Does ACE2 mediate the detrimental effect of exposures related to COVID‐19 risk: A Mendelian randomization investigation

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Does ACE2 mediate the detrimental effect of exposures related to COVID‐19 risk: A Mendelian randomization investigation via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract Objectives Adiposity, smoking and lower socioeconomic position (SEP) increase COVID-19 risk whilst the association of vitamin D, blood pressure, and glycemic traits in COVID-19 risk were less clear. Whether angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the key receptor for SARS-CoV-2, mediates these associations has not been investigated. We conducted a Mendelian randomization study to assess the role of these exposures in COVID-19 and mediation by ACE2. Methods We extracted genetic variants strongly related to various exposures (vitamin D, blood pressure, glycemic traits, smoking, adiposity and educational attainment (SEP proxy)), and ACE2 cis-variants from genome wide association studies (GWAS, n ranged from 28,204 to 3,037,499) and applied them to GWAS summary statistics of ACE2 (n=28,204) and COVID-19 (severe, hospitalized, and susceptibility, n≤2,942,817). We used inverse variance weighted as the main analyses, with MR-Egger and weighted median as sensitivit y analyses. Mediation analyses were performed based on product of coefficient method. Results Higher adiposity, lifetime smoking index, and lower educational attainment were consistently associated with higher risk of COVID-19 phenotypes whilst there was no strong evidence for an association of other exposures in COVID-19 risk. ACE2 partially mediates the detrimental effects of body mass index (ranged from 4.3% to 8.2%), waist-to-hip ratio (ranged from 11.2% to 16.8%) and lower educational attainment (ranged from 4.0% to 7.5%) in COVID-19 phenotypes whilst ACE2 did not mediate the detrimental effect of smoking. Conclusions We provided genetic evidence that reducing ACE2 could partly lower COVID-19 risk amongst people who were overweight/obese or of lower SEP. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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High-Resolution Single Tooth MRI With an Inductively Coupled Intraoral Coil—Can MRI Compete With CBCT?

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader High-Resolution Single Tooth MRI With an Inductively Coupled Intraoral Coil—Can MRI Compete With CBCT? via Investigative Radiology - Current Issue Objectives The aims of this study were to quantify T1/T2-relaxation times of the dental pulp, develop a realistic tooth model, and compare image quality between cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of single teeth using a wireless inductively coupled intraoral coil. Methods T1/T2-relaxometry was performed at 3 T in 10 healthy volunteers (283 teeth) to determine relaxation times of healthy dental pulp and develop a realistic tooth model using extracted human teeth. Eight MRI sequences (DESS, CISS, TrueFISP, FLASH, SPACE, TSE, MSVAT-SPACE, and UTE) were optimized for clinically applicable high-resolution imaging of the dental pulp. In model, image quality of all sequences was assessed quantitatively (contrast-to-noise ratio) and qualitatively (visibility of anatomical structures and extent of susceptibility artifacts using a 5-point scoring scale). Cone-beam computed tomography served as the reference modality for qualitative assessment. Statistical analysis was performed using 2-way analysis of variance, Fisher exact test, and Cohen κ. Results In vivo, relaxometry of dental pulps revealed T1/T2 relaxation times at 3 T of 738 ± 100/171 ± 36 milliseconds. For all sequences, an isotropic resolution of (0.21 mm)3 was achieved, with acquisition times ranging from 6:19 to 8:02 minutes. In model, the highest contrast-to-noise ratio values were observed for UTE, followed by TSE and CISS. The best image/artifact quality, however, was found for DESS (mean ± SD: 1.3 ± 0.3/2.2 ± 0.0), FLASH (1.5 ± 0.3/2.4 ± 0.1), and CISS (1.5 ± 0.4/2.5 ± 0.1), at a level comparable to CBCT (1.2 ± 0.3/2.1 ± 0.1). Conclusions Optimized MRI protocols using an intraoral coil at 3 T can achieve an image quality comparable to reference modality CBCT within clinically applicable acquisition times. Overall, DESS revealed the best results, followed by FLASH and CISS. View on Web

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Efficacy and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: A Multi-institutional Prospective Cohort Study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Efficacy and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: A Multi-institutional Prospective Cohort Study via Annals of Surgery - Most Popular Articles Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been recently adopted into the practice of thyroidology in the United States, although its use as an alternative to traditional thyroid surgery in Asia and Europe came near the turn of the 21st century. In the United States, only a few studies with small sample sizes have been published to date. We examined outcomes of benign thyroid nodules treated with RFA from 2 North American institutions. Methods: We performed a prospective, multi-institutional cohort study of thyroid nodules treated with RFA between July 2019 and January 2022. Demographics, sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules, thyroid function profiles, procedural details, complications, and nodule volume measurements at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up were evaluated. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify sonographic features associated with treatment failure. Results: A total of 233 nodules were included. The median and interquartile range of volume reduction rate (VRR) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were 54% [interquartile range (IQR): 36%–73%], 58% (IQR: 37%–80%), 73% (IQR: 51%–90%), and 76% (IQR: 52%–90%), respectively (P View on Web

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Prevention of Incisional Hernias by Prophylactic Mesh-augmented Reinforcement of Midline Laparotomies for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment: Five-year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Prevention of Incisional Hernias by Prophylactic Mesh-augmented Reinforcement of Midline Laparotomies for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment: Five-year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial via Annals of Surgery - Most Popular Articles Introduction: The incidence of incisional hernias (IHs) after open repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is high. Several randomized controlled trials have reported favorable results with the use of prophylactic mesh to prevent IHs, without increasing complications. In this analysis, we report on the results of the 60-month follow-up of the PRIMAAT trial. Methods: In a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized design, patients were randomized between prophylactic retrorectus mesh reinforcement (mesh group), and primary closure of their midline laparotomy after open AAA repair (no-mesh group). This article reports on the results of clinical follow-up after 60 months. If performed, ultrasonography or computed tomography were used for the diagnosis of IHs. Results: Of the 120 randomized patients, 114 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Thirty-three patients in the no-mesh group (33/58—56.9%) and 34 patients in the mesh group (34/56—60.7%) were evaluated after 5 years. In each treatment arm, 10 patients died between the 24-month and 60-month follow-up. The cumulative incidence of IHs in the no-mesh group was 32.9% after 24 months and 49.2% after 60 months. No IHs were diagnosed in the mesh group. In the no-mesh group, 21.7% (5/23) underwent reoperation within 5 years due to an IH. Conclusions: Prophylactic retrorectus mesh reinforcement after midline laparotomy for the treatment of AAAs safely and effectively decreases the rate of IHs. The cumulative incidence of IHs after open AAA repair, when no mesh is used, continues to increase during the first 5 years after surgery, which leads to a substantial rate of hernia repairs. View on Web

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Prognosis of Deantigenated Equine Bone Used for Bone Augmentation: A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Early and Late Postsurgical Complications in 81 Consecutive Patients

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Prognosis of Deantigenated Equine Bone Used for Bone Augmentation: A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Early and Late Postsurgical Complications in 81 Consecutive Patients via Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research Abstract Purpose To evaluate the clinical outcome of deantigenated equine bone (DEB) grafts in a series of patients treated with DEB at six months postaugmentation. Materials and Methods One hundred DEB grafts were inserted in 81 patients between January 2004 and December 2006. Thirty-two DEBs were blocks and 68 were granules (52 sinus lift and 16 guided bone regeneration [GBR] procedures performed). A total of 147 implants were inserted. A Pearson chi-square test was used to detect any statistically significant correlation between the studied variables and early and/or late failures. Results There were 6 early and 26 late graft failures and another 16 failures after prosthesis placement. The overall failure rate was 25% in the GBR procedures, 31.9% in sinus lift, and 54.3% with blocks, for a total complication rate of 39.5%. A statistically significant relation was detected with respect to graft type and early complications (p = .005), with a worse outcome for DEB blocks compared to granules. After provisional prosthesis restoration, 23 implants were lost, and another 41 failed after definitive prosthesis delivery, for an overall failure rate of 43.5%. The follow-up period was 3 years after surgery. Conclusions DEB grafting material had a very high rate of complications. Blocks had more than 50% failures, mainly in the immediate postoperative period. Other procedures such as GBR and sinus lift also showed more than 25% infections and resorption, and late failures (i.e., after-implant placement) were also common. Our results show that DEB is less than ideal for crestal bone reconstruction. View on Web

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