The influence of polymorphisms in the drug transporter,ABCB1 on the toxicity of glucocorticoids in Saudi children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Background

Glucocorticoids play essential roles in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL); however, treatment with these agents can result in severe side-effects. This study, the first of its kind in a Saudi population, investigates associations of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms (pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic) with the development of toxicity and side effects (glucose abnormality, liver toxicity and infection) in a small population of Saudi children with ALL.

Advances in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: From back to the future,to the future and beyond

There have been many advances in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) over the past decades. Following more than eleven centuries of therapeutic uncertainty, the discovery of the therapeutic properties of glucocorticoids is without any doubt one of the most significant advance in the field of autoimmune diseases. The many progresses made by rapidly growing chemical industry of the 19th century chemistry have allowed the identification of valuable therapeutic compounds such as anti-malarials, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, cyclosporine and later mycophenolate mofetil, which have all profoundly changed the face of the disease. A very visible consequence of this is the profound improvement in the prognosis of the disease, with 10-year survival rates of more than 90% in most dedicated centres. Following the development of biotherapies in rheumatoid arthritis, the late 20th century has slowly opened a new era for the treatment of SLE, that of targeted therapies. With the approval of belimumab in 2011 and 74 targeted therapies in clinical development, we may expect great changes in the therapeutic management of SLE. Those molecules target inflammatory cytokines or chemokines and their receptors, B cells or plasma cells, intracellular signalling pathways, B/T cells co-stimulation molecules, interferons, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, as well as various other targets of interest. Current challenges are now slowly shifting from whether some new drugs will be available to how to select the most adequate drug (or drug combination) at the patient-level.     

Screening practices for paediatric asymptomatic adrenal suppression in Canada: Are we addressing this important risk?

BackgroundChildren with adrenal suppression (AS), a potential side effect of glucocorticoids (GCs) may be asymptomatic, present with nonspecific signs and symptoms or with adrenal crisis. Asymptomatic AS (AAS) can only be diagnosed through screening. Identifying and treating asymptomatic patients before symptoms develop may reduce morbidity. Screening guidelines for AS are lacking. Consequently, screening practices are highly variable.ObjectiveTo assess (1) the screening practices for and recognition of paediatric AAS among clinicians in Canada and (2) the educational impact of a 2-year surveillance program of symptomatic AS cases.MethodsBefore and after a 2-year Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) study of symptomatic AS, participants were surveyed through the CPSP. The prestudy survey was sent to 2,548 participants in March 2010 and the poststudy survey was sent to 2,465 participants in April 2013.ResultsResponse rates were 32% for the prestudy survey and 21% for the poststudy survey. Between the pre- and poststudy surveys, the percentage of physicians who reported routinely screening patients on GCs for AS increased from 10% to 21% and the percentage who reported having a screening policy in their office/centre increased from 6% to 11%. There was no significant change in the percentage of physicians who had diagnosed a child/youth with AAS in the preceding year.ConclusionFrequency of screening for AAS increased following the 2-year study but remains low. Development of a clinical practice guideline should increase both awareness of asymptomatic AS among Canadian paediatricians and the identification of AAS, before symptoms develop.     

Current status of glucocorticoid usage in solid organ transplantation

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been the mainstay of immunosuppressive therapy in solid organ transplantation (SOT) for decades, due to their potent effects on innate immunity and tissue protective effects. However, some SOT centers are reluctant to administer GCs long-term because of the various related side effects. This review summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of GCs in SOT. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched from 2011 to April 2021 using search syntaxes covering “transplantation” and “glucocorticoids”. GCs are used in transplant recipients, transplant donors, and organ perfusate solution to improve transplant outcomes. In SOT recipients, GCs are administered as induction and maintenance immunosuppressive therapy. GCs are also the cornerstone to treat acute antibody- and T-cell-mediated rejections. Addition of GCs to organ perfusate solution and pretreatment of transplant donors with GCs are recommended by some guidelines and protocols, to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury peri-transplant. GCs with low bioavailability and high potency for GC receptors, such as budesonide, nanoparticle-mediated targeted delivery of GCs to specific organs, and combination use of dexamethasone with inducers of immune-regulatory cells, are new methods of GC application in SOT patients to reduce side effects or induce immune-tolerance instead of immunosuppression. Various side effects involving different non-targeted organs/tissues, such as bone, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, skin and gastrointestinal tract, have been noted for GCs. There are also potential drug-drug interactions for GCs in SOT patients.     

激素敏感型原发性肾病综合征患儿激素治疗巩固维持阶段不同减量方案比较

目的探讨激素敏感型原发性肾病综合征(PNS)患儿激素治疗巩固维持阶段不同减量方案对疾病复发率的影响。 方法选择2017年6月至2020年6月，在中山大学附属第一医院确诊的41例初治PNS患儿为研究对象，均对激素治疗敏感。根据激素治疗巩固维持阶段采用的不同减量方案，将其分为每日顿服组(n＝22)和隔日顿服组(n＝19)。本研究41例激素敏感型PNS患儿中，男性患儿为29例，女性为12例，男、女比例为2.4∶1，确诊时年龄为1.3~14.6岁。采取回顾性分析法对2组患儿一般临床资料、实验室检查结果进行分析。同时分析2组患儿PNS首次治疗复发时间、复发率、频复发率、加用免疫抑制剂治疗率，以及激素相关不良反应发生情况。本研究遵循的程序符合中山大学附属第一医院伦理委员会规定，通过该伦理委员会审查，并获得批准(审批文号：伦审〔2022〕334号)。 结果①2组患儿发病年龄、性别构成比、PNS临床分型构成比比较，差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。②2组患儿初治时24 h尿蛋白定量、血清白蛋白、血清胆固醇、血清肌酐、估算的肾小球过滤率(eGFR)、免疫球蛋白(Ig)G、补体C3水平，以及足量激素疗程及变态反应性疾病占比、肾功能不全占比比较，差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。2组患儿初治时血清IgE水平比较，差异有统计学意义(χ²＝－2.153，P＝0.031)。③本研究41例PNS患儿中，距初始治疗3、6、12个月时复发率分别为12.2%(5/41)、31.7%(13/41)、53.7%(22/41)。与隔日顿服组相比，距初始治疗时12个月内，每日顿服组患儿首次复发时间明显延长(χ²＝4.973，P＝0.026)。距初始治疗3、6个月时，每日顿服组患儿的复发率明显低于隔日顿服组，并且差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)；距初始治疗12个月时复发率，也低于隔日顿服组[40.9%(9/22) vs 68.4%(13/19)]，但是2组比较，差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。这41例PNS患儿中，60.7%患儿复发有明确诱因(感染或激素减量/停药)，对其采取控制感染和(或)激素加量/再次使用足量激素治疗后，尿蛋白检查结果均在4周内转阴。每日顿服组患儿激素相关性眼损害发生率高于隔日顿服组，但是差异无统计学意义(22.7% vs 5.3%，P＝0.257)。 结论激素敏感型PNS患儿预后良好，复发率高，巩固维持阶段采用每日顿服方案可延长复发时间，降低中期复发率。治疗期间需定期监测患儿眼压，早发现、早治疗糖皮质激素相关性眼损害。     

Rowell综合征临床观察及随访分析

目的 探讨Rowell综合征的发病特点、治疗及预后.方法 对2009年7月至2015年7月收治的6例Rowell综合征患者临床资料进行分析.结果 6例Rowell综合征患者均为女性,日晒后出现皮损2例,有用药史2例,金黄色葡萄球菌感染诱发1例,无明确诱因1例.由面部首发皮损蔓延至全身4例,双手背首发皮损蔓延至全身1例,局限于面部及双手足部1例.6例患者均出现指趾端冻疮样皮损.5例伴发热.6例患者ANA均为核颗粒型阳性,抗Sm抗体阳性4例,抗U1RNP抗体阳性5例,抗SSA抗体阳性4例,抗SSA和抗SSB抗体同时阳性1例,抗dsDNA阳性2例.组织病理表现均有角化过度,表皮轻度增生,表皮部分坏死,可见较多角化不良细胞,基底细胞液化变性;真皮浅层血管周围可见淋巴细胞浸润.入院后确诊亚急性皮肤型红斑狼疮1例,系统性红斑狼疮5例.6例患者使用泼尼松剂量为0.6～1.0 mg· kg-1-·d-1,1例患者用过丙种球蛋白200 mg/d治疗,糖皮质激素减量过程中均加用羟氯喹0.2 g每天2次.随访1年,5例患者未再出现多形红斑或冻疮样皮损,1例失访.结论 Rowell综合征以女性多发,糖皮质激素为主要治疗药物,减量应较红斑狼疮缓慢.     

注射糖皮质激素致色素减退26例分析

目的 探讨糖皮质激素局封致色素减退的临床特点及共聚焦显微镜(RCM)特征.方法 回顾分析26例糖皮质激素局部封闭致色素减退患者的临床表现,RCM下特征及治疗转归.结果 26例中22例女性,4例男性.临床表现为圆形、卵圆形淡白斑或白斑,边界模糊,15例患者局部皮肤有不同程度萎缩,其中8例患者可见到皮下静脉网.26例患者行RCM检查,发现色素减退区均有不同程度的表皮变薄,皮突变短或消失,基底层色素细胞数量减少直至消失,与白癜风患者的RCM下表现完全不同.结论 糖皮质激素局部封闭致色素减退是一类具有明确诱因、伴发皮肤萎缩的色素减退性疾病,RCM检查可为其提供诊断价值.     

凋亡相关蛋白在激素性幼兔股骨头缺血坏死动物模型中的表达及意义

目的 观察各凋亡相关蛋白在激素性幼兔股骨头缺血坏死动物模型股骨头组织中的表达情况,探讨该模型中调控凋亡的主要通路.方法 选用2月龄的新西兰大白兔,制作糖皮质激素性幼兔股骨头缺血坏死模型及对照组模型,根据是否发病将激素注射组分为未发病组和发病组.取股骨头软骨及软骨下骨组织用免疫组织化学法检测凋亡通路中凋亡相关蛋白天冬氨酸特异酶切的半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)、Caspase-8、人结合凋亡蛋白酶活化因子-1(apaf-1)、钙蛋白酶-1(calpain-1)的表达情况.分别测定在单位视野中Caspase-3、Caspase-8、apaf-1、calpain-1的积分光密度(IOD)值.结果 1.Caspase-3的IOD值分别为发病组25 142.72 ±21 528.48,未发病组2 069.63±1 096.96,对照组301.80±99.66.Caspase-8的IOD值分别为发病组24 942.63±18 942.99,未发病组2016.31±1 518.70,对照组236.85±97.94.Apaf-1的IOD值分别为发病组8 514.23±6 384.20,未发病组1 118.49±1 360.59,对照组95.13±38.05.Calpain-1的IOD值分别为发病组9 636.71 ±9 123.81,未发病组1 881.10±3 277.86,对照组126.71±47.35.Caspase-3在发病组和未发病组、对照组间差异有统计学意义(H=11.470、23.996,p＜0.01);Caspase-8在发病组和对照组间差异有统计学意义(H=22.178,P＜0.01);apaf-1在发病组和对照组间差异有统计学意义(H=22.808,P＜0.01);calpain-1在发病组和对照组间差异有统计学意义(H=13.553,P ＜0.01).2.线性回归分析:Caspase-8能够显著的预测Caspase-3,且回归方程回归效应显著,回归方程能够解释40.3％的变异,而apaf-1和calpain-1对Caspase-3的回归效应不显著.结论 凋亡受体通路可能在股骨头缺血坏死的凋亡过程中发挥主要调控作用.