Before-birth climatologic data may play a role in the development of allergies in infants

While an exacerbation in allergic symptoms corresponding to seasons has long been reported, few studies have investigated the association between the season of birth and allergic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the climatologic data before and after birth affected the incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and the results of allergy-related blood tests in early infancy. From February 1995 to January 2000, 2136 infants were tested for AD and followed for 12 months. AD patients were tested by using allergy-related blood tests. Data were compared according to the month of birth and the climatologic data using a computed statistical software package. Six hundred and thirty infants had AD before 12 months old, and significant differences were found according to the season of birth (p < 0.0001). Infants born in spring showed the lowest (22.3%) incidence, while those born in autumn showed the highest (34.6%). In 369 patients, total serum IgE levels, and serum specific IgE levels with egg white at 3 months old were also different according to the season of birth. All of these levels were lower in patients born in spring and summer, and higher in patients born in autumn and winter. Furthermore, the cumulative sunshine amount during the 3 months before and after birth was inversely correlated, while the average temperature over the 3 months before birth was positively correlated to the incidence of AD according to the month of birth. The climatologic data around birth may play an important role in whether an infant develops allergies.     

青海玉树健康人甲状腺激素测定

本文对玉树(海拔3700米)正常人58例的甲状腺激素用放射免疫法进行了测定,与西宁地区和平原地区对比,结果说明玉树地区T3、T4值明显或显著低于西宁和平原地区。TSH值又明显或显著高于西宁和平原地区、西宁地区P3、T4和TSH值均明显或显著低于平原。玉树地区藏、汉之间;男、女之间也有一定差异。这可能是高原低气压,缺氧对肝脏代谢的影响,调节甲状腺激素,以求机体对高原坏境的适应。     

Inhibitory effect of fluoride on the secretion of insulin

Summary The oral administration of sodium fluoride (NaF) (40 μmol/100 body weight [bw]) to fasting rats produced an immediate fall in insulin levels and the consequent increase in glycemia. These phenomena were observed with plasma fluoride concentrations 5–15 μM. Glycemia and insulin returned to normal levels within 4–5 hours, together with the washing out of fluoride from plasma and soft tissues. The insulin secretion of isolated Langerhans islets, perifused with solutions containing 5, 10, or 20 μM fluoride, was found to be significantly inhibited as a function of fluoride levels, both with basal and stimulatory concentrations of glucose. One hour after the intake of 60 mg of NaF, fasting human volunteers showed increased fluoride (5–15 μM) together with a significant fall of plasma insulin levels.     

Synovial fluid levels of fluconazole in a patient with Candida parapsilosis prosthetic joint infection who had an excellent clinical response

A 73-year-old woman presenting with persistent swelling of the right knee 30 months after total joint arthroplasty was found to have a Candida parapsilosis infection. Treatment with fluconazole resulted in full recovery.     

Serum levels and clinical response in long-term pharmacotherapy with zuclopenthixol decanoate

Twenty-six patients diagnosed as chronic schizophrenics were given injections of zuclopenthixol decanoate (cis(Z)-clopenthixol decanoate) 200 mg every 3 weeks for at least 6 months. Before treatment and on each day of injection the patients' mental state was assessed by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), 18 items. A registration of side effects and basal laboratory data was also performed. Blood samples were drawn on each day of injection before injection and 3–7 days after injection (time of maximum concentration). Neuroleptic activity, which was considered equivalent to the concentration of zuclopenthixol, was determined in serum by radio-receptor assay (RRA). Based on amelioration scores ≥50% on the BPRS, 15 patients were characterized as responders and 11 as non-responders. The responder group showed a statistically significant reduction in BPRS score, whereas this was not the case for the non-responders. Apart from a few patients, the serum concentrations showed a low intra-individual variation, but a relatively high inter-individual variation. The responder group had a significantly higher mean preinjection concentration than the non-responder group, whereas no significant difference was found in day 3–7 concentrations. The fluctuation of the serum concentration expressed as the ratio between maximum (days 3–7) and minimum (pre-inj.) was found to be significantly lower for responders than for non-responders. Thus although the present study did not demonstrate a clear relationship between serum level and clinical effect, it indicates that the best antipsychotic effect is obtained with a serum concentration which fluctuates only slightly (the ratio max/min concentration not exceeding 2.1).     

新生儿窒息合并心肌损害血清心肌酶变化(附12例分析)

目的探讨心肌酶水平对窒息新生儿心肌损害的诊断价值。方法将12例窒息新生儿为实验组,另外收集10例同期正常新生儿作为对照组。两组新生儿经股静脉穿刺采血2 ml,分离血清,在24 h内测定心肌酶活性,同时做心电图检查,统计学处理采用t检验。结果两组血清心肌酶测定结果比较显示两组血清心肌酶均值间的差别有显著性意义。窒息组均出现心电图改变。结论血清心肌酶活性测定及心电图检测可作为新生儿窒息后心肌损害的早期监测和诊断的指标,为早期治疗提供依据。     

50例正常生育力男子精液和血液激素的一年动态观察

作者对南京市50名正常男子,每月1次、连续12个月测定了精液常规、某些精液生化和血清激素水平。结果表明:精子密度每次之间波动范围较大,冬季数值比夏季显著为高(P<0.01)。其它指标包括正常形态精子、活动精子、前向运动级别、精液果糖、硷性磷酸酶、酸性磷酸酶及血清,FSH LH T 则变动不显著。精液常规中除精子密度和各参数关系不明显外,所有其它参数之间呈正相关;但精液常规、精液生化和血清激素三者互不相关。从本组研究结果,作者提出了南京市正常男子这些指标的参考正常值。     

Elevated serum levels of the apoptosis related molecules TNF-α, Fas/Apo-1 and Bcl-2 in oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND: The serum circulatory levels of apoptosis related molecules measured in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and healthy individuals in order to investigate possible alterations associated with the clinical forms of OLP. METHODS: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, soluble Fas (sFas) and Bcl-2 studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in whole blood samples in 13 OLP reticular, 13 OLP atrophic-erosive form patients and 26 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Significantly elevated levels of TNF-alpha and sFas detected in OLP patients as compared with controls. Serum concentrations of Bcl-2 although increased in 17/26 patients, they were not statistically significant. Reticular OLP exhibited slightly elevated TNF-alpha and significantly elevated Bcl-2 serum levels, compared with erosive OLP. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a putative dysfunction in the Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis might be involved in the OLP pathogenesis. A downregulation of Bcl-2 serum levels in the atrophic-erosive OLP may be associated with promotion of the disease activity.     

Rapid drop in serum testosterone after bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy.

Bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy was performed in six patients with metastatic prostatic carcinoma. In these patients the serum levels of testosterone were determined serially up to twenty-four hours. Castrate levels of testosterone were achieved in about two and one-half hours. This is the first published report of such a rapid decrease in serum testosterone. Castrate levels of serum testosterone using the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists are achieved in fourteen to twenty-one days. The relative cost of orchiectomy and LH-RH agonists, for thirty-six months, was $2,042.00 and $12,780.00, respectively. LH-RH agonists may be effective for only a year. Urologists are urged to continue using bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy and not use LH-RH agonists in the management of metastatic prostatic carcinoma.