Endophthalmitis at the Bristol Eye Hospital: an 11-year review of 47 patients

We reviewed data from 47 patients who were treated for endophthalmitis at our hospital during the 11-year period 1980-90. The most common clinical features were hypopyon (75%), diminished vision (72%), ocular pain (68%), discharge (57%), corneal oedema (51%), conjunctival injection (49%), abnormal red reflex (34%), corneal ulcer (32%) and corneal perforation (6%). A total of 54 isolates were obtained from 41 (87%) of the 47 patients. Gram-positive bacteria were more common (72%), than Gram-negative organisms (22%). Two cases were due to fungi, and herpes simplex virus was isolated from one case. The two most common Gram-positive organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (25%), and Staphylococcus aureus (11%), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa predominated among the Gram-negative bacteria isolated (15%). Mixed bacterial species were obtained from 29% of the infected patients, including one from whom Vibrio fluvialis was isolated. Predisposing factors included ocular surgery (60%)--mostly for cataract extraction (47%), penetrating trauma (15%) and periocular (15%) or systemic (11%) infections. All patients received antibiotics (generally chloramphenicol and/or a beta-lactamase-stable penicillin plus an aminoglycoside) prior to culture, when treatment was adjusted according to specific aetiological agents. Seventy-nine per cent of patients received topical or systemic steroids. Vitrectomy (diagnostic and therapeutic) was performed on 21% of patients. Sixty-three per cent of culture-positive patients lost vision (no perception of light) in the affected eye, compared to 17% of culture-negative cases (P < 0.05 Fisher exact test). Similarly, a better visual outcome (acuity of 6/12 or better) was associated with coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection than with streptococcal or fungal infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Integrinα4在骨肉瘤中的表达与意义

Objective： To investigate the expression of integrin α4 in osteosaxcoma and significance. Methods- Forty-six patients with osteosarcoma （Enneking Ⅰ-Ⅲ） were analyzed for the expression of α4 integrin subunit using immunohistochemical method. Results： Twenty-nine （63.04%） of 46 samples demonstrated positive （＋-＋＋） integrin α4 expression. Loss expression of integrin α4 was observed in the patients with advanced Enneking stage （P=0.0040） and with metastatic disease at presentation （P=0.0158）. Integrin α4 expression correlated with cell differentiation, the level of malignancy and the invasive behavior of osteosaxcoma. Conclusion： The loss expression of integrin α4 subunit might be a predictor indicating the invasive potential of osteosarcoma and play a role in metastasis of osteosaxcoma patients.     

健康相关生命质量评价研究与应用现状

健康相关生命质量(HRQOL)是近年来发展起来的一种全新的医学概念,在国外已得到广泛的应用。着重介绍了健康相关生命质量的概况、研究与应用进展,阐述了健康相关生命质量的研究背景,以及新近发展的有关健康相关生命质量的观点和测评工具。对健康相关生命质量评价研究的前景和启示作了相关探讨。     

Bronchial response to breathing dry gas at 3.7 MPa ambient pressure

In diving, pulmonary mechanical function is limited by the increased density of the gas breathed. Breathing cold and dry gas may cause an additional increase in airways resistance. We have measured forced vital capacity, forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and forced midexpiratory flow rate (FEF_25%–75%) before and after breathing dry or humid gas at 29–32°C during a standardized exercise intensity on a cycle ergometer at an ambient pressure of 3.7 MPa. The atmosphere was a helium and oxygen mixture with a density of 6.8 kg · m^–3. Six professional saturation divers aged 26–37 years participated in the study. There were no significant differences in convective respiratory heat loss between the exposures. The mean evaporative heat loss was 67 W (range 59–89) breathing dry gas and 37 W (range 32–43) breathing humid gas, corresponding to water losses of 1.7 g · min^–1 (range 1.5–2.2) and 0.9 g · min^–1 (range 0.8–1.1), respectively. There was a significant reduction in FEV₁ of 4.6 (SD 3.6)% (P<0.05), and in FEF_25%–75% of 5.8 (SD 4.7)% (P<0.05) after breathing dry gas. There were no changes after breathing humid gas. By warming and humidifying the gas breathed in deep saturation diving bronchoconstriction may be prevented.     

改良式固定型马里兰桥修复老年前牙缺失的临床效果观察

目的 探讨运用改良式固定型马里兰桥修复老年患者前牙缺失的可行性,并对修复的方法设计、修复体制作过程及适应证进行总结.方法 选择个别前牙缺失,存在不同程度邻牙松动、牙龈萎缩、牙根暴露等体征的老年患者24例,运用改良式固定型马里兰桥修复缺失牙,并对完成修复的病例随访3～5年.结果 修复成功率为87.5%.24例患者有3例修复体脱落,需重新粘接;其余修复体未见明显松动.基牙无松动,桥体下方牙龈无明显红肿,患者对修复体的使用与外观效果均感满意.12例患者存在不同程度牙结石;2例患者存在舌侧轻度异物感,经过对症处理后效果满意.结论 改良式固定型马里兰桥修复老年前牙缺失具有磨牙少、效果美观,并能同时固定松动牙邻牙等优点,修复效果可靠.但其远期效果有待进一步观察.     

掌背动脉逆行岛状皮瓣修复多指皮肤缺损

目的报道应用掌背动脉逆行岛状皮瓣修复多手指软组织缺损的方法。方法应用掌背动脉逆行岛状皮瓣修复手指软组织缺损16例38指。结果术后16例38块皮瓣全部存活。随访时间为4个月～1年，皮瓣外形优良，不臃肿，皮瓣两点分辨觉为5～9mm。供区植皮成活，掌背有环形瘢痕，少许色素沉着。结论掌背动脉逆行岛状皮瓣操作方便，易切取，损伤小，不牺牲主干动脉，手术可同时切取多块皮瓣修复多指软组织缺损，是修复多手指皮肤软组织缺损的良好方法。     

Tape-stripping method in man: comparison of evaporimetric methods

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: If the occlusion time of a closed chamber evaporimeter on the skin is too long, saturation might occur. We previously compared an open chamber and a closed chamber device on healthy volunteers. Comparable data on stripped skin with higher evaporation rates are not available. This study compares the sensitivity and correlation of open and closed chamber devices in a tape-stripping human model. The amount of tape removed SC was also quantified with a protein assay method. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers (six male and four female; seven Caucasians and three Asian; mean age 38+/-16) were enrolled. In a randomized manner, one forearm was measured by an open chamber device and the opposite by a closed chamber device. After recording baseline measurements, 20 strippings were taken on each test site with tape disks. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured at the end of 10 and 20 tape strippings at each test site. Stratum corneum (SC) aggregates in the strips was assayed. RESULTS: The mean values obtained from two devices were similar after 10 trips and 20 strips. There was no statistically significant difference. The closed chamber device showed a slightly higher (but not significant) inter-individual coefficient of variation. SC aggregates in the strips were similar and without a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that both devices might yield similar TEWL values on stripped human skin in vivo.