Membrane Potential-Dependent Uptake of Cationic Oligoimidazolium Mediates Bacterial DNA Damage and Death.

The treatment of bacterial infections is becoming increasingly challenging with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Thus, the development of antimicrobials with novel mechanisms of action is much needed. Previously, we designed several cationic main-chain imidazolium compounds and identified the polyimidazolium PIM1 as a potent antibacterial against a wide panel of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens, and it had relatively low toxicity against mammalian epithelial cells. However, little is known about the mechanism of action of PIM1. Using an oligomeric version of PIM1 with precisely six repeating units (OIM1-6) to control for consistency, we showed that OIM1-6 relies on an intact membrane potential for entry into the bacterial cytoplasm, as resistant mutants to OIM1-6 have mutations in their electron transport chains. These mutants demonstrate reduced uptake of the compound, which can be circumvented through the addition of a sub-MIC dose of colistin. Once taken up intracellularly, OIM1-6 exerts double-stranded DNA breaks. Its potency and ability to kill represents a promising class of drugs that can be combined with membrane-penetrating drugs to potentiate activity and hedge against the rise of resistant mutants. In summary, we discovered that cationic antimicrobial OIM1-6 exhibits an antimicrobial property that is dissimilar to the conventional cationic antimicrobial compounds. Its killing mechanism does not involve membrane disruption but instead depends on the membrane potential for uptake into bacterial cells so that it can exert its antibacterial effect intracellularly.

A retrospective record review of tuberculous infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients on biologics in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving biologics therapy and investigate the association between types of biologics and tuberculosis (TB) infections in 13 tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study that included all RA patients receiving biologics therapy in 13 tertiary hospitals in Malaysia from January 2008 to December 2018. RESULTS: We had 735 RA patients who received biologics therapy. Twenty-one of the 735 patients were diagnosed with TB infection after treatment with biologics. The calculated prevalence of TB infection in RA patients treated with biologics was 2.9% (29 per 1000 patients). Four groups of biologics were used in our patient cohort: monoclonal TNF inhibitors, etanercept, tocilizumab, and rituximab, with monoclonal TNF inhibitors being the most commonly used biologic. The median duration of biologics therapy before the diagnosis of TB was 8 months. 75% of patients had at least one co-morbidity and all patients had at least one ongoing cDMARD therapy at the time of TB diagnosis. More than half of the patients were on steroid therapy with an average prednisolone dose of 5 mg daily. CONCLUSION: Although the study population and data were limited, this study illustrates the spectrum of TB infections in RA patients receiving biologics and potential risk factors associated with biologics therapy in Malaysia.

A Prospective Multicenter Case Series Utilizing Intraoperative Neuromonitoring With Evoked Compound Action Potentials to Confirm Spinal Cord Stimulation Lead Placement.

OBJECTIVES: The use of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) has been adapted to address issues of safety and proper lead positioning in spinal cord stimulation. This multicenter case series seeks to incorporate the use of evoked compound action potential (ECAP) and late response (LR) recording and compare it with the results obtained with IONM, specifically electromyography (EMG), for the confirmation of lead placement. This study aimed to establish a correlation between ECAPs, LR, and EMG and publish human recordings of ECAPs and LR during their use with IONM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standard neuromonitoring protocols were followed at two institutions, with two separate physicians and with seven patients, as part of a larger ongoing study registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02924129). Stimulation and recording were performed, top and bottom, on each percutaneous lead. Stimulation amplitude was increased considering ECAP, LR, and EMG thresholds. RESULTS: ECAPs, LRs, and EMG signals were observed in all patients. The onset of LR signals on implanted electrodes and EMG signal on subdermal electrodes was well correlated (rs = 0.94, p < 0.001), with a median LR:EMG value of 1.06 (N = 21). LR:EMG for the top (mean = 0.97, N = 8) vs bottom (mean = 1.15, N = 13) of the lead was compared using a paired Wilcoxon signed rank test and an independent samples Mann-Whitney test, revealing a marginally significant and a statistically significant difference (p = 0.078 and p = 0.015, respectively). Mean LR:ECAP was >2 in all locations and approximately 3.5 overall. LR:ECAP between the top and bottom of the lead was significantly different (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.01, N = 12). CONCLUSIONS: LR correlated with EMG; leads with bilateral (not necessarily symmetric) EMG activity showed LR:ECAP > 1.5. An LR:ECAP of <1, with LR/EMG generated before the ECAP, indicated that the lead is too lateral. The use of ECAP and LR has the potential of maintaining objective lead placement, without the need for needle placement with IONM.

The extracellular matrix molecules versican and hyaluronan in urethral and vaginal tissues in stress urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: Abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) changes are correlated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The ECM components versican (Vcan) and hyaluronan (HA) play key roles in regulating tissue inflammation and maintaining connective tissue homeostasis. We analyzed the localization and expression of these ECM components in urethral and vaginal tissues from a rat model of urinary incontinence and from human clinical specimens. METHODS: Nulliparous rats underwent vaginal distension (VD), a rodent model of SUI, or a sham procedure. Tissues were harvested from six rats per group at days 1, 4, and 21 for immunohistochemistry and RNA expression analysis of ECM components. Periurethral vaginal samples from female patients with SUI were also examined. RESULTS: High-intensity staining for Vcan was observed 1 day after procedure in both control and VD animals. This level of abundance persisted at day 4 in VD compared to control, with concurrent reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the Vcan-degrading enzymes ADAMTS5 and ADAMTS9 and reduced staining for the Vcan cleavage epitope DPEAAE. Abundance of HA was not different between VD and control, however mRNA expression of the HA synthase Has2 was significantly reduced in VD tissues at day 4. Abundant Vcan staining was observed in 60% of SUI patient samples, which was strongest in regions of disrupted elastin. CONCLUSION: Reduction of Vcan-degrading enzymes and HA synthases at day 4 postsurgery indicates a potential delay in ECM turnover associated with SUI. Abundant Vcan is associated with inflammation and elastin fiber network disruption, warranting further investigation to determine its role in SUI pathogenesis.

Potential impact of a delayed ADAMTS13 result in the treatment of thrombotic microangiopathy: an economic analysis.

BACKGROUND: A pre-plasma exchange ADAMTS13 measurement differentiates thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) from other forms of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Given that many hospitals do not perform the ADAMTS13 assay in-house and that the turnaround time (TAT) differs among reference laboratories, we performed an analysis investigating the potential impact of a delay in obtaining the results on the healthcare system. METHODS: An economic model was developed to estimate the impact of a delay in obtaining the pretreatment ADAMTS13 results on patients admitted with TMA with cost (US dollars) as the primary outcome. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) as a composite outcome was calculated from both cost and life days [LDs], an effectiveness surrogate marker. Model parameters were gathered from the medical literature, except for the institutional cost of the ADAMTS13 test. RESULTS: In patients with TMA, during the 6-day study period, the incremental cost to the healthcare system ranged from approximately $4155 to $5123 for every 1-day delay in obtaining the pre-exchange ADAMTS13 results with virtually no change in the effectiveness marker. The ICER composite outcome established the cost-effectiveness of having a fast TAT for pre-exchange ADAMTS13 results. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses also confirmed the robustness of the model. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with clinical presentations of TMAs, having a rapid TAT for pre-exchange ADAMTS13 measurement appeared to be cost-effective. If testing cannot be performed in-house, then our findings support the necessity of contracting with a reference laboratory that can reliably provide the result, preferably within 1 day of admission.

An economic analysis of different treatments for bleeding in patients with acquired haemophilia.

BACKGROUND: Acquired haemophilia A (AHA), with potentially high risk of morbidity and mortality, occurs as a result of inhibitors against factor VIII. Bleeding due to AHA can be treated with activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC), recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) or recently, recombinant porcine-sequence factor VIII (rpFVIII). We extended our previous cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) comparing rpFVIII against the available traditional options. METHODS: For high-titred, haemorrhaging AHA patients treated with either aPCC, rFVIIa or rpFVIII, over the course of 6-days, a Markov simulation was conducted to evaluate the outcomes when these patients transitioned into any of the four following health states: (1) continuous bleeding, (2) thrombosis, (3) stop bleeding and (4) death, with states (2), (3) and (4) modelled as absorbing states. All model parameters were obtained from the medical literature, except the costs of aPCC, rFVIIa and the factor VIII assay, which came from our institutional data. RESULTS: Excluding the cost of the initial treatment on day 0, the total subsequent treatment cost of rFVIIa was substantially more than the costs of aPCC and rpFVIII ($13 925 vs. $1778 vs. $6957, respectively). The average quality-adjusted life days (QALDs) gained from rpFVIII was lowest (4·89 vs. 4·9 for rFVIIa and 4·91 for aPCC). Overall, aPCC dominated the other two treatments. The model was determined to be robust across the tested ranges for all input variables. CONCLUSION: Based on this economic model, for AHA patients with high titres who were bleeding, aPCC was the most cost-effective treatment option and may be considered for use if there is no clinical contraindication.

Clinical presentations and predictors of mortality for leptospirosis - A study from suburban area in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Malaysia is endemic for leptospirosis with increasing incidence recorded over the years. Perak has recorded one of the highest incidence and mortality of leptospirosis since 2004. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of confirmed leptospirosis cases in Larut, Matang and Selama (LMS) district in Perak reported in 2016. The demographic, clinical presentation, laboratory result and clinical outcomes data were analysed and presented. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with confirmed diagnosis of leptospirosis were included into the study. Majority of patients were males and Malays. The case fatality rate was 14.3%. Patients with leptospirosis present with variable clinical presentations and are commonly seen with coinfection. Patients 70-year-old and older, have clinical presentations suggestive of organ dysfunction and require intensive care are associated with higher mortality. CONCLUSION: Leptospirosis is endemic in LMS district of Perak with high incidence and case fatality rate. The clinical presentation of leptospirosis is variable. Co-infection of leptospirosis with other acute febrile illness is common. Patients presenting with symptoms and signs of organ dysfunctions or require intensive care are associated with an increased odds of death.

Highly Sensitive Lab on a Chip (LOC) Immunoassay for Early Diagnosis of Respiratory Disease Caused by Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS).

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) produced in mining and construction industries can cause life-threatening diseases such as silicosis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These diseases could be more effectively treated and prevented if RCS-related biomarkers were identified and measured at an early stage of disease progression, which makes development of a point of care test (POCT) platform extremely desirable for early diagnosis. In this work, a new, highly sensitive lab on a chip (LOC) immunoassay has been designed, developed, and characterized for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), a protein biomarker that causes lung inflammation due to RCS exposure. The designed LOC device is composed of four reservoirs for sample, enzyme conjugated detection antibody, wash buffer, and chemiluminescence substrate in liquid form, along with three spiral reaction chambers for test, positive control, and negative control. All reservoirs and spiral microchannels were connected in series and designed to perform sequential delivery of immunoassay reagents with minimal user intervention. The developed LOC measured TNF-α concentrations as low as 16 pg/mL in plasma from RCS-exposed rats and also had a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 pg/mL in spiked artificial serum. In addition, the analysis time was drastically reduced to about 30 min, as opposed to hours in conventional methods. Successful implementation of a highly sensitive, chemiluminescence-based immunoassay on a preloaded LOC with proper quality control, as reported in this work, can pave the way toward developing a new rapid POCT platform for in-field clinical diagnosis.

Pre-operative pressure pain thresholds do not meaningfully explain satisfaction or improvement in pain after knee replacement: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Pain sensitization could be a risk factor for poor outcomes after knee replacement surgery (KR) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We aimed to evaluate the association between pre-operative central and peripheral pain sensitization measured using a digital pressure algometer and KR outcomes. METHODS: Consecutive patients with severe KOA listed for KR were recruited. Sociodemographic and symptoms data were collected prior to surgery. Pre-operative pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were measured using a digital pressure algometer at the index knee and forearm. Patient satisfaction at 6 and 12 months after KR was assessed using a 4-point Likert scale, and dichotomized to satisfied and dissatisfied to KR. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index (WOMAC) Pain and function was assessed. The associations between pre-operative PPTs with KR outcomes at 6 and 12 months were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 243 patients recruited, response rate at 6 and 12 months were 95.5% and 96.7%. The dissatisfaction rates were 8.2% and 5.1% at 6 and 12 months. There was no statistically significant association between pre-operative index knee or forearm PPTs and patient satisfaction. PPTs measured at the knee, but not the forearm, were weakly associated with change in the WOMAC pain score at 12 months, after adjustment for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative central sensitization, measured by handheld digital algometry, was not statistically significantly associated with satisfaction or change in pain after KR. Pre-operative peripheral sensitization was associated with change in pain symptoms after KR; however, this association was weak and unlikely to be a meaningful predictor of KR outcome in clinical practice.

Clinical factors and biomarkers predict outcome in patients with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is characterized by severe thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. It is primarily caused by immunoglobin G type autoantibodies against ADAMTS13, a plasma metalloprotease that cleaves von Willebrand factor. However, reliable markers predictive of patient outcomes are yet to be identified. Seventy-three unique patients with a confirmed diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura between April 2006 and December 2017 were enrolled from the Univeristy of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center. Clinical information, laboratory values, and a panel of special biomarkers were collected and/or determined. The results demonstrated that the biomarkers associated with endothelial injury (e.g., von Willebrand factor antigen and collagen-binding activity), acute inflammation (e.g., human neutrophil peptides 1-3 and histone/deoxyribonucleic acid complexes), and activation of the complement alternative pathway (e.g., factors Bb and iC3b) were all significantly increased in patients with acute immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura compared to those in the healthy controls. Moreover, failure to normalize platelet counts within 7 days or failure to markedly reduce serum lactate dehydrogenase by day 5, low total serum protein or albumin, and high serum troponin levels were also predictive of mortality, as were the prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, high fibrinogen, and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, Bb, and sC5b-9 on admission. These results may help to stratify patients for more intensive management. The findings may also provide a framework for future multicenter studies to identify valuable prognostic markers for immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

aPCC vs. rFVIIa for the treatment of bleeding in patients with acquired haemophilia - a cost-effectiveness model.

BACKGROUND: Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder with significant morbidity and mortality. Bleeding AHA patients with high titre inhibitors can be treated with either activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) or recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa). Given that both replacement therapies have inherent benefits and limitations, a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was performed in this population to compare rFVIIa with aPCC. METHODS: In high-titered AHA patients with bleeding treated with either aPCC or rFVIIa, during a 5-day study period, a Markov model was developed such that these patients were transitioned into four different health states: (1) continuous bleeding, (2) thrombosis, (3) stop bleeding and (4) death, with states (2), (3) and (4) modelled as absorbing states. Model parameters, including probabilities, health utility index and costs, were gathered from the medical literature, except for the costs of aPCC and rFVIIa, which were obtained from our institutional data. RESULTS: During the 5-day period, the total treatment cost of rFVIIa was substantially more than the cost of aPCC ($13 635 vs. $1741). The average quality-adjusted life days (QALDs) gained for rFVIIa were slightly lower compared to aPCC (4·08 vs. 4·09). Overall, aPCC prevailed over rFVIIa. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the model across tested ranges of all input variables. CONCLUSION: In high-titered AHA patients with bleeding, aPCC is a cost-effective treatment option when compared to rFVIIa. Thus, aPCC may be considered in these patients, if available, and provided there is no clinical contraindication.

Lyophilization of chemiluminescent substrate reagents for high-sensitive microchannel-based lateral flow assay (MLFA) in point-of-care (POC) diagnostic system.

Over the last few years, lateral flow assay (LFA) devices have grown to be the most common point-of-care test (POCT) platform facilitating disease diagnostics in low-resource environments. However, the lack of consistency and the limited sensitivity of these devices often lead to misdiagnosis and generates the need for an alternate approach. A chemiluminescence based microchannel-based lateral flow assay (MLFA) in a POCT platform can result in a much higher sensitivity but involves multiple additional steps of liquid reagents for the sequential execution of the signal amplification protocol. One of the best ways to develop a sample-to-answer system with minimum user intervention is to dry reagents on a chip prior to sample addition and to control the flow of the biological fluid through the drying chambers resulting in the reconstitution of the reagents. This work reports the methods for the successful lyophilization of the chemiluminescent substrate and its reconstitution in artificial serum without any significant loss of functionality. The lyophilized reagents were reconstituted and incorporated into the reaction chambers of a designed polymer lab-on-a-chip to implement a sandwich assay for the detection of malarial biomarkers. The results report a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.75 ng mL-1 which is sensitive enough to detect active malarial infection. Successful lyophilization and reconstitution of the chemiluminescent substrate, as reported here, can pave the way towards developing an autonomous POCT system implementing chemiluminescence based sandwich ELISA for enhanced sensitivity, portability, and ease-of-use in resource limited settings.

Cost-Effectiveness of Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Versus Medical Therapy for Secondary Stroke Prevention.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO closure) plus antiplatelet therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke compared with medical therapy alone in carefully selected patients after cryptogenic stroke presumed to be from paradoxical embolism. Our objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness of PFO closure after cryptogenic stroke compared with conservative medical management from a US healthcare payer perspective. METHODS: A decision analytic Markov model estimated the 15-year cost and outcomes associated with the additional benefit of PFO closure compared with medical management alone. Model inputs were obtained from published literature, national databases, and a meta-analysis of 5 published randomized clinical trials on PFO closure. Health outcomes were measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALY). Cost-effectiveness used the incremental cost per QALY gained, whereas the net monetary benefit assumed a willingness to pay of $150 000/QALY. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses estimated the uncertainty of model results. RESULTS: At 15 years, PFO closure compared with medical therapy alone improved QALY by 0.33 at a cost saving of $3568, representing an incremental net monetary benefit of $52 761 (95% interval -$8284 to $158 910). When the meta-analysis hazard ratio for stroke was increased to the 95% interval's upper bound of 0.77, one-way sensitivity analyses suggested that PFO closure's cost-effectiveness was $458 558 per additional QALY. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis suggested cost-effectiveness in 90% of simulation runs. CONCLUSIONS: PFO closure for cryptogenic strokes in the right setting is cost-effective, producing benefit in QALYs gained and potential cost savings. However, patient selection remains vitally important as marginal declines in treatment effectiveness can dramatically affect cost-effectiveness.

18F-FDG PET and high-resolution MRI co-registration for pre-surgical evaluation of patients with conventional MRI-negative refractory extra-temporal lobe epilepsy.

PURPOSE: Epilepsy that originates outside of the temporal lobe can present some of the most challenging problems for surgical therapy, especially for patients with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative refractory extra-temporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of pre-surgical 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) co-registration in patients with conventional MRI-negative refractory ETLE, and compare their surgical outcomes. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with conventional MRI-negative refractory ETLE were prospectively included for pre-surgical 18F-FDG PET and HR-MRI examinations. Under the guidance of 18F-FDG PET and HR-MRI co-registration, HR-MRI images were re-read. Based on the image result changes from first reading to re-reading, patients were divided into three groups: Change-1 (lesions of subtle abnormality could be identified in re-read), Change-2 (non-specific abnormalities reported in the first reading were considered as lesions on HR-MRI re-read) and No-change. Post-surgical follow-ups were conducted for up to 59 months. RESULTS: Visual analysis of 18F-FDG PET showed focal or regional abnormality in 46 patients (68.6%), while the abnormal rate increased to 94.0% (P < 0.05) by co-registration. Of the 67 patients, 46.3% of them were identified as Change-1, and 11.9% as Change-2 after co-registration and HR-MRI re-read. Patients with Change-1 and -2 were more likely to be recommended to receive surgical resection (P < 0.001). In the 17 post-surgical patients, 88% had good outcomes, whereas 11.7% had poor outcomes during our study period. CONCLUSION: Pre-surgical evaluation by co-registration of 18F-FDG PET and HR-MRI could improve the identification of the epileptogenic onset zone (EOZ), and may further guide the surgical decision-making and improve the outcome of the refractory ETLE with normal conventional MRI; therefore, it should be recommended as a standard procedure for pre-surgical evaluation of these patients.

Pathogen-specific DNA sensing with engineered zinc finger proteins immobilized on a polymer chip.

A specific double-stranded DNA sensing system is of great interest for diagnostic and other biomedical applications. Zinc finger domains, which recognize double-stranded DNA, can be engineered to form custom DNA-binding proteins for the recognition of specific DNA sequences. As a proof of concept, a sequence-enabled reassembly of a TEM-1 ß-lactamase system (SEER-LAC) was previously demonstrated to develop zinc finger protein (ZFP) arrays for the detection of a double-stranded bacterial DNA sequence. Here, we implemented the SEER-LAC system to demonstrate the direct detection of pathogen-specific DNA sequences present in E. coli O157:H7 on a lab-on-a-chip. ZFPs custom-designed to detect Shiga toxin in E. coli O157:H7 were immobilized on a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) chip, which can function as a non-PCR based molecular diagnostic device. Pathogen-specific double-stranded DNA was directly detected by using engineered ZFPs immobilized on the COC chip with high specificity, providing a detection limit of 10 fmol of target DNA in a colorimetric assay. Therefore, in this study, we demonstrated the great potential of ZFP arrays on the COC chip for further development of a simple and novel lab-on-a-chip technology for the detection of pathogens.

Multichannel ZnO nanowire field effect transistors by lift-off process.

This paper describes a new, low-cost, top-down fabrication process, which makes it possible to define nanowire field effect transistor arrays with different numbers of nanowires simultaneously and systematically comparing their electrical performance. The main feature of this process is a developed bilayer photoresist pattern with a retrograde profile, which enables the modification of the nanowire in width, length, height and the number of transistor channels. The approach is compatible with low-cost manufacture without electron beam lithography, and benefits from process temperatures below 190 °C. Process reliability has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Electrical measurements demonstrate enhancement mode transistors, which show a scalable correlation between the number of nanowires and the electrical characteristics. Devices with 100 nanowires exhibit the best performance with a high field effect mobility of 11.0 cm2 Vs-1, on/off current ratio of 3.97 × 107 and subthreshold swing of 0.66 V dec-1.

Cost-utility analysis of antiviral use under pandemic influenza using a novel approach - linking pharmacology, epidemiology and heath economics.

Simulation models are used widely in pharmacology, epidemiology and health economics (HEs). However, there have been no attempts to incorporate models from these disciplines into a single integrated model. Accordingly, we explored this linkage to evaluate the epidemiological and economic impact of oseltamivir dose optimisation in supporting pandemic influenza planning in the USA. An HE decision analytic model was linked to a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) - dynamic transmission model simulating the impact of pandemic influenza with low virulence and low transmissibility and, high virulence and high transmissibility. The cost-utility analysis was from the payer and societal perspectives, comparing oseltamivir 75 and 150 mg twice daily (BID) to no treatment over a 1-year time horizon. Model parameters were derived from published studies. Outcomes were measured as cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Sensitivity analyses were performed to examine the integrated model's robustness. Under both pandemic scenarios, compared to no treatment, the use of oseltamivir 75 or 150 mg BID led to a significant reduction of influenza episodes and influenza-related deaths, translating to substantial savings of QALYs. Overall drug costs were offset by the reduction of both direct and indirect costs, making these two interventions cost-saving from both perspectives. The results were sensitive to the proportion of inpatient presentation at the emergency visit and patients' quality of life. Integrating PK/PD-EPI/HE models is achievable. Whilst further refinement of this novel linkage model to more closely mimic the reality is needed, the current study has generated useful insights to support influenza pandemic planning.

Assessing the impact of caring for a child with Dravet syndrome: Results of a caregiver survey.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe and quantify the impact of caring for a child with Dravet syndrome (DS) on caregivers. METHODS: We surveyed DS caregivers at a single institution with a large population of patient with DS. Survey domains included time spent/difficulty performing caregiving tasks (Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale, OCBS); caregiver health-related quality of life (EuroQoL 5D-5L, EQ-5D); and work/activity impairment (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, WPAI). Modified National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) questions were included to assess logistical challenges associated with coordinating medical care. RESULTS: Thirty-four primary caregivers responded, and 30/34 respondents completed the survey. From OCBS, providing transportation, personal care, and additional household tasks required the greatest caregiver time commitment; arranging for child care, communication, and managing behavioral problems presented the greatest difficulty. EuroQoL 5D-5L domains with the greatest impact on caregivers (0=none, 5=unable/extreme) were anxiety/depression (70% of respondents≥slight problems, 34%≥moderate) and discomfort/pain (57% of respondents≥slight problems, 23%≥moderate). The mean EQ-5D general health visual analogue scale (VAS) score (0=death; 100=perfect health) was 67 (range, 11-94). Respondents who scored <65 were two- to fourfold more likely to report ≥moderate time spent and difficulty managing child behavior problems and assisting with walking, suggesting that children with DS with high degrees of motor or neurodevelopmental problems have an especially high impact on caregiver health. On the WPAI, 26% of caregivers missed >1day of work in the previous week, with 43% reporting substantial impact (≥6, scale=1-10) on work productivity; 65% reported switching jobs, quitting jobs, or losing a job due to caregiving responsibilities. National Health Interview Survey responses indicated logistical burdens beyond the home; 50% of caregivers made ≥10 outpatient visits in the past year with their child with DS. CONCLUSIONS: Caring for patients with DS exerts physical, emotional, and time burdens on caregivers. Supportive services for DS families are identified to highlight an unmet need for DS treatments.

Acrodermatitis acidaemica.

Methylmalonic acidaemia (MMA) is an inborn error of amino acid metabolism that may be associated with cutaneous manifestations mimicking other diagnoses, including staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), psoriasis and acrodermatitis enteropathica. Whether this is due to the underlying metabolic disorder itself or occurs as a consequence of dietary restriction has yet to be elucidated. Skin biopsies typically show histological features shared by a number of other metabolic disorders and nutritional deficiency-associated diseases. Some presentations, especially SSSS-like eruptions, may be associated with acute metabolic decompensation. An underlying metabolic disorder, such as MMA, should be considered in a diagnosed adult or undiagnosed child presenting with skin eruptions that resemble those listed above, so that specialist management may be initiated early.

Debunking superstition: Analyzing the cloud phenomenon in apheresis-Results of a 35-month study.

Many practitioners believe in the phenomenon of being labeled either a "black cloud" or "white cloud" while on-call. A "white-cloud" physician is usually defined as one who sees fewer cases while a "black-cloud" is one who often receives more cases. To evaluate these phenomena, a 35-month prospective study was designed to evaluate the number of times apheresis staff was involved with emergent apheresis procedures at a large institution in the off hours between 10 pm and 7 am, since this is the time period when significant resources have to be mobilized to perform the procedure. During the study period, 92 emergent procedures (or "black-cloud" events, 8.6%) occurred. The median time between two consecutive "black-cloud" events was 9 days (range: 1-45 days). We found that there is no statistically significant association between the occurrence of "black-cloud" events and attending physicians (P = .99), nurses who had 56 or more days on-call during the course of the study (P = .28), year (P = .85), day of the week (P = .099), month (P = .57), or season of the year (P = .47). Therefore, the findings from this prospective 35-month confirmation study did not support the common perception that physicians or nurses maybe either "black clouds" or "white clouds." It is important that this meaningful result be shared with apheresis practitioners given that the label of being a "black cloud" may have undesirable psychological implications to the physicians and nurses.