Background: There are multiple treatments and approaches available to manage pain. However, when these interventions fail to achieve adequate relief, pain management may involve the implantation of intrathecal infusion pumps. The use of ultrasound guidance may enhance nursing practice by improving procedural efficiency and patient comfort. This technique offers a more precise, safer, and less painful approach, potentially increasing patient satisfaction and reducing procedural complications. Aim: To evaluate patient pain levels during intrathecal infusion pump refills under ultrasound guidance compared to the traditional approach, also aiming to determine the time taken per technique and to assess related intra-procedural complications. Design: A prospective quasi-experimental pre-post study. Methods: The study population included individuals with intrathecal infusion pumps. Each participant underwent two refill visits: one using the traditional method and the subsequent refill using ultrasound guidance. The time required to complete the procedure, any complications, and pain related to the procedure were measured for both techniques. Time was measured using a stopwatch, and pain was assessed at the end of each procedure using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: A total of 45 patients (25 men and 20 women), with a median age of 56.0 years were included. The estimated mean refill duration was 13.67 min for the traditional method versus 7.26 min for ultrasound-guided refills, representing a 53.2% reduction. The adjusted mean VAS was 2.76 (2.27–3.24) with ultrasound versus 5.91 (5.20–6.62) with the traditional method, yielding an adjusted mean difference of −3.16 (−4.02 to −2.30; p < 0.001). Reductions were consistent across subgroups defined by sex, refill duration, inter-procedural interval, intrathecal medication, and medical history. Complications occurred in 20.0% of traditional refills but in none of the ultrasound-guided procedures. Conclusions: Ultrasound guidance significantly reduces pain, complications, and procedure time, positioning it as the new standard of care for intrathecal pump refills. This mandates its immediate integration into nursing protocols and health management policies.
Background: Eating disorders (EDs) adversely affect health and athletic performance, yet their prevalence in adolescent female team athletes is understudied. Objectives: This exploratory pilot study assessed ED presence and associated factors in female basketball players aged 10–18 years from a high-level club in Granada, Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study examined 36 participants (mean age 13.3 ± 2.2 years) who completed the Spanish Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q). Body composition (Tanita TBF-300), sociodemographic characteristics, and sport-related factors were recorded. Associations between these covariates and S-EDE-Q global scores (GS) were examined via linear regression. Results: A higher Global Score (GS), indicating increased ED risk, correlated significantly with several factors: Lower paternal education (primary vs. university: p < 0.005) and lower socioeconomic level. Older age (AME = 0.30; p < 0.005) and greater muscle mass (p < 0.001). National competition level (p < 0.001), being a player in the pivot position (mean GS = 1.62), and presence of sport-related medical history (mean GS = 1.07). No associations were found with sport experience or weekly training hours. Conclusions: Although the overall risk of EDs is low, the association with specific factors (sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sports-related) allows vulnerable players to be identified. Longitudinal and larger-scale research is needed to confirm these initial findings and design targeted and early prevention strategies.
5 February 2026 in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology
INPLASY202580075 Prognostic value of left atrial function in cardiac amyloidosis: protocol for a systematic review and meta‑analysis Keywords: Atrial Function, Left; Heart Atria; Amyloidosis. Read …
Background: Cystic fibrosis-related bone disease (CFBD) is a comorbidity whose prevalence is increasing. Conventional areal DXA (aDXA) only assesses part of bone strength, whereas new techniques provide a more comprehensive assessment of bone structure. However, these tools are rarely implemented systematically. Furthermore, the contribution of clinical factors to bone structural parameters remains insufficiently characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively assess cortical and trabecular bone alterations in adults with CF, and to explore clinical and lifestyle factors associated with bone health. Methods: A case–control study was conducted including 32 adults with CF and 70 healthy controls matched by age, sex, and BMI. Bone status was assessed using aDXA, trabecular bone score (TBS), and three-dimensional DXA (3D-DXA). Clinical data, body composition, lifestyle variables, and biochemical markers were collected. Multivariate linear regression models were applied to explore factors associated with bone parameters. Results: Twenty-two percent of CF people had prevalent fragility fractures and the percentage with low bone mass was significantly higher (28.1% vs. 5.7%; p < 0.001). TBS categories indicated more degraded microarchitecture in CF (p = 0.002). Cortical and trabecular 3D-DXA values were also significantly lower (p < 0.001). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was significantly associated with most of the bone parameters evaluated. Other variables associated with bone parameters included sex, fat-free and fat mass, prolonged corticosteroid use, intake of oral nutritional supplements, FEV1, disease duration and P1NP-values. Conclusions: Adults with CF revealed significant cortical and trabecular structural deficits. Among the evaluated factors, adherence to MedDiet was associated with several bone parameters, suggesting a potential role of dietary patterns in CF bone health. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.