指示肺通气不均匀性的熵变及其同其他指标的理论比较

熵代表无序的水平，作者使用通气的熵变（ＥＣＶ）指示肺通气的不均匀性，ＥＣＶ定义为当前泡潮气量趋近于零时每摩尔被吸入气体从不均匀通气到均匀通气的熵变的极限。本文从熵的基本公式民地出ＥＣＶ的计算方程。用几个数学模型肺将ＥＣＶ同其他７个洗出指标进行了比较。８个指标中，只有ＥＣＶ仅取决于通气分布，其他７个指标不仅取决于通气分布，还同潮气量和死腔的大小有关。这影响了它们评价肺通气不均匀性的效果，ＥＣＶ的另一     

Andrology: Transrectal electroejaculation in combination with in-vitro fertilization: an effective treatment of anejaculatory infertility after testicular cancer

Treatment of non-seminomatous testicular cancer often leadsto infertility due to anejaculation/retrograde ejaculation andpoor sperm quality. In these men spermatozoa may be obtainedby transrectal electroejaculation (TE), but the optimal strategyfor assisted procreation in these couples is not known. Ouraim was to examine whether TE and conventional in-vitro fertilization(IVF) would be successful. A total of 10 couples, with long-standinginfertility due to anejaculation or retrograde ejaculation aftertreatment for testicular cancer 5–14 years earlier, werereferred to our unit. All men underwent diagnostic TE undergeneral anaesthesia. Spermatozoa were recovered in nine cases.The antegrade fraction was prepared and used for IVF. Spermquality was variable and conventional IVF was considered impossiblein three cases. Altogether six IVF treatment cycles in six couplesresulted in five pregnancies, of which four resulted in a deliveryand one resulted in a spontaneous abortion. One additional pregnancyis ongoing after transfer of cryopreserved embryos. The fertilizationrate was 54% (33/61) and the cleavage rate was 97% (32/33).No complications relating to the procedure have been encountered.     

Experiences of use of the cerebral palsy hemiplegic hand in young persons treated with upper extremity surgery.

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of young persons using their hemiplegic hand in daily life activities following upper extremity surgery (UES). Ten persons, aged 12-24 years, were interviewed individually five to seven years after surgery. The analysis was guided by a comparative method. The findings show that the participants during this period had experienced changes which they related both to the treatment and to development. Data resolved into three main themes. Functional improvements are interwoven into daily life, the hand is easier to use and is used more, and changes in the appearance and in the internal feeling of the arm are of importance. This study reflects the patients' experiences of living with the outcome of UES and yields an important complement to objective, quantitative outcome studies.     

The effect of various thermal processes on the glycemic response to whole grain wheat products in humans and rats

The effects of different thermal processes used to produce ready-to-eat cereals on the glycemic response to whole grain wheat were investigated in rats. The metabolic response to drum dried flour, which constitutes the major component in instant gruel and porridge, was also studied in healthy human subjects. Boiled flour was used for comparison. The degree of starch gelatinization and rate of starch hydrolysis in vitro were also measured. Incompletely gelatinized steam flaked and dry autoclaved products were digested more slowly in vitro and elicited lower glucose responses in rats compared with completely gelatinized drum dried, extrusion cooked or boiled samples. The initial glycemic response in rats was closely related to the rate of starch hydrolysis in the pepsin/alpha-amylase assay (r = 0.91, P less than 0.04). When pepsin was omitted, no significant correlation was obtained. The peak glucose, insulin and C-peptide responses in humans after breakfast meals of porridge prepared from drum dried flour and from boiled flour were similar, whereas the rate of depression of the glucose curve was more rapid after consuming drum dried porridge. It is concluded that the glycemic response to wheat products is affected by the processing conditions used. The more severe the processing conditions, the more rapid the digestion of starch.     

Expression of cell-matrix molecules and integrin receptors in human liver grafts during chronic rejection

Abstract The inflammatory response of immune cells to target cells and cell-matrix molecules is regulated by several receptor-ligand molecules. As fibrosis develops in ongoing chronic rejection after liver transplantation, it is of interest to analyze patterns of integrin receptors and cell-matrix molecules in order to study the relation between immune cells and the stromal and parenchymal cells. In the present study, we demonstrated the expression of these molecules in chronic rejected human liver grafts using immunohistochemical techniques. The results showed a differential expression and induction of integrin receptors and cell-matrix molecules on resident liver cells, especially on sinusoids, reflecting a state of chronic inflammation and a specific interaction between integrin receptors and cell-matrix molecules. The patterns of induced integrin receptors on graft-infiltrating cells was closely related to the local production of cell-matrix molecules and reflected the final sequence of a stepwise progress of the inflammatory reaction.     

Density dependence of maximal expiratory air flow in asthmatics with exacerbation of their disease

In an effort to evaluate the relationship between the site of air-flow obstruction and rate of improvement with therapy, we studied 20 asthmatics with spirometry, before and after bronchodilator, using air and 80% helium-20% oxygen (He-O2). Studies were obtained on 3 consecutive days after hospital admission and approximately 18 days after discharge. Greater He-O2 response ([Vmax50(He-O2)--Vmax50(air)]/predicted Vmax50) X 100, was associated with: less cigarette consumption (p less than 0.02), lesser frequency of chronic productive cough (p less than 0.02), more symptom-free intervals (p less than 0.02), and greater frequency of allergic rhinitis (p less than 0.03). Patients with greater He-O2 response (Group 1) reached maximal improvement in air flow by Hospital Day 2, whereas those with a lesser He-O2 response (Group 2) continued to improve throughout the observation period. The Group 1 mean peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) improved by 24% of predicted per day to maximum, which was significantly greater (p less than 0.025) than the 11% per day rate of improvement of Group 2. The He-O2 response remained relatively stable throughout the course of the study except for 3 patients who dramatically improved their response with therapy. A highly significant correlation, adjusted for regression to the mean, (r = 0.95, p less than 0.0001) was found between mean baseline percent predicted Vmax50 and the mean He-O2 response. After adjustment for regression to the mean, there was no significant relationship between the degree of prebronchodilator He-O2 response and increase in He-O2 response with bronchodilator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Isolation and characterization of two European strains of Ehrlichia phagocytophila of equine origin

We report the isolation and partial genetic characterization of two equine strains of granulocytic Ehrlichia of the genogroup Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Frozen whole-blood samples from two Swedish horses with laboratory-verified granulocytic ehrlichiosis were inoculated into HL-60 cell cultures. Granulocytic Ehrlichia was isolated and propagated from both horses. DNA extracts from the respective strains were amplified by PCR using primers directed towards the 16S rRNA gene, the groESL heat shock operon gene, and the ank gene. The amplified gene fragments were sequenced and compared to known sequences in the GenBank database. With respect to the 16S rRNA gene, the groESL gene, and the ank gene, the DNA sequences of the two equine Ehrlichia isolates were identical to sequences found in isolates from clinical cases of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in humans and domestic animals in Sweden. However, compared to amplified DNA from an American Ehrlichia strain of the E. phagocytophila genogroup, differences were found in the groESL gene and ank gene sequences.     

Structural and functional analysis of the human IgG-Fab receptor activity of streptococcal protein G

Streptococcal protein G (SPG) shows specific binding activity to IgGs and serum albumins from various species. In order to investigate the structural domains of SPG responsible for the specific interaction with human IgG-Fab, the binding characteristics of a collection of recombinant receptors were analysed. The study includes receptors comprising different parts of the SPG molecule as well as chimeric receptors containing IgG-binding domains of staphylococcal protein A (SPA) fused to the N-terminal AB-region of SPG, which has been claimed to interact with human IgG-Fab. Purified defined gene products were allowed to compete for the binding to human IgG, human IgG-F(ab')2 fragments and human serum albumin (HSA) in several sets of competitive binding experiments. The results demonstrate that the C-terminal C domains have both IgG-Fc- and IgG-Fab-binding capacities, whereas the N-terminal AB region is responsible for the HSA-binding only. These results, which are in conflict with previous work, demonstrate that the binding to both the IgG-Fc and the IgG-Fab region is mediated by the same structurally distinct receptor region of SPG.