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.     

乳腺癌缺氧诱导因子-1α、Ki-67表达与超声声像特征的关系

目的探讨乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中的缺氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)、Ki-67蛋白的表达与超声声像特征的关系。方法对110例乳腺癌患者进行超声检查,观察患者的毛刺征、肿块形态、钙化灶形态和血流显像分级等。取110例乳腺癌患者的乳腺癌组织,免疫组化法检测HIF-1α、Ki-67蛋白的阳性表达率。分析不同超声声像特征乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α、Ki-67蛋白的表达情况。结果110例乳腺癌患者中,43例既存在Ki-67蛋白阳性表达又存在HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达,35例仅存在Ki-67蛋白阳性表达,13例仅存在HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达,Ki-67、HIF-1α蛋白阴性表达患者共19例。乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中Ki-67蛋白的阳性表达率为70.91%(78/110),HIF-1α蛋白的阳性表达率为50.91%(56/110)。不同肿块形态、钙化灶形态、血流显像分级乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中Ki-67蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。不同血流显像分级乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。结论乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α的表达可能与血流显像分级有关,Ki-67的表达可能与肿块形态、钙化灶形态及血流显像分级有关。     

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.     

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.     

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.