佛山市乙型肝炎母婴阻断工作环节问题探讨

目的探讨佛山市乙肝母婴阻断工作中存在的问题，为完善进一步工作提供思路。 方法采用队列研究的方法，以2017年佛山市HBsAg阳性产妇13 672例及其所分娩13 982例活产儿为研究对象，通过回顾性病历采集及前瞻性的随访追踪的方法，全面了解影响乙肝母婴阻断工作的主要因素。 结果2017年佛山市产妇HBsAg阳性率为10.14%，感染孕妇中HBeAg阳性率为24.13%，孕期HBV DNA检测率约5%，其中抗病毒治疗63例；新生儿乙肝免疫球蛋白接种率为99.84%；婴儿在出生后1年内完成乙肝疫苗三针接种的比率为81.71%，在完成三针乙肝疫苗接种的儿童中按照0-1-6程序接种的比率为62.65%；母婴阻断结果追踪率为40.16%，追踪儿童中母婴阻断失败34例，失败率为0.61%；产妇年龄低、HBeAg阳性、HepB未全程及规范接种是母婴阻断失败的危险因素(P<0.05)。儿童明确未检测的主要原因是拒绝检查、不知道要检查、提前检查和检测未提供结果，占99.07%。 结论加强信息沟通及健康教育，落实乙肝病毒感染产妇孕期DNA检测及抗病毒治疗，提高儿童乙肝疫苗的规范接种率，将暴露儿童的乙肝两对半检测纳入儿童保健管理工作，是实现全市乙肝母婴零传播的重要措施。     

Hailey–Hailey disease improved by fractional CO2 laser

Hailey–Hailey disease (HHD), also known as benign familial pemphigus, is an autosomal dominant skin condition that affects the adhesion of epidermal keratinocytes. Although the initial manifestation of flaccid vesicles on erythematous or normal skin in flexure sites frequently goes unnoticed, large, macerated, exudative plaques of superficial erosions with crusting are observed at the time of diagnosis. There is no specific treatment for HHD, and most cases are symptomatically supported. However, infrared laser ablation has been somewhat helpful. We present a case successfully treated with fractional CO₂ laser showing a long-term favourable outcome and no adverse effects. Thus, this modality could be an alternative to full ablation for this condition.     

Collecting and evaluating convalescent plasma for COVID-19 treatment: why and how?

Plasma provided by COVID-19 convalescent patients may provide therapeutic relief as the number of COVID-19 cases escalates steeply worldwide. Prior findings in various viral respiratory diseases including SARS-CoV-related pneumonia suggest that convalescent plasma can reduce mortality, although formal proof of efficacy is still lacking. By reducing viral spread early on, such an approach may possibly downplay subsequent immunopathology. Identifying, collecting, qualifying and preparing plasma from convalescent patients with adequate SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing Ab titres in an acute crisis setting may be challenging, although well within the remit of most blood establishments. Careful clinical evaluation should allow to quickly establish whether such passive immunotherapy, administered at early phases of the disease in patients at high risk of deleterious evolution, may reduce the frequency of patient deterioration, and thereby COVID-19 mortality.     

Lifitegrast clinical efficacy for treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease across three randomized controlled trials

Objective: Report efficacy findings from three clinical trials (one phase 2 and two phase 3 [OPUS-1, OPUS-2]) of lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5.0% for treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

Research design and methods: Three 84-day, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trials. Adults (≥18 years) with DED were randomized (1:1) to lifitegrast 5.0% or matching placebo. Changes from baseline to day 84 in signs and symptoms of DED were analyzed.

Main outcome measures: Phase 2, pre-specified endpoint: inferior corneal staining score (ICSS; 0–4); OPUS-1, coprimary endpoints: ICSS and visual-related function subscale (0–4 scale); OPUS-2, coprimary endpoints: ICSS and eye dryness score (EDS, VAS; 0–100).

Results: Fifty-eight participants were randomized to lifitegrast 5.0% and 58 to placebo in the phase 2 trial; 293 to lifitegrast and 295 to placebo in OPUS-1; 358 to lifitegrast and 360 to placebo in OPUS-2. In participants with mild-to-moderate baseline DED symptomatology, lifitegrast improved ICSS versus placebo in the phase 2 study (treatment effect, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.05–0.65; p?=?0.0209) and OPUS-1 (effect, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.10–0.38; p?=?0.0007). Among more symptomatic participants (baseline EDS ≥40, recent artificial tear use), lifitegrast improved EDS versus placebo in a post hoc analysis of OPUS-1 (effect, 13.34; 95% CI, 2.35–24.33; nominal p?=?0.0178) and in OPUS-2 (effect, 12.61; 95% CI, 8.51–16.70; p?<?0.0001).

Limitations: Trials were conducted over 12 weeks; efficacy beyond this period was not assessed.

Conclusions: Across three trials, lifitegrast improved ICSS in participants with mild-to-moderate baseline symptomatology in two studies, and EDS in participants with moderate-to-severe baseline symptomatology in two studies. Based on the overall findings from these trials, lifitegrast shows promise as a new treatment option for signs and symptoms of DED.     

Improved Diagnostic Sensitivity of Bowel Disease of Prematurity on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Bowel diseases of prematurity, including necrotizing enterocolitis, are dreaded ailments of neonates. Early diagnosis is difficult, with clinical and radiographic findings often inconclusive. We present a novel use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in detection of pediatric bowel disease. Early identification of compromised blood flow or an at-risk bowel can be quantitatively detected and monitored. This ability has implications for guidance of emerging therapies, allowing targeting of inflammation. These findings represent an advancement in detection of bowel disease in neonates.     

The effects of curcumin supplementation on body mass index,body weight,and waist circumference in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of liver‐related morbidity; its prevalence is elevating due to the rising epidemic of obesity. Several clinical trials have examined the effects of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric variables in NAFLD patients with inconclusive results. This dose–response meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of curcumin supplementation on body mass index (BMI), body weight, and waist circumference (WC) in patients with NAFLD. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Sid.ir, and Magiran.com to identify eligible studies up to March 2019. A meta‐analysis of eligible studies was performed using the random‐effects model to estimate the pooled effect size. Eight randomized controlled trials with 520 participants (curcumin group = 265 and placebo group = 255) were included. Supplementation dose and duration ranged from 70 to 3,000 mg/day and 8 to 12 weeks, respectively. Curcumin supplementation significantly reduced BMI (weighted mean difference [WMD] = ?0.34 kg/m², 95% CI [?0.64, ?0.04], p < .05) and WC (WMD = ?2.12 cm, 95% CI [?3.26, ?0.98], p < .001). However, no significant effects of curcumin supplementation on body weight were found. These results suggest that curcumin supplementation might have a positive effect on visceral fat and abdominal obesity that have been associated with NAFLD.     

Novel Compounds Identified by Structure-Based Prion Disease Drug Discovery Using In Silico Screening Delay the Progression of an Illness in Prion-Infected Mice

The accumulation of abnormal prion protein (PrP^Sc) produced by the structure conversion of PrP (PrP^C) in the brain induces prion disease. Although the conversion process of the protein is still not fully elucidated, it has been known that the intramolecular chemical bridging in the most fragile pocket of PrP, known as the “hot spot,” stabilizes the structure of PrP^C and inhibits the conversion process. Using our original structure-based drug discovery algorithm, we identified the low molecular weight compounds that predicted binding to the hot spot. NPR-130 and NPR-162 strongly bound to recombinant PrP in vitro, and fragment molecular orbital (FMO) analysis indicated that the high affinity of those candidates to the PrP is largely dependent on nonpolar interactions, such as van der Waals interactions. Those NPRs showed not only significant reduction of the PrP^Sc levels but also remarkable decrease of the number of aggresomes in persistently prion-infected cells. Intriguingly, treatment with those candidate compounds significantly prolonged the survival period of prion-infected mice and suppressed prion disease-specific pathological damage, such as vacuole degeneration, PrP^Sc accumulation, microgliosis, and astrogliosis in the brain, suggesting their possible clinical use. Our results indicate that in silico drug discovery using NUDE/DEGIMA may be widely useful to identify candidate compounds that effectively stabilize the protein.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13311-020-00903-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.