Functional outcomes and complications after treatment of distal radius fracture in patients sixty years and over: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

AimThis network meta-analysis aims to compare functional outcomes and complications between conservative treatment and surgery for distal radius fractures in patients aged 60 years and over.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of conservative treatment and surgery for distal radius fractures in patients aged 60 years and over. Primary outcomes included grip strength and overall complications. Secondary outcomes included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) scores, wrist range of motion and forearm rotation, and radiographic assessment. All continuous outcomes were assessed using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and binary outcomes were assessed using odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to determine a hierarchy of treatments. Cluster analysis was performed for grouping treatments based on the SUCRA values of primary outcomes.ResultsFourteen RCTs were included to compare conservative treatment, volar lockedplate (VLP), K-wires fixation, and external-fixation. VLP outperformed conservative treatment for 1-year and minimum 2-year grip strength (SMD; 0.28 [0.07 to 0.48] and 0.27 [0.02 to 0.53], respectively). VLP yielded the optimal grip strength at 1-year and minimum 2-year follow-up (SUCRA; 89.8% and 86.7%, respectively). In a subgroup analysis of patients aged 60 to 80 years old, VLP outperformed conservative treatment in DASH and PRWE scores (SMD, 0.33 [0.10, 0.56] and 0.23 [0.01, 0.45], respectively). In addition, VLP had the fewest complications (SUCRA = 84.3%). Cluster analysis suggested that VLP and K-wire fixation were more effective treatment groups.ConclusionEvidence to date demonstrates that VLP provides measurable benefits in grip strength and fewer complications to those 60 years of age and over, and that benefit is not reflected in current practice guidelines. There is a subgroup of patients where K-wire fixation outcomes are similar to those of VLP; defining this subgroup may yield substantial societal benefits.     

The Impact of Postoperative Complications on Short- and Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life After Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer

BackgroundSurvival for rectal cancer patients has improved over the past decades. In parallel, long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is gaining interest. This study focuses on the effect of complications following rectal cancer surgery on HRQoL and survival.MethodsThe TME-trial (1996-1999) randomized patients with operable rectal cancer between surgery with preoperative short-course radiotherapy and surgery. Questionnaires including the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist were sent at 6 time points within the first 24 months and after 14 years the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. Differences in HRQoL and survival between patients with and without complications were analyzed.ResultsA total of 1207 patients were included, of which 482 (39.9%) patients experienced complications, surgical complications occurred in 177 (14.6%) patients, non-surgical complications in 197 (16.3%) and 108 patients (8.9%) had a combination of both types of complications. Three months after surgery, patients with a combination of surgical- and non-surgical complications, especially patients with anastomotic leakage, had the worst HRQoL. Twelve months postoperative HRQoL returned to a similar level as before surgery, regardless of complications. In patients who survived 14 years, no significant differences in HRQoL were seen between patients with and without complications. However, patients with complications did have lower overall survival.ConclusionThis study shows that survival and short-term HRQoL are negatively affected by complications. Twelve months after surgery HRQoL had returned to the preoperative level regardless, of complications. Also, in patients that survived 14 years, there was no effect of complications on HRQoL detected.     

ECFS standards of care on CFTR-related disorders: Updated diagnostic criteria

This paper is the first in a series providing updated guidance on the definition, evaluation and management of people with a Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR)-Related Disorder (CFTR-RD). The need for this update relates to more precise characterisation of CFTR gene variants and improved assessment of CFTR protein dysfunction. The exercise is co-ordinated by the European CF Society Standards of Care Committee and Diagnostic Network Working Group and involves stakeholder engagement. This first paper was produced by a core group using an extensive literature review and papers graded for their quality. Subsequent wider stakeholder agreement was achieved.The definition of a CFTR-RD remains “a clinical condition with evidence of CFTR protein dysfunction that does not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for CF”. Clearer guidance on CFTR dysfunction and relevant CFTR variants will be provided. Thresholds for clinical presentations are presented and the paradigm that pathobiological processes may be evident in more than one organ is agreed. In this paper we reflect on the early patient journey, highlighting that CF specialists as well as other relevant specialists should be involved in the care of people with a CFTR-RD.     

Anomaly of cornea and ocular adnexa in spinster homolog 2 (Spns2) knockout mice

Spinster 2 (Spns2) is a transporter that pumps sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive lipid mediator synthesized in the cytoplasm, out of cells into the inter cellular space. S1P is a signal that modulates cellular behavior during embryonic development, inflammation and tissue repair, etc. A Spns2-null (KO) mouse is born with failure of eyelid closure (eyelid-open-at birth; EOB) and develop corneal fibrosis in adulthood. It remains elusive whether corneal lesion is caused by exposure to keratitis (lagophthalmos) of EOB phenotype or the loss of Spns2 directly perturbs the corneal tissue morphogenesis and intra-eyelid structures. Therefore, we investigated differences between the cornea and ocular adnexa morphogenesis in KO and wild-type (WT) embryos and adults as well.The loss of Spns2 perturbs cornea morphogenesis during embryonic development as early as E16.5 besides EOB phenotype. Histology showed that the corneal stroma was thinner with less extracellular matrix accumulation, e.g., collagen and keratocan in the KO mouse. Epithelial stratification, expression of keratin 12 and formation of desmosomes and hemidesmosomes were also perturbed in these KO corneas. Lacking Spns2 impaired morphogenesis of the Meibomian glands and of orbicularis oculi muscles. KO glands were labeled for ELOVL4 and PPARγ and were Oil-Red O-positive, suggesting KO acinar cells possessed functionality as the glands.This is the first report on the roles of Spns2 in corneal and Meibomian gland morphogenesis. Corneal tissue destruction in an adult KO mouse might be due to not only lagophthalmos but also to an impaired morphogenesis of cornea, Meibomian glands, and orbicularis oculi muscle.     

Cytokine and LL-37 gene expression levels in Bartonella spp. seropositive and seronegative patients of a rheumatology clinic

PurposeThe variation in the immune response to Bartonella spp. infection in humans remains unclear. The present study compares the expression of selected interleukins, cytokines and cathelicidin (LL-37) in rheumatology clinic patients suffering from musculoskeletal symptoms with healthy blood donors. The patients had previously been tested for the presence of Bartonella henselae antibodies.MethodsGene expression of LL-37, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, interferon-(IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)-α was determined in blood samples using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Statistical analysis was prepared with STATISTICA.ResultsStatistically significant differences in the mRNA levels of the tested cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12; p<0.0001) were observed between the healthy controls and patients; however, no difference was observed for LL37 mRNA (p ?= ?0.1974). No significant differences in mRNA expression were observed between IgG in anti-Bartonella seropositive and seronegative individuals (p>0.05). The only significant differences between the Bartonella spp. DNA positive and negative patients, indicated by PCR, were observed for TNF-α and IL-12 mRNA (p ?= ?0.0045 and p ?= ?0.0255, respectively).ConclusionA broadly similar immune response to the tested cytokines was observed among the participants irrespective of anti-Bartonella spp. IgG seropositivity. However, the Bartonella DNA-positive participants demonstrated significantly lower expression of IL-12 and TNF-α mRNA; this may indicate that these bacteria have a suppressive influence on the immune system.     

2型糖尿病患者扫描式葡萄糖监测系统指标与尿白蛋白/肌酐比值的相关性研究

背景 随着血糖监测技术的发展，近些年来人们开始使用扫描式葡萄糖监测系统（FGMS）"全景式"地观察2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者的血糖水平，明确FGMS指标与T2DM并发症之间的关系有助于提高其临床应用价值，但目前相关研究较少。 目的 探究佩戴FGMS的T2DM患者葡萄糖在目标范围内时间（TIR）等指标与尿白蛋白/肌酐比值（UACR）的相关性。 方法 选取2019年1月至2021年10月于北京大学人民医院老年科就诊并佩戴FGMS的T2DM患者79例，以尿液检查中UACR是否<30 mg/g将患者分为无白蛋白尿组（n=50）和白蛋白尿组（n=29）。比较两组患者的临床特征、实验室检查指标及FGMS指标等。采用Pearson相关、Spearman秩相关分析探讨TIR、高血糖时间（TAR）与糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）的相关性。分别采用Pearson相关、Spearman秩相关、偏相关分析探讨FGMS指标与lnUACR的相关性。使用多因素Logistic回归分析探究T2DM患者发生白蛋白尿的影响因素，采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线评估TIR对白蛋白尿的预测价值。 结果 白蛋白尿组T2DM病程长于无白蛋白尿组，三酰甘油（TG）、HbA1c、平均血糖（MBG）、TAR、平均血糖标准差（SDBG）、最大葡萄糖波动幅度（LAGE）、平均葡萄糖波动幅度（MAGE）、连续每隔2 h血糖净作用（CONGA2）高于无白蛋白尿组，TIR低于无白蛋白尿组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关、Spearman秩相关分析结果显示，TIR与HbA1c呈负相关（P<0.001），TAR与HbA1c呈正相关（P<0.001）。Pearson相关、Spearman秩相关、偏相关分析结果均表明，TIR与lnUACR呈负相关（P<0.001），MBG、TAR、SDBG、LAGE、MAGE、CONGA2与lnUACR呈正相关（P<0.001）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，TIR>70%〔OR=0.038，95%CI（0.003，0.467）〕是T2DM患者出现白蛋白尿的保护因素（P<0.05），TAR升高〔OR=1.046，95%CI（1.000，1.094）〕是T2DM患者出现白蛋白尿的危险因素（P<0.05）。TIR预测T2DM患者出现白蛋白尿的ROC曲线下面积（AUC）为0.784〔95%CI（0.674，0.894）〕（P=0.003），灵敏度为78%，特异度为83%，最佳切点为69.71%。 结论 在FGMS指标中，TIR>70%是T2DM患者出现白蛋白尿的保护因素，TAR升高是T2DM患者出现白蛋白尿的危险因素。同时，SDBG、LAGE、MAGE、CONGA2等多种反映血糖波动的指标也与UACR密切相关。对TIR水平较低及TAR、SDBG、LAGE、MAGE、CONGA2水平较高的T2DM患者进行FGMS筛查有助于早期识别及预防白蛋白尿的发生、发展。     

Adherence to and persistence with antidiabetic medications and associations with clinical and economic outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic literature review

We designed a systematic literature review to identify available evidence on adherence to and persistence with antidiabetic medication in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Electronic screening and congress searches identified real-world noninterventional studies (published between 2010 and October 2020) reporting estimates of adherence to and persistence with antidiabetic medication in adults with T2D, and associations with glycaemic control, microvascular and/or macrovascular complications, hospitalizations and healthcare costs. Ninety-two relevant studies were identified, the majority of which were retrospective and reported US data. The proportions of patients considered adherent (median [range] 51.2% [9.4%-84.3%]) or persistent (median [range] 47.7% [16.9%-94.0%]) varied widely across studies. Multiple studies reported an association between greater adherence/persistence and greater reductions in glycated haemoglobin levels. Better adherence/persistence was associated with fewer microvascular and/or macrovascular outcomes, although there was little consistency across studies in terms of which outcomes were improved. More adherent and more persistent patients were typically less likely to be hospitalized or to have emergency department visits/admissions and spent fewer days in hospital annually than less adherent/persistent patients. Greater adherence and persistence were generally associated with lower hospitalization costs, higher pharmacy costs and lower or budget-neutral total healthcare costs compared with lower adherence/persistence. In conclusion, better adherence and persistence in people with T2D is associated with lower rates of microvascular and/or macrovascular outcomes and inpatient hospitalization, and lower or budget-neutral total healthcare expenditure. Education and treatment strategies to address suboptimal adherence and persistence are needed to improve clinical and economic outcomes.