Therapeutic plasma exchange in pediatric patients with acute demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system: A single-center experience

BackgroundTherapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal treatment that can be used in adult and pediatric patients with acute demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system. In this study, the efficacy and safety of TPE was evaluated in 10 pediatric patients who underwent TPE that were unresponsive to corticosteroid treatment.MethodsRecords of 10 pediatric patients who underwent TPE in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between May 2017 and June 2020 were used. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Gait Scale (GS), and Visual Outcome Scale (VOS) were applied to the patients before and after TPE.ResultsOf the 10 patients who underwent TPE, five were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), three with transverse myelitis (TM), and two with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). The median age of the patients was 13.3 years (IQR 8-15), and the median day from symptom onset to onset of TPE was 12.5 days (IQR 7-28). A total of 104 TPE sessions were performed successfully. While no complications were encountered in three patients during the sessions, the most common complication was hypofibrinogenemia. The decrease in EDSS and GS scores was found to be consistent with the clinical response of the patients. There was no statistically significant decrease in the VOS.ConclusionsWith this study, we can say that TPE is a feasible, effective, and safe treatment modality in children with acute demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system.     

核因子κB受体活化因子配体和肿瘤坏死因子α经炎性牙周膜干细胞外泌体促进破骨细胞分化

目的　慢性牙周炎表现的病理性骨吸收非常常见，牙周膜干细胞（PDLSCs）的外泌体（Exo）对骨吸收的作用和影响尚不明确，本研究分析了该Exo蛋白组分对破骨细胞分化的影响。方法　分别从正畸前拔牙患者和慢性牙周炎患者的牙周膜组织中提取PDLSCs，通过流式细胞术检测表面标记物；通过差速离心分别提取2种细胞的Exo，即Exo-WT和Exo-CP，并通过Western blot、透射电子显微镜（TEM）、蛋白浓度检测、纳米粒径追踪检测Exo特征；通过蛋白质谱检测2种Exo的蛋白组分；通过酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）验证了差异表达蛋白肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、核因子κB受体活化因子配体（RANKL）、白细胞介素（IL）-1α、转化生长因子β（TGF-β）、骨形态发生蛋白2（BMP-2）表达水平；将10、100、1 000 μg·mL^-1的Exo-CP或Exo-WT加入RAW264.7培养基中并于5 d时通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）、Western blot、抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（TRAP）染色检测破骨分化相关指标表达情况；采用SPSS 24.0软件对实验数据进行统计学分析。结果　Exo-CP富集的差异表达蛋白主要与破骨细胞分化的TNF信号通路、核转录因子κB（NF-κB）信号通路相关；ELISA实验证实了Exo-CP中高表达TNF-α、RANKL、IL-1α，低表达TGF-β1、BMP-2（P<0.05）；Exo-CP作用于RAW264.7，显著提高了细胞的破骨分化相关基因及蛋白的表达水平，TRAP染色可见分化的破骨细胞，且呈现浓度依赖性，100、1 000 μg·mL^-1浓度Exo-CP对破骨细胞分化的促进作用显著高于10 μg·mL^-1浓度组（P<0.05）。结论　慢性牙周炎的病理性骨吸收可能由炎性PDLSCs所分泌的Exo通过促进破骨细胞分化引起，Exo中主要的作用蛋白可能为RANKL和TNF-α，本研究为慢性牙周炎骨吸收的发病机制提供了新视角。     

Methodological advances in the design of peptide-based vaccines

The tremendous advances in genomics, recombinant DNA technology, bioengineering and nanotechnology, in conjunction with the development of high-end computations, have been instrumental in the process of rational design of peptide-based vaccines. The use of peptide vaccines was limited owing to their inherent instability when systemically administered; however, advanced formulation techniques have been developed for their systemic delivery, thereby overcoming their degradation, clearance, cellular uptake and off-target effects. With the rise of sophisticated immunological predictors and experimental techniques, several methodological advances have occurred in this field. This review examines contemporary methods to identify and optimize epitopes, engineer their immunogenic properties and develop their safe and efficient delivery into the host.     

Newly recruited intraepithelial Ly6A+CCR9+CD4+ T cells protect against enteric viral infection

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艾灸治疗原发性痛经作用机制研究进展

艾灸治疗原发性痛经应用广泛,通过热效应、光效应、艾烟及药物作用4种起效机制发挥治疗作用,艾灸治疗原发性痛经的机制集中在调节内分泌激素、调节免疫功能、调节神经相关因素、改善子宫微循环等方面,艾灸治疗原发性痛经的机制研究仍存在问题和不足,应当加强艾灸起效机制研究,重视灸法光效应之中的光谱范围及波峰治疗痛经的机制探索,完善艾灸治疗原发性痛经的机制研究,为临床治疗提供实验依据和循证医学证据。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎危重症中医药干预的必要性思考

新型冠状病毒肺炎(NCP)是一种具有广泛传染、较强致病性的外感疫病,对公众健康造成极大威胁[1-2]。由于病邪侵入人体后传变迅速,疫毒易于弥漫三焦、充斥表里转为危重症,处于危重症时现代医学目前只能对症支持治疗,为恢复危重症患者脏器机能、改善危重症状,配合中医药辨证施治值得深入思考。现以中医整体辨证的视角对新型冠状病毒肺炎所致危重病症辨证梳理,为临床提供一定的借鉴。     

《经穴解》学术特色及学术影响探析

《经穴解》为明末清初齐鲁针灸医家岳含珍所著,全书学术特色鲜明:从分经辨证、病候辨证、人迎寸口脉辨证三方面了阐述了经络辨证的价值,积极探讨经络与脏腑之间的联系。注重经络辨证与脏腑辨证相结合;从腧穴的主治功能、经脉循行交会与气血盛衰的关系、地理方位等多角度对书中穴名进行解释,可以窥探分析穴位的气血盛衰,提供了认知腧穴的基本思路;以“五脏互藏”理论为指导阐述腧穴主治病证,体现了其从整体辨证论治、注重经络与脏腑关联的学术特点,揭示了脏腑之间的复杂联系。该书论述全面细致,阐释深入简出,为现代针灸临床提供借鉴,促进了齐鲁医学的传承与发展。