What Is a Cytokine Storm and Should It Matter to Me?

Nanomaterials in the treatment and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis: Advanced approaches

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory condition that affects persons between the ages of 20 and 40, causes synovium inflammation, cartilage loss, and joint discomfort as some of its symptoms. Diagnostic techniques for RA have traditionally been split into two main categories: imaging and serological tests. However, significant issues are associated with both of these methods. Imaging methods are costly and only helpful in people with obvious symptoms, while serological assays are time-consuming and require specialist knowledge. The drawbacks of these traditional techniques have led to the development of novel diagnostic approaches. The unique properties of nanomaterials make them well-suited as biosensors. Their compact dimensions are frequently cited for their outstanding performance, and their positive impact on the signal-to-noise ratio accounts for their capacity to detect biomarkers at low detection limits, with excellent repeatability and a robust dynamic range. In this review, we discuss the use of nanomaterials in RA theranostics. Scientists have recently synthesized, characterized, and modified nanomaterials and biomarkers commonly used to enhance RA diagnosis and therapy capabilities. We hope to provide scientists with the promising potential that nanomaterials hold for future theranostics and offer suggestions on further improving nanomaterials as biosensors, particularly for detecting autoimmune disorders.

Clinical features and prognosis of pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia with JAK-STAT pathway genetic abnormalities: a case series

The objective of this study is to explore the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) harboring JAK-STAT signaling pathway genetic abnormalities. This retrospective case series examined the clinical data of pediatric patients diagnosed with ALL harboring JAK-STAT pathway genetic abnormality at the Children's Hospital of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics between January 2016 and January 2022. Bone marrow next-generation sequencing was used to reveal the JAK pathway abnormalities. Descriptive statistics were used. From 432 children with ALL during the study period, eight had JAK-STAT pathway genetic abnormalities. Regarding immunotyping, there were four patients with common-B cell types and one with pre-B cell type. The three patients with T-ALL had early T-cell precursor(ETP) type, pre-T cell type, and T cell type. Gene mutations were more common than fusion genes. There was no central nervous system involvement in eight patients. All patients were considered at least at intermediate risk before treatments. Four patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). One child had a comprehensive relapse and died. The child had a severe infection and could not tolerate high-intensity chemotherapy. Another child relapsed 2 years after HSCT and died. Disease-free survival was achieved in six children. JAK-STAT pathway genetic abnormalities in pediatric Ph-like ALL are rare. Special attention should be paid to treatment-related complications, such as infection and combination therapy (chemotherapy, small molecule targeted drugs, immunotherapy, etc.) to reduce treatment-related death and improve long-term quality of life.

Outcomes of Reamed Intramedullary Nailing for Lower Extremity Diaphyseal Fractures in COVID-Positive Patients: A Multi-institutional Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine if reamed intramedullary nailing (IMN) of tibial and femoral shaft fractures exacerbated the hypercoagulable state of COVID infection, resulting in increased thromboembolic and pulmonary complications.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Eleven Level I trauma centers.

PATIENTS

From January 1, 2020, to December 1, 2022, 163 patients with orthopaedic trauma and COVID positivity and 36 patients with tibial and femoral shaft fractures were included.

INTERVENTION

Reamed IMN.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence of postoperative thromboembolic and respiratory complications.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients with a median age of 52 years (range, 18-92 years; interquartile range, 29-72 years) met criteria. There were 21 and 15 patients with femoral and tibial shaft fractures. There were 15 patients sustaining polytrauma; of which, 10 had a new injury severity score of >17. All patients underwent reamed IMN in a median of 1 day (range, 0-12 days; interquartile range = 1-2 days) after injury. Two patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 3 pneumonia. No patients had pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, or died within 30 days.

CONCLUSION

In this multi-institutional review of COVID-positive patients undergoing reamed IMN, there were no thromboembolic events. All patients developing pulmonary complications (ARDS or pneumonia) had baseline chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were immune compromised, or sustained polytraumatic injuries with new injury severity score of >20. Given this, it seems reasonable to continue using reamed IMN for tibial and femoral shaft fractures after evaluation for COVID severity, comorbidities, and other injuries.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Plasmin drives burn-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Severe injuries, such as burns, provoke a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) that imposes pathology on all organs. Simultaneously, severe injury also elicits activation of the fibrinolytic protease plasmin. While the principal adverse outcome of plasmin activation in severe injury is compromised hemostasis, plasmin also possesses proinflammatory properties. We hypothesized that, following a severe injury, early activation of plasmin drives SIRS. Plasmin activation was measured and related to injury severity, SIRS, coagulopathy, and outcomes prospectively in burn patients who are not at risk of hemorrhage. Patients exhibited early, significant activation of plasmin that correlated with burn severity, cytokines, coagulopathy, and death. Burn with a concomitant, remote muscle injury was employed in mice to determine the role of plasmin in the cytokine storm and inflammatory cascades in injured tissue distant from the burn injury. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of plasmin reduced the burn-induced cytokine storm and inflammatory signaling in injured tissue. These findings demonstrate (a) that severe injury-induced plasmin activation is a key pathologic component of the SIRS-driven cytokine storm and SIRS-activated inflammatory cascades in tissues distant from the inciting injury and (b) that targeted inhibition of plasmin activation may be effective for limiting both hemorrhage and tissue-damaging inflammation following injury.

Can the cytokine adsorber CytoSorb® help to mitigate cytokine storm and reduce mortality in critically ill patients? A propensity score matching analysis

Background

A cytokine storm is life threatening for critically ill patients and is mainly caused by sepsis or severe trauma. In combination with supportive therapy, the cytokine adsorber Cytosorb^® (CS) is increasingly used for the treatment of cytokine storm. However, it is questionable whether its use is actually beneficial in these patients.

Methods

Patients with an interleukin-6 (IL-6) > 10,000 pg/ml were retrospectively included between October 2014 and May 2020 and were divided into two groups (group 1: CS therapy; group 2: no CS therapy). Inclusion criteria were a regularly measured IL-6 and, for patients allocated to group 1, CS therapy for at least 90 min. A propensity score (PS) matching analysis with significant baseline differences as predictors (Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, renal replacement therapy, IL-6, lactate and norepinephrine demand) was performed to compare both groups (adjustment tolerance: < 0.05; standardization tolerance: < 10%). U-test and Fisher’s-test were used for independent variables and the Wilcoxon test was used for dependent variables.

Results

In total, 143 patients were included in the initial evaluation (group 1: 38; group 2: 105). Nineteen comparable pairings could be formed (mean initial IL-6: 58,385 vs. 59,812 pg/ml; mean SAPS II: 77 vs. 75). There was a significant reduction in IL-6 in patients with (p < 0.001) and without CS treatment (p = 0.005). However, there was no significant difference (p = 0.708) in the median relative reduction in both groups (89% vs. 80%). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the relative change in C-reactive protein, lactate, or norepinephrine demand in either group and the in-hospital mortality was similar between groups (73.7%).

Conclusion

Our study showed no difference in IL-6 reduction, hemodynamic stabilization, or mortality in patients with Cytosorb^® treatment compared to a matched patient population.