Effect of an Extract from the Egyptian Sea Cucumber,Bohadschia marmorata,on Methotrexate-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Male Mice

Background: The sea cucumber, Bohadschia marmorata, is a marine echinoderm consumed and used as a medication. Extract of this species displays a broad spectrum of bioactivity, such as antifungal, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxic properties. This investigation explored sea cucumber extract for hepatorenal protection against the toxicity of methotrexate (MTX). Methods: Four groups of mice were divided into G1: control, G2: MTX treated, G3: B. marmorata extract-treated daily for 14 days, and G4: B. marmorata extract and MTX treated. Results and Conclusions: Biochemical analysis and histopathological examination of liver tissue showed that administration of MTX increased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lowered levels of serum albumin, total protein, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH). Administration of B. marmorata extract to MTX- injected mice significantly reversed the increase in serum levels of liver enzymes and induced a significant elevation in serum albumin and total protein levels. SOD, CAT, and GSH levels returned to nearly normal levels. Histopathological examination indicated fewer signs of toxicity in liver and kidney tissues of mice treated with both extract and MTX compared to MTX treatment alone. An extract of B. marmorata will protect mice from hepatorenal toxicity induced by MTX.     

缺血性结肠炎的临床特征及转归

目的观察缺血性结肠炎（Ischemic colitis,IC）的临床特征及转归情况。方法回顾性分析39例IC患者的临床资料及内镜特征,并对其进行随访。结果 IC好发于中老年人,60岁以上患者占69.2%,多伴有相关基础疾病（82.1%,32/39）,包括高血压、心脑血管疾病及糖尿病等。临床主要表现为腹痛、便血等症状,病变多发生于左半结肠,呈节段性分布。多数患者预后良好,39例患者中5.1%（2/39）于住院期间死亡,1例患者于随访期间出现复发。结论结肠镜检查是诊断早期IC的主要方法,IC复发率低。     

医疗干预措施系统综述中结果概要表简介

结果概要表（Summary of findings table,SoF table）以简单清晰的表格形式呈现系统综述的主要结果,有助于临床医生或医疗卫生决策者从系统综述中迅速理解和获取重要的发现,通过权衡利弊,作出合理的医疗决策。利用结果概要表有助于对证据的理解和使用,促进循证的临床实践。就《Cochrane系统评价员手册》中结果概要表的内容、特点、制作方法进行介绍,并通过一个实例进行解读,便于临床医生的理解和使用。     

肝局灶结节性增生的影像学特征及临床病理观察

目的:探讨肝局灶结节性增生(FNH)的临床及影像学特点、病理形态、免疫组织化学特征及鉴别诊断。方法:分析9例FNH的临床资料及发病特点、影像学特征、组织病理形态及免疫表型、细胞角蛋白(CK8/18、CK7)、CD34、甲胎蛋白和Ki-67的表达。并进行相关文献复习。结果:影像学观察FNH通常为孤立的结节,平扫为等密度或稍低密度,中央可见低密度瘢痕。FNH病理大体表现为境界清楚、中央有纤维瘢痕的结节性肿块。镜下纤维间隔将肝组织分割成大小不等、形状不规则的结节,可见厚壁血管及增生的小胆管。免疫组织化学染色CK8/18、CK7结节内和周边增生的小胆管阳性表达;CD34结节内的血窦内皮细胞及纤维间隔的血管内皮细胞阳性表达。甲胎蛋白结节内增生胆管和肝细胞均阴性,Ki-67阳性指数较低。结论:FNH是对畸形血管的肝细胞反应性增生,是一种良性瘤样病变,对于诊断明确的无症状者手术切除后,可定期随诊或复查。     

Disclosing incidental findings in brain research: The rights of minors in decision‐making

MRI is used routinely in research with children to generate new knowledge about brain development. The detection of unexpected brain abnormalities (incidental findings; IFs) in these studies presents unique challenges. While key issues surrounding incidence and significance, duty of care, and burden of disclosure have been addressed substantially for adults, less empirical data and normative analyses exist for minors who participate in minimal risk research. To identify ethical concerns and fill existing gaps, we conducted a comprehensive review of papers that focused explicitly on the discovery of IFs in minors. The discourse in the 21 papers retrieved for this analysis amply covered practical issues such as informed consent and screening, difficulties in ascertaining clinical significance, the economic costs and burden of responsibility on researchers, and risks (physical or psychological). However, we found little discussion about the involvement of minors in decisions about disclosure of IFs in the brain, especially for IFs of low clinical significance. In response, we propose a framework for managing IFs that integrates practical considerations with explicit appreciation of rights along the continuum of maturity. This capacity‐adjusted framework emphasizes the importance of involving competent minors and respecting their right to make decisions about disclosure. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:1009–1013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Perspectives on Pap Test Follow-Up Care Among Rural Appalachian Women

Approximately one- to three-quarters of women notified of abnormal Pap test results do not receive appropriate follow-up care, dramatically elevating their risk for invasive cervical cancer. We explored barriers to and facilitators of follow-up care for women in two counties in Appalachian Kentucky, where invasive cervical cancer incidence and mortality are significantly higher than the national average. In-depth interviews were conducted among 27 Appalachian women and seven local health department personnel. Those who had been told of an atypical Pap test result tended to have one of three reactions: (1) not alarmed and generally did not obtain follow-up care; (2) alarmed and obtained follow-up care; or (3) alarmed, but did not obtain care. Each of these typologies appeared to be shaped by a differing set of three categories of influences: personal factors; procedure/provider/system factors; and ecological/community factors. Recommendations to increase appropriate follow-up care included pursuing research on explanations for these typologies and developing tailored interventions specific to women in each of the response types.     

Diagnostic accuracy,yield, and comparative effectiveness of whole-body computed tomography in blunt trauma: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives:Controversies emerge over routine performances of whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) in patients with blunt polytrauma. The existing randomized and non-randomized evidence is inconclusive, and during observations of non-trauma, incidental findings, detected by WBCT, have left uncertainty regarding their consequences and optimal management. Additionally, previous meta-analyses have failed to address the limitations of primary studies and issues associated with incidental findings. Therefore, we planned a new systematic review to address these points.Methods:We will search the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central databases from inception to December 31, 2020, with no language restriction and perform full-text evaluation of potentially relevant articles. We will include prospective and retrospective studies with a single-gate design that assessed diagnostic accuracy and/or yield of WBCT to detect traumatic injuries, and studies that assessed incidental findings detected by WBCT. Additionally, we will include randomized controlled trials and non-randomized comparative studies that assessed the effectiveness of WBCT against conventional care, including selective computed tomography (CT). Studies of patients of all ages with blunt traumatic injuries, assessed at an emergency department, will be included. Two reviewers will extract data and rate the study validity via standard quality assessment tools. The primary outcome of interest will be reduction in mortality. Our secondary outcomes will include diagnostic accuracy and yield, detection of incidental findings and clinical outcomes associated with these detections, and improvement in other non-mortality clinical outcomes. We will qualitatively assess study, patient, and intervention characteristics and clinical outcomes. If appropriate, we will perform random-effects model meta-analyses to obtain summary estimates. Finally, we will assess the certainty of evidence by the grading the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations.Ethics and dissemination:Ethics approval is not applicable, as this is a secondary analysis of publicly available data. The review results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Prospero registration:CRD42020187852.     

Specific IgE for wheat in tear fluid of patients with allergic conjunctivitis

Context: Allergy to hydrolyzed wheat protein in facial soap has become a major social issue in Japan. It has been reported that the most frequent early symptoms of allergy to hydrolyzed wheat protein in soap are allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis, while wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis can be induced by long-term use.

Objective: We evaluated the relation between tear fluid levels of specific IgE for wheat and the features of allergic conjunctivitis.

Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, cross-sectional study was conducted in 103 patients with moderate to severe allergic conjunctivitis (allergic group) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (control group). Specific IgE for wheat was measured in tear fluid with an immunochromatography assay, and a skin prick test (SPT) was also performed. Symptoms (sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, ocular itching, and lacrimation) were assessed in each subject along with the activities of daily living (ADL) score and the total ocular symptom score for allergic conjunctivitis. A severity score (0, 1, 2, or 3) was assigned for various changes of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, as well as for limbal and corneal lesions associated with allergic conjunctivitis.

Results: The IgE positive rate and specific IgE score were both higher in the allergic group than in the control group (71.8% versus 40.0% and 1.9?±?0.7 versus 1.4?±?0.5). A positive SPT for wheat was also more frequent in the allergic group than in the control group (6.8% versus 0.0%). Within the allergic group, patients with a positive SPT had higher specific IgE scores than patients with a negative SPT (3.3?±?0.5 versus 1.8?±?0.6, p?r?=?0.665), tearing (r?=?0.672), and the total ocular symptom score (r?=?0.204). Wheat IgE in tear fluid was also correlated with the severity of rhinitis symptoms, including sneezing (r?=?0.610), nose blowing (r?=?0.640), and nasal obstruction (r?=?0.677). Furthermore, the tear fluid wheat IgE score was correlated with five objective features of allergic conjunctivitis (p?Conclusions: These results suggest that wheat allergy may be involved in the development of allergic conjunctivitis.     

Current guidelines for the management of celiac disease: A systematic review with comparative analysis

BACKGROUND Wheat and other gluten-containing grains are widely consumed,providing approximately 50%of the caloric intake in both industrialised and developing countries.The widespread diffusion of gluten-containing diets has rapidly led to a sharp increase in celiac disease prevalence.This condition was thought to be very rare outside Europe and relatively ignored by health professionals and the global media.However,in recent years,the discovery of important diagnostic and pathogenic milestones has led to the emergence of celiac disease(CD)from obscurity to global prominence.These modifications have prompted experts worldwide to identify effective strategies for the diagnosis and follow-up of CD.Different scientific societies,mainly from Europe and America,have proposed guidelines based on CD's most recent evidence.AIM To identify the most recent scientific guidelines on CD,aiming to find and critically analyse the main differences.METHODS We performed a database search on PubMed selecting papers published between January 2010 and January 2021 in the English language.PubMed was lastly accessed on 1 March 2021.RESULTS We distinguished guidelines from 7 different scientific societies whose reputation is worldwide recognized and representative of the clinical practice in different geographical regions.Differences were noted in the possibility of a no-biopsy diagnosis,HLA testing,follow-up protocols,and procedures.CONCLUSION We found a relatively high concordance between the guidelines for CD.Important modifications have occurred in the last years,especially about the possibility of a no-biopsy diagnosis in children.Other modifications are expected in the next future and will probably involve the extension of the non-invasive diagnosis to the adult population and the follow-up modalities.