Renal disease in POEMS syndrome: report on a case and review of the literature

POEMS syndrome is a multisystem disorder associated with plasmacell dyscrasias. This report describes a patient with POEMS-associatedrenal disease and reviews the literature on biopsy-proven renalinvolvement in POEMS syndrome. Our patient had glomerulonephritiswith membranoproliferative features on light-microscopy withoutcharacteristic findings on immunofluorescence, and with ultra-structural evidence of glomerular microangiopathy. Ultrastructuralevidence of microangiopathy was also found in vasa nervorum.In 20 other cases of POEMS- associated renal disease, 16 hadglomerular disease. Light-microscopy showed membranoproliferative-likeglomerulopathy in 14 patients and glomerular microan giopathyin two. Ultrastructural evidence of microangi opathy was presentin all 15 patients in whom electron- microscopy was done. Thus,in most patients with POEMS-associated glomerular disease acharacteristic lesion is present with evidence of endothelialinjury. As endothelial damage is also found in endoneural vessels,generalized endothelial injury may play a role in non-renalmanifestations of POEMS syndrome. In previous reviews manifestationsof the POEMS syndrome were similar for patients with or withoutmyeloma. Among patients with biopsy-proven glomerular disease,however, myeloma patients are underrepres ented. Whether thisrepresents a sampling error or has true pathophysiological significanceremains to be established.     

Aggressive behaviour in elderly people with dementia: A review

The progressive degeneration of the brain seen in dementia is often accompanied by behavioural disturbances. Aggressive behaviour is one of the most serious of these disturbances and is a common cause for psychiatric referral, admission to hospital and drug treatment. In this article, we discuss the conceptual issues associated with defining aggressive behaviour in cognitively impaired patients. We then review the aetiology, epidemiology, methods of assessment, and management of aggressive behaviour in elderly people with dementia.     

Cutaneous manifestations in the cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, a variant of the classical Noonan syndrome. Report of a case and review of the literature

We report one patient with cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome. He presented with clinical findings characteristic of this condition such as: cutaneous abnormalities, including ichthyosis, widespread keratosis pilaris, a peculiar craniofacial appearance with sparse, curly hair and low-set posteriorly rotated ears; congenital heart defects; and mild mental and motor retardation. We submit a comprehensive review of previously published articles regarding the dermatological findings in CFC syndrome (recently shown to be a variant of Noonan syndrome) emphasizing diagnostic criteria and its differentiation from the Costello syndrome.     

CpG寡聚脱氧核苷酸在灵长类动物中免疫调节活性的研究进展

包含CpG基序的寡聚脱氧核苷酸(ODN)具有类似于微生物DNA激活内在免疫系统的能力，可提高适应性免疫力而抑制传染性生物的早期传播。CpG ODN在疫苗佐剂的设计以及哮喘、过敏、传染病和癌症的治疗中显示出良好的应用前景。由于CpG识别体系在进化中出现的种间差异，在啮齿类动物中表现出最强活性的CpG ODN却无法有效地刺激灵长类动物产生免疫应答。已有大量证据表明CpG ODN在小鼠中具有治疗活性，而其在灵长类动物中作用的研究仍需继续深入。现就作用于灵长类动物的CpG ODN的分类、作用机制和其作为疫苗佐剂与免疫保护剂以及在癌症、过敏和哮喘等多种疾病治疗上的应用研究进行综述。     

Control of endemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus—recent advances and future challenges

Although the exact burden of disease caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains largely unknown, most experts agree that MRSA infections are an important clinical and public health problem. Thousands of reports have been published during the last four decades concerning epidemiological and microbiological aspects of MRSA, but uncertainty remains about the best approach to prevent and control this worldwide plague, especially endemic MRSA. Epidemiological methods, e.g., risk scores for targeted screening upon admission, rapid molecular tests and pre-emptive isolation of high-risk patients, new decontamination regimens and restriction of certain antibiotic classes, are all promising approaches that may decrease MRSA cross-transmission; however, further evidence is needed before these strategies can be implemented on a wide scale. Control of community MRSA is an additional challenge for the future, requiring improved surveillance and contact tracing, as well as education and treatment of both infected cases and colonised contacts. This review summarises recent advances and studies that address these issues. Overall, it seems that there is no level of MRSA prevalence for which active control measures are no longer warranted.     

Pediatric lung transplantation: Literature review 2005

This review summarizes important original articles in the field of pediatric lung transplantation that were published in 2005. The review is intended to be comprehensive, but not exhaustive.     

Physical activity consultation for people with Type 2 diabetes: evidence and guidelines.

Physical activity is an important, but often underused, therapeutic strategy within diabetes care. To date, little is known about the best way to promote physical activity in diabetes care. Physical activity consultation is an intervention designed to promote physical activity behaviour change. This article provides guidelines on how to conduct a physical activity consultation with people who have Type 2 diabetes, and reviews the evidence surrounding the effectiveness of this intervention in this population. The trans-theoretical model is the underlying theory of behaviour change for the physical activity consultation intervention. The review identifies research which supports the use of this model for understanding physical activity behaviour in people with Type 2 diabetes. The review outlines a number of modifiable variables associated with physical activity behaviour change in this population. How each of these variables is addressed within the guidelines for conducting a physical activity consultation is identified. Finally, limited but consistent research highlights the effectiveness of physical activity consultation for promoting physical activity in people with Type 2 diabetes.     

Working With Human Research Protections

PURPOSE: To provide a primer for novice nurse scientists about the increasingly regulated human research environment. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCTS: Federal regulations and international guidelines about protection of human research participants are discussed, with particular attention to institutional review boards for human research. CONCLUSION: Understanding the processes used by institutional review boards to foster ethical human research promotes collaborative interactions and supports compliant research work.     

钙通道阻滞剂在皮肤科的应用

钙通道阻滞剂(CCB)是广泛应用于临床治疗心血管疾病的药物。近年的研究表明，CCB具有稳定肥大细胞膜和阻止脱颗粒，抑制淋巴细胞转化及白介素2产生，降低表皮郎格罕细胞数，扩张血管、抑制血小板聚集、增强红细胞变形能力，抑制细胞的分裂和增殖作用。此外对淋菌的耐药性有逆转作用。用于临床某些过敏性疾病、寒冷性脉管性疾病及银屑病取得了较好的效果，为临床增添了新的治疗手段．给变应性接触性皮炎、耐药性淋病的治疗带来了新的展望。本文对药物的副作用亦有概述。