Tocilizumab en el tratamiento del rechazo humoral crónico activo resistente a terapia estándar

IntroductionThere is no consensus on the most appropriate treatment for chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (cAMR). Recent studies suggest that treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ) may stabilize graft function, decrease the intensity of donor-specific HLA antibodies (DSAs) and reduce inflammation of microcirculation.Patients and methodsObservational study with renal allograft recipients diagnosed with cAMR (n = 5) who had not submitted a response to traditional treatment based on the combination of plasma replacements, immunoglobulins, and rituximab. Patients were told to be treated with TCZ as compassionate use in six doses per month (8 mg/kg/month). Renal function, proteinuria, and the intensity of DSAs were monitored during follow-up.ResultsFive patients, average age 60 ± 13 years, three male and two retrasplants (cPRA average 55%) with preformed DSAs. Treatment with TCZ was initiated within 47 ± 52 days of biopsy. In two cases treatment was discontinued after the first dose, by severe bicitopenia with cytomegalovirus viremia and by graft failure, respectively. In the three patients who completed treatment, no stability of renal function (serum creatinine from 1.73 ± 0.70 to 2.04 ± 0.52 mg/dL, e-FGR 4 6 ± 15 to 36 ± 16 mL/min), showed increased proteinuria (3.2 ± 4.0 to 6.9 ± 11.0 g/g) and the intensity of DSAs maintain stable. No changes were observed in the degree of inflammation of microcirculation (g + pt 4.2 ± 0.8 vs. 4.3 ± 1.0) or in the degree of transplant glomerulopathy (cg 1.2 ± 0.4 vs. 1.8 ± 1.0).ConclusionsTCZ therapy does not appear to be effective in modifying the natural history of chronic active antibody-mediated rejection, does not improve the degree of inflammation of microcirculation and does not reduces the intensity of DSAs.     

Emergency Care EMTALA Alterations During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of health care delivery in the United States, and the emergency medicine system has been hit particularly hard while dealing with this public health crisis. In an unprecedented time in our history, medical systems and clinicians have been asked to be creative, flexible, and innovative, all while continuing to uphold the important standards in the US health care system. To continue providing quality services to patients during this extraordinary time, care providers, organizations, administrators, and insurers have needed to alter longstanding models and procedures to respond to the dynamics of a pandemic. The Emergency Medicine Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986, or EMTALA, is 1 example of where these alterations have allowed health care facilities and clinicians to continue their work of caring for patients while protecting both the patients and the clinicians themselves from infectious exposures at the same time.     

Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

Percutaneous renal mass biopsy: historical perspective,current status,and future considerations

Introduction: Percutaneous renal mass biopsy has evolved over the last decade with improvements on previous pitfalls including low tissue yield, high non-diagnostic rates, and complications. As understanding of tumor biology and natural history of renal cortical neoplasms has improved, percutaneous renal mass biopsy is poised to have an expanding role in an area characterized by individualized management and refined risk stratification.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the evolution of renal mass biopsy to its current state with respect to outcomes, indications, and clinical guidelines.

Expert opinion: With improved understanding of differential biological potential of renal cortical neoplasms combined with technical improvements in diagnostic yield and accuracy, utilization of renal mass biopsy is becoming an important adjunct to patient care in a broad range of clinical scenarios, including active surveillance, thermal ablation, and use of primary systemic therapy in localized and advanced settings.     

骨碎补化学成分和生物活性研究进展＊

骨碎补是历代临床常用中药，具有疗伤止痛、补肾强骨、消风祛斑等功效。其主要含黄酮、苯丙素、三萜、酚酸及其苷等类化学成分，现代研究表明骨碎补具有抗骨质疏松、促进骨折愈合、促软骨再生、护牙健齿、保护肾功能、抗炎、防治中毒性耳聋、降血脂等多种生物活性，开发前景广阔。本文对近年来骨碎补的化学成分、药理作用及临床应用研究进行综述，以期为骨碎补的进一步深入系统的研究和开发利用提供依据。     

大数据时代的药品安全主动监测:对照选择的挑战与机遇

电子医疗数据已成为大数据时代开展药品安全主动监测的重要资源。基于此确认药品与不良事件是否存在关联，要回归传统的流行病学研究设计，选取恰当的对照进行对比。本文主要阐述不同对照选取的原理、适用情形，介绍、评价并比较各种对照选取的思路与参数，引入对照选择批量化实现的进展性成果，以期为我国利用电子医疗数据开展上市后药品安全性监测提供方法学参考。     

Pharmacokinetics, metabolism and renal excretion of sulfatroxazole and its 5-hydroxy- and N4-acetyl-metabolites in man

Hydroxylation is the predominant pathway of metabolism for sulfatroxazole in the body, accounting for 70 per cent of the dose. Fifteen per cent of the dose is acetylated unimodally and 10 per cent is excreted unchanged. The half-lives of sulfatroxazole and its metabolites 5-hydroxysulfatroxazole and N4-acetylsulfatroxazole are approximately 22 h after administration of sulfatroxazole. N4-acetylsulfatroxazole, taken as parent drug, is eliminated by renal excretion (92 per cent of the dose). The initial elimination half-life of N4-acetylsulfatroxazole is 4.5 h, which later increases to 70 h as the result of the acetylation-deacetylation equilibrium. Probenecid inhibits the renal excretion of the metabolites 5-hydroxy- and N4-acetylsulfatroxazole. Inhibition of the N4-acetyl metabolite favours the deacetylation, which results in an increase of the T 1/2 of sulfatroxazole from 20 to 30 h. The protein binding value of sulfatroxazole is 84 per cent, that of N4-acetylsulfatroxazole is 37 per cent. Sulfatroxazole is excreted renally by passive processes, while the metabolites are excreted by both passive and active processes.     

反义人端粒酶RNA组分基因对胃癌细胞端粒酶活性的影响

目的 克隆人胃癌细胞端粒酶RNA组分（hTR）基因片段并构建其正义和反义真核表达载体,研究反义端粒酶RNA对人胃癌细胞株MKN-45端粒酶活性的影响。方法 采用RT-PCH方法从人胃癌细胞株MKN-45中扩增出人hTR部分cDNA序列,将该片段分别正向和反向插入PEF6/V5-His-TOPO载体后构建人端粒酶RNA组分（hTR）基因正、反义真核表达载体,随后采用脂质体转染法将该正、反义载体转染入人胃癌细胞株MKN-45,用TRAP法观察后者端粒酶活性的改变。结果 所克隆的基因片段其碱基序列与文献报导完全一致,且插入载体的方向完全正确。与正常对照、转染正义载体、空载体者比较,转染反义载体者端粒酶活性显著下降。结论 本实验已成功克隆了人端粒酶RNA组分（hTR）基因的部分序列并成功构建hTR正反义真核表达载体,而且反义端粒酶RNA能有效降低人胃癌细胞株MKN-45端粒酶活性。     

马齿苋活性成分体内外抗癌作用的初步筛选

目的 观察马齿苋活性成分对人肺腺癌细胞系(A-549 cell)、人喉表皮样癌细胞系(Hep-2 cell)、人宫颈癌细胞系(Hela cell)和人恶性胚胎横纹肌瘤细胞系(RD cell)生长的影响.方法 体外培养条件下用不同浓度的马齿苋活性成分处理4种癌细胞,通过溴化二甲噻唑二苯四氮唑(MTT)试验法测定癌细胞的增殖;同时处理S180荷瘤小鼠,观察荷瘤小鼠的体重、瘤重、死亡率和抑瘤率.结果 马齿苋生物碱对离体培养的A-549肺癌细胞、Hela细胞和Hep-2细胞的增殖均具有明显抑制作用,马齿苋多糖对Hela细胞有较强的抑制作用, 马齿苋脂肪酸对Hep-2细胞有一定的抑制作用,马齿苋黄酮对RD细胞有很强的抑制作用,并存在浓度剂量效应,高浓度抑制作用强.结论 马齿苋活性成分能选择性地杀伤癌细胞,有进一步研究的潜在价值.