Rates of reoperation and nonoperative intervention within 30 days of bariatric surgery

BackgroundComplications arising from laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are not insignificant and can necessitate additional invasive interventions or reoperations.ObjectivesIn this study, we identify early complications that result in nonoperative and operative interventions after LSG and LRYGB, the timeframe within which to expect them, and factors that influence the likelihood of their occurrence.SettingMulti-institutional database from across North America.MethodsData for this study were obtained from Metabolic and Bariatric Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program participant use files for 2015 and 2016. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 15. Univariate analysis using Χ² for categoric data and independent t test for continuous data was performed to determine between group differences. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of operative and nonoperative reinterventions.ResultsIn 2015 and 2016, 243,747 underwent LRYGB or LSG, of which 3013 (1.24%) required a second operative procedure and 1536 (0.63%) required an invasive but nonoperative intervention. Complications occurred in 5.48% of LRYGB patients and 2.28% of LSG patients, the most common of which was bleeding. LSG was associated with far fewer nonoperative and operative interventions (.85% versus 2.2%, respectively) than LRYGB (.67% versus 2.5%). Renal insufficiency, including dialysis dependency, was an important predictor of reoperations among bariatric surgery patients. This was also true of nonoperative interventions; however, history of pulmonary embolism, and use of therapeutic anticoagulation were marginally stronger predictors.ConclusionsIn a representative, multinational sample, operative and nonoperative interventions were half as likely among LSG patients compared with LRYGB; however, overall rates still remained low. These findings, in conjunction with new efficacy data demonstrating comparable long-term weight loss between LRYGB and LSG, provide further support for the safety, effectiveness, and cost efficiency of LSG.     

Anisotropic Bladder Planning Target Volume in Bladder Radiation Therapy

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate 3 planning target volume (PTV) margin expansions and determine the most appropriate volume to be used in bladder preservation therapy when using daily cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). We aimed to establish whether a smaller PTV expansion is feasible without risking geographical miss.

Protection of White Leghorn chickens by recombinant fowlpox vector vaccine with an updated H5 insert against Mexican H5N2 avian influenza viruses

Despite decades of vaccination, surveillance, and biosecurity measures, H5N2 low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus infections continue in Mexico and neighboring countries. One explanation for tenacity of H5N2 LPAI in Mexico is the antigenic divergence of circulating field viruses compared to licensed vaccines due to antigenic drift. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that the H5N2 LPAI viruses circulating in Mexico and neighboring countries since 1994 have undergone antigenic drift away from vaccine seed strains. Here we evaluated the efficacy of a new recombinant fowlpox virus vector containing an updated H5 insert (rFPV-H5/2016), more relevant to the current strains circulating in Mexico. We tested the vaccine efficacy against a closely related subcluster 4 Mexican H5N2 LPAI (2010 H5/LP) virus and the historic H5N2 HPAI (1995 H5/HP) virus in White Leghorn chickens. The rFPV-H5/2016 vaccine provided hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) titers pre-challenge against viral antigens from both challenge viruses in almost 100% of the immunized birds, with no differences in number of birds seroconverting or HI titers among all tested doses (1.5, 2.0, and 3.1 log₁₀ mean tissue culture infectious doses/bird). The vaccine conferred 100% clinical protection and a significant decrease in oral and cloacal virus shedding from 1995 H5/HP virus challenged birds when compared to the sham controls at all tested doses. Virus shedding titers from vaccinated 2010 H5/LP virus challenged birds significantly decreased compared to sham birds especially at earlier time points. Our results confirm the efficacy of the new rFPV-H5/2016 against antigenic drift of LPAI virus in Mexico and suggest that this vaccine would be a good candidate, likely as a primer in a prime-boost vaccination program.     

Comparison of immunogenicity between candidate influenza A(H3N2) virus vaccine strains in Japan: A randomized controlled trial using a monovalent vaccine of A/Saitama/103/2014 (CEXP-002) and A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (X-263)

BackgroundFor the 2017–18 influenza season, A/Saitama/103/2014 (CEXP-002) (Saitama strain) was antigenically more similar to prior circulating strains than A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (X-263) (Hong Kong strain) in a ferret model and was selected as the A(H3N2) vaccine virus strain in Japan. However, the Saitama strain grew poorly, and the Japanese government switched to the Hong Kong strain, raising public concerns of poor effectiveness. To enhance understanding of the correlation between antigenicity in experimental models and immunogenicity, as a surrogate measure of vaccine effectiveness, in the human population, we compared the immunogenicity of specially-prepared single dose monovalent influenza A(H3N2) vaccines containing the Saitama or the Hong Kong strain.MethodsA randomized controlled trial of 100 healthy adults aged 20–64 years (n = 50/group) was conducted. Virus neutralization assay was performed on sera from days 0 (pre-vaccination) and 21 (post-vaccination). Geometric mean titer (GMT), mean fold rise (MFR), seroconversion proportion (SCP), and seroprotection proportion (SPP) were calculated for vaccine strains and a representative circulating A(H3N2) virus strain (A/Osaka/188/2017).ResultsFor the Hong Kong strain, post-vaccination GMT was significantly higher in the Hong Kong vaccine recipients (1:546 vs 1:260, p < 0.01), but MFR, SCP, and SPP were similar for both vaccine groups. For the Saitama strain, post-vaccination GMT (1:116 vs 1:61, p = 0.01) and SPP (86% vs 68%, p = 0.03) were significantly higher in the Hong Kong vaccine recipients, but MFR and SCP were similar for both vaccine groups. Against A/Osaka/188/2017, post-vaccination GMT and MFR were similar in both vaccine groups, but SCP (32% vs 4%, p < 0.01) and SPP (28% vs. 6%, p < 0.01) were significantly higher in the Hong Kong vaccine recipients.ConclusionThe Hong Kong vaccine induced better or equivalent immunogenicity in comparison to the Saitama vaccine. Our trial showed that antigenic similarity in experimental models does not necessarily correlate with immunogenicity in the human population.Clinical trial registration: UMIN000029293.     

三七片DNA条形码分子鉴定及方法学考察

目的为研究DNA条形码技术在中成药鉴定中的应用,以三七片为研究对象,对方法的适用性、专属性与精密度进行考察。方法收集15批次市售三七片样品,考察三七片DNA提取条件,并对"中药材DNA条形码分子鉴定法指导原则"中PCR扩增、序列获得、结果判定等方法适用性进行确认;收集三七、人参、西洋参,制作三七片及其掺伪品,考察方法的专属性和重现性。结果三七片取样量100 mg,56℃水浴8 h所获得DNA的质量浓度平均值为60.7 ng/μL,PCR扩增、序列获得和结果判定均可获成功;三七、人参和西洋参的ITS2序列长度均为230bp,三七与人参、三七与西洋参的序列间均存在7个稳定的SNP位点,自制三七片和掺伪三七片均可成功获得ITS2序列,不同比例三七与人参、三七与西洋参的测序峰图在SNP位点处呈现相应峰高比的SNP套峰具备专属性;重复性、中间精密度和重现性考察符合《中国药典》2015年版(通则9101)相关要求。结论 ITS2序列作为DNA条形码能够稳定、准确鉴定三七片的原料药材,具备良好的专属性和精密度,三七片DNA条形码分子鉴定法将为保障三七片临床用药安全提供新的技术手段,并对《中国药典》其他收载单方制剂的鉴定提供参考。     

海南地不容生物碱抑制肿瘤细胞增殖及构效关系解析

目的研究海南地不容(Stephania hainanensis H.S.Lo et Y.Tsoong)生物碱对人肝癌细胞Hep G-2、乳腺癌细胞MCF-7、胃癌细胞SGC-7901增殖的影响,筛选出有效的抗肿瘤化合物以及其敏感细胞株;分析其生物碱的构效关系。方法采用MTT法检测不同浓度的海南地不容生物碱对人肝癌细胞Hep G-2、乳腺癌细胞MCF-7、胃癌细胞SGC-7901增殖的抑制率;通过查阅国内外相关文献,分析海南地不容生物碱抗肿瘤活性的基本构效关系。结果MTT结果显示荷包牡丹碱、氧化克班宁、去甲荷包牡丹碱和克班宁对人肝癌Hep G-2、乳腺癌MCF-7和胃癌SGC-7901细胞的增值分别具有不同程度的剂量依赖性的抑制作用,各给药组分吸光度值与空白对照组比具有显著性差异(P<0.01),与阳性对照比较无明显统计学差异(P>0.05);海南地不容生物碱结构中的1,2-亚甲二氧基、N-亚甲基等取代基以及其化学结构的平面性对其抗肿瘤活性有重要影响。结论海南地不容中具有明显抗肿瘤作用的生物碱为荷包牡丹碱、氧化克班宁、去甲荷包牡丹碱和克班宁,其敏感细胞株均为乳腺癌细胞MCF-7;通过分析海南地不容生物碱的结构和抗肿瘤活性的关系,初步明确了其抗肿瘤活性可能与其结构易于抑制DNA拓扑异构酶和诱导细胞凋亡有关。     

Retinal disease in the C3 glomerulopathies and the risk of impaired vision

Background: Dense deposit disease and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome are often caused by Complement Factor H (CFH) mutations. This study describes the retinal abnormalities in dense deposit disease and, for the first time, atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome. It also reviews our understanding of drusen pathogenesis and their relevance for glomerular disease. Methods: Six individuals with dense deposit disease and one with atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome were studied from 2 to 40 years after presentation. Five had renal transplants. All four who had genetic testing had CFH mutations. Individuals underwent ophthalmological review and retinal photography, and in some cases, optical coherence tomography, and further tests of retinal function. Results: All subjects with dense deposit disease had impaired night vision and retinal drusen or whitish-yellow deposits. Retinal atrophy, pigmentation, and hemorrhage were common. In late disease, peripheral vision was restricted, central vision was distorted, and there were scotoma from sub-retinal choroidal neovascular membranes and atypical serous retinopathy. Drusen were present but less prominent in the young person with atypical uremic syndrome due to a heterozygous CFH mutation. Conclusions: Drusen are common in forms of C3 glomerulopathy caused by compound heterozygous or heterozygous CFH mutations. They are useful diagnostically but also impair vision. Drusen have an identical composition to glomerular deposits. They are also identical to the drusen of age-related macular degeneration, and may respond to the same treatments. Individuals with a C3 glomerulopathy should be assessed ophthalmologically at diagnosis, and monitored regularly for vision-threatening complications.     

Implementation of Newborn Screening for Hemoglobin H Disease in Mainland China

Hemoglobin H disease is the most severe non-fatal form of α-thalassemia syndrome characterized by pronounced microcytic hypochromic hemolytic anemia. It is predominantly seen in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Studies suggest that hemoglobin H disease is not as benign a disorder as previously thought. Newborn screening for hemoglobin H disease is especially appealing because the screening test is based on the detection of hemoglobin Bart’s (γ4) that is only possible within the newborn period. In this study, we reported on a 4-year period of newborn screening program at a mainland Chinese hospital, which detected 35 babies with hemoglobin H disease in a total of 26 152 newborns. The overall prevalence for hemoglobin H disease among all newborns in southern China is ~1 in 1,000. These children need appropriate follow-up and potential comprehensive care during their growth and development.     

Recombinant Newcastle disease virus expressing H9 HA protects chickens against heterologous avian influenza H9N2 virus challenge

In order to produce an efficient poultry H9 avian influenza vaccine that provides cross-protection against multiple H9 lineages, two Newcastle disease virus (NDV) LaSota vaccine strain recombinant viruses were generated using reverse genetics. The recombinant NDV-H9Con virus expresses a consensus-H9 hemagglutinin (HA) that is designed based on available H9N2 sequences from Chinese and Middle Eastern isolates. The recombinant NDV-H9Chi virus expresses a chimeric-H9 HA in which the H9 ectodomain of A/Guinea Fowl/Hong Kong/WF10/99 was fused with the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domain of the fusion protein (F) of NDV. Both recombinant viruses expressed the inserted HA stably and grew to high titers. An efficacy study in chickens showed that both recombinant viruses were able to provide protection against challenge with a heterologous H9N2 virus. In contrast to the NDV-H9Chi virus, the NDV-H9Con virus induced a higher hemagglutination inhibition titer against both NDV and H9 viruses in immunized birds, and efficiently inhibited virus shedding through the respiratory route. Moreover, sera collected from birds immunized with either NDV-H9Con or NDV-H9Chi were able to cross-neutralize two different lineages of H9N2 viruses, indicating that NDV-H9Con and NDV-H9Chi are promising vaccine candidates that could provide cross-protection among different H9N2 lineage viruses.