Bronchial Artery Embolization in Pediatric Pulmonary Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Experience

PurposeTo explore the safety and effectiveness of bronchial artery (BA) embolization (BAE) in children with pulmonary hemorrhage.Materials and MethodsBetween February 2016 and February 2019, 41 patients (median age, 4 y; interquartile range, 2.3-8 y; median weight, 17.6 kg; interquartile range, 12.3–23.6 kg) underwent BAE. The indication of BAE included massive hemoptysis in 10 patients (24.4%), recurrent hemoptysis in 18 patients (43.9%), and refractory anemia in 13 patients (31.7%). The main etiology of pulmonary hemorrhage included pulmonary hemosiderosis (58.5%), congenital heart disease (17.1%), and infection (14.6%). A retrospective review was conducted of clinical outcomes of BAE.ResultsThere were 44 embolization sessions, with a total of 137 embolized vessels. Pulmonary hemorrhage was caused by BAs in 30 cases, nonbronchial systemic arteries plus BAs in 10, and nonbronchial systemic arteries in 1. Embolic particles were used in 30 cases (24 polyvinyl alcohol [PVA] and 6 microsphere), coils in 9 cases, and particles plus coils in 5 cases (4 PVA and 1 microsphere). Technical success (ability to embolize abnormal vessel) was achieved in 97.6% of patients (40 of 41), and clinical success (complete or partial resolution of hemoptysis within 30 days of embolization) was achieved in 90.2% (37 of 41). There was 1 procedure-related complication (2.4%) of cerebral infarction and 1 death from multiple-organ dysfunction (2.4%). Bleeding-free survival rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 92.5%, 83.9%, 83.9%, and 70.8%, respectively.ConclusionsBAE is a safe and effective procedure in children with pulmonary hemorrhage.     

In Vitro-In Vivo Extrapolation and Hepatic Clearance-Dependent Underprediction

Accurately predicting the hepatic clearance of compounds using in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) is crucial within the pharmaceutical industry. However, several groups have recently highlighted the serious error in the process. Although empirical or regression-based scaling factors may be used to mitigate the common underprediction, they provide unsatisfying solutions because the reasoning behind the underlying error has yet to be determined. One previously noted trend was intrinsic clearance-dependent underprediction, highlighting the limitations of current in vitro systems. When applying these generated in vitro intrinsic clearance values during drug development and making first-in-human dose predictions for new chemical entities though, hepatic clearance is the parameter that must be estimated using a model of hepatic disposition, such as the well-stirred model. Here, we examine error across hepatic clearance ranges and find a similar hepatic clearance-dependent trend, with high clearance compounds not predicted to be so, demonstrating another gap in the field.     

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of incident diabetes in subjects who are not obese

Background and aims

It is not known whether non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a risk factor for diabetes in non obese, non centrally-obese subjects. Our aim was to investigate relationships between fatty liver, insulin resistance and a biomarker score for liver fibrosis with incident diabetes at follow up, in subjects who were neither obese nor centrally-obese.

Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels inversely correlate with lung function improvement (delta FEV1) in cystic fibrosis patients receiving ivacaftor treatment

Background

We have recently shown that human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels correlate with the severity of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. However, there are no data on how HE4 levels alter in patients receiving CFTR modulating therapy.

Relationship between insulin-like growth factor I, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and proresorptive cytokines and bone density in cystic fibrosis

Introduction Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are known to be at risk for early osteoporosis, and the mechanisms that mediate bone loss are still being delineated. The aim of the present investigation was to investigate if a correlation exists in these patients between skeletal measurements by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and two anabolic factors, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and proresorptive factors such as the cytokines interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin-6. Methods We studied 32 outpatients (18 females; mean age: 26.2 ± 7.9 years) at a tertiary care medical center. The subjects had venous samples obtained, underwent anthropometric and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, and completed a health survey. Serum IGF-I concentrations were below the age-adjusted mean in 78% of the participants, and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations were low in 72%. Serum concentrations of all cytokines were on the low side of normal; nonetheless, there was a modest inverse correlation between IL-1β and BMD at all sites. Results In univariate analyses, IGF-I and DHEAS were significant correlates of BMD or bone mineral content. In final multivariate models controlling for anthropometric and other variables of relevance to bone density, only IGF-I was identified as a significant independent skeletal predictor. While alterations in DHEAS, IGF-I, and specific cytokines may contribute to skeletal deficits in patients with CF, of these factors a low IGF-I concentration appears to be most strongly correlated with BMD. Conclusions These findings may have therapeutic implications for enhancing bone density in these patients.     

电镜下的乙型肝炎表面抗原

本文对81例乙型肝炎病人的肝活检组织进行了电镜观察,发现HBsAg的阳性率达93.8％。电镜下,HBsAg细丝不仅有一般的管状细丝型,还有分枝管型和管泡型,而且CAH病人肝组织不易找到HBsAg丝(易见者仅9％),CPH,CLH则多数(79.5％)为易见及可见,二者有高度显著性差异(P<0.01)。     

Prior diabetes mellitus is associated with increased morbidity in cystic fibrosis patients undergoing bilateral lung transplantation: an ‘orphan’ area? A retrospective case–control study

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-existing diabetes mellitus increases the risk of rejection, infection and/or death in cystic fibrosis patients undergoing bilateral sequential single-lung transplantation.
Methods: A retrospective audit of 25 consecutive patients with cystic fibrosis who underwent bilateral sequential single-lung transplantation between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2005 at a tertiary referral hospital was carried out.
Results: Although 32% patients had diabetes diagnosed before lung transplantation, 92% had random blood glucose levels ≥11.1 mmol/L requiring insulin during admission. Patients with pre-existing diabetes had increased infection-related (3.9 vs 1.2, P = 0.01) and putative rejection-related (1.4 vs 0.5, P = 0.04) hospital admissions post-transplantation compared with those without diabetes pre-transplant. During the period of observation, four of eight patients with a prior diagnosis of diabetes died compared with none of 17 patients without prior diabetes ( P = 0.0055).
Conclusion: Almost all cystic fibrosis patients develop hyperglycaemia after lung transplantation, but patients with prior diabetes have more complication-related admissions to hospital and a higher mortality rate.     

螺旋CT三期扫描对肝纤维化诊断价值研究

目的探讨螺旋CT三期扫描对肝纤维化的诊断价值。方法对66例经肝穿刺活检病理证实的慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化患者组和42例正常对照组进行螺旋CT三期增强扫描。根据纤维化程度分期进行影像资料和相关指标的统计分析。结果肝左叶增大,肝表面形态及肝实质密度的改变,脾脏增大,门静脉增宽和侧枝循环的建立等影像学改变,随着肝纤维化严重程度的加重而有统计学差异。本研究显示57例肝纤维化患者螺旋CT三期扫描诊断肝纤维化52例,敏感性91.2%,特异性77.8%。各期肝纤维化分期准确28例,准确率49.1%;准确判断轻度纤维化(S1、S2)或重度纤维化(S3、S4)44例,准确率77.2%,诊断早期肝硬化16例,准确率84.2%。结论螺旋CT三期扫描能判断肝纤维化的程度,而且是动态观察肝纤维化的病程演进和临床随访的有效手段。