The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health.

Single-cell RNA seq-derived signatures define response patterns to atezolizumab + bevacizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (atezo+bev) is the current standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), providing a median overall survival (OS) of 19.2 months. Here, we aim to uncover the underlying cellular processes driving clinical benefit versus resistance to atezo+bev.

International Multicenter Cohort Study on Beta-Blocker-Free Treatment Strategies for Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Patients.

Background: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare, potentially life-threatening genetic heart disease. Nonselective beta-blockers (BBs) are highly effective in reducing CPVT-triggered arrhythmic events. However, some patients suffer from unacceptable BB side effects and might require strategies without a BB.

Serotype distribution of remaining invasive pneumococcal disease after extensive use of ten-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (the PSERENADE project): a global surveillance analysis.

Background: Widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has reduced vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We describe the serotype distribution of IPD after extensive use of ten-valent PCV (PCV10; Synflorix, GSK) and 13-valent PCV (PCV13; Prevenar 13, Pfizer) globally.

Methods: IPD data were obtained from surveillance sites participating in the WHO-commissioned Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement and Distribution Estimation (PSERENADE) project that exclusively used PCV10 or PCV13 (hereafter PCV10 and PCV13 sites, respectively) in their national immunisation programmes and had primary series uptake of at least 70%.

Global impact of ten-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in all ages (the PSERENADE project): a global surveillance analysis.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) that are ten-valent (PCV10) and 13-valent (PCV13) became available in 2010. We evaluated their global impact on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence in all ages.

Methods: Serotype-specific IPD cases and population denominators were obtained directly from surveillance sites using PCV10 or PCV13 in their national immunisation programmes and with a primary series uptake of at least 50%.

Multicenter Evaluation of Morbidity and Predictors of Response to Imiquimod Treatment for Penile Intraepithelial Neoplasia.

Introduction And Objective: Imiquimod (IQ) is an immunomodulator used in the management of penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN) lesions. However, IQ treatment may be associated with bothersome side effects (SEs). To date, studies reporting on this morbidity and evaluating predictors of response to IQ are scarce and included small cohorts.

C21ORF2 mutations point towards primary cilia dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Progressive loss of motor neurons is the hallmark of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the underlying disease mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigate the effects of C21ORF2 mutations, a gene recently linked to ALS, and find that primary cilia are dysfunctional. Human patient-derived mutant C21ORF2 motor neurons have a reduced ciliary frequency and length.

Dynamic Preservation of Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Grafts From Donors Aged 60 y and Older.

Background: Donor livers from older donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors are frequently discarded for transplantation because of the high risk of graft failure. It is unknown whether DCD livers from older donors benefit from dynamic preservation.

Methods: In a multicenter study, we retrospectively compared graft and patient outcomes after transplantation of livers from DCD donors older than 60 y, preserved with either static cold storage (SCS), ex situ sequential dual hypothermic perfusion, controlled oxygenated rewarming, and normothermic perfusion (DHOPE-COR-NMP), or in situ abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (aNRP).

Real life data of ONC201 (dordaviprone) in pediatric and adult H3K27-altered recurrent diffuse midline glioma: Results of an international academia-driven compassionate use program.

Introduction: H3K27-altered diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) have limited therapeutic options and a very poor prognosis. Encouraging responses were observed in early clinical trials with ONC201. As ONC201 was unavailable in Europe, a compassionate use program supported by the French Authorities was launched for patients at progression after standard of care radiotherapy.

Early vs Late Anticoagulation After Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Covert Brain Infarcts.

Background And Objectives: Covert brain infarcts (CBIs) in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (IS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence. We aimed to assess whether CBIs modify the treatment effect of early vs late initiation of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with IS and AF.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the international, multicenter, randomized-controlled ELAN trial, which compared early (<48 hours after ischemic stroke for minor and moderate stroke, 6-7 days for major stroke) vs late (>48 hours for minor, 3-4 days for moderate, 12-14 days for major stroke) initiation of DOACs in patients with IS and AF.

Evolution of Eligibility Criteria in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Trials: A Clinical Trial Databank Analysis.

Background: Eligibility criteria in clinical trials have been criticised for being overly restrictive without clinical justification.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the types, evolution, and current status of eligibility criteria in clinical trials for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Methods: We performed a clinical trial databank search on clinicaltrials.

Effect of structured nurse-patient conversation on preventing falls among patients in an acute care hospital: A mixed study.

Objectives: Inpatient falls are a major patient safety issue in acute care hospitals. Multifactorial in-hospital fall prevention programs have shown reductions in falls and related risks. One common element of successful programs is active patient involvement.

Luteinizing hormone profiles during ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive treatment.

Introduction: Few data is available on the natural course of luteinizing hormone (LH) during ovarian stimulation, but it has been suggested that 'oversuppressed' LH could decrease fertility outcomes. Our aim with this study is to evaluate the changes in LH depending on the used stimulation protocol to better define LH oversuppressioin.

Methods: Patients undergoing oocyte retrieval in a tertiary fertility center between 01-01-2015 and 30-09-2020 after stimulation with a short-agonist (SA) or antagonist (A) protocol were included.

A case report about focal status epilepticus as first presentation in Alzheimer's disease: finding the culprit.

Background: Neuronal hyperexcitability has been proposed to play a key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Understanding the relation between this enhanced excitability and AD pathology could provide a window for therapeutic interventions. However epileptiform activity is often subclinical, hidden on scalp EEG and very challenging to assess with current diagnostic modalities.

Solid organ transplantation originating from uncontrolled donation after circulatory death in Europe: a narrative review.

Human organ transplantation has begun in the 1960s with donation after circulatory death. At that time this was named non heart beating donation, later donation after cardiac death and nowadays it is named donation after circulatory death. Currently, we are facing a significant shortage of transplant organs in Europe and worldwide.

Homologous recombination deficiency in ovarian cancer: Global expert consensus on testing and a comparison of companion diagnostics.

Background: Poly (ADP ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are a treatment option for patients with advanced high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian carcinoma (OC). Recent guidelines have clarified how homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) may influence treatment decision-making in this setting. As a result, numerous companion diagnostic assays (CDx) have been developed to identify HRD.

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma: A population-based cohort study on incidence, treatment, and outcome in the Netherlands.

Introduction: Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is a peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) with a poor prognosis. Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) with or without etoposide consolidated by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) are recommended for fit PTCL patients. The role of etoposide and ASCT in EATL is unclear.

Diagnostic work-up of bile duct strictures: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline.

1: ESGE recommends the combination of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based tissue acquisition as the preferred diagnostic approach for tissue acquisition in patients with jaundice and distal extrahepatic biliary stricture in the absence of a pancreatic mass. 2: ESGE suggests that brushing cytology should be completed along with fluoroscopy-guided biopsies, wherever technically feasible, in patients with perihilar biliary strictures. 3: ESGE suggests EUS-TA for perihilar strictures when ERCP-based modalities yield insufficient results, provided that curative resection is not feasible and/or when cross-sectional imaging has shown accessible extraluminal disease.

Complex Decision Making for Individual Patients With Penile Cancer: Benchmarking Divergent Practices in European High-Volume Reference Centers: Results From eUROGEN Survey.

Background And Objectives: Penile cancer (PeCa) remains a challenge due to its rarity and the lack of prospective studies, leading to treatment challenges and controversies. Guidelines offer recommendations, but discrepancies with clinical practice persist. This study analyzed treatment practices among specialists managing high-risk PeCa in European reference centers.

Pharmaco-Invasive Strategy With Half-Dose Tenecteplase in Patients With STEMI: Prespecified Pooled Analysis of Patients Aged ≥75 Years in STREAM-1 and 2.

Background: In STREAM-1 (Strategic Reperfusion Early After Myocardial Infarction), excess intracranial hemorrhage occurred in patients aged ≥75 years receiving full-dose tenecteplase as part of a pharmaco-invasive strategy, whereas no further intracranial hemorrhage occurred after halving the tenecteplase dose. In STREAM-2 (Second Strategic Reperfusion Early After Myocardial Infarction), half-dose tenecteplase was an effective and safe pharmaco-invasive strategy in older patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction presenting within <3 hours, compared with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We prespecified evaluating the efficacy and safety of a half-dose versus full-dose pharmaco-invasive strategy and compared the half-dose pharmaco-invasive strategy to primary PCI in patients aged ≥75 years.

Albuminuria Prevalence in Fontan Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Patients with a Fontan circulation are at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is defined as persistently reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60ml/min/1.73 or elevated marker of kidney injury such as urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) >30mg/g. We determined the prevalence of albuminuria in patients with a Fontan circulation.

Genetic Mutations Leading to Dento-Maxillofacial Abnormalities in Mice: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: To systematically review the available literature reporting on genetic mutations leading to dento-maxillofacial malformations in mice.

Materials And Methods: An electronic search was performed across Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to May 2024, targeting all in vivo studies on gene mutations causing dento-maxillofacial deformities in mice. Studies reporting oral clefts were excluded.