Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Voxel based statistical analysis of brain SPECT in temporal lobe epilepsy patients

Orientadores: Fernando Cendes, Elba Cristina Sa de Camargo EtchebehereTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias MedicasResumo: O statistical parametric mapping (SPM) é uma ferramenta de quantificação que tem sido usada no SPECT de perfusão cerebral (SPECT), mas apenas poucos trabalhos na literatura comparam a sua sensibilidade com a da análise visual em pacientes com epilepsia de lobo temporal (ELT) OBJETIVO: Avaliar a capacidade da análise com SPM no SPECT em detectar o foco epileptogênico e alterações perfusionais em regiões extra-temporais em pacientes com epilepsia de lobo temporal mesial (ELTM), comparando os seus achados com os da análise visual MÉTODOS: Foram realizados SPECTs ictal e interictal em 22 pacientes com ELTM refratários ao tratamento clínico. O lado do foco epileptogênico foi definido com base na história clínica, ressonância magnética, eletroencefaiogramas seriados e telemetria. Os SPECTs foram submetidos à análise visual sendo que os SPECTs interictal e ictal foram analisados em conjunto pelos observadores (SPECT-visual-inter e SPECT-visual-ictal). Foi aplicado o SPM2 que comparou os pacientes com um grupo controle de 50 indivíduos normais. No SPM foram realizadas as seguintes comparações: grupo de SPECT interictal com o grupo controle (SPM-grupo-inter); SPECT interictal de cada paciente com o grupo controle (SPM-indiv-inter); grupo de SPECT ictal com o grupo controle (SPM-grupo-ictal); SPECT ictal de cada paciente com o grupo controle (SPM-indiv-ictal). Foram também comparadas as intensidades das alterações perfusionais nos lobos temporais procurando-se por um aumento da perfusão no SPECT ictal em relação ao interictal (SPM-indiv-ictal/inter). RESULTADOS: Não foi observada nenhuma alteração perfusional significativa no SPM-grupo-inter Já no SPM-grupo-ictal o foco epileptogênico foi a região de hiperperfusão mais significativa No SPM-indiv-inter a sensibilidade na localização do foco foi de 45% e no SPM-indiv-ictal a sensibilidade foi de 64%. O SPM-indiv-ictal/inter apresentou a maior sensibilidade para detectar o foco dentre as análises realizadas no SPM (77%) A sensibilidade do SPECT-visual-inter foi de 68% e para o SPECT-visuai-ictal foi de 100%. Por outro lado, diversas áreas de hiperperfusão e hipoperfusão à distância no SPECT ictal foram detectadas principalmente com o SPM CONCLUSÃO: O SPM é uma ferramenta que não depende do operador e é capaz de demonstrar mais áreas de alteração perfusional à distância do foco epileptogênico do que a análise visual. Ele pode ajudar a entender melhor a patofisiologia das crises epilépticas em pacientes com ELTM estudando a relação das diferentes regiões corticais e subcorticais na gênese e na propagação das crises parciais. Entretanto, essa ferramenta não acrescentou um aumento na sensibilidade na localização do foco epileptogênico em relação á análise visual, tanto do SPECT interictal quanto do SPECT ictalAbstract: Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) is a quantitative tool which has been used in the brain perfusion SPECT (SPECT) However, few works in literature compare its sensitivity with the visual analysis in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). PURPOSE: To investigate the capability of SPM analysis in SPECT to detect the epileptogenic focus and distant perfusion abnormalities in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and to compare these findings to the visual analysis. METHODS: Interictal and ictal SPECTs of 22 patients with refractory MTLE were performed. Epileptic foci were determined based on clinical history, magnetic resonance, electroencephalograms (EEG) and ictal video-EEG. SPECTs were submitted to visual analysis. Ictal and interictal SPECTs were analyzed together by the nuclear physicians (SPECT-visual-inter and SPECT-visual-ictal). It was also performed the SPM2 analysis which used a control group composed of 50 volunteers. The following comparisons were performed in SPM: interictal SPECT group with control group (SPM-group-inter); interictal SPECT from each patient with control group (SPM-indiv-inter); ictal SPECT group with control group (SPM-group-ictal), ictal SPECT from each patient with control group (SPM-indiv-ictal). It was also compared the perfusion intensity in temporal lobes looking for an increase in perfusion on ictal SPECT in relation to interictal SPECT (SPM-indiv-ictal/inter). RESULTS: No significant perfusion alterations were observed on SPM-group-inter. On the other hand, the epileptogenic temporal lobe was the region with most significant hypoperfusion on SPM-group-ictal. The sensitivity to localize the focus on SPM-indiv-inter was 45% and on SPM-indiv-ictal was 64%. The SPM-indiv ictal/inter revealed the highest sensitivity among the SPM analysis to detect the focus (77%). The sensitivity of SPECT-visual-inter was 68% and to SPECT-visual-ictal was 100%. On the other hand, several areas of distant hypoperfusion and hypoperfusion were detected mainly with SPM. CONCLUSION: SPM is a tool which does not depend on the operator and can detect more distant perfusion abnormalities than the visual analysis. It can improve the understanding of pathophysiology in seizures of patients with MTLE by studying the relation among different cortical and subcortical areas in the genesis and propagation of partial seizures. However, this tool did not increase the visual analysis sensitivity to localize the epileptogenic focus in interictal SPECT as well as in ictal SPECTDoutoradoNeurologiaDoutor em Ciências Médica

Technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy and single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography in patients with sickle cell disease

Purpose Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common hematologic hereditary disorder characterized by vaso-occlusive episodes affecting multiple organs, and substantially alters renal structure and function. We aimed to evaluate the utility of renal scintigraphy and single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) with technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-99m-DMSA) in adult patients with SCD and no clinical evidence of renal insufficiency. Materials and methods Twenty-six patients (16 female) aged 23-58 years with SCD and no clinical evidence of renal insufficiency were prospectively studied. Planar and SPECT/CT images were, respectively, obtained after 3 and 4 hours of the injection of 110-180 MBq of Tc-99m-DMSA. The relative radiopharmaceutical uptake and renal length were, respectively, determined using SPECT and CT images. Planar and SPECT/CT images were visually analyzed to identify focal areas of Tc-99m-DMSA reduced uptake and anatomical deformities of the kidneys. Results Focal areas of reduced Tc-99m-DMSA uptake with an image aspect of renal scars or inflammation were present in 21/26 patients (81%). In 11/21 (52%) of these patients, the cortical lesions were clearly identified only on SPECT images. Prominent renal columns were observed in 17/26 (65%) patients. The left kidney tended to be more affected than the right kidney. Most patients had enlarged kidneys. Conclusion Tc-99m-DMSA scintigraphy and SPECT/CT identify renal lesions possible related to renal infarcts or infections in most adult patients with SCD and no clinical evidence of renal insufficiency. Prominent renal columns and increased renal size tend to occur in most of these patients401111581165CNPQ - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoFAPESP – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa Do Estado De São Paulo311841/2018-02012/51833-

Manual lymphatic drainage and active exercise effects on lymphatic function do not translate into morbidities in women who underwent breast cancer surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of levobupivacaine on neuromuscular transmission and neuromuscular blockade produced by pancuronium in vitro. METHODS: Thirty rats were distributed into groups (n = 5) according to the drug used alone or in combination: Group I - levobupivacaine (5 µg.mL-1); Group II - pancuronium (2 µg.mL-1); Group III - pancuronium (2 µg.mL-1) + levobupivacaine (5µg.mL-1). The following parameters were evaluated: 1) amplitude of diaphragmatic response to indirect stimulation, before and 60 minutes after the addition of levobupivacaine and pancuronium alone, and after the addition of levobupivacaine combined with pancuronium; 2) membrane potentials (MP) and miniature endplate potentials (MEPP). RESULTS: Levobupivacaine alone did not alter the amplitude of muscle response and MP. In preparations previoulsy exposed to levobupivacaine, the block with pancuronium was significantly denser (90.2 ± 15.2%), showing a significant difference (p=0.031) in comparison to the block produced by pancuronium alone (48.9% ± 9.8%). There was a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of MEPPs. CONCLUSION: Levobupivacaine potentiated the neuromuscular blockade produced by pancuronium, confirming a presynaptic action by a decrease in miniature endplate potentials.To evaluate manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and active exercise effects on lymphatic alterations of the upper limb (UL), range of motion (ROM) of shoulder, and scar complications after breast cancer surgery. Design: Clinical trial. Setting: Health care ce982256263FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2009/14864-

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortiu (INICC) report, data summary of 43 countries for 2007-2012. Device-associated module

We report the results of an International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2007-December 2012 in 503 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During the 6-year study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) U.S. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care–associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 605,310 patients hospitalized in the INICC's ICUs for an aggregate of 3,338,396 days. Although device utilization in the INICC's ICUs was similar to that reported from ICUs in the U.S. in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals: the pooled rate of central line–associated bloodstream infection in the INICC's ICUs, 4.9 per 1,000 central line days, is nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.9 per 1,000 central line days reported from comparable U.S. ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher (16.8 vs 1.1 per 1,000 ventilator days) as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (5.5 vs 1.3 per 1,000 catheter days). Frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (42.8% vs 10%) and imipenem (42.4% vs 26.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (71.2% vs 28.8%) and imipenem (19.6% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC's ICUs compared with the ICUs of the CDC's NHSN

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures