大容量肺灌洗治疗矽肺的实验研究

模拟临床灌洗方法对染尘家兔进行大容量肺灌洗，并观察灌洗前后肺泡液中细胞及生化成分变化，为灌洗术的应用性评价提供科学依据。结果显示：灌洗后染尘动物肺泡液中除总磷脂，二棕榈酰卵磷脂（ＤＰＰＣ）外，细胞总数、蛋白质含量、乳酸脱氢酶（ＬＤＨ）、碱性磷酸酶（ＡＫＰ）活性均明显低于同期染尘未灌洗组，差异有显著性，此外还可洗出一定量的ＳｉＯ２粉尘，首次灌洗较第二次灌洗为多。提示：灌洗对矽肺发生发展有一定延缓作用，早期灌洗效果较好。     

煤矿工人实际接尘工龄及脱尘率变动趋势分析

研究煤矿井下工人实际接尘工龄及脱尘率对评价粉尘危险度，进行尘肺发病预测具有重要意义，笔者采用回顾性队列研究方法，对某煤矿１９５８～１９８８年入矿工人实际接尘工龄及脱尘情况进行分析，结果表明：（１）工种对接尘工龄有影响，例如接尘１０年时，采煤工累积脱尘概率为３２．３６％，掘进工为２１．９４％，辅助工为２１．６５％，判别非常显著；（２）接尘工龄与工人进行矿年代有关，累积脱尘率达３０％时，１９５８～１９     

Ammonia clearance by peritoneal dialysis and continuous arteriovenous hemodiafiltration

We report the use of continuous arteriovenous hemodiafiltration (CAVHD) in a neonate with severe hyperammonemia due to a urea cycle disorder. We compared the ammonia clearance (C _NH3) for peritoneal dialysis (PD) and CAVHD. C _NH3 for CAVHD was 7.45 ml/min per m² at a dialysate flow of 300 ml/h and was 10.55 ml/min per m² at a dialysate flow rate of 600 ml/h. The mean PD clearance was 2.15 ml/min per m². Our data suggest that CAVHD is superior to PD for the removal of plasma ammonia. We conclude that CAVHD should be considered a reasonable alternative in the treatment of neonatal hyperammonemia in urea cycle disorders when medical treatment fails. Received September 2, 1997; received in revised form Feburary 26, 1998; accepted March 2, 1998     

TMPRSS6 rs855791 modulates hepcidin transcription in vitro and serum hepcidin levels in normal individuals

The iron hormone hepcidin is inhibited by matriptase-2 (MT2), a liver serine protease encoded by the TMPRSS6 gene. Cleaving the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) coreceptor hemojuvelin (HJV), MT2 impairs the BMP/son of mothers against decapentaplegic homologs (SMAD) signaling pathway, down-regulates hepcidin, and facilitates iron absorption. TMPRSS6 inactivation causes iron-deficiency anemia refractory to iron administration both in humans and mice. Genome-wide association studies have shown that the SNP rs855791, which causes the MT2 V736A amino acid substitution, is associated with variations of serum iron, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte traits. In the present study, we show that, in vitro, MT2 736(A) inhibits hepcidin more efficiently than 736(V). Moreover, in a genotyped population, after exclusion of samples with iron deficiency and inflammation, hepcidin, hepcidin/transferrin saturation, and hepcidin/ferritin ratios were significantly lower and iron parameters were consistently higher in homozygotes 736(A) than in 736(V). Our results indicate that rs855791 is a TMPRSS6 functional variant and strengthen the idea that even a partial inability to modulate hepcidin influences iron parameters and, indirectly, erythropoiesis.     

A case of refractory vasculitic ulcers in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient responding to rituximab and hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Large refractory vasculitic ulcers are not commonly seen in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. We report a case of refractory vasculitic ulcers responding to rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 cells leading to prolonged B cell depletion. This treatment was initiated after treatment with high‐dose steroids and other immunosuppressants were ineffective/associated with significant side‐effects. Following treatment with rituximab, there was sustained clinical improvement and subsequent reduction of prednisolone dose. Rituximab was well‐tolerated. Concomitant methotrexate therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may have aided the recovery of the patient’s vasculitic ulcers. This case and anecdotal reports have illustrated the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of refractory SLE‐related vasculitic ulcers. Further studies to determine the long‐term efficacy and side‐effects would be useful.     

Acceptability and Efficacy of an Emollient Containing Ceramide-Precursor Lipids and Moisturizing Factors for Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Patients

Background

Atopic eczema or dermatitis (AD) is associated with atopy and is characterized by reduced skin hydration and an impaired skin barrier in the epidermis. We investigated the patient acceptability and efficacy of an emollient containing ceramide-precursor lipids and moisturizing factors (LMF) in AD.

Methods

Consecutive AD patients were recruited. Swabs and cultures were obtained from the right antecubital fossa and the worst-affected eczematous area, and disease severity [according to the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) Index], skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured prior to and after 2 weeks’ use of the LMF moisturizer. The general acceptability of treatment was documented as being ‘very good’, ‘good’, ‘fair’, or ‘poor’.

Results

Twenty-four AD patients [mean age 13.8 (standard deviation 5.7) years] were recruited. Two thirds of the patients reported very good or good acceptability of the LMF moisturizer, whereas one third reported fair or poor acceptability. There were no inter-group differences in the pre-use clinical parameters of age, objective SCORAD score, pruritus score, sleep disturbance score, skin hydration, TEWL, topical corticosteroid use, oral antihistamine use, or acceptability of previously used proprietary emollients. However, patients in the fair/poor acceptability group were more likely to have Staphylococcus aureus colonization and to be female (odds ratio 13, 95 % confidence interval 1.7–99.4; p = 0.021). Following use of the LMF moisturizer, the objective SCORAD score, pruritus score, and sleep disturbance score were lower in the very good/good acceptability group than in the fair/poor acceptability group. The mean objective SCORAD score improved (from 31.5 to 25.7; p = 0.039) and skin hydration improved [from 30.7 arbitrary units (a.u.) to 36.0 a.u.; p = 0.021] in the very good/good acceptability group. When the data were analyzed for the strength of the agreement of the rating of acceptability, the κ values were 0.338 (fair) for use of body wash and 0.118 (poor) for use of emollients before and after the trial.

Conclusion

The LMF moisturizer was considered acceptable by two thirds of the patients with AD. It seems that patients who found the moisturizer acceptable were less likely to be female or to be colonized by S. aureus before switching to the product, and they had less severe eczema, less pruritus, and less sleep disturbance after its use than patients who did not find the product acceptable. Gender and S. aureus colonization may have influenced the patient acceptability and clinical efficacy of the LMF moisturizer. The lack of agreement with regard to the acceptability of the moisturizer implies that there is room for parent/patient education to improve compliance.