Nevin Manimala

Int Urol Nephrol. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1007/s11255-022-03410-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The surgical treatment of bladder urothelial carcinoma depends on whether the tumor has invaded the bladder muscular layer. Normal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (contrast-enhanced MRI) are widely used in patients bear bladder tumors; the latter is also widely used in estimating the muscularis invasion of bladder cancer (BC). However, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is rarely used in this aspect. As the gold standard in diagnosing muscularis invasion remains being pathological examination, this study was set to find out whether there are differences between CEUS and contrast-enhanced MRI in diagnosing bladder malignant tumors and in diagnosing the muscularis invasion of the bladder urothelial carcinoma under the guide of the pathological results.

METHODS: 160 patients from Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were recruited from July 1st, 2021, to June 30th, 2022. Patients are arranged to undergo CEUS, contrast-enhanced MRI and then take a surgery. After surgery, we compare the results of CEUS, MRI and the pathological results, using software to run the statistical examinations.

RESULTS: The accuracies of CEUS and contrast-enhanced MRI in diagnosing malignant bladder tumors were 85.90 and 84.62%, and they had no differences (P > 0.05). While the accuracies of CEUS and contrast-enhanced MRI in diagnosing the muscularis invasion were 84.62 and 76.92%, in which CEUS had a better sensitivity (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: We found that CEUS and contrast-enhanced MRI had no differences in diagnosing the different pathological types (benign or malignant) of BC, but CEUS holds a better sensitivity in diagnosing muscularis invasions of bladder urothelial carcinoma than the contrast-enhanced MRI.

PMID:36422743 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-022-03410-2

Clin Oral Investig. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1007/s00784-022-04790-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: For a conventional indirect restoration, temporary cementation inevitably contaminated collapsed dentin collagen. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the optimal strategy for minimizing its negative effects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for in vitro studies, involving the influence of immediate dentin sealing (IDS), different temporary cements, and their removal strategies on dentin bond strength. The meta-analysis used the inverse variance method with effect method of the standardized mean difference and statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. The I² value and the Q-test were used to assess the heterogeneity.

RESULTS: A total of 14 in vitro trials were subjected to the meta-analysis. Within the study’s limitations, we assumed that IDS eliminated the negative effects of temporary bonding, achieving the comparable immediate bond strength with the control (p = 0.46). In contrast, under delayed dentin sealing (DDS), temporary cementation statistically decreased bond strength (p = 0.002). Compared with resin-based and non-eugenol zinc oxide cements, polycarboxylate and calcium hydroxide cements performed better on bond strength with no statistical difference from the control group (p > 0.05). Among the removal methods of temporary cements, the Al₂O₃ abrasion restored the decreased bond strength (p = 0.07) and performed better than hand instruments alone (p = 0.04), while pumice removal slightly reduced the bond strength in contrast with the control group (p = 0.05, 95% CI = – 1.62 to 0).

CONCLUSIONS: The choices of IDS, polycarboxylate and calcium hydroxide temporary cements, Al₂O₃ abrasion removal method were feasible and efficient to enhance the bond strength.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It is worthwhile applying IDS technique, polycarboxylate and calcium hydroxide temporary cements during indirect restoration. The Al₂O₃ abrasion of cleaning dentin can minimize the negative effects of temporary cement.

PMID:36422719 | DOI:10.1007/s00784-022-04790-6

World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2022 Nov 24;39(1):26. doi: 10.1007/s11274-022-03467-2.

ABSTRACT

Grain crops are easily contaminated by fungi due to the existence of various microorganisms in the storage process, especially in humid and warm storage conditions. Compared with conventional methods, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has paved the way for the detection of fungi in grain crops as it is a rapid, nondestructive, and sensitive analytical method. In this work, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Fusarium moniliforme and Trichoderma viride in grain crops were detected using colloidal Au nanoparticles and SERS. The results indicated that different fungi showed different Raman phenotypes, which could be easily characterized by SERS. Combined with multivariate statistical analysis, identification of a variety of fungi could be accomplished rapidly and accurately. This research can be applied for the rapid detection of fungi in the food and biomedical industries.

PMID:36422715 | DOI:10.1007/s11274-022-03467-2

Orv Hetil. 2022 Nov 20;163(47):1862-1871. doi: 10.1556/650.2022.32640. Print 2022 Nov 20.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Several international studies have already confirmed the importance of the socioeconomic status of acute myocardial infarction patients in terms of patient care and prognosis. To our knowledge, a nationwide examination of this kind has not yet taken place in Hungary. The investigation of this problem field was made possible by the fact that from January 1, 2014, all healthcare providers must record the data of patients treated with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the database of the Hungarian Myocardial Infarction Registry (HUMIR).

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors searched for an answer to whether the complex development index (CDI) in Hungary’s 174 districts and 23 capital districts influences the treatment and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction patients.

METHOD: Based on the CDI worked out by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the authors divided the Hungarian districts into low (CDI_L), medium (CDI_M) and high (CDI_H) CDI groups according to their values. They examined the incidence, hospital treatment and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction in these administrative-territorial units. The HUMIR included 66,253 patients treated by myocardial infarction between 2015 and 2019. Their place of residence could be identified based on the zip code and in which district it was located. In the examined population, 29,101 patients with ST-elevation (STEMI) and 37,152 without ST-elevation (NSTEMI) received treatment for acute myocardial infarction.

RESULTS: In the population over 15 years of age, the age-standardized incidence of STEMI was 68.8 per 100,000 inhabitants a year in the CDI_L group and 52.7 per 100,000 inhabitants a year in the CDI_H group. Almost the same values were found in all three CDI subgroups of NSTEMI incidence (69.5 and 67 per 10,000 inhabitants a year). The frequency of percutaneous coronary intervention in the case of STEMI was higher than in NSTEMI, but within the groups, CDI did not influence the performance of this treatment. In the case of STEMI, the rates of patients who underwent percutaneous coronaria intervention in all three CDI subgroups (CDI_L, CDI_M, CDI_H) were 83.5%, 83.7%, 83.5%, while in the case of NSTEMI they were 57.4%, 57.7%, 57.3%. The authors applied a Cox multivariate regression analysis to examine myocardial infarction mortality. The CDI did not affect the 30-day mortality rates in the case of any myocardial infarction: the hazard ratio (HR) values were 0.906 and 0.914 (p = 0.04659; p = 0.04686) in the case of STEMI, while 1.067 and 1.001 (p = 0.16520; p = 0.98933) in the case of NSTEMI. In the case of a STEMI diagnosis, the risk of the 30-364-day and the 1-year mortality in the subgroup of CDI_H was significantly lower (HR = 0.822 and 0.816) than in the subgroup of CDI_L (p = 0.00096 and p = 0.00001). In the case of NSTEMI diagnosis, the authors found a difference in the risk of beyond 1-year mortality by comparing the districts in the subgroup of CDI_L with the districts in CDI_H: in the latter case, the HR of the mortality was 0.876, which was significantly lower (p = 0.00029) than in the subgroup of CDI_L.

CONCLUSION: The CDI has independent prognostic significance in determining the late prognosis of acute myocardial infarction patients. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(47): 1862-1871.

PMID:36422687 | DOI:10.1556/650.2022.32640

Physiol Int. 2022 Nov 21. doi: 10.1556/2060.2022.00113. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in a worldwide pandemic, due to its great capacity to invade the human body. Previous studies have shown that the primary route of invasion of this virus is the human respiratory tract via the co-expression of ACE2 receptor and TMPRSS2, a serine protease on the cellular surface. Interestingly, this condition is present not only on the respiratory epithelium but on the conjunctival mucosa, as well. Thus, we hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 is present on the conjunctival mucosa.

AIM: To prove that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in the conjunctiva.

METHODS: Previously nasopharyngeal swab-sample based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive COVID-19 infected patients were selected at the COVID Care Centers of Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. The study was approved by the ethical committee of Semmelweis University. During their recovery, both nasopharyngeal and conjunctival swab-samples were taken and PCR method was used to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The study population consisted of 97 patients, 49 females (50.5%) and 48 males (49.5%), with a mean age of 67.2 ± 11.9 years. During recovery, with nasopharyngeal swabs, the PCR test was positive in 55 cases (56.70%), whereas with conjunctival swabs it was positive in 8 cases (8.25%). Both tests were positive in 5 cases (5.15%). In some patients, ocular symptoms were observed as well. The rest of the patients (29 cases) had negative nasopharyngeal PCR tests during recovery.

CONCLUSIONS: Although only in few cases, the data of the present study provides a proof of concept that SARS-CoV-2 can be present on the conjunctival mucosa even in nasopharyngeal negative patients, a finding, which can have clinical importance. Also, on the basis of these findings one can hypothesize that – in addition to the respiratory tract – the conjunctiva can be an entrance route for SARS-CoV-2 to the human body. Thus, in high-risk conditions, in addition to covering the mouth and nose with mask, the protection of the eyes is also strongly recommended.

PMID:36422684 | DOI:10.1556/2060.2022.00113

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1007/s00406-022-01527-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Samples can be prone to ascertainment and attrition biases. The Australian Genetics of Depression Study is a large publicly recruited cohort (n = 20,689) established to increase the understanding of depression and antidepressant treatment response. This study investigates differences between participants who donated a saliva sample or agreed to linkage of their records compared to those who did not. We observed that older, male participants with higher education were more likely to donate a saliva sample. Self-reported bipolar disorder, ADHD, panic disorder, PTSD, substance use disorder, and social anxiety disorder were associated with lower odds of donating a saliva sample, whereas anorexia was associated with higher odds of donation. Male and younger participants showed higher odds of agreeing to record linkage. Participants with higher neuroticism scores and those with a history of bipolar disorder were also more likely to agree to record linkage whereas participants with a diagnosis of anorexia were less likely to agree. Increased likelihood of consent was associated with increased genetic susceptibility to anorexia and reduced genetic risk for depression, and schizophrenia. Overall, our results show moderate differences among these subsamples. Most current epidemiological studies do not search for attrition biases at the genetic level. The possibility to do so is a strength of samples such as the AGDS. Our results suggest that analyses can be made more robust by identifying attrition biases both on the phenotypic and genetic level, and either contextualising them as a potential limitation or performing sensitivity analyses adjusting for them.

PMID:36422680 | DOI:10.1007/s00406-022-01527-0

Cancer. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1002/cncr.34565. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy using a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) alone or in combination with chemotherapy is the standard of care for treatment-naive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without driver mutations for which targeted therapies have been approved. It is unknown whether continuing CPI treatment beyond disease progression results in improved outcomes.

METHODS: Patients who experienced progressive disease (PD) after a clinical benefit from chemotherapy plus a CPI were enrolled. Patients received pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks) plus next-line chemotherapy. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1). Key secondary end points included the overall survival (OS), clinical benefit rate, and toxicity. The authors’ hypothesis was that continuing pembrolizumab beyond progression would improve the median PFS to 6 months in comparison with a historical control of 3 months with single-agent chemotherapy alone.

RESULTS: Between May 2017 and February 2020, 35 patients were enrolled. The patient and disease characteristics were as follows: 51.4% were male; 82.9% were current or former smokers; and 74.3%, 20%, and 5.7% had adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and NSCLC not otherwise specified, respectively. The null hypothesis that the median PFS would be 3 months was rejected (p < .05). The median PFS was 5.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6-8.0 months). The median OS was 24.5 months (95% CI, 15.6-30.9 months). The most common treatment-related adverse events were fatigue (60%), anemia (54.3%), and nausea (42.9%). There were no treatment-related deaths.

CONCLUSIONS: Pembrolizumab plus next-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC who experienced PD after a clinical benefit from a CPI was associated with statistically significant higher PFS in comparison with historical controls of single-agent chemotherapy alone.

PMID:36420773 | DOI:10.1002/cncr.34565

Trop Med Int Health. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1111/tmi.13831. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the comparative efficacy and safety of a fixed dose of benznidazole (BZN) with an adjusted-dose for T. cruzi-seropositive adults without cardiomyopathy.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis following Cochrane methods, and the PRISMA-IPD statement for reporting. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) allocating participants to fixed or adjusted doses of BZN for T. cruzi-seropositive adults without cardiomyopathy were included. We searched (December 2021) Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS and trial registries and contacted Chagas experts. Selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane tool, and a GRADE summary of finding tables were performed independently by pairs of reviewers. We conducted a random-effects IPD meta-analysis using the one-stage strategy, or, if that was impossible, the two-stage strategy.

RESULTS: Five RCTs (1198 patients) were included, none directly comparing fixed with adjusted doses of BZN. Compared to placebo, BZN therapy was strongly associated with negative qPCR and sustainable parasitological clearance regardless of the type of dose and subgroup analyzed. For negative qPCR, the fixed/adjusted rate of odds ratios (ROR^F/A ) was 8.83 (95%CI 1.02-76.48); for sustained parasitological clearance it was 4.60 (95%CI 0.40-52.51), probably indicating at least non-inferior effect of fixed doses, with no statistically significant interactions by scheme for global and most subgroup estimations. The ROR^F/A for treatment interruption due to adverse events was 0.44 (95%CI, 0.14-1.38), probably indicating no worse tolerance of fixed doses.

CONCLUSIONS: We found no direct comparison between fixed and adjusted doses of BZN. However, fixed doses vs. placebo are probably not inferior to weight-adjusted doses of BZN vs. placebo in terms of parasitological efficacy and safety. Network IPD meta-analysis, through indirect comparisons, may well provide the best possible answers in the near future.

REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019120905).

PMID:36420767 | DOI:10.1111/tmi.13831

J Radiat Res. 2022 Nov 24:rrac078. doi: 10.1093/jrr/rrac078. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although mammalian fetuses have been suggested to be sensitive to radiation, an increased frequency of translocations was not observed in blood lymphocytes from atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors who were exposed to the bomb in utero and examined as adults. Since experiments using hematopoietic cells of mice and rats confirmed this finding, it was hypothesized that either irradiated fetal hematopoietic stem cells (f-HSCs) cannot generate exchange-type chromosomal aberrations or cells bearing induced aberrations are eliminated before the animals reach adulthood. In the present study, pregnant mice (12.5-15.5 days post coitum [dpc]) were irradiated with 2 Gy of X-rays and long-term HSCs (LT-HSCs) were isolated 24 h later. Multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) analysis of LT-HSC clones proliferated in vitro showed that nine out of 43 (21%) clones from fetuses and 21 out of 41 (51%) clones from mothers bore translocations. These results indicate that cells with translocations can arise in mouse f-HSCs but exist at a lower frequency than in the mothers 24 h after X-ray exposure. Thus, it seems likely that translocation-bearing f-HSCs are generated but subsequently disappear, so that the frequency of lymphocyte translocations may decrease and reach the control level by the time the animals reach adulthood.

PMID:36420765 | DOI:10.1093/jrr/rrac078

Cancer Med. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1002/cam4.5470. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In general, there are not many studies exploring the clinical value of adjuvant chemotherapy or maintenance chemotherapy (AC/MC) after induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IC+CCRT+AC/MC). The purpose of this study was to establish a clinical nomogram for the use of AC/MC in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two centers (Guangzhou Medical University Cancer Center [N = 1226] and Zhongshan People’s Hospital [N = 150]) recruited 1376 patients with LA-NPC. All the patients underwent IC+CCRT; 560 patients received AC with cisplatin/nedaplatin plus docetaxel/paclitaxel (TP) or cisplatin/nedaplatin plus fluorouracil (PF), and 81 patients received MC with S-1. Multivariate Cox regression was used to confirm optimal predictors of progression-free survival (PFS), and a nomogram was established to identify patients into low-risk and high-risk cohorts. Additionally, bootstrap internal validation was performed to further verify our nomogram.

RESULTS: After propensity score matching (PSM), the survival curves were not statistically different between IC+CCRT+AC/MC and IC+CCRT (all p > 0.05). Then, a nomogram was developed based on variables that were screened by univariate and multivariate Cox regression, including N stage, cumulative platinum dose during CCRT, body mass index (BMI), IC cycles, IC regimen and cervical lymph node (CLN) necrosis and infiltration of adjacent tissues. The results of the nomogram showed that the high-risk cohort had greatly worse 5-year DMFS, LRFS, PFS and OS compared to low-risk cohort (all p < 0.05), and subgroup analysis found that the 5-year DMFS, PFS and OS of patients treated with IC+CCRT+AC/MC were better than those treated with IC+CCRT in high-risk cohort (all p < 0.05). Notably, the incidence of adverse effects for IC+CCRT+AC cohort was higher than that for IC+CCRT+MC cohort, especially leukocytopenia and neutropenia. IC+CCRT and IC+CCRT+MC were associated with similar incidences of adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS: The addition of AC or MC to IC+CCRT could improve the DMFS of patients with high-risk NPC and prolong their survival. Additionally, our findings suggest a potential role of AC/MC following IC plus CCRT in the treatment of high-risk LA-NPC.

PMID:36420689 | DOI:10.1002/cam4.5470