Demodex positive discoid lupus erythematosus: Is it a separate entity or an overlap syndrome?

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic inflammatory erythematous skin disease that can be triggered by several factors. Rosacea is another skin disease that causes facial redness and tenderness. Demodex mites have been reported in rosacea and DLE patients commonly in the literature. These two diseases can be seen concomitant, mimic each other clinically and share common possible etiologic factors. To assess demodex mite infestation in both clinical and histopathological findings in DLE patients. We retrospectively evaluated the files of 42 patients with DLE who had been diagnosed DLE based on clinical and histopathological findings between August 2018 and August 2019. Demodex positivity was detected 50% of patients (n = 21). Neutrophile percentages in the dermal and perivascular area were higher in the demodex positive patients (4.43%) than in the Demodex negative patients (2.19%). The intensity of demodex mites correlated positively with dermal neutrophile percentages. ANA was negative in 29 patients (69%) and positive in 13 patients (31%). Anti‐dsDNA was negative in serology and follicular plugging was positive in histopathology in all 42 patients (100%). This was a retrospective study. DLE and rosacea share common features in etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation. Inflammation and exacerbations caused by the demodex mites may increase the clinical severity of DLE. Although the position of demodex mites in DLE etiopathogenesis is not known exactly, the presence of high demodex in DLE patients has been determined. Standard skin surface biopsy can be a routine procedure for the evaluation of DLE patients in daily clinical practice.     

Eosinophilic fasciitis associated with generalized morphea and IgA nephropathy

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by increased peripheral blood eosinophils and diffuse fasciitis, generalized morphea (GM) is a subtype of localized scleroderma, and IgA nephropathy is a chronic glomerulonephritis caused by abnormal deposition of IgA in the mesangial area of the glomeruli. We describe a 49‐year‐old male patient with hard skin, cutaneous hyperpigmentation, and proteinuria. The patient had suffered from a long disease course of hard skin, while urine protein was newly detected. Finally, the clinical presentation and physical examination, limb MRI, skin biopsy, and renal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of eosinophilic fasciitis associated with generalized morphea and IgA nephropathy. This case is the first report of EF associated with GM and IgA nephropathy.     

Wound,pressure ulcer and burn guidelines – 4: Guidelines for the management of connective tissue disease/vasculitis-associated skin ulcers

The Japanese Dermatological Association prepared guidelines focused on the treatment of skin ulcers associated with connective tissue disease/vasculitis practical in clinical settings of dermatological care. Skin ulcers associated with connective tissue diseases or vasculitis occur on the background of a wide variety of diseases including, typically, systemic sclerosis but also systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), various vasculitides and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). Therefore, in preparing the present guidelines, we considered diagnostic/therapeutic approaches appropriate for each of these disorders to be necessary and developed algorithms and clinical questions for systemic sclerosis, SLE, dermatomyositis, RA, vasculitis and APS.     

Findings on intraprocedural non-contrast computed tomographic imaging following hepatic artery embolization are associated with development of contrast-induced nephropathy

BACKGROUNDContrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a reversible form of acute kidney injury that occurs within 48-72 h of exposure to intravascular contrast material. CIN is the third leading cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury and accounts for 12% of such cases. Risk factors for CIN development can be divided into patient- and procedure-related. The former includes pre-existing chronic renal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus. The latter includes high contrast volume and repeated exposure over 72 h. The incidence of CIN is relatively low (up to 5%) in patients with intact renal function. However, in patients with known chronic renal insufficiency, the incidence can reach up to 27%.AIMTo examine the association between renal enhancement pattern on non-contrast enhanced computed tomographic (CT) images obtained immediately following hepatic artery embolization with development of CIN.METHODSRetrospective review of all patients who underwent hepatic artery embolization between 01/2010 and 01/2011 (n = 162) was performed. Patients without intraprocedural CT imaging (n = 51), combined embolization/ablation (n = 6) and those with chronic kidney disease (n = 21) were excluded. The study group comprised of 84 patients with 106 procedures. CIN was defined as 25% increase above baseline serum creatinine or absolute increase ≥ 0.5 mg/dL within 72 h post-embolization. Post-embolization CT was reviewed for renal enhancement patterns and presence of renal artery calcifications. The association between non-contrast CT findings and CIN development was examined by Fisher’s Exact Test.RESULTSCIN occurred in 11/106 (10.3%) procedures (Group A, n = 10). The renal enhancement pattern in patients who did not experience CIN (Group B, n = 74 with 95/106 procedures) was late excretory in 93/95 (98%) and early excretory (EE) in 2/95 (2%). However, in Group A, there was a significantly higher rate of EE pattern (6/11, 55%) compared to late excretory pattern (5/11) (P < 0.001). A significantly higher percentage of patients that developed CIN had renal artery calcifications (6/11 vs 20/95, 55% vs 21%, P = 0.02).CONCLUSIONA hyperdense renal parenchyma relative to surrounding skeletal muscle (EE pattern) and presence of renal artery calcifications on immediate post-HAE non-contrast CT images in patients with low risk for CIN are independently associated with CIN development.     

来氟米特治疗难治性肾病综合征60例临床研究

目的观察长程应用来氟米特联合泼尼松治疗难治性肾病综合征患者的疗效和安全性。方法2000-11～2003-05收集中山大学附属第三医院的难治性肾病综合征病人60例,随机分为两组,分别为接受来氟米特联合泼尼松治疗组(观察组),接受吗替麦考酚酯联合泼尼松治疗组(对照组)。观察治疗2、4、6、8、12、16、20、24、28周的相关临床指标变化及其评价。结果来氟米特组治疗后24h尿蛋白定量显著减少(P<0.05),血清白蛋白显著升高(P<0.05),完全缓解率为56.67%,总有效率为80%。与吗替麦考酚酯组比疗效差异无显著性(P>0.05),来氟米特组12周内显效率高于吗替麦考酚酯组(P<0.05),不良反应轻微,所有病人耐受性良好。结论来氟米特能够有效缓解难治性肾病综合征。     

依那普利联合灯盏花素对糖尿病大鼠肾脏保护作用及机制

目的探讨依那普利联合灯盏花素对大鼠糖尿病肾脏保护作用及机制。方法大鼠随机分5组：对照组、糖尿病组、依那普利给药组、灯盏花素给药组及依那普利与灯盏花素联合给药组。8周后观察肾组织病理形态学变化，检测尿白蛋白排泄率（AER）、肾组织尿丙二醛（MDA）含量及肾组织蛋白激酶（PKC）活性；应用Western杂交检测肾组织PKC蛋白表达，免疫组化方法检测肾组织转化生长因子（TGF）β1蛋白表达。结果各给药组均可抑制糖尿病大鼠AER增加及肾组织病理结构损害，联合组优于单独给药组；对肾组织及尿MDA含量增加的抑制作用联合组也优于单给药组；各给药组均可抑制肾组织PKC活性与表达，以联合组最明显；糖尿病大鼠肾小球与肾小管-间质TGFβ1蛋白表达明显高于对照组，各给药组肾组织TGFβ1蛋白表达明显低于模型组，其中以联合组最明显。结论依那普利与灯盏花素联合给药对糖尿病肾脏保护作用优于任一单给药组，其机制部分与其对肾组织氧化应激增加、PKC激活及TGFβ1表达有协同抑制作用有关。     

A multicenter phase I/II trial of rituximab for refractory systemic lupus erythematosus

Although corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are widely used for the treatments of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), safer and more effective therapies are prerequisite. We and others have reported that anti-CD20 antibody rituximab targeting B cells are effective for refractory SLE and, therefore, safety and clinical efficacy of rituximab in SLE was evaluated by a multicenter phase I/II clinical trial. An open-label, multicenter study of 15 patients with active and refractory SLE (total British Isles Lupus Assessment Group [BILAG] score 8 to 17) was conducted. Rituximab was administered to 5 SLE patients as 4 infusions of 500 mg/body every week and to 10 SLE patients as 2 infusions of 1000 mg/body every other week. Assessment of safety, infusion reactions and adverse effects was used as the primary outcome for clinical tolerability and was evaluated by 28 weeks. Rituximab was well tolerated, with most experiencing no significant adverse effects. B cells rapidly reduced in all patients and remained low until 6 months post-treatment. Four patients developed human antichimeric antibodies without affecting efficacy of rituximab. Changes in routine safety laboratory tests clearly related to rituximab were not observed. Nine among 14 evaluable patients achieved the major or partial clinical response of BILAG score and prednisolone dose significantly decreased at the 28 weeks. Rituximab therapy appears to be safe for the treatment of active SLE patients and holds significant therapeutic promise, at least for the majority of patients experiencing profound B-cell depletion.     

CD40/CD40L在肾小管上皮细胞转分化中的作用及其可能机制

目的 探讨CD40/CD40L在肾小管上皮细胞转分化中的作用及其可能机制.方法 将74例IgA肾病患者肾穿活检组织分为轻度系膜增生组27例、局灶增生组28例和增生硬化组19例,采用免疫组化及Masson方法观察各组肾小管间质内CD40、CD40L、TGF-β、α-SMA、Vimentin和胶原纤维的表达.结果 IgA肾病组织中小管上皮细胞高表达CD40和CD40L,肾小管间质中TGF-β、α-SMA、Vimentin及胶原纤维表达随分级变化而变化,三组间以上指标比较有统计学差异（P＜0.05或＜0.01）.结论 IgA肾病中,CD40和CD40L可能通过TGF-β启动并调节肾小管上皮细胞转分化,参与肾小管间质纤维化.     

益气养阴消癥通络中药对糖尿病大鼠肾脏纤维化的保护作用研究

目的 探讨益气养阴消癥通络中药对糖尿病大鼠肾脏的保护作用及其抗纤维化作用的可能机制.方法 将SD大鼠随机分为6组;单纯肾切组、模型组、厄贝沙坦组、中药低、中、高剂量组,按各组相应药物剂量灌胃.于给药第6周末检测各组大鼠24h尿蛋白(U Pro)量;光镜下观察各组大鼠肾脏的病理改变;采用RT-PCR方法检测各组大鼠肾皮质Ⅳ型胶原的mRNA表达水平,Western印迹方法检测各组大鼠肾皮质结缔组织生长因子(CTGF)的蛋白表达水平.结果 与模型组比较,厄贝沙坦、中药低、中剂量组U Pro量显著下降(P＜0.05);厄贝沙坦、中药低剂量组Col-ⅣmRNA和CTGF蛋白表达均减少(P＜0.05);各治疗组与模型组比较,病理改变有所减轻.结论 抑制CTGF/Col-Ⅳ的过度表达可能是益气养阴消癥通络中药抗糖尿病大鼠肾脏纤维化作用的机制之一.     

小泛素样修饰蛋白4基因163A／G多态性与2型糖尿病肾病的相关性研究

目的探讨小泛素样修饰蛋白4（SUMO4）基因163A／G多态性与2型糖尿病肾病（DN）的相关性。方法运用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性（PCR-RFLP）方法对232例T2DM患者,其中正常白蛋白尿103例（N-UAIb组）、微量白蛋白尿65例（M-UAlb组）、大量白蛋白尿64例（L-UAlb组）,以及102名健康对照（NC组）的SUM04基因163A／G多态性进行检测,并比较各组间基因型频率、等位基因频率及相关临床资料。结果NC组和T2DM组基因型和等位基因频率无统计学差异;M-UAlb和L-UAlb组的GA基因型频率高于N—UAlb组（P〈0．05）。结论在昆明地区汉族人群中,SUM04基因GA基因型可能是DN发生的危险因素。