Inter-ictal assay of peripheral circulating inflammatory mediators in migraine patients under adjunctive cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS): A proof-of-concept study

Objective

To assay peripheral inter-ictal cytokine serum levels and possible relations with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) responsiveness in migraineurs.

Botulinum toxin blocks mast cells and prevents rosacea like inflammation

Background

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition whose etiology has been linked to mast cells and the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37. Individuals with refractory disease have demonstrated clinical benefit with periodic injections of onabotulinum toxin, but the mechanism of action is unknown.

68例社区获得性肺炎病原及临床特征分析

目的　 68例外周血白细胞正常或降低的社区获得性肺炎 (CAP)病原及临床特点分析。方法　检测CAP患者呼吸道及血液标本的常见病原体 ,并分析其临床特点。结果　军团菌属占 2 2 .1 % (1 5/ 68) ,肺炎支原体占 1 1 .8% (8/ 68) ,病毒占 1 6 .2 % (1 1 / 68) ,其中甲型流感病毒 2例、乙型流感病毒 5例 ,副流感病毒 1例 ,腺病毒 1例 ,艾滋病病毒 2例。细菌占 2 .9% (2 / 68) ,有 47.1 % (32 / 68)不能明确病原体 ,混合感染率为 8.8% (6/ 68)。病毒性肺炎、军团菌肺炎及肺炎支原体肺炎的临床症状、体征、外周血白细胞、胸部影像均无特异性 ,其鉴别需靠病原学检查。结论　外周血白细胞正常或降低的CAP病因主要为非典型病原体和病毒 ,对此类CAP的经验治疗应首选大环内酯类抗生素或抗病毒药物。     

Use of a chimeric ELISA to investigate immunoglobulin E antibody responses to Der p 1 and Der p 2 in mite-allergic patients with asthma, wheezing and/or rhinitis

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to indoor allergens, particularly to dust mites, is a strong risk factor for asthma in children and adults. Assessment of sensitization is carried out using in vivo and in vitro tests to detect specific IgE antibodies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate IgE antibody responses to mites in patients with asthma, wheezing and/or rhinitis, using chimeric ELISA to measure specific IgE antibodies to mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2. METHODS: Specific IgE antibodies to Der p 1 and Der p 2 were quantified by chimeric ELISA, and compared with IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) measured using the CAP system (Pharmacia). A panel of sera from 212 patients with asthma, wheezing and/or rhinitis and 11 controls was analysed. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between IgE to Dpt measured by CAP and IgE to Der p 1 (r = 0.81, P < 0.001), Der p 2 (r = 0.79, P < 0.001) and combined Der p 1 and Der p 2 (r = 0.86, P < 0.001). Seventy per cent of all patients had IgE to Dpt, and of those, 76.5% had IgE to Der p 1, 79.2% had IgE to Der p 2 and 83.1% had IgE to Der p 1 and Der p 2 combined. Considering the cut-off level of 2 IU/mL of IgE to either Der p 1 or Der p 2, the predictive value for a positive IgE to Dpt by CAP was greater than 95%. CONCLUSIONS: The chimeric ELISA allowed accurate quantification of IgE antibodies to Dpt allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2, and it could be useful for studying immune responses to mites in patients with asthma and/or rhinitis.     

镫骨全切除和吸引噪声对豚鼠耳蜗功能与超微结构的影响

本实验应用耳蜗电图和扫描、透射电镜等技术观察了6组(44只)豚鼠镫骨全切除后,前庭窗开放时间的长短和听泡内使用吸引器对耳蜗功能和超微结构的影响程度.结果如下:①随前庭窗开放时间的延长、复合蜗神经动作电位(compound action potential.CAP)反应阈进行性提高,开放180min可导致底回部分外毛细胞变性或破坏;②镫骨全切除后,听泡内较长时间地(60min)应用吸引器可引起CAP明显阈移和耳蜗底回部分外毛细胞的不可逆病变;③镫骨未切除时,听泡内吸引60min,仅引起CAP阈移,但外毛细胞未见损伤.结果提示:术中长时间开放前庭窗和鼓室内应用吸引器可能是引起镫骨全切除术后感音神经性聋的因素之一,但鼓室成形术中鼓室内吸引噪声可能因其强度不够大,不足以引起术后感音神经性聋.     

社区获得性肺炎3种治疗方案的成本-效果分析

目的评价氨苄西林-舒巴坦组（A组）、头孢哌酮组（B组）、左氧氟沙星组（C组）三种方案对治疗社区获得性肺炎药物经济学成本与效果。方法采用回顾性研究方法，运用成本-效果分析法对三种治疗方案进行成本与效果分析。结果三种治疗方案中，A组、B组、C组总成本分别为1770．96元、1896．00元、1153．86元，治愈率分别为46．2％，61．5％，69．2％，每增加1个单位效果A组与B组比C组需多花成本分别为28．49元和52．45元。结论C组为治疗社区获得性肺炎的较佳治疗方案，通过成本-效果分析能优化治疗方案、指导合理用药，提高临床疗效。     

老年人与中年人社区获得性肺炎临床对比分析

目的探讨老年人社区获得性肺炎的一般情况、症状体征、辅助检查等临床特征.方法回顾分析78例老年人社区获得性肺炎的临床资料.结果老年人社区获得性肺炎患者基础疾病及并发症多,神志改变、呼吸衰竭及肺功能受损明显,死亡率高,住院时间长(P<0.05);发热胸痛及血白细胞升高不如中年组明显(P<0.05);咳嗽咳痰及中性粒细胞升高与中年组无差异(P>0.05).结论老年人社区获得性肺炎病情较重、症状体征不典型,应予重视和及时诊治.     

儿童社区获得性肺炎肺炎支原体感染的快速诊断

目的:探讨儿童社区获得性肺炎(CAP)肺炎支原体(MP)感染的快速诊断方法,以帮助临床正确选择抗生素。方法:将159例经逆转录聚合酶链反应方法(RT-PCR)证实为MP感染的住院患儿随机分为A、B、C三组,分别进行血清特异性IgM、IgG及双份血清补体结合实验,同时设立健康对照组。结果:A组53例中MP特异性IgM阳性48例(90·57%);B组53例检出MP特异性IgG阳性35例(66·4%);C组53例患儿分别于入院第1d及至少10d后收集双份血清进行补体结合实验,共采集标本50人份,证实为MP阳性的46例(92·00%);MP-IgM检测结果还具有年龄差异,3岁以下组的阳性率低于3岁以上组(P<0·05);50例健康儿童MP-IgM阳性1例(2·00%),MP-IgG阳性7例(14·00%),双份血清实验检测未见阳性。结论:MP血清特异性IgM检测是早期快速诊断儿童MP感染的有效手段,但其结果具有年龄组的差异,婴幼儿MP感染的诊断还需结合PCR及双份血清实验。     

Stretch of mammalian nerve in vitro: effect on compound action potentials

Stretch of nerve has been reported to decrease the amplitude of the compound action potential (CAP) with a complete block appearing in approximately 30 minutes. But for the most part, those experiments were carried out in vivo, and it is generally accepted that the failure of responses was due to a closure of vessels supplying the nerve with a resulting ischemia and anoxia. These studies were undertaken to determine if stretch of nerve has effects that are independent of interference with its vascular supply. In the studies, lengths of rat sciatic and dog peroneal nerves were removed and placed in a chamber supplied with oxygen in which their CAPs were continuously elicited and recorded. This in vitro preparation obviated interference with the nerve's metabolism on stretching. We have previously shown that the form change termed 'beading,' appearing within 10 seconds and reversing as quickly on relaxation, can be elicited with tensions of only several grams. We wished to determine if stretch adequate to produce beading could alter CAPs with the same rapidity. Tensions below 2 g had little effect. On applying tensions of 10-100 g, levels well above those needed to bead the fibers, both increases and decreases of CAP amplitude were seen. The changes occurred within 10 seconds of stretch application, the time at which beading arises with stretch. Although the decreases of CAP amplitudes could be accounted for by beading, the degree of CAP change did not correspond to the amount of tension applied. We hypothesize that the constrictions in the beaded fibers increase axial resistivity and diminish local currents so as to block conduction. The lack of an increasing degree of decreased CAP amplitude with increases in tension is ascribed to the inhibition of elongation offered by the collagen fibrils present in nerve. Collagenase applied to nerves allowed a further increase in length, producing a 'hyperbeading,' showing much longer lengths of beading constrictions on stretch. This would further increase axial resistance and is taken to account for the greater decreases of CAP amplitudes seen following collagenase treatment. To account for those cases where increases of CAP amplitude were seen on stretch, we hypothesize that stretch can also cause an increase in the excitability of the nodes. The outcome of stretch in any given nerve would be the resultant of two opposing actions; beading of the internodes causes a decrease of local currents leading to block of CAPs, while an increased excitability of the nodes acts to augment the responses.