An approach to autologous stem cell mobilization: trying to define good mobilizers.

Background And Objectives: Stem cell mobilization is a well-known procedure to harvest hematopoietic stem cells for autologous stem cell transplantation in certain hematologic diseases. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify risk factors for poor mobilization but there are no studies that identify good mobilizers. In our hospital, we decided to explore good mobilizers, defining them as those with ≥40 CD34 cells/μL on Day +4 in order to start early apheresis.

Financial incentives for COVID-19 vaccines in a rural low-resource setting: a cluster-randomized trial.

We implemented a clustered randomized controlled trial with 6,963 residents in six rural Ghana districts to estimate the causal impact of financial incentives on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination uptake. Villages randomly received one of four video treatment arms: a placebo, a standard health message, a high cash incentive (60 Ghana cedis) and a low cash incentive (20 Ghana cedis). For the first co-primary outcome-COVID-19 vaccination intentions-non-vaccinated participants assigned to the cash incentive treatments had an average rate of 81% (1,733 of 2,168) compared to 71% (1,895 of 2,669) for those in the placebo treatment arm.

Assessment of the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of EORTC QLQ-MY20 and evaluation of health-related quality of Life outcomes in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma in the real-world setting in Spain: results from the CharisMMa study.

We evaluated the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Multiple Myeloma (MM) specific quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaire module (QLQ-MY20) in relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) patients. This was an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study using EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20 in RRMM patients (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03188536).

Design of biorefineries towards carbon neutrality: A critical review.

The increase in worldwide demand for energy is driven by the rapid increase in population and exponential economic development. This resulted in the fast depletion of fossil fuel supplies and unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. To valorize biomass into different bioproducts, one of the popular and carbon-neutral alternatives is biorefineries.

Smart sustainable biorefineries for lignocellulosic biomass.

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is considered as a sustainable feedstock for a biorefinery to generate biofuels and other bio-chemicals. However, commercialization is one of the challenges that limits cost-effective operation of conventional LCB biorefinery. This article highlights some studies on the sustainability of LCB in terms of cost-competitiveness and environmental impact reduction.

Does mindfulness improve inhibitory control in psychotic disorders? A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Impaired Inhibitory Control (IC) is a core feature of psychotic disorders and is related with impaired social functioning in people experiencing psychosis. Despite research showing the benefits of mindfulness over IC in the general population, no study has assessed its effects on IC in psychoses. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention combined with integrated rehabilitation treatment in a sample of people diagnosed of psychotic disorders.

Tobacco cessation experiences and needs: perspectives from Arabic-speaking communities.

Use of tobacco products is higher in Arabic-speaking communities in Australia, compared to other populations. 70 persons identifying as being from Arabic-speaking communities in Western Sydney participated in focus group discussions to explore experiences and needs relating to tobacco, alcohol and other drug treatment. Tobacco was rated as the substance of highest concern in this sample, however a pattern of change was observed.

Laparoscopically assisted ilio-inguinal lymph node dissection versus inguinal lymph node dissection in melanoma.

Aim: Morbidity of open inguinal lymphadenectomy (OIL) is high. We use laparoscopy for pelvic time, preservation of the greater saphenous vein and transverse inguinal incisions (laparoscopically assisted ilio-inguinal lymphadenectomy, LIIL) to improve postoperative outcomes.

Patients & Methods: Retrospective comparison of 14 patients who underwent LIIL and seven patients who underwent OIL.

Rare Site Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis.

Introduction: Besides more common sites such as lung or peritoneum, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can metastatize to rare sites. We report herein a new metastatic site of HCC: the nail-bed. We also review other recently reported rare site HCC metastases (RSHM).

Safety of Early Carotid Artery Stenting for Symptomatic Stenosis in Daily Practice.

Objective/background: In 2006, the American Heart Association recommended that for preference carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or, alternatively, carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis should ideally occur within 14 days of an ischaemic event. The aim was to determine the safety of CAS according to those recommendations in daily practice.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all consecutive patients (2000-16), with ipsilateral carotid symptoms who underwent CAS for extracranial carotid stenosis ≥70%, who were previously included in a prospective database.

Psychotic symptoms and quality of life: A mediation analysis of daily-life coping.

Prior studies suggest the relationship between psychotic symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL) may be mediated by diverse constructs. QoL in schizophrenia-related disorders has been related with coping with daily stressors. Based on previous studies, our hypothesis was that coping mediates the relationship between psychotic symptoms and QoL.

Evaluation of a therapeutic education program for French family caregivers of elderly people suffering from major neurocognitive disorders: Preliminary study.

The pertinence of a therapeutic program of education has been studied with regard to carers of patients suffering from major neurocognitive disorders. The program, adapted to the needs expressed by the carers, consisted of three workshops with a view to supplying general information about the pathologies, specific information on behavioral disorders, and specific aids to identify and manage their emotional reactions. The results of this preliminary study show a moderate significant benefit to the level of anxiety in the participants, taking into account the specific expectations of the carers and bringing to light further needs.

Effect of CYP2C19 Polymorphisms on the Platelet Response to Clopidogrel and Influence on the Effect of High Versus Standard Dose Clopidogrel in Carotid Artery Stenting.

Objectives: Genetic background has been identified to be a major predictor of post-clopidogrel platelet inhibition in patients undergoing coronary stenting. However, there is a lack of data on clopidogrel response regarding genotype in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS). The influence of the most common allelic variants of CYP2C19 phenotypes and genotypes on response to baseline clopidogrel and on the pharmacodynamic effect of dose adjustment (high or standard dose of clopidogrel) in patients with high on-treatment reactivity after CAS was investigated.

Mindfulness improves psychological quality of life in community-based patients with severe mental health problems: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of group mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) in patients diagnosed with severe mental illness. The primary outcome was health-related psychological quality of life. Secondary measures were environmental, social and physical health related quality of life, frequency and intensity of psychotic symptoms and daily-life mindfulness.

Assembly of a Cost-Effective Anode Using Palladium Nanoparticles for Alkaline Fuel Cell Applications.

Nanotechnology allows the synthesis of nanoscale catalysts, which offer an efficient alternative for fuel cell applications. In this laboratory experiment, the student selects a cost-effective anode for fuel cells by comparing three different working electrodes. These are commercially available palladium (Pd) and glassy carbon (GC) electrodes, and a carbon paste (CP) electrode that is prepared by the students in the laboratory.

Intra-arterial bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation correlates with GM-CSF, PDGF-BB, and MMP-2 serum levels in stroke patients: results from a clinical trial.

Bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) intra-arterial transplantation improves recovery in experimental models of ischemic stroke through secretion of cytokines and growth factors (GFs), enhancing neoangiogenesis, and enhancing neuroplasticity. In this study, we tested whether BM-MNC transplantation in stroke patients induces changes in serum levels of cytokines and GFs. A phase I/II trial was conducted in middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke patients with autologous intra-arterial BM-MNC transplantation between 5 and 9 days after stroke.

Antiplatelet effects of clopidogrel dose adjustment (75 mg/d vs 150 mg/d) after carotid stenting.

Objective: Clopidogrel plays a central role in the treatment of patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS). The objective was to evaluate the effect of clopidogrel (75 mg/d) on platelet reactivity in responders and nonresponders and the antiplatelet effect of different doses of clopidogrel in patients with high on-treatment reactivity (OTR) after CAS.

Methods: Patients with high OTR (defined by VerifyNow (Accumetrics, San Diego, Calif) assay as ≥230 P2Y12 reaction units [PRU]) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to group 1 (standard-dose clopidogrel therapy: 75 mg/d for 30 days) or group 2 (high-dose clopidogrel: 150 mg/d for 30 days).

Progressive changes in cerebral perfusion after carotid stenting: a dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion weighted imaging study.

Background: We aimed to assess baseline inter-hemispheric perfusion differences, before carotid artery stenting (CAS), of severe internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, and to evaluate perfusion changes over time after CAS by means of perfusion weighted imaging (PWI).

Methods: Dynamic susceptibility contrast PWI was performed in 33 patients with severe ICA stenosis 1 day before and 1 day after CAS, and repeated in 23 patients 30 days after CAS. Cerebral blood volume, cerebral blood flow, arrival time (T0), mean transit time, and time to peak (TTP) relative values comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic hemispheres before CAS were obtained.

Carotid plaque characterization by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound related to the timing of carotid intervention.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of vulnerable plaques characterized by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH IVUS) in patients with severe internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and its relationship to the timing of protected carotid artery stenting (CAS).

Methods: The study included 141 patients (119 men; mean age 66.9 ± 9 years) with severe ICA stenosis undergoing CAS with cerebral protection.

Intra-arterial bone marrow mononuclear cells in ischemic stroke: a pilot clinical trial.

Background And Purpose: Bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) intra-arterial transplantation improves recovery in experimental models of ischemic stroke. We aimed to assess the safety, feasibility, and biological effects of autologous BM-MNC transplantation in patients with stroke.

Methods: A single-blind (outcomes assessor) controlled Phase I/II trial was conducted in patients with middle cerebral artery stroke.

Endovascular treatment of a pial arteriovenous fistula with occipital remodeling secondary to giant torcular dilation.

Intracranial arteriovenous fistulas are vascular malformations in which clinical suspicion and prompt diagnosis, with a subsequent appropriate therapeutic approach, are crucial to avoid the development of irreversible neurological damage or even patient death because these lesions can be associated with heavy bleeding and high mortality rates. The authors present the case of a direct pial arteriovenous fistula in an infant and its unusual presentation as a large occipital protuberance with hard consistency and an audible murmur that produced bone remodeling. The patient was successfully treated by endovascular therapy, with complete regression of the occipital protuberance during follow-up.

Internal carotid artery stenting in patients with near occlusion: 30-day and long-term outcome.

Background And Purpose: The natural history of the carotid NO is poorly characterized, and the management of patients remains controversial. We report the results and complications associated with CAS and follow-up.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2000 and March 2009, 116 of 836 CAS procedures were performed in patients with carotid NO (13.