Searching for Serum Antibodies to Neuronal Proteins in Patients With Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

PurposeA role for the immune system in causing myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is long suspected, but few studies have looked for specific autoantibodies that might contribute to the symptoms. Our aim was to look for evidence of antibodies to neuronal proteins in patients with ME/CSF.MethodsSera samples from 50 patients and 50 healthy individuals were sent coded to the Neuroimmunology Laboratory in Oxford. Screening for antibody binding to neuronal tissue was performed on brain tissue and neuronal cultures. Specific serum antibodies were assessed by antigen-specific cell-based assays and radioimmunoassays. After antibody testing, the associations between seropositive status and clinical data were investigated.FindingsOverall, 8 patients and 11 participants were found to have some serum immunoreactivity toward neuronal or neuromuscular junction proteins, but only 1 patient and 2 participants had specific serum antibodies. Nevertheless, seropositive status in patients with ME was associated with shorter duration since onset and a more severe disease.ImplicationsThe results indicate no overall increased frequency of antibodies to neuronal proteins in ME/CSF and no evidence of a specific antibody that might be causative or contribute to clinical features in patients. However, the association of seropositive status with shorter duration of disease and more severe symptoms suggests a possible role of antibodies at onset in some patients and should be the focus of future studies.     

Risk factors associated with postoperative prosthetic graft patency in Leriche syndrome

Background

In Leriche syndrome, postoperative graft thrombosis remains one of the most significant clinical challenges.

Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé syndrome‐associated renal cell carcinoma: Histopathological features and diagnostic conundrum

Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé (BHD) syndrome is associated with the development of hereditary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and is caused by a germline mutation in the folliculin gene. Most cases of BHD syndrome‐associated RCC (BHD‐RCC) are less aggressive than sporadic clear cell RCC and multifocal. Therefore, it is critical to distinguish BHD‐RCC from its sporadic counterparts to identify and monitor affected families and to preserve renal function for as long as possible. The World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology consensus classification defined distinct entities for certain hereditary RCC; however, BHD‐RCC was not included in this classification. Although the clinical features and molecular mechanisms of BHD‐RCC have been investigated intensively over the last two decades, pathologists and urologists occasionally face difficulties in the diagnosis of BHD‐RCC that require genetic testing. Affected patients usually have miscellaneous benign disorders that often precede renal carcinogenesis. In the present review, we summarize the current understanding of the histopathological features of BHD‐RCC based on our epidemiological studies of Japanese families and a literature review. Pathological diagnostic clues and differential diagnosis of BHD‐RCC from other hereditary RCC are also briefly discussed.     

鼻塞式同步间歇正压通气(NIPPV)联合布地奈德雾化治疗新生儿急性呼吸窘迫综合征疾病的临床应用研究

目的:分析鼻塞式同步间歇正压通气(NIPPV)联合布地奈德雾化治疗ARDS(新生儿急性呼吸窘迫综合征)疾病的临床应用效果。方法:纳入病例是2017年5月—2019年11月收治的104例ARDS新生儿,随机平均分为两组。参照组52例采纳CPAP(持续气道正压通气通气)治疗,实验组52例采纳NIPPV+布地奈德雾化治疗,对比两组呼吸机通气时间、用氧时间、住院时间、血气指标以及并发症发生情况。结果:实验组呼吸机通气时间、用氧时间、住院时间均明显短于参照组,差异有统计学意义P<0.05;实验组治疗3 d后PaCO2明显低于参照组,实验组治疗3 d后PH以及PaO2明显高于参照组,差异有统计学意义P<0.05;实验组并发症发生率(3.85%,2/52)明显低于参照组(21.15%,11/52),差异有统计学意义P<0.05。结论:NIPPV+布地奈德雾化可有效缩短ARDS患者机械通气时间,改善血气指标,降低并发症发生率,值得借鉴。     

Ospemifene plus fractional CO2 laser: a powerful strategy to treat postmenopausal vulvar pain

Abstract

This study is a single-center, retrospective analysis of postmenopausal women presenting with dyspareunia and vulvar pain, aiming to evaluate relative effectiveness of vestibular CO₂ laser therapy as a treatment. Three monthly sessions of laser were performed to each patient and thereafter a three-months follow-up was stablished. A total number of 72 patients undergoing vestibular laser treatment were recruited from patient files in the period between 2016 and 2018. Among these, 39 women also received a concomitant treatment with ospemifene (60?mg/day) during the study period. There was a statistically significant reduction of all the symptoms in both groups up to the three month follow-up. Regarding dryness and dyspareunia, the relief tent to be more prominent in the ospemifene?+?laser group at all follow-ups and remained statistically significant at three-month follow-up. Specifically, vestibular dryness was significantly lower in the ospemifene?+?laser group compared with the laser treatment group (?87% vs???34%, respectively), and the vestibular health score started declining faster in the ospemifene?+?laser group. Although, additional research is needed to understand the mechanism of action, our data shows that a combination regimen of laser and ospemifene may improve clinical effectiveness for long-term treatment of symptoms associated with the under-recognized genitourinary syndrome of menopause.     

针刺京骨穴联合推拿治疗背肌筋膜炎临床研究

目的探讨针刺京骨穴联合推拿治疗背肌筋膜炎的临床疗效。方法将2016年10月—2018年10月收治的背肌筋膜炎患者86例纳入研究,采用随机数字表法分组。对照组43例予以推拿治疗,观察组43例予以针刺京骨穴联合推拿治疗。比较2组患者的治疗总有效率、VAS评分及Oswestry功能障碍指数、痊愈所用时间。结果观察组治疗总有效率为95.3%,而对照组仅为81.4%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);2组治疗后VAS评分、Oswestry功能障碍指数均有下降,观察组上述指标低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组痊愈所用时间短于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论针刺京骨穴联合推拿治疗背肌筋膜炎的临床疗效突出,可缓解背部疼痛、恢复功能活动,并缩短了愈合时间,提高了生活质量,值得一定的临床推广。