Interleukin-11 Overexpression and M2 Macrophage Density are Associated with Angiogenic Activity in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the expression of IL-11 and its receptor IL-11Rα and to quantify density of CD163⁺ M2 macrophages in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).     

Successful Use of Surgically Placed Impella 5.0 and Central Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit in a Patient with Postcardiotomy Shock

The Impella 5.0, a percutaneously inserted left ventricular assist device, has been used to support patients who have severe heart failure or who are undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. We report our surgical placement of the Impella 5.0, through a graft sewn to the aorta, to unload the left ventricle of a 59-year-old man who was undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for postcardiotomy shock. The patient underwent successful placement of a long-term left ventricular assist device before his discharge from the hospital. The versatility of the Impella 5.0 is exemplified in this patient who was successfully bridged to long-term support.     

Initiatives to reduce postoperative surgical site infections of the head and neck cancer surgery with a special emphasis on developing countries

Introduction: Surgery in patients with head and neck cancers is frequently complicated by multiple stages of procedure that includes significant surgical removal of all or part of an organ with cancer, tissue reconstruction, and extensive neck dissection. Postoperative wound infections, termed ‘surgical site infections’ (SSIs) are a significant impediment to head-and-neck cancer surgery and recovery, and need to be addressed.

Areas covered: Approximately 10–45% of patients undergoing head-and-neck cancers surgery develop SSIs. SSIs can lead to delayed wound healing, increased morbidity and mortality as well as costs. Consequently, SSIs need to be avoided where possible, as even the surgery itself impacts on patients’ subsequent activities and their quality of life, which is exacerbated by SSIs. Several risk factors for SSIs need to be considered to reduce future rates, and care is also needed in the selection and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis.

Expert commentary: Head and neck surgeons should give personalized care especially to patients at high risk of SSIs. Such patients include those who have had chemoradiotherapy and need reconstructive surgery, and patients from lower and middle-income countries and from poorer communities in high income countries, who often have high levels of co-morbidity because of resource constraints.     

青霉素配伍利多卡因后的药物动力学研究

本文报道青霉素配伍利多卡因后的药物动力学及生物利用度研究结果,证明利多卡因对青霉素的生物利用度无影响,且可促进青霉素的吸收,为良好的青霉素无痛溶媒,建议推广使用。     

The effect of plasma solutes on total-body-water measurements via NMR.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been reported as an alternative method for quantitating deuterium oxide concentrations in the evaluation of total-body-water in humans. However, the presence of dissolved plasma proteins results in an underestimation of deuterium NMR (2H-NMR) intensity ratios, thereby causing an overestimation (5-6%) of total-body-water (TBW) values determined from nonsublimed patient plasma samples. We demonstrate that plasma samples must be corrected for the volume percentage of water in plasma. Correction of initial 2H-NMR intensity ratios with a factor of 0.93 results in intensity ratios comparable to those determined from plasma samples subjected to vacuum sublimation to remove all plasma solutes.     

100例SARS患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群分析

目的 :探讨SARS患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群变化。方法 :采用流式细胞仪检测10 0例SARS住院患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群。结果 :与正常组比较 ,SARS组白细胞总数显著下降 ,淋巴细胞百分数和绝对数显著下降 ,粒细胞绝对数显著下降 ,CD3 、CD4 、CD8 细胞绝对数显著下降 ,CD4 细胞百分数 ,CD8 细胞百分数及CD4 /CD8 比值差异无统计学意义。比较SARS患者各病程CD3 、CD4 、CD8 ,于病程第一至第三周较第四周下降明显 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,病程第一至第三周之间差别无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;结论 :SARS患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的变化对阐明SARS的发病机制有一定意义。     

Retinal arteriovenous communication in retinitis pigmentosa with Refsum's disease-like findings

In this report we describe, herewith, a patient with primary pigmentary dystrophy of the retina (retinitis pigmentosa) associated with unilateral retinal arteriovenous communication and exudative retinal detachment. The patient had complete resolution of the retinal detachment following laser photocoagulation treatment. Such association has not been previously reported.