Asthma-like Attacks Resulting from the Isolated Congenital Left Pulmonary Artery Agenesis with Right Main Bronchus Stenosis

A 5-year-old girl with isolated congenital left pulmonary artery agenesis suffered from recurrent attacks of dyspnea and right-sided pneumonia due to the stenosis of the right main bronchus. The division of ligamentum of the ductus arteriosus and suspension of the right pulmonary artery resulted in the disappearance of symptoms. It is notable that the compression of contralateral bronchus by the remaining pulmonary artery can cause respiratory symptoms in patients with isolated unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis.     

Endolymphatic hydrops in asymptomatic ears in unilateral Ménière's disease

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of our study was the objective assessment of endolymphatic hydrops in asymptomatic ears in unilateral Ménière's disease with a noninvasive electrophysiological test and investigation of significant clinical signs. The null hypothesis was that there would be no signs of endolymphatic hydrops in the asymptomatic ear. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study using the traveling wave velocity test for endolymphatic hydrops. METHODS: The traveling wave velocity test was used in conjunction with standard audiological tests to investigate both ears of 181 Ménière's patients attending the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research in Southampton, United Kingdom. The test uses derived auditory brainstem responses to estimate the velocity of the cochlear traveling wave that is altered in endolymphatic hydrops. Ménière's disease was assessed using Arenberg's five staging criteria. Significant correlations were evaluated using standard statistical methods. RESULTS: Of 100 patients with clinically unilateral Ménière's disease, 27% showed evidence of endolymphatic hydrops in their asymptomatic ear. There was a significant correlation between signs of hydrops and the mean air-conduction threshold at 500 Hz. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that a full assessment of incipient disease in the asymptomatic ear in unilateral Ménière's disease should be undertaken before offering any treatment options to patients. Any suspicion of early disease in the asymptomatic ear in unilateral Ménière's disease should lead to full electrophysiological assessment to assess the evidence of endolymphatic hydrops in that ear.     

ERK1/2信号蛋白在单侧尿路梗阻大鼠肾组织中的表达

目的:探讨单侧尿路梗阻(UUO)模型大鼠肾组织细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK1/2)的表达及意义。方法:42只SD大鼠随机分为模型组和假手术组。模型组采用UUO术,术后1,3,7,14,21 d和28 d处死动物取肾组织,观察肾组织病理改变;用免疫组化法测定肾组织TGF-β1、磷酸化ERK1/2和CollagenⅠ表达。结果:病理结果显示,UUO 3 d肾小管上皮细胞肿胀、肾间质炎症细胞浸润;UUO 14 d肾组织大量炎症细胞浸润和纤维组织增生,28 d肾小管结构基本破坏,纤维组织弥漫增生。免疫组化显示,正常肾组织有基础TGF-β1、磷酸化ERK1/2和CollagenⅠ的表达。UUO3 d TGF-β1增加明显,7 d达高峰,此后表达减少;磷酸化ERK1/2的表达在UUO术后3 d明显增加,并持续增加到第7 d,此后表达减少;而UUO术后3 d肾组织CollagenⅠ表达亦明显升高,并持续增加到28 d。模型组肾组织TGF-β1、磷酸化ERK1/2的表达时相一致并呈明显正相关,并与肾间质CollagenⅠ的积聚密切相关。结论:磷酸化ERK1/2信号蛋白在单侧尿路梗阻大鼠肾组织中的表达明显增高,可能在梗阻性肾病肾间质纤维化过程中起重要作用。     

单侧输尿管梗阻法制作大鼠肾间质纤维化模型的改进

目的建立改良的大鼠肾间质纤维化模型。方法用单侧输尿管结扎术建立大鼠肾纤维化模型,动态观察4周。治疗的第12、、3周末检测血肌酐、尿素氮含量等指标,观察肾功能变化;4周末采用HE染色、六胺银(periodic acid-silver methenamine,PASM)染色和丽春红染色观察肾组织病理变化。结果模型组大鼠血肌酐、尿素氮均有明显上升;模型组大鼠大部分肾小球呈玻璃样变,硬化的肾小球周围所属肾小管萎缩、基底膜增厚,部分肾小管消失;少数残存的肾小球肥大并周围肾小管扩张严重;肾间质胶原纤维增生和大量炎细胞浸润。结论该模型有明显的肾间质纤维化特征,且死亡率低,适合肾间质纤维化的实验研究。     

健康大鼠单侧肾切除后肾脏的代偿功能观察

目的观察正常大鼠摘肾后生理变化和代偿侧肾脏的病理变化，为肾移植的进一步推进与发展提供理论依据。方法采用尿肌酐检测试剂盒检测尿肌酐；考马斯亮蓝法检测尿蛋白；自动生化仪检测肾功能；PAS特殊染色方法观察肾脏病理变化。结果2～3月龄、7～9月龄和10～12月龄的肾切组大鼠的尿蛋白，肌酐比值于术后1个月显著升高（P〈0．001），其中2～3月龄和7-9月龄雄性肾切组的术后2个月降至正常，雌性肾切组的术后3个月降至正常，而10～12月龄的均在术后3个月降至正常；4～6月龄肾切组的与正常组的比较无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论单侧肾切除术后1～2个月为关键期，直接关系到大鼠术后的近期和远期的安全性；年龄幼小或老年者单侧肾切除后肾脏损伤的风险大：雄性大鼠代偿功能较好。     

Unstable Cervical Spinal Injury in Children – Case Report and Review of the Literature

Large studies about the management of pediatric patients with unstable flexion-distraction injuries of the midcervical spine are rare. We present the case of a 12-year-old girl who sustained a cervical spinal injury with unilateral facet dislocation and discuss details and problems of diagnostic procedures and treatment in the light of the recent literature. The management and pitfalls of a unilateral facet dislocation in a child are summarized. After initial reposition, a multi- segmental instability with neurology developed. Although distraction-flexion cervical spine injuries are common in adults and often occur with concomitant neurological sequelae, they also can occur in the pediatric population. In conclusion, an MRI seems advisable. A treatment of postoperative mal-alignment with reposition via a halo-fixator cannot be recommended. Repositioning is possible but was lost when the fixator was removed. Comparing the historic and recent literature there is only weak evidence overall, nevertheless a ventral fusion seems to be the treatment option of choice.     

Stenosis of the larynx following Teflon injection

Summary Teflon is commonly used to adduct immobile vocal cords in cases of unilateral recurrent nerve paralysis. However, its use can lead to considerable chronic inflammation at the site of the injection. Since Teflon is not encapsulateted, particles can also be carried off and disseminated through the lymphatic system. This occurrence was found following Teflon injection in a 48-year-old man, resulting in laryngeal stenosis with tissue histology showing an impressive diffuse distribution of the Teflon particles and severe chronic inflammation. Our experiences have caused us to prefer the implantation of autologous materials in cases of unilateral recurrent nerve paralysis, particularly when patients have a long life expectation.     

单侧连续腰麻用于老年冠心病人股骨头置换术的临床研究

目的:评价单侧连续腰麻(UCSA)用于高龄老年冠心病人股骨头置换术的临床效果.方法:选择行股骨头置换术的高龄老年冠心病人60例,随机分成UCSA组(I组)和连续硬膜外麻醉(CEA)组(Ⅱ组),每组30例.两组病人均选择L2～3为穿刺点.I组患肢在上行蛛网膜下腔穿刺插入Spinocath导管,注入0.375%左布比卡因轻比重液1 ml.Ⅱ组行硬膜外腔穿刺置管,1.5%利多卡因试探剂量3 ml.然后追加注入0.5%左布比卡因8 ml.观察两组感觉神经阻滞起效时间、平面扩散范围、运动神阻滞程度,监测记录麻醉前后各时点MAP、HR、sp02变化及心血管不良反应发生情况.结果:与Ⅱ组比较,I组感觉神经阻滞起效快,改良Bromage评分升高(P<0.05);术中心肌缺血、复杂性室早、低血压及心率缓慢发生率降低(P<0.05);与T0比较,I组MAP、HR、Sp02在麻醉后各时点无明显变化(P>0.05),Ⅱ组MAP在T4～7、HR在T4～5、Sp02在T5～6降低(P<0.05).结论:UCSA起效快,阻滞完善,循环功能较平稳,是高龄老年冠心病人股骨头置换术的一种较好麻醉方法.     

Follow-up control of patients with unilateral posterior cross-bite treated with expansion plates or the quad-helix appliance

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term stability of the occlusion after correction of posterior cross-bite with either a removable expansion plate or a quad-helix appliance and to compare the transversal development of the jaws in the plate group, the quad-helix group and a control group.At the start of treatment there were 22 children in each of the treated groups. Two children in the plate group and 1 child in the quad-helix group discontinued the treatment. Two children treated with the quad-helix appliance and 1 child in the plate group could not be reached for the follow-up registration, so the collective finally consisted of 30 boys and 27 girls: 19 subjects in the plate group, 19 in the quad-helix group and 19 controls.The treatment groups were studied with the help of plaster models before treatment, immediately after treatment and at the last registration about 5.5 years after treatment. The control group was studied with the help of plaster models on 2 occasions, at the mean age of 8.8 years and 15.9 years respectively. This was about the same age as the first and the last registrations in the treatment groups.In all children, the posterior cross-bite was corrected by the end of the treatment. At the last registration, the corrected posterior cross-bite had relapsed in 1 child in the plate group and in 3 children in the quad-helix group.The degree of expansion was similar for both groups. The mean treatment time was longer in the plate group than in the quad-helix group: 12.5 months and 7.7 months respectively.Despite a transversal expansion in the treatment groups, the width of the maxillary dental arch did not reach the mean width in the control group, and even at the last registration the width of the maxillary dental arch was significantly greater in the control group than in the treated groups.The conclusions of this study are: 1. The long-term treatment effect in children with posterior cross-bite was somewhat better when they were treated with the removable expansion plate in comparison with treatment with the quad-helix appliance. 2. Both immediately after treatment and at the last registration 5.5 years later, the width of the maxillary dental arch was significantly greater in the control group than in the plate group or the quad-helix group while the width of the mandibular dental arch was equal in all 3 groups.     

The effects of -NAME on vestibular compensation and NOS activity in the vestibular nucleus, cerebellum and cortex of the guinea pig

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the processes by which animals recover from peripheral vestibular damage (‘vestibular compensation’). However, few data exist on the dose–response effects of systemic administration of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N^G-nitro- -arginine methyl ester ( -NAME), on the vestibular compensation process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on compensation of 5, 10, 50 or 100 mM -NAME administered by s.c osmotic minipump for 50 h following unilateral vestibular deafferentation (UVD) in guinea pig, either commencing the drug treatment at 4 h pre-UVD or at the time of the UVD (i.e., post-UVD). Post-UVD treatment with -NAME, at any of the four concentrations used, had no effect on the compensation of spontaneous nystagmus (SN), yaw head tilt (YHT) or roll head tilt (RHT). By contrast, pre-UVD treatment with 100 mM -NAME resulted in a significant decrease in SN frequency (P<0.05) and a change in the rate of its compensation (P<0.0005). Pre-UVD -NAME resulted in a significant increase in the overall magnitude of YHT (P<0.005); however, post-hoc comparisons revealed no significant differences between any specific -NAME and vehicle groups. Pre-UVD -NAME had no effect on RHT at any concentration. Analysis of NOS activity in the pre-UVD -NAME treatment groups at 50 h post-UVD showed that only 100 mM -NAME resulted in a significant decrease in NOS activity in the contralateral medial vestibular nucleus (MVN)/prepositus hypoglossi (PH) (P<0.05) and that NOS activity in the ipsilateral MVN/PH was not significantly affected. However, NOS activity was significantly inhibited in the bilateral cerebellum and cortices for several concentrations of -NAME. These results suggest that pre-UVD systemic administration of -NAME can significantly increase the rate of SN compensation in guinea pig and that this effect is correlated with inhibition of NOS activity in several regions of the CNS.