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BACKGROUND@#Critical patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even those whose nucleic acid test results had turned negative and those receiving maximal medical support, have been noted to progress to irreversible fatal respiratory failure. Lung transplantation (LT) as the sole therapy for end-stage pulmonary fibrosis related to acute respiratory distress syndrome has been considered as the ultimate rescue therapy for these patients.@*METHODS@#From February 10 to March 10, 2020, three male patients were urgently assessed and listed for transplantation. After conducting a full ethical review and after obtaining assent from the family of the patients, we performed three LT procedures for COVID-19 patients with illness durations of more than one month and extremely high sequential organ failure assessment scores.@*RESULTS@#Two of the three recipients survived post-LT and started participating in a rehabilitation program. Pearls of the LT team collaboration and perioperative logistics were summarized and continually improved. The pathological results of the explanted lungs were concordant with the critical clinical manifestation, and provided insight towards better understanding of the disease. Government health affair systems, virology detection tools, and modern communication technology all play key roles towards the survival of the patients and their rehabilitation.@*CONCLUSIONS@#LT can be performed in end-stage patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19-related pulmonary fibrosis. If confirmed positive-turned-negative virology status without organ dysfunction that could contraindicate LT, LT provided the final option for these patients to avoid certain death, with proper protection of transplant surgeons and medical staffs. By ensuring instant seamless care for both patients and medical teams, the goal of reducing the mortality rate and salvaging the lives of patients with COVID-19 can be attained.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections , Mortality , Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation , Lung Transplantation , Methods , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Mortality , Pulmonary Fibrosis , Mortality , General Surgery , Respiratory Distress Syndrome , Mortality , General SurgeryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Lung transplantation (LT) has been demonstrated as the only effective therapy for patients with end-stage lung diseases. Increasing listed lung transplant candidates and expanding volumes of lung transplant centers across China require well-organized programs and registry data collection based on the large population. This study aimed to summarize and analyze the data of LT development in China.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively collected and analyzed data from the China Lung Transplantation Registry (CLuTR). Key data were reported from the registry with transplant types, indications, donor and recipient characteristics, outcomes and survival. The survival Grade 0), renal insufficiency (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL·min·1.73 m), were independently associated with a higher risk for 3-year mortality in the entire cohort.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Facing more end-stage of lung diseases and comorbidities, this study analyzed the outcomes and survival of LT recipients in China. Further prospectively stratified analyses with longer follow-up will be needed.
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Objective • To investigate the relationship between the levels of global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in peripheral blood of elderly patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and the degree of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods • Forty-three elderly patients with MI were enrolled as the study group and 53 elderly patients with negative findings in coronary angiograms during the same period were collected as the control group. Peripheral blood samples were collected. The levels of global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in peripheral blood and the concentration of plasma TET2 were detected by ELISA. TET2 mRNA expression was determined by real-time qPCR. Results • Compared with the control group, the levels of global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in peripheral blood of elderly patients with MI were significantly increased (P=0.014, P=0.000). The concentration of plasma TET2 and its mRNA expression in patients with MI were significantly higher than those in the control group (P=0.004, P=0.028). The levels of global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in MI group were significantly correlated with the degree of coronary atherosclerosis (r=0.262, P=0.017; r=0.360, P=0.001). Conclusion • The levels of global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in peripheral blood of elderly patients with MI are significantly increased, which are significantly correlated with the degree of coronary atherosclerosis.
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To increase the permeation and retention of isopsoralen in skin, and improve its bioavailability.Isopsoralen loaded nanostructure liquid carrier (IPRN-NLC) was prepared by high pressure homogenization andoptimized by orthogonal experiment with the encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and average particle size as the evaluation indexes. The in vitro transdermal permeation of IPRN-NLC was evaluated by Franze diffusion cells.The results showed that solid-liquid lipid ratio of optimum IPRN-NLC formulation was 7∶3,drug-lipid ratio of 1∶30, 1% surfactant. Under these conditions, IPRN-NLC had an average encapsulation of （90.25±0.73）%,drug loading of （1.56±0.27）% and an average particle size of (305±1.57) nm.The in vitro transdermal permeation results showed that IPRN-NLC could increase the amount of IPRN permeated though skin, with 3 times of the epidermal retention as compared with IPRN solution. From the results we can know that the IPRN-NLC prepared by high pressure homogenization can improve the permeation andaccumulation of IPRN in the skin, with wide application prospects in the field of transdermal administration.
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To prepare tanshinone ⅡA loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (Tan ⅡA-NLC), and study its in vitro transdermal permeation characteristics. The Tan ⅡA-NLC was prepared by high pressure homogenization technology and optimized by Box-Behnken design-response surface method, and it was characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, zeta potention, et al. The transdermal permeation of Tan ⅡA-NLC was evaluated by using Franz diffusion cells. The results showed that, the optimal formulation was as follows: drug/lipid materials ratio 88, GMS/MCT ratio 2, emulsifier concentration 1%, average particle size (182±14) nm, polydispersity index PDI (0.190 6±0.024 5), zeta potential (－27.8± 5.4) mV, encapsulation efficiency EE (86.44%±9.26%) and drug loading DL (0.98%±0.18%), respectively. The in vitro transdermal permeation results showed that as compared with Tan ⅡA solution, Tan ⅡA-NLC had lower transdermal permeation amount after applying drug for 24 h, but its retention in the epidermis was 3.18 times that of solution. These results indicated that the prepared Tan ⅡA-NLC could effectively increase the regention of Tan ⅡA in the epidermis, and had a broad application prospect.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate operative technique, patient selection and perioperative management of single-lung transplantation for a patients with end-stage emphysema.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A 56-year-old patient with end-stage emphysema underwent left-lung transplantation on September 28, 2002. The surgical technique used was similar to that mentioned in the literature. The donor lung was perfused by LPD solution with a cold ischemic time of 260 minutes. Cardiopulmonary bypass was not performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patient weaned from a ventilator at the 93th hour after operation. Immunosuppressants included cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroid. Acute rejection occurred on the ninth day after operation and was cured by bolus methylprednisolone given intravenously. Lung function was improved significantly and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 47th day after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Single-lung transplantation for patients with end-stage emphysema is effective for long-term improvement of pulmonary function.</p>