Inhibition of Frizzled-2 by small interfering RNA protects rat hepatic BRL-3A cells against cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by Hypoxia/Reoxygenation

Frizzled-2 plays an important role in maintaining normal hepatic cell functionality. This study aimed to investigate the role of inhibition of Frizzled-2 in protecting rat liver BRL-3A cells from Hypoxia/Reoxygenation (H/R). In vitro H/R hepatic cell model was established by culturing BRL-3A cells under H/R condition. Frizzled-2 siRNA was transfected into BRL-3A cells to inhibit Frizzled-2 signaling. Wnt5a and Frizzled-2 were significantly increased in BRL-3A cells upon H/R treatment. H/R treatment induced cell cytotoxicity, the early apoptosis rate and the intracellular Ca²⁺ level in BRL-3A cells while silencing frizzled-2 gene decreased the H/R induced cell cytotoxicity, apoptosis and intracellular Ca²⁺ level. In vivo mice study further showed the up-regulation of Frizzled-2/Wnt 5 pathway and cleaved Caspase-3 expression in liver tissues under ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). In summary, inhibition of Frizzled-2 by its siRNA may protects BRL-3A cells by attenuating the H/R induced cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis.     

Restablecimiento de la actividad en los servicios de Digestivo. Recomendaciones de la SEPD,AEEH, GETECCU y AEG

The set of measures proposed by SEPD, AEEH, GETECCU and AEG are aimed to help departments in their resumption of usual activity. We have prepared a number of practical recommendations regarding patient management and the stepwise resumption of healthcare activity. These recommendations are based on the sparse, changing evidence available, and will be updated in the future according to daily needs and the availability of expendable materials to suit them; in each department they will be implemented depending upon the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in each region, and the burden the pandemic has represented for each hospital.The general objectives of these recommendations include: (a) To protect our patients against the risks of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to provide them with high-quality care. (b) To protect all healthcare professionals against the risks of infection with SARS-CoV-2. (c) To resume normal functioning of our departments in a setting of ongoing risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2.     

COVID-19 y enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: preguntas surgidas de la atención y seguimiento de los pacientes durante la fase inicial de la pandemia (febrero-abril 2020)

COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was described in China in late 2019. There are currently more than three million diagnosed cases, constituting a pandemic which has caused a worldwide crisis. The devastating effects of this infection are due to its highly contagious nature and although mild forms predominate, in absolute values, the rates for severe forms and mortality are very high. The information on the characteristics of the infection in inflammatory bowel disease is of special interest, as these patients have higher attendance at health centres, which may increase their risk of infection. Furthermore, the treatments used to control the inflammatory activity may modify the disease course of COVID-19. The Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and the Spanish Nurses Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease have prepared this document as a practical response to some common questions about the treatment of these patients.     

Evaluation of a mass spectrometry and Vitek 2 combined protocol for rapid identification and susceptibility testing of Enterobacterales directly from positive blood cultures

ObjectiveThe aim was to evaluate a rapid method which would combine identification and susceptibility testing directly from positive blood cultures for Gram-negative bacilli of the Enterobacterales.Material and methodsGram-negative rods from blood cultures were directly identified by MALDI-TOF. Samples with Enterobacterales were selected for direct antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Vitek 2. The results were compared to those obtained with our laboratory's standard method.ResultsMALDI-TOF directly from blood cultures identified correctly 83% of the samples. Enterobacterales (n = 68) were identified at gender and species level in 85% of blood cultures with a score >1.7. In general, MICs were obtained after 7 h. MICs of amoxicillin-clavulanate, amikacin and ciprofloxacin showed in almost 50% of the cases after 5 h.ConclusionsA simple procedure with low cost and reduced working time makes it possible to integrate both identification and susceptibility testing directly from blood cultures. Thus, this protocol could offer advantages when it comes to selection and cost of treatment and patients’ clinical outcomes.     

Thromboses et thrombopathies dans les syndromes myéloprolifératifs

Myeloproliferative neoplasms are acquired hematological malignancies, mainly affecting the adult and whose morbidity and mortality stems from haemostasis disorders. The most frequently encountered complications include thrombosis, affecting preferentially the arterial territory, but also atypical locations such as splanchnic vein thrombosis. The pathophysiology of these thromboses is complex and involves different actors: blood cells, endothelium and flow conditions. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify risk factors for thrombosis. To date, only two risk factors have been validated through prospective studies (age over 60 years old, history of thrombotic events) and allow classification of patients as “low risk” and “high risk” as the basis for current treatment recommendations. Haemorrhagic manifestations, less frequent than thrombosis, are mainly related to an alteration of primary haemostasis and are therefore manifested by mucocutaneous bleeding. In these patients, platelet dysfunctions and/or acquired Willebrand syndromes can be found. The pathophysiology of thrombosis and platelet dysfunction during myeloproliferative neoplasms remains to date partially unknown. In this review, we offer to focus on physiopathological mechanisms as well as the latest advances in their understanding.     

Polyglobulie rare par mutation du gène EGLN1 : à propos d’un cas et revue de la littérature

IntroductionThe origin of polycythemia is often simple to detect. Sometimes it is necessary to look for hereditary forms, the decisive parameters being the dosage of erythropoietin and the measurement of the oxygen dissociation curve (P50). These rare diseases are related to high oxygen-affinity haemoglobins, abnormalities of the erythropoietin receptor or dysfunction of the HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) pathway.Case reportWe report the case of a 56-year-old patient with unexplained polycythemia associated with normal serum erythropoietin and normal P50, in whom the never previously described mutation c.400C>T (p.Gln134*) on exon 1 in the EGLN1 gene (encoding PHD2) was found.ConclusionIn the face of an unexplained polycythemia a good cooperation between clinicians and biologists is necessary to be able to characterize rare hereditary pathologies.     

老年糖尿病患者维生素D与握力和肌肉质量相关性研究

目的研究老年2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)患者维生素D水平与肌肉质量和握力的相关性。方法选取2016年5月至2018年1月入住宣武医院内分泌科年龄≥60岁的2型糖尿病患者201例进行前瞻性研究,根据25羟维生素D[25-hydroxyvitamin D,25(OH)D]水平分为维生素D缺乏组[25(OH)D<20μg/L]140例和非缺乏组[20μg/L≤25)(OH)D<70μg/L]61例,测定患者握力、步速及上下肢肌肉质量。并进行体格检查和实验室检查。结果两组患者实验室各项指标比较差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。维生素D非缺乏组患者的握力、上肢及下肢肌肉含量显著高于缺乏组[(33.49±9.43)kg与(29.59±10.30)kg、(4.99±1.09)kg与(4.57±1.11)kg、(15.69±3.10)kg与(14.54±3.03)kg,P值分别为0.010、0.015、0.017]。多因素Logistic回归分析显示维生素D缺乏与握力减低及下肢肌肉质量下降独立相关(OR=1.286,95%CI:1.197~1.346,P<0.01;OR=1.231,95%CI:1.102~1.283,P<0.05)。结论维生素D缺乏是老年2型糖尿病患者握力减低及下肢肌肉质量下降的危险因素。     

Simultaneous Endocardial and Epicardial Delineation of 3D Reentrant Ventricular Tachycardia

BackgroundMechanisms of scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) are largely based on computational and animal models that portray a 2-dimensional view.ObjectivesThe authors sought to delineate the human VT circuit with a 3-dimensional perspective from recordings obtained by simultaneous endocardial and epicardial mapping.MethodsHigh-resolution mapping was performed during 97 procedures in 89 patients with structural heart disease. Circuits were characterized by systematic isochronal analysis to estimate the dimensions of the isthmus and extent of the exit region recorded on both myocardial surfaces.ResultsA total of 151 VT morphologies were mapped, of which 83 underwent simultaneous endocardial and epicardial mapping; 17% of circuits activated in a 2-dimensional plane, restricted to 1 myocardial surface. Three-dimensional activation patterns with nonuniform transmural propagation were observed in 61% of circuits with only 4% showing transmurally uniform activation, and 18% exhibiting focal activation patterns consistent with mid-myocardial reentry. The dimensions of the central isthmus were 17 mm (12 to 28 mm) × 10 mm (9 to 19 mm) with 55% exhibiting a minimal dimension of <1.5 cm. QRS activation was transmural in 63% and located 43 mm (34 to 52 mm) from the central isthmus. On the basis of 6 proposed definitions for epicardial VT, the prevalence of an epicardial circuit ranged from 21% to 80% in ischemic cardiomyopathy and 28% to 77% in nonischemic cardiomyopathy.ConclusionsA 2D perspective oversimplifies the electrophysiological circuit responsible for reentrant human VT and simultaneous endocardial and epicardial mapping facilitates inferences about mid-myocardial activation. Intricate activation patterns are frequently observed on both myocardial surfaces, and the epicardium is functionally involved in the majority of circuits. Human reentry may exist within isthmus dimensions smaller than 1 cm, whereas QRS activation is often transmural and remote from the critical isthmus target. A 3-dimensional perspective of the VT circuit may enhance the precision of ablative therapy and may support a greater role for adjunctive strategies and technology to address arrhythmogenic tissue harbored in the mid-myocardium and subepicardium.     

The three faces of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a single patient

While the classical apical ballooning takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) was first reported in the 1990s, the rarer mid-ventricular and basal variants were not formally recognized until recently and they remain poorly understood. In this case report, we describe a 67-year-old woman who, during her hospitalization for a subarachnoid hemorrhage and subsequent readmission, experienced multiple complications, each of which resulted in a different variant of TC. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a single patient developing all three variants of TC.