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F1000Research 2024Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common with a global prevalence of 4%. Dietary regimes with a low content of fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyol... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common with a global prevalence of 4%. Dietary regimes with a low content of fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyol (FODMAP) or a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet (SSRD) have proven to be efficient. The aim of the present study was to describe the recruitment process for a randomized dietary trial with low FODMAP or SSRD for 4 weeks with a follow-up period of 5 months. The results of the dietary trial itself are not included in this paper but will be presented in another publication.
METHODS
The County of Skåne, with 1,41 million inhabitants, was used as a base to perform a dietary trial in which IBS patients, age 18-70 years, were randomized to either low FODMAP or SSRD for 4 weeks. The estimated number of IBS patients in the actual age span was approximately 32,000. The trial was announced through lectures, letters to all primary healthcare centers (n=203), social media (two campaigns), and invitations to IBS patients identified in medical records (n=744).
RESULTS
Three referrals arrived from the healthcare system, 17 patients contacted the investigators in person after receiving information from their healthcare center, and four patients contacted the investigators after recommendations from friends. Of these, 14 were enrolled in the study. From social media, 218 names were delivered, of which 93 fulfilled the study criteria and were willing to participate when contacted by the investigators (42.7%). Of the 3587 identified IBS patients in medical records in close proximity to the hospital, 744 were randomly contacted. Forty-eight patients (6.5 %) were willing to be included in the study. Thus, 155 patients with IBS were included in this study.
CONCLUSIONS
The inclusion rate for dietary intervention was very low considering the large population informed about the study. Announcements on social media seem to be the best way to recruit patients for intervention.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
NCT05192603, 29/11/2021, ClinicalTrials.gov. The PRS URL is https://register.clinicaltrials.gov.
Topics: Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Adult; Middle Aged; Male; Female; Adolescent; Aged; Patient Selection; Young Adult
PubMed: 38939366
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.147710.2 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jun 2024Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome is a rare syndrome, characterized by multiple non-ossifying fibromas (NOF) and cafe-au-lait patches. The name was coined in 1982 by Mirra after... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome is a rare syndrome, characterized by multiple non-ossifying fibromas (NOF) and cafe-au-lait patches. The name was coined in 1982 by Mirra after Jaffe who first described the case in 1958. Although it's suggested there is a relation with Neurofibromatosis type 1, there is still no consensus on whether Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome is a subtype or variant of neurofibromatosis-1(NF-1).
CASE PRESENTATION
In this article, we present a case series of 2 patients. The first case is a 13-year-old male with Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome who presented with a distal femur fracture. His father had positive features of both Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome and NF-1, while his sister only had features of NF-1, so we presented both.
CONCLUSION
Jaffe-Campanacci has a clear relationship with type 1 neurofibromatosis, which still has to be genetically established. Due to the presence of several large non-ossifying fibromas of the long bones, it is linked to a significant risk of pathological fractures. We concur with previous authors, that an osseous screening program should be performed for all patients with newly diagnosed type 1 neurofibromatosis, to identify non-ossifying fibromas and assess the potential for pathological fracture. Moreover, siblings of patients with NF-1 should be screened for multiple NOFs that may carry a high risk of pathological fractures.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adolescent; Neurofibromatosis 1; Cafe-au-Lait Spots; Female; Fibroma; Femoral Fractures
PubMed: 38937801
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07581-0 -
Der Nervenarzt Jun 2024Which theoretical and practical competences do the neurological and psychiatric case histories of the Hippocratic Corpus convey? (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Which theoretical and practical competences do the neurological and psychiatric case histories of the Hippocratic Corpus convey?
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The 431 Hippocratic case histories have been studied for reports and communication on the diagnostics, treatment and prognosis of single persons and groups of patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric diseases.
RESULTS
In the 7 books of the Hippocratic Epidemics, a total of 128 patients with neurological and psychiatric symptoms are described. Epidemic fever and its variants were the leading predisposing conditions and the main symptoms were delirium, coma, insomnia, headache, speech disorders and convulsions. A number of patients with phrenitis and opisthotonos are also reported. The majority of the sick persons were male, were teenagers or adults and 47 of them are mentioned by name. The patient's information about the course is often just as informative as the doctor's observations. Treatment was limited to physical and dietary measures.
DISCUSSION
The Hippocratic physician diagnosed and attempted to treat a large number of neurological and psychiatric diseases. The often almost continuous observations of the patients led to astonishingly precise predictions of the course and the prospects of recovery. Numerous symptoms described in the case studies, including carphologia and opisthotonus, have entered the neurological vocabulary. The retrospective etiological analysis of the reports leads to the almost explicit identification of neurosyphilis and encephalitis lethargica. The therapeutic measures described by the author were, as the changeable course of the diseases shows, only of limited effectiveness despite a very differentiated application over time, both against the underlying diseases and the neurological and psychiatric complications.
PubMed: 38937324
DOI: 10.1007/s00115-024-01698-2 -
American Journal of Pharmaceutical... Jun 2024Prefixes and suffixes in pharmacy might suggest a drug class, generation, or mechanism of action. As pharmacy educators we also use an alphabet soup of acronyms and...
Prefixes and suffixes in pharmacy might suggest a drug class, generation, or mechanism of action. As pharmacy educators we also use an alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations to describe board certifications or professional organizations and our affiliation to them. While we may be experts in nomenclature and abbreviations related to health professions education, sometimes we also have to remind ourselves to be humble and embrace a learning mindset relative to the abbreviations and naming conventions used more broadly in higher education and in other fields. This article discusses the use of abbreviations in minority serving institutions as well as the financial, historical, and political implications surrounding their names and definitions. The need to appreciate institutional designations and what they represent is not unique to minority-serving institutions or solely the responsibility of personnel who lead diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts. Appreciating what institution designations mean is a logical first step towards discovering and acting upon the possibilities to facilitate and support the success of all learners recruited into the pharmacy profession.
PubMed: 38936480
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.100744 -
Acta Neuropathologica Communications Jun 2024A novel histomolecular tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), the "diffuse glioneuronal tumor with oligodendroglioma-like features and nuclear clusters (DGONC)," has...
Diffuse glioneuronal tumor with oligodendroglioma-like features and nuclear clusters (DGONC), new name and new problems: an illustration of one case with atypical morphology and biology.
A novel histomolecular tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), the "diffuse glioneuronal tumor with oligodendroglioma-like features and nuclear clusters (DGONC)," has recently been identified, based on a distinct DNA methylation profile and has been added to the 2021 World Health Organization Classification of CNS Tumors. This glioneuronal tumor mainly affects the supratentorial area in children and recurrently presents with a monosomy of chromosome 14. Herein, we report the case of a DNA-methylation based diagnosis of DGONC having atypical features, such as pseudo-rosettes and the absence of a chromosome 14 monosomy, thus rendering its diagnosis very challenging. Because of the wide variety of morphologies harbored by DGONC, a large range of differential diagnoses may be hypothesized from benign to malignant. Interestingly, the current case, like one previously reported, exhibited a co-expression of OLIG2, synaptophysin and SOX10, without GFAP immunopositivity. This particular immunophenotype seems to be a good indicator for a DGONC diagnosis. The classification of DGONC amongst glioneuronal or embryonal tumors is still debated. The clinical (a pediatric supratentorial tumor), morphological (from a benign oligodendroglioma-like tumor with microcalcifications and possible neuropil-like islands to a malignant embryonal tumor with a possible spongioblastic pattern), and immunohistochemical (co-expression of OLIG2 and synaptophsyin) profiles resemble CNS, neuroblastoma, FOXR2-activated and may potentially bring them together in a future classification. Further comprehensive studies are needed to conclude the cellular origin of DGONC and its prognosis.
Topics: Child; Humans; Brain Neoplasms; DNA Methylation; Oligodendroglioma
PubMed: 38926880
DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01822-y -
Anaerobe Jun 2024The genus Faecalibacterium is one of the most important butyrate producers in the human intestinal tract and has been widely linked to health. Recently, several...
OBJECTIVES
The genus Faecalibacterium is one of the most important butyrate producers in the human intestinal tract and has been widely linked to health. Recently, several different species are described, but still more phylogroups have been identified, suggesting that additional species may exist. Four strains HTF-F, HTF-128, HTF-75H and HTF-76H, representing two different phylogenetic clusters, are evaluated in this study.
METHODS
Phylogenomic analysis was performed using whole-genome sequences and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Chemotaxonomic analysis was done based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Physiological and phenotypical characteristics of these strains were also determined. All characteristics of these strains were compared with other validly published species within the genus Faecalibacterium.
RESULTS
On a genomic level, the four strains shared an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of <95.0% and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) of <70.0 with other Faecalibacterium species, while between HTF-F and HTF-128 the ANI-value was 97.18% and the dDDH was 76.8%. HTF-75H and HTF-76H had an ANI and dDDH value of 100% (99.96%) and 100% (99.99%) respectively. 16S rRNA gene and chemotaxonomic analysis were in accordance with the genomic data, confirming that the four strains represent two different Faecalibacterium species.
CONCLUSIONS
Faecalibacterium strains HTF-F (=DSM 117771 =NCIMB 15531), HTF-128, HTF-75H (=DSM 17770 =NCIMB 15530) and HTF-76H represent two novel species. The names Faecalibacterium wellingii with HTF-F as type strain and Faecalibacterium langellae with HTF-75H as type strain are proposed.
PubMed: 38925221
DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102881 -
Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B Jun 2024Pathogenesis of epilepsy involves dysregulation of the neurotransmitter system contributing to hyper-excitability of neuronal cells. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pathogenesis of epilepsy involves dysregulation of the neurotransmitter system contributing to hyper-excitability of neuronal cells. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs known to play a crucial role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
METHODS
The present review was prepared following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, employing a comprehensive search strategy to identify and extract data from published research articles. Keywords suchas epilepsy, micro RNA (micro RNAs, miRNA, miRNAs, miR), neurotransmitters (specific names), and neurotransmitter receptors (specific names) were used to construct the query.
RESULTS
A total of 724 articles were identified using the keywords epilepsy, microRNA along with select neurotransmitter and neurotransmitter receptor names. After exclusions, the final selection consisted of 17 studies, most of which centered on glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Singular studies also investigated miRNAs affecting cholinergic, purinergic, and glycine receptors.
CONCLUSION
This review offers a concise overview of the current knowledge on miRNA-mediated regulation of neurotransmitter receptors in epilepsy and highlights their potential for future clinical application.
PubMed: 38924965
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109912 -
Seizure Jun 2024In children and adolescents with epilepsy (CAWE), disturbed sleep and functional difficulties are frequently present, but their relationship is unclear. In this scoping...
AIM
In children and adolescents with epilepsy (CAWE), disturbed sleep and functional difficulties are frequently present, but their relationship is unclear. In this scoping review we aimed to explore associations between sleep and functional outcomes in CAWE.
METHOD
We registered the protocol with open science framework and conducted the review according to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed for original studies reporting on relations between sleep and functional outcomes (adaptive/quality of life, behavioural/mood, cognitive & academic) in CAWE. To assess the quality of studies we used an extended version of the checklist employed by Winsor and colleagues [1].
RESULTS
We identified 14 studies that included 1,785 CAWE and 1,260 control children, with a mean age of 9.94 and 10.13 years, respectively. The studies were highly heterogeneous with respect to samples, epilepsy variables, and methods used to assess sleep and functional outcomes. The quality of studies was medium. Associations between sleep and adaptive/quality of life, behavioural/mood, cognitive and academic outcomes were examined in 2, 10, 6, and 0 studies, respectively. Across studies, in CAWE, greater sleep disturbances were related to worse behavioural/mood outcomes, ranging from depression/anxiety to ADHD symptoms. Sleep disturbances did not consistently relate to cognitive outcomes, but they related to worse adaptive outcomes in both studies that examined their relationship.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides evidence of relationship between disturbed sleep and behavioural/mood difficulties, which alerts to the need for careful evaluation and treatment of sleep disturbances in CAWE. Our study also highlights the need to examine relationships between sleep and other functional outcomes in CAWE, as studies conducted in the general population suggest that sleep disturbances may be modifiable and associated with improved functional outcomes.
PubMed: 38924846
DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2024.06.006 -
JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics Jun 2024Real-world data (RWD) collected on patients treated as part of routine clinical care form the basis of cancer clinical registries. Capturing accurate death data can be...
PURPOSE
Real-world data (RWD) collected on patients treated as part of routine clinical care form the basis of cancer clinical registries. Capturing accurate death data can be challenging, with inaccurate survival data potentially compromising the integrity of registry-based research. Here, we explore the utility of data linkage (DL) to state-based registries to enhance the capture of survival outcomes.
METHODS
We identified consecutive adult patients with brain tumors treated in the state of Victoria from the Brain Tumour Registry Australia: Innovation and Translation (BRAIN) database, who had no recorded date of death and no follow-up within the last 6 months. Full name and date of birth were used to match patients in the BRAIN registry with those in the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. Overall survival (OS) outcomes were compared pre- and post-DL.
RESULTS
Of the 7,346 clinical registry patients, 5,462 (74%) had no date of death and no follow-up recorded within the last 6 months. Of the 5,462 patients, 1,588 (29%) were matched with a date of death in BDM. Factors associated with an increased number of matches were poor prognosis tumors, older age, and social disadvantage. OS was significantly overestimated pre-DL compared with post-DL for the entire cohort (pre- post-DL: hazard ratio, 1.43; < .001; median, 29.9 months 16.7 months) and for most individual tumor types. This finding was present independent of the tumor prognosis.
CONCLUSION
As revealed by linkage with BDM, a high proportion of patients in a brain cancer clinical registry had missing death data, contributed to by informative censoring, inflating OS calculations. DL to pertinent registries on an ongoing basis should be considered to ensure accurate reporting of survival data and interpretation of RWD outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Registries; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Aged; Data Accuracy; Adult; Brain Neoplasms; Medical Record Linkage; Aged, 80 and over; Prognosis; Information Storage and Retrieval
PubMed: 38924710
DOI: 10.1200/CCI.24.00025 -
International Journal of Infectious... Jun 2024We evaluated the changes and molecular epidemiology of meningococcal carriage in military recruits after quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MenACWY)...
Effectiveness of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine against meningococcal carriage and genotype character changes: A secondary analysis of prospective cohort study in Korean military trainees.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the changes and molecular epidemiology of meningococcal carriage in military recruits after quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MenACWY) vaccination.
METHODS
Oropharyngeal swabs were obtained at the beginning and end of the 5-week training. Carriage rates before and after vaccination were compared to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE). Cultured isolates were characterized by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST).
RESULTS
Of 866 vaccinated participants, the overall carriage rate was 10.6% prior to MenACWY vaccination and it tended to decrease to 9.5% after 5 weeks of vaccination (P =0.424). Carriage rate of serogroup ACWY decreased significantly after vaccination (VE = 72.6%, 95%CI: 36.3 - 88.2%), and serogroup C was particularly reduced (VE = 83.0%, 95%CI: 50.6 - 94.1%), whereas nongroupable isolates increased significantly after vaccination (VE = -76.1%, 95%CI: -176.2 - -13.1%). Among 99 carriage isolates with complete MLST profiles, 45 different sequence types with nine clonal complexes (CCs) were identified, and 35.3% of the carriage isolates belonged to hypervirulent strains such as CC-32, CC-41/44, and CC-269.
CONCLUSIONS
MenACWY vaccination in military recruits led to reduced carriage rates of serogroups C, W, and Y within a short 5-week period. However, serogroup B isolates belonging to the hypervirulent lineage remained after the implementation of MenACWY vaccination.
PubMed: 38914368
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107150