Comparison of passive versus active transcutaneous bone anchored hearing devices in the pediatric population

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Comparison of passive versus active transcutaneous bone anchored hearing devices in the pediatric population via Most Recent Articles: Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Transcutaneous bone anchored hearing devices (BAHDs) were introduced in an effort to avoid potential complications associated with the abutment of percutaneous BAHDs. Transcutaneous BAHDs can be active or pass... View on Web

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Exhaled Mycobacterium tuberculosis Predicts Incident Infection in Household Contacts

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Exhaled Mycobacterium tuberculosis Predicts Incident Infection in Household Contacts via Clinical Infectious Diseases Advance Access Abstract BackgroundHalting transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) by identifying infectious individuals early is key to eradicating tuberculosis (TB). Here we evaluate face mask sampling as a tool for stratifying the infection risk of individuals with pulmonary TB (PTB) to their household contacts. Methods Forty-six sputum-positive PTB patients in The Gambia (August 2016–November 2017) consented to mask sampling prior to commencing treatment. Incident Mtb infection was defined in 181 of their 217 household contacts as QuantiFERON conversion or an increase in interferon-γ of ≥1 IU/mL, 6 months after index diagnosis. Multilevel mixed-effects logistical regression analysis with cluster adjustment by household was used to identify predictors of incident infection. Results Mtb was detected in 91% of PTB mask samp les with high variation in IS6110 copies (5.3 × 102 to 1.2 × 107). A high mask Mtb level (≥20 000 IS6110 copies) was observed in 45% of cases and was independently associated with increased likelihood of incident Mtb infection in contacts (adjusted odds ratio, 3.20 [95% confidence interval, 1.26–8.12]; P = .01), compared with cases having low-positive/negative mask Mtb levels. Mask Mtb level was a better predictor of incident Mtb infection than sputum bacillary load, chest radiographic characteristics, or sleeping proximity. Conclusions Mask sampling offers a sensitive and noninvasive tool to support the stratification of individuals who are most infectious in high-TB-burden settings. Our approach can provide b etter insight into community transmission in complex environments. View on Web

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VPM1002 as Prophylaxis Against Severe Respiratory Tract Infections Including COVID-19 in the Elderly: a phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader VPM1002 as Prophylaxis Against Severe Respiratory Tract Infections Including COVID-19 in the Elderly: a phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical study via Clinical Infectious Diseases Advance Access Abstract Background Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination can potentially reduce the rate of respiratory infections in vulnerable populations. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of VPM1002 (a genetically modified BCG) as prophylaxis against severe respiratory tract infections including COVID-19 in an elderly population. Methods In this phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial, healthy elderly volunteers (n = 2064) were enrolled, randomized (1:1) to receive either VPM1002 or placebo, and followed up remotely for 240 days. The primary outcome was the mean number of days with severe respiratory infections at hospital and/or at home. Secondary endpoints included the incidence of self-reported fever, number of hospital and ICU admissions, and number of adverse events. Results A total of 31 participants in the VPM1002 group reported at least 1 day with severe respiratory disease and a mean number of days with severe respiratory disease of 9.39 ± 9.28 days while in the placebo group, 38 participants reported a mean of 14.29 ± 16.25 days with severe respiratory disease. The incidence of self-reported fever was lower in the VPM1002 group (odds ratio: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.74; p-value: 0.001) and consistent trends to less hospitalization and ICU admissions due to COVID-19 were observed after VPM1002-vaccination. Local reactions typical for BCG were observed in the V PM1002-vaccinated group, which were mostly of mild intensity. Conclusions Vaccination with VPM1002 is well tolerated and seems to have a prophylactic effect against severe respiratory diseases in the elderly. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04435379) View on Web

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Association between emphysema and other pulmonary computed tomography patterns in COVID‐19 pneumonia

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Association between emphysema and other pulmonary computed tomography patterns in COVID‐19 pneumonia via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract: Objectives To evaluate the chest computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on admission to hospital. And then correlate CT pulmonary infiltrates involvement with the findings of emphysema. We analyzed the different infiltrates of COVID-19 pneumonia using emphysema as the grade of pneumonia. Methods We applied open-source assisted software (3D Slicer) to model the lungs and lesions of 66 patients with COVID-19, which were retrospectively included. we divided the 66 COVID-19 patients into the following two groups: (A) 12 patients with less than 10% emphysema in the low-attenuation area less than −950 Hounsfield units (%LAA-950), (B) 54 patients with greater than or equal to 10% emphysema in %LAA-950. Imaging findings were assessed retrospectively by two authors and then pulmonary infiltrates and emphysema volumes were measured on CT using 3D Slicer software. Differences between pulmonary infiltrates, emphysema, Co llapsed, affected of patients with CT findings were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon test, respectively. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results The left lung (A: affected left lung 20.00/affected right lung 18.50, B: affected left lung13.00/affected right lung 11.50) was most frequently involved region in COVID-19. In addition, collapsed left lung (A, collapsed left lung 4.95/collapsed right lung 4.65. B, collapsed left lung 3.65/collapsed right lung 3.15) was also more severe than the right one. There were significant differences between the group A and group B in terms of the percentage of CT involvement in each lung region (P<0.05), except for the inflated affected total lung (P=0.152). The median percentage of collapsed left lung in the group A was 20.00 (14.00-30.00), right lung was 18.50 (13.00-30.25) and the total was 19.00 (13.00-30.00), while the median percentage of collapsed left lung in the group B was 13.00 (1 0.00-14.75), right lung was 11.50 (10.00-15.00) and the total was 12.50 (10.00-15.00). Conclusions The percentage of affected left lung is an independent predictor of emphysema in COVID-19 patients. We need to focus on the left lung of the patient as it is more affected. The people with lower levels of emphysema may have more collapsed segments. The more collapsed segments may lead to more serious clinical feature. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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Ultrasonographic Features of Salivary Glands after Radioiodine Therapy in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Ultrasonographic Features of Salivary Glands after Radioiodine Therapy in Patients with Thyroid Cancer via The Laryngoscope Chronic sialadenitis is the most common radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment complication. We explored the sonographic features of the major salivary glands in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) treated with RAI. RAI treatment following thyroidectomy is associated with a dose-response effect and adverse changes in the major salivary glands and should be prescribed carefully. Objective Chronic sialadenitis is the most common complication of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. The aim of the study was to ascertain sonographic features of the major salivary glands in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) treated with RAI. Methods The database of a tertiary medical center was retrospectively searched for consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for PTC in 2011–2020 with ultrasound follow-up after 1 year. Changes in ultrasound features of the major salivary glands were compared between patients treated or not treated with RAI postoperatively. Results The cohort included 158 patients, of whom 109 (69%) were treated postoperatively with RAI (mean dose, 131 mCi) and 49 were not (control group). Sonographic changes were observed in the major salivary glands in 43% of the study group and 18% of the control group (p = 0.002), including coarse echotexture, decreased echogenicity, fibrosis, and atrophy. Higher RAI doses were significantly correlated with the prevalence and severity of glandular changes (p < 0.0001). Conclusion RAI treatment following thyroidectomy is associated with a dose–response effect and adverse changes in the major salivary glands and should be prescribed carefully. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2022 View on Web

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MNK/eIF4E inhibition overcomes anlotinib resistance in non‐small cell lung cancer

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader MNK/eIF4E inhibition overcomes anlotinib resistance in non‐small cell lung cancer via Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology Abstract Anlotinib is approved for refractory cases in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is a novel oral multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor, but patients inevitably face prospects of drug resistance during the treatment process. Using anlotinib-resistant NSCLC models, this work investigated the underlying molecular mechanism and systematically addressed the issue of anlotinib resistance. We demonstrated that expression and activity of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) were upregulated in NSCLC cells due to prolonged exposure to anlotinib. eIF4E depletion resulted in significant effects to anlotinib-resistant cells, showing proliferation inhibition and apoptosis inducement. We further showed that MAP kinase interacting serine/threonine kinase (MNK)-dependent eIF4E inhibition by cercosporamide was active against anlotinib-resistant cells and significantly augmented anlotinib's efficacy in parental NSCLC cells. Importantly, observations from in-vitro exp eriments are consistent in in vivo anlotinib-resistant and anlotinib-sensitive NSCLC cancer xenograft mouse models. Our work is the first to reveal that eIF4E is involved intimately in anlotinib resistance development in NSCLC, and this eIF4E activation can be reversed by cercosporamide or other MNK inhibitors. View on Web

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Sensory neuromuscular electrical stimulation for dysphagia rehabilitation: A literature review

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Sensory neuromuscular electrical stimulation for dysphagia rehabilitation: A literature review via Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Abstract Background Dysphagia is a common disorder following a cerebrovascular accident. It can cause detrimental effects on patient's quality of life and nutrition intake, especially in older adults. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation has been one of the management strategies for acceleration of the recovery. This review summarizes the current evidence on sensory threshold stimulation of the procedure. Method This review compiled data from the Internet database PubMed, Cochrane Library and Scopus using combination of MeSH thesaurus: "Sensory threshold", "electrical stimulation", "neuromuscular stimulation", "Deglutition", "Dysphagia". 11 studies were intergraded into the review. Results Most of the studies show significant improvement to the outcomes of sensory neuromuscular electrical stimulation treatment. In many cases, the results of the treatment are comparable or superior to motor threshold stimulation and conventional therapy. However, the study design and parameters of the procedure varied greatly without conclusive standardized guidelines. Conclusion The sensory neuromuscular electrical stimulation (SNMES) is a viable treatment option for treating oropharyngeal dysphagia. The most suggested application parameters are an intensity at sensory threshold, a frequency of 80 Hz, an impulse time of 700 μs, a combined total duration of 20 hours of stimulation in a 2-week period, placing the electrodes in the submental area of the neck. However, further research is necessary to construct a definitive guideline for clinicians. View on Web

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Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte and hypopharyngeal cancer prognosis: System review and meta‐analysis

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte and hypopharyngeal cancer prognosis: System review and meta‐analysis via Head & Neck Abstract Several studies have reported the value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for the prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer. However, contradictory findings have also been published. We aimed to clarify the effect of NLR on the prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer through meta-analysis. Systematic search of PubMed and other database with study selection and data extraction. The combined hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using STATA, applying either a fixed-effects or random-effects model. Meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were used to analyze sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias were also assessed. This meta-analysis included 2232 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer from seven studies. The combined HR (OS, HR = 1.80, 95CI%, 1.14–2.82; PFS, HR = 1.88, 95CI%, 1.26–2.79) suggested that high NLR was associated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Pretreatment NLR can be used as an effective serological indicator to assess the prognosis of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. View on Web

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Nonpharmaceutical interventions for COVID‐19 disrupt the dynamic balance between influenza A virus and human immunity

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Nonpharmaceutical interventions for COVID‐19 disrupt the dynamic balance between influenza A virus and human immunity via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract Background During the COVID-19 epidemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) blocked the transmission route of respiratory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the impact of NPIs on the influenza A virus (IAV) outbreak. Methods The present study enrolled all children with respiratory tract infections who came to the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University between January 2019 and July 2022. A direct immunofluorescence assay kit detected IAV. Virus isolation and Sanger sequencing were performed. Results From June to July 2022, in Hangzhou, China, the positive rate of IAV infection in children has increased rapidly, reaching 30.41%, and children over three years old are the main infected population, accounting for 75% of the total number of infected children. Influenza A (H3N2) viruses are representative strains during this period. In this outbreak, H3N2 was isolated from a cluster of its own and is highly homologous with A/South_Dakota /22/2022 (2021-2022 northern hemisphere). Between isolated influenza A(H3N2) viruses and A/South_Dakota/22/2022, the nucleotide homology of the HA gene ranged from 97.3% to 97.5%; the amino acid homology was 97% - 97.2%, and the genetic distance of nucleotides ranged from 0.05 to 0.052. Compared with A/South_Dakota/22/2022, the isolated H3N2 showed S156H, N159Y, I160T, D186S, S198P, I48T, S53D, and K171N mutations. There was no variation in 13 key amino acid sites associated with neuraminidase inhibitor resistance in NA protein. Conclusion Long-term NPIs have significantly affected the evolution and transmission of the influenza virus and human immunity, breaking the dynamic balance between the influenza A virus and human immunity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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The use of electrodermal activity in pulpal diagnosis and dental pain assessment

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader The use of electrodermal activity in pulpal diagnosis and dental pain assessment via International Endodontic Journal Abstract Abstract Aims To explore whether electrodermal activity (EDA) can serve as a complementary tool for pulpal diagnosis (Aim 1) and an objective metric to assess dental pain before and after local anaesthesia (Aim 2). Methodology A total of 53 subjects (189 teeth) and 14 subjects (14 teeth) were recruited for Aim 1 and Aim 2, respectively. We recorded EDA using commercially available devices, PowerLab and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) Amplifier, in conjunction with cold and electric pulp testing (EPT). Participants rated their level of sensation on a 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) after each test. We recorded EPT-stimulated EDA activity before and after the administration of local anaesthesia for participants who required root canal treatment (RCT) due to painful pulpitis. The raw data were converted to the time-varying index of sympathetic activity (TVSymp), a sensitive and specific parameter of EDA. Statistical analysis was performed using Python 3.6 and its Scikit-post hoc library. Results EDA activity was upregulated by the stimuli of cold and EPT testing in normal pulp. TVSymp signals were significantly increased in vital pulp compared to necrotic pulp by both, cold test and EPT. Teeth that exhibited intensive sensitivity to cold with or without lingering pain had increased peak numbers of TVSymp than teeth with mild sensation to cold. Pre- and post-anaesthesia EDA activity and VAS scores were recorded in patients with painful pulpitis. Post-anaesthesia EDA signals were significantly lower compared to pre-anaesthesia levels. Approximately 71 % of patients (10 out of 14 patients) experienced no pain during treatment and reported VAS score zero or 1. Majority of patients (10 out of 14) showed the reduction of TVSymp after the administration of anaesthesia. Two out of three patients who experienced increased pain during root canal treatment (post-treatment VAS > pre-treatment VAS) exhibited increased post-anaesthesia TVSymp. Conclusions Our data show promising results for using EDA in pulpal diagnosis and for assessing dental pain. While our testing was limited to subjects who had adequate communication skills, our future goal is to be able to use this technology to aid in the endodontic diagnosis of patients who have limited communication ability. View on Web

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