Hb Santa Juana (β 108(G10) Asn > Ser): a low oxygen affinity hemoglobin variant in a family of Bosnian background

We present a family that carries the β-hemoglobin variant Hb Santa Juana (HBB:c.326A>G, β 108(G10) Asn>Ser), also known as Hb Serres, in three generations. All affected family members had an anomal hemoglobin fraction as detected by HPLC but normal blood count without evidence of anemia or hemolysis. Oxygen affinity (p₅₀ (O₂) = 31.9-40.4 mmHg) was decreased in all probands, compared to 24.9-28.1 mmHg in unaffected individuals. Clinical symptoms likely related to the hemoglobin variant were cyanosis during anaesthesia, while other complaints such as shortness of breath or dizziness were less clearly linked with the hemoglobin variant.

Tandem haematopoietic stem cell transplantation versus single cell transplant and BV maintenance in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: A matched cohort analysis from the LYSA

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the standard curative treatment for patients with high-risk relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R HL). The AETHERA study showed survival gain with Brentuximab Vedotin (BV) maintenance after ASCT in BV-naive patients, which was recently confirmed in the retrospective AMAHRELIS cohort, including a majority of BV-exposed patients. However, this approach has not been compared to intensive tandem auto/auto or auto/allo transplant strategies, which were used before BV approval. Here, we matched BV maintenance (AMAHRELIS) and tandem SCT (HR2009) cohorts, and observed that BV maintenance was associated with better survival outcome in patients with HR R/R HL.

Parameters influencing renal response to SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes patients with preserved renal function: a comparative, prospective study

PURPOSE

SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and GLP1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) protect the kidney in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) subjects. The role of patient's phenotype years before starting the treatment in determining the kidney response to these drugs has never been evaluated.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Clinical and biochemical parameters were collected in 92 T2DM patients with preserved kidney function from year -4 (T-4) to year +3 (T+3) from the introduction of semaglutide or empagliflozin (T0). Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slopes were evaluated to identify eGFR changes (ΔGFR) and predictors of treatment response. Urinary markers of kidney impairment were measured at T0, including KIM-1, TNFR1 and L-FABP.

RESULTS

Characteristics of patients on semaglutide (n = 46) or empagliflozin (n = 37) were similar at T-4 and T0. ΔGFR from T0 to T+3 was -5.5 [-10.0; -0.7] vs -2.6 [-102.4] ml/min/1.73 m² for GLP1-RA and SGLT2i, respectively (p = ns). Compared with patients with a slower eGFR decline, those with ΔGFR > 5 ml/min/1.73 m² from T0 to T+3 (49%) or ΔGFR > 10 ml/min/1.73 m² from T-4 to T+3 (25%) had similar characteristics and urinary markers at T-4 and T0. The latter group showed greater eGFR decline from T-3 to T0, which tended to be delayed more by SGLT2i than GLP1-RA (p = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

In our cohort, subjects with T2DM and preserved renal function show similar eGFR response to treatment with GLP1-RA or SGLT2i. Baseline urinary biomarkers or prior phenotyping do not predict treatment response. An early eGFR decline identifies patients prone to lose more eGFR over time, who may benefit more from SGLT2i treatment.

Hospital-care utilization and medical cost patterns among patients with insulin-dependent diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Using claims data from an integrated payer-provider, we compared the costs incurred by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients who received Hospital Inpatient/Observation/Emergency Department care (HIghER care) for diabetes-related events with those who did not receive such care to identify a target population for interventions in future studies.

METHODS

A retrospective study pooled real-world claims data for IDDM with type 1 or type 2 DM between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. Medical claims were used to calculate the total and diabetes-related allowed medical costs to the Enterprise and per-member per month (pmpm) costs.

RESULTS

A total of 19,378 members' medical and prescription drug coverage were analyzed. Only 8.4% of the IDDM population received HIghER care but incurred 20% of medical expenses, and nearly 40% of diabetes-related medical costs. For HIghER care patients, medical spending was higher in every inpatient and outpatient category (Wilcoxon two sample tests, all p < 0.0001). Non-diabetes related prescription drug costs were greater in this group (Wilcoxon, Z = 2.2879, p = 0.0221), but diabetes-related prescription drug costs were higher for non-HIghER care (Wilcoxon, Z = -9.5918, p < 0.0001). In a longitudinal study of 29,602 patients over 24 months, prior-year receipt of HIghER care was a significant predictor of HIghER care the subsequent year (odds ratio 3.28) CONCLUSIONS: Medical spending for HIghER care patients was disproportionately high and greater in every inpatient and outpatient category. Receipt of HIghER care in the previous year was highly predictive of HIghER care episodes the following year.

Comparison of leg dynamic models for quadrupedal robots with compliant backbone

Many quadrupeds are capable of power efficient gaits, especially trot and gallop, thanks to their flexible trunk. The oscillations of the system that includes the backbone, the tendons and musculature, store and release elastic energy, helping a smooth deceleration and a fast acceleration of the hindquarters and forequarters, which improves the dynamics of running and its energy efficiency. Forelegs and hindlegs play a key role in generating the bending moment in the trunk. In this paper we present our studies aimed at modeling and reproducing such phenomena for efficient quadrupedal robot locomotion. We propose a model, called mass-mass-spring model, that overcomes the limitation of existing models, and demonstrate that it allows studying how the masses of the legs generate a flexing force that helps the natural bending of the trunk during gallop. We apply our model to six animals, that adopt two different galloping patterns (called transverse and rotatory), and compare their energy efficiency.

Acute pulmonary edema in a dog with severe pulmonary valve stenosis: A rare complication after balloon valvuloplasty

Pulmonic stenosis is a frequent congenital heart disease in dogs, and the treatment of choice is balloon valvuloplasty which is usually safe and successful. The authors describe for the first time a severe complication after balloon valvuloplasty in a five-month-old dog. After effective treatment, with a considerable drop in right ventricular pressures, the dog developed hypoxemia and dyspnea due to pulmonary edema. The dog underwent intensive care and symptoms improved after a few hours of oxygen therapy, continuous positive airway pressure, and furosemide. Although this event is rare, it could have a large impact on patient survival and should be considered in the treatment of severe pulmonary valve stenosis in the future.

[Role of radiotherapy in haematology]

The management of myeloid and lymphoid disease is essentially based on chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Since radiotherapy could be responsible for severe late toxicities, essentially due to conventional bidimensional irradiation techniques, many trials have attempted to omit radiotherapy or to scale down the dose in their therapeutic strategy. Nevertheless, radiotherapy still plays a role for curative or symptomatic purposes.

Outcome of a modified sympathicotomy for cardiac neuromodulation of untreatable ventricular tachycardia

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to describe the results of a modified sympathicotomy (uniportal VATs with stellate ganglion sparing) for cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) in the setting of untreatable ventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUND. CSD, in patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT), is comprehensively recognized as an important treatment option for patients with structural heart disease as well as congenital inherited arrhythmia syndrome. A recent case series demostrated  the feasibility of the modified technique.

METHODS We consecutively enrolled 8 patients with refractory VT. Baseline demographic, medical, and surgical data as well as arrhythmia outcomes and procedural complications were evaluated.

RESULTS A total of 8 patients ( 7 pts NIDCM, 1 pt IDCM with mean age:68+-8 years) were enrolled for the treatment of refractory VT with a modified CSD technique. Mean sympathicotomy length were 7.3 (SD 3) min per side. 3/8 patients underwent monolateral (LCSD) sympathicotomy due to strong adesion in the right pleural cavity. Mean follow up was 13 months (SD 6). No complication occurred during the sympathicotomy. An overall reduction in VT burden and VT number was observed after the CSD despite an in-hospital early recurrence in 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONS A modified CSD (sympathicotomy T2–T5) with stellate ganglion sparing and the use of unipolar radiofrequency is feasible, effective, and safe in the setting of untreatable VT. Abstract Figure. VT trend

Erythrocyte viscoelastic recovery after liver transplantation in a cirrhotic patient affected by spur cell anaemia

In physiological conditions, red blood cells (RBCs) are capable of dramatic deformations when passing through the microvasculature. This extreme deformability is closely related to the RBC biconcave shape, to the fluidic nature of the haemoglobin and the cell membrane structure, primarily consisting of a phospholipid bilayer with an underlying two-dimensional spectrin network. In many pathological and inflammatory conditions, the shape and the extreme deformability of erythrocytes appear to be significantly altered. These findings have stimulated intense research towards the search and validation of novel erythrocyte-based mechanical biomarkers, useful for disease diagnosis and therapy monitoring. In this study, we investigated with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) the mechanical properties of erythrocytes obtained from a 68 years old cirrhotic man diagnosed with spur cell anaemia and cold agglutinated disease, before and after liver transplantation. Mechanical changes are compared with ultrastructural alterations as studied by scanning electron microscopy and discussed according to confocal fluorescence microscopy results, showing possible alterations induced by the cirrhotic environment at the level of the RBCs cytoskeletal organisation and lipidic composition. Taken together, the results here presented show that liver transplantation not only contributes to restoring the proper RBC morphology, but it also induces recovery of the physiological viscous behaviour of cells, further stressing the relevance of viscous and dissipative forces in determining the RBC biomechanical response.

Branch pulmonary artery stent placement in a dog with heart base neoplasia

A 7-year-old French bulldog was presented for evaluation of cardiac neoplasia. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed a mass on the base of the heart, compressing the right pulmonary artery. Computed tomography exam confirmed that a surgical approach to remove the mass would not be viable. Stent placement in the right pulmonary artery was performed to relieve external compression caused by the neoplasia. When surgery is not feasible, pulmonary artery stenting could be one aspect of a multidisciplinary approach to palliative management of heart base neoplasia.

Real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic study of a cardiac hemangiosarcoma in a dog

A 7-year-old Golden Retriever was presented for a second opinion regarding a cardiac mass. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated presence of a mass in the area of the right atrium. The mass appeared adherent and possibly infiltrative to the external wall of the right atrium. Three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography allowed better visualization of the neoplasia, suggesting that it was not infiltrative and contributed significantly to the decision to carry out the surgical resection of the cardiac tumor. This case report demonstrates the use of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnostic evaluation of cardiac masses in dogs without the need for general anesthesia.

A49 Emerging rodent-borne viral pathogens in Italy: Overview of seroprevalence and genomic investigations

Rodents play a key role as reservoirs of many zoonotic pathogens which represent an emerging public health threat worldwide. Among these, Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) is the most pathogenic hantavirus in Europe with a case-fatality rate of up to 12 per cent, while Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) has a mortality rate below 1 per cent. Both viruses are predominantly transmitted to humans through the inhalation of infected particles in aerosolized urine, feces, or saliva that are shed in the environment by chronically infected hosts, such as the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis. Although no human cases of DOBV or LCMV have been reported in the Province of Trento (northeastern Italy) thus far, in order to evaluate the human hazard for these viruses, the prevalence of antibodies to DOBV and LCMV has been monitored using a specific immunofluorescence assay test in a wild population of A. flavicollis since 2000. These investigations have shown that the two RNA viruses circulate silently in this species in the study area. In particular, a sudden increase (up to 12.5%) in DOBV seroprevalence was observed in this rodent species between 2010 and 2012. Several efforts have been undertaken to isolate these viruses and characterize their genomes, but it has not yet been possible to detect viral RNA from seropositive mice using traditional methods such as RT-PCR. Since RNA viruses are very diverse and often difficult to isolate, innovative molecular methods based on viral targeted enrichment and high-throughput sequencing have been applied. We intend to report on this long-term seroprevalence study and provide an overview of the molecular approaches adopted in the attempt to confirm the presence of these viruses, and identify which variants are circulating in the region, as well as their pathogenicity.

Redo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: outcomes from a case-controlled study

AIM

To assess short- and long-term outcomes of redo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (redo-IPAA) for failed IPAA, comparing them with those of successful IPAA.

METHOD

This was a case-control study. Data were collected retrospectively from prospectively maintained databases from two tertiary care centres. Patients who had a redo-IPAA between 1999 and 2016 were identified and matched (1:2) with patients who had a primary IPAA (p-IPAA), according to diagnosis, age and body mass index.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine redo-IPAAs (16 transanal and 23 abdominal procedures) were identified, and were matched with 78 p-IPAAs. After a mean follow-up of 56 ± 51  (2.6-190) months, failure rates after transanal and abdominal approaches were 50% and 15%, respectively. Reoperation after the transanal approach was higher than after p-IPAA (69% vs 7%; P < 0.001). No differences were noted between the abdominal approach for redo-IPAA and p-IPAA in terms of morbidity (61% for redo-IPAA vs 38% for p-IPAA; P = 0.06), major morbidity (9% vs 8%; P = 0.96), anastomotic leakage (13% vs 10%; P = 0.74), mean daily bowel movements (6 vs 5.5; P = 0.68), night-time bowel movements (1.2 vs 1; P = 0.51), faecal incontinence (13% vs 7%; P = 0.40), urgency (31% vs 27%; P = 0.59), use of anti-diarrhoeal drugs (47% vs 37%; P = 0.70), mean Cleveland Global Quality-of-Life score (7 vs 7; P = 0.83) or sexual function.

CONCLUSION

The abdominal approach for redo-IPAA is justified in cases of pouch failure because it achieves functional results comparable with those observed after p-IPAA, without higher postoperative morbidity. The transanal approach should be chosen sparingly.

DNA methylation of genes regulating appetite and prediction of weight loss after bariatric surgery in obese individuals

PURPOSE

Epigenetic traits are influenced by clinical variables; interaction between DNA methylation (DNAmeth) and bariatric surgery-induced weight loss has been scarcely explored. We investigated whether DNAmeth of genes encoding for molecules/hormones regulating appetite, food intake or obesity could predict successful weight outcome following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

METHODS

Forty-five obese individuals with no known comorbidities were stratified accordingly to weight decrease one-year after RYGB (excess weight loss, EWL ≥ 50%: good responders, GR; EWL < 50%: worse responders, WR). DNAmeth of leptin (LEP), ghrelin (GHRL), ghrelin receptor (GHSR) and insulin-growth factor-2 (IGF2) was assessed before intervention. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes affecting DNAmeth, DNMT3A and DNMT3B, were also determined.

RESULTS

At baseline, type 2 diabetes was diagnosed by OGTT in 13 patients. Post-operatively, GR (n = 23) and WR (n = 22) achieved an EWL of 67.7 ± 9.6 vs 38.2 ± 9.0%, respectively. Baseline DNAmeth did not differ between GR and WR for any tested genes, even when the analysis was restricted to subjects with no diabetes. A relationship between GHRL and LEP methylation profiles emerged (r = 0.47, p = 0.001). Searching for correlation between DNAmeth of the studied genes with demographic characteristics and baseline biochemical parameters of the studied population, we observed a correlation between IGF2 methylation and folate (r = 0.44, p = 0.003). Rs11683424 for DNMT3A and rs2424913 for DNMT3B did not correlate with DNAmeth of the studied genes.

CONCLUSIONS

In severely obese subjects, the degree of DNAmeth of some genes affecting obesity and related conditions does not work as predictor of successful response to RYGB.

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) presenting as axillary lump: case report and review of the literature

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is an uncommon benign mesenchymal breast lesion. There are extremely rare reports of PASH arising in accessory breast tissue. To date, in literature, fewer than 10 cases of PASH occurring in axillary region have been described. We report a case presenting as axillary lump in a young woman. A 20-year-old female presented to our surgical unit for a progressively growing and painful palpable mass of the right axilla for about a year. Before surgery an ultrasound was performed. The patient underwent local excision of the lesion under local anaesthesia. Through histological and immunohistochemical examination a pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) was diagnosed. At 6 months of followup the patient is free of disease. It is important to include PASH also in the differential diagnosis of axillary lumps. Histological examination of the surgical specimen and surgery represent, respectively, the mainstay for diagnosis and therapy.

Gastric Cancer with Bone Marrow Invasion at Presentation: Case-Report and Review of the Literature

A case of extensive bone marrow infiltration due to gastric cancer is reported. A 65-year old man with an acute episode of anemia (Hb 4.1 mg/dl) and dyspnea was admitted to the Medical Department of a general hospital. Bone marrow biopsy showed extensive paratrabecular infiltration of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of gastric origin. The primary tumor in the stomach was confirmed, and the patient was referred to our Institute and treated with combination chemotherapy (FAMTX) for 6 cycles. Due to the disappearance of bone marrow infiltration, the patient was considered for curative resection of the primary gastric cancer. After 27 months the patient is alive and in clinical complete remission.

Metabolic control and complications in Italian people with diabetes treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the degree of glycaemic control and the frequency of diabetic complications in Italian people with diabetes who were treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Questionnaires investigating the organisation of diabetes care centres, individuals' clinical and metabolic features and pump technology and its management were sent to adult and paediatric diabetes centres that use CSII for treatment in Italy. Information on standard clinical variables, demographic data and acute and chronic diabetic complications was derived from local clinical management systems. The sample consisted of 6623 people with diabetes, which was obtained from 93 centres. Of them, 98.8% had type 1 diabetes mellitus, 57.2% were female, 64% used a conventional insulin pump and 36% used a sensor-augmented insulin pump. The median glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) level was 60 mmol/mol (7.6%). The HbA_1c target (i.e. <58 mmol/mol for age <18 years and <53 mmol/mol for age >18 years) was achieved in 43.4% of paediatric and 23% of adult participants. Factors such as advanced pump functions, higher rate of sensor use, pregnancy in the year before the study and longer duration of diabetes were associated with lower HbA_1c levels. The most common chronic complications occurring in diabetes were retinopathy, microalbuminuria and hypertension. In the year before the study, 5% of participants reported ≥1 episode of severe hypoglycaemic (SH) episodes (SH) and 2.6% reported ≥1 episode of ketoacidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced personal skills and use of sensor-based pump are associated with better metabolic control outcomes in Italian people with diabetes who were treated with CSII. The reduction in SH episodes confirms the positive effect of CSII on hypoglycaemia.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT 02620917 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

First Results from CUORE: A Search for Lepton Number Violation via 0νββ Decay of ^{130}Te

The CUORE experiment, a ton-scale cryogenic bolometer array, recently began operation at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. The array represents a significant advancement in this technology, and in this work we apply it for the first time to a high-sensitivity search for a lepton-number-violating process: ^{130}Te neutrinoless double-beta decay. Examining a total TeO_{2} exposure of 86.3 kg yr, characterized by an effective energy resolution of (7.7±0.5)  keV FWHM and a background in the region of interest of (0.014±0.002)  counts/(keV kg yr), we find no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay. Including systematic uncertainties, we place a lower limit on the decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0ν}(^{130}Te)>1.3×10^{25}  yr (90% C.L.); the median statistical sensitivity of this search is 7.0×10^{24}  yr. Combining this result with those of two earlier experiments, Cuoricino and CUORE-0, we find T_{1/2}^{0ν}(^{130}Te)>1.5×10^{25}  yr (90% C.L.), which is the most stringent limit to date on this decay. Interpreting this result as a limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, we find m_{ββ}<(110-520)  meV, where the range reflects the nuclear matrix element estimates employed.

Jugular Vein-Mammary Artery Fistula after Catheterism for Hemodialysis: Case Report

The demographic characteristics of hemodialysis (HD) patients increase the need for the tunneled cuffed permanent catheter (TCC) as a definitive vascular access (VA) for HD. The internal jugular vein is increasingly being used as a route for TCC or temporary catheter placement and can be associated with serious complications. Among them other authors have described arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation between the common carotid artery and the right jugular vein. We describe a case of an AVF between the right internal jugular vein and the right internal mammary artery. The fistula was detected during the TCC placement in a patient who underwent several jugular and subclavian catheterisms for HD in her clinical history.

Fluidodynamic Evaluation of Arteriovenous Fistulae for Hemodialysis

Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are commonly used in dialysis treatment of uremic patients. However, many AVF create problems and have to be re-examined. Problems arise in the cannulation site and must be treated with antibiotics, and stenosis, both in the arterial and in the venous side of the AVF. In the worst case, the AVF must be replaced for treatment to continue. However, this can only be repeated once before the AVF site is no longer viable. This increases the discomfort, the morbidity and the mortality of the dialysis patient. Several kinds of AVF were studied to determine whether flow disturbances give rise to these complications. Many studies have already demonstrated the importance of hemodynamic factors in vascular disease pathogenesis. These factors include: the pulsatility of flow, the elasticity of the vessel, the non-Newtonian blood, flow behavior and, very importantly for AVF, the vessel geometry. In model studies, intimal changes have been observed in bends and bifurcations, regions of vessel construction and vessel stenosis. In these regions, blood flow changes abruptly and this contributes to arterial disease. We prepared several one-to-one, true-to-scale elastic silicon rubber models of different AVF. The AVF models were based on angiographic studies of chronic dialysis patients and on AVF from the arms of cadavers. The models had a similar compliance to that of the human blood vessel. Flow was visualized using photoelasticity apparatus and a birefringent blood-like fluid. This method is suitable to analyze the spatial configuration of flow profiles, to differentiate laminar flow from disturbed flow, and to visualize flow separation, vortex formation and secondary flow. It was found that AVF create disturbances that are not found under normal physiological flow conditions. The X-formed AVF was very unsatisfactory, creating significant flow disturbances. The AVF had high velocity fluctuations. These could lead, for example, to aneurysm formation. A better configuration would be an end-to-end AVF. However, this formation creates other complications. For example, there is not enough blood to the hand and parts of the hand lose feeling. The recommended AVF would be an end-to-side anastomosis. In this case, attention is needed for placement geometry, to minimize additional flow disturbances. Several models as well as patient angiographic studies are discussed.

[HPV vaccination in boys and men : update and recommendations]

High-risk oncogenic HPVs (HR-HPV) are associated in men with pre-cancerous anal dysplasia, oropharyngeal, anal and penile cancer. Anogenital warts are induced by low-risk HPVs. These manifestations are increasing among men, and especially in some high-risk groups as men who have sex with men (MSM). This review targets HPV-associated disease epidemiology as well as safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy level of HPV vaccine in men. Obstacle and cost-effectiveness analysis of HPV vaccination are discussed. Three HPV vaccines are currently available in Belgium with the 9-valent (" 9HPV " - 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) offering protection against most of HPVassociated diseases. The safe 9-valent vaccine is efficient to prevent genital warts, anal dysplasia and it decreases the recurrence of genital warts and high grade anal neoplasia in MSM with or without HIV infection. In Europe, the 9-valent vaccine could prevent in men more than 350,000 genital warts, 5,485 oropharyngeal cancers, 2,303 anal cancers et 852 grade 2/3 intraepithelial neoplasia as well as 1,113 penile cancers per year. In the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles, the vaccine coverage reaches currently 30 % in girls and is very low in boys and men.The Superior Health Council of Belgium (CSS) recommends since 2017 the gender-neutral HPV vaccination for people up to 26 years old and to immunocompromised patients. The implementation of the CSS HPV vaccine program and its acceptability among boys and men are discussed on the basis of the most recent epidemiologic data and available costeffectiveness analysis. Ways to overcome barriers to gender-neutral HPV vaccination are suggested.

[Meningococcal B (4CMenB) vaccine : uptodate and recommendations]

Neisseria meningitidis is the cause of relatively rare invasive infections, but with very important morbi-mortality. Vaccines are already available for serogroups A, C, W, Y. A new vaccine against meningococcus B is on the Belgian market since March 2017. Serogroup B is the most prevalent in Western countries. The target populations are children and teenager, since it is at this age that peaks in the incidence of meningococcal disease are observed. The development of this vaccine has been made possible by a new process named " reverse vaccinology ", which uses the complete genome sequencing of the bacterium. Current studies focus on the immunogenicity of the vaccine, which is good for both children and teenager. However, there are still many unknowns with this vaccine such as the duration of protection and its impact on the pharyngeal carriage. Another difficulty lies in the extrapolation of the immunogenicity data among a population because this vaccine consists of protein antigens and we know that the expression and prevalence of these antigens may vary between different strains of meningococci. In England, where the vaccine has been included in the vaccination calendar, beneficial effects are demonstrated on the incidence of invasive meningococcal infections. The toxicity profile is also reassuring, only classic side effects have been observed, such as fever and local reactions. In 2017, the High Health Council issued a favorable opinion for individual protection, without recommending at this stage a collective vaccination in Belgium. After a review of the most recent data on this new vaccine, we will try to draw conclusions.

Post-DDAVP Thrombocytopenia in Type 2B von Willebrand Disease Is not Associated with Platelet Consumption: Failure to Demonstrate Glycocalicin Increase or Platelet Activation

Thrombocytopenia is frequently reported in type 2B von Willebrand disease (vWD), and thought to be related to the abnormally high affinity of 2B von Willebrand factor (vWF) for platelet GPIb-IX. To gain an insight into the nature of this thrombocytopenia, we measured plasma glycocalicin (GC) levels (as a marker of platelet turnover), and platelet surface expression of the alpha granule protein P-selectin (as a marker of platelet activation) in 9 patients with type 2B vWD before, and in 4 patients also following the infusion of 1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP). Three patients presented a persistent decrease of platelet counts in the resting condition. GC levels were within the normal range, regardless of the platelet counts, in all but one patient who presented, on the other hand, a normal platelet count. Moreover, platelets expressed normal amounts of P-selectin on their surface, regardless of platelet counts. These findings suggest that the thrombocytopenia observed in type 2B vWD is not due to platelet activation and subsequent consumption in circulation.

Despite a significant, albeit transient, decrease in platelet count, DDAVP did not induce an increase in plasma GC levels, nor enhance P-selectin expression. These observations indicate that the acute post-DDAVP thrombocytopenia in type 2B vWD is not related to platelet activation and consumption. We advance that the post-DDAVP 2B vWF is hemostatically more active, and able to induce agglutination but not aggregation of circulating platelets. This would explain both the prompt recovery of basal platelet counts after the post-DDAVP decrease, and the lack of reported thrombotic complications in this disorder.

Therefore, even though 2B vWF is characterized by an enhanced affinity for the platelet surface, its binding to platelet GPIb-IX in the soluble phase is not able to induce true platelet aggregation; vWF thus appears to be mainly an adhesive protein, rather than an aggregating agent.

Antimicrobial activity of Austroeupatorium inulaefolium (H.B.K.) against intracellular and extracellular organisms

The antimicrobial activity of Austroeupatorium inulaefolium (H.B.K.) essential oil was studied in different pathogens species and its cytotoxicity activity was determinated on different cellular lines. Despite the good antibacterial activity of A. inulaefolium, it has been cytotoxic at low concentrations. Consequently it might be interesting to determine the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the major compounds of this essential oil.

The P2X7 receptor-NLRP3 inflammasome complex predicts the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Sjogren's syndrome: a prospective, observational, single-centre study

BACKGROUND

P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), trigger of acute inflammatory responses via the NLRP3 inflammasome, is hyperfunctioning in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), where it stimulates IL-18 production. Some patients with SS develop a mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (MALT-NHL).

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively evaluate the involvement and the putative prognostic role of this inflammatory pathway in the development of MALT-NHL.

METHODS

A total of 147 women with SS have been prospectively followed for a mean of 52 months, relating the expression and function of the P2X7R-inflammasome axis in salivary glands and circulating lymphomonocytes to the prognosis and the degree of the disease.

RESULTS

At baseline, gene expression of P2X7R and of the inflammasome components NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-18 increased according to the presence of germinative centres and was higher in autoantibody-positive individuals and strongly higher in those developing a MALT-NHL over the follow-up. Glandular expression of IL-18 was threefold higher in MALT-NHL than in controls or in the other patients with SS. P2X7R did not colocalize with generic markers of inflammatory infiltrate, like CD20, being selectively expressed by epithelial cells. P2X4R, sharing functional characteristics with P2X7R, did not differ in SS and controls. The increased P2X7R gene and protein expression was tissue specific, no difference being observed in peripheral lymphomonocytes between SS with MALT-NHL and SS not developing MALT-NHL.

CONCLUSION

We propose the P2X7R-inflammasome axis as a novel potential pathway involved in both SS exocrinopathy and lymphomagenesis, reinforcing the hypothesis of a key role of IL-18, via its increased P2X7R-mediated production, in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative malignancies, and opening novel opportunities for the early diagnosis of lymphoproliferative complications and the development of potential targeted therapies.

Involvement of MAF/SPP1 axis in the development of bone marrow fibrosis in PMF patients

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by hyperplastic megakaryopoiesis and myelofibrosis. We recently described the upregulation of MAF (v-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog) in PMF CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) compared to healthy donor. Here we demonstrated that MAF is also upregulated in PMF compared with the essential thrombocytemia (ET) and polycytemia vera (PV) HPCs. MAF overexpression and knockdown experiments shed some light into the role of MAF in PMF pathogenesis, by demonstrating that MAF favors the megakaryocyte and monocyte/macrophage commitment of HPCs and leads to the increased expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic mediators. Among them, we focused our further studies on SPP1 and LGALS3. We assessed SPP1 and LGALS3 protein levels in 115 PMF, 47 ET and 24 PV patients plasma samples and we found that SPP1 plasma levels are significantly higher in PMF compared with ET and PV patients. Furthermore, in vitro assays demonstrated that SPP1 promotes fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells proliferation and collagen production. Strikingly, clinical correlation analyses uncovered that higher SPP1 plasma levels in PMF patients correlate with a more severe fibrosis degree and a shorter overall survival. Collectively our data unveil that MAF overexpression contributes to PMF pathogenesis by driving the deranged production of the profibrotic mediator SPP1.

Dapagliflozin modulates glucagon secretion in an SGLT2-independent manner in murine alpha cells

AIM

SGLT2 inhibitors reduce renal glucose uptake through an insulin-independent mechanism. They also increase glucagon concentration, although the extent to which this is due to a direct effect on pancreatic alpha cells remains unclear.

METHODS

In the present work, αTC1 cells treated with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin (Dapa) were analyzed for glucose transporters, molecular mediators of hormone secretion, glucagon and GLP-1 release, and the effects of somatostatin. Data were validated in murine and human pancreatic islets.

RESULTS

SLC5A2 (the SGLT2-encoding gene) was nearly undetectable in αTC1 cells, not even by a digital PCR technique using different probes. In contrast, SLC5A1 (the SGLT1-encoding gene) was constitutively abundant in αTC1 cells and in islets, and increased with Dapa. This was associated with greater glucagon release, preceded by increased expression of preproglucagon and HNF4α. Looking at the candidate intracellular signalling pathway, reduced PASK and increased AMPK-α2 expression were also detected. GLUT1 and GLUT2, as well as regulators of glucagon release and alpha-cell phenotype (chromogranin A, paired box 6, proprotein convertase 1/2, synaptophysin), were unaffected by Dapa, as were GLP-1 receptor expression and GLP-1 release. Low glucose did not influence the stimulatory effect of Dapa on glucagon release, but was instead almost fully reverted by SLC5A1 silencing. When the effect of Dapa on AMPK and PASK, emerging regulators of lipid and glucose metabolism, was tested, upregulated AMPK-α2 appeared to be involved in molecular signalling.

CONCLUSION

Our study has shown that, in αTC1 cells, Dapa acutely upregulates SGLT1 expression and increases glucagon release through an SGLT1-dependent mechanism, with SGLT2 expression virtually undetectable. These results suggest the involvement of SGLT1 in modulating glucagon increases following SGLT2 inhibition.

Are the results of intravenous thrombolysis trials reproduced in clinical practice? Comparison of observed and expected outcomes with the stroke-thrombolytic predictive instrument (STPI)

AIM

In patients with cerebral ischemia, intravenous (i.v.) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) increases survival without handicap or dependency despite an increased risk of bleeding. This study evaluated whether the results of randomized controlled trials are reproduced in clinical practice.

METHOD

Data from a registry of consecutive patients treated by rt-PA at Lille University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed for outcomes, using modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, at 3 months. The observed outcomes were then compared with the probability of good (mRS 0-1) and of catastrophic (mRS 5-6) outcomes, as predicted by the stroke-thrombolytic predictive instrument (STPI).

RESULTS

Of the 1000 consecutive patients (469 male, median age 74 years, median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 11, median onset-to-needle time 143min), 438 (43.8%) had a good outcome, 565 (56.5%) had an mRS score 0-2 or similar to their pre-stroke mRS, 155 (15.5%) died within 3 months and 74 (7.4%) developed symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage according to ECASS-II (Second European-Australasian Acute Stroke Study) criteria. Of the 613 patients (61.3%) eligible for evaluation by the s-TPI, the observed rate of good outcomes was 41.3% (95% CI: 37.5-45.3%), while expected rates with and without rt-PA were 48.8% (95% CI: 44.8-52.7%) and 32.5% (95% CI: 28.8-36.2%), respectively; the observed rate of catastrophic outcomes was 17.0% (95% CI: 14.0-19.9%), while the expected rate was 19.2% (95% CI: 16.1-22.4%) with or without rt-PA.

CONCLUSION

In clinical practice, the rate of good outcomes is slightly lower than expected, according to the s-TPI, except for the most severe cases, whereas the rate of catastrophic outcomes is roughly similar. However, the rate of good outcomes is higher than predicted without treatment. This finding suggests that rt-PA is effective for improving outcomes in clinical practice.

A review of compliant transmission mechanisms for bio-inspired flapping-wing micro air vehicles

Flapping-wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs) are a class of unmanned aircraft that imitate flight characteristics of natural organisms such as birds, bats, and insects, in order to achieve maximum flight efficiency and manoeuvrability. Designing proper mechanisms for flapping transmission is an extremely important aspect for FWMAVs. Compliant transmission mechanisms have been considered as an alternative to rigid transmission systems due to their lower the number of parts, thereby reducing the total weight, lower energy loss thanks to little or practically no friction among parts, and at the same time, being able to store and release mechanical power during the flapping cycle. In this paper, the state-of-the-art research in this field is dealt upon, highlighting open challenges and research topics. An optimization method for designing compliant transmission mechanisms inspired by the thoraxes of insects is also introduced.