Neuro-immune crosstalk and food allergy: Focus on enteric neurons and mucosal mast cells

The nervous system and the immune system individually play important roles in regulating the processes necessary to maintain physiological homeostasis, respond to acute stress and protect against external threats. These two regulating systems for maintaining the living body had often been assumed to function independently. Allergies develop as a result of an overreaction of the immune system to substances that are relatively harmless to the body, such as food, pollen and dust mites. Therefore, it has been generally supposed that the development and pathogenesis of allergies can be explained through an immunological interpretation. Recently, however, neuro-immune crosstalk has attracted increasing attention. Consequently, it is becoming clear that there is close morphological proximity and physiological and pathophysiological interactions between neurons and immune cells in various peripheral tissues. Thus, researchers are now beginning to appreciate that neuro-immune interactions may play a role in tissue homeostasis and the pathophysiology of immune-mediated disease, but very little information is available on the molecular basis of these interactions. Mast cells are a part of the innate immune system implicated in allergic reactions and the regulation of host–pathogen interactions. Mast cells are ubiquitous in the body, and these cells are often found in close proximity to nerve fibers in various tissues, including the lamina propria of the intestine. Mast cells and neurons are thought to communicate bidirectionally to modulate neurophysiological effects and mast cell functions, which suggests that neuro-immune interactions may be involved in the pathology of allergic diseases.     

肾周脂肪梅奥粘连概率评分系统在肾癌后腹腔镜肾部分切除术中的应用

目的探讨肾周脂肪梅奥粘连概率评分系统（MAP）在肾癌后腹腔镜肾部分切除术中的临床应用价值。 方法回顾性分析2015年1月至2020年6月徐州医科大学附属淮安医院泌尿外科收治的行后腹腔镜肾部分切除术的153例肾癌患者的临床病例资料。依据MAP评分系统将其分为低度复杂组、中度复杂组和高度复杂组三组。比较各组间的手术时间、术中出血量、术中及术后并发症、术中热缺血时间、术后住院时间及术后血肌酐变化情况。 结果在153例患者中，低度复杂组68例，中度复杂组58例和高度复杂组27例。三组患者在年龄、性别、术前血肌酐水平、肿瘤最大径、肿瘤位置、BMI、RENAL评分等方面差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。随着复杂程度的提高，手术时间、术中出血量也在不断增加（P<0.05）；而术中热缺血时间、术后住院时间及术后血肌酐水平无明显变化（P>0.05）。在术中并发症方面，随着复杂程度的提高，术中并发症的发生率也在增加（P<0.05），且高度复杂组的术后并发症发生风险是低度复杂组的13.895倍（P=0.002)，MAP评分系统预测术中并发症发生的精度较高（AUC=0.757，P=0.002）。但是术后并发症各组比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论MAP评分系统在肾癌后腹腔镜肾部分切除术中，对预估手术难度及术中并发症发生风险有较好的临床应用价值。     

连续性血液净化治疗患儿静脉留置导管感染风险预测体系的构建及应用

目的:探讨连续性血液净化治疗患儿静脉留置导管感染风险因素,据此构建风险预测体系,并检验其实际应用效果,以期为临床预防护理提供依据。方法:选取医院2018年4月—2020年4月收治的400例连续性血液净化治疗患儿,按两组基础资料具有匹配性原则将其分为构建组300例、验证组100例,统计构建组中静脉留置导管感染患儿例数,通过单因素分析、多因素Logistic回归分析筛选静脉留置导管感染的独立危险因素,据此构建风险预测体系,并检验其在验证组中的应用效果。结果:经统计得到,构建组中静脉留置导管感染患儿共66例,感染发生率为22.00%;单因素分析得到,连续性血液净化治疗患儿静脉留置导管感染风险因素有穿刺部位、导管留置时间、插管次数、血流速度、血红蛋白、遵医依从性、抗生素使用时间、操作人员手卫生(P<0.05);多因素Logistic回归分析得到,连续性血液净化治疗患儿静脉留置导管感染独立风险因素有股静脉置管、导管留置时间>7 d、血流速度>180 mL/min、血红蛋白<100 g/L、遵医依从性差、抗生素使用时间>7 d(P<0.05);构建得到连续性血液净化治疗患儿静脉留置导管感染风险预测体系为P=1/[1+e^(-(-1.935+1.635×股静脉置管+1.740×导管留置时间>7 d+1.725×血流速度>180 mL/min+2.241×血红蛋白<100 g/L+2.089×遵医依从性差+1.331×抗生素使用时间>7 d))],ROC曲线分析显示,曲线下面积AUC=0.881,灵敏度为86.67%,特异性为97.14%,准确率为94.00%。结论:连续性血液净化治疗患儿静脉留置导管感染风险大,且风险因素复杂,研究构建的静脉留置导管感染风险预测体系灵敏度高、特异性强,评估准确率高。     

结扎速血管闭合切割系统在巨大神经纤维瘤手术中的应用效果

目的：探讨结扎速血管闭合切割系统(LigaSure vessel sealing system, LVSS)在巨大神经纤维瘤手术中的应用效果。方法：选取2013年10月至2020年5月行巨大神经纤维瘤手术的患者22例纳入本研究。传统手术组12例采用常规缝扎电凝止血手术方式,LigaSure组10例采用LigaSure血管闭合切割的手术方式,对比两组患者切除瘤体大小、手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量、术后拔管时间及术后并发症情况。结果：两组间患者的一般资料具有可比性。LigaSure组术中出血量、术后引流量、术后拔管时间均较传统手术组显著降低(P＜0.05)。两组间切除瘤体大小、手术时间及术前术后血红蛋白差值无统计学差异。传统手术组出现1例术后皮下积液,予再次引流后伤口愈合良好。结论：LigaSure在手术治疗巨大神经纤维瘤方面的应用安全有效,能显著地减少出血量,简化手术操作,缩短术后恢复时间,值得在临床上进一步推广。     

基于信息平台的医院POCT管理改进

以华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院为例，探讨医院通过健全POCT管理体系，并借助信息平台改进POCT管理的经验，为其他医院POCT规范化管理提供参考。该医院通过搭建POCT管理平台，实现了设备标准化准入、人员资质统一授权、设备自动化质控和诊疗全流程闭环管理；基于信息平台的POCT管理改进，提升了医护人员的POCT认知度和操作水平，提高了医疗工作效率；实行诊疗全程风险管控，保障了医疗安全。     

Innovating medication reviews through a technology-enabled process

Medication reviews are effective in improving the quality of medication use among older people. However, they are conducted to various standards resulting in a wide range of outcomes which limit generalisability of findings arising from research studies. There also appear to be funding and time constraints, lack of data storage for quality improvement purposes, and non-standardised reporting of outcomes, especially clinically relevant outcomes. Furthermore, the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has restricted many face-to-face activities, including medication reviews. This article introduces a technology-enabled approach to medication reviews that may overcome some limitations with current medication review processes, and also make it possible to conduct medication reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing an alternate platform. The possible advantages of this technology-enabled approach, legislative considerations and possible implementation in practice are discussed.     

Method’s corner: Allergist’s guide to network meta-analysis

Network meta-analyses (NMAs) simultaneously estimate the effects of multiple possible treatment options for a given clinical presentation. For allergists to benefit optimally from NMAs, they must understand the process and be able to interpret the results. Through a worked example published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, we summarize how to identify credible NMAs and interpret them with a focus on recent innovations in the GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). NMAs build on traditional systematic reviews and meta-analyses that consider only direct paired comparisons by including indirect evidence, thus allowing the simultaneous assessment of the relative effect of all pairs of competing alternatives. Our framework informs clinicians of how to identify credible NMAs and address the certainty of the evidence. Trustworthy NMAs fill a critical gap in providing key inferences using direct and indirect evidence to inform clinical decision making when faced with more than two competing courses of treatment options. This document will help allergists to identify trustworthy NMAs to enhance patient care.     

Oxygen delivery-guided perfusion for the prevention of acute kidney injury: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesThe reduction of postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery using an oxygen delivery-guided perfusion strategy (oxygen delivery strategy) for cardiopulmonary bypass management compared with a fixed flow perfusion (conventional strategy) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a oxygen delivery strategy would reduce the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.MethodsWe randomly enrolled 300 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to a oxygen delivery strategy (maintaining a oxygen delivery index value >300 mL/min/m² through pump flow adjustments during cardiopulmonary bypass) or a conventional strategy (a target pump flow was determined on the basis of the body surface area). The primary end point was the development of acute kidney injury. Secondary end points were the red blood cell transfusion rate and number of red blood cell units, intubation time, postoperative length of stay in the intensive care unit and the hospital, predischarge estimated glomerular filtration rate, and hospital mortality.ResultsAcute kidney injury occurred in 20 patients (14.6%) receiving the oxygen delivery strategy and in 42 patients (30.4%) receiving the conventional strategy (relative risk, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.77; P = .002). The secondary end points were not significantly different between strategies. In a prespecified subgroup analysis of patients who had nadir hematocrit less than 23% or body surface area less than 1.40 m², the oxygen delivery strategy seemed to be superior to the conventional strategy and the existence of quantitative interactions was suggested.ConclusionsAn oxygen delivery strategy for cardiopulmonary bypass management was superior to a conventional strategy with respect to preventing the development of acute kidney injury.     

The impact of the covalently closed circular DNA level on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after initial hepatectomy: an analysis of patients with resolved hepatitis B virus infection

BackgroundWe assessed whether or not covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels in the background liver influence the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.MethodsAmong 425 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for HCC between 2010 and 2018, a retrospective review was performed in 44 with resolved HBV infection. The clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed for correlation with tumor recurrence. The HBV cccDNA levels were tested via a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assay.ResultsHBV cccDNA was detected in 27 of 44 patients (61%), and the median level was 1.0 copies/1000 ng (range, 0-931.3 copies/1000 ng). Anti-HBc ≥8.9 S/CO was associated with cccDNA detection (odds ratio, 11.08; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.48-49.46; P = 0.002). Twenty-eight patients (64%) developed HCC recurrence after hepatectomy. The overall 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 45.7% and 34.3%, respectively.19 HBV cccDNA levels was not significantly associated with HCC recurrence, while the presence of multiple tumors was an independent risk fact or (hazard ratio, 6.53; 95% CI, 2.48-17.19; P < 0.001.ConclusionHBV cccDNA levels did not influence HCC recurrence after hepatectomy. Anti-HBc levels may be used as a surrogate marker for cccDNA.