Before-birth climatologic data may play a role in the development of allergies in infants

While an exacerbation in allergic symptoms corresponding to seasons has long been reported, few studies have investigated the association between the season of birth and allergic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the climatologic data before and after birth affected the incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and the results of allergy-related blood tests in early infancy. From February 1995 to January 2000, 2136 infants were tested for AD and followed for 12 months. AD patients were tested by using allergy-related blood tests. Data were compared according to the month of birth and the climatologic data using a computed statistical software package. Six hundred and thirty infants had AD before 12 months old, and significant differences were found according to the season of birth (p < 0.0001). Infants born in spring showed the lowest (22.3%) incidence, while those born in autumn showed the highest (34.6%). In 369 patients, total serum IgE levels, and serum specific IgE levels with egg white at 3 months old were also different according to the season of birth. All of these levels were lower in patients born in spring and summer, and higher in patients born in autumn and winter. Furthermore, the cumulative sunshine amount during the 3 months before and after birth was inversely correlated, while the average temperature over the 3 months before birth was positively correlated to the incidence of AD according to the month of birth. The climatologic data around birth may play an important role in whether an infant develops allergies.     

Spectral characteristics of early receptor potential in congenital red-green color blindness

The spectral response curve (amplitude versus wavelength) of the R₂ of the early receptor potential (ERP) was studied in normal, protan, and deutan subjects. The R₂ amplitude peaked at 520nm in most normal subjects. The R₂ at long wavelengths was smaller than normal in protans and larger than normal in deutans when the maximum amplitudes were normalized to 100% at the peak. The ratio of the R₂ amplitude at 460 nm to that at 600 nm clearly differed between protans and deutans. The ERP and the rapid off-response, which is mainly due to the cessation of the late receptor potential, were recorded in the same subjects. The ratio of the sensitivity of the rapid off-response at 500 nm to that at 600 nm was correlated with the ratio of the R₂ amplitude at 460 nm to that at 600nm (correlation coefficient, 0.823, p < 0.001). This study, in conjunction with our previous study, indicates that the abnormality is in the outer segments of the cones in protans and deutans.     

A suggested clinical score to predict the severity of adenoid obstruction in children

Chronic nasal obstruction in children is a very common disorder. Obstructing adenoid is usually the first to blame. Though the clinical assessment is essential, it is often considered unreliable or insufficient. We conducted a prospective clinical study to validate a clinical score predicting the severity of adenoid obstruction in symptomatic children. The clinical score (CS) included mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, frequent waking-up at night and obstructive breathing during sleep. Each item received a score of 0 or 1. The palatal airway was evaluated on a lateral nasopharyngeal x-ray. The degree of obstruction was assessed intra-operatively by a laryngeal mirror using a 3-grade scale. The volume of each adenoid specimen was measured. Eighty-six patients were enrolled, 51 boys and 35 girls, aged 13–181 months (mean 52, median 45). The CS correlated very well with the intra-operative findings (p < 0.01) and with the degree of palatal airway obstruction (p < 0.05) but not with the volume of the adenoid removed (p > 0.05). The CS was higher in children younger than 3 years (CS > 3 in 85.7% vs. 29.2%), having more frequent obstructive breathing during sleep (71.43% vs. 21.54%). A CS of three or higher, predicted severe obstruction in 96.5% of patients, as detected intra-operatively. The suggested CS is simple to use and is highly reliable in identifying children in need for adenoidectomy, in the context of normal anterior rhinoscopy and tonsils less than grade three.This work was presented at the podium of the XVIII IFOS in Rome, Italy on June 26, 2005.     

SUCCESSFUL ENDOSCOPIC CLOSURES OF COLONIC PERFORATIONS REQUIRING ABDOMINAL DECOMPRESSION AFTER ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION AND ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION FOR EARLY COLON CANCER

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for colorectal cancer is not widely accepted because of its technical difficulty and the risk of perforation. In addition, the risk of peritonitis cannot be completely eliminated even if a perforation is closed successfully. Reported here are two cases of early colon cancer in which the patients sustained iatrogenic perforations of the ascending colon during conventional endoscopic mucosal resection and of the sigmoid colon during ESD, respectively, requiring abdominal decompression with an 18 G Medicut needle. Both of these perforations were successfully treated by endoscopic clipping. In conclusion, conservative medical management may be possible in patients who have undergone successful closure of colonic perforations using endoscopic clipping. In order to perform immediate endoscopic closure, abdominal decompression has been useful to decrease patient discomfort and colonic lumen collapse. Now, CO₂ insufflation is being used effectively for the prevention of pneumoperitoneum.     

New sonographic techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Ultrasound (US) contrast agents such as Levovist and Sonazoid are now commercially available in Japan. Innovative contrast agents and ultrasound technologies have dramatically changed both diagnostic and treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Contrast-enhanced US is extremely useful in the differential diagnosis of hepatic tumors as well as in evaluation of post-treatment response of HCC after lipiodol transarterial chemoembolization and radio frequency ablation. Harmonic US sensitively detects residual cancer cells in HCC patients after treatment, to facilitate accurate guidance for needle insertion for US monitoring; no other imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have such capability. In 2005, the breakthrough technology of pure arterial phase imaging, which depicts only intranodular arterial accumulated maximum intensity projection images, was developed from advanced raw data storing and accumulation technologies. This technique can clearly identify whether blood supplyin the tumor is of arterial or portal origin, to facilitate the non-invasive characterization of nodular lesions associated with liver cirrhosis. Again, CT or MRI do not have such capabilities. This innovative technique can help differentiate premalignant lesions from overt HCC. Concurrent real-time imaging of multi-detector CT and US, known as real-time virtual sonography, has recently become available. This technique greatly facilitates the treatment guidance for HCC. These newly introduced sonographic techniques are dramatically changing the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HCC, which are expected to improve the prognosis of HCC patients.     

下颈椎骨折脱位伴关节突交锁的治疗策略选择

[目的]探讨并评估在下颈椎骨折脱位伴关节突交锁时安全、简便和有效的治疗策略。[方法]对16例创伤性下颈椎骨折脱位伴关节突交锁的患者于清醒状态及X线透视机监视下先行早期持续闭合颅骨牵引复位。所有患者在治疗前均行X线片和MRI/CT检查及ASIA神经功能评级。持续闭合牵引复位时行动态ASIA神经功能评级及X线透视机监视。损伤至开始牵引复位的间隔平均为31 h(6~52 h)。复位成功后维持颅骨牵引并择期行颈前路或颈前后路联合手术。9例患者于复位成功后再次行MR I扫描。[结果]治疗前MRI显示分别有8例和5例患者存在脱位节段的椎间盘突出和损坏;ASIA神经功能评级分别为:C级7例,D级5例,E级4例。16例患者均闭合复位成功且无一例出现神经功能恶化。复位成功后再次MRI扫描显示:6例脱位节段的椎间盘突出中有2例接近自动回纳,4例仍维持原样;3例脱位节段的椎间盘损坏中有2例维持原样,另1例转变为椎间盘突出。平均牵引重量为19 kg(10~32kg),平均牵引时间为53 min(30~135 min)。[结论]当患者处于清醒及检体合作的状态下通过动态神经功能评级及X线透视机监视,对下颈椎骨折脱位伴关节突交锁行早期持续闭合颅骨牵引复位,择期根据全身及局部状况行颈前路或颈前后路联合手术是一种安全、简便和有效的治疗策略。     

外伤性胸椎间盘突出症的早期诊断与手术治疗

[目的]探讨外伤性胸椎间盘突出症的临床表现、早期诊断及手术治疗效果。[方法]2000年6月-2005年6月共收治外伤性胸椎间盘突出症患者11例，其中男8例，女3例，年龄15-38岁，平均23．96岁。诊断时间距外伤时间最短的为2d，最长的8个月，平均4．1个月。早期明确诊断后行经关节突入路胸椎间盘摘除术。[结果]11例患者获得1、1-3．8年术后随访，平均随访2．6年。根据Otani’s等分级方法进行疗效评价：优7例，良3例，可1例，差0例，失败0例。手术优良率为90．91％。[结论]外伤性胸椎间盘突出较少见，无典型临床表现，本症的早期诊断及早期手术治疗是远期优良疗效的保证。