Next-generation Sequencing Study of Pathogens in Serum from Patients with Febrile Jaundice in Sierra Leone

Objective People in Western Africa suffer greatly from febrile jaundice, which is caused by a variety of pathogens. However, yellow fever virus(YFV) is the only pathogen under surveillance in Sierra Leone owing to the undeveloped medical and public health system there. Most of the results of YFV identification are negative. Elucidation of the pathogen spectrum is required to reduce the prevalence of febrile jaundice. Methods In the present study, we used Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencing to profile the pathogen spectrum in archived YFV‐negative sera from 96 patients in Sierra Leone who presented with unexplained febrile jaundice. Results The most frequently identified sequencing reads belonged to the following pathogens: cytomegalovirus(89.58%), Epstein‐Barr virus(55.21%), hepatitis C virus(34.38%), rhinovirus(28.13%), hepatitis A virus(20.83%), coxsackievirus(10.42%), Ebola virus(8.33%), hepatitis E virus(8.33%), lyssavirus(4.17%), leptospirosis(4.17%), chikungunya virus(2.08%), Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever virus(1.04%), and hepatitis B virus(1.04%). Conclusion The distribution of sequencing reads suggests a broader spectrum of pathogens for consideration in clinical diagnostics and epidemiological surveillance in Sierra Leone.     

Can a leukocyte depletion filter (LDF) reduce the risk of reintroduction of hepatocellular carcinoma cells?

During liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, HCC could theoretically be introduced into the systemic circulation when salvaged blood is used with an autotransfusion device. Several reports have shown that some types of leukocyte depletion filters (LDFs) could completely reduce the risk for reintroducing some types of tumor cells. In this study, we tested the ability of the LDF (RCEZ1T, Pall Biomedical Co, NY, USA) to reduce the risk for reintroducing HCC cells in vitro by using a very sensitive detection method. We divided the test group into 6 groups: group I was 10 cells, group II was 20 cells, group III was 2 x 10(3) cells, group IV was 2 x 10(5) cells, group V was 2 x 10(6) cells, and group VI was 2 x 10(7) cells. The counted cells in 200 mL saline were passed through the RCEZ1T using the force of gravity. To identify the presence of cells, the pellet was resuspended, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a housekeeping gene, was used as a primer. In groups I and II, the HCC cells were completely filtered in all experiments. However, in groups III, IV, and V, the HCC cells were not completely filtered in a few of the repeated experiments, with the unfiltered rate of tumor cells being between 8% and 20%. In group VI, the HCC cells were not completely filtered in all the repeated experiments. In conclusion, the RCEZ1T filter markedly reduced the risk for reintroduction of HCC cells. However, at high HCC cell load the filter cannot completely remove all the tumor cells. Further studies are required to assess the impact in clinical settings.     

Relations Between Pathological Markers and Radioiodine Scan and 18F-FDG PET/CT Findings in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients With Recurrent Cervical Nodal Metastases

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between the immunohistochemical results and radioiodine scan and ¹⁸F-FDG PET findings in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with recurrent cervical nodal metastases.

Methods

A total of 46 PTC patients who had undergone a radioiodine scan and/or ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and a subsequent operation on recurrent cervical lymph nodes were enrolled. Twenty-seven patients underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, 8 underwent radioiodine scans, and 11 underwent both scans. In all surgical specimens, the immunoexpressions of thyroglobulin (Tg), sodium-iodide symporter (NIS), glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1), and somatostatin receptor 1 and 2A (SSTR1 and SSTR2A) were assessed, and associations between these expressions and radioiodine scan and ¹⁸F-FDG PET findings were evaluated.

Results

Of the 38 patients who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, all patients with weak Tg expression had positive ¹⁸F-FDG uptake, while only 45 % of the patients with moderate or strong Tg expression showed positive uptake (p = 0.01). The proportion of patients with positive ¹⁸F-FDG uptake increased as the degree of Glut-1 expression with luminal accentuation increased. Of the 19 patients who underwent a radioiodine scan, the proportion with positive radioiodine uptake was greater among patients with strong NIS and SSTR2A expression than among patients expressing these markers at weak levels (p = 0.04 for all). All three patients with weak Tg expression were negative for radioiodine uptake.

Conclusion

The ¹⁸F-FDG uptakes of recurrent cervical nodes are related to strong Glut-1 expression with luminal accentuation and weak Tg expression, whereas radioiodine uptake is related to the strong expressions of NIS and SSTR2A.     

凋亡相关基因产物Fas／APO—1和bcl—2蛋白在肾癌组织中的表达及 …

目的 研究凋亡相关基因Ｆａｓ／ＡＰＯ－１和ｂｃｌ－２在肾癌发生发展中的作用。方法 采用免疫组织化学法对３５例肾癌组织和２６例远离肾癌的正常肾组织Ｆａｓ／ＡＰＯ－１和ｂｃｌ－２蛋白的表达进行检测。结果 肾癌组织Ｆａｓ／ＡＰＯ－１蛋白表达率５７．１４％,明显低于正常肾组织中的表达率（８４．６２％,Ｐ〈０．０５）,且表达强度也明显低下;而ｂｃｌ－２蛋白表达率为８０．０％,明显高于正常肾组织中的表达率（５     

应用背阔肌肌皮瓣保留高压电烧伤后肘关节及功能

目的探索上肢严重高压电烧伤患者保留肘关节及其功能的手术方法。方法 1984年以来,设计背阔肌肌皮瓣单极移位修复肘部深度烧伤创面,同时以背阔肌作动力重建屈肘功能,使既往不得不被截除的肘关节得以保留,并恢复功能。结果运用该方法共治疗8例病人,10个肢体,移位肌皮瓣全部成活;6个肢体肘部创面甲级愈合,4个肢体经换药后愈合;5个肢体肘关节功能恢复良好,2个肢体经进一步肘关节松解术后,功能亦得以恢复,余3个肢体(2例)失访,结果不详。结论该手术方法优点显著,效果良好。     

重组人脑利钠肽治疗高原肺水肿的肺动脉压变化

目的 观察重组人脑利钠肽（rhBNP）治疗高原肺水肿（HAPE）的肺动脉平均压（MPAP）变化情况,进一步明确rhBNP治疗HAPE的机制.方法 收集我院2011年2月~2012年10月收治的HAPE患者98例,随机分为常规治疗组和rhBNP组.两组入院后都给予吸氧、利尿、镇静、扩张支气管、减轻心脏负荷等处理,rhBNP组同时给予rhBNP治疗,然后监测两组入院前及治疗24 h后MPAP的变化,比较两组降MPAP效果.结果治疗24 h后,rhBNP组MPAP较对照组明显降低（P＜0.01）,rhBNP组未发生药物相关的不良事件.结论 肺动脉压升高是HAPE的机制之一,rhBNP可降低HAPE患者的MPAP,为其治疗HAPE提供了理论依据.     

Xenotransplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells for repair of osteochondral defects in rabbits using osteochondral biphasic composite constructs

Purpose

The aim of this work is to investigate the feasibility of non-autologous transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with or without differentiation for the regeneration of osteochondral defects in rabbits using a biphasic composite construct composed of platelet-rich fibrin glue (PR-FG) and hydroxyapatite.

Methods

After isolation and culture, hMSCs were seeded on biphasic composite constructs (hydroxyapatite + PR-FG) and transplanted into osteochondral defects of adult New Zealand white rabbits. Treatment of individual defects was applied by random assignment to one of five groups: (1) control, defects untreated; (2) hydroxyapatite, defects filled with hydroxyapatite only; (3) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG, defects filled with a composite of hydroxyapatite and PR-FG; (4) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG + undifferentiated hMSCs; and (5) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG + differentiated hMSCs. Rabbits were killed at 4 or 8 weeks post-surgery, at which time osteochondral repair was macroscopically and histologically evaluated and scored using the modified International Cartilage Repair Society scoring system.

Results

The group in which defects were seeded with differentiated hMSCs (group 5) showed superior healing of osteochondral defects based on macroscopic and histological observations compared to other groups. Specifically, 8 weeks after implantation, defects were filled with more hyaline-like cartilage and were better integrated with the surrounding native cartilage. The histological scores were significantly better than those of other groups (16.3 at 8 weeks, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Xenogeneic transplantation of differentiated hMSCs using a biphasic composite construct effectively repaired osteochondral defect in a rabbit model. Differentiated hMSCs showed superior healing of chondral lesion to undifferentiated hMSCs.     

Clinical Significance of an Early Protocol Biopsy in Living-Donor Renal Transplantation: Ten-Year Experience at a Single Center

We report here our 10-year experience of a biopsy performed at day 14 after transplantation in 304 patients with stable graft function. The factors that may have influenced subclinical rejection were analyzed according to histology. The incidence of subclinical rejection was 13.2%. Addition of mycophenolate mofetile (MMF) as a primary immunosuppressant significantly decreased the incidence of subclinical rejection compared with patients without such treatment (odds ratio, 0.23; p < 0.05). On the other hand, HLA-DR antigen mismatch (odds ratio, 2.39) and unrelated donor (odds ratio, 2.10) were also significantly associated with decreased subclinical rejection (p < 0.05). The incidence of acute rejection in patients with normal findings was lower than in those with borderline changes or subclinical rejection (0.23 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.07 and 0.60 +/- 0.11, respectively; p < 0.05). The graft survival rates in patients with subclinical rejection were lower than in patients with normal or borderline changes at 1 (88.4% vs. 97.9% and 99.1%; p < 0.05), 5 (77.8% vs. 96.2% and 95.9%; p < 0.05) and 10 (62.3% vs. 96.2% and 93.7%; p < 0.05) years. Thus, a protocol biopsy performed on day 14 after transplantation is useful for predicting graft survival. Triple therapy including MMF, related donor and HLA-DR antigen match are important factors for reducing subclinical rejection in living-donor renal transplantation.     

The effect of phenytoin on rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block in the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation

Anticonvulsant therapy alters the action of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants. We determined the effects of acute and chronic administration of phenytoin on rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block using the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation. Rats were divided into 3 groups: a saline control group (n = 10), an acute phenytoin-treated group (n = 30), and a chronic phenytoin-pretreated group (n = 30). Phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm was dissected, mounted in a bath containing oxygenated Krebs solution, and the nerve was stimulated at supramaximal intensity. Single twitch responses were recorded by physiogram. In the acute phenytoin-treated group, acute effects of phenytoin were determined based on the phenytoin concentration of 1, 10, or 100 microg/mL in the bath. The chronic effects of phenytoin were determined using phrenic nerve-diaphragms from rats pretreated with phenytoin (50 mg/kg/d) for 1, 7, or 28 days. In rats with phenytoin 100 microg/mL in the bath, all concentrations of rocuronium produced twitch depression significantly different from those of other groups (P < 0.05), and the concentration-response curve shifted to the left. In rats with phenytoin 10 microg/mL in the bath, the effective concentrations for 50%, 90%, and 95% twitch depression values were significantly different from those of the control group (P < 0.05). In chronically (28 days) phenytoin-pretreated rats, the concentration-response curve significantly shifted to the right (P < 0.05). These findings show that acute administration of phenytoin augmented the neuromuscular blocking effects of rocuronium, whereas chronic phenytoin treatment causes resistance to the neuromuscular blocking effects of rocuronium in target organs.     

汶川地震救援人员创伤后应激障碍状况调查

目的调查汶川地震救援人员创伤后应激障碍(post-traumatic stress disorder,PTSD)状况,为救援人员心理应激的防治提供依据。方法采用随机抽样的方式对17 132名救援人员进行心理应激相关量表调查。结果 1汶川地震救援人员PTSD的发生率高于常模,震后2年救援人员PTSD发病率下降;2救援人员震后PTSD早期症状突出表现为再体验,后期主要表现为强烈的心理痛苦烦恼、回避或麻木和警觉性增高的症状。结论 PTSD影响救援人员心理健康,需及时进行有效的团体和个体心理干预。