Balloon Cinch Deformity during Angioplasty Procedures: An Indication for Impending Rupture

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) is a commonly performed procedure for hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction including thrombosis. While PTA is generally safe, balloon rupture during the procedure is a potential complication. Because such a rupture can cause damage to the blood vessel, indication of an imminent balloon rupture might help avoid such a complication. This analysis reports on six PTA procedures that were complicated by balloon rupture. All cases demonstrated terminal (caudal/cranial) cinch deformation. There was a loss of sharp terminal tapering and its replacement with banana silhouette before the balloon rupture. Importantly, the contour deformation and balloon rupture occurred at a pressure that was lower than the rated burst pressure. The cinch deformity can be used as an indication for impending balloon rupture. We suggest deflation of balloons that demonstrate shape deformations to avoid vascular injury.     

Increasing access to renal transplantation in India through our single‐center kidney paired donation program: a model for the developing world to prevent commercial transplantation

Because access to transplantation with HLA‐desensitization protocols and ABO incompatible transplantation is very limited due to high costs and increased risk of infections from more intense immunosuppression, kidney paired donation (KPD) promises hope to a growing number of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patient in India. We present a government and institutional ethical review board approved study of 56 ESRD patients [25 two‐way and 2 three‐way pairs] who consented to participate in KPD transplantation at our center in 2013, performed to avoid blood group incompatibility (n = 52) or positive cross‐match (n = 4). All patients had anatomic, functional, and immunologically comparable donors. The waiting time in KPD was short as compared to deceased donor transplantation. Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was performed in 54 donors. Donor relationships were spousal (n = 40), parental (n = 13), others (n = 3), with median HLA match of 1. Graft survival was 97.5%. Three patients died with functioning graft. 16% had biopsy‐proven acute rejection. Mean serum creatinine was 1.2 mg/dl at 0.73 ± 0.32 months follow‐up. KPD is a viable, legal, and rapidly growing modality for facilitating LDRT for patients who are incompatible with their healthy, willing living donor. To our knowledge, this is the largest single‐center report from India.     

Therapy of patients with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus I-induced adult T-cell leukemia with anti-Tac, a monoclonal antibody to the receptor for interleukin-2

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I)-induced adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells constitutively express interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors identified by the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody (MoAb), whereas normal resting cells do not. This observation provided the scientific basis for a trial of intravenous anti-Tac in the treatment of nine patients with ATL. The patients did not suffer untoward reactions and did not have a reduction in the normal formed elements of the blood, and only one of the nine produced antibodies to the anti-Tac MoAb. Three patients had transient mixed, partial, or complete remissions lasting from 1 to more than 8 months after anti-Tac therapy, as assessed by routine hematologic tests, immunofluorescence analysis of circulating cells, and molecular genetic analysis of HTLV-I provirus integration and of the T-cell receptor gene rearrangement. The precise mechanism of the antitumor effects is unclear; however, the use of a MoAb that prevents the interaction of IL-2 with its receptor on ATL cells provides a rational approach for the treatment of this malignancy.     

Evaluation of atypical human immunodeficiency virus immunoblot reactivity in blood donors

Blood donors reactive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who showed atypical patterns of viral core protein reactivity on Western blot were monitored for several months. Characterization of their antibodies was performed by 1) use of recombinant HIV proteins; 2) determination of cross-reactivity to HTLV-I, HTLV-II, and HTLV-IV: 3) assessment of immune status; and 4) identification of potentially interfering autoantibodies. Nineteen of 20 donors maintained the same HIV antibody reactivity throughout the follow-up period; the other donor became fully antibody-positive. Eighteen of 20 donors' sera showed clear reactivity with HIV recombinant core proteins. Ten of 19 donor samples demonstrated cross-reactivity to HTLV-IV; 3 of these 10 also cross-reacted with HTLV-I. The immune status of all donors was normal, although the medical histories and HLA antibody screens suggested possible autoimmune reactivity in 9 of 18 donors. During follow-up interviews, three donors reported possible risk factors for HIV infection that had not been acknowledged at the time of blood donation. We conclude that exclusion of donors with these atypical serologic test results is warranted while further studies to determine significance are being conducted.     

基于反向滤波器的倒谱法估计平均骨小梁间距

目的 探讨用改进的倒谱方法估计平均骨小梁间距(mean trabecular bone spacing,MTBS)的可行性.方法 提出了一种基于反向滤波器的改进的倒谱分析方法用于估计MTBS,并将该方法应用于仿真及离体牛胫骨松质骨中的实验信号.结果 改进的倒谱方法能有效减少超声换能器脉冲响应和组织散射特性对倒谱的干扰,而且实现简单,计算量小.结论 相比于传统的倒谱方法,改进的倒谱方法在估计MTBS时, 对弥散散射和噪声有更强的鲁棒性,因此估计MTBS的精度更高.     

α-珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血干预效果分析

目的探讨α-珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血产前诊断在降低出生缺陷中的效果。方法选择2003年1月至2012年7月进行α-珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血产前诊断的妊娠1 037例,采用聚合酶链反应结合琼脂糖凝胶电泳和反向点杂交技术对脐带血和原位培养后的羊水或绒毛组织检测α珠蛋白基因,同时对合并β-珠蛋白生成障碍贫血者进行β-珠蛋白基因检测。结果 1 037例妊娠中α-珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血检出率为79.27%,其中血红蛋白H（Hb Bart′s）胎儿水肿综合征292例,HbH病45例;同时检出中间型、重型β-珠蛋白生成障碍贫血5例,β-珠蛋白生成障碍贫血杂合子28例,包括α复合β-珠蛋白生成障碍贫血26例,终止妊娠339例。结论α-珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血产前干预是防止该类患儿出生的有效措施,同时应加强复合型珠蛋白生成障碍贫血的干预。     

自闭症患儿父母心理状况调查及健康教育意义分析

目的分析自闭症儿童父母的心理状况,实施及时有效的健康教育。方法采用症状自评量表（SCL-90）、抑郁自评量表（SDS）、焦虑自评量表（SAS ）对89例自闭症儿童父母进行测评。并对这些父母实施有效的健康教育,对健康教育前的测评结果分别同国内常模、健康教育后比较。结果在健康教育实施前,自闭症儿童父母SCL-90、SAS、SDS得分均高于全国常模,差异有统计学意义（P＜0．01）;健康教育前后得分比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0．01）。结论自闭症儿童父母普遍存在心理问题,及时开展健康教育能改善其心理状况。