Overall Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus, Transmission Net of Clearance, and Timing of Transmission.

Background: It is widely accepted that the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vertical transmission (VT) is 5%-6% in monoinfected women, and that 25%-40% of HCV infection clears spontaneously within 5 years. However, there is no consensus on how VT rates should be estimated, and there is a lack of information on VT rates "net" of clearance.

Methods: We reanalyzed data on 1749 children in 3 prospective cohorts to obtain coherent estimates of overall VT rate and VT rates net of clearance at different ages.

Spontaneous Clearance of Vertically Acquired Hepatitis C Infection: Implications for Testing and Treatment.

Background: Current guidelines recommend that infants born to women with hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia be screened for HCV antibody at age 18 months and, if positive, referred for RNA testing at 3 years to confirm chronic infection. This policy is based, in part, on analyses that suggest that 25%-40% of vertically acquired HCV infections clear spontaneously within 4-5 years.

Methods: Data on 179 infants with HCV RNA and/or anti-HCV evidence of vertically acquired infection in 3 prospective European cohorts were investigated.

Factors associated with shorter length of admission among people with dementia in England and Wales: retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To identify aspects of the organisation and delivery of acute inpatient services for people with dementia that are associated with shorter length of hospital stay.

Design And Setting: Retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to 200 general hospitals in England and Wales.

Participants: 10 106 people with dementia who took part in the third round of National Audit of Dementia.

Longitudinal Trends in Quality of Life and Physical Function in Frail Older Dialysis Patients: A Comparison of Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis and In-Center Hemodialysis.

Background: In-center hemodialysis (HD) has been the standard treatment for older dialysis patients, but reports suggest an associated decline in physical and cognitive function. Cross-sectional data suggest that assisted peritoneal dialysis (aPD), an alternative treatment, is associated with quality of life (QoL) outcomes that are comparable to in-center HD. We compared longitudinal changes in QoL between modalities.

The response of the innate immune and cardiovascular systems to LPS in pregnant and nonpregnant mice.

Sepsis is the leading cause of direct maternal mortality, but there are no data directly comparing the response to sepsis in pregnant and nonpregnant (NP) individuals. This study uses a mouse model of sepsis to test the hypothesis that the cardiovascular response to sepsis is more marked during pregnancy. Female CD1 mice had radiotelemetry probes implanted and were time mated.

Hierarchical statistical techniques are necessary to draw reliable conclusions from analysis of isolated cardiomyocyte studies.

Aims: It is generally accepted that post-MI heart failure (HF) changes a variety of aspects of sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ fluxes but for some aspects there is disagreement over whether there is an increase or decrease. The commonest statistical approach is to treat data collected from each cell as independent, even though they are really clustered with multiple likely similar cells from each heart. In this study, we test whether this statistical assumption of independence can lead the investigator to draw conclusions that would be considered erroneous if the analysis handled clustering with specific statistical techniques (hierarchical tests).

Erratum: High speed sCMOS-based oblique plane microscopy applied to the study of calcium dynamics in cardiac myocytes: [J. Biophotonics 9, No. 3, 311-323 (2016)].

In the article by M.B. Sikkel et al.

Improving GHB withdrawal with baclofen: study protocol for a feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and its pro-drugs GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) are central nervous system depressants whose street names include 'G' and 'liquid ecstasy'. They are used recreationally predominately for their stimulant and pro-sexual effects or for sedation to help with sleep and/or to 'come down' after using stimulant recreational drugs. Although overall population prevalence is low (0.

Tracheal CT morphology: correlation with distribution and extent of thoracic adipose tissue.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between adipose tissue measurements and anterior bowing of the posterior tracheal wall in a large nonselected group of patients undergoing CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing CTPA over a 4-month period were analyzed retrospectively. Using an adapted scoring system (posterior bowing, flattening, mild/moderate or severe anterior bowing of the posterior tracheal membrane), the axial morphology and cross-sectional area of the trachea at the narrowest point and 1 cm above the aortic arch were evaluated.

High speed sCMOS-based oblique plane microscopy applied to the study of calcium dynamics in cardiac myocytes.

Oblique plane microscopy (OPM) is a form of light sheet microscopy that uses a single high numerical aperture microscope objective for both fluorescence excitation and collection. In this paper, measurements of the relative collection efficiency of OPM are presented. An OPM system incorporating two sCMOS cameras is then introduced that enables single isolated cardiac myocytes to be studied continuously for 22 seconds in two dimensions at 667 frames per second with 960 × 200 pixels and for 30 seconds with 960 × 200 × 20 voxels at 25 volumes per second.

Adverse remodeling of the electrophysiological response to ischemia-reperfusion in human heart failure is associated with remodeling of metabolic gene expression.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias occur more frequently in heart failure during episodes of ischemia-reperfusion although the mechanisms underlying this in humans are unclear. We assessed, in explanted human hearts, the remodeled electrophysiological response to acute ischemia-reperfusion in heart failure and its potential causes, including the remodeling of metabolic gene expression.

Methods And Results: We optically mapped coronary-perfused left ventricular wedge preparations from 6 human end-stage failing hearts (F) and 6 donor hearts rejected for transplantation (D).

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in tropical and low and middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-regression.

Objective: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), the commonest opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients in the developed world, is less commonly described in tropical and low and middle income countries (LMIC). We sought to investigate predictors of PCP in these settings.

Design: Systematic review and meta-regression.

Heliox therapy in bronchiolitis: phase III multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objective: Supportive care remains the mainstay of therapy in bronchiolitis. Earlier studies suggest that helium-oxygen therapy may be beneficial, but evidence is limited. We aimed to compare efficacy of 2 treatment gases, Heliox and Airox (21% oxygen + 79% helium or nitrogen, respectively), on length of hospital treatment for bronchiolitis.

Salvage assessment with cardiac MRI following acute myocardial infarction underestimates potential for recovery of systolic strain.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between the degree of salvage following acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and subsequent reversible contractile dysfunction using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Methods: Thirty-four patients underwent CMR examination 1-7 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for acute STEMI with follow-up at 1 year. The ischaemic area-at-risk (AAR) was assessed with T2-weighted imaging and myocardial necrosis with late gadolinium enhancement.

Evaluating the effect of vehicle modification in reducing injuries from landmine blasts. An analysis of 2212 incidents and its application for humanitarian purposes.

Introduction: Anti-vehicle (AV) mines have been laid indiscriminately in conflict areas for the past 100 years. With an indeterminate life-span they continue to pose a significant threat to the civilian population, as well as restrict the movement of people, aid and goods to vulnerable populations. The aim of this study was to analyse unique casualty data from 2212 mine incidents to determine if simple vehicle modifications can reduce fatality and injury rates from mine explosions.

Insufficient acetabular version increases blood metal ion levels after metal-on-metal hip resurfacing.

Background: Many factors affect the blood metal ion levels after metal-on-metal (MOM) hip arthroplasty. The main surgically adjustable variable is the amount of coverage of the head provided by the cup which is a function of the inclination and version angles. However, most studies have used plain radiographs which have questionable precision and accuracy, particularly for version and large diameter metal heads; further, these studies do not simultaneously assess version and inclination.

Live lecture versus video podcast in undergraduate medical education: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Information technology is finding an increasing role in the training of medical students. We compared information recall and student experience and preference after live lectures and video podcasts in undergraduate medical education.

Methods: We performed a crossover randomised controlled trial.

Embolization of hepatic arterial branches to simplify hepatic blood flow before yttrium 90 radioembolization: a useful technique in the presence of challenging anatomy.

Purpose: In the presence of variant hepatic arterial anatomy, obtaining whole-liver coverage with yttrium 90 (Y90) radioembolization may be challenging. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a technique whereby variant hepatic arterial branches are embolized and then Y90 is administered selectively into one remaining hepatic arterial branch results in whole-liver coverage and effective therapy. A retrospective comparison of treatment response was made between a group of patients who underwent this technique before Y90 administration and a group of patients who received standard Y90 administration as a single dose into the proper hepatic artery or in divided doses into the immediate hepatic artery branches.

Broadening Options for Long-term Dialysis in the Elderly (BOLDE): differences in quality of life on peritoneal dialysis compared to haemodialysis for older patients.

Background: Health-related quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome for older people who are often on dialysis for life. Little is, however, known about differences in QOL on haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in older age groups. Randomising patients to either modality to assess outcomes is not feasible.

Treatment effects of low-dose theophylline combined with an inhaled corticosteroid in COPD.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have proved disappointing at reducing airway inflammation in COPD. However, previous studies indicate that low doses of theophylline enhance the activity of a key corticosteroid-associated corepressor protein, histone deacetylase (HDAC)2, which is reduced in COPD. This may account, at least in part, for the relative corticosteroid resistance.