Bilateral pericapsular end nerve blocks for steroid-induced avascular necrosis following COVID-19 infection requiring bilateral total hip replacement

BACKGROUND Osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis(AVN)of the hip was one of the dreaded complications of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),which emerged in patients who received steroid therapy.Corticosteroids have been a mainstay in the treatment protocol of COVID-19 patients.Popular corticosteroid drugs used in patients suffering from COVID-19 were intravenous(IV)or oral dexamethasone,methylprednisolone or hydrocortisone.The use of such high doses of corticost-eroids has shown very positive results and has been lifesaving in many cases.Still,long-term consequences were drug-induced diabetes,osteoporosis,Cushing syndrome,muscle wasting,peripheral fat mobilization,AVN,hirsutism,sleep disturbances and poor wound healing.A significant number of young patients were admitted for bilateral total hip replacements(THR)secondary to AVN following steroid use for COVID-19 treatment.AIM To assess the efficacy of bilateral pericapsular end nerve group(PENG)blocks in patients posted for bilateral THR post-steroid therapy after COVID-19 infection and assess the time taken to first ambulate after surgery.METHODS This prospective observational study was conducted between January 2023 and August 2023 at Care Hospitals,Hyderabad,India.Twenty young patients 30-35 years of age who underwent bilateral THR were studied after due consent over 8 months.All the patients received spinal anaesthesia for surgery and bilateral PENG blocks for postoperative analgesia.RESULTS The duration of surgery was 2.5 h on average.Seventeen out of twenty patients(85%)had a Visual Analog Score(VAS)of less than 2 and did not require any supplementation.One patient was removed from the study,as he required re-exploration.The remaining two patients had a VAS of more than 8 and received IV morphine post-operatively as a rescue analgesic drug.Fifteen out of seventeen patients(88.2%)could be mobilized 12 h after the procedure.CONCLUSION Osteonecrosis or AVN of the hip was one of the dreaded complications of COVID-19,which surfaced in patients who received steroid therapy requiring surgical intervention.Bilateral PENG block is an effective technique to provide post-operative analgesia resulting in early mobilization and enhanced recovery after surgery.

An Experimental Study of Pathogenesis of Steroid-induced Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of avascular necrosis of femoral head(ANFH) and search an effective method for clinical practice. Methods: Twenty-four Japanese rabbitswere divided into 2 groups of models and controls. ANFH models were produced byintramuscular-injection of large dosage of steroid to rabbits for 8 weeks. From the 4th, 8th and12th week after production of models, 2 rabbits of each group were sacrificed to observe thestructure of femoral head through light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The contents ofNitric Oxide (NO), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and -plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI) in plasma of the 4 rabbits in each group were estimated at the same time. Results: Comparedwith control group, the rabbits of model group exhibited many differences: such as osteoporosis offemoral head, the presence of more bone lacuna and fat cell through light microscope observing; thebroken and sunk bone trabecula, the loosen and broken collagen fibers on the surface of bone matrixthrough scanning electron microscope observing. Compared with control group, the Concentration ofNO and t-PA in plasma of the model rabbits decreased obviously, but the Concentration of the PAIincreased obviously. Conclusion: The steroid-induced ANFH might be related to the lower level of NOand the descent of fibrinolytic activity.

Gubi Tongxiao granules regulate vasculization and apoptosis to intervene steroid-induced femoral head necrosis in rabbits

Objective:To investigate the effect of Gubi Tongxiao granules on vascular formation and cell apoptosis in the process of glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis.Methods:Thirty experimental New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into groups.Except the control group,the animal model of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis was established by lipopolysaccharide combined with glucocorticoids.After successful modeling,the experimental group was given Gubi Tongxiao granules intragastric treatment,the model and control group were given the same amount of normal saline intragastric treatment,once a day,for 8 weeks,the experimental animals were sacrificed,the bilateral femoral head of each group was taken out for hematoxylin-eosin staining,and protein CD34,CYR61 and VEGF were immunohistochemical staining localization.TUNEL staining was used to observe the apoptosis of femoral head cells.The expression levels of apoptosis proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by WB.The expression of VEGF eNOs Bax and Bcl-2 genes was analyzed by RT-qPCR.Results:Gubi Tongxiao granules reduced the number of hollow bone lacunae and apoptotic positive cells(P<0.01),and up-regulated the expressions of CD34,CYR61 and VEGF in femoral head tissue.Compared with control group,the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax increased and the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2,VEGF and eNOs mRAN decreased significantly in the model group(P<0.01),the opposite results were obtained in the experimental group after Gubi Tongxiao granule intervention(P<0.05).Conclusion:Gubi Tongxiao granules can improve the expression of angiogenic genes and regulate apoptosis-related proteins in the bone tissue of rabbit model with steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head,promote angiogenic differentiation and inhibit apoptosis,and thus achieve the effect of treating steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head.

Experimental study of changes of TNF-α in rabbits with steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head

Objective: To explore the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)on the occurrence of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head(SANFH). Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were firstly divided into void group (n=12) and model group (n=12) at random. Prednisone Acetate was injected to the model group(0.32 mg·kg^(-1)·d^(-1)). In the 6 th and 8 th week, two rabbits of the two groups were killed respectively to observe whether the model was successful. The level of TNF-α in serum of the residual rabbits of the two groups was examined in Radioimmunoassay method. Results: The level of TNF-α in model group is significantly higher than that in void group(P<0.001) under the premise of the model of SANFH success by histological observation. Conclusion: The rise of level of TNF-α may be one of the most important factors in the occurrence of SANFH.

The changes of nitric oxide and hemorheology in steroid-induced avas-cular necrosis of femoral head

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH), the early diagnosis index and the treatment effective index of ANFH in clinical practice. Methods: Twenty-four Japanese rabbits were divided into 2 groups: model group and control group. ANFH models were produced by intramuscular injection of large dosage of steroid to rabbits for 8 weeks. On the 4 th, 8 th week after the injection, two rabbits each time from each group were taken to observe the structure of femoral head by light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Four other stomach-empty rabbits from each group were also used to test the contents of Nitric Oxide (NO), contents of the hemorheology indexes. Results: Compared with the control group, the rabbits in the model group exhibited osteoporosis of femoral head and more bone lacuna and more fat cells through light microscope. Through scanning electron microscope observation bone trabecula were broken and sunk, and collagen fibers on the surface of bone matrix became loosen and broken, more osteocyte had pyknosis, adipocyte in the medullary cavity were enlarged and subchondral arterioles and capillaries of the femoral head were pressed by adipocyte. Compared with the control group, the model rabbits contained less NO and obvious increase of the plasma viscosity (PV), low blood viscosity (LBV), erythrocyte hematocrit (HCT), indices of erythrocyte rigidity (TK) and indices of erythrocyte aggregation (AI), plasma fibrin level (PFL) (P<0. 01) and an increase of erythrocyte electrophoresis rate (ERT) (P< 0.05). High blood viscosity (HBV), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were unchanged. Conclusion: The steroid-induced ANFH might be related to less NO and the abnormal hemorheology; and NO and hemorheology should be considered as an early diagnosis index for ANFH in clinical practice.

Effect of Yang-Warming and Kidney-Tonifying Prescription on Expression of Osteogenic and Angiogenic Factors and H-Type Vascular Markers in Steroid-Induced Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head in Rabbits

Objective: To investigate the effect of Yang-warming and Kidney-tonifying Prescription (YKP) on the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) in rabbits. And to further explore whether its therapeutic mechanism is related to the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF (angiogenic factors), BMP2 and Osterix (osteogenic factor), CD31 (type H vascular marker) and MMP13 (bone destruction-related factor). Methods: Twenty-seven healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into a normal group, model group, traditional Chinese medcine (TCM) group (clinical equivalent dose group of YKP), miR-130a inhibitor group and TCM + inhibitor group. The SANFH model was established by combining horse serum with methylprednisolone. After the model is successfully established, TCM group was given 6.44 g/kg·d YKP by gavage, and the miR-130a gene inhibitor group was intraperitoneally injected with 25 mg/kg miR-130a inhibitor, locked nucleic acid (LNA)-anti-miR-130a. TCM + inhibitor group was treated with YKP intragastrically and miR-130a inhibitor intraperitoneally. The rabbits in the normal group and the model group were intragastrically administered with normal saline 10 ml/d. Once a day for 4 weeks. The avascular necrosis was detected by HE staining. The contents of HIF-1α, VEGF, BMP2 and Osterix in rabbit tissues were detected by qRT-PCR kit, and the expression of CD31 and MMP13 was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results: In the normal group, the surface of the cartilage layer of the femoral head was smooth, the bone trabeculae were intact and densely arranged, the cells of each layer were neatly arranged, the morphology of the bone cells, the chondrocytes and the adipocytes were normal. In the model group, cartilage surfaces of the femoral head showed exfoliative cracks. The bone trabecular structure was loose and incomplete, chondrocytes, osteoblasts and bone marrow cells were significantly reduced, and the number of empty bone traps was significantly increased. In the TCM-treated group, more chondrocytes, thicker cartilage layer, and more regular bone trabeculae were detected as compared to model rabbits. In contrast, the cartilage layer was thinner, the destruction and fracture of bone trabeculae was more serious, chondrocytes and osteocytes were decreased as compared to model group. The expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, BMP2, and Osterix in the model group decreased significantly as compared to the normal group (P Conclusion: YKP can regulate the expression of angiogenic-related factors (VEGF and HIF-α), osteogenic-related factors (BMP2 and Osterix), and H-type vascular marker CD31, resulting in increased expressions of VEGF, HIF-α, BMP2, and Osterix, which promote intra-femoral head revascularization. Meanwhile, YKP decreased the expression of bone-destruction-related factor MMP13, thus enhancing the ability of bone tissue to repair itself. Regulation of these molecules’ expression may be one of the mechanisms of YKP in the treatment of hormonal femoral head necrosis.

Changes of bone mineral in steroid-induced osteonecrosis in rabbits

To investigate the significance of bone mineral changes in the pathogenic process of steroid-induced osteonecrosis in rabbits. Methods： Seventy adult female Japanese White rabbits were randomly divided into five groups Animals in steroid group received an intramuscular injection of methylprednisolone acetate （4 mg/kg） once a week, and killed in four different time after first treatment. Animals in control group received an intramuscular injection with the same volume of normal saline, while 150 kU penicillin was injected twice a week for preventing infection in all groups. The contents of serum calcium （Ca） and phosphorus （P） were determined and the bone mineral densities of the femoral head and neck were measured at the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 10th weeks after first treatment. Meanwhile the general condition such as weight, spirit and hair of rabbits was observed. Results： Compared with the control group, the weight of rabbits in steroid group lost since the first week, and progressively aggravated; the bone mineral density of the femoral head and neck was lowered since the 2nd and 4th week respectively （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）, and lowered more quickly in femoral neck than in femoral head. In steroid group, the bone mineral density of the femoral neck at the 10th week was significantly lower than that at the 8th week （P〈0.05） Compared with the control group, the serum levels of Ca and P in steroid group were lowered since the 2nd week （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. In steroid group, the serum Ca level at the 10th week was lower than that at the 8th week, and the serum P level waslowered more quickly than Ca level was. Conclusion： Osteonecrosis appears in rabbits shortly after corticoids are first administered, and osteonecrosis in rabbits is chronologically associated with the onset of hypocalcaemia, hypophosphatemia and lowered bone mineral density. Steroid-induced osteonecrosis may be relevant to bone mineral loss and density lowering of the femoral head and neck.

Tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 ameliorates early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage by suppressing NLRC4 inflammasome-mediated astrocyte pyroptosis

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with high morbidity and mortality and lacks effective treatment.Pyroptosis is a crucial mechanism underlying early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Previous studies have confirmed that tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6(TSG-6)can exert a neuroprotective effect by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis.However,no study to date has explored whether TSG-6 can alleviate pyroptosis in early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.In this study,a C57BL/6J mouse model of subarachnoid hemorrhage was established using the endovascular perforation method.Our results indicated that TSG-6 expression was predominantly detected in astrocytes,along with NLRC4 and gasdermin-D(GSDMD).The expression of NLRC4,GSDMD and its N-terminal domain(GSDMD-N),and cleaved caspase-1 was significantly enhanced after subarachnoid hemorrhage and accompanied by brain edema and neurological impairment.To explore how TSG-6 affects pyroptosis during early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage,recombinant human TSG-6 or a siRNA targeting TSG-6 was injected into the cerebral ventricles.Exogenous TSG-6 administration downregulated the expression of NLRC4 and pyroptosis-associated proteins and alleviated brain edema and neurological deficits.Moreover,TSG-6 knockdown further increased the expression of NLRC4,which was accompanied by more severe astrocyte pyroptosis.In summary,our study revealed that TSG-6 provides neuroprotection against early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage by suppressing NLRC4 inflammasome activation-induced astrocyte pyroptosis.

Early prediction and prevention of infected pancreatic necrosis

Approximately 20%-30%of patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis develop infected pancreatic necrosis(IPN),a highly morbid and potentially lethal complication.Early identification of patients at high risk of IPN may facilitate appropriate preventive measures to improve clinical outcomes.In the past two decades,several markers and predictive tools have been proposed and evaluated for this purpose.Conventional biomarkers like C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,lymphocyte count,interleukin-6,and interleukin-8,and newly developed biomarkers like angiopoietin-2 all showed significant association with IPN.On the other hand,scoring systems like the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Pancreatitis Activity Scoring System have also been tested,and the results showed that they may provide better accuracy.For early prevention of IPN,several new therapies were tested,including early enteral nutrition,anti-biotics,probiotics,immune enhancement,etc.,but the results varied.Taken together,several evidence-supported predictive markers and scoring systems are readily available for predicting IPN.However,effective treatments to reduce the incidence of IPN are still lacking apart from early enteral nutrition.In this editorial,we summarize evidence concerning early prediction and prevention of IPN,providing insights into future practice and study design.A more homo-geneous patient population with reliable risk-stratification tools may help find effective treatments to reduce the risk of IPN,thereby achieving individualized treatment.

The action mechanism by which C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-6 alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in diabetic mice

Studies have shown that C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-6 (CTRP6) can alleviate renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice. However, its role in the brain remains poorly understood. To investigate the role of CTRP6 in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury associated with diabetes mellitus, a diabetes mellitus mouse model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. To overexpress CTRP6 in the brain, an adeno-associated virus carrying CTRP6 was injected into the lateral ventricle. The result was that oxygen injury and inflammation in brain tissue were clearly attenuated, and the number of neurons was greatly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that CTRP6 knockout exacerbated oxidative damage, inflammatory reaction, and apoptosis in cerebral cortical neurons in high glucose hypoxia-simulated diabetic cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. CTRP6 overexpression enhanced the sirtuin-1 signaling pathway in diabetic brains after ischemia/reperfusion injury. To investigate the mechanism underlying these effects, we examined mice with depletion of brain tissue-specific sirtuin-1. CTRP6-like protection was achieved by activating the sirtuin-1 signaling pathway. Taken together, these results indicate that CTRP6 likely attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through activation of the sirtuin-1 signaling pathway.

Treatment of primary nasal tuberculosis with anti-tumor necrosis factor immunotherapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary nasal tuberculosis(TB)is a rare form of extrapulmonary TB,particularly in patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)immunotherapy.As a result,its diagnosis remains challenging.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old male patient presented to the ear,nose,and throat department with right-sided nasal obstruction and bloody discharge for 1 month.He was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and received anti-TNF immunotherapy for 3 years prior to presentation.Biopsy findings revealed chronic granulomatous inammation and a few acid-fast bacilli,suggestive of primary nasal TB.He was referred to our TB management department for treatment with oral anti-TB agents.After 9 months,the nasal lesions had disappeared.No recurrence was noted during follow-up.CONCLUSION The diagnosis of primary nasal TB should be considered in patients receiving TNF antagonists who exhibit thickening and crusting of the nasal septum mucosa or inferior turbinate,particularly when pathological findings suggest granulomatous inflammation.

Bilateral Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head in Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Osteoarticular complications are common after renal transplantation. The complications may result from the bone condition prior to transplantation or the iatrogenic effects of the treatments administered. These complications lead to significant morbidity and mortality, in addition to chronic pain and functional impairment. We report the clinical case of bilateral avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head in a kidney transplant recipient. Clinical Case: 53-year-old male with a history of chronic hypertension. He underwent chronic hemodialysis for 12 months and was treated with Entecavir for chronic hepatitis B. The patient received a kidney transplant from a non-related living donor. Induction therapy included Thymoglobulin along with tapered corticosteroids, reaching a dose of 5 mg/day after 3 months, Mycophenolate mofetil (2 g/day), and Tacrolimus adjusted based on residual levels. There was good recovery of renal graft function. After six months, the patient reported bilateral hip pain and functional impairment of both lower limbs. Pelvic X-rays showed signs suggestive of bilateral AVN of the femoral heads. The diagnosis was confirmed by MRI. The patient underwent right hip drilling and total left hip replacement (THR). A right THR was performed a year later. Conclusion: AVN constitutes a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality after RT. The pathophysiology of osteonecrosis remains complex and multifactorial. We emphasize the importance of conducting a thorough assessment of bone health in patients both before and after RT.

Sequential bowel necrosis and large gastric ulcer in a patient with a ruptured femoral artery:A case report

BACKGROUND Severe bleeding as a result of a major vascular injury is a potentially fatal event commonly observed in the emergency department.Bowel necrosis and gastric ulcers secondary to ischemia are rare due to their rich blood supply.In this case,we present the case of a patient who was treated successfully following rupture of his femoral artery resulting in bowel necrosis and an unusually large gastric ulcer.CASE SUMMARY A 28-year-old male patient sustained a knife stab wound to the right thigh,causing rupture of his femoral artery and leading to massive bleeding.He underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation and received a large blood transfusion.Abdominal surgeries confirmed bowel necrosis,and jejunostomy was performed.The necrotic intestine was removed,the remaining intestine was anastomosed,and the right thigh was amputated.After three surgeries,the patient's overall condition gradually improved,and the patient was discharged from the hospital.However,one day after discharge,the patient was admitted again due to dizziness and melena,and a gastroduodenoscopy revealed a giant banded ulcer.After 2 weeks of treatment,the ulcer had decreased in size without bleeding.Six months after the last surgery,enterostomy and reintroduction surgery were completed.The patient was fitted with a right lower limb prosthesis one year after surgery.After 3 years of follow-up,the patient did not complain of discomfort.CONCLUSION Trauma department physicians need to be aware of the possible serious complications involving the abdomen of trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Endoscopic treatment of bleeding gastric ulcer causing gastric wall necrosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Gastric wall necrosis is a rare complication of endoscopic treatment for bleeding gastric ulcer,which may exacerbate the patient’s condition once it occurs and may even require surgical intervention for treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 59-year-old man was admitted to our department with melena.Endoscopy revealed a giant ulcer in the gastric antrum with a visible vessel in its center,which was treated with sclerosants and tissue glue injection and resulted in necrosis of the gastric wall.CONCLUSION Injection of sclerosants and tissue glue may lead to gastric wall necrosis,which is a serious complication.Therefore,before administering this treatment to patients,we should consider other more effective methods of hemostasis to avoid gastric wall necrosis.

Early screening to identify and diagnose primary nasal tuberculosis in patients with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Liu et al.Based on our analysis of a case report,we consider that early screening and recognition of primary nasal tuberculosis are crucial for patients undergoing treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor(TNFi).While TNFi therapy increases the risk of reactivating latent tuberculosis,primary nasal tuberculosis remains rare due to the protective mechanisms of the nasal mucosa.Risk factors for primary nasal tuberculosis include minimally invasive nasal surgery,diabetes,and human immunodefi ciency virus.Patients with early symptoms such as nasal congestion,rhinorrhea,altered olfaction,epistaxis,or ulceration,and unresponsive to conventional antibiotics and antihistamines should undergo early rhinoscopy,possibly followed by repeated tissue biopsies and acid-fast bacilli culture when necessary.When diagnosis is challenging,it is essential to consider local tuberculosis epidemiology and the efficacy of diagnostic antituberculosis treatment.The preferred method for tuberculosis screening is the Interferon Gamma Release Assay,with a general recommendation for screening at 3 and 6 months after initial treatment and then every six months.However,the optimal frequency is not yet consensus-driven and may be increased in economically viable settings.

Changes in postoperative depression and anxiety and their relationship with recovery from femoral head necrosis:A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND Femoral head necrosis(FHN)can significantly affect patients'psychological well-being and functional outcomes.However,the long-term relationship between postoperative depression,anxiety,and functional recovery in patients with FHN remains unclear.AIM To investigate the dynamic changes in postoperative depression and anxiety and their relationship with functional recovery in patients with FHN for 3 years.METHODS Ninety-three patients with FHN who underwent surgical treatment in March 2020 to 2023 were enrolled in this longitudinal study.Depression and anxiety status were assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS)at baseline,6 months,1,2,and 3 years postoperatively.Functional recovery was evaluated using the Harris hip score(HHS).The dynamic changes in HADS and HHS were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA;the relationship between depre-ssion/anxiety status and functional recovery was examined using Pearson’s correlation analysis.RESULTS The mean HADS-depression(HADS-D)and HADS-anxiety(HADS-A)scores significantly improved over time(P<0.001).The prevalence of depression and anxiety decreased from 36.6%and 41.9%at baseline to 10.8%and 12.9%,respectively,at 3 years postoperatively.The mean HHS increased sig-nificantly from 52.3±10.5 at baseline to 88.1±7.2 at 3 years postoperatively(P<0.001).Significant negative correl-ations were found between HADS-D/HADS-A scores and HHS at all time points(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The severity of depression and anxiety negatively correlated with functional recovery,highlighting the importance of psychological interventions in the management of patients with FHN.

Reliability of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in detecting acute tubular necrosis in decompensated cirrhosis:Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury(AKI)in cirrhosis is common.The diagnosis of AKI in cirrhosis patients depends on clinical presentation and laboratory tests like serum creatinine.However,urine biomarkers could also be used to assess the type of AKI and the severity of the disease.We performed a systematic review with metaanalysis to evaluate the association with urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL)marker in identifying acute tubular necrosis(ATN)in patients with cirrhosis.AIM To assess the reliability of urine NGAL in the detection of ATN in patients with cirrhosis.METHODS We systematically searched MEDLINE and PubMed using keywords including“urine biomarkers”,“NGAL”,“kidney dysfunction”,and“cirrhosis”to identify relevant studies.Data was screened and extracted.Included studies assessed hospitalized cirrhosis patients with AKI using the urine NGAL biomarker.We synthesized the data using diagnostic odds ratio(DOR),comparative and descriptive analyses,and Cochran Mantel-Haenszel(CMH)statistics to evaluate heterogeneity.RESULTS Three thousand seven hundred and one patients with cirrhosis were analyzed from a total of 21 cohort studies.The DOR of 14 of those studies[pooled DOR:22.150,(95%CI:17.58-27.89),P<0.0001]demonstrated a significant association between urine NGAL levels and its identification of ATN.Following stratification by cirrhosis status,heterogeneity was analyzed and showed a significant non-zero correlation between NGAL and AKI(CMH statistic=702.19,P<0.0001).CONCLUSION In patients with cirrhosis,the use of urine NGAL is a reliable biomarker for detecting ATN and identifying the etiology of AKI.

Diagnostic and management challenges in primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma with necrosis,inflammation,and surgical intervention:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma(PC-ALCL)poses significant diagnostic difficulties due to its similarity in the appearance of skin lesions with chronic inflammatory disorders and other dermatological conditions.This study aims to investigate these challenges by conducting a comprehensive analysis of a case presenting with PC-ALCL,emphasizing the necessity of accurate differentiation for appropriate management.CASE SUMMARY An 89-year-old female patient with diabetes and hypertension presented with arm and abdominal ulcerated mass lesions.Diagnostic procedures included skin biopsies,histopathological assessments,and immunohistochemistry,complemented by advanced imaging techniques to confirm the diagnosis.The patient’s lesions were determined as PC-ALCL,characterized by necrosis,chronic inflammation,and a distinct immunophenotypic profile,including CD30,CD3,CD4,and EBER,CD56,MUM-1,Ki 67-positive in>80%of tumor cells,CD10,but negative for anaplastic lymphoma kinase,CD5,CD20,PAX-5,Bcl-2,Bcl-6,CD8,and CD15.Recurrence was not reported at the 6-month follow-up.CONCLUSION Accurate PC-ALCL differentiation from similar conditions is crucial for effective management and requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Analyze interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-αlevels in dry eye and the therapeutic effect of cyclosporine A

BACKGROUND Dry eye is a common eye disease.Artificial tears supplements are widely used for the treatment of dry eyes.However,multiple adverse effects have been observed in patients receiving long-term treatment with artificial tears,which may affect the therapeutic effect.AIM To analyze the characteristics of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)levels in patients with dry eye and the therapeutic effect of artificial tears combined with cyclosporine A.METHODS A total of 124 dry eye patients treated at The First People’s Hospital of Xining from April 2020 to April 2022 were selected as the observation group,while 20 healthy individuals served as the control group during the same period.Levels of inflammatory markers,including IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α,were analyzed.The observation group was further divided into a study group and a control group,each consisting of 62 patients.The control group received artificial tears,whereas the study group received a combination of artificial tears and cyclosporine A.Inflammatory markers,Schirmer’s test(SIT),tear break-up time(TBUT),corneal fluorescein staining(CFS),National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25(NEI-VFQ-25)scores,and adverse events(AEs)were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The observation group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αin comparison to the healthy group.Following treatment,the study group demonstrated substantial reductions in IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αlevels relative to the control group.Moreover,after treatment,the study group experienced a marked decrease in CFS scores and significant increases in both SIT and BUT levels when compared to the control group.Additionally,significant improvements were observed in the primary symptom of dry eye and secondary symptoms such as photophobia,foreign body sensation,fatigue,red eye,and burning sensation within the study group.Furthermore,post-treatment NEI-VFQ-25 scores across all dimensions exhibited significant enhancements in the study group compared to the control group(P<0.05).It is noteworthy that significant AEs were reported in both groups throughout the treatment period.CONCLUSION Cyclosporine A combined with artificial tears is effective in treating dry eye,yielding enhanced outcomes by improving SIT and TBUT levels,reducing CFS scores,and ameliorating vision-related quality of life.

Predicting full-thickness necrosis in adult acute corrosive ingestion injuries in a sub-Saharan African setting

BACKGROUND Corrosive ingestion remains an important global pathology with high morbidity and mortality.Data on the acute management of adult corrosive injuries from sub-Saharan Africa is scarce,with international investigative algorithms,relying heavily on computed tomography(CT),having limited availability in this setting.AIM To investigate the corrosive injury spectrum in a low-resource setting and the applicability of parameters for predicting full-thickness(FT)necrosis and mortality.METHODS A retrospective analysis of a prospective corrosive injury registry(March 1,2017–October 31,2023)was performed to include all adult patients with acute corrosive ingestion managed at a single,academic referral centre in Cape Town,South Africa.Patient demographics,corrosive ingestion details,initial investigations,management,and short-term outcomes were described using descriptive statistics while multivariate analysis with receiver operator characteristic area under the curve graphs(ROC AUC)were used to identify factors predictive of FT necrosis and 30-day mortality.RESULTS One-hundred patients were included,with a mean age of 32 years(SD:11.2 years)and a male predominance(65.0%).The majority(73.0%)were intentional suicide attempts.Endoscopy on admission was the most frequent initial investigation performed(95 patients),while only 17 were assessed with CT.Seventeen patients had full thickness necrosis at surgery,of which eleven underwent emergency resection and six were palliated.Thirty-day morbidity and mortality were 27.0%and 14.0%,respectively.Patients with full thickness necrosis and those with an established perforation had a 30-day mortality of 58.8%and 91.0%,respectively.Full thickness necrosis was associated with a cumulative 2-year survival of only 17.6%.Multivariate analyses with ROC AUC showed admission endoscopy findings,CT findings,and blood gas findings(pH,base excess,lactate),to all have significant predictive value for full thickness necrosis,with endoscopy proving to have the best predictive value(AUC 0.850).CT and endoscopy findings were the only factors predictive of early mortality,with CT performing better than endoscopy(AUC 0.798 vs 0.759).CONCLUSION Intentional corrosive injuries result in devastating morbidity and mortality.Locally,early endoscopy remains the mainstay of severity assessment,but referral for CT imaging should be considered especially when blood gas findings are abnormal.