Pediatric lung transplantation: Literature review 2005

This review summarizes important original articles in the field of pediatric lung transplantation that were published in 2005. The review is intended to be comprehensive, but not exhaustive.     

干细胞经脑脊液移植后在损伤脊髓的早期变化观察

目的观察神经干细胞经脑室注射后在损伤脊髓的早期动态变化。方法取转录有绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因的孕16天SD鼠胚脑海马组织，培养成神经干细胞球，注射到损伤脊髓鼠第四脑室（实验组），观察其在脊髓的存活、分化状况。结果移植细胞在脊髓表面形成细胞团。分布于损伤区头侧。细胞团的面积背侧小于腹侧；数目背侧多于腹侧。这种分布和增殖形式见于损伤脊髓正常部分和无损伤脊髓（对照组）。1周时细胞侵入损伤区，GFAP表达呈阳性。2～3周时与宿主细胞良好整合。结论移植细胞通过脑脊液能广泛分布于脊髓表面。保持黏附、增殖和分化能力。并可迁移、整合到损伤脊髓组织中。     

Closure of a large bronchial fistula with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap

We describe a case of a large bronchial fistula and empyema after right upper lobectomy that was treated successfully with open window thoracostomy followed by a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and limited thoracoplasty. A latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap can provide immediate airtight closure of a large bronchial fistula, allowing lavage and curettage of the empyema cavity to reduce the chance of postoperative infection. An important aspect of this technique is that the deepithelialized skin side rather than muscle is sutured to an opening of the bronchus. As compared with other techniques, a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is superior in that it requires a single incision and does not require an intraop-erative change of position. In addition, the technique causes little dysfunction of the chest and shoulder and preserves the vascular supply to ensure the viability of the flap even if it was divided in a previous operation.     

The Hemodynamic Mechanisms of Lung Injury and Systemic Inflammatory Response Following Brain Death in the Transplant Donor

Brain-dead donors are the major source of lungs for transplantation. Brain death is characterized by two hemodynamic phases. Initially, massive sympathetic discharge results in a hypertensive crisis. This is followed by neurogenic hypotension. Up-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators occurs in all organs and lung injury develops; this can adversely affect graft function post-transplantation. The mechanisms of the systemic and lung inflammation are unknown. We hypothesized that the hemodynamic changes are responsible for these inflammatory phenomena. Brain death was induced by intra-cranial balloon inflation in rats. This resulted in hypertensive crisis, followed by hypotension. There was a significant increase in blood neutrophil CD11b/CD18 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage, compared with control animals. Rupture of the capillary-alveolar membrane was demonstrated by electron microscopy. Elimination of the hypertensive response by α-adrenergic antagonist pre-treatment prevented inflammatory lung injury, reduced the systemic inflammatory markers and preserved capillary-alveolar membrane integrity. Correction of the neurogenic hypotension with noradrenaline ameliorated the systemic inflammatory response and improved oxygenation. We conclude that the sympathetic discharge triggers systemic and lung inflammation, which can be further enhanced by neurogenic hypotension. Management of the brain-dead donor with early anti-inflammatory treatment and vasoconstrictors is warranted.     

The pH of Exhaled Breath Condensate of Patients with Allograft Rejection After Lung Transplantation

Endogenous airway acidification, as assessed by the condensate pH, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammatory airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis and asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the pH of condensate in patients after lung transplantation (LTX). From the cohort of transplanted patients at our center, 83 patients (9 heart-lung transplantation, 48 double-lung transplantation, 26 single-lung transplantation) were recruited and analyzed in a cross-sectional manner: 26 patients were diagnosed with chronic rejection or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), 7 patients were diagnosed with acute rejection (AR) while 50 patients had no evidence of rejection according to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria. The condensate pH was significantly reduced in patients with BOS and AR when compared to patients without rejection and control subjects (5.8 +/- 0.5 and 6.2 +/- 0.4 versus 6.6 +/- 0.4 and 6.5 +/- 0 .4, respectively; p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between condensate pH levels and the BOS grade (r =-0.62; p < 0.01), the FEV(1) (r = 0.39; p < 0.01) and the total cell and neutrophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (r =-0.39 and r =-0.56, respectively; p < 0.01). Airway acidification occurs in BOS and may directly or indirectly reflect airway inflammation in patients with allograft rejection after LTX. Measuring condensate pH might thus be a new tool for the evaluation of rejection in lung transplant patients.     

Bilateral Hematogenous Pseudomonas aeruginosa Endophthalmitis After Lung Transplantation

Pseudomonas aeruginosa commonly colonizes the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the occurrence of bacteremia with metastatic infection to the eye causing endogenous endophthalmitis is very rare. In the setting of lung transplantation, the significance of P. aeruginosa bacteremia in patients with CF whose airways are colonized before transplantation is unknown. We report a case of bilateral P. aeruginosa endogenous endophthalmitis in a patient with CF after lung transplant without documented bacteremia. The patient presented with acute eye symptoms in the presence of a left atrial thrombus and the disease followed a rapidly progressive course requiring aggressive medical-surgical treatment. Typically P. aeruginosa endophthalmitis has been associated with a poor visual prognosis. However, with combined medical-surgical management this patient retained useful vision in one eye without having retinal detachment or requiring enucleation. Endogenous endophthalmitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ocular complaints in patients with CF after lung transplant.     

磁共振成像对肺癌的诊断价值

目的：探讨磁共振成像对术前肺部恶性、良性肿瘤诊断的准确性。方法：回顾性分析了104例肺部肿瘤磁共振成像术前检查与术后病理检查的结果。结果：磁共振成像对术前肺部恶性、良性肿瘤的诊断准确率分别为70％和30％，术后病理检查对肺部恶性、良性肿瘤的诊断准确率分别为83％和17％。结论：磁共振成像对肺部恶性和良性肿瘤具有一定的诊断价值。     

离体肺组织切片的制备和孵育

目的建立一种简便有效的离体肺组织切片孵育方法。方法利用肺组织精细切片技术制备肺组织切片 ,以 0 .5mLKrebs Henseleit(K H)缓冲液作为孵育液 ,在 37℃培养箱内分别孵育 1、2、3、4h ,测定肺片的四甲基偶氮唑盐 (MTT)比色、乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)释放率和三磷酸腺苷 (ATP)含量 ,以反映肺组织活性。结果肺片在 37℃培养箱内孵育 1、2、3、4h后MTT比色、LDH释放率和ATP含量均无统计学差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论应用 0 .5mLKrebs Henseleit(K H)缓冲液作为孵育液、在 37℃培养箱对肺片进行孵育时组织活性没有明显变化 ,可作为一种简便有效的孵育方法用于离体肺片研究