Epidemiology and outcome of influenza‐associated infections among hospitalized patients with acute respiratory infections,Egypt national surveillance system, 2016‐2019

IntroductionEgypt has established different types of surveillance systems to monitor influenza activities, early detect outbreaks, and tailor efficient prevention and control strategies. This is the first study to describe epidemiology and outcome of influenza‐associated infections among hospitalized patients using the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) data, 2016‐2019.MethodsData reported from 284 hospitals all over Egypt were extracted from the NEDSS. Data of hospitalized patients with Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), 2016‐2019, were included in the analysis. Laboratory testing for influenza by RT‐PCR according to US CDC testing protocol was used to confirm influenza type and subtype.ResultsOverall 46 417 patients hospitalized with ARI were identified, their mean age was 30.9 ± 26 and 52.9% were males. Among 41 512 (89.4%) laboratory‐tested patients, 7167 (17.3%) were positive for one or more types of influenza viruses. Influenza viruses circulated in all ages and throughout the year, with higher rates in winter, late childhood, and middle ages. Mortality from influenza was significantly higher than other causes of ARIs (5.0% vs 3.8%, P < .001), and it was associated with older ages, December‐May, delay in hospital admission, residence in urban and frontier governorates and infection with A/H1N1 virus. The distribution of influenza subtype by time shows alternate pattern between A/H1N1 and H3N2, each subtype peaks every other year with a high peak of A/H1N1 in 2016.ConclusionsThe national Egyptian surveillance succeeded to describe the epidemiology of hospitalized patients with ARIs and influenza in Egypt over time. Surveillance with strain‐specific laboratory testing and annual assessment of associated severity might be useful to guide influenza prevention and control strategies including vaccination and case management.     

Three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography incremental value in a rare case of a bileaflet tricuspid valve

Detailed assessment of the tricuspid valve using two‐dimensional echocardiography is always challenging, as only two of three leaflets can be seen at a time. Three‐dimensional echocardiography can provide the enface view of the tricuspid valve that allows simultaneous visualization of all of the three leaflets. In a 42‐year‐old male patient scheduled for pulmonary endarterectomy, 3DTEE showed that the tricuspid valve is bileaflet, with one septal and another lateral leaflet. There were two commissures, one of them is anteriorly positioned and the other one is posterior. Our findings were confirmed intra‐operatively by direct surgical visualization of the tricuspid valve.     

Feasibility of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects in adults under transthoracic echocardiography guidance using the Figulla atrial septal defect occluder device

Background

Closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) among adults under transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidance using devices other than the Amplatzer Septal Occluder has not been extensively tested.

Management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis without antibiotics: a systematic review,meta-analysis,and meta-regression of predictors of treatment failure

Background

Diverticulitis is a common complication of diverticular disease of the colon. While complicated diverticulitis often warrants intervention, acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD) is usually managed conservatively. The aim of the present review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of conservative treatment of AUD without antibiotics compared to standard antibiotic treatment.

Methods

A systematic literature review in compliance with PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Electronic databases including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched. Studies that assessed efficacy and safety of treatment of AUD without antibiotics were included. Outcome parameters were rates of treatment failure, recurrence of diverticulitis, complications and mortality, readmission to hospital, and need for surgery.

Results

Nine studies including 2565 patients were included to the review. Of these patients, 65.1% were treated conservatively without antibiotics. Treatment failure was observed in 5.1% of patients not-given-antibiotic treatment versus 3.4% of those given antibiotic treatment. Recurrent diverticulitis occurred in 9.3% of patients in the non-antibiotic group versus 12.1% of patients in the antibiotic group. On meta-analysis of the studies, there were no significant differences between non-antibiotic and antibiotic treatment groups regarding rates of treatment failure (OR?=?1.5, p?=?0.06), recurrence of diverticulitis (OR?=?0.81, p?=?0.2), complications (OR?=?0.56, p?=?0.25), readmission rates (OR?=?0.97, p?=?0.91), need for surgery (OR?=?0.59, p?=?0.28), and mortality (OR?=?0.64, p?=?0.47). The only variable that was significantly associated with treatment failure in the non-antibiotic treatment group was associated comorbidities (standard error (SE) = ??0.07, 95% CI ??0.117 ??0.032; p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

Treatment of AUD without antibiotics is feasible, safe, and effective. Adding broad-spectrum antibiotics to the treatment regimen did not serve to decrease treatment failure, recurrence, complications, hospital readmissions, and need for surgery significantly compared to non-antibiotic treatment.

     

Medial collateral ligament healing in macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12)-deficient mice.

Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries heal by a wound repair scar response controlled by a complex cellular and cytokine environment. Many enzymes participate in wound repair, particularly the matrix metalloproteinases. We hypothesize macrophage metalloelastase (MME/MMP-12) deficiency results in impaired healing of MCL injury. One hundred fifty MME-deficient and 150 WT (MME+/+) mice underwent knee MCL transection with the opposite knee as a sham operated control. Mice were sacrificed at 3, 7, 28, 42, and 56 days. At each of the five time points, 15 mice were utilized for biological and 15 were utilized for biomechanical testing. Outcome measures were the presence of macrophages to represent the inflammatory phase of wound healing, collagen synthesis to assay for matrix repair, and biomechanical testing for repair strength. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated significantly fewer macrophages in cut MCLs from MME-deficient mice versus wild-type (WT) mice at 3, 7, 28, and 42 days (all p相似文献   

The relationship between the photoplethysmographic waveform and systemic vascular resistance

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between systemic vascular resistance (SVR), finger & ear photoplethysmographic measurements in 14 adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods Patients were monitored with photoplethysmographs of the finger and ear and continuous cardiac output (Q_T) via thermodilution catheter. The relationship between SVR, finger plethysmographic amplitude, width and ear plethysmographic amplitude, width was assessed with linear regression. Results The finger plethysmographic amplitude had a low correlation r value = −0.15, while finger plethysmographic width had a better correlation r value = 0.56. The correlation between SVR and ear plethysmographic amplitude and width were −0.24 and 0.62 respectively. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis the ear plethysmographic width had both better sensitivity and specificity than the finger plethysmographic width in identifying high and low SVR. Using a multiple regression analysis, SVR was estimated from the pulse oximeter waveforms: SVR calculated = 27.27 + (3978.53 × Ear pulse oximeter width) − (8.91 × Ear pulse oximeter area) + (1986.3 × Finger pulse oximeter width). Bland–Altman analysis was used the bias was 29.8 dynes s cm⁻⁵, standard deviation was 587.3, upper and lower limit of agreement were 1204.45, and −1144.8 dynes s cm⁻⁵ respectively. Conclusion The data indicate that pulse width of finger and ear plethysmographic tracing are more sensitive to changes in SVR than the other indices. An appreciation of changes in pulse width may provide valuable evidence with respect to changes in peripheral vascular tone. Awad AA, Haddadin AS, Tantawy H, Badr TM, Stout RG, Silverman DG, Shelley KH. The relationship between the photoplethysmographic waveform and systemic vascular resistance.     

The relationship of systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma with IVF treatment outcome and peripheral blood NK cells

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association of serum tumour necrotic factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels with IVF treatment outcome and peripheral blood NK cells. METHODS: Prospective observational study of 126 randomly selected women who underwent IVF treatment. The serum levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were determined by multiplex suspension beads array system. RESULTS: There were no significant differences with regard to the systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels between the pregnant (n = 51, TNF-alpha: 53.5 pg/mL; IFN-gamma: 4.6 pg/mL) and not pregnant (n = 75, TNF-alpha: 63.0; IFN-gamma: 7.5) women after IVF treatment. For those women with a positive pregnancy after IVF treatment, the systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels were higher in those women who miscarried (n = 13, TNF-alpha: 67.4; IFN-gamma: 9.1) when compared with those who had a live birth (n = 38, TNF-alpha: 48.7; IFN-gamma: 1.4), however this difference was not statistically significant. Interestingly, the systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels were significantly higher in women who had a higher level of activated (CD69(+)) NK cells (n = 39, TNF-alpha: 86.8; IFN-gamma: 4.7) when compared with women who had a low level of activated NK cells (n = 87, TNF-alpha: 46.9; IFN-gamma: 1.7 P = 0.028 and 0.045 respectively). CONCLUSION: The systemic levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma have no association with implantation rate or miscarriage rate in women undergoing IVF treatment. However, high levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma are associated with elevated levels of activated NK cells and this may subsequently exert a negative impact on reproduction.     

Investigation of the regenerative potential of necrotic mature teeth following different revascularisation protocols

This study aimed to assess the revascularisation potential of necrotic mature teeth in a dog model following different protocols. Periapical infection was induced in 54 mature premolars. Teeth were distributed into seven groups: (1) Double‐antibiotic‐paste/Blood clot, (2) Ciprofloxacin/collagen, (3) Double‐antibiotic‐paste/Collagen, (4) Modified Tri‐antibiotic‐paste /collagen, (5) Ciprofloxacin/Gelfoam, (6) Double‐antibiotic‐paste/Gelfoam, and (7) Modified Triantibiotic‐ paste/Gelfoam. Positive and negative controls included infected and healthy teeth, respectively, (n = 12 roots/group). Canals were apically shaped to size 0.6 mm then disinfected for 1 month. Intra‐canal bleeding was induced then scaffolds were applied for another month. Teeth and supporting bone were surgically sampled. Tissues were histologically scored and vimentin immuno‐intensity was estimated. Ciprofloxacin and Double‐antibiotic paste/Collagen resulted in significantly better corono‐apical tissue ingrowths, vascularity, cementum formation and significantly lower inflammatory extents (P < 0.05).These groups also showed significantly higher Vimentin intensities, (P < 0.05). The applied protocols revascularised necrotic mature canals and reduced inflammation particularly in the Ciprofloxacin/collagen and Double‐antibiotic‐paste/collagen groups.