心肌梗死大鼠血管内皮功能及心功能变化与培哚普利的干预效应

目的:观察心肌梗死后心力衰竭大鼠血管内皮功能和心功能的变化与血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂培哚普利的干预关系。方法:实验于2004-12/2006-03于中山大学附属第二医院医学实验中心完成。实验动物:成年雄性SD大鼠75只,体质量250～300g。实验分组:取60只大鼠结扎冠状动脉左前降支建立心肌梗死大鼠模型,另取15只为假手术组做对照。实验方法:术后1周行超声心动图检查,以centerline方法判断心肌梗死面积。术后第2周,心肌梗死大鼠中30只给予培哚普利灌胃,另30只为对照组给予盐水灌胃。评估标准:10周后测定左室血流动力学参数,循环血液中一氧化氮,内皮素-1和C-反应蛋白的水平,并观察离体胸主动脉环对内皮依赖性扩血管物质乙酰胆碱的舒张反应。结果:75只大鼠进入结果分析:①血浆内皮素-1和血清一氧化氮、C-反应蛋白含量的变化:与假手术组相比,心肌梗死盐水组血浆内皮素-1水平上升,血清一氧化氮含量下降,血清C-反应蛋白水平升高(P均<0.05);与心肌梗死盐水组相比,培哚普利治疗组血浆内皮素-1水平下降,血清一氧化氮含量上升,血清C-反应蛋白水平下降(P均<0.05)。②各组大鼠胸主动脉环对乙酰胆碱的反应性测定:心肌梗死盐水组胸主动脉环对乙酰胆碱介导的最大舒张反应显著小于假手术组和培哚普利治疗组(39.5±6.38,79.4±7.59,67.9±6.92,P均<0.05);与假手术组相比,心肌梗死盐水组胸主动脉环对各个浓度的乙酰胆碱介导的舒张反应显著减弱(P均<0.05);与心肌梗死盐水组相比,培哚普利治疗组显著改善各个浓度乙酰胆碱介导的舒张反应(P均<0.05)。③各组大鼠血流动力学指标改变:与假手术组相比,心肌梗死盐水组大鼠出现明显的心力衰竭,表现为左室内收缩压降低,左室舒张末期压升高,室内压最大上升/下降速率降低(P均<0.05);与心肌梗死盐水组相比培哚普利治疗组大鼠的心功能显著改善(P均<0.05)。④各组大鼠存活率:10周后培哚普利治疗组存活率显著高于心肌梗死盐水组(67%,43%,P<0.05)。结论:心肌梗死大鼠血管内皮功能和心功能在长期应用培哚普利治疗后得到改善,其机制可能与抑制炎症反应有关。     

Can therapeutic efficacy be predicted from phase I data?

Summary— The aim of phase I studies per se is to explore the tolerance of new compounds which have demonstrated a certain level of activity in animals at sufficiently low non-toxic doses. In most cases, these studies are conducted in 2 steps in a limited number of healthy male volunteers: a single rising dose study followed by a repeated dose study in which the pharmacokinetic features of the drug are explored. In such a context, it would be quite presumptuous to ascertain the therapeutic efficacy of a drug from those initial human studies. At best, these trials can provide pharmacological and/or biological indications which are related to some degree to the expected efficacy of the drug: hypnotics, anticancer drugs, antibiotics, platelet antiaggregants, beta-blockers, etc. In these examples it is recommended to design controlled study protocols so as to better investigate these potentially interesting signs of activity. In the majority of cases, however (psychoactive drugs, analgesic, anti-inflammatory drugs, gastro-intestinal compounds), phase I studies will unfortunately not provide much information regarding the expected therapeutic activity.     

Oral cyclophosphamide versus chlorambucil in the treatment of patients with membranous nephropathy and renal insufficiency

We treated patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMGN) and renal insufficiency, using: (i) (n = 15) monthly cycles of steroids (1 g methyl-prednisolone i.v. on three consecutive days, followed by oral prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/day months 1, 3 and 5) and chlorambucil (0.15 mg/kg/day months 2, 4 and 6); or (ii) (n = 17) oral cyclophosphamide (1.5-2.0 mg/kg/day for 1 year) and steroids in a comparable dose. The groups were comparable in age, renal function and levels of proteinuria. During the 6 months preceding treatment, serum creatinine levels increased from 148 +/- 50 to 219 +/- 73 mumol/l in the chlorambucil group and from 164 +/- 86 to 274 +/- 126 mumol/l in the cyclophosphamide group. Median (range) follow-ups were: chlorambucil 38 months (8-71); cyclophosphamide 26 months (5-68) (NS). Renal function improved in both groups, but the improvement was short-lived in the chlorambucil group; 12 months after starting treatment, mean serum creatinine was 6.3 mumol/l lower in the chlorambucil group and 121 mumol/l lower in the cyclophosphamide group (p < 0.01). Four chlorambucil-treated patients developed ESRD, and five needed a second course of therapy, whereas only one cyclophosphamide-treated patient developed ESRD (p < 0.05). Remissions of proteinuria occurred more frequently after cyclophosphamide treatment (15/17 vs. 5/15; p < 0.01). Side-effects necessitated interruption of treatment in six patients on cyclophosphamide and in 11 on chlorambucil (p < 0.05). In our patients, oral cyclophosphamide was better tolerated than oral chlorambucil. The suggested greater efficacy of the oral cyclophosphamide regimen needs to be ascertained by longer follow-up.      

Lymphome non hodgkinien Ki-1 positif révélé par des ulcérations cutanéomuqueuses et une glomérulonéphrite

Malignant lymphoma particularly of T phenotype can be associated with specific or non specific cutaneous lesions. These cutaneous manifestations can occur at the onset of the disease being sometimes the revealing sign or they can appear during the course of the lymphoreticular malignancies. Glomerulonephritis was also described in lymphoma. Ki- positive large cell lymphoma was recently identified. A new case is reported with lymphadenopathy and intestinal localisation revealed by cutaneous and mucosal ulcerations principally in the mouth and a focal segmental glomerulonephritis with endo- and extracapillary proliferation. The absence of lymphoma in cutaneous and renal lesions and the clinical presentation support the hypothesis of paraneoplastic manifestations, may be related to a vasculitis.     

Adalimumab sustains steroid-free remission after 3 years of therapy for Crohn's disease

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 34: 306–317

Summary

Background Treatments that achieve sustainable steroid‐free clinical remission in Crohn’s disease are needed; however, long‐term steroid‐sparing efficacy data are limited. Aim To evaluate steroid‐sparing efficacy and the impact of steroid discontinuation on adverse events during treatment of Crohn's disease with adalimumab in the phase III randomised, double‐blind 1‐year CHARM trial and for an additional 2 years in its open‐label extension ADHERE. Methods Steroid‐free remission and response and steroid‐sparing (≥50% steroid dose reduction) remission rates were evaluated over 3 years in patients who were taking corticosteroids at CHARM baseline. Results Of 778 patients randomised in CHARM (including those who did not achieve clinical response to open‐label induction therapy), 313 patients (40%) were on corticosteroids at baseline. In the 206 patients randomised to adalimumab, rates of steroid‐free remission at 1 year and 3 years were 26% and 23% respectively; corresponding rates were 29% and 25% for steroid‐sparing remission and 32% and 28% for steroid‐free response. Although the incidence of serious infections with adalimumab treatment during CHARM was higher in patients taking steroids at baseline than those who were not, the rates of overall adverse events, serious infections and opportunistic infections were lower in patients who were able to discontinue corticosteroids than those who remained on steroids. Conclusion Adalimumab therapy resulted in modest but clinically meaningful rates of steroid‐free remission, sustained over 3 years of treatment, in a heavily pretreated population of patients with Crohn's disease receiving steroids at the start of therapy ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT00077779).     

Value of wireless capsule endoscopy in patients with indeterminate colitis (inflammatory bowel disease type unclassified)

BACKGROUND: Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) can identify small bowel mucosal lesions not seen with other imaging modalities. This technique can therefore play an important diagnostic role in the evaluation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease type unclassified (IBDU). We report on a multicentric study whose objective was to evaluate the value of WCE to increase diagnostic accuracy in categorizing IBDU. METHODS: Thirty patients with IBDU and negative serology were included. WCE was performed with a standard Pillcam capsule. Outcome measures were classified as suggestive of Crohn's disease (CD) when -3 ulcerations were present. RESULTS: WCE displayed endoscopic features suggestive for CD in 5 patients. In 6 other patients, WCE was negative, but repeated ileocolonoscopy with biopsies performed during follow-up evaluation revealed CD in 5 and ulcerative colitis (UC) in 1 patient. UC was found in a seventh case at colectomy performed just after WCE. Eighteen patients remained with a diagnosis of IBDU 16 months on average after WCE. CONCLUSIONS: WCE is a potentially clinically useful technique for categorizing a subgroup of patients with IBDU, although negative WCE does not exclude further diagnosis of CD. Patients with negative WCE who remain IBDU at follow-up evaluation may belong to an original subgroup of IBD.     

A controlled trial comparing ciprofloxacin with mesalazine for the treatment of active Crohn's disease. Groupe d'Etudes Thérapeutiques des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives (GETAID)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the efficacy of ciprofloxacin compared with mesalazine in treating active Crohn's disease. METHODS: Patients with a mild to moderate flare-up of Crohn's disease (mean Crohn's Disease Activity Index [CDAI]; 217; range, 160-305) were randomized to receive ciprofloxacin 1 g/day or Pentasa 4 g/day for 6 wk. Complete remission was defined at wk 6 as a CDAI < or = 150 associated with a decrease (delta) in CDAI > 75. Partial remission was defined as a CDAI < or = 150 with 50 < delta CDAI < 75 or a CDAI > 150 with delta CDAI > 50 at wk 6. Group sequential procedure with triangular continuation regions was used to monitor the trial through the difference in complete remission rates, every 20 patients included. RESULTS: Inclusion of patients was stopped at the second step, i.e., after 40 inclusions, with the conclusion of no difference in complete remission rates between ciprofloxacin- and Pentasa-treated groups. Among the 18 patients taking ciprofloxacin, two decided to stop treatment during the trial and three were considered as treatment failures because of deterioration at wk 3. Among the 22 patients taking mesalazine, one patient was lost to follow-up and eight patients were considered as treatment failures. Complete remission was observed in 10 patients (56%) treated with ciprofloxacin and 12 patients (55%) treated with mesalazine and partial remission was observed in three and one patient, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ciprofloxacin 1 g/day is as effective as mesalazine 4 g/day in treating mild to moderate flare-up of Crohn's disease.     

Familial Crohn's disease in Belgium: pedigrees, temporal relationships among cases, and family histories

BACKGROUND: Recently we published an analysis of environmental factors in familial Crohn's disease (CD) in Belgium. The aim of the current study was to assess pedigrees and sibships, temporal relationships among cases, and family circumstances relevant to the frequency or onset of CD. STUDY: Twenty-one families with 3 or more affected first-degree relatives were studied. Seventy-four patients with CD and 84 unaffected family members were interviewed together at the parental home, with the aid of a 176 item questionnaire. Pedigrees were constructed establishing which family members had the disease and their relationships within sibships. Dates of onset of disease, validation of first symptoms and circumstances potentially relevant to the onset and distribution of disease within families were among the data documented during the interviews. Sequence of disease within families, consecutive versus nonconsecutive sequence of disease within sibships, and temporal relationships among cases were tabulated. RESULTS: In 12 of the 21 families CD occurred in a parent before CD in any children. Five affected fathers preceded 9 affected children; 7 affected mothers preceded 10 affected children. First borns were affected more frequently. Within sibships there were 21 instances (36%) when an affected sibling was consecutive in birth order with an affected sibling. When a parent had CD before the birth of the first child the "exposure interval" to CD in the children was longer (mean 22.4 y) than when the parent developed CD after the child was born (mean 11.8 y). CONCLUSIONS: The clusterings of CD within sibships and in time suggest that there is a contagious element in the etiology of CD.     

Review of the Lynch syndrome: history, molecular genetics, screening, differential diagnosis, and medicolegal ramifications

Platelets have a central role in the development of arterial thrombosis and subsequent cardiovascular events. An appreciation of this complex process has made antiplatelet therapy the cornerstone of cardiovascular disease management. However, numerous patients will experience a recurrent atherothrombotic vascular event despite adequate antiplatelet therapy. Individual differences in the rate of platelet activation and reactivity markedly influence normal hemostasis and the pathological outcome of thrombosis. Such an individual variability is largely determined by environmental and genetic factors. These are known to either hamper platelets' response to agonists, and thereby mimic the pharmacological modulation of platelet function or mask therapy effect and sensitize platelets. In this article, we reviewed the antiplatelet mechanisms of aspirin and clopidogrel and the possible role of different polymorphisms, which may affect the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy. Heterogeneity in the way patients respond to aspirin and clopidogrel may in part reflect variation in cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, glycoprotein (GP) Ib alpha, GP Ia/IIa, GP IIb/IIIa, UGT1A6*2, P2Y₁, P2Y₁₂, CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genotypes.