慢性间歇低氧大鼠中性多核白细胞与内皮细胞间接共培养炎症因子水平变化及抗氧化剂的干预作用

目的研究慢性间歇低氧(CIH)大鼠中性多核白细胞(PMNs)与内皮细胞间接共培养C反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)水平的变化,探讨炎症因子水平的改变对内皮细胞的影响及抗氧化剂4-羟基-2,2,6,6-四甲基哌啶(Tempol)的干预作用。方法 36只雄性Wistar大鼠采用随机数字表法分为常氧对照组(NC组)、间歇低氧组(IH组)、间歇低氧Tempol干预组(IHT组)和间歇低氧盐水干预组(IHN组),每组9只。除NC组外均给予间歇低氧环境,IHT组低氧暴露前给予100 mg/(kg·d)的Tempol腹腔注射,生理盐水稀释,IHN组同时给予等体积生理盐水腹腔注射。暴露6周后处死大鼠,分离纯化PMNs。PMNs与正常大鼠主动脉内皮细胞Transwell间接共培养4 h,酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定间接共培养上、下室上清中CRP、TNF-α和ICAM-1的水平。结果 NC组、IH组、IHT组和IHN组上、下室CRP、TNF-α和ICAM-1水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05);与NC组下室相比,IH组和IHN组下室CRP、TNF-α和ICAM-1水平均明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与IH组和IHN组下室比较,IHT组下室CRP、TNF-α和ICAM-1水平均明显降低,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);IHT组下室与NC组下室相比,CRP、TNF-α和ICAM-1水平差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05);IH组下室与IHN组下室比较,以上指标差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论 CIH大鼠体内的PMNs与内皮细胞间接共培养,可上调CRP、TNF-α和ICAM-1等炎症因子水平,可能在CIH引起内皮损伤中发挥重要作用;抗氧化剂Tempol可能阻断炎症反应,干预CIH引起的内皮功能障碍的发生。     

A case of community-acquired pneumonia due to influenza A virus and Nocardia farcinica co-infection

Nocardia spp. has not been reported previously as a cause of post-influenza pneumonia. Here we present a first case of post-influenza bacterial pneumonia due to Nocardia farcinica. Initial reason for hospitalization of the 90 year old female patient was a pneumonia with the symptoms of fever and productive cough. A rapid test for influenza antigen was positive for influenza A virus. Treatment with Zanamivir and piperacillin was initiated. However, after 1 week of treatment, the infiltration shadows on chest X-ray had worsened. Because the expectorated sputum collected on admission for culture was found to be positive for Nocardia spp., piperacillin was replaced with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and a chest X-ray showed some improvement.Although pulmonary nocardiosis with co-infection with influenza A is extremely rare, clinicians should be alert to the possibility.     

Cardiac molecular markers of programmed cell death are activated in end-stage heart failure patients supported by left ventricular assist device

BackgroundCardiomyocyte apoptosis increases in heart failure (HF) and is implicated in disease progression. The apoptotic cell is not inevitably committed to death, and appropriate therapy like left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support could offer a rescue of cellular functions. Literature data regarding the modulation of the apoptotic process during LVAD support are still controversial.MethodsTo assess whether LVAD implantation modifies the apoptotic profile in the heart, cardiac tissue was collected from end-stage HF patients before LVAD implant (pre-LVAD, n=22) and at LVAD removal (post-LVAD, n=6) and from stable HF patients on medical therapy without prior circulatory support (HTx, n=7) at heart transplantation as control. Caspase (Casp)-3, Bax, Bcl-2, and Hsp72 cardiac mRNA and protein expression were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting (WB) in the three groups of patients. Immunohistochemical analysis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, and DNA laddering analysis were performed; cellular size and interstitial fibrosis content were also determined.ResultsAll the apoptotic indices were increased in the post-LVAD group compared to pre-LVAD, specially antiapoptotic Hsp72 and proapoptotic Bax (Hsp72: 3.27±0.41 vs. 0.76±0.14, P<.001; Bax: 2.15±0.38 vs. 1.10 ± 0.29, P=.035; post-LVAD vs. pre-LVAD, respectively). The significant increase in Hsp72 was confirmed by WB and immunohistochemical analysis.ConclusionLVAD appears to induce an activation of apoptotic mediators, mainly at the mitochondrial level, while the following activation of Casp-3 is reduced by the significant increase of Hsp72, whose enhancement could be an important factor in cardiac remodeling associated with LVAD support.     

Nurse’ prediction prevention and management on post-operative delirium in geriatric patients with hip fracture: The development of a protocol to guide care

BackgroundA high prevalence for the development of delirium after hip fracture was found in the group of geriatric patients. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has introduced a guideline for the management delirium (NICE, 2010). Protocols composed of detection, prevention and management of post-operative delirium required some adaptation to meet the needs of local nurses.AimA protocol with a nursing care plan referenced from an international guideline and other literature was developed to predict, prevent and manage post-operative delirium for geriatric patients with hip fracture.MethodsThe literature suggests numerous risk factors are associated with post-operative delirium and its preventive interventions were adopted to develop the protocol and nursing care plan.FindingsSix major risk categories included mental and behavioural influence, sensory impairment, physiological influence, immobility influence, electrolyte disturbance and infection influence. These were used for screening patients, accompanied by various preventive interventions. A protocol was developed to strive for the best management of geriatric patients receiving hip fracture surgery from admission to discharge.ConclusionsThe protocol incorporated with the Risk Assessment for Management of Postoperative delirium (RAMP) care plan was adapted for staff to implement in their local clinical area. Further study is required to determine its effectiveness on the prevention of the development of post operative delirium (POD) in the future.     

γ-谷氨酰转肽酶对急性肺栓塞早期病死率的预测价值

目的探讨γ-谷氨酰转肽酶（γ-glutamyl transferase，GGT）与急性肺动脉栓塞（acute pulmonary embolism，APE）患者早期病死率之间的关系。方法共入组了109例确诊为APE的患者。使用受试者工作曲线（ROC）得出GGT的最佳预测早期病死率临界值为〉52IU／L，敏感性91．7％和特异性61．9％。APE患者在GGT临界值的基础上分为没有增加（I组）或增加（II组），对两组基线特征、血流动力学、超声心动图及实验室检查结果进行比较。结果109例患者中，13例（11．9％）在住院期间死亡。在这13例患者中，有2例（3．2％）进入I组，11例（23．9％）进入II组，差异有统计学意义（P=0．001）。GGT与人院时心率（r=0．502，P〈0．001）、收缩压（r=0．505，P〈0．001）、舒张压（r=-0．296，P=0．002）、动脉血氧分压r=-0．477，P〈0．001）、三尖瓣关闭不全的严重程度（r=0．348，P=0．001）、肌钙蛋白I（r=0．369．P=0．035）相关。结论GGT升高的急性APE患者早期死亡风险明显升高。GGT升高与较差的血流动力学指标相关。GGT可能有助于APE患者的危险分层。     

Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Decision Making for Postoperative Radiotherapy in Thymic Epithelial Tumors: Insights from the RYTHMIC Prospective Cohort

IntroductionThymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare intrathoracic malignancies for which surgery represents the mainstay of the treatment. Current practice for postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is highly variable, and there is a lack of prospective, high level evidence. Réseau Tumeurs Thymiques et Cancer (RYTHMIC) is the nationwide network for TETs in France. Established in 2012, it prospectively collects data on all TET patients, for whom management is discussed at a national multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB). We assessed whether PORT decisions at the MTB were in accordance with RYTHMIC guidelines and ultimately implemented in patients.MethodsAll consecutive patients for whom PORT was discussed at the MTB from 2012 to 2015 were identified from the RYTHMIC prospective database, and a complete review of their medical records was performed.ResultsA total of 274 patients, including 243 with thymoma (89%) and 31 with thymic carcinoma (11%), were analyzed. The decision of the MTB was in accordance with guidelines in 221 patients (92%) of the 241 with stage I or III TET. An MTB decision to deliver PORT was made for 117 patients (43%). PORT was ultimately initiated in 101 patients. The most frequent reason for not delivering PORT was excessive (>3 months) delay after surgery. Dose-volume constraints defined by the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group were followed in all but four patients.ConclusionOur data provide a unique insight into the decision-making process for PORT in TETs, highlighting the need for systematic discussion at an expert MTB, while stressing the value of current available guidelines.