Role of routine nephrectomy for non-functioning kidneys due to genitourinary tuberculosis: Data from an Indian subcontinent

2021 ◽  
pp. 205141582098766
Author(s):  
Pradeep Prakash ◽  
Prabhjot Singh ◽  
Amlesh Seth ◽  
Rishi Nayyar ◽  
Brusabhanu Nayak

Objective: To evaluate the role of routine nephrectomy for tuberculous non-functioning kidney (TNFK) after receiving anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) by demonstrating whether live tubercle bacilli persist in nephrectomy specimens after treatment or not. Materials and methods: Patients with TNFK who underwent nephrectomy after completion of at least 6 months of ATT were included in this prospective cohort study. We sent tissue/pus from a nephrectomy specimen for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture to look for live bacilli. Bacilli were considered alive only if AFB culture was positive. Results: Twenty-four patients underwent nephrectomy for TNFK between April 2015 and October 2017 (18 laparoscopic and 6 open nephrectomy). Laparoscopic nephrectomy was associated with lower blood loss (225 ml versus 408 ml, p = 0.0003) and shorter hospital stay (3 versus 3.8 days, p = 0.06) compared with open nephrectomy; however, mean operative time and overall complications were similar. Eight specimens were AFB smear and/or tuberculosis PCR positive, out of which three showed viable bacilli upon culture. Drug sensitivity testing showed multi-drug resistant strain in all three patients who were treated with second-line ATT. Conclusion: It is preferable to do routine nephrectomy for TNFKs as they are more likely to harbour live bacilli and lead to disease recurrence. Viability testing for AFB must be performed on all operated specimens to identify drug resistant bacilli so that patients may be treated with second-line therapy if required. Level of evidence: 4.

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Vinod Gautam

<p>Treatment of CNS TB is challenging due to lack of specific biochemical tests and inability to get the pathological sample from deeply located eloquent areas of CNS without causing any neurological deficit. Moreover, it is unnecessary to operate for biopsy in a patient who has presented with a very small granulomatious lesion in brain or spinal cord. In such as situations neuro-radiology helps in managing CNS TB and it may be the only source of establishing diagnosis and evaluating treatment response.</p><p>Role of radiological investigation has expanded from the initial diagnosis to the therapeutic interventions. In some Muli-drug- resistant (MDR) CNS TB cases, Stereotaxy or USG or CT guided biopsy helps in obtaining pathological sample and drug sensitivity testing. A regular clinical and neuro-radiological follow-up is mandatory during the entire course of anti tuberculous therapy to take prompt decisions to change ATT and to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with CNS TB.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashok Dhaker ◽  
Ashish Bahal ◽  
Vishal Mangal ◽  
Arun K Yadav ◽  
Anuj Singhal ◽  
...  

Background: The study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) for diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DRTB) with culture sensitivity assays. Methods: Patients with cough symptoms for more than two weeks with any one symptom such as night sweats, fever, and unintentional weight loss were enrolled. Cases where Mycobacterium Tuberculosis was detected on sputum CBNAAT, were included in the study. Demographic variables, clinical features, and chest radiographs were collected. Each sputum sample was divided into three aliquots: smear microscopy, culture, and genotypic drug sensitivity testing (DST). Results of all three diagnostic modalities were compared with CBNAAT. Results: Out of 236 patients with sputum positive CBNAAT, 49.4 % (117/236) were rifampicin-resistant while 50. 6 % (119/236) were Rifampicin sensitive. The genotypic DST assays carried out on all enrolled patients showed that 76. 3 % (181/236) patients were resistant to one or more first-line or second-line antitubercular (ATT) drugs, while 23.7 % (55/236) patients were sensitive to all ATT drugs. On concordant analysis of CB NAAT with DST assays, we found that among 119 CB NAAT rifampicin sensitive patients, 66 patients were resistant to first-line or second-line antitubercular drugs. Conclusion: This study found that the screening of DRTB with CBNAAT at the community level is suboptimal compared to the gold standard. Although CBNAAT's sensitivity in detecting DRTB is significantly higher, the specificity is lower in that population who have received ATT earlier.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Bonetto ◽  
Fabien Girandola ◽  
Grégory Lo Monaco

Abstract. This contribution consists of a critical review of the literature about the articulation of two traditionally separated theoretical fields: social representations and commitment. Besides consulting various works and communications, a bibliographic search was carried out (between February and December, 2016) on various databases using the keywords “commitment” and “social representation,” in the singular and in the plural, in French and in English. Articles published in English or in French, that explicitly made reference to both terms, were included. The relations between commitment and social representations are approached according to two approaches or complementary lines. The first line follows the role of commitment in the representational dynamics: how can commitment transform the representations? This articulation gathers most of the work on the topic. The second line envisages the social representations as determinants of commitment procedures: how can these representations influence the effects of commitment procedures? This literature review will identify unexploited tracks, as well as research perspectives for both areas of research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melody Hermel ◽  
Rebecca Duffy ◽  
Alexander Orfanos ◽  
Isabelle Hack ◽  
Shayna McEnteggart ◽  
...  

Cardiac registries have filled many gaps in knowledge related to arrhythmogenic cardiovascular conditions. Despite the less robust level of evidence available in registries when compared with clinical trials, registries have contributed a range of clinically useful information. In this review, the authors discuss the role that registries have played – related to diagnosis, natural history, risk stratification, treatment, and genetics of arrhythmogenic cardiovascular conditions – in closing knowledge gaps, and their role in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Schlosshauer ◽  
Marcus Kiehlmann ◽  
Diana Jung ◽  
Robert Sader ◽  
Ulrich M Rieger

Abstract Background Post-bariatric patients present a surgical challenge within abdominoplasty because of residual obesity and major comorbidities. In this study, we analyzed complications following abdominoplasty in post-bariatric patients and evaluated potential risk factors associated with these complications. Objectives The authors sought to determine the complications and risk factors following abdominoplasty in post-bariatric patients. Methods A retrospective study of patients who underwent abdominoplasty was performed from January 2009 to December 2018 at our institution. Variables analyzed were sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, surgical technique, operative time, resection weight, drain output, and complications. Results A total of 406 patients were included in this study (320 female and 86 male) with a mean age of 44.4 years and a BMI of 30.6 kg/m2. Abdominoplasty techniques consisted of traditional (64.3%), fleur-de-lis technique (27.3%), and panniculectomy without umbilical displacement (8.4%). Overall complications recorded were 41.9%, the majority of these being wound-healing problems (32%). Minor and major complications were found in 29.1% and 12.8% of patients, respectively. A BMI value of ≥30 kg/m2 was associated with an increased risk for wound-healing problems (P = 0.001). The frequency of total complications was significantly related to age (P = 0.007), BMI (P = 0.004), and resection weight (P = 0.001). Abdominoplasty technique tended to influence total complications. Conclusions This study demonstrates in a fairly large sample of post-bariatric patients (n = 406) that abdominoplasty alone can be performed safely, with an acceptable complication rate. Age, BMI, and resection weight are shown to be significant risk factors for total complications. The role of surgical technique needs to be evaluated further. Level of Evidence: 4


Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kartik Sunagar ◽  
Suyog Khochare ◽  
R. R. Senji Laxme ◽  
Saurabh Attarde ◽  
Paulomi Dam ◽  
...  

The Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) shares a distribution range with many other ‘phenotypically-similar’ kraits across the Indian subcontinent. Despite several reports of fatal envenomings by other Bungarus species, commercial Indian antivenoms are only manufactured against B. caeruleus. It is, therefore, imperative to understand the distribution of genetically distinct lineages of kraits, the compositional differences in their venoms, and the consequent impact of venom variation on the (pre)clinical effectiveness of antivenom therapy. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted phylogenetic and comparative venomics investigations of kraits in Southern and Western India. Phylogenetic reconstructions using mitochondrial markers revealed a new species of krait, Romulus’ krait (Bungarus romulusi sp. nov.), in Southern India. Additionally, we found that kraits with 17 mid-body dorsal scale rows in Western India do not represent a subspecies of the Sind Krait (B. sindanus walli) as previously believed, but are genetically very similar to B. sindanus in Pakistan. Furthermore, venom proteomics and comparative transcriptomics revealed completely contrasting venom profiles. While the venom gland transcriptomes of all three species were highly similar, venom proteomes and toxicity profiles differed significantly, suggesting the prominent role of post-genomic regulatory mechanisms in shaping the venoms of these cryptic kraits. In vitro venom recognition and in vivo neutralisation experiments revealed a strong negative impact of venom variability on the preclinical performance of commercial antivenoms. While the venom of B. caeruleus was neutralised as per the manufacturer’s claim, performance against the venoms of B. sindanus and B. romulusi was poor, highlighting the need for regionally-effective antivenoms in India.


Author(s):  
Giorgi Kuchukhidze ◽  
Davit Baliashvili ◽  
Natalia Adamashvili ◽  
Ana Kasradze ◽  
Russell R Kempker ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND High rates of loss to follow-up (LFU) exist among patients with multi-drug and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR TB); We aimed to identify long-term clinical outcomes of patients who were LFU during second-line TB treatment. METHODS We conducted a follow-up study among adults who received second-line TB treatment in the country of Georgia during 2011-2014 with a final outcome of LFU. We attempted to interview all LFU patients, administered a structured questionnaire and obtained sputum samples. Active TB at follow-up was defined by positive sputum Xpert-TB/RIF or culture. RESULTS Follow-up information was obtained for 461 patients, among these patients, 107 (23%) died and 177 (38%) were contacted, of those contacted 123 (69%) consented to participate and 92 provided sputum samples. Thirteen (14%) had active TB with an estimated infectious time-period for transmitting drug-resistant TB in the community of 480 days (IQR=803). In multivariable analysis, positive culture at the time of LFU was associated with active TB at the time of our study (adjusted risk ratio=13.3, 95% CI: 4.2, 42.2) CONCLUSIONS Nearly one-quarter of patients on second-line TB treatment who were LFU died. Among those LFU evaluated in our study, one in seven remained in the community with positive sputum cultures. To reduce death and transmission of disease, additional strategies are needed to encourage patients to complete treatment.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1160
Author(s):  
Giusi La Camera ◽  
Luca Gelsomino ◽  
Amanda Caruso ◽  
Salvatore Panza ◽  
Ines Barone ◽  
...  

Breast cancer is the most common solid malignancy diagnosed in females worldwide, and approximately 70% of these tumors express estrogen receptor α (ERα), the main biomarker of endocrine therapy. Unfortunately, despite the use of long-term anti-hormone adjuvant treatment, which has significantly reduced patient mortality, resistance to the endocrine treatments often develops, leading to disease recurrence and limiting clinical benefits. Emerging evidence indicates that extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized particles that are released by all cell types and responsible for local and systemic intercellular communications, might represent a newly identified mechanism underlying endocrine resistance. Unraveling the role of EVs, released by transformed cells during the tumor evolution under endocrine therapy, is still an open question in the cancer research area and the molecular mechanisms involved should be better defined to discover alternative therapeutic approaches to overcome resistance. In this review, we will provide an overview of recent findings on the involvement of EVs in sustaining hormonal resistance in breast cancer and discuss opportunities for their potential use as biomarkers to monitor the therapeutic response and disease progression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronghua Gui ◽  
Federico Canavese ◽  
Shuang Liu ◽  
Lianyong Li ◽  
Lijun Zhang ◽  
...  

Purpose Early diagnosis and prevention of lateral growth disturbance of the capital femoral epiphysis is challenging after treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The aim of the study was to evaluate the radiographic changes of the Alsberg angle (AA) in normal children and those with DDH, and to assess the role of AA as a potential predictor of lateral growth disturbance of the capital femoral epiphysis. Methods AA was measured on the anterior-posterior pelvic radiographs of 1000 normal children ranging in age from one to ten years and in 66 children (92 hips) with DDH treated by closed reduction (CR). A comparative analysis was performed. Results In the normal children, mean AA decreased linearly with age, from 76° at age one year to 65° at age ten years, irrespective of gender and laterality. In children with DDH, the average AA was 81.5°(sd 3.9°; 74° to 87°) prior to CR; it was 75.9° (sd 4.5°; 68° to 83°) in normal children of the same age (p < 0.001). Among the 42 children (64 hips) with successfully and uneventfully treated DDH, AA reached normal values between the ages of five and six years. In contrast, children with lateral growth disturbance of the proximal femur physis (24 children, 28 hips) showed significantly higher AA values in comparison with the age-matched controls. Conclusion In DDH patients with successful CR, AA could be expected to match normal values in children between the ages of five and six years. On the other hand, AA can be used as an early predictor for lateral growth disturbance of the capital femoral epiphysis. Level of Evidence Level III


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