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Weight regain after balloon retrieval is a concern with all intra-gastric balloons (IGBs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, to prevent weight regain following IGB retrieval. This was a case-matched study of patients undergoing Spatz3 adjustable IGB (Spatz FGIA, Inc. NY, USA) at three outpatient clinics in Brazil between November 2015 and January 2019. Seventy-seven patients that opted to take liraglutide following IGB retrieval (IGB-L) were matched 1:1 to 198 patients that declined the medication—IGB-Alone (IGB-A). Propensity score adjustment was performed at the time of balloon retrieval on factors known to influence the choice of liraglutide. Weight and percent body fat (%BF) was measured at baseline and 9 months after IGB retrieval. % BF is defined as the total mass of fat divided by total body mass, multiplied by 100. The primary outcome was weight regain, and the secondary outcome was change in %BF 9 months after IGB retrieval. Propensity score matching yielded 53 matched pairs. Weight regain to the starting point was not observed in either group. There was significantly less weight regain in IGB-L compared to IGB-A, − 1.15 ± 0.94 kg versus − 0.66 ± 0.99 kg (p = 0.010) 9 months after balloon retrieval. Additionally, %BF decline in IGB-L was superior to IGB-A − 10.83 ± 1.50 versus − 7.94 ± 2.02 (p

BACKGROUND The healthcare impact of obesity is enormous, and there have been calls for new approaches to containing the epidemic worldwide. Minimally invasive procedures have become more popular, with one of the most widely used being endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG). Although major adverse events after ESG are rare, some can cause considerable mortality. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of biliary ascites after ESG. CASE SUMMARY A 48-year-old female with obesity refractory to lifestyle changes and prior gastric balloon placement underwent uncomplicated ESG and was discharged on the following day. On postoperative day 3, she developed abdominal pain, which led to an emergency department visit the following day. She was readmitted to the hospital, with poor general health status and signs of peritoneal irritation. Computed tomography imaging showed fluid in the abdominal cavity. Laparoscopy revealed biliary ascites and showed that the gallbladder was sutured to the gastric wall. The patient underwent cholecystectomy and lavage of the abdominal cavity and was admitted to the intensive care unit post-operatively. After 7 d of antibiotic therapy and 20 d of hospitalization, she was discharged. Fortunately, 6 mo later, she presented in excellent general condition and with a 20.2% weight loss. CONCLUSION ESG is a safe procedure. However, adverse events can still occur, and precautions should be taken by the endoscopist. In general, patient position, depth of tissue acquisition, location of stitch placement, and endoscopist experience are all important factors to consider to mitigate procedural risk.

BackgroundCancer aneuploidy, an unbalanced number of chromosomes, is associated with somatic mutation rate, expression of proliferative genes, and altered immune signaling. Whether aneuploidy correlates with a distinct tumor immunophenotype or impacts clinical outcomes to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in NSCLC is unclear.MethodsAmong nonsquamous NSCLCs which underwent targeted next-generation sequencing, we retrospectively quantified aneuploidy using the fraction of chromosomal arm alterations (FAA), defined as the number of aneuploid chromosome arms divided by the number of chromosome arms assessed. An unbiased recursive partitioning algorithm was used to investigate an FAA level which best discriminated responders from non-responders to ICIs. Multiplexed immunofluorescence to quantify CD8, FOXP3, and PD-1-positive cell counts, as well as PD-L1 expression was performed on a separate cohort of nonsquamous NSCLCs to determine differences in tumor immune cells subsets according to FAA levels.ResultsAmong 1426 nonsquamous NSCLCs identified, FAA increased along with the increase of pathologic stage, and was highest among tumors harboring EGFR mutations and RET fusions, and lowest among those with KRAS, BRAF, and MET mutations. FAA inversely correlated with PD-L1 expression levels, and positively correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB) (figure 1A-D). Among 281 NSCLCs treated with ICIs, the median FAA was significantly lower among patients with a partial response to ICI compared to those with stable or progressive disease (0.11 vs 0.21, P=0.006). A fractional aneuploidy level of 0.06 (representing the lowest quartile of FAA) was identified as an optimal cutpoint to discriminate responders from non-responders to ICI. Compared to pts with an FAA >0.06 (N=212), pts with FAA ≤0.06 (N=69) had a significantly higher ORR (42.0% vs 19.3%, P25th percentile) (figure 4).Abstract 67 Figure 1(A) Median fraction of chromosomal alterations (FAA) are shown for stages I, II, III, and IV NSCLCs. (B) Tumors with negative (Abstract 67 Figure 2(A) Objective response rate, (B) progression-free survival, and (C) overall survival, in patients with a fraction of chromosomal arm alterations (FAA) ≤0.06 versus >0.06 in the immunotherapy-cohort.Abstract 67 Figure 3(A) Objective response rate and (B) progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with a fraction of chromosomal arm alterations (FAA) ≤0.06 versus >0.06 in the chemotherapy-cohort.Abstract 67 Figure 4(A) CD8+, (B) PD-1+, (C) PD-1+ CD8+ (D), FOXP3+ cells/mm2, and (E) PD-L1 distribution in nonsquamous NSCLCs with an fraction of arm-level altered (FAA) low (≤25th percentile) versus high (>25th percentile). (F) CD8+ to FOXP3+ ratio in tumors with FAA low versus FAA high.ConclusionsNonsquamous NSCLCs with low aneuploidy have a distinct immune microenvironment and more favorable outcomes to ICIs.

BackgroundAlthough 1st-line PD-1 monotherapy has improved survival in patients with advanced NSCLC and a PD-L1 TPS ≥50%, responses occur in ~45% of patients. We have previously shown that among patients with NSCLC and PD-L1 expression of ≥50% treated with 1st-line pembrolizumab, clinical outcomes are significantly improved in those with a PD-L1 TPS of ≥90%.1 Here, we report the 3-year follow-up outcomes to 1st-line pembrolizumab in patients with a PD-L1 TPS ≥90% vs MethodsPatients with stage IV EGFR/ALK wild type NSCLC and PD-L1 TPS ≥50% who received 1st-line pembrolizumab monotherapy at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute were included. Comprehensive tumor genomic profiling was performed to examine genomic correlates of a very high PD-L1 expression on an expanded cohort of NSCLC samples.ResultsAmong 150 patients included, median age was 69 (range: 46–92), 55.3% were women, 91.9% were current smokers, and 34.0% had a KRAS mutation. At a median follow-up of 38.5 months, median progression-free (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS) in the entire cohort were 4.8 months, and 20.0 months, respectively. When compared to patients with a PD-L1 expression of 50–89% (N=81), those with PD-L1 TPS ≥90% (N=69) had a significantly longer mPFS (6.0 vs 3.9 months, HR 0.66, P=0.02), and longer mOS (27.0 vs 14.6 months, HR 0.63, P=0.03; figure 1). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the 3-year PFS and OS were 23.0% and 43.2% in the PD-L1 TPS ≥90% groups, and 8.6% and 24.0% in the PD-L1 TPS 50–89% group, respectively. A PD-L1 TPS ≥90% was confirmed to be an independent predictor of improved PFS (HR 0.58, P=0.02) and OS (HR 0.57, P=0.01) at multivariable analysis. Patients whose tumors had a PD-L1 TPS ≥90% were also significantly more likely to complete 35 cycles of therapy compared to those with PD-L1 TPS of 50–89% (17.4% vs 3.7%, PAbstract 312 Figure 1(A) Progression-free and (B) overall survival to 1st line pembrolizumab among patients with PD-L1 TPS ≥90% vs 50–89%, at a 3-year follow-up.Abstract 312 Figure 2Barplot showing the percentage of patients who completed 35 cycles of pembrolizumab monotherapy in the PD-L1 TPS ≥90% and 50–89% groupsAbstract 312 Figure 3(A) Oncoprint plot showing the top 15 genes mutated in NSCLC with PD-L1 TPS ≥90% and 50–89%. (B) Gene mutation enrichment analysis showing differentially mutated genes between NSCLCs with PD-L1 TPS ≥90% and 50–89%. ** Adjusted P value ConclusionsPembrolizumab monotherapy continues to demonstrate a meaningful long-term survival benefit at a 3-year follow-up in patients with advanced NSCLC and a PD-L1 TPS ≥90% vs 50–89%. NSCLCs with very high PD-L1 TPS have a more favorable genomic profile. These findings have implications for treatment selection and for clinical trial interpretation and design.ReferenceAguilar EJ, Ricciuti B, Gainor JF, et al. Outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and very high PD-L1 expression. Ann Oncol 2019 October 1;30(10):1653–1659

Background Sleeve gastrectomy is a well-standardized surgical treatment for obesity. However, rates of weight regain after sleeve gastrectomy in long-term follow-up are relatively high. This multicenter study is the first to evaluate the use of an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) technique for the management of this population. Methods This was a multicenter retrospective study, including patients with weight regain following sleeve gastrectomy who underwent ESG for weight loss. Primary outcomes included absolute weight loss, percent total weight loss (%TWL), change in body mass index (BMI), percent excess weight loss (%EWL) at 6 and 12 months, and safety profile. Clinical success was defined as achieving ≥ 25 % EWL at 1 year, ≤ 5 % serious adverse event (SAE) rate following society-recommended thresholds, and %TWL ≥ 10 %. Results 34 patients underwent ESG after sleeve gastrectomy. Technical success was 100 %. At 1 year, 82.4 % and 100 % of patients achieved ≥ 10 %TWL and ≥ 25 % EWL, respectively. Mean (SD) %TWL was 13.2 % (3.9) and 18.3 % (5.5), and %EWL was 51.9 % (19.1) and 69.9 % (29.9) at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. Mean (SD) %TWL was 14.2 % (12.5), 19.3 % (5.3), 17.5 % (5.2), and 20.4 % (3.3), and %EWL was 88.5 % (52.8), 84.4 % (22.4), 55.4 % (14.8), and 47.8 % (11.2) for BMI categories of overweight and obesity class I, II, and III, respectively, at 1 year. No predictors of success were identified in the multivariable regression analysis. No SAEs were reported. Conclusion ESG appears to be safe and effective in the management of weight regain following sleeve gastrectomy.

Obesity is a pandemic affecting approximately 700 million adults worldwide, with an additional 2 billion overweight. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a minimally invasive endoscopic bariatric therapy that involves remodeling of the greater curvature in an effort to reduce gastric capacity and delay gastric emptying. A variety of ESG suture patterns has been reported. This study is the first to use a uniform "U" stitch pattern across all centers to simplify technical aspects of the procedure and limit cost. This also uniquely assessed outcomes in all body mass index (BMI) categories and changes in metabolic rate, lean body mass, and adipose tissue composition.This is a multicenter analysis of prospectively collected data from 7 centers including patients with overweight and obesity who underwent ESG. Primary outcomes included absolute weight loss, percent total body weight loss (%TWL), change in BMI, and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) at 6 and 12 months in overweight and obese classes I, II, and III. Secondary outcomes included adipose tissue, lean body mass reduction, and metabolic rate analyzed by bioimpedance. Additionally, immediate or delayed adverse events (AEs) were analyzed. Clinical success was defined as achieving ≥25% EWL at 1 year with ≤5% serious AE (SAE) rate following the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)/American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) threshold.A total of 193 patients underwent ESG during the study period. All groups had10% TWL and25% EWL at 6 months of follow-up. On average, %TWL was 14.25% ± 5.26% and 15.06% ± 5.22% and the %EWL 56.15% ± 22.93% and 59.41% ± 25.69% at 6 months and 1 year of follow-up, respectively. %TWL was 8.91% ± .3%, 13.92% ± 5.76%, 16.22% ± 7.69%, and 19.01% ± .95% and %EWL 56.21% ± 2.0%, 62.03% ± 27.63%, 54.13% ± 23.46%, and 46.78% ± 2.43% for overweight and obesity classes I, II, and III, respectively, at 1 year. Male sex, age 41 years, and higher BMI were predictors of achieving a TWL ≥10% at 1-year follow-up. There was a significant reduction in adipose tissue from baseline. SAEs occurred in 1.03%, including 2 perigastric collections needing surgery.ESG appears to be feasible, safe, and effective in the treatment of patients with overweight and obesity according to ASGE/ASMBS thresholds.

Screening protocols for colorectal cancer are broadly recommended and effective in reducing mortality. However, populations from different age groups can harbor distinct pathologic and molecular profiles that can also be influenced by screening and polyp resection, especially in older ages.We retrospectively analyzed tumors from stage IV colorectal cancer patients from a central pathology laboratory in Brazil that is a reference for mutational profiling countrywide. Patients were classified into age groups as follows: prescreening age (PrSA; 45 years old), screening age (SA; 45-75 years old), and postscreening age (PoSA;75 years old). Every tumor was centrally reviewed by the pathologist. Groups were compared regarding clinicopathologic features, and the presence of RAS (renin-angiotensin system) and BRAF (v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) mutations.We included 1635 patients (215 PrSA, 1213 SA, 207 PoSA). There was no difference among groups regarding sidedness (P = .65) and KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene) mutations (P = .57). Stage IV disease at diagnosis (P = .04), the presence of a signet-ring cell component (P .001), and poorly differentiated tumors (P = .02) were most common in young patients, while BRAF and NRAS (neuroblastoma RAS viral (v-ras) oncogene homolog) mutations were significantly more common among PoSA patients (P = .002 and .03, respectively). When divided by age decade, KRAS mutations seem to have a stable frequency among all ages, while the BRAF mutation rate increased with increasing age.BRAF mutations are more frequent among PoSA patients, and this seems to be a continuous trend. PrSA and PoSA patients seem to present a distinct profile from SA, including differences in molecular and pathologic aspects. These findings could impact the frequency of screening tests among different age groups.

Background and study aims Obesity is a serious disease, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Intragastric balloons (IGBs) have been in use since the 1980s. After the insertion of an IGB, complications such as migration of the device and even severe gastric perforation can occur, requiring laparoscopic surgery. Here, we report three cases of gastric perforation after IGB insertion. In all three cases, the perforation was successfully repaired through an exclusively endoscopic approach.

Weight regain occurs in about 20% of patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Studies have reported that in most cases this regain is associated with dilatation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis. To correct this dilatation, one of the methods used is the application of argon plasma coagulation (APC).The authors report the case of a 39-year-old woman submitted to RYGB who had weight regain. In the endoscopic evaluation, the patient presented with dilatation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis, for which treatment with APC and an adjusted diet was proposed. After 3 sessions of APC, the patient presented with a reduction of the anastomosis diameter, weight loss, and increased satiety to food, with an increased gastric emptying time evidenced by scintigraphy.APC proved to be a safe and efficacious method.O reganho de peso após bypass gástrico em Y de Roux (RYGB) ocorre em cerca de 20% dos doentes. Estudos relatam que na maioria dos casos este reganho está associado a dilatação da anastomose gastrojejunal. Para corrigir esta dilatação um dos métodos utilizados é a apli-cação de árgon plasma (APC).Os autores relatam o caso de uma mulher de 39 anos de idade, submetida a RYGB, que apresentou reganho de peso. Na avaliação en-doscópica a doente apresentava dilatação da anastomose gastrojejunal sendo proposta a realização de APC e dieta ajustada. Após 3 sessões de APC, a doente apresentou redução do diâmetro da anastomose associada a perda de peso, aumento da saciedade alimentar e aumento do tempo de esvaziamento gástrico documentado em cintigrafia.O tratamento com APC mostrou ser um méto-do seguro e eficaz.

The intragastric balloon is an excellent nonsurgical alternative for weight loss. The placement procedure is standardized but some measures are needed to guarantee its safety. Kinking of the device, twisting into the mouth, and obstruction of the tip of the catheter in the stomach are troublesome situations that may arise during the procedure. This chapter aims to demonstrate examples of difficulties during the implantation of the balloon and to suggest alternatives to solve these problems.

The mechanism of weight loss with the intra-gastric balloon (IGB) is thought to be a decrease in gastric emptying (GE); however the evidence is conflicting. Nausea, abdominal pain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause intolerance resulting in early removal. This is demoralizing for the patient and costly for the healthcare system. The ability to predict which patients will have superior weight loss and tolerance is invaluable. We sought to investigate if the IGB induced weight loss by reducing GE and the effect of the IGB on the DeMeester score. We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data for patients undergoing IGB placement at a single hospital. Manometry and pH studies were performed before and with the IGB in place. Weight was measured at baseline, at removal, and 6 months later. Adverse events leading to early removal were recorded. Twenty-four patients were evaluated. There was a statistically significant decrease in GE for solids with the IGB (117.92 ± 150.23 vs 281.48 ± 206.49 min; p = 0.0048), but not for liquids (54.44 ± 17.97 vs 56.08 ± 43.96 min; p = 0.7228). The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure did not change significantly with placement of the IGB (17.76 ± 7.39 vs 14.74 ± 7.24 mmHg; p = 0.09). On multivariate analysis, increase in DeMeester score was associated with total body weight loss (p = 0.0125) and change in GE (p = 0.038) independently. The IGB delays GE for solids, but not for liquids, and increases the DeMeester score by a mechanism other than a loss of LES pressure.

Purpose As cancer burden has risen worldwide, physicians, patients, and their advocates have become aware that the clinical cancer trial research paradigm is not ubiquitous. Furthermore, the number and characteristics of trials that are registered in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with that in high-income countries (HICs) are unknown. Methods We collected retrospective data on trials for breast, lung, and cervical cancer registered in ClinicalTrials.gov or with the WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform between 2010 and 2017. The data were then classified as trials within LMICs or HICs using definitions from the World Bank. Results Included in these analyses were 6,710 trials, of which 3,164 (47%) were breast cancer trials, 3,283 (49%) were lung cancer trials, and 263 (4%) were cervical cancer trials. There were 1,951 (29%) trials from LMICs and 4,759 (71%) trials from HICs ( P < .001). Although the proportion of phase III trials in HICs versus LMICs was similar (18% v 17%; P = .66), the number of phase I trials in LMICs was significantly lower than that of HICs (20% v 2%; P < .001). For several LMICs with the highest mortality-to-incidence ratios for breast, lung, or cervical cancer, there were no cancer trials registered in the registration data bases searched for this work. Conclusion There are differences in access to cancer clinical trials in LMICs compared with HICs. Several factors, such as excessive cost and a lack of infrastructure and expertise, may explain these differences.

Laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGP) has recently emerged as a new bariatric procedure. This surgery provides gastric restriction without resection, which could potentially provide a lower risk alternative, with fewer complications. The real benefit of this technique in the short and long term is unknown. This systematic review aims to compare laparoscopic gastric plication and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for obesity treatment. Clinical trials were identified in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, BVS, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases. Comparison of LGP and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) included hospital stay, operative time, loss of hunger feeling, body mass index loss (BMIL), percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL), complications, symptoms in the postoperative period, and comorbidity remission or improvement. This systematic review search included 17,423 records. Eight studies were selected for meta-analysis. There is no difference in operative time, hospital stay, and complications. Patients in the SG group had improved loss of hunger feeling. BMIL was better in the SG group at 12 and 24 months [mean difference (MD) − 2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) − 3.10 to − 1.28, and MD − 4.59, 95% CI − 5.55 to − 3.63, respectively]. SG showed improved %EWL compared with gastric plication in 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. However, no difference was found in %EWL long-term results (24 and 36 months). Patients who underwent LGP had more sialorrhea. SG showed better results in diabetes remission. SG showed improved weight loss when compared with LGP, with better satiety, fewer symptoms in the postoperative period, and improved diabetes remission.

Endoscopic approaches exist for targeting weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), including endoscopic suturing, clipping, and sclerotherapy. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a noncontact electrocoagulation method, and when used in RYGB patients, it has shown reduction in the diameter of the gastrojejunal anastomosis. To study the effectiveness of APC for weight regain in terms of weight loss for RYGB patients, from eight bariatric centers. A retrospective chart review was performed for 558 patients at eight bariatric centers in the USA (1) and Brazil (7) who underwent APC procedure between 31st July 2009 and 29th March 2017. APC was performed on patients who regained weight after RYGB procedure. Upon exploratory analysis of the individual BMI data, the mean BMI decreased slightly during the first 24 months and increased slightly afterwards following the APC intervention. The mean weight was 94.5 ± 18.6 kg and the mean BMI was 34.0 kg/m2 at APC. Where data were available, the mean of lowest weight was 67.0 ± 23.0 kg and the mean of lowest BMI was 24.1 kg/m2 following gastric bypass. The mean weight loss was 6.5, 7.7, and 8.3 kg at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, and the changes in weight over time was statistically significant (p

BackgroundAlthough the availability and use of mobile mental health apps has grown exponentially in recent years, little data are available regarding their efficacy.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an app developed to promote stress management and well-being among working women compared with a control app.MethodsFemale employees at a private hospital were invited to participate in the study via mailing lists and intranet ads. A total of 653 individuals self-enrolled through the website. Eligible participants were randomized between control (n=240) and intervention (n=250) groups. The well-being mobile app provides an 8-week program with 4 classes per week (including a brief theoretical portion and a 15-min guided practice). The active control app also provided 4 assessments per week that encouraged participants to self-observe how they were feeling for 20 min. We also used the app to conduct Web-based questionnaires (10-item Perceived Stress Scale and 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index) and ask specific questions to assess subjective levels of stress and well-being at baseline (t1), midintervention (t4=4 weeks after t1) and postintervention (t8=8 weeks after t1). Both apps were fully automated without any human involvement. Outcomes from the control and intervention conditions at the 3 time points were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance.ResultsAmong the randomized participants (n=490), 185 participants were excluded at the 4-week follow-up and another 79 at the 8-week follow-up because of noncompliance with the experimental protocol. Participants who did not complete t4 and t8 assessments were equally distributed between groups (t4: control group=34.6% [83/240] and intervention group=40.8% [102/250]; P=.16; t8: control group=29.9% [47/157] and intervention group=21.6% [32/148]; P=.10). Both groups showed a significant increase in general well-being as a function of time (F2,426=5.27; P=.006), but only the intervention group presented a significant increase in work-related well-being (F2,426=8.92; PConclusionsThe well-being mobile app was effective in reducing employee stress and improving well-being.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT02637414; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02637414.

3596 Background: Screening protocols for CRC are broadly recommended and effective in reducing mortality. However, populations from different age groups can harbor distinct pathological and molecular profiles that can also be influenced by screening and polyp resection, especially in older ages. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed tumors from stage IV CRC patients from a central pathology laboratory in Brazil that is a reference for mutational profiling countrywide. Patients were classified into age groups as the following: pre-screening (PrSA; 75yo). Every tumor has been centrally reviewed by the pathologist. Groups were compared regarding clinicopathologic features and presence of RAS and BRAF mutations. Results: We included 1244 pts (164 PrSA, 919 SA and 161 PoSA). There were no difference among groups regarding sidedness(p= .68)and KRASmutations (p=.0.97). Stage IV at diagnose (p =.001), presence of signet-ring cell component (p< .001) along with poorly differentiated tumors (p= .006) were most found on young patients, while BRAFand NRASmutations where significantly more common among PosSA (table). Conclusions: PosSA and PreSA CRCs seem to present a distinct profile from SA populations, including differences in the molecular and pathologic aspects. This could impact the frequency of screening tests among different age groups. [Table: see text]

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of 2% chlorhexidine gel (CHX) on pH, calcium release, and Ca(OH)2 capability of reducing endotoxin. Study design Calcium release was verified by atomic-absorbance spectrophotometry, and pH was measured with a pHmeter. For endotoxin quantification, extracted human teeth previously contaminated with standard endotoxin were filled with: group I, Ca(OH)2 + saline solution; group II, Ca(OH)2 + CHX; and group III, CHX for 14 days. The remaining endotoxin was quantified by using chromogenic quantitative test. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test (P < .05). Results Group II released more calcium than group I (P < .05) after 15 days. Groups I and II showed alkaline pH in all periods, and group I showed higher pH values than group II (P < .05) after 30 days. Groups II and III showed significantly more decreased endotoxin than group I. Conclusions CHX did not interfere with the chemical properties of Ca(OH)2, in fact even improving its properties of reducing the endotoxin content in root canals in vitro.

OBJETIVO: Confrontar informações obtidas sobre doação de córneas através de questionários aplicados antes e após a realização de um ciclo de palestras informativas aos profissionais da área de saúde. Verificar o grau de conhecimento destes profissionais de hospital universitário em relação a informações básicas sobre o transplante de córnea. Documentar a reação pessoal destas pessoas frente ao procedimento. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma campanha através de aulas com material audio visual específico trazendo informações detalhadas sobre o processo de doação e transplante de córneas. Estas palestras foram direcionadas a 115 profissionais da área de saúde: 46 médicos e 69 acadêmicos de medicina. Para a avaliação foi elaborado um questionário, aplicado antes e depois das aulas com intervalo de 1 mês, composto de 7 perguntas referentes ao procedimento do transplante em si, e 3 perguntas direcionadas à posição pessoal do médico em relação à doação de córneas. RESULTADOS: Inicialmente obteve-se 61,72% de acertos nas perguntas objetivas, aumentando para 77,70% após o acesso às palestras. Nas perguntas subjetivas a porcentagem de profissionais que doariam suas córneas foi 91,5%, subindo para 93% após as aulas. De forma semelhante o número que autorizaria a doação de córnea de um familiar aumentou de 91,5% para 94,4%. Quando questionados se já haviam abordado uma família espontâneamente e solicitado o procedimento de doação de córneas a resposta foi positiva em 4,8% dos profissionais avaliados, e esta porcentagem subiu apenas para 5,5% após a realização das palestras. CONCLUSÃO: O despreparo dos profissionais de saúde em relação aos vários aspectos que concernem o transplante de córneas é nítido. Iniciativas isoladas como palestras informativas, apesar de necessárias, não são suficientes para mudar esta realidade. OBJECTIVE: To compare obtained data about cornea donation through a questionnaire applied before and after the realization of an expositive lecture given to health professionals. To identify these professional's knowledge about basic cornea transplant information. To verify their personal reaction towards the procedure. METHODS: A campain was performed using specific audio-visual classes about the cornea transplant's and donation process. These lectures were directed to 115 health professionals: 46 doctors and 69 medical students. For the evaluation a test was created and applied before and after the classes, with a one month break. This test included 10 questions, 7 about cornea transplant's specific information, and the other 3 were about their donation's opinion. RESULTS: The questions about the procedure were corrected 61, 72% at the first application and 77, 70% at the second, answered a month later than the first. At the subjective questions the percentage of professionals that would donate their corneas was 91,5%, increasing to 93% after the classes. In a similar way, the number that would authorize a family's cornea donation changed from 91,5% to 94,4%. When they were asked about previous cornea transplant solicitation, the answer was positive at 4,8% of the tests and increased only to 5,5% after the campain. CONCLUSION: Doctors and medical students are not prepared to deal with the multiple aspects of the cornea transplant procedure. And although needed, isolated actions as informative campains are not enough to change this reality.

Objetivo: Quantificar os potenciais doadores de córnea no Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba e comparar com os reais doadores. Separá-los conforme as unidades hospitalares onde foram atendidos. Verificar as principais causas base de óbito dos mesmos. Na impossibilidade de doação, evidenciar os critérios de exclusão mais prevalentes. Métodos: Estudo descritivo retrospectivo, realizado a partir da revisão de prontuários e atestados de óbito dos falecimentos ocorridos entre abril e julho de 2006 no Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba. Levantamento dos critérios de exclusão para doação, analisando: causa "mortis" e causa base do óbito, entre outros parâmetros. Resultados: Foram analisados 516 prontuários. Natimortos, recém-nascidos até dois anos e pacientes não identificados foram excluídos, totalizando uma amostra de 466 pacientes. Desses, 302 (64,8%) foram considerados potenciais doadores, 164 (35,2%) não-doadores. Dentre os 302 potenciais doadores houve apenas duas doações. Esse número representa 0,7% das possíveis doações. A principal causa base de óbito foi neoplasia maligna (29,8%). A maioria dos potenciais doadores foi a óbito no Pronto Socorro (22,2%), seguido por: UTI geral (10,5%). Os critérios de exclusão identificados foram: Septicemia (87,2%), linfoma ativo disseminado (4,3%), leucemia (3,7%), morte por causa desconhecida (3,0%), encefalopatia viral ativa (1,2%) e hepatite C (0,6%). Conclusão: Quando comparado ao número de potenciais doadores, o número efetivo de doações de córneas é muito pequeno. O setor de maior prevalência de potenciais doadores foi o Pronto Socorro. A principal causa base de óbito dos mesmos foi neoplasia. A maior causa de exclusão de potenciais doadores foi septicemia.

Intrathymic maturation of thymocytes is essential for the proper formation of T-cell repertoire. This process involves two major biochemical pathways, one initiated by the recognition of MHC/peptide by the T-cell receptor and the other mediated by glucocorticoids. These hormones seem to affect thymocyte maturation by increasing the threshold of TCR-mediated positive and negative selection, and by inducing apoptosis of nonselected thymocytes. We have previously reported that an SV40-immortalized murine thymic epithelial cell line, namely 2BH4, was able to protect thymocytes from dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. Here we show that this protection is independent of cell-to-cell contact and does not seem to involve a Bcl-2-mediated resistance, since incubation of thymocytes with 2BH4 cells or its supernatant does not interfere with the levels of this antiapoptotic molecule. The protection conferred by 2BH4 cells, or by a primary culture of thymic stromal cells, is specific for the CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD4(-)CD8(+) single-positive thymocytes, whereas the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk blocks apoptosis induced by dexamethasone in all thymocyte subpopulations. Our results suggest that positively selected single-positive thymocytes are still susceptible to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis but are protected from it through the action of a heat-stable protein(s) released by thymic stromal cells.

SynopsisObjective To overcome the current lack of in vitro models to specifically reproduce hormonal skin ageing in women, and in search of active ingredients with innovative efficacy claim for cosmetic skin care, we developed a cell culture-based model by simulating menopause's hormonal decline and assessed several parameters of collagen metabolism. Methods Human dermal fibroblasts were incubated with media containing 17β-oestradiol, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 at concentrations corresponding to those of non-menopausal women's sera and then of menopausal women's sera. We measured cell proliferation [by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)], matrix metalloproteinase-1 and metalloproteinase-3 (MMPs) release (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay – ELISA), total collagen deposition (by Sirius red staining), types I and III collagen deposition (by ELISA), and types I and III procollagen gene expression (by real-time q-RT-PCR). Results Our results showed a significant decrease over time in cell proliferation, collagen deposition and type III/type I collagen ratio, together with an increase in MMP release, when cells were incubated in media containing sex hormones at menopausal levels. This is consistent with in vivo data from menopausal women available in the literature. Surprisingly, procollagen gene expression was only reduced within the first hours and increased afterwards when compared with non-menopausal culture conditions. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that the increased procollagen synthesis with menopausal conditions was not sufficient to compensate for the MMPs' catabolic effects and/or the impaired procollagen protein maturation, resulting in a decrease in extracellular collagen content. These findings add to the overall understanding of hormone-dependent skin behaviour and highlight the suitability of this in vitro model for cosmetic actives testing aiming to underpin claims of anti-ageing efficacy, specifically for menopausal women, regarding collagen metabolism and balance of types, for maintenance of dermal mechanical properties.

Introduction: Procedural accidents have a negative effectonhealingandmightcontributetothepersistence of infections in inaccessible apical areas, requiring surgical intervention. This report describes a case of persistent apical periodontitis of a lower left first molar associated with the sinus tract and a periapical lesion that required nonsurgical endodontic retreatment and apical surgery for resolution. Methods: The tooth had received endodontic treatment 3 years ago and had to be retreated using the crown-down technique with chemical auxiliary substance (2% chlorhexidine gel), foramen patency, and enlargement and was filled in a single appointment. The occlusal access cavity was immediately restored with composite resin. After 1 month, it could be observed that the sinus tract persisted and, radiographically, the lesion remained unaltered. Therefore, endodontic microsurgery was indicated. Apical microsurgery was performed under magnification with the use of a dental operating microscope including apicectomy, root end with ultrasound, and sealing with mineral trioxide aggregate. A microbiologicalsamplewascollectedfromtheapicallesion.The resecteddistalrootapexwasobservedbyscanningelectron microscopy. Results: The following species were detected: Actinomyces naeslundii and Actinomyces meyeri, Propionibacterium propionicum, Clostridium botullinum, Parvimonas micra, andBacteroides ureolyticus; scanningelectron microscopic analysis revealed bacterial biofilm surrounding the apical foramen and external radicular surface. Gutta-percha overfilling at the apex because of a zip caused during initial endodontic treatment could be observed. A 6-month follow-up showed apparent radiographic periapical healing, which progressed after 24 months. Conclusion: Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria and extraradicular biofilm seem to participate in the maintenance of persistent periapical pathology, and endodontic retreatment followed by periapical microsurgery proved to be a successful alternative in the resolution of persistent extraradicular infections. (J Endod 2011;37:1696‐1700)

INTRODUCTION: The global increase in obesity incidence results in an increase of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence. Surgical treatment has proven to be effective, however it carries a high risk of complications. The duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (EndoBarrier®, GI Dynamics, DJBL) is an endoscopic implant that mimics the intestinal bypass portion of the Roux-en-Y Bystric bypass. It results in weight loss and improvements in glucose control in obese patients with T2DM. AIMS & METHODS: This is an interim report of an ongoing three years study. The aim of this prospective, controlled, multicentre study is to determine the effectiveness of DJBL and to identify clinical factors associated with a sub-optimal outcome of DJBL. RESULTS: Forty four subjects (24 with an implant, 20 controls) were included in the study. The groups were comparable with respect to age, gender, BMI (mean 37.7 vs. 38.1 kg/m2), T2DM duration (7.2 vs. 8.3 years), HbA1c level (8.8 % vs 8.1 %) and T2DM treatment. In the DJBL group, all devices were successfully implanted. Only three devices had to be explanted prior to the end of the 6 months study period (bleeding, dislocation and need for ERCP because of choledocholithiasis). The mean procedure time was 21.2 minutes for an implantation and 35.5 minutes for an explantation. At six months there was significantly greater weight loss (27% vs. 9%) and significantly improved HbA1c % (2.3 vs. 1.1) in the DJBL group. T2DMmedicinal treatment could be reduced in more device subjects than controls. There was no serious adverse event. Mild abdominal pain and nausea after implantation were experienced by 75% of patients during first 14 days after implantation, 40% of patients during the first month and 11% of patiens after one month. Lower initial BMI, distal position of the anchor and lower body height were identified as negative prognostic factors for pain. CONCLUSION: The DJBL is safe when implanted for 6 months, and results in significant weight loss and HbA1c reduction. This suggests that this novel device is a candidate for the primary therapy of morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes. Lower initial BMI, distal position of the anchor and lower body height could be negative prognostic factor for pain