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.     

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicities

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are molecules that increase the endogenous immune response against tumors. They have revolutionized the field of oncology. Since their initial approval for the treatment of advanced melanoma, their use has expanded to the treatment of several other advanced cancers. Unfortunately, immune checkpoint inhibitors have also been associated with the emergence of a new subset of autoimmune-like toxicities, known as immune-related adverse events. These toxicities differ depending on the agent, malignancy, and individual susceptibilities. Although the skin and colon are most commonly involved, any organ may be affected, including the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart. Most of these toxicities are diagnosed by excluding other secondary infectious or inflammatory causes. Corticosteroids are commonly used for treatment of moderate and severe immune-related adverse events, although additional immunosuppressive therapy may occasionally be required. The occurrence of immune-related toxicities may require discontinuation of immunotherapy, depending on the specific toxicity and its severity. In this article, we provide a focused review to familiarize practicing clinicians with this important topic given that the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors continues to increase.     

血卟啉在H-22肝癌荷瘤小鼠体内的分布

目的探讨声敏剂血卟啉衍生物在肿瘤组织中的富集情况,以便在给药后超声结合血卟啉治疗肿瘤时选择最佳的超声处理时间。方法H-22肝癌荷瘤小鼠尾静脉注射HpD后,不同时间点取材,采用荧光分光光度法测定不同组织提取液中HpD的荧光强度,研究HpD在不同组织中的分布以及代谢变化。结果给药后2 h肿瘤组织以外的其他各组织内(血浆、肝、肾、皮肤、肌肉)血卟啉含量均达到其代谢过程的最高点,后逐渐下降;肿瘤组织中的HpD含量注射后不断上升,6 h时达到顶峰,随后又开始下降,10~24 h代谢比较缓慢,表现为肿瘤组织中对HpD的滞留作用,24 h时肿瘤组织中的HpD含量高于其他各组织,48~72 h趋于稳定在较低水平。结论提出了不同部位的肿瘤应选择各自适当的时间点进行超声处理。     

雷公藤生物碱的分离鉴定

我们从雷公藤（ＴｒｉｐｔｅｒｙｇｉｕｍＷｉｌｆｏｒｄｉｉＨｏｏｋ．ｆ．）中按常法分离得到总碱后经ＨＰＬＣ分析出现８个峰，经硅胶柱层析及硅胶ＲＰ－１８反相中压柱层析分离得到５个生物碱，由化学方法和光谱分析证明为雷公藤吉碱（Ｗｉｌｆｏｒｇｉｎｅ２０）．雷公藤次碱（Ｗｉｌｆｏｒｉｎｅ２１），雷公藤春碱（Ｗｉｌｆｏｒｔｒｉｎｅ２２），雷公藤碱戊（Ｗｉｌｆｏｒｉｄｉｎｅ２３），呋喃南蛇碱（Ｃｅｌａｆｕｒｉｎｅ１６）。ＨＰＬＣ分析指出含量最高为雷公藤吉碱，其次为呋喃南蛇碱。     

网状减张小切口缝合法提高大鼠背部张力皮瓣存活机制

Foropenseverewoundandthewoundafterdebridement,mostscholarsthinkthewoundshouldbeclosedindelayedfirst-phase.Meshrelaxingshortincision(MRSI)methodcanclosemoreskindeficiencyandhightensionopenwound,andavoidsubcutaneoushematomaandskinflapdrift.Intheexperiment,theexperimentalmodelonrattensionskinflaphasbeeninvolved,andthecontentofendothelin(ET)inratskinflaptissuehasbeenmeasuredinvariousperiodofwoundhealingaftermeshedrelaxingshortincisionsuturewithimmunohistochemistry,inordertodiscussprobablemechani…     

Double layer capacitance and a microscopic structure of electrified liquid–liquid interfaces

We develop a theory of the double layer at electrolyte–electrolyte interfaces taking in to account the microscopic structure of the interfacial region. This includes a “mixed boundary layer” where the overlapping of two space-charge regions occurs, and the effects of ion association and adsorption at the interface. Theoretical results are in good agreement with experimental data obtained for various organic solvents and electrolytes. The theory suggests a framework for the treatment of the capacitance data and establishes a relationship between experimental results and the microscopic structure of interfaces between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES).     

Effective pulmonary blood flow in children with acute asthma attack requiring hospitalization

In children with acute obstructive lung disease gas exchange is affected by ventilation-perfusion mismatch and the degree of bronchoconstriction. Standard lung function measurements do not reflect the impairment in gas exchange. Alternatively, the effective pulmonary blood flow (EPBF), that is, the proportion of the cardiac output that is supplying well-ventilated lung units, can give accurate and noninvasive estimates of ventilation-perfusion mismatch. We measured EPBF with the argon freon ?22 rebreathing technique in children with acute severe asthma to assess their response to nebulized salbutamol and to determine whether induced changes in the EPBF could be predicted from baseline measurements. Twenty-four children admitted with an acute asthma attack had spirometry and triplicate EPBF measurements before and after nebulized salbutamol. Eighteen patients had repeated tests 50 days later when fully recovered; 4 patients were taking methylxanthines on at least one occasion. The mean forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV₁) rose from 55% of predicted to 66% after salbutamol and to 83% with recovery. The mean coefficients of variation for EPBF measurements on the three test occasions were 11.3%, 8.2%, and 9%. Except in children on methylxanthines, the EPBF values were reduced during the acute asthma attack (median, 2.53 L/min/m²; range, 1.99–3.60 L/min/m²) compared with paired values obtained after recovery (median, 2.89 L/min/m²; range, 2.2Eb4.04 L/min/m²) (P = 0.009). Salbutamol caused a highly significant increase in EPBF from 2.88 L/min/m² (range, 1.86–3.80) before treatment to 3.34 L/min/m² (range, 2.264.65) immediately afterwards (P = 0.0003). The spirometric indices did not relate to the changes in the EPBF values. However, when the effective stroke volume index was calculated in 11 patients, the changes induced by nebulized salbutamol had a significant inverse relation with the pretreatment FEV, (P = 0.61; P = 0.02). In conclusion, the argon freon-22 rebreathing technique can be used successfully and reproducibly to measure EPBF in children with an acute asthma attack. Except in children taking methylxanthines, EPBF during the acute attack is reduced and rises significantly after salbutamol. EPBF values after recovery were significantly higher than the presalbutamol values during the attack. Spirometric indices do not relate to the EPBF changes but are inversely related to the effective stroke volume changes. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1994; 17:370–377. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Raman and UV–vis spectroscopic study of polyaniline membranes containing a bulky cationic additive

Electrically conducting soluble polyaniline (PANI), containing different amounts of a bulky lipophilic cationic additive, tridodecylmethylammonium chloride (TDMACl), was studied by Raman (λ_exc=780 nm) and UV–vis spectroscopy. PANI was made simultaneously electrically conducting and soluble with bis[4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl]phosphoric acid in dichloromethane. The PANI membranes were prepared by drop casting on glassy carbon or ITO substrates. Raman and UV–vis measurements were carried out in a 0.1 M CaCl₂ solution at potentials between 400 and ?600 mV (vs. SCE) at pH 6, or alternatively at the open circuit potential at pH 10. The results of Raman, UV–vis and cyclic voltammetric measurements confirm that the incorporation of TDMACl into the PANI membrane facilitates the oxidation and reduction of PANI.     

Effects of exercise on muscle activation and metabolism in multiple sclerosis

We investigated the role of metabolism in muscle fatigue during voluntary exercise in persons with mild multiple sclerosis (MS). Six MS and 8 healthy control subjects performed intermittent, progressive, isometric contractions of the ankle dorsiflexors, during which we measured maximum voluntary force (MVC), inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr), and pH. During exercise. MVC fell sooner in MS, but by the end of exercise the relative decrease in MVC was similar in both groups. In contrast, at the end of exercise Pi/PCr increased to 1.86 ± 0.22 in controls but to only 0.66 ± 0.04 in MS (P < 0.01); likewise, pH was 6.75±0.04 in controls and unchanged (7.06 ± 0.04) in MS (P <0.01). The smaller metabolic change at the same relative exercise intensity suggests a failure of muscle activation that is present even in mild MS. Neurophsyiologic measures of activation indicated some central activation failure and no neuromuscular junction impairment in MS, and suggested that activation failure beyond the muscle membrane(excitation–contraction coupling) may be important in MS. We conclude that metabolic factors do not play a significant role in the development of muscle fatigue during voluntary exercise in mild MS. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.