Early Treatment Response to Mepolizumab Predicts Clinical Remission in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma.

Background: Mepolizumab can induce an early response and clinical remission in people with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA).

Objective: To find whether early response to mepolizumab (100 mg) could predict future asthma remission and to identify the best predictor of treatment response to mepolizumab for achieving remission.

Methods: The Australian Mepolizumab Registry was used to investigate the early response to mepolizumab at 3 and 6 months and relate this to clinical remission at 12 months.

Distinct trajectories of treatment response to mepolizumab toward remission in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, characterised by a high disease burden, benefit from mepolizumab, which improves symptoms and reduces exacerbations, potentially leading to clinical remission in a subgroup. This study aimed to identify treatment response trajectories to mepolizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma and to assess the achievement of clinical remission.Data from the Australian Mepolizumab Registry were used to assess treatment responses at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Complete resolution of perforated jejunal diverticulitis after nonoperative management.

The authors report a case of perforated jejunal diverticulitis that was managed nonoperatively in a 60-year-old man. Nonoperative management of perforated jejunal diverticulitis is uncommon but possible, and necessitates close follow up to ensure complete resolution.

Effect of Azithromycin on Asthma Remission in Adults With Persistent Uncontrolled Asthma: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized, Double-Anonymized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Asthma remission is a potential treatment goal.

Research Question: Does adding azithromycin to standard therapy in patients with persistent uncontrolled asthma induce remission compared with placebo?

Study Design And Methods: This secondary analysis used data from the Asthma and Macrolides: the Azithromycin Efficacy and Safety (AMAZES) clinical trial-a double-anonymized placebo-controlled trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of azithromycin on asthma exacerbations. The primary remission definition (referred to as clinical remission) was zero exacerbations and zero oral corticosteroids during the previous 6 months evaluated at 12 months and a 5-item Asthma Control Questionnaire score ≤ 1 at 12 months.

Quantifying Perioperative Risks for Antireflux and Hiatus Hernia Surgery: A Multicenter Cohort Study of 4301 Patients.

Objective: Using a comprehensive Australian cohort, we quantified the incidence and determined the independent predictors of intraoperative and postoperative complications associated with antireflux and hiatus hernia surgeries. In addition, we performed an in-depth analysis to understand the complication profiles associated with each independent risk factor.

Background: Predicting perioperative risks for fundoplication and hiatus hernia repair will inform treatment decision-making, hospital resource allocation, and benchmarking.

Prosocial motives underlie scientific censorship by scientists: A perspective and research agenda.

Science is among humanity's greatest achievements, yet scientific censorship is rarely studied empirically. We explore the social, psychological, and institutional causes and consequences of scientific censorship (defined as actions aimed at obstructing particular scientific ideas from reaching an audience for reasons other than low scientific quality). Popular narratives suggest that scientific censorship is driven by authoritarian officials with dark motives, such as dogmatism and intolerance.

Biologics (mepolizumab and omalizumab) induced remission in severe asthma patients.

Background: Asthma remission has emerged as a potential treatment goal. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two biologics (mepolizumab/omalizumab) in achieving asthma remission.

Methods: This observational study included 453 severe asthma patients (41% male; mean age ± SD 55.

Morality beyond the WEIRD: How the nomological network of morality varies across cultures.

Moral foundations theory has been a generative framework in moral psychology in the last 2 decades. Here, we revisit the theory and develop a new measurement tool, the Moral Foundations Questionnaire-2 (MFQ-2), based on data from 25 populations. We demonstrate empirically that equality and proportionality are distinct moral foundations while retaining the other four existing foundations of care, loyalty, authority, and purity.

Pre-existing hiatal mesh increases morbidity during and after revisional antireflux surgery: A retrospective multicenter study.

Background: Revisional antireflux surgery, including hiatus hernia repair, is increasingly common. Mesh-augmented hiatal closure at the time of index operation is controversial but commonly performed. Although a meta-analysis of randomized data has demonstrated no additional benefit of routine mesh placement, it is unclear whether this practice results in harm, particularly at the time of revisional antireflux surgery.

Comorbidities Modify the Phenotype but Not the Treatment Effectiveness to Mepolizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma.

Background: Comorbidities in severe asthma are common and contribute to disease burden. The severe asthma phenotype and treatment response can be impacted by comorbid conditions. Real-world data on the use of mepolizumab in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) in the presence of comorbidities are needed to inform clinical practice.

Optimal Timing of Perioperative Chemical Thromboprophylaxis in Elective Major Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the timing of chemoprophylaxis on venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) and bleeding rates in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Background: Postoperative bleeding and VTE incur significant morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Chemoprophylaxis is used routinely to prevent VTEs but increases bleeding risk.

Optimal Timing of Perioperative Chemoprophylaxis in Patients With High Thromboembolic Risk Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine whether early (before skin closure) versus postoperative chemoprophylaxis affects the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding following major abdominal surgery, in a high thromboembolic risk population.

Background: Major abdominal surgery incurs both VTE and bleeding risks. Patients with high preoperative VTE risk derive the most benefit from chemoprophylaxis, but carry an increased risk of bleeding.

CD47 cross-dressing by extracellular vesicles expressing CD47 inhibits phagocytosis without transmitting cell death signals.

Transgenic CD47 overexpression is an encouraging approach to ameliorating xenograft rejection and alloresponses to pluripotent stem cells, and the efficacy correlates with the level of CD47 expression. However, CD47, upon ligation, also transmits signals leading to cell dysfunction or death, raising a concern that overexpressing CD47 could be harmful. Here, we unveiled an alternative source of cell surface CD47.

Prophylactic negative pressure wound dressings reduces wound complications following emergency laparotomies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Wound complications are a common cause of postoperative morbidity and incur significant healthcare costs. Recent studies have shown that negative pressure wound dressings reduce wound complication rates, particularly surgical site infections, after elective laparotomies. The clinical utility of prophylactic negative pressure wound dressings for closed emergency laparotomy incisions remains controversial.

Early Versus Postoperative Chemical Thromboprophylaxis Is Associated with Increased Bleeding Risk Following Abdominal Visceral Resections: a Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Abdominal visceral resections incur relatively higher rates of postoperative bleeding and venous thromboembolism (VTE). While guidelines recommend the use of perioperative chemical thromboprophylaxis, the most appropriate time for its initiation is unknown. Here, we investigated whether early (before skin closure) versus postoperative commencement of chemoprophylaxis affected VTE and bleeding rates following abdominal visceral resection.

Clarifying the structure and nature of left-wing authoritarianism.

Authoritarianism has been the subject of scientific inquiry for nearly a century, yet the vast majority of authoritarianism research has focused on right-wing authoritarianism. In the present studies, we investigate the nature, structure, and nomological network of left-wing authoritarianism (LWA), a construct famously known as "the Loch Ness Monster" of political psychology. We iteratively construct a measure and data-driven conceptualization of LWA across six samples (N = 7,258) and conduct quantitative tests of LWA's relations with more than 60 authoritarianism-related variables.

Castleman's disease masquerading as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour.

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder. This case report, to the best of our knowledge, is the first report of CD simulating a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour . The patient was a 58-year-old woman who initially presented with bilateral iritis and underwent investigation for possible systemic rheumatological disease.

Mepolizumab and Oral Corticosteroid Stewardship: Data from the Australian Mepolizumab Registry.

Background: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) carry serious health risks. Innovative treatment options are required to reduce excessive exposure and promote OCS stewardship.

Objectives: This study evaluated the trajectories of OCS exposure (prednisolone-equivalent) in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma before and after starting mepolizumab and the predictors of becoming OCS free after 6 months of mepolizumab therapy.

The surgical management of metastatic pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma and associated pancreatic panniculitis-A case report and literature review.

Introduction: Pancreatic panniculitis is a rare manifestation of benign and malignant pancreatic disease. The presentation of pancreatic panniculitis is non-specific and thus diagnosis is often delayed. When associated with malignancy, pancreatic panniculitis confers a poor prognosis.

Variations in practice of thromboprophylaxis across general surgical subspecialties: a multicentre (PROTECTinG) study of elective major surgeries.

Background: Despite guidelines recommending perioperative thromboprophylaxis for patients undergoing general surgery, we have observed significant variations in its practice. This may compromise patient safety. Here, we quantify the heterogeneity of perioperative thromboprophylaxis across all major general surgical operations, and place them in relation to their risk of bleeding and venous thromboembolism.