Colonic cyst in a cat presenting recurrent constipation and abdominal pain

A 5-year-old domestic short-haired spayed female cat was presented for abdominal pain and suspended defecation. Abdominal radiographs confirmed constipation; abdominal ultrasonography showed a cystic oval structure attached to the colon. The structure exhibited a well-defined wall, composed of three layers. Its content was mildly echogenic and inhomogeneous. Laparotomy was performed and complete resection of the structure, and of part of the colon, was required (end-to-end anastomosis). Histopathology confirmed the structure to be a cystic formation of the colon with some areas of mucosal metaplasia. However the question whether the cystic structure was consistent with an intestinal duplication cyst - which is the most likely type of cyst in this particular case - a Meckel's diverticulum remnant, a vitelline duct cyst or a cystic diverticulum of the colon could not be resolved. Postoperatively, no further other episode of constipation occurred.

Ultrastructural markers of quality are impaired in human metaphase II aged oocytes: a comparison between reproductive and in vitro aging

PURPOSE

Childbearing delay contributes to the increase of subfertile couples that require assisted reproductive technology (ART). Subfertility relates with reproductive aging (RA). In vitro aging (IvA) (due to extended culture) may also impair oocyte competence. Aims of this study were to evaluate and compare the oocyte ultrastructure after RA and IvA.

METHODS

Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) (n = 68), with metaphase II oocyte and expanded cumulus, from consenting patients (<35 years old and ≥35 years old, n = 36), were selected by phase contrast microscopy and fixed at pick up, or after 24 h culture. COCs (n = 44) were studied by light and qualitative/morphometric transmission electron microscopy. Two-way ANOVA, with age and culture as grouping factors, was applied for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Metaphase II cumulus-free oocytes (n = 24) were selected for confocal microscopy observations.

RESULTS

Significant decrease of mitochondria-smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates, increase of mitochondria-vesicle complexes size and amount, decrease of cortical granules and microvilli, and alterations of the spindle structure characterized both RA and IvA oocytes. These changes were significantly more evident in the RA oocytes submitted to IvA. RA oocytes also showed changes of the zona pellucida and occurrence of vacuoles after culture. Cumuli appeared re-compacted after culture, irrespective of the age of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrated that aging is related to decay of oocyte ultrastructural quality, and that oocytes from elder women are more sensitive to prolonged culture (IvA) than the oocytes from younger women. These morphological results should be considered when applying ART in aged patients, rescue ICSI, or artificial oocyte activation.

Seed priming: state of the art and new perspectives

Priming applied to commercial seed lots is widely used by seed technologists to enhance seed vigour in terms of germination potential and increased stress tolerance. Priming can be also valuable to seed bank operators who need improved protocols of ex situ conservation of germplasm collections (crop and native species). Depending on plant species, seed morphology and physiology, different priming treatments can be applied, all of them triggering the so-called 'pre-germinative metabolism'. This physiological process takes place during early seed imbibition and includes the seed repair response (activation of DNA repair pathways and antioxidant mechanisms), essential to preserve genome integrity, ensuring proper germination and seedling development. The review provides an overview of priming technology, describing the range of physical-chemical and biological treatments currently available. Optimised priming protocols can be designed using the 'hydrotime concept' analysis which provides the theoretical bases for assessing the relationship between water potential and germination rate. Despite the efforts so far reported to further improve seed priming, novel ideas and cutting-edge investigations need to be brought into this technological sector of agri-seed industry. Multidisciplinary translational research combining digital, bioinformatic and molecular tools will significantly contribute to expand the range of priming applications to other relevant commercial sectors, e.g. the native seed market.

Long-term outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated frontline with imatinib

For almost 10 years imatinib has been the therapeutic standard of chronic myeloid leukemia. The introduction of other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) raised a debate on treatment optimization. The debate is still heated: some studies have protocol restrictions or limited follow-up; in other studies, some relevant data are missing. The aim of this report is to provide a comprehensive, long-term, intention-to-treat, analysis of 559 newly diagnosed, chronic-phase, patients treated frontline with imatinib. With a minimum follow-up of 66 months, 65% of patients were still on imatinib, 19% were on alternative treatment, 12% died and 4% were lost to follow-up. The prognostic value of BCR-ABL1 ratio at 3 months (⩽10% in 81% of patients) was confirmed. The prognostic value of complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response at 1 year was confirmed. The 6-year overall survival was 89%, but as 50% of deaths occurred in remission, the 6-year cumulative incidence of leukemia-related death was 5%. The long-term outcome of first-line imatinib was excellent, also because of second-line treatment with other TKIs, but all responses and outcomes were inferior in high-risk patients, suggesting that to optimize treatment results, a specific risk-adapted treatment is needed for such patients.

Drug dose as mediator of treatment effect in antidepressant drug trials: the case of fluoxetine

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at investigating whether dose is a mediator of treatment effect in fluoxetine-randomized trials. Specifically, we investigated whether dose was higher in trials in which the aim was to demonstrate fluoxetine efficacy in comparison with older antidepressants and lower in trials in which the aim was to demonstrate a new drug's efficacy against fluoxetine.

METHOD

We applied the model developed by Baron and Kenny to investigate the mediational role of drug dose on treatment effect. We included all randomized controlled trials comparing fluoxetine with other antidepressants as monotherapy in the acute-phase treatment of unipolar major depression.

RESULTS

A total of 173 studies were included. In 76 comparisons (44%), fluoxetine was the experimental antidepressant. A metaregression analysis indicated that after adjusting for possible confounders, studies where fluoxetine was the experimental agent were associated with a significant advantage for fluoxetine. However, the Baron and Kenny model revealed no mediational role of drug dose in influencing treatment effect.

CONCLUSION

The outcome of fluoxetine-randomized trials changed according to whether this drug was used as a new compound or as a reference. This finding cannot be attributed to antidepressants dose, as dose failed to emerge as mediator of treatment effect in the Baron and Kenny approach.

Prognostic factors for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNET) and the risk of small non-functioning pNET

BACKGROUND

Non-functioning (NF) pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) often have an indolent outcome. A consensus to submit patients with large (>2 cm) NF-pNET to surgery already exists; but a conservative approach for small (≤2 cm) NF neoplasms has been proposed.

AIM

To identify prognostic factors for survival and progression free survival (PFS) of NF-pNET, evaluating whether surgery may be avoided for small NF-pNET.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Retrospective study of 77 consecutive patients with pNET submitted to surgery, of which 60 were NF. Pathological tissues were revised according to the 2000 and 2010 WHO classifications. Risk factors for survival and PFS were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression model.

RESULTS

The 8-year cause-specific survival of NF-pNET was 79.3%. At univariate analysis, high grading, high staging, large tumors, angioinvasion and peri-pancreatic infiltration were significantly associated with a shorter survival; at multivariate analysis only peri-pancreatic infiltration was significantly associated with a shorter NF-pNET survival. Most small NF-pNET were grade 1 (74%), compared to large NF-pNET (27%). Distant metastases were present in 29.7% (n = 11) and 17.4% (n = 4) of patients with large or small NF-pNET, respectively; among the 19 small NF-pNET without metastasis, five had a local malignancy (lymph node metastasis or local infiltration); thus, 39% of the 23 NF-pNET, turned out to have a malignant potential.

CONCLUSIONS

Among NF-pNET, large neoplasms were associated with worse outcomes; however, small NF-pNET do not seem to have an invariable benign behavior. Whether surgery should be avoided in all patients with small NF-pNET is questionable.

[Magnetic resonance and extramural vascular invasion in patients with rectal cancer and liver metastases]

BACKGROUND

Extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) in patients with rectal cancer (RC) is associated with more locally advanced tumors, and independently predicts local and distant recurrence and poor overall survival.

OBJETIVE

To determine the association between EMVI and synchronous liver metastases in patients with RC.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study including patients with cancer of middle and lower rectum, which were evaluated with magnetic resonance (MRI) for initial staging in the period from January 2011 to January 2012 inclusive. All patients were evaluated with MRI for EMVI and were followed for a year to detect synchronous liver metastases by imaging methods (January 2012 to January 2013 inclusive). Multivariate analysis was performed by logistic regression.

RESULTS

We included 68 patients. Twenty had liver metastases during the observation period (29.41%), of whom 15 had signs of MRI EMVI (75%). The incidence of synchronous liver metastases had a marginally significant association with the presence of EMVI (RR 3.35, 95% CI: 1.0001-11.2187, P = 0.050).

CONCLUSION

The presence of MRI EVMI is a poor prognostic predictor factor of development of synchronous liver metastases in patients with RC.

Abnormalities in cortical gray matter density in borderline personality disorder

BACKGROUND

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a chronic condition with a strong impact on patients' affective, cognitive and social functioning. Neuroimaging techniques offer invaluable tools to understand the biological substrate of the disease. We aimed to investigate gray matter alterations over the whole cortex in a group of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC).

METHODS

Magnetic resonance-based cortical pattern matching was used to assess cortical gray matter density (GMD) in 26 BPD patients and in their age- and sex-matched HC (age: 38 ± 11; females: 16, 61%).

RESULTS

BPD patients showed widespread lower cortical GMD compared to HC (4% difference) with peaks of lower density located in the dorsal frontal cortex, in the orbitofrontal cortex, the anterior and posterior cingulate, the right parietal lobe, the temporal lobe (medial temporal cortex and fusiform gyrus) and in the visual cortex (P<0.005). Our BPD subjects displayed a symmetric distribution of anomalies in the dorsal aspect of the cortical mantle, but a wider involvement of the left hemisphere in the mesial aspect in terms of lower density. A few restricted regions of higher density were detected in the right hemisphere. All regions remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons via permutation testing.

CONCLUSIONS

BPD patients feature specific morphology of the cerebral structures involved in cognitive and emotional processing and social cognition/mentalization, consistent with clinical and functional data.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: A Comprehensive Review

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is a complex pulmonary syndrome mediated by the immune system and caused by inhalation of a wide variety of antigens to which the individual has been previously sensitized. The pathobiology of the disease is not fully understood, but in addition to the triggers that initiate the disease, host/genetic factors are likely to be important, as only a minority of exposed individuals develop HP. Due to the lack of a diagnostic gold standard, the diagnosis of HP is not straightforward and relies on the integration of a number of factors, including history of exposure, precipitating antibodies to the offending antigen, clinical features, bronchoalveolar lavage, and radiological and pathologic features. However, in the appropriate setting, a high index of suspicion is critically important and may obviate the need for more invasive tests. Clinical presentation and natural history vary widely. Acute forms generally resolve without sequelae, while chronic forms, which are caused by persistent low-grade exposures, are associated with poor prognosis. Corticosteroids may be useful in acute episodes for symptomatic relief or in chronic and progressive disease, but their long-term efficacy has never been validated in prospective clinical trials. Ideally, patients with HP should be referred to centers with expertise, as the overlap with other forms of interstitial lung disease may be substantial. Making the correct diagnosis has critical therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Differences among young adults, adults and elderly chronic myeloid leukemia patients

BACKGROUND

The incidence of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) increases with age, but it is unclear how the characteristics of the disease vary with age. In children, where CML is very rare, it presents with more aggressive features, including huge splenomegaly, higher cell count and higher blast cell percentage.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

To investigate if after childhood the disease maintains or loses these characteristics of aggressiveness, we analyzed 2784 adult patients, at least 18 years old, registered by GIMEMA CML WP over a 40-year period.

RESULTS

Young adults (YAs: 18-29 years old) significantly differed from adults (30-59 years old) and elderly patients (at least 60 years old) particularly for the frequency of splenomegaly (71%, 63% and 55%, P < 0.001), and the greater spleen size (median value: 4.5, 3.0 and 1.0 cm, P < 0.001). According to the EUTOS score, that is age-independent, high-risk patients were more frequent among YAs, than among adult and elderly patients (18%, 9% and 6%, P < 0.001). In tyrosine kinase inhibitors-treated patients, the rates of complete cytogenetic and major molecular response were lower in YAs, and the probability of transformation was higher (16%, 5% and 7%, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristics of CML or the host response to leukemia differ with age. The knowledge of these differences and of their causes may help to refine the treatment and to improve the outcome.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBERS

NCT00510926, NCT00514488, NCT00769327, NCT00481052.

Lower prolactin levels during cabergoline treatment are associated to tumor shrinkage in prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma

Dopamine agonists are considered as the first line therapy in prolactin (PRL) secreting pituitary adenomas inducing a normalization of serum PRL and reduction of tumor size. It is known that serum PRL levels, obtained during treatment, are a predictor of tumor shrinkage. Whether PRL suppression below the lower limit of the normal range is related to a greater chance of tumor shrinkage than just its normalization has not been established. This retrospective cohort study was carried out in a tertiary center. Clinical records of 151 patients with PRL-secreting pituitary adenomas (73 micro-, 78 macroadenomas) treated with cabergoline for at least 24 months were analyzed. The adenoma size was analyzed by MRI before and after 24 months of treatment. PRL levels were evaluated every 6 months, assigning a score at each time point (PRL 0 = suppressed; 1 = normal; 2 = above normal). The total score, after 24 months of treatment, was expressed as the sum of the score at each time point and ranged between 0 and 8. A tumor shrinkage was observed in 102/151 patients (67.5%) and it was significantly associated to a lower PRL total score (p = 0.021, OR = 0.85, CI = 0.73-0.97), being significantly more frequent in patients with suppressed PRL than in those with normal PRL (p = 0.045, OR = 0.42, CI = 0.18-0.98) at 24 months. Cabergoline therapy with the goal of achieving PRL levels below the lower limit of normal range can increase the chance to obtain tumor shrinkage of PRL-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Premature senescence in primary muscle cultures of myotonic dystrophy type 2 is not associated with p16 induction

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are multisystemic disorders linked to two different genetic loci and characterized by several features including myotonia, muscle weakness and atrophy, cardiac dysfunctions, cataracts and insulin-resistance. In both forms, expanded nucleotide sequences cause the accumulation of mutant transcripts in the nucleus deregulating the activity of some RNA-binding proteins and providing an explanation for the multisystemic phenotype of DM patients. However this pathogenetic mechanism does not explain some histopathological features of DM skeletal muscle like muscle atrophy. It has been observed that DM muscle shares similarities with the ageing muscle, where the progressive muscle weakness and atrophy is accompanied by a lower regenerative capacity possibly due to the failure in satellite cells activation. The aim of our study is to investigate if DM2 satellite cell derived myoblasts exhibit a premature senescence as reported for DM1 and if alterations in their proliferation potential and differentiation capabilities might contribute to some of the histopathological features observed in DM2 muscles. Our results indicate that DM myoblasts have lower proliferative capability than control myoblasts and reach in vitro senescence earlier than controls. Differentely from DM1, the p16 pathway is not responsible for the premature growth arrest observed in DM2 myoblasts which stop dividing with telomeres shorter than controls. During in vitro senescence, a progressive decrease in fusion index is observable in both DM and control myotubes with no significant differences between groups. Moreover, myotubes obtained from senescent myoblasts appear to be smaller than those from young myoblasts. Taken together, our data indicate a possible role of DM2 premature myoblast senescence in skeletal muscle histopathological alterations i.e., dystrophic changes and type 2 fibre atrophy.

Relationship between rate of infection and markers of inflammation/immunity in Holy Birman cats with feline coronavirus

The aim of this study was to assess whether Holy Birman cats (HB) have a peculiar immune profile and a higher rate of infection by feline coronaviruses (FCoV). Leucocyte and lymphocyte subsets, antibody titers, α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), globulin fractions, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ in blood and fecal FCoV excretion were determined in HB (n = 75) and in cats from other breeds (n = 94). Significantly higher CD4/CD8 ratio, IFN-γ concentration and IL12/IL4 ratio and significantly lower IL-4 concentration and proportion of shedders were found in HB than in other breeds. No other differences were found. In conclusion, this study did not provide evidence of peculiar immune profiles in HB, except for a prevalent Th1 profile, that may explain why in our caseload the rate of shedders was lower in HB than in other breeds.

Hyperbilirubinemia after liver transplantation: the role of coupled plasma filtration adsorption

Hyperbilirubinemia often accompanies liver failure; therefore, artificial liver support devices are currently used as a bridge to more definitive treatments to eliminate water-soluble and albumin-bound toxins. We report 2 patients, of which, after liver transplantation, the first experienced early allograft dysfunction and the other hyperbilirubinemia linked to chronic rejection. After 3 cycles of coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA), the bilirubin promptly decreased in both cases. CPFA is an extracorporeal therapy that uses plasma filtration associated with an adsorbent cartridge and hemofiltration to remove cytokines and inflammatory mediators associated with septic shock, severe sepsis, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Each cycle of treatment lowered the bilirubin of our patients by ∼40%. CPFA deserves attention as a potential inexpensive short-lasting device to treat hyperbilirubinemia after liver surgery or transplantation. Moreover, the effects of CPFA should be further studied to address inflammatory mediators in chronic rejection after liver transplantation or other immunologic disorders.

A phase III study evaluating the safety and efficacy of NEPA, a fixed-dose combination of netupitant and palonosetron, for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting over repeated cycles of chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Safe, effective and convenient antiemetic regimens that preserve benefit over repeated cycles are needed for optimal supportive care during cancer treatment. NEPA, an oral fixed-dose combination of netupitant, a highly selective NK1 receptor antagonist (RA), and palonosetron (PALO), a distinct 5-HT3 RA, was shown to be superior to PALO in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting after a single cycle of highly (HEC) or moderately (MEC) emetogenic chemotherapy in recent trials. This study was designed primarily to assess the safety but also to evaluate the efficacy of NEPA over multiple cycles of HEC and MEC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This multinational, double-blind, randomized phase III study (NCT01376297) in 413 chemotherapy-naïve patients evaluated a single oral dose of NEPA (NETU 300 mg + PALO 0.50 mg) given on day 1 with oral dexamethasone (DEX). An oral 3-day aprepitant (APR) regimen + PALO + DEX was included as a control (3:1 NEPA:APR randomization). In HEC, DEX was administered on days 1-4 and in MEC on day 1. Safety was assessed primarily by adverse events (AEs), including cardiac AEs; efficacy by complete response (CR: no emesis, no rescue).

RESULTS

Patients completed 1961 total chemotherapy cycles (76% MEC, 24% HEC) with 75% completing ≥4 cycles. The incidence/type of AEs was comparable for both groups. Most frequent NEPA-related AEs included constipation (3.6%) and headache (1.0%); there was no indication of increasing AEs over multiple cycles. The majority of AEs were mild/moderate and there were no cardiac safety concerns based on AEs and electrocardiograms. The overall (0-120 h) CR rates in cycle 1 were 81% and 76% for NEPA and APR + PALO, respectively, and antiemetic efficacy was maintained over repeated cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

NEPA, a convenient single oral dose antiemetic targeting dual pathways, was safe, well tolerated and highly effective over multiple cycles of HEC/MEC.

Efficacy and safety of NEPA, an oral combination of netupitant and palonosetron, for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting following highly emetogenic chemotherapy: a randomized dose-ranging pivotal study

BACKGROUND

NEPA is a novel oral fixed-dose combination of netupitant (NETU), a new highly selective neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist (RA) and palonosetron (PALO), a pharmacologically and clinically distinct 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) RA. This study was designed to determine the appropriate clinical dose of NETU to combine with PALO for evaluation in the phase 3 NEPA program.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This randomized, double-blind, parallel group study in 694 chemotherapy naïve patients undergoing cisplatin-based chemotherapy for solid tumors compared three different oral doses of NETU (100, 200, and 300 mg) + PALO 0.50 mg with oral PALO 0.50 mg, all given on day 1. A standard 3-day aprepitant (APR) + IV ondansetron (OND) 32 mg regimen was included as an exploratory arm. All patients received oral dexamethasone on days 1-4. The primary efficacy endpoint was complete response (CR: no emesis, no rescue medication) during the overall (0-120 h) phase.

RESULTS

All NEPA doses showed superior overall CR rates compared with PALO (87.4%, 87.6%, and 89.6% for NEPA100, NEPA200, and NEPA300, respectively versus 76.5% PALO; P < 0.050) with the highest NEPA300 dose studied showing an incremental benefit over lower NEPA doses for all efficacy endpoints. NEPA300 was significantly more effective than PALO and numerically better than APR + OND for all secondary efficacy endpoints of no emesis, no significant nausea, and complete protection (CR plus no significant nausea) rates during the acute (0-24 h), delayed (25-120 h), and overall phases. Adverse events were comparable across groups with no dose response. The percent of patients developing electrocardiogram changes was also comparable.

CONCLUSIONS

Each NEPA dose provided superior prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) compared with PALO following highly emetogenic chemotherapy; however, NEPA300 was the best dose studied, with an advantage over lower doses for all efficacy endpoints. The combination of NETU and PALO was well tolerated with a similar safety profile to PALO and APR + OND.

A randomized phase III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of NEPA, a fixed-dose combination of netupitant and palonosetron, for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting following moderately emetogenic chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Antiemetic guidelines recommend co-administration of agents that target multiple molecular pathways involved in emesis to maximize prevention and control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). NEPA is a new oral fixed-dose combination of 300 mg netupitant, a highly selective NK1 receptor antagonist (RA) and 0.50 mg palonosetron (PALO), a pharmacologically and clinically distinct 5-HT3 RA, which targets dual antiemetic pathways.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel group phase III study (NCT01339260) in 1455 chemotherapy-naïve patients receiving moderately emetogenic (anthracycline-cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy evaluated the efficacy and safety of a single oral dose of NEPA versus a single oral dose (0.50 mg) of PALO. All patients also received oral dexamethasone (DEX) on day 1 only (12 mg in the NEPA arm and 20 mg in the PALO arm). The primary efficacy end point was complete response (CR: no emesis, no rescue medication) during the delayed (25-120 h) phase in cycle 1.

RESULTS

The percentage of patients with CR during the delayed phase was significantly higher in the NEPA group compared with the PALO group (76.9% versus 69.5%; P = 0.001), as were the percentages in the overall (0-120 h) (74.3% versus 66.6%; P = 0.001) and acute (0-24 h) (88.4% versus 85.0%; P = 0.047) phases. NEPA was also superior to PALO during the delayed and overall phases for all secondary efficacy end points of no emesis, no significant nausea and complete protection (CR plus no significant nausea). NEPA was well tolerated with a similar safety profile as PALO.

CONCLUSIONS

NEPA plus a single dose of DEX was superior to PALO plus DEX in preventing CINV following moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in acute, delayed and overall phases of observation. As a fixed-dose antiemetic drug combination, NEPA along with a single dose of DEX on day 1 offers guideline-based prophylaxis with a convenient, single-day treatment.

Long-term maintenance of sustained virological response in liver transplant recipients treated for recurrent hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

The recurrence of hepatitis C viral infection is common after liver transplant, and achieving a sustained virological response to antiviral treatment is desirable for reducing the risk of graft loss and improving patients' survival.

AIM

To investigate the long-term maintenance of sustained virological response in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C recurrence.

METHODS

436 Liver transplant recipients (74.1% genotype 1) who underwent combined antiviral therapy for hepatitis C recurrence were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall sustained virological response rate was 40% (173/436 patients), and the mean follow-up after liver transplantation was 11±3.5 years (range, 5-24). Patients with a sustained virological response demonstrated a 5-year survival rate of 97% and a 10-year survival rate of 93%; all but 6 (3%) patients remained hepatitis C virus RNA-negative during follow-up. Genotype non-1 (p=0.007), treatment duration >80% of the scheduled period (p=0.027), and early virological response (p=0.002), were associated with the maintenance of sustained virological response as indicated by univariate analysis. Early virological response was the only independent predictor of sustained virological response maintenance (p=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Sustained virological response achieved after combined antiviral treatment is maintained in liver transplant patients with recurrent hepatitis C and is associated with an excellent 5-year survival.

Survival of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells labelled with red fluorescent protein in an ovine model of collagenase-induced tendinitis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to track the survival and efficacy of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) marked with red fluorescent protein (BM-MSCRFP) in an ovine model of collagenase-induced tendinopathy.

METHODS

Bone marrow was harvested from one donor sheep and BM-MSC were isolated, cultivated and transfected with red fluorescent protein (BM-MSCRFP). Collagenase was injected into both Achilles tendons in the remaining nine sheep. After two weeks the left tendon was injected with a solution of 6 x 10⁶ BM-MSCRFP and fibrin glue, while only fibrin glue was administered to the contra-lateral tendon in each sheep. After three, four and six weeks the tendons were harvested and evaluated for morphology, collagen I deposition, presence of CD34+ cells, and fluorescent labelled BM-MSC.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that delivery of BM-MSC into tendon lesions had positive effects on the injured tendons. The BM-MSCRFP survived at three, four and six weeks after treatment, leading to better quality healing of tendons as compared to the controls, where no labelled cells were detected. Interestingly, we demonstrated high expression of CD34+ cells in tendons that had been treated with BM-MSCRFP.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Mesenchymal stem cell allografts have a positive effect on tendon healing and local injection of BM-MSC directly into the tendon allows the homing of BM-MSC for good efficiency of engraftment.

A Bayesian methodology to improve prediction of early graft loss after liver transplantation derived from the liver match study

BACKGROUND

To generate a robust predictive model of Early (3 months) Graft Loss after liver transplantation, we used a Bayesian approach to combine evidence from a prospective European cohort (Liver-Match) and the United Network for Organ Sharing registry.

METHODS

Liver-Match included 1480 consecutive primary liver transplants performed from 2007 to 2009 and the United Network for Organ Sharing a time-matched series of 9740 transplants. There were 173 and 706 Early Graft Loss, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified as significant predictors of Early Graft Loss: donor age, donation after cardiac death, cold ischaemia time, donor body mass index and height, recipient creatinine, bilirubin, disease aetiology, prior upper abdominal surgery and portal thrombosis.

RESULTS

A Bayesian Cox model was fitted to Liver-Match data using the United Network for Organ Sharing findings as prior information, allowing to generate an Early Graft Loss-Donor Risk Index and an Early Graft Loss-Recipient Risk Index. A Donor-Recipient Allocation Model, obtained by adding Early Graft Loss-Donor Risk Index to Early Graft Loss-Recipient Risk Index, was then validated in a distinct United Network for Organ Sharing (year 2010) cohort including 2964 transplants. Donor-Recipient Allocation Model updating using the independent Turin Transplant Centre dataset, allowed to predict Early Graft Loss with good accuracy (c-statistic: 0.76).

CONCLUSION

Donor-Recipient Allocation Model allows a reliable donor and recipient-based Early Graft Loss prediction. The Bayesian approach permits to adapt the original Donor-Recipient Allocation Model by incorporating evidence from other cohorts, resulting in significantly improved predictive capability.

Is psychiatric residential facility discharge possible and predictable? A multivariate analytical approach applied to a prospective study in Italy

BACKGROUND

A growing number of severely ill patients require long-term care in non-hospital residential facilities (RFs). Despite the magnitude of this development, longitudinal studies surveying fairly large resident samples and yielding important information on this population have been very few.

AIMS

The aims of the study were (1) to describe the socio-demographic, clinical, and treatment-related characteristics of RF patients during an index period in 2010; (2) to identify predictors and characteristics associated with discharge at the 1-year follow-up; (3) to evaluate clinicians' predictions about each patient's likelihood of home discharge (HD).

METHODS

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted involving all patients staying in 23 medium-long-term RFs of the St John of God Order with a primary psychiatric diagnosis. A comprehensive set of socio-demographic, clinical, and treatment-related information was gathered and standardized assessments (BPRS, HONOS, PSP, PHI, SLOF, RBANS) were administered to each participant. Logistic regression analyses were run to identify independent discharge predictors.

RESULTS

The study involved 403 patients (66.7% male), with a mean age of 49 years (SD = 10). The participants' average illness duration was 23 years; median value for length of stay in the RF was 2.2 years. The most frequent diagnosis was schizophrenia (67.5%). 104 (25.8%) were discharged: 13.6% to home, 8.2% to other RFs, 2.2% to supported housing, and 1.5% to prison. Clinicians' predictions about HD were generally erroneous.

CONCLUSIONS

Very few patients were discharged to independent accommodations after 1 year. The main variables associated with a higher HD likelihood were: illness duration of <15 years and effective social support during the previous year. Lower severity of psychopathology and higher working skill levels were also associated with a significantly greater HD likelihood.