Idarucizumab for Intravenous Thrombolysis and Endovascular Thrombectomy in Acute Stroke: A Case Report

BackgroundNon–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), such as dabigatran, are widely used to prevent ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Nonetheless, stroke occurs in 1–2% of patients, and the use of NOACs may increase the bleeding risk for patients who are receiving acute treatment of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) or endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Idarucizumab, a monoclonal antibody developed to bind dabigatran, has been proven safe and effective for patients with uncontrolled bleeding or for patients planning to receive emergent procedures. It is now accepted that patients taking dabigatran with recurrent stroke may benefit from IVT after idarucizumab. However, there are limited data regarding idarucizumab use in patients planning to have EVT.Case ReportWe present the case of a male patient taking dabigatran who had a stroke and who was treated with idarucizumab followed by combined IVT and EVT. The patient had immediate recanalization of the occluded vessel and near total recovery of function after 3 months.Why Should an Emergency Physician be Aware of This?Our case report supports the evidence that patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) despite being under dabigatran therapy should be evaluated for reversal by idarucizumab which can contribute to the eligibility for IVT as well as EVT. It has also been proved to provide better outcomes for patients with AIS. The availabilities of specific reversal agents for NOACs will probably alter the current management of patients with AIS.     

uPAR Controls Vasculogenic Mimicry Ability Expressed by Drug-Resistant Melanoma Cells

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer characterized by an elevated grade of tumor cell plasticity. Such plasticity allows adaptation of melanoma cells to different hostile conditions and guarantees tumor survival and disease progression, including aggressive features such as drug resistance. Indeed, almost 50% of melanoma rapidly develop resistance to the BRAFV600E inhibitor vemurafenib, with fast tumor dissemination, a devastating consequence for patients’ outcomes. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), the ability of cancer cells to organize themselves in perfused vascular-like channels, might sustain tumor spread by providing vemurafenibresistant cancer cells with supplementary ways to enter into circulation and disseminate. Thus, this research aims to determine if vemurafenib resistance goes with the acquisition of VM ability by aggressive melanoma cells, and identify a driving molecule for both vemurafenib resistance and VM. We used two independent experimental models of drug-resistant melanoma cells, the first one represented by a chronic adaptation of melanoma cells to extracellular acidosis, known to drive a particularly aggressive and vemurafenib-resistant phenotype, the second one generated with chronic vemurafenib exposure. By performing in vitro tube formation assay and evaluating the expression levels of the VM markers EphA2 and VE-cadherin by Western blotting and flow cytometer analyses, we demonstrated that vemurafenib-resistant cells obtained by both models are characterized by an increased ability to perform VM. Moreover, by exploiting the CRISPR-Cas9 technique and using the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) inhibitor M25, we identified uPAR as a driver of VM expressed by vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells. Thus, uPAR targeting may be successfully leveraged as a new complementary therapy to inhibit VM in drug-resistant melanoma patients, to counteract the rapid progression and dissemination of the disease.     

Large-Bore Aspiration Thrombectomy versus Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Propensity Score–Matched Comparison

PurposeTo compare effectiveness and safety of large-bore aspiration thrombectomy (LBAT) with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for treatment of acute massive and submassive pulmonary embolism (PE).Materials and MethodsThis retrospective review included patients with acute PE treated with LBAT or CDT using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) between December 2009 and May 2020. A propensity score based on Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index class and PE severity (massive vs submassive) was calculated, and 26 LBAT cases (age 60.2 y ± 17.1, 14/26 women) were matched with 26 CDT cases (age 59.7 y ± 14.2, 14/26 women).ResultsThe CDT group had 22.1 mg ± 8.1 tPA infused over 21.2 h ± 6.6. Both groups demonstrated similar initial and final systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (LBAT: 54.5 mm Hg ± 12.9 vs CDT: 54.5 mm Hg ± 16.3, P = .8, and LBAT: 42.5 mm Hg ± 14.1 vs CDT: 42.6 mm Hg ± 12.1, P = .8, respectively) and similar reductions in heart rate (LBAT: −5.4 beats/min ± 19.2 vs CDT: −9.6 beats/min ± 15.8, P = .4). CDT demonstrated a higher reduction in Miller score (−10.1 ± 3.9 vs −7.5 ± 3.8, P = .02). LBAT resulted in 1 minor hemorrhagic complication and 2 procedure-related mortalities, and CDT resulted in 1 minor and 1 major hemorrhagic complication.ConclusionsLBAT and CDT resulted in similar reductions of PAP and heart rate when used to treat acute PE. CDT reduced thrombus burden to a greater degree. Although hemorrhagic complications rates were not significantly different, the LBAT group demonstrated a higher rate of procedure-related mortality. Larger studies are needed to compare the safety of these techniques.     

转录激活因子-4、第二个线粒体衍生的半胱氨酸蛋白酶激活剂在卵巢癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨卵巢癌组织中转录激活因子-4(ATF-4)、第二个线粒体衍生的半胱氨酸蛋白酶激活剂(SMAC)蛋白的表达情况及临床意义。方法收集90例卵巢癌患者的卵巢癌组织标本和90例卵巢良性肿瘤患者的良性肿瘤组织标本。采用免疫组化染色法检测两种组织中ATF-4、SMAC蛋白的表达情况,并对卵巢癌组织中ATF-4、SMAC蛋白表达与卵巢癌患者病理特征的关系进行分析。结果免疫组化染色结果显示,卵巢癌组织中ATF-4的阳性表达率明显高于卵巢良性肿瘤组织(P﹤0.01)。卵巢癌组织中SMAC蛋白的阳性表达率明显低于卵巢良性肿瘤组织(P﹤0.01)。FIGO分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、有淋巴结转移、组织学分级为G3级的上皮性卵巢癌患者上皮性卵巢癌组织中ATF-4蛋白的阳性表达率均高于FIGO分期为Ⅰ~Ⅱ期、无淋巴结转移、组织学分级为G1~G2级的患者(P﹤0.05);FIGO分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、有淋巴结转移、组织学分级为G3级的上皮性卵巢癌患者上皮性卵巢癌组织中SMAC蛋白的阳性表达率均明显低于FIGO分期为Ⅰ~Ⅱ期、无淋巴结转移、组织学分级为G1~G2级的患者(P﹤0.01);不同病灶直径的上皮性卵巢癌组织中ATF-4、SMAC蛋白的阳性表达率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P﹥0.05)。结论上皮性卵巢癌组织中ATF-4蛋白的表达上调,SMAC蛋白的表达下调,且ATF-4、SMAC蛋白表达可能与上皮性卵巢癌患者的病情进展有一定关系。     

清肺化痰汤通过抑制JAK2/STAT3通路上调CFTR的表达治疗COPD

目的:探索清肺化痰汤对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)的治疗作用及其机制研究。方法:应用烟雾吸入联合脂多糖(LPS)灌肺复合素的方法,建立COPD大鼠模型,造模成功后将大鼠随机分为6组,分别为正常组,COPD模型组,清肺化痰汤低、中、高剂量组和氨溴索组。造模28 d后开始给药,清肺化痰汤低、中、高剂量7.5,15,30 g·kg~(-1),氨溴索35 mg·kg~(-1),连续给药14 d。免疫组化和实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)检测肺组织囊性纤维化跨膜转导调节因子(CFTR)蛋白和mRNA的表达。应用LPS诱导NCI-H292细胞建立黏液高分泌模型,实验分为8组,分别为空白组,LPS组,LPS+10%胎牛血清,LPS+生理血清,LPS+5%含药血清,LPS+10%含药血清,LPS+20%含药血清,LPS+AG490组。免疫荧光、蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)和Real-time PCR观察LPS刺激后的NCI-H292细胞中CFTR蛋白和mRNA的表达,Western blot检测LPS刺激后的NCI-H292细胞中Janus激酶2/信号转导与转录激活因子3(JAK2/STAT3)信号通路表达。结果:正常组大鼠肺组织管腔周围有大量棕褐色颗粒,COPD表达升高,与正常组比较,模型组大鼠肺组织管腔周围的棕褐色颗粒极少,COPD表达较低。与正常组比较,COPD模型组大鼠肺组织中CFTR mRNA和蛋白表达明显降低(P0.05);与模型组比较,清肺化痰汤低、中、高剂量组明显升高大鼠肺组织CFTR mRNA和蛋白表达水平(P0.05)。与空白组比较,LPS组NCI-H292细胞CFTR mRNA和蛋白表达显著降低(P0.01),p-JAK2,p-STAT3蛋白表达明显升高(P0.05);与模型组比较,清肺化痰汤5%,10%,20%含药血清组明显升高CFTR mRNA和蛋白表达,明显降低p-JAK2,p-STAT3蛋白表达(P0.05,P0.01)。结论:清肺化痰汤通过抑制JAK2/STAT3通路来上调CFTR治疗COPD。     

Adult-Onset Ligneous Conjunctivitis with Detection of a Novel Plasminogen Gene Mutation and Anti-Plasminogen IgA Antibody: A Clinicopathologic Study and Review of Literature

Purpose: To report a novel plasminogen gene mutation and detection of anti-plasminogen antibodies in a patient with ligneous conjunctivitis successfully treated with 60% fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Methods: Retrospective data collected on a 45-year-old Caucasian female presenting with unilateral chronic membranous lesions. Results: Laboratory investigation demonstrated decreased plasminogen antigen level, plasminogen activity, and rate of plasminogen activation by u-PA or t-PA, and elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Anti-plasminogen IgG and IgA antibodies were detected. DNA analysis revealed a novel Asp432Asn heterozygous missense mutation in the plasminogen gene (exon 11). The patient was treated with topical 60% FFP, achieved complete remission after four months, and remained membrane-free for over five years of follow-up. Conclusions: A novel plasminogen gene mutation, deficiency of plasminogen antigen and activity, and anti-plasminogen IgG and IgA antibodies were identified in a patient with adult-onset ligneous conjunctivitis. Sixty percent FFP maintained this patient disease-free for over five years.