Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Quantifies the Perfusion Within Tibial Non-Unions and Predicts the Outcome of Revision Surgery

Vascularity is one of the factors determining successful bone regeneration. This prospective study focused on quantifying the microperfusion of tibial non-unions with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) 12?wk after revision surgery and comparing it with the osseous consolidation at a maximum of 24?mo assessed with standard radiography and computed tomography. Of 36 patients with tibial non-unions, 28 (77.8%) manifested consolidation, and 8 patients required further revision surgery. CEUS revealed significantly higher perfusion in consolidated versus persistent non-unions for all quantification parameters (e.g., wash-in perfusion index p?=?0.036). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a sensitivity of 82.1% and specificity of 75.0% with a wash-in perfusion index cutoff at 19.9 a.u. for diagnosing persisting non-unions. More than 1 y ahead of the final radiologic diagnostic examination, CEUS could predict eventual consolidation based on the osseous perfusion as soon as 12?wk postoperatively. This information can be crucial for the decision-making process for re-revision at an early stage.     

Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Exposed to Microorganisms Involved in Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Induce a Th1-Polarized Immune Response

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an immunoallergic disease characterized by a prominent interstitial infiltrate composed predominantly of lymphocytes secreting inflammatory cytokines. Dendritic cells (DCs) are known to play a pivotal role in the lymphocytic response. However, their cross talk with microorganisms that cause HP has yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the initial interactions between human monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) and four microorganisms that are different in nature (Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula [actinomycetes], Mycobacterium immunogenum [mycobacteria], and Wallemia sebi and Eurotium amstelodami [filamentous fungi]) and are involved in HP. Our objectives were to determine the cross talk between MoDCs and HP-causative agents and to determine whether the resulting immune response varied according to the microbial extract tested. The phenotypic activation of MoDCs was measured by the increased expression of costimulatory molecules and levels of cytokines in supernatants. The functional activation of MoDCs was measured by the ability of MoDCs to induce lymphocytic proliferation and differentiation in a mixed lymphocytic reaction (MLR). E. amstelodami-exposed (EA) MoDCs expressed higher percentages of costimulatory molecules than did W. sebi-exposed (WS), S. rectivirgula-exposed (SR), or M. immunogenum-exposed (MI) MoDCs (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). EA-MoDCs, WS-MoDCs, SR-MoDCs, and MI-MoDCs induced CD4⁺ T cell proliferation and a Th1-polarized immune response. The present study provides evidence that, although differences were initially observed between MoDCs exposed to filamentous fungi and MoDCs exposed to bacteria, a Th1 response was ultimately promoted by DCs regardless of the microbial extract tested.     

Elderly victims of gender violence in Portugal: Invisible and not heard?

In this article, we explore professionals' representations of elderly female victims of gender violence. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore seven professionals' work philosophies and intervention methodologies in their work with elderly female victims of violence, their main problems and difficulties, and their perspectives regarding shelters for elderly women. Results show that there are no specific philosophies and methodologies to intervene with these victims. There is a tendency to homogenize all the victims of gender violence, regardless of their age and specific needs. The professionals also tended to trivialize gender violence against elderly female victims, considering that these women tolerate violence.     

Optimization of production of chlamydospores of the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in solid culture media

The large-scale production of nematophagous fungi as agents of biological control is one of the main challenges to be commercially used. In order to improve growth of microorganism in a culture medium, the addition of growth inducer is common. At the moment, the action of their addition in the mycelia growth and sporulation rate of nematophagous fungi is not known. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the sporulation rate of Duddingtonia flagrans by adding two growth inducers, meso-inositol and Tween 80, both at 0.5 % in a traditional culture medium Sabouraud glucose agar (SGA) and also in a traditional culture medium enriched with wheat flour and milk powder. From a traditional sterile culture of D. flagrans, four groups were made: SGA; Sabouraud glucose agar–meso-inositol 0.5 %; Sabouraud glucose agar–Tween 80 0.5 %; and Sabouraud glucose agar-enriched (SGA-E). These media were placed at a constant temperature of 27 °C for 4 weeks. Following this, chlamydospores were gently rinsed off with sterile water and counted using a Neubauer haematocytometer to estimate the number of chlamydospores per millilitre of water. The addition of meso-inositol 0.5 % to SGA promoted a significant increase (p?<?0.05) in chlamydospore production obtaining an average of 51,715,000 chlamydospores per Petri dish. The highest chlamydospore concentration was observed in the SGA-E in comparison with SGA (p?<?0.01) obtaining an average of 208,760,000 chlamydospores. The aim of this study was to obtain basic knowledge regarding the effect of enriched culture medium and growth-inducing meso-inositol and Tween 80 on mycelial growth and production of chlamydospores.     

基于肺水肿模型探讨葶苈子升降浮沉药性

目的 基于葶苈子药性沉降，根据“病位在里者宜沉降”的治则，建立病位在里的肺水肿模型，结合病势趋向的改变，验证葶苈子药性“沉降”的科学性，以期初步阐释中药升降浮沉药性的科学内涵。方法 选择60只雄性SD大鼠，随机分为假手术组、模型组（20 mg·kg^-1）、阳性药地塞米松组（0.075 mg·kg^-1）、葶苈子低、中、高剂量（1.167、2.334、4.668 g·kg^-1）组并通过胸膜腔注射1%角叉菜胶（2 mL·kg^-1）建立肺水肿模型，检测肺水肿评价指标（肺剖检、胸腔渗出液量、白细胞数量、肺湿重/干重比、肺含水量及肺通透性），确定葶苈子干预肺水肿的最佳剂量；检测与机体气机调节密切相关的五大系统（中枢系统、呼吸系统、循环系统、消化系统、泌尿系统）相关指标，观察葶苈子干预对肺水肿大鼠病势趋向的改变，确定其升降浮沉之性；并观察各组大鼠苏木素-伊红（HE）染色切片、炎症细胞种类和数目等，初步探究葶苈子改善肺水肿的作用机制。结果 与假手术组比较，胸腔积水量和胸腔积水中白细胞渗出量显著增加（P<0.01），肺湿重/干重比、肺含水量及肺通透性显著升高（P<0.01），并出现咳嗽、喘促、呼吸困难、弓背现象，少量大鼠鼻子湿润，鼻孔出现泡沫状液体等症状，剖检时肺出现体积增大或伴有瘀血，气管处出现大量粉红色泡沫状液体；与模型组比较，葶苈子可减少大鼠胸腔积水量和胸腔积水中白细胞渗出量，降低肺脏器系数、肺湿重/干重及肺含水量，改善肺组织水肿出血等，且以葶苈子中剂量治疗肺水肿效果最佳（P<0.01）；对于呼吸系统，与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠咳嗽潜伏时间、引喘潜伏时间明显减少（P<0.05，P<0.01），咳嗽次数和喘息次数显著增加（P<0.01），与模型组比较，葶苈子低、中、高剂量组均显著增加咳嗽潜伏期、引喘潜伏期，减少咳嗽次数、喘息次数（P<0.01）；对于泌尿系统，与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠显著减少尿量，葶苈子中、高剂量显著增加尿量（P<0.01），低剂量组明显增加尿量（P<0.05），但均对排汗无影响；对于消化系统，与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠胃残留率显著增加（P<0.01），胃排空率、小肠推动率显著下降（P<0.01），胃泌素（GT）明显增加（P<0.05），和模型组比较，葶苈子低剂量组显著增加小肠推动率（P<0.01），中、高剂量组可显著增加胃排空率、小肠推动率（P<0.01），显著减少胃残留率（P<0.01），显著或显著减少GT以促进胃肠运动及胃肠道的运输（P<0.01），增加胃动素（MTL）促进大鼠的胃排空（P<0.05，P<0.01）；对于循环系统，与假手术组比较，大鼠左室射血分数（LVEF）、左室短轴缩短率（LVFS）、心输出量（CO）显著降低（P<0.01），模型组大鼠的心率有升高趋势，收缩压（SBP）显著升高（P<0.01），舒张压（DBP）明显升高（P<0.05）；与模型组比较，葶苈子低剂量组明显增加LVEF、降低大鼠的DBP（P<0.05），葶苈子中剂量组显著增加LVEF、LVFS、CO和SBP（P<0.01），明显降低大鼠的DBP（P<0.05），葶苈子高剂量组显著增加LVFS（P<0.01），显著降低大鼠的SBP（P<0.01），明显降低大鼠的DBP（P<0.05）；对于中枢系统，与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠站立次数显著降低（P<0.01），葶苈子明显减少大鼠的运动距离、运动时间、站立次数和在旷场中心活动时间，增加静止时间和旷场边缘活动时间（P<0.05，P<0.01）；此外，与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠肺管腔周围的炎症浸润严重，气管增厚、内有水肿液聚集，肺组织破坏严重，血中白细胞计数、中性粒细胞比例显著增加（P<0.01），单核细胞比例明显增加（P<0.05），肺泡灌洗液中γ干扰素（IFN-γ）显著降低（P<0.01），白细胞介素-4（IL-4）明显提高（P<0.05）、免疫球蛋白E（IgE）水平显著升高（P<0.01），肺组织活性氧（ROS）水平显著升高（P<0.01），与模型组比较，葶苈子能减少白细胞计数和中性粒细胞积聚，减少肺小血管充血和肺间质水肿，降低肺泡灌洗液中IFN-γ和IL-4水平，升高IgE水平，降低肺组织ROS水平（P<0.05，P<0.01）。结论 葶苈子对病位在里的肺水肿模型具有显著改善作用，通过泻水逐饮、调节水液排泄，降泻肺气、调节气机、泻肺气之壅闭，促肺气肃降、调节气机下行，提示葶苈子作用趋势为沉降。其中以葶苈子中剂量作用最佳，其作用机制可能是通过调控中性粒细胞炎症反应来发挥干预作用的。     

Lung Transplantation in Children. Specific Aspects

Lung transplantation has become in recent years a therapeutic option for infants with terminal lung disease with similar results to transplantation in adults. In Spain, since 1996 114 children lung transplants have been performed; this corresponds to 3.9% of the total transplant number. The most common indication in children is cystic fibrosis, which represents between 70-80% of the transplants performed in adolescents. In infants common indications are interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. In most children a sequential double lung transplant is performed, generally with the help of extracorpo-real circulation. Lung transplantation in children presents special challenges in monitoring and follow-up, especially in infants, given the difficulty in assessing lung function and performing transbronchial biopsies.There are some more specific complications in children like postransplant lymphoproliferative syndrome or a greater severity of respiratory virus infections. After lung transplantation children usually experiment a very important improvement in their quality of life. Eighty eight per cent of children have no limitations in their activity after 3 years of transplantation. According to the registry of the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) survival at 5 years of transplantation is 54% and at 10 years is around 35%.