Parenchymal calcification is associated with the neurological prognosis in patients with congenital rubella syndrome

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) results from maternal rubella virus infection in early pregnancy. Abnormal neuroimaging findings have been analyzed in a small number of CRS patients in the past; however, their clinical significance has been poorly addressed. Therefore, we have investigated the neuroimaging findings of 31 patients with CRS from previous studies. The most common finding was parenchymal calcification, which was observed in 18 of 31 patients (58.1%). A multivariable logistic regression model showed that it was associated with psychomotor or mental retardation (p = 0.018), suggesting that parenchymal calcification in CRS could be a prognostic factor.     

Nichterosive und erosive gastroösohageale Refluxerkrankung

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results of laparoscopic anterior semifundoplication in patients with nonerosive (NERD) and erosive (ERD) gastroesophageal reflux disease.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study includes the period from May 1997 to July 2005. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed in all 190 patients. The severity of reflux esophagitis was classified according to Savary and Miller (grades I-IV). A standardized questionnaire was used for follow-up, and the modified symptomatic DeMeester score was assessed.RESULTS: 58.5 years of age (range 27-80), patients with nonerosive reflux disease (n=83) were significantly older than those with erosive reflux disease (n=107) (48 years range 15-84) (p=0.0001). Patients with NERD had a lower modified symptomatic DeMeester score postoperatively of 0 (range 0-4) than patients with ERD, of 1 (range 0-5), though without statistical significance (p=0.151).CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic anterior semifundoplication leads to comparable symptomatic long-term results in both NERD and ERD. Anterior semifundoplication is a good therapeutic option for selected patients with persistent reflux-associated symptoms and endoscopically negative esophagitis.     

Expression of bcl-6 and CD10 protein is associated with longer overall survival and time to treatment failure in follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphomas (FLs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors, but prognostic factors are evaluated insufficiently in this common hematologic neoplasm. While bcl-6 and CD10 are expressed characteristically in FLs, their significance for biologic behavior of FL has not been studied previously. Samples from 73 patients with FL and clinical follow-up from 7 to 231 months were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Patients with high levels of bcl-6 expression had favorable overall survival (OS) (P = .003), disease-specific survival (DSS) (P = .033), and time to treatment failure (P = .003) compared with patients with low levels of bcl-6 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that the results for OS, DSS, and time to treatment failure were independent of the international prognostic index. Patients with CD10+ FLs also had longer OS (P = .001), DSS (P = .007), and time to treatment failure (P = .004), and grade 1 FL was associated with better OS (P = .01) and a statistical trend for longer DSS (P = .05) and time to treatment failure (P = .05), but these results were not independent of bcl-6 expression or the international prognostic index in multivariate analysis.     

Biological Activity of a Mouse-Human Chimeric Immunoglobulin G2 Antibody to Cryptococcus neoformans Polysaccharide

The variable regions of the heavy and light chains of the protective murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2H1 (m2H1) were expressed with the human constant region genes for immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) and kappa, respectively, to construct a chimeric antibody (ch2H1). ch2H1 retains the specificity of the parent MAb, exhibits biological activity, and lacks the toxicity of the parent murine IgG1 in chronically infected mice.     

Meditative and mind-body practice among patients with genitourinary malignancy

Introduction and objectiveResearch on the utility of meditative and mind-body (MB) practices has increased dramatically in the last two decades and both have been suggested as useful adjuncts in coping with stressors associated with cancer survivorship. There exists little data on use among genitourinary (GU) cancer survivors. This study seeks to describe meditative and MB utilization among GU cancer survivors.MethodsAnalysis of data from the 2012 and 2017 National Health Interview Survey was conducted. Patients aged 40 and older reporting a history of any cancer diagnosis (including 3 GU cancers) were included in the analysis. We explored questions about meditative and MB practices in the past 12 months. Complex Samples Logistic regression was performed to compare the relationship between cancer status and use of these practices.ResultsSelf-reported meditative practices were more prevalent in 2017 (17%) than in 2012 (5%). Patients who self-reported a cancer diagnosis of any kind were significantly more likely to utilize meditative practices. Patients with kidney cancer were significantly more likely to meditate and trended towards higher MB utilization. In contrast, bladder cancer patients were less likely to meditate and use MB practices. Increases in meditation were greater than those seen for MB in all groups.ConclusionsMeditative and MB practices increased in prevalence between 2012 and 2017 with notable heterogeneity between cancer types. Given the potential benefit, more broad incorporation into survivorship programs may be warranted. Future work should explore the significance of this heterogeneity and the utility of these practices to patients with urologic malignancy.     

A novel mis-sense mutation (G1381A) in the G6PD gene identified in a Chinese man

Objective　To detect new mutations among 29 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient individuals from Yunnan province. Methods　The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) method was used to screen G6PD deficient individuals. Mutation was identified by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), amplification created restriction site (ACRS), amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and DNA sequencing. Results　Among 29 cases, 18 cases of G1388A, 1 case of C1004A, and 1 case of G1381A were identified. Nine cases remained to be defined. The G1381A mutation is a novel mis-sense mutation, with a substitution of threonine for alanine (A461T). The resultant G6PD had reduced enzymatic activity. In addition, G1381A caused a restriction site of Stu I to disappear, providing a rapid method for the detection of this mutation. Conclusion　A novel mis-sense mutation G1381A was found. This mutation results in a substitution of threonine for alanine, producing enzyme with reduced activity. The loss of the Stu I restriction site offers a rapid method for the detection of this mutation.     

Design, synthesis, and activity of 2,6-diphenoxypyridine-derived factor Xa inhibitors.

A novel series of 2,6-diphenoxypyridines has been designed to inhibit factor Xa, a serine protease strategically located in the coagulation cascade. The evolution from the photochemically unstable bisamidine (Z,Z)-BABCH to potent bisamidine compounds with a pyridine heterocycle as the core scaffold has been achieved. The most potent compound in the series, 6h, has a Ki for human factor Xa of 12 nM. The selectivity of 6h against bovine trypsin and human thrombin was greater than 90- and 1000-fold, respectively. Two proposed modes of binding of 6h to factor Xa are made based on the crystal structures of 6h by itself and of 6h bound to bovine trypsin.     

High-Density Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis Provides Insights Into Early/Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration Retinal Layer Changes

PurposeTo topographically map all of the thickness differences in individual retinal layers between early/intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD_early/AMD_int) and normal eyes and to determine interlayer relationships.MethodsNinety-six AMD_total (48 AMD_early and 48 AMD_int) and 96 normal eyes from 192 participants were propensity-score matched by age, sex, and refraction. Retrospective optical coherence tomography (OCT) macular cube scans were acquired, and high-density (60 × 60 0.01-mm²) grid thicknesses were custom extracted for comparison between AMD_total and normal eyes corrected for confounding. Resultant “normal differences” underwent cluster, interlayer correlation, and dose–response analyses for the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer + Henle''s fiber layer (ONL_+HFL), inner and outer segment (IS/OS) thickness, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to Bruch''s membrane (BM) thickness.ResultsAMD_total inner retinal clusters demonstrated extensively thinned RNFL, GCL, IPL, and paracentral INL and thickened INL elsewhere, with normal difference means ranging from −8.13 µm (95% confidence interval [CI], −11.12 to −5.13) to 1.58 µm (95% CI, 1.07–2.09) (P < 0.0001 to P < 0.05). Outer retinal clusters displayed thinned paracentral OPL/ONL_+HFL, central IS/OS, and peripheral RPE–BM and thickened central RPE–BM, with means ranging from −1.31 µm (95% CI, −2.06 to −0.55) to 2.99 µm (95% CI, 0.97–5.01] (P < 0.0001 to P <0.05). Effect sizes (−2.56 to 9.93 SD), cluster sizes, and eccentricity effects varied. All interlayer correlations were negligible to moderate regardless of AMD severity. Only the RPE–BM was partly thicker with greater AMD severity (up to 5.44 µm; 95% CI, 4.88–6.00; P < 0.01).ConclusionsFrom the early stage, AMD eyes demonstrate thickness differences compared to normal with unique topographies across all retinal layers. Poor interlayer correlations highlight that the outer retina inadequately reflects complete retinal health. The clinical importance of OCT assessment across all individual retinal layers in early/intermediate AMD requires further investigation.