The Myelodepletive Phenotype in Myelofibrosis: Clinical Relevance and Therapeutic Implication

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a BCR-ABL1⁻ myeloproliferative neoplasm that arises from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells frequently harboring a somatic driver mutation in 1 of 3 genes: JAK2, CALR, or MPL. The pathologic features of this hematologic malignancy include myeloproliferation, diffuse bone marrow fibrosis, and overactivation of the JAK-STAT pathway, resulting in enhanced inflammatory cytokine release. The common clinical manifestations of MF include systemic symptoms, abnormal peripheral blood count levels, and splenomegaly. However, it has become increasingly appreciated that significant clinical heterogeneity exists among patients with MF. Two distinct MF clinical phenotypes include the myeloproliferative and myelodepletive phenotype, with peripheral blood counts being the main discerning feature. Patients with the myeloproliferative phenotype will present with elevated peripheral blood counts and often experience significant constitutional symptoms and progressive splenomegaly. In contrast, patients with the myelodepletive phenotype will have low peripheral blood counts and will frequently require transfusion support. Current frontline therapies for MF, include ruxolitinib and fedratinib, which can exacerbate cytopenias and thereby pose an impediment to effective treatment of the myelodepletive patient. The present review discusses the clinical and prognostic implications of the myelodepletive phenotype and the therapeutic options and limitations for this subset of patients, representing an unmet clinical need.     

Management recommendations for patients with chronic kidney disease during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic

COVID-19 has become a pandemic and it has already spread to at least 171 countries/regions. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem with a total of approximately 850 million patients with CKD worldwide and 119.5 million in China. Severe COVID-19 infection may damage the kidney and cause acute tubular necrosis, leading to proteinuria, hematuria and elevated serum creatinine. Since the SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, some doctors question its ability to increase the risk and severity of developing COVID-19. Neither clinical data nor basic scientific evidence supports this assumption. Therefore, patients who take angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker are not advised to change their therapy. Patients with CKD are generally the elderly population suffering from multiple comorbidities. Moreover, some patients with CKD might need to take glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants. Dialysis patients are recurrently exposed to a possible contaminated environment because their routine treatment usually requires three dialysis sessions per week. Considering all the above reasons, patients with CKD are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than the general population. The development of COVID-19 may worsen the impaired kidney function and further lead to rapid deterioration of kidney function and even death. Strict comprehensive protocols should be followed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients with CKD. In this review, we provide some practical management recommendations for health care providers, patients with CKD, dialysis patients and dialysis facilities.     

Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé syndrome‐associated renal cell carcinoma: Histopathological features and diagnostic conundrum

Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé (BHD) syndrome is associated with the development of hereditary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and is caused by a germline mutation in the folliculin gene. Most cases of BHD syndrome‐associated RCC (BHD‐RCC) are less aggressive than sporadic clear cell RCC and multifocal. Therefore, it is critical to distinguish BHD‐RCC from its sporadic counterparts to identify and monitor affected families and to preserve renal function for as long as possible. The World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology consensus classification defined distinct entities for certain hereditary RCC; however, BHD‐RCC was not included in this classification. Although the clinical features and molecular mechanisms of BHD‐RCC have been investigated intensively over the last two decades, pathologists and urologists occasionally face difficulties in the diagnosis of BHD‐RCC that require genetic testing. Affected patients usually have miscellaneous benign disorders that often precede renal carcinogenesis. In the present review, we summarize the current understanding of the histopathological features of BHD‐RCC based on our epidemiological studies of Japanese families and a literature review. Pathological diagnostic clues and differential diagnosis of BHD‐RCC from other hereditary RCC are also briefly discussed.     

急诊治疗重症心力衰竭的方案及疗效探析

目的探讨急诊治疗重症心力衰竭的方案及疗效。方法选择本院80例2016年2月-2019年2月重症心力衰竭患者。随机分组,常规治疗组采取常规方法治疗,急诊治疗组则采取全面急诊治疗。比较两组重症心力衰竭疗效;重症心力衰竭症状改善的时间、心功能改善两级的时间;治疗前后患者舒张压、平均心率以及左心射血分数;不良反应。结果急诊治疗组重症心力衰竭疗效、重症心力衰竭症状改善的时间、心功能改善两级的时间、舒张压、平均心率以及左心射血分数相比较常规治疗组更好,P<0.05。两组未见严重不良反应,P>0.05。结论全面急诊治疗重症心力衰竭可获得较好预后,可有效改善患者的心功能,缓解症状,且安全性高,无明显不良反应。     

沉默信息调节因子过表达或谷氨酰胺剥夺对肾透明细胞癌细胞凋亡、增殖的影响

背景与目的：肾透明细胞癌（clear cell renal cell carcinoma，ccRCC）是最常见的肾癌类型，它与代谢密切相关。探讨沉默信息调节因子4（silent information regulator 4，SIRT4）过表达或谷氨酰胺（glutamine，Gln）剥夺对ccRCC细胞增殖、凋亡的影响。方法：慢病毒构建SIRT4和突变体H161Y过表达的Caki-2细胞株，利用无Gln的培养基来构建Gln剥夺模型，并通过体外增殖活力实验［细胞计数试剂盒-8（cell counting kit-8，CCK-8）］和克隆形成实验来分析两者对Caki-2细胞增殖和生长能力的影响；利用DCFH-DA荧光探针检测细胞内活性氧自由基（reactive oxygen species，ROS）水平进而评估Gln代谢对细胞ROS含量的影响；进一步通过线粒体膜电位检测、凋亡检测和蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）检测凋亡相关分子，分析SIRT4过表达以及Gln剥夺对Caki-2细胞凋亡的影响。结果：过表达SIRT4可抑制Gln代谢从而抑制Caki-2细胞增殖，另外还原性物质还原型烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸（reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phostate，NADPH）的生成减少能够增加细胞内ROS含量，促进细胞凋亡。而Gln剥夺抑制细胞增殖和促进细胞凋亡的效果均比过表达SIRT4明显，但长期缺乏Gln将导致细胞无法生长。结论：无论是过表达SIRT4还是Gln剥夺均能抑制ccRCC细胞增殖，促进凋亡。     

慢性鼻窦炎指南的评价与内容分析

背景　慢性鼻窦炎是耳鼻喉科高发疾病，对患者造成严重的影响和经济负担，但目前国内外慢性鼻窦炎诊疗指南推荐意见存在差异。目的　对慢性鼻窦炎诊疗指南进行质量评价并分析其治疗意见，为指南制定和推荐意见的采纳提供建议。方法　于2019年2月检索中英文数据库和各专业指南网站获取相关文献，同时追踪参考文献，筛选适用于青少年及成年人的推荐意见中包含对慢性鼻窦炎的治疗意见的指南。检索时间为建库至检索日期。使用临床指南研究与评估系统Ⅱ（AGREE Ⅱ）和卫生保健实践指南报告清单（RIGHT）对纳入指南的方法学质量和报告质量进行评价，并绘制气泡图和思维导图，对比分析关于慢性鼻窦炎治疗的推荐意见。结果　最终纳入8部指南，AGREE Ⅱ评价总分平均为48.76%（30.90%~73.09%），仅2部指南强烈推荐使用（得分>60%），其余6部需修订后推荐。RIGHT条目总体报告率为34.29%~65.71%，其中评审和质量控制方面报告率均为0。指南推荐一致的治疗方法包括皮质类固醇、鼻腔盐水冲洗和手术治疗，以及过敏者口服抗组胺药，可选用的措施包括细菌溶解物、黏痰溶解药、质子泵抑制剂、植物疗法、辣椒素、亮氨酸拮抗剂、鼻用呋塞米、木糖醇盐水冲洗液、次氯酸钠盐水冲洗液、含婴儿香波的盐水冲洗液，尚无统一观点的治疗措施包括抗生素、减充血剂、白三烯受体拮抗剂、IgE拮抗剂及阿司匹林加重呼吸系统疾病患者阿司匹林脱敏治疗。结论　现有慢性鼻窦炎诊疗指南制定方法及其报告质量需提高，建议纳入患者的偏好、使用统一的评价工具和考虑运用性。推荐意见有冲突时，建议参考制定方法更为严谨的指南。     

综合评估慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期中医证型与疾病程度及预后的相关性

目的:运用综合评估法分析慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期中医证型与病情程度及预后的相关性。方法:将符合纳入标准的200例患者分为肺气虚、肺脾气虚、肺肾气虚及肺肾气阴两虚四组,观察1年前后患者肺功能、mMRC分级、CAT评分,并进行数据整理及统计分析。结果:肺肾气虚证、肺肾气阴两虚证患者较肺气虚证、肺脾气虚证患者肺功能分级重且FEV1下降更明显、出现呼吸困难症状重且程度进展快、对生活质量影响较大且影响增加更显著,但肺气虚证与肺脾气虚证、肺肾气虚证与肺肾气阴两虚证之间无明显差异。结论:慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期中医证型与疾病程度及预后存在相关性。     

Impact of pharmaceutical price controls on the cost of cardiovascular drugs: does essentiality matter?

ABSTRACT

Background

With the goal of improving the affordability of medicines, governments across the globe have instituted various forms of price controls. Since 2013, India has been regulating the prices of drugs included in its national list of essential medicines (NLEM). Here we evaluate the cost variations among available cardiovascular drugs and perform cost-analysis comparing essential and non-essential drugs.