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.     

Robust antibody response after a third BNT162b2 vaccine compared to the second among immunocompromised and healthy individuals,a prospective longitudinal cohort study

PurposeAs protection from COVID-19 following two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine showed a time dependent waning, a third (booster) dose was administrated. This study aims to compare the antibody response following the third dose versus the second and to evaluate post-booster seroconversion.MethodsA prospective observational study conducted in Maccabi Healthcare Services. Serial SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG tests, 1,2,3 and 6 months following the second vaccine dose and one month following the third were obtained. Neutralizing antibody levels were measured in a subset of participants. Per individual SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG titer ratios were calculated one month after the booster administration compared to titers one month following the second dose and prior to booster.ResultsAmong 110 participants, 56 (51%) were women. Mean age was 61.7 ± 1.9 years and 66 (60%) were immunocompromised. One month after third dose, IgG titers were induced 7.83 (95 %CI 5.25–11.67) folds and 2.40 (95 %CI 1.90–3.03) folds compared to one month after the second, in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent groups, respectively. Of the 17 immunocompromised participants who were seronegative after the second dose, 4 (24%) became seropositive following the third. Comparing the titers prior to the third dose, an increase of 50.7 (95 %CI 32.5–79.1) fold in the immunocompromised group and 25.7 (95 %CI 19.1–34.7) fold in and immunocompetent group, was observed.ConclusionA third BNT162b2 vaccine elicited robust humoral response, superior to the response observed following the second, among immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.     

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.     

淋巴管型着色芽生菌病1例

52岁男性农民，左手臂沿淋巴管排列损害4年。损害由结节和时间 红色浸润斑块覆污秽色痂组成，部分损害表面有黑点。临床表现酷似淋巴管型孢子丝菌病。直接镜检和组织病理见棕色厚壁孢子，培养证实病原菌为卡氏支孢霉。诊断为卡氏支孢霉所致皮肤着色芽生菌病。     

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。     

再生障碍性贫血造血细胞Fas抗原表达与T淋巴细胞功能的研究

目的 研究造血细胞凋亡与T淋巴细胞免疫在再生障碍性贫血(再障，Aplastic anemia，AA)发病机制中的作用及两者相关性。方法 采用流式细胞仪测定40例AA患者和15例非血液、免疫系统疾病对照者骨髓单个核细胞(BMMNC)的总CD34^ 、CD34^ Fas^ 、CD34^ Fas^-、CD3^ 、CD8^ 、CD3^ 、CD3^ CD25^ 标记值。结果 (1)与对照组比较，AA组总CD34^ 细胞％明显减少而其Fas表达率(以占总CD34^ 细胞％为计)明显增高。(2)AA组CD34^ 细胞％数与其Fas抗原表达率无明显负相关。(3)AA组T细胞％明显增多，且以CD8^ 细胞和CD3^ CD25^ 细胞增多为主。(4)AA组CD34^ 细胞％数与其T细胞活化状态无显著负相关。(5)AA组CD34^ 细胞Fas表达率与其T细胞活化状态无显著正相关。结论 AA骨髓存在着造血细胞数量减少和T淋巴细胞亚群数量、功能的异常，造血细胞数量减少还可能与Fas以外途径诱导的凋亡过度有关。骨髓造血细胞凋亡过度可能有活化T淋巴细胞免疫以外的途径诱导Fas途径或活化T淋巴细胞可以通过Fas之外的途径诱导造血细胞凋亡。     

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。     

桥本氏病手术治疗45例临床分析

本文分析４５例桥本氏病诊断和手术治疗的经验教训。本病合并其它甲状腺外科疾病 诊断困难，手术方式要慎重选择。术中常规冰冻快速活检，可帮助鉴别诊断和指导术式选择。