Detection of Bartonella henselae DNA in the blood of patients with livedoid vasculopathy

Abstract Background: Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) manifests as ulcers and atrophic white scars on the lower extremities. The main known etiopathogenesis is hypercoagulability with thrombus formation, followed by inflammation. Thrombophilia, collagen and myeloproliferative diseases may induce LV, but the idiopathic (primary) form predominates. Bartonella spp. may cause intra-endothelial infection and skin manifestations caused by these bacteria may be diverse, including leukocytoclastic vasculitis and ulcers. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of bacteremia by Bartonella spp. in patients with difficult-to-control chronic ulcers diagnosed as primary LV. Methods: Questionnaires and molecular tests (conventional PCR, nested PCR and real-time PCR) were applied and liquid and solid cultures were performed in the blood samples and blood clot of 16 LV patients and 32 healthy volunteers. Results: Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in 25% of LV patients and in 12.5% of control subjects but failed to reach statistically significant differences (p = 0.413). Study limitations: Due to the rarity of primary LV, the number of patients studied was small and there was greater exposure of the control group to risk factors for Bartonella spp. infection. Conclusion: Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups, the DNA of B. henselae was detected in one of every four patients, which reinforces the need to investigate Bartonella spp. in patients with primary LV.

Efficacy of conbercept in the treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy based on EDI-OCT and OCTA / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To evaluate the changes of retinal thickness, choroid thickness and choroid vascular polypoid lesions (polyps) before and after the treatment of conbercept in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with conbercept based on enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA).Methods:Twenty patients with PCV admitted to the ophthalmology department of the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2019 to December 2020 (who had not received intravitreous injection before) were selected and given intravitreous injection of conbercept with 3+ pro re nata (PRN) treatment. The changes of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), peripapillary choroid thickness (PCT), polyps height, and maximum cross-sectional area of polyps were observed before and after treatment.Results:There were significant difference in the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CMT, SFCT, PCT, polyps height and maximum polyps cross-sectional area before and after treatment in 20 patients (all P<0.05). BCVA was significantly improved at 1 week and 1 month after treatment (all P<0.05), and still improved at 6 months after treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant compared with 3 months after treatment ( P>0.05), and slightly fluctuated at 6 to 12 months after treatment, but basically stable. CMT, SFCT and PCT decreased significantly after 3 months of treatment, and were basically stable from 6 to 12 months after treatment. One month after treatment, polyps height was (251.30±57.49)μm, with a decrease of 11.3 μm; the polyps height decreased at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). The maximum cross-sectional area of polyps at 3 and 12 months after treatment was (2.10±0.44)μm 2 and (1.98±0.44)μm 2, respectively, with a certain degree of decrease, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Intraocular injection of conbercept can effectively reduce CMT, SFCT, PCT, polyps height, maximum cross-sectional area of polyps and increase BCVA in PCV patients 3 months after treatment. EDI-OCT and OCTA were used to quantitatively detect the changes of PCV indexes and observe the curative effect and prognosis.

Application and problems of optical coherence tomography in clinical diagnosis and treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy / 中国医师杂志

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a fundus disease that can cause severe visual impairment. At present, the gold standard for the diagnosis of PCV is indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Due to its invasiveness and inconvenience in clinical application, researchers are exploring the use of non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) in clinical diagnosis and follow-up of PCV, and non-invasive diagnostic criteria based on OCT are gradually emerging. However, in the clinical application of this technology, there are still some problems, such as poor imaging effect, unclear diagnosis, over-reliance on OCT technology, complex follow-up situations and so on. This paper intends to review the current situation, new diagnostic criteria and related problems of OCT in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PCV, in order to provide reference for ophthalmologists.

Development status and new challenges of heart transplantation / 器官移植

Heart transplantation is the primary therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure. The shortage of donors has been the main limiting factor for the increasing quantity of heart transplantation. With persistent updating and introduction of novel technologies, the donor pool has been increasingly expanded, such as using the heart from older donors, donors infected with hepatitis C virus, donors dying from drug overdose or donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors, etc. Meantime, the proportion of recipients with advanced age, multiple organ dysfunction, mechanical circulatory support and human leukocyte antigen antibody sensitization has been significantly increased in recent years. The shortage of donors, complication of recipients' conditions, individualized management of immunosuppressive therapy and prevention and treatment of long-term cardiac allograft vasculopathy are all challenges in the field of heart transplantation. In this article, novel progresses on donor pool expansion, improving the quality of recipients, strengthening the diagnosis and treatment of rejection, and preventing cardiac allograft vasculopathy were reviewed, aiming to prolong the survival and enhance the quality of life of patients with end-stage heart failure on the waiting list or underwent heart transplantation.

Paying close attention to the therapeutic effect of brolucizumab on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and its clinical application / 中华实验眼科杂志

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) occurs in the middle-aged and elderly population and is characterized by abnormal intrachoroidal vascular patterns such as branching choroidal vascular networks and polypoidal dilatation of vessel terminals, subretinal orange nodular lesions and hemorrhagic or plasma retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED), which can cause retinal hemorrhage or vitreous hematopoiesis and is one of the major blinding fundus lesions.Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs is currently the main method of PCV treatment, and has certain advantages in eliminating abnormal vascular networks and removing polypoidal lesions, reducing vascular exudation and promoting exudate absorption, and improving visual prognosis.However, frequent intravitreal drug injections increase the risk of infection and the treatment burden for patients.In addition, the high recurrence rate after treatment poses a significant challenge to clinical practice, so the search for new therapeutic agents that are durable and less costly is a focus of clinical research in PCV.The literature from abroad suggests that brolucizumab is a novel small-molecule anti-VEGF humanized monoclonal antibody with the advantages of high tissue penetration, high local drug concentration and bioavailability, small injectable dose, long-lasting efficacy and long injection interval, which brings new hope for the clinical treatment of PCV and improving the prognosis of affected eyes.Although the efficacy and safety of brolucizumab in the treatment of PCV have been well documented, the literature is mainly from Japan, India and Korea, and clinical practice data from China are still lacking.With the approval of the drug in several countries, it is believed that more PCV patients could benefit from this treatment in the near future.Ophthalmologists and researchers in China should closely follow the progress of brolucizumab in the treatment of PCV.

Chinese Guideline on the Management of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (2022) / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Background In mainland China, patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) have approximately an 40% prevalence of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). This disease leads to recurrent retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED), extensive subretinal or vitreous hemorrhages, and severe vision loss. China has introduced various treatment modalities in the past years and gained comprehensive experience in treating PCV.Methods A total of 14 retinal specialists nationwide with expertise in PCV were empaneled to prioritize six questions and address their corresponding outcomes, regarding opinions on inactive PCV, choices of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) monotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) monotherapy or combined therapy, patients with persistent subretinal fluid (SRF) or intraretinal fluid (IRF) after loading dose anti-VEGF, and patients with massive subretinal hemorrhage. An evidence synthesis team conducted systematic reviews, which informed the recommendations that address these questions. This guideline used the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach to assess the certainty of evidence and grade the strengths of recommendations. Results The panel proposed the following six conditional recommendations regarding treatment choices. (1) For patients with inactive PCV, we suggest observation over treatment. (2) For treatment-na?ve PCV patients, we suggest either anti-VEGF monotherapy or combined anti-VEGF and PDT rather than PDT monotherapy. (3) For patients with PCV who plan to initiate combined anti-VEGF and PDT treatment, we suggest later/rescue PDT over initiate PDT. (4) For PCV patients who plan to initiate anti-VEGF monotherapy, we suggest the treat and extend (T&E) regimen rather than the pro re nata (PRN) regimen following three monthly loading doses. (5) For patients with persistent SRF or IRF on optical coherence tomography (OCT) after three monthly anti-VEGF treatments, we suggest proceeding with anti-VEGF treatment rather than observation. (6) For PCV patients with massive subretinal hemorrhage (equal to or more than four optic disc areas) involving the central macula, we suggest surgery (vitrectomy in combination with tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) intraocular injection and gas tamponade) rather than anti-VEGF monotherapy. Conclusions Six evidence-based recommendations support optimal care for PCV patients' management.

Updated guidelines for the management of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: Recommendations from the Indian Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Panel and the Vitreoretinal Society of India

In Asians, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is becoming more widely recognized as a significant cause of exudative maculopathy. The previous set of Indian guidelines on the management of PCV were published in 2018, with a literature search updated up to November 2015. As the treatment of PCV evolves, retinal physicians must constantly modify their current practice. The current guidelines are based on the most up-to-date information on PCV and are an update to the previous set of guidelines. These guidelines were developed by a panel of Indian retinal experts under the aegis of the Vitreoretinal Society of India (VRSI), based on a comprehensive search and assessment of literature up to September 2021. The final guidelines i) provide the updated nomenclature in PCV; ii) discusses the newer diagnostic imaging features of PCV, especially in the absence of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA); and iii) recommends the best possible therapeutic approach in the management of PCV, including the choice of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, treatment regimen, and the role of switching between the anti-VEGF agents. In the face of non-availability of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in India, we constructed practical recommendations on anti-VEGF monotherapy in PCV. The current updated recommendations would provide a broader framework to the treating retinal physician for the diagnosis and management of PCV for optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Choriocapillaris flow deficits in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography

Purpose: To evaluate the choriocapillaris flow deficits (CCFD) on swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) in eyes with unilateral polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), fellow unaffected eyes, and to compare them with age-matched healthy controls. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study which included treatment-naïve eyes with unilateral PCV (group 1), fellow unaffected eyes of patients with PCV (group 2), and normal eyes (group 3). Using the SS-OCTA, the Choriocapillaris (CC) slab was segmented from the structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the corresponding flow map was multiplied after signal compensation. The resultant image was evaluated for CCFD in equidistant squares measuring 1 × 1 mm, 1.5 × 1.5 mm, 2 × 2 mm, 2.5 × 2.5 mm, 3 × 3 mm, and 6 × 6 mm centered on the fovea. Results: The percentage of flow deficits were significantly increased (one-way ANOVA, P = 0.003 and P = 0.049) in the eyes with PCV as compared to the fellow eyes, and age-matched healthy controls. In the multiple pairwise comparison using post hoc Bonferroni, CCFD of 1 mm in group 1 and 2 (P = 0.019), group 1 and 3 (P = 0.003), and CCFD of 1.5 mm in group 1 and 3 (P = 0.044) were statistically significant. Correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between CCFD, age, Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal thickness (FT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in our study. Linear regression analysis showed that the CCFD was negatively correlated with the distance from the foveal center in group 1 (? = ?0.613, P = 0.046). Conclusion: Eyes with PCV demonstrated a significant flow impairment in the choriocapillaris layer as compared to the fellow unaffected eyes and age-matched healthy eyes.

Medium-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy for livedoid vasculopathy / Terapia de oxigenación hiperbárica de media presión en vasculopatía livedoide

Abstract Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is a cutaneous manifestation of several diseases that lead to non-inflammatory thrombosis of dermal vessels. We report the case of a 26-year-old female with a 4 years and 8 months-old history of diagnosis of LV and a non-healing ulcer of more than a year of evolution. Because of refractory response to standard care, low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen (LPHBOT) was added to the therapeutic scheme (azathiopine 2.5 mg/kg, folic acid and acetylsalicylic acid). After 12 sessions of LHBOT (60 min, 1.45 ATA ≈100% O2), ulcers achieved complete healing with significant pain relief and no recurrence was present over 6 months. More studies are necessary to determine the effectiveness of HBOT for LV treatment.

Resumen La vasculopatía livedoide (VL) es una manifestación cutánea de varias enfermedades que conducen a una trom bosis no inflamatoria de los vasos dérmicos. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 26 años con antecedente de diagnóstico de vasculopatía livedoide de 4 años y 8 meses, además de una úlcera no cicatrizante de más de un año de evolución. Debido a la respuesta refractaria a la atención estándar, se añadió oxígeno hiperbárico a baja presión (LPHBOT) al esquema terapéutico (azatriopina 2.5 mg/kg, ácido fólico y ácido acetilsalicílico). Después de 12 sesiones de LHBOT (60 min, 1,45 ATA ≈100% O2), las úlceras tuvieron una curación completa con un alivio significativo del dolor y no hubo recurrencia durante 16 meses. Se necesitan más estudios para determinar la eficacia de TOHB para el tratamiento del VL.

Initial experience in treating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with brolucizumab in Indian eyes � A multicenter retrospective study

Purpose: To report the initial experience of managing treatment?resistant and treatment?na飗e eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) by using brolucizumab 6 mg. Methods: This was a retrospective multicentric series of all consecutive eyes with PCV treated with brolucizumab. Treatment resistance was defined as taking at least six prior anti?VEGF injections over the past 1 year and showing persistent disease activity in the form of intra (IRF) or subretinal fluid (SRF) or both. All patients were treated on a pro re nata (PRN) basis and followed up monthly. Retreatment was considered when either SRF or IRF were present at any time point during the study. Results: We included 21 eyes of 21 patients with PCV with a mean age of 65.1 � 9.9 years, of which 16 eyes (76%) were treatment?resistant. The mean follow?up period from receiving the first brolucizumab was 27.3 � 3.3 weeks. Of the 21 eyes, seven eyes (33%) received three injections during follow?up, 13 eyes (62%) received two injections, and one eye received one injection. The mean injection?free interval was 12 � 1.2 weeks. The median pretreatment vision was 0.6 logMAR (IQR = 0.47�logMAR) and improved to 0.3 logMAR (IQR = 0.25�6 logMAR), whereas the mean macular thickness improved from 443 � 60 ?m at baseline to 289 � 25 ?m (P < 0.001) at the last follow?up period. None of the eyes experienced any intraocular inflammation across 48 injection sessions. Conclusion: Brolucizumab is safe and effective in controlling PCV disease in both treatment?resistant and treatment?na飗e eyes

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation: summary of a single-center long-term follow-up experience in Fuwai Hospital / 器官移植

Objective To summarize the incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after heart transplantation and the effect on the long-term survival of recipients. Methods Clinical data of 1 006 heart transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. Of 48 CAV patients, 4 cases were not included in this analysis due to lack of imaging evidence. A total of 1 002 recipients were divided into the CAV group (n=44) and non-CAV group (n=958) according to the incidence of CAV. The incidence of CAV was summarized. Clinical data of all patients were statistically compared between two groups. Imaging diagnosis, coronary artery disease, drug treatment and complications, postoperative survival and causes of death of CAV patients were analyzed. Results Among 1 006 heart transplant recipients, 48 cases (4.77%) developed CAV. Compared with the non-CAV group, the proportion of preoperative smoking history, preoperative hypertension history, coronary artery disease and perioperative infection was significantly higher in the CAV group (all P < 0.05). Among 44 patients diagnosed with CAV by imaging examination, 24 cases were diagnosed with CAV by coronary CT angiography (CTA), 4 cases by coronary angiography (CAG), and 16 cases by coronary CTA combined with CAG. Among 44 patients, the proportion of grade Ⅰ CAV was 45% (20/44), 30% (13/44) for grade Ⅱ CAV and 25% (11/44) for grade Ⅲ CAV, respectively. All patients received long-term use of statins after operation, and 20 patients were given with antiplatelet drugs. Among 44 CAV patients, 11 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, 6 cases received repeated heart transplantation, and 8 patients died. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the long-term survival rate between the CAV and non-CAV groups (P > 0.05), whereas the survival rate of patients tended to decline after the diagnosis of CAV (at postoperative 6-7 years). The long-term survival rates of patients with grade Ⅰ, grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ CAV showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Even for patients with grade Ⅰ CAV, the long-term survival rate tended to decline. Conclusions CAV is a common and intractable complication following heart transplantation, and the long-term survival rate of patients after the diagnosis of CAV tended to decline. Deepening understanding of CAV, prompt prevention, diagnosis and treatment should be delivered to improve the long-term survival rate of patients after heart transplantation.

Diagnostic criteria and research progress on lung allograft pathology / 器官移植

In recent years, the quantity of lung transplantation has been gradually increased in China along with the accumulation of surgical techniques and postoperative management experience of lung transplantation. Multiple lung allograft complications may occur after lung transplantation, mainly including primary graft dysfunction (PGD) caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of the lung allograft, acute and chronic rejection, opportunistic infection or lymphoproliferative disorder of lymphoid tissues induced by the decrease of host immunity due to postoperative use of immunosuppressants, etc. The diagnosis of complications after lung transplantation mainly relies on biopsy of the lung allograft. In this article, the brief history of lung allograft pathology, main approaches and pathological processing techniques of lung allograft biopsy, major complications after lung transplantation and pathological diagnostic criteria were elucidated, aiming to provide reference for targeted management of these complications in clinical practice.

Comparison of macular and choroidal capillary vessel density between untreated CSC and PCV and its significance / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To quantitatively assess the macular and choroidal capillary vessel density and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) variables in untreated central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients and healthy people using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and to investigate their correlation with retinal thickness and choroidal thickness.Methods:A cross-sectional study was adopted.Fifty-five eyes of 55 Chinese adults, including 20 eyes with untreated unilateral CSC, 16 eyes with untreated unilateral PCV and 19 eyes of healthy controls, were enrolled from January 2018 to June 2021 in Shenzhen Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University.The 6 mm×6 mm scanning of Optovue OCTA was carried out in all the subjects.The superficial retinal vessel density (SRVD), deep retinal vessel density (DRVD), outer retinal vessel density (ORVD) and choroidal capillary vessel density (CCVD), FAZ area, FAZ perimeter and vessel density in a 300-μm-wide annular region around FAZ were measured by ReVue software of Optovue OCTA.Central foveal thickness (CFT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were assessed by Optovue OCTA HD scan.Correlation between CFT, SFCT and OCTA variable, FAZ variables were evaluated by Pearson liner correlation analysis.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University (No.AIERKY6236-1). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering the cohort.Results:There were significant differences in the foveal, parafoveal and perifoveal SRVD among the three groups ( F=6.344, 9.006, 5.617; all at P<0.01). Compared with healthy control group, the foveal, parafoveal and perifoveal SRVD in CSC group as well as the foveal SRVD in PCV group were significantly increased (all at P<0.01). Compared with CSC group, the parafoveal and perifoveal SRVD were significantly decreased in PCV group (both at P<0.01). There were significantly differences in the parafoveal DRVD among the three groups ( F=3.383, P<0.05). Compared with healthy control group, the parafoveal DRVD of CSC and PCV groups was increased significantly (both at P<0.05). There were significant differences in the ORVD and CCVD among the three groups ( F=16.931, 19.412; both at P<0.001). Compared with healthy control group, the ORVD and CCVD in CSC group and the CCVD in PCV group were decreased significantly (all at P<0.001). Compared with the PVC group, the ORVD was significantly decreased in CSC group ( P<0.001). A significantly difference was found in CFT among the three groups ( F=20.495, P<0.001). Compared with healthy control and PCV group, the CFT was significantly increased in CSC group (both at P<0.001). No significant difference was found in SFCT, FAZ area, FAZ perimeter and vessel density of the 300-μm-wide annular region around FAZ among the three groups ( F=1.083, 0.906, 0.819, 1.530; all at P>0.05). Negative correlations were found between parafoveal DRVD, ORVD and CFT in CSC eyes ( r=-0.555, -0.516; both at P<0.05), and a significant negative correlation was found between ORVD and CFT in PCV eyes ( r=-0.585, P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between OCTA variables (SRVD, DRVD, ORVD, CCVD), FAZ parameters (FAZ area, FAZ perimeter and vessel density of the 300-μm-wide annular region around FAZ) and SFCT in the three groups (all at P>0.05). Conclusions:Hyperaemia in the superficial capillary of macular fovea and atrophy of choroidal capillaries may be the same pathogenesis between CSC and PCV.The vessel density of outer retinal layer is a common independent influencing factor of CFT between the two diseases.

Efficacy of minimally invasive vitreous surgery combined with or without anti-VEGF drug injection in PCV complicated with vitreous hemorrhage / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To compare the clinical effects of minimally invasive vitreous surgery with and without anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs for polypoid choroidal vascular disease (PCV) complicated with vitreous hemorrhage.Methods:A cohort study was performed.Thirty-six consecutive cases (36 eyes) with PCV combined with vitreous hemorrhage who underwent 25G minimally invasive vitreous surgery in Xuzhou First People's Hospital from June 2015 to June 2020 were enrolled.According to surgical methods, the patients were divided into pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) group (24 eyes) receiving vitrectomy only and PPV+ anti-VEGF group (12 eyes) receiving vitrectomy first and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs one week after the operation.All patients were followed up for at least 6 months.The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) of the two groups before treatment, 1 month after treatment and at the last follow-up were measured and compared.Postoperative complications such as recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage and macular scar formation were recorded.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki and was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Xuzhou First People's Hospital (No.xyyll[2021]014).Written informed consent was obtained from each patient before surgery.Results:Statistically significant differences were found in BCVA between the two groups before and after treatment ( Fgroup=8.552, P=0.006; Ftime=31.775, P<0.001).The BCVA of the two groups at 1 month after operation and at the last follow-up were significantly improved in comparison with before treatment, and the BCVA at the last follow-up was significantly better than that at 1 month after operation (all at P<0.05).One month after operation and at the last follow-up, the BCVA of PPV+ anti-VEGF group was better than that of PPV group, showing statistically significant differences (both at P<0.05).Statistically significant differences were found in CRT between the two groups before and after treatment ( Fgroup=4.797, P=0.041; Ftime=295.764, P<0.001).One month after operation and at the last follow-up, the CRT of both groups was significantly improved in comparison with before treatment, and the CRT was significantly better at the last follow-up than 1 month after operation (both at P<0.05).The postoperative 1-month CRT of PPV+ anti-VEGF treatment group was lower than that of PPV group, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05).No statistically significant difference was found in CRT between the two groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05).Elevated intraocular pressure occurred in 2 eyes and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in 1 eye in PPV group, accounting for 8.33% and 4.17%, respectively.Cataract aggravated in 2 eyes in PPV+ anti-VEGF group.The incidence of vitreous rebleeding in PPV group and PPV+ anti-VEGF group was 16.67%(4/24) and 8.33%(1/12), respectively, with no significant difference ( P=0.646).The incidence of macular scarring in PPV group and PPV+ anti-VEGF group was 4.17%(1/24) and 33.3%(4/12), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference ( P=0.030). Conclusions:Minimally invasive vitreous surgery is a safe and effective way to treat PCV combined with vitreous hemorrhage.It can improve vision, reduce CRT, and the effect is gradually enhanced in the short term.Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs can enhance the postoperative effect of PPV and present better vision and anatomical structure of retina.

Remarkable Clinical Improvement Following Microsurgical Resection of Left Lingual Gyrus Cerebral Cavernous Malformation: A Case Report

Moyamoya disease is a chronic and unusual cerebrovascular disorder characterized by progressive stenosis and occlusion of the distal portions of internal carotid arteries and its main branches within the circle of Willis. Posterior circulation (vertebral and basilar arteries) may also be affected; however, this presentation is uncommon. As well as stenosis of the terminal portion of intracranial arteries, it is seen the development of a network of collateral vessels abnormally dilated at the base of the brain with an aspect of a "puff of smoke," whose term in Japanese is described as "moyamoya." The present study aims to report two consecutive cases of patients who presented to our service with different clinical manifestations. Further investigation with digital subtraction angiography showed a moyamoya pattern.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of 64 cases of livedoid vasculopathy / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To analyze clinical features and distribution patterns of livedoid vasculopathy lesions, especially obvious livedo reticularis and purpuric lesions.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 64 patients with confirmed livedoid vasculopathy in Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from July 2017 to October 2020, and analyzed retrospectively.Results:Among the 64 patients, 23 were males and 41 were females, aged 13 - 54 years; their age at onset ranged from 7 to 51 years, and 48 developed livedoid vasculopathy before the age of 25 years; the course of disease ranged from 6 months to 10 years. Livedoid vasculopathy occurred or worsened in summer in 49 patients, and skin lesions mainly manifested as necrotic irregular purpura, purpuric dermatosis-like erythema, irregular ulcers, livedo reticularis, telangiectasia, irregular white atrophic scars and pigmentation. Among the 64 patients, ulcers and necrotic purpura were mostly irregular, and occurred on the dorsum of the foot and around the ankle. A total of 40 patients presented with purpuric dermatosis-like lesions, including 32 with pigmented purpura and 4 with telangiectatic purpura. Besides, numbness, tingling and other symptoms of nerve terminal damage occurred in 4 patients.Conclusion:Clinical manifestations of livedoid vasculopathy are diverse, and differential diagnosis is important for patients with generalized livedo reticularis, purpuric dermatosis-like lesions and symptoms such as numbness.

A case of cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy / 中华皮肤科杂志

A 22-year-old female patient presented with skin flushing in the bilateral legs for 4 years, which gradually spread throughout the whole lower limbs and forearms 6 months ago. Skin examination showed diffuse flushing and dilated capillaries in the lower limbs and both forearms, and the flushing faded after a press. Histopathological examination of the skin lesion on the leg showed hyperkeratosis in a basket-like shape, increased pigmentation in the basal layer, infiltration of the superficial dermis with scattered lymphocytes, with no obvious red blood cell overflow; periodic acid-Schiff staining showed thickened and homogeneous deposits around the blood vessels; immunohistochemical staining showed thickened blood vessel walls and positive staining for type Ⅳ collagen. Diagnosis: cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy.

Analysis of target cytokines affecting OCTA changes following anti-VEGF treatment in PCV eyes / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To explore the predictability cytokines in aqueous humor affecting optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out.Twenty eyes of 20 patients with PCV were included in Xuzhou First People's Hospital from July 2017 to July 2020.All PCV eyes were treated by intravitreal injection of conbercept (IVC) following 3+ PRN regimen.One hundred μl of aqueous humor was collected before treatment and before the third injection, respectively.Thirteen kinds of cytokines in the aqueous humor were detected with Luminex bead-based multiplex array.The aqueous humor of 16 eyes of 16 cataract patients with age and gender matched were collected in the same way during phacoemulsification surgery as control.The values of center macular thickness (CMT), subretinal fluid height (SRFH), pigment epithelial detachment height (PEDH) and pigment epithelial detachment diameter (PEDD) of the eyes in the PCV group were examined with OCTA system.The target cytokines in aqueous humor affecting OCTA parameter change values (the difference between before and after treatment) was analyzed.This study protocol was approved by an Medical Ethic Committee of Xuzhou First People's Hospital (No.xyyll[2020]27) and complied with Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to any medical invention.Results:The concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8), Leptin, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were significantly higher in aqueous humor of the PCV group before treatment than those in the cataract group (all at P<0.05). After treatment, the concentration of VEGF-A in aqueous humor of the PCV group was significantly lower than that before treatment ( P<0.001). The values of CMT, SRFH, PEDH and PEDD were significantly reduced in comparison with before treatment, showing statistical significances (all at P<0.05). The concentration of VEGF-A in aqueous humor was positively correlated and endothelin-1 in aqueous humor was negatively correlated with the change value of CMT ( r=0.592, -0.485, both at P<0.05). The concentration of IL-8 and HGF were positively correlated with SRFH change value ( r=0.492, 0.466, both at P<0.05). VEGF-A and IL-8 concentraions of aqueous humor before treatment were the risk factor of the change value of CMT and SRFH.Every 1pg/ml increase of baseline VEGF-A, the CMT change value reduced 0.836 μm ( P=0.006), and every 1pg/ml increase of baseline IL-8, the SRFH change value reduced 12.522 μm ( P=0.028). Conclusions:The concentrations of VEGF-A and IL-8 in aqueous humor might predict the CMT and SRFH improvement in PCV eyes after anti-VEGF therapy.

Banff classification and progress on liver allograft pathology / 器官移植

The pathology of liver allograft biopsy is not only essential for the evaluation of liver donor, but also for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of posttransplantation complications. With the development of liver transplantation in clinical practice, relevant studies of the pathological diagnosis of liver allograft complications have been deepened. Banff classification on liver allograft pathology have been gradually established within the international community. In China, pathological studies related to liver allograft pathology have been steadily carried out, and the pathological diagnostic basis of liver allograft pathology suitable for the clinical practice of liver transplantation in China has been gradually formed. This article reviews the history of Banff liver allograft pathology and major pathological lesions of liver allograft complications, aiming to provide reference for implementing pathological diagnosis of liver allograft pathology in China, assisting clinical diagnosis and targeted treatment of complications after liver transplantation, and further improving the survival of liver allograft and recipients.

Pathology of antibody-mediated rejection in renal allograft / 器官移植

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), also known as humoral rejection, is an immune injury caused by rejection involved with multiple humoral immune effectors, such as antibodies and complements, etc. AMR plays a pivotal role in hyperacute, acute and chronic rejection. In this article, the basic definition of AMR, the research progress and major achievements on AMR pathology according to Banff classification on allograft pathology (Banff classification), and main pathological characteristics of AMR in renal allograft were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of AMR, and guarantee the long-term survival of renal graft and recipients.