Estimates of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Incidence of Primary SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Blood Donors, by COVID-19 Vaccination Status - United States, April 2021-September 2022.

Changes in testing behaviors and reporting requirements have hampered the ability to estimate the U.S. SARS-CoV-2 incidence (1). Hybrid immunity (immunity derived from both previous infection and vaccination) has been reported to provide better protection than that from infection or vaccination alone (2). To estimate the incidence of infection and the prevalence of infection- or vaccination-induced antibodies (or both), data from a nationwide, longitudinal cohort of blood donors were analyzed. During the second quarter of 2021 (April-June), an estimated 68.4% of persons aged ≥16 years had infection- or vaccination-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, including 47.5% from vaccination alone, 12.0% from infection alone, and 8.9% from both. By the third quarter of 2022 (July-September), 96.4% had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from previous infection or vaccination, including 22.6% from infection alone and 26.1% from vaccination alone; 47.7% had hybrid immunity. Prevalence of hybrid immunity was lowest among persons aged ≥65 years (36.9%), the group with the highest risk for severe disease if infected, and was highest among those aged 16-29 years (59.6%). Low prevalence of infection-induced and hybrid immunity among older adults reflects the success of public health infection prevention efforts while also highlighting the importance of older adults staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination, including at least 1 bivalent dose.*,†.

A heterozygous microdeletion of 20p12.2-3 encompassing PROKR2 and BMP2 in a patient with congenital hypopituitarism and growth hormone deficiency.

Congenital growth hormone deficiency is a rare disorder with an incidence of approximately 1 in 4,000 live births. Pituitary development is under the control of a multitude of spatiotemporally regulated signaling molecules and transcription factors. Mutations in the genes encoding these molecules can result in hypopituitarism but for the majority of children with congenital hypopituitarism, the aetiology of their disease remains unknown. The proband is a 5-year-old girl who presented with neonatal hypoglycaemia and prolonged jaundice. No definitive endocrine cause of hypoglycaemia was identified in the neonatal period. She was born of normal size at 42 weeks but demonstrated growth failure with a progressive reduction in height to -3.2 SD by age 4.5 years and failed a growth hormone stimulation test with a peak growth hormone of 4.2 mcg/L. MRI of the pituitary gland demonstrated a hypoplastic anterior lobe and ectopic posterior lobe. Array CGH demonstrated an inherited 0.2 Mb gain at 1q21.1 and a de novo 4.8 Mb heterozygous deletion at 20p12.2-3. The deletion contained 17 protein coding genes including PROKR2 and BMP2, both of which are expressed during embryological development of the pituitary gland. PROKR2 mutations have been associated with hypopituitarism but a heterozygous deletion of this gene with hypopituitarism is a novel observation. In conclusion, congenital hypopituitarism can be present in individuals with a 20p12.3 deletion, observed with incomplete penetrance. Array CGH may be a useful investigation in select cases of early onset growth hormone deficiency, and patients with deletions within this region should be evaluated for pituitary hormone deficiencies.

Increased plasma incretin concentrations identifies a subset of patients with persistent congenital hyperinsulinism without KATP channel gene defects.

Congenital hyperinsulinism causes profound hypoglycemia, which may persist or resolve spontaneously. Among 13 children with congenital hyperinsulinism, elevated incretin hormone concentrations were detected in 2 with atypical, persistent disease. We suggest that incretin biomarkers may identify these patients, and that elevated hormone levels may contribute to their pathophysiology.

Can network biology unravel the aetiology of congenital hyperinsulinism?

Congenital Hyperinsulinism is a condition with a number of genetic causes, but for the majority of patients, the underlying aetiology is unknown. We present here a rational argument for the use of computational biology as a valuable resource for identifying new candidate genes which may cause disease and for understanding the complex mechanisms which define the pathophysiology of this rare disease.

MRI of the anterior optic pathways following enucleation.

We examined five patients who had enucleation of one eye for inflammatory or neoplastic disease, using MRI at 1.5 Tesla. None had symptoms referable to the enucleated orbit. In addition, age- and-sex matched individuals were imaged as control subjects, and a further 15 subjects, referred for other than orbital disease, were reviewed. Measurements were made retrospectively of the dimensions of the optic chiasm to establish normal values. All five patients showed abnormalities on MRI following enucleation: abnormal signal within the optic nerve remnant on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images, and atrophy of the nerve remnant and the chiasm. These findings were not apparent in the control or normal subjects. Such findings are to be expected following enucleation and should not be interpreted as indicating active pathology.

MRI of idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndrome using fat saturation and Gd-DTPA.

Idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndrome encompasses a group of inflammatory conditions for which no systemic or local cause can be found, and is commonly referred to as orbital pseudotumour. On conventional MRI sequences subtle areas of inflammation or enhancing tissue can easily be masked by the high signal intensity of orbital fat and involvement of the fat itself may not be appreciated. We describe the MRI features of three patients with idiopathic orbital inflammation using frequency-selective fat saturation and Gd-DTPA.

[Axillary plexus block by simultaneous blockade of several nerves. I. Influence of the volume of the anesthetic solution]. / Bloc axillaire par blocage simultané de plusieurs nerfs. I. Influence du volume de la solution anesthésique.

The influence of the volume of local anaesthetic solution on axillary blockade was investigated in a prospective randomized double-blind study including 120 patients presenting for upper limb surgery. A peripheral nerve stimulator was used to carry out the axillary block with a multiple injection technique. The musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves were routinely stimulated. Four criteria were monitored: quality of sensory blockade, degree of motor blockade, time of onset and duration of anaesthesia. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 60 each). In the first, patients received 25 ml per m2 of body surface area of carbonated 1% lignocaine, 0.25% bupivacaine or a 1 to 1 mixture of both. Patients in the other group were given the same amount of local anaesthetic in half the volume, i.e. 12.5 ml.m-2 of carbonated 2% lignocaine, 0.5% bupivacaine or a 1 to 1 mixture of both these. Adrenaline (1 in 400,000) was added to half the anaesthetic solutions used in each group. The data demonstrated that, for a same amount of local anaesthetic, the larger volumes provided better quality sensory blockade than the smaller ones (p < 0.03). However, the volume of solution used affected neither the time of onset nor the duration of anaesthesia, nor the degree of motor blockade. It is concluded that, despite the use of a neurostimulator and simultaneous infiltration of several nerve trunks, the volume required to ensure a reliable degree of sensory block with the technique of axillary block is comprised between 40 and 50 ml (25 ml.m-2).

[Axillary plexus block by simultaneous blockade of several nerves. II. Evaluation of lidocaine-bupivacaine combination]. / Bloc axillaire par blocage simultané de plusieurs nerfs. II--Evaluation du mélange lidocaïne-bupivacaïne.

A mixture of carbonated lignocaine and bupivacaine for axillary blocks was assessed prospectively in a randomized double-blind study including 60 patients scheduled for upper limb surgery. A peripheral nerve stimulator was used to carry out the axillary block with a multiple injection technique. The musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves were routinely stimulated. Four criteria were monitored: quality of sensory blockade, degree of motor blockade, time of onset and duration of anaesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 20 each). Patients received 25 ml per m2 of body surface area of either carbonated 1% lignocaine (group 1) or 0.25% bupivacaine (group 2) or a 1 to 1 mixture of both (group 3). Adrenaline (1 in 400,000) was added to half the anaesthetic solutions used in each group. The onset of anaesthesia was faster with the mixture (15 +/- 9 min) than will bupivacaine alone (23 +/- 14 min) (p < 0.02). It lasted longer in the mixture group (264 +/- 111 min) than in the lignocaine group (193 +/- 83 min). The longest duration was in the bupivacaine group (476 +/- 276 min) (p < 0.03). Adrenaline only affected significantly the duration of anaesthesia in the lignocaine group (252 min vs 135 min with and without adrenaline, respectively) (p < 0.03). In axillary blocks, the mixture of carbonated lignocaine and bupivacaine has a faster onset of action than bupivacaine alone, and a longer duration of action than lignocaine alone. Both agents provided a quality of sensory and motor blockade similar to that obtained with the mixture.

The ageing eye.

Most of the problems which occur due to aging of the eye present first to the GP. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis so that appropriate reassurance, treatment or referral can ensue.

[Comparison of various technics for determining nitrates in soil and vegetables]. / Comparaison de différentes techniques de dosage des nitrates dans les sols et dans les végétaux.

In order to compare results obtained from various analytical techniques, nitrate determinations in soils and vegetables were made by four usual methods. These are a selective electrode, an autoanalyser with dialyser that determines nitrites following a nitrate reduction step by hydrazine sulfate, another autoanalyser that reduces nitrates with cadmium metal, and the usual DEVARDA method. Interferences and limitations of these techniques are discussed.

[Accumulation of nitrates in carrot root--agronomical consequences]. / Etude de l'accumulation des nitrates dans la racine de carotte. Conséquences agronomiques.

This paper deals with the effects of various parameters involved in plant nitrogen metabolism, on the nitrate content in carrot roots. Level of mineral nitrogen supply, activity of leaves and light intensity have been taken into account in factorial experiments. Results are discussed with a view to the improvement of the quality of root production with respect to their nitrate content.