Gastroesophageal reflux and altered motility in lung transplant rejection

Background Lung transplantation has become an effective therapeutic option for selected patients with end stage lung disease. Long‐term survival is limited by chronic rejection manifest as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). The aspiration of gastric contents has been implicated as a causative or additive factor leading to BOS. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and altered foregut motility are common both before and after lung transplantation. Further, the normal defense mechanisms against reflux are impaired in the allograft. Recent studies using biomarkers of aspiration have added to previous association studies to provide a growing body of evidence supporting the link between rejection and GER. Further, the addition of high‐resolution manometry (HRM) and impedance technology to characterize bolus transit and the presence and extent of reflux regardless of pH might better identify at‐risk patients. Although additional prospective studies are needed, fundoplication appears useful in the prevention or treatment of post‐transplant BOS. Purpose This review will highlight the existing literature on the relationship of gastroesophageal reflux and altered motility to lung transplant rejection, particularly BOS. The article will conclude with a discussion of the evaluation and management of patients undergoing lung transplantation at our center.     

Involvement of the coronary artery in a patient with thromboangiitis obliterans. A case report

 We report a case of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and a saphenous vein graft in a 36-year-old man with Buerger's disease. He was hospitalized in the coronary intensive care unit with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. His coronary angiography showed total occlusion of the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and right coronary artery. Left ventricular dysfunction was detected by ventriculography. The patient had undergone bilateral sympathectomy of the lumbar branches for distal arterial occlusions due to thromboangiitis obliterans 12 years previously. Under cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping, we performed endarterectomy and a complex bypass procedure to LAD. Aorta-right coronary artery bypass was also applied. A histopathological study of an endarterectomy specimen showed characteristic features of thromboangiitis obliterans. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the ninth postoperative day. Received: November 19, 2001 / Accepted: February 16, 2002     

三基因突变小鼠血脂代谢及动脉粥样硬化早期病变特征

目的研究血脂代谢相关基因与瘦素受体基因联合突变导致小鼠血脂代谢紊乱的发生机制和动脉粥样硬化早期病变的特点及两者间的关系。方法应用生物化学及组织形态学手段对三基因突变(apoE-/-/LDLR-/-/Leprdb/db)与双基因突变(apoE-/-/LDLR-/-)小鼠和单基因突变(Leprdb/db)小鼠之间血脂及动脉粥样硬化早期病变的差异进行了比较研究。结果三基因突变小鼠3周龄时血浆总胆固醇、甘油三酯和血糖浓度分别为(1988±190)、(293±029)和(727±088)mmol/L,均高于双基因和单基因突变小鼠,同时出现轻微的主动脉内膜损伤,血脂及动脉粥样硬化程度随年龄增长而加重。11周龄三基因突变小鼠血浆总胆固醇、甘油三酯和血糖水平分别高出双基因突变小鼠166、141和24倍,且动脉内膜病变较双基因和单基因突变小鼠明显,其严重程度与血脂紊乱正相关。结论三个脂代谢相关基因联合突变在导致小鼠血脂代谢紊乱及主动脉粥样硬化病变的发生发展中起重要作用。     

辛伐他汀消退颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的临床研究

目的 采用颈动脉超声定量评价他汀类药物辛伐他汀服药前及服药6月、12月后颈动脉内中膜厚度(IMT)及斑块面积的改变，并同时观察相应生化指标的变化情况，评价辛伐他汀稳定与消退斑块的作用。方法 应用HP SONOS 5500型彩色超声多普勒仪，检查有不同程度颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的患者68例，其中治疗组46例，对照组22例：对有斑块的颈动脉部位，于斑块最大面积时冻结图像，沿斑块边缘测定其面积，同时测定颈动脉分叉处IMT。所有患者于服药前及服药6月、12月后检查相应生化指标。治疗组惠者给予每日辛伐他汀20mg口服，共12月。服药期间所出现的不适嘱及时告知。结果 所有治疗组患者12月服药期间均无不适主诉，46例惠者两侧颈动脉共有79个斑块，服药半年消失25个斑块，消失率达32％；服药12月后消失31个斑块，消失率达39％；未消失的斑块均有不同程度的缩小。用药6月及12月后IMT有明显减低；用药后6月与12月总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白均明显降低，服药前、6月、12月尿素、肌酐、肌酸激酶等生化指标无明显差异，丙氨酸氨基转移酶明显减低。结论 颈动脉超声定量评价辛伐他汀服药6月及12月IMT及斑块面积改变的结果表明，坚持服用他汀类药物，可以达到稳定与消退斑块的作用。     

腔内介入治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症56例临床报道

目的：研究并分析腔内介入治疗在下肢动脉硬化闭塞症治疗中的临床效果。方法整群选取该院接受下肢动脉硬化闭塞症治疗56例患者,按照所选治疗手段的不同将其随机均分至采用腔内介入治疗的观察组与采用传统动脉旁路手术治疗的对照组。对比分析两种治疗方法的优劣。结果观察组患者住院时间为9~13 d,手术时间为1~2 h,手术过后的ABI指数比对照组ABI指数数据表现优异,两组患者在ABI指数对比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。但手术成功率和在手术之后动脉通畅率比较上两组间差异无统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论下肢动脉硬化闭塞症采取腔内治疗,能够有效地缓解患者病痛,使患者的治疗情况得到好转,减少了患者下肢出现动脉闭塞的情况,值得推广。     

Digital ischaemia aetiologies and mid-term follow-up: A cohort study of 323 patients

Upper extremity digital ischaemia (UEDI) is a rare heterogeneous condition whose frequency is 40 times less than that of toe ischaemia. Using a large cohort, the aim of this study was to evaluate aetiologies, prognosis and midterm clinical outcomes of UEDI.All patients with UEDI with or without cutaneous necrosis in a university hospital setting between January 2000 to December 2016 were included. Aetiologies, recurrence of UEDI, digital amputation and survival were analyzed retrospectively.Three hundred twenty three patients were included. UEDI due to cardio-embolic disease (DICE) was the highest occurring aetiology with 59 patients (18.3%), followed by DI due to Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) (16.1%), idiopathic causes (11.7%), Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) (9.3%), iatrogenic causes (9.3%), and cancer (6.2%). DICE patients tended to be older and featured more cases with arterial hypertension whereas TAO patients smoked more tobacco and cannabis. During follow-up, recurrences were significantly more frequent in SSc than in all other tested groups (P < .0001 vs idiopathic and DICE, P = .003 vs TAO) and among TAO patients when compared to DICE patients (P = .005). The cumulated rate of digital amputation was higher in the SSc group (n = 18) (P = .02) and the TAO group (n = 7) (P = .03) than in DICE (n = 2).This retrospective study suggests that main aetiologies of UEDI are DICE, SSc and idiopathic. This study highlights higher frequency of iatrogenic UEDI than previous studies. UEDI associated with SSc has a poor local prognosis (amputations and recurrences) and DICE a poor survival. UEDI with SSc and TAO are frequently recurrent.     

Mycobacterium abscessus and massiliense lung infection during macrolide treatment for bronchiolitis obliterans after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

In patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), post-transplant lung infection is critical for their prognosis. Mycobacterium abscessus complex is not fully recognized as a nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pathogen of post-SCT lung infection. Here, we present three post-allogeneic SCT patients who developed pulmonary infection caused by M. abscessus complex including M. abscessus and M. massiliense. In all three cases, macrolide antibiotics had been administered for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) before the confirmation of their infection, and macrolide resistance was noted in the M. abscessus isolates, one of which resulted in an unfavorable treatment outcome. It is important to consider M. abscessus lung infection as well as other NTM in patients receiving allo-SCT, particularly those receiving macrolide therapy for BOS.     

脂肪酸结合蛋白4在下肢动脉粥样硬化及介入术后再狭窄中的作用和机制

下肢动脉硬化闭塞症介入术后的主要难题是再狭窄。脂肪酸结合蛋白4(FABP4)主要由巨噬细胞分泌,促进巨噬细胞内脂质积聚,从而使巨噬细胞转化为泡沫细胞,造成动脉粥样硬化。在动脉粥样硬化闭塞介入术后,血管内皮细胞也能特异性分泌FABP4;FABP4作用于血管平滑肌细胞,使之增殖和迁移形成增生内膜,并促进炎症反应,造成介入术后再狭窄。提示FABP4可能是治疗动脉粥样硬化和介入术后再狭窄的一个重要靶点。本文简述FABP4的生物学特性与功能,并就其在动脉粥样硬化及介入术后再狭窄中的作用及机制进行综述。     

Obstructive sleep apnoea and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux are common in lung transplant patients

Background and objective: Gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), possibly due to pulmonary aspiration of refluxed acid. Risk of aspiration of gastric contents is increased during sleep due to decreased oesophageal clearance mechanisms and may be further increased by the presence of OSA. This study investigated the relationship between nocturnal GOR, OSA and BOS in a group of lung transplant patients. Methods: Fourteen lung transplant patients underwent overnight polysomnography with simultaneous dual oesophageal pH monitoring. Results: Patients had an FEV₁ of 84 ± 15% of their best post-transplant FEV₁. Six of the 14 patients were in various stages of BOS. The average proportion of time spent overnight with a pH of <4 was 1.7 ± 3.1%. Increased GOR was evident in 8/14 patients during the postprandial period and/or overnight in the distal and/or proximal oesophagus. All patients had OSA (AHI >5 events per hour). There were no relationships between severity of OSA or GOR and severity of BOS. Conclusion: Both nocturnal GOR and OSA were common in this group of patients but their occurrences were not related. Neither was there any relationship between the presence of nocturnal GOR or OSA and severity of BOS.