A cautionary note to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative test results in pregnant women in an area prevalent of HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader A cautionary note to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative test results in pregnant women in an area prevalent of HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract Maternal hepatitis B e Antigen (HBeAg) positivity poses a risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). In resource-constrained settings, HBeAg testing is recommended as an alternative to HBV DNA testing to establish antiviral prophylaxis eligibility. Nevertheless, the high prevalence of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (e-CHB) in many countries should not be overlooked. We studied HBV characteristics and explored the potential MTCT risk among HBeAg-negative/HBsAg-positive expectant mothers in an area prevalent of e-CHB. Among 1,348 pregnant mothers screened for HBV infection, 81 (6.0%) were HBsAg-positive. These women were examined for HBeAg, HBV DNA, and cord blood HBV DNA. Sixteen (19.8%) of the HBsAg-positive mothers were HBeAg-positive, whereas 65 (80.2%) were HBeAg-negative, including eight inactive carriers (HBsAg <100 IU/mL, HBV DNA ≤2,000 IU/mL, and ALT <40 IU/L). Of the remaining 57 HBeAg-negative mothers, ten reve aled HBV Basal Core Promoter or Precore mutations, with three having high viremia (HBV DNA >200,000 IU/mL), which is associated with a high MTCT risk and therefore qualifies them for antiviral prophylaxis. This pilot study provides a cautionary note to the interpretation of negative HBeAg test results when determining eligibility for MTCT antiviral prophylaxis in situations with limited resources and in regions where e-CHB is prevalent. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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Intramedullary Nailing Versus Compound Plate Osteosynthesis in Pathologic Diaphyseal Humerus Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Intramedullary Nailing Versus Compound Plate Osteosynthesis in Pathologic Diaphyseal Humerus Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study via American Journal of Clinical Oncology - Current Issue Background and Objectives: Pathologic fractures of the extremities due to carcinoma metastases require individual and patient prognosis-related stabilization procedures. Considering the anatomic features of the humerus, implant material stability is less critical than femoral fractures because of less weight-bearing stress. Therefore, operation length, blood loss, and quick recovery of function are of greater interest. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated and compared the outcomes of compound plate osteosynthesis and intramedullary (IM) nailing while managing diaphyseal pathologic fractures of the humerus. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients treated at our institution for pathologic fractures of the diaphyseal humerus between 2010 and 2021 for group differences (plate osteosynthesis vs. IM nailing) in terms of blood loss, length of operation, implant survival, and upper extremity function. Results: We reviewed 42 stabilization procedures due to pathologic diaphyseal humerus fractures, with a mean follow-up of 8.5±15.4  months. IM nailing (n=20) showed a significantly lower blood loss (266.7±23.7 mL) than plate osteosynthesis (n=22, 571.1±92.6 mL). We did not detect statistically significant differences in the complication rate, length of operation, or Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that diaphyseal fractures of the humerus should be stabilized using an IM nail rather than plate osteosynthesis due to lower blood loss, while complication rate, implant survival, and length of operation remain indifferent. View on Web

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Addition of External Beam Radiation Therapy to Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients With Stage IIIC Uterine Endometrioid Carcinoma: Utilization and Outcomes

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Addition of External Beam Radiation Therapy to Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients With Stage IIIC Uterine Endometrioid Carcinoma: Utilization and Outcomes via American Journal of Clinical Oncology - Current Issue Objectives: Evaluate whether the addition of external beam radiation (EBRT) to adjuvant chemotherapy with or without vaginal brachytherapy is associated with better survival for patients with stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 with apparent early-stage endometrioid adenocarcinoma, without a history of another tumor, who underwent hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy and had positive lymph nodes were identified in the National Cancer Database. Those who received adjuvant chemotherapy (defined as receipt of treatment within 6 mo from surgery) and had at least 1 month of follow-up were selected for further analysis. Overall survival was compared between patients who did and did not receive EBRT within 6 months from surgery with the log-rank test. A Cox model was also constructed to control for confounders. Results: A total of 3116 patients were identified; 1458 (46.8%) received chemotherapy without and 1658 (53.2%) with EBRT. Pathologic characteristics (tumor grade, size, endocervical, and lymph-vascular invasion) were comparable between the two groups. Patients who received external beam radiation had better survival compared with those who did not, P=0.001; 5-year overall survival rates were 83.1% and 77.9%, respectively. After controlling for patient age, race, presence of comorbidities, insurance status, tumor size, grade and endocervical invasion, and the presence of lymph-vascular invasion, the addition of EBRT was associated with a survival benefit (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.91). Conclusions: For patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma metastatic to the lymph nodes, addition of external beam radiation to adjuvant chemotherapy may be associated with a survival benefit. View on Web

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Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and its eradication on the expression of tight junction proteins in the gastric epithelium in relation to gastric carcinogenesis

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and its eradication on the expression of tight junction proteins in the gastric epithelium in relation to gastric carcinogenesis via Helicobacter Abstract Background Tight junction proteins (TJPs) play a role in epithelial defense mechanisms. However, the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) on TJPs remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of TJPs in relation to Hp infection and eradication in gastric carcinogenesis. Methods In total, 510 subjects (284 controls and 226 gastric cancer [GC] patients) were prospectively enrolled in the study. The expression of claudin-1 and -2 (CLDN-1, -2), occludin (OCLN), and tight junction protein 1 (TJP1) was measured based on their Hp infection status in normal corpus mucosa and evaluated following Hp eradication using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results The expression of TJP1 in Hp+ controls was significantly lower than that in Hp− controls (p = 0.006), whereas it was higher in Hp+ than in Hp− GC patients (p = 0.001). Moreover, the increased expression of TJP1 in Hp+ GC patients was reduced to levels in Hp−within a year after Hp eradication and was maintained for more than 5 years. Furthermore, IHC results for TJP1 were similar to qPCR results. In particular, the higher IHC staining intensity of TJP1 in the cytosol of GC patients (p = 0.019) decreased after Hp eradication (p = 0.040). Conclusion Hp infection affects TJP expression. The high expression of TJP1 in Hp+ GC patients was restored to control levels after Hp eradication, suggesting that TJP1 plays a role in gastric carcinogenesis. View on Web

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Voluntary Cough Testing as a Clinical Indicator of Airway Protection in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Voluntary Cough Testing as a Clinical Indicator of Airway Protection in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury via The Laryngoscope Voluntary cough testing (VCT) is an established predictor of aspiration in neurogenic dysphagia. However, the relation between VCT and protective laryngeal kinematics during swallowing post-traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (tCSCI) remains unknown. Our study shows that blunted volitional cough post-tCSCI reflects airway invasion and impaired laryngeal kinematics during swallowing. Objective Voluntary cough testing (VCT) may be useful for determining aspiration risk in neurogenic dysphagia; however, has yet to be investigated in traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (tCSCI). The study explored if VCT may elucidate swallowing safety and kinematics related to airway protection in tCSCI survivors. Methods Ten inpatients, 13–73 days post-tCSCI (7 incomplete injuries), completed VCT and a modified barium swallowing study that was analyzed via the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) and norm-referenced measures of swallowing events related to airway protection. Spearman rho correlations explored relations among cough airflow, median PAS, and airway protection. Mann–Whitney U tests explored group differences based on clinical airway invasion (PAS > 2) and receiver operating characteristic statistics probed the sensitivity/specificity of VCT measures. Results Safe (PAS > 2) and unsafe swallowers differed by cough volume acceleration (CVA) for the total sample and by inspiratory duration for incomplete injuries (p = 0.03, r > 0.7). A cut-off value of 24.8 L/s for CVA predicted airway invasion (AUC = 0.917, p = 0.03) with sensitivity = 100%/specificity = 75%. CVA correlated with delayed laryngeal vestibule closure during swallowing for both the total sample and for incomplete injuries (r s > 0.6, p < 0.05). Blunted peak flow and prolonged cough phases were associated with disordered laryngeal kinematics and prolonged bolus transit during swallowing (p < 0.05). Conclusions Reduced CVA, blunted peak flow, and prolonged cough phases reflected PAS and disrupted mechanisms of airway protection in tCSCI survivors, demonstrating promise for VCT as a clinical assessment for post-tCSCI dysphagia. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 2022 View on Web

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Oral lichenoid lesion in association with chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma or lichen planus? Review of the literature and report of two challenging cases

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Oral lichenoid lesion in association with chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma or lichen planus? Review of the literature and report of two challenging cases via Head & Face Medicine - Latest Articles The diagnosis of oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) remains a challenge for clinicians and pathologists. Although, in many cases, OLL cannot be clinically and histopathologically distinguishable from oral lichen pla... View on Web

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