Subconjunctival Injection of Regulatory T Cells Potentiates Corneal Healing Via Orchestrating Inflammation and Tissue Repair After Acute Alkali Burn

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of locally delivered regulatory T cells (Tregs) on acute corneal wound healing after alkali burn.MethodsAfter corneal alkali burn, the mice were injected subconjunctivally with regulatory T cells (Tregs) isolated from syngeneic mice. The wound healing process was monitored by clinical manifestation, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As amphiregulin (Areg) was significantly upregulated, its reparative function in injured corneas was suggested. The hypothesis was further verified via loss- and gain-of-function experiments by administrating the antibody of Areg (anti-Areg) and recombinant Areg (rmAreg).ResultsSubconjunctivally injected Tregs rapidly migrated to injured corneas. The mice treated with Tregs showed prominently reduced corneal opacity, alleviated edema, and faster re-epithelialization compared with the control group. Mechanistically, Treg treatment led to suppressed infiltration of inflammatory cells, along with improved proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells. Tregs expressed upregulated functional markers, including Areg. Expectantly, the levels of Areg in corneas were dramatically higher in the Treg injection group, in line with better corneal restoration. Additional experiments showed that the administration of anti-Areg blunted the reparative effect of Tregs, while exogenous Areg enhanced it. Treg-treated corneas also exhibited less neovascularization and fibrosis at a later reconstruction stage of corneal repair.ConclusionsThe findings showed that the subconjunctival injection of Tregs effectively promoted corneal wound healing by inhibiting excessive inflammation and enhancing epithelial regeneration, with an indispensable reparative role of Areg. Subsequent complications of corneal vascularization and fibrosis were therefore reduced.     

谢强中医围手术期平衡康复疗法结合电子喉镜手术治疗声带息肉60例疗效观察

目的:比较谢强中医围手术期平衡康复疗法结合电子喉镜手术与电子喉镜手术结合药物治疗声带息肉的疗效差异。方法:将120例声带息肉患者随机分为两组,每组60例。试验组电子喉镜手术前均予以"开音1号"和"开音2号"穴、内关穴、三阴交穴针刺;术后予以"开音1号"和"开音2号"穴、合谷穴、足三里穴针刺。对照组采用电子喉镜手术,术后口服抗生素及激素治疗。两组均治疗10d。结果:两组患者疗效比较,治疗后两组症状总积分均下降(P<0.05,P<0.01),且试验组症状总积分的改善优于对照组(P<0.05);试验组愈显率为95%,优于对照组的65%(P<0.05)。结论:谢氏围手术期中医平衡康复疗法结合电子喉镜手术治疗声带息肉优于电子喉镜手术结合药物治疗。     

Expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in the BSA-overloaded rats kidney

Objective To observe NLRP3 inflammasome expression and inflammatory cells infiltration in the BSA-overloaded rats kidney, and to investigate the potential mechanism of renal injury induced by proteinuria. Methods After unilateral right nephrectomy, eighteen healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: protein overload nephropathy model group (n=10), treated with intraperitoneal injections of bovine serum albumin (BSA); control group (n=8), treated with intraperitoneal injections of 0.9% saline for 9 weeks. Body weigh were measured every week and 24 h urine were collected in 0, 2, 5, 7, 9 week. The plasma levels of blood total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined by automatic analyzers. Renal pathological changes were evaluated by PAS and Masson stains. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18, as well as the types of inflammatory cells. The NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 protein and mRNA levels were also analyzed by Western blot and real-time PCR in two groups. Results It was found that there was a significant increase of proteinuria and BUN in model group compare to that in control group (all P＜0.05). However, there were no significant changes in body weight, TP, Alb and Scr between the two groups. Morphological study demonstrated that renal tubular epithelial cell injury, proteinaceous casts in tubular lumen, accompanying with the dominant macrophages and lymphocytes infiltration in interstitium in model group. The immunohistochemistry showed that there were more T (CD3+), B cells (CD20+) and macrophages (CD68+) in renal interstitium in model group than that in control group (P＜0.05). Tubulointerstitial injury score was higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05). Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and real-time PCR all showed that the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-18 and IL-1 β were significantly increased compared to those in control group (P＜0.05). Furthermore, there were significant correlations between proteinuria and IL-1β/IL-18 expression (P＜0.05). Conclusion NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in tubulointerstitial inflammation caused by proteinuria.     

显微镜与内镜下不同纵裂入路的结构显露特点及其解剖结构标志定位

目的探讨显微镜与内镜下不同纵裂入路的结构显露特点及解剖结构标志定位。方法成人尸头10具,分为A组和B组,每组5具,分别采用经前额纵裂入路和经纵裂胼胝体脉络膜裂入路联合室内孔入路,在显微镜和内镜下观察内部结构。结果显微镜与内镜下经前额纵裂入路微创并可充分显露和定位鞍区和第三脑室,有利于切除第三脑室前部和鞍区肿瘤,而经纵裂胼胝体脉络膜裂入路联合室内孔入路微创并可充分显露和定位第三脑室及侧脑室解剖结构,有利于第三脑室、房部、体部及侧脑室额角的手术操作。结论两种纵裂入路均可在显微镜、内镜下充分显露第三脑室等部分结构,组织创伤小,临床上可根据病变特点和手术需求选择合理的入路方式。     

1对患Axenfeld-Riger综合征双胞胎病人的治疗和护理

Axenfeld-Riger综合征是以双眼发育性缺陷,伴有或不伴有全身发育异常为特点的一组发育性疾病,表现为双眼发育性缺陷,继发性青光眼,可伴有全身发育异常,多为牙骨和面骨异常,为常染色体的显性遗传,多有家族史,男女相同[1].临床特点表现为:双眼发病, 视力减退,角膜后胚胎环,前房角异常,虹膜角膜粘连,虹膜发育异常,无瞳,瞳孔异位,多瞳等.我科于2006年7月收治了1对患有Axenfeld-Riger综合征的双胞胎姐妹病人,现将治疗和护理报告如下.     

基于“魂魄飞扬”的多梦症病机探讨

多梦症是指睡眠不实,睡眠中梦境纷纭不休,醒后神疲乏力、头昏的一种病症。根据多梦症的临床表现,结合古代医籍,笔者提出"魂魄飞扬"是多梦症的发病机制,认为因脏腑虚损或邪气侵扰而出现魂不定、魄不平,发病为"多梦症",据此提出"定魂平魄"的治疗法则,临证治疗时根据患者病因病症灵活用药,可平肝定魂、益肺平魄,使得魂定于肝,魄平于肺。     

A Retrospective Quasi-Experimental Study of a Transitional Housing Program for Patients with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

Transitional housing programs aim to improve living skills and housing stability for tenuously housed patients with mental illness. 113 consecutive Transitional Housing Team (THT) patients were matched to 139 controls on diagnosis, time of presentation, gender and prior psychiatric hospitalisation and compared using a difference-in-difference analysis for illness acuity and service use outcomes measured 1 year before and after THT entry/exit. There was a statistically significant difference-in-difference favouring THT participants for bed days (mean difference in difference ?20.76 days, SE 9.59, p = 0.031) and living conditions (HoNOS Q11 mean difference in difference ?0.93, SE 0.23, p < 0.001). THT cost less per participant (I$14,024) than the bed-days averted (I$17,348). The findings of reductions in bed days and improved living conditions suggest that transitional housing programs can have a significant positive impact for tenuously housed patients with high inpatient service usage, as well as saving costs for mental health services.     

Traumatic events and their relative PTSD burden in Northern Ireland: a consideration of the impact of the ‘Troubles’

Purpose

Over a 30-year period in its recent history, daily life in Northern Ireland (NI) was characterised by civil violence, colloquially termed as the ‘Troubles’. The current report examines exposure to 29 traumatic event types and the associated conditional prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the Northern Ireland population, with a focus on the impact of traumatic events that were characteristic of the NI ‘Troubles’.

Method

Results presented are based on analysis of data from the Northern Ireland Study of Health and Stress (NISHS). The NISHS is a representative epidemiological study of mental health among the NI adult population (N = 4,340) and part of the World Mental Health Survey Initiative.

Results

Perpetration of violence, physical assault by a spouse or partner and private events were the event types associated with the highest conditional prevalence of PTSD. Despite this elevated risk, collectively these events accounted for just 16.8 % of the overall public burden of PTSD, given their low prevalence among the general population. Events that were characteristic of civil conflict, including unexpected death of a loved one, witnessing death or a dead body or someone seriously injured and being mugged or threatened with a weapon accounted for the highest proportion of the overall public health burden of PTSD (18.6, 9.4 and 7.8 %, respectively). These findings are a feature of the higher prevalence of these events among the general population coupled with their moderate to above average risk of PTSD.

Conclusions

Despite the formal end to conflict in NI in 1999, a substantial proportion of the adult population continue to suffer the adverse mental health effects of chronic trauma exposure. Given rates of recovery of PTSD in the absence of evidence-based treatments, it is likely that the legacy of mental ill health associated with conflict, if not adequately addressed, will endure for many years.     

Pharmacogenomics in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is a common cancer worldwide. For patients presenting with muscle-invasive disease, the 5-year survival rate is approximately 50%. Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy is recommended in the neoadjuvant setting before cystectomy and is also the first line in the metastatic setting. However, the survival benefit of such therapy is modest. The identification of pharmacogenomic biomarkers would enable the rational and personalized treatment of patients by selecting those patients that would benefit most from such therapies sparing others the unnecessary toxicity. Conventional therapies would be recommended for an expected responder, whereas a nonresponder would be considered for alternative therapies selected on the basis of the individual's molecular profile. Although few effective bladder cancer therapies have been introduced in the past 30 years, several targeted therapies against the molecular drivers of bladder cancer appear promising. This review summarizes pharmacogenomic biomarkers that require further investigation or prospective evaluation or both, and publicly available tools for drug discovery and biomarker identification from in vitro data.