The use of intravenous arsenicals in the treatment of cardiovascular syphilis

A clinical study on the effect of neoarsphenamine on the symptoms of patients with cardiovascular syphilis is presented. Symptomatic improvement is believed to be a neoarsphenamine effect in 57 per cent of the cases. Twelve per cent showed aggravation of symptoms; probable anatomical damage was produced in three patients. No cases of sudden death or aneurysmal rupture were noted. A higher percentage of improvement is noted in patients who have syphilitic aortitis without definite aneurysm or aortic regurgitation. If the drug is cautiously administered in small doses, patients functionally classed 2 b (American Heart Association) may be benefited by the drug.Improvement in the serological reactions of the blood does not always parallel the symptomatic improvement. Although the lives of patients with cardiovascular syphilis are perhaps prolonged by neoarsphenamine treatment, there is no evidence in any case studied which shows that the disease was permanently arrested.     

CDK13-related disorder: Report of a series of 18 previously unpublished individuals and description of an epigenetic signature

PurposeRare genetic variants in CDK13 are responsible for CDK13-related disorder (CDK13-RD), with main clinical features being developmental delay or intellectual disability, facial features, behavioral problems, congenital heart defect, and seizures. In this paper, we report 18 novel individuals with CDK13-RD and provide characterization of genome-wide DNA methylation.MethodsWe obtained clinical phenotype and neuropsychological data for 18 and 10 individuals, respectively, and compared this series with the literature. We also compared peripheral blood DNA methylation profiles in individuals with CDK13-RD, controls, and other neurodevelopmental disorders episignatures. Finally, we developed a support vector machine–based classifier distinguishing CDK13-RD and non–CDK13-RD samples.ResultsWe reported health and developmental parameters, clinical data, and neuropsychological profile of individuals with CDK13-RD. Genome-wide differential methylation analysis revealed a global hypomethylated profile in individuals with CDK13-RD in a highly sensitive and specific model that could aid in reclassifying variants of uncertain significance.ConclusionWe describe the novel features such as anxiety disorder, cryptorchidism, and disrupted sleep in CDK13-RD. We define a CDK13-RD DNA methylation episignature as a diagnostic tool and a defining functional feature of the evolving clinical presentation of this disorder. We also show overlap of the CDK13 DNA methylation profile in an individual with a functionally and clinically related CCNK-related disorder.     

A Retrospective Analysis of Non-Sharps-Related Injuries in a Dental School

ObjectivesWorkplace non-sharps injuries are a common occurrence in a dental school setting. In dentistry, the importance of preventing non-sharps injuries is often overlooked due to emphasis on sharps-related injuries. The aim of this research was to analyse the incidences of non-sharps injuries over an 11-year period in a dental school to identify trends and the possible causative factors for these injuries.MethodsInjury reports lodged with the University of Queensland Workplace Health and Safety databases between 2009 and 2019 were categorised and analysed.ResultsOf 1156 incidents reported, 35.7% (n = 413) were non-sharps injuries, and the most common type of non-sharps injury was general incidents (48.4%, n = 200). The most common body site for injury was the hands (19.4%, n = 80), and the most common location where an injury occurred was in clinical patient care (53.8%, n = 222). The personnel type most at risk of a non-sharps injury fluctuated between students and staff throughout the study period.ConclusionsAll personnel, including students and staff, are at similar risk of experiencing a non-sharps injury within a dental school setting. The equipment and facilities of a dental clinic as well as the level of adherence to safe working procedures are contributing factors. Continuous quality improvement is essential for minimising these injuries.Key words: Acute injury, Dental school, Workplace health and safety     

Association between breast cancer susceptibility loci and mammographic density: the Multiethnic Cohort

Introduction  

Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Our objective was to examine its association with polymorphisms identifying breast cancer susceptibility loci that were ascertained in recent genome-wide association studies.