A man with osteoblastic metastasis and hypocalcaemia

We report a case of an 80-year-old man with osteoblastic metastases from advanced carcinoma of the prostate presenting with a grand mal seizure resulting from severe hypocalcaemia. He had low serum phosphate and ionised calcium levels, elevated serum skeletal alkaline phosphatase and intact parathormone levels. 99mTc radioisotope bone scan revealed a "super bone scan" suggestive of osteomalacia. The serum 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol level was unexpectedly elevated. The biochemical abnormalities persisted despite high dose calcium replacement, but improved with supraphysiological doses of 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 (Rocaltrol) therapy. We hypothesise that the hypocalcaemia in this patient was due to vitamin D resistance secondary to a humoral factor secreted by the tumour.     

Globotriaosyl Ceramide and Globoside as Major Glycolipid Components of Fibroblasts in Scirrhous Gastric Carcinoma Tissues

Scirrhous gastric cancer is characteristic in that cancer cells proliferate and invade with prominent fibrosis. To search for the expression of specific carbohydrate chains in scirrhous gastric cancer, we have examined the glycosphingolipid composition of scirrhous cancer tissues (n=10) in comparison with that of non-scirrhous cancer tissues (n=10) by means of two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, followed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of the individual glycolipids and immunostaining analysis. The major neutral glycosphingolipids from scirrhous gastric cancer tissues were identified as ceramide monohexoside, ceramide dihexoside, globotriaosyl ceramide (Gb₃) and globoside (Gb₄), while the major acidic glycosphingolipids were II³ Neu-Acα-LacCer, II³ NeuAcα₂-LacCer and sulfatide. Relative concentrations of Gb₃ and Gb₄ in scirrhous gastric cancer tissues (Gb₃+ Gb₄=58%) were two times higher than those in non-scirrhous gastric cancer tissues (29%). Orthotopic fibroblasts cloned from scirrhous gastric cancer tissues showed similar high concentrations of Gb₃ and Gb₄ to scirrhous gastric cancer tissues. Furthermore, immunohistochemical study revealed that Gb₃ and Gb₄ were expressed intensely on the fibroblasts. On the other hand, analysis of glycosphingolipids in four scirrhous gastric cancer cell lines yielded the following results. i) The contents of Gb₃ and Gb₄ were low (6%), compared with orthotopic fibroblasts (62%). ii) Significant amounts of Le^a (pentaglycosylceramide) and Le^b (hexa- and heptaglycosylceramides), which could not be detected in scirrhous cancer tissues, were observed. The results show that the major neutral glycosphingolipids such as Gb₃ and Gb₄ of scirrhous gastric cancer tissues were derived from orthotopic fibroblasts and not from the cancer cells.     

Serum vitamin D metabolite levels and the subsequent development of prostate cancer (Hawaii, United States)

Objectives: Because several serum studies of vitamin D metabolites have produced equivocal results on their relation to prostate cancer risk, the purpose of this study is to evaluate this association further.Methods: A nested case-control study in a cohort of 3,737 Japanese-American men examined from 1967 to 1970 was conducted in Hawaii (United States). At the time of examination, a single blood specimen was obtained, and the serum was frozen. After a surveillance period of over 23 years, 136 tissue-confirmed incident cases of prostate cancer were identified. Their stored sera and those of 136 matched controls were measured for the following: 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone.Results: There were no notable differences between cases and controls in their median serum levels of the five laboratory measurements. Odds ratios (OR) for prostate cancer, based on the quartiles of serum levels in controls, were also determined. The ORs for the highest quartiles relative to the lowest were 0.8 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.4-1.8) for 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1.0 (CI = 0.5-2.1) for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.Conclusion: It is possible that the lack of sufficient numbers of study subjects with low vitamin D levels affected the results. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that there is a lack of a strong association between vitamin D and prostate cancer.     

妊娠期接受MRI磁场照射对子代大鼠不同发育期MAPK的影响

【目的】　研究妊娠期接受磁共振 (magneticresonanceimaging ,MRI)复合磁场照射对子代大鼠不同发育期脑部丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 (mitogenactivatedproteinkinase ,MAPK) /细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶 (extracellularsignalregulatedproteinkinase ,ERK )表达的影响。 　【方法】　SD孕鼠妊娠第 12～ 18d给予 0 .3 5TMRI磁场照射 ,雌性子鼠1、2、5月龄时进行大脑切片免疫组化SP方法染色 ,并用图像分析仪进行半定量分析。　【结果】　MAPK/ERK免疫反应在大鼠脑切片上广泛表达 ;随着年龄增长 ,未发现其表达的变化 ;在各年龄段子鼠照射组和对照组间MAPK/ERK的免疫反应表达差异均无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。　【结论】　妊娠期MRI磁场照射后并未引起子代大鼠MAPK/ERK免疫反应表达的异常     

Biomechanical comparison for different configurations of tension band wiring techniques in treating an olecranon fracture

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the superiority between the newly designed modified AO tension band wiring technique and the traditional modified AO tension band wiring technique in treating an olecranon fracture. METHODS: Eight pairs of fresh cadaveric ulnae were tested biomechanically. After transverse osteotomy of the olecranon, all left ulnae were fixed by the traditional modified AO technique with two Kirschner wires inserted through the anterior ulnar cortex and all right ulnae by the new technique with two Kirschner wires inserted into the marrow cavity from the olecranon to the ulnar styloid process. All specimens were tested by the Material Testing System machine to evaluate fragment displacement and the maximal failure load. A dual linear variable displacement transducer was used to measure relative minimal displacement. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the techniques. The maximal failure load by either technique was more than 80 kg. Even at testing failure, no Kirschner wires migrated proximally. CONCLUSION: The new technique may be applied widely to treat all olecranon fractures, because it is a technically easier and safer technique. Less than 5.5-kg loads could be permitted in daily activity postoperatively. A single tolerable loading weight should not exceed 8 kg. Kirschner wires will not migrate proximally, despite increased joint loading. Clinically, this study may confirm indirectly the hypothesis that proximal migration of Kirschner wires was mainly due to triceps traction.     

Adenovirus-mediated genetic manipulation of the myocardial beta-adrenergic signaling system in transplanted hearts

OBJECTIVES: Ex vivo perfusion of the cardiac allograft during organ procurement is an ideal environment for adenoviral vectors with transgenes that target improving graft contractility. One such target is the beta-adrenergic receptor-signaling system, in which alterations in transgenic mice have elucidated novel means to improve the function of the heart in vivo. The purpose of the current study was to determine the functional consequences of beta-adrenergic receptor manipulation in a rabbit model of cardiac allograft transplantation. METHODS: New Zealand White rabbits weighing 3 kg served as recipients to 1-kg outbred donors. Donor hearts were arrested and harvested, and 1 of 3 adenoviral constructs was administered into the aortic root perfusing the graft. Transgenes delivered encoded either the human beta(2)-adrenergic receptor, a peptide inhibitor of beta-adrenergic receptor densensitization, or the marker transgene beta-galactosidase. RESULTS: Five days after cervical heterotopic transplantation, left ventricular performance was measured on a Langendorff apparatus. A moderate pattern of rejection was seen in all grafts. Biventricular myocyte expression of beta-galactosidase was observed, and beta(2)-adrenergic receptor density was elevated 10-fold in grafts that received adeno-beta(2)-adrenergic receptor. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance was significantly increased in grafts transfected with either adeno-beta(2)-adrenergic receptor or adeno-beta-adrenergic receptor densensitization compared with control grafts that received adeno-beta-galactosidase. CONCLUSIONS: Ex vivo adenovirus-mediated gene transfer is feasible in a rabbit allograft model and, more important, genetic manipulation of beta-adrenergic receptor signaling either by increasing beta(2)-adrenergic receptor density or blocking endogenous receptor desensitization improves graft function acutely in this allograft model.     

职业接尘及吸烟致呼吸系统疾病死亡危险度比较的队列研究

目的 比较接尘、吸烟对呼吸系统疾病死亡的影响.方法 在1989年至1992年广州建立职业健康监护档案的基础上对30岁以上、职业接触粉尘和无粉尘接触的80 987名工人进行前瞻性队列研究.结果 （1）队列平均年龄43.5岁,职业性粉尘接触率16.3%,吸烟率43.7%,饮酒率33.5%.（2）队列平均随访8年,35人失访,失访率0.04%,总死亡1 593人中,219人死于肺癌,90人死于非恶性肿瘤性呼吸系统疾病.（3）调整相关因素后,相对于不吸烟者,吸烟者肺癌死亡相对危险度（RR）为3.32,是粉尘接触者相对于无粉尘接触者肺癌死亡RR（1.53）的2.2倍.粉尘接触者非恶性肿瘤性呼吸系统疾病死亡RR为2.41,是吸烟者（1.89）的1.28倍.尤其是矽尘接触者,其非恶性肿瘤性呼吸系统疾病死亡RR为5.72,是吸烟者的3.03倍.既接触粉尘又吸烟,呼吸系统疾病死亡RR增加更明显.（4）男性吸烟者呼吸系统疾病死亡危险分别随日吸烟量、烟龄的增加而增加.结论 职业接触粉尘和吸烟均可引致超额的呼吸系统疾病死亡,两者存在协同作用.吸烟致肺癌死亡RR高于接尘,而致非恶性肿瘤性呼吸系统疾病死亡RR则低于接尘.吸烟与呼吸系统疾病死亡危险存在明显的剂量-效应关系.     

循证医学对现代儿科学的意义

桂永浩教授:循证医学(evidence based medicine, EBM)是20世纪后期迅速发展起来的一门新兴的交叉学科。他之所以引起西方现代医学的高度重视是因为EBM 提出:医务人员在对患者进行的诊治中必须基于当前可得到的最佳的临床证据,并结合医生个人的经验和来自患者的临床资料,在充分尊重患者的选择和意愿的基础上,使患     

Validation of a computer-based bronchoscopy simulator developed in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Conventional training in bronchoscopy may increase patient's discomfort and procedure-related morbidity. Computer-based bronchoscopy simulator (CBBS) permits the acquisition and evaluation of the necessary skills through a realistic bronchoscopic experience. This study was conducted to validate the use of a CBBS system developed in Taiwan as a learning and assessment tool. METHODS: Twenty novice bronchoscopists and 10 expert bronchoscopists were enrolled as subjects in this prospective study. The 20 novice bronchoscopists were randomized into two groups, which received conventional bronchoscopic training or CBBS training and then completed a satisfaction survey. Subsequently, the novices who received CBBS training underwent an observational performance trial and the results were compared with those of expert bronchoscopists. All 10 expert bronchoscopists completed a realism survey and observational trial after CBBS performance. RESULTS: The satisfaction survey showed that the CBBS training program significantly increased participants' satisfaction (p = 0.002) and interest in learning (p < 0.001). The realism survey by the 10 expert bronchoscopists indicated that CBBS provides a favorable degree of realism with regard to the mechanical and visual parameters examined. Analysis of the performance results showed that the following parameters were capable of differentiating the participants by level of expertise: total procedure time (p = 0.002), percentage of bronchial segments entered (p = 0.012), percentage of bronchial segments identified (p < 0.001), percentage of repeated bronchial segments entered (p = 0.004), percentage of pathologies identified (p < 0.001), number of times that the bronchoscope tip collided with airway walls (p = 0.013), and number of times oral instruction was needed (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: CBBS is a valid training method that increases interest in learning and provides a favorable degree of virtual realism. It can also distinguish various levels of competence at actual bronchoscopy and may have a useful role in the bronchoscopic training curriculum.