Impact of modified-release opioid use on clinical outcomes following total hip and knee arthroplasty: a propensity score-matched cohort study

Modified-release opioids are often prescribed for the management of moderate to severe acute pain following total hip and knee arthroplasty, despite recommendations against their use due to increasing concerns regarding harm. The primary objective of this multicentre study was to examine the impact of modified-release opioid use on the incidence of opioid-related adverse events compared with immediate-release opioid use, among adult inpatients following total hip or knee arthroplasty. Data for total hip and knee arthroplasty inpatients receiving an opioid analgesic for postoperative analgesia during hospitalisation were collected from electronic medical records of three tertiary metropolitan hospitals in Australia. The primary outcome was the incidence of opioid-related adverse events during hospital admission. Patients who received modified with or without immediate-release opioids were matched to those receiving immediate-release opioids only (1:1) using nearest neighbour propensity score matching with patient and clinical characteristics as covariates. This included total opioid dose received. In the matched cohorts, patients given modified-release opioids (n = 347) experienced a higher incidence of opioid-related adverse events overall, compared with those given immediate-release opioids only (20.5%, 71/347 vs. 12.7%, 44/347; difference in proportions 7.8% [95%CI 2.3–13.3%]). Modified-release opioid use was associated with an increased risk of harm when used for acute pain during hospitalisation after total hip or knee arthroplasty.     

Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1在创伤性骨折下肢静脉栓塞中的预测价值

目的分析同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)、溶血磷脂酸(LPA)及转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)在创伤性骨折下肢静脉栓塞中的预测价值。方法选取2019年3月至2020年2月商丘市第一人民医院收治的104例创伤性骨折者(观察组),根据有无DVT:有DVT组33例,无DVT组71例;根据创伤严重程度:轻度组61例,重度组43例。另选取本院同期92例健康体检者设为对照组。比较不同人群、不同病情程度以及有无DVT者血浆Hcy、LPA及血清TGF-β1水平,分析Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1对DVT的预测价值。结果观察组Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1表达水平均明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。重度组Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1表达水平明显高于轻度组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。有DVT组者Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1表达水平明显高于无DVT组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。依据ROC曲线分析可知,Hcy+LPA+TGF-β1三者联合预测创伤性骨折后发生DVT敏感度和特异度分别为88.90%、8130%,明显高于三者单独检测(P<0.05)。结论Hcy、LPA及TGF-β1在创伤性骨折发生下肢静脉栓塞时水平均明显升高,三者联合检测对下肢静脉栓塞早期诊断有重要的临床价值。     

Immunotherapy: A new standard in the treatment of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell cancer (RCC) represents 2%-3% of all adulthood cancers and is the most common malignant neoplasm of the kidney (90%). In the mid-nineties of the last century, the standard of treatment for patients with metastatic RCC was cytokines. Sunititib and pazopanib were registered in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and have since been the standard first-line treatment for metastatic clear cell RCC (mccRCC). Renal cell cancer is a highly immunogenic tumor with tumor infiltrating cells, including CD8+ T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells (NK) and macrophages. This observation led to the design of new clinical trials in which patients were treated with immunotherapy. With the growing evidence that proangiogenic factors can have immunomodulatory effects on the host’s immune system, the idea of combining angiogenic drugs with immunotherapy has emerged, and new clinical trials have been designed. In the last few years, several therapeutic options have been approved [immunotherapy and immunotherapy/tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI)] for the first-line treatment of mccRCC. Nivolumab/ipilimumab is approved for the treatment of patients with intermediate and poor prognoses. Several checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, avelumab) in combination with TKI (axitinib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib) are approved for the treatment of patients regardless of their International mRCC Database Consortium prognostic group and PD-L1 expression. There is no specific and ideal biomarker that could help in selecting the ideal patient for the appropriate first-line treatment.     

CNS Maturation Process in Children and Adolescents in the Northern Region of the Russian Federation and Its Reflection in the Dynamics of Integral EEG Parameters

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology - We present here results from analysis of the formation of brain bioelectrical activity in children and adolescents living in the northern region of Russia...     

Bacterial and fungal co-infection is a major barrier in COVID-19 patients: A specific management and therapeutic strategy is required

Microbial co-infections are another primary concern in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet it is an untouched area among researchers. Preliminary data and systematic reviews only show the type of pathogens responsible for that, but its pathophysiology is still unknown. Studies show that these microbial co-infections are hospital-acquired/nosocomial infections, and patients admitted to intensive care units with invasive mechanical ventilation are highly susceptible to it. Patients with COVID-19 had elevated inflammatory cytokines and a weakened cell-mediated immune response, with lower CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cell counts, indicating vulnerability to various co-infections. Despite this, there are only a few studies that recommend the management of co-infections.