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Beginning in May 2022, Mpox virus spread rapidly in high-income countries through close human-to-human contact primarily amongst communities of gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Behavioural change arising from increased knowledge and health warnings may have reduced the rate of transmission and modified Vaccinia-based vaccination is likely to be an effective longer-term intervention. We investigate the UK epidemic presenting 26-week projections using a stochastic discrete-population transmission model which includes GBMSM status, rate of formation of new sexual partnerships, and clique partitioning of the population. The Mpox cases peaked in mid-July; our analysis is that the decline was due to decreased transmission rate per infected individual and infection-induced immunity among GBMSM, especially those with the highest rate of new partners. Vaccination did not cause Mpox incidence to turn over, however, we predict that a rebound in cases due to behaviour reversion was prevented by high-risk group-targeted vaccination., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: We aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of Hounsfield Units (HUs) in selected brain region using computed tomography for the clinical diagnosis of brain death (BD)., Methods: A retrospective, case-control study design. A total of 66 subjects (22 cases, 44 controls) underwent brain tomography between January 2011 and December 2016. Inclusion criteria for cases considered patients with a CT performed within the 24 first hours of a clinical diagnosis of brain death. Exclusion criteria applied to patients with no CT scan performed before BD diagnosis. Brain-healthy-control subjects were identified from the hospital's CT scan database. We selected 12 regions for each cerebral hemisphere (4 basal ganglia; 2 regions gray matter (GM) regions; 4 white matter (WM) regions; 2 brain stem regions); two GM and WM regions in each cerebellar hemisphere, and 4 GM/WM ratios. Measurements included analysis of variance, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and of pooled effect sizes., Results: 72 measures per subject were recorded. Without contrast material, the best performance was the GM/WM ratio at the basal ganglia level (AUROC = 0.893, 95% C.I. = 0.83, 0.96; p-value <.001). After contrast enhancement, the greatest AUROC value corresponded to the thalamus (AUROC = .959, 95% C.I. = .93, .99; p-value < .001)., Conclusions: There is not an absolute threshold of GM-WM differentiation below which all patients are diagnosed with BD, but a group of HUs in selected brain regions, some of them with very high sensitivity and specificity to be used as early predictors of BD., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) patients are increasingly older, and common risk scores include chronological age, but do not consider chronic comorbidity or biological age. Frailty status reflects these variables and may be independently correlated with prognosis in this setting., Objective: This study investigated the impact of frailty on the prognosis of elderly patients admitted due to MI., Methods: This prospective and observational study included patients ≥75 years admitted to three tertiary hospitals in Spain due to MI. Frailty assessment was performed at admission using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe Frailty Index (SHARE-FI) tool. The primary endpoint was the composite of death or non-fatal reinfarction during a follow-up of 1 year. Overall mortality, reinfarction, the composite of death, reinfarction and stroke, major bleeding, and readmission rates were also explored., Results: A total of 285 patients were enrolled. Frail patients (109, 38.2%) were older, with a higher score in the Charlson Comorbidity Index and with a higher risk score addressed in the GRACE and CRUSADE indexes. On multivariate analysis including GRACE, CRUSADE, maximum creatinine level, culprit lesion revascularization, complete revascularization, and dual antiplatelet therapy at discharge, frailty was an independent predictor of the composite of death and reinfarction (2.81, 95% CI 1.16-6.78) and overall mortality (3.07, 95% CI 1.35-6.98)., Conclusion: Frailty is an independent prognostic marker of the composite of mortality and reinfarction and of overall mortality in patients aged ≥75 years admitted due to MI., (© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are increasingly older. Conventional prognostic scales include chronological age but do not consider vulnerability. In elderly patients, a frail phenotype represents a better reflection of biological age., Hypothesis: This study aims to determine the prevalence of frailty and its influence on patients age ≥75 years with ACS., Methods: Patients age ≥75 years admitted due to type 1 myocardial infarction were included in 2 tertiary hospitals, and clinical data were collected prospectively. Frailty was defined at admission using the previously validated Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe Frailty Index (SHARE-FI) tool. The primary endpoint was the combination of death or nonfatal myocardial reinfarction during a follow-up of 6 months. Major bleeding (hemoglobin decrease ≥3 g/dL or transfusion needed) and readmission rates were also explored., Results: A total of 234 consecutive patients were included. Frail patients (40.2%) had a higher-risk profile, based on higher age and comorbidities. On multivariate analysis, frailty was an independent predictor of the combination of death or nonfatal myocardial reinfarction (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-5.79), an independent predictor of the combination of death, nonfatal myocardial reinfarction, or major bleeding (aHR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.13-4.04), and an independent predictor of readmission (aHR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.00-3.22)., Conclusions: Frailty phenotype at admission is common among elderly patients with ACS and is an independent predictor for severe adverse events. It should be considered in future risk-stratification models., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the gold standard for mitral valve (MV) anatomic and functional evaluation. Currently, dedicated MV analysis software has limitations for its use in clinical practice. Thus, we tested here a complete and reproducible evaluation of a new fully automatic software to characterize MV anatomy in different forms of mitral regurgitation (MR) by 3D TEE.Sixty patients were included: 45 with more than moderate MR (28 organic MR [OMR] and 17 functional MR [FMR]) and 15 controls. All patients underwent TEE. 3D MV images obtained using 3D zoom were imported into the new software for automatic analysis. Different MV parameters were obtained and compared. Anatomic and dynamic differences between FMR and OMR were detected. A significant increase in systolic (859.75 vs 801.83 vs 607.78 mm; P = 0.002) and diastolic (1040.60 vs. 1217.83 and 859.74 mm; P < 0.001) annular sizes was observed in both OMR and FMR compared to that in controls. FMR had a reduced mitral annular contraction compared to degenerative cases of OMR and to controls (17.14% vs 32.78% and 29.89%; P = 0.007). Good reproducibility was demonstrated along with a short analysis time (mean 4.30 minutes).Annular characteristics and dynamics are abnormal in both FMR and OMR. Full 3D software analysis automatically calculates several significant parameters that provide a correct and complete assessment of anatomy and dynamic mitral annulus geometry and displacement in the 3D space. This analysis allows a better characterization of MR pathophysiology and could be useful in designing new devices for MR repair or replacement., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Background: Risk prediction is a critical step in patient selection for aortic valve replacement (AVR), yet existing risk scores incorporate very few echocardiographic parameters. We sought to evaluate the incremental predictive value of a complete echocardiogram to identify high-risk surgical candidates before AVR., Methods and Results: A cohort of patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing surgical AVR with or without coronary bypass was assembled at 2 tertiary centers. Preoperative echocardiograms were reviewed by independent observers to quantify chamber size/function and valve function. Patient databases were queried to extract clinical data. The cohort consisted of 432 patients with a mean age of 73.5 years and 38.7% females. Multivariable logistic regression revealed 3 echocardiographic predictors of in-hospital mortality or major morbidity: E/e' ratio reflective of elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure; myocardial performance index reflective of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction; and small LV end-diastolic cavity size. Addition of these echocardiographic parameters to the STS risk score led to an integrated discrimination improvement of 4.1% (P<0.0001). After a median follow-up of 2 years, Cox regression revealed 5 echocardiographic predictors of all-cause mortality: small LV end-diastolic cavity size; LV mass index; mitral regurgitation grade; right atrial area index; and mean aortic gradient <40 mm Hg., Conclusions: Echocardiographic measures of LV diastolic dysfunction and RV performance add incremental value to the STS risk score and should be integrated in prediction when evaluating the risk of AVR. In addition, findings of small hypertrophied LV cavities and/or low mean aortic gradients confer a higher risk of 2-year mortality., (© 2015 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.)

Purpose: To determine the biomechanical strength properties of suture capsulolabral plication to an intact labrum versus glenoid bone anchor fixation., Methods: Fourteen paired fresh frozen shoulders with intact glenoid labrum and mean age of 43.3 +/- 11.1 were randomized to capsular plication in the anteroinferior and posteroinferior quadrants using either two suture-anchor fixation versus suture fixation to an intact labrum. The construct was then preconditioned at 10 N for 10 cycles (1 Hz), and then loaded to failure at 3 mm per minute., Results: There was no statistical difference in ultimate load to failure between the suture anchor (304.3 +/- 92.8 N) and the intact labrum (285.6 +/- 66.7 N) groups. The suture anchor group demonstrated significantly less mean displacement (2.15 +/- 1.1 mm) than suture plication (3.43 +/- 1.38 mm; P = .007) at failure. There were no statistical differences of labrum strength and stiffness between the anteroinferior and posteroinferior quadrants., Conclusions: An intact labrum provides similar fixation strength to a glenoid anchor; however, the labrum displacement was higher with plication alone. There were no strength differences between the anteroinferior and posteroinferior labrum. However, displacement of up to 1.5 mm may be expected without the use of glenoid anchors., Clinical Relevance: The intact posteroinferior or anteroinferior labrum provides similar fixation strength to a glenoid anchor; however, the labrum displacement is higher versus plication alone.

Background: There are few biomechanical studies regarding partial-thickness rotator cuff tears and subsequent repair., Hypothesis: Partial-thickness intra-articular supraspinatus tendon tears increase articular-sided tendon strain as they increase in size. Repair of these tears will return strain to the intact state., Study Design: Controlled laboratory study., Methods: Twenty fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders were prepared by dissecting to the supraspinatus tendon and leaving the native footprint intact. The tendon footprint was measured with digital calipers and divided into thirds (anterior, middle, and posterior). The middle third was the area where a consistent partial tear was created based on the thickness of the specimens' particular footprint. Created were 25%, 50%, and 75% tears. Image analysis software and differential variable reluctance transducers strain gauges were used to measure strain. A 100 N load at 1 Hz for 30 cycles was conducted for glenohumeral angles of 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees. This was completed for the intact tendon, 25%, 50%, and 75% tears. Shoulders were then repaired using the in situ fixation method. The in situ method consisted of either a parachute anchor or metal corkscrew anchor. Eight shoulders were examined for load-to-failure testing with the Materials Testing System., Results: There was a significant difference (P < .05) in rotator cuff strain between the intact rotator cuff tendon and 50% and 75% partial-thickness tears. The cuff strain was returned to the intact state with repair. This was consistent for 3 different glenohumeral abduction angles and for all 3 intra-articular tendon areas. The bursal strain did not have any significant differences between groups., Conclusion: Articular-sided tendon strain increases consistently across the supraspinatus tendon with greater partial tears. Repair returned strain close to the intact state., Clinical Relevance: This study may add credence to the clinical practice of repairing intra-articular partial-thickness rotator cuff tears greater than 50%.