Intranasal immunization with protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis induces a long-term immunological memory response

Although intranasal vaccination has been shown to be effective for the protection against inhalational anthrax, establishment of long-term immunity has yet to be achieved. Here, we investigated whether intranasal immunization with recombinant protective antigen (rPA) of Bacillus anthracis induces immunological memory responses in the mucosal and systemic compartments. Intranasal immunization with rPA plus cholera toxin (CT) sustained PA-specific antibody responses for 6 months in lung, nasal washes, and vaginal washes as well as serum. A significant induction of PA-specific memory B cells was observed in spleen, cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) and lung after booster immunization. Furthermore, intranasal immunization with rPA plus CT remarkably generated effector memory CD4⁺ T cells in the lung. PA-specific CD4⁺ T cells preferentially increased the expression of Th1- and Th17-type cytokines in lung, but not in spleen or CLNs. Collectively, the intranasal immunization with rPA plus CT promoted immunologic memory responses in the mucosal and systemic compartments, providing long-term immunity.     

Innovative immunosuppression in kidney transplantation: A challenge for unmet needs

Due to the optimal results obtained in kidney transplantation and to the lack of interest of the industries, new innovative drugs in kidney transplantation are difficult to be encountered. The best strategy to find the new drugs recently developed or under development is to search in the sections of kidney transplantation still not completely covered by the drugs on the market. These unmet needs are the prevention of delayed graft function (DGF), the protection of the graft over the long time and the desensitization of preformed anti human leukocyte antigen antibodies and the treatment of the acute antibody-mediated rejection. These needs are particularly relevant due to the expansion of some kind of kidney transplantation as transplantation from non-heart beating donor and in the case of antibody-incompatible grafts. The first are particularly exposed to DGF, the latter need a safe desensitization and a safe treatments of the antibody mediated rejections that often occur. Particular caution is needed in treating these drugs. First, they are described in very recent studies and the follow-up of their effect is of course rather short. Second, some of these drugs are still in an early phase of study, even if in well-conducted randomized controlled trials. Particular caution and a careful check need to be used in trials launched 2 or 3 years ago. Indeed, is always necessary to verify whether the study is still going on or whether and why the study itself was abandoned.     

扶正化痰固本方对早期非小细胞肺癌术后患者免疫功能的影响

目的:观察扶正化痰固本方运用于早期非小细胞肺癌术后的临床疗效及其对患者免疫功能的影响。方法:将70例早期非小细胞肺癌患者按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组各35例。两组患者均接受肺癌切除术治疗,对照组术后3周开始接受MVP方案化疗,观察组在对照组的基础上加用扶正化痰固本方治疗。比较两组患者的临床疗效及治疗前后中医证候积分、卡氏评分(karnofsky performance status,KPS)及生活质量评分变化情况。检测两组患者治疗前后免疫功能指标、血清肿瘤标志物[癌胚抗原(carcinoembryonic antigen,CEA)、糖类抗原153(carbohydrate antigen 153,CA153)]水平。结果:观察组有效率为91.43%,对照组有效率为71.43%,两组患者有效率比较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后中医证候积分低于本组治疗前,且观察组治疗后低于对照组治疗后,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后免疫功能指标检测结果低于本组治疗前,且观察组治疗后低于对照组治疗后,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后血清CEA、CA153水平低于治疗前,KPS评分、QLQ-C30评分均高于治疗前,且观察组治疗后血清CEA、CA153水平低于对照组,KPS评分、QLQ-C30评分均高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组胃肠道反应及骨髓抑制发生率均低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:扶正化痰固本方运用于早期肺癌术后,能够有效改善患者免疫功能,减轻毒副反应,提高患者生活质量。     

Imaging Features of Pulmonary Immune-related Adverse Events

Pulmonary immune-related adverse events represent rare but potentially severe side effects of immunotherapies. Diagnosis is often challenging, as symptoms and imaging features are not specific and may mimic other lung diseases, thus potentially delaying appropriate patient management. In this setting, an accurate imaging evaluation is essential for a prompt detection and correct management of these drug-induced lung diseases. The purpose of this article is to review the different types of pulmonary immune-related adverse events, describe their imaging characteristics on both high-resolution computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography and stress their underlying diagnostic challenge by presenting the mimickers.     

北京地区rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗超早期脑梗死患者临床分析

目的分析北京地区12所医院202例超早期脑梗死患者经不同剂量重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(rt- PA)静脉溶栓治疗后的疗效及其不良事件,探讨使用rt-PA的最佳剂量及其安全性与可行性。方法287例发病6h以内的脑梗死患者,男201例,女86例,年龄38～80岁,平均64岁。所有患者均伴有偏瘫,头颅CT未见出血及责任梗死灶,无溶栓禁忌证。202例接受rt-PA治疗,分为A组与B组,A组88例,给予rt-PA 0．9 mg/kg。B组114例,给予rt- PA0．6～0．8 mg/kg。C组(对照组)85例患者给予低分子右旋糖酐、复方丹参等治疗。分别比较治疗前与治疗后11d、21 d、90 d的美国国立卫生院神经功能缺损评分(NIHSS)、Barthel指数,并进行疗效评定。结果A组、B组分别与C组90 d的NIHSS评分、Barthel指数相比有显著差异。A组、B组及C组的基本痊愈及显著改善率分别为69%、77%及40%．A组、B组分别与C组脑出血的发生率为7．96%、4．38%及0%。症状性出血(4．55%、2．63%及0%),非症状性出血(2．63%、1．75%及0%)。结论超早期脑梗死静脉应用rt-PA溶栓治疗是安全有效的。不同剂量的rt-PA均减轻了脑梗死的致残率,但两组间无明显差异。中国人rt-PA溶栓治疗最佳剂量尚需要进一步进行大样本的前瞻性、多中心、随机对照研究．     

Erythematous and reticular forms of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid reactions differ in pathological features related to disease activity

BACKGROUND: Common clinical forms of oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid reactions (OLR) are erythematous (ERY) or reticular (RET). The purpose of this study was to find histopathological changes that differ between these forms. METHODS: Epithelial thickness, epithelial proliferation rate, apoptosis, and HLA-DR expression were compared among 10 reticular and 12 erythematous lesions, and 11 normal oral mucosa samples (NOM). RESULTS: The epithelium in ERY was thinner than in NOM, whereas RET showed values between ERY and NOM. Cell proliferation increased significantly in ERY as compared with RET and NOM, with no difference between RET and NOM. Relative numbers of epithelial cell nuclei displaying visible chromatin condensation were reduced in ERY form. CONCLUSIONS: The markedly increased cell proliferation in ERY supports the notion that this form displays a higher disease activity as compared to RET. It can therefore be important to study each disease form separately.     

早期联用MEP和大剂量rhGH对严重烫伤大鼠肠源性感染的影响

目的探讨早期联用美罗培南(MEP)和大剂量重组人生长激素(rhGH)对严重烫伤免疫抑制大鼠肠源性感染的影响。方法Wistar大鼠54只随机分为对照组、烧伤组和治疗组(C1组、C2组、C3组),后两大组制成25%总体表面积(TBSA)Ⅲ°烫伤免疫抑制模型,伤后2h给予rhGH1.33IU/kg、MEP20mg/kg,伤后8、24h检测门静脉血清内毒素(LPS)、腔静脉血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量,肝功能变化和肠道细菌移位率。结果C3(MEP+rhGH治疗)组LPS和TNF-α含量均显著低于其他组(P<0.01),与对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),C3组未发现肠道细菌移位且肝功能检测指标显著低于其他组(P<0.01),与对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论早期联用MEP和rhGH治疗严重烫伤免疫抑制大鼠能显著减轻或防止肠道细菌/内毒素移位,减少炎症介质释放,保护脏器功能。     

慢性Ⅳ型前列腺炎患者血PSA的变化

目的:探讨无症状性前列腺炎(NIH-IV)对血PSA的影响。方法:选择常规体检男性242例,慢性前列腺炎症状评分(CPSI)指数评分<8分。患者前列腺指诊及尿液分析未见异常,检查前先抽血查PSA,取前列腺按摩液(EPS)行白细胞计数,评估Ⅳ型前列腺炎发病情况,比较Ⅳ型前列腺炎及对照组的血PSA水平,并分析Ⅳ型前列腺炎患者EPS中白细胞的数目与PSA升高的相关性。结果:在242例体检男性中,Ⅳ型前列腺炎的发病率为34.3%(83/242)。Ⅳ型前列腺炎组与对照组间的年龄、前列腺体积差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),而PSA在Ⅳ型前列腺炎组为(2.88±2.60)μg/L,显著高于对照组(1.59±1.76)μg/L(P<0.05)。Ⅳ型前列腺炎组中PSA≥4μg/L的比例为13.3%(11/83),而对照组中PSA≥4μg/L的比例为4.4%(7/159),两者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。Ⅳ型前列腺炎患者EPS中白细胞数目多少与PSA的高低并无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:Ⅳ型前列腺炎亦是血PSA升高的原因之一。