No Stone Left Unturned: Pediatric Pancreatic Stones Presenting With Obstructive Jaundice

Pancreatic lithiasis, the formation of calcifications in the pancreatic duct, occurs uncommonly in pediatric patients but can occur more frequently with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the major causes of pancreatic lithiasis in pediatric patients, with mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene reported in up to 23% of pediatric CP patients. Mutations in the CFTR gene can lead to mild cases of CF, which may delay diagnosis and treatment. In such cases, pancreatitis can be the presenting symptom in children with CF. We report a unique case of a 10-year-old female with previously undiagnosed and untreated CF presenting with abdominal pain, vomiting, and obstructive jaundice. Her pancreatic lithiasis and biliary obstruction were successfully treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Efficacy and Outcomes of Faecal Microbiota Transplantation for Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Children with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] are disproportionally affected by recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection [rCDI]. Although faecal microbiota transplantation [FMT] has been used with good efficacy in adults with IBD, little is known about outcomes associated with FMT in paediatric IBD.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of FMT at 20 paediatric centres in the USA from March 2012 to March 2020. Children with and without IBD were compared with determined differences in the efficacy of FMT for rCDI. In addition, children with IBD with and without a successful outcome were compared with determined predictors of success. Safety data and IBD-specific outcomes were obtained.

RESULTS

A total of 396 paediatric patients, including 148 with IBD, were included. Children with IBD were no less likely to have a successful first FMT then the non-IBD affected cohort [76% vs 81%, p = 0.17]. Among children with IBD, patients were more likely to have a successful FMT if they received FMT with fresh stool [p = 0.03], were without diarrhoea prior to FMT [p = 0.03], or had a shorter time from rCDI diagnosis until FMT [p = 0.04]. Children with a failed FMT were more likely to have clinically active IBD post-FMT [p = 0.002] and 19 [13%] patients had an IBD-related hospitalisation in the 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the findings from this large US multicentre cohort, the efficacy of FMT for the treatment of rCDI did not differ in children with IBD. Failed FMT among children with IBD was possibly related to the presence of clinically active IBD.

Evaluation of Adhesion Protocol for Titanium Base Abutments to Different Ceramic and Hybrid Materials

Scientific evidence regarding conditioning of different ceramic and hybrid materials and their bonding on titanium abutments is lacking. Titanium disks (Tritan) (N=450, n=15) were randomly cemented onto five different ceramic and hybrid materials, namely 1. Zenostar T, 2. Lava Ultimate, 3. IPS e.max CAD, 4. Vita Enamic multicolor and 5. G-ceram using three different cements, Panavia 21, TheraCem and Multilink hybrid abutment. Half of all specimens were thermocycled (5000 cycles, 5-55°C), while the other half were kept dry. Macro shear bond testing was conducted using a universal testing machine. Failure types were classified using a digital microscope. Data was statistically analyzed with three-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc tests. Both the ceramic (P⟨0.0001) and cement type(P⟨0.0001) significantly affected the shear bond strength(MPa), while thermocycling did not (P⟩0.05). The incidence of cohesive (50.34%) and adhesive failures (49.66%) were not significantly different. As for implant superstructures, when ceramics are bonded to titanium bases, the ceramic and cement type both have an impact on the bond strengths along with the conditioning and bonding protocols for each substrate. An equal affinity of the cements tested to the ceramic, hybrid materials and to titanium can be assumed. Combination of zirconia and TheraCem can be recommended for clinical use.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography Evaluation of Crohn's Disease Activity in Three Adolescent Patients

Characterizing inflammation and fibrosis in Crohn's disease (CD) is necessary to guide clinical management, but distinguishing the two remains challenging. Novel ultrasound (US) techniques: contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) offer great potential in evaluating disease activity in pediatric patients. Three patients ages 16 to 20 with known CD underwent CEUS and SWE to characterize bowel wall inflammation and fibrosis. Magnetic resonance enterography, endoscopy, or surgical pathology findings are also described when available. The patients' disease activity included acute inflammation, chronic inflammation with stricture formation, and a fibrotic surgical anastomosis without inflammation. CEUS was useful in determining the degree of inflammation, and SWE identified bowel wall fibrosis. Used together these techniques allow for better characterization of the degree of fibrosis and inflammation in bowel strictures. With further validation CEUS and SWE may allow for improved characterization of bowel strictures and disease flares in pediatric patients suffering from CD.

Folliculin regulates mTORC1/2 and WNT pathways in early human pluripotency

To reveal how cells exit human pluripotency, we designed a CRISPR-Cas9 screen exploiting the metabolic and epigenetic differences between naïve and primed pluripotent cells. We identify the tumor suppressor, Folliculin(FLCN) as a critical gene required for the exit from human pluripotency. Here we show that FLCN Knock-out (KO) hESCs maintain the naïve pluripotent state but cannot exit the state since the critical transcription factor TFE3 remains active in the nucleus. TFE3 targets up-regulated in FLCN KO exit assay are members of Wnt pathway and ESRRB. Treatment of FLCN KO hESC with a Wnt inhibitor, but not ESRRB/FLCN double mutant, rescues the cells, allowing the exit from the naïve state. Using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis we identify unique FLCN binding partners. The interactions of FLCN with components of the mTOR pathway (mTORC1 and mTORC2) reveal a mechanism of FLCN function during exit from naïve pluripotency.

The pathways involved in exit from pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells are poorly understood. Here, the authors performed a CRISPR-based screen to identify genes that promote exit from naïve pluripotency and find a role for folliculin (FLCN) by regulating the mTOR and Wnt pathways.

Sorafenib induced hepatic encephalopathy

A 60 year old male, known case of Hepatitis C related cirrhosis was diagnosed with exophytic Hepatocellular carcinoma (size 2.1 x 2.2 cm), Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage A, on routine surveillance. He refused liver Transplant and underwent laparoscopic segmental resection. Thereafter patient was started on Tablet Sorafenib 400mg twice daily to prevent recurrence of Hepatocellular carcinoma. On 18st post-operative day, patient presented with Hepatic encephalopathy. Routine investigations and MRI Brain were normal; Venous ammonia was high. Sorafenib was discontinued, and neurological symptoms resolved within 24 hours. The ammonia level decreased from 112 to 30 μmol/L. Hepatic encephalopathy recurred 14 days after Sorafenib reintroduction at a dose of 400 mg / day. It resolved within 24 hours of withdrawal of Sorafenib. Sorafenib induced recurrent acute overt Hepatic encephalopathy with biochemical corroboration is reported here.

The quality of radiographs accompanying endodontic referrals to a health authority clinic

AIM

To assess the quality of radiographs accompanying endodontic referrals, from general dental practitioners, to a health authority clinic.

METHODS

A total of 200 conventional film and digital radiographs accompanying referrals were assessed and rated as 'excellent', 'diagnostically acceptable' or 'unacceptable' according to the National Radiographic Protection Board (NRPB) guidelines. Statistical analyses of the results included inter- and intra-observer agreement to achieve a kappa score and the chi-squared test.

RESULTS

Out of the 200 radiographs assessed, 38 (19%) were conventional film and 162 (81%) were digital. Of the conventional film radiographs, 55% were rated 'excellent' and 37% were 'diagnostically acceptable', whilst 27% of digital radiographs were rated 'excellent' and 40% were 'diagnostically acceptable'. In the 'unacceptable' category, 33% were digital and 8% were conventional film radiographs (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of digital radiographs was significantly lower compared with conventional film radiographs. The percentage of 'unacceptable' digital radiographs was above the target according to the NRPB guidelines. Hence, there is a need for improvement in quality to avoid repeat radiographs and unnecessary ionising radiation exposure. Instead of hard, printed copies, digital radiographs accompanying referrals should, within the parameters of information governance, be supplied electronically so that they may be optimised, if necessary, for better diagnostic value.

The 5-year outcome of patients having incomplete colonoscopy

AIM

Incomplete colonoscopy indicated for the detection of neoplasia occurs in 2-23% of patients, but there is little information on the long-term outcome of such patients.

METHOD

All patients who underwent colonoscopy over 5 years at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital with a follow-up of up to 5 years were identified.

RESULTS

The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) was 2.9% (312/10 580) for all patients undergoing colonoscopy. For a failed colonoscopy, the risk was five-fold higher [14.3% (99/693)]. The mean age of the patients was 61 years and 58% were female. Following incomplete colonoscopy the risk of finding additional CRC, advanced colonic neoplasia and extracolonic neoplasia on subsequent investigation was 6.2%, 3.2% and 1.9%. The diagnostic yield on subsequent investigation for CRC or colonic polyps was 7% for repeat colonoscopy, 13.4% for computed tomography colonography, 10.3% for standard computed tomography and 1.8% for barium enema. In the 363 patients who were not offered a subsequent investigation, there was no further instance of CRC or CRC-related mortality over a 36-month period.

CONCLUSION

Although the risk of CRC is higher in patients who have had a failed colonoscopy, a protocol approach of subsequent investigation should not replace clinical assessment on whether another test is necessary in the light of the good outcome of patients who were not subsequently investigated.

The local anaesthetic effect of a dental laser prior to cavity preparation: a pilot volunteer study

OBJECTIVES

It has been suggested that laser preconditioning can produce dental anaesthesia. This study aimed to assess the response of the dental pulp to laser preconditioning.

METHODS

The effects of laser preconditioning, sham laser (negative control), and composite curing light (positive control) on the response of the dental pulp to electric pulp testing was investigated in this double-blind crossover trial with six volunteers. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser or curing light was shone on a premolar tooth in a sweeping motion for 30 seconds (in the sham treatment, the laser was not activated) in blindfolded volunteers subjected to a consistent aural stimulus. Treatment method at each visit was randomized and performed by a researcher not involved in pulp testing. Teeth were pulp tested twice initially by another member of the research team to get baseline readings, immediately following the treatment, and thereafter every two minutes for 10 minutes. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance and an independent-sample t-test.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in pulpal response between treatments (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Laser preconditioning did not affect pulpal response as measured by an electronic pulp tester. Laser preconditioning did not result in any pain or noticeable symptoms for both teeth and soft tissues.

Long-term outcome after parathyroidectomy for lithium-induced hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND

The accepted management of lithium-associated hyperparathyroidism (LiHPT) is open four-gland parathyroid exploration (OPTX). This approach has recently been the subject of controversy. A recent study has shown very high long-term recurrence rates after OPTX, whereas some have promoted unilateral focused parathyroidectomy as appropriate management. The aim was to evaluate long-term outcomes after surgery for LiHPT and to assess the accuracy of preoperative imaging.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study that comprised all patients undergoing initial surgery for LiHPT between 1990 and 2013. The cumulative recurrence rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The sensitivity and specificity of sestamibi scintigraphy and ultrasound imaging for identification of single-gland versus multigland disease was investigated using intraoperative assessment as reference.

RESULTS

Of 48 patients, 45 had OPTX and three underwent focused parathyroidectomy. Multiglandular disease was documented in 27 patients and 21 had a single adenoma. The median follow-up was 5·9 (range 0·3-22) years and 16 patients died during follow-up. The 10-year cumulative recurrence rate was 16 (95 per cent confidence interval 2 to 29) per cent. No permanent complications occurred after primary surgery for LiHPT. Twenty-four patients had at least one preoperative ultrasound or sestamibi scan. For concordant sestamibi scintigraphy and ultrasound imaging, the sensitivity and specificity for identifying single-gland versus multigland disease was five of nine and five of eight respectively.

CONCLUSION

Surgery provided a safe and effective management option for patients with LiHPT in this series, with a long-term cure rate of well over 80 per cent.

Overexpression of miR-210 is associated with SDH-related pheochromocytomas, paragangliomas, and gastrointestinal stromal tumours

miR-210 is a key regulator of response to hypoxia. Pheochromocytomas (PCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) with germline SDHx or VHL mutations have pseudohypoxic gene expression signatures. We hypothesised that PC/PGLs containing SDHx or VHL mutations, and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), would overexpress miR-210 relative to non-SDH or -VHL-mutated counterparts. miR-210 was analysed by quantitative PCR in i) 39 PC/PGLs, according to genotype (one SDHA, five SDHB, seven VHL, three NF1, seven RET, 15 sporadic, one unknown) and pathology (18 benign, eight atypical, 11 malignant, two unknown); ii) 18 GISTs, according to SDHB immunoreactivity (nine SDH-deficient and nine SDH-proficient) and iii) two novel SDHB-mutant neurosphere cell lines. miR-210 was higher in SDHx- or VHL-mutated PC/PGLs (7.6-fold) compared with tumours without SDHx or VHL mutations (P=0.0016). miR-210 was higher in malignant than in unequivocally benign PC/PGLs (P=0.05), but significance was lost when benign and atypical tumours were combined (P=0.08). In multivariate analysis, elevated miR-210 was significantly associated with SDHx or VHL mutation, but not with malignancy. In GISTs, miR-210 was higher in SDH-deficient (median 2.58) compared with SDH-proficient tumours (median 0.60; P=0.0078). miR-210 was higher in patient-derived neurosphere cell lines containing SDHB mutations (6.5-fold increase) compared with normal controls, in normoxic conditions (P<0.01). Furthermore, siRNA-knockdown of SDHB in HEK293 cells increased miR-210 by 2.7-fold (P=0.001) under normoxia. Overall, our results suggest that SDH deficiency in PC, PGL and GISTs induces miR-210 expression and substantiates the role of aberrant hypoxic-type cellular responses in the development of these tumours.

The number of benign moles excised for each malignant melanoma: the number needed to treat

BACKGROUND

The ratio of benign moles excised for each malignant melanoma (MM) diagnosed, i.e. the number needed to treat (NNT), may be a useful indicator of diagnostic accuracy and the efficient use of healthcare resources, and may have personal implications for the patient.

AIM

To assess the NNT for a group of consultant dermatologists serving a population of 600,000, and to compare this with similar studies from other countries.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of data on pigmented lesions excised over a 5-year period (2005-2009). The lesions were divided into three groups: benign naevi (BN), dysplastic naevi (DN) and MM. The NNT ratio was calculated as (BN + DN + MM)/MM.

RESULTS

In total, 4691 lesions were examined. The overall mean NNT was 6.3, with a range of 4.9-11.3 for each of nine consultant dermatologists. The mean NNT was 7.6 for female and 4.8 for male patients. There were more patients with BN (n = 3534; 75%) than with DN (n = 407; 9%) or MM (n = 750; 16%). The gender representation was similar in the DN and MM groups, but had a disproportionately female bias in the BN group (67% female, 33% male patients). Overall, there were more female patients in all three groups [2962 female patients (63%) and 1729 male patients (37%)].

CONCLUSIONS

The NNT of 6.3 in this study compares favourably with NNT ratios from studies of dermatologists from other countries. This study may encourage other countries and individual doctors to assess their NNT ratios, as it may be an important indicator of the efficient use of resources and the avoidance of unnecessary surgery for patients.

Efficacy of Biologicals in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multisystem disease. A characteristic feature of RA is persistent inflammatory synovitis, usually involving the peripheral joints in a symmetric distribution. The prevalence of RA is approximately 0.8% of the population (range: 0.3–2.1%); women are affected approximately 3 times more often than men. The current therapeutic approach is to start a disease-modifying agent early in the illness to prevent eventual joint damage. Older disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs include methotrexate, sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine. Newer ones such as leflunomide and cyclosporin are also used. A recent advance in the management of rheumatoid arthritis is the use of biological agents, which block certain key molecules involved in the pathogenesis of the illness. They include tumour-necrosis-factor-α-blocking agents such as infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab, the anti-CD-20 agent, rituximab, and CTLA-4 Ig abatacept. The present study was planned with the aim of evaluating the efficacy of such newer biological therapies in refractory RA at various time points. Databases including Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for all relevant studies up to January 2007. A total of 26 studies were included in present meta-analysis. The method of DerSimonian and Laird [Control Clin Trials 1986;7:177–188] was used to calculated a pooled odds ratio (OR) for the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria 20, 50 and 70, at 24, 54 and 96 weeks. The overall pooled OR were found to be significantly more than the placebo at all 3 time points for all 3 criteria (ACR 20, 50 70). In conclusion, biologicals as a group are highly effective in the treatment of RA. Biologicals were efficacious both in treatment naïve and methotrexate-refractory patients.

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy using the lateral focused mini-incision technique without intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) involves scan-directed removal of a single adenoma through a 2.0-cm mini-incision without intraoperative monitoring. The aim of this study was to analyse the outcomes of MIP using such a simplified technique.

METHODS

The study group comprised 500 consecutive patients undergoing MIP via a lateral mini-incision from August 2000 to September 2005. Levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured after operation solely to aid informed discharge.

RESULTS

Some 97.4 per cent of patients were initially cured by MIP. Eight patients remained hypercalcaemic and a further five were normocalcaemic on the day after surgery but became hypercalcaemic again within 3 months of the procedure. Eleven of these patients were cured with subsequent re-exploration. Analysis of postoperative PTH data indicated that, at best, the use of intraoperative PTH measurement during surgery would have increased the cure rate by only a further 1 per cent. Three (0.6 per cent) of 500 patients had permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after MIP.

CONCLUSION

MIP performed by the lateral focused mini-incision technique, without the use of intraoperative PTH monitoring, is a safe and effective procedure that results in outcomes equal to those of bilateral neck exploration.

A meta-analysis of trials comparing Cypher and Taxus stents in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease

AIMS

Drug-eluting stents have been shown to be superior to bare metal stents in reducing restenosis rates. Recently head-to-head trials comparing sirolimus-eluting stents and paclitaxel-eluting stents have been reported. An early combined analysis of these comparative trials is needed. The present meta-analysis was carried out to compare the effects of sirolimus-eluting stents with paclitaxel-eluting stents on the restenosis rate, major adverse cardiac events and late loss of arterial lumen diameter in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease.

METHODS

Electronic (Medline, Cochrane and Embase) and manual search (Index Medicus and cross references of retrieved articles) were carried out for all the relevant articles up till March 2005. Only randomized trials with adequate data for calculation of odds ratio for restenosis rates and major adverse cardiac events using the method of DerSimonian & Laird and standardized mean difference for late loss of arterial lumen diameter were included.

RESULTS

Four studies were found to be eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Restenosis rate and late loss of arterial lumen diameter were significantly reduced by sirolimus-eluting stents as compared with paclitaxel-eluting stents (OR 0.598, 95% CI 0.400, 0.893, pooled mean difference -0.414, 95% CI -0.492, 0.336, respectively). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events was less with sirolimus-eluting stents as compared with paclitaxel-eluting stents (OR 0.727, 95% CI 0.518-1.018) but the results were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Sirolimus-eluting stents are superior to paclitaxel-eluting stents in decreasing restenosis rate and late loss of arterial lumen diameter. However, no statistically significant difference in major adverse cardiac events was noted between the two stents.

Inadvertent tracheal perforation during thyroidectomy

Valuable advice for thyroid surgeons

Mutation and methylation analysis of TP53 in adrenal carcinogenesis

AIM

To investigate the role of coding region mutation and promoter hypermethylation of TP53 in adrenocortical cancer formation.

METHODS

Twenty sporadic adrenocortical cancers (ACCs) and five normal adrenal tissue samples were available for analysis. Coding region mutation of TP53 in 20 ACCs was examined by polymerase chain amplification using intronic primers for exons 2-11 and direct sequencing of the product. In 10 ACCs and five normal adrenal tissue specimens, methylation of the 16 CpG sites within the TP53 promoter was examined using bisulphite methylation sequencing.

RESULTS

Coding region mutation in TP53 was demonstrated in 5 of 20 ACCs. There were four mis-sense mutations and one frameshift mutation. Four of 5 patients with a TP53 mutation had metastases at diagnosis or detected soon thereafter and 3 of 4 died of disease within 12 months of surgical resection. No methylation was seen in the TP53 promoter in 10 ACC and the five normal adrenal tissues examined.

CONCLUSION

Coding region mutation in TP53 occurs in 25% of ACCs with a trend toward a poorer prognosis. Promoter methylation of TP53 is not present in ACC as a mechanism for tumour suppressor gene (TSG) inactivation and, therefore, other genes in the 17p13 region are implicated in adrenal carcinogenesis.

Influence of high fat diet (butter) on pharmacokinetics of phenytoin and carbamazepine

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of butter on the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin and carbamazepine. In a crossover study, phenytoin 30 mg/kg and carbamazepine 56 mg/kg were given orally to New Zealand white rabbits (n = 8 for each drug). Blood samples were drawn at different time intervals from 0-24 h from the marginal ear vein after drug administration. After a washout period of 7 days, butter (5 mg/kg) was administered for 7 days to the animals. On the 8th day, butter and phenytoin or carbamazepine were administered simultaneously and the blood samples were withdrawn at the same time points. Plasma was separated and stored at -20 degrees C until assayed for phenytoin and carbamazepine by HPLC and different pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Butter increased the absorption of both phenytoin and carbamazepine, as there was a significant increase in the Cmax and AUC(0-alpha) of both drugs after butter administration. No significant difference in Tmax was observed. In this study, it was found that a high fat diet increases the bioavailability of phenytoin and carbamazepine in New Zealand white rabbits.