Efficacy and safety of an aflibercept treat-and-extend regimen in treatment-naive patients with macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO): a prospective 12-month, single-arm, multicentre trial

Objectives: to evaluate efficacy and safety of an aflibercept treat-and-extend (TAE) regimen in patients with macular oedema (MO) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Design setting and patients: phase IV, prospective, open-label, single-arm trial in 11 Spanish hospitals. Treatment-naïve patients with <6 month diagnosis of MO secondary to CRVO and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 73-24 ETDRS letters were included between 23 January 2015 and 17 March 2016. Intervention: intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg monthly (3 months) followed by proactive individualized dosing. Main outcomes: mean change in BCVA after 12 months. Results: 24 eyes (24 patients) were included; mean (SD) age: 62.8 (15.0) years; 54.2% male; median (IQR) time since diagnosis: 7.6 (3.0, 15.2) days. Mean BCVA scores significantly improved between baseline (56.0 (16.5)) and Month 12 (74.1 (17.6)); mean (95% CI) change: 14.8 (8.2, 21.4); P=0.0001. Twelve (50.0%) patients gained ≥15 ETDRS letters. Foveal thickness improved between baseline (mean: 569.4 (216.8) µm) and Month 12 (mean 257.4 (48.4) µm); P < 0.0001. At Month 12, 8.3% patients had MO. The mean (SD) number of injections: 8.3 (3.0). No treatment-related AEs were reported. Five (20.8%) patients experienced ocular AEs. Two nonocular serious AEs were reported. Conclusions: an aflibercept TAE regimen improves visual acuity in patients with MO secondary to CRVO over 12 months with good tolerability

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Next-generation sequencing reveals a new mutation in the LTBP2 gene associated with microspherophakia in a Spanish family

Abstract Background Microspherophakia is a rare autosomal recessive eye disorder characterized by small spherical lens. It may present as an isolated finding or in association with other ocular and/or systemic disorders. This clinical and genetic heterogeneity requires the study of large genes (ADAMTSL4, FBN1, LTBP2, ADAMTSL-10 and ADAMTSL17). The purpose of the present study is to identify the genetic cause of this pathology in a consanguineous Spanish family. Methods A clinical exome sequencing experiment was executed by the TruSight One® Sequencing Panel (TSO) from Illumina©. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the NGS results. Results Only the insertion of an adenine in exon 36 of the LTBP2 gene (c.5439_5440insA) was associated with pathogenicity. This new mutation was validated by Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis was also performed. Haplotype analyses using the polymorphic markers D14S1025, D14S43 and D14S999 close to the LTBP2 gene indicated identity by descent in this family. Conclusion We describe the first case of a microspherophakia phenotype associated with a novel homozygous mutation in the LTBP2 gene in a consanguineous Caucasian family by means of NGS technology

On the Sensing Mechanisms of a Hydroresistive Flexible Film Based on an Organic Molecular Metal

With the emergence of environmental, biomedical, and medical monitoring technologies, development of flexible and lightweight sensors is ongoing. This work presents a flexible lightweight bilayer (BL) film (polycarbonate/polycrystalline layer of crystalline (BEDT-TTF)xBr(H2O)y salts [BEDT-TTF = bis (ethylendithio)tetrathiafulvalene]) as a promising material for humidity sensing which may be applied in a number of monitoring scenarios. X-ray structural characterization revealed the presence of three different crystal types in the crystalline layer of the BL film, i.e., [phase I, [(BEDT-TTF)5(Br4(H5O2))]; phase II, [(BEDT-TTF)2Br(H2O)3]; and crystals of neutral BEDT-TTF compound], showing that phase I is highly sensitive to humidity. The humidity testing of the BL film showed that it is capable of monitoring relative humidity (RH) levels from 15 up to 90% with a well-defined and reproducible electrical signal. Electrical resistance measurements revealed that the crystalline conducting layer can absorb moisture reaching equilibrium at constant RH as reflected in a stable relative resistance response. The structural response of the BL film to variations of RH clearly demonstrated that crystallite interlayer spacing (d) of phase I is strongly affected, exhibiting a reversible metal–nonmetal transition, while phase II was insensitive to humidity. An overview of mechanical and humidity sensing properties of the developed BL film corroborates that it can be used as flexible hygrometer as well as moisture sensing units on the board of low-cost electronic sensing devices.The authors are grateful for the financial support received from projects MOTHER (MAT2016-80826-R) and FANCY (CTQ2016-80030-R) granted by the DGI (Spain), GenCat (2017-SGR-918), financed by DGR (Catalunya), and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2015-0496) and through the “Proyecto interdisciplinar de frontera”, FIP-2018 HECTIC-PTM. This study has been also supported by the Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBERBBN), an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&I Plan 2008−2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program, CIBER Actions, and financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund. R.P. acknowledges support from the Marie Skłodowska Curie Cofund, Beatriu de Pinos Fellowship (AGAUR-2017 BP ́ 00064). The authors acknowledge Prof. Ryszard Jachowicz and Dr. Jerzy Weremczuk from Warsaw University of Technology for complementary XRD experiments and Dr. Tommaso Salzillo (ICMAB) for fruitful crystallographic discussions.Peer reviewe

MYH9 Associated nephropathy

MYH9 related diseases are caused by mutations in the MYH9 gene and constitute a rare group of genetic entities. Its inheritance follows an autosomal dominant pattern. The MYH9 gene, encodes the nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA, expressed in different tissues and especially in podocytes and mesangial cells. The disorder is characterized by the presence of macrothrombocytopenia, leukocyte inclusions and a variable risk of developing renal failure, hearing loss and early-onset cataracts. We describe the case of a 27-year-old Caucasian woman, diagnosed initially with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. After a detailed family history and the appearance of renal involvement and hearing loss, genetic testing allowed to make the diagnosis of nephropathy associated with MYH9 mutation. This case is an example of the delayed diagnosis of uncommon diseases and highlights the usefulness genetic testing. A review of the disease is provided. Resumen: Las enfermedades relacionadas con mutaciones del gen MYH9 son un grupo de patologías genéticas raras. Su herencia sigue un patrón autosómico dominante en donde el gen MYH9, codifica la cadena pesada de la miosina IIA no muscular que se expresa en diferentes tejidos pero especialmente en los podocitos y en las células mesangiales. Este trastorno se caracteriza por la presencia de macrotrombocitopenia, inclusiones leucocitarias y un riesgo variable de desarrollar insuficiencia renal, hipoacusia y cataratas en edad juvenil o adulta. Describimos el caso de una mujer de 27 años, de raza caucásica, diagnosticada inicialmente de púrpura trombocitopénica idiopática. Tras una detallada historia familiar y el desarrollo de síntomas clínicos posteriores con afectación renal e hipoacusia, se le realizó un estudio genético que nos permitió el diagnóstico de nefropatía asociada a la mutación en el gen MYH9. Este caso destaca el retraso del diagnóstico y la utilidad del estudio genético en pacientes con enfermedades muy poco frecuentes. Se procede a la revisión de la enfermedad en este artículo. Keywords: MYH9 nephropathy, Hearing loss, Thrombocytopenia, Alport syndrome, Epstein syndrome, May-Hegglin anomaly, Palabras clave: Nefropatía MYH9, Hipoacusia, Trombocitopenia, Síndrome de Alport, Síndrome de Epstein, Anomalía de May-Hegglin, Sindrome de Sebastiá

Nefropatía asociada a mutación del gen MYH9

Resumen: Las enfermedades relacionadas con mutaciones del gen MYH9 son un grupo de patologías genéticas raras. Su herencia sigue un patrón autosómico dominante en donde el gen MYH9, codifica la cadena pesada de la miosina IIA no muscular que se expresa en diferentes tejidos pero especialmente en los podocitos y en las células mesangiales. Este trastorno se caracteriza por la presencia de macrotrombocitopenia, inclusiones leucocitarias y un riesgo variable de desarrollar insuficiencia renal, hipoacusia y cataratas en edad juvenil o adulta. Describimos el caso de una mujer de 27 años, de raza caucásica, diagnosticada inicialmente de púrpura trombocitopénica idiopática. Tras una detallada historia familiar y el desarrollo de síntomas clínicos posteriores con afectación renal e hipoacusia, se le realizó un estudio genético que nos permitió el diagnóstico de nefropatía asociada a la mutación en el gen MYH9. Este caso destaca el retraso del diagnóstico y la utilidad del estudio genético en pacientes con enfermedades muy poco frecuentes. Se procede a la revisión de la enfermedad en este artículo. Abstract: MYH9 related diseases are caused by mutations in the MYH9 gene and constitute a rare group of genetic entities. Its inheritance follows an autosomal dominant pattern. The MYH9 gene, encodes the nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA, expressed in different tissues and especially in podocytes and mesangial cells. The disorder is characterized by the presence of macrothrombocytopenia, leukocyte inclusions and a variable risk of developing renal failure, hearing loss and early-onset cataracts. We describe the case of a 27-year-old Caucasian woman, diagnosed initially with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. After a detailed family history and the appearance of renal involvement and hearing loss, genetic testing allowed to make the diagnosis of nephropathy associated with MYH9 mutation. This case is an example of the delayed diagnosis of uncommon diseases and highlights the usefulness genetic testing. A review of the disease is provided. Palabras clave: Nefropatía MYH9, Hipoacusia, Trombocitopenia, Síndrome de Alport, Síndrome de Epstein, Anomalía de May-Hegglin, Sindrome de Sebastián, Keywords: MYH9 nephropathy, Hearing loss, Thrombocytopenia, Alport syndrome, Epstein syndrome, May-Hegglin anomal