Efficacy and safety of birch pollen immunotherapy for local allergic rhinitis

Background

Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is a relatively new disease.

The Transplantation of hBM-MSCs Increases Bone Neo-Formation and Preserves Hearing Function in the Treatment of Temporal Bone Defects – on the Experience of Two Month Follow Up

Temporal bone reconstruction is a persisting problem following middle ear cholesteatoma surgery. Seeking to advance the clinical transfer of stem cell therapy we attempted the reconstruction of temporal bone using a composite bioartificial graft based on a hydroxyapatite bone scaffold combined with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hBM-MSCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the combined biomaterial on the healing of postoperative temporal bone defects and the preservation of physiological hearing functions in a guinea pig model. The treatment’s effect could be observed at 1 and 2 months after implantation of the biomaterial, as opposed to the control group. The clinical evaluation of our results included animal survival, clinical signs of an inflammatory response, and exploration of the tympanic bulla. Osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and inflammation were evaluated by histopathological analyses, whereas hBM-MSCs survival was evaluated by immunofluorescence assays. Hearing capacity was evaluated by objective audiometric methods, i.e. auditory brainstem responses and otoacoustic emission. Our study shows that hBM-MSCs, in combination with hydroxyapatite scaffolds, improves the repair of bone defects providing a safe and effective alternative in their treatment following middle ear surgery due to cholesteatoma.     

Recent advances in the molecular pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an extremely common cardiac rhythm disorder that causes substantial morbidity and contributes to mortality. The mechanisms underlying AF are complex, involving both increased spontaneous ectopic firing of atrial cells and impulse reentry through atrial tissue. Over the past ten years, there has been enormous progress in understanding the underlying molecular pathobiology. This article reviews the basic mechanisms and molecular processes causing AF. We discuss the ways in which cardiac disease states, extracardiac factors, and abnormal genetic control lead to the arrhythmia. We conclude with a discussion of the potential therapeutic implications that might arise from an improved mechanistic understanding.     

Plasmatic cystatin C for the estimation of glomerular filtration rate in intensive care units

Objective To compare the sensitivity of cystatin C and creatinine in detecting decreased glomerular filtration rate.Design Prospective observational study.Setting Medical intensive care unit at a university hospital.Patients and participants Fourteen patients hospitalised in a medical intensive care unit.Interventions Cystatin C and creatinine plasmatic levels were measured in 40 blood samples taken with an interval of at least 24 h.Measurements and results Glomerular filtration rate was estimated by creatinine clearance using 24-h urine collection and the classical Cockcroft-Gault equation. The ability of cystatin C to detect a glomerular filtration rate under 80 ml/min per 1.73 m² was significantly better than that of creatinine (p<0.05).Conclusions Cystatin C, a new plasmatic marker of renal function, could be used to detect renal failure in intensive care in the future.     

影响胫骨平台骨折预后因素的研究

【摘要】 目的 探讨影响胫骨平台骨折预后的因素,为临床治疗及康复提供依据。方法 收集2006年1月~2011年12月收治的62例胫骨平台骨折病例,其中非手术治疗19例,方法为抽取关节腔积血,加压包扎,石膏托外固定;手术治疗43例,方法为切开复位内固定。结果 临床治疗后均获得随访,随访平均时间2.8年。参照Lysolm评分标准,非手术治疗组优良率73.7%,手术治疗组优良率88.4%。SchatzkerⅠ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ型骨折优良率高于Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ型(P<0.05);男性患者优良率稍高于女性患者,但差异无统计学意义;8小时内治疗的患者预后优良率高于8小时后治疗的患者(P<0.05);60岁以上患者预后优良率不及60岁以下患者。3例患者术后出现创伤性关节炎,2例患者术后出现不同程度的关节面塌陷。结论 手术是胫骨平台骨折的有效治疗方法。胫骨平台骨折类型,治疗方法和治疗时机的选择,患者年龄,早期功能锻炼可以影响胫骨平台骨折的预后。     

基于转化医学理念临床医学研究生的科研能力培养

【摘要】 我国现行临床医学研究生培养体系中存在临床实践与基础研究严重脱节现象,将“转化医学”理念导入我国的临床医学研究生教育,将有利于产生新的培养模式。转化医学是基础研究与临床实践之间双向转化的培养体系,在此探索通过优化教学体系、临床技能培养、基础科研训练、凝炼临床课题、参与并申报课题与人文素质培养的方式培养临床医学研究生的“转化”能力,最终造福患者。     

单侧腰-硬联合麻醉用于高龄患者髋关节手术的效果

【摘要】 目的 探讨80岁以上高龄患者髋关节置换手术采用单侧腰硬联合麻醉的临床效果。 方法 我院2009年至2011年择期行髋关节置换手术病例130例,年龄在80~96岁,ASA Ⅱ~Ⅲ级。将130例随机分为对照组和观察组,每组各65例,观察组于L3-L4穿刺采用单侧腰硬联合麻醉;对照组于L2-L3穿刺采用硬膜外麻醉。两组患者一般资料无明显差异,具有可比性。观察两组麻醉效果。 结果 观察组患者在麻醉起效时间和麻醉阻滞完善时间明显较对照组快,(P<0.05)。两组患者麻醉前后心率无明显变化,对照组的收缩压、舒张压、平均动脉压麻醉后与术前比较波动较大(P<0.05)。两组患者麻醉效果比较,观察组麻醉效果好于对照组。 结论 单侧腰硬联合麻醉具有起效快、镇痛和肌松效果好、麻醉平面可控性强、呼吸循环影响小等优点,可安全有效地用于高龄患者的手术麻醉。     

In vitro selection and characterization of resistance to macrolides and related antibiotics in Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Macrolide-resistant mutants of Mycoplasma pneumoniae were selected in vitro from the susceptible reference strain M129, by 23 to 50 serial passages in subinhibitory concentrations of macrolides and related antibiotics, erythromycin A, azithromycin, josamycin, clindamycin, quinupristin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, pristinamycin, and telithromycin. Mutants for which the MICs are increased could be selected with all antibiotics except the streptogramin B quinupristin. Portions of genes encoding 23S rRNA (domains II and V) and ribosomal proteins L4 and L22 of mutants were amplified by PCR, and their nucleotide sequences were compared to those of the susceptible strain M129. No mutation could be detected in domain II of 23S rRNA. Two point mutations in domain V of 23S rRNA, C2611A and A2062G, were selected in the presence of erythromycin A, azithromycin, josamycin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and telithromycin. Mutants selected in the presence of clindamycin and telithromycin harbored a single amino acid change (H70R or H70L, respectively) in ribosomal protein L4, whereas insertions of one, two, or three adjacent glycines at position 60 (M. pneumoniae numbering) were selected in the presence of both streptogramin combinations. Telithromycin was the sole antibiotic that selected for substitutions (P112R and A114T) and deletions ((111)IPRA(114)) in ribosomal protein L22. Three sequential mutational events in 23S rRNA and in both ribosomal proteins were required to categorize the strain as resistant to the ketolide. Azithromycin and erythromycin A were the only selector antibiotics that remained active (MICs, 0.06 and 1 micro g/ml, respectively) on their mutants selected after 50 passages.     

Post-traumatic stress disorder after critical illness requiring general intensive care

Objective To determine the incidence and severity of symptoms related to the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a cohort of general ICU patients.Design A prospective cohort study 3 months after general ICU discharge.Setting A general ICU in a teaching hospital in northern Scotland.Patients and participants Seventy-eight ICU survivors of general ICU.Interventions Patients were contacted 3 months after ICU discharge and asked to complete a telephone assessment of the Davidson Trauma Scale.Measurements and results The median score was 8, with 22% recording a score of at least 27 and 14% meeting the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The overall score was not correlated with sex, ICU length of stay, or APACHE II score but was inversely correlated with age and directly correlated with length of mechanical ventilation. The overall score was also related to the patient reporting having visited a GP or a mental health professional for psychological distress previous to ICU.Conclusions We found a high incidence of symptoms consistent with PTSD 3 months after ICU discharge in this general ICU cohort. This was associated with younger patients and those who visited their GP or a mental health professional complaining of psychological symptoms. Further research and a greater liaison between ICU staff and family practitioners and mental health practitioners is required to better identify individuals at risk and reduce psychological morbidity in this group.     

Development of inflammatory bowel disease during anti-TNF-α therapy for inflammatory rheumatic disease. A nationwide series

OBJECTIVES: To describe cases of new onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) receiving anti-TNF-α therapy. METHODS: A call for observations of such cases was sent to members of the French "Club rhumatismes et inflammation". Only patients without intestinal symptoms before introduction of anti TNF-α agents were included. RESULTS: During a 2-year period, 16 patients were declared: nine men and seven women, mean age 41.5±17.4 years, 12 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, one with rheumatoid arthritis, one with psoriatic arthritis and two juvenile idiopathic arthritis with enthesitis related arthritis. Overall, 14 patients received etanercept and two had infliximab. The meantime frame between onsets of anti-TNF--α drugs and development of IBD was 29.3±20.1 months. According to endoscopic and histological findings, IBD was classified as typical Crohn's disease in eight cases, Crohn's-like disease in six cases, indeterminate in one case and definite ulcerative colitis in one case. For all cases, each TNF-α blocking agent was discontinued and replaced by another monoclonal anti TNF-α antibody. After a mean follow up period of 23.4±19.5 months, outcome was favorable without recurrent or flaring IBD. CONCLUSIONS: Paradoxical IBD may occur during anti TNF-α therapy for inflammatory rheumatic disease, mostly in patients with spondylarthropathies while receiving etanercept, at a frequency estimated to 0.15% in the French patients with spondylarthropathies exposed to TNF-α antagonists. The IBD mainly corresponded to Crohn's or Crohn's-like disease. On the contrary, new onset IBD is less frequently observed in other cases of IRD and with other TNF--α blockers.