Incorporation of second‐tier tests and secondary biomarkers to improve positive predictive value (PPV) rate in newborn metabolic screening program

BackgroundNowadays, neonatal screening has become an essential part of routine newborn care in the world. This is a non‐invasive evaluation that evaluated inborn errors of metabolisms (IEMs) using tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) for the evaluation of the baby''s risk of certain metabolic disorders.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted on 39987 Iranian newborns who were referred to Nilou Medical Laboratory, Tehran, Iran, for newborn screening programs of IEMs. We incorporated second‐tier tests and secondary biomarkers to improve positive predictive value (PPV).ResultsStatistical data were recorded via call interviewing in 6–8 months after their screening tests. The overall prevalence of IEM was 1:975. The mean age of all participants was 3.9 ± 1.1 days; 5.1% of participants were over 13 days and 7.7% were preterm or underweight. A total of 11384 (29.4%) of the cases were born in a consanguineous family. The type of delivery was the cesarean section in 8332 (51.3%) valid cases. The neonatal screening results had an overall negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% and the overall PPV of 40.2%. The false‐positive rate was 0.15%.ConclusionThis study showed a high incidence of metabolic disease due to a high rate of consanguineous marriages in Iran and indicated that incorporation of second‐tier tests and secondary biomarkers improves PPV of neonatal screening programs.     

Lyophilization of polyethylene glycol mixtures

Lyophilization of cosolvent systems may be a beneficial way of enhancing both physical and chemical stability of a drug product. The objective of this research is to establish whether cosolvent systems commonly used in the formulation of poorly water-soluble drugs can be successfully lyophilized. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 was selected because it is widely used and can be easily frozen. The addition of PEG 400 to commonly used bulking agents, such as mannitol, sucrose, or polyvinylpyrrolidone, caused a significant change in the thermal properties of the bulking agents as observed by modulated differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, PEG 8000 was evaluated as a bulking agent because it also can function as a cosolvent in solution and forms an acceptable cake after lyophilization. Addition of PEG 400 to PEG 8000 caused negligible changes in the thermogram of this bulking agent. Surprisingly, the combination of PEG 8000 and PEG 400 forms a solid lyophilized cake. The current system can be best described as the lyophilization of a miscible solution of PEG 8000 and PEG 400 resulting in a lyophile that has a crystalline structure of PEG 8000 which is able to support PEG 400.     

Elective single blastocyst transfer in women older than 35

A retrospective review of all patients older than 35 who underwent elective single blastocyst transfer was performed. Twenty-three of the 45 patients (51.1%) have an ongoing pregnancy or liveborn delivery, with a mean age of 37.3 years, demonstrating a clear role for elective single transfer in this relatively older IVF population.     

Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of selected commercially available cruciferous vegetables

Antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity and phenolic content of red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata rubra), Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis var cylindrica), green cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata), mustard cabbage (Brassica juncea var rugosa) and Chinese white cabbage (Brassica rapa var chinensis), grown in Malaysia, were evaluated. Red cabbage had the highest antioxidant activity and phenolic content compared to the other cruciferous vegetables studied (p < 0.05). The contributions of all cruciferous vegetables to the antioxidant activity was >79%. The radical scavenging activity was in the order of Chinese white cabbage > red cabbage > mustard cabbage > Chinese cabbage > green cabbage. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the means of scavenging activity observed between cabbage, Chinese cabbage and Chinese mustard. Phenolic content was significantly different (p < 0.05) among all the cruciferous vegetables studied, and was in the order of red cabbage > Chinese white cabbage > green cabbage > Chinese cabbage >mustard cabbage. The study indicated that red cabbage possessed the highest antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds concentration among all the cruciferous vegetables studied.     

Effect of Carbon Nanofibers on Physical,Adhesion and Rheological Properties of Liquid Epoxidized Natural Rubber Modified Asphalt

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on the performance of liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR)-modified asphalt. The physical, adhesion and rheological properties were determined by several tests such as penetration, elastic recovery, ring and ball softening point, Brookfield rotational viscometer, AFM and dynamic shear rheometer. LENR was used at concentrations of 3, 6, and 9%, while CNFs were used at contents of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5% by weight of asphalt. Conventional test results showed that the increases in LENR and LENR/CNFs composite contents in binder leads to an increase in the hardness and consistency and a reduction in the temperature susceptibility of base asphalt. Adhesion results revealed that the addition of CNFs significantly increases the adhesion and bonding properties of base and rubberized binders. Rheological properties analysis exhibited that LENR improved the viscoelastic properties and permanent deformation resistance of asphalt at different temperatures and frequencies. On the other hand, it was found that the addition of CNFs significantly improves the stiffness, elasticity, and hardness of LENR-modified binders. The 6% LENR and 0.4% CNFs were found to be the optimum to enhance the physical, adhesion, and rheological properties of asphalt in this study. Thus, it can be stated that the addition of CNFs is promising to improve the performance of rubberized binders for high temperature applications.     

European Headache Federation guideline on the use of monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene related peptide pathway for migraine prevention – 2022 update

BackgroundA previous European Headache Federation (EHF) guideline addressed the use of monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway to prevent migraine. Since then, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world evidence have expanded the evidence and knowledge for those treatments. Therefore, the EHF panel decided to provide an updated guideline on the use of those treatments.MethodsThe guideline was developed following the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The working group identified relevant questions, performed a systematic review and an analysis of the literature, assessed the quality of the available evidence, and wrote recommendations. Where the GRADE approach was not applicable, expert opinion was provided.ResultsWe found moderate to high quality of evidence to recommend eptinezumab, erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab in individuals with episodic and chronic migraine. For several important clinical questions, we found not enough evidence to provide evidence-based recommendations and guidance relied on experts’ opinion. Nevertheless, we provided updated suggestions regarding the long-term management of those treatments and their place with respect to the other migraine preventatives.ConclusionMonoclonal antibodies targeting the CGRP pathway are recommended for migraine prevention as they are effective and safe also in the long-term.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-022-01431-x.     

Surface-engineered liposomes for dual-drug delivery targeting strategy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

This study focused on the encapsulation of vancomycin(VAN) into liposomes coated with a red blood cell membrane with a targeting ligand, daptomycin–polyethylene glycol–1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, formed by conjugation of DAPT and Nhydroxysuccinimidyl-polyethylene glycol-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine.This formulation is capable of providing controlled and targeted drug delivery to the bacterial cytoplasm. We performed MALDI-TOF, NMR and FTIR analyses to conf...     

Pregnancy in the Sickle Cell Disease and Fetomaternal Outcomes in Different Sickle cell Genotypes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundPregnancy is a major concern among women with the sickle cell disease (SCD), and it is associated with increased adverse outcomes. The aim of the present meta-analysis is to report the fetomaternal outcomes in different sickle cell genotypes.MethodsIn this systematic review and meta-analysis, a comprehensive search of databases and search engines such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, Science Direct and Google Scholar were performed. Any observational studies that had compared at least one outcome such as maternal outcomes, fetal outcomes, and morbidity between two groups of pregnant women with different types of sickle cell genotypes and pregnant women without SCD were evaluated.ResultsA total number of 9,827 pregnant women with SCD were examined. The results showed that pregnancy in SCD increased the risk of adverse outcomes for the mothers (including postpartum hemorrhage, prematurity, pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, cesarean section, lower segment cesareansection, maternal death), fetus (including live births, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, APGAR score at 5 min <7, stillbirth, neonatal death, perinatal mortality, acute fetal distress, intrauterine fetal death) and morbidity among the SCD(severe anemia, urinary tract infection, blood transfusion, painful crisis, acute chest syndrome, vaso-occlusive crises).ConclusionAccording to the results of this meta-analysis, pregnancy in the SCD is associated with an increased risk of maternal outcomes, fetal outcomes, and morbidity among SCD patients with different genotypes. Pregnancy in sickle cell hemoglobinopathies needs careful multidisciplinary management and cautious caring so as to decrease maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.