Glycosylated fibronectin as a biomarker for preeclampsia and preeclampsia-related complications.

Objectives: To evaluate glycosylated fibronectin (GlyFn) as a novel biomarker for preeclampsia and preeclampsia-related complications, and to compare GlyFn to traditional biomarkers, including soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF).

Study Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study (n = 524) with suspected preeclampsia (control), gestational hypertension (GH), or confirmed preeclampsia/hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome (PE/HELLP).

Main Outcome Measures: GlyFn levels in PE/HELLP versus control and GH.

Switching to tenofovir alafenamide in patients with virologically suppressed chronic hepatitis B and renal or hepatic impairment: final week 96 results from an open-label, multicentre, phase 2 study.

Background: Phase 3 studies in patients with chronic hepatitis B have shown tenofovir alafenamide to have non-inferior efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, with improved renal and bone safety. We conducted this study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of switching to tenofovir alafenamide in participants with chronic hepatitis B and renal or hepatic impairment.

Methods: This open-label, multicentre, phase 2 study was done in eight countries or territories at 30 sites.

Neutralizing antibodies to interferon alfa arising during peginterferon therapy of chronic hepatitis B in children and adults: Results from the HBRN Trials.

Background Aims: Pegylated interferon-α (PegIFNα) is of limited utility during immunotolerant or immune active phases of chronic hepatitis B infection but is being explored as part of new cure regimens. Low/absent levels of IFNα found in some patients receiving treatment are associated with limited/no virological responses. The study aimed to determine if sera from participants inhibit IFNα activity and/or contain therapy-induced anti-IFNα antibodies.

Telemedicine for Potential Application in Austere Military Environments: Neurosurgical Support for a Decompressive Craniectomy.

Introduction: The main goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of a head-mounted display (HMD) providing telemedicine neurosurgical support during a decompressive craniectomy by a military surgeon who is isolated from readily available neurosurgical care. The secondary aim was to assess the usability perceived by the military surgeon and to evaluate technical aspects of the head-mounted display.

Materials And Methods: After a standard concise lecture, 10 military surgeons performed a decompressive craniectomy on a AnubiFiX-embalmed post-mortem human head.

Telemedicine Improves Performance of a Two-Incision Lower Leg Fasciotomy by Combat Medics: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess if a head-mounted display (HMD) providing telemedicine support improves performance of a two-incision lower leg fasciotomy by a NATO special operations combat medic (combat medic).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six combat medics were randomized into two groups: One group performed a two-incision lower leg fasciotomy with the assistance of an HMD, while the control group completed the procedure without guidance. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the possible differences in release of compartments and performance scores, as assessed by a supervising medical specialist.

Viral sequence analysis of chronic hepatitis B patients treated with the capsid assembly modulator JNJ-56136379 in the JADE phase 2a study.

Background & Aims: In the monotherapy arms of the phase 2 JADE study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03361956) evaluating the safety and efficacy of JNJ-56136379 (capsid assembly modulator-class E) with/without nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA), viral breakthroughs (VBT) were observed, leading to JNJ-56136379 monotherapy discontinuation. We present the viral sequencing analysis of JNJ-56136379±NA-treated hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients.

Angiogenic imbalance in pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction: enhanced soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 binding or diminished production of placental growth factor?

Objectives: To assess levels of total placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and free PlGF in women with pre-eclampsia (PE) with or without a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate in order to establish whether low free PlGF levels associated with PE and SGA are due to enhanced sFlt-1 binding or decreased PlGF production.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective multicenter cohort study involving 407 pregnancies with suspected or confirmed PE, in which total PlGF levels were calculated from measured sFlt-1 and free PlGF levels. The control group included women who were suspected to have PE at a certain point in pregnancy but did not develop PE.

Clusters of risk factors in metabolic syndrome and their influence on central blood pressure in a global study.

The effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and clusters of its components on central blood pressure (CBP) has not been well characterized. We aimed to describe the effect of MetS and clusters of its components on CBP in a large population and to identify whether this effect differs in men and women. We studied 15,609 volunteers (43% women) from 10 cohorts worldwide who participated in the Metabolic syndrome and Artery REsearch Consortium.

Sublingual microcirculation: comparison between the 415 nm blue light and 520 nm green light of sidestream dark field videomicroscopes.

Green light with a wavelength of 520 nm is commonly used in sidestream dark field (SDF) video microscopes for sublingual microcirculation assessment in clinical practice. However, blue light could obtain a clearer microcirculatory image due to a higher light absorption coefficient of hemoglobin. The aim of this study was to compare the sublingual microcirculatory image quality acquisition and related microcirculatory parameters between 520 nm green light and 415 nm blue light probes in the SDF device named MicroSee V100.

IMpower150 Final Exploratory Analyses for Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Chemotherapy in Key NSCLC Patient Subgroups With EGFR Mutations or Metastases in the Liver or Brain.

Introduction: Final overall survival (OS) analyses are presented for EGFR mutations and liver or brain metastases subgroups in the phase 3 IMpower150 study (NCT02366143) evaluating atezolizumab plus bevacizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel (ABCP) or atezolizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel (ACP) versus bevacizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel (BCP).

Methods: Overall, 1202 patients (intention-to-treat population) with chemotherapy-naive, metastatic, nonsquamous NSCLC were randomized to ABCP, ACP, or BCP. Patients with treated, stable brain metastases were permitted.

Accurate Prediction of Total PlGF (Placental Growth Factor) From Free PlGF and sFlt-1 (Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1): Evidence for Markedly Elevated PlGF Levels in Women With Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy.

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Effect of norepinephrine challenge on cardiovascular determinants assessed using a mathematical model in septic shock: a physiological study.

Background: The present study investigated the cardiovascular determinants of cardiac output (CO), mean systemic filling pressure analogue (Pmsa) derived by Geoffrey Parkin, efficiency of heart (Eh) and related parameters to a norepinephrine (NE) challenge [an increase of 10 mmHg mean arterial pressure (MAP) by NE] in septic shock patients using of a mathematical model.

Methods: Twenty-seven septic shock patients with pulse index continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) monitoring were enrolled. These patients required NE to maintain an individualized MAP for organ perfusion after early fluid resuscitation based on their clinical condition.

Clinical Genotyping to Personalize Adjuvant Tamoxifen Treatment in ER-Positive Breast Cancer Patients: Current Status of a Controversy.

Tamoxifen is a major option for adjuvant endocrine treatment in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer patients. The conversion of the prodrug tamoxifen into the most active metabolite endoxifen is mainly catalyzed by the enzyme cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Genetic variation in the gene leads to altered enzyme activity, which influences endoxifen formation and thereby potentially therapy outcome.

The heritability of insomnia: A meta-analysis of twin studies.

Twin studies of insomnia exhibit heterogeneity in estimates of heritability. This heterogeneity is likely because of sex differences, age of the sample, the reporter and the definition of insomnia. The aim of the present study was to systematically search the literature for twin studies investigating insomnia disorder and insomnia symptoms and to meta-analyse the estimates of heritability derived from these studies to generate an overall estimate of heritability.

Diagnostic reliability of the Berlin classification for complex MCA aneurysms-usability in a series of only giant aneurysms.

Background And Objective: The main challenge of bypass surgery of complex MCA aneurysms is not the selection of the bypass type but the initial decision-making of how to exclude the affected vessel segment from circulation. To this end, we have previously proposed a classification for complex MCA aneurysms based on the preoperative angiography. The current study aimed to validate this new classification and assess its diagnostic reliability using the giant aneurysm registry as an independent data set.

Travel-related hepatitis E: a two-decade GeoSentinel analysis.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is widely distributed worldwide and is endemic in developing countries. Travel-related HEV infection has been reported at national levels, but global data are missing. Moreover, the global availability of HEV diagnostic testing has not been explored so far.

Circadian Variation in Human Milk Composition, a Systematic Review.

Background: Breastfeeding is considered the most optimal mode of feeding for neonates and mothers. Human milk changes over the course of lactation in order to perfectly suit the infant's nutritional and immunological needs. Its composition also varies throughout the day.

Resuscitation with Hydroxyethyl Starch Maintains Hemodynamic Coherence in Ovine Hemorrhagic Shock.

Background: Fluid resuscitation in hemorrhagic shock aims to restore hemodynamics and repair altered microcirculation. Hemodynamic coherence is the concordant performance of macro- and microcirculation. The present study on fluid therapy in hemorrhagic shock hypothesized that the choice of fluid (0.

Prevention of postoperative delirium in elderly patients planned for elective surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Vulnerable or "frail" patients are susceptible to the development of delirium when exposed to triggers such as surgical procedures. Once delirium occurs, interventions have little effect on severity or duration, emphasizing the importance of primary prevention. This review provides an overview of interventions to prevent postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing elective surgery.

The efficacy and safety of rifaximin-α: a 2-year observational study of overt hepatic encephalopathy.

Background: After 5  years since the registration of rifaximin-α as a secondary prophylaxis for overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in the Netherlands, we aimed to evaluate the use of hospital resources and safety of rifaximin-α treatment in a real-world setting.

Methods: We carried out prospective identification of all patients using rifaximin-α for overt HE. We assessed hospital resource use, bacterial infections, and adverse events during 6-month episodes before and after rifaximin-α initiation.

Relationship of relevant factors to P(v-a)CO/C(a-v)O ratio in critically ill patients.

Objective: This study investigated the factors related to the ratio of the venoarterial carbon dioxide tension difference [P(v-a)CO] to the arteriovenous oxygen content difference [C(a-v)O] (hereafter termed “Ratio”).

Methods: We retrospectively studied 1294 pairs of arterial and central venous blood gas measurements in 352 critically ill patients. A high Ratio was defined as > 1.