Comparison of Quantiferon-TB Gold With Tuberculin Skin Test for Detecting Latent Tuberculosis Infection Prior to Liver Transplantation

Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recommended prior to organ transplantation. The Quantiferon-TB Gold assay (QFT-G) may be more accurate than the tuberculin skin test (TST) in the detection of LTBI. We prospectively compared the results of QFT-G to TST in patients with chronic liver disease awaiting transplantation. Patients were screened for LTBI with both the QFT-G test and a TST. Concordance between test results and predictors of a discordant result were determined. Of the 153 evaluable patients, 37 (24.2%) had a positive TST and 34 (22.2%) had a positive QFT-G. Overall agreement between tests was 85.1% (kappa= 0.60, p < 0.0001). Discordant test results were seen in 12 TST positive/QFT-G negative patients and in 9 TST negative/QFT-G positive patients. Prior BCG vaccination was not associated with discordant test results. Twelve patients (7.8%), all with a negative TST, had an indeterminate result of the QFT-G and this was more likely in patients with a low lymphocyte count (p = 0.01) and a high MELD score (p = 0.001). In patients awaiting liver transplantation, both the TST and QFT-G were comparable for the diagnosis of LTBI with reasonable concordance between tests. Indeterminate QFT-G result was more likely in those with more advanced liver disease.     

广泛后路松解三维矫形治疗重度特发性脊柱侧凸

目的探讨广泛后路松解三维矫形对重度特发性脊柱侧凸的治疗效果.方法2002年3月至2005年9月我院收治的有完整资料的重度特发性脊柱侧凸患者42例,根据不同手术方法将患者分为两组A组(前路松解后路矫形)20例,男3例,女17例;年龄12～20岁,平均15.5岁;Lenke 1型12例,2型2例,3型3例,5型3例.B组(后路脊柱松解三维矫形)22例,男3例,女19例;年龄12～26岁,平均15岁;Lenke 1型13例,2型2例,3型4例,5型3例.比较两组间手术前、后及末次随访时Cobb角、手术时间、术中出血量、住院费用和SRS-22评分的差异.结果A组主弯Cobb角由83.6°±7.6°矫正到21.4°±5.4°,矫正率为72.4%±5.1%;B组由85.4°±11.5°矫正到22.0°±5.4°,矫正率为74.1%±5.2%,两组间比较无统计学差异(P＞0.05).A组的手术时间、术中出血量、住院费用及SRS-22评分分别为303.9+28.9min、1379.5±236.8ml、92246.5±9784.9(￥)及17.4+0.24分;B组分别为241.0±20.8min、965.5±193.1ml、77725.1±8917.8(￥)及19.65±0.20分,两组间差异有显著性(P＜0.05).两组均无曲轴现象、假关节形成及失代偿发生.结论广泛后路脊柱松解三维矫形对重度特发性脊柱侧凸的矫正效果满意,具有手术风险小、手术时间短、出血量少、住院费用相对低等优点.     

The expression of somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 in benign,pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions

The expression of somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 in benign, pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions The role of chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx has not been clearly defined. Whilst toxic chemotherapy regimes may confer a marginal improvement in survival, surgery and radiotherapy remain the mainstay of treatment. Somatostatin is a naturally occurring peptide, which exerts antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects via five membrane‐bound receptor subtypes. The expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTRs) 1 and 2 was studied in benign, pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens. Epithelial expression of SSTR1 was detected in 4/6 (67%) Reinke's oedema, 5/6 (83%) pre‐malignant and 8/12 (67%) malignant specimens, with virtually no stromal or vascular expression. High levels of epithelial SSTR2 expression were noted in all Reinke's oedema specimens, compared with low‐to‐moderate levels in only 2/6 (33%) pre‐malignant and 3/12 (25%) malignant specimens (P < 0.01). This ‘loss’ of epithelial SSTR2 expression may provide a growth advantage in pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions. Vascular expression of SSTR2 was ubiquitous in all groups, with scant stromal expression. Overall, most (>80%) pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens expressed at least one of the two SSTR subtypes studied. Somatostatin analogues may have a therapeutic role in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.     

原料药粒径对盐酸普萘洛尔渗透泵片释药行为的影响

目的:研究原料药粒径等对盐酸普萘洛尔渗透泵片释药行为的影响。方法:取不同批号盐酸普萘洛尔及同批号重结晶前、后的原料药均按相同处方制备成渗透泵片,考察药物体外释放情况及释药24h后衣膜形态;并对上述不同原料药的粒径分别以光学显微镜和激光粒度分析仪进行证实。结果:以原料药粒径较小的渗透泵片释放完毕后衣膜变形,且不能维持零级释放,原料药粒径较大的渗透泵片结果与之相反。不同原料药经仪器证实粒径确有差异。结论:原料药的粒径可影响制备的渗透泵片的释放行为,提示性状稳定的原料药的合理选择在制剂过程中不可忽视。     

Corticosterone release in response to repeated, short episodes of neonatal isolation : evidence of sensitization

Repeated isolation of neonatal rats produces persistent changes in physiology and behavior. In Experiment 1, we examined changes in plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels as a possible mechanism for the effects of isolation. Pups that were isolated from their mother and the nest for 1 h per day on postnatal days (PND) 2–9 were compared to control litters of pups that were either nonhandled or handled but not isolated. On PND 2, compared to nonhandled pups, handled pups had elevated CORT levels that returned to baseline levels within 30 to 60 min of return to the home cage. No significant elevation of CORT levels were found in handled pups on PND 9. The CORT levels of isolated pups were over twice those of nonhandled pups on PND 2 and four times those of nonhandled pups on PND 9. In Experiment 2, we investigated whether the increased CORT release in response to isolation on PND 9 was the result of the pups treatment on the previous six days as against an effect of maturation. Plasma CORT levels were measured in rat pups that were either isolated, handled or nonhandled on PNDs 2–8 during the conditions of isolation, handling and nonhandling on PND 9. There were no differences among the groups in basal plasma levels of CORT. Handling on PND 9 did not result in elevated CORT levels in any of the groups. All three groups showed a significant increase in plasma CORT levels after isolation on PND 9. However, the CORT response to isolation of pups previously isolated on PND 2–8 were significantly higher than pups that were either handled or nonhandled on PNDs 2–8. Thus, daily episodes of isolation potentiate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to stress.     

Modifications of the hydrophilicity of heterocyclic methacrylate copolymers for protein release

A series of copolymers comprising ethyl methacrylate (EM) and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA) gelled with either THFMA monomer or hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomer have been developed. In this paper, we examine the water uptake characteristics of the polymer systems and address the possibility of increasing the hydrophilicity of the systems by changing the ratios of the copolymers. We have investigated whether protein release from the polymers is related to the composition of the polymer systems. More protein was released from the polymers gelled with the more hydrophilic monomer (HEMA) than with THFMA. This was consistent with the calculated diffusion coefficients, which were 10 times greater for the polymers gelled with HEMA than those gelled with THFMA. Interestingly, the water uptake and protein release profiles were not dependent on the ratio of EM and THFMA in the copolymers. This is probably due to the conflicting roles of THFMA in the copolymer; it is both the more hydrophilic component as well as a cross-linking agent. In addition, it would appear that the structural and surface topography of these polymers had more significant effects on protein release than copolymer composition.     

Pharmacological modulation of endogenous dopamine and DOPAC outflow from nucleus accumbens

The release of endogenous DA and DOPAC from nucleus accumbens slices were studied measuring net outflow of DA and DOPAC in the superfusate of static chambers, to analyze the correlation between DA and DOPAC outflows and identify which DA stores may serve as possible sources for DOPAC formation. Under resting conditions, or following stimulation with low (< 15 mM) KCl concentration, DOPAC outflow was greater than DA. When DA release was stimulated by higher (> 25 mM) KCl concentrations, DA outflow increased, proportionally more than DOPAC. In the virtual absence of Ca²⁺ in the Krebs solution DA outflow, induced by 25 mM KCl, was reduced to about 10%, while DOPAC outflow was only reduced to 45%. When the synthesis of DA was inhibited with -MPT, DA and DOPAC outflow were unchanged during the first stimulation period. During a second stimulation period, however, their outflow were significantly reduced. Nomifensine, a DA uptake inhibitor, increased the basal DA outflow by about 100%, but only blocked DOPAC basal outflow by about 25%. The 25 mM KCl stimulated DA outflow was not affected by Nomifensine, while the stimulated DOPAC outflow was reduced by about 50%. These results demonstrate that there is a weak correlation between the outflows of DA and DOPAC, suggesting a complex relationship between the mobilization of the different DA pools and DOPAC outflow. The formation of DOPAC from some of these pools, appear to be dependent on the stimulation levels and on the pharmacological manipulation of the tissue.     

复方山绿茶缓释袋泡剂的研究

用网状多孔性纤维包念材料制备的复方山绿茶缓袋泡剂，具有速释和缓释作用，在１－８ｈ内按埝级方式释药。Ｔ０．５为１．３ｈ，Ｔｄ为３．２ｈ，１－８ｈ的平均释药速率７２．３５ｍｇ／ｈ。与传统的半生药型袋泡剂比较，具有栽药量高，使用方便，性质稳定，疗效确切的优点。     

Diadenosine polyphosphate (ApxA) as new neurotransmitters

The presence of diadenosine polyphosphates (Ap_xA), diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap₄A), diadenosine pentaphosphate (Ap₆A), and diadenosine hexaphosphate (Ap₆A), has been described in secretory granules of chromaffin cells, Torpedo synaptic vesicles, and rat brain synaptosomes. The release of these compounds by the action of secretagogues and depolarizing agents, in the presence of calcium, increases their importance as active neurotransmitters. Two high affinity receptors have been described in the three neural models, with Kd values ranging from 0.08 to 0.40 nM for the first binding site and from 5.6 to 18nM for the second lower affinity binding site. Both binding sites exhibit a P_2y-like profile in chromaffin cells and Torpedo synaptic terminals and a different pattern in rat brain synaptosomes, suggesting the presence of a novel P₂-purinoceptor tentatively named P_2d. Studies about the second messenger linked to this receptor, in chromaffin cells, demonstrate the mobilization of calcium from internal stores. Ap_xA receptors at the extracellular milieu are responsible for the inhibition of catecholamine release stimulated by secretagogues. Finally, all diadenosine polyphosphates are destroyed by the action of an ecto-phosphodiesterase which, in chromaffin cells, shows Km values ranging from 1 to 4 μM. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.