COVID-19 burden differed by city districts and ethnicities during the pre-vaccination era in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

BackgroundDuring the first wave of COVID-19 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a disproportional number of COVID-19 hospitalizations occurred in individuals with an ethnic minority background and in individuals living in city districts with a lower socioeconomic status (SES). In this study, we assessed whether these disparities continued throughout the second wave, when SARS-CoV-2 testing was available to anyone with symptoms but prior to the availability of COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsSurveillance data on all notified SARS-CoV-2 cases in Amsterdam between 15 June 2020 and 20 January 2021 were matched to municipal registration data to obtain the migration background of cases. Crude and directly age- and sex-standardized rates (DSR) of confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and deaths per 100,000 population were calculated overall, and by city districts, and migration backgrounds. Rate differences (RD) and rate ratios (RR) were calculated to compare DSR between city districts and migration backgrounds. We used multivariable Poisson regression to assess the association of city districts, migration backgrounds, age, and sex with rates of hospitalization.ResultsA total of 53,584 SARS-CoV-2 cases (median age 35 years [IQR = 25–74]) were notified, of whom 1,113 (2.1%) were hospitalized and 297 (0.6%) deceased. DSR of notified infections, hospitalization, and deaths per 100,000 population were higher in lower SES peripheral city districts (South-East/North/New-West) than higher SES central districts (Central/West/South/East), with almost a 2-fold higher hospitalization DSR in peripheral compared to central districts (RR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.74–1.97). Individuals with a non-European migration background also had a higher COVID-19 burden, particularly with respect to hospitalization rates, with a 4.5-fold higher DSR for individuals with a non-European background compared to ethnic-Dutch (RR 4.51, 95%CI = 4.37–4.65). City districts, migration backgrounds, male gender, and older age were independently associated with COVID-19 hospitalization rates.DiscussionIndividuals with a non-European background and individuals living in city districts with lower SES continued to independently have the highest COVID-19 burden in the second wave of COVID-19 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Capsular Contracture in Breast Implant Surgery: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?

Abstract: Capsular contracture is the leading complication after surgery with breast implants. A lot of progress has been made investigating this complication over the years, and knowledge has been gained on this complication. Currently, the exact cause for capsular contracture is still unclear. It has been hypothesized that immunobiological factors (i.e., immunological and bacterial factors) and several risk factors play a central role in its development. In this paper, we give an overview of the known immunological factors that have been investigated in contracted and non-contracted capsules, as well as the role of bacterial formation around breast implants. We also report on risk factors that might increase the risk of capsular development. Lastly, it provides the latest research on this matter and discusses future perspectives as follow-up research is needed to unravel the pathogenic process leading to capsular contracture. This knowledge is of interest to establish medical therapies in order to prevent such side effects. Overall, capsular contracture seems to be a multifactorial condition consisting of several risk factors. Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266

Distal Pole Resection of the Scaphoid for the Treatment of Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid Osteoarthritis

Background: Distal pole resection of the scaphoid is one of the surgical techniques applied for the treatment of painful scaphotrapeziotrapezoid osteoarthritis (STT-OA). Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated midterm outcomes in a consecutive series of patients who underwent distal pole resection of the scaphoid: 13 patients (15 wrists) with a mean follow-up of 4.1 years. We examined objective functional and patient-reported outcome measures. In addition, we assessed the degree of dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI) and postoperative complications. Results: All patients scored within a normal range on objective functional and patient-reported outcome measures. We observed a mild postoperative DISI deformity with an average lunocapitate angle of 22° (range, 0°-44°), which did not correlate with pain scores. In the opposite wrists, with and without STT-OA, the average lunocapitate angle was 6° (range, 0°-20°). Conclusions: According to this study, midterm results for distal pole resection of the scaphoid are satisfactory

The use and reliability of SymNose for quantitative measurement of the nose and lip in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

INTRODUCTION: It is essential to have a reliable assessment method in order to compare the results of cleft lip and palate surgery. In this study the computer-based program SymNose, a method for quantitative assessment of the nose and lip, will be assessed on usability and reliability. METHODS: The symmetry of the nose and lip was measured twice in 50 six-year-old complete and incomplete unilateral cleft lip and palate patients by four observers. For the frontal view the asymmetry level of the nose and upper lip were evaluated and for the basal view the asymmetry level of the nose and nostrils were evaluated. RESULTS: A mean inter-observer reliability when tracing each image once or twice was 0.70 and 0.75, respectively. Tracing the photographs with 2 observers and 4 observers gave a mean inter-observer score of 0.86 and 0.92, respectively. The mean intra-observer reliability varied between 0.80 and 0.84. CONCLUSIONS: SymNose is a practical and reliable tool for the retrospective assessment of large caseloads of 2D photographs of cleft patients for research purposes. Moderate to high single inter-observer reliability was found. For future research with SymNose reliable outcomes can be achieved by using the average outcomes of single tracings of two observers

No association found between late-onset inflammatory adverse events after soft tissue filler injections and the adaptive immune system

Background: To date, it is unknown why some individuals develop late-onset inflammatory adverse events after treatment with fillers. These events may result from various factors, including an immunological response of the adaptive immune system. Objective: In a pilot study, we looked for evidence that is there a relation between late-onset inflammatory adverse events and the presence of immune cells surrounding the injected filler. Methods and Materials: We included 47 patients, of whom 20 experienced late-onset inflammatory adverse events to different fillers (inflammatory group) and 27 who did not (reference group). A biopsy was taken from the area of the adverse event. Hematoxylin–eosin staining and immunohistochemistry analysis with CD3 (T-cells) and CD68 (macrophages) on paraffin tissue sections was used to assess the biopsies. Results: Immune cells were found in biopsies obtained from 18 of 47 patients: Nine biopsies from the inflammation group and nine from the reference group. All these 18 cases showed CD68-positive immune cells. Virtually no CD3-positive immune cells were found. Conclusion: Our results indicate that there is no T-cell activity in biopsies from areas with late-onset adverse events after filler injections. The macrophages found in the biopsies are probably not responsible for the inflammatory response

Patient-reported systemic symptoms in women with silicone breast implants: A descriptive cohort study

Objective An unknown portion of women with silicone breast implants (SBI) report development of systemic symptoms, recently named as â € breast implant illness (BII)'. We aim to describe the symptoms and characteristics of women with SBI reporting these systemic symptoms and compare the clinical course of women who chose to keep their implants, to women who had their implants removed. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Specialised BII out-patient clinic at Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands, from 2011 to 2020. Participants All women presenting to the BII clinic with SBI and systemic symptoms. Results 467 women were included for baseline analyses and 398 women for follow-up. Most frequently reported systemic symptoms at baseline included fatigue (88%), arthralgia (71%), morning stiffness (59%), myalgia (48%), cognitive impairment (33%), peripheral neurological symptoms (30%) and lymphadenopathy (22%). Furthermore, 56% reported pre-existing allergies at baseline and positive antinuclear antibodies were observed in 23%. At follow-up with a median of 3.3 years (IQR 2-4), 152 women had their implants removed on clinical grounds. Symptoms improved significantly in 65 women (43%), improved moderately in 37 women (24%), did not change in 37 women (24%) and deteriorated in 13 women (9%). Women who underwent explantation showed more improvement of their systemic symptoms compared with women who did not (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3 to 6.2). Additionally, women who underwent explantation within 10 years after implantation improved significantly better than women who got the implants removed after 10 years (p=0.007). Lastly, local symptoms decreased from 75% to 34% after implant removal (p<0.0001). Conclusion Most women with SBI who developed systemic symptoms experienced improvement after explantation, especially when removed within 10 years after implantation. Early recognition of the pattern of systemic symptoms in women with SBI is important and implant removal should be considered