Temporal Trends in Survival Outcomes for Patients with Esophageal Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A 14-Year Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis for patients with esophageal cancer who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery has shown improvement in recent years. We sought to identify the critical factors contributing to enhanced survival outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively examined 427 patients with esophageal cancer treated with nCRT and esophagectomy across two periods: P1 (from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2011) and P2 (from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017). The introduction of the CROSS regimen and total meso-esophagectomy in P2 prompted an evaluation of their effects on perioperative outcomes and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: During P2, the occurrence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy increased significantly from 3.9 to 16.8% (p < 0.001), while pneumonia and in-hospital mortality rates remained unchanged. The median OS improved from 19.2 to 29.2 months (p < 0.001) between P1 and P2. Multivariable analysis identified higher nodal yields and the achievement of major response as favorable prognostic factors. Conversely, an involved circumferential resection margin (CRM), an advanced ypN stage, and pneumonia were independently associated with poor outcomes. Patients treated during P2 had a lower prevalence of involved CRM (10% vs. 25.1%, p < 0.001), a higher rate of major response (52.7% vs. 34.8%, p < 0.01), and a greater nodal yield (27.8 vs. 10.9, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes following nCRT and surgery have improved significantly over time. This progress can be attributed to multiple factors, with the primary drivers being the refinement of nCRT protocols and the application of radical surgery.

Subcostal uniportal robotic anatomic lung resection: A pilot trial.

Objective: Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery typically necessitates the use of multiple ports. The new single-port robotic system (da Vinci SP system) platform is designed to perform uniportal surgery. The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of the da Vinci SP system when used for anatomical lung resection. Methods: Patients diagnosed with clinical stage I lung cancer requiring anatomical lung resections were considered eligible for this trial. The primary outcome measure was the rate of conversion, whereas the secondary objective focused on assessing the incidence of perioperative complications. Results: The study included 35 patients with a median age of 63 years (range, 48-74 years). Of these, 30 underwent lobectomy and 5 received segmentectomy. All surgeries were successfully performed using a subcostal approach, except for 1 patient, who required a thoracotomy conversion due to bleeding (conversion rate: 2.9%). The median docking time was 2 minutes (range, 1-8 minutes). For the 34 patients who completed uniportal surgery, the median total operating time was 194 minutes (range, 63-405 minutes), whereas the console time was 153 minutes (range, 93-267 minutes). The median number of harvested nodes was 13 (range, 5-37), while the median number of nodal stations was 6 (rang, 4-8). There were no in-hospital fatalities, and the median postoperative stay was 3 days (range, 2-12 days). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of using the da Vinci SP system for anatomical lung resection through a subcostal approach. ClinicalTrialsgov identifier: NCT05535712.

Single-Port Robotic Trans-Subxiphoid Surgery for Anterior Mediastinal Disease: A Pilot Trial.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on minimally invasive mediastinal surgery using a trans-subxiphoid single-port thoracoscopic approach. Despite its potential advantages, the widespread adoption of this method has been hindered by the intricate surgical maneuvers required within the confined retrosternal space. Robotic surgery offers the potential to overcome the limitations inherent in the thoracoscopic technique. METHODS: This was a clinical trial (NCT05455840) to evaluate the feasibility and safety of utilizing the da Vinci® SP system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) for trans-subxiphoid single-port surgery in patients with anterior mediastinal disease. The primary endpoints encompassed conversion rates and the secondary endpoints included the occurrence of perioperative complications. RESULTS: Between August 2022 and April 2023, a total of 15 patients (7 men and 8 women; median age = 56 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 49 to 65 years) underwent trans-subxiphoid robotic surgery using da Vinci SP platform for maximal thymectomy (n = 2) or removal of anterior mediastinal masses (n = 13). All surgical procedures were carried out with success, with no need for conversion to open surgery or the creation of additional ports. The median docking time was 2 min (IQR: 1 to 4 min), while the console time had a median of 152 min (IQR: 95 to 191 min). There were no postoperative complications and patients experienced a median postoperative hospital stay of 2 days with no unplanned 30-day readmission. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that trans-subxiphoid single-port robotic surgery employing the da Vinci SP system in patients with anterior mediastinal disease is clinically viable with acceptable safety and short-term outcomes.

Determination of Antibody Activity by Platelet Aggregation.

Platelets play an important role in hemostasis by forming clots and stopping bleeding. In immune thrombotic conditions, platelets and leukocytes are aberrantly activated by pathogenic antibodies resulting in platelet aggregates and NETosis, leading to thrombosis and thrombocytopenia. A simple assay that assesses platelet function and antibody activity is light transmission aggregometry. This assay can be used to determine antibody activity in patients with disorders such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Briefly, for detection of pathogenic antibody, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is treated with a specific agent (e.g., patient sera or purified patient antibodies) with constant stirring. Upon activation, platelets undergo a shape change and adhere to each other forming aggregates. This causes a reduction in opacity allowing more light to pass through PRP. Light transmission through the cuvette is proportional to the degree of platelet aggregation and is measured by the photocell over time. The advantage of this protocol is that it is a simple, reliable assay that can be applied to assess antibody activity in thrombotic conditions. Light transmission aggregometry does not require the use of radioactive reagents and is technically less demanding compared with 14C-serotonin release assay, another common assay for detecting antibody activity. Key features • This protocol can be used to assess platelet function and to detect platelet activating antibodies in diseases such as HIT and VITT. • Does not require radioactive reagents, requires an aggregometer; based on the light transmission aggregometry protocol, adapted for detection of VITT and other platelet-activating antibodies. • Two positive controls are required for reliable detection of antibodies in diseases such as HIT/VITT, namely a weak HIT/VITT antibody and a physiological agonist. • For detection of HIT/VITT antibodies, it is essential to use donors known to have platelets reactive to these antibodies to avoid false negative results.

Effect of Aspirin vs Enoxaparin on 90-Day Mortality in Patients Undergoing Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Secondary Analysis of the CRISTAL Cluster Randomized Trial.

Importance: Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality following hip and knee arthroplasty. Due to its antiplatelet and cardioprotective properties, aspirin has been proposed as an agent that could reduce mortality when used as venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following these procedures. Objective: To compare aspirin with enoxaparin in reducing 90-day mortality for patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty procedures. Design, Setting, and Participants: This study was a planned secondary analysis of the CRISTAL cluster randomized, crossover, registry-nested trial performed across 31 participating hospitals in Australia between April 20, 2019, and December 18, 2020. The aim of the CRISTAL trial was to determine whether aspirin was noninferior to enoxaparin in preventing symptomatic VTE following hip or knee arthroplasty. The primary study restricted the analysis to patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty for a diagnosis of osteoarthritis only. This study includes all adult patients (aged ≥18 years) undergoing any hip or knee arthroplasty procedure at participating sites during the course of the trial. Data were analyzed from June 1 to September 6, 2021. Interventions: Hospitals were randomized to administer all patients oral aspirin (100 mg daily) or subcutaneous enoxaparin (40 mg daily) for 35 days after hip arthroplasty and 14 days after knee arthroplasty procedures. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was mortality within 90 days. The between-group difference in mortality was estimated using cluster summary methods. Results: A total of 23 458 patients from 31 hospitals were included, with 14 156 patients allocated to aspirin (median [IQR] age, 69 [62-77] years; 7984 [56.4%] female) and 9302 patients allocated to enoxaparin (median [IQR] age, 70 [62-77] years; 5277 [56.7%] female). The mortality rate within 90 days of surgery was 1.67% in the aspirin group and 1.53% in the enoxaparin group (estimated difference, 0.04%; 95% CI, -0.05%-0.42%). For the subgroup of 21 148 patients with a nonfracture diagnosis, the mortality rate was 0.49% in the aspirin group and 0.41% in the enoxaparin group (estimated difference, 0.05%; 95% CI, -0.67% to 0.76%). Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary analysis of a cluster randomized trial comparing aspirin with enoxaparin following hip or knee arthroplasty, there was no significant between-group difference in mortality within 90 days when either drug was used for VTE prophylaxis. Trial Registration: http://anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12618001879257.

NETosis and thrombosis in vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare yet serious adverse effect of the adenoviral vector vaccines ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca) and Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen) against COVID-19. The mechanisms involved in clot formation and thrombocytopenia in VITT are yet to be fully determined. Here we show neutrophils undergoing NETosis and confirm expression markers of NETs in VITT patients. VITT antibodies directly stimulate neutrophils to release NETs and induce thrombus formation containing abundant platelets, neutrophils, fibrin, extracellular DNA and citrullinated histone H3 in a flow microfluidics system and in vivo. Inhibition of NETosis prevents VITT-induced thrombosis in mice but not thrombocytopenia. In contrast, in vivo blockage of FcγRIIa abrogates both thrombosis and thrombocytopenia suggesting these are distinct processes. Our findings indicate that anti-PF4 antibodies activate blood cells via FcγRIIa and are responsible for thrombosis and thrombocytopenia in VITT. Future development of NETosis and FcγRIIa inhibitors are needed to treat VITT and similar immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia conditions more effectively, leading to better patient outcomes.

Effect of Aspirin vs Enoxaparin on Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Undergoing Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: The CRISTAL Randomized Trial.

Importance: There remains a lack of randomized trials investigating aspirin monotherapy for symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Objective: To determine whether aspirin was noninferior to enoxaparin in preventing symptomatic VTE after THA or TKA. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cluster-randomized, crossover, registry-nested trial across 31 hospitals in Australia. Clusters were hospitals performing greater than 250 THA or TKA procedures annually. Patients (aged ≥18 years) undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty procedures were enrolled at each hospital. Patients receiving preoperative anticoagulation or who had a medical contraindication to either study drug were excluded. A total of 9711 eligible patients were enrolled (5675 in the aspirin group and 4036 in the enoxaparin group) between April 20, 2019, and December 18, 2020. Final follow-up occurred on August 14, 2021. Interventions: Hospitals were randomized to administer aspirin (100 mg/d) or enoxaparin (40 mg/d) for 35 days after THA and for 14 days after TKA. Crossover occurred after the patient enrollment target had been met for the first group. All 31 hospitals were initially randomized and 16 crossed over prior to trial cessation. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was symptomatic VTE within 90 days, including pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (above or below the knee). The noninferiority margin was 1%. Six secondary outcomes are reported, including death and major bleeding within 90 days. Analyses were performed by randomization group. Results: Enrollment was stopped after an interim analysis determined the stopping rule was met, with 9711 patients (median age, 68 years; 56.8% female) of the prespecified 15 562 enrolled (62%). Of these, 9203 (95%) completed the trial. Within 90 days of surgery, symptomatic VTE occurred in 256 patients, including pulmonary embolism (79 cases), above-knee DVT (18 cases), and below-knee DVT (174 cases). The symptomatic VTE rate in the aspirin group was 3.45% and in the enoxaparin group was 1.82% (estimated difference, 1.97%; 95% CI, 0.54%-3.41%). This failed to meet the criterion for noninferiority for aspirin and was significantly superior for enoxaparin (P = .007). Of 6 secondary outcomes, none were significantly better in the enoxaparin group compared with the aspirin group. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis, aspirin compared with enoxaparin resulted in a significantly higher rate of symptomatic VTE within 90 days, defined as below- or above-knee DVT or pulmonary embolism. These findings may be informed by a cost-effectiveness analysis. Trial Registration: ANZCTR Identifier: ACTRN12618001879257.

Effect of protein supplementation on fat-free mass among upper gastrointestinal surgical patients: A review of compliance.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There is minimal data regarding the long-term effects of targeted daily protein intake and its role in nutritional restoration. This study aims to evaluate the effect of protein supplementation among upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgical patients, reviewing the effect on muscle mass and hand grip strength. METHODS: The records of 223 upper GI surgical patients from September 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Protein intake was categorised based on average daily protein intake (0.8g-1.2 g/kg/day vs. more than 1.2 g/kg/day), depending on compliance to the institution target of 1.2g-1.5 g/kg/day. Hand grip strength and body composition including weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Fat-Free Mass (FFM), and Fat Mass (FM) were measured. Paired t-tests and independent t-tests were used to analyse the effects of different levels of protein intake on hand grip strength and body composition. RESULTS: Among the 223 patients included, 84 subjects had benign upper GI pathology and 139 subjects had malignant upper GI pathology, with mean follow-up duration of 52.3 (SD,42.10) weeks and 39.3 (SD,35.11) respectively. Patients with malignant pathology who consumed more than 1.2 g/kg/day of protein had increased hand-grip strength and preservation of FFM, while those who consumed 0.8g-1.2 g/kg/day of protein had deteriorating hand grip strength and significant FFM reduction (p = 0.004). Patients with benign pathology showed significant improvement in hand-grip strength (p < 0.001) and increase in FFM (p < 0.001) with higher protein intake. CONCLUSION: Protein supplementation is paramount in nutrition recovery and muscle mass restoration among upper gastrointestinal surgical patients. Protein intake of at least 1.2 g/kg/day was especially important among patients with malignancy to preserve muscle mass and strength.

Antiplatelet antibody predicts platelet desialylation and apoptosis in immune thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder caused by dysregulated B- and T- cell functions, which lead to platelet destruction. A well-recognized mechanism of ITP pathogenesis involves anti-platelet and anti-megakaryocyte antibodies recognizing membrane glycoprotein (GP) complexes, mainly GPIb/IX and GPIIb/IIIa. In addition to the current view of phagocytosis of the opsonised platelets by splenic and hepatic macrophages via their Fc γ receptors, antibodyinduced platelet desialylation and apoptosis have also been reported to contribute to ITP pathogenesis. Nevertheless, the relationship between the specific thrombocytopenic mechanisms and various types of anti-platelet antibodies has not been established. In order to ascertain such association, we used sera from 61 ITP patients and assessed the capacity of anti-platelet antibodies to induce neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) surface expression, RCA-1 lectin binding and loss of mitochondrial inner membrane potential on donors' platelets. Sera from ITP patients with detectable antibodies caused significant platelet desialylation and apoptosis. Anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies appeared more capable of causing NEU1 surface translocation while anti-GPIb/IX complex antibodies resulted in a higher degree of platelet apoptosis. In ITP patients with anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies, both desialylation and apoptosis were dependent on FcγRIIa signaling rather than platelet activation. Finally, we confirmed in a murine model of ITP that destruction of human platelets induced by anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies can be prevented with the NEU1 inhibitor oseltamivir. A collaborative clinical trial is warranted to investigate the utility of oseltamivir in the treatment of ITP.

Circulating platelet-neutrophil aggregates characterize the development of type 1 diabetes in humans and NOD mice.

Platelet-neutrophil aggregates (PNAs) facilitate neutrophil activation and migration and could underpin the recruitment of neutrophils to the pancreas during type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis. PNAs, measured by flow cytometry, were significantly elevated in the circulation of autoantibody-positive (Aab+) children and new-onset T1D children, as well as in pre-T1D (at 4 weeks and 10-12 weeks) and T1D-onset NOD mice, compared with relevant controls, and PNAs were characterized by activated P-selectin+ platelets. PNAs were similarly increased in pre-T1D and T1D-onset NOD isolated islets/insulitis, and immunofluorescence staining revealed increased islet-associated neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) products (myeloperoxidase [MPO] and citrullinated histones [CitH3]) in NOD pancreata. In vitro, cell-free histones and NETs induced islet cell damage, which was prevented by the small polyanionic drug methyl cellobiose sulfate (mCBS) that binds to histones and neutralizes their pathological effects. Elevated circulating PNAs could, therefore, act as an innate immune and pathogenic biomarker of T1D autoimmunity. Platelet hyperreactivity within PNAs appears to represent a previously unrecognized hematological abnormality that precedes T1D onset. In summary, PNAs could contribute to the pathogenesis of T1D and potentially function as a pre-T1D diagnostic.

Multicentre evaluation of 5B9, a monoclonal anti-PF4/heparin IgG mimicking human HIT antibodies, as an internal quality control in HIT functional assays: Communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Platelet Immunology.

BACKGROUND: Functional tests for the diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) exhibit variable performance. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated in a multicenter study whether 5B9, a monoclonal anti-PF4/heparin IgG mimicking human HIT antibodies, could be used as an internal quality control. METHODS: 5B9 was sent to 11 laboratories in seven countries, and six initial concentrations ranging from 10 to 400 µg/mL were tested by heparin-induced platelet activation assay (HIPA), serotonin release assay (SRA), platelet aggregation test (PAT), flow cytometry (FC), or heparin-induced multiple-electrode aggregometry (HIMEA). Each method was evaluated in three different laboratories using experimental procedures identical to those usually applied for the diagnosis of HIT by testing platelets from 10 different healthy donors. RESULTS: The procedures used varied among the laboratories, particularly when platelet-rich plasma and whole blood were used. Nevertheless, positive results were obtained with at least 100 µg/ml of 5B9 for most donors tested by all centers (except one) performing HIPA, SRA, or HIMEA. FC and PAT results were more heterogeneous. FC results from one center that used washed platelets preincubated with PF4 were positive with all donors at 50 µg/ml 5B9, but at least 200 µg/ml of 5B9 were required to activate cells with most donors tested using PAT. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that HIT functional tests are not well standardized and exhibit variable sensitivity for the detection of platelet-activating antibodies. However, 5B9 is a potentially useful tool to standardize functional tests, to select responding platelet donors, and consequently to improve the performance of these assays and comparability between laboratories.

Erythrocyte interaction with neutrophil extracellular traps in coronary artery thrombosis following myocardial infarction.

Cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction (MI), is the leading cause of death globally. Current antithrombotic medications used during MI treatment are predominantly directed towards platelet inhibition and, to a lesser extent, anticoagulation. Bleeding is a major risk of such treatment and could be circumvented by targeting other causative factors essential for arterial thrombus formation. We sought to re-evaluate the cellular composition of arterial thrombus in order to better understand mechanisms that lead to coronary artery thrombosis in acute MI. We performed detailed histological and immunohistochemical analysis of coronary artery thrombi aspirated from 26 patients undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Coronary arterial thrombi had an unanticipated cellular heterogeneity. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were observed in thrombi as identified by anti-citrullinated histone 3 and anti-myeloperoxidase staining. Increased abundance of NETs was seen directly surrounding erythrocytes. Extracellular iron and erythrocyte fragments were also associated with areas of NETs suggesting a possible link. Our results shed light on potential involvement of erythrocytes in coronary arterial thrombosis through activation of platelets and induction of NETs. If supported by further in vitro and in vivo studies, novel therapies to inhibit NET formation or coagulation activation by erythrocyte release products, could bolster current myocardial infarction treatment.

Inhibition of NADPH oxidase blocks NETosis and reduces thrombosis in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is associated with severe and potentially lethal thrombotic complications. NETosis was recently shown to be an important driver of thrombosis in HIT. We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and their contributions to thrombus development in HIT. We showed that neutrophil activation by HIT immune complexes induced ROS-dependent NETosis. Analysis of thrombi formed in a microfluidics system showed ROS production in both platelets and neutrophils, and abundant neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and ROS distributed throughout the clot. Neutrophil-targeted ROS inhibition was sufficient to block HIT-induced NETosis and thrombosis using human blood. Inhibition of NOX2 with diphenyleneiodonium chloride or GSK2795039 abrogated HIT-induced thrombi in vivo using FcγRIIa+/hPF4+-transgenic mice. Thrombocytopenia in mice remained unaffected by ROS inhibition. Increased ROS production in activated neutrophils was also confirmed using fresh blood from patients with active HIT. Our findings show that ROS and NOX2 play a crucial role in NETosis and thrombosis in HIT. This enhances our understanding of the processes driving thrombosis in HIT and identifies NOX2 as a potential new therapeutic target for antithrombotic treatment of HIT.

Two Weeks of Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Isolated Symptomatic Distal Vein Thrombosis (TWISTER study).

BACKGROUND: Treatment of low-risk patients with isolated symptomatic distal deep vein thrombi (IDDVT) is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: assess whether two weeks of therapeutic anticoagulation is efficacious/safe for IDDVT. PRIMARY OUTCOME: symptomatic three-month venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence in the two-week anticoagulation group. Secondary outcomes included post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) and bleeding. METHODS: Prospective multicentre cohort study. Consecutive low-risk IDDVT patients enrolled within 72 h of diagnosis and treated with therapeutic dose enoxaparin or rivaroxaban. At two weeks, patients had repeat complete whole leg compression ultrasound (CUS)/clinical review. If resolution of leg symptoms AND no radiological evidence of thrombus extension, anticoagulation was stopped. If ongoing symptoms and/or radiographic extension within distal veins, anticoagulation was continued for four more weeks. Patients with extension into the popliteal vein on two-week ultrasound were treated off-study. Patients were reviewed at three and six months. FINDINGS/INTERPRETATION: 241 eligible patients received ≥2 weeks anticoagulation. 167/241 (69%) were assigned to the 2-week anticoagulation group; 71/241 (30%) to the six-week anticoagulation group; 3/241 patients (1%) had extension into the popliteal vein on two-week CUS. Two patients in the two-week anticoagulation group had symptomatic IDDVT recurrence in ≤3 months; VTE recurrence 2/156; 1.3%(95% CI 0.05-4.85%). 69% of patients had complete resolution of symptoms within two weeks. Six-month PTS rates were 8/184, 4.4%(95% CI 2.1-8.5%). No major bleeding was reported. Our findings suggest it's safe/efficacious to stop therapeutic anticoagulation at two weeks in low-risk IDDVT patients with resolution of symptoms/no extension on ultrasound. This could replace 6-12 weeks of anticoagulation for ambulatory, low-risk IDDVT patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT01252420.

Image Analysis of Surface Porosity Mortar Containing Processed Spent Bleaching Earth.

Image analysis techniques are gaining popularity in the studies of civil engineering materials. However, the current established image analysis methods often require advanced machinery and strict image acquisition procedures which may be challenging in actual construction practices. In this study, we develop a simplified image analysis technique that uses images with only a digital camera and does not have a strict image acquisition regime. Mortar with 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% pozzolanic material as cement replacement are prepared for the study. The properties of mortar are evaluated with flow table test, compressive strength test, water absorption test, and surface porosity based on the proposed image analysis technique. The experimental results show that mortar specimens with 20% processed spent bleaching earth (PSBE) achieve the highest 28-day compressive strength and lowest water absorption. The quantified image analysis results show accurate representation of mortar quality with 20% PSBE mortar having the lowest porosity. The regression analysis found strong correlations between all experimental data and the compressive strength. Hence, the developed technique is verified to be feasible as supplementary mortar properties for the study of mortar with pozzolanic material.

Design of Experiment on Concrete Mechanical Properties Prediction: A Critical Review.

Concrete mix design and the determination of concrete performance are not merely engineering studies, but also mathematical and statistical endeavors. The study of concrete mechanical properties involves a myriad of factors, including, but not limited to, the amount of each constituent material and its proportion, the type and dosage of chemical additives, and the inclusion of different waste materials. The number of factors and combinations make it difficult, or outright impossible, to formulate an expression of concrete performance through sheer experimentation. Hence, design of experiment has become a part of studies, involving concrete with material addition or replacement. This paper reviewed common design of experimental methods, implemented by past studies, which looked into the analysis of concrete performance. Several analysis methods were employed to optimize data collection and data analysis, such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression, Taguchi method, Response Surface Methodology, and Artificial Neural Network. It can be concluded that the use of statistical analysis is helpful for concrete material research, and all the reviewed designs of experimental methods are helpful in simplifying the work and saving time, while providing accurate prediction of concrete mechanical performance.

Indirect detection of anti-platelet antibodies in immune thrombocytopenia.

Despite recent advances in the understanding and treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), its diagnosis remains clinical due to the lack of sensitive laboratory tests. The detection of anti-platelet antibodies (APA) in plasma, although highly specific, is notoriously insensitive. Specialised clinical platelet laboratories routinely perform a screening test of only one dilution for indirect APA testing by flow cytometry. We evaluated the presence of APA using several dilutions of plasma from 61 ITP patients. Herein, we report that serial dilutions can improve the diagnostic value of indirect APA assay for ITP. We show that performing just two dilutions (1:2 and 1:25) would capture over 90% of patients with detectable plasma APA. This method enables indirect testing to become a valuable tool to be incorporated into the management algorithm for ITP.

Management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic adverse drug reaction occurring in <0.1% to 7% of patients receiving heparin products depending on the patient population and type of heparin. Management of HIT is highly dependent on a sequence of tests for which clinicians may or may not have the results when care decisions need to be made. We conducted systematic reviews of the effects of management strategies in persons with acute HIT, subacute HIT A or B, and remote HIT. We searched Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database through July 2019 for previously published systematic reviews and primary studies. Two investigators independently screened and extracted data and assessed the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. We found primarily noncomparative studies and case series assessing effects of treatments, which led to low to very low certainty evidence. There may be little to no difference in the effects between nonheparin parenteral anticoagulants and direct oral anticoagulants in acute HIT. The benefits of therapeutic-intensity may be greater than prophylactic-intensity anticoagulation. Using inferior vena cava filters or platelet transfusion may result in greater harm than not using these approaches. Evidence for management in special situations, such as for patients undergoing cardiovascular interventions or renal replacement therapy, was also low to very low certainty. Additional research to evaluate nonheparin anticoagulants is urgently needed, and the development of novel treatments that reduce thrombosis without increasing hemorrhage should be a priority.

Evolving concepts of pathogenesis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: Diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune reaction to heparin. It often causes severe thrombosis which may lead to limb gangrene and thrombosis-associated death. The concept of its pathogenesis has been evolving during the past five decades. Initially, HIT was thought to be caused by disseminated intravascular coagulation. Later it became clear that HIT was mediated by an immune mechanism whereby an IgG antibody induced platelet aggregation, release of procoagulant materials and consequently thrombus formation. The antigen comprises Platelet Factor 4 (PF4) and heparin which have a tendency to form ultralarge complexes. The HIT immune response has atypical features. IgG antibody appears early without IgM precedence and lasts transiently. One explanation is that there is prior priming by bacterial infection. Another unique characteristic is that it is processed as if it is a particulate antigen involving complement activation and B cells. Antigen-presenting cells/monocytes are also involved but the role of T cells is controversial. Recent advances have provided new insights into the underlying mechanisms of HIT-related thrombosis. Previously, platelets were believed to play a central role; their activation and consequently the induction of blood coagulation was the basis of the hypercoagulability in HIT. More recently, several studies have provided clear evidence that neutrophil and NETosis, monocytes and endothelial cells contribute significantly to the thrombosis in HIT. These new insights may result in development of better diagnostic laboratory assays and more effective treatments for HIT.