Category: Statistics

Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi. 2021 Nov 25;37:1-9. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200927-00424. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effects of temperature-sensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan hydrogel on wound healing of full-thickness skin defect in rats. Methods: The experimental research method was used. Fifty-one male and female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7-10 weeks were selected, and two round full-thickness skin defect wounds with a diameter of 2 cm were made on the back of the rats at a distance of about 1.0 cm to the spine. The wounds were divided into temperature-sensitive hydrogel group, gel group, and blank control group, with 34 wounds in each group. Wounds in the first two groups were smeared with 0.3 mL temperature-sensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan hydrogel and carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel, respectively immediately after injury, and the wounds in the blank control group were dealt with no treatment. The wounds in the three groups were all covered with vaseline gauze. The state of temperature-sensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan hydrogel and carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel was observed every day when the dressing was changed, and the difficulty of removing vaseline oil gauze was recorded. On the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th, and 21st day after injury, the wound healing of the three groups was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated. On the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th, and 21st day after injury, 4 wounds of 2 rats in each group were collected for the following observation and detection. The inflammatory cell infiltration, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialization were observed by hematoxylin eosin staining. The regeneration and remodeling of collagen were observed by Masson staining, and the the collagen volume fraction was calculated.The expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor β₁ (TGF-β₁), and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and Bonferroni test. Results: Chitosan gel was liquid gel and could flow with the body position, while the temperature-sensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan hydrogel was solid gel and could not flow with the body position, and the distribution of the latter was more uniform. The vaseline gauze was easy to remove in wounds of temperature-sensitive hydrogel group, which was not easy to remove in the other two groups. On the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th, and 21st day after injury, the wound granulation tissue grew well in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group and gel group, with no obvious infection, and two rats in blank control group died of wound infection on the 3rd and 5th day after injury. On the 7th, 10th, 14th, and 21st day after injury, the wound healing rates in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group and gel group were significantly higher than that in blank control group (P<0.01). On the 10th day after injury, the wound healing rate in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in gel group (P<0.05). A large number of neutrophils and lymphocytes infiltrated into the wounds in the three groups on the 3rd day after injury. The inflammatory cell infiltration was gradually reduced and the wound healed gradually in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group and gel group from the 7th to 21st day after injury, and the epidermis and dermis could be seen, without hair follicles and other skin appendages. The wounds in blank control group did not heal completely on 21st day after injury. From the 3rd to 10th day after injury, the number of newly formed collagen fibers increased gradually in the wounds of the three groups. On the 14th and 21st day after injury, the collagen fibers in the wounds of temperature-sensitive hydrogel group and gel group were denser and more orderly than those in blank control group. On the 10th, 14th, and 21st day after injury, the collagen volume fraction of wounds in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group and gel group was significantly higher than that in blank control group (P<0.01). On the 14th day after injury, the collagen volume fraction of wounds in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in gel group (P<0.01). On the 3rd, 7th, and 10th day after injury, the expressions of IL-6 of wound in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in gel group and blank control group (P<0.01), and the expressions of IL-6 of wound in gel group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (P<0.01). On the 3rd, 7th, and 10th day after injury, the expressions of TGF-β₁ of wound in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in gel group and blank control group (P<0.01). The expressions of TGF-β₁ of wound in gel group were significantly lower than those in blank control group on the 3rd, 7th day after injury (P<0.01), and the expression of TGF-β₁ of wound in gel group was significantly higher than that in blank control group on the 10th day after injury (P<0.01). On the 14th day after injury, the expression of TGF-β₁ of wound in gel group was significantly higher than that in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group and control group (P<0.01). On the 21st day after injury, the expression of TGF-β₁ of wound in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in gel group and blank control group (P<0.01), and the expression of TGF-β₁ of wound in gel group was significantly lower than that in blank control group (P<0.01). On the 7th day after injury, the expression of MMP-1 of wound in gel group was significantly higher than that in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group and blank control group (P<0.01). On the 10th, 14th, and 21st day after injury, the expressions of MMP-1 of wound in temperature-sensitive hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in hydrogel group and blank control group (P<0.01). On the 10th day after injury, the expression of MMP-1 of wound in hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in blank control group (P<0.01). On the 14th and 21st day after injury, the expressions of MMP-1 of wound in hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (P<0.01). Conclusions: Temperature-sensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan hydrogel can promote the healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds in rats by increasing the expression of IL-6, TGF-β₁, and MMP-1, regulating the wound healing environment, inhibiting inflammatory reaction, improving the strength of tissue repair, and promoting collagen synthesis and decomposition.

PMID:34839597 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200927-00424

Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi. 2021 Nov 25;37:1-9. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200916-00414. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To analyze the changes and predict the metabolic function of intestinal microflora in severe burn patients at early stage by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. Methods: In the prospective observational study, 48 patients with severe burns who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University from January 2018 to December 2019 were included the burn group, and 40 healthy volunteers who met the inclusion criteria and underwent health examination at the Physical Examination Center of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University in the same period were included in healthy group. Stool samples were collected from patients in burn group in about 1 week after admission and from healthy volunteers on the day of physical examination. The 16S rRNA V4 gene sequencing was performed in the stool of patients in burn group and volunteers in healthy group to analyze the relative abundance of various bacteria. The operational classification unit (OTU) was divided by Mothur software, and the thermal map of fecal micro flora structure was drawn. The OTU number, Chao1 index, Ace index, and Shannon index of stool microflora were analyzed by QIIME1.9.0 software. The principal component analysis (PCA) for relative abundance of stool microflora was preformed by Canoco Software 50. The metabolic function of stool microflora was predicted by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: The relative abundance of Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Acinetobacter, Macrococcus, and Staphylococcus in feces of patients in burn group was significantly higher than that of volunteers in healthy group (Z=-5.20, -2.37, -5.17, -4.41, -6.03, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the relative abundance of unclassified-Helicobacillae, Prevotella, Cecobacteria, unclassified-Rumencocci, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Brautia, unclassified-Streptococcidae, unclassified-Digiestive and other 13 species of bacteria in the feces of volunteers in healthy group was significantly higher than that of patients in burn group (Z=-8.03, -3.21, -7.63, -5.88, -8.05, -8.05, -6.77, P＜0.01). The diversity of fecal microflora of volunteers in healthy group was better than that of patients in burn group, the dominant microflora of volunteers in healthy group were Bacteroides, unclassified-Helicobacillae, Prevotella, unclassified-Enterobacteriaceae, Brucella, Parabacteroides, Escherichia coli, etc., and the dominant microflora of patients in burn group were Bacteroides, Prevotella, Enterobacteriaceae, and Parabacteroides. The OTU number, Ace index, Chao1 index, and Shannon index of fecal microflora of patients in burn group were 149±47, 199±45, 190±45, 2.0±0.9, which were significantly lower than 266±57, 323±51, 318±51, 3.8±0.5 of volunteers in healthy group (t=10.325, 11.972, 12.224, 11.662, P<0.01). The relative abundance of fecal microflora of patients in burn group and volunteers in healthy group was clearly divided into two groups by principal component 1, and the contribution rate of principal component 1 was 32.50%, P<0.01. The fecal samples of volunteers in healthy group were more concentrated on principal component 2, the fecal samples of patients in burn group were dispersed in principal component 2, and the contribution rate of principal component 2 was 13.44%, P>0.05. The metabolic levels of alanine-aspartate-glutamate, arginine-proline, cysteine-methionine, glycine-serine-threonine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine in amino acid, tricarboxylic acid cycle, glucose and mannose, galactolipin, glycolysis/gluconiogenesis, starch and sucrose in carbohydrate of fecal microflora of patients in burn group were significantly lower than those of volunteers in healthy group (Z=-4.75, -4.54, -4.75, -4.62, -3.71, -3.28, -4.19, -3.82, -4.72, -4.35, -4.75, -4.71, P<0.01). The levels of lipoic acid metabolism and coenzyme Q synthesis of fecal microflora of patients in burn group were significantly higher than those of volunteers in healthy group (Z=-6.07, -4.51, P<0.01). The metabolic level of arachidonic acid of fecal microflora of patients in burn group was similar to that of volunteers in healthy group (P>0.05). Conclusions: There were significant differences in intestinal microflora between severe burn patients at the early stage and healthy people. In burn patients, the species and diversity of microflora were decreased, and the nutrient metabolism level was decreased.

PMID:34839595 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200916-00414

Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi. 2021 Nov 25;37:1-12. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200920-00418. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the effects of porcine acellular dermal matrix (ADM) combined with human epidermal stem cells (ESCs) on wound healing of full-thickness skin defect in nude mice. Methods: Experimental research methods were applied. The physical properties of ADM were analyzed by photograph of digital camera, hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining, scanning electron microscope, infrared spectrometer, particle size analyzer and nano-particle size potentiometer. The biological properties of ADM were analyzed by fluorescence inverted microscope, weighing method (ADM was divided into 5 min group, 10 min group, 20 min group, 30 min group, 60 min group, and 120 min group according to the random number table (the same grouping method as below) and in static state at normal temperature for the corresponding time to calculate the water absorption, with sample number of 3), cytotoxicity test and rating (mouse embryonic fibroblasts (Fbs) were divided into blank control group (culture medium only), 50.0 g/L ADM extract group, 37.5 g/L ADM extract group, 25.0 g/L ADM extract group, 12.5 g/L ADM extract group, and 6.5 g/L ADM extract group (the latter 5 groups were added with the corresponding final concentrations of AMD extract respectively). At post culture hour (PCH) 24, 48, and 72, the cell survival rate was detected by cell counting kit 8, with sample number of 5), and blood compatibility test (the erythrocytes of a 6-week-old male Sprague-Dayley rat were divided into normal saline group, ultra-pure water group, 5 mg/mL ADM extract group, 10 mg/mL ADM extract group, and 15 mg/mL ADM extract group and treated with the corresponding reagents of corresponding concentration. After reaction for 3 h, the absorbance value was detected by microplate reader, with sample number of 3). ESCs were isolated, cultured, and identified from the discarded prepuce of a 6-year-old boy who was treated in the Department of Urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University) in July 2020. ADM particles of composite ESC (hereinafter referred to as ESC/ADM) were constructed by mixed culture. After 3 days of culture, the composite effect of ESC/ADM was observed by HE staining and laser confocal microscope. Thirty-six 7-8-week-old male non-thymic nude mice were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) alone group, ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group, with 9 mice in each group, and the wound model of full-thickness skin defect was established. Immediately after injury, the wounds were treated with the corresponding reagents at one time. On post injury day (PID) 7, 11, and 15, the wound healing was observed and the wound healing rate was counted (with sample number of 3). On PID 7, the epithelialization of wounds was observed by HE staining and the epithelialization length was measured (with following sample numbers of 4). On PID 11, the dermis area and collagen deposition of each group were observed by Masson staining and calculated, the number of cells expressing CD49f, a specific marker of ESC, was calculated with immunofluorescence staining, the mRNA expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene in ESC after wound transplantation with detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and least signigicant difference t test. Results: ADM was white particles and composed of reticular structure, with disordered structure, rough surface, and no cells inside. The absorption peak of ADM appears at the wave numbers of 1 659, 1 549 and 1 239 cm^-1, respectively. The main particle size distribution of ADM in solution was 500 to 700 nm, with negative charge on the surface. The morphology of ADM in static state at 30 min and on 1 and 5 d were relatively stable. The water absorption of ADM reached its peak in static state at 30 min and remained relatively stable after that. The cytotoxicity of mouse Fbs in 6.5 g/L ADM extract group, 12.5 g/L ADM extract group, and 25.0 g/L ADM extract group was grade 1 at PCH 24, and the cytotoxicity of the other groups was 0 grade at each time point. After reaction for 3 h, the absorbance value of hemoglobin in ultrapure water group was significantly higher than the values in normal saline group and 15 mg/mL ADM extract group (t=8.14, 7.96, P<0.01). The results showed that hemolysis did not occur in 5 mg/mL ADM extract, 10 mg/mL ADM extract, nor 15 mg/mL ADM extract. The cells of the fourth passage showed pebble-like morphology, low expression of CD71 and high expression of CD49f, which were identified as ESCs. There was ESC attachment and growth on ADM particles. On PID 1, the wound sizes of nude mice were almost the same in PBS alone group, ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group. On PID 7 and 15, the wound contraction of nude mice in each group was observed, especially in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group. On PID 7, the wound healing rates of nude mice in ESC alone group and ESC/ADM group were significantly higher than the rate in PBS alone group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On PID 11, the wound healing rate of nude mice in ESC/ADM group was significantly higher than that in PBS alone group (P<0.01). On PID 15, the wound healing rates of nude mice in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group were significantly higher than the rate in PBS alone group (P<0.05). On PID 7, the length of un-epithelialized wound of nude mice in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group was (816±85), (635±66), (163±32) μm, respectively, which were significantly lower than (1 199±43) μm in PBS alone group (t=5.69, 10.19, 27.54, P<0.01). On PID 11, the dermal areas of wounds of nude mice in ADM alone group, ESC alone group, and ESC/ADM group were significantly larger than those in PBS alone group (t=27.14, 5.29, 15.90, P<0.01); the collagen production of nude mice in ADM alone group and ESC/ADM group was more obvious than that in PBS alone group, and that in ESC alone group and PBS alone group was similar. On PID 11, the expression of CD49f and mRNA of GAPDH gene were positive in the wounds of nude mice in ESC alone group and ESC/ADM group. Conclusions: ESC/ADM particles can promote the healing of full-thickness skin defects in nude mice, which may be related to the fact that particles can improve the survial rate of ESC after transplant and ADM can promote rearrangement and vascularization of dermis.

PMID:34839596 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200920-00418

Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi. 2021 Nov 23;37:1-9. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200914-00409. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of N-trimethyl chitosan-recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor (rTFPI) complex on avulsion flap with roll compaction in rat. Methods: The experimental methods were adopted. The N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI complex solution was prepared by ion cross-linking method. The morphological distribution of the complex was observed by scanning electron microscope, and its diameter was measured. The encapsulation rate and drug loading rate of rTFPI in the complex was determined and calculated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method (n=3). The concentration of rTFPI in the solution at 0, 10, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 240 minutes of storage was measured by ELISA method to observe the release of rTFPI, and its half-life was calculated (n=3). Twenty-four 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group, N-trimethyl chitosan alone group, rTFPI alone group, and N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group according to the random number table, with 6 rats in each group. The avulsion flaps with roll compaction were prepared on the backs of rats with pedicles located on the line of the bilateral iliac spine and lifted from the surface of the muscle membrane. One injection of corresponding reagents was injected once in situ sutures were made and on post operation day (POD) 1, 2, and 3. General changes of the flap were observed on POD 1, 3, and 7 before the injection in the same day. On POD 7, the survival area of the flap was measured and the survival rate of the flap was calculated; the flaps were divided into pedicle, proximal, middle, and distal segments, and the blood perfusion in the proximal, middle, and distal segment tissue of the flap was detected by the laser speckle blood flow imager; tissue samples in the middle of the flap were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to observe the changes in tissue structure and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the numbers of embolized blood vessels and new blood vessels per 100 times visual field were counted. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference test. Results: The N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI complex had an irregular spherical structure with a diameter of 150-200 nm. The encapsulation rate and drug loading rate of rTFPI in the complex were (88.7±2.1)% and (2.83±0.09)%, respectively. The concentration of rTFPI in the solution of the N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI complex gradually increased with prolonged storage time, and the release was basically stable at 90 min, with half-life of (651±36) min. On POD 1, the distal parts of flaps of rats in N-trimethyl chitosan alone group darkened significantly. On POD 3, scabs and necrosis were relatively mild on the flaps of rats in rTFPI alone group and N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group as compared with those of the other two groups. On POD 7, the necrosis boundaries of the flaps of rats in each group were clear. On POD 7, the flap survival rates of rats in rTFPI alone group and N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group were (63±7)% and (73±5)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than (41±3)% in PBS group and (52±7)% in N-trimethyl chitosan alone group. Moreover, the flap survival rate of rats in N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group was significantly higher than that in rTFPI alone group (P<0.05). On POD 7, the flaps of rats in each group had blood perfusion; the blood perfusion values in the proximal segment tissue of the rat flaps in N-trimethyl chitosan alone group and the blood perfusion values in the proximal, middle, and distal segment tissue of the rat flaps in rTFPI alone group and N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the blood perfusion values in the distal segment tissue of the rat flaps in rTFPI alone group and the blood perfusion values in the middle and distal segment tissue of the rat flaps in N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group were significantly higher than those in N-trimethyl chitosan alone group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the blood perfusion value in the middle segment tissue of the rat flaps in N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group was significantly higher than that in rTFPI alone group (P<0.01). On POD 7, inflammatory cells infiltrated more and cell edema was obvious in the middle segment tissue of the rat flaps in PBS group and N-trimethyl chitosan alone group. Compared with those of the previous two groups, the inflammation degree in the middle segment tissue of the rat flaps in rTFPI alone group and N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group was significantly milder, the number of embolized blood vessels was significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the number of new blood vessels was significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with that of rTFPI alone group, the number of new blood vessels in the middle segment tissue of the rat flaps in N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI group increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusions: Loading rTFPI with N-trimethyl chitosan can achieve the effect of sustained release of rTFPI. Compared with rTFPI alone, the N-trimethyl chitosan-rTFPI complex can further improve the blood perfusion of the avulsion flaps with roll compaction in rat and improve the survival rate of the flap.

PMID:34839594 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501120-20200914-00409

J Card Surg. 2021 Nov 28. doi: 10.1111/jocs.16163. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) combined with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in the treatment of infants with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) after congenital heart surgery.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 63 infants with AHRF and PH after congenital heart surgery in our cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) from January 2020 to March 2021. A total of 24 infants in the A group were treated with HFOV combined with iNO, and 39 infants in the B group were treated with HFOV. Relevant clinical data were collected.

RESULTS: Comparing the two groups, the improvement of the oxygenation index, PaO₂ and PaO₂ /FiO₂ was more obvious for patients in the A group than for those in the B group after intervention (p < .05). Reexamination on the third day after the initiation of HFOV treatment indicated that the systolic pulmonary artery pressure in the A group was significantly lower than that in the B group (p < .05). In addition, the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of CICU stay in the A group were shorter than those in the B group (p < .05). However, complications between the two groups were not statistically significant. No important adverse effects arose.

CONCLUSIONS: For infants with AHRF and PH after congenital heart surgery, iNO combined with HFOV is superior to HFOV alone to improve oxygenation, decrease pulmonary pressure, and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of CICU stay, with no adverse effects.

PMID:34839572 | DOI:10.1111/jocs.16163

Orthod Craniofac Res. 2021 Nov 28. doi: 10.1111/ocr.12551. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To identify the 10 most numerically prolific authors publishing in the field of orthodontics for each year over the last decade (2011-2020), describe the characteristics of these outputs and identify trends in the types of study being published.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Scopus literature search was conducted to identify the 10 most numerically prolific publishing authors in orthodontics for each year during this decade. Number and characteristics of all publications for each author were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: Forty-nine different individual authors were identified who were collectively prolific for between 1-8 years within the assessment decade. These authors published a total of 2025 papers, with a median annual output of 18 papers per year; however, half of these authors published between 15-24 papers per year (range 5-200). Amongst authors, 2 or more collaborated on only 7% of the identified papers. The median number of authors per paper was 5 (range 1-27) with significant variation according to study design (P<0.001). The majority of authors originated from Brazil (19.3%), Italy (14.1%) and India (12.7%). Most papers described non-prospective clinical studies (38.1%), case reports or case series (11.1%) and narrative reviews (10.8%). Finally, prolific authors had a smaller annual output when publishing in orthodontic journals (P<0.001) and when publishing experimental primary research (P=0.04).

CONCLUSION: A cohort of prolific authors in orthodontics between 2011-2020 was identified. Extreme variation was found in annual output between these authors but case reports, non-prospective clinical studies and narrative reviews predominated in their outputs.

PMID:34839575 | DOI:10.1111/ocr.12551

Allergy. 2021 Nov 28. doi: 10.1111/all.15192. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a complex, multifactorial disease often linked with sensitization to house-dust mites (HDM). There is a subset of patients that does not respond to available treatments, who present a higher number of exacerbations and a worse life quality. To understand the mechanisms of poor asthma control and disease severity, we aim to elucidate the metabolic and immunologic routes underlying this specific phenotype and the associated clinical features.

METHODS: Eighty-seven patients with a clinical history of asthma were recruited and stratified in 4 groups according to their response to treatment: corticosteroid-controlled (ICS), immunotherapy-controlled (IT), biologicals-controlled (BIO) or uncontrolled (UC). Serum samples were analysed by metabolomics and proteomics; and classifiers were built using machine learning algorithms.

RESULTS: Metabolomic analysis showed that ICS and UC groups cluster separately from one another and display the highest number of significantly different metabolites among all comparisons. Metabolite identification and pathway enrichment analysis highlighted increased levels of lysophospholipids related to inflammatory pathways in the UC patients. Likewise, 8 proteins were either upregulated (CCL13, ARG1, IL15 and TNFRSF12A) or downregulated (sCD4, CCL19 and IFNγ) in UC patients compared to ICS suggesting a significant T cell activation in these patients. Finally, the machine learning model built including metabolomic and clinical data was able to classify the patients with an 87.5% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS: UC patients display a unique fingerprint characterized by inflammatory-related metabolites and proteins, suggesting a pro-inflammatory environment. Moreover, the integration of clinical and biological data led to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying UC phenotype.

PMID:34839541 | DOI:10.1111/all.15192

Exp Dermatol. 2021 Nov 27. doi: 10.1111/exd.14507. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This prospective, 4-week, placebo-controlled, cross-over study aimed to investigate the efficacy of 1% topical κ-opioid agonist, asimadoline, in a model of canine atopic dermatitis (AD). Fourteen beagles were challenged with house dust mites every 3-4 days for a total of 9 challenges. Severity of dermatitis was assessed and pruritus was monitored using GoPro HERO cameras. Pruritus scoring was evaluated at 10 time periods; baseline, 4 hours post allergen challenge and the last day of the study on Day 28. Scoring was done blindly by personnel using BORIS software. A global subjective score was also given using a visual analogue scale (VAS). A 4-week washout period occurred and dogs were crossed-over, the study was repeated and the results were analyzed using combined data. Gel was applied once daily on inguinal area (0.6 ml/dog). ANOVA showed significant effect of time (p<0.0001) and group (p=0.0001) on dermatitis scores. Overall, no statistically significant effect on pruritus was found due to a crossing of scores on day 17. Overtime the placebo scores increased while the active ingredient showed decrease after first 3 weeks. It is concluded that this approach is promising in dogs with AD and longer studies with more frequent application may be beneficial.

PMID:34839557 | DOI:10.1111/exd.14507

Risk Anal. 2021 Nov 27. doi: 10.1111/risa.13862. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Affect can influence judgments of event riskiness and use of risk-related information. Two studies (Ns: 85 and 100) examined the insensitivity-to-probability effect-where people discount probability information when scenarios are affect-rich-applying it to evidence-informed risk communication. We additionally investigated whether this effect is moderated by format, based on predictions from the evaluability and pattern-recognition literatures, suggesting that graphical formats may attenuate insensitivity to probability. Participants completed a prior beliefs questionnaire (Study 1), and risk perception booklet (both studies) that presented identical statistical information about the relative risks associated with two scenarios-one with an affect-rich outcome, the other an affect-poorer outcome. In Study 1, this was presented graphically. In Study 2, information was presented in one of three formats: written, tabular, or graphical. Participants provided their perceptions of the risk for each scenario at a range of risk-levels. The affect-rich scenario was perceived as higher in risk, and, importantly, despite presenting identical relative risk information in both scenarios, was associated with a reduced sensitivity to probability information (both studies). These differences were predicted by participants’ prior beliefs concerning the scenario events (Study 1) and were larger for the single-item written format than graphical format (Study 2). The findings illustrate that insensitivity to probability information can occur in evidence-informed risk communications and highlight how communication format can moderate this effect. This interplay between affect and format therefore reflects an important consideration for information designers and researchers.

PMID:34839529 | DOI:10.1111/risa.13862

Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2021 Nov 28. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12971. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between health anxiety (HA) and healthy lifestyle behaviors (HLBs), and the factors that affect them.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional, and relational study was conducted with 1007 voluntary participants between June 1 and September 30, 2020.

FINDINGS: The participants’ mean age was 33.46 ± 15.42 years. A positive-significant relationship was found between the participants’ total HA and HLBs scores (r = 0.06, p = 0.03). The simple linear regression analysis performed by the researchers indicated that the explanatory power of HA as a determinant of HLBs was statistically significant (R² = 0.05).

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study determined that health anxiety increased the tendency towards HLBs.

PMID:34839532 | DOI:10.1111/ppc.12971