Diagnostic potential of interleukin-40 (IL-40) in rheumatoid arthritis patients

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. Newly emerging evidence has highlighted the role of B-cell produced cytokines in the development and progression of RA. Specifically, the expression of IL-40 has been shown to be significantly increased in affected patients.Patients and methodsThe study included 66 patients attending Rheumatology Unit, Baghdad Teaching Hospital and 66 matched controls. C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) were measured. Disease activity score (DAS28) was assessed. Serum IL-40 levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsThe mean ages of patients were 46.5 ± 10.2 years (23–68 years) and were 55 females and 11 males (F:M 5:1). 4 were smokers. Positivity of CRP, RF and anti-CCP were 75.8 %, 65.2 % and 62.2 % respectively. Steroids were received by 21.2 %, methotrexate by 56.1 %, biologics in the form of etanercept and adalimumab by 86.4 %. IL-40 was significantly higher in patients (9.1 ± 1.3 ng/ml) than in controls (7.5 ± 2.2 ng/ml; p < 0.001). The IL-40 level was comparable between females and males and was not related to smoking, CRP, RF or anti-CCP positivity or to receiving medications. Serum IL-40 showed good validity in diagnosing RA at a cut-off value (≥8.2 ng/ml) and area under curve (AUC) (0.74), the sensitivity was 73.2 %, specificity (66.7 %), and the accuracy (70.5 %)(p < 0.001).ConclusionThe increased level of serum IL-40 and its potential diagnostic role have been revealed in RA. Further studies are needed to be implement and elucidate the complete role of IL-40 in RA.     

芒针对脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能和炎症水平的影响

目的探究芒针深刺秩边穴对大鼠脊髓损伤后运动功能的影响及可能作用机制。方法选择健康雄性Wister大鼠81只,随机分为正常组、模型组和芒针组(正常组9只,其余两组各36只),采用改良Allen's造模法制备大鼠脊髓中度损伤模型,模型组不做特殊处理,芒针组采用芒针深刺秩边穴,每日1次,每次30 min。分别于术后1 d、3 d、5 d、7 d行BBB(Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan)运动功能评分;术后1 d、3 d、5 d、7 d取受损段脊髓组织行酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)、实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)和苏木素-伊红染色(HE染色)。结果术后5 d和7 d,芒针组大鼠BBB评分高于模型组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);脊髓损伤后,模型组和芒针组大鼠脊髓组织中高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)、核转录因子kB(NF-kB)、白介素-6(IL-6)含量及HMGB1mRNA、NF-kBmRNA、IL-6mRNA水平显著升高(P<0.05);受损的脊髓组织松散,灰质中有许多空洞形成,伴有炎性细胞浸润。芒针治疗后,芒针组大鼠脊髓组织中HMGB1、NF-kB、IL-6含量及HMGB1mRNA、NF-kBmRNA、IL-6mRNA水平较模型组降低,且在3 d、5 d、7 d差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);受损部位的空洞及炎性细胞逐渐减少。结论脊髓损伤后,炎症因子的大量聚集引起级联性炎症反应,影响大鼠运动功能的恢复。芒针的抗炎机制可能包括抑制HMGB1的表达,降低NF-kB信号通路的传导,下调促炎因子IL-6的分泌。     

Borderline or locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A single center experience on the FOLFIRINOX induction regimen

IntroductionThis study aimed to determine the impact of FOLFIRINOX neoadjuvant therapy on patients with non-metastatic borderline/locally advanced (BL/LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), in current practice.Material and methodsFrom 2010 to 2017, 258 patients with BL/LA PDAC from a single high-volume institution received FOLFIRINOX neoadjuvant treatment.ResultsThe 258 patients received a median number of 6 cycles of FOLFIRINOX (range, 3–16); 98 (38%) patients underwent curative surgery, and 160 (62%) continued medical treatment. A venous resection was performed in 57 patients (58%), and an arterial resection in 12 (12%). The postoperative 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 6.1% and 8.2%, respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed in 57 patients (59%). The median overall survival (OS) in patients who did (n = 98) or did not (n = 160) undergo surgical resection were 39 months and 19 months, respectively (P < 0.001). In resected patients, the ASA 3 score (P < 0.01), venous resection (P < 0.01), hemorrhage (P < 0.01), and R1 margin status (P = 0.03) were found to negatively influence the OS. The median OS was significantly higher in patients who did not require a venous resection (not reached vs. 26.5 months, P < 0.001).ConclusionsNeoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX provided a survival benefit in BL/LA PDAC patients, particularly in those who did not ultimately require venous resection.     

浅谈委中穴与承山穴针刺深度的临床应用

李志道教授经过50余年临床实践研究,结合解剖学相关知识,发现委中、承山二穴在针刺深度与传统认识有所不同。其中,委中穴在刺入0. 5~0. 8寸,承山穴在刺入2. 0~3. 0寸时最易达到循经得气的效果,通过调整针尖方向还可较准确达到气至病所的效果,且针感与相应神经分布区域相吻合。该针感在某些疾病,尤其神经压迫相关症状的治疗中疗效明显,且优于传统教材所述针刺深度。     

Burkitt Lymphoma — Subtypes,Pathogenesis, and Treatment Strategies

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a rare and highly aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with a germinal center phenotype, a nearly universal myc oncogene translocation to an enhancer element and a proliferation index greater than 95%.¹ Bcl-2 is not expressed as opposed to double-hit or triple-hit lymphoma. Genetic mutations and aberrancy involving the phosphatidylcholine 3-kinase and cyclin-dependent kinase pathways are also involved.2, 3, 4, 5 Rarely patients present with stage I disease and others are considered as high risk if greater than stage I or with elevated LDH or masses greater than 10 cm.     

胸神经联合前锯肌平面阻滞对保留胸肌乳腺癌根治术后患者早期康复质量的影响

目的 探索胸神经联合前锯肌平面阻滞对保留胸肌乳腺癌根治术后患者早期恢复质量的影响。方法 选取2020年9月～2021年3月在邯郸市中心医院诊断乳腺癌并拟行保留胸肌式乳腺癌根治术的117例患者。根据是否术前行胸神经联合阻滞，分为全麻组和全麻复合神经阻滞组。于术毕24、48 h记录患者恶心呕吐发生率，上肢感觉异常，腋窝疼痛评分以及镇痛补救药物的用量。术毕48 h，行40项恢复质量评分量表（QoR 40）评分。比较术前血常规与术后一天血常规中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞的比值。结果 全麻复合神经阻滞组在24、48 h的恶心呕吐发生率及镇痛补救药物用量均显著低于全麻组（P＜0.05），术毕24 h的上肢感觉异常，腋窝疼痛评分全麻复合神经阻滞组均显著低于全麻组（P＜0.05），术后QoR-40评分全麻复合神经阻滞组显著高于全麻组（P＜0.05）。术后中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞的比值全麻复合神经阻滞组较全麻组明显降低（P＜0.05）。结论 全麻复合胸神经阻滞可提高保留胸肌式乳腺癌根治术后患者的舒适度和满意度，有助于提高早期康复的质量。     

一例X-连锁高IgM综合征合并进行性多灶性脑白质病的基因变异分析

目的对1例临床拟诊为X-连锁高IgM综合征(X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome,XHIM)并发进行性多灶性脑白质病变(progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy,PML)的患儿CD40L基因及人类嗜神经多瘤病毒(Jamestown Canyon virus,JCV)进行检测,明确致病原因,为临床诊断提供依据。方法采集患儿及父母外周血提取基因组NDA,设计扩增CD40L基因5个外显子及外显子-内含子连接区的特异性引物并进行PCR扩增,产物测序结果与GenBank中CD40L基因序列分析对比确定有无变异。用两对JCV特异性引物对患儿外周血DNA行巢式PCR扩增,目的条带PCR产物测序结果与GenBank中JCV序列对比确定患儿是否存在JCV感染。结果测序结果显示患儿为CD40L c.506 A>C(p.Tyr169Ser)错义变异半合子,该变异位于CD40L肿瘤坏死因子同源区结构域,引起CD40L蛋白疏水作用及结构稳定性丧失,经PolyPhen2及SIFT蛋白功能预测软件预测分别为很可能有害变异(probably damaging,score=1.00)及有害变异(deleterious,score=-8.868),该变异尚未见文献报道。患儿母亲携带CD40L c.506 A>C(p.Tyr169Ser)半合子变异,父亲未检测到该变异。患儿外周血DNA巢式PCR产物经凝胶电泳后发现JCV目的条带,测序结果与GenBank中JCV基因序列比对同源性达到99%,表明患儿外周血DNA中含有JCV,有JCV感染。结论CD40L基因分析及JCV检测结果确诊患儿为XHIGM,其并发的PML与JCV感染有关。     

Better timing of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block for early recovery after open inguinal herniorrhaphy: A prospective randomised controlled study

BackgroundThis study investigated the optimal timing of analgesic transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in the operating room for better recovery quality using the Korean version of the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40K) questionnaire in patients who had undergone open inguinal herniorrhaphy.MethodsThis single-centre, prospective randomised controlled study included adult male patients who had an ASA physical status of I–II. A total of 80 patients were analysed. The patients were randomly assigned and classified into pre-incisional TAP (pre-TAP) block (n = 40) and post-incisional TAP (post-TAP) block (n = 40) groups. The quality of postoperative functional recovery and complications were compared between the two groups during 24 h postoperatively.ResultsPreoperative findings of the two groups were comparable. The global QoR-40K score was higher in the pre-TAP group than in the post-TAP group. Among sub-dimensions, scores of physical comfort and pain were higher in the pre-TAP group than in the post-TAP group. In the post-anaesthesia care unit, the pre-TAP group showed lower pain scores than the post-TAP block group. There was no severe pain in the pre-TAP group, but two patients (5.0%) in the post-TAP block group suffered severe pain. The pre-TAP group required lower doses of IV rescue opioid in the PACU than the post-TAP group. All patients were discharged from hospital on postoperative day 1 without surgical complications.ConclusionsThe timing of analgesic TAP block may be of clinical importance to prevent postoperative pain and to improve the quality of early patient recovery following open inguinal herniorrhaphy.