Weinreichwerner1688
Plotting exacerbation rate versus mortality rate for the treatment groups in two recent controlled trials investigating triple therapy in COPD, there is a significant positive correlation supporting a positive impact of inhaled therapy on mortality https//bit.ly/35jbEiN.
A high hepatitis B virus (HBV) load is a common exclusion criterion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinical trials for anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1 immunotherapy. However, the validity of this criterion is barely verified. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of baseline HBV DNA levels and antiviral therapy on the oncological outcomes and liver functions of patients with HCC receiving anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
We reviewed HCC trials related to anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy and whether they ruled out patients with increased HBV loads on clinicaltrials.gov. Then, for this retrospective study, we enrolled 253 HCC patients treated with anti-PD-1 blockade in our institution. Baseline information was compared between patients with low and high HBV loads. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared, and univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to identify potential risk factors for oncological outcomes and hepatic impairment.
Among 76 HCC clinical trials including 13,927 patients receiving anti-PD-(L)1 blockade, 41 (53.9%) excluded patients with relatively high baseline HBV loads. The PFS and OS did not differ significantly between patients with baseline HBV loads ≤ 2000 IU/mL and those with viral loads >2000 IU/mL (p=0.615 and 0.982). The incidence of hepatic impairment showed no association with the baseline HBV load (p=0.319). Patients receiving antiviral therapy had a better OS than those without antiviral therapy in the high baseline HBV load group (p= 0.001).
High HBV loads did not compromise the clinical outcomes of HCC patients receiving anti-PD-1 blockade. Antiviral therapy could improve the OS of HCC patients with high HBV loads.
High HBV loads did not compromise the clinical outcomes of HCC patients receiving anti-PD-1 blockade. Antiviral therapy could improve the OS of HCC patients with high HBV loads.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a virus that is present in most bodily fluids. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 is present in the semen remains underexplored. Thus, we systematically reviewed the existing studies on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen.
A literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Ovid databases was performed for articles from the dates of their inception to August 2020 using the following keywords COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, seminal, semen, and sperm. After excluding non-human studies and articles that were not in the English language, we identified 19 relevant studies. The full text of the articles were reviewed and a total of eight articles remained after applying our selection criteria.
After reviewing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the eight different studies using semen samples, only one reported the presence of the virus. IBMX Six out of 160 total semen samples with SARS-CoV-2 positive demonstrated the presence of viral RNA recovered men. Future studies need to focus on whether complete viral particles can be seen in semen and the possibility of sexual transmission.With an overall 5-year survival rate >95%, patients with testicular cancer have a great prognosis. Although initial diagnosis is based on clinical examination, imaging does play a significant role in the diagnosis and prognosis of testicular cancer, which are dependent on tumor burden and staging. Successful treatment requires appropriate disease assessment throughout a patient's treatment evaluating treatment response, restaging, and monitoring for disease recurrence after treatment completion. Ultrasound is usually the initial screening modality for painless testicular masses, and computedtomography (CT) the most commonly used for staging and restaging. However, with regard to seminomas, positron-emission tomography (PET) combined with CT is slowly taking priority. With regard to nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors, PET-CT has not proven to be completely effective, due to a high number of false-negative results. The purpose of this paper is to provide radiologists with a pictorial review of testicular carcinoma from initial staging through posttreatment follow-up.
is a category A infective agent that causes bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. Notably, the acquisition of antimicrobial or multidrug resistance through natural or purposed means qualifies
as a potential biothreat agent. Therefore, high-quality antibodies designed for accurate and sensitive
diagnostics, and therapeutics potentiating or replacing traditional antibiotics are of utmost need for national security and public health preparedness.
Here, we describe a set of human monoclonal immunoglobulins (IgG1s) targeting
fraction 1 (F1) antigen, previously derived from in vitro evolution of a phage-display library of single-chain antibodies (scFv). We extensively characterized these antibodies and their effect on bacterial and mammalian cells via ELISA, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and various metabolic assays.
Two of our anti-F1 IgG (αF1Ig 2 and αF1Ig 8) stood out for high production yield, specificity, and stability. These two antibodies were additionally attractive in that they displayed picomolar affinity, did not compete when binding
, and retained immunoreactivity upon chemical derivatization. Most importantly, these antibodies detected <1,000
cells in sandwich ELISA, did not harm respiratory epithelial cells, induced
agglutination at low concentration (350 nM), and caused apparent reduction in cell growth when radiolabeled at a nonagglutinating concentration (34 nM).
These antibodies are amenable to the development of accurate and sensitive diagnostics and immuno/radioimmunotherapeutics.
These antibodies are amenable to the development of accurate and sensitive diagnostics and immuno/radioimmunotherapeutics.
This study investigated the effects of physically damaged and resin-contaminated tips on radiant emittance, comparing them with new undamaged, non-contaminated tips using 3 pieces of spectrophotometric laboratory equipment.
Nine tips with damage and/or resin contaminants from actual clinical situations were compared with a new tip without damage or contamination (control group). The radiant emittance was recorded using 3 spectrophotometric methods a laboratory-grade thermopile, a laboratory-grade integrating sphere, and a portable light collector (checkMARC).
A significant difference between the laboratory-grade thermopile and the laboratory-grade integrating sphere was found when the radiant emittance values of the control or damaged/contaminated tips were investigated (
< 0.05), but both methods were comparable to checkMARC (
> 0.05). Regardless of the method used to quantify the light output, the mean radiant emittance values of the damaged/contaminated tips were significantly lower than th to ensure optimal curing in photoactivated, resin-based materials.
This study aimed to synthesize nanocrystals (NCs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and calcium ion (Ca
)-doped ZnO with different percentages of calcium oxide (CaO), to evaluate cytotoxicity and to assess the effects of the most promising NCs on cytotoxicity depending on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation.
Nanomaterials were synthesized (ZnO and ZnOxCa, x = 0.7; 1.0; 5.0; 9.0) and characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and methylene blue degradation. SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7 were treated with NCs, and evaluated for viability using the MTT assay. NCs with lower cytotoxicity were maintained in contact with LPS-stimulated (+LPS) and nonstimulated (-LPS) human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated. Cells kept in culture medium or LPS served as negative and positive controls, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and the Dunnett test (α = 0.05) were used for statistical testing.
ZnO0.7Ca and ZnO1.0Ca at 10 µg/mL were not cytotoxic to SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7. +LPS and -LPS hDPCs treated with ZnO, ZnO0.7Ca, and ZnO1.0Ca presented similar NO production to negative control (
> 0.05) and lower production compared to positive control (
< 0.05). All NCs showed reduced ROS production compared with the positive control group both in +LPS and -LPS cells (
< 0.05).
NCs were successfully synthesized. ZnO, ZnO0.7Ca and ZnO1.0Ca presented the highest percentages of cell viability, decreased ROS and NO production in +LPS cells, and maintenance of NO production at basal levels.
NCs were successfully synthesized. ZnO, ZnO0.7Ca and ZnO1.0Ca presented the highest percentages of cell viability, decreased ROS and NO production in +LPS cells, and maintenance of NO production at basal levels.
This study investigated the incidence of root dentin defects after the use of different post space preparation (PSP) drills.
Seventy-two bovine incisors were selected and obtained 14-mm-long root sections. Twelve roots served as controls with no intervention (G1). The 60 root canals remaining were instrumented using the crown-down technique with the ProTaper Next system and obturated using the lateral condensation technique. Specimens were randomly distributed into 5 groups (
= 12) according to the operative steps performed G2, root canal instrumentation and filling (I+F); G3, I+F and PSP with Gates-Glidden drills; G4, I+F and PSP with Largo-Peeso reamers; G5, I+F and PSP with Exacto drill; and G6, I+F and PSP with WhitePost drill. Roots were sectioned at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mm from the apex, and digital images were captured. The presence of root dentin defects was recorded. Data were analyzed by the χ
test, with
< 0.05 considered to indicate statistical significance.
Root dentin defects were observed in 39.6% of the root sections. No defects were observed in G1. G5 had significantly more cracks and craze lines than G1, G2, and G3 (
< 0.05), and more fractures than G1, G2, G3, and G4 (
< 0.05). When all root sections were analyzed together, significantly more defects were observed at the 12-mm level than at the 3-mm level (
< 0.05).
PSP drills caused defects in the root dentin. Gates-Glidden drills caused fewer root defects than Largo-Peeso reamers and Exacto drills.
PSP drills caused defects in the root dentin. Gates-Glidden drills caused fewer root defects than Largo-Peeso reamers and Exacto drills.
Yttria-stabilized tetragonal phase zirconia has been used as a dental restorative material for over a decade. While it is still the strongest and toughest ceramic, its translucency remains as a significant drawback. To overcome this, stabilizing the translucency zirconia to a significant cubic crystalline phase by increasing the yttria content to more than 8 mol% (8YTZP). However, the biocompatibility of a high amount of yttria is still an important topic that needs to be investigated.
Commercially available 8YTZP plates were used. To enhance cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, the surface of the 8YTZP is sequentially polished with a SiC-coated abrasive paper and surface coating with type I collagen. Fibroblast-like cells L929 used for cell adherence and cell proliferation analysis, and mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) used for cell differentiation analysis.
The results revealed that all samples, regardless of the surface treatment, are hydrophilic and showed a strong affinity for water.
