Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

Caution! Overestimation of treatment effects of corticosteroid therapy for community-acquired pneumonia in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

It is well known that a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aims to increase the power and precision of the estimated intervention effects. However, when a meta-analysis includes a limited number of patients and a small number of events, overestimation of intervention effect estimates may occur and could cause spurious results. Although many biases can cause the overestimation, random error may be the most common cause. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) can explore the independent effect of random error on intervention effect estimates in meta-analyses and protect meta-analyses against overestimation due to random error.     

Tranexamic acid through intravenous,intramuscular and oral routes: an individual participant data meta‐analysis of pharmacokinetic studies in healthy volunteers

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic drug that reduces surgical blood loss and death due to bleeding after trauma and post‐partum haemorrhage. One key issue for treatment success is early administration. While usually given intravenously, oral and intramuscular use would be useful in specific circumstances. Therefore, an understanding of TXA pharmacokinetics when given via different routes is valuable. The aim of this study was to perform an individual participant data meta‐analysis of pharmacokinetic studies with TXA given to healthy volunteers via different routes. We searched the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Elsevier Science Direct and J‐STAGE. Individual subject data were extracted when available, otherwise arithmetic means were used. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using nonlinear mixed effect modelling. Seven studies were included in the analysis with data from 10 patients for the IV route, six patients for the IM route and 114 patients for the oral route. The pharmacokinetics was ascribed to a two‐compartment model, and the main covariate was allometrically scaled bodyweight. Oral and IM bioavailabilities were 46 and 105%, respectively. For a 70 kg bodyweight, the population estimates were 7.6 L/h for clearance, 17.9 L for the volume of the central compartment, 2.5 L/h for the diffusional clearance and 16.6 L for the peripheral volume of distribution. Larger well‐designed studies are needed to describe the pharmacokinetics of TXA when given IM or as an oral solution before these can be recommended as alternatives to IV.     

脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者生活质量的影响因素研究

目的 探讨脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者生活质量的直接和间接影响因素，以期为临床症状管理提供参考信息。 方法 采用一般资料调查表、脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛症状评估表、简易疲乏量表、医院焦虑抑郁量表、Fugl-Meyer上肢功能评分量表和脑卒中生活质量专用量表对205例脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者进行调查。结果 偏瘫肩痛患者的生活质量总分为（144.48±27.69），整体处于中等水平。生活质量的主要影响因素是肩痛困扰、肩痛频度、肩外旋、疲乏程度和抑郁，可以解释总变异的63.3%。路径分析结果显示，疲乏程度、肩痛频度和肩痛困扰可直接影响患者的生活质量（β_(疲乏程度-生活质量)=-0.252，P<0.001；β_(肩痛频度-生活质量)=-0.147，P<0.001；β_(肩痛困扰-生活质量)=-0.317，P<0.001）；疲乏程度和肩痛频度亦可通过肩痛困扰来间接影响患者的生活质量（ β_(疲乏程度-肩痛困扰-生活质量)=-0.066，P<0.001；β_(肩痛频度-肩痛困扰-生活质量)=-0.064，P<0.001）。结论 临床上应同时关注脑卒中患者疲乏和偏瘫肩痛症状，关注抑郁和疲乏对症状体验的协同作用，提高医护人员症状管理的效率，从而提高脑卒中偏瘫肩痛患者的生活质量。     

The long-term influence of hospital and surgeon volume on local control and survival in the randomized German Rectal Cancer Trial CAO/ARO/AIO-94

BackgroundThe association of treatment volume and oncological outcome of rectal cancer patients undergoing multidisciplinary treatment is subject of an ongoing debate. Prospective data on long-term local control and overall survival (OS) are not available so far. This study investigated the long-term influence of hospital and surgeon volume on local recurrence (LR) and OS in patients with locally advanced rectal cancers.MethodsIn a post-hoc analysis of the randomized phase III CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial after a follow-up of more than 10 years, 799 patients with stage II/III rectal cancers were evaluated. LR-rates and OS were stratified by hospital recruitment volume (≤20 vs. 21–90 vs. >90 patients) and by surgeon volume (≤10 vs. 11–50 vs. >50 procedures).ResultsPatients treated in high-volume hospitals had a longer OS than those treated in hospitals with medium or low treatment volume (p = 0.03). The surgeon volume was adversely associated with LR (p = 0.01) but had no influence on overall survival. The positive effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) on local control was the strongest in patients being operated by medium-volume surgeons, less in patients being operated by high-volume surgeons and missing in those being operated by low-volume surgeons.ConclusionsPatients with locally advanced rectal cancers might benefit from treatment in specialized high-volume hospitals. In particular, the surgeon volume had significant influence on long-term local tumour control. The effect of neoadjuvant CRT on local tumour control may likewise depend on the surgeon volume.     

Crowdsourced and crowdfunded: the future of forensic DNA?

ABSTRACT

Forensic DNA analysis is dependent on comparing the known and the unknown. Expand the number of known profiles, and the likelihood of a successful match increases. Forensic use of DNA is moving towards comparing samples of unknown origin with publicly available genetic data, such as the records held by genetic genealogy providers. Use of forensic genetic genealogy has yielded a number of recent high-profile successes but has raised ethical and privacy concerns. Navigating family trees is complex, even more so when combined with a comparison of genetic relationships. This intelligence-gathering process has led to occasional false leads, and its use also risks a public backlash, similar to concerns over Cambridge Analytica. A cautious approach to use of this technique is therefore warranted.     

非活动性结核性胸膜炎与活动性结核性胸膜炎的CT扫描影像特征分析

目的: 探讨非活动性结核性胸膜炎与活动性结核性胸膜炎CT扫描影像表现。方法: 对2012年6月1日至2021年3月30日在首都医科大学附属北京胸科医院就诊的单纯非活动性结核性胸膜炎患者68例和同期活动性结核性胸膜炎44例的CT扫描影像表现进行比较。结果: (1) 68例非活动性结核性胸膜炎患者 CT扫描影像表现中胸膜粘连62例(91.2%),胸膜有钙化者28例(41.2%),叶间裂受累22例(32.4%),胸腔积液12例(17.6%),包裹性胸腔积液8例(11.8%)。(2)44例活动性结核性胸膜炎患者CT扫描影像表现中胸膜粘连30例(68.2%),未见胸膜钙化,叶间裂受累32例(72.7%),胸腔积液43例(97.7%),包裹性胸腔积液26例(59.1%)。(3)非活动性与活动性结核性胸膜炎CT扫描影像比较:胸膜粘连、胸膜钙化发生率高,差异均有统计学意义(χ²=9.630,P=0.002;χ²=23.737,P=0.000);叶间裂受累、胸腔积液、包裹性胸腔积液的发生率低,差异均有统计学意义(χ²=12.692,P=0.000;χ²=68.548,P=0.000;χ²=28.301,P=0.000)。结论: 非活动性结核性胸膜炎的CT扫描影像与活动性结核性胸膜炎比较胸膜粘连、胸膜钙化的发生率高,胸腔积液、包裹性胸腔积液、叶间裂受累的发生率低。识别非活动性和活动性结核性胸膜炎的CT扫描影像特点,对患者临床治疗有指导意义。     

土耳其斯坦东毕吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶基因的克隆及其序列分析

目的 克隆土耳其斯坦东毕吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶的全长基因。方法 根据日本血吸虫和曼氏血吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶基因的保守区设计引物，利用RT—PCR扩增出土耳其斯坦东毕吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶基闪的大片段，再结合RACE技术分别得到磷酸丙糖异构酶基因的3’端和5’端，将3部分序列拼接后获得磷酸丙糖异构酶基因全长cDNA序列，并提交GenBank。结果 成功克隆了土耳其斯坦东毕吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶基因全长cDNA序列并提交GenBank，登录号为DQ092331。结论 土耳其斯坦东毕吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶基因全长cDNA的克隆为进一步表达及其生物学性能的分析提供了理论基础。