Combination of transurethral and interstitial ultrasound applicators for high-temperature prostate thermal therapy

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a transurethral ultrasound applicator in combination with implantable ultrasound applicators for inducing thermal coagulation and necrosis of localized cancer lesions or benign disease within the prostate gland. The potential to treat target zones in the anterior and lateral portions of the prostate with the angularly directive transurethral applicator, while simultaneously treating regions of extracapsular extension and zones in the posterior prostate with the directive implantable applicators in combination with a rectal cooling bolus, is evaluated. Biothermal computer simulations, acoustic characterizations, and in vivo thermal dosimetry experiments with canine prostates were used to evaluate the performance of each applicator type and combinations thereof. Simulations have demonstrated that transurethral applicators with 180-270° acoustic active zones can direct therapeutic heating patterns to the anterior and lateral prostate, implantable needles can isolate heating to the posterior gland while avoiding rectal tissue, and that the combination of applicators can be used to produce conformal heating to the whole gland. Single implantable applicators (1.8mm ODx10mm long, ～180° active sector, ～7MHz, direct-coupled type) produced directional thermal lesions within in vivo prostate, with temperatures >50°C extending more than 10mm radially after 10-15min. Combination of interstitial applicators (1-2) and a transurethral applicator (3-2.5mm ODx6 mm long, 180° active sector, 6.8MHz, 6 mm OD delivery catheter) produced conforming temperature distributions (48-85°C) and zones of acute thermal damage within 15min. The preliminary results of this investigation demonstrate that implantable directional ultrasound applicators, in combination with a transurethral ultrasound applicator, have the potential to provide thermal coagulation and necrosis of small or large regions within the prostate gland, while sparing thermally sensitive rectal tissue.     

护理模式及孕期凝血指标监测对产后出血的影响

目的探讨不同护理模式及孕期凝血指标监测对产后出血的影响。方法收集50例孕产妇随机分为观察组和对照组,观察组实行常规护理加三级预防模式,对照组实施常规护理,比较两组患者产后出血情况。检测凝血指标纤维蛋白原、DD二聚体、血浆纤维蛋白降解产物及血小板相关参数,应用血栓弹力图检测仪检测血栓小弹力图相关参数的变化。结果观察组与对照组相比产后出血率明显降低,纤维蛋白原明显降低,两者差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);而DD二聚体及FDP明显升高。血栓弹力图R值和MA值两组之间无明显变化,但是产后出血组K值明显升高而Angle角明显降低(P0.05)。与对照组相比产后出血组血小板数PLT和血小板压积PCT明显降低,而血小板平均体积MPV和血小板分布宽度PDW无明显变化。结论产前预防性护理模式及孕产妇凝血指标监测有利于降低产后出血发生率。     

Inflammation and immunosuppression in severe acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis(AP) is a common disease,which usually exists in its mild form.However,in a fifth of cases,the disease is severe,with local pancreatic complications or systemic organ dysfunction or both.Because the development of organ failure is the major cause of death in AP,early identification of patients likely to develop organ failure is important.AP is initiated by intracellular activation of pancreatic proenzymes and autodigestion of the pancreas.Destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma first indu...     

Hypercoagulability in Cushing’s syndrome: the role of specific haemostatic and fibrinolytic markers

Objective Hypercoagulability is a commonly described complication in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Recent clinical studies have indicated various abnormalities of coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters which may be related to that phenomenon. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the hypercoagulable state in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Research methods and procedures A wide range of serum markers involved in the processes of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis was measured in a group of 33 patients with Cushing’s syndrome and 31 healthy controls. No participant was taking medication which could influence the result or had known diseases, except hypertension and diabetes, which could affect blood coagulation or fibrinolysis parameters. Results Patients with Cushing’s syndrome had higher levels of clotting factors II (P = 0.003), V (P < 0.001), VIII (P < 0.001), IX (P < 0.001), XI (P < 0.001) and XII (P = 0.019), protein C (P < 0.001), protein S (P < 0.001), C1-inhibitor (P < 0.001) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (P = 0.004). The activity of fibrinolytic markers, plasminogen (P < 0.001), antithrombin (P < 0.001) and antithrombin antigen (P = 0.001) was also increased in the patient group. Conclusion The study has demonstrated hypercoagulability in patients with Cushing’s syndrome manifest as increased prothrombotic activity and compensatory activation of the fibrinolytic system. We propose the introduction of thromboprophylaxis in the preoperative and early postoperative periods, combined with a close follow-up in order to prevent possible thromboembolic events in patients with Cushing’s syndrome.     

Current Clinical Practice DIC 2002: A Review of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

The turn of the millennium has seen clear advances in the understanding and management of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). The recognition that its pathogenesis stems from sustained thrombin generation in fuelling the cycle between inflammation and coagulation has seen the first successful treatment in severe sepsis through targeting this activity. An advance in treatment brings heightened relevance to laboratory testing, which now emphasises earlier detection and better monitoring to facilitate improved risk-identification and assessment of therapeutic efficacy. This review article also provides insights into future strategies that might build on the foundation of improving prognosis for the patient with DIC.     

Alternatives to Warfarin—The Next Generation of Anticoagulants

Anticoagulation therapy plays an important role in the management of cardiovascular disease. Currently, oral anticoagulation therapy is reliant on vitamin K antagonists (VKA). In clinical practice, VKA present several limitations including a narrow therapeutic window and frequent drug and food interactions. Despite the clear clinical need for alternative anticoagulants it is only within the last decade that significant progress has been made. These new anticoagulants target specific factors in the hemostatic network and appear to overcome some of the difficulties seen with VKA. Many have now progressed to phase III clinical trials including patients with cardiovascular disease. This review aims to highlight the exciting progress that has been made in the development of these new anticoagulants. It will focus on the key agents that have demonstrated the most promise in clinical trials to date. This will include data on cardiovascular indications for anticoagulant therapy. Finally, the review aims to analyze the future prospects for these new agents. Several issues remain to be addressed for these agents to finally replace vitamin K antagonists as the mainstay of anticoagulant therapy.     

重度子痫前期患者血浆凝血、纤溶相关因子水平变化的意义

目的:探讨凝血相关因子在重度子痫前期患者外周血病理性高凝状态发病机制中的作用。方法:采用ELISA方法测定30例重度子痫前期孕妇(子痫前期组)及42例正常晚期妊娠孕妇(正常妊娠组)外周血凝血相关因子的浓度,包括TF、TFPI、t-PA、PAI-1和PAI-2,并进行对比分析。结果:两组孕妇的年龄、孕周无显著性差异;重度子痫前期组患者的D-二聚体浓度及FDP阳性率均显著高于对照组而血小板计数则显著低于对照组。子痫前期组的血浆TF浓度为(53.02±8.64)pg/ml显著高于对照组的(30.84±9.04)pg/ml,TFPI浓度为(3.04±1.08)ng/ml则显著低于对照组的(5.13±0.93)ng/ml(P<0.01);子痫前期组的t-PA浓度为(42.03±16.08)ng/ml显著低于对照组的(67.12±18.91)ng/ml(P<0.01);子痫前期组PAI-1、PAI-2的浓度分别为(81.37±14.87)ng/ml、(469.14±29.20)ng/ml均显著高于对照组的(63.15±8.88)ng/ml和(122.56±17.67)ng/ml。结论:重度子痫前期患者的病理性高凝血状态和凝血相关因子的平衡失调有关,内皮细胞的损伤或激活、胎盘表达凝血相关因子异常可能是重要原因。     

低分子肝素对关节置换术中血液流变学及凝血功能的影响

目的研究全麻下使用低分子肝素对关节置换术术中血液流变学及凝血功能的影响,评价术中使用低分子肝素预防DVT的有效性和安全性。方法40例择期全麻下行关节置换术患者随机分为对照组(C组,n=20)和低分子肝素组(LMWH组,n=20)。分别在全身麻醉后手术前于侧腹壁皮下注射0.4ml生理盐水(C组)和0.4ml低分子肝素钙(LMWH组),采集两组患者麻醉前(T0,基础值)及注药后60min(T1)、120min时(T2)的血液作血液流变学指标(全血低切粘度、全血中切粘度、全血高切粘度、血浆粘度、红细胞压积、全血低切还原粘度、全血中切还原粘度、全血高切还原粘度、血沉方程K值、RBC聚集指数、RBC电泳指数等)及活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)检测,同时记录术中失血量、输液量和手术时间。结果与C组比较,LMWH组患者T1、T2时点的全血粘度、全血还原粘度、血沉方程K值、RBC聚集指数、RBC电泳指数显著降低(P<0.05);APTT显著延长且与C组比较有显著统计学意义(P<0.05);术中失血量、输液量和手术时间两组无显著统计学意义。结论全麻下使用低分子肝素钙能明显改善髋关节置换术术中血液流变学的状态,降低血液粘度,虽使APTT显著延长但并不增加术中失血量和输液量,安全有效。     

微脉冲半导体激光照射对正常大鼠视网膜损伤的观察

目的观察810 nm微脉冲半导体激光照射对正常棕色挪威大鼠（BN 大鼠）视网膜的损伤。方法使用不同能量及负载系数（duty cycle, D C）的810 nm微脉冲半导体激光对130只BN大鼠眼进行照射。分别于激光照射后第1、3、7、1 4、28 d进行彩色眼底照相、荧光素眼底血管造影及组织病理学观察，并检测热休克蛋白(HSP-70)在视网膜的表达情况，用TdT介导dUTP缺口末端标记法(TUNEL)检查细胞凋亡 。结果阈值及阈上能量条件下，低DC时激光照射部位无光学显微镜下的组织病理学改变，高DC时出现可累及视网膜内核层组织的严重损伤；微脉冲半导体激光照 射后1 d大鼠视网膜内核层细胞HSP-70阳性表达细胞即较正常视网膜明显增加，3 d时达到高峰，以后逐渐下降，14 d时恢复近正常水平。HSP-70阳性细胞数量 随激光能量提高而增加。TUNEL染色可见激光照射部位凋亡细胞主要存在于视网膜色素上皮（RPE）层、外核层、内核层，甚至脉络膜层，其数量随激光能量增高而增多。在激光照射后第3 d，凋亡细胞数量最多。结论810 nm微脉冲半导体激光照射后，视网膜损伤程度与激光能量及DC呈正相关。低能量高负载系数（50 mW，50％）或高能量低负载系数（100 mW，5％～15％）时，损伤限于RPE层，避免了神经上皮层的损伤。激光照射后HSP-70高表达及细胞凋亡可能在组织损伤修复过程发挥重要作用。 （中华眼底病杂志，2008，24：122-126）     

新生儿窒息的凝血功能及抗凝血酶Ⅲ VWF D-二聚体测定及其临床意义

目的:探讨新生儿窒息患者的凝血功能和抗凝血酶Ⅲ、VWF、D-D的变化及其意义。方法:采用酶联荧光分析法和发色底物法分别测定42例不同程度窒息新生儿和16例正常新生儿VWF及D-D的含量及AT-Ⅲ的活性,同时检测INT、TT、APTT、Fbg及BPC的变化。结果:重度窒息组的AT-Ⅲ明显降低,窒息新生儿血浆的VWF、D-D平均值均有不同程度增高,重度窒息组升高更为显著,与正常对照组比较,其差异具有显著性意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。窒息后并发器官功能损害新生儿与无并发症组比较,血浆的VWF、D-D均有不同程度的升高,以脑损害组升高最为明显(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:窒息新生儿表现以高凝状态为主的早期D IC,VWF及D-D的升高与窒息的程度有关,VWF及D-D明显升高者常合并组织器官损害。测定窒息新生儿血浆中AT-Ⅲ、VWF、D-D等指标对窒息后新生儿临床选用抗凝药物治疗及疗效观察、预后判断,均有一定的指导意义。