Prospective characterization of incident hepatic steatosis in pediatric and adolescent patients after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation

BackgroundHepatic steatosis has been described as a common finding in adults following total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) but it is unknown if this occurs in children and adolescents.ObjectivesTo define the frequency of post-TPIAT hepatic steatosis in a sample of children and adolescents and to identify clinical predictors of incident steatosis post-TPIAT.MethodsIn this prospective study, consecutive participants at least 1-month post-TPIAT underwent a liver MRI with proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and blood draw at our pediatric academic medical center between April 2021 and January 2022. Comparison clinical pre-TPIAT liver MRI or ultrasound and insulin use and graft function data were extracted from the medical record. T-tests were used for the comparison of means across continuous variables between participants with and without post-TPIAT steatosis.ResultsA total of 20 participants (mean: 13 ± 4 years; 12 female) were evaluated. Mean liver PDFF at research MRI was 7.4 ± 6.2% (range: 2–25%). Seven participants (35%) had categorical hepatic steatosis (PDFF>5%) post-TPIAT, five of whom had pre-TPIAT steatosis, reflecting a 13% (2/15; 95% CI: 2–40%) incidence of post-TPIAT steatosis. Participant characteristics were not significantly different between subgroups with and without post-TPIAT steatosis. Mean PDFF at research MRI was not different between graft function subgroups (7.5% optimal/good vs. 7.3% marginal/failure; p = .96).ConclusionOur study shows a moderate prevalence but low incidence of hepatic steatosis in a small sample of children and adolescents post-TPIAT. This study raises questions about a causal relationship between TPIAT and hepatic steatosis.     

Differences in weight loss outcomes for males and females on a low-carbohydrate diet: A systematic review

It has been widely demonstrated that there are a broad range of individual responses to all weight management regimens, often masked by reports of the mean. Identifying features of responders and non-responders to weight loss regimens enables a more tailored approach to the provision of weight management advice. Low-carbohydrate diets are currently popular, and anecdote suggests that males are more successful at losing weight using this approach. This is feasible given the physiological and socio-psychological differences between the genders. We analysed the extent and variation in weight change for males and females separately through a systematic search for all low-carbohydrate diet trials published since 1985. Very few studies compared weight loss outcomes by gender and, of those that did, most lacked supporting data. The majority of studies reported no gender difference but when a gender difference was found, males were more frequently reported as losing more weight than females on a low-carbohydrate diet. The lack of gender stratification in weight loss trials is concerning, as there are a range of gender-based factors that affect weight loss outcomes. This study highlights the importance of examining weight change for males and females separately, since as failure to do so may mask any potential differences, which, if detected, could assist with better weight loss outcomes.     

Correlation analysis of intestinal flora and pathological process of type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectiveTo observe the relationship between the different stages of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the intestinal flora and verify its underlying mechanism.MethodsT2DM rats were generated by high-fat diet (HFD) combined with intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The rats were divided into four groups: the control group (fed with normal feed for 1 month), the HFD group (fed with HFD for 1 month), the T2DM group (HFD combined with STZ and blood glucose ≥11.1 mM), and the unformed T2DM model (Un-mod) group (HFD combined with STZ and blood glucose <11.1 mM). Feces were collected, and bacterial communities in the fecal samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces was measured by gas chromatography. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and GPR43.ResultsAt different stages of T2DM, the intestinal flora and SCFAs content of rats were significantly decreased (all P < .05). Our results indicated that g__Prevotella had a significant negative correlation, and g__Ruminococcus_torques_group and g__lachnoclastic had a significant positive correlation with blood glucose. The content of SCFAs, in particular acetate and butyrate, in rat feces of different stages of T2DM were significantly reduced, as well as GPR41 and GPR43 expression. The results in the Un-mod group were similar to the T2DM group, and the expression of GPR41 and GPR43 proteins were significantly higher than those in the T2DM group (both P < .001).ConclusionThe intestinal flora–SCFAs–GPR41/GPR43 network may be important in the development of T2DM. Decreasing blood glucose levels by regulating the intestinal flora may become a new therapeutic strategy for T2DM, which has very important clinical and social values.     

南京某国际高中学生艾滋病知识知晓率及影响因素分析

目的 分析南京市某国际高中学生艾滋病知识知晓率及其影响因素,为制定高中生艾滋病健康教育策略提供依据。方法 对南京市某国际高中所有学生开展纸质问卷调查,统计分析艾滋病知识知晓率及其影响因素。 共纳入171名高中生为调查对象,艾滋病和梅毒的知识知晓率分别为56.1%和46.8%;有过性行为的占14.6%,其艾滋病知识知晓率最高为32.0%,(χ2=10.799,P=0.005);有吸毒史的学生占9.3%,其艾滋病知识知晓率最高为31.2%,(χ2=21.062,P<0.001);梅毒知识知晓者与不知晓者的艾滋病知识知晓率差异具有统计学意义(χ2=21.716,P<0.001)。 该国际高中学生性病和艾滋病知识知晓率较低,对高中生开展毒品危害教育和性病艾滋病防治应作为健康教育工作重点。     

A High Order Bound Preserving Finite Difference Linear Scheme for Incompressible Flows

We propose a high order finite difference linear scheme combined with a high order bound preserving maximum-principle-preserving (MPP) flux limiter to solve the incompressible flow system. For such problem with highly oscillatory structure but not strong shocks, our approach seems to be less dissipative and much less costly than a WENO type scheme, and has high resolution due to a Hermite reconstruction. Spurious numerical oscillations can be controlled by the weak MPP flux limiter. Numerical tests are performed for the Vlasov-Poisson system, the 2D guiding-center model and the incompressible Euler system. The comparison between the linear and WENO type schemes, with and without the MPP flux limiter, will demonstrate the good performance of our proposed approach.     

Tumor-associated high endothelial venules mediate lymphocyte entry into tumors and predict response to PD-1 plus CTLA-4 combination immunotherapy

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肾周脂肪梅奥粘连概率评分系统在肾癌后腹腔镜肾部分切除术中的应用

目的探讨肾周脂肪梅奥粘连概率评分系统（MAP）在肾癌后腹腔镜肾部分切除术中的临床应用价值。 方法回顾性分析2015年1月至2020年6月徐州医科大学附属淮安医院泌尿外科收治的行后腹腔镜肾部分切除术的153例肾癌患者的临床病例资料。依据MAP评分系统将其分为低度复杂组、中度复杂组和高度复杂组三组。比较各组间的手术时间、术中出血量、术中及术后并发症、术中热缺血时间、术后住院时间及术后血肌酐变化情况。 结果在153例患者中，低度复杂组68例，中度复杂组58例和高度复杂组27例。三组患者在年龄、性别、术前血肌酐水平、肿瘤最大径、肿瘤位置、BMI、RENAL评分等方面差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。随着复杂程度的提高，手术时间、术中出血量也在不断增加（P<0.05）；而术中热缺血时间、术后住院时间及术后血肌酐水平无明显变化（P>0.05）。在术中并发症方面，随着复杂程度的提高，术中并发症的发生率也在增加（P<0.05），且高度复杂组的术后并发症发生风险是低度复杂组的13.895倍（P=0.002)，MAP评分系统预测术中并发症发生的精度较高（AUC=0.757，P=0.002）。但是术后并发症各组比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论MAP评分系统在肾癌后腹腔镜肾部分切除术中，对预估手术难度及术中并发症发生风险有较好的临床应用价值。     

Clinical observation of vitrectomy combined with endolaser photocoagulation at the edge of posterior scleral staphyloma for macular hole retinal detachment in high myopia

AIM: To observe the clinical effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and silicone oil filling surgery combined with intraoperative posterior scleral staphyloma (PS) marginal retinal photocoagulation in the treatment of high myopic macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) with PS. METHODS: This was a retrospective clinical study. From May 2017 to March 2020, 62 MHRD patients with PS (62 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 23G PPV combined with PS marginal retina intraoperative photocoagulation group (combined group) and conventional surgery group (conventional group), with 31 eyes in each. Triamcinolone acetonide and indocyanine green were used to remove the epiretinal membrane and the posterior macular inner limiting membrane (ILM). In the combined group, 2 to 3 rows of retinal photocoagulation were performed on the edge of the PS. The patients were followed up for an average of 8.34±3.21mo. The first retinal reattachment rate, macular hole closure rate, Duration of silicone oil tamponade, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and average number of operations were observed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The first retinal reattachment rates of the eyes in the combined group and the conventional group were 96.7% (29/31) and 67.7% (21/31), respectively (χ2=6.613, P=0.010). The macular hole closure rates in the combined group and the conventional group were 74.2% (23/31) and 67.7% (21/31), respectively (χ2=0.128, P=0.721). The Duration of silicone oil tamponade of the patients in the combined group was lower than that of the routine group (t=-41.962, P≤0.001). Postoperative logMAR BCVA values of patients in the combined group and the conventional group were 1.27±0.12 and 1.26±0.11, compared with the logMAR BCVA before surgery, each group was improved (t=19.947, t=-19.517, P≤0.001, P≤0.001). There was no significant difference in the logMAR BCVA between the eyes of the two groups (t=-0.394, P=0.695). The average numbers of operations on the eyes in the conventional group and the combined group were 2.39±0.62 and 2.06±0.25 times, the combined group had fewer operations on average (t=-2.705, P=0.009). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative PPV treatment of MHRD with PS combined with PS marginal endolaser photocoagulation can effectively increase the rate of retinal reattachment after the first operation, reduce the number of repeated operations, and reduce the postoperative duration of silicone oil tamponade.     

Fat shaming under neoliberalism and COVID-19: Examining the UK’s Tackling Obesity campaign

This article explores the dynamics between fat shaming, neoliberalism, ideological constructions of health and the ‘obesity epidemic’ within the UK, using the UK Government’s recent Tackling Obesity campaign in response to Covid-19 as an illustration. We draw attention to how fat shaming as a practice that encourages open disdain for those living with excess weight operates as a moralising tool to regulate and manage those who are viewed as ‘bad’ citizens. In doing so, we begin by outlining how the ideological underpinnings of ‘health’ have been transformed under neoliberalism. We then consider the problematic use of fat shaming discourses that are often used as tools to promote ‘healthy’ lifestyle choices by those who view it as not only an acceptable way of communicating the health risks associated with obesity but also a productive way of motivating people with obesity to lose weight. Drawing on Graham Scambler’s theoretical framework regarding shame and blame (2020), we discuss how ‘heaping blame on shame’ has become a ‘wilful political strategy’ under neoliberalism, particularly as it relates to individuals with obesity, and how the Tackling Obesity campaign leverages concerns around ‘choices’ and ‘costs’ as a means through which to encourage normative models of self-care and self-discipline.     

Enlarged high frequency oscillations of the median nerve somatosensory evoked potential and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ObjectiveA large N20 and P25 of the median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) predicts short survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated whether high frequency oscillations (HFOs) over N20 are enlarged and associated with survival in ALS.MethodsA total of 145 patients with ALS and 57 healthy subjects were studied. We recorded the median nerve SEP and measured the onset-to-peak amplitude of N20 (N20o-p), and peak-to-peak amplitude between N20 and P25 (N20p-P25p). We obtained early and late HFO potentials by filtering SEP between 500 and 1 kHz, and measured the peak-to-peak amplitude. We followed up patients until endpoints (death or tracheostomy) and analyzed the relationship between SEP or HFO amplitudes and survival using a Cox analysis.ResultsPatients showed larger N20o-p, N20p-P25p, and early and late HFO amplitudes than the control values. N20p-P25p was associated with survival periods (p = 0.0004), while early and late HFO amplitudes showed no significant association with survival (p = 0.4307, and p = 0.6858, respectively).ConclusionsThe HFO amplitude in ALS is increased, but does not predict survival.SignificanceThe enlarged HFOs in ALS might be a compensatory phenomenon to the hyperexcitability of the sensory cortex pyramidal neurons.