Primary vaccination in adult patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation – A single center retrospective efficacy analysis

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) results in a loss of humoral immunity and subsequent risk for severe infections. Thus, re-vaccination is required but may fail due to incomplete immune reconstitution. We retrospectively analyzed predictors of immune response to primary vaccination applied according to the EBMT (European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group) recommendations. Serologic response to vaccination against diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), Bordetella pertussis (aP) and Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) (administrated as combined DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccination) was studied in 84 alloHSCT patients transplanted between 2008 and 2015 (age at alloHSCT: 18.6–70.6 years). All patients with a relapse-free survival of ≥9 months, at least 3 consecutive vaccinations and absence of intravenous immunoglobulin administration within 3 months before and after vaccination met the primary inclusion criteria. Additionally, immunological response to a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was analyzed in a subgroup of 67 patients. Patients’ characteristics at the time of first vaccination were recorded. Responses were measured as vaccine-specific antibody titers. Regarding DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccination, 89.3% (n = 75) of all patients achieved protective titers to at least 3 of the 4 vaccine components and were thus considered responders. 10.7% (n = 9) of the patients were classified as non-responders with positive immune response to less than 3 components. Highest response was observed for Hib (97.4%), tetanus (95.2%) and pneumococcal vaccination (83.6%) while only 68.3% responded to vaccination against Bordetella pertussis. Significant risk factors for failure of vaccination response included low B cell counts (p < 0.001; cut-off: 0.05 B cells/nl) and low IgG levels (p = 0.026; mean IgG of responders 816 mg/dl vs. 475 mg/dl of non-responders). Further, a trend was observed that prior cGvHD impairs vaccination response as 88.9% of the non-responders but only 54.7% of the responders had prior cGvHD (p = 0.073). The results demonstrate, that the currently proposed vaccination strategy leads to seroprotection in the majority of alloHSCT patients.     

Differentiating ictal/subclinical spikes and waves in childhood absence epilepsy by spectral and network analyses: A pilot study

ObjectiveChildhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a disease with distinct seizure semiology and electroencephalographic (EEG) features. Differentiating ictal and subclinical generalized spikes and waves discharges (GSWDs) in the EEG is challenging, since they appear to be identical upon visual inspection. Here, spectral and functional connectivity (FC) analyses were applied to routine EEG data of CAE patients, to differentiate ictal and subclinical GSWDs.MethodsTwelve CAE patients with both ictal and subclinical GSWDs were retrospectively selected for this study. The selected EEG epochs were subjected to frequency analysis in the range of 1–30 Hz. Further, FC analysis based on the imaginary part of coherency was used to determine sensor level networks.ResultsDelta, alpha and beta band frequencies during ictal GSWDs showed significantly higher power compared to subclinical GSWDs. FC showed significant network differences for all frequency bands, demonstrating weaker connectivity between channels during ictal GSWDs.ConclusionUsing spectral and FC analyses significant differences between ictal and subclinical GSWDs in CAE patients were detected, suggesting that these features could be used for machine learning classification purposes to improve EEG monitoring.SignificanceIdentifying differences between ictal and subclinical GSWDs using routine EEG, may improve understanding of this syndrome and the management of patients with CAE.     

前列腺偶发癌联合雄激素阻断后辨治四法

前列腺偶发癌(IPC)临床常见脾肾两虚、湿热毒蕴、痞热瘀结、气阴两虚等证型,中医药治疗IPC不离扶正祛邪之宗旨,法当调节免疫以扶正、减毒抗癌以祛邪。结合国医名师徐荷芬临床诊疗经验,以"扶正固本、养阴祛瘤"学术思想为纲,"期型分治"为目,探讨IPC不同时期不同证型的辨治方法,概括为温脾补肾、清热燥湿、化痞破瘀、益气养阴等治法;强调带瘤生存,引入生存质量评价,生存质量应包含生活质量和患者满意度,完善IPC疗效评价体系。     

穴位埋线治疗进行性肌营养不良的疗效观察

目的观察穴位埋线联合糖皮质激素及神经营养药物治疗进行性肌营养不良的临床疗效。方法 50例进行性假肥大性肌营养不良患者,随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组25例。对照组采用糖皮质激素及神经营养药物治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上采用穴位埋线治疗。观察两组治疗前后10米步行时间和登梯时间及血清肌酸磷酸激酶(CPK)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)水平的变化,并比较两组临床疗效。结果两组治疗后及随访10米步行时间和登梯时间与同组治疗前比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组治疗后及随访10米步行时间和登梯时间比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组治疗后及随访血清CPK、LDH水平较同组治疗前明显下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);治疗组治疗后及随访血清CPK和LDH水平低于对照组(P<0.01)。治疗组总有效率为96.0%,对照组总有效率为72.0%,治疗组总有效率高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论穴位埋线联合糖皮质激素治疗进行性肌营养不良的临床疗效显著,可作为临床治疗进行性肌营养不良方案的优选方法。     

制何首乌的炮制方法探索

目的:考察黑豆汁炖制时间对制何首乌外观性状及各类有效成分含量变化规律的影响。方法:采用HPLC同时测定不同炮制时间制何首乌样品中二苯乙烯苷、大黄素、大黄素甲醚、大黄素-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷、大黄素甲醚-8-O-葡萄糖苷的含量,选择Agilent ZORBAX Extend-C_(18)色谱柱(4. 6 mm×250 mm,5μm),甲醇(A)-水(B)为流动相梯度洗脱(0～30 min,5%～100%A; 30～40 min,100%A),流速1. 0 mL·min~(-1),柱温35℃,检测波长280 nm。结果:随炖制时间的增加,二苯乙烯苷含量逐渐降低,与8 h时相比,至64 h时含量降低76%;大黄素-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷和大黄素甲醚-8-O-葡萄糖苷2种蒽醌苷含量先上升后下降,至24 h时达最高值,炖制40 h时降至与8 h近似的水平,之后略有波动;大黄素、大黄素甲醚2种蒽醌苷元含量先上升后下降,炖制32 h时达最大值,之后缓慢降低并趋于稳定。结论:炖制时间对制何首乌中各类成分含量的影响显著,且变化趋势不尽相同,应规范制何首乌饮片的炮制时间;同时,仅以二苯乙烯苷及蒽醌类成分作为制何首乌的指标性成分依据不够充分,应考虑增加多糖类等质量控制指标。