Vampires 2.0? The ethical quandaries of young blood infusion in the quest for eternal life

Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy - Can transfusions of blood plasma slow down ageing or even rejuvenate people? Recent preclinical studies and experimental tests inspired by the technique known...     

Impact of new technologies on diabetes care

Technologies for diabetes management, such as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, have improved remarkably over the last decades. These developments are impacting the capacity to achieve recommended hemoglobin A1c levels and assisting in preventing the development and progression of micro- and macro vascular complications. While improvements in metabolic control and decreases in risk of severe and moderate hypoglycemia have been described with use of these technologies, large epidemiological international studies show that many patients are still unable to meet their glycemic goals, even when these technologies are used. This editorial will review the impact of technology on glycemic control, hypoglycemia and quality of life in children and youth with type 1 diabetes. Technologies reviewed include CSII, CGM systems and sensor-augmented insulin pumps. In addition, the usefulness of advanced functions such as bolus profiles, bolus calculators and threshold-suspend features will be also discussed. Moreover, the current editorial will explore the challenges of using these technologies. Indeed, despite the evidence currently available of the potential benefits of using advanced technologies in diabetes management, many patients still report barriers to using them. Finally this article will highlight the importance of future studies tailored toward overcome these barriers to optimizing glycemic control and avoiding severe hypoglycemia.     

40岁以上高龄女性体外受精-胚胎移植妊娠结局分析

目的：探讨40岁以上高龄女性体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）的妊娠结局，旨在为高龄女性提供生育咨询以及为改善高龄女性个体化辅助生殖治疗结局提供临床依据。方法：选择我院生殖中心2015年1月—2017年12月女方年龄≥40岁且使用自身卵子行体外受精的共2 467个治疗周期资料，对各项临床数据进行回顾性分析。结果：40岁及以上行辅助生殖治疗的患者，随着女性年龄增加获卵数明显减少（40～48岁女性平均获卵数分别为2.97、 2.69、2.17、2.01、1.77、1.61、1.68、1.29和1.00，44～48岁与40～43岁依次组间比较均P＜0.05），尤其是44岁以上女性胚胎发育潜能明显降低（40～48岁囊胚形成率分别为48.90%、43.72%、33.67%、34.29%、24.39%、21.14%、26.32%、16.67%和0%，44～48岁与40～43岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）。共有518个周期行新鲜胚胎移植，结果显示，随女性年龄增加，临床妊娠率（40～48岁临床妊娠率分别为26.92%、21.15%、20.79%、10.96%、18.87%、11.11%、5.88%、0%和0%，43～48岁与40～42岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）、种植率（40～48岁种植率分别为23.65%、19.51%、17.70%、8.54%、7.49%、10.81%、5.56%、0%和0%，43～48岁与40～42岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）和活产率均显著降低（40～46岁活产率分别为18.46%、10.58%、9.90%、5.48%、5.66%、2.78%和5.88%，43～46岁与40～42岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05），43岁以上者结局更差。44岁以上女性自然流产率明显增高（40～45岁流产率分别为31.43%、50.00%、52.38%、50.00%、70.00%和75.00%，44～45岁与40～43岁组间依次比较均P＜0.05）。46岁女性仅1例妊娠并分娩，47岁和48岁女性均无成功妊娠。与抗苗勒管激素（AMH）＞1.0 ng/mL组相比，AMH≤1.0 ng/mL组妊娠率、种植率及活产率均显著下降（27.04% vs. 14.74%，22.99% vs. 13.50%，15.88% vs. 7.37%；均P＜0.05），流产率明显升高（41.27% vs. 50.00%，P＜0.05）。结论：≥40岁高龄女性随年龄增长生育力逐渐降低。40～43岁年龄段女性助孕仍有一定的价值，尤其是卵巢仍有一定储备者（AMH＞1.0 ng/mL），但44岁以上女性原则上不再建议ART助孕，对于46岁以上卵巢功能衰竭的女性强烈建议卵子捐赠或收养。     

Developing an Educational Framework for Urological Nursing: Using a World Café approach to gain an emerging international understanding of issues,challenges and responses

A series of three World Café events centred on the topic of developing an Educational Framework for Urological Nursing [EFUN] were held by the British Association of Urological Nurses [BAUN], the European Association of Urology Nurses [EAUN] and the Australian and New Zealand Urological Nursing Society [ANZUNS] between 2017 and 2019. About 376 urology nurses participated in these “conversations that matter” and generated 1047 individual response items that were grouped into themes to assist the three associations to take the creation of an EFUN to the next level. Areas explored centred on four aspects: what any agreed educational framework for urology nursing should contain; the academic level at which education should be provided; who should be recruited as collaborators on writing an educational framework and, lastly, just how any emergent framework should be used. Analysis of the conversational data indicate that there exists within the urological nursing community a collective wisdom regarding their educational needs and how these needs should be met.     

a-1, 2岩藻糖基转移酶II在肺鳞癌组织中的表达及对肺鳞癌细胞增殖的影响

目的：探讨a-1，2岩藻糖基转移酶II（FUT2）在肺鳞癌中的表达情况及其对肺鳞癌细胞增殖的影响。方法：应用UALCAN数据库分析FUT2在临床肺鳞癌患者组织中的差异表达及其与肺鳞癌患者临床TNM分期、年龄及性别因素的相关性；采用瞬时转染技术，将FUT2的shRNA质粒转染进H226细胞株中构建FUT2低表达的肺鳞癌细胞模型；利用CCK-8、平板克隆及Western blot实验检测FUT2对肺鳞癌细胞的生长、单克隆细胞团形成及PCNA蛋白表达的影响。结果：FUT2在肺鳞癌尤其是肺鳞癌TNM早中期呈现高表达趋势（P＜0.05），而与年龄和性别无关。低表达FUT2可以抑制肺鳞癌细胞的生长速率和单克隆细胞团的形成数，同时，可以抑制肺鳞癌细胞PCNA蛋白的表达水平，差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论：FUT2在肺鳞癌中高表达且促进肺鳞癌细胞的增殖能力，有望成为肺鳞癌的早期诊断指标。     

可吸收明胶海绵棒在椎弓根内止血的应用

[目的]观察评价可吸收明胶海绵棒在椎弓根置钉过程中的止血效果。[方法]2017年10月~2018年6月,48例胸腰椎骨折即将行后路手术的患者纳入本研究,采用随机数字表法分为明胶海绵组和骨蜡组。明胶海绵组共23例,置钉过程中应用明胶海绵棒填塞至椎弓根孔道止血;骨蜡组共25例,在透视定位时应用骨蜡封闭椎弓根孔道。记录置钉情况;记录术中出血量、自体血回输量、置钉过程中的出血量、输血量;检测术前和术后5 d RBC、HB和HCT。[结果]两组在置钉总数、伤椎置钉数、伤椎位置各椎置钉数量的差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。术后两组各出现1例小腿肌间静脉血栓,抗凝治疗后于复查时消失。术后两组均无明胶海绵或骨蜡导致的不良反应。两组在术中出血量、术中自体血回收量、输血量的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但明胶海绵组上述指标均小于骨蜡组。每钉置入过程中明胶海绵组的出血量显著少于骨蜡组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组术后5 d的RBC、HB和HCT均较术前显著减少,两时间点间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术前两组在RBC、HB和HCT的差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),术后5 d两组在RBC、HB和HCT的差异亦均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。[结论]应用明胶海绵棒填塞椎弓根孔道止血可显著减少安置椎弓根螺钉过程中的出血,是一种简单、安全、有效的脊柱外科术中止血方法。     

m6A结合蛋白IGF2BP1在肝细胞癌中的基因调控网络分析

目的 分析m6A阅读器胰岛素样生长因子2-mRNA结合蛋白1（insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1，IGF2BP1）在肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma，HCC）中的表达水平及其对HCC患者预后的影响，并探讨IGF2BP1在HCC发生发展中的作用及其潜在机制。方法 基于5对HCC癌及相应癌旁组织mRNA-seq数据和TCGA数据库LIHC的mRNA-seq数据综合分析IGF2BP1在HCC中的表达情况，同时利用TCGA数据库中343例HCC患者的临床随访资料分析IGF2BP1表达水平对HCC患者总生存期的影响。基于TCGA数据库筛选IGF2BP1的共表达mRNA，并利用m6Avar在线网站预测mRNA的m6A位点及其RNA结合蛋白等信息，最终构建IGF2BP1的基因调控网络。结果 IGF2BP1基因在HCC中表达上调（log2FC HCC转录组数据=10.684，P<0.001；log2FC TCGA-LIHC数据集=7.032，P<0.001）。生存分析显示IGF2BP1低表达的HCC患者中位生存时间为5.84年，IGF2BP1高表达患者为4.44年，高表达患者总生存期缩短（P=0.011）。22个差异表达的mRNA与IGF2BP1存在靶向结合关系，并与其表达水平呈正相关。其中，HMGA2等15个高表达mRNA的HCC患者总生存期缩短。HMGA2、PEG10、CEP55、RHO、CDC6和KIF23基因中的潜在m6A甲基化位点位于mRNA 3'UTR端的miRNA结合区域。结论 IGF2BP1在HCC中高表达且导致患者总生存期缩短。IGF2BP1可能通过m6A甲基化及miRNA抑制作用的方式上调mRNA的表达，促进HCC发生并导致不良预后。