The Clearance of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus is Sooner After Thin Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (t-LEEP)

Abstract

Purpose/aim of the study: To investigate high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection clearance following thin loop electrosurgical excision procedure (t-LEEP) among patients with cervical benign lesion. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from patients with cervical benign lesion and HPV infection, who had undergone t-LEEP (T-Group), compared with patients with HPV infection undergone no treatment (NT-Group). Both groups attended regular follow-up between January 2008 and January 2012. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to compare the HPV clearance time. Results: The average clearance time was 7.7?months (M) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.5–8.9 M) in T-Group, and 10.4?M (95%CI: 9.4–11.3 M) in NT-Group, with significant difference between groups (p?=?0.003). Among patients with low viral load, the HPV clearance times were 7.6?M (95%CI: 6.3–9.0 M) in T-Group and 9.7?M (95%CI: 8.6–10.8 M) in NT-Group (p?=?0.042). Among patients with high viral load, the HPV clearance times were 8.0?M (95%CI: 5.3–10.6 M) in T-Group and 11.4?M (95%CI: 9.7–13.1 M) in NT-Group (p?=?0.041). The average time of HPV clearance in T-Group was shorter than NT-Group in all age groups, with significant differences in ≤29Y-group (p?=?0.008) and 30–39Y-group (p?=?0.005). The accumulated clearance rate of HPV infection at sixth month and 12th month were 24.5% and 67.9% in T-Group, 7.8% and 43.1% in NT-Group, with significant differences (p?=?0.001 at 6th month, p?=?0.032 at 12th month). Conclusions: T-LEEP accelerates the clearance of high-risk HPV infection and make the HPV infection rates dropped rapidly in the first year.     

Calcium Primer: Current Controversies and Common Clinical Questions

The use of calcium supplements has recently come under fire because of studies purportedly showing a relationship to cardiovascular events. Although the conclusions made sensational headlines in the popular press, numerous editorials and convincing scientific evidence to the contrary went unnoticed. This controversy and others, such as the relationship of proton-pump inhibitors and osteoporosis, caffeine consumption and the risk of calciuria, and the effects of loop diuretics on fracture risk, are common clinical queries of both primary care physicians and subspecialists. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to provide a concise review of select literature pertinent to current clinical practice and to provide no-nonsense recommendations for common clinical dilemmas regarding calcium supplementation.     

Development and Application of a Loop‐mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. in Ticks

A loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. in ticks, which is a pathogen that causes Lyme disease. Cross‐reactions with Chlamydia psittaci, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri and some tick‐borne pathogens were excluded. Analytical sensitivity of LAMP showed its detection limit was from 0.02 to 0.2 pg of DNA in detection of the reference samples at 65°C for 40 min. The performance of LAMP was assessed by testing 110 samples from susceptible tick species and comparing the results with conventional and nested PCR tests previously described. The results demonstrated that LAMP was significantly more sensitive than the conventional PCR (32.7% versus 15.5%, P < 0.05) and slightly more sensitive, although not significantly so, than nested PCR (32.7% versus 26.4%, P > 0.05). The assay was used to analyse a total of 1052 ticks collected from eight provinces in China. The results showed that the infection rates of B. burgdorferi s. l. varied from 12.5% to 88.9% across the different geographical sites. Selected positive samples were subjected to sequencing and sequence analysis for conformation of the accuracy of the assay. Here we report a highly sensitive, specific and easy diagnostic assay based on LAMP technology. These data indicate that LAMP is a useful approach for detecting B. burgdorferi s. l. in field‐collected ticks and has the potential as an alternative tool for the ecological and epidemiological surveillance of Lyme disease.     

Progressive language impairments: Intervention and management

Background: This paper reviews the role of deliberative processes in language: those language processes that require central resources, in contrast to the automatic processes of lexicalisation, word retrieval, and parsing.

Aims: We describe types of deliberative processing, and show how these processes underpin high-level processes that feature strongly in language. We focus on metalinguistic processing, strategic processing, inhibition, and planning. We relate them to frontal-lobe function and the development of the fronto-striate loop. We then focus on the role of deliberative processes in normal and pathological development and ageing, and show how these processes are particularly susceptible to deterioration with age. In particular, many of the commonly observed language impairments encountered in ageing result from a decline in deliberative processing skills rather than in automatic language processes.

Main Contribution: We argue that central processing plays a larger and more important role in language processing and acquisition than is often credited.

Conclusions: Deliberative language processes permeate language use across the lifespan. They are particularly prone to age-related loss. We conclude by discussing implications for therapy.     

Opinion paper: Stimulation of complement amplification or activation of the alternative pathway of complement?

In this opinion paper, we suggest that the scheme of the complement system should be redrawn in order to better illustrate its potencies. This can be achieved by putting the amplification loop of the alternative complement pathway at the center of the complement system. This arrangement emphasizes that C3b molecules, generated by any pathway, can stimulate complement amplification. Furthermore, it allows one to differentiate between this type of stimulation of amplification and that driven by those immune complexes that capture dimeric C3b molecules, which are more potent C3 convertase precursors than C3b. Schemes similar to the one drawn may help to better illustrate the interplay of the pathways and convey a clearer comprehension of the mechanics of the complement system.     

依托六级电子病历建设医院高警示药品闭环管理

目的：依托六级电子病历建设,提升我院高警示药品管理水平。方法：依据电子病历要求,将涉及高警示药品的每个重要医疗活动节点进行链式记录,纳入闭环管理。结果：通过医院六级电子病历信息化改造,将高警示药品纳入闭环管理,提高了医院对病人完整医疗信息的获取和处理能力,大大减少了用药差错,将高警示药品潜在的、可能导致严重后果的用药差错消灭在萌芽状态;缩短了各流程的时间,使病人及时、准确、安全用药;促进药师参与临床,提升临床药学服务水平。结论：我院高警示药品管理工作由原来的经验管理向科学管理发展,即从传统的末端、事后管理转向过程管理,最终实现从粗放式管理转向精细化管理,真正做到医疗质量的事前管理和实时监控,有效地规范了医护人员的行为,有利于提高医疗效率、保障医疗安全。     

Evaluation of use of essential fatty acids in topical ophthalmic preparations for dry eye

PurposeEssential fatty acids (EFAs) as dietary supplements are used in treating dry-eye for reducing inflammation at the ocular surface. Their topical application in eye drops to deliver fatty acid (FA) directly to the ocular surface requires thorough investigation. Being lipids in nature EFAs can interact with tear lipids and affect tear stability. This study aimed at investigating the biophysical interactions of EFAs with Meibomian lipids.MethodsRheology of mixtures of Human Meibomian lipids with EFAs (LA-linoleic acid, ALA-alpha-linolenic acid), OA (oleic acid), and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) was studied using Langmuir trough technology on an artificial tear solution at the ocular surface temperature. Pressure-area profiles were used to determine compressibility and elasticity of the mixed films.ResultsLA enhanced spreading of Meibomian lipids and increased their compressibility and elasticity which can be beneficial for tear stability. ALA condensed Meibomian lipids film with less elasticity deemed unfavourable for tear stability. OA expanded Meibomian lipids but decreased elasticity at high compressions making films less stable. GLA had little or no favourable effect on tear stability. Higher concentrations of FAs made films less stable.ConclusionsEFAs or OA in topical ophthalmic preparations can affect spread and stability of the tear film lipid layer. Rheology of mixed films should be tested using Langmuir trough technology to determine suitable type and amount of a lipid additive for therapeutic eye drops. In topical applications, the omega-6 LA (not omega-3 FA) at low concentrations (20 mol%) can be beneficial for enhancing tear stability in dry eye patients.     

Loop diuretics are open-channel blockers of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator with distinct kinetics

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Loop diuretics are widely used to inhibit the Na⁺, K⁺, 2Cl⁻ co-transporter, but they also inhibit the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl⁻ channel. Here, we investigated the mechanism of CFTR inhibition by loop diuretics and explored the effects of chemical structure on channel blockade.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Using the patch-clamp technique, we tested the effects of bumetanide, furosemide, piretanide and xipamide on recombinant wild-type human CFTR.

KEY RESULTS

When added to the intracellular solution, loop diuretics inhibited CFTR Cl⁻ currents with potency approaching that of glibenclamide, a widely used CFTR blocker with some structural similarity to loop diuretics. To begin to study the kinetics of channel blockade, we examined the time dependence of macroscopic current inhibition following a hyperpolarizing voltage step. Like glibenclamide, piretanide blockade of CFTR was time and voltage dependent. By contrast, furosemide blockade was voltage dependent, but time independent. Consistent with these data, furosemide blocked individual CFTR Cl⁻ channels with ‘very fast’ speed and drug-induced blocking events overlapped brief channel closures, whereas piretanide inhibited individual channels with ‘intermediate’ speed and drug-induced blocking events were distinct from channel closures.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Structure–activity analysis of the loop diuretics suggests that the phenoxy group present in bumetanide and piretanide, but absent in furosemide and xipamide, might account for the different kinetics of channel block by locking loop diuretics within the intracellular vestibule of the CFTR pore. We conclude that loop diuretics are open-channel blockers of CFTR with distinct kinetics, affected by molecular dimensions and lipophilicity.