Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

Robust antibody response after a third BNT162b2 vaccine compared to the second among immunocompromised and healthy individuals,a prospective longitudinal cohort study

PurposeAs protection from COVID-19 following two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine showed a time dependent waning, a third (booster) dose was administrated. This study aims to compare the antibody response following the third dose versus the second and to evaluate post-booster seroconversion.MethodsA prospective observational study conducted in Maccabi Healthcare Services. Serial SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG tests, 1,2,3 and 6 months following the second vaccine dose and one month following the third were obtained. Neutralizing antibody levels were measured in a subset of participants. Per individual SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG titer ratios were calculated one month after the booster administration compared to titers one month following the second dose and prior to booster.ResultsAmong 110 participants, 56 (51%) were women. Mean age was 61.7 ± 1.9 years and 66 (60%) were immunocompromised. One month after third dose, IgG titers were induced 7.83 (95 %CI 5.25–11.67) folds and 2.40 (95 %CI 1.90–3.03) folds compared to one month after the second, in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent groups, respectively. Of the 17 immunocompromised participants who were seronegative after the second dose, 4 (24%) became seropositive following the third. Comparing the titers prior to the third dose, an increase of 50.7 (95 %CI 32.5–79.1) fold in the immunocompromised group and 25.7 (95 %CI 19.1–34.7) fold in and immunocompetent group, was observed.ConclusionA third BNT162b2 vaccine elicited robust humoral response, superior to the response observed following the second, among immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.     

Efficacy,immunogenicity, and safety of available vaccines in children on biologics: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vaccinations are essential for preventing infectious diseases in children with chronic diseases as they have increased risk of infection from frequent use of biologics. Response to immunizations in this group is not well known.ObjectiveA systematic review was performed to evaluate three primary outcomes: efficacy; immunogenicity; and safety of vaccines in children with chronic conditions treated with biologics.MethodsThe protocol for our systematic review and meta-analysis was registered and published with PROSPERO. We searched electronic bibliographic databases for studies published from 2009 to 2019, focusing on vaccinations in children with chronic conditions treated with biologics.ResultsWe retrieved 532 records. Thirty-one full-text articles were selected, and 14 were included in the meta-analysis. No significant publication bias was found. Efficacy: limited data are available regarding the efficacy of vaccination, as most studies have focused on immunogenicity as surrogate outcome for efficacy. Immunogenicity: patients receiving anti-TNF-alpha therapy had a statistically significant risk of poor seroconversion (p = 0.028) and seroprotection by the serotype B influenza vaccine [inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) p = 0.013; juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) p = 0.004]. We found adequate responses with H1N1 and H3N2 serotypes. Few studies existed for pneumococcal, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, varicella-zoster virus, Measles Mumps Rubella virus, and multiple vaccine administration. Safety: vaccine administration was not associated with serious side effects, but JIA patients on anti-TNF alpha therapy had a statistically significant risk of presenting with myalgia or arthralgia postinfluenza vaccine (p = 0.014).ConclusionsMore evidence concerning efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of vaccinations is needed to guide physicians in the vaccine decision process for this pediatric population.     

外伤性晶状体脱位合并周边隐匿性视网膜病变的临床特征及预后分析

目的观察分析眼球钝挫伤合并外伤性晶状体脱位患者周边隐匿性视网膜病变的临床特点及预后。 方法本研究纳入2013年1月至2020年1月在柳州市人民医院眼科住院诊断为眼球钝挫伤合并外伤性晶状体脱位，并行23G微创玻璃体切割联合白内障摘除手术的72例（72眼）患者。根据裂隙灯和超声生物显微镜（UBM）检查，将患者分为晶状体不全脱位组和全脱位组，详细记录2组患者的术中周边视网膜病变情况，并分析其临床特征及疗效。 结果眼球钝挫伤合并外伤性晶状体脱位患者中有周边隐匿性视网膜病变的占72.22%，其中晶状体不全脱位组发生率高达80.95%，显著大于晶状体全脱位组的60.00%（P＜0.05）。2组患者的周边隐匿性视网膜病变均以隐匿性视网膜裂孔、变性和出血为最常见。所有患者术后视网膜情况稳定，视力预后较好。 结论眼球钝挫伤合并外伤性晶状体脱位患者常出现周边隐匿性视网膜病变，最常见的是视网膜裂孔、出血、变性。23G微创玻璃体切割联合白内障摘除手术是有效治疗手段，具有创伤小、并发症少的优势。     

Association between reactogenicity and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the second dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine

High vaccine reactogenicities may reflect stronger immune responses, but the epidemiological evidence for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines is sparse and inconsistent. We observed that a fever of ≥38℃ after two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine was associated with higher severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike IgG titers.     

Preoperative comprehensive malignancy risk estimation for thyroid nodules: Development and verification of a network-based prediction model

BackgroundIn order to avoid excessive treatment of thyroid nodules in the clinic, it is necessary to find a simple and practical analysis method to comprehensively and accurately reflect benign or malignant thyroid nodules. This study aimed to construct and validate a comprehensive and reliable network-based predictive model using a variety of imaging and laboratory criteria for thyroid nodules to stratify the risk of malignancy prior to surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent surgical treatment for thyroid nodules at the Thyroid and Breast Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2018 and December 2020. Binary logical regression analysis was performed to predict whether nodules were malignant or benign. The developmental dataset included 457 patients (January 2018–December 2020). The validation set included separate data points (n = 225, January 2018–December 2020).ResultsIn this study, criteria that showed significant predictive value for malignant nodules included TI-RADS: 4b (p = 0.065); Bethesda IV, Bethesda V, Bethesda VI (P < 0.0001); BRAF^V600E mutation (P < 0.0001); Calcitonin>5 pg/ml (p = 0.0037); and FNA-Tg>30 ng/ml (p = 0.0003). A 10-grade risk scoring system was developed. The risk of malignancy risk ranged from 2.06% to 100% and was positively associated with increasing risk grade. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the development and validation sets were 0.972 and 0.946, respectively.ConclusionA simple, comprehensive and reliable web-based predictive model was designed using a variety of imaging and laboratory criteria to stratify thyroid nodules by probability of malignancy.     

免疫检查点抑制剂治疗少见突变非小细胞肺癌疗效的研究进展

驱动基因的发现及针对驱动基因的靶向治疗已显著提高了肺癌患者的生存质量和时间，但目前对于BRAF、HER2、MET、RET等少见驱动基因改变肺癌患者的靶向药物的选择仍然较少。近年来免疫检查点抑制剂在肺癌治疗中取得了一定的疗效，但因为少见驱动基因突变的肺癌患者本身样本量少，开展大规模临床随机对照试验尚存在一定的困难，目前此类患者接受免疫检查点抑制剂治疗的疗效情况仍不明确。本文将对目前已掌握的免疫检查点抑制剂治疗BRAF、HER2、MET、RET等少见驱动基因改变肺癌患者的临床研究结果进行综述，以期在一定程度上为临床工作提供一些依据和参考。     

沉默TRIM23基因抑制骨肉瘤细胞的增殖

目的 探讨TRIM23基因对骨肉瘤细胞增殖能力的影响.方法 应用Western blot实验检测TRIM23基因在骨肉瘤细胞中的表达;应用shRNA质粒转染骨肉瘤细胞系U2OS,通过MTT与平板克隆形成实验评估细胞增殖能力;应用Westernblot实验检测U2OS细胞Akt/P53/P21通路的表达改变.结果 TRIM23蛋白在骨肉瘤细胞中的表达高于成骨细胞;沉默TRIM23基因可以抑制骨肉瘤细胞的增殖能力;沉默TRIM23基因下调P-Akt表达,但总Akt的表达无明显改变,上调P53与P21的表达.结论 TRIM23在骨肉瘤细胞中表达升高,TRIM23能通过调节Akt/P53/P21通路影响骨肉瘤细胞的增殖.     

粪便SEPT-9和miRNA-34b/c基因甲基化检测在大肠肿瘤筛查中的临床应用

目的 评估检测大肠肿瘤患者粪便中SEPT-9和微RNA（miRNA）-34b/c基因甲基化对大肠肿瘤筛查的临床性能。方法 采用病例对照研究方法,使用甲基化敏感性高分辨率熔解曲线法检测大肠肿瘤患者（大肠癌组35例、大肠腺瘤组47例）和正常对照人群（正常对照组52名）粪便中SEPT-9和miRNA-34b/c基因是否存在甲基化,来评估其筛查大肠肿瘤的性能。结果 大肠癌组SEPT-9和miRNA-34b/c基因的甲基化阳性率分别为68.6%、71.4%,大肠腺瘤组分别为57.4%、63.8%,正常对照组分别为9.6%、11.5%。3组的SEPT-9、miRNA-34b/c基因甲基化阳性率比较差异均有统计学意义（²_SEPT-9 = 37.185,²_miRNA-34b/c = 40.040,P均< 0.001）,利用Bonferroni法进行两两比较,大肠癌组和大肠腺瘤组的甲基化阳性率比较差异无统计学意义,两者与正常对照组比较差异均有统计学意义（P均< 0.001）。3组联合检测SEPT-9和miRNA-34b/c基因的甲基化阳性率为88.6%、76.6%、13.5%,大肠癌组和大肠腺瘤组联合检测的甲基化阳性率均高于SEPT-9单基因检测和miRNA-34b/c单基因检测（P均< 0.05）。结论 检测粪便中SEPT-9和miRNA-34b/c基因甲基化具有效好的大肠肿瘤筛查性能,或许可作为大规模人群筛查大肠肿瘤新的生物标志物组合;多基因甲基化联合检测筛查的性能优于单基因。     

小分子抗血管生成药物在非小细胞肺癌中的研究进展

肺癌是世界上发病率最高的癌症之一，且尚无二线进展后的标准治疗方案，而肿瘤血管生成目前已被确定为恶性肿瘤的重要治疗靶点，小分子多靶点血管激酶抑制剂可通过抑制血管生成相关信号通路，抑制肿瘤血管的生成。目前已开展多项小分子抗血管生成药物治疗非小细胞肺癌的临床试验，且已有部分血管内皮生长因子受体酪氨酸激酶抑制剂（vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, VEGFR-TKIs）获批治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌，本文基于国内外多项小分子抗血管生成药物治疗非小细胞肺癌的发展现状，归纳了多个VEGFR-TKIs及成纤维细胞生长因子受体（fibroblast growth factor receptor, FGFR）-TKI单药或联合[包括分别与化疗、表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR）-TKIs、免疫治疗、放疗等联合）]治疗非小细胞肺癌的疗效与安全性研究，同时探讨了VEGFR-TKIs可能存在的耐药机制及疗效预测指标等，并对未来抗血管治疗非小细胞肺癌的发展趋势以及存在的潜在问题进行展望，同时为肺癌后续的精准治疗及个体化治疗提供新的思路。