Combined evaluation of regional coronary artery calcium and myocardial perfusion by 82Rb PET/CT in predicting lesion-related outcome

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - Cardiac imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) allows measurement of coronary artery calcium (CAC),...     

Syndemic and syndemogenesis of low back pain in Latin-American population: a network and cluster analysis

Clinical Rheumatology - Although low back pain (LBP) is a high-impact health condition, its burden has not been examined from the syndemic perspective. To compare and assess clinical,...     

Successful use of the Impella Recover LP 5.0 device for circulatory support during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

INTRODUCTION

Surgical coronary revascularization is being performed with ever increasing frequency in patients at high surgical risk. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) is particularly appealing in such subjects, but may limit the options for concomitant mechanical circulatory support.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We hereby report an original case of mechanical circulatory support with the Impella Recover LP 5.0 device during OPCABG in a 61-year-old gentleman with multiple comorbidities and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Specifically, the soft tipped device did not impede surgical manipulation of the heart during the surgical procedure, providing uninterrupted circulatory support to the patient.

DISCUSSION

This clinical vignette supports the feasibility, safety and efficacy of the Impella Recover LP 5.0 device in patients undergoing OPCABG.

CONCLUSION

Pending further studies, use of the Impella Recover LP 5.0 device can be envisioned safely for OPCABG.     

Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Breast Milk in Guerrero,Mexico

In Mexico, organochlorine pesticides were used in public health and agriculture programs, causing chronic exposure to the population. Human breast milk samples were collected from 171 mothers who were residents from Guerrero, Mexico. Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography. Median concentrations (mg/kg on fat basis) for the following pesticides were: HCB, 0.009; β-HCH, 0.004; pp’DDE, 0.760; op’DDT, 0.016; pp’DDT, 0.045; and Σ-DDT, 0.833. These values are lower than in other States in Mexico, and in some countries where the use of these pesticides was banned more than 30 years ago. Differences were found in HCB, pp’DDE and pp’DDT concentrations in groups divided according to age (p < 0.05). The older age groups had higher concentrations, except for the comparison between groups 21–23/24–28 years, which were 0.913 and 0.530 mg/kg of pp’DDE, respectively. Given the restrictions on use, a greater decrease in organochlorine pesticide levels in human milk is expected in a few years.     

Tracking of physical activity during adolescence: the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort,Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To analyze physical activity during adolescence in participants of the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study, Brazil.

METHODS

Data on leisure time physical activity at 11, 15, and 18 years of age were analyzed. At each visit, a cut-off point of 300 min/week was used to classify adolescents as active or inactive. A total of 3,736 participants provided data on physical activity at each of the three age points.

RESULTS

A significant decline in the proportion of active adolescents was observed from 11 to 18 years of age, particularly among girls (from 32.9% to 21.7%). The proportions of girls and boys who were active at all three age points were 28.0% and 55.1%, respectively. After adjustment for sex, economic status, and skin color, participants who were active at 11 and 15 years of age were 58.0% more likely to be active at 18 years of age compared with those who were inactive at 11 and 15 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity declined during adolescence and inactivity tended to track over time. Our findings reinforce the need to promote physical activity at early stages of life, because active behavior established early tends to be maintained over time.     

First assessment of classical swine fever marker vaccine candidate CP7_E2alf for oral immunization of wild boar under field conditions

Oral vaccination against classical swine fever (CSF) is a potent tool to control disease outbreaks in wild boar. So far, vaccination campaigns have been carried out using live attenuated vaccines that do not allow serological differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). Although this drawback is acceptable for wild boar, the use of marker vaccines would facilitate studies on disease and vaccination dynamics. Recently, the CSF marker vaccine candidate CP7_E2alf was assessed for oral immunization under laboratory conditions. Promising results prompted efforts to study the vaccine candidate under field conditions and in bait formulation. In this context, two oral vaccination campaigns were carried out with CP7_E2alf bait vaccines in two areas called ‘faunistic-hunting farms’ in the region of Umbria, Italy. One campaign was conducted using single vaccination, the second with the routinely employed double vaccination strategy. Both campaigns were carried out before concerted hunting actions were performed. Bait uptake, vaccine virus detection and antibody responses were assessed along with inspections upon gutting. As a comparator, seven wild boar were hand-fed with baits under laboratory conditions. In the field, bait uptake ranged from 63.7% to 98.7%, whereas antibody prevalence reached only 33.3–35.1%. The marker serology showed a strong influence of sample quality on the test outcome with a total of 85% of samples being classified correctly. Vaccine virus was not detectable. Under hand feeding conditions, six out of seven wild boar took up at least one bait, and five of them showed detectable antibody levels seven weeks after vaccination. These results were supplemented by stability tests. Appropriate stability of vaccine virus was shown both under field and laboratory conditions. In total, most results were in line with our expectations. However, optimization of the DIVA assay has to be attempted in the future.     

Exploring mucosal immunization with a recombinant influenza virus carrying an HIV-polyepitope in mice with pre-existing immunity to influenza

HIV-1 vaccines based on recombinant vectors have been developed to elicit immune responses; however, the failure of the STEP HIV-1 vaccine trial has caused concern regarding the impact on vaccine efficacy of pre-existing vector seropositivity in humans. By using a mouse model of infection, we evaluated the immune responses elicited by intranasal and vaginal immunization with the recombinant influenza virus WSN/CKG carrying the PCLUS3-P18 peptide and a Gag epitope in its hemagglutinin, and the impact of pre-existing vector immunity on protection against recombinant vaccinia virus challenge. We found that despite the protective immunity induced in naïve mice by the WSN/CKG virus via either route, the vaginal immunization of mice with pre-existing influenza immunity restricted vPE16 replication more significantly in the ovaries than intranasal immunization. Thus, successful vaccination strategies under limiting conditions, such as pre-existing vector immunity, require the local induction of mucosal immunity at the site of virus infection.     

Co-administration of tilapia alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides with subunit antigens boost immunogenicity in mice and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Modern vaccines based on purified recombinant antigens have improved their safety; however they induce a suboptimal immune response without the help of adjuvants. Consequently, the development of new adjuvants to enhance the immunogenicity of purified subunit antigens and modulate resulting immune responses is of great interest. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of antimicrobial peptides Oreochromicins previously isolated from tilapia Oreochromis niloticus to enhance adaptive immune responses in mice and tilapia. When co-administrated with ovalbumin in mice, Oreochromicin-1 induced a T_H1 humoral immune response. Oreochromicin-2 and 3 induce a T_H1 cellular immune response characterized by the induction of interferon-γ in a dose depend manner. Additionally, co-administration of Oreochromicin-1 with the sea lice my32 from Lepeophtheirus salmonis antigen (my32-Ls) increases the humoral immune response in mice and tilapia. We also tested different combinations of these Oreochromicins with the sea lice antigen my32-Ls in mice. Humoral and cellular T_H1 responses were enhanced by co-administration of my32-Ls/Oreochromicin-3 and the combination my32-Ls/Oreochromicin-2/3. In agreement with these results, Oreochromicin-1 and 3 enhanced in vitro T_H1 cytokine IFN-γ production in Concanavalin A primed splenocytes from naïve mice after a 48 h incubation period. In summary, the results showed that tilapia alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides Oreochromicins are able to boost immune response in mammals and fish, encouraging their use as T_H1 molecular adjuvants to subunit antigens.     

The use of handheld near-infrared device (Infrascanner) for detecting intracranial haemorrhages in children with minor head injury

Objective

A handheld device using near-infrared technology (Infrascanner) has shown good accuracy for detection of traumatic intracranial haemorrhages in adults. This study aims to determine the feasibility of use of Infrascanner in children with minor head injury (MHI) in the Emergency Department (ED). Secondary aim was to assess its potential usefulness to reduce CT scan rate.

Methods

Prospective pilot study conducted in two paediatric EDs, including children at high or intermediate risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) according to the adapted PECARN rule in use. Completion of Infrascanner measurements and time to completion were recorded. Decision on CT scan and CT scan reporting were performed independently and blinded to Infrascanner results.

Results

Completion of the Infrascanner measurement was successfully achieved in 103 (94 %) of 110 patients enrolled, after a mean of 4.4?±?2.9 min. A CT scan was performed in 18 (17.5 %) children. Only one had an intracranial haemorrhage that was correctly identified by the Infrascanner. The exploratory analysis showed a specificity of 93 % (95 % CI, 86.5–96.6) and a negative predictive value of 100 % (95 % CI, 81.6–100) for ciTBI. The use of Infrascanner would have led to avoid ten CT scan, reducing the CT scan rate by 58.8 %.

Conclusions

Infrascanner seems an easy-to-use tool for children presenting to the ED following a MHI, given the high completion rate and short time to completion. Our preliminary results suggest that Infrascanner is worthy of further investigation as a potential tool to decrease the CT scan rate in children with MHI.