Safety of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of labor induction in women with a history of 1 cesarean section (CS) who undergo trial of labor. METHODS: A prospective observational study of 702 pregnant women who had 1 previous CS was conducted at Women's Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, between April 2003 and April 2004. Those with no history of vaginal delivery were assigned to one group and those with a history of vaginal delivery were assigned to another group, and the latter group was then divided into 2 subgroups according to the results of trial of labor. RESULTS: Of these 702 women with a history of 1 CS, 62.4% also had a history of vaginal delivery. After trial of labor, vaginal delivery occurred more often among women with no history of vaginal delivery (64.8%). Moreover, trial of labor resulted in a vaginal delivery more often in women who were delivered only once and by CS (87.7%) than in women who also had a history of vaginal delivery (79.2%). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that women who have had a CS should strongly consider natural delivery for subsequent pregnancies.     

鹅不食草煎液对小鼠肝损伤的保护作用

目的:观察鹅不食草煎液对小鼠3种肝损伤模型的保护作用.方法:采用四氯化碳(CCl4)、对乙酰氨基酚(APAP)、D-氨基半乳糖 脂多糖(D-GalN LPS)致3种小鼠肝损伤模型,测定血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT).结果:鹅不食草煎液能明显降低CCl4,APAP,D-GalN LPS引起的肝损伤后小鼠血清中升高的ALT水平.结论:鹅不食草煎液对实验性肝损伤有明显的保护作用.     

锐利器械不同保护法的效果研究

目的:研究尖锐器械在低温灭菌过程中的保护方法。方法:将2012年9月~201 3年6月供应室清洗后的再生穿刺针类器械741个,随机分为头皮针软管组、尿管组,分别使用头皮针软管、尿管做成保护帽,对锐利器械采取保护措施,并与2010年1月~3月使用纱布保护套的335个尖锐器械作对比,对其保护效果进行研究。结果:头皮针软管组包装及器械完好性达100%;尿管组纸塑袋包装破损32个,破损率8.7%,10个器械发生损坏占2.7%;纱布组管纸塑袋破损71个,破损率21.2%,器械损坏29个,破损率8.66%;三组包装破损率比较P<0.05,头皮针软管组、尿管组器械破损率分别与纱布组比较P<0.05,差异均有统计学意义。结论:头皮针软管能保护尖锐器械及包装的完好性,可根据器械的规格型号及数量选取相应的保护措施,以达院感要求。     

Evaluation of the protective efficacy of four newly identified surface proteins of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of animal erysipelas and human erysipeloid. Bacterial surface proteins are promising vaccine candidates. We recently identified 3 E. rhusiopathiae surface proteins (GAPDH, HP0728, and HP1472) and characterized their roles as virulence factors. However, their efficacy as protective antigens is still unknown. The N-terminal region of a previously identified surface protein, CbpB (CbpB-N), is speculated to be a protective antigen, but this needs to be verified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of GAPDH, HP0728, HP1472, and CbpB-N. Immunization with recombinant GAPDH provided complete protection in a mouse model, recombinant CbpB-N provided partial protection, while recombinant HP0728 and HP1472 provided no protection. Recombinant GAPDH also provided good protection in a pig model. GAPDH antiserum exhibited significant blood bactericidal activity against E. rhusiopathiae. In conclusion, GAPDH and CbpB-N were found to be protective antigens of E. rhusiopathiae, and GAPDH is a promising vaccine candidate.     

Yttrium-90 Radioembolization to the Prostate Gland: Proof of Concept in a Canine Model and Clinical Translation

PurposeTo investigate the feasibility, safety, and absorbed-dose distribution of prostatic artery radioembolization (RE) in a canine model.Materials and MethodsFourteen male castrated beagles received dihydroandrosterone/estradiol to induce prostatic hyperplasia for the duration of the study. Each dog underwent fluoroscopic prostatic artery catheterization. Yttrium-90 (⁹⁰Y) microspheres (TheraSphere; Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts) were delivered to 1 prostatic hemigland (dose escalation from 60 to 200 Gy), with the contralateral side serving as a control. Assessments for adverse events were performed throughout the follow-up (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0). Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provided a confirmation after the delivery of absorbed-dose distribution. MR imaging was performed before and 3, 20, and 40 days after RE. Tissue harvest of the prostate, rectum, bladder, urethra, penis, and neurovascular bundles was performed 60 days after RE.ResultsAll the animals successfully underwent RE. Positron emission tomography/MR imaging demonstrated localization to and good coverage of only the treated hemigland. No adverse events occurred. The MR imaging showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the treated hemigland size at 40 days (25%–60%, P < .001). No extraprostatic radiographic changes were observed. Necropsy demonstrated no gross rectal, urethral, penile, or bladder changes. Histology revealed RE-induced changes in the treated prostatic tissues of the highest dose group, with gland atrophy and focal necrosis. No extraprostatic RE-related histologic findings were observed.ConclusionsProstate ⁹⁰Y RE is safe and feasible in a canine model and leads to focal dose-dependent changes in the gland without inducing unwanted extraprostatic effects. These results suggest that an investigation of nonoperative prostate cancer is warranted.     

Effects of COVID-19 in South African health system and society: An explanatory study

Background and aimsThe underestimation of the severity of COVID-19 by the South African government resulted in delayed action against the pandemic. Ever since WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic preventive action was comprehensively upgraded worldwide. This prompted South African authorities to implement physical distancing, self-isolation, closure of non-essential services, schools, travelling restrictions and recursive national lockdowns to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. This explanatory study sought to review the effects of COVID-19 in the South African health system and society.MethodsThe study applied literature research of COVID-19 reports, policies from the National Department of Health, WHO, Africa CDC, and articles from Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed.ResultsThe South African health system is affected by the lack of PPEs, increased mortality rates, mental health problems, substance abuse, resurgent of NCDs. The closure of international borders, global demand meltdown, supply disruptions, dramatic scaling down of human and industrial activities during lockdown cause socio-economic problems. The prolonged effects of lockdown on psychosocial support services resulted in the outbursts of uncertainties, acute panic, fear, depression, obsessive behaviours, social unrests, stigmatization, anxiety, increased gender-based violence cases and discrimination in the distribution of relief food aid.ConclusionTo slow down the spread of COVID-19, massive testing must be adopted, contact tracing, isolation, and home quarantine guidelines for asymptomatic cases which promote behavioural change and reviewing of policy on food relief.     

Identification and characterization of a novel protective antigen,Sec_205 of Streptococcus equi ssp. Zooepidemicus

Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is an important pathogen of swine streptococcal diseases and can infect a wide range of animals as well as human beings. The absence of effective vaccine confounds the control of SEZ infection. Sec_205, a novel protein identified in the previous study, was inducibly over-expressed in Escherichia coli in the present study. The purified recombinant protein could elicit a significant humoral antibody response and provide efficient protection against lethal challenge of SEZ C55138 in mouse model. The protection against SEZ infection was mediated by specific antibodies to Sec_205 to some extent and was identified by the passive protection assay. The Sec_205 was an in vivo-induced antigen confirmed by the real-time PCR and could adhere to the Hep-2 cells by the inhibition assay. These suggest that Sec_205 may play a vital role in pathogenicity and serve as a new vaccine candidate against SEZ infection.     

Vitamin D supplementation and lipid profile: What does the best available evidence show?

Vitamin D supplements have increasingly been used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. Historically, effects of the vitamin on the cardiovascular (CV) system have been proposed and demonstrated in the literature, including benefits on serum lipids. Although observational studies support an association between increased serum vitamin D levels and a favorable lipid profile, interventional studies have shown no effects.