PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF HIV-ASSOCIATED STROKE IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL SETTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Background and AimsAntiretroviral treatment (ART) era HIV-associated stroke data from Sub-Saharan Africa is limited. We determined the prevalence of HIV in patients presenting with acute symptomatic stroke; and compared risk factors, clinical characteristics, and brain imaging with age-matched stroke patients without HIV.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of adults presenting with any type of stroke to a South African tertiary hospital in a 12-month period. Patients living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-uninfected patients (HIV-) were matched on age group (1:2 ratio).ResultsTheacute stroke prevalence of HIV infection was 9.3% (95%CI: 7.4-11.2%) among 884 stroke patients. Mean age at presentation in PLWH was 46 (±11) years compared to 55 (±14) years in HIV- (p<0.001). Hypertension (p=0.011) and dyslipidaemia (p=0.005) were less prevalent in PLWH. Concurrent infection was more prevalent in PLWH (p=<0.001), largely in patients with low CD4 counts. PLWH with higher CD4 counts had traditional risk factors and less concurrent infection. Among PLWH, 39.3% had been started / restarted on ART within 6-months. Basal ganglia infarcts (p=0.014) and multiple vascular territory involvement (p=0.002) was more common in PLWH. Clinical presentation, ischaemic stroke type, and in-hospital outcomes did not differ between groups.ConclusionStroke patients with HIV were younger, had less traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and more concurrent infections than patients without HIV when CD4 count was low. Recent ART initiation or reinitiation rates were high. Significant differences in CT brain imaging findings were seen. Understanding the multifactorial mechanisms underlying increased stroke risk in this population is crucial.     

CD4+/CD57+/CD69+ T lymphocytes and CD14+ dendritic cells accumulate in advanced follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma is the second most frequent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, accounting for around 20 % of all lymphomas in Western countries. Initially, it behaves indolently, but in time becomes more aggressive and less susceptible to chemotherapy. Multiple features correlate with the survival of the patients and the progression of the disease, such as therapy with rituximab, tumour microenvironment and the intrafollicular proliferation index. Our research was focused on the association of specific components of tumour microenvironment and the tumour behaviour. The presence and the relative percentage of T lymphocytes, follicular dendritic cells, dendritic cells and macrophages was detected by immunohistochemical staining of the antigens specific for certain cell populations. Our results show that T lymphocytes and dendritic cells affect tumour growth, possibly through interactions with tumour cells. Higher patients’ ECOG score and the outcome of the disease are associated with the presence of CD14+ dendritic cells in tumour tissue, while the worse overall survival of patients is associated with the increased number of activated helper T lymphocytes that express marker of exhaustion CD57. Taken together, our results suggest that the efficiency of the immune response against follicular lymphoma depends on more than one type of immune cells. Also, we found that the phenotype of these cells, rather than just their number, affects the tumour behaviour and in consequence survival of the patients.     

新生儿体外循环心脏术后胃肠功能的维护

目的探讨新生儿体外循环心脏术后胃肠功能维护的方法。方法回顾性分析2009年9月至2011年12月在第四军医大学西京医院行心脏手术的56例新生儿的临床资料,所有患儿均行个体化胃肠功能维护。结果 56例患儿中9例心脏术后出现胃肠功能障碍,经治疗后恢复。无一例患儿因胃肠功能障碍导致死亡。结论个体化胃肠功能维护方案可促进新生儿心脏术后胃肠功能恢复,减少胃肠功能紊乱的恶性影响。     

What information can we gain from performing adaptive radiotherapy of head and neck cancer patients from the past 10 years?

The aim of the review was to present the current literature status about replanning regarding anatomical and dosimetric changes in the target and OARs in the head and neck region during radiotherapy, to discuss and to analyze factors influencing the decision for adaptive radiotherapy of head and neck cancer patients. Significant progress has been made in head and neck patients’ evaluation and qualification for adapted radiotherapy over the past ten years. Many factors leading to anatomical and dosimetric changes during treatment have been identified. Based on the literature, the most common factors triggering re-plan are weight loss, tumor and nodal changes, and parotid glands shrinkage. The fluctuations in dose distribution in the clinical area are significant predictive factors for patients’ quality of life and the possibility of recovery. It has been shown that re-planning influence clinical outcomes: local control, disease free survival and overall survival. Regarding literature studies, it seems that adaptive radiotherapy would be the most beneficial for tumors of immense volume or those in the nearest proximity of the OARs. All researchers agree that the timing of re-planning is a crucial challenge, and there are still no clear consensus guidelines for time or criteria of re-planning. Nowadays, thanks to significant technological progress, the decision is mostly made based on observation and supported with IGRT verification. Although further research is still needed, adaptive strategies are evolving and now became the state of the art of modern radiotherapy.     

Estrogen regulates the expression of retinoic acid synthesis enzymes and binding proteins in mouse skin

Topical 17-beta-estradiol (E2) regulates the hair cycle, hair shaft differentiation, and sebum production. Vitamin A also regulates sebum production. Vitamin A metabolism proteins localized to the pilosebaceous unit (PSU; hair follicle and sebaceous gland); and were regulated by E2 in other tissues. This study tests the hypothesis that E2 also regulates vitamin A metabolism in the PSU. First, aromatase and estrogen receptors localized to similar sites as retinoid metabolism proteins during mid-anagen. Next, female and male wax stripped C57BL/6J mice were topically treated with E2, the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 (ICI), letrozole, E2 plus letrozole, or vehicle control (acetone) during mid-anagen. E2 or one of its inhibitors regulated most of the vitamin A metabolism genes and proteins examined in a sex-dependent manner. Most components were higher in females and reduced with ICI in females. ICI reductions occurred in the premedulla, sebaceous gland, and epidermis. Reduced E2 also reduced RA receptors in the sebaceous gland and bulge in females. However, reduced E2 increased the number of retinal dehydrogenase 2 positive hair follicle associated dermal dendritic cells in males. These results suggest that estrogen regulates vitamin A metabolism in the skin. Interactions between E2 and vitamin A have implications in acne treatment, hair loss, and skin immunity.