Assessing the Effects of Geniculate Artery Embolization in a Nonsurgical Animal Model of Osteoarthritis

PurposeTo create a nonsurgical animal model of osteoarthritis (OA) to evaluate the effects of embolotherapy during geniculate artery embolization (GAE).Materials and MethodsFluoroscopy-guided injections of 700 mg of sodium monoiodoacetate were performed into the left stifle in 6 rams. Kinematic data were collected before and after induction. At 10 weeks after induction, Subjects 1 and 4–6 underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) and Subjects 1, 3, and 4–6 underwent angiography with angiographic scoring to identify regions with greatest disease severity for superselective embolization (75–250-μm microspheres). Target vessel size was measured. At 24 weeks after angiography, DCE-MR imaging, angiography, and euthanasia were performed, and bilateral stifles were harvested. Medial/lateral tibial and femoral condylar, patellar, and synovial samples were cut, preserved, decalcified, and scored using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International criteria. The stifle and synovium Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score and Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study score were determined. The volume transfer constant (K_trans) and extracellular volume fraction (v_e) were calculated from DCE-MR imaging along the lateral synovial regions of interest.ResultsThe mean gross and microscopic pathological scores were elevated at 38 and 61, respectively. Mean synovitis score was elevated at 9.2. Mean pre-embolization and postembolization angiographic scores were 5 and 3.8, respectively. Mean superior, transverse, and inferior geniculate artery diameters were 3.1 mm ± 1.21, 2.0 mm ± 0.50, and 1.6 mm ± 0.41 mm, respectively. Mean pre-embolization and postembolization cartilage and synovitis scores were elevated at 35.13 and 73.3 and 5.5 and 9.2, respectively. The K_trans/v_e values of Subjects 4, 5, and 6 were elevated at 0.049/0.38, 0.074/0.53, and 0.065/0.51, respectively. Altered gait of the hind limb was observed in all subjects after induction, with reduced joint mobility. No skin necrosis or osteonecrosis was observed.ConclusionsA nonsurgical ovine animal knee OA model was created, which allowed the collection of angiographic, histopathological, MR imaging, and kinematic data to study the effects of GAE.     

Custom made cutting guides and osteosynthesis plates versus CAD/CAM occlusal splints in positioning and fixation of the maxilla in orthognathic surgery: A prospective randomized study

The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of maxilla positioning in orthognathic surgery with the use of custom-made devices (cutting guides and patient-fitted osteosynthesis plates) comparing to CAD/CAM splints.A prospective randomized study was performed. Patients with dentofacial deformities undergoing orthognathic surgery were compared, using customized guides (experimental group) vs. CAD/CAM surgical splints (control group) for the repositioning of the upper maxilla. Preoperative and postoperative CT scans were used to compare positioning and fixation of the maxilla in the three planes of space.A total of 30 patients were included in the study (15 patients in each study group). The mean error obtained with customized guides was 0.8 mm (range 0.1–1.9) in the anterior-posterior axis, 0.4 mm (range 0–1.4) in the vertical axis and 0.2 mm (range 0–1.1) in the horizontal axis. There were statistically significant differences in the anterior-posterior and vertical axes in favour of the customized implants, whereas there were no differences in the horizontal plane. Furthermore, there was a mean reduction of the operative time of 36.5 min in the experimental group.Within the limitations of the study it seems that patient specific surgical guides should be preferred when accuracy of repositioning of the maxilla and saving operative time are the priority.     

The infant health effects of starting universal child benefits in pregnancy: Evidence from England and Wales

Child benefits are typically paid from birth. This paper asks whether starting universal child benefits in pregnancy leads to improvements in infant health. Leveraging administrative birth registry and hospital microdata from England and Wales, I study the effects of the Health in Pregnancy Grant, a universal conditional cash transfer equivalent to three months of child benefit (190 GBP) as a lump sum to pregnant mothers from 2009 to 2011. I exploit quasi-experimental variation in eligibility with a regression discontinuity design in the date of birth of the baby. I find that the policy increased birth weight by 8–12 grams on average, reduced low birth weight ($<$2500 g) by 3-6 percent and decreased prematurity by 9–11 percent. Younger mothers, particularly those living in deprived areas, benefit the most. I present evidence that the mechanisms are unlikely to be antenatal care, nutrition or smoking, with reductions in stress remaining a possible explanation.     

养精种玉汤辅助体外受精-胚胎移植对排卵障碍性不孕患者的影响

目的：探究养精种玉汤辅助体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）对排卵障碍性不孕患者的影响。方法：选取2016年12月至2017年3月邯郸市中心医院收治的排卵障碍性不孕患者82例作为研究对象，按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组与观察组，每组41例。对照组给予促性腺激素释放激素激动剂（Gn）+控制性促排卵+IVF-ET治疗，观察组在此基础上联合养精种玉汤治疗，至HCG日停止服用。治疗后统计2组Gn使用情况、取卵数及妊娠率；检测并比较HCG日2组子宫内膜容受性指标；比较2组妊娠结局及治疗期间相关不良反应发生情况。结果：观察组Gn使用天数及使用剂量均低于对照组，而妊娠率高于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）；观察组子宫内膜类型为A型患者比例高于对照组，而子宫内膜类型为C型患者比例低于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）；观察组子宫内膜厚度大于对照组，而子宫内膜动脉血流参数PI及RI均低于对照组（P<0.01）；2组不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），且治疗期间2组血清肝功能指标及血尿常规检测均未发现异常。结论：养精种玉汤辅助IVF-ET可有效增强排卵障碍性不孕患者子宫内膜容受性，提高患者妊娠率并改善其妊娠结局，具有良好的安全性。     

Optimizing T-cell receptor avidity with somatic hypermutation

Adoptive transfer of T cells that have been genetically modified to express an antitumor T-cell receptor (TCR) is a potent immunotherapy, but only if TCR avidity is sufficiently high. Endogenous TCRs specific to shared (self) tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) have low affinity due to central tolerance. Therefore, for effective therapy, anti-TAA TCRs with higher and optimal avidity must be generated. Here, we describe a new in vitro system for directed evolution of TCR avidity using somatic hypermutation (SHM), a mechanism used in nature by B cells for antibody optimization. We identified 44 point mutations to the Pmel-1 TCR, specific for the H-2D^b-gp100_25-33 melanoma antigen. Primary T cells transduced with TCRs containing two or three of these mutations had enhanced activity in vitro. Furthermore, the triple-mutant TCR improved in vivo therapy of tumor-bearing mice, which exhibited improved survival, smaller tumors and delayed or no relapse. TCR avidity maturation by SHM may be an effective strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy.     

Can a conditional cash transfer reduce teen fertility? The case of Brazil’s Bolsa Familia

In 2008, Brazil's conditional cash transfer program expanded to cover a wider range of ages. Poor families are now given stipends for their children's school attendance up to age seventeen, whereas prior the maximum age was fifteen. Using a nationally representative household survey, we estimate the impact of this policy on teen fertility with a triple difference analysis on the fertility outcomes of treated cohorts vs. non-treated cohorts based on income eligibility, age eligibility, and timing of program implementation. We find a three percentage point drop in fertility among eligible teens within five years of program implementation. This offsets the difference in fertility between poor and non-poor teens. The impact is concentrated in urban areas, with no program effects found in rural areas. We are able to replicate these findings using National Birth Registry Data.