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Aktuelle Urol 2018 Dec 6;49(6):519-524. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Spital Thurgau AG, Urologie, Frauenfeld.

The classical algorithm of the management of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) includes a surgical approach in case pharmacological therapy has failed. Emerging minimally-invasive treatments (MITs) offer potential for rapid symptomatic relief, reducing the morbidity of invasive BPH surgery. Convective interstitial radiofrequency water vapour thermal ablation of the prostate with the Rezūm system is a novel MIT for the treatment of bothersome moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 6;51(5):2123-2135. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Digestive Disease Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou,

Background/aims: Emerging evidence suggests a close link between gut microbiota and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between gut microbiota and the DNA methylation of adiponectin (an adipocyte-specific adipocytokine) in rats, following diet-induced NAFLD.

Methods: 50 male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups with or without a high fat diet (HFD), antibiotics, and probiotics, in order to establish an imbalanced gut microbiota and probiotic treatment model in NAFLD rats. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2018 Nov 29;54:42-46. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of General Surgery, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Mucormycosis is a life threatening fungal infection that occurs in immunocompromised patients.

Presentation Of Case: A 36-year-old Saudi male with known case of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), who was presented with productive cough and diarrhea. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a disseminated fungal invasion of the lungs and spleen with invading the fundus of the stomach. Read More

J Environ Manage 2018 Dec 3;232:615-624. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Division of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Singapore 637141, Singapore.

With increasing demand for biodiesel, crude glycerol as a by-product in biodiesel production has been generated and oversupplied. This study, therefore, explored the pretreatment and a subsequent two-stage microbial system to convert crude glycerol into high value-added products: 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). After pretreatment, long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) could be effectively removed from crude glycerol to eliminate the inhibition effects on subsequent microbial process. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Dec 3;90:99-106. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Population, Policy and Practice Unit, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.

Background: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a significant cause of death in childhood epilepsy, and causes considerable concern to patients and their families. Despite this, the condition remains poorly understood. This systematic review investigates the risk factors, pathophysiology, and circumstances associated with childhood SUDEP. Read More

J Thorac Oncol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Tokyo Medical University Hospital, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan.

Introduction: The study objective was to determine the incidence and characteristics of drug-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with an orally available small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, crizotinib in the real-world clinical setting.

Methods: Post-marketing surveillance was performed in Japan to obtain information on the safety and efficacy of crizotinib. Target patients included all patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received crizotinib, during the enrollment period between May 2012 and December 2014. Read More

Int J Surg 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. Electronic address:

Background: There is well-documented systemic inflammatory response in xenograft recipients to the presence of a pig graft. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an inflammatory marker that is elevated in various pathological states. The assay used to measure it is (i) simple, (ii) relatively inexpensive, and (iii) provides an answer within minutes. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jing Wu Road, Huaiyin District, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China. Electronic address:

Objective: Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) is a group of inflammatory disorders of the brain. The severity of AIE vary among individuals and it is always a challenge to predict. In this study, we measured the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a novel potential biomarker of inflammatory status in other inflammatory diseases, in AIE patients and evaluated NLR as a biomarker for monitoring AIE progression. Read More

J Hepatol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

AP-HP Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Liver Intensive Care Unit, Villejuif, F-94800, France; INSERM, Unité 1193, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, F-94800, France; DHU Hepatinov, Villejuif, F-94800, France.

Severe acute liver injury (sALI) is a grave complication of exertional heatstroke (EH). Liver transplantation (LT) may be a therapeutic option, but the criteria for, and timing of transplantation have not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to define the profile of patients who require transplantation in this context. Read More

Immunol Lett 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of R&D, Hycult Biotechnology, Uden, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Purpose: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common form of pneumonia and is a leading infectious cause worldwide. Identification of patients that are at risk to develop severe disease has proven to be a major challenge. Soluble mannose receptor (sMR; sCD206) is a new serum marker for macrophage activation. Read More

Exp Parasitol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Laboratory of Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK; School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK. Electronic address:

Cryptosporidium is a genus of single celled parasites capable of infecting a wide range of animals including humans. Cryptosporidium species are members of the phylum apicomplexa, which includes well-known genera such as Plasmodium and Toxoplasma. Cryptosporidium parasites cause a severe gastro-intestinal disease known as cryptosporidiosis. Read More

Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

University Medical CenterUtrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Rationale: Myocardial injury, as reflected by elevated cardiac troponin levels in plasma, is common in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but its temporal dynamics and etiology remain unknown.

Objectives: Our aim was to determine the incidence of troponin release in patients with CAP and identify risk factors which may point to underlying etiologic mechanisms.

Methods: We included consecutive patients admitted with severe CAP to two intensive care units in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2015. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 11 30;56(4):379-386. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia No. 3 “Dr. Víctor Manuel Espinoza de los Reyes Sánchez”, Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Ciudad de México, México

Background: In severe preeclampsia (SP), pregnancy interruption is the first recommendation. However, some patients receive expectant treatment.

Objetive: To determine maternal and perinatal results of expectant treatment of SP in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a high-specialty hospital. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 11 30;56(4):371-378. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación Epidemiológica y en Servicios de Salud. Querétaro, Querétaro, México

Background: The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a preventable entity, when it develops the patient suffers severe complications, with a high economic impact for the patient and for health services.

Objetive: To determine the cost of medical care in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Using a cost design, the files of patients with COPD who attended the pulmonology clinic were analyzed. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 Dec 3;12:CD012620. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.

Background: Long-acting bronchodilators such as long-acting β-agonist (LABA), long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), and LABA/inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) combinations have been used in people with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to control symptoms such as dyspnoea and cough, and prevent exacerbations. A number of LABA/LAMA combinations are now available for clinical use in COPD. However, it is not clear which group of above mentioned inhalers is most effective or if any specific formulation works better than the others within the same group or class. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Division of Head and Neck Oncologic and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Background: This study examines the effect of insurance status (as a measure of socioeconomic status) on patient with benign thyroid disease.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed among 60 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease. Univariate and multivariable analyses examined the relationship between insurance status and thyroid volume (sum of the left and right lobe volumes). Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018 Dec;59(15):5816-5822

Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.

Purpose: Stereoscopic vision, by detecting interocular correlations, enhances depth perception. Stereodeficiencies often emerge during the first months of life, and left untreated can lead to severe loss of visual acuity in one eye and/or strabismus. Early treatment results in much better outcomes, yet diagnostic tests for infants are cumbersome and not widely available. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0208585. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CRESA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) is one of the most widespread viral infections of swine, causing a remarkable economic impact because of direct losses and indirect costs for its control. As other ssDNA viruses, PCV-2 is characterized by a high evolutionary rate, leading to the emergence of a plethora of variants with different biological and epidemiological features. Over time, several attempts have been made to organize PCV-2 genetic heterogeneity in recognized genotypes. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0208316. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Departamento de Genética e Evolução, São Carlos, Brazil.

β-thalassemia is a worldwide distributed monogenic red cell disorder, characterized by an absent or reduced beta globin chain synthesis. The unbalance of alpha-gamma chain and the presence of pathological free iron promote severe oxidative damage, playing crucial a role in erythrocyte hemolysis, exacerbating ineffective erythropoiesis and decreasing the lifespan of red blood cells (RBC). Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and peroxiredoxins act together to protect RBCs from hydrogen peroxide insult. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0208440. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan.

Intracellular inclusions of aggregated tau appear in neurons and glial cells in a range of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. Inhibition of pathological changes in tau is a therapeutic target for tauopathy. We recently synthesized a novel curcumin derivative, named Shiga-Y5, and showed that Shiga-Y5 inhibited cognitive impairment and amyloid deposition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0208430. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Swine Technical Services, Zoetis, Parsippany, New Jersey, United States of America.

The trial objective was to compare the performance and animal health parameters of pigs raised according to one of 3 antibiotic (AB) protocols: standard AB medication consisting of mass treatment on days 4 and 21 and judicious AB therapy given therapeutically thereafter as group medication in water and feed or by individual injection (group T1, N = 702); modified AB medication identical to group T1 but with mass treatment only on day 4 and without subsequent therapeutic feed medication (group T2, N = 675); or an antibiotic-free (ABF) regimen (group T3, N = 702). All pigs were vaccinated with a modified-live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine 3 days after weaning. Using a seeder pig model to mimic endemic field infection dynamics, pigs were contact-challenged with virulent PRRSV lineage 1 strain 174 four weeks after vaccination. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0208398. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neuroepidemiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Stroke is a serious threat to human health that often leads to severe complications, and currently ranks first as leading cause of death in China. However, reliable data on stroke burden in China in the 21st century are lacking. We used the data from NESS-China (National Epidemiological Survey of Stroke in China) for assessing the adverse health effects of stroke in Chinese population. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0207406. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Tropical and Infectious Diseases Department, Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon, Cayenne, French Guiana.

Background: French Guiana (FG) was the first country in South America to declare chikungunya virus infection (CHIKV). The outbreak affected about 16,000 persons between February 2014 and October 2015, with several atypical cases, but only two fatal cases. We aimed to describe the clinical presentation of patients hospitalized for CHIKV infection, to estimate and identify risk factors of unusual and severe forms in adult patients. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0207200. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

GREPAQ (Groupe de recherche en pharmacologie animale du Québec), Department of biomedical sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.

This study aimed to characterize bone cancer pain (quantitative sensory testing (QST), stance asymmetry index, actimetry, scores of pain and quality of life (QoL)) in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA), and to evaluate a stepwise palliative analgesic treatment. The pain profile of thirteen client-owned dogs with OSA was compared with seven healthy dogs. Dogs with OSA were then enrolled in a prospective, open-label, clinical trial. Read More

PLoS One 2018 6;13(12):e0204110. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Center for Observational and Real-World Evidence, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, United States of America.

Background/objectives: To analyse the relationship between caregiver burden and severity of patients' cognitive impairment.

Design: Data were drawn from the cross-sectional 2015/2016 Adelphi Real World Dementia Disease-Specific Programme.

Setting: This research was multi-national and studied physicians and their consulting patients with cognitive impairment. Read More

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018 Dec 7;67(48):1347-1349. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

On June 22, 2017, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) was notified of seven patients who were seen at an eye care clinic on June 8, 2017, and later developed symptoms of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). EKC is a contagious, severe form of viral conjunctivitis that can cause pain and blurred vision for up to 4 weeks (1). LAC DPH conducted an investigation, which identified 17 patients with EKC, including 15 who had visited the optometry clinic and two who were household contacts of clinic patients. Read More

J Clin Invest 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

ARHGEF1 is a RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor expressed in hematopoietic cells. We used whole-exome sequencing to identify compound heterozygous mutations in ARHGEF1, resulting in the loss of ARHGEF1 protein expression in two primary-antibody-deficient siblings presenting with recurrent severe respiratory tract infections and bronchiectasis. Both ARHGEF1-deficient patients showed an abnormal B cell immunophenotype, with a deficiency in marginal-zone and memory B cells and an increased frequency of transitional B cells. Read More

Acta Med Port 2018 Nov 30;31(11):624-632. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Unidade da Dor. Serviço de Anestesiologia. Hospital de Santo António. Centro Hospitalar do Porto. Porto. Portugal.

Introduction: Chronic postoperative pain is the most frequent late complication of inguinal hernia repair surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of chronic post-hernioplasty pain in outpatient care at Centro Hospitalar do Porto, describe it, analyse its relation with other variables defined in the literature and study its functional interference.

Material And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study between February and May 2016, using a structured telephone interview composed of questions from the authors and sections of published questionnaires, two of which are validated for the Portuguese language and culture. Read More

Med J Aust 2018 Dec;209(11):495-500

Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Objectives: To describe the patterns of alcohol use in James Bond movies over six decades.

Design: Film content analysis.

Setting: Wide range of international locations in 24 James Bond movies (Eon Productions series, 1962-2015). Read More

Brain Inj 2018 Dec 6:1-7. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

a Human Higher Nervous Activity Lab Moscow , Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS , Moscow , Russia.

Primary Objective: We aimed to investigate the origin of EEG response of patients in coma and after moderate TBI to emotional stimulation, whether they distinguish emotional content or only react to the physical features of an audio signal.

Research Design: We registered EEG during continuous pleasant and unpleasant non-verbal stimulation and in rest. A total of 69 subjects participated in our study: healthy adults, conscious patients after moderate TBI and patients in coma after severe TBI. Read More

Biomarkers 2018 Dec 6:1-15. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

a Children's Medical Center , Taichung Veterans General Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan.

Purpose: Hypercatecholaminemia-related heart failure has been proposed as the main cause of enterovirus A71-related (EV-A71) early mortality. The purpose of this study was to measure urine catecholamine concentrations in severe EV-A71-infected children.

Methods: A total of 35 children, aged 2. Read More

Aging Ment Health 2018 Dec 6:1-7. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

a Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy , West Virginia University , Morgantown , WV , USA.

Background: Antipsychotic medication use among elderly with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and without severe mental illness is considered as low-value care. Our objective was to assess the factors associated with this inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications among community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries with ADRD and without severe mental illness.

Methods: This study used a retrospective cross-sectional design. Read More

FASEB J 2018 Dec 6:fj201800981R. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

As mechanisms controlling redox homeostasis become impaired with aging, exaggerated oxidant stress may cause disproportional oxidation of cell membranes and circulating phospholipids (PLs), leading to the formation of truncated oxidized PL products (Tr-OxPLs), which exhibit deleterious effects. This study investigated the role of elevated Tr-OxPLs as a factor exacerbating inflammation and lung barrier dysfunction in an animal model of aging. Mass spectrometry analysis of Tr-OxPL species in young (2-4 mo) and aging (18-24 mo) mice revealed elevated basal levels of several products [1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)- sn-glycero-phosphocholine (POVPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaroyl- sn-glycero-phosphocholine, lysophosphocholine, 1-palmitoyl-2-(9-oxo-nonanoyl)- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, O-1-O-palmitoyl-2-O-(5,8-dioxo-8-hydroxy-6-octenoyl)-l-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and others] in the aged lungs. Read More

ACS Chem Neurosci 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research , Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road , Shanghai 201203 , China.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is well-known as a severe neurodegeneration disease involving complicated etiologies, and cholinesterase inhibition remain the prevailing mode of clinical intervention in AD management. Although most clinically applied cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) achieve limited clinical outcomes, research on the central cholinergic system is still thriving. Recently, an impressive amount of knowledge regarding novel acetylcholinesterase functions, as well as the close association between the central cholinergic system and other key elements for AD pathogenesis, has accumulated, highlighting that this field still has great potential for future drug development. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 11 30;56(4):360-363. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Hospital de Gineco Obstetricia No. 4 "Luis Castelazo Ayala", División de Investigación en Salud. Ciudad de México, México

Objective: To compare the Doppler ultrasound parameters of the uterine and brachial arteries, between healthy pregnant women and pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Methods: 102 pregnant women were studied in the third trimester, group I 83 healthy women and group II 19 patients with severe preeclampsia. All of them underwent Doppler ultrasound of the uterine arteries, measuring the pulsatility index (PI) and determining the presence of proto-diastolic notch. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 11 30;56(4):354-359. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Norte “Dr. Victorio de la Fuente Narváez”, Curso de especialidad médica en Medicina de Rehabilitación. Ciudad de México, México

Background: The diabetic neuropathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. The reported prevalence ranges from 10-90%. Electrophysiological alterations can be demonstrated in nearly 100% of diabetics. Read More

Int Braz J Urol 2018 Oct 30;44. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Divisão de Urologia do Centro de Saúde Masculina do Hospital Brigadeiro, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) performed in the prone position (PRON) and in three variations of the supine position.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients that underwent PCNL at our institution from June 2011 to October 2016 in PRON and in three variations of the supine position: complete supine (COMPSUP), original Valdivia (VALD), and Galdakao - modified Valdivia (GALD). All patients had a complete pre - operative evaluation, including computed tomography (CT). Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 11 30;56(4):429-433. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Hospital de Cardiología, Servicio de Anestesiología. Ciudad de México, México

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a technique indicated in cases of severe respiratory failure or in situations where pump failure or heart failure is refractory to conventional medical treatment. Our goal was to describe the results of a patient with chronic Chagas dilated cardiomyopathy treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as bridging therapy for heart transplantation.

Case Report: A 62-year old male with a history of Chagas disease and severe ventricular failure who underwent veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as bridging therapy for heart transplantation, with good clinical evolution. Read More

Cancer 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a probiotic combination on the severity of oral mucositis (OM), which is a common, unpreventable complication induced by radiochemotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who undergo concurrent radiochemotherapy (CCRT).

Methods: Eligible patients (n = 99) with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were undergoing CCRT were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive a probiotic combination or placebo during radiochemotherapy, and the incidence of severe OM (grade 3 or higher) was the primary endpoint.

Results: Patients taking the probiotic combination showed a significant reduction in the severity of OM. Read More

Cancer 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.

Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare myeloid neoplasm characterized by the presence of abnormal CD1a-positive (CD1a )/CD207 histiocytes. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) represents a spectrum of hyperinflammatory syndromes typified by the dysregulated activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Patients with LCH, particularly those with multisystem (MS) involvement, can develop severe hyperinflammation mimicking that observed in HLH. Read More

Depress Anxiety 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Background: Numerous studies have suggested associations between depression and cardiometabolic (CM) diseases. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying this comorbidity, and whether the relationship differs by depression subtypes.

Methods: Using polygenic risk scores (PRS) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) score regression, we investigated the genetic overlap of various depression-related phenotypes with a comprehensive panel of 20 CM traits. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, 410008 Changsha, China.

The association of atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria with socioeconomic status has been little studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of skin diseases and their association with socioeconomic status in adolescents in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a comprehensive university. Read More

J Crohns Colitis 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Gastroenterology, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.

Background And Aims: Recent studies show the efficacy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in severely refractory Crohn's disease (CD) patients. HSCT is thought to eliminate auto-reactive cells; however, no specific studies of immune reconstitution in CD patients are available.

Methods: We followed a group of CD patients (n=18) receiving autologous HSCT, with 50% of them achieving endoscopic drug-free remission. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Immunotherapy using antibodies to immune checkpoint molecules or targeted chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells represent dramatic advances in cancer treatment. These therapies mediate immune-related adverse events (irAEs) which may mimic or amplify infectious presentations. Checkpoint inhibitor therapy may be associated with diverse irAEs including mild skin, endocrine and autoimmune manifestations or severe inflammatory processes including colitis, pneumonitis, myocarditis, and shock. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York.

Importance: Age-related hearing loss is highly prevalent and has recently been associated with numerous morbid conditions of aging. Late-life depression is also prevalent and can be resistant to available treatments. Preliminary studies examining the association between hearing loss and late-life depression have been limited by subjective hearing measures, small sample sizes, and primarily white populations. Read More

J Hypertens 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit (CPRU), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami.

Objectives: Acute severe hypertension is a common problem among inner-city ethnic minority populations. Nevertheless, the effects of currently employed treatment regimens on blood pressure have not been determined in a clinical practice setting. We determined the SBP responses to acute antihypertensive drug protocols and the 2-year natural history of patients presenting with severe hypertension. Read More