The complement system in primary Sjögren’s syndrome: the expression of certain cascade and regulatory proteins in labial salivary glands – observational study

IntroductionThe complement cascade and regulatory proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of the Sjögren’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. The complement activation via the alternative pathway was recognized as a major pathogenic mechanism in autoimmune conditions. The aim of this study was to assess expression of complement cascade components and regulatory proteins in minor salivary glands in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS).Materials and methodsThe expression of C1q and C5b-9 – membrane attack complex and regulatory proteins such as: membrane cofactor protein (MCP), decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and protectin were examined using immunochemistry method in specimens from biopsy of minor salivary glands in pSS patients. The biopsy material was obtained from 20 pSS patients, 5 patients with non-specific sialadenitis and from 5 patients with suspicion of dryness syndrome without sialadenitis confirmation.ResultsNone of the examined samples showed the expression of C1q or the effector C5b-9. Membrane cofactor protein expression was lower in pSS group than in both non-specific sialadenitis and noninflamed salivary glands. The inflammatory cells in pSS samples partially expressed MCP. There were differences in the sites and intensity of membrane protectin expression exclusively on the luminal surfaces in pSS; on the luminal and, partially, antiluminal surface in non-specific inflammation, and on the entire cell surface in unaffected salivary glands. There were no DAF expression in salivary gland tissue in biopsy specimens in all studied subjects.ConclusionsThe study demonstrated the absence of complement-cascade proteins (C1q, MAC) in the salivary glands of pSS patients, which may indicated a lack of local complement activation via the classical pathway and the observed gland tissue damage being due to a mechanism other than MAC-induced cytolysis. The differences in the expression of complement regulatory proteins between pSS, non-specific sialadenitis, and normal salivary glands may indicate that alternative functions of these regulatory proteins may be of greater significance in pSS. Low MCP expression in pSS in comparison with non-specific sialadenitis and normal salivary glands, may suggest altered modulation of cell-mediated immunity in pSS. The differences in the location and intensity of protectin (CD59) expression indicates a possibility of reducing the proinflammatory effect of protectin in pSS.     

Low molecular weight heparin versus unfractioned heparin for anticoagulation during perioperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A single center experience in 102 lung transplant patients

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is gaining importance in the perioperative management of lung transplant patients. To date, the ideal substance for anticoagulation of ECMO patients is still a matter of debate. In this study, we describe our experience with the use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in comparison with unfractioned heparin (UFH) in lung transplant patients undergoing perioperative ECMO support. We retrospectively analyzed data from all lung transplant patients who underwent perioperative ECMO support at our institution between 2013 and 2017. Bleeding events served as primary outcome parameter. Secondary outcome parameters consisted of thromboembolic events. 102 patients were included in this study, of which 22 (21.6%) received UFH for anticoagulation, and 80 (78.4%) received LMWH. There was no difference between the two groups in regard to serious bleeding events (22.7% in the UFH group vs 12.5% in the LMWH group, P = .31). However, the proportion of patients experiencing thromboembolic events was significantly higher in the UFH group than in the LMWH group (50% vs 20%, P = .01). After adjusting for baseline differences between the two groups, we still observed a difference with respect to thromboembolic events. These data remain to be validated in future prospective, randomized trials.     

Implementation of a mobile team to provide normothermic regional perfusion in controlled donation after circulatory death: Pilot study and first results

Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in controlled donation after circulatory death is becoming a popular method due to the favorable results of the grafts procured under this technique. This procedure requires experience, and, sometimes, the availability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines to implement NRP is limited to tertiary hospitals. In order to provide support with NRP in controlled donation after circulatory death across the different hospitals of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, a mobile NRP team was created. In the first 18 months since its creation, the mobile NRP team participated in 33 procurements across nine different hospitals, representing 72% of all controlled donations after circulatory death in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. NRP was successfully performed in 29 (88%) cases, with a mean duration of 69 ± 27 minutes. A total of 39 kidneys, 12 livers, and 5 bilateral lungs were recovered and transplanted. None of the livers were discarded due to an elevation in transaminases during NRP. A mobile NRP team is a feasible option and, in our series, aided in the optimization and recovery of organs from donors after controlled circulatory death in centers where ECMO technology was not available.     

经皮房间隔造口左心引流在静-动脉体外膜肺氧合治疗中的应用

目的观察经皮房间隔造口术在静-动脉体外膜肺氧合(V-A ECMO)治疗中的左心引流效果,探讨其安全性、有效性。方法回顾性分析2017年3月至2019年1月9例接受V-A ECMO治疗时以房间隔造口手术进行左心引流的患者临床资料,其中男5例,女4例;年龄12~72岁。心脏外科术后顽固性低心排血量综合征4例,重症病毒性心肌炎3例,急性心肌梗死2例。记录患者基础资料、手术数据、转归与随访结果等临床资料。结果全组患者均成功完成经皮房间隔造口术,平均手术时间42.2 min。术后出现前纵隔血肿1例。ECMO辅助期间无肺水肿或血栓形成事件,无再做治疗关闭房间隔造口。结论经皮房间隔造口手术可安全有效地进行左心引流,利于严重左心衰患者术后恢复。     

电镜检查对小儿遗传性进行性肾炎诊断的意义(附8例报告)

目的：评价电镜检查对小儿遗传性进行性肾炎的诊断意义。方法：对８例遗传性进行性肾炎患儿进行活检组织电镜结合临床表现及随访观察，结果：该病在小儿时期常表现为复发性血尿，很少有眼和耳异常及肾功能不全。部分患儿可无家族史，肾活检组织电镜检查肾小球基底膜（ＧＢＭ），变薄或增厚和分层，结论：电镜检查对遗传性进行性肾炎具有确诊意义。     

玻璃体切割联合内界膜填塞或内界膜翻转对特发性大黄斑裂孔患者治疗效果的对比研究

目的　比较玻璃体切割联合内界膜填塞或内界膜翻转在特发性大黄斑裂孔患者治疗中的效果。方法　回顾性非随机临床研究。24例24眼特发性大黄斑裂孔患者均行睫状体平坦部三通道25G玻璃体切割术,术中使用内界膜反折填塞于黄斑裂孔中者12例12眼为内界膜填塞组,使用内界膜反折覆盖于黄斑裂孔中者12例12眼为内界膜翻转组。术后随访6个月,对比两组患者最佳矫正视力（best corrected visual acuity,BCVA）、裂孔闭合率、OCT检查结果及并发症等情况。结果　术后6个月,内界膜填塞组12眼黄斑裂孔全部闭合,黄斑裂孔闭合率为100%;内界膜翻转组12眼中11眼黄斑裂孔闭合,黄斑裂孔闭合率为91.67%,两组黄斑裂孔闭合率差异无统计学意义（Z=-1.00,P=0.32）。术后6个月,内界膜填塞组BCVA为（1.13±0.40）logMAR,内界膜翻转组为（1.03±0.36）logMAR,均较术前明显改善,差异均有统计学意义（均为P=0.00）;术后6个月内界膜翻转组BCVA优于内界膜填塞组,但差异无统计学意义（t=0.59,P=0.56）。OCT检查示,内界膜翻转组有3眼（25.00%）视网膜外层结构部分恢复,内界膜填塞组均未见视网膜外层结构恢复患者。结论　玻璃体切割联合内界膜填塞或内界膜翻转治疗特发性大黄斑裂孔,均能提高黄斑裂孔的闭合率,稳定及改善BCVA。     

玻璃体切割联合玻璃酸钠凝胶辅助内界膜翻转填塞术治疗大孔径特发性黄斑裂孔

目的　探讨玻璃体切割联合玻璃酸钠凝胶辅助内界膜翻转填塞术治疗大孔径特发性黄斑裂孔的疗效。方法　回顾性分析2017年3月至2019年12月在我院行玻璃体切割术治疗的大孔径（最小直径＞400 μm）特发性黄斑裂孔患者68例,其中40例联合内界膜翻转填塞治疗（传统术式组）,28例联合玻璃酸钠凝胶辅助内界膜翻转填塞治疗（改良术式组）。比较两组患者术前及术后最佳矫正视力及裂孔闭合率。结果　传统术式组术后6个月视力（0.842±0.340）logMAR较术前（1.160±0.310）logMAR明显改善（P<0.05）,改良术式组术后6个月视力（0.825±0.288)logMAR较术前（1.204±0.334）logMAR也明显改善（P<0.05）,但两组患者术后视力改善程度差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。改良术式组术后裂孔闭合率（100.00%）高于传统术式组（77.50%）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,且随着裂孔直径的增大,传统术式组术后裂孔闭合率逐渐降低。超大孔径特发性黄斑裂孔（裂孔直径>700 μm）分组中,传统术式组和改良术式组患者术后裂孔闭合率分别为61.53%、100.00%,差异也有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论　玻璃体切割联合玻璃酸钠凝胶辅助内界膜翻转填塞术是一种安全有效的手术方式,不仅在一定程度改善大孔径黄斑裂孔患者术后视力,还可大幅提高大孔径特发性黄斑裂孔闭合率,尤其是超大孔径黄斑裂孔的闭合率。     

Retroprosthetic membrane: A complication of keratoprosthesis with broad consequences

Keratoprosthesis (KPro) devices have the remarkable ability to restore vision in patients suffering from corneal blindness who are poor candidates for traditional penetrating keratoplasty. However, eyes with KPro can experience various complications, including the development of retroprosthetic membrane (RPM). RPMs reduce visual acuity in patients due to physical obstruction of the visual axis, but studies have shown that RPM can also lead to a variety of other consequences, from melting of the corneal carrier graft to precipitating retinal detachments. Histopathologic studies have shown that RPMs are composed of elements from both the recipient and donor. The presence of myofibroblasts in RPMs imparts them with contractile properties, which can contribute to their downstream complications, including angle closure, hypotony, and retinal detachment. At present, there are limited treatments to combat the growth of RPM. Future therapies could include anti-metabolites and targeted anti-inflammatory treatments, as well as device coatings or textured device surfaces that can hinder RPM proliferation. The long-term success of KPro depends on devising an effective solution for preventing RPM growth.     

多层螺旋CT在胃肠道穿孔诊断中的应用效果

目的探讨多层螺旋CT在胃肠道穿孔中的诊断效果。方法回顾性分析经病理确诊为胃肠穿孔患者的多层螺旋CT扫描的相关资料共42例,探究MSCT所得影像资料,分析腹腔内部各种特征和游离气体比例等。结果在所有42例病患中,经MSCT确诊的有39例,约占92.86%。此外,准确确定穿孔位置的有25例,约占59.52%。同时观察到胃肠道有肿块、脓肿、积液等病变。结论多层螺旋CT应用于胃肠道穿孔诊断方面有很好的效果,有利于提高确诊率和孔道位置准确率,此方法适合在临床上推广使用。