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Background Few safety and effectiveness results have been published regarding the administration of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) during pregnancy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods In this multicenter prospective observational study, pregnant women with HBV DNA levels higher than 200 000 IU/mL who received TAF or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) from gestational weeks 24–35 to delivery were 1:1 enrolled and followed until postpartum month 6. Infants received immunoprophylaxis. The primary endpoint was the safety of mothers and infants. The secondary endpoint was the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive rate at 7 months for infants. Results In total, 116 and 116 mothers were enrolled, and 117 and 116 infants were born, in the TAF and TDF groups, respectively. TAF was well tolerated during a mean treatment duration of 11.0 weeks. The most common maternal adverse event was nausea (19.0%). One (0.9%), 3 (2.6%), and 9 (7.8%) mothers had abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels at delivery and at postpartum months 3 and 6, respectively. The TDF group had safety profiles that were comparable to those of the TAF group. No infants had birth defects in either group. The infants' physical and neurological development at birth and at 7 months in the TAF group were comparable with those in the TDF group. The HBsAg positive rate was 0% at 7 months in all 233 infants. Conclusions Antiviral prophylaxis with TAF was determined to be generally safe for both mothers and infants and reduced the MTCT rate to 0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been reported in almost all countries globally. No effective therapy has been documented for COVID-19, and the role of convalescent plasma therapy is unknown. In the current study, 6 patients with COVID-19 and respiratory failure received convalescent plasma a median of 21.5 days after viral shedding was first detected, all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA within 3 days after infusion, and 5 eventually died. In conclusion, convalescent plasma treatment can end SARS-CoV-2 shedding but cannot reduce the mortality rate in critically ill patients with end-stage COVID-19, and treatment should be initiated earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been reported in almost all countries globally. No effective therapy has been documented for COVID-19, and the role of convalescent plasma therapy is unknown. In the current study, 6 patients with COVID-19 and respiratory failure received convalescent plasma a median of 21.5 days after viral shedding was first detected, all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA within 3 days after infusion, and 5 eventually died. In conclusion, convalescent plasma treatment can end SARS-CoV-2 shedding but cannot reduce the mortality rate in critically ill patients with end-stage COVID-19, and treatment should be initiated earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Several recent neuroimaging studies have identified functional and structural abnormalities in the cerebral cortex of lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) patients, including task-related and resting-state brain function, and cortical thickness, although changes in white matter microstructure have not been reported. Aim To assess the differences in white matter microstructure between LPE patients and healthy controls. Methods Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tract-based spatial statistical analysis were used to detect differences in white matter microstructure between 32 LPE patients and 32 matched healthy controls. We also analyzed correlations of clinical indices with significant DTI–based features. Main Outcome Measures DTI–based features (including fractional anisotropy [FA], mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity) were assessed in LPE patients and controls, as well as the correlation of white matter changes in LPE patients with clinical data (including the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool score and the International Index of Erectile Function). Results LPE patients showed widespread increases in FA and axial diffusivity values compared with controls, including in the right posterior thalamic radiation, posterior corona radiata, bilateral posterior limb of the internal capsule, superior corona radiata, and external capsule. Further, FA in the right posterior thalamic radiation was positively correlated with the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool score in LPE patients. Clinical Implications Changes of white matter microstructure may be an underlying marker for evaluating sensory conduction efficiency in LPE patients. Strengths & Limitations There are no previous studies examining white matter microstructure in LPE patients. The present study furthers our understanding of the etiology of LPE. Limitations include a cross-sectional study design without causal information, and no measurement of conduction efficiencies such as cortical somatosensory-evoked potential from the penis, or psychosocial factors. Conclusion Our findings show potential microstructural white matter abnormalities related to LPE, suggesting that changes in fiber pathways connecting the cerebral cortex and the thalamus may play roles in the etiology of LPE. Gao M, Yang X, Liu L, et al. Abnormal White Matter Microstructure in Lifelong Premature Ejaculation Patients Identified by Tract-Based Spatial Statistical Analysis. J Sex Med 2018;15:1272–1279. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]