CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3), a receptor for the C-X-C motif chemokines (CXCL) CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, which not only plays a role in chemotaxis but also regulates differentiation and development of memory and effector T cell populations. Herein, we explored the function of CXCR3 in the modulation of different organ-specific autoimmune diseases in interleukin (IL)-2 receptor deficiency (CD25-/-) mice, a murine model for both cholangitis and colitis. We observed higher levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 in the liver and colon and higher expression of CXCR3 on T cells of the CD25-/- mice compared with control animals. Deletion of CXCR3 resulted in enhanced liver inflammation but alleviated colitis. These changes in liver and colon pathology after CXCR3 deletion were associated with increased numbers of hepatic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, in particular effector memory CD8+ T cells, as well as decreased T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and colon lamina propria. In addition, increased interferon-γ response and decreased IL-17A response was observed in both liver and colon after CXCR3 deletion. CXCR3 modulated the functions of T cells involved in different autoimmune diseases, whereas the consequence of such modulation was organ-specific regarding to their effects on disease severity. Our findings emphasize the importance of extra caution in immunotherapy for organ-specific autoimmune diseases, as therapeutic interventions aiming at a target such as CXCR3 for certain disease could result in adverse effects in an unrelated organ.
Objectives: To explore the personalized treatment strategy of sternal fixation and closure of sternal median incision in open cardiac surgery. Methods: A total of 293 patients who underwent open-heart surgery with a median sternal incision at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2019 to March 2021 were divided into two groups, according to the timing and type of treatment. The first 169 patients received single-wire fixation and closure (control group), while the subsequent 124 patients received double-wire fixation and closure (study group). The patients were followed up for three months to observe the duration of pain, sternal instability, and occurrence of chest wound infection. Results: The average age was 53±30 years in the control group and 55±34 years in the study group (P = 0.594). There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the study group had a shorter duration of pain (P < 0.05), smaller drainage volume within three days postoperatively (650 ml vs. 770 ml, P < 0.05), lower incidence of superficial sternal wound infection (2.4% vs. 8.9%, P = 0.042), and lower incidence of sternal instability (1.6% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.026). Deep sternal wound infection occurred in two patients in the control group and none in the study group; however, this difference was not significant. No surgery-related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Selecting the appropriate sternal fixation and closure method, according to the characteristics of patients, can reduce the incidence of sternal incision complications. We proposed a personalized selection strategy for sternal fixation and closure, which requires verification in clinical studies.
Objective To explore the clinical and pathological features of icteric and nonicteric patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).Methods Seventy-nine AIH patients were enrolled in this study.Thirty-six cases were icteric patients and forty-three cases were nonicteric patients.The clinical data serum biochemical indexes,immunological indexes and histological data of the icteric cases were compared with the nonicteric cases.The data were analyzed by Mann-Whithey U test,chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier estimator.Results There was no significant difference between two groups in the genenal condition,immunological test,autoantibodies test and typical AIH histological findings.However,the icteric AIH patients had more severe changes in biochemical tests,hepatic inflammatory degrees,fibrosis grades,histological ductular reactions and centrilobular necrosis than those of nonicteric patients.The IAIHG's revised original scoring system pretreatment scores of icteric patients were lower than that of nonicteric patients (14.670±3.347 vs 16.370±2.699; Z=-2.161,P=0.031),whereas there was no significant difference in the simplified scoring system scores between two groups (6.920±0.874 vs 6.770±1.109; Z=-0.388,P=0.698).There were 33 icteric AIH patients who received immunosuppressive therapy.The cumulative biochemical remission rate in icteric AIH cases was 80.6% with 26 months of median duration of remission,whereas cumulative biochemical remission rate in icteric AIH cases was 94.1% with 7 months of median duration of remission (x2 =7.767,P<0.01).Conclusions The icteric AIH patients tend to have more severe clinical and histological presentations and lower remission rate than nonicteric patients.Early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic measures are of great significance.
Key words:
Hepatitis, autoimmune; Jaundice; Immunosuppressive agents; Biopsy
Cardiac sarcomas are rare malignancies with a poor prognosis. Although angiosarcoma is the most common histological subtype, its features are poorly characterized. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of the various cardiac sarcomas and the surgical techniques used and to identify factors influencing the prognosis.Forty patients who underwent surgery for cardiac sarcomas were included; 60% of them had angiosarcoma. Clinical characteristics, tumor location, surgical techniques used, and the prognosis were compared between patients with angiosarcoma and patients with other subtypes. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression were used to identify predictors of postoperative survival.Angiosarcomas were more likely than the other subtypes to present as pericardial effusion (85% vs 50%, P = .014). Early surgery was performed (median 24.0 days) regardless of histological subtype. The surgical technique varied according to histological subtype. Mean postoperative survival was 10 months. A positive margin (P = .13), high Ki-67 index (P = .19), younger age (P = .86), and angiosarcoma (P = .87) were identified to be potentially poor prognostic factors in univariate analyses. Cox regression identified R0 resection to be the only significant independent predictor of the prognosis after surgery (hazard ratio, 0.423, P = .039).Angiosarcoma differs from other subtypes of cardiac sarcoma in terms of clinical symptoms, tumor location, surgical techniques used, and prognosis. Early surgery is needed regardless of subtype. R0 resection is the only independent predictor of postoperative survival, and complete resection is usually achievable. The prognosis may be poorer in patients with a positive margin, high Ki-67 index, younger age, and angiosarcoma.