1. Isokinetic knee strength and proprioception before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A comparison between home-based and supervised rehabilitation
Jong-Min Lim, Jae-Jin Cho, Tae-Yeong Kim, Bum-Chul Yoon J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2019;32(3):421-429. doi: 10.3233/BMR-181237.
Background: Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction focuses on restoring knee deficiencies and function. However, the extent of the clinician's direct supervision that is required to recover knee function is unknown. Objective: To investigate differences in isokinetic knee strength improvement, endurance, and proprioception between home-based (HBR) and supervised rehabilitation (SR). Methods: Thirty participants were randomly allocated to each group after reconstruction. Isokinetic knee strength and proprioception were measured using the Biodex multi-joint and stability systems, respectively, before and after intervention. Results: The SR group showed a significant improvement from baseline, but not the HBR group (SR group, from 1.94 ± 1.44 to 1.02 ± 0.92, p< 0.05; HBR group, from 1.69 ± 0.88 to 1.61 ± 0.90, p> 0.05). There was a significant effect of exercise type on proprioception scores after controlling for pretest values (p< 0.05). No significant difference in isokinetic knee strength was observed between the groups. Conclusions: HBR recovered knee strength as effectively as the SR, but SR was more effective than HBR for the recovery of proprioception and functional knee movement. This result indicates that guidance from health professionals play an important role in enhancing proprioception for patients following ACL reconstruction.
2. Ticagrelor monotherapy in patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: TWILIGHT-HBR
Javier Escaned, et al. Eur Heart J. 2021 Dec 1;42(45):4624-4634. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab702.
Aims: Patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) represent a prevalent subgroup among those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Early aspirin discontinuation after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has emerged as a bleeding avoidance strategy. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3-month DAPT in a contemporary HBR population. Methods and results: This prespecified analysis of the TWILIGHT trial evaluated the treatment effects of early aspirin withdrawal followed by ticagrelor monotherapy in HBR patients undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents. After 3 months of ticagrelor plus aspirin, event-free patients were randomized to 12 months of aspirin or placebo in addition to ticagrelor. A total of 1064 (17.2%) met the Academic Research Consortium definition for HBR. Ticagrelor monotherapy reduced the incidence of the primary endpoint of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 2, 3, or 5 bleeding compared with ticagrelor plus aspirin in HBR (6.3% vs. 11.4%; hazard ratio (HR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35-0.82) and non-HBR patients (3.5% vs. 5.9%; HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.77) with similar relative (Pinteraction = 0.67) but a trend towards greater absolute risk reduction in the former [-5.1% vs. -2.3%; difference in absolute risk differences (ARDs) -2.8%, 95% CI -6.4% to 0.8%, P = 0.130]. A similar pattern was observed for more severe BARC 3 or 5 bleeding with a larger absolute risk reduction in HBR patients (-3.5% vs. -0.5%; difference in ARDs -3.0%, 95% CI -5.2% to -0.8%, P = 0.008). There was no significant difference in the key secondary endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke between treatment arms, irrespective of HBR status. Conclusions: Among HBR patients undergoing PCI who completed 3-month DAPT without experiencing major adverse events, aspirin discontinuation followed by ticagrelor monotherapy significantly reduced bleeding without increasing ischaemic events, compared with ticagrelor plus aspirin. The absolute risk reduction in major bleeding was larger in HBR than non-HBR patients.
3. Microbial debromination of hexabromocyclododecanes
Fei Yu, Yuyang Li, Hui Wang, Tao Peng, Yi-Rui Wu, Zhong Hu Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2021 Jun;105(11):4535-4550. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11095-3. Epub 2021 Jun 2.
Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), a new sort of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), are globally prevalent and recalcitrant toxic environmental pollutants. HBCDs have been found in many environmental media and even in the human body, leading to serious health concerns. HBCDs are biodegradable in the environment. By now, dozens of bacteria have been discovered with the ability to transform HBCDs. Microbial debromination of HBCDs is via HBr-elimination, HBr-dihaloelimination, and hydrolytic debromination. Biotic transformation of HBCDs yields many hydroxylated and lower brominated compounds which lack assessment of ecological toxicity. Bioremediation of HBCD pollution has only been applied in the laboratory. Here, we review the current knowledge about microbial debromination of HBCDs, aiming to promote the bioremediation applied in HBCD contaminated sites. KEY POINTS: · Microbial debromination of HBCDs is via hydrolytic debromination, HBr-elimination, and HBr-dihaloelimination. · Newly occurred halogenated contaminants such as HBCDs hitch the degradation pathway tamed by previously discharged anthropogenic organohalides. · Strategy that combines bioaugmentation with phytoremediation for bioremediation of HBCD pollution is promising.