Early stage of antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplantation： A case report and literature review / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a rare and serious complication after lung transplantation, with no characteristic of pathological manifestation, no systematic standard treatment, and the poor efficacy and prognosis. We reported a case of early AMR after lung transplantation and the relevant literature has been reviewed. A male patient presented with symptoms of cold 99 days after transplantation and resolved after symptomatic treatment. He admitted to the hospital 14 days later because of a sudden dyspnea and fever. Anti-bacteria, anti-fungi, anti-virus, and anti-pneumocystis carinii treatment were ineffective, and a dose of 1 000 mg methylprednisolone did not work too. The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly and tracheal intubation was done to maintain breathing. Serum panel reactive antibody and donor specific antibody showed postive in humen leukocyte antigen (HLA) II antibody. Pathological examination after transbronchial transplantation lung biopsy showed acute rejection. Clinical AMR was diagnosed combined the donor-specific antibody with the pathological result. The patient was functionally recovered after combined treatment with thymoglobuline, rituximab, plasmapheresis, and immunoglobulin. No chronic lung allograft dysfunction was found after 3 years follow up. We should alert the occurrence of AMR in lung transplantation recipient who admitted to hospital with a sudden dyspnea and fever while showed no effect after common anti-infection and anti-rejection treatment. Transbronchial transplantation lung biopsy and the presence of serum donor-specific antibody are helpful to the diagnosis. The treatment should be preemptive and a comprehensive approach should be adopted.

Tumor infiltrating T lymphocyte components in malignant pleural effusion of lung adenocarcinoma and their killing activities to autologous tumor cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

To analyze the components of tumor infiltrating T lymphocyte (TIL) cells in malignant pleural effusion of lung adenocarcinoma, and evaluate their killing activities to autologous tumor cells. 
 Methods: Malignant pleural effusions were collected from 17 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation and flow cytometer was used to analyze TIL cell components. TIL and tumor cells were separated through adherent culture. The tumor cells were identified via intramuscular injection of adherent cells into nude mice and the killing effect of cultured lymphocytes on autologous tumor cells was studied.
 Results: Of the TIL in malignant pleural effusions, T cells accounted for 60.6%-79.3%, while T helper cells were significantly higher than T killer cells (36.63%±1.90% vs 24.64%±2.32%, P<0.001). There were also natural killer (NK) cells and NK T cells in the effusions. Tumor cells were successfully isolated and cultured. The killing activity of cultured TIL to autologous tumor cells was 39.14%±12.04%, and the killing activity of TIL with high proliferation rate to autologous tumor cells was higher than that of low proliferation group (50.51%±3.80% vs 29.04%±5.77%, P<0.001).
 Conclusion: T lymphocytes are the major components of TIL in malignant pleural effusions derived from lung adenocarcinoma, and T helper cells are more than T killer cells. The killing activity of TIL with strong proliferation ability to autologous tumor cells is higher than that of TIL with weak proliferation ability. Therefore, cells from malignant pleural effusions could be used for cellular immunotherapy against tumor.

Serum levels of miRNA-183 in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its diagnostic value / 中南大学学报(医学版)

To explore the changes of serum microRNA-183 levels in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its clinical significance.
 Methods: Fifty-one patients with ESCC and 55 healthy subjects from Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South Unicersity were selected for this study. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the level of miRNA-183 in serum samples. Chi-square test and correlation analysis were used to investigate the relationship between serum miRNA-183 level and clinical and pathological parameters of ESCC. Diagnostic efficiency of miRNA-183 and combined carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) examination for ESCC was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
 Results: 1) The levels of miR-183 in the patients with ESCC (4.47±1.54) were elevated compared with that in the healthy subjects (2.03±0.96), with significant difference (t=9.700, P0.05). The levels of miR-183 were not associated with the serum CEA levels (P>0.05). 3) When the ROC curve analysis was used to diagnose ESCC with the optimal cutoff value of 4.502 for miR-183, the sensitivity, the specificity, the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval was 78.9%, 76.2%, 0.762 and 0.830-0.922, respectively. When combined detection of serum miR-183 and CEA was used to diagnose ESCC, the sensitivity, specificity, AUC and 95% confidence interval was 82.3%, 92.6%, 0.877 and 0.814-0.935, respectively.
 Conclusion: Serum miRNA-183 levels in ESCC patients may be increased, which can improve the diagnostic efficiency of ESCC when combined with CEA. Serum miRNA-183 levels is related with tumor TNM stage, which contributes to the judgment of tumor progression and efficacy prediction.

Application of laminated anastomosis with absorbable suture in cervical esophagogastrostomy / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical results of laminated anastomosis using absorbable suture in cervical esophagogastrostomy, and to reduce the incidence of cervical esophagogastric anastomotic stricture.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was carried out on 210 patients who underwent cervical esophagogastrostomy after subtotal esophagectomy from January 2008 to June 2010. Among them, 96 cases were treated with traditional full layer interrupted varus suture (varus group) and the remaining 114 cases were treated with seromuscular layer and mucosal layer laminated anastomosis with absorbable suture (laminated group). Esophageal angiography was performed in 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the operation. The diameter of anastomatic stoma was measured on the anteroposterior and lateral angiography image respectively. The area of anastomatic stoma was calculated. The degree of stenosis was assessed according to the patients' dysphagia symptom.@*RESULTS@#There was no operative deaths, no serious pulmonary complications and chylothorax, no sever esophageal reflux in all patients. The ratio of cervical esophagogastric anastomotic leakage was 2.1% (2/96) in the varus group. No anastomotic leakage in the laminated group. Compared with the varus group, the area of the anastomatic stoma in the laminated group was significantly increased in all measured time points (P<0.01). The incidence of obstruction in the laminated group was decreased significantly (P<0.01) in 1 month or in 3 months after operation compared with the varus group.@*CONCLUSION@#Application of the laminated anastomosis with absorbable suture in cervical esophagogastrostomy can significantly reduce the incidence of anastomotic stenosis.

Evaluation of resection of local advanced upper lung cancer through median sternotomy / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize the resection of local advanced upper lung cancer and radical bilateral mediastinal lymph node dissection through a median sternotomy.@*METHODS@#A total of 31 patients with local advanced upper lung cancer underwent lobectomy and radical complete dissection of bilateral superior mediastinal lymph node through a median sternotomy (the sternotomy group). The sternotomy group consisted of 8 females and 23 males, from 35 to 75 years old (average 57 years). Five patients underwent superior vena caval replacement or partial excision, 21 underwent upper sleeve lobectomy, and 6 patients combined with right pulmonary artery sleeve angioplasty or partial resection and reconstruction. Compared with the 30 patients who were operated through posterolateral incision, the surgery time, complications, and prognosis during the same period (the posterolateral incision group) were recorded.@*RESULTS@#There was no perioperative death. The average operation time in the sternotomy group was (170±30)min, while that in the posterolateral incision group was (140±30) min(P>0.05). Postoperative complications comprised atelectasis, cardiac arrhythmia, and pneumonia. In the sternotomy group it was 6.5%(2/31), 16.1%(5/31), and 6.5% (2/31),and that in the posterolateral incision group 3.3%(1/30), 20%(6/30), 10.0%(3/30),respectively. Postoperative pathological findings demonstrated the rate for pN3 disease in the sternotomy group was 29%(9/31), 2 patients died of brain and liver metastasis respectively 10 or 11 months after the operation. The 3 year survival rate of 9 patients with pN3 diagnosed as cN2 preoperatively was 33.3%(3/9). The total survival rate of 1,3 years in the sternotomy group was 90.3%(28/31) and 41.9%(13/31), in the posterolateral incision group 86.6%(26/30) and 40.0%(12/30),respectively(P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Median sternotomy helps to resect local advanced upper lung cancer completely and to dissect bilateral mediastinal lymph node, and it can also provide more complete postoperative lymph node staging with no significant increase in complications.

Sternal elevation and costal cartilageplasty in children with pectus excavatum / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To review the experience of costal cartilageplasty and sternal elevation on pectus excavatum (PE) children. Methods A transverse anterior wedge osteotomy of the sternum is made at the level of maximal depression. The posterior table of the sternum is gently fractured without displacement and then elevated to the desired position. Tight sutures are placed through the anterior table across the osteotomy with stainless-steel wire. The deformed costal cartilages are partially resected subperichondrially and plasty is performed. Between Jan 1994 and Oct 2003, 57 patients who underwent costal cartilageplasty and sternum elevation operation were followed-up. Results With the exception of one patient, all children had normal thoracic contour. The preoperative symptoms improved markedly. Conclusion The costal cartilageplasty and sternum elevation may yield satisfactory results.

Evaluation of Early Phase Change of Right Ventricular Hemodynamic after Lung Resection by Doppler Echocardiography / 中国医师杂志

Objectives To determine the changes of right ventricular hemodynamic in the early phase after lung resection and non-lung resection thoracotomy by Doppler echocardiography and to investigate the correlation with preoperative lung function.Methods 55 patients who underwent thoracotomy were divided into two groups. In group A: 15 patients underwent non-lung resection thoracotomy; in group B: 40 patients underwent lung resection. The group B were subdivided into group B1 (n=23) and group B2 (n=17), acording to the preoperative lung function results: Artery blood gas analysis were measured and right ventricular hemodynamic indices were calculated by Doppler echocardiography before and after operation,respectively.Results Right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and artery oxygen pressure(PaO 2) significantly decreased (P

Reconstruction Of Superior Vena Cave and Its Branches in the Treatment of Malignant Mediastinal or Pulmonary Tumors Through Anterior Mediastinotomy / 中国医师杂志

Objective To explore the operative method for reconstruction of superior vena cave (SVC) and its branches in the treatment of patients with malignant mediastinal or pulmonary tumors through anterior mediastinotomy. Methods From 2001 to 2004 year, 22 patients with malignant mediastinal tumor or lung cancer received the resection of tumors and the reconstruction of the superior vena cave and its branches through anterior mediastinotomy. The operative efficacy was followed up in all patients. Results There was neither severe operative complications nor operative death in this group of patients, and 2 patients died of tumor recurrence in one year of post-operation, while others survived till now. Only one artificial graft occlusion occurred one month after operation. Conclusion The complete resection of malignant mediastinal or pulmonary tumors and the reconstruction of superior vena cave and its branches through anterior mediastinotomy is simple and reliable, and can remarkably improve the survival time of the short-term and long-term of the patients with malignant mediastinal or pulmonary tumor invading SVC.