Risk factors for progression of Urolith Associated with Obstructive Urosepsis to severe sepsis or septic shock.

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the risk factors for progression of urolith associated with obstructive urosepsis to severe sepsis or septic shock, we had done the retrospective cross-sectional study, which would facilitate the early identification of high-risk patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Datas were retrospectively reviewed from 160 patients, suffering from obstructive urosepsis associated with urolith between December 2013 and December 2019. There were 49 patients complicating by severe sepsis (severe sepsis group), 12 patients complicating by septic shock (septic shock group), and 99 patients without progressing to severe sepsis or septic shock (sepsis group). The data covered age, gender, BMI (body mass index), time interval from ED (emergency department) to admission, WBC count (white blood cell count), NLR (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio), HGB (hemoglobin), etc. Datas were analyzed by univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The corresponding nomogram prediction model was drawn according to the regression coefficients. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that the differences of age, the time interval from ED to admission, history of diabetes mellitus, history of CKI (chronic kidney disease), NLR, HGB, platelet count, TBil (total bilirubin), SCr (serum creatinine), ALB (albumin), PT (prothrombin time), APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time), INR (international normalized ratio), PCT (procalcitonin), and positive rate of pathogens in blood culture were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Multivariatelogistic regression analysis showed that age, SCr, and history of CKI were independent risk factors for progression to severe sepsis, or septic shock (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aged ≥ 65 years, SCr ≥ 248 mol/L, and history of CKI were independent risk factors for progression of urolith associated with obstructive urosepsis to severe sepsis or septic shock. We need to pay more attention to these aspects, when coming across the patients with urolithic sepsis.

Protracted low-dose radiation priming and response of liver to acute gamma and proton radiation.

This study evaluated liver from C57BL/6 mice irradiated with low-dose/low-dose-rate (LDR) γ-rays (0.01 Gy, 0.03 cGy/h), with and without subsequent exposure to acute 2 Gy gamma or proton radiation. Analyses were performed on day 56 post-exposure. Expression patterns of apoptosis-related genes were strikingly different among irradiated groups compared with 0 Gy (p < 0.05). Two genes were affected in the Gamma group, whereas 10 were modified in the LDR + Gamma group. In Proton and LDR + Proton groups, there were six and 12 affected genes, respectively. Expression of genes in the Gamma (Traf3) and Proton (Bak1, Birc2, Birc3, Mcl1) groups was no longer different from 0 Gy control group when mice were pre-exposed to LDR γ-rays. When each combined regimen was compared with the corresponding group that received acute radiation alone, two genes in the LDR + Gamma group and 17 genes in the LDR + Proton group were modified; greatest effect was on Birc2 and Nol3 (> 5-fold up-regulated by LDR + Protons). Oxygen radical production in livers from the LDR + Proton group was higher in LDR, Gamma, and LDR + Gamma groups (p < 0.05 vs. 0 Gy), but there were no differences in phagocytosis of E. coli. Sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) suggested more inflammation, with and without necrosis, in some irradiated groups. The data demonstrate that response to acute radiation is dependent on radiation quality and regimen and that some LDR γ-ray-induced modifications in liver response were still evident nearly 2 months after exposure.

Ca-Mg-Zn bulk metallic glasses as bioresorbable metals.

A series of six unique Ca-based bulk metallic glasses were synthesized and characterized. The glasses were designed to consist solely of the biocompatible elements Ca, Mg and Zn, with the view to their potential use as bioresorbable metals for orthopaedic applications. The alloys had a critical casting thickness of up to 4.5 mm. Mechanical and thermophysical testing revealed a Young's modulus (stiffness) of ∼40 GPa. Glass transition temperatures ranged from 119 to 129°C, above which the alloys can be formed like a thermoplastic polymer. In vitro biocorrosion testing using a combination of polarization and mass loss techniques revealed that the corrosion rate of these alloys is relatively rapid, although, in some cases, it may be tailored through alloy composition.

The impact of alanyl-glutamine on clinical safety, nitrogen balance, intestinal permeability, and clinical outcome in postoperative patients: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study of 120 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln)-supplemented parenteral nutrition (PN) on clinical safety, nitrogen balance, intestinal permeability, and clinical outcome in postoperative patients. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were enrolled. Protocol was approved and informed consent obtained. A double-blind protocol was designed as used in Europe. The clinical safety and outcome were observed for 60 patients in 2 centers (30 each). Sixty patients from 2 additional centers (30 each) were observed for clinical safety, nitrogen balance, intestinal permeability, and clinical outcome. All patients received isonitrogenous (0.20 g/kg body wt per day) and isocaloric (30 kcal/kg body wt per day) parenteral nutrition. The study group received Ala-Gln (Dipeptiven, Fresenius Kabi, Bad Homberg, Germany) 0.50 g/kg per day. Clinical chemistry variables, plasma amino acids profile, nitrogen balance, intestinal permeability (lactulose/mannitol ratio [L/M ratio]) were measured; hospital stay and infection rate were monitored. Statview was used for analysis of variance (ANOVA) or chi2 tests. Data were expressed as means +/- SD, and the significance level was p < .05. RESULTS: The patients in both groups were comparable prior to the operation. Vital signs and clinical chemical parameters were similar between groups. L/M ratio was 0.047+/-0.029 in control and 0.058+/-0.049 in study group before the operation (AOD-3). The L/M ratio was 0.132+/-0.081 in the control group, and 0.097+/-0.063 in study group on the seventh postoperative day. The difference of L/M ratio between groups was significant (p = .02). The cumulative nitrogen balance values were -5+/-162 mg/kg for 6 days in control and 144+/-145 mg/kg for 6 days in study group (p = .0004). All the patients recovered without incision infection. However, there were 3 cases that had infection-related complications in the control group; the difference was not significant between groups. The hospital stay in the study group was 12.5 days, which was 4 days less than that of the control group (p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Ala-Gln-supplemented PN was clinically safe, had better nitrogen balance, and maintained intestinal permeability in postoperative patients. The clinical outcome of the patients in study group was better; it was significantly different from the control group.

A model using radiation and plasmid-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene therapy for treatment of glioblastomas.

The efficacy of radiotherapy for cancer is limited by the dose that can be safely delivered to the tumor without causing debilitating side effects. Previous studies have shown an additive or syngeneic reduction in the volume of malignant tumors when tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) protein is administered prior to radiation. The major goal of the present investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of pGL1-TNF-alpha, a new plasmid construct that expresses human TNF-alpha protein, together with radiotherapy in the C6 glioma/athymic mouse model. Subcutaneously growing tumors were injected with pGL1-TNF-alpha complexed with a cationic polyamine and radiation, singly and in combination, over an 8-day period. The maximum antitumor effect was achieved with the combination of polyamine-pGL1-TNF-alpha and radiation. Each modality used alone, including polyamine, modestly slowed tumor growth. In vitro evaluations of blood, spleen, and tumor indicated that the antitumor mechanisms of combination therapy may include, at least partly, the recruitment and activation of nonspecific effector cells. The results demonstrate that polyamine-pGL1-TNF-alpha can be safely and effectively administered together with radiation under the conditions used.

Hyperthermia enhances localization of 111In-labeled hapten to bifunctional antibody in human colon tumor xenografts.

A unique bifunctional antibody (BFA) delivery system was examined for radiolocalization and distribution following hyperthermia (41.5 degrees C, 45 min) of T380h human colon tumor xenografts. The BFA is an F(ab')2 fragment made by combining two murine monoclonal antibodies with different specificities, one directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (monoclonal antibody CEM 231) and the other (monoclonal antibody CHA 255) against a hapten found on a derivative of 111In-labeled benzyl-EDTA (EOTUBE). This BFA is known as CEM/CHA. The CEM/CHA accumulates in carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing tissue and clears from normal tissues prior to administration of the radiolabeled hapten. T380h tumor chunks were injected s.c. into 31 nude mice. Two weeks later mean tumor volume was 352 mm3 and the animals were assigned to one of four groups: (a) CEM/CHA + hyperthermia + 111In-EOTUBE; (b) CHA 255 F(ab')2 + hyperthermia + 111In-EOTUBE, and (c and d) treated in the same manner as a and b, respectively, but without heat. The CEM/CHA, CHA 255 F(ab')2, and 111In-labeled hapten were injected i.p. at 14 micrograms, 7 micrograms, and 140-200 microCi/mouse, respectively. The hyperthermia was administered 22-24 h after BFA and the radiolabeled hapten was injected 2 h later. Twenty-four h thereafter, the animals were euthanized for testing. A significantly greater percentage of injected radioactivity localized within heated compared to unheated tumors in mice given CEM/CHA and 111In-EOTUBE (7.39%/g tumor and 4.46%/tumor versus 2.72%/g tumor and 1.44%/tumor, respectively). The percentage of kidney activity in mice given CHA 255 F(ab')2 fragments and heat was 57% lower than in the nonheated group when expressed on a per g basis (12.73 and 22.20%, respectively). Microautoradiography showed greater radiolocalization in heated tumors than in nonheated control tumors of comparable size. Semiquantification by immunoperoxidase staining for carcinoembryonic antigen did not reveal similar differences in the amounts of antigen present in tumors from heated and nonheated groups. These findings suggest that hyperthermia could be used to enhance delivery of radiolabeled haptens to prelocalized BFA and, thus, to enhance tumor imaging and therapeutic efficacy.

[Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: report of 2 cases].

Two cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) are reported. The pathological characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of the XGC were discussed with review of the literature. Clinically this disease was often misdiagnosed as gallbladder carcinoma. Microscopically, the nodules or tumor-like masses contained foamy histiocytes, cells of inflammation, and fibroblasts. The wall of the gallbladder was yellowish, nodulated, and markedly irregular thickened.

Thymoma associated with rheumatoid arthritis in a patient taking methotrexate.

Recently many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been effectively treated with methotrexate. Until now, there have been no treatment related neoplasms reported in patients with RA taking methotrexate. Furthermore, there have been no reports of thymoma associated with isolated RA. We describe a patient with classical RA who developed a thymoma while being treated with methotrexate.

Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient treated for Wegener's granulomatosis with cyclophosphamide and azathioprine.

Only 5 neoplasms have been reported associated with the use of cytotoxic drugs in the treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis. Described here for the first time, to our knowledge, is a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis treated with cyclophosphamide and azathioprine who later developed Hodgkin's lymphoma.