DNA flow-cytometric analysis in colorectal cancer: A comparison of metastasizing and non-metastasizing tumours

The most common cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer is metastatic liver disease. In order to identify patients at a high risk of developing hepatic secondaries from colorectal cancers, DNA content was measured in metastasizing colorectal primaries (Group I, n= 32) as well as in their subsequently resected liver secondaries and in sections of non-metastasizing colorectal cancers (Group II, n= 25). A modified interpretation system involving both a DNA index and percentage of cycling cells (those in S and G2 + M phases) was developed. DNA content was measured in paraffin-embedded sections by flow cytometry using internal controls (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and non-malignant tissue controls (19 patients with diverticular disease). In Group I there were significantly more tumours with both abnormal ploidy (aneuploid or abnormal tetraploid peak) and > 15% cycling cells compared with Group II (Chi-squared; P= 0.034). The combination of abnormal ploidy and > 15% cycling cells was superior to Dukes’ classification for identifying metastasizing tumours (Logistic Regression; P= 0.047). However, it was not possible to discriminate between the two groups using either DNA ploidy or the percentage of cycling cells alone. The metastasizing colorectal cancers exhibited similar DNA ploidy characteristics and had a similar percentage of cycling cells compared with their liver metastases. These results suggest that tumour DNA ploidy plus the percentage of cycling cells may predict the development of liver metastases and thus survival in patients with colorectal cancer.     

在急救中心开展多发伤一体化救治分析

目的 探讨提高多发伤救治成功率的措施。方法 回顾性总结2002年6月～2003年6月间中山市急救中心开展多发伤救治的效果，分析多发伤一体化救治的模式和关键点。结果 共收治135例，抢救成功107例，成功率79．3％；死亡28例，死亡率20．7％。结论 (1)住急救中心实施多发伤一体化救治是提高其成功率的有效途径，也是多发伤救治的发展趋势，(2)在急救中心实施多发伤一体化救治的模式：急救中心设立创伤中心、建立成套的创伤急救体系，培养高素质专业人员．多发伤的诊治由急救中心医师实施或组织实施。(3)严重多发伤救治的关键点：抓好院前、院内急救——抢救生命；开展急诊手术——尽早修复损伤器官，消除致死致残因素；重视重症监护及治疗——进一步治疗原发损伤，保护各脏器功能，促进机体恢复，防止并发症。     

Assessment of enamel hypoplasia in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED)

The features of enamel hypoplasia in a small group of patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) are described. Using a recently developed method, the authors evaluated quantitatively the amount of defect in each tooth by measuring the width of the hypoplastic lesions and dividing the value by the crown height. They then assessed the degree of damage in each tooth type (from central incisors to second premolars) and patient. Canines were the most severely affected among maxillary and mandibular teeth, but all tooth types were involved. Analysing both the differences between patients and their age at the beginning of the defect, the authors observe that hypoparathyroidism is not responsible for the onset of enamel hypoplasia in APECED, although it may contribute to the damage.     

IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF LIGHT CHAIN DISEASE ANALYSIS OF 11 CASES FOUND IN FUJIAN PROVINCE

The present paper reports 11 cases of light chain disease (LCD) sequently found in several citles over Fujian province, Immunological classification of this group of LCD ww as follows: six of me cases belonged to type λ, four of them were type κ, and another one was a double LCD. We found that LCD was common in Fujlan only next to multiple myeloma (MM) of IgG class and accounted for 20% of the total 55 MM cases found in recent yean.It to well known that In matt patients of LCD M protein or Bence Jones proteinemia (BJPemia) to not detectable by conventional electro-phoresis. Our studies show that by making serum protein along with urinary BJP electrophoresis on the same one gel plate the sltuation can be greatly Improved It not only favour* the recognition of smail and faint band or bands of free light chain in serum, but also provides a repid and sensitive way, i. e. , immunofixation, to directly detect urinary light chain on the gel plate Immediately after electrophresis has been run.     

Pre- and postoperative nutritional care in liver transplantation in children

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is now a definitive treatment option for most cases of endstage liver disease (ESLD) in children. Efforts now focus on active supportive treatment to maintain, if not improve, the patient's clinical status before OLT and to ensure normal patterns of growth and development after OLT. Malnutrition adversely affects the outcome of OLT and is probably the single area in pre-operative management where the largest potential improvement can be made. Our studies indicate significant abnormalities of protein energy metabolism and body composition in children referred for OLT. We have shown that the use of enteral formulae, enriched with branched-chain amino acids, have significant advantages. Other adjunctive therapy, such as growth hormone, is the subject of current investigation. Following transplantation, catch-up weight and growth does occur with the advent of normal liver functioning, but patients at continuing risk for undernutrition, such as those with rejection and/or chronic infection, need to be targeted for specific nutritional therapy.     

Analysis of gene expression in MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis after treatment with a novel brain-penetrating antioxidant

Accumulating data from experimental studies indicate that oxidative stress has a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been suggested that local production of reactive oxygen species, probably by macrophages, mediates axonal damage in both MS patients and the mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We have shown previously that our novel brain-penetrating antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine amide (AD4), reduces the clinical and pathological symptoms, including inflammation and axonal damage in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced chronic EAE in mice. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular mechanism by which AD4 exerts protection in MOG-induced EAE mice. Therefore, we analyzed gene-expression profile in the spinal cords of MOG-induced chronic EAE mice and compared them with MOG-induced mice treated with AD4, using a cDNA microarray. We found that MOG treatment up-regulated genes encoding growth factors, cytokines, death receptors, proteases, and myelin structure proteins, whereas MOG- and AD4-treated mice demonstrated gene expression profiles similar to that seen in na?ve healthy mice. In conclusion, our study shows that chronic AD4 administration suppresses the induction of various pathological pathways that play a role in EAE and probably in MS.     

Disposition of the neuroleptic zuclopenthixol cosegregates with the polymorphic hydroxylation of debrisoquine in humans

The pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of the neuroleptic drug zuclopenthixol (10 or 6 mg) was studied in 6 extensive and 6 poor metabolizers of debrisoquine. The peak plasma concentrations of zuclopenthixol did not differ between the phenotypes, whereas the plasma elimination half-life was significantly longer in poor than in extensive metabolizers (29.9 +/- 6.6 vs 17.6 +/- 6.9 h). Accordingly, the total oral plasma clearance was lower in poor than in extensive metabolizers (0.78 +/- 0.27 vs 2.12 +/- 0.65 1/h/kg). Ten of the volunteers had previously participated in a similar study in which the kinetics of perphenazine, another neuroleptic drug, were studied in poor and in extensive metabolizers of debrisoquine. There was a significant correlation between the oral clearance of perphenazine and that of zuclopenthixol among these 10 subjects. The study indicates that the disposition of zuclopenthixol, as well as that of perphenazine, is related to the genetically determined capacity to hydroxylate debrisoquine. The significance of this polymorphism for the clinical use of neuroleptics is discussed.     

β-N-Acetylhexosaminadases in human cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients with multiple sclerosis

β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase activity and isoenzyme have been investigated in normal human cerebrospinal fluid and that of patients with multiple sclerosis. β-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity in normal cerebrospinal fluids has been resolved into five components. The major component was in a form that eluted from DEAE cellulose at the same salt concentration as hexosaminidase As, the isoenzyme previously identified in human serum. Cerebrospinal fluid from patients exhibited a different isoenzyme profile, showing a remarkable increase in a form having a pI which was more acidic than that of As. These changes have a potential use in the diagnosis and further biochemical characterization of multiple sclerosis.     

猪尾导管连接化疗药盒实现肝脏肿瘤多重化疗的可行性研究

目的 探讨使用猪尾造影导管与单一化疗药盒连接实现肝脏肿瘤多重化疗的可行性及初步疗效。资料与方法 对30例晚期肝脏恶性肿瘤患者采用经股动脉穿刺、腹腔动脉内植入猪尾导管与皮下埋置药盒并序贯化疗，统计手术成功率、并发症及临床疗效。结果 30例手术全部成功，发生切口延迟愈合1例。术后随访28例，经影像学复查对比，病变缩小7例，稳定12例，进展9例。随访期间12例患者死亡，术后生存期42d-10个月，中位生存期6个月。另外16例患者至今存活，已达术后2-16个月。结论 采用猪尾造影导管置于腹腔动脉并与化疗药盒相连接，能够对晚期肝脏恶性肿瘤实现多重化疗，技术上简单可行，并发症少，初步疗效令人满意。