Comparison of Previous Infectious and Allergic Diseases Between Patients with Kawasaki Disease and Propensity Score-matched Controls: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether previous infectious and allergic diseases are associated with the development of Kawasaki disease in children. STUDY DESIGN: This nationwide, population-based, case-control study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database. The entire cohort consisted of patients younger than 5 years of age diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and 1:5 propensity score-matched controls from 2013 to 2019. The epidemiologic features and previous infectious or allergic diseases between the 2 groups were compared, and potential factors that could influence the association were identified. RESULTS: In total, 32 964 patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and 164 820 controls were included. Patients with Kawasaki disease had more frequent diagnoses of previous sepsis or bacteremia (OR 1.41), acute pyelonephritis (OR 1.10), and otitis media (OR 1.24). In addition, Kawasaki disease was associated with previous diagnoses of atopic dermatitis (OR 1.05), urticaria (OR 1.08), and asthma (OR 1.05). The association between previous infectious or allergic diagnoses and Kawasaki disease was more prominent in younger patients (<2 years). However, intravenous immunoglobulin resistance, sex, and region of residence were not significant factors that consistently influenced the association between previous infectious or allergic diseases and Kawasaki disease. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increased rates of previous infectious and allergic diseases in patients with Kawasaki disease compared with controls, the association between allergic diseases and Kawasaki disease was weaker in our cohort than in previous studies.

Supporting Caregivers of Patients With Cancer: A Summary of Technology-Mediated Interventions and Future Directions.

This paper aims to review literature published on the support of cancer caregivers with health technology. Eighteen articles were reviewed to better understand cancer caregiving and categorized into four different themes: (1) design guidelines, (2) information facilitation, (3) social support, and (4) multicomponent interventions. Analysis of the current articles revealed that there are substantial gaps in knowledge regarding a range of health technologies that facilitate family caregiver support and its distribution to health institutions. Further research is needed in this area, as family caregivers are primary providers of essential elements of care to patients. Future studies should unpack existing barriers that interfere with the development of health technology interventions in cancer care.

Development and characterization of novel chimeric monoclonal antibodies for broad spectrum neutralization of rabies virus.

Current post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies virus infection has several limitations in terms of supply, cost, safety, and efficacy. Attempts to replace human or equine rabies immune globulins (HRIG or ERIG) have been made by several companies and institutes. We developed potent monoclonal antibodies to neutralize a broad spectrum of rabies viruses by screening hybridomas received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two kinds of chimeric human antibodies (chimeric #7 and #17) were constructed by cloning the variable regions from selected hybridomas and the constant region of a human antibody. Two antibodies were bound to antigenic site III and I/IV, respectively, and were able to neutralize 51 field isolates of rabies virus that were isolated at different times and places such as Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australia. These two antibodies neutralize rabies viruses with high efficacy in an in vivo test using Syrian hamster and mouse models and show low risk for adverse immunogenicity.

ALLOGENEIC PLATELET-RICH PLASMA FOR ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of allogeneic platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in rotator cuff repair . METHODS: Seventeen patients with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear were included. Ten patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with allogeneic, and seven patients with autologous PRP. Three PRP gels in a volume 3 ml each were applied between the torn end and the greater tuberosity. Clinical outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at a minimum of 2 years after surgery. Structural outcomes were evaluated with the presence of retear and the change of the cross-sectional area (ACT) of the supraspinatus . RESULTS: Allogeneic PRP did not cause any adverse events during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference in the clinical outcome measures between the two groups (all p > 0.05). The retear rate was 33.3% and 25.0% in the allogeneic group and autologous group, respectively (p = 0.764). The change between the one-year postoperative and immediately postoperative ACT was not also significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.373) . CONCLUSION: Allogeneic PRP in arthroscopic rotator cuff did not cause any local or general complications and that has the efficacy comparable to autologous PRP with respect to the clinical and structural outcomes. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a segurança e eficácia do plasma rico em plaquetas alogênico (PRP) no reparo do manguito rotador. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos dezessete pacientes com ruptura da espessura total do manguito rotador. Dez pacientes foram submetidos a reparo artroscópico do manguito rotador com PRP alogênico e sete pacientes com PRP autólogo. Três géis de PRP de 3ml cada foram aplicados entre a extremidade lesionada e a tuberosidade maior. Os resultados clínicos foram avaliados no pré-operatório e no mínimo 2 anos após a cirurgia. Os resultados estruturais foram avaliados com a presença de nova ruptura e a alteração da área em corte transversal (ACT) do supra-espinhal. RESULTADOS: O PRP alogênico não causou quaisquer eventos adversos durante o período de acompanhamento. Não houve diferença significativa nas medidas de resultados clínicos entre os dois grupos (todos os valores p> 0,05). A taxa de nova ruptura foi de 33,3% e 25,0% no grupo alogênico e grupo autólogo, respectivamente (p = 0,764). A alteração da ACT entre o pós-operatório de um ano e imediatamente no pós-operatório também não foi significativamente diferente entre os dois grupos (p = 0,373) . CONCLUSÃO: O PRP alogênico administrado por via artroscópica no manguito rotador não causou quaisquer complicações locais ou gerais e sua eficácia é comparável ao PRP autólogo no que diz respeito aos resultados clínicos e estruturais. Nível de Evidência III, Estudo Retrospectivo Comparativo.

ALLOGENEIC PLATELET-RICH PLASMA FOR ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR / PLASMA RICO EM PLAQUETAS ALOGÊNICO PARA REPARO DO MANGUITO ROTADOR

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of allogeneic platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in rotator cuff repair . Methods: Seventeen patients with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear were included. Ten patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with allogeneic, and seven patients with autologous PRP. Three PRP gels in a volume 3 ml each were applied between the torn end and the greater tuberosity. Clinical outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at a minimum of 2 years after surgery. Structural outcomes were evaluated with the presence of retear and the change of the cross-sectional area (ACT) of the supraspinatus . Results: Allogeneic PRP did not cause any adverse events during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference in the clinical outcome measures between the two groups (all p > 0.05). The retear rate was 33.3% and 25.0% in the allogeneic group and autologous group, respectively (p = 0.764). The change between the one-year postoperative and immediately postoperative ACT was not also significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.373) . Conclusion: Allogeneic PRP in arthroscopic rotator cuff did not cause any local or general complications and that has the efficacy comparable to autologous PRP with respect to the clinical and structural outcomes. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar a segurança e eficácia do plasma rico em plaquetas alogênico (PRP) no reparo do manguito rotador. Métodos: Foram incluídos dezessete pacientes com ruptura da espessura total do manguito rotador. Dez pacientes foram submetidos a reparo artroscópico do manguito rotador com PRP alogênico e sete pacientes com PRP autólogo. Três géis de PRP de 3ml cada foram aplicados entre a extremidade lesionada e a tuberosidade maior. Os resultados clínicos foram avaliados no pré-operatório e no mínimo 2 anos após a cirurgia. Os resultados estruturais foram avaliados com a presença de nova ruptura e a alteração da área em corte transversal (ACT) do supra-espinhal. Resultados: O PRP alogênico não causou quaisquer eventos adversos durante o período de acompanhamento. Não houve diferença significativa nas medidas de resultados clínicos entre os dois grupos (todos os valores p> 0,05). A taxa de nova ruptura foi de 33,3% e 25,0% no grupo alogênico e grupo autólogo, respectivamente (p = 0,764). A alteração da ACT entre o pós-operatório de um ano e imediatamente no pós-operatório também não foi significativamente diferente entre os dois grupos (p = 0,373) . Conclusão: O PRP alogênico administrado por via artroscópica no manguito rotador não causou quaisquer complicações locais ou gerais e sua eficácia é comparável ao PRP autólogo no que diz respeito aos resultados clínicos e estruturais. Nível de Evidência III, Estudo Retrospectivo Comparativo.