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.     

Histological interpretation of temporal artery biopsies

Temporal artery biopsy is recommended for diagnosis of suspected giant cell arteritis, a systemic vasculitis of older adults. There is currently no formal consensus for histological interpretation of the biopsies. Typical histological findings include a transmural lymphocytic infiltrate with a population of macrophages resulting in destruction of the internal elastic lamina. However, it is a patchy process and multiple tissue levels must be examined. It is important to be aware of various subtle features that may lead to a diagnosis of arteritis, and immunohistochemistry can be helpful in some cases. Some biopsies show unusual features that could raise a differential diagnosis of alternative vasculitides. When there is no evidence of arteritis in a specimen, there are often non-specific features seen in the context of age-related changes. All of these histological patterns require close clinicopathological correlation to ensure correct interpretation.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus associated with sarcoidosis: Case report

BackgroundThe association between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and sarcoidosis has been considered as extremely rare. Most often, sarcoidosis coexists with Sjögren's syndrome. Researching the literature, it seems that the association of SLE and sarcoidosis is much more frequent than previously thought.Aim of the workWe present a case of a Serbian woman who was diagnosed with coexisting sarcoidosis and long-standing SLE.Case presentationThe 40 years old SLE patient was in long-standing remission on oral prednisolone (10 mg/day) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) (400 mg/day). She presented with fatigue, chest pain, and dry cough. Chest computerized tomography (CT) showed hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The biopsy had been performed and results showed sarcoidosis. Diagnosis has been confirmed: eosinophilic granulomas without central necrosis morphologically corresponding to chronic granulomatous lymphadenitis like sarcoidosis. Thereafter, the patient was hospitalized. No new symptoms appeared, and the physical examination was unremarkable. Serum calcium was elevated (2.75 mmol/l), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA) and anti-Ro antibodies were positive. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) level was high normal (51 IU/L) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test negative. The dose of prednisolone was increased to 40 mg/day with HCQ and the patient was discharged from hospital. On follow-up the patient improved with reduction of the steroid dose.ConclusionThe association of SLE and sarcoidosis should be considered even though it is reported to be extremely rare. May be the real incidence of these combinations is underestimated. More research about genetics and pathogenesis is needed to completely understand these conditions.     

Identification of key genes and pathways in discoid lupus skin via bioinformatics analysis

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is the most common skin manifestation of lupus; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying DLE remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to identify key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in discoid lupus skin and investigate their potential pathways.To identify candidate genes involved in the occurrence and development of the disease, we downloaded the microarray datasets {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE52471","term_id":"52471"}}GSE52471 and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE72535","term_id":"72535"}}GSE72535 from the Gene Expression Database (GEO). DEGs between discoid lupus skin and normal controls were selected using the GEO2R tool and Venn diagram software (http://bioinformatics.psb.ugent.be/webtools/Venn/). The Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), Enrichr, and Cytoscape ClueGo were used to analyze the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome pathways and gene ontology. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of these DEGs were further assessed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval Interacting Genes version 10.0.Seventy three DEGs were co-expressed in both datasets. DEGs were predominantly upregulated in receptor signaling pathways of the immune response. In the PPI network, 69 upregulated genes were selected. Furthermore, 4 genes (CXCL10, ISG15, IFIH1, and IRF7) were found to be significantly upregulated in the RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, from analysis of Enrichr and Cytoscape ClueGo.The results of this study may provide new insights into the potential molecular mechanisms of DLE. However, further experimentation is required to confirm these findings.     

Oral implant treatment for elderly patients

随着材料和技术的进步,现代口腔种植学得到了快速的发展。种植牙已成为恢复缺失牙的首选治疗方式。尽管在健康成人中,种植牙已经取得了很高的成功率,但对于老龄患者,随着身体机能的下降和伴发其他系统性疾病,种植治疗的风险相应地增加。老龄患者在进行种植治疗时应该考虑哪些影响因素以及如何预防可能的风险和并发症,应引起口腔种植医生的高度重视。本文对老龄患者口腔种植治疗的特殊性、种植成功率、老年患者的全身系统疾病考量和用药考量等方面进行探讨,以供临床参考。     

Quality indicators for breast cancer care: A systematic review

ObjectivesWe evaluated breast cancer (BC) care quality indicators (QIs) in clinical pathways and integrated health care processes.MethodsFollowing protocol registration (Prospero n^o: CRD42021228867), relevant documents were identified, without language restrictions, through a systematic search of bibliographic databases (EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE), health care valuable representatives and the World Wide Web in April 2021. Data concerning QIs, measurement tools and compliance standards were extracted from European and North American sources in duplicate with 98% reviewer agreement.ResultsThere were 89 QIs found from 22 selected documents (QI per document mean 13.5 with standard deviation 11.9). The Belgian (38 QIs) and the EUSOMA (European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists) (34 QIs) documents were the ones that best reported the QIs. No identical QI was identified in all the documents analysed. There were 67/89 QIs covering processes (75.3%) and 11/89 (12.4%) for each structure and outcomes QIs. There were 21/89 QIs for diagnosis (30.3%), 43/89 for treatment (48.3%), and 19/89 for staging, counselling, follow-up and rehabilitation (21.4%). Of 67 process QIs and 11 outcome QIs, 20/78 (26%) did not report a minimum standard of care. Shared decision making was only included as a QI in the Italian document.ConclusionMore than half of countries have not established a national clinical pathway or integrated breast cancer care process to achieve the excellence of BC care. There was heterogeneity in QIs for the evaluation of BC care quality. Over two-thirds of the clinical pathways and integrated health care processes did not provide a minimum auditable standard of care for compliance, leaving open the definition of best practice. There is a need for harmonisation of BC care QIs.     

Instability of the extensor digitorum tendons in Jaccoud arthropathy assessed by semi-dynamic MRI of the metacarpophalangeal joints

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Jaccoud arthropathy (JA) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with instability of the extensor digitorum (ED) tendons during flexion of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints by comparing the position of the ED tendons between SLE patients with JA and control subjects on hand MRI obtained with flexed and extended MCP joints.Materials and methodsThirty-two hands of SLE patients with JA (13 women and 3 men; mean age, 50.0 ± 12.2 [SD] years; age range: 26–68 years) and 24 hands of sex- and age-matched control subjects (20 women and 4 men; mean age, 50.1 ± 13.0 [SD] years; age range: 24–68 years) were included in the study. Axial spin echo T1-weighted MRI images of the second to fifth MCP joints in flexion and in extension were obtained. Two radiologists (R1 and R2) separately measured the amplitude and assessed the direction of the displacement of the ED tendons with respect to the midline at the level of each MCP joint. Statistical analysis included two-way ANOVA with random effects to assess differences in amplitude and Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test to assess differences in direction with P-values < 0.0083 and < 0.0063 considered as statistically significant respectively.ResultsAmplitude of the displacement of the ED tendons was statistically significantly greater in SLE patients with JA than in control subjects in flexion for both readers (median 58°, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 50°–65° vs. 20°, 95% CI: 16°–24°; P < 0.0001 for R1 and 54°, 95% CI: 47°–61° vs. 25°, 95% CI: 22°–28°; P < 0.0001 for R2) and in extension for one reader (17°, 95% CI: 15°–20° vs. 14°, 95% CI: 11°–16°; P = 0.0048 for R1 and 20°, 95% CI: 15°–25° vs. 16°, 95% CI: 12°–18°; P = 0.0292 for R2). Ulnar deviation of the ED tendons was statistically significantly more frequent in SLE patients with JA than in control subjects in flexion and in extension for both readers (P < 0.0001).ConclusionJA is associated with instability of the ED tendons in patients with SLE best depicted when MCP joints are flexed.     

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion,A Misnomer?: Where Do We Go From Here?

The importance of the left atrial appendage (LAA) as the source of thromboembolism including stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is well documented, with more than 90% of ischemic strokes related to a LAA thrombus. Although oral anticoagulation has been the standard of care, approximately 50% to 60% of patients either have contraindications to oral anticoagulation or do not continue the medication beyond the first year. This led to the development of local site-specific therapy to occlude the LAA by either surgical or transcatheter means. Despite marked advancements, incomplete LAA closure with surgical and transcatheter approaches remains frequent. The etiology of incomplete LAA closure and its clinical implications remain unclear. Multiple strategies are in development including changes in deployment techniques, a new device design, and alternative approaches to leak closure.