Videolaryngoscopy vs. direct Macintosh laryngoscopy in tracheal intubation in adults: a ranking systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Videolaryngoscopes are thought to improve glottic view and facilitate tracheal intubation compared with the Macintosh direct laryngoscope. However, we currently do not know which one would be the best choice in most patients undergoing anaesthesia. We designed this systematic review with network meta-analyses to rank the different videolaryngoscopes and the Macintosh direct laryngoscope. We conducted searches in PubMed and a further five databases on 11 January 2021. We included randomised clinical trials with patients aged ≥16 years, comparing different videolaryngoscopes, or videolaryngoscopes with the Macintosh direct laryngoscope for the outcomes: failed intubation; failed first intubation attempt; failed intubation within two attempts; difficult intubation; percentage of glottic opening seen; difficult laryngoscopy; and time needed for intubation. We assessed the quality of evidence according to GRADE recommendations and included 179 studies in the meta-analyses. The C-MAC and C-MAC D-Blade were top ranked for avoiding failed intubation, but we did not find statistically significant differences between any two distinct videolaryngoscopes for this outcome. Further, the C-MAC D-Blade performed significantly better than the C-MAC Macintosh blade for difficult laryngoscopy. We found statistically significant differences between the laryngoscopes for time to intubation, but these differences were not considered clinically relevant. The evidence was judged as of low or very low quality overall. In conclusion, different videolaryngoscopes have differential intubation performance and some may be currently preferred among the available devices. Furthermore, videolaryngoscopes and the Macintosh direct laryngoscope may be considered clinically equivalent for the time taken for tracheal intubation. However, despite the rankings from our analyses, the current available evidence is not sufficient to ensure significant superiority of one device or a small set of them over the others for our intubation-related outcomes.

Pre-operative voice evaluation as a hypothetical predictor of difficult laryngoscopy.

We examined the potential for voice sounds to predict a difficult airway as compared with prediction by the modified Mallampati test. A total of 453 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were studied. Five phonemes were recorded and their formants analysed. Difficult laryngoscopy was defined as the Cormack-Lehane grade 3 or 4. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine the association between some variables (mouth opening, sternomental distance, modified Mallampati and formants) and difficult laryngoscopy. Difficult laryngoscopy was reported in 29/453 (6.4%) patients. Among five regression models evaluated, the model achieving better performance to predict difficult laryngoscopy, after a variable selection criteria (stepwise, multivariate) and included a modified Mallampati classification (OR 2.920; 95%CI 1.992-4.279; p < 0.001), first formant of /i/(iF1) (OR 1.003; 95%CI 1.002-1.04; p < 0.001), and second formant of /i/(iF2) (OR 0.998; 95%CI 0.997-0.998; p < 0.001). The receiver operating curve for a regression model that included both formants and Mallampati showed an area under curve of 0.918, higher than formants alone (area under curve 0.761) and modified Mallampati alone (area under curve 0.874). Voice presented a significant association with difficult laryngoscopy during general anaesthesia showing a 76.1% probability of correctly classifying a randomly selected patient.

Quality control of Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) reared on the factitious host Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for successive generations.

Egg parasitoid rearing on factitious hosts is an important step to reduce costs and increase availability of the biocontrol agent but it requires quality control to achieve success in field conditions. To this end, this study evaluated the quality of Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) reared on Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for until 45 generations. In the first bioassay, we evaluated the body size of the laboratory-produced parasitoids. In the second bioassay, flight activity was examined, measuring the percentage of 'flyers', 'walkers' and 'deformed' parasitoids. The third bioassay assessed parasitism on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs. Our data indicate that the laboratory-reared parasitoid neither lost its ability to fly nor to parasitize S. frugiperda eggs. In conclusion, quality did not decrease significantly during 45 generations, and therefore rearing of T. remus on C. cephalonica as factitious host promises to be successful.

Biological characteristics of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) for three consecutive generations under different temperatures: understanding the possible impact of global warming on a soybean pest.

Climate changes can affect the distribution and intensity of insect infestations through direct effects on their life cycles. Experiments were carried out during three consecutive generations to evaluate the effect of different temperatures (25°C, 28°C, 31°C, 34°C and 37±1°C) on biological traits of the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The insects were fed on artificial diet and reared in environmental chambers set at 14 h photophase. The developmental cycle slowed with the increase in the temperature, within the 25°C to 34°C range. Male and female longevities were reduced with an increase in temperature from 25°C to 28°C. Egg viability was highest at 25°C, and the sex ratio was not influenced by temperature, in the three generations. There was no interactive effect between development time and temperature on pupal weight. The results suggested that the increase in the temperature negatively impacted A. gemmatalis development inside the studied temperature range, indicating a possible future reduction of its occurrence on soybean crops, as a consequence of global warming, mainly considering its impact on tropical countries where this plant is cropped. A. gemmatalis was not able to adapt to higher temperatures in a three-generation interval for the studied temperature range. However, a gradual increase and a longer adaptation period may favor insect selection and consequently adaptation, and must be considered in future studies in this area. Moreover, it is important to consider that global warming might turn cold areas more suitable to A. gemmatalis outbreaks. Therefore, more than a future reduction of A. gemmatalis occurrence due to global warming, we might expect changes regarding its area of occurrence on a global perspective.

Non-invasive diagnosis of acute rejection in kidney transplants with delayed graft function.

Delayed graft function (DGF) often occurs in kidney transplants from deceased donors. We wanted to provide studies giving more accurate non-invasive tests for acute rejection (AR). Using real-time PCR, we examined the expression of cytolytic molecules such as perforin, granzyme B, and fas-ligand along with serpin proteinase inhibitor-9. We also measured the expression of FOXP3, a characteristic gene of T-regulatory cells known to be involved in AR. These studies were conducted on peripheral blood monocytes, urinary cells, and 48 surveillance kidney biopsies taken from a total of 35 patients with DGF. Of these patients, 20 had a histopathological diagnosis of AR, whereas other 28 had characteristics of acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Expression of cytolytic and apoptotic-associated genes in the biopsy tissue, peripheral blood leukocytes, and urinary cells was significantly higher in patients with AR than that in patients with ATN. Diagnostic parameters associated with FOXP3 gene expression were most accurate in peripheral blood leukocytes and urine cells with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy between 94 and 100%. Our study shows that quantification of selected genes in peripheral blood leukocytes and urinary cells from renal transplant patients with DGF may provide a useful and accurate non-invasive diagnosis of AR.

Association between the presence of anti-HLA antibodies with acute rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy in the first year after kidney transplantation.

The clinical relevance of anti-HLA antibodies following kidney transplantation has been a recent focus of research. Patients who present anti-HLA antibodies in the posttransplantation period have shown higher incidences of acute rejection episodes (ARE) and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of anti-HLA antibodies during the first year after kidney transplantation and their association with the occurrence of ARE and CAN. Eighty-eight kidney transplant recipients were evaluated for the presence of IgG anti-HLA antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (LAT-M and LAT-1240, One Lambda Inc, Calif, United States). Protocol kidney biopsies were performed in consenting patients. ARE and CAN were diagnosed by clinical, laboratory, and histopathological criteria. Anti-HLA antibodies were observed in 20 (22.7%) patients. At 1 year follow-up, 26.1% presented ARE and 51.2% developed CAN. Nine patients (45%) with antibodies developed ARE as opposed to 20.6% without antibodies and 64.7% developed CAN as opposed to 47.8% of those without antibodies. In the histological analysis, the anti-HLA antibodies were associated with Banff IIA ARE (P = .001) and Banff grade II CAN (P = .012). Routine posttransplantation search for antibodies may identify cases at higher risk for acute and chronic rejection, and perhaps help to tailor the immunosuppressive regimen.

A murine model for the effects of pelvic radiation and cisplatin chemotherapy on human papillomavirus vaccine efficacy.

Therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for cervical cancer depend on a competent immune system to be effective. However, cancer patients are often found to be immunosuppressed, which could be attributable to prior radiation, chemotherapy, or the tumor burden itself. This study investigated whether pelvic radiation or cisplatin treatment affected the efficacy of an HPV vaccine and how long these effects lasted. Mice were given pelvic radiation, 2 Gy/day to a total dose of 45 Gy, or 5 mg/kg/week of cisplatin for 3 weeks. Mice were then immunized with an HPV-16 peptide vaccine between 0 and 16 weeks after their treatment. An ELISPOT analysis revealed that a reduced level of peptide-specific, IFNgamma-producing spleen cells was present in immunized mice treated previously with pelvic radiation or cisplatin compared with immunized mice that had not been treated. However, when mice were challenged with HPV-16-expressing tumor cells, immunized mice developed no tumors, regardless of prior treatment, whereas nonimmunized mice did develop tumors. Our results suggest that pretreatment with pelvic radiation or cisplatin alone does not prevent the induction of an effective immune response by a peptide vaccine. These data will have important implications for immunotherapeutic treatment of pretreated cancer patients, especially in the adjuvant setting when immunosuppression by tumor burden would be low.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a girl with a 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX chromosome constitution.

We report on a 4-year-old girl with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). One of her sisters had grossly elevated serum creatine-kinase and pyruvate-kinase levels, and one of her maternal great uncles was presumptively affected by DMD. Cytogenetic analysis showed a 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX chromosome constitution. The maternally inherited DMD gene is presumed to be present on the single X of the 45,X cell line.

Papillomavirus virus-like particles as anticancer vaccines.

Papillomavirus virus-like particles (VLPs) are empty, non-replicative, non-infectious particles that retain conformationally correct epitopes for the generation of antibody responses to the viral capsid proteins. Chimeric human papillomavirus (HPV) virus-like particles incorporating non-structural virus proteins offer an exciting approach for combined prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against HPV-induced lesions. Both HPV VLPs and chimeric VLPs can induce potent humoral and cellular immune responses when injected into mice, leading to the generation of virus-neutralizing antibodies, priming of CD8+ T-cells and activation of cytotoxic T-cell effector functions. This review summarizes recent advances in the production of chimeric VLPs, the immune response elicited by VLPs and chimeric VLPs, and their ability to generate strong protective and therapeutic antitumor immune responses.

Phase identification of dental amalgam using transmission electron microscopy.

Dental amalgam specimens were polished and afterward etched by an acid iodine solution. The replicas were obtained by the vacuum coating technique. The electron micrographs indicated that it was possible to identify the silver-mercury (gamma1) and tin-mercury (gamma2) intermetallic compounds formed during amalgam setting.

Cellular immunity and immunotherapy against deoxyribonucleic acid virus-induced tumors.

An important role in the immune defense against deoxyribonucleic acid virus induced tumors is mediated by T-cells, as is evident from aetiological, animal model, and clinical data. In this review the most recent observations in this field are described for three prominent members of this family of viruses, namely human papillomavirus associated with human cervical cancer, human adenovirus associated with lung infections in humans and tumors in rodents, and simian virus 40 associated with rodent tumors and human mesothelioma, osteosarcoma and ependymoma.

[Planning of a human milk bank and information center on breast feeding]. / Planejamento de banco de leite humano e central de informações sobre aleitamento materno.

PIP: The planning of activities and the layout of the Human Milk Bank and Information Center on Breastfeeding of the Carmela Dutra Maternity Hospital of the Santa Catarina Hospital Foundation (Brazil) are presented. The implantation of this service seeks to attend to the necessities of babies under treatment in Intensive Care Units of the Maternity and other children's hospitals in this Foundation. Besides collecting, analyzing, sorting, and processing adequately the milk donated by volunteer wet nurses, educational and promotional activities related to breast feeding are carried out in the community and among health professionals. (author's modified)^ieng

[Absenteeism of nursing workers at a university hospital]. / Absenteísmo de trabalhadores de enfermagem em um hospital universitário.

The purpose of this study was to identify the rates of absenteeism of nursing workers from a University Hospital due to diseases. Therefore, the author verified the number of absences due to health problems registered during 12 months, calculating the frequency rate as well as the percentage of wasted time. Data were collected and transcribed after consultation to reports organized by the human resources department of the institution studied. Results showed that the higher rate of absence occurred in the Pediatric Unit (If = 0.35) and the higher percentage of wasted time occurred in the Emergency Unit (Tp = 4.19). The author concluded that the rate of absenteeism due to disease was high among the workers, indicating the need of creating a database in order to optimize the registration of absences and their control as well as of stimulating the development of future research.

[How nurses evaluate home nursing and family caregivers]. / Como os enfermeiros avaliam o cuidado/cuidador familiar.

The aim of this study was to assess the way used by nurses for evaluate the family care and the caregiver. The method used was a quali-quantitative one. A semi-structure interview was the instrument chosen to collect data. It was applied to 20 (twenty) nurses from a University Hospital within the months of April and May, 1996. Data analysis was based on the Bardin's Content Analysis Technique (1994). The results demonstrated that nurses are not systematic in evaluating family care and the caregiver, but they use their intuition, based on momentaneous decisions. This reveal a difficulty of integration between the formal and the informal care caused by lack of interaction or effective valorization of the family care process.

[Living with an ostomy: a preliminary study]. / Vivendo com um ostoma: um estudo preliminar.

This study reveals some aspects of ostomy patients life experience. The data were obtained by using the participant observation technique during the monthly meeting session of the Ostomy Patients Association from July 1989 to August 1991. The findings showed that the ostomized patients were concerned with: 1) the ostomy pouch (how to get it); 2) other persons opinion about ostomized patients; 3) their sexuality, and stoma care. The patients perceived themselves as physically disable and inferior persons. Some of them perceived themselves as having a normal life. Other patients also had to cope with the stigma of cancer.

Brazilian popular healers as effective promoters of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and related child survival strategies.

PIP: In Ceara State in northeastern Brazil in 1986 infant mortality reached 110-139 per 1000 live births, and 50% of those deaths were due to diarrhea and dehydration. Diarrheal deaths can be prevented by oral rehydration therapy (ORT), which replaces lost fluids and electrolytes with oral rehydration salts (ORS) and water. ORT was known in the 1830s, but only in the 1960s was the importance of sugar, which increases the body's ability to absorb fluid some 25 times, realized. In northeastern Brazil access to ORT has been severely limited by poverty, official incompetence, and bureaucratic restrictions. In 1984 a 2-year research project was initiated in the village of Pacatuba to test the theory that mobilizing and training popular healers in ORT would 1) increase awareness and use of ORS, 2) promote continued feeding during diarrhea, 3) increase breast feeding, and 4) reduce the use of costly and nonindicated drugs. 46 popular healers, including rezadeiras and oradores (prayers), Umbandistas (priests), espiritas (mediums), an herbalist, and a lay doctor, were recruited and trained. Most of these people practiced a mixture of folk medicine and religion and were highly respected in the community. For purposes of survey, Pacatuba was divided into 3 groups, each containing houses at 4 different income levels. The mothers in 204 Group 1 homes were interviewed concerning ORT and diarrhea-related knowledge before intervention, and 226 households in Group 2 were interviewed after intervention. The healers were taught the basic biomedical concept of rehydration and how to mix the ORS -- 7 bottle cap-fulls of sugar and 1 of salt in a liter of unsweetened traditional tea. The healers were also taught how to use the World Health Organization's (WHO) ORS packets (2% glucose, 90 mmol/1 of sodium chloride, 1.5 gm potassium chloride, and 2.9 gm sodium bicarbonate) for cases of moderate to severe dehydration. In addition, the healers were taught the 5 basic health messages: give ORS-tea for diarrhea and dehydration (or any similar folk illness, such as evil eye, fallen fontanelle), continue feeding, encourage breast feeding, eliminate drugs, and ask people to seek the healer quickly at the onset of diarrhea. The healers continued to perform all the popular rites and prayers traditionally associated with curing diarrhea. The healers distributed approximately 7400 liters of ORS-tea in 12 months at a unit cost of 48 cents (US). A post-intervention survey of diarrhea-related knowledge was then carried out among the 226 Group 2 households. Before the intervention 2.9% of the mothers knew about ORS; 71.2% did afterward. All of the healers demonstrated that they knew exactly how to mix the ORS-tea. Knowledge of the WHO packets also increased. The number of mothers who continued feeding their children during diarrhea increased to 92%. Following the introduction of the ORS-tea, purchases of the more costly WHO packets and other commercial medications and antibiotics fell off significantly. The people's belief in folk etiologies remained unchanged, showing that traditional healers can be successfully integrated into an effective health care program. The success rate of the ORT program in Pacatuba, carried out entirely by word of mouth, compares favorably with expensive mass media campaigns other places.^ieng

Human dendritic cells are activated by chimeric human papillomavirus type-16 virus-like particles and induce epitope-specific human T cell responses in vitro.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-derived chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) are the leading candidate vaccine for the treatment or prevention of cervical cancer in humans. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent inducers of immune responses and here we show for the first time evidence for binding of chimeric HPV-16 VLPs to human peripheral blood-derived DCS: Incubation of immature human DCs with VLPs for 48 h induced a significant up-regulation of the CD80 and CD83 molecules as well as secretion of IL-12. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that cell surface-bound chimeric VLPs were taken up by DCS: Moreover, DCs loaded with chimeric HPV-16 L1L2-E7 VLPs induced an HLA-*0201-restricted human T cell response in vitro specific for E7-derived peptides. These results clearly demonstrate that immature human DCs are fully activated by chimeric HPV-16 VLPs and subsequently are capable of inducing endogenously processed epitope-specific human T cell responses in vitro. Overall, these findings could explain the high immunogenicity and efficiency of VLPs as vaccines.

Effect of preexisting neutralizing antibodies on the anti-tumor immune response induced by chimeric human papillomavirus virus-like particle vaccines.

Chimeric human papillomavirus virus-like particles (HPV cVLPs) carrying HPV16 E7 protein are potent vaccines for inducing cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against HPV-induced tumors in animal models. We tested the hypothesis that virion-neutralizing antibodies generated during an initial vaccination might prevent effective boosting of CMI to the cVLPs. Mice with circulating HPV16-neutralizing antibodies, generated by direct immunization with wild-type VLPs or by passive transfer of hyperimmune anti-HPV16 VLP mouse sera, were subsequently vaccinated with HPV16 E7-containing cVLPs. Mice with preexisting neutralizing antibodies were not protected from HPV16 E7-positive TC-1 tumor challenge, compared to the protection seen in mice lacking these antibodies. Antibody-coated VLPs bound very inefficiently to receptor-positive cell lines, suggesting that one of the mechanisms of antibody interference is blocking of VLP binding to its receptor and thereby uptake of VLPs by antigen-presenting cells. Our results suggest that repetitive vaccination with a cVLP for induction of cellular immune responses to an incorporated antigen may be of limited effectiveness due to the presence of neutralizing antibodies against the capsid proteins induced after the first application. This limitation could potentially be overcome by boosting with cVLPs containing the same target antigen incorporated into other papillomavirus-type VLPs.