ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Subclavian vein stenosis or occlusion may be caused by a transvenous pacemaker, which makes the reimplantation of a new pacemaker lead difficult. Transvenous pacemaker lead implantation-related subclavian vein occlusion may present difficulty with regard to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) upgrade. CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 46-year-old man who was admitted with total subclavian vein occlusion caused by a permanent pacemaker that had been implanted 2 years previously. We successfully treated this patient with an upgrade to a CRT pacemaker by utilizing transferable interventional coronary and radiological techniques. The patient recovered uneventfully during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: CRT upgrade is still a viable technique for the treatment of subclavian vein obstruction caused by previous pacemaker implantation.
ABSTRACT
Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is a disease characterized by hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia associated with autoantibodies against endogenous insulin. A 56-year-old man was admitted to Ningbo First Hospital for the treatment of spontaneous hypoglycemia. He was found to have elevated fasting insulin level (>1,000 mIU/l) and presence of insulin autoantibodies, and after appropriate workup, was diagnosed with IAS. After treating with prednisone for 2 months, his insulin level started decreasing. In patients with repeated hypoglycemia, IAS should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Prednisone may be effective for the treatment of hypoglycemia in patients with IAS.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential of human amniotic mesenchymal cells (hAMC) serving as seeding cells in bone tissue engineering. METHODS: hAMC were isolated and cultured. The third passage of hAMC was cultured in osteogenic induced media [DMEM supplemented with 10% (v/v) FBS, 0.1 mumol/L dexamethasone, 50 mg/L ascorbic acid and 10 mmol/L beta-glycerophosphate] for one week. Calcified nodules were shown by alizarin red staining and counted under light microscope. Immunofluorescence cytochemical staining was used to detect collagen I (COL I) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Expression of FasL was examined in the amnion and hAMC by immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: After osteoblast differentiation, calcified nodules were formed, on the average 18 per well. hAMC in calcified nodules showed positive expression of COL I and ALP. FasL was detected positive both in cells contained in amnion and in hAMC. CONCLUSION: hAMC are potential ideal candidates for seeding cells in bone tissue engineering.
