Virtual Crossmatching in Kidney Transplantation: The Wait Is Over

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Safety of Combined Yttrium-90 Radioembolization and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PurposeTo investigate the safety of yttrium-90 radioembolization in combination with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and MethodsThis single-center retrospective study included 26 consecutive patients with HCC who received checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy within 90 days of radioembolization from April 2015 to May 2018. Patients had preserved liver function (Child-Pugh scores A–B7) and either advanced HCC due to macrovascular invasion or limited extrahepatic disease (21 patients) or aggressive intermediate stage HCC that resulted in earlier incorporation of systemic immunotherapy (5 patients). Clinical documentation, laboratory results, and imaging results at 1- and 3-month follow-up intervals were reviewed to assess treatment-related adverse events and treatment responses.ResultsThe median follow-up period after radioembolization was 7.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6–11.8). There were no early (30-day) mortality or grades 3/4 hepatobiliary or immunotherapy-related toxicities. Delayed grades 3/4 hepatobiliary toxicities (1–3 months) occurred in 2 patients in the setting of HCC disease progression. One patient developed pneumonitis. The median overall survival from first immunotherapy was 17.2 months (95% CI, 10.9–23.4). The median overall survival from first radioembolization was 16.5 months (95% CI, 6.6–26.4). From first radioembolization, time to tumor progression was 5.7 months (95% CI, 4.2–7.2), and progression-free survival was 5.7 months (95% CI, 4.3–7.1).ConclusionsRadioembolization combined with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in cases of HCC appears to be safe and causes limited treatment-related toxicity. Future prospective studies are needed to identify the optimal combination treatment protocols and evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy.     

High-Frequency Irreversible Electroporation Using 5,000-V Waveforms to Create Reproducible 2- and 4-cm Ablation Zones—A Laboratory Investigation Using Mechanically Perfused Liver

PurposeTo investigate if high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) treatments can be delivered at higher voltages and with greater energy delivery rates than currently implemented in clinical irreversible electroporation protocols.Materials and MethodsTreatments using 3,000 V and 5,000 V were administered to mechanically perfused ex vivo porcine liver via a single applicator and grounding pad (A+GP) as well as a 4-applicator array (4AA). Integrated energized times (IET) 0.01–0.08 seconds and energy delivery rates 25–300 μs/s were investigated. Organs were preserved at 4°C for 10–15 hours before sectioning and gross analysis using a metabolic stain to identify the size and shape of ablation zones.ResultsA+GP ablations measured between 1.6 cm and 2.2 cm, which did not increase when IET was increased from 0.02 seconds to 0.08 seconds (P > .055; range, 1.9–2.1 cm). Changes in tissue color and texture consistent with thermal damage were observed for treatments with energy delivery rates 50–300 μs/s, but not for treatments delivered at 25 μs/s. Use of the 4AA with a 3-cm applicator spacing resulted in ablations measuring 4.4–4.9 cm with energy delivery times of 7–80 minutes.ConclusionsH-FIRE treatments can rapidly and reproducibly create 2-cm ablations using an A+GP configuration. Treatments without thermal injury were produced at the expense of extended treatment times. More rapid treatments resulted in ablations with varying degrees of thermal injury within the H-FIRE ablation zone. Production of 4-cm ablations is possible using a 4AA.     

Corynebacterium species as one of the major causative pathogens of bacterial pneumonia

Recent advances using molecular methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flightmass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencers enable rapid and precise detection of bacterial species in the clinical samples, revealing bacterial diversities in the human body. Corynebacterium species are Gram-positive bacilli, which can cause pneumonia and have been reported as causative pathogens of lower respiratory tract infections since the 1970's. However, Corynebacterium spp. may be recognized and sorted as part of normal respiratory flora on Gram staining and culture, resulting in clinical under-recognition as pathogenic bacteria.The results of the clone library method using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis in Japanese patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia revealed that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from the lung lesions contained 11.8% Corynebacterium spp., which was the second most predominant bacterial phylotype. Additionally, among patients in whom Corynebacterium spp. were detected, C. simulans was most commonly detected followed by C. striatum. In addition, almost half of the patients in whom C. simulans was detected was monophylotypic infection and/or co-detection of C. simulansand C. striatum. Further clinical information is expected on corynebacteria as pathogens of lower respiratory tract infection.     

lncRNA RGMB-AS1在脑胶质瘤预后评估中的价值

目的 探讨长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）RGMB-AS1在脑胶质瘤病人预后评估中的作用。方法 选取2014年9月~2017年6月经术后病理检查证实的脑胶质瘤140例（低级别64例，高级别76例），另选取颅脑损伤内减压术中切取正常脑组织25例为对照。实时荧光定量PCR法检测lncRNA RGMB-AS1的表达水平，以RGMB-AS1表达量的中位数为截断值，分为高表达组和低表达组。用Kaplan-Meier法比较总体生存期（OS）和无进展生存期（PFS），用Cox比例回归风险模型分析影响胶质瘤病人预后的因素。结果 140例胶质瘤中，lncRNA RGMB-AS1高表达70例，低表达70例。胶质瘤组织lncRNA RGMB-AS1的相对表达量明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。多因素Cox比例回归风险模型分析结果显示年龄≥50岁、术前KPS评分<80分、WHO分级Ⅲ~Ⅳ级、lncRNA RGMB-AS1高表达是胶质瘤病人PFS和OS的独立影响因素（P<0.05）。lncRNA RGMB-AS1高表达胶质瘤病人PFS和OS较低表达病人均明显缩短（P<0.05）。无论是高级别胶质瘤，还是低级别胶质瘤，lncRNA RGMB-AS1高表达病人PFS和OS较低表达病人均明显缩短（P<0.05）。结论 lncRNA RGMB-AS1表达水平与脑胶质瘤病例级别呈正相关，lncRNA RGMB-AS1高表达脑胶质瘤病人生存期较低表达病人明显缩短。这提示lncRNA RGMB-AS1表达水平可作为脑胶质瘤病人预后评估指标。     

Evidence for the origin of the binaural interaction component of the auditory brainstem response

The binaural interaction component (BIC) represents the mismatch between auditory brainstem responses (ABR) obtained with binaural stimulation and the sum of ABRs obtained with monaural left and right stimulation. It is generally assumed that the BIC reflects binaural integration. Its potential use as a diagnostic tool, however, is hampered by the lack of direct evidence about its origin. While an origin at the initial site of binaural integration seems likely, there is no general agreement on the contribution of the two primary candidate nuclei, the lateral and medial superior olives (LSO and MSO, respectively). Here, we recorded local field potentials (LFP) and responses of units in the LSO and MSO of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), presenting clicks with an interaural time or level difference (ITD and ILD, respectively), while simultaneously recording ABR. We determined the BIC from the ABR and, importantly, from LFP and responses of units in the LSO and MSO. If stimulus‐induced changes in the ABR‐derived BIC have their source in the LSO and/or MSO, we expect coherent changes in the unit‐derived and the ABR‐derived BIC. We find that BIC obtained from LSO units exhibits the same ITD and ILD dependence as the ABR‐derived BIC. Neither BIC obtained from MSO units nor LFP‐derived BIC recorded in either LSO or MSO did. The data thus strongly suggest that it is the activity of LSO units in the gerbil that is decisive for the generation of the ABR‐derived BIC, determining its properties.