Nevin Manimala

Cartilage. 2022 Oct 28:19476035221126343. doi: 10.1177/19476035221126343. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate early radiological and clinical outcome of autologous minced cartilage treatment as a single-step treatment option in patients with a chondral or osteochondral lesion (OCL) in the knee.

DESIGN: Eighteen patients with an OCL in the knee were included. Cartilage from healthy-appearing loose bodies and/or the periphery of the defect were minced into small chips and sealed in the defect using fibrin glue. Preoperatively, and at 3 (n = 14) and 12 (n = 18) months follow-up, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. The Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) 2.0 score was used to assess the cartilage repair tissue on MRI at 12 months. The International Knee Documentation Score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, EuroQoL-5D, and Visual Analogue Scale pain were collected preoperatively and 12 months after surgery.

RESULTS: Three months postoperative, MRI showed complete defect filling in 11 out of 14 patients. Mean MOCART 2.0 score at 12 months was 65.0 ± 18.9 with higher scores for lateral femoral chondral lesions compared to medial femoral chondral lesions (75.8 ± 14.3, 52.5 ± 15.8 respectively, P = 0.02). Clinical and statistical significant improvements were observed in the patient-reported outcome measures at 12 months postoperatively compared to preoperatively.

CONCLUSION: Treatment of OCLs using the autologous minced cartilage procedure resulted in good cartilage repair measured by MOCART 2.0. Clinically relevant improvements were observed in the clinical scores. This study suggests autologous minced cartilage as a promising, single-step treatment for OCLs.

PMID:36305343 | DOI:10.1177/19476035221126343

Int J Eat Disord. 2022 Oct 28. doi: 10.1002/eat.23838. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Elevated glucose variability may be one mechanism that increases risk for significant psychological and physiological health conditions among individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders (B-EDs), given the impact of eating disorder (ED) behaviors on blood glucose levels. This study aimed to characterize glucose variability among individuals with B-EDs compared with age-matched, sex-matched, and body mass index-matched controls, and investigate the association between frequency of ED behaviors and glucose variability.

METHODS: Participants were 52 individuals with B-EDs and 22 controls who wore continuous glucose monitors to measure blood glucose levels and completed ecological momentary assessment surveys to measure ED behaviors for 1 week. Independent samples t-tests compared individuals with B-EDs and controls and multiple linear regression models examined the association between ED behaviors and glucose variability.

RESULTS: Individuals with B-EDs demonstrated numerically higher glucose variability than controls (t = 1.42, p = .08, d = 0.43), although this difference was not statistically significant. When controlling for covariates, frequency of ED behaviors was significantly, positively associated with glucose variability (t = 3.17, p = .003) with medium effect size (f² = 0.25). Post hoc analyses indicated that binge eating frequency was significantly associated with glucose variability, while episodes of 5+ hours without eating were not.

DISCUSSION: Glucose variability among individuals with B-EDs appears to be positively associated with engagement in ED behaviors, particularly binge eating. Glucose variability may be an important mechanism by which adverse health outcomes occur at elevated rates in B-EDs and warrants future study.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests that some individuals with binge ED and bulimia nervosa may experience elevated glucose variability, a physiological symptom that is linked to a number of adverse health consequences. The degree of elevation in glucose variability is positive associated with frequency of eating disorder behaviors, especially binge eating.

PMID:36305323 | DOI:10.1002/eat.23838

Environ Sci Technol. 2022 Oct 28. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03559. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Current methods of characterizing plastic debris use arbitrary, predetermined categorizations and assume that the properties of particles are independent. Here we introduce Gaussian mixture models (GMM), a technique suitable for describing non-normal multivariate distributions, as a method to identify mutually exclusive subsets of floating macroplastic and microplastic particles (latent class analysis) based on statistically defensible categories. Length, width, height and polymer type of 6,942 particles and items from the Atlantic Ocean were measured using infrared spectroscopy and image analysis. GMM revealed six underlying normal distributions based on length and width; two within each of the lines, films, and fragments categories. These classes differed significantly in polymer types. The results further showed that smaller films and fragments had a higher correlation between length and width, indicating that they were about the same size in two dimensions. In contrast, larger films and fragments showed low correlations of height with length and width. This demonstrates that larger particles show greater variability in shape and thus plastic fragmentation is associated with particle rounding. These results offer important opportunities for refinement of risk assessment and for modeling the fragmentation and distribution of plastic in the ocean. They further illustrate that GMM is a useful method to map ocean plastics, with advantages over approaches that use arbitrary categorizations and assume size independence or normal distributions.

PMID:36305282 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.2c03559

Mycoses. 2022 Oct 28. doi: 10.1111/myc.13542. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The second wave of COVID-19 in India was followed by large number of mucormycosis cases. Indiscriminate use of immunosuppressive drugs, underlying diseases like diabetes cancers, or autoimmune diseases was thought to be the cause. However, the mortality was not as high as that seen in non-COVID mucormycosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the detailed characteristics of T-cells for evaluating the underlying differences in the T-cell immune dysfunction in post-COVID and non-COVID mucor patients.

MATERIAL & METHOD: The study included histopathologically confirmed cases of mucor (13 post-COVID, 13 non-COVID) and 15 healthy individuals (HI). Expression of T-cell activation (CD44, HLADR, CD69, CD38) and exhaustion (CTLA, PD-1, LAG-3 and TIM-3) markers was evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: All cases showed significant depletion of T-cells compared to HI. Both post-COVID and non-COVID groups showed increased activation and exhaustion as compared to HI. Non-COVID mucor group showed significant activation of CD4+T cells for HLADR and CD38 ((P=0.025, P=0.054) and marked T-cell exhaustion in form of expression of LAG-3 on both CD4+T and CD8+T cells in comparison to post-COVID patients (P=0.011, P=0.036). Additionally, co-expression of PD-1 & LAG-3 and LAG-3 & TIM-3 on CD8+T cells was statistically significant in non-COVID mucor patients (P=0.016, P=0.027).

CONCLUSION: Immunosuppression in non-COVID mucor showed pronounced exhaustion of T-cells in comparison to post-COVID mucor cases implicating T-cell immune dysfunction is much more severe in non-COVID mucor which are in a state of continuous activation followed by extreme exhaustion leading to poorer outcome.

PMID:36305225 | DOI:10.1111/myc.13542

Orthod Craniofac Res. 2022 Oct 28. doi: 10.1111/ocr.12617. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective two-center study aimed to evaluate the occlusal outcomes in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery with clear aligners.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review and occlusal outcomes for 15 patients (10 females and 5 males) with different types of dentofacial deformities in the anteroposterior, vertical and transverse dimensions, who underwent orthognathic surgery in conjunction with clear aligners were evaluated. Weighed Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index scores of the pretreatment and posttreatment digital models were used to assess initial complexity, final occlusal outcomes, and degree of improvement with surgery and clear aligners.

RESULTS: The mean posttreatment PAR score was 3.5±2.54 which was a statistically significant improvement from the pretreatment PAR score of 27.63±12.09, an 87% improvement was achieved. All subcategories of the PAR index showed statistically significant improvement except for midline assessment component.

CONCLUSIONS: Occlusal outcomes with aligners showed great improvement as indicated with the PAR index scores. Orthognathic surgical cases can be treated efficiently with aligners and future studies should compare occlusal outcomes between orthognathic surgical patients treated with clear aligners and those treated with fixed appliances.

PMID:36305223 | DOI:10.1111/ocr.12617

AIDS. 2022 Nov 15;36(14):1949-1958. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003361. Epub 2022 Aug 18.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Assess the impact of pre-treatment high-frequency and low-frequency drug-resistant HIV variants on long-term outcomes of first-line efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy (ART).

DESIGN: Prospective observational study.

METHODS: Participants’ pre-treatment plasma RNA had two sections of HIV pol encoding reverse transcriptase sequenced (Illumina, MiSeq) using unique molecular identifiers to detect wild-type (pre-treatment drug-resistant variants less than 1% of viral quasispecies), low-frequency (1-9%) or high-frequency drug-resistant variants (10-100%). Associations between pre-treatment drug resistance and virologic outcomes over 24 months of efavirenz-based ART were assessed for the number and frequency of mutations by drug class and other resistance parameters.

RESULTS: Virologic failure was detected in 30 of 352 (9%) and pre-treatment drug-resistant variants were detected in the viral quasispecies of 31 of 352 (9%) participants prescribed efavirenz-based ART. Survival analyses revealed statistically significant associations between pre-treatment drug resistance at low (P < 0.0001) and high (P < 0.001) frequencies, at oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) (P < 0.00001) and non-OLA (P < 0.01) codons, to a single-antiretroviral class (P < 0.00001), and a shorter time to virologic failure of efavirenz-based ART. Regression analyses detected independent effects across resistance categories, including both low-frequency (P < 0.01) and high-frequency (P < 0.001) drug-resistant variants.

CONCLUSION: We observed that pre-treatment HIV drug resistance detected at low frequencies increased the risk of virologic failure over 24 months of efavirenz-based ART, but that most failures, regardless of drug-resistant variants’ frequencies, were detected within a year of ART initiation. These observations suggest that when efavirenz-based ART is prescribed, screening for pre-treatment drug resistance by an assay capable of detecting low-frequency variants, including OLA, may guide clinicians to prescribe more effective ART.

PMID:36305180 | DOI:10.1097/QAD.0000000000003361

Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 2022 Oct 26. doi: 10.2174/1386207326666221026151525. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Collateral arteries provide an alternative source to myocardium resulting from ischemia due to occlusive coronary artery disease and may help preserve myocardial function in the case of coronary artery disease (CAD)[1]. Although the collateral development is so important, its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated. Until now, there is no study investigating the relationship between Fibroblast growth factor-21(FGF-21) and coronary collateral.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the pathophysiology of coronary collateral development.

METHODS: In our study, which we planned as a case control, 60 consecutive patients with ≥90 stenosis in at least one large coronary artery as a result of coronary angiography (CAG) and 30 patients with normal coronary angiography were included in the study cross-sectional. Demographic, echocardiographic and laboratory data were recorded. Coronary collateral circulation was evaluated using the Rentrop-Cohen method [2]. FGF-21 levels were measured in all individuals.

RESULTS: In the analysis, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in basic biochemical parameters other than HDL (p>0.05 for all). FGF-21 level was found to be statistically significantly higher in the patient group compared to the control group (p:0.003). Also, FGF-21 level was found to be statistically significantly higher in the good collateral circulation group to the poor collateral circulation group (p:0.006). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the presence of collateral. We found that FGF-21(p=0.006), C-reactive protein (p=0.020) predicted the presence of collateral independently.

CONCLUSION: Collateral formation and cardiac prognosis are closely related. Our study is the first to investigate the relationship between collateral formation and FGF-21. Our study showed that FGF-21 level is an independent predictor of collateral formation. In addition, there was a significant difference between bad and good collateral formation in terms of FGF-21 levels.

PMID:36305157 | DOI:10.2174/1386207326666221026151525

Curr Neurovasc Res. 2022 Oct 27. doi: 10.2174/1567202620666221027091249. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is an emergency condition in both neurology and ophthalmology departments. However, the management and visual outcome of RAO in different initial departments remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of the initial department on the management and prognosis of RAO.

METHODS: Consecutive cases of RAO between January 2011 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The baseline characteristics, relevant evaluation, and treatment were compared between the neurology and ophthalmology departments. The primary outcome was the visual recovery rate. The secondary outcomes were newly diagnosed cardiovascular factors, concurrent stroke and new-onset cardiovascular events.

RESULTS: A total of 74 RAO patients were included. The median age was 54 years, and 67.6% were male. There were 42 (56.8%) patients admitted to the neurology department and 32 (43.2%) in the ophthalmology department. The visual recovery rate was higher in the neurology department than in the ophthalmology department, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (27.8 vs. 12.5%, p= 0.120). Risk factor evaluation and secondary prevention were taken more frequently in the neurology department (p < 0.001). Cardiovascular risk factors and concurrent stroke were all discovered in the neurology department. However, the incidence of new-onset cardiovascular events was similar between the two departments.

CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that the visual prognosis of RAO was devastating regardless of the neurology and ophthalmology department. Given the admission delay, inadequate management, and high risk of cardiovascular risk factors and stroke, stroke centers should be recommended as initial admission departments for RAO patients.

PMID:36305143 | DOI:10.2174/1567202620666221027091249

Antiinflamm Antiallergy Agents Med Chem. 2022 Oct 26. doi: 10.2174/1871523022666221026145110. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of Sjögren’s syndrome involves the activation of NF-κB, producing proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and interferon-γ. Through oxidative stress, they will cause necrosis and apoptosis of lacrimal gland cells, resulting in impaired secretory function or reduced tear production. Moringa oleifera leaf extract is known to have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on lacrimal gland histopathology and secretory function in Sjögren’s syndrome mice model.

METHODS: The experimental study had a post-test only control group design with 32 eight-week-old male mice of the BALB/c strain divided into four groups, negative control (C-), which was not induced by SS, positive control (C+), treatment 1 (T1), and treatment 2 (T2) induced by Sjögren’s syndrome by immunizing with the 60-kD Ro antigen (SSA) as much as 100 µg. After 42 days, the T1 group was given dexamethasone 1.23 mg/kg BW/day orally for 14 days, whereas T2 was given dexamethasone 1.23 mg/kg BW/day and Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract 200 mg/kg BW/day orally for 14 days. At the end of the study, lacrimal gland histopathology and secretory function (tear production) were examined. Statistical analysis using F ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis was followed by partial difference test with the Least Significant Difference post hoc test/Mann-Whitney. Significant if p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The comparison of lacrimal gland histopathology in T1 (p = 0.044) and T2 groups (p = 0.020) obtained significant results (p < 0.05) when compared to C+. However, the comparison of tear production in T1 (p = 0.127) and T2 groups (p = 0.206) was not significant (p > 0.05) when compared to the C+ group.

CONCLUSION: The administration of Moringa oleifera leaf extract 200 mg/kg BW for 14 days could significantly improve lacrimal gland histopathology but was not effective in increasing tear production in Sjögren’s syndrome mice model.

PMID:36305140 | DOI:10.2174/1871523022666221026145110

Curr Neuropharmacol. 2022 Oct 27. doi: 10.2174/1570159X21666221027143920. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Serum prolactin levels are influenced by sex, physical development and medications among other factors. Antipsychotics usually increase serum prolactin levels in both adults and younger patients, but no study had reviewed the potential association between sex and vulnerability for developing hyperprolactinemia among children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Systematic review and meta-analysis of serum prolactin levels in children and adolescents on antipsychotic treatment for any psychiatric diagnosis to determine the effect of sex.

METHODS: A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed/Web of Science and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials of antipsychotics in children and adolescents reporting serum prolactin levels by sex.

RESULTS: Of 1278 identified records, seven studies were included, comparing different single antipsychotics to placebo (risperidone N=4; lurasidone N=1; olanzapine N=1; queriapine N=1). Both male and female children and adolescents on antipsychotics presented a significant increase of prolactin levels relative to subjects receiving placebo. (Male: 16.53 with 95%CI: 6.15 – 26.92; Female: 26.97 with 95%CI: 9.18 – 44.75). The four studies using risperidone had similar findings (Male: 26.49 with 95%CI: 17.55 – 35.43; Female: 37.72 with 95%CI: 9.41 – 66.03). In the direct comparison between sexes, females showed somewhat greater increases of prolactin, but the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Serum prolactin levels are increased in children and adolescents of both sexes on antipsychotics; with females showing a slightly greater increase than males. Further research is needed to clarify the influence of sex and pubertal status on prolactin levels in children and adolescents taking antipsychotics.

PMID:36305138 | DOI:10.2174/1570159X21666221027143920