Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

Percutaneous renal mass biopsy: historical perspective,current status,and future considerations

Introduction: Percutaneous renal mass biopsy has evolved over the last decade with improvements on previous pitfalls including low tissue yield, high non-diagnostic rates, and complications. As understanding of tumor biology and natural history of renal cortical neoplasms has improved, percutaneous renal mass biopsy is poised to have an expanding role in an area characterized by individualized management and refined risk stratification.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the evolution of renal mass biopsy to its current state with respect to outcomes, indications, and clinical guidelines.

Expert opinion: With improved understanding of differential biological potential of renal cortical neoplasms combined with technical improvements in diagnostic yield and accuracy, utilization of renal mass biopsy is becoming an important adjunct to patient care in a broad range of clinical scenarios, including active surveillance, thermal ablation, and use of primary systemic therapy in localized and advanced settings.     

New frontiers in applied veterinary point‐of‐capture diagnostics: Toward early detection and control of zoonotic influenza

Among the chief limitations in achieving early detection and control of animal‐origin influenza of pandemic potential in high‐risk livestock populations is the existing lag time between sample collection and diagnostic result. Advances in molecular diagnostics are permitting deployment of affordable, rapid, highly sensitive, and specific point‐of‐capture assays, providing opportunities for targeted surveillance driving containment strategies with potentially compelling returns on investment. Interrupting disease transmission at source holds promise of disrupting cycles of animal‐origin influenza incursion to endemicity and limiting impact on animal production, food security, and public health. Adoption of new point‐of‐capture diagnostics should be undertaken in the context of promoting robust veterinary services systems and parallel support for operationalizing pre‐authorized plans and communication strategies that will ensure that the full potential of these new platforms is realized.     

2017年安徽省某三甲医院细菌耐药性监测

目的 了解铜陵市人民医院2017年临床分离细菌对抗菌药物的耐药状况。方法 对2017年1-12月临床分离菌采用纸片扩散法(KB)进行药敏试验，按CLSI 2017年版标准判读药敏试验结果，采用WHONET 5.6软件进行数据分析。结果 临床分离细菌共3436株，其中革兰阳性菌719株，占20.9%；革兰阴性菌2717株，占79.1%。耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)和耐甲氧西林凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌(MRCNS)的检出率分别为23.8%和72.3%，耐甲氧西林株对β-内酰胺类抗生素和其他测试抗菌药物的耐药率显著高于甲氧西林敏感株，未发现对万古霉素和替考拉宁耐药的葡萄球菌。粪肠球菌对青霉素、氨苄西林和呋喃妥因的耐药率较低，屎肠球菌对氯霉素的耐药率较低，5.3%屎肠球菌对万古霉素耐药。大肠埃希菌、克雷伯菌属(肺炎克雷伯菌和产酸克雷伯菌)和奇异变形菌中ESBLs的检出率分别为41.4%、50.7%和19.4%。肠杆菌科细菌中克雷伯菌属和沙雷菌属对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药率较高，分别为37.5%和36.0%，其他菌属的耐药率低于3%。鲍曼不动杆菌对亚胺培南和美罗培南的耐药率分别80.3%和79.1%；铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南和美罗培南的耐药率分别为29.7%和28.4%。肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌和铜绿假单胞菌中广泛耐药株的检出率分别为31.3%(171/546)、0.6%(3/508)和0.7%(3/416)。结论 本院革兰阴性菌呈增多趋势，尤其广泛耐药的肺炎克雷伯菌应引起高度关注，做好细菌耐药性监测，加强临床抗菌药物的合理使用和医院感染控制。     

Surgical Helmets Used During Total Joint Arthroplasty Harbor Common Pathogens: A Cautionary Note

BackgroundThe use of personal-protection surgical helmet/hood systems is now a part of the standard surgical attire during arthroplasty in North America. There are no protocols for the disinfection of these helmets.MethodsThis is a prospective, single-center, observational study. Helmets worn by 44 members of the surgical team and foreheads of 44 corresponding surgical personnel were swabbed at three distinct time points. In addition, 16 helmets were treated with hypochlorite spray to determine if pathogens could be eliminated. Swabs obtained were processed for culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS).ResultsOf the 132 helmet samples, 97 (73%) yielded bacteria on culture and 94 (71%) had evidence of bacterial–deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) on NGS. Of the swabs sent for bacterial identification at the three time points, at least one from each helmet was positive for a pathogen(s). Of the 132 forehead samples, 124 (93%) yielded bacteria on culture and 103 (78%) had evidence of bacterial-DNA on NGS. The most commonly identified organism from helmets was Cutibacterium acnes (86/132) on NGS and Staphylococcus epidermidis (47/132) on culture. The most commonly identified organism from the foreheads of surgical personnel was Cutibacterium acnes (100/132) on NGS and Staphylococcus epidermidis (70/132) on culture. Sanitization of helmets was totally effective; no swabs taken the following morning for culture and NGS identified any bacteria.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that surgical helmets worn during orthopedic procedures are contaminated with common pathogens that can potentially cause surgical site infections. The findings of this study should at the minimum compel us to develop protocols for the disinfection of these helmets.     

Interferon-induced Transmembrane Protein 3 Prevents Acute Influenza Pathogenesis in Mice

Objective Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3(IFITM3) is an important member of the IFITM family. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its antiviral action have not been completely elucidated. Recent studies on IFITM3, particularly those focused on innate antiviral defense mechanisms, have shown that IFITM3 affects the body's adaptive immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of IFITM3 proteins to immune control of influenza infection in vivo.Methods We performed proteomics, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry analysis and used bioinformatics tools to systematically compare and analyze the differences in natural killer(NK) cell numbers, their activation, and their immune function in the lungs of Ifitm3-/-and wild-type mice.Results Ifitm3-/-mice developed more severe inflammation and apoptotic responses compared to wild-type mice. Moreover, the NK cell activation was higher in the lungs of Ifitm3-/-mice during acute influenza infection.Conclusions Based on our results, we speculate that the NK cells are more readily activated in the absence of IFITM3, increasing mortality in Ifitm3-/-mice.     

Treatment of thalassaemia: a review of the new approaches on transfusion safety and the novel therapeutics

Lifetime red cell concentrate (RCC) transfusions still account for significant iron overload‐related morbidity and mortality despite chelation therapy in thalassaemia. The cumulative risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections is substantial for thalassaemia patients. Pathogen reduction technologies for RCC may imply a proactive approach against new/re‐emerging pathogens and may be an ultimate safeguard for transfusion safety in the developing countries. Red cell alloimmunization may become a significant clinical challenge in thalassaemia. The availability of high‐throughput molecular blood group antigen typing in the donors may allow perfect match transfusion, beyond ABO‐D and CEK antigen‐matched transfusions. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (A‐SCT) is the only available curative therapy in thalassaemia, but carries a substantial risk of serious adverse events and mortality. Gene addition therapy for correction of the α‐globin chain imbalance overcomes the problems of donor availability and immunological complications of A‐SCT. Gene editing by either gene disruption or correction emerged as a potential alternative to gene addition therapy in beta‐thalassaemia. A new era of novel therapeutics targeting α/β imbalance, ineffective erythropoiesis or iron dysregulation is unfolding in thalassaemia management, and a number of those now have agents in preclinical and clinical development. Hydroxyurea (HU) may improve globin chain imbalance and be beneficial for reducing or omitting transfusion requirement. Ruxolitinib has allowed steady decrease in spleen volume that may serve for avoiding splenectomy in beta‐thalassaemia. Luspatercept may restore normal erythroid differentiation and improve anaemia. Hepcidin mimetics or TMPRSS6 inhibitors may modulate ineffective erythropoiesis by iron restriction and improve anaemia and organ iron loading.     

广西防城港市2017年活禽市场环境样本禽流感监测

目的 了解防城港市活禽市场环境禽流感病毒监测情况,为科学评判疫情并采取适当的防控措施提供理论依据。方法 2017年3—4月在全市活禽市场外环境采集笼具擦物、冼禽污水、禽粪、砧板擦物、禽类饮用水等标本,用荧光定量PCR法检测禽流感病毒FluA、H5、H9、H7核酸,并进行统计学分析。结果 采集全市36个活禽市场外环境标本1 855份,阳性393份,阳性率为21.19%,其中H5阳性28份,H7阳性2份,H9阳性198份,H5和H9混合阳性37份,其他亚型（FluA阳性,H5、H7、H9 阴性）128份;不同地区标本阳性率差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;城区和乡镇市场采集的标本的阳性率差异无统计学意义。5种类型的标本中,洗禽污水的阳性率最高,其次是砧板擦物, 再次是禽类饮用水和笼具擦物,禽粪的阳性率最低,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 防城港市活禽市场环境普遍存在高致病性禽流感病毒的污染,H9亚型是主要的病原体,采取了综合防控措施后,防城港市没有发生人间禽流感疫情。