Effect of corneal stromal pocket irrigation in small-incision lenticule extraction

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of corneal stromal pocket irrigation after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) on visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal parameters and complications after surgery.MethodsA total of 242 eyes of 121 patients undergoing SMILE were enrolled in this prospective controlled study, and it was designed for one eye to randomly undergo SMILE with balanced salt solution irrigation of the corneal stromal pocket, while the other eye was not. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and slit lamp examination were recorded at 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. Postoperative corneal density, corneal biomechanical, corneal endothelial cell number, and anterior OCT images were compared at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month.ResultsCompared with the nonirrigation group, the irrigation group showed significantly higher UDVA at 1 day postoperatively (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference during the rest of the postoperative period (1 hour, 1 week, and 1 month). In addition, no significant differences were found in IOP, corneal density, corneal biomechanics, corneal endothelial cells, and corneal morphology. No visual decline or severe postoperative complications were found in the patients in this study.ConclusionsInterlamellar irrigation did not affect IOP, corneal parameters, morphology, complications, or UDVA at 1 hour, 1 week, and 1 month after the operation, but it may promote UDVA 1 day after the operation.Subject terms: Refractive errors, Outcomes research, Surgery     

加强型鼻咽通气道应用于鼻腔手术后气道管理临床研究

目的研制加强型鼻咽通气道应用于五官科鼻腔手术后的气道管理。方法选取2014年1月至2015年3月行五官科鼻腔手术的患者60例,将其分为A组和B组,各30例。A组作为加强型鼻咽通气道组,术毕在膨胀止血海绵中放置加强型鼻咽通气道保留鼻腔通气;B组作为对照组,术毕采用传统单纯填塞膨胀止血海绵。通过术后24、48 h随访,对两组患者进行疼痛、睡眠质量、口干程度评分,并对其进行对比分析。结果加强型鼻咽通气道具有良好的抗压抗折性;A组患者24、48 h睡眠质量、口干程度评分均明显优于B组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论加强型鼻咽通气道用于五官科鼻腔手术后气道管理可增强气道管理安全性及患者舒适度。     

Role of macrophages in peripheral nerve injury and repair

Resident and inflammatory macrophages are essential effectors of the innate immune system. These cells provide innate immune defenses and regulate tissue and organ homeostasis. In addition to their roles in diseases such as cancer, obesity and osteoarthritis, they play vital roles in tissue repair and disease rehabilitation. Macrophages and other inflammatory cells are recruited to tissue injury sites where they promote changes in the microenvironment. Among the inflammatory cell types, only macrophages have both pro-inflammatory(M1) and anti-inflammatory(M2) actions, and M2 macrophages have four subtypes. The co-action of M1 and M2 subtypes can create a favorable microenvironment, releasing cytokines for damaged tissue repair. In this review, we discuss the activation of macrophages and their roles in severe peripheral nerve injury. We also describe the therapeutic potential of macrophages in nerve tissue engineering treatment and highlight approaches for enhancing M2 cell-mediated nerve repair and regeneration.     

A novel DDC gene deletion mutation in two Chinese mainland siblings with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency

Background

Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency (OMIM #608643) is a rare and severe disorder of biogenic amine synthesis caused by mutations in the DDC gene. The phenomenology of the movement disorder includes intermittent oculogyric crises and limb dystonia, generalized athetosis, and impaired voluntary movement.

肛肠疾病手术前后肛管直肠压力测定的应用

目的:探讨肛肠疾病手术前后肛管直肠压力测定的应用。方法:将2018年5月-2019年5月在上海市松江区方塔中医医院及上海中医药大学附属曙光医院肛肠科行手术治疗的826例肛肠疾病患者作为研究对象,其中,选择性痔上黏膜吻合术246例、单纯外剥内扎术115例、外剥内扎结合内痔套扎术(Automatic Ligation of Hemorrhoids,RPH)153例、低位肛瘘切除术177例、高位肛瘘切开挂线术135例,分别于术前及术后1个月测定肛管直肠压力。结果:选择性痔上黏膜吻合术后直肠静息压、肛管静息压明显低于术前,肛管舒张压高于术前(P<0.05),但肛管最大收缩压与术前相比无明显差异(P>0.05);单纯外剥内扎术术后直肠静息压、肛管静息压明显低于术前,肛管舒张压、肛管最大收缩压明显高于术前(P<0.05);外剥内扎结合内痔套扎术术后直肠静息压、肛管静息压明显低于术前,肛管舒张压、肛管最大收缩压明显高于术前(P<0.05);低位肛瘘切除术术后直肠静息压、肛管静息压、肛管舒张压均高于术前(P<0.05),而肛管最大收缩压与术前相比无明显差异(P>0.05);高位肛瘘切开挂线术术后直肠静息压高于术前,肛管静息压、肛管舒张压低于术前(P<0.05),而与肛管最大收缩压术前相比无明显差异(P>0.05)。结论:肛肠疾病手术前后肛管直肠压力测定的应用效果显著,能准确判断手术效果及患者恢复情况,为医师的进一步诊治奠定了良好基础。     

Peripheral whole blood FOXP3 TSDR methylation: a potential marker in severity assessment of autoimmune diseases and chronic infections

Immune dysregulation is a cardinal feature of autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections. In particular, regulatory T cells are downregulated in autoimmune diseases while upregulated in chronic microbial infections. FOXP3 is the master regulator of Treg development. Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) is a highly conserved locus on the FOXP3 gene that is fully demethylated in natural Tregs but methylated in effector T cells. In our study, we used high resolution melt-polymerase chain reaction (HRM-PCR) to determine the FOXP3 TSDR methylation status in autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections. We found that FOXP3 TSDR to have the highest mean melting temperature (highly methylated) in active SLE patients compared to all the other groups (p?<?0.001). The psoriasis group also had a significantly high mean melting temperature (78.62?±?0.20) when compared with the inactive SLE group (78.49?±?0.29, p?<?0.05) and control group (78.44?±?0.25, p?<?0.01). There was no significant difference in melting temperature between inactive SLE and healthy controls. Disease activity in SLE was directly associated with methylation of the FOXP3 TSDR. On the other hand, patients with chronic microbial infections had significantly lower FOXP3 TSDR mean melting temperature (demethylated) when compared with healthy controls (78.28?±?0.21 vs 78.44?±?0.25, p?<?0.05). Our results suggest that the use of HRM-PCR to detect FOXP3 TSDR methylation status is a reliable and easy method to predict natural regulatory T cell levels in peripheral blood in different disease conditions. Determining FOXP3 TSDR methylation status can be a useful tool in diagnosis, and monitoring the severity of autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections.     

Mortality,length of stay and costs associated with acute graft-versus-host disease during hospitalization for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Objective: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a common and life-threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The extent to which aGVHD increases inpatient costs associated with allo-HSCT has not been thoroughly evaluated. In this analysis, mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS) and costs associated with aGVHD during allo-HSCT admissions are evaluated.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of discharge records from the National Inpatient Sample database for patients receiving allo-HSCT between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013. Allo-HSCT discharges with an aGVHD diagnosis were included in the aGVHD group and those without any graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) diagnosis comprised the non-GVHD group. Mortality, LOS and costs were compared between the two groups, as well as within subgroups, including age (<18 vs. ≥18 years) and survival status (alive vs. deceased) at discharge.

Results: Overall, mortality (16.2% vs. 5.3%; p?<?.01), median hospital LOS (42.0 vs. 26.0 days; p?<?.01) and median total costs ($173,144 vs. $98,982; p?<?.01) were significantly increased in patients with aGVHD versus those without GVHD during hospitalizations for allo-HSCT, irrespective of age group. Patients with aGVHD who were <18 years of age had a lower mortality rate but greater hospital LOS and total costs versus patients aged ≥18 years. Patients who died during allo-HSCT hospitalization had longer LOS and incurred greater costs than those who survived in both the aGVHD and non-GVHD groups.

Conclusion: Occurrence of aGVHD during allo-HSCT admissions resulted in a tripling of the mortality rate and a near doubling of hospital LOS and total costs. In addition, death during allo-HSCT hospitalizations was associated with greater healthcare utilization and costs. Effectively mitigating aGVHD may improve survival and substantially reduce hospital LOS and costs for allo-HSCT.