Changes in Liver Congestion in Patients with Budd–Chiari Syndrome following Endovascular Interventions: Assessment with Transient Elastography

Purpose

Transient elastography (TE) is routinely used for noninvasive staging of hepatic fibrosis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of TE (FibroScan) in determining changes in liver congestion in patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) treated by endovascular interventions and determine the effects of pretreatment Meta-analysis of Histological Data in Viral Hepatitis (METAVIR) fibrosis score on posttreatment liver stiffness (LS).

Identification of crucial miRNAs and the targets in renal cortex of hypertensive patients by expression profiles

Backgrounds: Defect in kidney is one major reason of hypertension. The study aimed ao uncovering the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs and the targets in hypertensive kidney.

Methods: Gene expression profile of GSE28345 and miRNA expression profile of GSE28283 were downloaded from GEO database. After data preprocessing, differently expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs (DE-miRs) were identified using limma package. Then targets of miRNAs were predicted according to information in relevant databases. Function and pathway enrichment analyses were performed for DEGs using DAVID software. Furthermore, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed for up- and down-regulated genes, respectively, using the Cytoscape. Additionally, for down-regulated DEGs, the integrated regulatory network was established combining PPI network with the miRNA–mRNA interactions.

Results: As a result, 285 DEGs were identified, including 177 up-regulated and 108 down-regulated genes. Combined with the predicted targets of miRNAs, 22 up-regulated DE-miRs were identified. In the integrated network for down-regulated DEGs, three crucial nodes were identified as ASPN, COL12A1, and SCN2A. ASPN was predicted as target of miR-21 and miR-374b, and COL12A1 was the target of miR-30e, miR-21, and miR-195, while SCN2A was the target of miR-30e, miR-374b, and miR-195. Notably, COL12A1 and ASPN were linked with each other in the network.

Conclusion: Three crucial genes were identified in hypertensive kidney, such as COL12A1, ASPN, and SCN2A. ASPN might co-function with COL12A1, and they both might be the targets of miR-21. SCN2A might be a novel target of miR-30e and miR-374b. However, more experiments are needed to validate these results.     

Conditional analyses of recurrence and progression in patients with TaG1 non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Objective

To determine conditional recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and improve decision-making toward surveillance protocols and scheduling. Furthermore, evaluating the evolution of predictors for disease recurrence over time, because TaG1 non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer harbors a risk of disease recurrence and progression.

Acid–base physiology: new concepts

The traditional approach to acid–base physiology is based on the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation which is derived from the ${\text{CO}}_2/{{\text{HCO}}_3}^{?}$ buffer system. However, it is becoming increasingly recognized that this is an incomplete analysis as it focuses on only one of the six reactions involving H⁺ and can lead to the incorrect assumption that CO₂ and ${{\text{HCO}}_3}^{?}$ are independently adjusted factors that ultimately determine pH. In 1983, Stewart, a Canadian physiologist, proposed that a fuller understanding of acid–base physiology required consideration of biological fluids as a complex dynamic system, taking into account the interactions of all the chemical species involved. He showed that the true independent variables controlling the pH of any given fluid compartment are: the difference in the concentration of ‘strong ions’; the total concentration of ‘weak acid’; and the PCO₂. Importantly, H⁺ and ${{\text{HCO}}_3}^{?}$ are dependent variables and it is incorrect to think of them as being specifically regulated to manipulate pH. This review will discuss the importance of pH homeostasis and highlight the implications of the Stewart approach in our understanding of acid–base control mechanisms and disorders. In particular, the true mechanisms by which the kidney regulates plasma pH will be discussed, emphasizing key misconceptions that have been propagated as a result of the traditional approach.     

21例血栓性血小板减少性紫癜的临床分析

目的总结血栓性血小板减少性紫癜（TTP）的临床特点,并进行疗效分析。方法回顾性分析21例TTP患者的临床资料和治疗情况。结果 21例患者,中位年龄38岁,＂五联征＂在入院就诊的突出临床表现中分别为13,12,16,1和7例次,结合实验室检查其发生率分别为100%、100%、95%、67%和67%,其中95%患者出现＂三联征＂,57%出现＂五联征＂。16例患者给予血浆置换（PE）或新鲜冰冻血浆输注（PI）治疗,PE组8例均治愈,PI组4例治愈、2例复发、2例病情恶化昏迷死亡,两组治愈率分别为100%和50%,差异有统计学意义（P=0.038）。结论 TTP患者以＂三联征＂为突出临床表现,PE疗效显著优于PI,神志清醒程度降低患者应尽早PE治疗。     

特发性血小板减少性紫癜腹腔大出血1例

1病历资料 患者,男,25岁。两天前酒食过量剧烈呕吐后即感上腹部不适,逐渐加重并伴头晕、乏力。既往称健。体检：神志清楚,呼吸20次／分,脉搏85次／分,血压108／70mmHG。皮肤、粘膜稍苍白。左上腹压痛,未及反跳痛。血常规：PLT12×109／L,HGB90g／L。     

儿童过敏性紫癜102例临床分析

目的：总结过敏性紫癜(HSP)患儿的临床特征及肾脏损害相关因素。方法回顾性分析102例过敏性紫癜患儿的临床资料,总结其临床特征,并比较过敏性紫癜性肾炎(HSPN)与非HSPN患儿临床资料及生化指标的差异。结果儿童过敏性紫癜以7~10岁学龄期儿童最常见,占44.1%,秋冬季节发病率最高,占70.6%,最常见的诱因为感染,占52.9%,临床表现以双下肢及臀部皮疹、腹部症状、关节痛常见;本组有31.4%的患儿出现紫癜性肾炎,HSPN组与HSPN组患儿在年龄、反复皮疹、纤维蛋白原(FIB)、总胆固醇(TC)方面比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论过敏性紫癜是儿童常见病,临床表现典型,年龄大、皮疹反复发作及高凝、高胆固醇是患儿发生HSPN的危险因素。     

Assessment of collateral blood flow in patients with distal branch occlusion of the middle cerebral artery

Purpose

Aim of this study was to evaluate the collateral blood flow between more distal branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in the case of peripheral MCA branch occlusion on dynamic 4D angiograms. We sought to individually predict the finally resulting infarction volume with regard to the extent of collateral blood flow.

SARS-CoV-2 Testing Before International Airline Travel,December 2020 to May 2021

Although there have been several case reports and simulation models of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission associated with air travel, there are limited data to guide testing strategy to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission onboard commercial aircraft. Among 9853 passengers with a negative SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test performed within 72 hours of departure from December 2020 through May 2021, five (0.05%) passengers with active SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified with rapid antigen tests and confirmed with rapid molecular test performed before and after an international flight from the United States to Italy. This translates to a case detection rate of 1 per 1970 travelers during a time of high prevalence of active infection in the United States. A negative molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours of international airline departure results in a low probability of active infection identified on antigen testing during commercial airline flight.