A new immune-competent animal model of mucosally derived squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an immune-competent animal model for mucosally derived squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). STUDY DESIGN: Fifteen Fischer 344 rats were inoculated with 1, 2, 5, 10, or 20 x 10(6) FAT7 cells in their flanks. The animals were observed for tumor growth and metastasis. RESULTS: All animals developed tumors that grew exponentially. Pulmonary metastases developed in all animals and 13% developed lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: The FAT7 flank tumor in Fischer 344 rats is a new animal model that closely resembles the behavior of human mucosal head and neck cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: The existence of an immune-competent, mucosally derived, and reliable animal model of SCCA that somewhat resembles human head and neck SCCA gives the opportunity to perform immune-modulating experiments on head and neck cancer in these animals. EBM rating: B-3.     

Strategies That Facilitate Extraction-Free SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented global demand for in vitro diagnostic reagents. Supply shortages and hoarding have impacted testing capacity which has led to inefficient COVID-19 case identification and transmission control, predominantly in developing countries. Traditionally, RNA extraction is a prerequisite for conducting SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT); however, simplified methods of sample processing have been successful at bypassing typical nucleic acid extraction steps, enabling extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 NAAT workflows. These methods involve chemical and physical approaches that are inexpensive and easily accessible alternatives to overcome extraction kit supply shortages, while offering acceptable test performance. Here we provide an overview of three main sample preparation strategies that have been shown to facilitate extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 NAATs.     

Superior calcium bioavailability of effervescent potassium calcium citrate over tablet formulation of calcium citrate after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

BackgroundCalcium supplementation is commonly recommended for patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to avert bone loss. To test the hypothesis that effervescent (liquid) potassium-calcium-citrate (PCC) might be more bioavailable than a tablet formulation of calcium citrate (Citracal Petite), the present study compared a single dose response of the 2 compounds. The present study was conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas.MethodsA total of 15 patients who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were included in a 2-phase, crossover, randomized study comparing the single-dose bioavailability of PCC versus Citracal Petite. After following a restricted diet for 1 week, the participants ingested either a single dose of 400 mg elemental calcium as PCC or Citracal Petite. Sequential serum and urine samples were collected for a 6-hour period after the dose and analyzed for calcium, parathyroid hormone, and acid-base parameters.ResultsCompared with citracal petite, PCC significantly increased the serum calcium concentrations at 2, 3, and 4 hours after the oral load. The peak to baseline variation and increment in serum calcium (area under the curve) were significantly greater after PCC (P = .015 and P = .002, respectively). Concurrently, the baseline to nadir variation and decrement in serum parathyroid hormone (area over the curve) were significantly greater after PCC (P = .004 and P = .005, respectively). Moreover, compared with Citracal Petite, PCC caused a significantly greater increment in urinary citrate (P < .0001) and potassium (P = .0004) and a significantly lower increase in urinary ammonium (P = .045).ConclusionIn patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, PCC was superior to Citracal Petite in conferring bioavailable calcium and suppressing parathyroid hormone secretion. PCC also provided an alkali load.     

Endovenous laser ablation of the great saphenous vein versus high ligation: long-term results

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) for greater saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency is a relatively new method of treatment only recently made available in Iran. This is the first long-term randomized trial comparing EVLT with high ligation of saphenous vein (HLS) in the Iranian population. Sixty-five patients met the inclusion criteria and were divided into homogenous treatment groups of EVLT (n?=?30) or HLS (n?=?35). Clinical severity, etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology (CEAP) classification and Aberdeen Varicose Vein Symptom Severity Scores (AVSS) were used to determine disease severity and symptoms before and after the procedure in both groups. Outcome was measured by the rate of recurrence as shown in Doppler ultrasonography evaluation. Follow-up was conducted 1 week and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after the intervention. The occlusion rate of GSV was similar in both groups (93.6 % for EVLT, 88.3 for HLS) at 18 months of follow-up. The median CEAP score showed a dramatic decrease in both groups after 1 week which was sustained for the rest of the study. The Aberdeen Varicose Vein Symptom Severity score was significantly lower in the EVLT group at 12 and 18 months of follow-up. There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction in both groups. Our findings show that EVLT may offer a better long-term relief of symptoms. This, alongside its better cosmetic outcome, and less invasive anesthesia requirements may make it the favorable choice for treatment of GSV insufficiency.     

Bariatric Surgery and Effects on Calcium and Bone Metabolism

With the increasing epidemic of obesity in the United States as well as abroad, bariatric surgery has emerged as the most effective and sustained treatment for reduction. This treatment modality has been well recognized to diminish the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and ameliorate diabetes mellitus. However, with time, derangement in mineral metabolism has emerged as a major complication in this population. Population-based study has shown increased prevalence of bone fractures and kidney stone formation following bariatric surgery. The risk appears to be more specific after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures, the most common surgical approach among this population. Over the past decade, there have been advances in the understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms of both bone loss and kidney stone disease in these patients. The understanding of these underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms may lead to the development of drug therapies that ameliorate this complication. Unfortunately, at the present time, there is no hard data on any specific treatment showing decreased incidence of fragility fractures or kidney stone passage. However, some studies suggest that calcium and vitamin D supplementation may decrease bone loss and bone turnover, and as a result, increase bone mineral density in this population. However, there is concern with the development of kidney stone formation following such an approach. A novel treatment approach would be the use of effervescent potassium calcium citrate that not only prevents complications of bone loss but may diminish the risk of kidney stone formation. Despite preliminary results showing the effectiveness of this drug in the reduction in the parathyroid hormone, bone turnover, and improvement in the urinary saturation marker showing effectiveness against calcium oxalate and uric acid stones, there is no hard data available to support the effectiveness of this treatment in the reduction in fragility fractures or kidney stone incidence. Such studies to explore this effect must be considered in the future.     

Practice patterns in high-risk bariatric venous thromboembolism prophylaxis

Background

In the morbidly obese population that undergoes bariatric surgery, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Certain factors place a patient at higher risk for VTE. No consensus exists on VTE screening or prophylaxis for the high-risk patient. This report describes the results of a survey on VTE screening and prophylaxis patterns in high-risk bariatric surgery.

Methods

Members of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) were queried on factors that identified bariatric patients as high risk for VTE and on routine screening and prophylaxis practices. This included mechanical and chemical prophylaxis, duration of therapy, and use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters.

Results

Of the 385 surgeons who responded to the survey, 81 % were bariatric surgeons, and the majority managed more than 50 cases annually. One or more of the following risk factors qualified patients as high risk: history of VTE, hypercoagulable status, body mass index (BMI) exceeding 55 kg/m², partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO₂) lower than 60 mmHg, and severe immobility. Preoperative screening of patients for VTE was practiced routinely by 56 % of the surgeons, and 92.4 % used preoperative chemoprophylaxis. The most common agent used preoperatively was heparin (48 %), and Lovenox was most commonly used postoperatively (49 %). Whereas 48 % of the patients discontinued chemoprophylaxis at discharge, 43 % continued chemoprophylaxis as outpatients, and 47 % routinely screened for VTE postoperatively. Use of IVC filters was routine for 28 % of the patients, who most commonly removed them after 1–3 months.

Conclusions

This study describes current practice patterns of VTE screening and prophylaxis in high-risk bariatric surgery. Nearly all surgeons agree on risk factors that qualify patients as high risk, but only half routinely screen patients preoperatively. Preoperative VTE chemoprophylaxis is used by nearly all surgeons, but the duration of therapy varies. Use of IVC filters is not routine, and postoperative screening was performed by less than half of the respondents. An understanding of current practice patterns yields insight into the rates of VTE and shows variability in the need for evidence-based prophylaxis and standardized screening.     

The effects of corticosteroid injection versus local anesthetic injection in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a randomized single-blinded clinical trial

Introduction

This study seeks to compare two treatment methods of lateral epicondylitis: corticosteroid injection (CSI) and a local anesthetic injection (LAI).

Materials and methods

In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, 138 patients with the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis were assigned either into CSI group receiving methylprednisolone 1 ml (49 patients) or LAI group (51 patients) receiving procaine 1 ml 2 % in a single dose at the maximal point tenderness site. The primary outcome measure was elbow disability using Quick DASH, and secondary outcome measures were pain intensity using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and recurrence rate at pretreatment visit and at 3-, 6- and 12-week post-treatment visits.

Results

There were no significant differences between the patients in both groups for demographic factors including age, gender, dominant hand, involved hand, and work pressure. Before treatment, the patients in both groups were suffering from the same rates of elbow disability and pain as measured by Quick DASH and VAS, respectively, (p > 0.05). In general, the recovery rate (comparison between pretreatment visit and last post-treatment visit) was significantly more effective and higher in CSI than LAI. CSI was dramatically more effective at 3-week visit, but less and less effective at 6- and 12-week visits. At 12-week visit the recurrence rate was 34.7 % (17 patients) in CSI group.

Conclusion

For lateral epicondylitis, CSI has the best short-term treatment results yet the highest recurrent rates. The combination of CSI with other treatment option or with a change in injection technique from single injection to peppering injection may be promising.