Multidimensional Response Surface Methodology for the Development of a Gene Editing Protocol for p67phox-Deficient Chronic Granulomatous Disease.

Replacing a faulty gene with a correct copy has become a viable therapeutic option as a result of recent progress in gene editing protocols. Targeted integration of therapeutic genes in hematopoietic stem cells has been achieved for multiple genes using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system and Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) to carry a donor template. Although this is a promising strategy to correct genetic blood disorders, it is associated with toxicity and loss of function in CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which has hampered clinical application. Balancing the maximum achievable correction against deleterious effects on the cells is critical. However, multiple factors are known to contribute, and the optimization process is laborious and not always clearly defined. We have developed a flexible multidimensional Response Surface Methodology approach for optimization of gene correction. Using this approach, we could rapidly investigate and select editing conditions for CD34+ cells with the best possible balance between correction and cell/colony-forming unit (CFU) loss in a parsimonious one-shot experiment. This method revealed that using relatively low doses of AAV2/6 and CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex, we can preserve the fitness of CD34+ cells and, at the same time, achieve high levels of targeted gene insertion. We then used these optimized editing conditions for the correction of p67phox-deficient chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), an autosomal recessive disorder of blood phagocytic cells resulting in severe recurrent bacterial and fungal infections and achieved rescue of p67phox expression and functional correction of CD34+-derived neutrophils from a CGD patient.

Posterior Microphthalmos Pigmentary Retinopathy Syndrome with Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Case Report.

Purpose: To describe a particular form of posterior microphthalmos pigmentary retinopathy syndrome (PMPRS) with an atypical clinical presentation of pigment retinal dystrophy and an association to an inconstant complication which is angle-closure glaucoma (ACG). Methods: A 40-year-old male patient with ACG on maximal topical treatment was referred to our department for uncontrolled intraocular pressure. Best-corrected visual acuity was 2/10 in the right eye and light perception in the left eye. Intraocular pressure was 36 mmHg bilaterally. He had 360° peripheral anterior synechiae on gonioscopy. Fundus examination revealed total cupping with pale retinal lesions in both eyes and a few pigment deposits in the midperiphery of the right eye. Multimodal imaging was done. Results: Fundus autofluorescence revealed patchy areas of hypoautofluorescence. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed bilateral foveoschisis and macular folds. Anterior segment OCT showed a circumferential iridocorneal angle closure. Axial length measured with ultrasound biomicroscopy was 18.4 mm in the right eye and 18.1 in the left eye. Electroretinogram revealed attenuated scotopic responses. The patient was diagnosed with nanophthalmos-retinitis pigmentosa (RP)-foveoschisis syndrome complicated with ACG. A combined surgery with phacoemulsification - anterior vitrectomy - intraocular lens implantation and trabeculectomy was performed in both eyes with a satisfactory outcome. Conclusions: In its typical forms, PMPR syndrome is an association of nanophthalmos - RP - foveoschisis and optic nerve head (ONH) drusen. Incomplete phenotypes may lack ONH drusen or foveoschisis. Patients with PMPRS have to be screened for iridocorneal angle synechia and ACG.

Impact of routine nasogastric decompression versus no nasogastric decompression after pancreaticoduodenectomy on perioperative outcomes: meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Consensus on the use of nasogastric decompression (NGD) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is lacking. This meta-analysis reviewed current evidence on the impact of routine NGD versus no NGD after PD on perioperative outcomes. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for studies reporting on the role of NGD after PD on perioperative outcomes. Data up to January 2021were retrieved and analysed. RESULTS: Eight studies were included, with a total of 1301 patients enrolled, of whom 668 had routine NGD. Routine NGD was associated with a higher incidence of overall delayed gastric emptying (DGE) (odds ratio (OR) 2.51, 95 per cent c.i. 1.12 to 5.63, I2 = 83 per cent; P = 0.03) and clinically relevant DGE (OR 3.64, 95 per cent c.i. 1.83 to 7.25, I2 = 54 per cent; P < 0.01), a higher rate of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher complications (OR 3.12, 95 per cent c.i. 1.05 to 9.28, I2 = 88 per cent; P = 0.04) and increased length of hospital stay (mean difference 2.67, 95 per cent c.i. 0.60 to 4.75, I2 = 97 per cent; P = 0.02). There were no significant differences in overall complications (OR 1.07, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 1.46, I2 = 0 per cent; P = 0.66) or postoperative pancreatic fistula (OR 1.21, 95 per cent c.i. 0.86 to 1.72, I2 = 0 per cent; P = 0.28) between patients with or those without routine NGD. CONCLUSION: Routine NGD was associated with increased rates of DGE, major complications and longer length of stay after PD.

Impact of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on short- and long-term outcomes in advanced pancreatic cancer: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: We analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the impact of PERT on weight change, quality of life, and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC).Methods: All RCTs indexed in PubMed, Medline and Scopus, databases reporting PEI in APC and the effect of PERT were included up to August 2020. The primary outcome measure was OS and the secondary outcome measures were weight change and quality of life.Results: Four RCTs including 194 patients (107 males) were analyzed. Ninety-eight (50.5%) patients received PERT treatment. Treatment with PERT did not show a significant effect on OS (SMD 0.12, 95% confidence interval -0.46-0.70, p = 0.46). There was no difference in change in body weight (SMD 0.53, 95% confidence interval -0.72-1.77, p = 0.21). Quality of life was not significantly different in those taking PERT compared to controls.Conclusions: This meta-analysis found no significant difference in OS, change in weight or quality of life with use of PERT in APC. However, non-uniform designs and different end points , along with smaller number of patients, limit a more in-depth analysis of outcomes. Further, RCTs are warranted to support evidence of routine use of PERT in APC.

Second Report of Chronic Granulomatous Disease in Jordan: Clinical and Genetic Description of 31 Patients From 21 Different Families, Including Families From Lybia and Iraq.

Chronic granulomatous Disease (CGD) is a rare innate immunodeficiency disorder caused by mutations in one of the six genes (CYBA, CYBB, NCF1, NCF2, NCF4, and CYBC1/EROS) encoding the superoxide-producing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase complex in phagocytes. In the Western population, the most prevalent form of CGD (about two-thirds of all cases) is the X-linked form (X-CGD) caused by mutations in CYBB. The autosomal recessive forms (AR-CGD), due to mutations in the other genes, collectively account for the remaining one-third of CGD cases. We investigated the clinical and molecular features of 22 Jordanian, 7 Libyan, and 2 Iraqi CGD patients from 21 different families. In addition, 11 sibling patients from these families were suspected to have been died from CGD as suggested by their familial and clinical history. All patients except 9 were children of consanguineous parents. Most of the patients suffered from AR-CGD, with mutations in CYBA, NCF1, and NCF2, encoding p22 phox , p47 phox , and p67 phox proteins, respectively. AR-CGD was the most frequent form, in Jordan probably because consanguineous marriages are common in this country. Only one patient from non-consanguineous parents suffered from an X910 CGD subtype (0 indicates no protein expression). AR670 CGD and AR220 CGD appeared to be the most frequently found sub-types but also the most severe clinical forms compared to AR470 CGD. As a geographical clustering of 11 patients from eight Jordanian families exhibited the c.1171_1175delAAGCT mutation in NCF2, segregation analysis with nine polymorphic markers overlapping NCF2 indicates that a common ancestor has arisen ~1,075 years ago.