Association of Anti-PLA2R Antibodies with Outcomes after Immunosuppressive Therapy in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Background

The optimal timing and duration of immunosuppressive therapy for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) have been debated. This study aimed to evaluate whether measuring the antibody against the phospholipase A₂ receptor (PLA₂R-ab) at start and end of therapy predicts long-term outcome and therefore may inform this debate.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This observational study included all consecutive high-risk patients with progressive iMN observed from 1997 to 2005 and treated with oral cyclophosphamide (CP) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in combination with corticosteroids for 12 months. Patients were prospectively followed, and outcome was ascertained up to 5 years after completion of immunosuppressive therapy. Serum samples were collected before and after completion of therapy. PLA₂R antibodies were determined retrospectively in stored samples using ELISA.

Results

In total, 48 patients (37 men) were included. The median age was 55 years (range, 34–75), and the median serum creatinine level was 1.60 mg/dl (range, 0.98–3.37 mg/dl). Twenty-two patients received MMF and 26 received CP. At baseline, PLA₂R-abs were present in 34 patients (71%). Baseline characteristics and outcome did not significantly differ between patients negative or positive for PLA₂R-ab. In PLA₂R-ab–positive patients, treatment resulted in a rapid decrease of antibodies: median anti–PLA₂R-ab, 428 U/ml (range, 41–16,260 U/ml) at baseline and 24 U/ml (range, 0–505 U/ml) after 2 months. The PLA₂R-ab levels at baseline did not predict initial response, but antibody status at end of therapy predicted long-term outcome: After 5 years, 14 of 24 (58%) antibody-negative patients were in persistent remission compared with 0 of 9 (0%) antibody-positive patients (P=0.003).

Conclusions

These data suggest that in PLA₂R-ab–positive patients, measuring PLA₂R-abs at the end of therapy predicts the subsequent course.     

Efficacy of different solvents in removing gutta‐percha from curved root canals: A micro‐computed tomography study

The aim of this study was to compare the root filling material that remained after retreatment of curved root canals with chloroform and Endosolv R as solvents. The evaluation employed micro‐computed tomography (CT) imaging. Thirty‐six extracted molar teeth with curved roots were selected. After preparation with ProTaper rotary instruments, the canals were filled with gutta‐percha and AH26 sealer. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups according to solvent used (n = 12) as follows: group 1: chloroform; group 2: Endosolv R; group 3: no solvent (negative control). ProTaper Universal Retreatment files were used to remove each root canal filling and then the self‐adjusting file was applied for two minutes. Preoperative and postoperative micro‐CT images were used to assess the percentage of residual filling material. The mean percentage of residual filling material was quantified. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of percentage volume of residual root canal filling.     

国家级首批线上一流课程免疫学基础与病原生物学的建设与推广

线上一流课程作为一种新型的教学课堂模式,其建设与推广不仅使教师的教和学生的学呈现多元化,而且也使教师的教学和研究水平、学生的学习兴趣和能力得到了有效提升。本团队建设与推广的国家级首批线上一流课程免疫学基础与病原生物学已经完成6个学期的运行,累计学习人数40 395人,累计选课学校84所。本文从建设背景与建设目标、整体框架与建设资源、实施过程与推广应用、教学运行与互动、教学考核与评价、思考和展望等6个方面总结该课程的建设与推广情况。     

血管内皮生长因子、血小板反应素1在肾上腺皮质肿瘤中的表达及其意义

目的讨论血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）与血小板反应素1（TSP-1）在肾上腺皮质肿瘤中的表达及其临床意义。方法选取经手术治疗且取得完整临床资料的肾上腺皮质肿瘤石蜡包埋标本37例,其中良性组20例,恶性组（ACC组）17例。采用免疫组化技术,检测并分析良、恶性肾上腺皮质肿瘤中VEGF和TSP-1的表达情况。结果TSP-1在ACC组中呈低表达（5／17,29．41％）,在良性组中表达高（13／20,65．00％）,ACC组与良性组之间TSP-1的表达有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。VEGF在ACC组中呈高表达（70．59％）,在良性组中表达较低（25．00％）,VEGF在ACC组中的表达与在良性组中的表达有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。微血管密度（MVD）在ACC组中的表达为（76．40±15．64）／视野,良性组中为（21．05±8．07）／视野,两者之间有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。VEGF的表达和MVD呈正相关（P〈0．01）,TSP-1的表达和MVD呈负相关（P〈0．01）。VEGF的表达和TSP-1的表达呈负相关（rs＇=-0．386）。结论VEGF与TSP-1表达不平衡可能是肾上腺皮质肿瘤肿瘤性血管生成的重要原因,有望为抗肿瘤靶向治疗在ACC中的应用提供相应的理论依据。     

英国4所大学护理本科成人护理课程的研究及思考

对4所英国大学护理本科注册前护士教育项目的教学计划、护理本科课程设置、课程教学大纲等19份资料进行文献研究,描述成人护理课程群的主要课程要素,归纳出英国护理本科成人护理课程主要优点为按照专业方向设置护理课程,成人护理课程群理论教学与实践活动结合紧密,指导学生自主学习形式多样.提出我国的护理专业课程设置应该体现以人的健康为中心的理念,按照人的生命周期设置成人护理学课程,构建更加富有护理专业特色的课程框架与教学内容体系,围绕学生能力素质培养的核心,进一步改革教学方法与手段,密切理论教学与临床护理实践的联系.     

小切口辅助手法松解治疗TKA术后关节僵硬

目的探讨髌外侧小切口辅助麻醉下手法松解治疗初次全膝关节置换术后早期膝关节僵硬的临床疗效。方法对10例初次全膝关节置换术后早期（6周内）发生膝关节僵硬的患者行髌外侧小切口辅助麻醉下手法松解。其中男性3例,女性7例;术前膝关节平均活动度为（74.4±9.44）°（60°～85°）,平均年龄（72.8±7.18）岁（59～81岁）。排除因感染、假体松动、假体位置不良等明确原因导致术后关节僵硬的患者。术中给予蛛网膜下腔麻醉,反复、柔和、持续地对膝关节进行手法松解,结合髌外侧小切口,使其达到最大的活动度。采用KSS评分对膝关节术前及术后功能进行评价。结果平均随访（2.6±1.04）年（1～4年）,术中能达到的平均活动度为（112.5±9.20）°（100°～125°）,末次随访时平均活动度为（105±6.97）°（95°～115°）。KSS评分从术前平均69分提高到末次随访时平均82分。术前术后KSS评分差异有统计学意义（t=14.40,P〈0.01）。结论髌外侧小切口辅助麻醉下手法松解是治疗初次全膝关节置换术后早期发生膝关节僵硬安全、有效的治疗手段,通过早期治疗,能显著改善膝关节功能。     

分娩球干预对初产妇临产后产程的影响

目的探讨分娩球干预对初产妇产程的影响。方法将160例初产妇按随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组各80例。观察组初产妇在临产后，由助产士指导，在第1产程通过分娩球进行干预。对照组除不应用分娩球外，其他干预措施与观察组一致。分别对2组初产妇的心理状态，疼痛，产程，分娩方式，产后出血量等进行观察与比较。结果观察组初产妇身心状况、疼痛情况较对照组明显减轻，手术产率降低，产后出血减少，产程缩短，2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论初产妇临产后应用分娩球干预能减轻疼痛，缩短产程时间，提高自然分娩率，是一种值得推广的产时服务模式。     

Neighbourhood disadvantage and individual adversities in adolescence and total alcohol consumption up to mid-life—Results from the Northern Swedish Cohort

This study tests if neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and family social and material adversities during adolescence are independently related to total alcohol consumption from adolescence through to mid-life. Self-reports from the Northern Swedish Cohort (effective sample=950) at ages 16, 18, 21, 30 and 42 was combined with register data on the socioeconomic composition of neighbourhoods at age 16. Total volume of alcohol consumed between age 16–42 was estimated based on the five survey waves, and self-reported social and material adversities were computed as composite variables. Neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage at age 16 was associated with alcohol consumption age 16–42 for men but not for women. Social adversities at age 16 were associated with alcohol consumption age 16–42 for both women and men, but material adversity or parental class was not. In conclusion, neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage in adolescence has a significant relationship with later alcohol consumption among men, even independently from individual factors. On family level, social factors but not socioeconomic factors in adolescence independently predict later alcohol consumption.