Effect of gender on the reliability of COVID-19 rapid antigen test among elderly

Defining con-founders that affect the reliability of diagnostic tests for coronavirus disease 2019 is vital to breaking the chain of infection. The elderly population is a higher risk group for the emerging virus. However, gender seems to exert a critical role in modifying the infection risk among women owing to hormonal changes. The menopause transition is an exceptional period for older women where the protective and immunomodulatory effects of the estrogen hormone are lost. Accordingly, attention should be given to postmenopausal women since they will have an increased risk compared to their pre-menopausal peers.     

Understanding congenital vertical talus

Congenital vertical talus (CVT) is a rare foot deformity that presents with a rigid flat foot at birth. CVT can present as an isolated abnormality in the newborn, however in at least 50% of cases in association with other conditions. Full neuro-axial imaging is essential to detect any associated neurologic problems. Radiographs of the foot, including forced plantar and dorsiflexion laterals, are diagnostic. Gold standard modern treatment uses the Dobbs method of serial manipulation and casting with minimally-invasive stabilization of the talonavicular joint and Achilles tendon tenotomy.     

酪氨酸激酶受体RON与E-cadherin在子宫内膜异位症上的表达及意义

目的探讨酪氨酸激酶受体RON及上皮型钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin)在子宫内膜异位症(endometriosis,EMs)上的表达及意义。方法选择2017年7~12月深圳市龙岗区人民医院收治的42例EMs患者,术中分别留取新鲜异位内膜组织和在位内膜组织,随机选取子宫切除或诊断性刮宫治疗的非EMs患者42例,术中留取其正常子宫内膜组织。采用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测子宫内膜组织中RON mRNA的表达,采用免疫组织化学方法检测对应42例石蜡组织中RON蛋白和E-cadherin的表达,并分析RON蛋白和E-cadherin的相关性。结果EMs异位内膜组织RON mRNA及RON蛋白阳性表达率显著高于在位内膜组织及正常子宫内膜组织(P<0.001),在位内膜组织及正常内膜组织中E-cadherin阳性表达率显著高于异位内膜组织(P<0.001),且异位内膜组织中RON mRNA及RON蛋白的表达与临床分期有关(P<0.001)。在同一标本中RON蛋白和E-cadherin表达呈负相关关系(r=-0.497,P<0.05)。结论RON的过度表达与EMs的发生发展密切相关,联合检测RON和E-cadherin的异常对判断EMs的发生发展有一定的参考价值,RON可能成为诊断治疗EMs的新靶点。     

Intrathecal catheterisation after observed accidental dural puncture in labouring women: update of a meta-analysis and a trial-sequential analysis

BackgroundOur meta-analysis from 2013 showed that inserting a catheter intrathecally after an observed accidental dural puncture can reduce the need for epidural blood patch in labouring women requesting epidural analgesia. We updated our conventional meta-analysis and added a trial-sequential analysis (TSA).MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies that compared inserting the catheter intrathecally with an epidural catheter re-site or with no intervention. The extracted data were pooled and the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for the incidence of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) was calculated, using the random effects model. A contour-enhanced funnel plot was constructed. A TSA was performed and the cumulative Z score, monitoring and futility boundaries were constructed.ResultsOur search identified 13 studies, reporting on 1653 patients, with a low risk of bias. The RR for the incidence of PDPH was 0.82 (95%CI 0.71 to 0.95) and the RR for the need for epidural blood patch was 0.62 (95%CI 0.49 to 0.79); heterogeneity of both analyses was high. The TSA showed that the monitoring or futility boundaries were not crossed, indicating insufficient data to exclude a type I error of statistical analysis. Contour-enhanced funnel plots were symmetric, suggesting no publication bias.ConclusionsConventional meta-analyses showed for the first time that intrathecal catheterisation can reduce the incidence of PDPH. However, TSA did not corroborate this finding. Despite increasing use in clinical practice there is no firm evidence on which to base a definite conclusion.