Dihydroartemisinin alleviates erosive bone destruction by modifying local Treg cells in inflamed joints: A novel role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Treg cell-based therapy has exhibited promising efficacy in combatting rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exerts broad immunomodulatory effects across various diseases, with its recent spotlight on T-cell regulation in autoimmune conditions. The modulation of DHA on Treg cells and its therapeutic role in RA has yet to be fully elucidated. This study seeks to unveil the influence of DHA on Treg cells in RA and furnish innovative substantiation for the potential of DHA to ameliorate RA. To this end, we initially scrutinized the impact of DHA-modulated Treg cells on osteoclast (OC) formation in vitro using Treg cell-bone marrow-derived monocyte (BMM) coculture systems. Subsequently, employing the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model, we validated the efficacy of DHA and probed its influence on Treg cells in the spleen and popliteal lymph nodes (PLN). Finally, leveraging deep proteomic analysis with data-independent acquisition (DIA) and parallel accumulation-serial fragmentation (PASEF) technology, we found the alterations in the Treg cell proteome in PLN by proteomic analysis. Our findings indicate that DHA augmented suppressive Treg cells, thereby impeding OC formation in vitro. Consistently, DHA mitigated erosive joint destruction and osteoclastogenesis by replenishing splenic and joint-draining lymph node Treg cells in CIA rats. Notably, DHA induced alterations in the Treg cell proteome in PLN, manifesting distinct upregulation of alloantigen Col2a1 (Type II collagen alfa 1 chain) and CD8a (T-cell surface glycoprotein CD8 alpha chain) in Treg cells, signifying DHA's targeted modulation of Treg cells, rendering them more adept at sustaining immune tolerance and impeding bone erosion. These results unveil a novel facet of DHA in the treatment of RA.

Malone Antegrade Continence Enema in Patients with Perineal Colostomy After Rectal Resection.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of antegrade continence enema (Malone operation) in abdominoperineal resection (Miles' operation). Between January 2008 and May 2009, five cancer patients (two men and three women) underwent abdominoperineal resection and digestive reconstruction by perineal colostomy and Malone antegrade continence enema in our institution. Their functional results and quality of life were recorded. None of the patients died, but two had wound infections and one experienced urinary retention. Patients performed antegrade enema every 24 h with 2,000 mL of normal saline by themselves. The duration of the enema lasted for an average of approximately 35 min, and fecal contamination was not detected at 24 h. Patient satisfaction was determined to be 88 %. Malone antegrade continence enema associated with abdominoperineal resection and perineal colostomy provided acceptable continence. It preserved the body image of the patients and resulted in a satisfactory quality of life. It is a potential alternative for patients who are not willing to have a permanent colostomy.

Defunctioning cannula ileostomy after lower anterior resection of rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Most surgeons suggest the use of fecal diversion in patients undergoing low anterior resections of rectal tumors at high risk for anastomotic leakage. We describe an exploratory study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new diversion method called a spontaneously closing cannula ileostomy, which was designed to protect rectal anastomoses in patients at high risk for anastomotic leakage. The outcomes of patients treated with cannula ileostomy were compared to those of patients treated with loop ileostomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes included the rates of anastomotic leakage, reoperation and other complications, as well as length of hospital stay and cost. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: From January 2011 to December 2012, 294 patients undergoing low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were treated with ileum diversion using cannula ileostomy or traditional loop ileostomy. Demographics, clinical features, and operational data were recorded. RESULTS: The anastomotic leakage rates were 8.1% (12/149) in the cannula ileostomy group and 8.3% (12/145) in the loop ileostomy group (p = 1.0). The reoperation rate was 3% (4/149) in patients treated with a cannula ileostomy and 3.4% (5/145) in those who underwent a loop ileostomy (p = 0.75). The median length of the hospital stay was 8.6 days in the cannula ileostomy group and 17.1 days (p < 0.01) in the loop ileostomy group, including time for the initial and reversal operations. In the cannula ileostomy group, the median time to defecation from the anus was 16.5 days after the operation. During the follow-up period, 13 patients in the loop ileostomy group retained their stoma, as compared to 2 in the cannula ileostomy group (p < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: This study was a nonrandomized design and lacked contrast enema data to identify anastomotic leaks. CONCLUSIONS: Cannula ileostomy is a safe and effective diverting technique that protects low colorectal and coloanal anastomoses. Patients receiving a cannula ileostomy had shorter hospital stays and lower rates of permanent stoma than those receiving a loop ileostomy.

[A speed-constant rectal lavage apparatus prepared in laboratory].

OBJECTIVE: To design a speed-constant rectal lavage apparatus for assessing the rectal and anal function in liquid stool continence and the degree of fecal incontinence. METHOD: The apparatus was assembled by four common rectal lavage apparatuses, each with a container and a drainage tube. RESULTS: The device could output a pulsed and speed-constant water stream with high pressure, capable of overcoming any rectal resistance change. The test for liquid continence in 12 patients with incontinence (n=12) and 12 normal control subjects (n=12) found that the retained liquid volume was significantly lower in the incontinence group than in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fecal incontinence could be evaluated with the speed-constant rectal lavage apparatus, which yields objective and quantitative results.

[The prognosis of the total proctocolectomy and ileal-pouch anal anastomosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognosis of the total proctocolectomy and ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). METHODS: Sixty-one patients with ulcer colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis were performed total proctocolectomy and ileal pouches-anal anastomosis during 1985 to 2002. There are S type pouch 25 cases, S-J type pouch 13 cases, J type pouch 17 cases and W type pouch 6 cases. The complication and function after the IPAA were also discussed. RESULTS: No patient died after operation. The total morbidity is 16% (10/61), the morbidity of group UC (6/25) is higher than FAP's (4/34). The W type pouch's morbidity is higher than other three types', the operation with stapled technique is associated with fewer complication than hand-sewn IPAA (2/20 vs 8/41), however, there is also no significant difference between them. The number of stools per 24 hours is 4.2, the percent of the normal continence of daytime and nighttime is 84% (43/51) and 75% (38/51) respectively. There's only about 6% (3/51) patient with fecal incontinence. The most patients are satisfied with IPAA. CONCLUSION: The proctocolectomy ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for FAP and UC has few complication with accepted frequency and preserve a good anal function, it is an ideal alternative approach.