COVID-19 pandemic reduces the negative perception of oral health-related quality of life in adolescents

Quality of Life Research - As people around the world are facing the Covid-19 outbreak, their perception of oral health problems could be changed. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects...     

Primary gastric lymphoid proliferations: immunological criteria to distinguish gastric lymphoma from reactive hyperplasia.

A group of six patients with a marked gastric lymphoid "hyperplasia", two of these with generalised lymphoma and the others suspected for primary gastric lymphoma, were investigated to discriminate between simple reactive hyperplasias and lymphomatous proliferations. Microscopical and ultrastructural examinations were not useful for this purpose but immunological data can give evidence of a two-fold nature of gastric lymphoid hyperplasia. Some cases are without immunological disorders, others are met with peripheral blood signs of immunological alterations similar to those observed in malignant lymphomas and in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Only these latter cases should, in our opinion, be regarded as primitive gastric lymphomas.     

Ablação por Cateter é Superior a Drogas Antiarrítmicas como Tratamento de primeira linha para Fibrilação Atrial: uma Revisão Sistemática e Metanálise

BackgroundCatheter ablation is a well-established therapy for rhythm control in patients who are refractory or intolerant to anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD). Less is known about the efficacy of catheter ablation compared with AAD as a first-line strategy for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF).ObjectivesWe aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of catheter ablation vs. AAD in patients naïve to prior rhythm control therapies.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials that compared catheter ablation to AAD for initial rhythm control in symptomatic AF and reported the outcomes of (1) recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs); (2) symptomatic AF; (3) hospitalizations; and (4) symptomatic bradycardia. Heterogeneity was examined with I²statistics. P values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsWe included five trials with 994 patients, of whom 502 (50.5%) underwent catheter ablation. Mean follow-up ranged from one to five years. Recurrences of AT (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.25-0.52; p<0.001) and symptomatic AF (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.18-0.57; p<0.001), and hospitalizations (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.15-0.42; p<0.001) were significantly less frequent in patients treated with catheter ablation compared with AAD. Symptomatic bradycardia was not significantly different between groups (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.18-1.65; p=0.28). Significant pericardial effusions or tamponade occurred in eight of 464 (1.7%) patients in the catheter ablation group.ConclusionThese findings suggest that catheter ablation has superior efficacy to AAD as an initial rhythm control strategy in patients with symptomatic AF.     

Tisotumab vedotin in Japanese patients with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer: Results from the innovaTV 206 study

New treatments, particularly second‐line options, are needed to improve outcomes for patients with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer (r/mCC). Tisotumab vedotin (TV) is an antibody–drug conjugate directed to tissue factor, a transmembrane protein commonly expressed in cancer cells, to deliver cytotoxic monomethyl auristatin E. This single‐arm, open‐label phase 1/2 trial evaluated the consistency of safety and efficacy outcomes of TV in Japanese patients with r/mCC to bridge the current findings with those reported in previous trials in non‐Japanese patients in the United States and Europe. In part 1 (dose escalation; N = 6), patients with advanced solid tumors received TV 1.5 or 2.0 mg/kg once every 3 weeks to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Part 2 (dose expansion; N = 17) evaluated the RP2D in r/mCC patients with 1–2 prior lines of therapy. In part 1, no dose‐limiting toxicities were observed, the MTD was not reached, and TV 2.0 mg/kg was established as the RP2D. In part 2, the most common treatment‐emergent adverse events were anemia (58.8%), nausea (58.8%), alopecia (47.1%), epistaxis (47.1%), and diarrhea (35.3%); adverse events of special interest were bleeding (76.5%), ocular events (35.3%), and peripheral neuropathy (17.6%), and were mostly grade 1/2. In part 2, confirmed objective response rate was 29.4%, median duration of response was 7.1 months, and median time to response was 1.2 months. In Japanese patients with r/mCC, TV demonstrated a manageable and tolerable safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy profile consistent with that observed in non‐Japanese patients.     

Effectiveness of fetal fibronectin testing compared with digital cervical assessment of women with preterm contractions

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of fetal fibronectin (FFN) compared to assessment of cervical dilation (CD) in clinical management of women with symptomatic preterm labor (PTL). Pregnant women presenting to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital between May 1, 2001 and November 30, 2002 with symptomatic PTL underwent FFN sampling and had a complete clinical evaluation including a pelvic bimanual examination. Inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancy, gestational age (GA) between 24 (0) and 33 (6) weeks, CD < 3 cm, and intact amniotic membranes. FFN samples were sent out and results were available within 4-12 hours. Clinical management including tocolysis, antenatal steroids, and hospitalization was determined based on digital CD assessment and FFN status. A dilated cervix was defined as CD > 1 cm. Ninety-three patients were included. Spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) at < 37 weeks occurred in 20 of 93 (21.5%) patients. Medical therapy use was significantly higher in patients with dilated cervix than in those with a closed cervix (all P values < 0.05). Tocolysis and steroid use in FFN-negative patients and FFN-positive patients were not significantly different. Furthermore, tocolytic use was higher in FFN-negative patients than in women with positive FFN (50% versus 42.1%; P = 0.53). Use of antenatal steroids was similar in patients with CD >/= 1 cm and a positive FFN (54.5% versus 47.4%; P = 0.92). Compared with FFN-negative patients, women with closed cervix were less likely to undergo interventions. In symptomatic PTL patients, CD determined clinical management more than FFN status. Overall, the use of FFN was not effective in decreasing "unnecessary" clinical interventions.     

Agar Biopolymer Films for Biodegradable Packaging: A Reference Dataset for Exploring the Limits of Mechanical Performance

This article focuses on agar biopolymer films that offer promise for developing biodegradable packaging, an important solution for reducing plastics pollution. At present there is a lack of data on the mechanical performance of agar biopolymer films using a simple plasticizer. This study takes a Design of Experiments approach to analyze how agar-glycerin biopolymer films perform across a range of ingredients concentrations in terms of their strength, elasticity, and ductility. Our results demonstrate that by systematically varying the quantity of agar and glycerin, tensile properties can be achieved that are comparable to agar-based materials with more complex formulations. Not only does our study significantly broaden the amount of data available on the range of mechanical performance that can be achieved with simple agar biopolymer films, but the data can also be used to guide further optimization efforts that start with a basic formulation that performs well on certain property dimensions. We also find that select formulations have similar tensile properties to thermoplastic starch (TPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polypropylene (PP), indicating potential suitability for select packaging applications. We use our experimental dataset to train a neural network regression model that predicts the Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at break of agar biopolymer films given their composition. Our findings support the development of further data-driven design and fabrication workflows.     

A Sustainable Cold-Recycled Solution for the Surface Finishing of Unpaved Rural Roads

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation which was carried out with the purpose of assessing the performance-related properties of an emulsion-based cold-recycled mixture to be employed as a sustainable solution for the surface finishing of unpaved rural roads. This mixture contained significant quantities of recycled components (reclaimed asphalt and mineral sludge), and its composition was fine-tuned by following an innovative mix design procedure. Properties of these mixtures were studied by means of laboratory tests which considered key parameters, such as flowability, indirect tensile stiffness modulus, indirect tensile strength, moisture susceptibility and resistance to permanent deformation. It was found that, by means of the proposed mix design procedure, optimal dosages of the recycled components can be identified, thereby ensuring the achievement of the desired properties in terms of high workability and adequate stiffness and strength.     

Longitudinal Nutritional Intakes in Italian Pregnant Women in Comparison with National Nutritional Guidelines

Background: Nutritional quality during pregnancy is crucial for mother and child health and their short/long-term outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the adherence to nutritional recommendations in Italy during the three pregnancy trimesters in Normal Weight (NW) and Over Weight (OW) women. Methods: Data from a multicenter randomized controlled trial included 176 women (NW = 133; OW = 43) with healthy singleton pregnancies enrolled within 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. Dietary intake was assessed every trimester by a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results: OW and NW had similar gestational weight gain. However, as Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommend lower gestational weight gain (GWG) for OW, they exceeded the suggested range. In both groups, caloric intake during the three trimesters never met recommendations. Protein intake in first and second trimester was higher than recommendations, as was sugars percentage. Dietary fiber intake was lower in OW. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron and folic acid requirements were never satisfied, while sodium intake exceeded recommendations. Conclusions: NW and OW women in Italy do not adhere to nutritional recommendations during pregnancy, with lower caloric intake, protein and sugars excess and inadequacies in micronutrients intake. Pregnant women in Italy should be provided with an adequate counseling and educational intervention as well as supplementation when indicated.     

Acute Effects of Caffeine on Overall Performance in Basketball Players—A Systematic Review

Caffeine supplementation has become increasingly popular among athletes. The benefits of caffeine include delaying the negative effects of fatigue, maintaining a high level of physical and mental performance, and improving certain abilities necessary for sport success. Given the complex nature of basketball, caffeine could be a legal, ergogenic stimulant substance, which will positively affect overall basketball performance. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize evidence for the effect of acute caffeine ingestion on variables related to the basketball performance. Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and ProQuest, MEDLINE, and ERIC databases were searched up to February 2021. Studies that measured the acute effect of caffeine on basketball performance were included and analyzed. Eight studies published between 2000 and 2021 were included in the analysis. Pre-exercise caffeine intake increased vertical jump height, running time at 10 and 20 m without the ball, overall basketball performance (number of body impacts, number of free throws, rebounds, and assists) during simulated games, and reduced the time required to perform a basketball-specific agility test. Equivocal results between caffeine and placebo groups were found for aerobic capacity, free throw and three-point accuracy, and dribbling speed. Pre-exercise caffeine ingestion did not affect RPE, but insomnia and urinary excretion were increased. The pre-exercise ingestion of 3 and 6 mg/kg caffeine was found to be effective in increasing several physical performance variables in basketball players during sport-specific testing and simulated matches. However, considering the intermittent nature and complexity of basketball, and individual differences between players, future studies are needed.