Latest News Releases 8 April

Rhinos that flourished across much of North America 12 million years ago gathered in huge herds, according to a new study by the University of Cincinnati.

Background

Semi-rigid and large bore (≥ Fr 24) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) drains are routinely used for the evacuation of fluid and air from the pleural space following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lung resections. The rigidity and caliber of these drains are widely recognized as significant contributors to postoperative pain. Inadequate pain management can thereby compromise respiratory efficiency, coughing, and patient mobility, potentially precipitating respiratory complications like atelectasis and pneumonia (1-7). In VATS, postoperative pain has been commonly assessed through a combination of methods, including pain scales, analgesic consumption analysis, and functional evaluation tests (5,8-12).

Rationale and knowledge gap

In recent years, significant efforts have been made to minimize drain-related postoperative pain by modifying and improving the methods of chest drainage. Since one or two large bore drains (≥ Fr 24) are still commonly used to ensure effective drainage of air leaks, improvements have also been directed towards the materials used for the drains (1-4,7).

Hence, there has been growing adoption of softer silicone (SIL) drains, purportedly offering reduced patient discomfort without compromising drainage efficacy compared to standard PVC drains. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of SIL drains in fluid management and suggested potential pain reduction following diverse chest procedures, encompassing VATS and open surgeries (1-4,13,14). However, the benefit of SIL drains in reducing postoperative pain after VATS anatomical lung resections has not yet been clearly demonstrated, and postoperative pain remains a significant concern.

Objective

The objective of our prospective randomized study was to evaluate the impact of coaxial SIL drains on postoperative pain, drainage efficacy, short-term treatment outcome, and costs following VATS lobectomy, in comparison to standard PVC drains. Authors hypothesized that patients receiving a coaxial SIL drain would require less analgesia and demonstrate greater respiratory muscle strength. Furthermore, authors anticipated that drainage efficacy and short-term treatment outcome would be comparable between the two groups.

ATRI Researchers have dosed the first participant in a clinical trial of an investigational medicine designed to lower the amount of amyloid precursor protein (APP) for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is initially being studied in adults with Down syndrome (DS) who have a genetic risk of developing AD. Those with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome that carries a gene pivotal to causing Alzheimer’s. The gene produces a protein that causes a buildup of plaques in the brain. By the time most people with Down syndrome hit age 40, they have already developed these plaques. It may take another decade or more to develop symptoms, but eventually up to nine in 10 people with Down syndrome are expected to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Seeking to change these odds, last month, researchers gave the first dose of an investigative drug to a participant in the new clinical trial, called the HERO study. The drug is designed to stop Alzheimer’s-causing plaques from forming in the brain. Led by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, with investigative oversight by ATRI Medical Director Michael Rafii, MD, PhD, the study is expected to run for two years with an initial 30 participants at sites across the U.S. and Europe.

Researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have found a new role for the transcription factor (proteins that regulate the transcription, or copying, of genes). In the fruit fly, this transcription factor, named Traffic Jam, activates a non-coding piRNA gene named Flamenco to promote female fruit fly (drosophila) fertility. The discovery solves the 30-year-old mystery of how Flamenco gets activated to protect fruit fly ovaries from a series of genetic parasites called retroviral transposons, and may one day help with infertility issues in humans.