Control of immunity and allergy by steroid hormones

Steroid hormones, especially glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens, have profound influence on immunity. Recent studies using cell-type specific steroid hormone receptor-deficient mice have revealed the precise roles of some of these hormones in the immune system. Glucocorticoids are known to have strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects and pleiotropic effects on innate and adaptive immune responses. They suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages and DCs and the production of IFN-γ by NK cells, thus inhibiting innate immunity. By contrast, glucocorticoids enhance the immune response by inducing the expression of IL-7R and CXCR4 in T cells and the accumulation of T cells in lymphoid organs in accordance with the diurnal change of the glucocorticoid concentration. Thus, glucocorticoids suppress innate immunity but enhance adaptive immunity. Androgens suppress the homeostasis and activation of ILC2s and the differentiation of Th2 and Th17 cells and enhance the suppressive function of Tregs, thereby alleviating allergic airway inflammation. Thus, these steroid hormones have pleiotropic functions in the immune system. Further investigations are awaited on the regulation of immunity and allergy by estrogens using cell-specific steroid hormone receptor-deficient mice.     

微创性肺表面活性物质治疗新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征的疗效及肺部影像学表现

目的探讨微创性肺表面活性物质(LISA)治疗新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征(NRDS)的疗效及肺部影像学表现。方法择取郑州市第二人民医院于2018年3月至2021年2月收治的70例NRDS患儿,随机分为两组。对照组实行INSURE治疗方案,观察组采用LISA治疗方案,比较两组临床治疗情况、血气分析指标、不良反应事件及肺部影像学表现。结果两组二次PS使用率、给药成功率、NAPAP时间及住院时间比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);而观察组72h内MV率为8.57%,低于对照组(28.57%,P<0.05);于T₂、T₃、T₄及T₅时点,两组PaO₂水平较T1时点均上升,PaCO₂、FiO₂水平则下降(P<0.05);于T₄、T₅时点,观察组FiO2水平低于对照组(P<0.05);两组不良反应及并发症发生率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);经影像学特征分析,两组共计7例重度病症(“雪花征”样肺实变,已累及所有分区)、48例中度病症(“雪花征”样肺实变,尚未累及全部肺野)及15例轻度病症(呈“磨玻璃征”样肺实变,累计范围不限),经PS治疗6h、12h及24h后,给予LUS复查,两组NRDS患儿肺脏影像学评分均低于治疗前(P<0.05)。结论LISA及INSURE治疗NRDS均可起到较好疗效,但LISA整体获益更高,血气指标有一定改善,可降低72h内MV使用率,且不增加不良反应事件风险。     

野外急救多功能气道防护屏的研制

研制一种适合野外急救使用的多功能气道防护屏,以解决气道相关操作时患者呼吸道分泌物喷溅的问题。多功能气道防护屏由一个底部为直角"目"型框架,两个体部为直角"∏"形不锈钢支架,一个双层开放气道体位调节垫和一个透明塑料罩组成,具有可拆卸、可折叠及视野清晰的多功能呼吸道防护装备;防护屏设计具有可调节头颈后仰卧位,能充分显露气道提高气管插管成功率,可提高医护人员安全性和满意度;在防护屏内建立人工气道、实施各种气道护理,可防止患者呼吸道分泌物喷溅,使周围环境处于相对安全状态,有效避免职业暴露及交叉感染。     

前列腺源性ETS因子在哮喘及鼻黏膜炎性疾病中的研究进展

含SAM尖端结构域的E26转化特异性因子(SPDEF)是ETS转录因子家族的最新成员之一, SPDEF又称为前列腺源性ETS因子(PDEF),首次发现其在前列腺癌中高度表达,参与肿瘤细胞的增殖分化、迁移凋亡和血管形成。近年来研究发现SPDEF与杯状细胞增生和分化密切相关,是调控呼吸道黏液高分泌的核心因子。对SPDEF调控黏液高分泌的机制及其在呼吸道慢性炎性疾病中的研究进展做一综述,以期为呼吸道黏液高分泌疾病的发病机制和诊治提供新思路。     

Simulação de manejo de via aérea difícil para residentes: estudo comparativo prospectivo

Background and objectivesProcedural simulation training for difficult airway management offers acquisition opportunities. The hypothesis was that 3 hours of procedural simulation training for difficult airway management improves: acquisition, behavior, and patient outcomes as reported 6 months later.MethodsThis prospective comparative study took place in two medical universities. Second‐year residents of anesthesiology and intensive care from one region participated in 3 h procedural simulation (intervention group). No intervention was scheduled for their peers from the other region (control). Prior to simulation and 6 months later, residents filled‐out the same self‐assessment form collecting experience with different devices. The control group filled‐out the same forms simultaneously. The primary endpoint was the frequency of use of each difficult airway management device within groups at 6 months. Secondary endpoints included modifications of knowledge, skills, and patient outcomes with each device at 6 months. Intervention cost assessment was provided.Results44 residents were included in the intervention group and 16 in the control group. No significant difference was observed for the primary endpoint. In the intervention group, improvement of knowledge and skills was observed at 6 months for each device, and improvement of patient outcomes was observed with the use of malleable intubation stylet and Eschmann introducer. No such improvement was observed in the control group. Estimated intervention cost was 406€ per resident.ConclusionsA 3 h procedural simulation training for difficult airway management did not improve the frequency of use of devices at 6 months by residents. However, other positive effects suggest exploring the best ratio of time/acquisition efficiency with difficult airway management simulation.ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT02470195.     

A subjective analysis of participants’ views in a study of experimental modelling of imposed airway obstruction in infants and children

Deliberate airway obstruction is a well-recognised form of child abuse and one of the most common causes of death in cases of child homicide. Although classical signs such as petechial haemorrhages can be helpful in raising the suspicion of mechanical asphyxia, they are not always present. Therefore, distinguishing between bruising caused by accidents, medical conditions or non-accidental injury remains challenging. We aimed to characterise bruising patterns which are potentially more consistent with deliberate airway obstruction by means of an experimental modelling study. The first results of our project were previously published and demonstrated that bruising anywhere on the head may be consistent with deliberate upper airway obstruction. In this paper, we present the findings of a questionnaire carried out during the modelling to assess participants’ perception of force and consider how variables such as age, use of adjuncts and force distribution may affect bruising patterns in deliberate airway obstruction. Statistical analysis of our results showed that participants felt they were using less force in scenarios involving the infant rather than the child resuscitation dummy as well as when using adjuncts, meaning marks are likely to be more subtle. Therefore, in such cases it is important to examine for other signs of asphyxiation (such as petechiae) and consider the possibility that adjuncts might have been used which could make picking up localised injuries more difficult. Our results also showed that participants often felt force was not distributed evenly across the digits, reporting the greatest force through either the thumb in isolation or the thumb plus another digit in up to nearly 50% of cases. This suggests that just one or two bruises may be consistent with deliberate airway obstruction.     

系统性呼吸功能训练对哮喘-慢性阻塞性肺疾病重叠综合征患者肺功能及呼吸指标的影响

目的 探讨系统性呼吸功能训练对哮喘-慢性阻塞性肺疾病重叠综合征(asthma-COPD overlap syndrome,ACOS)患者肺功能和呼吸指标的影响。方法 选择笔者所在医院2019年5月-2020年10月收治的102例ACOS患者作为研究对象,采用随机数字表法将其分为对照组和研究组,各51例。对照组行常规护理,研究组在对照组基础上融合系统性呼吸功能训练。比较2组干预前后的肺功能指标和呼吸指标。结果 干预后,研究组的肺功能各项指标均明显优于对照组(P<0.05);气道阻力各项指标显著优于对照组(P<0.05),呼吸困难程度轻于对照组(Z=-2.996,P=0.003)。结论 对ACOS患者在护理过程中融合系统性呼吸功能训练,可明显降低患者气道阻力指标,对改善肺功能、缓解患者呼吸困难具有明显效果。