Toxic tau: structural origins of tau aggregation in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the extracellular accumulation of the amyloidβin the form of amyloid plaques and the intracellular deposition of the microtubule-associated protein tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles.Most of the Alzheimer’s drugs targeting amyloidβhave been failed in clinical trials.Particularly,tau pathology connects greatly in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.Tau protein enhances the stabilization of microtubules that leads to the appropriate function of the neuron.Changes in the quantity or the conformation of tau protein could affect its function as a microtubules stabilizer and some of the processes wherein it is involved.The molecular mechanisms leading to the accumulation of tau are principally signified by numerous posttranslational modifications that change its conformation and structural state.Therefore,aberrant phosphorylation,as well as truncation of tau protein,has come into focus as significant mechanisms that make tau protein in a pathological entity.Furthermore,the shape-shifting nature of tau advocates to comprehend the progression of Alzheimer’s disease precisely.In this review,we emphasize the recent studies about the toxic and shape-shifting nature of tau in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.     

Challenging infections in pregnancy

Maternal sepsis is “a life-threatening condition defined as organ dysfunction resulting from infection during pregnancy, childbirth, post-abortion, or postpartum period.” (World Health Organisation, 2017). Serious infection during, or immediately after, pregnancy may go initially unrecognized in an otherwise young and healthy group, who nevertheless do have a compromized immune system. Secondly, whilst malaise, flushes, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are common in pregnancy, each can herald sepsis with rapid demise for mother and baby. The MBRRACE-UK report in 2017¹ found an overall sepsis-related maternal mortality rate of 0.56 per 100,000 maternities with a mortality rate from genital tract sepsis of 0.28 per 100,000 maternities. This review will focus on the major causes, recognition, differentiation and microbiological management of sepsis in pregnancy, using two detailed cases to illustrate.     

Treatment of oral manifestations of toxic epidermal necrolysis with low‐level laser therapy in a pediatric patient

Drug‐induced reactions are complications associated with high mortality and significant morbidity. Stevens–Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are examples of these conditions, which are characterized by skin and mucous lesions. Here, we report a case of a 9‐year‐old girl who presented with blisters associated with an extensive vesicular rash and multiple ulcerations on the lips and oral cavity. A drug‐induced hypersensitivity reaction to antibiotics was suspected, and a diagnosis of TEN was made. The patient was managed with withdrawal of the suspected causative agent, and the oral lesions were treated with low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) and oral hygiene. This case highlights that TEN requires interdisciplinary intervention with dental assistance and follow‐up to improve symptoms, nutrition, systemic condition, and quality of life.     

苇茎汤合麻杏石甘汤加减联合半量激素治疗儿童毒热闭肺证难治性肺炎支原体肺炎

目的:观察苇茎汤合麻杏石甘汤加减联合半量激素治疗儿童毒热闭肺型难治性肺炎支原体肺炎的临床疗效。方法:120例患儿随机分为对照组和观察组,各60例。在基础治疗基础上,对照组给予连花清瘟颗粒+甲强尼龙(每次10 mg·kg-1,2次/日),观察组给予苇茎汤合麻杏石甘汤加减+甲强尼龙(每次10 mg·kg-1,1次/日),疗程均为14 d。观察两组治疗前后肺功能指标[最大通气量(MVV),呼气达峰时间(TPTEF),第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1),呼气达峰容积(VPTEF)],血浆心肌酶谱[肌酸激酶(CK),肌酸激酶同工酶(CKMB),乳酸脱氢酶(LDH),胫丁酸脱氢酶(HBDH)],免疫功能[免疫球蛋白G(IgG),免疫球蛋白M(IgM),红细胞免疫复合物(RBC-ICR),红细胞C3b受体(RBC-C3bR)],炎性因子[肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α),γ-干扰素(IFN-γ),白细胞介素-13(IL-13),白细胞介素-17A(IL-17A)],临床疗效和不良反应。结果:研究期间脱落4例。观察组总有效率96.6%(57/59),高于对照组的84.2%(48/57)(P<0.05)。与对照组治疗后比较,观察组MVV,TPTEF,FEV1,VPTEF,RBC-C3bR,IL-13升高(P<0.05);CK,CKMB,LDH,HBDH,IgG,IgM,RBC-ICR,TNF-α,IFN-γ和IL-17A降低(P<0.05)。观察组不良反应发生率低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:苇茎汤合麻杏石甘汤加减联合半量激素可明显改善毒热闭肺型难治性肺炎支原体肺炎患儿的肺功能,心肌酶谱,免疫功能和炎性因子水平,不良反应发生率低。     

Toxic epidermal necrolysis; 15 years'' experience in a Dutch burns centre

BACKGROUND: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe and potentially fatal drug reaction characterized by an extensive skin rash with blisters and exfoliation, frequently accompanied by mucositis. The wounds caused by TEN are similar to second-degree burns and severe cases may involve large areas of skin loss. OBJECTIVES: Analysis of our results in patients with TEN and evaluation of the variety of therapeutic interventions that has been studied and suggested in TEN. PATIENTS/METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 19 consecutive patients with TEN treated in our burns centre between 1989 and 2004. RESULTS: Immediate withdrawal of any potentially fatal drug, maximum supportive care, and a restricted and tailored antibiotic, medical and surgical treatment regimen confined mortality to 21%, whereas prognosis scores like APACHE II and SCORTEN predicted mortality of 22 and 30%, respectively. A positive contribution of selective digestive decontamination is suggested but has yet to be established. CONCLUSIONS: Because of a potentially fatal outcome, fast referral of a patient suspected of TEN to a specialized centre (mostly a burns unit or specialized dermatology centre) for expert wound management and tailored comprehensive care is strongly advised and contributes to survival.     

EMPACT syndrome

Background: Seizure prophylaxis with phenytoin is a common measure in oncologic patients with brain metastases. In these patients, generalized severe adverse drug reactions such as erythema multiforme (EEM) may occur. However, in a subgroup of patients with brain radiation therapy, EEM‐like lesions develop particularly in the radiation field. Most recently, the acronym EMPACT ( E rythema M ultiforme associated with P henytoin A nd C ranial radiation T herapy) was proposed to specifically describe this syndrome. Patient/Method: Here, we report on EMPACT syndrome in a 46‐year‐old woman. Therapeutic measures included seizure prophylaxis with phenytoin and total brain radiation therapy of brain metastases from bronchial carcinoma. Three weeks after introduction of phenytoin, the patient presented with EEM‐like skin lesions restricted to the original radiation field and facial mucocutaneous involvement. After a few days, the rash spread to the upper part of the body. She was also in poor general condition. Results: The immediate cessation of phenytoin therapy, combined with administration of systemic corticosteroids and high dose immunoglobulins along with intensive local treatment and pain medications, resulted in complete resolution of the skin eruption. Patch testing to phenytoin was positive after 72 hours. Conclusion: EMPACT should be classified as an specific entity among the EEM‐like drug reactions as it only appears after radiotherapy and seizure prophylaxis with the anticonvulsant phenytoin. We propose including specific type IV‐sensitization to phenytoin into the definition of EMPACT.     

Clinical Observation on the Efficacy of Babaodan Combined with Interventional Therapy for Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To observe the clinical effect of Babaodan combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Selected patients were randomly assigned to two groups. One group accepted TACE only and the other group accepted TACE and took 2 Babaodan capsules orally 3 times a day for 8 weeks. Results After 8 weeks＇ treatment, the size of the tumors and the alpha foetal protein （AFP） concentration in all the patients in the two groups diminished and was not significantly different between the two groups （P〉0.05）. The ratio of stability and improvement in the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome was higher in the Babaodan plus TACE group than it was in the TACE only group （P〈0.05）. There were more complications in the TACE only group than in the Babaodan plus TACE group. The one-year survival rate in the Babaodan plus TACE group was higher than in the TACE group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Babaodan can improve TCM syndrome, reduce complications and prolong survival of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.