lesion morphology and distribution were documented based on the dermatologist examination. Diagnoses were classified by IACS criteria and the sensitivity and specificity of non-expert examiner assessments calculated. Results Papules were the most common lesions (97.8%). Burrows were found in just under half (46.7%) and dermatoscopy was positive in a minority (13.3%). Scabies lesions were found in all body regions but more than 90% of patients could have been diagnosed by an examination of only the limbs. Severity of itch was associated with lesion number (p = 0.003). The sensitivity of non-expert examiners to detect typical scabies ranged between 69–83% and specificity 70–96%. The sensitivity of non-expert examiners was higher in more extensive disease (78–94%). Conclusions The IACS criteria proved a valid tool for scabies diagnosis. For the purposes of implementation papules and burrows represent truly ‘typical’ scabies lesions. Non-expert examiners are able to diagnose scabies with a high degree of accuracy, demonstrating they could form a key component in population-level control strategies.