Differentielle Genexpression in Monozyten polytraumatisierter Patienten

Polytraumatisierte Patienten entwickeln eine systemische Entzündungsreaktion (systemic inflammatory response syndrome, SIRS), die entscheidend den klinischen Verlauf der Patienten determiniert. Zahlreiche Untersuchungen weisen dem Immunsystem dabei eine zentrale steuernde Funktion zu, wobei die initialen Triggermechanismen der traumabedingten Immunantwort bisher unbekannt ist. Obwohl den Monozyten dabei eine führende Rolle zugesprochen wird, sind die hierfür verantwortlichen intrazellulären Steuerungsmechanismen, insbesondere die Signaltransduktion, die Transkription sowie die Modulation der Translation von inflammatorisch wirksamen Proteinen bislang nur ansatzweise aufgeklärt. Ziele der vorliegenden Untersuchungen waren daher: i) zu überprüfen, ob es überhaupt spezifische, Trauma-responsive mRNA Expressionsmuster in Monozyten polytraumatisierter Patienten in der frühen posttraumatischen Phase gibt, ii) in einem zweiten Schritt zu untersuchen, ob es darüber hinaus Genexpressionsprofile gibt, die in Abhängigkeit von klinischen Parametern einer signifikant unterschiedlichen Expression unterliegen iii) und schließlich diese identifizierten Faktoren auf ihre biologisch funktionelle Rolle im Organismus zu untersuchen Mittels Affymetrix Oligonukleotid Microarray (22.000 Probe Sets, 14.500 Gene) wurde eine Genom-weite mRNA Expressionsanalyse in Monozyten polytraumatisierter Patienten in der unmittelbar posttraumatischen Phase (0h-72h) durchgeführt und in einem mehrstufigen biostatistischen Verfahren mit klinischen Einflussfaktoren korreliert. Zur Überprüfung der biologischen Funktion der identifizierter Genexpressionsprofile wurden biologisch-funktionelle Pathway Analysen mittels Ingenuity Pathway Systems durchgeführt. Um das erste Teilziel zu erreichen wurde eine unsupervised-Analyse anhand der ermittelten Microarray Daten durchgeführt. Zentrales Kriterium der unsupervised Analyse ist nun der Variationskoeffizient eines einzelnen Faktors/Gens. Somit lassen sich diejenigen genetischen Expressionsprofile identifizieren, die durch das gemeinsame klinische Ereignis „Trauma“ zu einer gemeinsamen Expressionsänderung angeregt wurden. Dabei fanden sich 318 Probe Sets (280 Gene) signifikant durch das klinische Ereignis „Trauma“ verändert. Somit lässt sich anhand der vorliegenden Studie die Fragestellung i) klar dahingehend beantworten, dass Trauma-sensitive Gene Zeichen der gleichsinnigen Aktivierung bzw. Deaktivierung zeigen können. Um die Teilfragestellung ii) zu beantworten, wurden die Patienten im Anschluss in klinisch relevante Gruppen unterteilt. Führende Zielparameter waren dabei zunächst die Quantifizierung der anatomischen Verletzungsschwere quantifiziert mittels Injury Severity Score (ISS). In den so gruppierten Datensätzen fanden sich interessanterweise 295 Probe Sets (273 Gene), hochsignifikant verschieden exprimiert in Patienten mit einem ISS > 40 im Vergleich zu weniger schwer verletzten Patienten (ISS 10 EKs/24h) berechnet. Dabei fanden sich 224 Probe Sets (205 Gene) differentiell exprimiert. Besonders interessant zeigten sich die Ergebnisse der supervised-Analyse nach Einteilung der Patienten anhand der Ausprägung eines Multiorganversagens. 660 Probe Sets (642 Gene) waren bei Patienten mit Anzeichen eines solchen (MOF Score ≥4 Punkte) hochsignifikant differentiell exprimiert im Vergleich zu Patienten ohne klinische Hinweise auf ein manifestes Multiorganversagen (MOF-Score < 4 Punkte). Schließlich konnten in einer weiteren supervised-Analyse 763 Probe Sets (696 Gene) identifiziert werden, deren Expression je nach dem, ob der Patient das Trauma überlebt hatte, oder im späteren posttraumatischen Verlauf verstorben war, erneut ein hochdifferentiell unterschiedliches Expressionsprofil aufweisen. Somit lässt sich Fragestellung ii) dahingehen beantworten, dass es tatsächlich spezifische Genxpressionsmuster gibt, die durch verschiedene klinische Situationen, wie z.B. die Verletzungsschwere, Massentransfusionen, die Entwicklung eines Multiorganversagens oder das endgültige klinische Outcome induziert werden können. Zur Beantwortung der Fragestellung iii) wurden Pathway Analysen durchgeführt. Dieses Instrumentarium fasst den derzeitigen Stand der wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse in einer groß-dimensionierten Software zusammen und zeigt die biologisch-funktionellen Beziehungen der einzelnen Faktoren auf. Dabei fanden sich für die klinische Entität der Verletzungsschwere vor allem Gene, die bei der oxydativen Phosphorylierung von Proteinen eine Rolle spielen, als differentiell exprimiert. Patienten, die einer massiven Bluttransfusion zugeführt werden mussten, zeigen eine signifikant andere Regulation des Ubiquitin-C Pathways als Patienten mit geringerem Transfusionsbedarf. Bei polytraumatisierten Patienten, die im Beobachtungszeitraum Anzeichen eines Multiorganversagens entwickelten, zeigte die Pathway Analyse Software eine unterschiedliche Regulation des Ephrin Rezeptor Pathways. Betrachtet man schließlich das Datenset der Outcome-klassifizierenden Gene, so fällt auf, dass Patienten mit positivem klinischen Outcome eine hochsignifikant andere Expression der PPAR-Signalkaskade aufweisen im Vergleich zu Patienten, die im späteren posttraumatischen Verlauf verstorben waren. Somit lässt sich Fragestellung iii) dahingehend beantworten, dass in der Tat einzelnen, biologisch relevanten, funktionellen Gruppen spezifische, klinische Ereignisse zugeordnet werden können. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt somit erstmals, dass es Trauma-responsive, hochspezifische mRNA Expressionsmuster und Signalkaskaden in Monozyten polytraumatisierter Patienten in der unmittelbaren posttraumatischen Phase gibt, die nicht nur mit dem Ausmaß des Traumas, sondern auch mit dem klinischen Verlauf des Patienten hochsignifikant korrelierbar sind

The Munich Shoulder Questionnaire (MSQ): development and validation of an effective patient-reported tool for outcome measurement and patient safety in shoulder surgery

Background Outcome measurement in shoulder surgery is essential to evaluate the patient safety and treatment efficiency. Currently this is jeopardized by the fact that most patient-reported self-assessment instruments are not comparable. Hence, the aim was to develop a reliable self-assessment questionnaire which allows an easy follow-up of patients. The questionnaire also allows the calculation of 3 well established scoring systems, i.e. the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score. The subjective and objective items of these three systems were condensed into a single 30-questions form and validated against the original questionnaires. Methods A representative collective of patients of our shoulder clinic was asked to fill in the newly designed self-assessment Munich Shoulder Questionnaire (MSQ). At the same time, the established questionnaires for self-assessment of CONSTANT, SPADI and DASH scores were handed out. The obtained results were compared by linear regression analysis. Results Fifty one patients completed all questionnaires. The correlation coefficients of the results were r = 0.91 for the SPADI, r = -0.93 for the DASH and r = 0.94 for the CMS scoring system, respectively. Conclusions We developed an instrument which allows a quantitative self-assessment of shoulder function. It provides compatible data sets for the three most popular shoulder function scoring systems by one single, short 30-item. This instrument can be used by shoulder surgeons to effectively monitor the outcome, safety and quality of their treatment and also compare the results to published data in the literature

Use of computed tomography and mechanical CPR in cardiac arrest to confirm pulmonary embolism: a case study

Precise therapeutic decision-making is vital in managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We present an interesting approach where suspected pulmonary embolism could be confirmed by early computed tomography in cardiac arrest. Chest compressions were performed automatically by mechanical devices also during the acquisition of computed tomography data and subsequent thrombolysis. Resume La precision des decisions relatives au traitement est d'importance > dans la prise en charge des arrets cardiaques extrahospitaliers. Sera presentee ici une intervention interessante, qui a permis de confirmer, par une tomodensitometrie (TDM) precoce, une embolie pulmonaire presumee chez une patiente en etat d'arret cardiaque. Les compressions thoraciques, realisees automatiquement par un appareil mecanique se sont poursuivies durant l'acquisition des donnees de la TDM et le traitement thrombolytique qui s'en est suivi

Is the intraosseous access route fast and efficacious compared to conventional central venous catheterization in adult patients under resuscitation in the emergency department?

Background For patients' safety reasons, current American Heart Association and European Resuscitation Council guidelines recommend intraosseous (IO) vascular access as an alternative in cases of emergency, if prompt venous catheterization is impossible. The purpose of this study was to compare the IO access as a bridging procedure versus central venous catheterization (CVC) for in-hospital adult emergency patients under resuscitation with impossible peripheral intravenous (IV) access. We hypothesised, that CVC is faster and more efficacious compared to IO access. Methods A prospective observational study comparing success rates and procedure times of IO access (EZ-IO, Vidacare Corporation) versus CVC in adult (≥18 years of age) patients under trauma and medical resuscitation admitted to our emergency department with impossible peripheral IV catheterization was conducted. Procedure time was defined from preparation and insertion of vascular access type until first drug or infusion solution administration. Success rate on first attempt and procedure time for each access route was evaluated and statistically tested. Results Ten consecutive adult patients under resuscitation, each receiving IO access and CVC, were analyzed. IO access was performed with 10 tibial or humeral insertions, CVC in 10 internal jugular or subclavian veins. The success rate on first attempt was 90% for IO insertion versus 60% for CVC. Mean procedure time was significantly lower for IO cannulation (2.3 min ± 0.8) compared to CVC (9.9 min ± 3.7) (p < 0.001). As for complications, failure of IO access was observed in one patient, while two or more attempts of CVC were necessary in four patients. No other relevant complications, like infection, bleeding or pneumothorax were observed. Conclusion Preliminary data demonstrate that IO access is a reliable bridging method to gain vascular access for in-hospital adult emergency patients under trauma or medical resuscitation with impossible peripheral IV access. Furthermore, IO cannulation requires significantly less time to enable administration of drugs or infusion solutions compared to CVC. Because CVC was slower and less efficacious, IO access may improve the safety of adult patients under resuscitation in the emergency department

Analysis of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac index in multiple injured patients: a prospective cohort study

Introduction Increased serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been identified for diagnosis and prognosis of impaired cardiac function in patients suffering from congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and sepsis. However, the prognostic value of BNP in multiple injured patients developing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) remains undetermined. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) in multiple injured patients and to correlate the results with invasively assessed cardiac output and clinical signs of MODS. Methods Twenty-six multiple injured patients presenting a New Injury Severity Score of greater than 16 points were included. The MODS score was calculated on admission as well as 24, 48, and 72 hours after injury. Patients were subdivided into groups: group A showed minor signs of organ dysfunction ( MODS score less than or equal to 4 points) and group B suffered from major organ dysfunction ( MODS score of greater than 4 points). Venous blood (5 mL) was collected after admission and 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after injury. NT-proBNP was determined using the Elecsys proBNP (R) assay. The hemodynamic monitoring of cardiac index (CI) was performed using transpulmonary thermodilution. Results Serum NT-proBNP levels were elevated in all 26 patients. At admission, the serum NT- proBNP values were 116 +/- 21 pg/mL in group A versus 209 +/- 93 pg/mL in group B. NT-proBNP was significantly lower at all subsequent time points in group A in comparison with group B (P < 0.001). In contrast, the CI in group A was significantly higher than in group B at all time points (P < 0.001). Concerning MODS score and CI at 24, 48, and 72 hours after injury, an inverse correlation was found (r = 0.664, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a correlation was found comparing MODS score and serum NT- proBNP levels (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001). Conclusions Serum NT-proBNP levels significantly correlate with clinical signs of MODS 24 hours after multiple injury. Furthermore, a distinct correlation of serum NT-proBNP and decreased CI was found. The data of this pilot study may indicate a potential value of NT-proBNP in the diagnosis of post-traumatic cardiac impairment. However, further studies are needed to elucidate this issue

Early Dynamics of Cerebrospinal CD14+ Monocytes and CD15+ Granulocytes in Patients after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Cohort Study

In traumatic brain injury (TBI) the analysis of neuroinflammatory mechanisms gained increasing interest. In this context certain immunocompetent cells might play an important role. Interestingly, in the actual literature there exist only a few studies focusing on the role of monocytes and granulocytes in TBI patients. In this regard it has recently reported that the choroid plexus represents an early, selective barrier for leukocytes after brain injury. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the very early dynamics of CD14+ monocytes and CD15+ granulocyte in CSF of patients following severe TBI with regard to the integrity of the BBB. Cytometric flow analysis was performed to analyze the CD14+ monocyte and CD15+ granulocyte population in CSF of TBI patients. The ratio of CSF and serum albumin as a measure for the BBB's integrity was assessed in parallel. CSF samples of patients receiving lumbar puncture for elective surgery were obtained as controls. Overall 15 patients following severe TBI were enrolled. 10 patients were examined as controls. In patients, the monocyte population as well as the granulocyte population was significantly increased within 72 hours after TBI. The BBB's integrity did not have a significant influence on the cell count in the CSF

Impaired Rho GTPase activation abrogates cell polarization and migration in macrophages with defective lipolysis

Infiltration of monocytes and macrophages into the site of inflammation is critical in the progression of inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Cell migration is dependent on the continuous organization of the actin cytoskeleton, which is regulated by members of the small Rho GTPase family (RhoA, Cdc42, Rac) that are also important for the regulation of signal transduction pathways. We have recently reported on reduced plaque formation in an atherosclerotic mouse model transplanted with bone marrow from adipose triglyceride lipase-deficient (Atgl−/−) mice. Here we provide evidence that defective lipolysis in macrophages lacking ATGL, the major enzyme responsible for triacylglycerol hydrolysis, favors an anti-inflammatory M2-like macrophage phenotype. Our data implicate an as yet unrecognized principle that insufficient lipolysis influences macrophage polarization and actin polymerization, resulting in impaired macrophage migration. Sustained phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase [due to inactivation of its phosphatase by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)] results in defective Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA activation and in increased and sustained activation of Rac2. Inhibition of ROS production restores the migratory capacity of Atgl−/− macrophages. Since monocyte and macrophage migration are a prerequisite for infiltrating the arterial wall, our results provide a molecular link between lipolysis and the development of atherosclerosis

The Munich Shoulder Questionnaire (MSQ): development and validation of an effective patient-reported tool for outcome measurement and patient safety in shoulder surgery

Abstract Background Outcome measurement in shoulder surgery is essential to evaluate the patient safety and treatment efficiency. Currently this is jeopardized by the fact that most patient-reported self-assessment instruments are not comparable. Hence, the aim was to develop a reliable self-assessment questionnaire which allows an easy follow-up of patients. The questionnaire also allows the calculation of 3 well established scoring systems, i.e. the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score. The subjective and objective items of these three systems were condensed into a single 30-questions form and validated against the original questionnaires. Methods A representative collective of patients of our shoulder clinic was asked to fill in the newly designed self-assessment Munich Shoulder Questionnaire (MSQ). At the same time, the established questionnaires for self-assessment of CONSTANT, SPADI and DASH scores were handed out. The obtained results were compared by linear regression analysis. Results Fifty one patients completed all questionnaires. The correlation coefficients of the results were r = 0.91 for the SPADI, r = -0.93 for the DASH and r = 0.94 for the CMS scoring system, respectively. Conclusions We developed an instrument which allows a quantitative self-assessment of shoulder function. It provides compatible data sets for the three most popular shoulder function scoring systems by one single, short 30-item. This instrument can be used by shoulder surgeons to effectively monitor the outcome, safety and quality of their treatment and also compare the results to published data in the literature.</p