Liver transplantation in a patient after COVID-19 – Rapid loss of antibodies and prolonged viral RNA shedding

To date, little is known about the duration and effectiveness of immunity as well as possible adverse late effects after an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Thus it is unclear, when and if liver transplantation can be safely offered to patients who suffered from COVID-19. Here, we report on a successful liver transplantation shortly after convalescence from COVID-19 with subsequent partial seroreversion as well as recurrence and prolonged shedding of viral RNA.     

Biomechanical activity of the growth plate

Summary The authors analyze at several levels the biomechanical activity of the epiphyseal plate.From a histologic point of view, they show the role played by the different cell layers in growth.The rapid growth of long bones is well known in animals, not entirely in human beings. The factors involved in mechanical regulation of the epiphyseal plate are analyzed according to distraction and compression stresses. Other factors have also been reported (periosteum and muscle).Analysis of the literature reveals that biomechanical activity and the factors managing growth are not well known yet.A combined effort should be made to obtain better understanding of the surgical procedures carried out in pediatric orthopedics.

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Comportement biomécanique du cartilage de croissance. Incidences cliniques

Résumé Les auteurs analysent le comportement biomécanique du cartilage de croissance à plusieurs niveaux.Sur le plan histologique ils montrent le rôle joué dans la croissance par les différentes couches cellulaires.La vitesse de croissance des os longs est bien connue chez les animaux et difficile à apprécier chez l'homme. Les facteurs intervenant dans la régulation mécanique du cartilage sont analysés en fonction des contraintes en compression et en détraction. Les autres facteurs (périoste et muscle) sont rapportés.L'analyse de la littérature montre combien le comportement mécanique et les facteurs régissant la croissance sont mal connus et mériteraient un effort de recherche conjugué pour mieux comprendre la portée des gestes chirurgicaux en orthopédie infantile.

     

Suppression of the immune system by oral glucocorticoid therapy in bronchial asthma

The effect of systemic glucocorticoid therapy on immune parameters was studied in patients with bronchial asthma. Patients were divided into two groups: 1) those receiving oral glucocorticoid; 2) control patients who did not receive systemic glucocorticoid treatment. The glucocorticoid dose varied between 5 and 70 mg per day. Patients had been taking oral therapy for at least 1 year. Glucocorticoid treatment was associated with an increased frequency of respiratory tract infections. Therefore, we need to define immune parameters which may predict an increased risk of infections. In this study, we analyzed several surface markers on lymphocytes and monocytes by flow cytometry. A significant reduction of the ratio of peripheral blood CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ T cells was associated with the administration of oral glucocorticoids. Furthermore, the expression of the HLA-DR molecule on monocytes was reduced in patients with systemic glucocorticoid therapy compared to control patients. Moreover, the capacity to elaborate cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells upon stimulation was greatly reduced after exposure to glucocorticoids in vivo and in vitro. In addition, the humoral immune response was affected, because reduced IgG, IgM, and IgA levels were observed in patients receiving oral glucocorticoids. These results indicate that systemic glucocorticoid treatment in patients with bronchial asthma is associated with cellular and humoral immunosuppression which results in an increased risk of bacterial and viral infections.     

Primary afferent origin of substance P-containing axons in the superficial dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord: depletion, regeneration and replenishment of presumed nociceptive central terminals

Substance P-like immunoreactivity (SPLI) was localized in the superficial spinal dorsal horn of the rat by means of light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical techniques. Serial immunocytochemical sections were subjected to densitometric measurements with an electronic Image Analyser, and with aid of a computer program, a two-dimensional reconstruction of the fine neuroanatomical structure of the SPLI-active regions of the lumbosacral upper superficial spinal dorsal horn was obtained. SPLI activity in the superficial dorsal horn outlines four well-marked and distinctly differing regions, called, in the mediolateral sequence, areas A, B, C, and D, plus Cajal's noyeau interstitiel ("lateral spinal nucleus" = "nucleus of the dorsolateral fascicle," L). Lumbosacral dorsal rhizotomy results in an almost complete depletion of SPLI from ipsilateral areas A, B, C, and D; it induces decreased SPLI in the area of the lateral spinal nucleus (L), ipsi- or contralaterally in an alternating fashion. Transection of the segmentally related, ipsilateral peripheral nerve induces a marked depletion of SPLI from areas A, B, and C but only a slight decrease in area D and virtually none in the area of L. Whereas a simple crush of the peripheral nerve (axocompression) induces only a slight depletion of SPLI, if any, semiautomatic densitometric analysis of serial immunocytochemical sections proves that a controlled crush injury (axocontusion) results in depletion of SPLI from the upper dorsal horn, similar to transection of the peripheral nerve. Following regeneration of the ipsilateral, segmentally related peripheral nerve, the original immunocytochemical structure of the superficial dorsal horn is re-established by SPLI-positive axonal sprouts originating from previously damaged dorsal root axons.     

周围神经损伤后免疫系统变化的动物实验观察

目的 :检测周围神经损伤后免疫系统的变化。方法 :用 MTT法检测了坐骨神经损伤 1 ,2 ,5,7和 1 4d的大鼠脾细胞 NK活性及淋巴细胞转化功能 ,并用 PEG沉淀法检测了大鼠血清中循环免疫复合物 (CIC)的含量。结果 :坐骨神经损伤后 7和 1 4d大鼠脾细胞的自发转化率较对照组 (同样手术应激但无坐骨神经损伤 )略有增高 ;循环免疫复合物的含量术后 7d明显增高 ,1 4d时增加明显 ;而 NK活性则无明显变化 ,后期变化如何尚待进一步研究。结论 :周围神经损伤后 ,机体发生了免疫变化。     

早期TEN和TPN对创伤后免疫和代谢的影响

目的 观察创伤后早期肠内和肠外营养对机体免疫和代谢功能的影响。方法 对复合务患者进行早期肠内或肠外营养支持,观察患者营养支持前后代谢和免疫指标的变化。结果 较之肠外营养,肠内组营养前后前白蛋白变化明显,淋巴细胞增殖率增加显著。而肠外营养组每日氮损失量明显小于肠内营养组。两组间免疫球蛋和Ｔ细胞亚群变化无明显差异 。结论创伤后早期肠内营养支持可促进机体免疫功能恢复,减少并发症发生率。而肠外营养更有利于     

SETDB1: A perspective into immune cell function and cancer immunotherapy

Oncogene SET Domain Bifurcated 1 (SETDB1)/ESET, an H3K9 methyltransferase, was originally discovered over two decades ago; however, its function in the immune response was not first reported until 2011. SETDB1 immune functions include B cell maturation, T cell activity regulation, and immune escape in cancer cells. In B lymphocytes, SETDB1 mediates the transition from pro-B to pre-B cells and represses endogenous retroviruses (ERV) to encourage B cell lineage differentiation and maturation. SETDB1 alters T cell function by methylating IL-2 and IL-17 promoters and mediating T cell lineage commitment and development. In addition, SETDB1 plays a critical role in ERV silencing within a variety of immune cells, which can indirectly weaken the immune response. Although SETDB1 is critical for normal immune cell function, overexpression in cancer cells negatively impacts immune cell fights against cancer through decreased tumour immunogenicity. Within cancer cells, SETDB1 overexpression represses production and infiltration of antitumour immune cells, mediates immune escape through TE and ERV silencing, represses the type I interferon pathway, and interferes in immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) outcomes by regulation of PD-L1 expression and IFN signalling. In this review, we further discuss the immunological mechanisms of SETDB1 in normal and cancerous cells and its implications in cancer immunotherapy.