肾移植术后卡氏肺囊虫肺炎5例回顾性分析

目的:观察肾移植术后卡氏肺囊虫肺炎的发生率及治疗效果。方法:选择2003-01/2005-12在中山市人民医院行肾移植的患者112例,患者均知情同意。按是否使用猪抗人淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白分为2组,基础免疫抑制组(n=68)给予环孢素A/他克莫司 吗替麦考酚酯 强的松;抗体诱导组(n=44)给予猪抗人淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白 环孢素A/他克莫司 吗替麦考酚酯 强的松。两组共发生卡氏肺囊虫肺炎5例,其中基础免疫抑制组2例,抗体诱导组3例。5例患者通过普通抗感染治疗,3～7d病情未见好转,遂行支气管镜活检 深部吸痰培养,尽早明确病原体,指导抗菌治疗。比较两组患者卡氏肺囊虫肺炎的发生率,并观察其治疗效果。结果:5例卡氏肺囊虫肺炎患者全部进入结果分析,无脱落。①5例患者经支气管纤维镜肺组织活检确诊为卡氏肺囊虫肺炎,发生率为4.46%,其中抗体诱导组6.82%(3/44)明显高于基础免疫抑制组2.94%(2/68)。②5例卡氏肺囊虫肺炎中2例合并金黄色葡萄球菌感染。以复方磺胺甲恶唑为基础药物进行综合治疗,3例患者临床治愈出院,随访3个月,移植肾及肺功能正常;死亡2例。③5例患者治疗期间均无排斥反应发生。④在发病初期5例患者的CD4/CD8平均值为1.02±0.15,3例治愈患者的CD4/CD8平均值为1.42±0.23,在恢复过程中逐渐升高。2例死亡患者的CD4/CD8平均值为1.10±0.21。结论:早期支气管纤维内镜活检对肾移植术后卡氏肺囊虫肺炎的诊断非常重要,早期诊断、早期治疗是治愈的关键。猪抗人淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白可增加肾移植术后卡氏肺囊虫肺炎的发生率。     

Shoulder disorders—Part 2: Examination

Thorough evaluation of patients with shoulder problems should classify patients into discreet diagnostic groups—red flags, impingement syndrome, adhesive capsulitis, shoulder instability. Most rotator cuff tendonitis patients fall into the impingement category. The most important aspect of the initial evaluation is to rule out red flags suggestive of tumor, infection or fracture. If present such patients always require additional testing and often referral.A patient will be classified into the impingement category if there is (a) pain with active shoulder motions (i.e., painful arc), (b) pain with overpressure of passive shoulder elevation (i.e., a positive Neer's test) or horizontal shoulder adduction/internal rotation (Hawkins test), and (c) painfully weak resisted shoulder motions. Impingement syndrome patients should also be evaluated for partial or full-thickness rotator cuff tears, especially if the response to 4–6 weeks of rehabilitation is unsatisfactory.Patients with adhesive capsulitis have severe ROM loss. The most restricted ROMs are with shoulder abduction, external rotation, and flexion. In contrast, patients with shoulder instability are hypermobile. A history of recurrent dislocations is often present. An apprehension sign may be present. SLAP II-IV lesions are common in this patient group and the labrum can be seen to be stretched anterior during many of the functional tests.     

Gender, educational and age differences in meanings that underlie global self-rated health

Objectives

The single-item question on self-rated health has been widely used in surveys. This study aims to explore which frames of reference are used by respondents when answering this question, to describe differences in the used frame of reference according to gender, educational background and age, and to determine whether subgroup differences can be explained by differences in prior health experiences.

Methods

Face-to-face interviews were conducted in a sample of 310 adults who were asked to rate their health using a single-item question with closed-ended answering categories and to explain the reasons for the rating they gave with open-ended probes. Different indicators of prior health experiences were taken into account.

Results

Physical health problems were the most utilized referents. However, participants also mentioned reasons that go beyond the physical dimension of health. Subgroup differences were found. Prior health experiences partly explained subgroup differences for some referents, but not for others.

Conclusions

Investigators using the single question on self-rated health for comparing health across different population groups should be aware that the meaning of the question varies across different socio-demographic groups.     

Expression of Vascular endothelial growth factor in Ewing's sarcoma

Purpose

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most potent stimulator of angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of serum VEGF as a diagnostic, predictive and prognostic marker in Ewing’s sarcoma.

Methods

Patients with histopathologically proven diagnosis of Ewing’s sarcoma without prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy were invited to take part in the study. Pre-chemotherapy, post-chemotherapy and post-surgery blood samples were collected for analysis of serum VEGF levels. Blood samples from ten sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were collected for estimation of VEGF levels to act as control. Human VEGF Elisa kit (Bender Medsystem, Austria) was used to assess the serum VEGF levels.

Results

A total of nine cases of Ewing’s sarcoma were included in the study. Mean age in the group was 12.44 years (range, seven to 18 years). Mean and median serums VEGF level in the study population were 4,547.78 pg/ml and 3,780.00 pg/ml, respectively. Ten age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were selected as controls. No significant correlation was obtained between serum VEGF, age, sex and tumour size. Mean serum VEGF was significantly raised in the study group as compared to controls (p = 0.001). We observed a significant decline in serum VEGF level following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.008). No correlation could be established between serum VEGF level pulmonary metastasis and overall survival.

Conclusion

Serum VEGF might have a role as a diagnostic and predictive marker in patients with Ewing’s sarcoma.     

Managing Paratonia in Persons With Dementia: Short-term Effects of Supporting Cushions and Harmonic Techniques

ObjectivesParatonia, a form of hypertonia typically seen in dementia, is often associated with difficulties in positioning and daily care. No evidence-based therapy or clinical guideline for management is available. In this study, the short-term effect of harmonic techniques (HT) and supporting cushions (SC) on paratonia was explored.DesignThis was a multicenter interventional clinical trial with AB/BA crossover design. Each intervention (SC or HT) was subsequently implemented over 1 week in each of the participants.Setting and participantsThe study included 22 participants with moderate to severe paratonia from 9 different nursing homes in Flanders, Belgium.MethodsMeasurements of biceps brachii and rectus femoris muscle tone (MyotonPRO), maximal elbow and knee extension (goniometer), and pain (Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors With Limited Ability to Communicate) were performed on 3 different days within 1 week. The effect of HT on nursing care was evaluated with the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors With Limited Ability to Communicate and visual analog scale ratings of discomfort items.ResultsAfter 30 minutes of positioning with SC, participants had lower biceps brachii muscle tone (P = .041) and higher maximal elbow extension (P = .006) than without SC. After a 30-minute session of HT, a significant increase in biceps brachii muscle tone (P = .032) and maximal extension of elbow (P < .001) and knee (P = .028) was found. Pain (P = .003) and discomfort (P = .001 to P = .019) during morning care were significantly lower when care was preceded by 30 minutes of HT.Conclusions/ImplicationsThis explorative study revealed beneficial short-term effects on range of motion for both SC and HT and a positive effect of SC on upper limb muscle tone. Beneficial effects of HT were found on resident's pain and caregiver's discomfort during care. The results of the present study are encouraging and can contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions for paratonia.     

Human acute leukemia cell line with the t(4;11) chromosomal rearrangement exhibits B lineage and monocytic characteristics

A cell line, designated RS4;11, was established from the bone marrow of a patient in relapse with an acute leukemia that was characterized by the t(4;11) chromosomal abnormality. The cell line and the patient's fresh leukemic cells both had the t(4;11)(q21;q23) and an isochromosome for the long arm of No. 7. Morphologically, all cells were lymphoid in appearance. Ultrastructurally and cytochemically, approximately 30% of the cells possessed myeloid features. The cells were strongly positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. They were HLA-DR positive and expressed surface antigens characteristic for B lineage cells, including those detected by anti-B4, BA-1, BA-2, and PI153/3. Immunoglobulin gene analysis revealed rearrangements of the heavy chain and kappa chain genes. The cells lacked the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen and antigenic markers characteristic of T lineage cells. The cells reacted with the myeloid antibody 1G10 but not with other myeloid monoclonal antibodies. Treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl- phorbol-13-acetate induced a monocyte-like phenotype demonstrated by cytochemical, functional, immunologic, and electron microscopic studies. The expression of markers of both early lymphoid and early myeloid cells represents an unusual phenotype and suggests that RS4;11 represents a cell with dual lineage capabilities. To our knowledge, RS4;11 is the first cell line established from t(4;11)-associated acute leukemia.     

Transient leukemoid proliferation of the cytogenetically unbalanced +21 cell line of a constitutional mosaic boy

A newborn without any signs of Down's syndrome was found to have an acute proliferation that remitted without drug therapy. Chromosomal analysis of blood, bone marrow, and skin cells revealed that the child was a constitutional mosaic with normal cells and a low number of cells in which one no. 21 chromosome was replaced by a probably isochromosome for the no. 21 long arm: 46,XY/46,XY,i(21q). The abnormal cell line of the mosaic appeared to be selectively involved in this proliferation.