骨髓增生异常综合征患者外周血树突细胞数量、亚群及其表面协同刺激分子表达的研究

目的 检测骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）患者外周血树突细胞（DC）总量、亚群（pDC和mDC）比例及其表面协同刺激分子（CD80、CD86和CIMO）表达，探讨MDS患者细胞免疫异常的形成机制。方法 选取38例MDS患者及19名正常对照，采用荧光素单克隆抗体标记法和流式细胞术检测MDS患者外周血中Lin1^—HLA-DR^＋细胞（DC）、Lin1^-HLA—DR^＋CD123^＋细胞（pDC）、Lin1—HLA—DR^＋CD11c^＋细胞（mDC）的数量以及CD80、CD86和CIMO在DC膜上的表达。结果低危MDS组、高危MDS组和正常对照组外周血DC总量分别为（33．7±7．0）×10^6／L、（56．3±29．0）×10^6／L和（12．1±1．4）×10^6／L（P〈0．05），pDC数量分另U为（12．6±4．1）×10^6／L、（3．6±1．0）×10^6／L和（6．6±0．7）×10^6／L（P〉0．05），mDC数量分别为（16．7±6．3）×10^6／L、（28．7±17．6）×10^6／L和（5．5±0．9）×10^6／L（P〈0．05）。低危MDS组、高危MDS组和正常对照组DC占外周血单个核细胞（PBMNC）百分比分别为（2．37±0．53）％、（3．58±1．39）％和（0．68±0．08）％（P〈0．05），pDC占PBMNC百分比分别为（0．82±0．29）％、（0．31±0．06）％和（0．37±0．04）％（P〉0．05），mDC占PBMNC百分比分别为（0．96±0．35）％、（1．51±0．70）％和（0．32±0．05）％（P〈0．05）。低危MDS组、高危MDS组和正常对照组外周血中CD80^＋DC分别为（30．6±11．8）×10^6／L、（2．3±0．9）×10^6／L和（2．3±0．6）×10^6／L（P〈0．05），CD86^＋DC分别为（25．1±7．4）×10^6／L、（12．4±6．3）×10^6／L和（6．2±3．2）×10^6／L（P〈0．05），CD40^＋DC分别为（2．8±1．0）×10^6／L、（1．5±0．9）×10^6／L和（3．2±2．3）×10^6／L（P〉0．05）。结论 MDS患者外周血中DC数量增多、比例异常；以mDC增多为主，pDC无明显增多；MDS患者DC高表达CD80和CD86，CD40表达不增高。提示MDS患者诱导抗肿瘤细胞免疫的抗原呈递细胞（pDC）数量及功能不足；而与正常造血克隆炎性损伤有关的抗原呈递细胞（mDC）却增多。这可能是导致MDS患者细胞免疫异常的重要机制之一。     

临床常见急性白血病免疫表型特征分析

目的探讨临床常见急性白血病免疫表型特征。方法应用流式细胞术CD45／SCC参数散点图设门方法，对34例急性白血病患者幼稚细胞表面抗原进行分析；结合FAB分型．比较急性淋巴细胞白血病（L1、L2）、急性髓细胞白血病不同亚型（M1～M51中相关抗原表达情况。结果造血细胞早期抗原CD34、HIA—DR在非M3的急性白血病表达阳性；CD5、CD7、CD3在急淋（L1、L2）阳性表达率为25％．阳性细胞率分别为（76．9±16.3）％、（88．9±24．1）％、（89．2±17．1）％；CD10、CD19、CD20、CD22在急淋（L1、L2）阳性表达率为75％，阳性细胞率分别为（76．5±18．5）％、（89．6±20．2）％、（78．6±11．6）％、（86．3±0．3）％；CD13、CD33在急性髓细胞白血病各亚型的阳性表达率为100％，阳性细胞率为（85．8±4．2）％、（86．56±5．3）％；CD14在M4、M5中的阳性表达率为60％，阳性细胞率均为（78．6±6.3）%；在M3中HIA—DR、CD34阴性表达，阳性细胞率仅为（6．2±1.4）%、（3．1±2．0）%。结论流式细胞术免疫表型分析与FAB分型相结合。可提高急性白血病的诊断符合率。     

运动对大鼠骨矿盐含量的影响

目的：分析运动对正常成年大鼠和切除双侧卵巢后的大鼠骨矿盐代谢的影响。 方法：本实验于2002—10／2003—05在广东医学院生理学教研室完成。普通级4月龄SD雌性大鼠30只。随机分成5组：正常对照组；正常大鼠＋运动组；假去卵巢组；去卵巢组；去卵巢＋运动组。然后重复，每组6只。正常大鼠＋运动组和去卵巢＋运动组大鼠于术后第7天开始进行运动训练．5d／周．45min／d．16m／min．跑道倾角0°．持续10周。第10周末．麻醉状态下动脉放血处死各组大鼠，观察骨干重、骨干重／体质量、骨灰重、骨灰重／体质量、骨灰重／骨干重（％）代谢变化。 结果：30只大鼠均进入结果分析。大鼠骨干重、骨干重／体质量、骨灰重、骨灰重／体质量、骨灰重／骨干重（％）各指标代谢变化：正常大鼠＋运动组各指标均显著高于正常对照组[（645±48），（567±32）mg；（1．97±0．06），（1．73±0．10）g／kg；（440±30），（374±91）mg；（135±0.04），（1．14±0.06）g／kg；（68．2±0．7）％，（65．9±0．9）％，t=3．46-6．92，P〈0.01]；去卵巢组各指标均明显低于假去卵巢组[（504±24），（569±40）mg；（1．55±0．61），（1．83±0．19）g／kg；（293±14），（381±23）mg；（0．90±0．04），（1．21±0．14）g／kg；（58．6±0．8）％，（66．3±1．5）％，t=3．64-15．58，P〈0．01]；去卵巢＋运动组各指标均较去卵巢组明显增加（627±70），（504±24）mg；（1．76±0．11），（155±0．61）g／kg；（409±43），（293±14）mg；（1.15±0．08），（0．90±0．04）g／kg；（65．2±1．2）%，（58．6±0．8）％。t=3．90-11．21。P〈0．01）。 结论：中等强度运动是增加成年大鼠骨矿盐含量和预防去卵巢大鼠骨矿盐丢失的有效措施。     

慢性再生障碍性贫血患者T淋巴细胞亚群和粒-单核细胞集落形成单位的检测

目的探讨慢性再生障碍性贫血（CAA）发病的免疫因素，为CAA的临床治疗提供依据。方法采用骨髓细胞半固体集落培养法检测粒一单核细胞集落形成单位（GM—CFU），同时用流式细胞仪检测T淋巴细胞亚群。结果CAA骨髓细胞培养GM—CFU产率明显少于正常对照组，（7．9±0．5）个／ml vs （88．7±2．7）个／ml（P〈0．01）；CAA骨髓细胞加正常血清培养GM-CFU的产率与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义，（82．4±2．6）个／ml vs （88．7±2．7）个／ml（P〈0．05），其中有21例的GM-CFU的产率（60．1±2．1）个／ml与对照相比较明显减少；CAA血清与正常骨髓细胞培养的GM—CFU为（105．6±3．2）个／ml，显著高于正常组。CAA组的CD3^＋、CD4^＋和CD4^＋／CD8^＋均比对照组降低，分别为（49．8±0．6）％ vs （64．3±0．9）％、（29．7±0．4）％ vs （38．6±0．3）％和（1．2±0．1）％ vs （1．7±0．1）％（均P〈0．01）；CD8^＋细胞明显高于正常，（28．9±0．3）％ vs （24．5±0．3）％（P〈0．01）。结论CAA患者普遍存在着T细胞亚群失衡的免疫异常；CAA患者骨髓细胞中可能有抑制患者GM—CFU形成的因素，而血清中存在着升高的粒一单核细胞集落刺激因子等，其临床意义尚需进一步观察。GM-CFU体外培养联合T细胞亚群检测，可作为CAA异常免疫机制的诊断指标。     

硝苯地平控释片治疗老年高血压病动态血压的临床效果

目的用24h动态监测方法观察硝苯地平控释片在老年高血压患者中的降压效果。方法选择老年高血压病患者40例，平均年龄（65．2±4．5）岁，每日口服硝苯地平控释片30～60mg，共8周。记录治疗前后24h、昼间及夜间平均收缩压／舒张压和平均收缩压／舒张压负荷；以及平均心率、谷峰比值。结果治疗结束时24h、昼间和夜间平均收缩压／舒张压均较服药前明显下降（P〈0．01），分别下降（14．8±4．7）／（8．7±4．9）mmHg、（15．4±5．6）／（8．1±3．4）mmHg、（13．8±4．6）／（7．9±4．3）mmHg；血压负荷值亦明显减少（P〈0．01）；治疗前后心率没有明显变化；谷峰比为收缩压84．1％，舒张压81．7％。结论硝苯地平控释片治疗高血压疗效显著，稳定性好，可持续24h。     

126例ALT增高精神病患者总胆汁酸的测定分析

目的探讨抗精神病药物所致肝损害时总胆汁酸的变化以及在用药安全监测中的应用价值。方法选择符合《中国精神障碍分类和诊断标准》第三版（CCMD-3）精神病诊断标准，排除躯体性疾病，肝功能监测ALT增高（ALT040U／L）精神科住院病例126例，测定其血清总胆汁酸，并与11例肝病患者和23例健康体检者进行对照分析。结果126例ALT增高精神病患者总胆汁酸水平无明显变化（6．70±9．12umol／L），与健康对照组（4．99±3．05umol／L）比较，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），与肝病组（62．35±36．43umol／L）比较差异有统计学意义（P〈O．01），126例精神病患者中有6例TBA轻度增高（18．6±4．4umol／L），异常率为4．8％（6／126），与肝病组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），健康对照组无1例异常，异常率为0（0／23），肝病组全部异常，异常率为100％（11／11）。结论总胆汁酸在抗精神病药物安全监测中不如转氨酶指标敏感，但在判定肝细胞损害程度及预后有重要临床意义。     

CD28/CTLA-4共刺激分子在再生障碍性贫血免疫发病机制中的作用

目的 研究CD28、CTLA-4在再生障碍性贫血（AA）免疫发病机制中的可能作用。方法 以流式细胞术分别分析23例发病期AA、10例恢复期AA患者和15名正常人骨髓细胞中CD3^＋CD4^＋T细胞上CD28、CTLA-4表达率，Th1、Th2细胞比例，评价CD28、CTLA4表达与Th1／Th2、中性粒细胞绝对值（ANC）之间的关系。结果 ①正常对照组CD3^＋CD4^＋T细胞上CD28、cTLA4表达率及CD28^＋／CTLA-4^＋比值分别为（31．40±10．83）％、（2．45±1．30）％、17．02±13．44，AA患者发病期分别为（39．84±10．89）％、（1．43±0．67）％、43．04±37．61，AA患者恢复期分别为（22．00±9．08）％、（3．46±2．26）％、10．49±7．80；与正常对照组比较，AA患者发病期CD28显著升高（P〈0．05），CTLA-4显著下降（P=〈0．01），CD28^＋／CTLA4^＋比值相应地亦显著升高（P〈0．05），而恢复期上述数值与正常对照组比较，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。②正常对照组Th1、Th2细胞、Th1／Th2比值分别为（4．21±2．11）％、（1．99±1．27）％、2．46±1．28，AA发病期为（11．13±4．96）％、（2．46±1．65）％、5．20±1．98，恢复期分别为（5．39±4．29）％、（2．53±2．41）％、2．87±1．43；与正常对照组比较，AA发病期Th1增高，Th1、Th2平衡向Thl偏移（P值均〈0．01），恢复期与正常对照组比较，差异无统计学意义。③AA患者CD28^＋／cTLA4^＋比值与Thl／Th2比值呈正相关（P〈0．05），ANC与CD3^＋CD4^＋CD28^＋T细胞数呈负相关（P〈0．01），与CD3^＋CD4^＋CTLA-4^＋T细胞数呈正相关（P〈0．01）。结论 ①AA发病期患者骨髓CD4^＋T细胞表面共刺激分子表达异常，CD28升高，而CTLA-4下降，AA患者骨髓T细胞处于“预激活”状态；②CD28／CTLA-4比值与Th1／T12．比值呈正相关提示：CD28、CTLA-4表达失衡可引起Th细胞格局偏移，Th1型细胞增多。③ANC和CD28、CTLA-4间相关分析进一步说明CD28、CTLA-4与AA的发生、发展有关。     

荧光定量PCR检测急性髓细胞白血病患者BAALC基因及临床意义

目的研究急性髓细胞白血病（AML）患者BAALC（brain and acute leukemia cytoplasmic）基因的表达水平及其临床意义。方法构建实时定量PCR检测BAALC基因表达的技术，并定量检测63例初治AML患者BAALC基因的表达水平及分析其与临床疗效的关系。结果建立的实时定量PCR方法的标准曲线相关系数大于0．99。49例（78％）初治AML患者存在BAALC基因表达；BAALC基因高表达患者发病时外周血WBC计数、Hb浓度、PLT计数及骨髓白血病细胞比例分别为：（26．3±18．1）×10^9／L、（78．3±21．8）g／L、（76．9±64．5）×10^9／L和（61．2±22．3）％，低表达患者发病时外周血WBC计数、Hb浓度、PLT计数及骨髓自血病细胞比例分别为：（30．2±21．7）×10^9／L、（81．6±30．9）g／L、（73．9±57．2）×10^9／L和（54．3±16．3）％，两组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；正常核型初治AML患者中BAALC高表达率为68％（25／37），高于非正常核型AML患者[23％（6／26）]，差异有统计学意义（Х^2=12．093，P=0．001）；正常核型初治AML患者中BAALC基因高表达患者化疗的完全缓解率（CR）为65％（20／31），低于低表达患者[84％（27／32）]，差异有统计学意义（Х^2=6．573，P=0．013）。结论BAALC基因高表达是正常核型AML患者一个重要不良预后因素。     

慢性舒张性心力衰竭合并睡眠呼吸紊乱的观察

目的观察慢性舒张性心力衰竭患者睡眠呼吸紊乱（SDB）发生情况。方法对舒张性心力衰竭患者（现有或既往曾有充血性心力衰竭症状、超声心动网射血分数≥45％且E／A〈1）应用便携式睡眠监测仪Embletta进行睡眠监测，根据呼吸紊乱指数（AHI）将患者分为SDB组（AHI〉10次／h）和非SDB组（AHI≤10次／h），观察两组睡眠期间AHI与血氧饱和度（SO2）（平均SO2、最低SO2和SO2〈90％）和心率（最低心率、最高心率和最大心率变化）的关系。结果共观察36例患者，其巾15例（41．7％）表现出AHI〉10次／h而分为SDB组，其余21例为非SDB组。两组AHI分别为（24．5±15．0）次／h和（4．6±2．7）次／h，睡眠巾最低SO2分别为（78．9±8．7）％和（86．7±3．4）％（P〈0．05）。AHI与SO2〈90％占总记录时间百分比、最低SO2相关（r=0．615和r=-0．626，P〈0．01）。SDB组和非SDB组发生严重心动过缓（心室率≤40次／min）分别为80．0％（12／15）和28．6％（6／21）（P〈0．05）。两组最低心率分别为（36．8±7．0）次／min和（43．7±5．6）次／min，并与AHI、SO2〈90％时间呈负相关（r=-0．489和r=-0．515），与最低SO，呈正相关（r=0．559）（P均〈0．05）。两组最大心率变化分别为（51．8±19．5）次／min和（40．7±9．7）次／min，并与AHI、SO2〈90％的时间呈正相关（r=0．537和r=0．319），与最低SO2、平均SO2呈负相关（r=-0．428和r=-0．344）（P均〈0．05）。结论慢性舒张性心力衰竭合并SDB的患病率很高且伴发严重夜间低氧血症，并可导致患者夜间出现严重心动过缓。     

电惊厥大鼠心电图及血清心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ的变化

目的：观察电惊厥大鼠癫痫发作时及发作后心电图变化，并检测动态血清心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ的变化。方法：实验于2004-10／12在重庆医科大学附属第一医院中心实验室进行。选20只SD大鼠，用电惊厥仪致痫动物。刺激条件：最大电休克用交流电500Hz，50mA，0.3s。刺激后大鼠100％惊厥发作，以双后肢强直为指标，用标准Ⅱ导联记录发作前、发作时以及发作后的心电图变化，用化学发光法动态检测大鼠惊厥前及惊厥后6，12，24h血清心肌肌钙蛋白水平的变化。结果：20只大鼠均进入结果分析。①血清心肌肌钙蛋白水平：惊厥6h即增高，12h达高峰，24h下降，均高于惊厥前[（9．51&;#177;3．68），（21．7&;#177;6．53），（7．26&;#177;1．95），（0．48&;#177;0．31）μg／L，P〈0．01]。②心电图表现：表现为伴有窄QRS复合波的窦性心动过速。异常主要表现为ST段下降、ST段抬高、T波倒置以及心房纤颤。这种异常改变在癫痫发作停止后仍持续两三分钟。③心率：惊厥时较惊厥前明显增快[（467．6&;#177;56．8），（373．5&;#177;41．6）次／min，t=5．39，P〈0．01]，平均增加86.6次／min。结论：电惊厥大鼠癫痫发作可引起心电图异常改变。心肌肌钙蛋自在惊厥后的升高说明癫痫发作可引起心脏结构性损害。     

Determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity in serum using immunological inhibition of creatine kinase M subunit activity. Activity kinetics and diagnostic significance in myocardial infarction.

This is a new method for the determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity in serum. The method uses direct activity measurement of creatine kinase B subunit activity after blocking of CK-M subunit activity by inhibiting antibodies. The test takes no longer than 15 min. The method yields an intra-serial C.V. of 2.0-12.9%, and a C.V. from day to day of 5.5%. The detection limit is 3.4 U/l creatine kinase MB. In the 95 cases with proven myocardial infarction several types of creatine kinase MB activity kinetics could be determined. The percentage of creatine kinase MB of peak CK-total is 6-25%, with a mean of 11.1%. The amount of creatine kinase MB with respect to total CK activity after reinfarction is higher than the amount after initial infarction.     

Dissociable correlates of two classes of retrieval processing in prefrontal cortex

Although substantial evidence suggests that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) implements processes that are critical for accurate episodic memory judgments, the specific roles of different PFC subregions remain unclear. Here, we used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging to distinguish between prefrontal activity related to operations that (1) influence processing of retrieval cues based on current task demands, or (2) are involved in monitoring the outputs of retrieval. Fourteen participants studied auditory words spoken by a male or female speaker and completed memory tests in which the stimuli were unstudied foil words and studied words spoken by either the same speaker at study, or the alternate speaker. On "general" test trials, participants were to determine whether each word was studied, regardless of the voice of the speaker, whereas on "specific" test trials, participants were to additionally distinguish between studied words that were spoken in the same voice or a different voice at study. Thus, on specific test trials, participants were explicitly required to attend to voice information in order to evaluate each test item. Anterior (right BA 10), dorsolateral prefrontal (right BA 46), and inferior frontal (bilateral BA 47/12) regions were more active during specific than during general trials. Activation in anterior and dorsolateral PFC was enhanced during specific test trials even in response to unstudied items, suggesting that activation in these regions was related to the differential processing of retrieval cues in the two tasks. In contrast, differences between specific and general test trials in inferior frontal regions (bilateral BA 47/12) were seen only for studied items, suggesting a role for these regions in post-retrieval monitoring processes. Results from this study are consistent with the idea that different PFC subregions implement distinct, but complementary processes that collectively support accurate episodic memory judgments.     

俯卧位通气对高海拔地区肺复张治疗无效急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者氧合的影响

目的 探讨俯卧位通气对高海拔地区肺复张术(RM)治疗无效急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者的治疗作用.方法 从海拔2260m的地区医院筛选RM治疗无效的41例ARDS患者[平均氧合指数( PaO2/FiO2)较RM前升高＜20％视为RM无效],依不同病因分为肺内源性ARDS组(ARDSp组)和肺外源性ARDS组(ARDSexp组),每组再按信封法随机分为俯卧位组和仰卧位组,即ARDSp俯卧位组(11例)、ARDSp仰卧位组(9例)、ARDSexp俯卧位组(10例)、ARDSexp仰卧位组(11例).在通气前及通气1、2、3、4h监测动脉血氧分压( PaO2)、PaO2/FiO2、静态顺应性(Cst)、气道阻力(Raw)的变化.结果 通气lh时,ARDSexp俯卧位组PaO2/FiO2( mm Hg,l mm Hg=0.133 kPa)即较通气前显著升高(157.4±40.6比129.3±48.7,P＜0.05),并随通气时间延长呈持续增高趋势,4h达峰值(219.1 ±41.1);且ARDSexp俯卧位组通气3h内PaO2/FiO2较其他3组显著增高,另3组间则差异无统计学意义.ARDSp俯卧位组、ARDSexp俯卧位组通气4h时PaO2/FiO2均较相应仰卧位组显著增高(208.8±39.7比127.4±47.1,219.1±41.1比124.9±50.8,均P＜0.05).4组通气前后Cst无显著改变,各组间差异也无统计学意义.ARDSp俯卧位组通气4h时Raw(cmH2O·L-1·s-1)较通气前显著降低(6.8±1.7比10.7±1.8,P＜0.05),且明显低于其他3组;其他3组各时间点Raw组内及组间比较差异均无统计学意义.结论 俯卧位通气作为ARDS机械通气重要策略之一,可以改善RM无效高原ARDS患者的氧合,为抢救患者赢得宝贵的时间.     

Digital imaging among medical facilities

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the USA operates a network of 172 medical centres which all utilize a hospital information system (HIS) which has been developed and is currently maintained by the VA. During the past several years, an image management and communication module has been developed, installed and clinically utilized at the Washington DC and Maryland VA Medical Centres. This image management and communication system, referred to as the decentralized hospital computer program (DHCP) imaging system, is fully integrated with a commercial picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The system is utilized to capture, archive, and display all images generated within the hospital including radiology, nuclear medicine, pathology, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, and dermatology, intraoperative photographs, ECG data, and a limited number of paper documents. The ultimate goal of the project is to have all patient text and image data available at any clinical workstation to any authorized user anywhere within the network of medical centres. Clinical requirements for an imaging workstation include ease of use, rapid and reliable access to the complete set of patient information, and images which are of acceptable quality to meet the requirements of the user and the subspecialty. Patient confidentiality and data security must be safeguarded at all times. Integration of the images with the remainder of the patient's database was found to be critical to the success of the project. The experience at the Washington and Maryland facilities suggests that an imaging system that is successfully integrated with a hospital information system can provide substantial clinical and economic benefits both within and among medical centres. Clinical acceptance and utilization of the system has been excellent, particularly in diagnostic radiology where DHCP Imaging has been interfaced to a commercial PAC system. Based upon this initial experience, the VA has begun to deploy the system throughout its large network of medical centres.     

Myocardial elastography at both high temporal and spatial resolution for the detection of infarcts

Myocardial elastography is a novel method for noninvasively assessing regional myocardial function, with the advantages of high spatial and temporal resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, in-vivo experiments were performed in anesthetized normal and infarcted mice (one day after left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD] ligation) using a high-resolution (30 MHz) ultrasound system (Vevo 770, VisualSonics Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada). Radiofrequency (RF) signals of the left ventricle (LV) in longitudinal (long-axis) view and the associated electrocardiogram (ECG) were simultaneously acquired. Using a retrospective ECG gating technique, 2-D full field-of-view RF frames were acquired at an extremely high frame rate (8 kHz) that resulted in high-quality incremental displacement and strain estimation of the myocardium. The incremental results were further accumulated to obtain the cumulative displacements and strains. Two-dimensional and M-mode displacement images and strain images (elastograms), as well as displacement and strain profiles as a function of time, were compared between normal and infarcted mice. Incremental results clearly depicted cardiac events including LV contraction, LV relaxation and isovolumetric phases in both normal and infarcted mice, and also evidently indicated reduced motion and deformation in the infarcted myocardium. The elastograms indicated that the infarcted regions underwent thinning during systole rather than thickening, as in the normal case. The cumulative elastograms were found to have higher elastographic SNR (SNR(e)) than the incremental elastograms (e.g., 10.6 vs. 4.7 in a normal myocardium, and 6.0 vs. 2.4 in an infarcted myocardium). Finally, preliminary statistical results from nine normal (m = 9) and seven infarcted (n = 7) mice indicated the capability of the cumulative strain in differentiating infracted from normal myocardia. In conclusion, myocardial elastography could provide regional strain information at simultaneously high temporal (>/=0.125 ms) and spatial ( approximately 55 microm) resolution as well as high precision ( approximately 0.05 microm displacement). This technique was thus capable of accurately characterizing normal myocardial function throughout an entire cardiac cycle, at the same high resolution, and detecting and localizing myocardial infarction in vivo.     

Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Morphine

Morphine, the most widely used mu-opioid analgesic for acute and chronic pain, is the standard against which new analgesics are measured. A thorough understanding of the pharmacokinetics of morphine is required in order to safely and effectively use this analgesic in a wide variety of patients with different levels of organ function. A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify literature published between 1966 and January 2002 relevant to the pharmacokinetics of morphine. These publications were reviewed and the literature summarized regarding unique and clinically important elements of morphine disposition relative to its parenteral administration (including intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, epidural and intrathecal administration), absorption profile (immediate release, controlled release, and sublingual/buccal, and rectal administration), distribution, and its metabolism/ excretion. Special populations, including infants, elderly, and those with renal/liver failure, have a unique morphine pharmacokinetic profile that must be taken into account in order to maximize analgesic efficacy and reduce the risk of adverse events.