Compliance to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination

We evaluated compliance to the ACIP pneumococcal vaccination recommendations issued in 2014 for adults aged ≥ 65 years and in 2012 for adults with high-risk (HR) conditions. The MarketScan® Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases (January 2007-June 2019) were used to identify the cohorts of interest. Analyses for adults aged ≥ 65 years were adjusted to account for missing vaccination history. Two HR cohorts were identified. The HR1 cohort included patients with immunocompromising conditions, functional or anatomic asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or cochlear implant. The HR2 cohort included patients with chronic heart, lung, or liver disease; diabetes mellitus; alcoholism; cirrhosis; or cigarette smoking. Full compliance for those aged ≥ 65 years or in the HR1 cohort was defined as receipt of PCV13 and PPSV23, and partial compliance was defined as receipt of PCV13 or PPSV23. For those in the HR2 cohort, full compliance was defined as receipt of PPSV23. Annual compliance rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.Among those aged ≥ 65 years, partial compliance at 4 years post index was 53% and full compliance was 17% in adjusted analyses. In subjects ≥ 65 years receiving the first vaccination, 42% received the second vaccination by year 4. For the HR1 cohort, partial compliance was 19% and full compliance was 5% at 6 years post index date. For the HR2 cohort, full compliance was 20% at 6 years, with the highest rate in patients with diabetes (27%) and the lowest rate in patients with alcoholism (8%).Additional efforts are needed to maximize compliance to the ACIP pneumococcal vaccine recommendations among adults ≥ 65 years of age and adults with HR conditions including streamlined recommendations and single-dose vaccines. These efforts may subsequently reduce the incidence and burden of pneumococcal disease.     

Safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373 (TAK-019) vaccine in healthy Japanese adults: Interim report of a phase I/II randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWe evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373, a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nanoparticle vaccine, in healthy Japanese participants.MethodsThis phase 1/2, randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Japan (two sites), enrolled healthy Japanese adults aged ≥ 20 years with no history/risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and no prior exposure to other approved/investigational SARS-CoV-2 vaccines or treatments. Participants were stratified by age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years) and randomized to receive two doses of either NVX-CoV2373 (5 μg SARS-CoV-2 rS; 50 μg Matrix-M1) or placebo, 21 days apart. Primary outcomes were safety and immunogenicity assessed by serum IgG antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 rS protein on day 36. Herein, we report the primary data analysis at 4 weeks after the second dose, ahead of 12-month follow-up completion (data cut-off: 8 May 2021).ResultsBetween 12 February 2021 and 17 March 2021, 326 subjects were screened, and 200 participants enrolled and randomized: NVX-CoV2373, n = 150; placebo, n = 50. Solicited adverse events (AEs) through 7 days after each injection occurred in 121/150 (80.7%) and 11/50 (22.0%) participants in the NVX-CoV2373 and placebo arms, respectively. In the NVX-CoV2373 arm, tenderness and injection site pain were the most frequently reported solicited AEs after each vaccination, irrespective of age. Robust immune responses occurred with NVX-CoV2373 (n = 150) by day 36: IgG geometric mean fold rise (95% confidence interval) 259 (219, 306); seroconversion rate 100% (97.6, 100). No such response occurred with placebo (n = 49).ConclusionTwo doses of NVX-CoV2373 given with a 21-day interval demonstrated acceptable safety and induced robust anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune responses in healthy Japanese adults. Funding: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04712110.     

Prevalence of periodontitis based on retrospective radiographic evaluation at dental hospital in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A retrospective study

ObjectivesThe contemporary information on the prevalence of periodontitis and associated risk factors is deficient in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our aim was to measure the prevalence of periodontitis and associated risk factors among the Saudi population in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia who visited the University Dental Hospital.MethodsIn this retrospective study, the demographic data and medical and dental records of 700 subjects were examined. Bitewing radiographs were analyzed to measure the alveolar bone loss in posterior teeth by measuring the distance between the cementoenamel junction and the crest of the alveolar bone. A chi-square test was performed to compare the severity of periodontitis. A comparison of multivariate mean bone loss was performed using a t-test. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictors of periodontitis. A P-value equal to or under 0.05 reflected statistical significance.ResultsAmong 700 cases, the patients’ mean age was 35.6 ± 12.1; 52.6 % were male and 47.4 % were female. Overall periodontitis prevalence was 52.1 %. The distribution of mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis prevalence was 36.1 %, 14.1 %, and 1.8 %, respectively. The severity of periodontitis was statistically similar between males and females (p = 0.148); however, significantly more Saudi than non-Saudi patients had moderate periodontitis. Higher proportions of severe periodontitis were seen in the age group of over 50-years-old (p < 0.001) and in patients with poor oral hygiene (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.005), and hypertension (p < 0.002). Six total predictors of periodontitis were depicted, i.e., age > 50 years (OR = 3.73), poor OH status (OR = 2.24), BOP (OR = 3.35), presence of plaque (OR = 2.61), diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.19), and hypertension (OR = 3.62).ConclusionThe primary factors associated with the prevalence of periodontitis were age, nationality, diabetes, hypertension, BOP, plaque, and OH status. However, no association was observed between gender or cardiovascular disease and the prevalence of periodontitis in the studied population.     

Incidence and risk factors for Chyle leak after pancreatic surgery for cancer: A comprehensive systematic review

BackgroundChyle leak (CL) is a clinically relevant complication after pancreatectomy. Its incidence and the associated risk factors are ill defined, and various treatments options have been described. There is no consensus, however, regarding optimal management. The present study aims to systematically review the literature on CL after pancreatectomy.MethodsA systematic review from PubMed, Scopus and Embase database was performed. Studies using a clear definition for CL and published from January 2000 to January 2021 were included. The PRISMA guidelines were followed during all stages of this systematic review. The MINORS score was used to assess methodological quality.ResultsLiterature search found 361 reports, 99 of which were duplicates. The titles and abstracts of 262 articles were finally screened. The references from the remaining 181 articles were manually assessed. After the exclusions, 43 articles were thoroughly assessed. A total of 23 articles were ultimately included for this review. The number of patients varied from 54 to 3532. Incidence of post pancreatectomy CL varied from 1.3% to 22.1%. Main risk factors were the extent of the surgery and early oral or enteral feeding. CL dried up spontaneously or after conservative management within 14 days in 53% to 100% of the cases.ConclusionsThe extent of surgery is the most common predictor of risk of CL. Conservative treatment has been shown to be effective in most cases and can be considered the treatment of choice. We propose a management algorithm based on the current available evidence.     

What is the impact of zinc deficiency for pancreatectomies in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma?

Backgroundand purpose: Zinc is an essential element for human health and plays an important role in metabolic, immunological and other biological processes. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between zinc deficiency (ZD) and the perioperative clinical course in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).MethodsOf 216 patients with PDAC who underwent elective pancreatectomy between 2013 and 2017 at our institution, 206 patients with sufficient clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. The perioperative variables were compared and the risk factors associated with infectious complications were identified.ResultsZD was preoperatively present in 36 (17.5%) of 206 patients with PDAC. In the patients of the ZD group, a higher proportion of males, higher preoperative modified Glasgow prognostic scores, a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and a higher occurrence of postoperative infectious complications after pancreatectomy were observed, compared to the non-ZD group. By a univariate analysis, three risk factors were significantly associated with infectious complications after pancreatectomy: ZD (vs non-ZD: p = 0.002), serum albumin <3.5 g/dl (vs ≥ 3.5 g/dl: p = 0.005), and the procedure of pancreaticoduodenectomy (vs others: p = 0.013). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the occurrence of infectious complications was significantly associated with ZD (OR 3.430, 95%CI 1.570 to 7.490, p = 0.002) and the procedure of pancreaticoduodenectomy (OR 2.030, 95%CI 1.090 to 3.770, p = 0.025).ConclusionsThe current study newly demonstrated that ZD could serve as a preoperative predictor of infectious complications after pancreatectomies in the patients with PDAC.     

综合提醒系统对脑卒中患者出院6个月知信行和临床结局的效果

目的 探讨健康信念综合提醒系统对脑卒中患者出院后6个月健康知识、信念、行为、卫生服务利用情况及临床结局的效果。方法 2015年2月至2016年3月,方便抽样广州市3家综合医院高血压并发缺血性脑卒中出院患者174例,分为对照组(n = 87)和干预组(n = 87)。对照组予常规健康教育;干预组在此基础上采用“基于健康信念模式的综合提醒系统”进行健康教育和延续护理。出院6个月后,采用脑卒中健康知识问卷(SKQ)、脑卒中患者健康信念简表(SF-HBMS-SP)和脑卒中健康行为量表(HBS-SP)进行调查,并记录临床结局(急诊就诊、再住院、复发和死亡)。结果 对照组75例、干预组76例完成调查。干预组SKQ (U = 903.000)、SF-HBMS-SP (t = -9.099)和HBS-SP (t = -7.786)总分均显著高于对照组(P < 0.001)。干预组门诊复诊率(97.37%)显著高于对照组(76.00%) ( P <0.001);两组急诊就诊数和再住院数无显著性差异(P > 0.05),死亡和复发率无显著性差异( P > 0.05)。 结论 健康信念综合提醒系统能提高脑卒中患者出院后健康知识、信念、行为和门诊复诊率,但尚未对临床结局产生明显效果。     

《经穴解》学术特色及学术影响探析

《经穴解》为明末清初齐鲁针灸医家岳含珍所著,全书学术特色鲜明:从分经辨证、病候辨证、人迎寸口脉辨证三方面了阐述了经络辨证的价值,积极探讨经络与脏腑之间的联系。注重经络辨证与脏腑辨证相结合;从腧穴的主治功能、经脉循行交会与气血盛衰的关系、地理方位等多角度对书中穴名进行解释,可以窥探分析穴位的气血盛衰,提供了认知腧穴的基本思路;以“五脏互藏”理论为指导阐述腧穴主治病证,体现了其从整体辨证论治、注重经络与脏腑关联的学术特点,揭示了脏腑之间的复杂联系。该书论述全面细致,阐释深入简出,为现代针灸临床提供借鉴,促进了齐鲁医学的传承与发展。     

大柴胡汤加味联合西药治疗肥胖型2型糖尿病的临床疗效及对患者胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的:观察大柴胡汤加味联合西药治疗肥胖型2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)的临床疗效及对患者胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法:选取2018年3月至2019年3月本院治疗的肥胖型T2DM患者104例,依据随机对照原则分为对照组和试验组,每组52例。对照组给予常规西药治疗,试验组在对照组治疗的基础上加用大柴胡汤加味治疗。结果:试验组总改善率为88.46%,对照组总改善率为73.08%,试验组高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);试验组治疗后胃脘胀满、胸肋胀闷、心烦易怒、口干口苦、体型肥胖、大便秘结等中医证候积分均显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);试验组患者治疗后空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖、糖化血红蛋白、体质量指数均显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);试验组治疗后胰岛素抵抗指数低于对照组,胰岛素敏感指数、β-细胞功能指数均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:大柴胡汤加味联合西药治疗肥胖型T2DM,可明显改善患者血糖控制效果和胰岛功能。