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Macular sensitivity assessment and fixation analysis using microperimetry in children with retinopathy of prematurity

Br J Ophthalmol. 2021 Jun 9:bjophthalmol-2021-319352. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-319352. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate retinal sensitivity and fixation stability using microperimetry in children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS: Observational case series. Totally 51 preterm children who had been followed for ROP were examined in three groups (n=17 in each group). The groups were defined as children without ROP (group 1), children with spontaneously resolved ROP (group 2) and children who had laser treatment for ROP (group 3). All subjects underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination. Macular Analyzer Integrity Assessment Microperimetry was used to analyse macular light sensitivity and fixation stability. The results were compared between groups. The measurements were also analysed according to age, gender, birth weight and gestational age.

RESULTS: The mean age was 10.84±0.97 years, and 27 children were female. Mean average threshold (AT) for macular sensitivity was 25.5±2.1 decibel in group 1, 26.8±3.8 decibel in group 2 and 26.3±3.0 decibel in group 3. These differences were not statistically significant between the groups (p=0.067), but AT was abnormal in 29% of the whole study population. Outputs about fixation stability were similar between the three groups but fixation was unstable in 27% of the subjects. Mean AT was better in children ≥11 years old compared with the younger ones (p=0.022).

CONCLUSION: Preterm children may have some abnormalities in macular light sensitivity and fixation stability. These abnormalities may be more prominent in children less than 11 years old. ROP itself or the laser treatment seems not to affect macular light sensitivity and fixation stability.

PMID:34108227 | DOI:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-319352

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Argonaute Binding within Human Nuclear RNA and its Impact on Alternative Splicing

RNA. 2021 Jun 9:rna.078707.121. doi: 10.1261/rna.078707.121. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mammalian RNA interference (RNAi) is often linked to the regulation of gene expression in the cytoplasm. Synthetic RNAs, however, can also act through the RNAi pathway to regulate transcription and splicing. While nuclear regulation by synthetic RNAs can be robust, a critical unanswered question is whether endogenous functions for nuclear RNAi exist in mammalian cells. Using enhanced crosslinking immunoprecipitation (eCLIP), we mapped AGO2 binding sites within nuclear RNA. The strongest AGO2 binding sites were mapped to micro RNAs (miRNAs). The most abundant miRNAs were distributed similarly between cytoplasm and nucleus, providing no evidence for mechanisms that facilitate localization of miRNAs in one compartment versus the other. Beyond miRNAs, most statistically-significant AGO2 binding was within introns. Splicing changes were confirmed by RT-PCR and were recapitulated by synthetic duplex RNAs and miRNA mimics complementary to the sites of AGO2 binding. These data support the hypothesis that miRNAs can control gene splicing. While nuclear RNAi proteins have the potential to be a natural regulatory mechanism, careful study will be necessary to identify critical RNA drivers of normal physiology and disease.

PMID:34108230 | DOI:10.1261/rna.078707.121

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Geriatric clinical screening tool for cervical spine injury after ground-level falls

Emerg Med J. 2021 Jun 9:emermed-2020-210693. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2020-210693. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A consistent approach to cervical spine injury (CSI) clearance for patients 65 and older remains a challenge. Clinical clearance algorithms like the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilisation Study (NEXUS) criteria have variable accuracy and the Canadian C-spine rule excludes older patients. Routine CT of the cervical spine is performed to rule out CSI but at an increased cost and low yield. Herein, we aimed to identify predictive clinical variables to selectively screen older patients for CSI.

METHODS: The University of Iowa’s trauma registry was interrogated to retrospectively identify all patients 65 years and older who presented with trauma from a ground-level fall from January 2012 to July 2017. The relationship between predictive variables (demographics, NEXUS criteria and distracting injuries) and presence of CSI was examined using the generalised linear modelling (GLM) framework. A training set was used to build the statistical models to identify clinical variables that can be used to predict CSI and a validation set was used to assess the reliability and consistency of the model coefficients estimated from the training set.

RESULTS: Overall, 2312 patients ≥65 admitted for ground-level falls were identified; 253 (10.9%) patients had a CSI. Using the GLM framework, the best predictive model for CSI included midline tenderness, focal neurological deficit and signs of trauma to the head/face, with midline tenderness highly predictive of CSI (OR=22.961 (15.178-34.737); p<0.001). The negative predictive value (NPV) for this model was 95.1% (93.9%-96.3%). In the absence of midline tenderness, the best model included focal neurological deficit (OR=2.601 (1.340-5.049); p=0.005) and signs of trauma to the head/face (OR=3.024 (1.898-4.815); p<0.001). The NPV was 94.3% (93.1%-95.5%).

CONCLUSION: Midline tenderness, focal neurological deficit and signs of trauma to the head/face were significant in this older population. The absence of all three variables indicates lower likelihood of CSI for patients≥65. Future observational studies are warranted to prospectively validate this model.

PMID:34108196 | DOI:10.1136/emermed-2020-210693

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Nursing Students’ Perception Regarding Community Health Nursing Practical Modules Experience, at the Faculty of Nursing, [Institution MASKED], Egypt

J Dr Nurs Pract. 2021 Jun 9:JDNP-D-20-00048. doi: 10.1891/JDNP-D-20-00048. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Learning depends not only upon how teachers have designed and structured their subjects and courses but also upon how their students perceive and understand this design and structure. Understanding student’s level of perception with their clinical education forms a basis of determining the quality of nursing education.

OBJECTIVE: Assess nursing students’ perception of their learning experience with community health nursing practical modules.

METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study, the convenience sample included 149 students studying a community health nursing practical course at the Faculty of Nursing affiliated to [Institution MASKED]. Three tools were used; (a) interviewing questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics. (b) Undergraduate modules experience questionnaire and (c) Student evaluation of clinical education environment inventory.

RESULTS: Students’ total perception mean scores regarding the practical modules experience questionnaire was (79.82%), and different community clinical learning environment, family health centers (82.01%), schools (76. 83%), and geriatric homes (79. 29%) with statistical significance differences p ≤ .042. Furthermore, significant relationship was found between students’ academic achievement and total perception of the Undergraduate Modules Experience Questionnaire (UMEQ) and its subscales, Good Teaching, Intellectual Motivation (p ≤ .01), Clear goals and standards and Generic Skills (p ≤ .04), Appropriate Assessment and Overall Satisfaction (p ≤ .05).

CONCLUSION: Nursing students revealed a higher positive perception of community health nursing practical modules experiences. However, there was few areas are required for improving quality of the practical modules.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING EDUCATION: Increasing period of students’ clinical training exposure, teaching the skills of effective time management as well as increasing number of the academic staff in the community health nursing department are recommended strategies for improving quality of community health nursing practical modules.

PMID:34108197 | DOI:10.1891/JDNP-D-20-00048

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Effect of tourniquet use on the risk of revision in total knee replacement surgery: an analysis of the National Joint Registry Data Set

BMJ Open. 2021 Jun 9;11(6):e045353. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045353.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Tourniquet use in total knee replacement (TKR) is believed to improve the bone-cement interface by reducing bleeding, potentially prolonging implant survival. This study aimed to compare the risk of revision for primary cemented TKR performed with or without a tourniquet.

DESIGN: We analysed data from the National Joint Registry (NJR) for all primary cemented TKRs performed in England and Wales between April 2003 and December 2003. Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression were used to assess the influence of tourniquet use, age at time of surgery, sex and American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) classification on risk of revision for all-causes.

RESULTS: Data were available for 16 974 cases of primary cemented TKR, of which 16 132 had surgery with a tourniquet and 842 had surgery without a tourniquet. At 10 years, 3.8% had undergone revision (95% CI 2.6% to 5.5%) in the no-tourniquet group and 3.1% in the tourniquet group (95% CI 2.8% to 3.4%). After adjusting for age at primary surgery, gender and primary ASA score, the HR for all-cause revision for cemented TKR without a tourniquet was 0.82 (95% CI 0.57 to 1.18).

CONCLUSIONS: We did not find evidence that using a tourniquet for primary cemented TKR offers a clinically important or statistically significant reduction in the risk of all-cause revision up to 13 years after surgery. Surgeons should consider this evidence when deciding whether to use a tourniquet for cemented TKR.

PMID:34108163 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045353

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The Optimising Cardiac Surgery ouTcOmes in People with diabeteS (OCTOPuS) randomised controlled trial to evaluate an outpatient pre-cardiac surgery diabetes management intervention: a study protocol

BMJ Open. 2021 Jun 9;11(6):e050919. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050919.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cardiothoracic surgical outcomes are poorer in people with diabetes compared with those without diabetes. There are two important uncertainties in the management of people with diabetes undergoing major surgery: (1) how to improve diabetes management in the weeks leading up to an elective procedure and (2) whether that improved management leads to better postoperative outcomes. We previously demonstrated the feasibility of delivering the Optimising Cardiac Surgery ouTcOmes in People with diabeteS (OCTOPuS) intervention, an outpatient intervention delivered by diabetes healthcare professionals for people with suboptimally managed diabetes over 8-12 weeks before elective cardiac surgery. The present study will assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the intervention in cardiothoracic centres across the UK.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A multicentre, parallel group, single-blinded 1:1 individually randomised trial comparing time from surgery until clinically fit for discharge in adults with suboptimally managed type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes undergoing elective surgery between the OCTOPuS intervention and usual care (primary endpoint). Secondary endpoints will include actual time from surgery to discharge from hospital; days alive and either out of hospital or judged as clinically fit for discharge; mortality; time on intensive therapy unit (ITU)/ventilator; infections; acute myocardial infarction; change in weight; effect on postoperative renal function and incidence of acute kidney injury; change in HbA1c; frequency and severity of self-reported hypoglycaemia; operations permanently cancelled for suboptimal glycaemic levels; cost-effectiveness; psychosocial questionnaires. The target sample size will be 426 recruited across approximately 15 sites. The primary analysis will be conducted on an intention-to-treat population. A two-sided p value of 0.05 or less will be used to declare statistical significance for all analyses and results will be presented with 95% CIs.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial was approved by the South Central-Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee (20/SC/0271). Results will be disseminated through conferences, scientific journals, newsletters, magazines and social media.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN10170306.

PMID:34108175 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050919

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Protective effect of baicalein on high fat-induced hepatocytes oxidative damage

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi. 2021 May 20;29(5):462-467. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20190520-00176.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of baicalein in improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by high fat-induced oxidative damage in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice weighing 18-20 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group (C, 10% fat for energy), high-fat group (H, 60% fat for energy), high-fat + scutellaria baicalein group (H+B, baicalein: 400 mg·kg(-1)·bw(-1)), and baicalein control group (B, baicalein: 400 mg·kg(-1)·bw(-1)). After 12 weeks, mice were sacrificed, and the tissue samples were collected. Liver pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Mitochondrial morphology was examined by ultramicropathology. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) changing levels in the liver were determined by kit. Sestrin2 and protein carbonylation (PCOS) levels were detected by Western blotting. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock-down the Sestrin2 protein expression in HepG2 cells. Intramyocellular lipid changes in HepG2 cells was detected by fluorescent dye BODIPY493/503. One way ANOVA was used LSD pairwise comparison method was used to test the statistical difference. Results: Compared with the normal control group, high-fat fed caused significant fatty degeneration, decreased GSH and SOD levels (P ​​< 0.05), increased MDA and protein carbonylation levels, and increased Sestrin2 expression (P < 0.05) in mice. Mitochondrial shape changes, swelling, lack of cristae, and MMP was down-regulated by 33.3% (t = 13.456, P ​​< 0.001). Baicalein intervention had effectively inhibited hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage caused by high-fat fed, and further up-regulated Sestrin2 expression, MMP (t = 10.104, P ​​< 0.001), and significantly alleviated liver damage in mice. Sestrin2 expression knock-down had further increased the intracellular lipid deposition and PCOs expression (P ​​< 0.05), and reduced baicalein ability to antagonize lipid deposition and antioxidant capacity in Hep2 cells. Conclusion: Baicalein alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver by regulating Sestrin2 expression and high-fat fed-induced liver oxidative damage.

PMID:34107585 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20190520-00176

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Effect of band ligation or combined with tissue adhesive in the treatment of gastroesophageal varices and portal vein blood flow situational changes

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi. 2021 May 20;29(5):468-471. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20190109-00001.

ABSTRACT

42 cases with gastroesophageal varices were prospectively included. The groups were treated with endoscopic band ligation or combined with tissue adhesive. The results showed that the left gastric vein internal diameter, average blood flow velocity and blood flow volume after the treatment of band ligation combined with tissue adhesive were significantly lower than that of the treatment of band ligation alone, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Spleen and portal vein internal diameter, blood flow and average velocity, the liver and spleen size, shear wave velocity and liver function grade of the two groups after treatment did not change significantly (P > 0.05). The effective rate of band ligation combined with tissue adhesive in the treatment of esophageal and gastric varices (66.67%, 52.38%) were higher than that of band ligation alone (42.85%, 23.81%) (P > 0.05), and the re-bleeding rate of the latter was higher (9.52% and 19.05%, P > 0.05). Hence, it is suggested that the combined therapy is safe and more effective, and has no apparent effect on liver function and portal hypertension.

PMID:34107586 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20190109-00001

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Effectiveness of TRB3 on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation, apoptosis and migration

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi. 2021 May 20;29(5):439-445. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20190411-00119.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the regulatory role and mechanism of tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRB3) on hepatocarcinoma (HCC) cells proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Methods: Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect TRB3 expression in cancerous and adjacent cancerous liver tissues of HCC patients. TRB3 expression was detected in vitro in HepG2 and Huh7 hepatocarcinoma cell lines. Simultaneously, CCK8 and EdU were used to detect cell proliferation after TRB3 targeted inhibition with small interfering RNA. CCK8 and EdU were used to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect apoptosis. Transwell assay was used to evaluate migration ability. Simultaneously, Western blot was used to detect changes in apoptosis, migration-related proteins and AKT phosphorylation activity. The mean comparison between the two groups was performed by t-test, and the comparison between multiple groups was performed by one-way analysis of variance. Results: Western blot showed that the expression of TRB3 was significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues. Compared with normal liver tissues adjacent to cancer, the relative expression levels were 0.78 ± 0.12 and 0.29 ± 0.09, respectively, P < 0.01, and the difference was statistically significant. After interfering siRNA inhibited TRB3, CCK8 and EdU tests showed that the proliferation activity of HepG2 and Huh7 cells were significantly weakened (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptotic proportions of HepG2 and Huh7 cells was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Western blot also showed that the expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins BAX and BIM were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Transwell assay results showed that the migration ability of HepG2 and Huh7 cells was decreased (P < 0.05), and the expression of migration regulatory proteins MMP4 and MMP9 was also significantly down-regulated. Western blot results showed that the AKT phosphorylation level was significantly increased. Conclusion: TRB3 regulates hepatocarcinoma cells proliferation, apoptosis and migration by inhibiting the AKT phosphorylation activity. Therefore, TRB3 may be a potential target site for the liver cancer treatment.

PMID:34107581 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20190411-00119

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Liraglutide alleviates lipotoxic liver cell damage and promotes autophagy to improve non-alcoholic fatty liver

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi. 2021 May 20;29(5):456-461. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20200427-00219.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on free fatty acid (FFA)-induced hepatocyte steatosis, and to explore its autophagic role in this process. Methods: Human hepatocytes were cultured in vitro to induce NAFLD cell model. Liraglutide (LRG) concentration gradient was added to observe the effect on cell survival rate and fatty degeneration of liver cells. The relationship between liraglutide and autophagy was investigated with chloroquine inhibition and rapamycin (RAPA) activation in hepatocyte steatosis. Experimental group: control group: a certain concentration of BSA was added to cells cultured in DMEM complete medium; FFA model group: fatty degeneration of hepatocytes was induced by 1mmol/L FFA (OA : PA=2 : 1); LRG group: FFA (1 mmol/L) and LRG (100 nmol/L) were added to the cells at the same time; autophagy inhibition group: FFA (1 mmol/L), LRG (100 nmol/L), and chloroquine (20 μmol/L) were added to the cells at the same time; autophagy activated group: FFA (1 mmol/L) and RAPA (1 μmol/L) were added to the cells at the same time. Oil red O staining and fully automated biochemistry analyzer were used to observe the intracellular lipidosis condition. Western blotting was used to detect the levels of autophagy-related proteins (Beclin1, P62, and LC3B). One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the means between multiple groups. Results: Within a certain concentration range, with the increase of LRG concentration, the hepatocytes survival rate was increased and the degree of intracellular lipidosis had continued to decrease. The best effect was achieved when LRG concentration reached 100nmol/L, and the difference was statistically significant when compared with the FFA group (P < 0.01). During the exploration of the relationship between the degree of hepatic steatosis and autophagy, LRG group intracellular triglyceride content was significantly lower than FFA group (P < 0.01), and the levels of Beclin1, LC3B-II/LC3B-I were higher than FFA group. Additionally, FFA group had reduced P62 level, and enhanced autophagy. Compared with the LRG group, autophagy inhibition group intracellular triglyceride content was increased (P < 0.01), while the levels of Beclin1, LC3B-II/LC3B-I was decreased, and P62 level was increased. Autophagy activated group RAPA had significantly reduced FFA-induced intrahepatic triglyceride deposition, and the changes in autophagy-related protein levels were consistent with the effect of LRG. Conclusion: GLP-1RAs can alleviates FFA-induced lipotoxic liver cell damage, and promote autophagy to improve fatty degeneration of hepatocytes in NAFLD.

PMID:34107584 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn501113-20200427-00219