Functions of the endothelium and its role in hematopoietic cell transplantation

The endothelium is a single-layered structure that responds to physical and chemical signals with various factors it synthesizes. In the early days of its discovery, as the inner wall of the vessels, the endothelium was thought to be a simple barrier that lays on the surface. Over time it is discovered that endothelium maintains body homeostasis with the molecules it synthesizes, despite its simple single-layer structure. It has been accepted as an important organ that contributes to the maintenance of vascular tone, cell adhesion, inflammation, vascular permeability and coagulation. Any imbalance in these physiological and pathological events causes endothelial dysfunction. This can cause many diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, or it can occur because of these. Endothelial related disorders may also complicate hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which is used to treat various hematologic and neoplastic diseases. These life-threatening complications include graft-versus-host disease, hepatic veno-occlussive disease, transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. They share a similar pathophysiology involving endothelial cells with different clinical presentations. Therefore, current researche on the issue is putting the endothelium under the spotlight for novel markers and treatment options that should be used to monitor or treat at least some of these complications following HSCT.     

Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

99mTc-DTPA核素肾动态显像评价主动脉夹层患者术后肾功能受损研究

目的:应用99mTc-DTPA肾动脉显像评价Stanford不同分型主动脉夹层患者术后左、右侧肾功能及总体肾功能受损程度,帮助临床制定进一步的治疗方案,改善患者预后。方法:回顾性分析2018年3月8日至2019年7月19日,在本院核医学科行99mTc-DTPA肾动态显像的主动脉夹层术后患者48例,评价患者双肾血流灌注、总肾小球滤过率(GFR)和分肾的GFR,比较Stanford主动脉夹层A型(简称A型)患者和主动脉夹层B型(简称B型)患者之间总肾功能及分肾功能,血肌酐、血尿素氮及血尿酸水平的差异。结果:B型患者术后总GFR低于A型患者(67.5 vs.80.6 m L/min,P<0.05),其中以左肾功能受损为著(30.9 vs.40.3 m L/min,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义。结论:肾动态显像对主动脉夹层术后患者早期评价肾功能有重要价值。主动脉夹层B型患者GFR较A型减低,且左侧肾GFR减低更明显,临床可以早期采取干预措施,改善主动脉夹层患者预后。     

Quality of Pulmonary Function Tests in Participants with Down Syndrome

IntroductionPeople with Down syndrome (DS) have high respiratory morbidity, evaluating their respiratory health with standardized, objective tests is desirable. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the technical quality of Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) to determine which ones are most suitable for this population.MethodsParticipants included children, teenagers and adults with DS, 5 years of age or older (n = 302). The technical quality of the impulse oscillometry system (IOS), forced spirometry, lung-diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL_CO), and 6-min walk test (6MWT) were analyzed by age group. Capnography and pulse oximetry were included in the study. Technical quality was determined on the basis of current international PFTs standards.ResultsFifty-one percent of participants were males. A total of 184 participants (71%) who completed the IOS fulfilled the quality criteria, while 210 (70%) completed the 6MWT. Performance on forced spirometry and DL_CO was poor. All pulse oximetries and 96% percent heart rates obtained had good quality, but exhaled carbon dioxide (PetCO₂) and respiratory rate (RR) showed deficient repeatability.ConclusionsIOS appears to be the most reliable instrument for evaluating lung mechanics in individuals with DS.     

Nestin expression persists in astrocytes of organotypic slice cultures from rat cortex

Nestin is an intermediate filament protein typical for neural precursor cells that is down-regulated in the post-natal rodent brain. Re-expression of nestin has been observed in reactive astrocytes after injury. In this study, organotypic slice cultures from rat cortex were examined for expression of nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein between 2 and 8 weeks in culture. Immunoreactivity for nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein was seen in astrocytes which persisted throughout the observation period. Immunofluorescence double labeling showed widespread co-localization of nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Image analysis revealed that levels of nestin-immunoreactivity plateaued after 5 weeks in culture. By comparison nestin immunoreactivity was absent from glial cells of the cortex in mature rats. These immunohistochemical findings of a persistent expression of nestin in glial cells of organotypic slice culture of the rat cortex indicate a different time course of glial maturation in vitro. This difference could be related to the altered trophic stimulation in vitro; differences in neuronal maturation, activity or survival; slow degeneration of the vasculature; or intrinsic properties of astrocytes.     

社区干预治疗对促进脑梗死患者功能恢复效果分析

目的探讨社区干预治疗对促进脑梗死患者功能恢复的效果。方法以自愿的方式选择通州区经委社区卫生服务站和八里桥社区卫生服务站所管辖社区内38例脑梗死恢复期患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,对治疗组患者进行为期1年的社区干预治疗,比较治疗组与对照组患者功能恢复情况(日常生活活动能力)。结果通过1年的早期社区干预治疗,治疗组较对照组患者功能恢复效果明显提高(P<0.01)。结论早期社区干预治疗对脑梗死患者功能恢复有促进作用。     

氯胺酮对脂多糖诱导下人脐静脉内皮细胞活化的影响

目的 观察氯胺酮和N-甲基-D-天门冬氨酸(NMDA)受体非竞争性拮抗剂MK-801对脂多糖(LPS)刺激下人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)胞间粘附分子-1(ICAM-1)表达及核因子-kappa B(NF-kB)易位表达的影响。方法 采用Jaffe方法培养的HUVECs随机分为10组:对照组(C组,RPMI-1640),LPS组(L组,LPS1μg/ml),氯胺酮组(K组,依浓度不同分为KⅠ、KⅡ、KⅢ、KⅣ亚组,即氯胺酮12.5、25.0、100、300μmol/L LPS1μg/ml),MK-801组(M组,依浓度不同分为MⅠ、MⅡ、MⅢ、MⅣ亚组,即MK-801 1.25、2.50、10、30μmol/L LPS1μg/ml)。在37℃、5％CO_2中孵育18h后,用流式细胞仪检测ICAM-1的表达阳性率。NF-kB易位表达的测定分组处理同上,在LPS1μg/ml刺激2h后,用免疫组化(SP)方法测定内皮细胞中NF-kB p65亚基的表达。结果 KⅡ、KⅢ、KⅣ亚组可抑制LPS作用下HUVECs表面ICAM-1的表达和细胞内部NF-kB的易位表达(P<0.05),且两者的变化呈正相关(r=0.985,P<0.01)。M组各亚组对LPS作用后HUVECs表面ICAM-1的表达和NF-kB的易位表达无明显影响(P>0.05)。结论 氯胺酮对炎症反应中内皮细胞的活化具有抑制作用,但并非通过NMDA受体途径。     

阿托伐他汀对冠心病患者肱动脉内皮依赖性舒张功能的影响

目的：应用高频超声观察冠心病（CAD）患者，经阿托伐他汀治疗后对肱动脉内皮依赖性舒张功能（EDD）的改善作用。方法：经冠脉造影（CAG）确诊为CAD患者59例，利用高频超声血管技术检测阿托伐他汀对CAD患者治疗前后肱动脉EDD的疗效。结果：阿托伐他汀治疗2年后，EDD比治疗前有明显改善（P〈0．05），与对照组相比无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。常规治疗组治疗2年后，EDD无明显改善（P〉0．05），与阿托伐他汀组治疗后及对照组相比差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论：阿托伐他汀具有改善EDD的作用。