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Background: Substance abuse represents a foremost national concern for adolescents and adults; investigators have implemented a variety of interventions, delivered with both in-person and mobile-based apps' modalities. The electronic techniques could be more effective because they avoid the cost, privacy, and accessibility issues associated with in-person intervention. To address this issue, a systematic review of the scientific evidence relative to the efficacy of app-based interventions delivered by mobile devices (smartphones) to reduce substance abuse in adolescents and adults was carried out., Methods: To identify relevant studies published from 2005 to 2019, a comprehensive search was conducted. Databases that were searched include CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science. Keywords and relevant controlled vocabulary terms related to substance abuse and technology were included. Studies were included if they had examined reductions in substance abuse and problem behaviors as a primary outcome with app-based interventions delivered to adolescents and adults., Results: The initial search yielded 21,641 articles, duplicates were removed, and 14,797 citations remained; title/abstract screening yielded 190 full-text articles. One hundred seventy-three were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria, leaving 17 final articles to be analyzed in this review. Use of app-based interventions showed some evidence of effectiveness in reducing substance abuse in the adolescent adult population., Conclusion: Most intervention studies analyzed focused on alcohol reduction. Further research is needed on diverse substance abuse utilizing larger sample sizes, longitudinal studies, and theoretical foundations on the practice of delivering interventions using mobile-based apps., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article., (Copyright © 2021 International Nurses Society on Addictions.)

: High patient satisfaction is a desirable goal in medical care. Patient satisfaction measures are increasingly used to evaluate and improve quality in all types of medical practices. However, the unique aspects of occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) practice require development of OEM-specific measures and thoughtful interpretation of results. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has developed and recommends a set of specific questions to measure patient satisfaction in OEM, designed to meet anticipated regulatory requirements, facilitate quality improvement of participating OEM practices, facilitate case-management review, and offer fair and accurate assessment of OEM physicians.

Objectives: Locking plates are the predominant implants used for proximal humerus fractures. Despite a preponderance of good clinical outcomes, failures continue to occur. The purpose of this study was to investigate the failure mechanism of locked proximal humeral plate fixation and its relationship with bone density and screw length., Methods: Human cadaveric humeri were subjected to cyclic bending loads after an unstable 2-part fracture (Orthopedic Trauma Association classification 11 A-3) was created and stabilized with a locking proximal humeral plate. Acoustic emission (AE) sensors were mounted on the specimens to detect fracture displacement and generation of microcracks. The data were analyzed to evaluate construct failure., Results: Eight of 10 locking plate constructs in cadaver specimens failed in varus collapse. The primary influences on failure were cancellous bone density and cancellous bone screw length. AE monitoring demonstrated patterns of microcrack progression, predominantly along the inferior screws. The progression trends according to AE were similar to their respective actuator displacement versus time curves., Conclusions: Cancellous bone density and total cancellous screw depth penetration seem to be critical variables. Although the patients' bone density cannot be controlled, surgeons may decrease the risk of failure by maximizing the length of the screws within the cancellous bone. Analysis of microcrack formation revealed that failures begin at the midportion and tips of the inferior screws and at the bone-plate interface of the inferior screws.

The purpose of this study was to determine the test characteristics of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of septic arthritis in children and to compare with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The authors reviewed patients with synovial fluid aspiration sent for culture and Gram stain for whom a CRP was drawn within 24 hours of presentation. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were performed. Results for CRP were compared with ESR. Thirty-nine of 133 patients had septic arthritis. Sensitivity of CRP ranged from 41% to 90%, specificity from 29% to 85%. Positive predictive values ranged from 34% to 53%, negative predictive values from 78% to 87%. In comparison to ESR, CRP is a better independent predictor of disease. CRP is a better negative predictor than a positive predictor of disease. Indeed, if the CRP is <1.0 mg/dL, the probability that the patient does not have septic arthritis is 87%.

The management of acute, displaced odontoid fractures requires the restoration of sagittal alignment and rigid external or internal immobilization to prevent late instability and achieve union. This report introduces a new traction technique for the reduction of posteriorly displaced type 2 odontoid fractures. Seven patients with traumatic injuries to the dens were placed in bivector traction for an awake closed reduction. Sagittal alignment was restored and maintained in all patients with no neurologic deterioration or traction-related complications during an average of 11 days (range, 2-28 days) in traction. The overall sagittal alignment corrected from an initial average of 12.2 mm (range, 5-22 mm) of posterior displacement to an average of 1.1 mm (range, 0-3 mm) at the completion of reduction. Only one patient had residual angulation, which measured 5 degrees. Three patients achieved an osseous union and the remaining four required a posterior C1-C2 fusion for nonunion. Although operative stabilization may be the preferred approach in this patient population and injury pattern, we conclude that bivector traction is a safe and effective technique for the initial management of posteriorly displaced odontoid fractures. In addition, its role can be expanded to the closed reduction of lower cervical spine fractures in patients with fixed flexion deformities secondary to ankylosing spondylitis or disseminated intraosseous segmental hyperostosis.

Cubitus varus may occur after supracondylar humerus fractures. Poor fixation, however, complicates operative treatment of cubitus varus. We discuss the use of external fixation in the treatment of cubitus varus. Five patients had humeral osteotomies with external fixation. The preoperative humeroulnar angle (HUA) averaged -24.2 degrees. The immediate postoperative HUA averaged 12 degrees, and the final angle averaged 13 degrees. Duration of external fixation averaged 8.9 weeks. Complications were one transient radial neurapraxia, one superficial pin infection, and one keloid. No loss of correction or motion occurred with external fixation; we recommend external fixation as safe and effective.

Background: Because the myocardium is perfused primarily during diastole, changes in diastolic properties of the left ventricle (LV) should influence the intramyocardial circulation., Methods and Results: We examined the influence of LV diastolic properties on the magnitude and localization of intramyocardial coronary capacitance by analyzing the coronary pressure-venous flow relation in isolated, isovolumic dog heart preparations. After sudden occlusion of the left coronary artery during a long diastole, we measured precapacitance and postcapacitance resistances (RPRE and RPOST) and calculated intramyocardial coronary capacitance (CIM) from RPOST and the time constant of the coronary venous flow decay. Using this method, we characterized the effects of coronary vasodilation, LV diastolic volume, and LV diastolic chamber stiffness on the coronary circulation. The magnitude of CIM increased from 0.09 +/- 0.01 to 0.24 +/- 0.20 mL.mm Hg-1 x 100 g-1 (P < .01) after adenosine-induced vasodilation, whereas both RPOST and RPRE decreased significantly. The ratio of RPOST to RPRE+RPOST decreased from 0.35 +/- 0.02 to 0.23 +/- 0.02 (P < .01), suggesting redistribution of CIM to the distal portion of the coronary vascular tree. An increase in LV volume and wall stress was imposed to increase LV diastolic pressure from 2 +/- 0.1 to 25 +/- 1 mm Hg: this increased RPOST significantly but not RPRE and decreased the magnitude of CIM. The resistance ratio did not change significantly. Increased LV diastolic chamber stiffness induced by hypoxic perfusion (isovolumic LV diastolic pressure increased from 11 +/- 1 to 28 +/- 1 mm Hg) raised RPOST and decreased the magnitude of CIM from 0.32 +/- 0.12 to 0.17 +/- 0.04 mL.mm Hg-1 x 100 g-1 (P < .05). The resistance ratio increased significantly from 0.21 +/- 0.05 to 0.33 +/- 0.05 with increased LV diastolic chamber stiffness. Adjustment of LV diastolic volume to lower diastolic pressure to 10 +/- 1 mm Hg did not alter these changes significantly, suggesting that an intrinsic increase in myocardial stiffness played a major role in these changes., Conclusions: Extravascular compression by raised LV diastolic volume and/or increased LV diastolic chamber stiffness acted mainly on coronary vessels that determine intramyocardial capacitance and postcapacitance resistance.

Seventeen patients were identified with concomitant thoracolumbar and sacral fractures representing 26% of sacral fractures and 7.7% of pelvic fractures. The thirteen men and four women exhibited a bimodal age distribution. There were thirteen vertical compression thoracolumbar fractures, three transverse process fractures, and one traumatic herniated nucleus pulposus. There were seven Zone I, seven Zone II, and three Zone III sacral fractures using the Denis classification. Five of the sacral fractures were missed on initial presentation. Four of the patients had neurogenic bowel or bladder symptoms. Seven of the thoracolumbar fractures and three of the sacral fractures were treated operatively. Results were generally good or excellent unless significant neurologic injury was present at initial presentation. The authors recommend aggressive computed tomographic evaluation of the sacrum in any suspicious pelvic trauma or when the neurologic lesion does not match the more proximal bony lesion. They hypothesize that decompression of both sacral and thoracolumbar lesions may be necessary if either lesion could be responsible for neurogenic bowel or bladder symptoms.

Fifty-nine patients were identified with 70 gastrointestinal tract complications from a review of 950 spinal cord injury patients admitted during a 10-year period (prevalence 6.2%). When compared to a random spinal-cord-injured noncomplication control group (N = 31 patients), there was no difference in the percentage of low-dose steroids (dexamethasone 40 mg/day) given or in the percentage of patients receiving ulcer prophylaxis. All but two patients in the complication group received ulcer prophylaxis. Although an increase in the percentage of cervical and complete lesions was seen in the bleeding complications group, this increase was not statistically significant. The low complication rate (6.2%) seen in this study probably reflects the global use of ulcer prophylaxis and heightened awareness at a regional spinal cord injury center.

Coronary arterial pressure and flow are known to influence left ventricular (LV) diastolic distensibility, but the influence of coronary venous pressure is unknown. To test the hypothesis that increased coronary venous pressure leads to an increase in LV wall volume and a decrease in LV diastolic distensibility, we studied excised, blood-perfused LV isovolumic dog hearts without the pericardium. In protocol I (n = 8), to raise coronary venous pressure the pressure of right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV) was increased by the height of a blood reservoir connected with a cannula that opened in both the RA and RV. In protocol II (n = 7), to isolate the effect of RV enlargement on LV diastolic distensibility (direct ventricular interaction), an isovolumic RV balloon was used with coronary venous pressure held constant at 0 mm Hg. Changes in LV diastolic distensibility were assessed by shifts of the LV end-diastolic pressure-volume relation. Changes in LV wall volume were detected by subepicardial segment length at end-diastole. The mean pressures of RA and RV (protocol I) and RV balloon only (protocol II) were increased from 0 to 15 and 30 mm Hg over a range of LV volume. In protocol I, when RA.RV pressure was increased from 0 to 30 mm Hg at three levels of LV volume (22 +/- 2, 31 +/- 3, and 40 +/- 3 ml), LV end-diastolic pressures increased significantly from 5.2 +/- 0.3 to 11.2 +/- 1.5, from 10.4 +/- 0.3 to 18.2 +/- 1.2, and from 20.2 +/- 1.0 to 28.8 +/- 1.2 mm Hg, respectively. In protocol II, when RV balloon pressure was increased from 0 to 30 mm Hg at the three LV volumes (21 +/- 3, 31 +/- 3, and 41 +/- 4 ml), LV end-diastolic pressures showed smaller increases from 5.2 +/- 0.2 to 6.6 +/- 0.2, from 9.8 +/- 0.3 to 11.6 +/- 0.6, and from 19.0 +/- 0.5 to 21.4 +/- 0.8 mm Hg, respectively. In both protocols, the LV end-diastolic pressure-volume relation shifted upward in a nearly parallel fashion, but the shift was much greater in protocol I than in protocol II. Despite constant LV volume, an increase in LV wall dimension in protocol I was significant and much greater than that in protocol II. From these results, we conclude that increased coronary venous pressure decreases LV diastolic distensibility with increasing LV wall volume, and this mechanism appears to act independently of diastolic ventricular interaction caused by RV enlargement.

Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty has been proposed as a nonsurgical technique for treating high-risk patients with mitral stenosis who are deferred from mitral valve replacement. The effect of this technique on patients with pulmonary hypertension, however, has not been fully evaluated. Accordingly, serial assessment of pulmonary vascular resistance was made in 14 patients with critical mitral stenosis and pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular resistance greater than 250 dynes.sec/cm5 or mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 40 mm Hg or both) who underwent percutaneous balloon dilatation of the mitral valve. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed with either one (n = 10) or two (n = 4) balloons through the transseptal approach, and it resulted in significant improvement in mean mitral gradient (from 18 +/- 4 to 9 +/- 4 mm Hg, p less than 0.001), systemic blood flow (from 3.7 +/- 1.2 to 5.0 +/- 2.2 l/min, p less than 0.001), and calculated mitral valve area (from 0.7 +/- 0.2 to 1.6 +/- 0.7 cm2, p less than 0.001). Immediately after balloon mitral valvuloplasty, pulmonary vascular resistance fell from 630 +/- 570 to 447 +/- 324 dynes.sec/cm5. Repeat catheterization 7 +/- 4 months after valvuloplasty showed further improvement of pulmonary hypertension in 12 of the 14 patients, with a mean pulmonary vascular resistance for the group as a whole of 280 +/- 183 dynes.sec/cm5, p less than 0.005. In two patients, mitral valve restenosis to a mitral valve area less than 1.0 cm2 was associated with a return of pulmonary hypertension to predilatation values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)