TBS as a Tool to Differentiate the Impact of Antiresorptives onCortical and Trabecular Bone in Children With OsteogenesisImperfecta

Introduction/Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta is a hereditary connective tissue disorder, resulting in low bone mass and high bone fragility. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and in adulthood also the trabecular bone score (TBS) are well established to assess bone health and fracture risk. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the usefulness of TBS in respect to different treatment regimes in children with osteogenesis imperfecta. Changes of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and TBS using DXA scans of children treated with antiresorptive therapies were evaluated. Methodology: DXA scans (aBMD, TBS) of 8 children with OI were evaluated. The scans were taken during a 1 yr period of treatment with bisphosphonates and during 1 yr pilot trial using denosumab. Changes of aBMD and TBS during both treatment regimens were compared. Results: During bisphosphonate treatment aBMD increased about 6.2%, while TBS increased about 2.1%. The difference between aBMD and TBS before and after bisphosphonate treatment was not significant (p?=?0.25). During denosumab treatment aBMD increased around 25.1%, while TBS increased 6.7%. The change of aBMD was significant (p?=?0.007), as was the difference between aBMD and TBS (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Denosumab had a significant effect on both aBMD and TBS but was significantly more pronounced in aBMD. These results suggest a stronger effect of denosumab on cortical bone and the growth plate in comparison to bisphosphonates. Beside the lack of paediatric reference data and the small sample size, the results suggest TBS to be a useful tool for monitoring skeletal changes during development, growth, and antiresorptive therapy in children with OI.     

Myxoma virus jumps species to the Iberian hare

The study of myxoma virus (MYXV) infections in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has produced one of the most accepted host–pathogen evolutionary models. To date, myxomatosis has been limited to the European rabbit with sporadic reports in hares. However, reports of widespread mortalities in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) with myxomatosis‐like clinical signs indicate a potential species jump has occurred. The presence of MYXV DNA was confirmed by PCR in 244 samples received from regional veterinary services, animal health laboratories, hunters or rangers over a 5‐month period. PCR analysis of 4 MYXV positive hare samples revealed a 2.8 kb insertion located within the M009 gene with respect to MYXV. The presence of this insertion was subsequently confirmed in 20 samples from 18 Spanish provinces. Sanger sequencing and subsequent analysis show that the insert contained 4 ORFs which are phylogenetically related to MYXV genes M060, M061, M064 and M065. The complete MYXV genome from hare tissue was sequenced using Ion torrent next‐generation technology and a summary of the data presented here. With the exception of the inserted region, the virus genome had no large scale modifications and 110 mutations with respect to the MYXV reference strain Lausanne were observed. The next phase in the evolution of MYXV has taken place as a host species jump from the European rabbit to the Iberian hare an occurrence which could have important effects on this naïve population.     

Hepatic hemangioendothelioma: CT,MR, and FDG-PET-CT in 67 patients—a bi-institutional comprehensive cancer center review

European Radiology - To evaluate the imaging features of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) on multiphasic CT, MR, and FDG-PET-CT. Bi-institutional review identified 67 adults (mean...     

Complications in Intermediate Uveitis: Prevalence,Time of Onset,and Effects on Vision in Short-Term and Long-Term Follow-Up

Purpose: To study the prevalence and time of onset of ocular complications in intermediate uveitis (IU) and to assess their effects on visual outcome in short-term and long-term follow-up.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with IU who had a minimal follow-up of one year.

Results: 96 patients (174 eyes, 70% females) were included with a mean age at presentation of 30 years. Children constituted 38% of all patients. Mean follow- up was 64.9 months. Pars planitis was the most common form followed by sarcoidosis and multiple sclerosis. Cystoid macular edema (CME), cataract, epiretinal membrane and posterior synechiae were the most prevalent complications. Posterior synechiae, band keratopathy, cataract and papillitis at presentation were associated with worse presenting visual acuity (VA). Of the late-onset complications, glaucoma/ocular hypertension (OHT) was the most significantly associated with worse long-term VA. Most sight-threatening complications (namely CME and glaucoma) were diagnosed at presentation while late complications predominantly affected the posterior segment and included among others peripheral retinal elevations, vasoproliferative tumors, and vitreous hemorrhage. Median LogMAR VA improved at short-term and long-term follow-up, from 0.2 to 0.1 (p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed significant VA improvement for eyes with all the different complications except for eyes with glaucoma/OHT.

Conclusion: IU is a chronic low-grade uveitis that may be associated with protean early and late complications of the anterior or posterior segments or both. Optimal treatment regimens are imperative for the strict control of inflammation and proper management of complications thus allowing a favorable long-term prognosis.     

Effect of preeclampsia on human milk cytokine levels

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a systemic inflammatory disease, and its effect on human milk immune components is poorly understood.

Objective: To investigate whether PE affects human milk cytokine levels.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving mothers diagnosed with PE and with singleton pregnancy with no fetal malformation. The following cases were excluded: diabetes, chorioamnionitis, use of illicit drugs and alcohol, mastitis and congenital infection. In total, 228 mothers were studied and divided into two groups matched by gestational age: PE (n?=?114) and normotensive (control, n?=?114). Colostrum was collected from 24–72?hours postpartum, and mature milk was collected at the end of the first month. Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α) were measured using flow cytometry. A generalized linear model with a gamma distribution was used to analyze the differences between groups versus time interaction.

Results: The mean gestational age was 36 weeks. Increased IL-1 and IL-6 levels and reduced IL-12 levels in the colostrum were detected in PE, while in the mature milk, the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were lower than those of the control group.

Conclusions: PE is associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in colostrum and decreased levels in mature milk.     

Space within the Scientific Discourse for the Voice of the Other? Expressions of Community Voice in the Scientific Discourse of Community-Based Participatory Research

ABSTRACT

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has captured public health attention and support because it is positioned as an approach that involves researchers and communities as equitable partners in addressing health disparities. However, it is unknown the extent to which CBPR creates a participatory space in the scientific discourse to signal “community voice,” which we define as textual expression of community-centered perspectives on collective roles, interests, and worldviews. In this study, we utilized the culture-centered approach to examine the expression of community voice in the abstracts and public health relevance statements of 253 extramural CBPR projects in the U.S. that received funding from the National Institute of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2009. We found that project abstracts and public health relevance statements contain four textual domains, or potential sites of contest to signal the articulation of community agency and voice within the CBPR projects. These domains include: 1) the rationale for the community health issue, 2) the roles of community partners, 3) community-centered outcomes of the partnership, and 4) elements of participatory research process. The degree of culture-centeredness of the texts is suggested in the extent to which articulations of community agency and voice are signaled across the four domains. We conclude that the dynamics of CBPR may shape culture-centered expressions of problem identification, solution configuration, structural transformations, reflexivity, values, and agency in the project abstracts and public health relevance statements.