Red blood cell distribution width and its relation to cardiac function and biomarkers in a prospective hospital cohort referred for echocardiography

BackgroundRed blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of anisocytosis, is a prognostic biomarker for heart failure (HF). However it is still unclear how RDW is associated with heart function and established cardiac biomarkers.Methods and resultsIn a prospective hospital cohort of 296 patients referred for echocardiography because of suspected HF, blood sampling and clinical examination were performed within 24 h after echocardiography. The patients were divided into four HF groups, including one group where the HF diagnosis was uncertain (gray zone). In the patients the mean age was 70 ± 11 years, 44% with systolic HF (SHF), 18% with heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF), 17% with gray zone and 21% without HF (non-HF). RDW was higher among patients with SHF and HFNEF, compared with gray zone and non-HF patients. The distribution of different variables over the RDW quartiles showed an inverse correlation between RDW levels and LVEF and a positive correlation between RDW and NT-proBNP levels. Further analysis with stepwise multiple linear regression demonstrated that NT-proBNP levels, but not LVEF, were independently correlated with RDW.ConclusionIn patients referred for echocardiography because of suspected HF, RDW levels were higher in patients with SHF and HFNEF. Moreover, NT-proBNP levels were independently linked with elevated RDW.     

Heat‐killed Propionibacterium acnes is capable of inducing inflammatory responses in skin

Abstract: The etiology of acne is a complex process, and acne is one of the most common skin disorders affecting millions of people. The pathogenesis of acne is closely associated with the bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes which was previously known as Corynebacterium parvum. Both viable and non‐viable P. acnes/C. parvum have been shown to induce an immunostimulatory effect in vivo, suggesting that even dead bacteria continue to activate an inflammatory response. Acne treatments with lasers or devices, induce a bactericidal effect through heat generation which may not address the immunogenic activity of P. acnes and the resulting acne inflammation. Therefore, we sought to determine whether killed P. acnes is capable of inducing an inflammatory response and therefore could be a contributing factor in acne. Direct heat treatment of P. acnes cultures with temperatures ranging from 50°C to 80°C reduced P. acnes viability. Both viable and heat‐killed P. acnes activated the p38 MAP kinase and its downstream substrate Hsp27. Stimulating keratinocytes with normal and heat‐inactivated P. acnes resulted in an induction of proinflammatory nitric oxide and IL‐8 production. Thus killed P. acnes is capable of inducing inflammation in skin suggesting that therapies that have both bactericidal and anti‐inflammatory effects may result in a more effective treatment of patients with acne than treatments that are bactericidal alone.     

插入式微波天线阵列诱导高温原位灭活肢体肿瘤术的配合

作者报道了492例插入式微波天线阵列诱导高温原位灭活治疗肢体肿瘤的手术配合体会,强调充分的术前准备,严格的无菌无瘤操作,与麻醉师的密切协助以及微波治疗仪的正确使用、消毒和保养,是新技术得以顺利展开的重要保证。     

Mitogen-activated protein kinase contributes to lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone synthesizing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

To determine whether the p44/p42 MAPK (ERK1/2) signaling pathway is involved in the activation of CRH-containing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) after bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, Sprague Dawley rats were injected with LPS, and studied after 2, 6, 9, and 12 h. In saline-treated controls, isolated weak phosphorylated (phospho)ERK1/2 immunoreactive neurons were observed in the PVN. However, a dramatic increase in phospho-ERK1/2 immunoreactivity was apparent in the PVN 2 h after LPS administration, and gradually declined to baseline levels 9-12 h after injection. By double-labeling immunofluorescence, all CRH-containing neurons in the PVN contained phospho-ERK1/2 2 h after LPS. Intracerebroventricular administration of the MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, prevented LPS-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, c-fos activation, and the increase of CRH gene expression in the PVN but had no effect on c-fos activation in brainstem A2-C1/C2 regions. We conclude that LPS rapidly increases the phospho-ERK1/2 in CRH-containing neurons in the PVN and that activation of MAPKs is necessary for LPS-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.     

极固宁与氟化钠甘油糊剂治疗牙本质敏感症的疗效比较

目的比较极固宁与氟化钠甘油糊剂治疗牙本质敏感症的临床疗效。方法将我院就诊的100例患者的160颗患牙分为观察组和对照组。对照组采用氟化钠甘油糊剂治疗;观察组采用极固宁治疗。结果治疗15min后,观察组总有效率93．75％高于对照组总有效率78．75％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;治疗1个月后,观察组总有效率88．75％高于对照组总有效率71．25％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论极固宁治疗牙本质敏感症疗效可靠、作用迅速而持久,是一种较理想的牙本质脱敏剂。     

Bendamustine and prednisone in combination with bortezomib (BPV) in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and light chain-induced renal failure

Introduction

Serious renal failure represents a severe complication of multiple myeloma (MM), with an estimated 25–50 % of patients being affected. Both bortezomib and bendamustine have been identified as quickly acting, effective and well-tolerated drugs and might therefore constitute an adequate combination regimen for patients presenting with light chain-induced renal failure.

Methods

Between March 2005 and March 2013, 36 patients with relapsed/refractory MM and light chain-induced renal failure (creatinine clearance <60 ml/min) were treated with bendamustine 60 mg/m² on days 1 and 2, bortezomib 1.3 mg/m² on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 and prednisone 100 mg on days 1, 2, 4, 8 and 11 (BPV). Patients were divided according to severity of renal impairment into group A (n = 20) with moderate or severe renal dysfunction (eGFR 15–59 ml/min) and group B (n = 16) with renal failure/dialysis (eGFR <15 ml/min).

Results

Twenty-four patients (67 %) responded with three CR, three nCR, six VGPR and 12 PR. Six patients had minor response, two stable and four progressive disease. With a median follow-up period of 22 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients of group A were 10 and 25 months, respectively. This outcome was significantly better compared to patients of group B with a median PFS and OS of 3 and 7 months, respectively. Eleven patients showed a CRrenal, five a PRrenal and 15 a MRrenal.

Summary

These results indicate that this BPV combination is feasible, effective and well tolerated in patients with relapsed/refractory MM and light chain-induced renal failure.     

131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy of neuroblastomas

Sixteen neuroblastoma patients have been studied by 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy. Three patients were possibly cured, and their scintigraphy results were normal. Thirteen patients had tumors and metastases demonstrated by 131I-MIBG, two of these patients had a normal vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) excretion level. One patient has been treated by 131I-MIBG, but died. 131I-MIBG was concentrated in other cells too, eg, in erythrocytes and platelets.