Abstract
Background
The potential of haemostatic patches to reduce the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula remains unclear. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the impact of a polyethylene ...glycol-coated haemostatic patch on the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.
Methods
In this randomized, single-centre, clinical trial, patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy were randomized 1 : 1 to receive pancreatojejunostomy reinforced with two polyethylene glycol-coated haemostatic patches (patch group) or without any reinforcement (control group). The primary outcome was clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, defined as grade B/C according to International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery criteria, within 90 days. Key secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, total rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula, and overall complication rate.
Results
From 15 May 2018 to 22 June 2020, 72 patients were randomized, and 64 were included in the analyses (31 in the patch group and 33 in the control group). The risk of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula was reduced by 90 per cent (OR 0.10, 95 per cent c.i. 0.01 to 0.89, P = 0.039). Moreover, the use of the polyethylene glycol-coated patch retained its protective effect on clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula in a multivariable regression model, significantly reducing the risk of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula by 93 per cent (OR 0.07, 95 per cent c.i. 0.01 to 0.67, P = 0.021), regardless of patient age, sex, or fistula risk score. The incidence of secondary outcomes did not significantly differ between the groups. One patient died within 90 days in the patch group versus three patients in the control group.
Conclusions
A polyethylene glycol-coated haemostatic patch reduced the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.
Registration number
NCT03419676 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Hemopatch™ significantly reduced the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula in patients who underwent a pancreatoduodenectomy. The effectiveness of the patch was related to the fistula risk score.
There are significant challenges to the development of a pediatric norovirus vaccine, mainly due to the antigenic diversity among strains infecting young children. Characterizing human norovirus ...serotypes and understanding norovirus immunity in naïve children would provide key information for designing rational vaccine platforms. In this study, 26 Nicaraguan children experiencing their first norovirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE) episode during the first 18 months of life were investigated. We used a surrogate neutralization assay that measured antibodies blocking the binding of 13 different norovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) in pre- and post-infection sera. To assess for asymptomatic norovirus infections, stools from asymptomatic children were collected monthly, screened for norovirus by RT-qPCR and genotyped by sequencing. Seroconversion of an HBGA-blocking antibody matched the infecting genotype in 25 (96%) of the 26 children. A subset of 13 (50%) and 4 (15%) of the 26 children experienced monotypic GII and GI seroconversion, respectively, strongly suggesting a type-specific response in naïve children, and 9 (35%) showed multitypic seroconversion. The most frequent pairing in multitypic seroconversion (8/12) were GII.4 Sydney and GII.12 noroviruses, both co-circulating at the time. Blocking antibody titers to these two genotypes did not correlate with each other, suggesting multiple exposure rather than cross-reactivity between genotypes. In addition, GII titers remained consistent for at least 19 months post-infection, demonstrating durable immunity. In conclusion, the first natural norovirus gastroenteritis episodes in these young children were dominated by a limited number of genotypes and induced responses of antibodies blocking binding of norovirus VLPs in a genotype-specific manner, suggesting that an effective pediatric norovirus vaccine likely needs to be multivalent and include globally dominant genotypes. The duration of protection from natural infections provides optimism for pediatric norovirus vaccines administered early in life.
Defects of the mitral valve complex imply heart malfunction. The chordae tendineae (CTs) are tendinous strands connecting the mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets to the papillary muscles. These CTs ...are composed of organized, wavy collagen bundles, making them a strongly birefringent material. Disorder of the collagen structure due to different diseases (rheumatic, degenerative) implies the loss or reduction of tissue birefringence able to be characterized with Polarization Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT). PS-OCT is used to discriminate healthy from diseased chords, as the latter must be excised and replaced in clinical conventional interventions. PS-OCT allows to quantify birefringence reduction in human CTs affected by degenerative and rheumatic pathologies. This tissue optical property is proposed as a diagnostic marker for the identification of degradation of tendinous chords to guide intraoperative mitral valve surgery.
Abstract Objectives Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and target organ damage. Pregnancy is associated with several forms of ...TMA, including preeclampsia (PE), HELLP syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). When HUS is secondary to a deregulation of the alternative complement pathway, it is known as atypical HUS (aHUS). Differential diagnosis is challenging, as these forms share clinical characteristics. However, early diagnosis is crucial for a specific treatment to be established and improve prognosis. Case presentation We present the case of a 43 year-old primiparous woman admitted to hospital for an urgent C-section at 33 gestational weeks due to a diagnosis of severe preeclampsia and fetal distress. In the immediate postpartum, the patient developed acute liver failure and anuric renal failure in the context of the HELLP syndrome, anemia, thrombocytopenia, arterial hypertension (HTN) and neurological deficit. TMA study and differential diagnosis confirmed pregnancy-associated aHUS. Treatment with eculizumab was initiated, with good response and progressive improvement of clinical and analytical parameters. Conclusions aHUS is a rare multifactorial disease that used to be associated with high mortality rates before the advent of eculizumab. Due to challenging diagnosis, the clinical laboratory plays a major role in the differential diagnosis and management of the disease.
Resumen Objetivos La microangiopatía trombótica (MAT) se define por trombocitopenia, anemia hemolítica microangiopática y daño de órganos diana. El embarazo está asociado con varias formas de MAT ...como preeclampsia (PE), síndrome de HELLP, púrpura trombótica trombocitopénica (PTT) y síndrome hemolítico urémico (SHU). Cuando SHU se produce por desregulación de la vía alternativa del complemento se denomina SHU atípico (SHUa). El diagnóstico diferencial es complejo, ya que comparten características clínicas, siendo importante realizarlo precozmente para instaurar tratamiento específico y mejorar el pronóstico. Caso clínico Primigesta de 43 años ingresa a la edad gestacional de 33 semanas, con diagnóstico de preeclampsia grave y sufrimiento fetal por lo que se realiza cesárea urgente. En el puerperio inmediato, presenta insuficiencia hepática aguda y fracaso renal anúrico en contexto de síndrome de HELLP, anemia, trombopenia, hipertensión arterial (HTA) y alteraciones neurológicas. Se realiza estudio de MAT y diagnóstico diferencial evidenciando además SHUa asociado al embarazo. Se inicia tratamiento con Eculizumab presentando buena respuesta y progresiva mejoría clínica y analítica. Conclusiones El SHUa es una enfermedad rara y multifactorial con elevada mortalidad antes de la aparición del Eculizumab. Debido al complejo diagnóstico, el laboratorio clínico tiene un papel clave en el diagnóstico diferencial y abordaje.
Abstract
Background
The role of histo-blood group on the burden and severity of norovirus gastroenteritis in young infants has not been well documented.
Methods
Norovirus gastroenteritis was assessed ...in 443 Nicaraguan children followed from birth until 3 years of age. Stool samples were tested for norovirus by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) were determined by phenotyping of saliva and blood. Hazard ratios and predictors of norovirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outcome stratified by HBGA were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.
Results
Of 1353 AGE episodes experienced by children, 229 (17%) tested positive for norovirus with an overall incidence of 21.9/100 child-years. Secretor children were infected as early as 2 months of age and had a higher incidence of norovirus GII compared to nonsecretor children (15.4 vs 4.1/100 child-years, P = .006). Furthermore, all GII.4 AGE episodes occurred in secretor children. Children infected with GI (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 0.09 95% confidence interval {CI}, .02–.33) or non-GII.4 viruses (aOR, 0.2 95% CI, .07–.6) were less likely to have severe AGE compared to GII.4-infected children.
Conclusions
Secretor status in children strongly influences the incidence of symptomatic norovirus infection in a genogroup or genotype-dependent manner and provides evidence that clinical severity in children depends on norovirus genotypes.
In a Nicaraguan birth cohort, the norovirus incidence was 21.9/100 child-years with the secretor phenotype strongly influencing the incidence of symptomatic norovirus infection in a genogroup or genotype-dependent manner. The study further provides evidence that clinical severity in children depends on norovirus genotypes.
Norovirus and sapovirus cause a large burden of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young children. We assessed protection conferred by norovirus and sapovirus AGE episodes against future episodes.
...Between June 2017 and July 2018, we recruited 444 newborns in León, Nicaragua. Weekly household surveys identified AGE episodes over 36 months, and AGE stools were tested by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for norovirus genogroup (G)I/GII and sapovirus. We used recurrent-event Cox models and negative control methods to estimate protection conferred by first episodes, controlling for observed and unobserved risk factors, respectively.
Sapovirus episodes conferred a 69% reduced hazard of subsequent episodes using the negative control method. Norovirus GI (hazard ratio HR = 0.67; 95% confidence interval CI = 0.31, 1.3) and GII (HR = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.44) episodes also appeared highly protective. Protection against norovirus GII was enhanced following two episodes.
Evidence of natural immunity in early childhood provides optimism for the future success of pediatric norovirus and sapovirus vaccines.
Sapovirus is increasingly recognized as an important cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. We identified risk factors and characterized the clinical profile of sapovirus AGE in a birth ...cohort in León, Nicaragua.
We conducted a case-control study nested within a birth cohort (n = 444). Fieldworkers conducted weekly household AGE surveillance. AGE stools were tested for sapovirus by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. For each first sapovirus episode, we selected 2 healthy age-matched controls and estimated independent risk factors of sapovirus AGE using conditional logistic regression. We compared clinical characteristics of sapovirus AGE episodes with episodes associated with other etiologies and identified co-infections with other enteric pathogens.
From June 2017 to July 2019, we identified 63 first sapovirus AGE episodes and selected 126 controls. Having contact with an individual with AGE symptoms and vaginal delivery were independent risk factors for sapovirus AGE. All cases experienced diarrhea, lasting a median 6 days; 23% experienced vomiting. Compared with children with AGE due to another etiology, sapovirus AGE was similar in severity, with less reported fever. Most cases experienced co-infections and were more likely than controls to be infected with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli or astrovirus.
Sapovirus was a commonly identified AGE etiology in this Central American setting, and symptoms were similar to AGE associated with other etiologies. The association between vaginal delivery and sapovirus is a novel finding. Gut microbiome composition might mediate this relationship, or vaginal delivery might be a proxy for other risk factors. Further investigation into more specific biological mechanisms is warranted.
To characterize the timing and genotype distribution of symptomatic and asymptomatic sapovirus infections and re-infections in a Nicaraguan birth cohort.
Infants (N = 444) were enrolled at 10–14 days ...of life and observed weekly until 2 years of age. Stool samples were collected for each acute gastroenteritis (AGE) episode, and routine stool samples were collected monthly. Stool samples were tested for sapovirus using RT-qPCR, and positive samples were genotyped.
A total of 348 children completed 2 years of AGE weekly surveillance; 93 (26.7%) of them experienced sapovirus AGE. Most infections occurred after 5 months of age and mainly during the second year of life (62.4%, 58/93) and early in the rainy season. Sapovirus screening in all stools from a subset of 67 children who consistently provided samples showed sapovirus infections in 91 of 330 (27.6%) AGE episodes and in 39 of 1350 (2.9%) routine stools. In this subset, the median age at the first sapovirus AGE was 11.2 months (95% CI, 9.3–15.9 months); 38 of 67 (57%) children experienced re-infections, 19 symptomatic and 19 asymptomatic. On average, sapovirus re-infections were reported 7.2 months after symptomatic and 5.3 months after asymptomatic infections. Genogroup GI (64%, 69/108) was the most common detected. Sapovirus GI.1 was more frequently detected in AGE stool samples than in routine stool samples (47.2%, 43/91 vs. 25.6%, 10/39; p 0.005), and re-infection with the same genotype was uncommon.
The first sapovirus infections occurred at approximately 11 months of age, whereas the median time to symptomatic re-infection was 7.2 months. Re-infections with the same sapovirus genotype were rare during 2 years of life suggesting genotype-specific protection after natural infection.
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