Progress in subclinical research of kidney xenotransplantation / 器官移植

Xenotransplantation is an efficient pathway to solve the problem of transplant organ source deficiency in clinical settings. With the increasing progress of gene editing technique and immune suppression regimen, important development has been achieved on researches regarding pig to non-human primate kidney xenotransplantation, which provides a good condition for the introduction of the technique in the clinical application. In view of the substantial difference between human and non-human primate, and to meet the needs of current ethic requirements, it is necessary to perform subclinical studies for pig to human kidney xenotransplantation. In recent years, such subclinical studies with regard to the genetically modified pig to brain death recipient kidney xenotransplantation had been performed, indicating that kidney xenotransplantation gradually began to transit to the clinical development stage. However, donor/recipient selection and immune suppression regimen has not reached a consensus yet, and has to be clarified in subclinical studies. In this article, the current status and confronted problems of donor/recipient selection, immune suppression regimen and post transplantation management in the subclinical studies of kidney xenotransplantation were reviewed, aiming to promote the clinical transformation of kidney xenotransplantation to the clinical application.

Present situation and progress of xenotransplantation at home and abroad / 器官移植

Organ shortage has become one of the major challenges hindering the development of organ transplantation. Xenotransplantation is one of the most valuable methods to resolve global organ shortage. In recent years, the development of genetic engineering technique and research and development of new immunosuppressant have provided novel theoretical basis for xenotransplantation. International scholars have successively carried out researches on xenotransplantation in genetically modified pigs to non-human primates or brain death recipients, making certain substantial progresses. However, most of the researches are still in the preclinical stage, far from clinical application. Therefore, according to the latest preclinical experimental research progress at home and abroad, the history of xenotransplantation, the development of gene modification technology, xenotransplantation rejection and immunosuppression regimens were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for subsequent research of xenotransplantation, promote clinical application of xenotransplantation and bring benefits to more patients with end-stage diseases.

Clinical effect of different immunosuppressive treatment regimens in children with ocular myasthenia gravis: a retrospective analysis / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the clinical effect of different immunosuppressive treatment regimens in children with ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG).@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was conducted on 130 children with OMG who were treated in the Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Children's Hospital, from February 2018 to February 2023. According to the treatment regimen, they were divided into four groups: glucocorticoid (GC) group (n=29), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) group (GC+MMF; n=33), methotrexate (MTX) group (GC+MTX; n=30), and tacrolimus (FK506) group (GC+FK506; n=38). Treatment outcomes and adverse reactions were compared among the groups.@*RESULTS@#After 3 months of treatment, the FK506 group had significantly lower scores of Myasthenia Gravis Quantitative Scale and Myasthenia Gravis-Specific Activities of Daily Living than the other three groups (P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the FK506 group had a significantly lower dose of prednisone than the GC group, and after 6 and 9 months of treatment, the MMF, MTX, and FK506 groups had a significantly lower dose of prednisone than the GC group (P<0.05). After 12 months of treatment, the MMF, MTX, and FK506 groups had a significantly lower incidence rate of GC-related adverse reactions than the GC group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#For children with OMG, the addition of various immunosuppressants can reduce the dosage of GC and adverse reactions. Among them, FK506 shows superior efficacy compared to other immunosuppressants in the early treatment of OMG.

Biosynthesis of immunosuppressant tacrolimus: a review / 生物工程学报

Tacrolimus (FK506) is a 23-membered macrolide with immunosuppressant activity that is widely used clinically for treating the rejection after organ transplantation. The research on tacrolimus production was mainly focused on biosynthesis methods, within which there are still some bottlenecks. This review summarizes the progress made in tacrolimus biosynthesis via modification of metabolic pathways and control of fermentation process, with the hope to address the technical bottlenecks for tacrolimus biosynthesis and improve tacrolimus production by fermentation engineering and metabolic engineering.

Progress on diagnosis and treatment of kidney transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy / 器官移植

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a severe complication after kidney transplantation, mainly characterized by thrombocytopenia, microvascular hemolytic anemia and acute kidney injury, which may lead to kidney allograft failure or even death of the recipients. With the increasing quantity of solid organ transplantation in China and deeper understanding of TMA, relevant in-depth studies have been gradually carried out. Kidney transplantation-associated TMA is characterized with different causes and clinical manifestations. Non-invasive specific detection approach is still lacking. The diagnosis of TMA mainly depends on renal biopsy. However, most TMA patients are complicated with significant thrombocytopenia. Hence, renal puncture is a risky procedure. It is difficult to make a definite diagnosis. For kidney transplantation-associated TMA, plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulin and withdrawal of potential risk drugs are commonly employed. Nevertheless, the overall prognosis is poor. In this article, the classification of TMA after kidney transplantation, diagnosis and treatment of kidney transplantation-associated TMA were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of kidney transplantation-associated TMA.

Early application of tacrolimus extended-release capsule after kidney transplantation / 器官移植

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus extended-release (Tac-ER) in the early stage after kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 68 recipients undergoing kidney transplantation from 34 pairs of renal allografts were retrospectively analyzed. Two recipients who received bilateral kidneys from the same donor were treated with Tac-ER (Tac-ER group) and tacrolimus immediate-release (Tac-IR) (Tac-IR group) as one of the basic immunosuppressant. The changes of tacrolimus dosage and blood concentration, intra-patient variability (IPV), renal function, incidence of acute rejection, recipient and allograft survival rates and adverse events were statistically compared between two groups. Results The average daily dose of tacrolimus in the Tac-ER group was significantly higher than that in the Tac-IR group (F=8.386, P=0.005). In the Tac-ER group, the mean trough concentration at postoperative 4 d was (6.14±4.04) ng/mL, did not reach the target concentration, significantly lower than (9.41±5.47) ng/mL in the Tac-IR group (F=7.854, P=0.007). In the Tac-ER group, the IPV of trough concentration of tacrolimus within postoperative 1 month was significantly higher than that in the Tac-IR group (0.44±0.15 vs. 0.36±0.12, P=0.032). At postoperative 6 months, there was no significant difference in the renal function between two groups [serum creatinine level was (126±26) μmol/L vs. (120±28) μmol/L, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was (56±13) mL/(min·1.73 m2) vs. (60±15) mL/(min·1.73 m2), both P > 0.05]. The allograft and recipient survival rates were 100% in both groups. The incidence of acute rejection within postoperative 1 month was 18% in the Tac-ER group and 3% in the Tac-IR group, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The overall incidence of adverse events was 94% in the Tac-ER group and 97% in the Tac-IR group, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusions The efficacy and safety of Tac-ER are equivalent to those of Tac-IR, whereas a higher dose of Tac-ER should be orally given to reach the blood concentration similar to that of Tac-IR. During early-stage drug treatment, Tac-ER should be orally given before kidney transplantation or inittally with loading dose, aiming to increase the systemic exposure to tacrolimus early after kidney transplantation and prevent acute rejection caused by insufficient exposure.

Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic diseases / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Immunoglobulin G4-related diseases(IgG4-RD)are chronic, systemic diseases that have received much attention in recent years. IgG4-RD can affect almost all tissues of the body, mainly manifested by swelling and space-occupying changes in the involved sites. It is called IgG4-related ophthalmic disease(IgG4-ROD)when the lesions invade the ocular area. The disease mainly invades the lacrimal glands, orbital fat, infraorbital nerve, extraocular muscles, and eyelids. At present, the main treatment modalities for IgG4-ROD include medication, surgery, and radiation therapy, etc. With the enhanced understanding of the disease and the increasing cure rate in recent years, this article reviews the latest progress in the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, imaging features, diagnosis and treatment of IgG4-ROD.

Application of immunosuppressive agents in crtical coronavirus disease / 中华危重病急救医学

The outbreak of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection has brought great harm to people's life and social development. Although SARS-CoV-2 infection is more common in mild patients at present, considering the characteristics of crtical disease, rapid progress and high mortality, the treatment of critical patients are the focus of clinical attention. Immune imbalance which is characterized by cytokine storm plays a vital role in SARS-CoV-2 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), extrapulmonary multiple organ failure and even death. Therefore, the application of immunosuppressive agent in crtical coronavirus disease patients has a promising prospect. In this paper, different immunosuppressive agents and their application in crtical SARS-CoV-2 infection are reviewed, so as to provide reference for crtical coronavirus disease therapy.

Discussion on hot issues in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Liver diseases are common in China and the incidence and mortality of primary liver cancer are among the top in the world. As one of the therapeutic methods for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver transplantation has become an important technique in hepatic surgery. Most of patients with HCC have progressed to stage B or C of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging when diagnosed. How to reduce the dropout rate of HCC patients due to the progression of tumor when waiting for liver transplantation, develop individualized immunosuppressant plans for HCC patients after liver transplantation, and accurately manage patients with HCC recurrence after liver transplan-tation are the current hotspots of research. The authors review the relevant literature, summarize the treatment experience, and discuss the hot issues in liver transplantation for HCC, in order to provide reference for related treatment.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis of 128 children with idiopathic membranous nephropathy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) in children, and to investigate the factors influencing their prognosis.Methods:The clinical and pathological data of 128 children with IMN hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.They were divided into 2 groups according to the pathological manifestations: group A[typical membranous nephropathy(MN) group] and group B (atypical MN group), and the clinicopathological characteristics of the 2 groups were compared.Different treatment regimens and their efficacy were summarized, and the prognosis and its influencing factors were analyzed.The primary endpoint event at follow-up was the occurrence of end stage renal disease (ESRD), and the secondary endpoint event was the occurrence of renal insufficiency.Children with IMN were further divided into endpoint event group and non-endpoint event group according to the presence or absence of endpoint events at the last follow-up.Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve method.The Cox proportional risk model method was used to analyze the factors influencing the prognosis of poor kidney outcomes in children with IMN. Results:(1)A total of 128 children were included, with the male-to-female ratio of 1.13∶1.00.The median age of onset and peak age of onset were 13.0 (10.3, 15.0) years, and 12-16 years (68.8%), respectively.Massive proteinuria was detected in 119 cases (93.0%), including 103 cases (80.5%) with massive proteinuria and hematuria, 4 cases(3.1%) with simple hematuria, and 5 cases (3.9%) with non-renal proteinuria.There were 29 cases (22.7%) in group A and 99 cases (77.3%) in group B. (2)Blood triacylglycerol level was significantly higher in group B than that of group A[2.1 (1.5, 3.0) mmol/L vs.1.7(1.1, 2.5) mmol/L], while high-density lipoprotein[1.5(1.1, 1.8) mmol/L vs.1.8(1.4, 2.1) mmol/L], serum albumin[22.0(17.0, 27.3) g/L vs.25.5 (21.0, 32.5) g/L] and complement C3[(1.1±0.2) g/L vs.(1.2±0.2) g/L] were significantly lower in group B than those of group A (all P<0.05). (3)Complete clinical data during hospitalization and follow-up data were obtained from 91 children with IMN, with a median follow-up time of 87.0 (49.0, 104.5) months.Among them, 5 cases (5.5%) progressed to ESRD, involving 3 cases received renal transplantation, and 9 cases (9.9%) had secondary endpoints.Cumulative renal survival rate for ESRD at 5 and 10 years were 96.2% and 92.9%, respectively, which, for the secondary endpoints at 5 and 10 years were 95.2% and 84.8%, respectively.(4)Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed no significant difference in the cumulative renal survival between group A and group B ( P>0.05). Multifactorial Cox regression analysis showed that tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis was an independent risk factor for renal insufficiency in children with IMN ( HR=0.102, 95% CI: 0.011-0.940, P<0.05). Conclusions:Massive proteinuria combined with hematuria is the major clinical manifestation of IMN in children, and atypical MN is the major pathological manifestation.Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis is an independent risk factor for renal insufficiency in children with IMN.

Research progress on application of artificial intelligence in the field of kidney transplantation / 器官移植

In recent years, artificial intelligence has been persistently developed and increasingly applied in the medical field, including risk prediction, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, which enhances the diagnosis and management levels of diseases and shows a promising application prospect in the medical field. Artificial intelligence has been rapidly advanced in the field of kidney transplantation. Researchers have attempted to apply it in multiple scenarios, such as preoperative evaluation and prediction of postoperative complications of kidney transplantation, prompting that artificial intelligence has tremendous application prospect in the field of kidney transplantation. In this article, the application of artificial intelligence in donor-recipient matching, evaluation of renal allograft function, prediction of clinical outcomes, diagnosis of postoperative complications, monitoring and management of immunosuppressants were reviewed, research progress on the application of artificial intelligence in the field of kidney transplantation was summarized, and the limitations of artificial intelligence were discussed, aiming to provide reference for promoting the practical application and popularization of artificial intelligence in the field of kidney transplantation.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation / 器官移植

Acute kidney injury is a common complication after liver transplantation, which severely affects clinical prognosis of liver transplant recipients. Multiple factors before, during and after liver transplantation may cause kidney injury. If not properly treated, it may progress into chronic kidney diseases, which significantly increases postoperative fatality and negatively affects clinical efficacy of liver transplantation. Therefore, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation is a hot topic for clinicians. In this article, the definition, diagnosis, risk factors, prevention and treatment of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation were reviewed, and potential risk factors and related therapeutic strategies during different stages of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation were analyzed, aiming to lower the risk of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation and further improve clinical prognosis of liver transplant recipients by optimizing treatment regimens.

Hemosiderosis pulmonar idiopática, caso clínico en México. Importancia de un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno / Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, clinical case in Mexico. The relevance of performed an early diagnosis and treatment

La hemosiderosis pulmonar idiopática (HPI) es una patología poco frecuente; su distribución geográfica, su incidencia y prevalencia se desconocen de manera exacta a nivel mundial. Tiene una fuerte asociación con condiciones autoinmunes y una adecuada respuesta al tratamiento inmunosupresor. A pesar de ser una patología grave, presenta una tasa de morbilidad y mortalidad mediana, siempre que se realice un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz. Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente femenina con diagnóstico de HPI quien cursó con la triada clásica de esta enfermedad: hemoptisis, anemia ferropénica e infiltrados pulmonares difusos. Se descartaron otras causas de hemorragia pulmonar difusa y se realizó el diagnóstico por biopsia pulmonar. Se trató con esteroides sistémicos e inhalados y azatioprina. Tras casi 2 años después del diagnóstico, estando sin tratamiento por 3 meses, presentó una exacerbación con hemorragia pulmonar masiva ocasionando el fallecimiento de la paciente.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare pathology; its geographic distribution, incidence and prevalence are not accurately known worldwide. It has a strong association with autoimmune conditions and has an adequate response to immunosuppressive treatment. Despite being a serious pathology, it has a medium morbidity and mortality rate, provided that early diagnosis and treatment is performed. We present the clinical case of a female patient diagnosed with IPH who presented with the classic triad of this disease: hemoptysis, iron deficiency anemia and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. Other causes of diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage were ruled out and the diagnosis was made by lung biopsy. She was managed with systemic and inhaled steroids and azathioprine. After almost 2 years before the diagnosis, being without treatment for 3 month she had a massive pulmonary hemorrhage, causing the death of the patient.

Immunomodulatory potential of nanomaterials: Interaction with the immune system

Immunomodulation is an attractive approach to overcome the limitations of traditional therapeutic regimes against diseases. Immunomodulation-based therapies are emerging as promising alternative strategy that involves the defense mechanisms of the host to recognize and selectively eliminate diseases. Recent developments in nanotechnology have forged a revolution as development of nano-emulsions, nanotubes, and nanoparticles have provided promising strategies as novel immune-modulatorsto enhance efficacy at target sites. Moreover, interaction between nanoparticles and the immune system may cause unanticipated adverse reactions such as hypersensitivity, inflammation and necrosis. Therefore, to ensure a successful and safe clinical application of immune-modulatory nanoparticles, it is necessary to gain in-depth knowledge and a clear understanding of the multifaceted nature of the interactions between nanoparticles and immune system. Since elevated immunological responses are detrimental in elimination of exogenous or endogenous antigens, there are many bottlenecks that prevent the complete regulation of the immune system. Therefore, using nanostructures as transport vehicles to deliver immunological compounds to specific target sitesto overcome severe limitations. Different nanostructures are being exploited to develop novel adjuvants, innovative vaccines,and drugs to alter the immune system for various infectious and non-infectious diseases. The review focuses on various nanoparticle and their interplay with the immune system.

Prevention and therapeutic strategies and targeted immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation / 器官移植

With the development and maturity of liver transplant techniques, liver transplantation has become one of the vital treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Postoperative recurrence and metastasis of HCC after liver transplantation is one of critical factors that affect the long-term survival of recipients. Exploring the prevention and therapeutic strategies for HCC recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation plays a pivotal role in improving the clinical efficacy of liver transplantation for HCC recipients. Intimate monitoring, active prevention, early diagnosis, comprehensive surgical treatment and local treatment, especially targeted immunotherapy, and individualized prevention and therapeutic strategies are of significance for the prevention and treatment of HCC recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation. In this article, the monitoring, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of tumor recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation for HCC were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of tumor recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation, enhancing clinical efficacy of liver transplantation and prolonging the survival of recipients.

Imaging manifestations of central nervous system complications after heart transplantation / 器官移植

Heart transplantation is the main treatment of end-stage heart failure. With the advancement of heart transplantation and rational use of postoperative immunosuppressants, the survival rate of recipients has been gradually enhanced. However, a variety of central nervous system complications may still occur following heart transplantation, including immunosuppressant-associated neurotoxicity, epilepsy, stroke, encephalopathy, central nervous system infection and de novo malignant tumors in the central nervous system. These complications will severely affect the quality of life of heart transplant recipients. Consequently, prompt imaging diagnosis plays a significant role in the prevention and treatment of central nervous system complications. In this article, main imaging manifestations of central nervous system complications after heart transplantation were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for prompt diagnosis and differential diagnosis of complications, guide clinical treatment and management, and improve the long-term prognosis of the recipients.

Recurrence of IgA nephropathy after kidney transplantation / 器官移植

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the common primary glomerulonephritis, which is also an important risk factor for end-stage renal disease. Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for end-stage renal disease induced by IgAN, whereas there is still a risk of recurrence of IgAN after kidney transplantation. At present, research progress upon IgAN recurrence after kidney transplantation is relatively lacking. The pathogenesis of IgAN recurrence remains elusive, and its pathological manifestations are not specific. The diagnosis of IgAN recurrence still depends on renal biopsy. Besides, no effective prevention and treatment are available for recurrent IgAN. In this article, research progress on IgAN recurrence after kidney transplantation was illustrated from the perspectives of pathogenesis, diagnosis, risk factors and treatment, aiming to provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment of IgAN recurrence after kidney transplantation and improve clinical prognosis of kidney transplant recipients.

Management of immunocompromised renal transplant patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To analyze the treatment process of a renal transplant patient infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and discuss the management strategy for the immunocompromised hosts.Methods:The diagnosis and treatment of a case of transplant patients with COVID-19 admitted to Horgos designated hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in October 2021 were reviewed. The medical history and laboratory and imaging examination treatment and outcome of this case were analyzed.Results:The recipient was a middle-aged male with a time from renal transplantation of 3 years. The onset was moderate to low fever, accompanied by cough and fatigue. Chest CT showed multiple ground glass shadows under the pleura of both lungs, mainly in both lower lungs, gradually worsening until "white lung" appeared, with early renal and cardiac insufficiency. In the course of treatment, immunosuppressants were reduced and the dosage of glucocorticoid was increased. In the early stage, due to renal insufficiency and hyperkalemia, dialysis was conducted for 3 times. Oral abidol and Lianhua Qingwen capsule were given as antiviral and anti-infection treatment. Special immunoglobulin and convalescent plasma of COVID-19 were used to boost the immunity of patients. The patient was eventually clinically cured.Conclusions:The clinical manifestations and diagnosis of COVID-19 for the kidney transplantation recipient are not significantly different from other populations, but immunocompromised hosts are more likely to suffer from organ dysfunction. The adjustment of immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids, respiratory support, selection of antibiotics, organ protection, nutritional support and traditional Chinese medicine intervention in the treatment of renal transplant recipients with severe COVID-19 need further discussion.

Research highlights on kidney transplantation in 2021: voices from China / 器官移植

Over the past 70 years, kidney transplantation has become not only the most mature but also the highest-success-rate surgery among all organ transplantation surgeries. However, the long-term survival of kidney transplant recipients is still challenged by such key factors as ischemia-reperfusion injury related to kidney transplantation, rejection, chronic renal allograft dysfunction, renal allograft fibrosis, immunosuppressive therapy, infections and others. Relevant fundamental and clinical studies have emerged endlessly. At the same time, the research related to kidney transplantation also becomes a new hot spot accordingly in the context of the normalization of novel coronavirus pneumonia. This article reviewed the cutting-edge hot spots in relation to the fundamental and clinical aspects of kidney transplantation together with relevant new techniques and new visions. The studies included in this article focused on the reports published by Chinese teams that are more applicable to the current situation of kidney transplantation in China, for the purpose of providing new thoughts and strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney transplantation related issues in China.

Research progress on immune tolerance after pediatric liver transplantation / 器官移植

Immune tolerance after liver transplantation refers to discontinuing use of immunosuppressants in varying patterns and maintaining the long-term stability of liver function of the recipients. At present, immune tolerance may be achieved by passive immune tolerance, active operational immune tolerance and induced immune tolerance. Multiple clinical trials have confirmed the safety and feasibility of these approaches. Compared with adults, pediatric recipients undergoing liver transplantation have better potential of immune tolerance, especially the living donor liver transplant recipients. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to predict whether a certain individual may achieve immune tolerance. In this article, research progresses on the characteristics of immune tolerance in pediatric recipients, induction of immune tolerance, operational immune tolerance, induced immune tolerance, screening of recipients and tolerance markers were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for the formulation of postoperative immunosuppressant regimens, reduce the overall exposure to immunosuppressants and lower the risk of adverse reactions induced by immunosuppressants in children undergoing liver transplantation.