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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Alterations in Vaginal Microbiota among Pregnant Women with COVID‐19

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Abstract

The maintenance of vaginal microbiota is an important factor to achieve optimum pregnancy outcomes. The study aims to describe the alterations in the composition of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women with COVID-19. This was a prospective case-control study. Vaginal swabs were collected from uninfected pregnant women (n=28) and pregnant women with COVID-19 (n=19) during the active phase of infection and within a month after recovering from infection. The vaginal microbiota on the swabs was examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Shannon index indicates that alpha diversity is significantly higher in women with COVID-19 (P=0.012). There was a significant decrease in Firmicutes (P=0.014) with an increase in Bacteroidota (P=0.018) phyla and a decrease in Lactobacillus (P=0.007) genus in women with COVID-19 than those of uninfected pregnant women. The relative abundance of L.crispatus, L.iners, L.gasseri, and L.jenseni i were lower in the COVID-19 group than in uninfected pregnant women. In subgroup analysis, the amount of Ureaplasma spp. was higher in women with moderate/severe than those of asymptomatic/mild disease (P=0.036). The study revealed that vaginal dysbiosis with low abundance of Lactobacillus species occurred in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2. These findings may lead to new studies to elucidate the risk of pregnancy adverse outcomes related to COVID-19.

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Beyond Laryngeal Clefts: Interarytenoid Injection Augmentation to Predict Success of Suture Augmentation in Children

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
Beyond Laryngeal Clefts: Interarytenoid Injection Augmentation to Predict Success of Suture Augmentation in Children

We present our work to children with persistent pharyngeal dysphagia and use the interarytenoid injection augmentation (IAIA) procedure as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool to help determine which patients will be the most likely to respond to interarytenoid suture augmentation (IASA) or laryngeal cleft repair. This work represents the largest series in the literature on IAIA procedures, including one of the oldest patient populations, which serves to isolate the impact of this intervention and improve the ability of this data to best predict which patient will respond to IASA. This data has been incredibly useful to better inform peri-operative conversations with the families of patients undergoing these procedures.


Objective

To assess the efficacy of interarytenoid injection augmentation (IAIA) and the ability of IAIA to predict response to interarytenoid suture augmentation (IASA) based on diet advancement on video fluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS).

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis of patients with persistent pharyngeal dysphagia at a tertiary children's hospital with VFSS pre- and post-IAIA were included between March 2011 and June 2019.

Results

Median age of the 229 patients was 2.2 years (5.8 months–19 years). Interarytenoid mucosal height (IAMH) was found to be above the false vocal folds in 112 patients (53.4%) and at true vocal folds in 10 (4.9%) patients. On VFSS post-IAIA, 95 (41.5%) patients were successfully advanced in recommended diet consistency, 115 (50.2%) were stable, and 19 (8.3%) needed thicker consistency. Paired t-tests on pre- and post-operative consistency scores showed significant improvement, p-value of <0.0001, 95% confidence interval (CI; 0.50–0.85). Poisson regression found no covariates with significant association with improvement on IAIA. For IASA patients, 35/60 (58.3%) improved on post-op VFSS. Paired t-tests on pre- and post-operative consistency scores showed significant improvement, p-value of <0.0001, 95% CI (0.63–1.33). Positive predictive value for IAIA predicting response to IASA was 77% with positive likelihood ratio of 2.3. The response to IAIA versus no response to IAIA likelihood ratios were found to have a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study suggests IAIA yields objective improvement in swallow function on VFSS in nearly half of our patients and may be a reliable diagnostic tool to predict response to IASA in patients with persistent pharyngeal dysphagia with or without a laryngeal cleft.

Level of Evidence

Level 3 Laryngoscope, 2022

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Myeloperoxidase‐positive bilineal mixed phenotype acute leukemia (B/T) with chromosome copy neutral loss of heterozygosity exhibits simultaneous diffuse leukemic infiltrations in the lung, bone, and endorachis

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Polyetheretherketone CAD‐CAM framework for all‐on‐4 mandibular full arch prosthesis: Three years' retrospective study of periimplant soft tissue changes and ridge base relationship

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

ABSTRACT

Purpose

: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical peri-implant soft tissue changes during first year after occlusal loading and the ridge base relation after three years for mandibular CAD-CAM manufactured screw-retained implant-supported hybrid prosthesis of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) framework utilized with All-on-Four treatment concept.

Material and methods

: Sixteen completely edentulous patients were rehabilitated by 4 implants following the All-On-Four protocol. After 3 months, the definitive prosthesis was constructed to be a screw retained CAD-CAM milled framework from the modified PEEK (BioHPP), bonded to polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) teeth and a pink shaded indirect light-polymerized nanofilled composite resin imitating the soft tissues. Peri-implant soft tissue changes regarding plaque, bleeding, gingival scores, and probing depth were evaluated at prosthesis insertion (T0), six months (T1) and 12 months (T2) after insertion. Also, monitoring of the ridge base relation was performed using cone beam computed tomography after one year (T0), two years (T1), and three years (T2) after mandibular fixed detachable All-on-Four framework insertion. Using Shapiro Wilk tests using SPSS® software version 22 (SPSS Inc.), all clinical data were non- parametric while the ridge base relation data was parametric.

Results

: There were statistically significant differences regarding plaque, gingival, and bleeding scores for all implants with advancement of time. However, there was a statistically insignificant difference regarding probing depth in the posterior implants (p = .581). Regarding ridge base relation, there was a significant difference between observation times only in the anterior ridge area in between the two anterior implants (p = .011).

Conclusion

: Within limitations of the study, the full arch PEEK framework of fixed-detachable, hybrid prosthesis used with All-on-Four concept for rehabilitation of mandibular edentulous arches is an acceptable treatment approach. Based on the stable ridge base relation posteriorly found in this study, less stress is distributed to the underlining bone due to the shock absorbing ability of PEEK. Special considerations for frequent soft tissue follow up and regular maintenance of oral hygiene measures are recommended.

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Implants in the pterygoid region: An updated systematic review of modern roughened surface implants

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To determine the survival rates of modern roughened surface dental implants in the pterygoid region.

Material and Methods

This systematic review was an update from a previously published systematic review in 2011, which largely reported data on older machined surface dental implants. An electronic search for articles in the English language literature published from January 1, 2010 to December 8, 2021 was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and CENTRAL search engines. After applying a systematic search process in 3 stages, the final list of selected articles on roughened surface pterygoid implants was obtained. Data from the selected articles were collated with data from pertinent articles on roughened implant surface from the previous systematic review. The combined data was then used for calculating the interval survival rate (ISR) and cumulative survival rate (CSR) of pterygoid implants.

Results

The initial electronic search resulted in 1263 titles. The systematic search process eventually resulted in 10 clinical studies reporting on modern roughened surface pterygoid implants. These 10 studies reported on a total of 911 pterygoid implants with 39 reported failures over a 6-year period. The majority of failures (37) were reported during the first year time interval and a majority of them (30) occurred before loading of the pterygoid implants. Only 2 late failures were reported after loading, during the 6th year time interval. The majority of implants were used for rehabilitation of full arch fixed implant supported prosthesis. At the maximum follow-up interval of 6 years, the cumulative survival rate of pterygoid implants with roughened surfaces was 95.5%, which was 5% higher than reported in the previous systematic review which combined machined and roughed surface pterygoid implants.

Conclusions

The survival rate of modern roughened surface dental implants in the pterygoid region is favorable at 95.5% over a 6 year period, and comparable to the existing evidence on survival of implants in other regions of the maxilla and mandible.

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Safety analysis of high‐dose methotrexate in pediatric non‐Hodgkin lymphomas

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

Abstract

High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) with rigorous supportive care is essential to the treatment of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). We describe the safety and tolerability of HD-MTX in patients with NHL treated at our center. In our cohort of 46 patients, the majority had at least one course of delayed clearance and/or creatinine elevation. Additionally, more than one-third of patients experienced an episode of grade ≥3 mucositis. Creatinine elevations and delayed clearance were independently associated with subsequent grade ≥3 mucositis. We advocate for greater availability of methotrexate monitoring to allow dose escalation of this essential modality around the world.

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Imaging of pediatric extremity soft tissue tumors: A COG Diagnostic Imaging Committee/SPR Oncology Committee White Paper

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

Abstract

Pediatric soft tissue tumors of the extremity include rhabdomyosarcoma and nonrhabdomyosarcoma neoplasms. This manuscript provides consensus-based imaging recommendations for imaging evaluation at diagnosis, during treatment, and following completion of therapy for patients with a soft tissue tumor of the extremity.

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Associations between findings of Fusobacterium necrophorum or beta-hemolytic streptococci and complications in pharyngotonsillitis - a registry-based study in Southern Sweden

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
Abstract
Background
Most pharyngotonsillitis guidelines focus on the identification of group A streptococci (GAS), guided by clinical scores determining whom to test with a rapid antigen detection test (RADT). Nevertheless, many RADT-negative patients are evaluated for Group C/G streptococci (GCS/GGS) and Fusobacterium necrophorum, yet their importance remains debated. Our primary aim was to evaluate associations between complications and findings of F. necrophorum, GAS or GCS/GGS in pharyngotonsillitis.
Methods
This was a retrospective, registry-based study of pharyngotonsillitis cases tested for F. necrophorum (PCR) and beta-hemolytic streptococci (culture) in the Skåne Region, Sweden 2013-2020. Patients with prior complications or antibiotics (30 days) were excluded. Data were retrieved from registries and electron ic charts. Logistic regression analyses were performed with a dichotomous composite outcome of complications as primary outcome, based on ICD-10-codes. Cases with negative results (PCR and culture) were set as reference category. Complications within 30 days were defined as peritonsillar or pharyngeal abscess, otitis, sinusitis, sepsis or septic complications, recurrence of pharyngotonsillitis (after 15-30 days) or hospitalization.
Results
Of 3700 registered cases, 28% had F. necrophorum, 13% GCS/GGS, 10% GAS and 54% negative results. 30-day complication rates were high (20%). F. necrophorum OR 1.8 (95CI 1.5-2.1) and GAS OR 1.9 (95CI 1.5-2.5) were associated with complications whereas GCS/GGS were negatively associated with complications OR 0.7 (95CI 0.4-0.98).
Conclusion
Our results indicate F. necrophorum as a relevant pathogen in pharyngotonsil litis, whereas the relevancy of testing for GCS/GGS is questioned. Yet, which patient to test and treat for F. necrophorum remains to be defined.
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Pregnancy status at the time of COVID-19 vaccination and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
Abstract
Background
Pregnant women are recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines; however, relative effectiveness of vaccination by pregnancy status is unclear.
Methods
We compared the relative effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines according to whether women received both while pregnant (n= 7,412), one dose while pregnant (n = 3,538), both while postpartum (n = 1,856), or both doses while neither pregnant nor postpartum (n = 6,687). We estimated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection starting 14 days after the second dose using Cox regression, reporting hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Secondly, we examined relative effectiveness of a third (booster) dose while pregnant compared to outside pregnancy. The major circulating variant during the study period was the Delta variant.
Results
54% of women received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, 16% received two doses of the mRNA-1273 vaccine, while 30% receiv ed one dose of both vaccines. Compared to women who received both doses while neither pregnant nor postpartum, the adjusted HR for a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was similar if the woman received both doses while pregnant (1.04; 95% CI: 0.94, 1.17), one dose while pregnant and one dose before or after pregnancy (1.03; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.14), or both doses while postpartum (0.99; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.07). The findings were similar for BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna Spikevax), and during Delta- and Omicron-dominant periods. We observed no differences in the relative effectiveness of the booster dose according to pregnancy status.
Conclusions
We observed similar effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection among women regardless of pregnancy status at the time of vaccination.
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Risk factors for tooth loss and progression of periodontitis in patients undergoing periodontal maintenance therapy

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

ABSTRACT

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate patient and tooth-level factors that may predict tooth loss and periodontitis progression in patients who have undergone at least 5 years of periodontal maintenance.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 135 patients were examined after active periodontal therapy (APT) and periodontal maintenance for 5.09-8.65 years (mean 6.16±0.74 years). Regression models were applied to identify risk factors associated with tooth loss and disease progression.

Results

Stage IV periodontitis (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR)=4.61; 95%CI [2.97,7.18], p<0.001), the presence of ≥5 sites with probing pocket depth (PPD)≥5mm at the end of APT (IRR=2.04; 95%CI [1.32,3.20], p<0.01), and residual PPD≥7mm at the end of APT (OR=3.01; 95%CI [1.14, 7.94], p<0.05) were risk factors for tooth loss. Residual PPD of 5mm (OR=2.02; 95%CI [1.20, 3.40], p<0.01) and 6mm (OR=2.41; 95%CI [1.22, 4.76], p<0.05) at the end of APT were risk factors for disease progression. Above 3mm, each 1mm increase in maximum PPD/clinical attachment loss was associated with an increased risk of tooth loss and disease progression.

Conclusions

Stage IV periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of tooth loss. Teeth with PPD≥5mm at the end of APT are at risk of periodontitis progression or tooth loss.

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