Pancreas Transplantation With Enteroanastomosis to Native Duodenum Poses Technical Challenges—But Offers Improved Endoscopic Access for Scheduled Biopsies and Therapeutic Interventions

To facilitate endoscopic access for rejection surveillance and stenting of the pancreas, we have abandoned the duodenojejunostomy (DJ) in favor of duodenoduodenostomy (DD) in pancreas transplantation (PTx). From September 2012 to September 2013 we performed 40 PTx with DD; 20 solitary‐PTx (S‐PTx) and 20 simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK). We compared the outcomes with results from 40 PTx‐DJ (10 S‐PTx and 30 SPK) from the preceding era. The DD‐enteroanastomoses were performed successfully. Endoscopic pancreas biopsies (endoscopic ultrasound examination [EUS]) yielded representative material in half of the cases. One exocrine fistula was treated by endoscopic stenting. PTxs‐DD were associated with a higher rate of thrombosis compared to PTx‐DJ (23% vs. 5%) and reoperations (48% vs. 30%), as well as inferior graft survival (80% vs. 88%). Time on waiting list, HLA A + B mismatches and reoperations were associated with graft loss. Only recipient age remained an independent predictor of patient death in multivariate analysis. PTx‐DD showed a higher rate of thrombosis and inferior results, but facilitated a protocol biopsy program by EUS that was feasible and safe. Given that technical difficulties can be solved, the improved endoscopic access might confer long‐term benefits, yet this remains to be proven.     

New insights into sexual functioning and fertility in rheumatic diseases

Sexuality is an often neglected area of quality of life in patients with rheumatic disease. Manifestations and symptoms of disease can impair sexual functioning, but this can be much improved by adequate intervention and counseling. Fertility is in general not reduced in rheumatic diseases, however, the time taken to achieve a pregnancy is often increased. An increased rate of pregnancy loss is observed in systemic lupus erythematosus and the antiphospholipid syndrome contributing to a reduced family size. Autoantibodies are present in most of the rheumatic diseases and can interfere with fertilization, implantation, embryonic development and placental function. Active disease disturbs the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis, giving rise to periods of gonadal dysfunction. Toxic effects of immunosuppressive drugs can induce transient or permanent gonadal failure in women and men.     

Differences in survival, brain damage, and cerebrospinal fluid cytokine kinetics due to meningitis caused by 3 different Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes: evaluation in humans and in 2 experimental models

BACKGROUND: Experimental meningitis with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, and 9 has resulted in pronounced differences in disease severity, but clinical meningitis studies addressing serotype-related differences in case-fatality rates are lacking. METHODS: Study subjects were Danish patients with pneumococcal meningitis due to serotype 1 (n=38), 3 (n=69), or 9V (n=59) during 1990-2002 for whom clinical information was available. The 3 serotypes were tested for brain damage and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammatory kinetics in 2 experimental models of meningitis. RESULTS: Patients with serotype 1 had a significantly lower case-fatality rate (3%), compared with patients with serotypes 3 (23%) and 9V (32%) (P=.0047, log-rank test). Age and serotype were independent prognostic factors for fatal outcome. In experimental meningitis, the median number of areas per brain slide with brain damage was significantly lower in rats infected with serotype 1 than in rats infected with serotypes 3 and 9V. Three distinct patterns of brain damage were observed: serotype 1, cortical hemorrhage; serotype 3, cortical necrosis and abscess formation; and serotype 9V, subcortical (callosal) abscess formation. Serotype 1 caused the poorest bacterial growth and lowest CSF levels of white blood cells, tumor necrosis factor- alpha, and interleukin-8 (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Case-fatality rates of patients with pneumococcal meningitis, the degree and pattern of brain damage, and CSF cytochemical alterations in experimental pneumococcal meningitis differ according to serotype.     

Activated factor 12 (FXIIa) predicts recurrent coronary events after an acute myocardial infarction

Background

Activated factor XII (FXIIa) is involved in vascular injury and repair, participating in inflammation, thrombosis, and fibrinolysis. We wanted to test the hypothesis that FXIIa may predict an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after a myocardial infarction (MI) and to evaluate whether FXIIa is related to global markers of end-stage coagulation and inflammation, including fibrin monomer (FM) and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (μCRP).

Methods

In a prospective study of 300 patients with acute MI, we evaluated the predictive value of FXIIa in blood samples drawn 4 to 6 days after admission. Cardiac death, re-MI, and troponin-T-positive unstable angina pectoris were registered during a median follow-up period of 1.5 years.

Results

In the upper quartile of FXIIa (Q4) (≥2.23 ng/mL) 32.0% of patients had an ACS as compared with 16.9% of patients with FXIIa in the three lower quartiles (Q1-3, P = .008). Relative risk of recurrent ACS for patients with FXIIa in the Q4 as compared with Q1-3 was 1.89 (95% CI, 1.22 to 2.93). A secondary ACS occurred earlier in patients with FXIIa in the Q4 as compared with those with FXIIa in the Q1-3 (P = .0039). Conventional risk factors as potential confounders were not associated with time to event. FXIIa did not correlate with FM or μCRP, and the FM and μCRP levels were of a similar magnitude in the Q4 as compared with the Q1 and the Q1-3 of FXIIa.

Conclusions

FXIIa predicts recurrent coronary events after MI. The prognostic ability of FXIIa was not reflected by markers of hypercoagulability or inflammation.     

Aseptic colon resection by an invagination technique

A new aseptic colon resection by an invagination technique is presented. The bowel to be resected is invaginated down into the healthy intestine, and the anastomosis is sutured in one layer of continuous suture before transection by a diathermy wire, placed in the intestinal lumen via the anus. Sections of bowel that cannot be invaginated,e.g.,because of a tumor, are first removed by transection between pairs of cable ties, which close the lumen. Twenty dogs were operated on without receiving prophylactic antibiotics. In 10, the intestine was transected between cable ties. An imprint, taken from the anastomosis and subcutis, was cultured. The bacterial count at the anastomosis exceeded 100 in only three cases; in the subcutis, this was the case in one dog. One wound infection developed. Serial barium enemas at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks revealed no anastomotic leakage. One early death because of a total anastomotic dehiscence was encountered, and two dogs were killed because of wound dehiscence and anastomotic stricture, respectively. It is concluded that, in dogs, the method is easily and safely performed, but further experimental studies are needed.This study was supported with grants from Fonden til Laegevidenskabens Fremme, Kraeftens Bekaempelse, Sygekassernes Helsefond, and Aarhus Universitets Forskningsfond.     

Excretion pattern of branched-chain amino acid metabolites during the course of acute infections in a patient with methylmalonic acidaemia

A 1-year-old boy with a typical B₁₂-responsive form of methylmalonic acidaemia was hospitalized twice due to acute bacterial infections. On both occasions, the child was lethargic with a severe ketoacidosis on admission. Intensive therapy with protein restriction, intravenous administration of electrolytes and antibiotics was effective within 4 days on both occasions. The urinary excretion of organic acids showed the same pattern on both occasions. There were rising excretion concentrations, reaching a peak value within the first 24-hour period, for the following compounds: 3-hydroxybutyric acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid and 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid. Excretion concentrations of the following rose for 48 h: isobutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, isovaleric acid, lactic acid and the 2-oxo-acids. There was no increase until 12–24 h after the onset of severe illness in the excretion of propionic acid and methylmalonic acid. Propionic acid excretion was maximal at about 48 h, while peak excretion of methylmalonic acid was delayed until about 72 h after the onset of severe illness; at this time there was clinical improvement. The biochemical implications of this excretion pattern are discussed. This work has been supported by a grant from the Danish Medical Research Council.     

益肝颗粒对酒精性肝损伤大鼠保护作用的实验研究

[目的]探讨益肝颗粒对酒精性肝损伤的保护作用。[方法]以56度白酒灌胃（10ml／kg,2次／d,连续8周）的方法建立酒精性肝损伤大鼠模型,50只大鼠随机均分为空白组,模型组,益肝颗粒低剂量组（0．39g／ml益肝颗粒水溶液）,益肝颗粒高剂量组（O．78g／ml益肝颗粒水溶液）,茵栀黄颗粒组（0．012g／ml的茵栀黄颗粒水溶液）,3治疗组均7ml／（kg·次）,1次／d,连续28d。[结果]与模型组相比,益肝颗粒可以显著降低丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、7-谷氨酰转移酶（GGT）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、丙二醛（MDA）水平（P〈O．01或〈O．05）,提高超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性（P〈0．01）,而且,益肝颗粒高剂量组AST、ALT水平及肝组织内MDA水平低于茵栀黄颗粒组（P〈O．01或〈O．05）,SOD水平高于茵栀黄颗粒组（P〈O．05）。[结论]益肝颗粒可以有效降低血清ALT、AST、GGT、TNF-α及MDA水平,提高SOD活性,促进酒精在体内的代谢,保护肝细胞。