Application of a pigment measuring device – Mexameter®– for the differential diagnosis of vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus

Background/purpose: Vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus (ND) present similar hypopigmented macules with significantly different prognoses. Although the distinction between the two diseases is important, differential diagnosis relies on medical history and physical examination, which is far from decisive in some cases. The Mexameter^® is an objective skin color-measuring device, and has been reported to provide a reproducible and sensitive means of quantifying small skin color differences. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of a Mexameter^® for discriminating these diseases.
Methods: A selection of 202 hypopigmented skin lesions (182 from vitiligo and 20 from ND) were the objects of this study. Using a Mexameter, MIs were obtained from lesions and symmetrically located control skin. RMIs, ratios of the MIs of lesional skins to control skins, were calculated.
Results: The mean MIs and RMIs were significantly different for vitiligo and ND. The mean RMI of ND lesions was 74±13, which was significantly higher than that of vitiligo lesions (50±24). No ND lesion had an RMI of <50%.
Conclusion: This study shows that the Mexameter^®, an objective pigment-measuring device, can be used to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of hypopigmentary disorders, and that the relative melanin index (RMI), which represents the relative pigment levels, might be a more effective parameter than the melanin index (MI) itself for comparing pigmentation differences.     

听力对语言影响的表现与矫正

目的 通过对302例药物致聋聋儿的临床观察,研究听力对语言影响的表现,从中摸索积极的矫正补偿方法,使聋儿能听会说,早日回归主流社会。方法:根据听力损失以1/2增益法,选择不同型号的助听器,用具有频率特性的玩具进行适应性训练,采用视觉强化测听法和言语测听法,调整助听器增益,努力使各频率尽可能进入言语香蕉图。结果 100%聋儿表现听觉的敏感性和言语的清晰度低,且存在不同程度的“重振”;聋儿助听补偿效果越好,语言清晰度越高;聋儿只能在信噪比>10 dB SPL的情况下才能听懂语言;言语识别中存在有不同种类的掩蔽现象;双耳配戴助听器对言语接受阈能提高约15%左右。结论:双耳配戴助听器以及利用助听器的微调和耳模的声学作用来改变助听器的频响,选择电脑编程、全数字、带有“AGC”功能、带有指向性麦克风等不同功能的助听器,都是十分有效的矫正措施;选择信噪比≥10 dB SPL的学习环境;充分利用视觉、触觉功能补偿作用;努力学习好辅音;教师正确控制语音、语速、声调、掌握抑扬顿挫,防止声音向上、向后、向前掩蔽。     

Isolation and identification of chondroitin sulfates from the mud snail

Chondroitin sulfates were isolated from the mud snail. For the quantitative analysis of enzymatic digestion products of isolated chondroitin sulfates, strong anion exchange-high performance liquid chromatography (SAX-HPLC) was performed. By the action of chondroitinase ABC, three unsaturated disaccharides 2-acetamide-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-D-galactose (ΔDi-OS), 2-acetamide-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-6-O-sulfo-D-galactose (ΔDi-6S) and 2-acetamide-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-4-O-sulfo-D-galactose (ΔDi-4S) were produced from the mud snail chondroitin sulfates. The analysis showed that relative proportion of ΔDi-OS/ΔDi-6S/ΔDi-4S was 58.7/3.1/38.2. The immunomodulating activity of chondroitin sulfate was examined by cell proliferation assay and these results suggest that it might be a immunosuppressant.     

经尿道前列腺电切术和汽化电切术并发症48例分析

目的 分析经尿道前列腺电切术（TURP）与经尿道前列腺汽化电切术（TVP）术中、术后常见并发症的原因、预防及治疗，提高手术安全性和有效性。方法 回顾性分析1999年5月-2006年6月我院TURP和TVP术48例并发症患者的临床资料。结果 平均手术时间75min，平均切除组织41g。术中、术后出血20例，电切综合征（TURS）5例，暂时性尿失禁11例，膀胱颈部挛缩5例，尿道狭窄8例，尿路感染7例，膀胱穿孔1例。结论 TURP和TVP是良性前列腺增生症安全有效的外科治疗方法，术前详细采集病史，术中正确操作。术后对病人正确指导及处理可有效减少手术并发症。     

Who cares? Psychological stress in the operating department nurse.

The operating department nurse is subject to many stressors and while there is an optimum level of stress where nurses function at their best, too much may be detrimental both to nurses--and their patients. Jean Sang looks at the subject of stress and discusses the findings of her research.     

Solitary Small Hepatic Angiosarcoma: Initial and Follow-up Imaging Findings

We report an uncommon case of solitary, small hepatic angiosarcoma that was initially considered as a hemangioma. We present the imaging findings, with an emphasis on the initial and follow-up CT and MR findings, as well as report on the more suggestive findings of angiosarcoma than those of a hemangioma.