Percutaneous retrieval of a Mobin-Uddin inferior vena cava filter 42 years following implantation

Inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) are an established alternative for protection from thromboembolism when anticoagulation fails or is contraindicated. Before the creation of retrievable IVCFs, patients received filters that were permanent or designed without standardized retrieval options. Although these filters were implanted for prolonged protection, chronic vena caval occlusion and post-thrombotic syndrome are potential sequelae. We present a 53-year-old patient with a Mobin-Uddin permanent IVCF placed 42 years prior complicated by acute iliocaval thrombosis following more than 40 years of filter dwell time. She was successfully treated with thrombolysis, thrombectomy, endobronchial forceps assisted IVCF removal, and iliocaval stent reconstruction

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Randomized, controlled, phase 2 trial of povidone-iodine/dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension for treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy/safety of an ophthalmic suspension of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) 0.6% and dexamethasone 0.1% in patients with acute adenoviral conjunctivitis. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-masked trial. METHODS: Adults with a positive Rapid Pathogen Screening Adeno-Detector Plus test were randomized 1:1:1 to PVP-I 0.6%/dexamethasone 0.1%, PVP-I 0.6%, or vehicle, bilaterally 4 times daily for 5 days (days 1-5). Patients were evaluated on days 3, 6, and 12 (+1-day window). Efficacy measures included clinical resolution and adenoviral eradication. RESULTS: Overall, 144 patients were included in the efficacy analysis (PVP-I/dexamethasone, n = 48; PVP-I, n = 50; vehicle, n = 46). The proportion of patients with clinical resolution (primary study eye with last observation carried forward [LOCF]) at the day 6 visit was higher with PVP-I/dexamethasone (31.3%) than with vehicle (10.9%; P = .0158) and PVP-I (18.0%; P = nonsignificant). The proportion with adenoviral eradication (primary study eye with LOCF) was higher with PVP-I/dexamethasone than with vehicle at the day 3 (35.4% vs 8.7%; P = .0019) and day 6 (79.2% vs 56.5%; P = .0186) visits and vs PVP-I (day 3 visit, 32.0%; day 6 visit, 62.0%; each P = nonsignificant). Treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) occurred in 69.0% (vehicle), 62.7% (PVP-I), and 53.4% (PVP-I/dexamethasone) of patients in the safety dataset. Discontinuation owing to AEs occurred in 37 patients (vehicle, n = 16; PVP-I, n = 12; PVP-I/dexamethasone, n = 9). CONCLUSION: PVP-I/dexamethasone appeared safe and well tolerated, and significantly improved clinical resolution and adenoviral eradication in patients with acute adenoviral conjunctivitis

Polyalanine polymorphism in the signal peptide of Glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) gene & its association with osteoporosis

Background & objectives: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease, characterized by a low bone mass leading to increased bone fragility and hence, a greater susceptibility to the risk of fracture. Since age-related oxidative stress is one of the factors that has been implicated in developing low bone mineral density (BMD), leading to osteoporosis, this study wanted to explore the expression of antioxidant enzymes in individuals with osteoporosis. The present study focused on mapping polymorphism in an important antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) among osteoporosis and healthy Asian Indians. Methods: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess BMD of individuals and was classified into normal (n=96) and osteoporotic (n=88) groups. Biochemical parameters such as vitamin D, total oxidant status (TOS), and GPx1 enzyme activity were estimated from plasma samples of recruited individuals. Quantitative real-time qRT-PCR was carried out using GAPDH as an endogenous control. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood, and polymorphisms were evaluated by sequencing. Results: The BMD was lower in osteoporotic individuals, and further analysis of biochemical parameters indicated significantly low 25-hydroxy vitamin D and GPx1 with higher TOS levels in osteoporotic as compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, qRT-PCR revealed low expression of GPX1 in osteoporotic individuals. GPX1 sequence analysis of the promoter and two exons revealed the lower frequency of five alanine repeats in the osteoporotic individuals. Interpretation & conclusions: In this study, the in silico analysis revealed the lower frequency of five alanine repeats in exon 1 of GPX1 and high TOS to be associated with osteoporosis. However, no polymorphism was found in exon 2 of GPX1 among the two study groups

Botanicals and Oral Stem Cell Mediated Regeneration: A Paradigm Shift from Artificial to Biological Replacement

Stem cells are a well-known autologous pluripotent cell source, having excellent potential to develop into specialized cells, such as brain, skin, and bone marrow cells. The oral cavity is reported to be a rich source of multiple types of oral stem cells, including the dental pulp, mucosal soft tissues, periodontal ligament, and apical papilla. Oral stem cells were useful for both the regeneration of soft tissue components in the dental pulp and mineralized structure regeneration, such as bone or dentin, and can be a viable substitute for traditionally used bone marrow stem cells. In recent years, several studies have reported that plant extracts or compounds promoted the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of different oral stem cells. This review is carried out by following the PRISMA guidelines and focusing mainly on the effects of bioactive compounds on oral stem cell-mediated dental, bone, and neural regeneration. It is observed that in recent years studies were mainly focused on the utilization of oral stem cell-mediated regeneration of bone or dental mesenchymal cells, however, the utility of bioactive compounds on oral stem cell-mediated regeneration requires additional assessment beyond in vitro and in vivo studies, and requires more randomized clinical trials and case studies