Effectiveness of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients with Gallbladder Stones with Chronic Cholecystitis.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with gallbladder stones and chronic cholecystitis. Methods: From July 2018 to January 2020, 90 patients with gallbladder stones and chronic cholecystitis assessed for eligibility were recruited and concurrently assigned (1 : 1) to receive either small-incision cholecystectomy (observation group) or laparoscopic cholecystectomy (experimental group). Outcome measures included operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative hospital stay, c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), gastrin (GAS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin (MOT), and adverse events. Results: Patients given laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed lower levels of operation-related indices versus those receiving small-incision cholecystectomy (P < 0.05). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy resulted in lower postoperative levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in the patients versus small-incision cholecystectomy (P < 0.05). Patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed better GAS, VIP, and MOT levels than those receiving small-incision cholecystectomy (P < 0.05). The eligible patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy had a significantly lower incidence of adverse events versus those after small-incision cholecystectomy (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy effectively shortens the operative time and length of hospital stay in patients with gallbladder stones and chronic cholecystitis, reduces intraoperative bleeding, attenuates the inflammatory response, and enhances the gastrointestinal function, with less surgical trauma and high safety. Clinical trials are, however, required prior to promotion.

Sellar cysticercosis and septum pellucidum cyst: a case report and review of the literature.

Sellar cysticercosis is a rare form of neurocysticercosis. A septum pellucidum cysts is a rare, often asymptomatic cystic structure between the lateral ventricles. We report here a male patient with sellar cysticercosis and septum pellucidum cysts who was successfully treated by neuroendoscopic resection. The patient was a 28-year-old male who presented with intermittent headaches for 5 years. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a well-circumscribed 13 mm cystic space-occupying lesion in the sellar region and the cavum septum pellucidum. The cyst in the saddle area was completely resected via endoscopic endonasal-transsphenoidal approach. Postoperative histological examination verified cysticerci in the cyst wall. To our knowledge, this is the first case of sellar cysticercosis and a septum pellucidum cyst successfully treated through neuroendoscopic resection.

Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN): engaging to step up for vaccine discovery and access. Meeting report 2012.

At the annual general meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) members renewed their engagement and cooperative spirit in pursuing the mission of increasing the quality and availability of affordable vaccines for all people. Thirteen years after its establishment, DCVMN moves into the Decade of Vaccines with renewed dynamism and synergy to create greater impact and shape the global and regional vaccination landscape, while supporting national growth. The DCVMN is growing: 12 new members joined in 2012, making a total of 37 members from 14 countries; 9 of these 37 manufacturers make WHO-prequalified vaccines. More than one hundred and forty delegates from 23 countries attended the annual general meeting, representing 24 vaccine manufacturers and leaders of 20 major global health institutions. Over the course of two days, delegates exchanged information and ideas on how to jointly achieve the common goal of protecting people against known and emerging infectious diseases. In an increasingly complex environment of new technologies, demanding regulatory requirements, higher cost of production, and a growing number of legal and intellectual property issues, it is observed that many manufacturers and stakeholders are engaged in technology transfer initiatives. This well-attended meeting highlighted the growing impact and important contributions of developing country vaccine manufacturers in shaping the global vaccine landscape. The successful introduction of the first ever vaccine against hepatitis E and of a new vaccine against meningitis A, tailored for African meningitis belt countries, illustrate the innovative capacity of DCVMN members. An increase in the variety of collaborations, partnerships and alliances between DCVM and various institutions was observed. Interestingly, bilateral technology transfer partnerships between DCVMs themselves are on the rise.

Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network: doing good by making high-quality vaccines affordable for all.

The Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) is a unique model of a public and private international alliance. It assembles governmental and private organizations to work toward a common goal of manufacturing and supplying high-quality vaccines at affordable prices to protect people around the world from known and emerging infectious diseases. Together, this group of manufacturers has decades of experience in manufacturing vaccines, with technologies, know-how, and capacity to produce more than 40 vaccines types. These manufacturers have already contributed more than 30 vaccines in various presentations that have been prequalified by the World Health Organization for use by global immunization programmes. Furthermore, more than 45 vaccines are in the pipeline. Recent areas of focus include vaccines to protect against rotavirus, human papillomavirus (HPV), Japanese encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis E, poliovirus, influenza, and pertussis, as well as combined pentavalent vaccines for children. The network has a growing number of manufacturers that produce a growing number of products to supply the growing demand for vaccines in developing countries.

Inhibition of tumor cell migration and invasion through knockdown of Rac1 expression in medulloblastoma cells.

Medulloblastoma is one of the common malignant brain tumors in children or young adults and its overall disease-free 5-year survival rate is approximately 50% due to tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. This study aimed to determine whether one of Rho GTPases, Rac1 can affect the morphology, motility, and invasion of medulloblastoma cells through knockdown of Rac1 expression. Medulloblastoma Daoy cells were used to manipulate Rac1 expression using Rac1 shRNA, Rac1N17, and Rac1L61 constructs. Reverse transcriptase-PCR and western blot were used to detect expression of Rac1 mRNA and protein, respectively. Invasion and migration assays were performed to assess invasion and migration capacity of Daoy cells, respectively. The data showed that Rac1 mRNA and protein were overexpressed in Daoy cells. Deletion of Rac1 decreased the cross-linked actin network and pseudopodia and also inhibited the number of migration cells migrated or invaded to the other side of the filter compared to control cells. These data indicated that the invasion and migration in Daoy cells were inhibited by deletion of Rac1, and suggest that targeting Rac1 by Rac1 shRNA may further be evaluated and used as a potential anticancer strategy to treat medulloblastoma.

Clinical research and surgical treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy.

In order to investigate the susceptible factors of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) and the surgical treatment, the relative factors of 18 cases of intractable PTE and 35 cases of non-PTE patients with posttraumatic seizures (PTS) and the surgical treatment of PTE patients were studied retrospectively. The results showed that there was significant difference in the degree of unconsciousness after head injury, incidence of intracerebral hematoma and acute subdural hematoma between PTE group and non-PTE group. Of the 18 cases of PTE undergoing surgical treatment, the effectiveness of 11 cases was satisfactory and that of the remaining 7 was not. Between the two groups, there was difference in the localization of interictal epileptic discharge (IED) and ictal discharge (ID) as demonstrated by preoperative EEG. It was concluded that PTE was associated with the severity of head injury and intracranial hematoma. The localization of epileptogenic loci by preoperative EEG presumably contributed to the PTE surgical effects.