Barbed suture in neck dissection: a randomized clinical study on efficacy, safety and aesthetic outcome.

Purpose: The resection of lymph nodes/neck dissection is a typical part of the surgical treatment of head and neck malignancies. The aim of this study was to compare subcutaneous closure using single knotted, braided suture (Vicryl, standard arm) with continuous self-locking, monofilament barbed suture (V-Loc, experimental arm).

Methods: Neck Lock was a randomized clinical trial at a single tertiary referral center.

Benralizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: The Real-World, Multi-Country RANS Observational Study.

Purpose: Real-world evidence of benralizumab effectiveness on nasal polyps (NP) and asthma outcomes in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) and comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis with NP are limited. The objective of this study was to assess NP and asthma outcomes in benralizumab-treated patients with SEA and comorbid NP in a real-world setting.

Patients And Methods: RANS was a retrospective, multi-country observational study (ClinicalTrials.

Benralizumab in severe eosinophilic asthma by previous biologic use and key clinical subgroups: real-world XALOC-1 programme.

Background: Pivotal phase 3 trials and real-world studies have demonstrated benralizumab's overall efficacy and safety in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). Additional large-cohort data are needed to confirm its real-world effectiveness in SEA according to previous biologic use and key baseline characteristics important for treatment selection.

Methods: XALOC-1 is a large, multinational, retrospective, observational, real-world study programme of benralizumab in adults with SEA.

Longitudinal patterns of intermittent oral corticosteroid therapy for asthma in the United Kingdom.

Background: Increasing frequency of intermittent oral corticosteroid (OCS) prescription and cumulative OCS exposure increase the risk of OCS-related adverse outcomes.

Objective: We sought to describe the evolution and trajectory of intermittent OCS prescription patterns in patients with asthma and investigate risk factors independently associated with transitioning to a frequent prescription pattern.

Methods: This historical cohort study included patients with active asthma managed in UK primary care and included in the Optimum Patient Care Research Database (OPCRD; opcrd.

Trends in Systemic Glucocorticoid Utilization in the United Kingdom from 1990 to 2019: A Population-Based, Serial Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Purpose: Associations between systemic glucocorticoid (SGC) exposure and risk for adverse outcomes have spurred a move toward steroid-sparing treatment strategies. Real-world changes in SGC exposure over time, after the introduction of steroid-sparing treatment strategies, reveal areas of successful risk mitigation as well as unmet needs.

Patients And Methods: A population-based ecological study was performed from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database to describe SGC prescribing trends of steroid-sparing treatment strategies in primary care practices before and after licensure of biologics in the United Kingdom from 1990 to 2019.

Private management costs of : a study of viticulture in Italy.

The Japanese beetle () is classified as a high-priority pest in the European Union and is reported to have caused extensive damage to grapevine leaves in Italy. As there are few studies, which measure the beetle's socio-economic impact, we conduct a first descriptive assessment of grapevine farmers' perception of the beetle's impact and assess the pest's effect on private management costs using a partial budgeting approach. Our sample includes data from 65 producers and 118 vineyard plots.

A Long-Term Study of Adverse Outcomes Associated With Oral Corticosteroid Use in COPD.

Background: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are often prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations.

Methods: This observational, individually matched historical cohort study used electronic medical records (1987-2019) from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink linked to English Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) to evaluate adverse outcomes in patients with COPD who used OCS (OCS cohort) and those not exposed to OCS (non-OCS cohort). Risk of 17 adverse outcomes was estimated using proportional hazard regression.

Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Evidence of Eosinophilic Inflammation Experience Exacerbations Despite Receiving Maximal Inhaled Maintenance Therapy.

Background: Some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience frequent exacerbations despite maximal inhaled therapy ("triple therapy"), possibly leading to high health care resource utilization (HCRU).

Aim: Describe characteristics, future HCRU, and mortality of patients with COPD who experience frequent exacerbations despite triple therapy; characterize individuals who may be candidates for biologic therapies.

Methods: This descriptive observational study used primary care data of patients aged ≥40 years in the United Kingdom receiving maintenance therapy for COPD who had ≥1 year of data prior to index date and ≥1 year of follow-up data.

Clinical and economic burden of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: A U.S. administrative claims analysis.

Limited data exist on the clinical and economic burden of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). To describe patient characteristics, health-care resource utilization (HCRU), and health-care costs among patients with CRSwNP with and without comorbid asthma (primary analysis) and with surgical management of nasal polyps (secondary analysis). This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with CRSwNP conducted using administrative claims data from January 1, 2013, through March 31, 2019.

Systemic Corticosteroid-related Adverse Outcomes and Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Among Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis.

Purpose: Nasal polyps (NPs) develop in 20% to 30% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Severe forms of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) may be treated with systemic corticosteroids (SCSs), which increase the risk for adverse clinical outcomes. This study compared the incidence of SCS-related adverse outcomes and health care resource utilization and costs between patients with CRSwNP who had SCS exposure and those who did not have SCS exposure.

Asthma exacerbations are associated with a decline in lung function: a longitudinal population-based study.

Rationale: Progressive lung function (LF) decline in patients with asthma contributes to worse outcomes. Asthma exacerbations are thought to contribute to this decline; however, evidence is limited with mixed results.

Methods: This historical cohort study of a broad asthma patient population in the Optimum Patient Care Research Database, examined asthma patients with 3+eligible post-18th birthday peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) records (primary analysis) or records of forced expiratory flow in 1 s (FEV) (sensitivity analysis).

Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Adult Patients with Asthma: A Population-Based Cohort Study from UK Primary Care.

Introduction: Asthma morbidity and health-care utilization are known to exhibit a steep socioeconomic gradient. Further investigation into the modulators of this effect is required to identify potentially modifiable factors.

Methods: We identified a cohort of patients with asthma from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database (OPCRD).

Real-world challenges for patients with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a retrospective observational study of access to care in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.

Objective: To evaluate medical resource utilisation and timeliness of access to specific aspects of a standard care pathway for breast cancer at tertiary centres in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design: Data were retrospectively abstracted from records of patients with breast cancer treated within a prespecified 2-year period between 2014 and 2017. The study protocol was approved by local institutional review boards.

DNA Methylation and Immune Cell Markers Demonstrate Evidence of Accelerated Aging in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus or Hepatitis C Virus, with or without Human Immunodeficienct Virus Co-infection.

Background: Several chronic diseases accelerate biological aging. We investigated age acceleration and the association between peripheral blood DNA methylation (DNAm) and immune cell markers in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the hepatitis C virus (HCV) with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection.

Methods: Age acceleration was measured as the difference between epigenetic age (Horvath clock) and chronological age.

Systematic literature review of humanistic and economic burdens of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

Objectives: We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence (RWE) studies to determine the humanistic (e.g. health-related/disease-specific quality of life [QOL]) and economic (e.

Systematic literature review of the epidemiology and clinical burden of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

Objectives: We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to determine the epidemiology and clinical burden of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and to describe how the addition of biologics has affected outcomes for patients with CRSwNP.

Methods: The SLR adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Embase, MEDLINE, and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews databases were searched using OVID.

Metabolic Changes in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Who Carry IFNL4-ΔG and Achieve Sustained Virologic Response With Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy.

Background: Clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in rapid changes in metabolic parameters early in direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Long-term changes after sustained virologic response (SVR) remain unknown.

Methods: We investigated longitudinal changes in metabolic and inflammatory outcomes in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) using a general linear model for repeated measurements at 5 clinical time points and by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and IFNL4 genotype.

A pilot study of safety and efficacy of HCV retreatment with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir in patients with or without HIV (RESOLVE STUDY).

Background & Aims: Cure rates in response to retreatment with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (SOF/VEL/VOX) are high, but this regimen has not been studied in patients with a history of poor adherence or treatment interruption, nor in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection. Herein, we aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of this combination in patients with genotype 1 HCV infection who had relapsed following combination direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, regardless of HIV infection or previous treatment course.

Methods: The RESOLVE study was a multicenter, open-label, phase IIb study investigating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of SOF/VEL/VOX in 77 patients with virologic rebound following combination DAA therapy.

Immunological recovery in T-cell activation after sustained virologic response among HIV positive and HIV negative chronic Hepatitis C patients.

Background: Rapid decreases in activated CD4+ and CD8+ (HLA-DR + and CD38+ co-expressed) T-lymphocytes have been described within 1-2 weeks of initiating direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy among chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) patients. However, it is not known whether these changes are maintained past sustained virologic response (SVR), particularly in those who are HIV/HCV-coinfected.

Methods: We investigated the changes in immune parameters of T-lymphocytes from pre-DAA therapy to post-SVR among HIV negative and HIV positive patients with CHC.

Implementation of a unique hepatitis C care continuum model in Rwanda.

Background: There has been an evolution in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) due to highly effective direct-acting antivirals, however, restriction of treatment to medical specialists hinders escalation of HCV treatment. This is particularly true in resource-limited settings (RLS), which disproportionately represent the burden of HCV worldwide. The ASCEND study in Washington, DC, demonstrated that complete task-shifting can safely and effectively overcome a low provider-to-patient ratio and expand HCV treatment.

Recovery of hepatitis C specific T-cell responses after rituximab therapy in hepatitis C mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.

Mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is associated with monoclonal B cell expansion in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. B cell depletion therapy using rituximab, a CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been successful in achieving remission from symptomatic disease. This study investigated whether B cell depletion therapy has an impact on activation of HCV-specific T cell phenotype and function.

Transcriptional profiling of PBMCs unravels B cell mediated immunopathogenic imprints of HCV vasculitis.

B cell depletion therapy using rituximab has been shown to be effective in achieving remission in patients with HCV-mixed cryoglobulinemic (MC) vasculitis. Previously, we have demonstrated abnormalities in peripheral immune cells involving neutrophils, chemotaxis, and innate immune activation among patients with HCV-MC vasculitis when compared to HCV patients without vasculitis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of B cell depletion therapy on transcriptional profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after riruximab therapy, in order to unravel the pathogenic mechanism involved in HCV-MC vasculitis induced by abnormal B cell proliferation.