Wide mismatches in the sequences of primers and probes for Monkeypox virus diagnostic assays

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Wide mismatches in the sequences of primers and probes for Monkeypox virus diagnostic assays via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract Rapid and accurate diagnosis of infections is fundamental to containment of disease. Several monkeypox virus (MPV) real-time diagnostic assays have been recommended by the CDC; however, the specificity of the primers and probes in these assays for the ongoing MPV outbreak has not been investigated. We analyzed the primer and probe sequences present in the CDC recommended monkeypox virus (MPV) generic real-time PCR assay by aligning those sequences against 1,730 MPV complete genomes reported in 2022 worldwide. Sequence mismatches were found in 99.08% and 97.46% of genomes for the MPV generic forward and reverse primers, respectively. Mismatch-corrected primers were synthetized and compared to the generic assay for MPV detection. Results showed that the two primer-template mismatches resulted in a ~11-fold underestimation of initial template DNA in the reaction and 4-fold increase in the 95% LOD. We further evaluated the specificity of seven other real-time PCR assays used for MPV a nd orthopoxvirus (OPV) detection and identified two assays with the highest matching score (>99.6%) to the global MPV genome database in 2022. Genetic variations in the primer-probe regions across MPV genomes could indicate the temporal and spatial emergence pattern of monkeypox disease. Our results show that the current MPV real-time generic assay may not be optimal to accurately detect MPV, and the mismatch-corrected assay with full complementarity between primers and current MPV genomes could provide a more sensitive and accurate detection of MPV. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Trigeminal Sensitivity in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Rhinosinusitis

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Trigeminal Sensitivity in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Rhinosinusitis via The Laryngoscope Allergic patients react more sensitively to trigeminal stimuli in the nose than a comparable control group. This is important because it supports the suggestion that local factors in the nasal mucosa are significantly involved in influencing the trigeminal system of the nose. Objective Allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) are of high importance in otorhinolaryngology. Some of their symptoms are related to changes in the nasal trigeminal sensitivity. The aim of this study was to compare nasal trigeminal sensitivity in patients with AR, CRSwNP, and healthy controls (HC). Methods A total of 75 individuals participated (age 19–78 years; 34 AR, 10 CRSwNP and 31 HC). Olfactory function was determined using the extended Sniffin' Sticks test battery. Trigeminal sensitivity was assessed with CO2 detection thresholds. Trigeminal negative mucosal potentials (NMP) and EEG-derived event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded in response to selective olfactory (phenylethyl alcohol) and trigeminal (CO2) stimuli using high-precision air-dilution olfactometry. Results In comparison to HC, AR patients had lower CO2 thresholds, also reflected in shorter peak latencies in NMP and trigeminal ERP measurements. CRSwNP patients had a decreased sensitivity for trigeminal stimuli, also reflected in prolonged trigeminal ERP latencies, and reduced olfactory function compared to HC. Conclusion AR patients seemed to be more sensitive to trigeminal stimuli than CRSwNP patients. Importantly, the differences could be shown on psychophysical and electrophysiological levels. The changes in trigeminal sensitivity appear to be present already at the level of the respiratory epithelium. The differences between the two groups may depend on the specific inflammatory changes accompanying each disorder, the degree of inflammatory activity, or duration of the inflammatory disorder. However, because the sample sizes are relatively small, these results need to be confirmed in the future studies with larger groups. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2022 View on Web

Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Extended‐release naltrexone for people with alcohol use disorder on therapeutic anticoagulation: A case series

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Extended‐release naltrexone for people with alcohol use disorder on therapeutic anticoagulation: A case series via Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics Guide to XR-NTX Discussion for Patients on Therapeutic Anticoagulation. Abstract What is known and objective Individuals with medication adherence challenges or a preference for long-acting medications may benefit from extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) for treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Individuals on therapeutic anticoagulation were excluded from XR-NTX studies and its safety in this population has not been reported. Case summary We conducted structured retrospective chart review of six individuals who received XR-NTX for AUD while on therapeutic anticoagulation between November 2019 and Deccember 2020. We found no documented complications among six individuals who received up to 11 doses of XR-NTX while on therapeutic anticoagulation. What is new and conclusion XR-NTX may be safely tolerated by patients on therapeutic anticoagulation. We need larger studies evaluating XR-NTX administration in patients on therapeutic anticoagulation and those with coagulopathies, including individuals with alcohol-related liver disease, to better quantify risks and benefits for shared decision-making. View on Web

Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Facial implant gingival level and thickness changes following maxillary anterior immediate tooth replacement with scarf‐connective tissue graft: A 4–13‐year retrospective study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Facial implant gingival level and thickness changes following maxillary anterior immediate tooth replacement with scarf‐connective tissue graft: A 4–13‐year retrospective study via Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry Abstract Objective A scarf-shaped connective tissue graft can be placed at the facial and proximal aspect of the peri-implant soft tissue zone during immediate implant placement and provisionalization (IIPP) procedures in the esthetic zone to optimize implant esthetics without the need of flap reflection. This retrospective study evaluated soft tissue stability after scarf-connective tissue graft (S-CTG) in conjunction with IIPP procedures in the esthetic zone. Materials and Methods Patients who received IIPP with S-CTG with a minimum 1-year follow-up were evaluated. Mid-facial gingival level (MFGL) change and mid-facial gingival thickness (MFGT) change were measured and compared at the pre-op (T0), IIPP + S-CTG surgery (T1), follow up appointment with MFGT measurement (T2), and latest follow-up appointment (T3). Implant success rate and graft necrosis were also recorded. Results A total of 22 IIPP and S-CTG procedures in 20 patients were evaluated in the study. After a mean follow-up of 8.2 years (3.9–13.4) (T3), all implants remained osseointegrated (22/22 [100%]), with statistically insignificant mean midfacial gingival level change of −0.19 mm (−1.5 to 0.8). Statistically significant difference in midfacial gingival thickness (MFGT) was noted (2.5 mm [1.8–3.5 mm]) after a mean follow-up time (T2) of 2.3 years (1–8.6) when compared with MFGT at baseline (1.1 mm [0.6–1.3 mm]) (T1). Necrosis of S-CTG during initial healing phase was noted in 9% (2/22) of the sites. Conclusions Within the confines of this study, scarf-connective tissue graft at time of immediate implant placement and provisionalization can thicken the gingiva and maintain the gingival level at the critical soft tissue zone. Clinical Significance Managing the soft tissue zone is as important as that of the hard tissue zone for peri-implant esthetics. Connective tissue graft is one of the methods that can enhance the final esthetic outcomes. This retrospective study has demonstrated that Scarf-CTG technique is an effective treatment modality to maintain soft tissue stability. View on Web

Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Malnutrition and clinical outcomes post allogeneic stem cell transplantation

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Malnutrition and clinical outcomes post allogeneic stem cell transplantation via Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics Abstract Background Malnutrition has been linked with higher risk of poor outcomes post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), however few studies have used a validated nutrition assessment tool such as the Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) to measure nutritional status and investigate associations with long-term clinical outcomes. This study aimed to assess the incidence of malnutrition prior to alloSCT and determine if there was an association between nutritional status pre-transplant and post-transplant clinical outcomes including acute kidney injury, graft-versus-host disease, intensive care admission (ICU), need for haemodialysis and survival. Methodology A retrospective analysis of 362 patients (213 m:149 f, mean age±SD 47.8±14.1y) who underwent alloSCT from 2008 to 2013 was conducted. Data on clinical outcomes was obtained for five years post-transplant. Results Fifteen percent (n=56) of patients were identified as malnourished pre-admission. Malnutrition was associated with longer hospital stay (p=0.007), increased requirement for haemodialysis (p=0.016), and increased admissions to ICU (p=0.003). There was no association between malnutrition and acute kidney injury, graft-versus-host disease or survival. Following multivariate analyses, malnutrition remained significantly associated with increased admission rates to ICU (OR 3.8, 95%CI 1.3 – 10.5, p=0.011) and increased LOS>30 days (OR 3.6. 95%CI 1.8-7.4, p=<0.001). Conclusion These findings add importance to the need for nutrition screening and assessment to be routinely undertaken for patients prior to alloSCT and throughout hospitalisation in order to provide early nutrition intervention for the prevention of malnutrition, poor clinical outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Zygomatic implant placement using a robot-assisted flapless protocol: proof of concept

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Zygomatic implant placement using a robot-assisted flapless protocol: proof of concept via International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery via MedWorm.com Robotic assistance can help in physically guiding the drilling trajectory during zygomatic implant positioning. A new robot-assisted strategy for a flapless zygomatic implant placement protocol is reported here. In this protocol, a preoperative computed tomography scan is used to plan the surgical path. After surface registration, the ROSA robot (Zimmer Biomet Robotics) guides several steps, which are performed with shared control. The surgeon performs the drilling and tapping, guided by the robotic arm, which is positioned according to the planned trajectory. (Source: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) View on Web

Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.