Neue Entwicklungen in der systemischen Psoriasistherapie

The current standard systemic therapeutic modalities for psoriasis have many potential side effects. Progress made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis as a T‐cell‐mediated dermatosis provide options for new more precise therapeutic approaches. These immunological therapeutic strategies involve the inhibition/depletion of activated T‐lymphocytes, the inhibition of antigen presentation and thus the regulation of T‐cell activation, the inhibition of adhesion of inflammatory cells, the inhibition of effects of proinflammatory mediators and the administration of antiinflammatory cytokines. This article summarizes these new systemic therapeutic approaches. Clinical results in the early studies have been mixed. In the next years further results of phase II‐ and phase III‐studies may be expected, which should allow better assessment of the potential of those particular approaches. Some of these approaches could lead to the approval of new drugs to treat psoriasis and to enhance or replace already existing therapeutic options. Furthermore results of therapeutic experiments should contribute to a better understanding of the disease. As we learn which mechanisms are more or less important for the disease, we will be better able to plan intervention strategies.     

Body fat in identical twins reared apart: Roles for genes and environment

We report analyses of data on body fat from a cohort of 34 separated monozygotic twin pairs (MZA) and a matched sample of 38 pairs of monozygotic twins reared together (MZT) originally studied by James Shields. The correlation for MZA pairs was. 61 and the correlation for MZT pairs was. 75. These correlations did not differ significantly, nor did correlations differ between MZA pairs subclassified as having been raised in relatively more or less similar environments. Our results suggest important roles for both genes and environment in the accumulation of body fat and support other adoption studies in suggesting that adult environments rather than rearing environments are the most important nongenetic determinants of levels of body fat in adults.Supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH43409 to R.A.P. and a Grant in Aid from the Dight Institute of Human Genetics to I.I.G.     

Ampullary carcinoma: Demonstration by current MR techniques

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the appearance of ampullary carcinoma using current MR techniques, including fat suppression, gadolinium enhancement, and MR cholangiography. Nine patients with ampullary carcinoma were examined by MRI at 1.5 T. MR examinations included T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo, T1-weighted fat-suppressed, and immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images for all patients and MR cholangiography for three patients. The imaging features of ampullary carcinomas, including tumor size and morphology, signal intensity, and enhancement characteristics, were determined. Ampullary carcinomas shown on MR images ranged in size from 1.5 to 5.5 cm. Tumors were low in signal intensity on precontrast T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo and T1-weighted fat-suppressed images relative to normal pancreatic tissue and enhanced less than normal pancreas on immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images. Tumor conspicuity was greatest on immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images. MR cholangiography demonstrated high grade obstruction of the common bile duct and mild dilatation of the pancreatic duct at the level of the ampulla with abrupt termination of the ducts in two untreated patients and moderate dilatation of the common bile duct in one patient who had a biliary stent. Ampullary carcinomas can be demonstrated on MR images as small masses arising at the ampulla. Tumors are well defined on immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images.     

Infantile hypopituitarism: etiological variability evidenced by MRI

In this study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to document potentially present morphostructural abnormalities of the hypothalamopituitary region in seven infants (age 0–21 months) who presented very early in life with clinical and biochemical evidence of hypopituitarism. Four infants had associated congenital cerebro-facial malformations.The following anatomical abnormalities were identified in variable combinations: ectopic neurohypophysis absence of the pituitary stalk, extreme elongation of the pituitary stalk, aplasia of the anterior pituitary lobe and no identification of the hypothalamopituitary complex.MRI proved to be very sensitive in the identification of structural malformations of the hypothalamopituitary region in infants with or without cerebro-facial malformations. AllhwuLll the magnetic resonance image does not appear to be a good predictor of endocrine dysfunction, it provides us more insight into the precise aetiology of this disorder and may be therefore of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic importance.     

Use of superparamagnetic contrast media to suppress signal from flowing spins: Preliminary experience

The authors describe their preliminary experience with the use of superparamagnetic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast media for suppression of signal from flowing blood. The goal of this work was to determine if a superparamagnetic contrast agent could successfully eliminate blood signal during cardiac-gated MR imaging, thereby eliminating or reducing flow artifacts associated with the complex and variable hemodynamics within the heart chambers. Imaging and data analysis were performed in 17 dogs subjected to experimental myocardial infarction as part of a parallel project. Six doses (0.2, 1, 2, 3.5, 4, 5, and 10 mg/kg) of AMI-25, an experimental contrast agent, were used in the study. Spin-echo imaging was performed immediately before and every 5 minutes (for an average of 25 minutes) after bolus injection of the contrast agent. Variations in the image signal-to-noise ratio relative to a baseline (before injection of contrast agent) image were assessed as a function of dose and time. Preliminary results suggest that a considerable reduction in blood flow artifacts and, hence, increases in image signal-tonoise ratio can be achieved at doses greater than or equal to 3.5 mg/kg, for approximately 20 minutes after injection. Doses equal to or less than 2 mg/kg and images obtained more than 20 minutes after injection (regardless of dose) did not reliably show hemodynamic artifact suppression.     

Effect of different questionnaire formats on reporting of occupational exposures

During an exposure monitoring study, 78 saw maintenance tradesmen were randomly assigned to be interviewed about their exposures using one of two questionnaire formats: open-ended and partly prompted questions about five categories of materials; and detailed prompting about 75 agents. The more open-ended questionnaire elicited fewer exposure responses overall, but more responses about agents not included on the detailed questionnaire. Composite materials and trade name products were more frequently cited as exposures than individual metals or compounds. Validity of responses was ascertained using air measurements (individual metals) or observations of the employees (composite materials). Sums of sensitivities and specificities were very low (near 1.0) for most of the metals for both types of questionnaire. For composite materials, validity improved substantially. Sensitivities with the partly prompted format (0.44–0.85) were always lower than with detailed prompting (0.80–1.00). Specificities were usually, but not always, higher with partial prompting (0.66–0.92) than with detailed prompting (0.18–0.86). Selection of questionnaire format for an epidemiologic study would depend on the likely prevalence of exposure in controls and the effects of trade-offs in sensitivity and specificity.     

肝癌及癌旁组织中P~(53)基因第七外显子转录水平的表达差异及临床意义

目的 :研究启东区肝癌中 P53基因第七外显子转录水平的表达及其与患者临床病理特征间的关系。方法 :通过 RT- PCR确定 P53基因第七外显子在 47对肝癌标本中的表达 ,并分析其与肝癌患者临床病理特征间的关系。结果 :P53基因第七外显子在肝癌及其癌旁组织中均显示差异表达 ,其中 1 7例为上调表达 ,30例为下调表达 ,上下调表达之间差异显著 ;女性、年龄≥ 45岁、AFP( + )、HBs Ag( + )、癌栓 ( + )、肝硬化、病理 Edmondson's 级的病例中 P53基因第七外显子均呈显著下调表达 ;Edmondson's I级病例肝癌组织中 P53基因的 EI显著高于 Edmondson's 级病例。结论 :启东肝癌中 P53基因第七外显子转录水平上存在表达差异 ,且其异常表达与肝癌的临床病理特征有关     

脂Ⅰ方治疗非酒精性脂肪肝合并高尿酸血症临床观察

目的:观察脂Ⅰ方治疗非酒精性脂肪性肝病(nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD)合并高尿酸血症(hyperuricemia,HUA)的临床疗效.方法:将46例NAFLD合并HUA的患者随机分为两组,治疗组25例,予以中药脂Ⅰ方(由白术、茯苓、桑寄生、巴戟天、象贝母、粉萆薜等组成),水煎服;对照组21例,予以口服血脂康胶囊.每8周为1个疗程,连续观察2个疗程.结果:治疗组的总有效率为80.00%,优于对照组的71.43%(P＜0.01);治疗组患者B超影像改善,并在临床症状改善方面优于对照组(P＜0.05);治疗组患者血清尿酸明显降低(P＜0.01),两组差别有显著性(P＜0.01);两组治疗对丙氨酸氨基转移酶、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶、总胆固醇、甘油三酯的复常都有明显效果,但组间无显著性差异(P＞0.05).结论:脂Ⅰ方对NAFLD合并HUA有较好疗效.     

两种靶控方法输注异丙酚和瑞芬太尼的安全性和有效性比较

目的 比较靶控血浆浓度和效应室浓度输注异丙酚和瑞芬太尼的安全性及有效性。方法 选择44例腹腔镜胆囊切除的病人,年龄18～65岁,ASA Ⅰ～Ⅱ级,随机分为靶控血浆浓度组(P组)和效应室浓度组(E组)。设定异丙酚和瑞芬太尼的靶浓度分别为4 μg/ml和2 ng/ml。观察给药后意识消失时间、血液动力学变化以及听觉诱发电位指数(AAIs)的变化。术中调整两药靶浓度保持AAIS低于20。记录术毕停药后自主呼吸恢复和睁眼时间和AAIs的恢复。结果 E组意识消失的时间[(0.45±0.10)min]明显短于P组;此时两药的用量也明显高于P组。两组均能引起明显的低血压,但降低程度相似,且均未见严重的心血管副作用。AAIs在意识消失时P组为41±22;E组49±16:但插管时均在20以下。术中血液动力学保持较低水平(P<0.01)。两组的插管评分、麻醉质量评分相似。术后自主呼吸恢复时间和睁眼时间两组均无统计学差异。Aldrate评分及手术结束时疼痛评分差异均无显著性。结论靶控血浆和效应室浓度输注均可达到满意的麻醉效果,但靶控效应室诱导时间更短,且无明显心血管副作用。