甲胎蛋白阴性的肝细胞肝癌5例临床病理观察

[目的]探讨甲胎蛋白(AFP)阴性的肝细胞肝癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)的病理形态特点及鉴别诊断。[方法]观察和分析5例HCC的临床和病理组织学特点及免疫组和染色结果。[结果]5例中女2例,男3例,年龄50~69(中位年龄58.8)岁。临床表现病毒性肝炎、肝硬化及肝部占位并血清AFP检测值阴性。光镜下癌细胞密度增加,肝板细胞层数增多,排列呈条索状、小梁状、实性巢团状,小梁周围为扩张不规则的肝窦,癌细胞大小不一,异型性明显,细胞胞浆嗜酸核分裂像易见。免疫组化:5例AFP、CD10、CK7、CK20、GCDFP15、ER、PR、CK19、CDX-2、CEA均为阴性,CD34、VIllin均为阳性,Hep pax1 3例阳性、1例阴性、1例点灶阳性。[结论]APF阴性的HCC是少见病理类型,结合其临床症状、部位、组织病理特点和免疫组化标记可确定诊断。     

增强磁共振成像联合血清甲胎蛋白和脱-γ-羧基凝血酶原诊断肝细胞癌临床价值探讨

目的探讨钆塞酸二钠(Gd-EOB-DTPA)增强磁共振成像(MRI)联合血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)和脱-γ-羧基凝血酶原(PIVKA-Ⅱ)诊断肝细胞癌(HCC)的临床价值。方法 2015年12月～2017年9月收治的82例肝病患者,经组织病理学诊断HCC组56例,非HCC组26例。罗氏cobas~? e 601型全自动电化学发光免疫分析系统检测血清AFP,采用LUMIPULSE G1200全自动免疫分析仪酶化学发光法检测血清PIVKA-Ⅱ。全部患者接受MRI检查。采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)下面积(AUC)判断各检查诊断的灵敏度、特异度和正确率。结果 HCC患者血清AFP和PIVKA-Ⅱ水平分别为34.5(4.5,594.9) ng/ml和63.5(25.0,2082.0) Mau/ml,显著高于非HCC组[分别为3.4(2.2,11.6) ng/ml和23.0(18.8,28.0) Mau/ml,P0.01];血清AFP、PIVKA-Ⅱ和Gd-EOB-DTPA增强MRI检查单独诊断HCC的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.763、0.815和0.907;在单项诊断HCC时,血清AFP和PIVKA-Ⅱ的最佳临床诊断截断点分别为14.4ng/ml和40.5 Mau/ml,其诊断HCC的灵敏度、特异度和准确率分别为64.3%、84.6%、67.4%和62.5%、100.0%、74.4%,Gd-EOB-DTPA增强MRI单独诊断HCC的灵敏度、特异度和准确率分别为92.9%、88.5%、91.5%,以Gd-EOB-DTPA增强MRI诊断的效能最高;采用联合试验Ⅰ诊断HCC,其灵敏度为98.2%,特异度为61.5%,准确率为86.6%,采用联合试验Ⅱ诊断HCC的灵敏度为50.0%,特异度为100.0%,准确率为50.0%。联合试验提高了诊断的特异度,但降低了灵敏度。结论应用血清AFP和PIVKA-Ⅱ检测联合Gd-EOB-DTPA增强MRI检查可提高诊断HCC的效能,综合应用三者联合诊断可以提高诊断HCC的正确性。     

原发性肝细胞癌血清中miR-888-5p的表达及临床意义

背景miR-888-5p高表达于原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)组织及HCC细胞系,可促进肿瘤细胞侵袭及转移,与疾病分期及预后不良相关.然而HCC患者血清中miR-888-5p的表达水平尚未被检测,血清miR-888-5p对于HCC诊断及预后判断相关价值尚未被评估.目的检测HCC患者血清中miR-888-5p表达水平,探究其对HCC的诊断价值及与临床特征之间的关系.方法收集68例HCC患者、46例慢性乙型病毒性肝炎(chronic hepatitis B,CHB)患者、43例肝硬化(liver cirrhosis,LC)患者及40例同期健康体检者,实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,qRT-PCR)法检测血清中miR-888-5p表达量,受试者工作特征(receiver operating characteristic,ROC)曲线评估其诊断HCC的价值,并分析与HCC临床特征之间的关系.结果HCC患者血清中miR-888-5p表达量较CHB、LC及健康者显著上调(P<0.05).ROC曲线提示,联合检测ROC曲线下面积(area under curve,AUC)为0.907,敏感性91.18%,特异性72.50%)对HCC诊断价值优于分别检测血清miR-888-5p(AUC=0.737,敏感性79.41%,特异性62.50%)及甲胎蛋白(alpha-fetoprotein,AFP)(AUC=0.819,敏感性73.53%,特异性97.50%),且对AFP阴性HCC也具有较高的诊断价值:AUC=0.793,敏感性90.90%,特异性62.50%.此外,miR-888-5p表达水平与HCC肺转移相关(P=0.01).结论血清miR-888-5p对HCC及AFP阴性HCC具有较高诊断价值,与AFP联合检测诊断价值更高.miR-888-5p表达水平与HCC肺转移相关,有望成为HCC早期诊断及评估预后的新型血清学分子标志物.     

血清鞘脂用于乙肝相关甲胎蛋白阴性肝细胞癌的诊断价值研究

目的探讨乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)相关甲胎蛋白(AFP)阴性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)患者血清鞘脂表达谱改变及其诊断价值。方法采用高效液相色谱法与串联质谱法,对15例乙肝相关AFP阴性HCC患者和49例乙肝肝硬化患者的外周血清中61种鞘脂的表达水平进行检测,并对结果进行统计分析。结果 61种血清鞘脂中,有14种鞘脂在两组间差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。OPLSDA分析结果表明,Cer(d18∶1/8∶0)-1-P、Sphingosine(d17∶1)-1-P和Sphingosine(d18∶1)-1-P是区分乙肝相关AFP阴性HCC和乙肝肝硬化的潜在标志物,其在AFP阴性HCC患者中的表达水平分别为217.74pmol/0.1 ml、58.28 pmol/0.1 ml和62.99 pmol/0.1 ml,均显著高于乙肝肝硬化患者的表达水平(P0.05)。将三种鞘脂纳入Logistics回归分析,结果表明,Cer(d18∶1/8∶0)-1-P与乙肝相关AFP阴性HCC独立相关(OR=0.667,95%CI:0.481~0.923,P0.05),其预测诊断乙肝相关AFP阴性HCC的灵敏度为81.6%,特异度为86.7%。结论外周血清鞘脂Cer(d18∶1/8∶0)-1-P可能是乙肝相关AFP阴性HCC的潜在诊断标志物。     

AFP、h-TERT及VEGF基因在肝细胞癌患者外周血中的诊断价值

目的:探讨肝细胞癌(HCC)患者外周血中甲胎蛋白(AFP)、端粒酶逆转录酶(h-TERT)及血管内皮生长因子(VEGF) mRNA的表达及联合检测对诊断HCC的应用价值.方法:应用荧光定量PCR(FQ-PCR)对40例HCC、20例肝外良性疾病及10例正常体检人群的外周血AFP mRNA、h-TERT mRNA及VEGF mRNA的表达量进行检测.结果:3种指标在HCC患者中阳性率分别为77.5%、85%及72.5%,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).且AFP mRNA、VEGF mRNA的阳性表达与HCC患者血清AFP水平无关(P>0.05),h-TERT mRNA与患者血清AFP水平存有相关性(P=0.01);3种指标与HCC患者的TNM分期高度相关(P<0.01).AFP mRNA在诊断HCC特异性较高,而AFP mRNA和h-TERT mRNA联合检测效果更好(敏感度92.%,特异度80%).结论:3种指标对诊断HCC均能起到良好的参考作用,联合检测AFP mRNA及h-TERT mRNA能增加诊断HCC的敏感度及特异度.     

超声造影联合血清CA19-9鉴别诊断胆管细胞癌与肝细胞癌应用研究

目的 探讨肝内胆管细胞癌(ICC)与肝细胞癌(HCC)患者超声造影(CEUS)和血清糖类抗原19-9(CA19-9)水平变化特征。方法 经组织病理学检查诊断的ICC患者48例和HCC患者78例,进行CEUS检查,常规检测血清CA19-9。建立鉴别诊断ICC与HCC的多指标二元Logistic回归方程,探索其诊断ICC的价值。结果 45.8%ICC患者以肿瘤周围环状增强为主,显著高于HCC患者的2.6%(P<0.05);58.3%ICC患者造影剂显著廓清,而94.9% HCC呈弱或无廓清(P <0.05);ICC组廓清时间为(54.6±10.2)s,显著早于HCC组【(76.1±25.1)s,P <0.05】;72.9%ICC患者血清CA19-9升高,显著高于HCC组的19.2%(P<0.05);建立多指标联合的二元Logistic诊断模型方程为:Logit(P)=-4.030+2.640×增强模式+2.486×廓清时间+2.579×廓清程度+2.731×血清CA19-9 (U/ml),该模型识别ICC的AUC为0.943,其敏感度和特异度分别为79.2%和93.6%。结论 熟悉ICC与HCC的超声造影表现特征,结合血清CA19-9水平,可以帮助鉴别这两种肿瘤。     

血清甲胎蛋白和高尔基体糖蛋白73联合检测对肝细胞癌的早期诊断价值

目的探讨血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)和高尔基体糖蛋白73(GP73)联合检测对肝细胞癌(HCC)的诊断价值,为早期诊断和鉴别诊断HCC提供依据。方法收集2012年6月-2013年5月住院患者标本共408例,其中HCC患者142例(HCC组),慢性肝炎患者156例(慢性肝炎组),肝硬化患者110例(肝硬化组)。分别采用电化学发光法和酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)双抗体夹心法测定3组患者的血清AFP和GP73的浓度,检测结果组间比较采用方差分析,率的比较采用χ2检验。并使用MedCalc统计学软件计算2项指标联合检测对HCC诊断的敏感度和特异度。结果 HCC组血清AFP和GP73的浓度显著高于肝硬化组和慢性肝炎组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);肝硬化组血清AFP和GP73的浓度显著高于慢性肝炎组,其差异亦有统计学意义(P0.05)。二者联合检测肝细胞癌的敏感度为95.8%,特异度为98.6%,较单项检测差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论血清AFP和GP73联合检测对HCC具有较高的诊断价值和临床意义,可作为HCC早期的诊断和鉴别诊断指标,值得在临床上推广。     

血清甲胎蛋白联合维生素K缺乏或拮抗剂Ⅱ诱导蛋白在肝细胞癌病理诊断中的应用价值

目的评价血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)及维生素K缺乏或拮抗剂Ⅱ诱导蛋白(PIVKA-Ⅱ)在肝细胞癌(HCC)病理诊断中的价值。方法回顾性研究2016年5月-12月于北京佑安医院肿瘤微创介入中心行超声引导下肝穿刺活组织检查的肝恶性肿瘤患者134例,其中术后病理证实为HCC患者103例,非HCC患者31例,对其血清AFP和PIVKA-Ⅱ的检测结果进行统计分析。2组间比较采用两独立样本秩和检验(Mann Whitney U检验)。采用Spearman秩相关检验分析AFP及PIVKA-Ⅱ的相关性,采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)分析AFP及PIVKA-Ⅱ诊断HCC的效能,计算敏感度、特异度及ROC曲线下面积(AUC),AUC比较应用Z检验。结果 HCC组血清AFP和PIVKA-Ⅱ水平均明显高于非HCC组(P值均0.001);血清AFP诊断HCC的AUC为0.842,PIVKA-Ⅱ诊断HCC的AUC为0.863,二者联合诊断AUC为0.869,三者间差异均有统计学意义(P值均0.001)。血清AFP单独诊断HCC的敏感度为70.9%,特异度为90.3%;PIVKA-Ⅱ单独诊断HCC的敏感度为72.8%,特异度为77.4%。二者联合检测诊断HCC的敏感度为82.5%,特异度为77.4%。HCC患者血清AFP和PIVKA-Ⅱ表达存在相关性(r=0.207,P0.05)。结论在肝恶性肿瘤患者中,血清AFP及PIVKA-Ⅱ对HCC的鉴别诊断具有较高的临床价值。PIVKA-Ⅱ单项检测诊断HCC效能优于AFP,二者联合检测诊断HCC效能优于单项检测,血清AFP及PIVKA-Ⅱ检测能够为临床上拒绝行肝穿刺病理检查的肝肿瘤患者病理分型的初步推断提供依据,进而有益于后续规范治疗方案的选择及临床预后的评估。     

肝脏上皮样血管平滑肌脂肪瘤影像诊断与鉴别诊断

[目的]探讨肝脏上皮样血管平滑肌脂肪瘤(HEAML)的临床、CT及MR影像征象,以提高HEAML诊断准确性。[方法]回顾性分析9例经病理证实的HEAML临床及影像学征象。CT检查5例,MR检查4例。同时,收集30例经病理证实的肝细胞癌(HCC),分析2组患者临床及影像学表现,并行χ~2检验,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)的特征纳入logistic回归分析,采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)分析这些特征对鉴别HEAML与HCC的效能。结果9例HEAML中8例为女性、1例为男性,AFP均为阴性,病灶均为单发,平扫呈稍低密度或稍长T1稍长T2信号(8/9),增强扫描呈"快进快出"(6/9)表现,可见中心血管征(6/9)及静脉早显(5/9);统计结果显示:性别、AFP水平、中心血管征及静脉早显有统计学差异(P0.05);联合上述4项指标行回归分析,并采用ROC曲线评估其鉴别HEAML与HCC的效能,其AUC为0.969,敏感度和特异度分别是77.8%、100%,具有较高诊断价值。[结论]患者性别、AFP水平、中心血管征及静脉早显等临床、影像征象有助于HEAML与HCC的鉴别诊断。当患者为女性、AFP阴性、具有中心血管征和静脉早显时,提示HEAML可能性较大。     

高尔基体蛋白73在肝癌诊断中的意义

肝细胞癌(HCC)是我国常见的恶性肿瘤之一,其恶性程度高、进展快、预后差、侵袭性强,死亡率高,临床诊断时多属中晚期,及早诊断发现对提高患者存活率至关重要.甲胎蛋白(AFP)被认为是诊断HCC的重要指标,但其敏感性并不理想,30％～40％ HCC患者呈阴性或低浓度.高尔基体蛋白73( GP73)是一种新近发现的HCC相关蛋白,研究表明其是肝癌诊断和鉴别诊断中一种潜在的肿瘤标志物[1-2].本研究通过分析HCC患者血清GP73( GP73)和AFP水平,探讨它们在HCC诊断中的意义.     

Pathogenesis of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater

Most adenomas and carcinomas of the small intestine and extrahepatic bile ducts arise in the region of the papilla of Vater. In familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) it is the main location for carcinomas after proctocolectomy. In many cases symptoms due to stenosis lead to diagnosis at an early tumor stage. In about 80%, curative intended resection is possible. Operability is the most relevant prognostic factor. Most ampullary carcinomas resp. carcinomas of the papilla of Vater develop from adenomatous or flat dysplastic precursor lesions. They can be sited in the ampulloduodenal part of the papilla of Vater, which is lined by intestinal mucosa. They also can develop in deeper parts of the ampulla, which are lined by pancreaticobiliary duct mucosa. Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and pancreaticobiliary-type adenocarcinoma represent the main histological types of ampullary carcinoma. Furthermore, there exist unusual types and undifferentiated carcinomas. Many carcinomas of intestinal type express the immunohistochemical marker profile of intestinal mucosa (keratin 7?, keratin 20+, MUC2+). Carcinomas of pancreaticobiliary type usually show the immunohistochemical profile of pancreaticobiliary duct mucosa (keratin 7+, keratin 20?, MUC2?). Even poorly differentiated carcinomas, as well as unusual histological types, may conserve the marker profile of the mucosa they developed from. These findings underline the concept of histogenetically different carcinomas of the papilla of Vater which develop either from intestinal- or from pancreaticobiliary-type mucosa of the papilla of Vater. Molecular alterations in ampullary carcinomas are similar to those of colorectal as well as pancreatic carcinomas, although they appear at different frequencies. In future studies, molecular alterations in ampullary carcinomas should be correlated closely with the different histologic tumor types. Consequently, the histologic classification should reflect the histogenesis of ampullary tumors from the two different types of papillary mucosa.     

Demonstration of the mechanism of action of biguanides

Summary Palmitic acid oxidation in rat diaphragm homogenate is depressed by biguanide concentrations that are still incapable of inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation. Glucose oxidation is not directly effected by the same biguanide concentrations: however, the inhibitory effect of palmitic acid on glucose oxidation is partly removed by biguanides. Inhibition of fatty acid oxidation, which accounts for most of the metabolic effects caused by these drugs, can be regarded as the fundamental mechanism of action of biguanides. There is some evidence suggesting that these drugs might interact with carnitine, thus preventing long-chain fatty acids from being transported across the mitochondrial membrane to the site of oxidation. Traduzione a cura degli AA.     

胰岛素瘤的解剖分布特点分析

目的胰岛素瘤是最常见的胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤，因其临床表现多样，导致诊断困难。影像学诊断尤其是超声内镜(EUS)在胰岛素瘤的诊断中起着重要作用，拥有较高的敏感性和特异性。本研究拟通过明确胰岛素瘤的解剖分布特点，以期有助于提高影像学的诊断准确率和降低漏诊率，尤其是在教育和培训实践中对于EUS的学习者更具有指导价值。 方法回顾性分析解放军总医院第一医学中心病案资料数据库1993年1月至2019年11月经外科手术、病理确诊为胰岛素瘤的患者的临床资料，检索方法采取搜索术后病理诊断为"胰岛素瘤"的病例，通过查阅病例的方法，提取出胰岛素瘤的大小和解剖分布等数据，进一步分析其特点。 结果共检索到确诊为胰岛素瘤的患者116例，其中，男45例、女71例，年龄13～76岁，平均年龄(44.4±14.85)岁。胰岛素瘤单发110例(94.8%)、多发6例(5.2%)。位置分布：头颈部46例(39.7%)，单发45例、多发1例；体尾部68例(58.6%)，单发65例、多发3例；全胰腺多发2例(1.7%)。病变大小特点：最大径0.4～3.4 cm，平均大小(1.53±0.58)cm。≤1 cm 29例、>1 cm而≤1.5 cm41例、>1.5 cm而≤2.0 cm28例，≤3 cm 15例，>3 cm 3例。年龄与肿瘤的大小相关，≤44岁患者肿瘤平均大小为(1.36±0.51)cm、>44岁患者肿瘤平均大小为(1.70±0.60)cm，P<0.05。头颈部的肿瘤大于体尾部的肿瘤，头颈部肿瘤平均大小(1.66±0.63)cm，体尾部(1.42±0.52)cm，P<0.05。 结论胰岛素瘤在胰腺体尾部较头颈部更好发；绝大多数单发，但可以全胰腺多发；多数小于1.5 cm，肿瘤的大小与患者年龄和肿瘤的解剖分布相关。     

氯硝柳胺悬浮剂的毒性评价

目的评价氯硝柳胺悬浮剂的毒性，为现场大规模应用灭螺提供依据。方法按照中华人民共和国国家标准GB 15670-1995《农药登记毒理学试验方法》和鱼类毒性试验方法进行。结果经口、经皮肤的LDso雌、雄性大鼠均>5 000 mg/kg，经呼吸道的LCso雌、雄性大鼠均>5 000mg/m3，该药经口、经皮肤、经呼吸道毒性均属微毒类药物；兔眼用药后，观察期内无不良反应，对眼无刺激性；皮肤用药后对皮肤无刺激性。与氯硝柳胺原药、氯硝柳胺乙醇胺盐原药和氯硝柳胺乙醇胺盐可湿性粉剂相比，氯硝柳胺悬浮剂对鱼急性毒性最低。结论氯硝柳胺悬浮剂属微毒类药物，对鱼的毒性低于其乙醇胺盐可湿性粉剂，适合于现场应用。     

Lack of correlation of degree of villous atrophy with severity of clinical presentation of coeliac disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Both the clinical presentation and the degree of mucosal damage in coeliac disease vary greatly. In view of conflicting information as to whether the mode of presentation correlates with the degree of villous atrophy, we reviewed a large cohort of patients with coeliac disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We correlated mode of presentation (classical, diarrhoea predominant or atypical/silent) with histology of duodenal biopsies and examined their trends over time. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 499 adults, mean age 44.1 years, 68% females. The majority had silent coeliac disease (56%) and total villous atrophy (65%). There was no correlation of mode of presentation with the degree of villous atrophy (p=0.25). Sixty-eight percent of females and 58% of males had a severe villous atrophy (p=0.052). There was a significant trend over time for a greater proportion of patients presenting as atypical/silent coeliac disease and having partial villous atrophy, though the majority still had total villous atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Among our patients the degree of villous atrophy in duodenal biopsies did not correlate with the mode of presentation, indicating that factors other than the degree of villous atrophy must account for diarrhoea in coeliac disease.     

CagA-Hp抗体IgG与胃炎的组织学分析

研究幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染与胃炎的关系。方法对204例慢性胃炎患者胃粘膜进行观察分析,并测定其中137例Hp阳性患者血清CagA-Hp抗体IgG水平,与组织学对照。结果慢性萎缩性胃炎伴肠上皮化生患者血清CagA抗体IgG明显高于对照组(P＜0.01);其他类型胃炎患者血清CagA抗体IgG水平无明显增高(P＞0.05)。结论CagA-Hp可能是导致慢性萎缩性胃炎伴肠上皮化生的因素之一,对这类患者应密切随访观察。     

慢阻肺急性加重期患者预后的影响因素分析

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺病急性加重期(AECOPD)患者预后的相关危险因素。方法回顾性调查、收集58例AECOPD患者可能影响其预后的相关因素,并对其分别进行单因素分析。并进行Logistic多元逐步回归进行多因素分析,筛选影响AECOPD患者预后的独立危险因素。结果单因素分析后将结果 P0.1的因素纳入多因素Logistic回归,分析发现是否合并呼吸衰竭、气促程度、白细胞计数、APACHEⅡ、应用抗氧化剂、慢阻肺治疗依从性为影响AECOPD患者预后不佳的独立因素(P0.05)。结论根据AECOPD患者预后的独立危险因素,及早判断,选择合适的后续治疗方案,对提高其生存率及生存质量具有重要意义。     

血吸虫童虫生长发育及其机制的研究进展

血吸虫童虫是宿主免疫系统攻击的重要靶标,包括皮肤型、肺型和肝门型童虫。宿主分子对童虫生长发育具有重要作用。童虫生长发育机制包括免疫调节、信号转导、性别发育及凋亡等。肌动蛋白、组织蛋白酶、烯醇化酶和葡萄糖基转移酶等分子为血吸虫童虫生长发育的重要分子。本文对血吸虫童虫生长发育及其机制的研究进展做一综述。     

Results of treatment of fistula-in-ano

To evaluate the application of Parks' classification in the management of patients with fistula-in-ano, a study was undertaken to assess the outcome of surgery, especially with respect to the recurrence rate and alteration of continence. A retrospective analysis of 160 consecutive patients who were classified at the time of operation was conducted. The distribution of fistulas was as follows: intersphincteric, 41.9 percent, transsphincteric, 52.1 percent, suprasphincteric, 1.3 percent, extrasphincteric, 0. A horseshoe extension occurred in 8.8 percent of the fistulas and 3.8 percent did not exactly conform to the classification as they were either complex or combinations of more than one type of fistula. The sole immediate postoperative complication was bleeding, which occurred one week postoperatively and ceased spontaneously (0.7 percent). Alteration in continence occurred in 6 percent of patients with 2.6 percent experiencing temporary incontinence to flatus, 1.3 percent to liquid stool, and 0.7 percent to solid stool. Permanent loss of control for flatus occurred in one patient (0.7 percent) and for liquid stool in one patient (0.7 percent). No patients suffered loss of control for solid stool. Recurrence developed in 6.3 percent of patients, all between five and 25 months postoperatively. Classifcation was found to be a useful guide in the operative management of patients with fistula-in-ano. Read at the joint meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons with the Section of Colo-Proctology, Royal Society of Medicine, and the Section of Colonic and Rectal Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 6 to 11, 1984.     

Intake of energy drinks in association with alcoholic beverages in a cohort of students of the School of Medicine of the University of Messina

BACKGROUND: Energy drinks (ED) are a widely used group of beverages known for their stimulant effects on central nervous system (CNS). The main components of ED are caffeine, taurine, carbohydrates, glucuronolactone, inositol, niacin, pantenol, and beta-complex vitamins. The studies evaluating the effects of ED describe improvements in attention and/or reaction times and indices of alertness. It has been also shown that combination of caffeine and glucose, fundamental constituents of ED, can ameliorate deficits in cognitive performance and subjective fatigue during extended periods of cognitive demand. Moreover, the associated ingestion of alcohol and ED has recently been observed to be becoming more and more widespread. METHODS: With the aim to know the habits and uses of students, we administered a questionnaire containing questions regarding ED drinking alone or in association with alcoholic beverages. Five hundred students of the School of Medicine of the University of Messina were interviewed, and 450 filled the questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 56.9% of students declared using ED. A great part of users (48.4%) associate frequently ED and alcohol. In particular, 35.8% of ED + alcohol users have used ED + alcohol more than 3 times in the last month. Distinguishing the users into 2 groups (users of ED + alcohol and users of both ED and ED + alcohol), we observed in the second group a major use of cocktail containing a mix of ED and alcoholic beverages. This difference between the 2 groups is less represented about the ingestion of ED + alcohol in the night. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that association of ED + alcohol is very popular among students. This behavior can be dangerous. In fact, the combination of ED + alcoholic drinks can reduce adversive symptoms of alcohol intoxication including the depressant effects. As consequence, users of ED + alcoholic beverages might not feel the signs of alcohol intoxication, thus increasing the probability of accidents and/or favoring the possibility of development of alcohol dependence.