Treatment of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin

Summary Fourteen patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy were treated with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG). Ten received 10 g/day of IVGG and 4 received 400 mg/kg of body-weight/day of IVGG for 5 consecutive days. Improvement of spastic paraparesis was observed in 10 within 7 days of the commencement of IVGG. The therapeutic effects were sustained for more than 3 weeks in some patients. There were no side effects. Analysis of factors of relevance to the clinical improvement with IVGG showed that the beneficial response was preferentially found in patients having a high CSF titre of anti-HTLV-I antibodies, a high CSF IgG level and a marked brain MRI abnormality.     

Active production of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM antibody in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy

We investigated the presence of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM in sera and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) by Western blot analysis. Analyses of 36 serum samples revealed that most patients (31/36; 86.1%) had anti-HTLV-I IgM, whereas only four of 23 (17.4%) HTLV-I carriers had it. In studies of cerebrospinal fluid, anti-HTLV-I IgM was detected in 24 of 36 (66.7%) HAM patients, whereas none was detected in nine HTLV-I carriers. The differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that persistent active replication of HTLV-I occurs in the central nervous system as well as in the peripheral blood of HAM patients, and may contribute to the development of HAM.     

肠瘘患者腔静脉导管感染的回顾性分析

目的了解肠瘘患者腔静脉导管感染的发生率、细菌菌谱及药敏情况。方法对1998年1月至2001年4月收治的使用腔静脉导管进行全肠外营养(TPN)的肠瘘患者进行回顾性分析。结果216例肠瘘患者,共进行了358次腔静脉置管,腔静脉导管尖端培养阳性的有88次(24.6%),腔静脉导管平均使用时间为(16.9±13.0)d。88次腔静脉导管感染的尖端共培养出95株细菌,其中革兰阴性菌54株,占56.8%;其次为革兰阳性菌35株,占36.8%;真菌6株,占6.4%。根据药物敏感试验结果及临床表现,有16例患者更换了抗生素,4例改用抗真菌药物,所有患者均治愈。结论对于肠瘘患者,腔静脉感染仍是实施静脉营养的主要并发症之一,革兰阴性细菌感染最常见。     

37. Perioperatives Risiko — Kontroversen zur Pathogenese -Integration der Standpunkte

Zusammenfassung 1. Das perioperative Risiko muss als Gesamtrisiko von Anaesthesisten und Chirurgen gemeinsam erfasst werden. 2. Gemeinsame Risikoklassen sind dringend erforderlich. 3. Art und Umfang von Screeninguntersuchungen bedürfen einheitlicher Festlegungen. 4. Jedes Risiko muss durch geeignete Vorbehandlungsmassnahmen gemindert werden. 5. Intraoperatives Vorgehen sowie intra- und postoperatives Monitoring sollten gemeinsam diskutiert werden. 6. Die postoperative Phase sollte Gegenstand prospektiver Untersuchungen werden.     

Poor association between allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E levels, skin sensitivity and basophil degranulation: a study with recombinant birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and an immunoglobulin E detection system measuring immunoglobulin E capable of binding to FcɛRI

BACKGROUND: Results from several studies indicate that the magnitude of immediate symptoms of type I allergy caused by allergen-induced cross-linking of high-affinity Fc epsilon receptors on effector cells (mast cells and basophils) is not always associated with allergen-specific IgE levels. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of results from intradermal skin testing, basophil histamine release and allergen-specific IgE, IgG1-4, IgA and IgM antibody levels in a clinical study performed in birch pollen-allergic patients (n = 18). METHODS: rBet v 1-specific IgEs were measured by quantitative CAP measurements and by using purified Fc epsilon RI-derived alpha-chain to quantify IgE capable of binding to effector cells. Bet v 1-specific IgG subclasses, IgA and IgM levels were measured by ELISA, and basophil histamine release was determined in whole blood samples. Intradermal skin testing was performed with the end-point titration method. RESULTS: Our study demonstrates on the molecular level that the concentrations of allergen-specific IgE antibodies capable of binding to Fc epsilon RI and biological sensitivities are not necessarily associated. A moderate association was found between cutaneous and basophil sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the quantitative discrepancies and limitations of the present diagnostic tools in allergy, even when using a single allergenic molecule. The quantity of allergen-specific serum IgE is only one component of far more complex cellular systems (i.e. basophil-based tests, skin tests) used as indirect diagnostic tests for IgE-mediated allergic sensitivity.     

The role of the le fort I maxillotomy in the management of incompletely resected pituitary macroadenomas.

Objective: The options available for the treatment of a nonsecreting pituitary macroadenoma that has been incompletely resected include reoperation, fractionated radiation therapy, and radiosurgery. Reoperation in this setting may be hindered by the same obstacles that prevented a complete resection during the initial surgical procedure, and should prompt consideration of an alternate approach or exposure. Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2003, 10 consecutive patients were referred to the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for the evaluation of a nonsecreting pituitary macroadenoma that measured 3 cm or greater in diameter despite having undergone an attempt at a complete resection elsewhere. Each of these patients was reoperated using a Le Fort I maxillotomy to enhance the exposure provided by a traditional transsphenoidal approach. Results: A total or near total (> 95%) resection was achieved in each case. One patient required reoperation for the repositioning of a fat graft to treat a cerebrospinal fluid fistula and one patient experienced a worsening of anterior pituitary function postoperatively. Five patients noted improved vision and no patient experienced further visual loss. Three patients have required subsequent treatment of small foci of recurrent or progressing tumor with stereotactic radiation therapy. No patient has received fractionated radiation therapy. Conclusion: The added exposure provided by a Le Fort I maxillotomy facilitates the resection of pituitary macroadenomas that have been incompletely resected by a traditional transnasal, trans-sphenoidal approach.     

Multiple pilocytic astrocytomas of the cerebellum in a 17-year-old patient with neurofibromatosis type I

Objective Approximately 10% of patients with neurofibromatosis I (NFI) patients will have central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The most common of these are hypothalamic–optic gliomas, followed by brainstem and cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas. While isolated pilocytic astrocytomas in NFI are well described, the appearance of multiple pilocytic astrocytomas in an individual patient is less common. The most frequent combination in NFI patients with more than one pilocytic astrocytoma is optic tract/hypothalamic and brainstem. Other combinations are exceedingly rare; multiple pilocytic astrocytomas have only been reported once in the cerebral hemispheres in a patient with NFI. This report presents the first documented case, to our knowledge, of multiple pilocytic astrocytomas in the cerebellum of a patient with NF1. Methods Case report. Conclusion The finding of multiple cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas in a patient with NF1 is important because it expands the spectrum of presentations for patients with NF1 and also highlights specific diagnostic and therapeutic challenges faced by the treating physicians. The genetic and molecular basis of NF1 is reviewed. Strategies of diagnosis and treatment outlined here are relevant to both patients with NF1 and all patients with multiple posterior fossa tumors.     

骨胶原与骨质疏松骨密度及骨生物力学的相关性研究

目的探讨骨胶原含量在绝经后骨质疏松症的发生、发展及在骨质疏松性骨折中的作用。方法取7个月龄未交配雌性SD大鼠60只，随机分为四组，A组：对照组（sham组）；B组：切除卵巢组；C组：切除卵巢＋雌激素治疗组；D组：切除卵巢＋降钙素治疗组。除A组外，其他三组通过切除双侧卵巢法12周后制成骨质疏松模型，24周后分别行k的力学特性、右侧股骨三点弯曲试验、羟脯氨酸含量、k骨密度（BMD）测定，Masson三色染色法显示骨胶原形态。结果A、C、D组与B组在k羟脯氨酸含量、BMD、k压缩力学参数值、右侧股骨生物力学参数值、骨胶原染色含量及形态方面差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05），而A、C、D组之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。统计学分析显示羟脯氨酸含量与BMD及骨生物力学参数值呈直线相关性。结论骨质疏松的发生与骨胶原含量下降有关。骨胶原含量的下降与BMD降低及骨生物力学改变呈相关性。应用雌激素和降钙素治疗去势后骨质疏松大鼠，不仅可以提高其BMD含量和骨生物力学性能，而且还可以提高骨胶原的含量。     

日本新型急救医疗救援体系的分析与借鉴

日本急救医疗体系比较发达，一般把急救患者分检为I级、II级和III级，再送到相应的医疗机构进行救治。急救医疗从业人员都是专业的人员，能够及时有效地对急救患者进行诊治。现在日本正在进行急救医疗体系的改革，成立了相关委员会并形成一些基础改革，主要是增加急救医疗的投入及专业急救医生的提高。这些对我国急救医疗体系现存的一些问题有一定借鉴意义。