Hepatitis B infection in prostitutes

The prevalence of HBV markers in prostitutes is known to be higher than that of the normal population of similar age range in previous studies. This study showed a significant correlation between the duration of prostitution and the prevalence of HBV antibodies amongst the prostitutes. The prevalence of HBV antibodies doubled after the first year of prostitution. A two-year follow-up study of these prostitutes showed that 37% of HBsAg positive prostitutes lost the HBsAg. The seroconversion rate of HBsAg negative prostitutes was 10% during this two-year period. Early immunization against HBV infection should be considered in this high risk group in view of these findings.     

新加坡亚洲人的基底细胞癌特征及完全与不完全切除肿瘤的比较

背景：大多数已报道的基底细胞癌（BCCs）的特征主要是依据高加索患者。而关于亚洲人中不完全切除BCCs的特征少见报道。目的：本研究调查了新加坡亚洲居民的BCCs特征，并对常规外科切除术后完全切除与不完全切除肿瘤进行了比较。患者和方法：收集1991--1995年间在国家皮肤病中心行肿瘤切除术的原发性BCC患者的病历进行回顾性研究。结果：166例BCC患者（男女比0．95；平均年龄70．9岁）的185个组织病检确诊的BCCs记录在案。发病最高比例（27．1％）在8l～90岁年龄组。与普查资料相比，华人BCCs患者的比例明显增高（P〈0．001）。肿瘤平均直径为12．0mm，且大多数（84．3％）位于头颈部。28处（15．1％）皮损被不完全切除，多位于鼻部及鼻唇沟。不完全切除的基底细胞癌较完全切除的基底细胞癌更多发生于面中部及躯干部（P=0．003），但与肿瘤大小、肿瘤持续时间、患者年龄、种族及性别无显著相关。平均随访74个月，     

CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY AND INTERMITTENT INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE ELEVATION DURING SLEEP IN HYDROCEPHALIC CHILDREN

The clinical importance of intermittent intracranial pressure (ICP) elevations during sleep in hydrocephalic children is unclear. Eight studies of continuous ICP monitoring with simultaneous cerebral blood-flow velocity (CBFV) measurements were recorded during sleep in seven hydrocephalic children aged between one and 10 years. ICP was measured directly through a frontal reservoir. There were two main patterns of CBFV change in response to raised ICP: a progressive decrease in mean flow velocity and increase in resistance index, suggesting impaired haemodynamic compensation to ICP elevation due to reduced circulatory reserve in patients with limited intracranial compliance; and an increase in mean flow velocity with raised ICP, suggesting that appropriate haemodynamic compensation with increased blood-flow can occur to maintain adequate cerebral perfusion in those with sufficient circulatory reserve. Simultaneous CBFV and ICP measurements may help to identify those with reduced circulatory reserve who are at greater risk of ischaemic insult from episodic increases in ICP.     

我国各省药品经营(零售)许可管理部分规定的比较

本文收集并比较了全国各省有关药品零售企业的开办规定。结果表明，各省在药品零售企业药学专业人员配备、药房合理布局、仓库设置等方面的要求各具特色，零售药房的监管需进一步完善。     

Perforation of the large bowel during colonoscopy in Singapore

The management of seven patients with colonoscopy-related perforations is described. This study demonstrates the need for an early laparotomy. A high index of suspicion is required to reach an early diagnosis. Patients with no preexisting medical problems who underwent early surgery recovered with little morbidity. In elderly patients (greater than 75 years), colonoscopic perforation can be fatal. Endoscopy should be performed with special care in such patients.     

Potential drug targets for Mycobacterium avium defined by radiometric drug-inhibitor combination techniques.

Previously established radiometric techniques were used to assess the effectiveness of combined antimicrobial drug-inhibitory drug (drug-inhibitor) treatment on two clinical isolates of the Mycobacterium avium complex representing three colony variants: smooth opaque (dome) (SmO), smooth transparent (SmT), and rough (Rg). All variants were identified as members of the M. avium complex; however, only the SmT colony type of strain 373 possessed characteristic serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid (GPL) antigens. MICs, determined radiometrically, of drugs with the potential to inhibit the biosynthesis of GPL antigens or other cell envelope constituents were similar for all strains. These drugs included cerulenin, N-carbamyl-DL-phenylalanine, N-carbamyl-L-isoleucine, trans-cinnamic acid, ethambutol, 1-fluoro-1-deoxy-beta-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and m-fluoro-phenylalanine. The MICs of the antimicrobial drugs amikacin, sparfloxacin, and clarithromycin varied, but overall the MICs for the SmO variant were the lowest. Radiometric assessment of drug-inhibitor combinations by using established x/y determinations revealed enhanced activity when either ethambutol or cerulenin were used in combination with all antimicrobial agents for all variants except the Rg variant of strain 424, for which ethambutol was not effective. Enhanced activity with amino acid analogs was observed with the Rg colony variants of strains 373 and 424. Two potential sites for drug targeting were identified: fatty acid synthesis, for all strains assayed, and peptide biosynthesis, particularly for Rg colony variants that possess previously identified phenylalanine-containing lipopeptides as potential targets for future drug development.