Interview with Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit

In this interview with Julia Stringfellow, Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit, LU class of 1943, discusses her time as a student as well as her time on the Board of Trustees.https://lux.lawrence.edu/oralhistories/1036/thumbnail.jp

Treatment of planovalgus foot in cerebral palsy with lateral column lengthening using titanium cubic cage

High complication rates were reported with the graft usage when performing lateral column lengthening in cerebral palsy patients. In order to overcome such technical difficulties, we designed a titanium cubic cage and the purpose of this study was to describe this new fixation method and report results after calcaneal lengthening osteotomy using this new implant. Used in 86 feet of 55 patients. Average patient age was 11.6 years, and mean follow-up was 42.6 months. Clinical examination was performed preoperatively and in follow-up. In the anteroposterior radiographs, the talonavicular coverage and the talus-first metatarsal angles and in the lateral radiographs, the talocalcaneal and the talus-first metatarsal angles were measured. Forefoot abduction improvement and medial longitudinal arch was successfully reestablishment were detected in almost all of the patients. All patients showed significant improvement in mean talonavicular coverage, anterior talus-first metatarsal, lateral talocalcaneal, and lateral talus-first metatarsal angles. Our results show that TCC provides significant correction and stable fixation and reduced complication rates compared in CP. [Med-Science 2022; 11(1.000): 274-9

Does the Thymus Index Predict COVID-19 Severity?

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic is a global health emergency that is straining health care resources. Identifying patients likely to experience severe illness would allow more targeted use of resources. This study aimed to investigate the association between the thymus index (TI) on thorax computed tomography (CT) and prognosis in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted between March 17 and June 30, 2020, in patients with confirmed COVID-19. The patients' clinical history and laboratory data were collected after receiving a signed consent form. Four experienced radiologists who were blinded to each other and patient data performed image evaluation. The appearance of the thymus was assessed in each patient using 2 published systems, including the TI and thymic morphology. Exclusion criteria were lack of initial diagnostic thoracic CT, previous sternotomy, pregnancy, and inappropriate images for thymic evaluation. A total of 2588 patients with confirmed COVID-19 and 1231 of these with appropriate thoracic CT imaging were included. Multivariable analysis was performed to predict the risk of severe disease and mortality. RESULTS: The median age was 45 (interquartile range, 33-58) years; 52.2% were male. Two hundred forty-nine (20.2%) patients had severe disease, and 60 (4.9%) patients died. Thymus index was significantly associated with mortality and severe disease (odds ratios, 0.289 [95% confidence interval, 0.141-0.588; P = 0.001]; and 0.266 [95% confidence interval, 0.075-0.932; P = 0.038]), respectively. Perithymic lymphadenopathy on CT imaging had a significantly strong association with grades of TI in patients with severe disease and death ( V = 0.413 P = 0.017; and V = 0.261 P = 0.002, respectively). A morphologically assessable thymus increased the probability of survival by 17-fold and the absence of severe disease by 12-fold. CONCLUSION: Assessment of the thymus in patients with COVID-19 may provide useful prognostic data for both disease severity and mortality

Predictors of fatality in pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection among adults

Background: The fatality attributed to pandemic influenza A H1N1 was not clear in the literature. We described the predictors for fatality related to pandemic influenza A H1N1 infection among hospitalized adult patients

Predictors of fatality in pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection among adults

Background: The fatality attributed to pandemic influenza A H1N1 was not clear in the literature. We described the predictors for fatality related to pandemic influenza A H1N1 infection among hospitalized adult patients

Mortality indicators in pneumococcal meningitis: therapeutic implications

Background: The aim of this study was to delineate mortality indicators in pneumococcal meningitis with special emphasis on therapeutic implications