Lymphoplasmacytic plaque in children: Case report and literature review

We report a case of benign lymphoplasmacytic plaque (LPP) in a child. These asymptomatic erythematous papulonodular lesions are an emerging clinicopathological entity. Herein, we describe a previously unreported site for LPP lesions, namely, the volar wrist and the distal ipsilateral palm.     

Development of an IgG-Fc fusion COVID-19 subunit vaccine,AKS-452

AKS-452 is a biologically-engineered vaccine comprising an Fc fusion protein of the SARS-CoV-2 viral spike protein receptor binding domain antigen (Ag) and human IgG1 Fc (SP/RBD-Fc) in clinical development for the induction and augmentation of neutralizing IgG titers against SARS-CoV-2 viral infection to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fc moiety is designed to enhance immunogenicity by increasing uptake via Fc-receptors (FcγR) on Ag-presenting cells (APCs) and prolonging exposure due to neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) recycling. AKS-452 induced approximately 20-fold greater neutralizing IgG titers in mice relative to those induced by SP/RBD without the Fc moiety and induced comparable long-term neutralizing titers with a single dose vs. two doses. To further enhance immunogenicity, AKS-452 was evaluated in formulations containing a panel of adjuvants in which the water-in-oil adjuvant, Montanide™ ISA 720, enhanced neutralizing IgG titers by approximately 7-fold after one and two doses in mice, including the neutralization of live SARS-CoV-2 virus infection of VERO-E6 cells. Furthermore, ISA 720-adjuvanted AKS-452 was immunogenic in rabbits and non-human primates (NHPs) and protected from infection and clinical symptoms with live SARS-CoV-2 virus in NHPs (USA-WA1/2020 viral strain) and the K18 human ACE2-trangenic (K18-huACE2-Tg) mouse (South African B.1.351 viral variant). These preclinical studies support the initiation of Phase I clinical studies with adjuvanted AKS-452 with the expectation that this room-temperature stable, Fc-fusion subunit vaccine can be rapidly and inexpensively manufactured to provide billions of doses per year especially in regions where the cold-chain is difficult to maintain.     

Reoperation rates and risk factors for revision 4 years after dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine

Background Context

The concept of dynamic stabilization (DS) of the lumbar spine for treatment of degenerative instability has been introduced almost two decades ago. Dynamic stabilization follows the principle of controlling movement in the coronal plane by providing load transfer of the spinal segment without fusion and, at the same time, reducing side effects such as adjacent segment disease (ASD). So far, only little is known about revision rates after DS due to ASD and screw loosening (SL).

Boosting treatment stabilization in patients of amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder

BackgroundTo investigate boosting effects on treatment stabilization in the mandatory treatment modality for patients of amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder.MethodsThis is a retrospective follow-up study over a period from January 2013 to December 2018. We analyzed 425 patients of amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder under mandating treatments. Treatment stabilization for a given patient was defined once 4 negative urinalysis had been observed. We developed a dynamic monitoring model of boosting effects informed by the available data, specifically the number of negative urine samples required to reach stabilization, the sum of urinalyses done at the time when the given number of negative urine samples had been observed and who the patient was. To represent the simulated population, a Monte Carlo method was used to generate p-values from 1000 experiments conducted on a computer.ResultsIn the observed samples, the probability of 4 negative results in urinalysis from 4 outpatient visits was 75.5%. In comparison, the probability for achieving 4th negative results in urinalysis over 4 visits from negative binominal distribution was 57.3%, and from the computer simulation, 49.8%. The observed samples had significantly higher probability of achieving 4 negative results in urinalysis over 4 outpatient visits (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe mandatory treatment modality boosted treatment stabilization for patients of amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder. The major benefit of using the monitoring model is the ability to monitor boosting effects of stabilization. Results supported the effectiveness of this mandatory treatment modality and can be implemented in deferred-prosecution based treatment modality.     

氯吡格雷防治动脉粥样硬化缺血性疾病的研究进展

氯吡格雷防治动脉粥样硬化斑块破裂后血栓形成尤其是冠状动脉疾病及其经皮冠脉介入性治疗有了充足的临床试验证据,对于粥样斑块的形成和发展的相关依据正在进行,现就氯吡格雷全面预防和治疗动脉粥样硬化缺血性疾病的研究进展作一综述。     

Association between commensal bacteria and opportunistic pathogens in the dental plaque of elderly individuals

Opportunistic infections in the oral cavity of the elderly may increase the incidence of systemic disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in the oral bacterial flora between dependent elderly (inpatients) and independent elderly (community-dwelling residents). After multiple variables were taken into account, inpatients had significantly lower detection rates than community-dwelling residents for alpha-streptococci (p < 0.001) and Neisseria (p 0.004), and higher detection rates for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p 0.024), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (p 0.011) and Actinomyces spp. (p 0.005). Among inpatients, the requirement for a high degree of care was related negatively to detection of alpha-streptococci, but was related significantly to detection of P. aeruginosa (p 0.018) or MRSA (p 0.004). Tube-fed inpatients had a significantly lower detection rate for alpha-streptococci (p 0.041) and a higher detection rate for P. aeruginosa (p 0.004) than those who did not require tube feeding. Inpatients with a history of antibiotic use had a significantly lower detection rate for alpha-streptococci (p 0.049) and a higher detection rate for MRSA (p 0.007) than those without a history of antibiotic use. The detection rates for P. aeruginosa or MRSA in inpatients without alpha-streptococci were higher than in inpatients with alpha-streptococci after controlling for age and gender (P. aeruginosa, p 0.006; MRSA, p 0.001). Overall, detection of alpha-streptococci had an inverse correlation with the detection of P. aeruginosa and MRSA in the oral cavity and is likely to be an indicator of pathogenic bacterial infection.     

血浆同型半胱氨酸水平与动脉粥样硬化和脑梗死的关系

目的 探讨血浆同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)水平与颈动脉粥样硬化和脑梗死关系.方法 2005-05～2006-02收治的91例脑梗死住院患者被列入研究对象.根据病灶大小分3组大片梗死21例,小片梗死44例,腔隙性梗死26例.根据颈动脉彩超检测结果将研究对象分为颈动脉斑块组34例,无颈动脉斑块组57例.全部患者测定血浆Hcy、血清叶酸、VitB12水平.分析血浆Hcy水平与脑梗死的危险因素、病灶大小、颈动脉粥样硬化斑块及血清叶酸、VitB12的关系.结果 血浆Hcy水平(1)与高血压、糖尿病、血脂、性别、年龄各指标无明显相关关系.(2)与脑梗死病灶大小无关.(3)与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块有关,有斑块34例,血浆Hcy(20.73±9.31)μmol/L,无斑块57例,血浆Hcy (15.46±11.4) μmol/L,前者高于后者(P＜0.05).(4)与血清叶酸、VitB12水平呈负相关(r1s=-0.264,r2s=-0.16,P＜0.05).结论 血浆Hcy水平与脑梗死病灶大小无关;Hcy水平升高与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块密切相关;与血清叶酸、VitB12水平呈负相关.高血浆Hcy血症可能是颈动脉粥样硬化的危险因素,但与脑梗死关系不明确.