1.Tacrolimus therapy in refractory lupus nephritis: a prospective study in a single center
Yun-yun FEI ; Qing-jun WU ; Wen ZHANG ; Dong XU ; Meng-tao LI ; Xuan NG ZHA ; Yan ZHAO ; Xiao-feng ZENG ; Feng-chur NG ZHA
Chinese Journal of Rheumatology 2012;16(1):9-12
ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy,safety and optimal dose of tacrolimus monotherapy in patients with refractory lupus nephritis(LN) who were resistant to cyclophosphamide(CYC).MethodsA total of 14 LN patients (2 men and 12 women) with persistent proteinuria who were resistant to CYC treatment more than 8 g for half a year were enrolled.Tacrolimus was initiated at 2 mg/d (patient weight<60 kg) or 3 mg/d(patient weight≥60 kg) which was administered in two divided doses.Prospective data on daily proteinuria,serum album level and serologic lupus activity were collected and followed for 6 months.ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results Mean age at baseline was(30±9) years.Mean urinary protein decreased significantly from(6.2±5.1) g at baseline to (1.1±0.9) g at 6 months (F=16.21,P<0.01).Mean serum album level increased significantly from (27.9±9.7) g/L at baseline to(37.8±2.2) g/L at 6 months(F=16.71,P<0.01 ).Complete or partial response was observed in 86% of patients receiving tacrolimus therapy.The effective dosage in this study was 0.03-0.06mg·kg-1·d-1 of the patients who had complete response or partial response to tacrolimus.The tacrolimus level in partially and completely responding patients was less than 3 ng/ml.There was no significant difference among blood tacrolimus levels of complete,partial,and no response patients [(1.6-±0.4),(2.0±0.6) and (22±1.1) ng/nl],respectively).No definite correlation was found between efficacy and tacrolimus level.Tacrolimus was well tolerated at current dose,besides one with new onset hypertension and one with alopecia.ConclusionOur results suggest that tacrolimus at low dosage and serum level is potentially effective and safe for the treatment of patients with LN and persistent proteinuria resistant to CYC.The optimal dosage of tacrolimus for LN may be 0.03-0.06 mg·kg-1·d-1.
2.Change s of haemagglutination inhibitionan tibody level within one month after in fluenza A (H1N 1) vaccination
Qing-hua CHEN ; Guo-ming ZHANG ; Yan LI ; Fang-jun LI ; Qiu-feng TU ; Ping YUAN ; Fu WANG ; Qi-you XIAO ; Hua-qing WANG ; Yun-tao NG ZHA
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2013;(10):744-749
Objective To find the changes of haemagglutination inhibition ( HI ) antibody level against A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) within one month after pandemic A/H1N1 influenza vaccine (A/H1N1InfV) vaccination, and to provide data for drawing up immunization protocols against novel influenza . Methods The HI antibodies against A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) in sera from the inoculated subjects were tested by HI test .The geometric mean titer ( GMT) , geometric mean increase ( GMI) , seroconversion (SC) rate, seroprotection (SP) rate of HI antibodies were compared among the sera collected on day 3, 7, 14, 30 post vaccination .Results 961 participants were injected with A/H1N1InfV.In subjects aged 3 to 11 years, the antibody level peaked on day 14 post vaccination, but neither on day 14 nor on day 30, the lower bound of the two -sided 95%CI for the SP rate could fulfill the criteria of the FDA for influenza vac-cine.In subjects aged 12 to 60 years, the antibody level peaked on day 14 post vaccination and the SC rate , SP rate and GMI fulfilled the criteria of the European Medicines Agency ( EMEA) and the FDA for influenza vaccine. In subjects aged more than 60 years, the antibody level peaked on day 30 post vaccination , and the SC rate, SP rate and GMI on day 30 fulfilled the criteria of the EMEA and the FDA .Conclusion One dose A/H1N1InfV vaccination was able to induce enough protection on day 14 for subjects aged 12 to 60 years, on day 30 for subjects aged more than 60 years;however , for subjects aged 3 to 11 years who were antibody-negative at baseline , the lower bound of the two-sided 95%CI for the SP rate on day 14 and day 30 couldn′t fulfill the criteria of the FDA for influenza vaccine .
3.Intraoperative EMG monitoring in surgery of tumor in the floor of the fourth ventricle
Jun PAN ; Song-Tao QI ; Yun-Tao LU ; Xi-an NG ZHA ; Wen LIU ; Jun FAN ; Jun-Xiang PENG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2011;10(9):910-913
Objective To analyze the protective role of intraoperative EMG monitoring in surgical removal of tumors related to the floor of the fourth ventricle and its influencing factors.Methods Intraoperative EMG monitoring was performed during the surgical removal of 32 patients with brain tumor, admitted to our hospital from January 2007 to December 2010; among these 32patients, 11 was conformed as having medulloblastoma, 9 ependymoma, 6 brain stem cavernous hemangioma, 4 brain stem exogenous glioma and 2 hemangioblastoma of the dorsal brain stem. The influencing factors of intraoperative EMG monitoring and the possible damage of cranial nerve nuclei caused by these surgical procedures were analyzed.Results Twenty-one patients enjoyed total removal, 9 sub-total removal and 2 partial removal. Good function protection of patient's posterior cranial nerves was noted in 9 patients, mild impairment in 18 patients, and moderate dysfunction in 5 patients.The influencing factors of EMG monitoring included leaking electric current caused by bipolar coagulation, excessive use of muscle relaxant drugs, changes in depth of anesthesia, and rapid changes of patient′s temperature, saline temperature and blood pressure. Conclusion The intraoperative EMG monitoring can provide evidence about the location of the cranial motor nuclei during the surgical removal of the tumor related to the floor of the fourth ventricle and the function protection of patient’s posterior cranial nerves.