Dentistry, neurology and nephrology--what is the connection?

Case report A 28-year-old female patient was admitted because of painlessmacroscopic haematuria. Past history included severe mentalretardation and nystagmus. At age 17, a computed tomography(CT) scan of the brain showed an absent cerebellar vermis andcerebellar hypoplasia. There was no     

肝移植术后巨细胞病毒性肺炎的临床特点和治疗方法

目的 探讨肝移植术后巨细胞病毒（CMV）性肺炎的临床特点和治疗方法。方法 回顾性分析2003年10月至2005年6月间施行肝移植的451例患者的临床资料，对肝移植术后CMV性肺炎的临床特点和治疗方法进行总结。结果 在451例患者中，发生CMV性肺炎7例，感染率为1．66％。CMV性肺炎的症状明显早于体征，7例患者均无明显诱因出现高热，约1周后逐渐出现干咳、气促、呼吸困难等；血氧饱和度降低，血气分析提示低氧血症；CMV pp65抗原检测均为阳性。CMV性肺炎患者采用更昔洛韦联合膦甲酸钠抗病毒治疗，同时采取停用免疫抑制剂、加用较大剂量的丙种球蛋白和适量的胸腺肽等的个体化免疫调节方案以及广谱抗生素等综合治疗方法，6例治愈，治愈率为85．7％。结论 CMV性肺炎的早期临床表现虽然缺乏特异性，但仍有规律可循，CMV pp65抗原检测法具有特异性和敏感性高的特点。采取联合抗病毒和个体化免疫调节等综合措施治疗CMV性肺炎效果确切。     

Outcomes at 3 years of a prospective pilot study of Campath-1H and sirolimus immunosuppression for renal transplantation

Campath-1H (alemtuzumab) induction was used for renal transplantation in combination with sirolimus as immunosuppression. We previously reported a high (28%) rate of early rejection with this regimen, and now report 3-year outcomes. Twenty-nine patients were recipients of either deceased donor or non-HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) identical living donor primary renal allografts. Clinical parameters including infection, malignancy, kidney function, and kidney histology were followed prospectively for 3 years. Three-year cumulative graft and patient survival were 96% and 100%, respectively. Twenty patients were maintained on steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens, and 15 patients were maintained on monotherapy for immunosuppression (12 on sirolimus). No serious infectious complications were observed and two patients developed basal cell skin cancer. The 3-year results of our initial pilot study demonstrate good graft (96%) and patient (100%) outcomes. Campath-1H induction has yielded a high proportion of patients maintained on immunosuppressive monotherapy (57%) without serious infectious- and no malignancy-related complications. The reported regimen yielded novel insights into both Campath-1H and sirolimus therapy in renal transplantation. Because of the higher incidence of early rejection, we recommend a modified strategy of immunosuppression including a brief course of a calcineurin inhibitor.     

单钉-棒固定在胸腰椎结核前路手术中的应用

目的探讨脊柱结核手术内固定的有效方式。方法2002年6月~2004年6月,在手术前有效抗结核化疗的基础上,采用前路病灶清除、植骨融合及单钉-棒内固定的手术方式治疗胸、腰椎结核患者54例。术中在保证彻底清创的基础上注意保留病椎有血供的部分和无明显破坏的椎间盘,以减少切除范围和融合的节段,有神经症状者注意行椎管前侧减压。骨缺损采用自体髂骨、异体髂骨 自体碎骨、或钛网 自体碎骨的方法修复,安置单钉-棒时注意对移植骨块适当加压。患者术后卧床10d左右,然后在支具的保护下下床活动。本组共有41例患者获得随访,手术后随访的时间7~31个月,平均18个月。结果患者所有的结核病灶均顺利愈合,植骨稳定,无明显移位和塌陷,内固定器无松脱和折断,其中37例达到骨性愈合标准;脊柱后凸角平均矫正达23°,患者术前伴有的神经症状也大部分消失,绝大部分患者恢复日常生活、工作。结论前路单钉-棒内固定不仅能够维持胸、腰椎结核手术后脊柱的稳定,防止移植骨块的脱位、塌陷和骨不愈合的发生,而且可以最大范围地减少融合节段,减少术中创伤,故是手术治疗胸、腰椎结核的可靠固定方式。     

Emerging Issues in Hepatitis C Virus-Positive Liver and Kidney Transplant Recipients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health care issue in liver and kidney transplantation. Besides negatively affecting both patient and graft survival, HCV is associated with a heightened risk for new onset diabetes mellitus (NODM). The mechanisms underlying the diabetogenicity of HCV are complex but are likely to involve insulin resistance caused by inhibitory actions of the virus on insulin regulatory pathways in the liver. The resultant glucose dysregulation is an important determinant of increased morbidity and mortality in liver and kidney recipients. This review highlights the concerns for outcomes in HCV-positive liver and kidney transplant patients with particular focus on the interrelationship between hepatitis C and diabetes. Data about the potential role of calcineurin inhibitors, corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil in HCV infection and HCV-associated NODM will also be discussed.     

Preservation of Bile Ductules Mitigates Bile Duct Loss

The finer branches of the biliary tree (FBBT) contain a regenerative compartment. We hypothesized that preservation of the FBBT together with its microvasculature will lead to recovery of biliary damage and prolonged preservation of bile ductules during the development of chronic liver allograft rejection. The interlobular bile ducts, portal bile ductules and extraportal biliary cells with and without microvessels were studied in sequential biopsies in five patients who fulfilled the Banff criteria of early chronic rejection (CR) (imminence group). Biopsies of CR patients (n = 12) served as controls. Biopsies were double immunostained with CD34 (microvessels) and cytokeratin 7 (biliary structures). Proliferation and proangiogenic activity were assessed with Ki67 and VEGF-A immunostaining. Severe damage of bile ducts in the imminence group did not progress to significant bile duct loss. This was associated with a high proliferative activity in all biliary structures and preservation of the microvascular compartment. VEGF-A expression was increased in all but the reperfusion biopsies. In conclusion, both regenerative activity of the FBBT and an intact microvascular compartment are associated with less damage of the biliary tree and could therefore be prerequisites for biliary regeneration.     

Tacrolimus Combined with Two Different Dosages of Sirolimus in Kidney Transplantation: Results of a Multicenter Study

Tacrolimus combined with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an effective regimen in kidney transplantation. This study compared the efficacy of combining tacrolimus and two different dosages of sirolimus with an established tacrolimus-MMF regimen. Each day in addition to tacrolimus, 325 patients received 2 mg sirolimus (TAC-SRL2 mg), 325 patients received 0.5 mg sirolimus (TAC-SRL0.5 mg) and 327 patients 1 g MMF (TAC-MMF). The initial tacrolimus dose was 0.2 mg/kg/day. Sirolimus patients received loading doses of 6 or 1.5 mg, and daily doses of 2 or 0.5 mg thereafter. Steroid administration was identical for all groups. The incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection was lower in the TAC-SRL2 mg group (15.7%) compared with the TAC-SRL0.5 mg (25.2%, p = 0.003) and the TAC-MMF groups (22.3%, p = 0.036). Six-month graft survival was 91.0% (TAC-SRL2 mg), 92.6% (TAC-SRL0.5 mg) and 92.4% (TAC-MMF); the respective values for patient survival were 98.1%, 97.8% and 97.9%. Thirty-four patients (10.5%), 19 patients (5.8%) and 16 patients (4.9%) in the TAC-SRL2 mg, TAC-SRL0.5 mg and TAC-MMF groups, respectively, discontinued the study because of adverse events. Hyperlipemia was reported more often in the TAC-SRL2 mg group (24.0%) compared with 19.4% (TAC-SRL0.5 mg) and 11.0% (TAC-MMF; p < 0.05). Combining 2 mg sirolimus/day with tacrolimus results in lower rates of acute rejection, but a higher incidence of adverse events.     

树枝状静脉移植在手部创伤中的应用

目的探讨手掌严重碾挫伤应用血管移植手术方法的选择。方法对12例手掌碾挫伤伴血管损伤的患者，采用树枝状浅表静脉倒转后多级移植修复缺损的手掌动脉，同时对缺损皮肤一期行植皮或皮瓣修复。结果术后12例创面全部Ⅰ期愈合，手指血循环好。术后随访3～22个月，手功能评定： 优5例，良4例，可2例，差1例，优良率为75％。手掌恢复了良好的外形和功能，能完成手指的捏、握、对掌和对指功能。结论对严重的手掌毁损伤，利用树枝状静脉移植修复缺损的血管，能获得较好的手功能和外形。     

微囊化异种甲状旁腺组织移植的研究

目的探讨微囊化异种甲状旁腺(PTG)组织移植对Wistar大鼠甲状旁腺功能低下的治疗作用及微囊的通透性。方法 40只去甲状旁腺Wistar大鼠随机分为微囊组、非微囊组、空囊组、空白对照组。用海藻酸-钡交联微囊包裹兔甲状旁腺组织,移植至Wistar大鼠肾包囊。移植后每隔2周取血测血钙,移植后第16周取移植物进行透射电镜检查及T淋巴细胞、大鼠IgG抗体的免疫组织化学染色。结果微囊组移植后第4周血清钙由(1．62±0．04)mmol／L恢复至正常水平 (2．2～2．6)mmol／L,9例维持至观察期结束(P<0．01),非微囊组、空囊组及空白对照组血清钙差异无统计学意义(P>0．05)。第16周取出移植物检测显示移植物活性良好,微囊周围可见较多T 淋巴细胞浸润,囊壁及囊内IgG抗体染色阳性。结论海藻酸-钡交联微囊可对甲状旁腺组织起到有效的保护作用,使甲状旁腺组织较长时间存活并发挥正常功能。但海藻酸-钡交联微囊并未减轻受体免疫排斥反应的激活且未有效的免疫隔离IgG抗体。     

Xenogeneic bone marrow transplantation: II. Porcine-specific growth factors enhance porcine bone marrow engraftment in an in vitro primate microenvironment

Abstract: Establishment of mixed bone marrow chimerism in pig-to-primate transplantation, as a means of inducing specific immune tolerance, will require that both immune and nonimmune barriers be overcome. As a preliminary step in evaluating nonimmune barriers in this system, we have developed an in vitro model of engraftment in which long-term culture of porcine bone marrow-derived hematopoietic cells is supported on preformed primate bone marrow stromal layers. In the absence of cytokine supplementation, primate stromal cells were unable to support long-term porcine hematopoiesis in these cultures. Supplementation with porcine Steel Factor was required for long-term maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cell content and total hematopoietic activity. Addition of porcine IL-3, in combination with porcine Steel Factor, increased long-term progenitor cell content and hematopoietic activity on primate stroma to levels comparable to that obtained in cultures on porcine stroma. The combination of porcine GM-CSF and Steel Factor increased progenitor cell content and hematopoietic activity early in the cultures, but had little effect in long-term cultures. The Steel Factor and IL-3 combination was species-specific in its action in these cultures, as the corresponding human cytokines were unable to effectively support long-term porcine hematopoiesis. Likewise, the combination of porcine cytokines had only minimal effects on long-term bone marrow culture of primate CD34+ cells I on primate stroma.