读者文摘:他治好了自己的病(4)

A protein called vascular¹ endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, was spiking² at ten times its normal level.

一种叫做血管内皮生长因子的蛋白质的峰值是正常水平的10倍。

David had learned in medical school that VEGF controls blood vessel³ growth,

大卫在医学院学过血管内皮生长因子控制血管生长，

and he hypothesized that the blood moles⁴ that had shown up with every Castleman relapse were a direct result of that protein spike⁵, which signals the immune system to take action.

他假设每次卡斯特曼疾病复发时出现的血痣都是蛋白质激增的直接结果，这是免疫系统采取行动的信号。

He also knew that there was an immunosuppressant called sirolimus that was approved by the FDA to help fight the immune system when it activated⁶ against kidney transplants.

他还知道有一种名为西罗莫司的免疫抑制剂，已获美国食品药品管理局批准，可以帮助对抗因肾脏移植而激活的免疫系统。

After consulting with a National Institutes of Health expert, David asked his doctor to prescribe the drug.

在咨询了美国国立卫生研究院的专家后，大卫要求他的医生开这种药。

He picked it up in February 2014 at a pharmacy⁷ less than a mile from his home.

2014年2月，他在离家不到一英里的一家药店买到了这款药。

“A drug that could potentially save my life was hiding in plain sight,” he says. So far, it’s working.

他说：“一种有可能拯救我生命的药物就藏在眼前。”到目前为止，它还有效。

David has been in remission from Castleman for more than six years.

大卫的卡斯特曼病情已经缓解了六年多的时间。

He’s not the muscular football player he once was, but he’s close to full strength.

他不再是以前那种肌肉发达的足球运动员了，但已经接近全力了。

He is now an assistant medical professor at the University of Pennsylvania,

他现在是宾夕法尼亚大学的助理医学教授，

running a research lab and enrolling⁸ patients in a clinical trial for the drug that has given him his life back.

他开办了一个研究实验室，让病人参与药物的临床试验，正是这种药物让他找回了生活。

In 2018, he and Caitlin became parents when their daughter, Amelia, was born.

2018年，他和凯特琳的女儿阿米莉亚出生，他们成为了父母。

“She’s such a little miracle,” Caitlin says.

“她真是个小奇迹，”凯特琳说。

“We’re so lucky to have her.” David hopes his story offers lessons far beyond medicine about what people can do when they’re backed against a wall.

“我们很幸运能拥有她。大卫希望他的故事能给人们提供远远超出医学范畴的教训，告诉他们在绝境中可以做些什么。

And he feels his suffering means something when he looks in the eyes of his patients with Castleman disease.

当他看着他的卡斯特曼病患者的眼睛时，他觉得自己的痛苦意味着什么。

One girl, named Katie, was diagnosed at age two and endured 14 hospitalizations.

其中一个名叫凯蒂的女孩在两岁时被确诊，并住院14次。

Then her doctor prescribed David’s drug after the family reached out to the CDCN.

在家人联系卡斯托曼病协作网络之后，她的医生给大卫开了药。

Katie hasn’t been hospitalized since and just finished kindergarten.

凯蒂从那以后就没有住过院，现在刚从幼儿园毕业。

She has even learned how to ride a bike.

她甚至学会了骑自行车。

1 vascular   

adj.血管的，脉管的

参考例句：

• The mechanism of this anomalous vascular response is unknown.此种不规则的血管反应的机制尚不清楚。
• The vascular changes interfere with diffusion of nutrients from plasma into adjacent perivascular tissue and cells.这些血管变化干扰了营养物质从血浆中向血管周围邻接的组织和细胞扩散。

2 spiking   

n.尖峰形成v.加烈酒于( spike的现在分词 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划

参考例句：

• High spiking fever with chills is suggestive of a complicating pylephlebitis. 伴有寒战的高热，暗示合并门静脉炎。 来自辞典例句
• We could be spiking our own guns. 我们可能要遭到失败。 来自辞典例句

3 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

4 moles   

防波堤( mole的名词复数 )； 鼹鼠； 痣； 间谍

参考例句：

• Unsightly moles can be removed surgically. 不雅观的痣可以手术去除。
• Two moles of epoxy react with one mole of A-1100. 两个克分子环氧与一个克分子A－1100反应。

5 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

6 activated   

adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

7 pharmacy   

n.药房，药剂学，制药业，配药业，一批备用药品

参考例句：

• She works at the pharmacy.她在药房工作。
• Modern pharmacy has solved the problem of sleeplessness.现代制药学已经解决了失眠问题。

8 enrolling   

v.招收( enrol的现在分词 )；吸收；入学；加入；[亦作enrol]( enroll的现在分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They lashed out at the university enrolling system. 他们猛烈抨击大学的招生制度。 来自辞典例句
• You're enrolling in a country club, Billy. 你是注册加入乡村俱乐部了，比利。 来自辞典例句