In vitro synergy testing of clarithromycin and 14-hydroxyclarithromycin with amoxicillin or bismuth subsalicylate against Helicobacter pylori.

The activity of clarithromycin-14-hydroxyclarithromycin (2:1 ratio) and bismuth subsalicylate or amoxicillin against Helicobacter pylori was determined by the checkerboard technique in vitro. Clarithromycin-14-hydroxyclarithromycin and amoxicillin resulted in additive effects in 7 of 22 isolates, compared to 14 of 22 isolates when bismuth subsalicylate was substituted for amoxicillin. Synergy was not demonstrated and is probably not responsible for the clinical success of treatment combinations containing clarithromycin.     

The diagnosis and management of temporal arteritis

Temporal arteritis (TA), or giant cell arteritis, is a systemic autoimmune vasculitis affecting patients over 50 years of age. It can cause rapid, irreversible bilateral vision loss in older adults and is therefore considered an ophthalmological emergency. Many of the symptoms and signs of TA can be vague, non-specific and gradual in onset, often leading to a delayed or inaccurate diagnosis. As such, it is important for a wide variety of primary optometrists and health practitioners to maintain a robust understanding of the clinical presentation, key investigations and time-sensitive management of this disease, as early initiation of treatment for TA can be vision- and life-saving.     

In vitro activities of a new ketolide, ABT-773, alone and in combination with amoxicillin, metronidazole, or tetracycline against Helicobacter pylori

The in vitro activity of ABT-773, a new ketolide, was compared with those of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, and tetracycline against 15 strains of Helicobacter pylori. The MIC of ABT-773 at which 90% of isolates were inhibited was 0.25 microg/ml, which was 3 dilutions higher than that of the most active agent, clarithromycin. Synergy and antagonism were not seen with any combinations. Additive activity was seen with tetracycline, metronidazole, and amoxicillin in 100, 60, and 40% of the combinations, respectively.     

Commentary on “A novel treatment strategy for newly diagnosed high-grade T1 bladder cancer: Gemcitabine and cisplatin adjuvant chemotherapy—A single-institution experience.”

Background

Management of high-grade T1 (formerly T1G3) bladder cancer continues to be controversial. Should patients with T1G3 bladder cancer have an immediate radical cystectomy or should they receive intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin preserving bladder? Gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) adjuvant chemotherapy may help to strike a balance between intravesical and early cystectomy. For purposes of this study, we continue to refer high-grade T1 lesion as “T1G3.”

Solid Organ Transplantation From Hepatitis B Virus–Positive Donors: Consensus Guidelines for Recipient Management

Use of organs from donors testing positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) may safely expand the donor pool. The American Society of Transplantation convened a multidisciplinary expert panel that reviewed the existing literature and developed consensus recommendations for recipient management following the use of organs from HBV positive donors. Transmission risk is highest with liver donors and significantly lower with non‐liver (kidney and thoracic) donors. Antiviral prophylaxis significantly reduces the rate of transmission to liver recipients from isolated HBV core antibody positive (anti‐HBc+) donors. Organs from anti‐HBc+ donors should be considered for all adult transplant candidates after an individualized assessment of the risks and benefits and appropriate patient consent. Indefinite antiviral prophylaxis is recommended in liver recipients with no immunity or vaccine immunity but not in liver recipients with natural immunity. Antiviral prophylaxis may be considered for up to 1 year in susceptible non‐liver recipients but is not recommended in immune non‐liver recipients. Although no longer the treatment of choice in patients with chronic HBV, lamivudine remains the most cost‐effective choice for prophylaxis in this setting. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin is not recommended.     

"Hemicrania continua": another headache absolutely responsive to indomethacin

Two cases suffering from a headache apparently at variance with well recognized headaches are described. It is characterized by a steady, non-paroxysmal, probably severe to moderately severe hemicrania localized anteriorly or anteroposteriorly and is not associated with nausea. Indomethacin exerts an absolute, persistent and clearly dose-dependent effect on this headache, which differs from unilateral headache syndromes such as cluster headache and cervicogenic headache in its temporal pattern and indomethacin response. It differs from chronic paroxysmal hemicrania in its temporal pattern and in the lack of accompanying symptoms.     

应用功能磁共振成像分析脑卒中患者康复治疗前后大脑再塑机制

目的:应用功能磁共振成像观察脑卒中后及康复过程中,在相应脑内运动功能区激活的变化情况,探讨不同运动模式下皮质功能再塑的表现。方法:选取2003-02/10大庆油田总医院康复科住院的皮质下脑梗死患者8例,在发病后1周始进行连续两个月的康复。在康复前、康复1,2个月时运用Brunnstrom分级、Caroll上肢功能量表(0￣100分,评分越高功能越好)对其手功能进行评价,并采用GEMR/iHiSpeed1.5超导磁共振扫描机进行磁共振成像功能激发检查。患者用病手执行简单运动(快速连续的拇指与其他各指的对指动作)、随意运动(用病手摸不同形状的木块),获得脑功能激发图像,观察脑内相关功能区的激活情况。结果:8例受试者均进入结果分析。①康复后所有患者Brunnstrom分级和Caroll上肢功能评分均较康复前有明显改善。②病手简单运动时脑内相关功能区的激活情况:8例受试者7例在损伤后早期手指不能对指,所以没有激活;M1,SMA,PMA脑区和小脑呈现单侧激活-双侧激活-单侧激活的变化过程;随着运动功能恢复,脑内激活数目随时间呈下降趋势,几乎接近正常人脑功能表现。③病手随意运动时脑内相关功能区的激活情况:实验中发现引起的运动相关功能区的激发情况变化多样,规律性较差,但其中5例受试者表现出损伤后激发数目明显减少,许多对运动起决定性支配作用的功能区亦不激活;随着运动功能恢复,激发区数目呈上升趋势,同损伤后简单运动的激活表现。结论:①脑卒中后病手经过康复治疗简单运动恢复较好,康复治疗2个月后脑内运动功能相关区域激活的规律已同正常人。②脑卒中后病手随意运动恢复较困难,康复治疗后不如简单运动恢复好,脑内相关运动功能区激活无明显的规律性。随着运动功能的恢复,脑内相应的运动功能区激活增多。     

构建以少突胶质细胞前体为主与人类早产儿脑室周围白质软化病理相似的动物模型

目的:建立以晚期少突胶质细胞前体为主、与人类早产儿脑室周围白质软化病理相似的可靠动物模型。方法:实验于2005-10/2006-06在上海交通大学医学院附属新华医院科研中心完成。2d龄和7d龄SD同窝清洁级新生大鼠各43只,雌雄不拘,以随机数字表法分为4组,即2d龄模型组(n=25)、2d龄假手术组(n=18)、7d龄模型组(n=25)和7d龄假手术组(n=18),脑室周围白质软化动物模型建立:结扎双侧颈总动脉,手术时间短于10～15min,术后将新生大鼠送入缺氧箱缺氧30min,混合气体为体积分数0.08的O2和0.92的N2,输入流量为1～2.5mL/min。假手术组游离双侧颈总动脉,但不予结扎和缺氧。将各组大鼠分别于术后1d测定脑梗死体积,术后2d进行少突胶质细胞系列免疫组织化学染色分析、脑片TTC染色观察脑梗死情况以及光镜下脑病理研究,术后21d进行电镜下病理研究。结果:实验86只新生大鼠,14只制作脑室周围白质软化模型死亡,余72只计入统计。①术后1d各组脑片大体观察:模型组脑内呈现大面积白色梗死区,多为大脑前、中动脉供血区域,2,7d龄模型组梗死体积分别为(53.45±33.90),(68.78±20.22)mm3,梗死百分比分别为(24.98±15.44)%,(11.84±4.14)%;假手术组脑片颜色鲜红,未见白色梗死区。②新生大鼠少突胶质细胞系列标志物免疫组织化学结果:2d龄新生大鼠脑白质内以少突胶质细胞前体为主,7d龄新生大鼠则以成熟少突胶质细胞为主。模型大鼠的相应少突胶质细胞系列阳性标记物的积分吸光度值均显著低于同日龄对照新生大鼠(P<0.05～0.01)。③各组大鼠术后2d光镜下脑病理检查结果:2d龄模型组新生大鼠的脑室周围以及皮层下白质呈现囊性坏死和细胞凋亡,而皮质神经元损伤轻微;而7d龄模型组在白质和皮质部位均呈明显损伤。④术后21d电镜下各组幼鼠脑病理检查结果:2d龄模型组幼鼠的脑白质内未见髓鞘形成,7d龄模型组幼鼠中见少量髓鞘形成,而同日龄假手术对照幼鼠的脑白质内则髓鞘形成正常。结论:通过对2d龄新生大鼠双侧颈总动脉结扎伴缺氧30min缺氧缺血法创建的脑室周围白质软化新生大鼠模型中存在少突胶质细胞前体和少突胶质细胞的明显受损和丢失,成功建立了2d龄新生大鼠以少突胶质细胞前体为主、与人类早产儿脑室周围白质软化病理相似的脑室周围白质软化动物模型。