Epidemiological and pathogenic study on the outbreak of toxic shock syndrome and meningocephalitis caused by swine streptococcus

Objective: To reveal the relationship between the biological characteristics of pathogen and the pig-to-human spread of the epidemic and infectious disease in 1998 in East China. Methods: Epidemiological survey, pathological examination of pigs and patients, and pathogen isolation were performed. Results: The disease had a character of quick onset, serious symptoms, short course and high mortality. The clinical manifestations and pathological changes of the disease were high fever, sometimes with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, then might develop to myositis, fascitis, DIC, multiple organ failure, shock and usually died in 2-3 d. Among 25 patients, 16 manifested clinically as streptococcal toxic shock syndromes and 9 streptococcal meningiocephalitis syndrome. The mortality was 81.25% and 11.11% respectively. Pathogenic bacteria isolated from diseased pigs and patients were found to have some common characteristics in morphology, staining and biological characters. Conclusion: The pathogen isolated from the blood of patients and pigs were identified as streptococci.     

Alternatives to Warfarin for Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Nonrheumatic Atrial Fibrillation

A 45-year-old male with a preexcited QRS consistent with WPW syndrome was hospitalized for syncope. ECG monitoring revealed episodes of advanced atrioventricular block. An electrophysiologic study demonstrated right anteroseptal preexcitation and revealed an intermittent block in the accessory pathway and AV complete block causing long periods of spontaneous asystole. A DDD pacemaker was implanted without ablation of the accessory pathway.     

Leishmaniasis of the lip in a patient with Down''s syndrome

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoan infection in Sardinia, one of the major islands of the Mediterranean Basin. The main causative strain in this country is Leishmania infantum, which rarely involves mucocutaneous areas, but has the potential to cause visceral leishmaniasis. An atypical leishmaniasis involving the inferior lip of a 57-year-old female with Down's syndrome was observed at the Dermatology Department of Cagliari (italy). The diagnosis was mainly based upon histopathological examination, revealing intra- and extra-cellular leishmania amastigotes. The leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-111 was identified by isoenzymatic characterization. Laboratory investigations revealed a normal complete blood count and biochemistry profile, except for an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio. Treatment with meglumine antimoniate 60 mg/kg/day (Glucantime) intramuscularly for 15 days, followed by intralesional administration 1 ml weekly for 4 weeks led to complete recovery. No relapses were observed at 6-month follow-up. The unusual localization is likely to be a reflection of the uncommon site of inoculation of the protozoa, transmitted by bites from flying vectors. Nevertheless, the presence of Down's syndrome in our patient may have contributed to the atypical presentation by traumatic exacerbation of the lesion, due to repeated auto-induced microtraumas of the inferior lip accompanied by subclinical immunodeficiency. In fact, the specific immune response to Leishmania infection depends on a host-cell-mediated immune response, reported as defective in Down's syndrome patients. Differential diagnosis and early detection of the infection are necessary in order to start effective treatment and prevent more serious complications.     

胰岛素样生长因子-1在妇科疾病中的作用

在许多组织增生过程中，通过内分泌、旁分泌和自分泌会产生胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)。最近的研究发现，IGF-1存在于各种增生组织，如子宫内膜和卵巢组织。患有严重子宫内膜异位症时，血清中IGF-1水平较高，而子宫内膜局部的：IGF-1水平减低，这可能是导致不孕的原因，多囊性卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者卵巢局部的IGF-1活性增强，与患者肥胖、高雄激素水平等一系列临床症状有关。IGF-1在良、恶性肿瘤中也起着重要的作用，IGF-1能刺激子宫肌瘤细胞的生长。围绝经期妇女若存在高IGF-1和低IGF-1结合蛋白-3(IGFBP-3)水平，则患乳腺癌的风险增大。绝经前后女性的高IGF-1水平与宫颈癌、卵巢癌和子宫内膜癌的发病率存在相关性。     

电子时代的医学图书馆馆员和循证医学

简要阐述了循证医学的概念及其基本特点,探讨了电子时代循证医学对于医学图书馆员的要求,同时提出了电子时代医学图书馆员应该具备的知识和技能.     

Prevalence of persistent vegetative state/apallic syndrome in Vienna

The aim of the project was to survey the hospital prevalence of apallic syndrome in a federal state in Austria at an exact point in time. To achieve this, a point prevalence study was carried out on 28 November 2001 in the Vienna region. The central element was a questionnaire, which provided an exact recording of the patients' condition. An additional preliminary task was to check all the discharge diagnoses in the hospitals of the Vienna Hospital Association (Wiener Krankenanstalten Verbund) between 1996 and 2000 according to the ICD-9 diagnoses for apallic syndrome. These data should serve to cross-check the recorded results. All hospitals (n = 48) and nursing facilities (n = 44) in Vienna were included in this investigation. As the aim of the study was to record the prevalence of apallic syndrome in the population of Vienna, four patients of the group with full-stage apallic syndrome (n = 36) were excluded as they were from other federal states. In total, 32 hospital patients who met the clinical criteria for apallic syndrome (full-stage) were recorded. The point prevalence of apallic syndrome was 1.9/100,000 inhabitants. As a result of this study, the exact survey of hospital prevalence of apallic syndrome could be found. As a consequence, the Viennese government has developed a rehabilitation concept for patients with apallic syndrome in Vienna.     

糖皮质激素对肾小球疾病患者骨代谢影响因素的研究

目的　探讨长期应用糖皮质激素 (GC)治疗对肾小球疾病患者骨代谢影响的因素。方法　 2 0 7例肾小球疾病患者 ,应用常规剂量GC治疗 ,于治疗前及治疗后每隔 3～ 6个月 ,进行了 35 7例次腰椎和股骨近端骨密度 (BMD)、血钙、血磷和骨钙素浓度测定。结果　①用GC后骨钙素浓度明显降低 (P均 <0 0 0 5 ) ,但其不能预测BMD下降。②用药 15个月后男性各部位BMD均减少 (32 2～111 5 )mg/cm2 ,以L1 4和股骨粗隆更明显 (P均 <0 0 5 ) ,骨丢失率 3 3%～ 10 3% ;女性L1 4BMD均减少(4 3 8～ 76 0 )mg/cm2 ,以L1更明显 (P <0 0 5 ) ,骨丢失率 3 9%～ 7 9%。③年龄与各部位BMD变化呈负相关 ,但不影响GC造成的骨丢失。男性各部位、女性L1 4BMD减少与GC累计剂量和GC用药时间负相关。④用GC15个月 (GC累计剂量 10g以上 ) ,男性L1 4BMD正常的比例从 3/ 4至 3/ 5 ;女性L1和L2 BMD正常者从 3/ 4减少到 1/ 2。结论　长期口服糖皮激素导致与剂量和用药时间相关的腰椎和男性股骨粗隆骨丢失 ,年龄偏大和男性患者骨丢失更明显。     

Concomitant administration of cyclosporine and ketoconazole in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The deliberate use of ketoconazole to reduce the need for cyclosporine (CsA) is not new, but it is particularly relevant because of the high cost of CsA. Many studies have documented this benefit in renal and cardiac transplants, but this co-administration has not been reported in patients with nephrotic syndrome. METHODS: This retrospective study included 207 nephrotic patients who were steroid resistant, dependent or frequent relapsers and received CsA therapy. Among these patients 153 received daily ketoconazole therapy in a dose of 50 mg with concomitant decrease of one-third of the CsA dose while 54 patients received CsA alone. The majority of our cases were children (179 were below 18 years) and male to female ratio was 1.7:1. RESULTS: The great majority of the study population received the drugs for 1-2 years. Patients who received CsA and ketoconazole were comparable with those who received CsA alone regarding age, sex, duration of renal disease, renal pathology, severity of nephrotic syndrome, renal function, hepatic function and steroid response. Co-administration of ketoconazole significantly reduced mean doses of CsA by 37% after 1 month and 47% at 1 year with overall net cost savings of 37%. Hepatic functions remained within the normal range in both groups. Additionally, co-administration of ketoconazole significantly improved the response to CsA therapy, successful steroid withdrawal and decreased the frequency of renal impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of keto with CsA in idiopathic nephrotic patients significantly reduces CsA costs and may improve its response.     

锁骨中段骨折--手术与非手术治疗比较

有些证据表明,锁骨中段骨折采用手术或非手术治疗都可以获得成功,但非手术治疗的并发症更少。数据多数来自病例组研究,因此还需要对比研究来证明这些原始数据的真实性。     

口腔径路曲安奈德蝶腭神经节封闭治疗变应性鼻炎（附415例报告）

目的：探讨口腔径路曲安奈德蝶腭神经节封闭治疗变应性鼻炎的效果。方法：变应性鼻炎患者415例，男270例，女145例。用自制封闭针头于口腔径路行曲安奈德蝶腭神经节封闭术。结果：415例中，有效250例，好转63例，总有效率为99．5％。结论：经口腔径路用曲安奈德行蝶腭神经节封闭术是治疗变应性鼻炎的有效疗法。