Bowel Ultrasound in Crohn Disease: Current Role and Future Applications

Background: The majority of hemochromatosis patients are homozygous for the HFE-C282Y mutation. However, less than half of C282Y homozygous subjects identified by population screening studies actually develop the disease. The cytokine TNF- &;#33 is implicated in the regulation of iron metabolism at different levels. Our aim was to study the role of TNF- &;#33 and its promoter polymorphisms in the phenotypic expression of hemochromatosis in individuals with and without the C282Y mutation. Methods: We studied 4 groups of 10 subjects each: ( 1 ) C282Y homozygotes without clinical hemochromatosis; ( 2 ) C282Y homozygotes with hemochromatosis; ( 3 ) secondary hemochromatosis (without C282Y mutation); and ( 4 ) controls. Groups were age-matched and sex-matched. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the release of TNF- &;#33 was measured. Additionally, the G/A polymorphisms at position -238 and -308 of the TNF- &;#33 gene were determined by PCR and RFLP analysis in 178 hemochromatosis patients and 41 controls. Results: TNF- &;#33 production from PBMC at 8 and 24 &;#114 h after increasing concentrations of LPS stimulation were similar in the four groups. The prevalence of TNF- &;#33 polymorphisms was similar in patients and controls. The prevalences of cirrhosis, siderosis, median s-ferritin and median ALT values were similar in patients with and without the TNF- &;#33 polymorphisms. Conclusions: Neither TNF- &;#33 released from PBMC nor the presence of TNF- &;#33 polymorphisms seem to be associated with disease manifestation in hemochromatosis.     

The role of cathelicidin and defensins in pulmonary inflammatory diseases

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) protect the epithelia of mucosal organs like the respiratory or the gastrointestinal tract from invading microorganisms. As an integral part of the innate immune system they display antimicrobial activity against Gram- and Gram-negative bacteria as well as against fungi and enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Besides their microbicidal effects they have important functions in the regulation of repair and inflammation. AMPs are sometimes referred to as ‘alarmins’ due to their ability to recruit, modulate and activate components of the immune system. In contrast, some AMPs suppress activation of the immune system. AMPs are also involved in tissue repair, cancer biology and angiogenesis. Based on their antimicrobial and immunomodulatoy functions, AMPs are probably involved in the pathogenesis of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the lung. Inborn or acquired deficiencies contribute to susceptibility to infection and colonisation. The potential pro-inflammatory role of AMPs contributes to the disease processes in inflammatory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sepsis or pulmonary fibrosis. This review summarises the knowledge about the functions of AMPs in the pulmonary innate host defence system and their role in respiratory disease.     

预防性心包内肺循环短暂阻断术在局限性T4期肺癌外科治疗中的应用

目的 探讨预防性心包内肺循环短暂阻断术在局限性T4期肺癌外科治疗中的应用价值.方法 开胸后探查肺癌、转移淋巴结与肺血管的关系,切开心包,在心包内游离患侧肺动脉根部和肺上、下静脉,通过肺循环短暂阻断术结合成形术完成肺癌切除.结果 肺动脉阻断时间为(22±4) min,肺静脉阻断时间为(18±3) min,术中出血量为(239±71) ml.24例患者均成功实施肺癌切除,未行全肺切除术.术中无死亡病例,术后无严重并发症.结论 预防性心包内肺循环短暂性阻断术能提高T4期肺癌手术的安全性和肿瘤切除的彻底性,减少全肺切除的施行.     

佛山市禅城区中小学生肺结核感染和患病现况

目的了解佛山市禅城区中小学生结核菌感染和肺结核患病现况,为主管部门提供学校结核病防治工作决策依据。方法整群抽取佛山市禅城区中小学新生19 685名进行PPD试验,检查结果采用SPSS 16.0统计分析。结果佛山市中小学生PPD总体阳性率为52.0%,强阳性率3.6%,发现5例活动性肺结核病人,患病率为28.76/105。初中学生PPD阳性4 737例(51.5%),强阳性307例(3.3%);小学生阳性3 689例(45.1%),强阳性311例(3.8%);初中生阳性率低于小学生(χ2=70.36,P<0.01)。受检男生中,阳性4459例(46.1%),强阳性255例(2.6%);女生中,阳性3 967例(51.4%),强阳性363例(4.7%),女生阳性率高于男生(χ2=124.39,P<0.01)。有肺结核患者的学校PPD阳性和强阳性检出率高于无肺结核患者的学校(χ2=31.76,P<0.01),患者所在班级PPD总体阳性率高于无患者的班级(χ2=9.28,P=0.01)。结论佛山市中小学学生结核菌感染率和活动性肺结核患病率较高,初中生、女生易感,患者所在班级和学校结核菌感染率较高。因此,要针对重点人群,加强佛山市中小学生结核病防治工作。     

食管缺损经肺组织瓣和金属支架重建后黏膜爬行的光镜和电镜观察

 目的 探讨肺组织瓣修复食管侧壁缺损内衬金属支架的方法进行食管重建的可行性。 方法 选取成年犬12条,切除中段食管,选用右中叶肺组织作为替代物,将金属支架放置于缺损处食管内,用游离的肺组织瓣修补食管缺损。术后行钡餐透视检查及病理学检查,通过光镜和电镜观察黏膜的爬行过程,爬行的新生上皮的超微结构。结果 新生食管复层上皮与肺组织瓣连接紧密,愈合良好。但术后18周腺体和平滑肌的再生均不明显。结论 肺组织瓣内衬金属支架重建食管为食管替代提供了一种新的尝试，作为支撑物其远期效果有待进一步探讨。     

Pulmonary embolism manifested as acute coronary syndrome after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a rare but serious complication following orthopedic surgery. Routine prophylaxis remains a controversial issue. The current study outlines the case of a 34-year-old male patient with delayed diagnosis of PE 15 days after arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) without thromboprophylaxis. He was diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome initially, but the symptoms could not be relieved after cardiac catheterization. However, PE was finally confirmed 3 days later, after serial examinations. An anticoagulant agent with enoxaparin was administered, which resulted in the relief of symptoms, and he was discharged after 18 days of hospitalization. The symptoms of PE can be similar to those of acute coronary syndrome. Thus, establishing an accurate diagnosis is difficult due to the very low incidence of PE after ACL reconstruction. Some of the possible causes of PE in this patient were his history of smoking, obesity, and surgery with prolonged surgical and tourniquet times. Surgeons should be aware of and pay greater attention to this rare complication after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, even for young and relatively healthy patients.     

Are all forms of feature binding disturbed in schizophrenia? Evidence from a central vs. peripheral distinction in working memory

In this study we investigated central and peripheral feature binding in a group of 24 high pre-morbid IQ patients with schizophrenia and 24 healthy controls. In particular, participants were asked to remember specific single (e.g., word, colour) or multiple features (e.g., coloured words) of experimental items with central (coloured word) vs. peripheral (a coloured frame) attributes in a working memory binding task. Performance of the patients was significantly inferior to that of controls, especially when required to remember the peripheral combination of multiple features. Results suggest that patients with schizophrenia may have difficulties in unitizing peripheral features in working memory.     

麻醉期间突发急性肺栓塞高危因素分析

目的探讨骨科手术患者麻醉期间突发急性肺栓塞（APE）的高危因素。方法回顾性分析本院2010～2012年60例行骨科手术治疗患者的资料，患者麻醉期间均突发APE，记为观察组，选取同期60例骨科手术未发生APE患者的资料作为对照组，统计分析患者的基本情况、麻醉方式、手术因素、生化指标、基础疾病等方面。结果麻醉期间发生APE与患者基本情况、基础疾病、麻醉方式、长骨骨折手术、凝血指标等明显相关。结论麻醉期间发生APE是多因素影响的结果，术前要积极预防，一旦发生要正确处理，以降低死亡率。