Uterine adenocarcinoma with abdominal metastases in an ovariohysterectomised female cat

An adenocarcinoma of the uterine stump with abdominal metastases is described in a 12-year-old incompletely ovariohysterectomised female Domestic Short Haired (DSH) cat. At the time of presentation the adenocarcinoma had metastasised to the right peri-renal lymph node, the abdominal aorta, and the right ureter, resulting in the formation of a large cystic structure. This had compressed and displaced surrounding structures including the abdominal vena cava and the right kidney, and formed multiple adhesions to the body wall and adjacent abdominal structures. Metastatic extension to the aorta had resulted in its regression into a 2mm diameter non-pulsatile vessel

Jeff-CHAT Offers students an Interprofessional Forum to Discuss Experiences

Feelings of frustration, loss, and exhaustion are common among healthcare workers. Students placed among new experiences and in a dependent learning role are not shielded from these emotions but often experience them differently from other members of the healthcare team. In addition to the systematic and individual support available through TJUH, for the past year and a half Jeff‐ CHAT (Compassion, Humanism, Altruism, Trust) has provided a forum for students to discuss and reflect on difficult emotions and situations

Novel M4 Pediatrics Chief Program Utilizing Near-peer Teaching and Mentoring to Enhance Clerkship Curricula

Introduction: Near-peer teachers add many benefits to the academic, clinical performance, and enjoyment of near-peer learners in medical education. This enterprise describes and examines how the Creighton University School of Medicine M4 Pediatrics Chief Program fills a gap in medical education by offering an organized and formal methodology for near-peer teaching. The Creighton University M4 Pediatrics Chief Program utilizes select fourth year medical students to orient, teach basic clinical skills, mentor, and participate in curriculum development for the third year Pediatric clerkship students. Methods: Third year students (n=43) in their Pediatrics clerkship from September 2020 to February 2021 completed surveys at the end of the clerkship to assess the quality and effectiveness of the M4 Pediatrics Chief Program. Results: Students rated effectiveness of the Chiefs most highly as clerkship guides (4.29, SD=0.79), teachers (4.21, SD=0.92), and mentors (4.19, SD=0.75). Near-peer perspectives, education, provision of pertinent content, serving as a clerkship resource, and being a source of encouragement were the most beneficial aspects of the program. Students reported strong agreement all clerkships should have an M4 Chief Program (4.53, SD=0.88). Discussion: Because of the positive reviews by the third years students, the M4 Pediatrics Chief Program is now a permanent part of the Pediatric Clerkship. Additionally, other third year clerkships at Creighton University School of Medicine are adopting this model. Finally, the M4 students acting as the chiefs gain valuable leadership and educational skills. Conclusion: Based on positive perceptions of the “M4 Chief Program”, the authors recommend other medical schools consider initiating similar programs within their third year clerkships.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/chri_forum/1037/thumbnail.jp

Postoperative Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Risk of Bleeding in Pediatric Intracapsular Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the United States, with over 500,000 performed annually. Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is one of the most feared complications; thus, medications that could increase the risk of postoperative bleeding traditionally have been avoided. With recent FDA guidelines encouraging a departure from codeine-based medications in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy, we examined the use of ibuprofen for post-tonsillectomy pain control. The records of 449 children who underwent tonsillectomy and received ibuprofen for postoperative pain control were reviewed and compared to a cohort of 1731 children who received codeine for pain postoperatively. Outcomes measured included rates of secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH), secondary PTH requiring operative control, and emergency room evaluation for dehydration. Use of ibuprofen after pediatric intracapsular tonsillectomy was found to be associated with a statistically significant increase in secondary PTH and secondary PTH requiring operative control; however, ibuprofen was found to provide pain control that is at least equivalent to narcotic. Rates of secondary PTH with postoperative ibuprofen use remain within the national average. We propose that, despite the increased risk of bleeding, the use of ibuprofen is appropriate for use postoperatively in pediatric tonsillectomy patients, given its ability to control pain and lack of respiratory depression effects

Potential Applications of Three-Dimensional Printing in the Hospital Network: An Exploratory Study

Potential Applications of Three-Dimensional Printing in the Hospital Network: An Exploratory Study Bruce Schmidt, Emily Iobst, Philip Horlacher, Michael Pasquale MD, Martin Martino MD Abstract This study sought to explore and evaluate the potential benefits of investing in an on-site three-dimensional (3D) printer for use by the Lehigh Valley Hospital Network (LVHN). Preliminary research was conducted to first determine where and how three-dimensional printing is being utilized in healthcare currently. Interviews were conducted with LVHN physicians and other personnel in an effort to identify cost-effective applications of this technology that could be implemented into the network in a practical manner. Using information gathered from interviews, a general survey was created and administered to 190 physicians in the Department of Surgery at LVHN to both evaluate the degree of interest in 3D printing technology within the network and identify which applications would be most valuable to the physicians. Three main areas of use were identified: 3D model production for preoperative visualization, 3D model production for surgical simulation training and education, and medical device prototyping. The results of the study indicate that the purchase of a 3D printer would be beneficial and utilized by health network personnel. Further education on the capabilities of a 3D printer to the health network personnel is encouraged in order to maximize the profitability of the printer. Keywords Three-dimensional printing, rapid prototyping, patient outcomes, 3D model, custom implants, surgical training Introduction Three-dimensional (3D) printing or rapid prototyping is a process of additive manufacturing that produces physical 3D objects from digital 3D models or other electronic data sources. The process involves the successive layering of many thin sheets of a material (“3D printing”). The object produced can be of virtually any shape or geometry, and composed of a variety of materials including plastics, metals, and resins (Kurenov, Ionita, Sammons, & Demmy, 2015). The size, quality, and degree of detail of the object are dependent upon the printer model, the type of material being used, and the software. Recent advancements in the capabilities of 3D printing technology have allowed for increased integration into the healthcare industry, specifically the surgical arena. Rapid prototyping techniques are being used in conjunction with common medical imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the production of anatomic models and customizable implant devices based on patient data (Kurenov, Ionita, Sammons, & Demmy, 2015). Three main steps are standard in transforming the raw imaging data into a solid 3D model: obtainment of CT or MRI image, generation of Computer-aided Design (CAD) drawing using CAD software, and the printing of the solid 3D model (Rengier et al., 2010). In terms of medical applications, physicians across many specialties at institutions around the world are utilizing rapid prototyping as a diagnostic tool for patient cases with complex anatomical anomalies (Tam, Latham, Brown, & Jakeways, 2014; Igami et al., 2014). In these cases, the use of prototype models can improve diagnostic quality, aid in preoperative planning, and provide intraoperative navigation (Kurenov, Ionita, Sammons, & Demmy, 2015; Yang et al., 2015; Azuma et al., 2014). The benefits associated with the utilization of patient-based models for preoperative planning have been proven in spine, maxillofacial, thoracic, cardiovascular, kidney, lung, and liver surgeries (Yang et al., 2015; Azuma et al., 2014; Kurenov, Ionita, Sammons, & Demmy, 2015; Tam, Latham, Brown, & Jakeways, 2014; Komai et al., 2014; Gildea, 2014; Igami et al., 2014). These models are also used as training tools for teaching and practicing surgical procedures outside the operating room (Stone et al., 2015; Kurenov, Ionita, Sammons, & Demmy, 2015). In addition to models, 3D printing is playing a role in medical prosthesis and custom implant design. Its application in hip, femoral, knee joint, and maxillofacial reconstructive surgeries is well documented (Rengier et al., 2010). In this study, the potential benefits of investing in an on-site 3D printer for use by the Lehigh Valley Hospital Network (LVHN) are explored and evaluated. As an institution that performed over 35,000 surgeries in the past year, LVHN is an ideal market for 3D printing technology. As rapid prototyping becomes increasingly standard in the healthcare industry, such technology is becoming less of a novelty and more of a necessity. In order for LVHN to continue to lead the region in patient care, it is imperative for the network to consider and investigate this technology. Methodology A multi-step procedure consisting of preliminary research, individual interviews, and electronic surveying was followed in order to identify applications of 3D printing being used in healthcare currently, determine which applications could be implemented into LVHN in a practical manner, and evaluate the potential benefits and costs associated with those applications. A prototype model based on patient data was printed using standard industry methods at LVPG Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The feasibility and costs of the printing process for the prototype were examined. MEDLINE was searched between January 1, 2010 and June 1, 2015 using the keyword “three-dimensional printing.” This keyword was combined using “AND” with the following terms: “surgery” and “hospital.” The term “rapid prototyping” was searched separately. Additionally, the institutional websites of the top ten hospitals in the U.S. (as ranked in U.S. News & World Report for 2015-2016) were searched in terms of applications of 3D printing. Only studies that have put 3D printing technology into clinical practice were considered. Individual unstructured interviews were conducted with eight LVHN employees. Those employees consisted of physicians, surgical education coordinators, and Information Services (IS) staff. Discussions were focused on cost-effective applications of 3D printing that could be implemented given the resources at LVHN. Notes from the interviews were used in the creation of an electronic survey. The survey was administered to 190 physicians in the Department of Surgery via email. It consisted of three questions: 1. Would a 3D printer be a valuable addition to LVHN? 2a. Do you have any ideas for how 3D printing would enhance your practice currently? 2b. If yes [to 2a], in which of the following areas? The options given for question 2b are listed in Figure 4. Responses were received via email and recorded on a data sheet. Graphical analysis of the survey responses was performed (Figures 2,3,4). No incentive was offered for completing the survey. A model of a patient’s skull with a severe facial fracture was produced by acquiring a CT scan of the patient and converting the 2D image into a digital 3D model using commercial CAD software. A custom implant was designed to correct the fracture using the software as well. The CAD model was generated as a stereolithography (STL) file. The STL file was then sent to a 3D printing vendor for fabrication of the physical model. Patient consent was obtained through HIPPA media release form. The costs associated with the process of vendor printing were noted and compared to the costs of using an on-site printer (Figure 5). Results Based on the preliminary research and individual interviews, three main applications of 3D printing were established: 3D model production for preoperative planning, 3D model production for surgical simulation training and education, and medical device prototyping. The results of the survey provided information about the degree of interest in the purchase of a 3D printer at LVHN as well as where and how network personnel would utilize the technology. 20 out of 190 physicians responded to the survey. Of the sample that participated, 76% of the respondents believe a 3D printer would be a valuable asset in the health network while 14% believe it would not be; 10% were uncertain as to whether or not a 3D printer would be beneficial (Figure 2). 72% of the respondents had ideas for how 3D printing technology would enhance their practice currently; 14% did not have any ideas while the remaining 14% were uncertain (Figure 3). For those that did have ideas, preoperative planning was the most popular application receiving 12 votes. Surgical training and device prototyping received 7 and 8 votes respectively (Figure 4). Respondents were allowed to vote for more than one application. The average cost for a standard 3D printer with the capabilities to produce clinically accurate prototypes using plastics and other resins is approximately $150,000. The average cost for CAD software and licensing is$1,500. These are both one-time costs. The average cost of materials is anywhere from $50 to$100 depending on the type of material. Vendor charges can be anywhere from $500 to$2,500 depending on the manufacturer and the desired prototype to be printed (Figure 5). These costs are general averages based on current market prices for the printing of a plastic skull. Discussion Based on the preliminary research, interviews, and electronic survey, the addition of a 3D printer at LVHN would be beneficial and utilized by hospital staff across several departments. Although survey participation was low (~11%), a decisive majority of physicians in that small sample view 3D printing technology as a potential asset in the areas of preoperative planning, surgical training and education, and medical device prototyping. It is important to note that a relatively significant portion of physicians were uncertain of the capabilities of a 3D printer. Educating hospital staff on the capabilities of this technology would allow for increased use and thus increased profitability. With the help of patient-specific models created using 3D printing technology, LVHN surgeons would be able to simulate complicated surgical steps for complex cases in advance thus allowing them to foresee intraoperative complications. This may result in reduced operating times, less blood loss and transfusion volumes, decreased amount of time the patient is under anesthesia, and shortened length of hospital stay. All of these factors contribute to a more cost-effective use of the operating room as well as improved patient outcomes. These models could also be beneficial in demonstrating and explaining surgical procedures to patients and their families (Kurenov, Ionita, Sammons, & Demmy, 2015; Rengier et al., 2010). Rapid prototyping models could be used as valuable educational tools for use in the Surgical Educational Center by surgical residents and SELECT medical students. These simulated models would allow for safe training of surgical procedures in a realistic manner without the risk of harm to a patient (Stone et al., 2015). Techniques using a multi-material 3D printer to create translucent organ models with realistic visual and tactile sense feedbacks have already been proven successful (Komai et al., 2014). In terms of medical prosthesis and implant design, a 3D printer would allow orthopedic and reconstructive surgeons at LVHN the ability to create custom implants for their patients. The need for customized implants is apparent in cases where patients are outside the standard range with respect to prosthesis size, or have condition-specific special requirements. Custom implants offer improved surgical outcomes and reduced operating time because of patient-specific fitting that matches individual anatomical needs (Rengier et al., 2010). Cost comparison between vendor printing and on-site printing emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of having an on-site printer in the health network versus outsourcing the prints. To produce a model of certain dimensions and materials using a commercial vendor costs substantially more than it would cost to print the same model on-site. This finding is consistent with another study that reported a vendor cost of two to three times the overall cost for printing model pulmonary arteries on-site (Kurenov, Ionita, Sammons, & Demmy, 2015). This study was successful in uncovering the potential benefits of an on-site 3D printer through preliminary research, provider interviews, and a standardized survey. Results showed that a 3D printer would be advantageous for preoperative planning, surgical simulation training and education, and medical device prototyping. In conclusion, investing in a 3D printer is supported as a potential cost-effective way for LVHN to remain on the cutting edge of medical technology as well as improve surgical training and patient outcomes. Acknowledgements Randolph Wojcik, Jr., MD Christian Caputo References Azuma, M., Yanagawa, T., Ishibashi-Kanno, N., Uchida, F., Ito, T., Yamagata, K., . . . Bukawa, H. (2014). Mandibular reconstruction using plates prebent fit rapid prototyping 3-dimensional printing models ameliorates contour deformity. Head & Face Medicine, 10(45), 1-8. doi: 10.1186/1746-160X-10-45 Gildea, T. (2014, Winter). 3D printing: Innovation allows customized airway stents. Respiratory Exchange.12-13 Komai, Y., Sugimoto, M., Kobayashi, T., Ito, M., Sakai, Y., & Saito, N. (2014). Patient-based 3D printed organ model provides tangible surgical navigation: A novel aid to clampless partial nephrectomy. The Journal of Urology, 191(4S), e488. Kurenov, S.N., Ionita, C., Sammons, D., & Demmy, T.L. (2015). Three-dimensional printing to facilitate anatomic study, device development, simulation, and planning in thoracic surgery. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 149(4), 973-979. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.12.059 Rankin, T.M., Mailey, B., Cucher, D., Giovinco, N.A., Armstrong, D.G., & Gosman, A. (2014). Use of 3D printing for auricular template molds in first stage microtia. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 134(4S-1), 16-17 Rengier, F., Mehndiratta, A., von, T.-K. H., Zechmann, C. M., Unterhinninghofen, R., Kauczor, H.-U., & Giesel, F. L. (2010). 3D printing based on imaging data: review of medical applications. International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery : a Journal for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Applications of Image Guided Diagnosis and Therapy, 5(4), 335-341. Stone, J., Candela, B., Alleluia, V., Fazili, A., Richards, M., Feng, C., . . . Ghazi, A. (2015). A novel technique for simulated surgical procedures using 3D printing technology [Abstract]. The Journal of Urology, 193(4S), e270. Tam, M., Latham, T., Brown, J.R.I., & Jakeways, M. (2014). Use of a 3D printed hollow aortic model to assist EVAR planning in a case with complex neck anatomy: Potential of 3D printing to improve patient outcome. Journal of Endovascular Therapy, 21, 760-762. doi: 10.1583/14-4810L.1 Igami, T., Nakamura, Y., Hirose, T., Ebata, T., Yokoyama, Y., Sugawara, G., . . . Nagino, M. (2014). Application of a three-dimensional print of a liver in hepatectomy for small tumors invisible by intraoperative ultrasonography: Preliminary experience. World Journal of Surgery, 38, 3163-3166. doi: 10.1007/s00268-014-2740-7 Yang, M., Li, C., Li, Y., Zhao, Y., Wei, X., Zhang, G., . . . Li, M. (2015). Application of 3D rapid prototyping technology in posterior corrective surgery for Lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Medicine, 94(8), 1-8. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000582 3D printing. (n.d.). In Oxford Dictionaries online. Retrieved from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/3D-printing Appendix Figure 4. Graphical representation of results for question 2b. Figure 5. Overview of 3D printing process including cost comparison between on-site printing and vendor printing for the production of a model skull. Figure 3. Graphical representation of results for question 2a. Figure 2. Graphical representation of results for question 1

Current and Future Salinity Intrusion in the South-Western Coastal Region of Bangladesh

The southwestern coastal regions of Bangladesh (SWCRB) are highly exposed to saltwater intrusions brought about through cyclones and storm surges. These salinity intrusions are contributing to soil and water salinity in the coastal areas. This study aimed to determine the impact of these salinity intrusions on the quality of water and soil in three vulnerable coastal areas. In this investigation, water and soil samples were collected and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and other trace elements. The analysis found many of the parameters to be higher than the recommended values. The study found that in soil samples there was a significant correlation between OM and ECe dS/m, as well as K and TN; and a highly significant correlation between TN and OM. This study further examined the historical salinity data at low and high tides to determine any patterns occurring alongside storm surges and cyclones. Water salinity statistics were obtained from the three locations of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), which neighbours the study area. A Digital Evaluation Model (DEM) predicts the salinity induced by storm gushes in the corresponding impacted zones. Lastly, the study compared projections for future storm surges at current and predicted sea levels. Potential storm gushes circumstances from 1 to 9 m can impact up to 33% of the nation and 97% of the Shyamnagar Upazila. The occurrence of cyclone-related storms will increase and make cultivation and settlement in the region difficult. The predicted sea-level rises and saltwater contamination will intensify the adverse effects of salinity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evolving Spatially Aggregated Features from Satellite Imagery for Regional Modeling

Satellite imagery and remote sensing provide explanatory variables at relatively high resolutions for modeling geospatial phenomena, yet regional summaries are often desirable for analysis and actionable insight. In this paper, we propose a novel method of inducing spatial aggregations as a component of the machine learning process, yielding regional model features whose construction is driven by model prediction performance rather than prior assumptions. Our results demonstrate that Genetic Programming is particularly well suited to this type of feature construction because it can automatically synthesize appropriate aggregations, as well as better incorporate them into predictive models compared to other regression methods we tested. In our experiments we consider a specific problem instance and real-world dataset relevant to predicting snow properties in high-mountain Asia

Process design for optimizing text-based communication between physicians and nurses

Background and Aim Communication between physicians and nurses is a cornerstone of high-quality inpatient care. HIPAA-compliant text-based methods offer an alternative to the pager for communication between nurses and physicians. While messaging is popular in the personal setting, text-based professional communication in hospitals may increase the number of messages without improving coordination between care providers. (1) In addition, urgent messages that are more appropriately calls could be missed by the physician, leading to a delay in action. Other institutions use triage systems to communicate a question or clinical change by the urgency of expected physician response, which have attempted to mitigate this issue. (2) We aimed to improve bidirectional communication between housestaff and nursing with a communication process developed jointly by both parties using QI methods such as stakeholder analysis and a structured Work-Out session to brainstorm solutions

The association between muscular power from childhood to adulthood and adult measures of glucose homeostasis

This study aimed to assess whether the longitudinal association between childhood muscular fitness and adult measures of glucose homeostasis persist despite changes in muscular fitness across the life course. This prospective longitudinal study included 586 participants who had their muscular power (standing long jump distance), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and waist circumference measured as children (aged 9, 12, 15 years) and again 20 years later as adults. In adulthood, these participants also provided a fasting blood sample which was tested for glucose and insulin. Glucose homeostasis measures including insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA2-β) were estimated. Child and adult muscular power levels were separated into thirds, and tracking groups (persistently low, decreasing, persistently moderate, increasing, and persistently high) were created. Sex-stratified multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between muscular power tracking groups and adult measures of glucose homeostasis. Compared with males with persistently high muscular power, males with increasing and persistently low muscular power had higher fasting insulin (increasing: β = 1.12 mU/L, P = .04; persistently low: β = 2.12 mU/L, P = .001) and HOMA2-β (increasing: β = 8.50%, P = .03; persistently low: β = 11.27%, P = .01) independent of CRF and males with persistently low muscular power had greater fasting insulin (β = 1.22 mU/L, P = .02) and HOMA2-IR (β = 0.14, P = .02) independent of waist circumference. Non-significant associations were present for females. For males, maintaining persistently high muscular power between childhood and adulthood could lead to a healthier adult glucose homeostasis profile