HBeAg阳性和阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织学与血清学关系的比较

目的 研究慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者(1×ULN≤ALT≤2×ULN)肝组织学与血清学的关系.方法 对全国多中心516例CHB患者(1×ULN≤ALT≤2×ULN)行血清学及肝穿刺病理检查,依据血清HBeAg表达水平将患者分为HBeAg阳性组和HBeAg阴性组,分析两组肝组织病理学与血清学指标的相关性.结果 HBeAg阳性患者肝组织炎症分级和肝纤维化分期与血清HBsAg和HBeAg表达水平呈负相关(P＜0.01),与血清透明质酸(HA)和α2-巨球蛋白水平呈正相关(P＜0.01),与血清HBVDNA水平无明显相关性;HBeAg阴性患者肝组织炎症分级和肝纤维化分期与血清HBV DNA水平呈正相关(P＜0.01),与HBsAg、HA和α2-巨球蛋白等无明显相关性.结论 血清HBV DNA可做为HBeAg阴性CHB患者肝脏病变程度的有效预测指标,HBsAg、HBeAg、HA和α2-巨球蛋白均可做为HBeAg阳性CHB患者肝组织损伤的预测指标.     

HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染者肝组织病理改变的相关因素分析

目的 分析HBeAg阴性慢性HBV感染者肝组织病理改变的相关因素.方法 对288例不同年龄、性别、ALT水平、肝组织HBsAg和HBcAg免疫组织化学结果的HBeAg阴性HBV感染者的HBV DNA载量、肝组织病理变化进行相关分析,采用Bivariate Pearson法.结果 男性组肝组织炎症分级和纤维化分期分别为1.721.23和1.71±1.24,女性组分别为1.25±1.39和1.21±1.40,两组差异有统计学意义(t=2.398,t=2.551;均P＜0.05)}男性HBV DNA载量高于女性,但差异无统计学意义.40岁以上HBeAg阴性HBV感染者HBV DNA载量、肝组织炎症分级和纤维化分期显著高于40岁以下者(t=2.060,t=2.536,t=2.808;均P＜0.05).ALT正常的HBeAg阴性乙型肝炎患者中,75例(52.03%)血清HBVDNA≤1×103拷贝/mL,肝组织炎症活动度≥G2的56例,占38.89%,血清ALT水平与肝组织炎症活动度相关(r=0.244,P=0.004).ALT异常的慢性HBV感染者中,42例(31.57%)血清HBV DNA≤1×103拷贝/mL,肝组织炎症活动度≥G2的89例,占66.92%.血清ALT水平与肝组织炎症程度无相关(r=0.007,P=0.939).肝组织免疫组织化学HBsAg及HBcAg双阳性组肝组织炎症/纤维化、HBV DNA滴度显著高于HBsAg、HBcAg双阴性组和HBsAg阳性、HBcAg阴性组,差异有统计学意义.血清HBV DNA与肝组织炎症程度相关(r=0.349,P＜0.05).结论 性别、年龄、血清HBV DNA水平及HBsAg、HBcAg免疫组织化学结果可作为判断HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织炎症损伤程度的相关指标,男性、年龄越大、血清HBV DNA水平越高、肝组织免疫组织化学HBsAg及HBcAg双阳性,肝组织炎性反应损伤越严重.HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者即使ALT正常、血清HBV DNA≤1×100拷贝/mL,仍约1/3患者的肝组织存在明显的炎性反应损伤,需定期追踪,最好行肝组织活检,以早期发现适宜治疗者而避免延误病情.     

慢性乙型肝炎患儿HBV DNA载量与肝脏病理、肝功能、肝纤维化血清学指标的相关性分析

目的探讨慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患儿HBV DNA载量与肝脏病理及肝功能、肝纤维化血清学指标的关系。方法收集2010年7月-2015年6月湖南省儿童医院肝病中心收治的确诊为CHB的患儿79例,根据患儿血清HBV DNA载量分为低载量组(103拷贝/mlHBV DNA载量≤105拷贝/ml,n=8)、中载量组(105拷贝/mlHBV DNA载量≤107拷贝/ml,n=54)和高载量组(107拷贝/mlHBV DNA载量,n=17),比较各组间肝脏病理变化程度及血清ALT、AST、Ⅲ型前胶原(PCⅢ)、层黏连蛋白(LN)、透明质酸(HA)、Ⅳ型胶原CⅣ水平。计量资料组间比较采用Kruskal-Wallis秩和检验,相关性分析采用Kendall's tau-b等级相关检验。结果 3组肝脏病理炎症程度分级均以G1为主,分别占75%、74.1%、64.7%,高载量组G2比例上升(35.5%);3组肝组织纤维化分期均以S1为主,分别占75.0%、72.2%、70.6%,低载量组出现S4(12.5%)。HBV DNA载量与肝组织炎症分级和纤维化分期均无相关性(r值分别为0.069、-0.047,P值均0.05)。随着HBV DNA载量的增高,各组间血清ALT、AST水平逐渐增高,3组间ALT水平比较差异有统计学意义(χ2=5.37,P=0.048)。随着HBV DNA载量的增高,各组间血清HA、LN、PCⅢ和CⅣ水平则逐渐降低,3组间PCⅢ水平比较差异有统计学意义(χ2=6.26,P=0.044)。结论 CHB患儿HBV DNA载量与肝脏病理无显著相关性。临床综合分析HBV DNA载量及肝功能、肝纤维化血清学指标,结合肝活组织病理检查,才能更加客观、准确地评估CHB的病情。     

171例慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染者临床与肝组织病理分析

目的:观察171例HBV DNA阳性的慢性乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染者临床检测指标与肝脏组织病理的关系.方法:将171例患者分为4组,A组丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)≤0.5 ×ULN(正常值上限),B组0.5 ×ULN＜ALT≤1×ULN,C组1×ULN＜ ALT≤2×ULN,D组2×ULN＜ ALT≤5 × ULN,观察各组患者肝脏炎症分级(G)和纤维化分期(S)的差异,进一步分析各组炎症分级和纤维化分期与其他肝脏生化学指标如天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、血小板(PLT).及肝纤维化模型(APRI,以AST/PLT比值的统计量作为数字化模型)的关系.结果:A组25％患者肝组织炎症为G2,B组和C组分别有16.4％、49.2％患者肝组织炎症分级为G2～G3,不同ALT组间肝组织炎症分级的差异有显著性意义(P＜0.05),随着ALT水平升高,肝组织G2～G3检出比例增加;171例患者不同肝组织炎症分级组,球蛋白(Glo)、AST、γ-谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)、PLT、APRI的差异均有显著性意义(P＜0.05);不同肝组织纤维化分期组,年龄、HBeAg状态、白蛋白(Alb)、AST、GGT、PLT、HBV DNA、APRI的差异均有显著性意义(P＜0.05),其中随着纤维化程度进展,AST、APRI值逐渐升高,Alb、PLT逐渐下降.结论:HBV DNA阳性的慢性HBV感染者,即使ALT正常,仍有不同程度的肝组织炎症和纤维化改变,需综合观察年龄、AST、GGT、APRI、HBeAg状态和HBV DNA水平,必要时建议患者行肝脏穿刺病理检查,以准确了解肝脏疾病进展.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清HBV DNA、HBeAg与肝组织HBcAg及炎症分级的关系

目的 探讨慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者血清HBV DNA、HBeAg与肝组织HBcAg及炎症分级的关系.方法 回顾性分析250例CHB肝穿刺患者,按血清HBV DNA水平,分为A组（＜3 log10 IU/ml）45例,B组（3～6 log10 IU/ml）138例,C组（＞6 log10 IU/ml）67例.按HBeAg阴阳性不同分为阳性组142例,阴性组108例.分别与肝组织中HBcAg水平、肝组织炎症分级进行比较,分析彼此的相关性,率的比较用卡方检验及确切概率法,相关性分析采用直线相关分析.结果 血清HBV DNA不同水平与肝组织HBcAg免疫组化比较差异有统计学意义（χ2=11.1,P=0.05）,两者之间呈正相关（r=0.75,P=0.001）;与肝组织炎症分级（G）比较差异无统计学意义（χ2=13.3,P=0.075）,两者之间也无相关性（r=0.04,P=0.325）.HBeAg阳性和阴性分组与肝组织中HBcAg水平比较差异有统计学意义（χ2=6.64,P=0.01）,两者之间呈正相关（r=0.56,P=0.001）;与肝组织炎症分级（G）比较差异无统计学意义（χ2=8.43,P=0 065）,两者之间也无相关性（r=0.06,P=0.415）.结论 CHB患者肝组织HBcAg表达更能反映出肝内HBV复制状态,患者血清中测不出病毒标志物时,可以考虑肝穿刺以观察肝组织中HBcAg表达来判断HBV复制状态具有重要意义.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者HBVDNA载量与肝组织炎症及纤维化程度的相关性分析

目的研究慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者血清HBV DNA载量与肝组织炎症及纤维化程度间的相关性。方法将169例CHB患者根据血清HBeAg分为HBeAg阳性组(110例)和HBeAg阴性组(59例),回顾性分析血清HBV DNA载量与肝组织病理炎症分级、纤维化分期之间关系。结果 HBeAg阳性组与HBeAg阴性组血清HBV DNA载量分别为(6.9±1.3)log10拷贝/ml和(4.7±1.8)log10拷贝/ml,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P=0.024)。HBeAg阳性组患者肝组织炎症活动度G1组为9例、G2组为80例、G3~4组为21例,其血清HBV DNA载量分别为(5.7±1.4)log10拷贝/ml、(6.4±1.8)log10拷贝/ml、(7.2±1.1)log10拷贝/ml,3组患者血清HBV DNA载量比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.069)。肝组织纤维化程度S1组为28例、S2组为50例、S3~4组为32例,其血清HBV DNA载量分别为(6.9±1.1)log10拷贝/ml、(6.9±1.4)log10拷贝/ml、(6.8±4.2)log10拷贝/ml,3组患者血清HBV DNA载量比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.079)。HBeAg阴性组患者肝组织炎症活动度G1组为6例、G2组为19例、G3~4组为34例,其血清HBV DNA载量分别为(2.2±1.9)log10拷贝/ml、(4.9±1.5)log10拷贝/ml、(5.4±1.8)log10拷贝/ml,3组患者血清HBV DNA载量比较,差异有统计学意义(P=0.014);肝组织纤维化程度S1组为12例、S2组为30例、S3~4组为17例,其血清HBV DNA载量分别为(2.6±4.1)log10拷贝/ml、(5.3±1.3)log10拷贝/ml、(5.6±1.7)log10拷贝/ml,3组血清HBV DNA载量比较,差异有统计学意义(P=0.026)。结论 HBeAg阳性CHB患者血清HBV DNA载量与肝组织炎症及纤维化程度无显著相关。HBeAg阴性CHB患者血清HBV DNA载量较高者,其肝组织炎症及纤维化程度较高。     

248例慢性乙型肝炎患者血清HBV DNA水平与肝组织HBsAg／HBcAg表达的相关性研究

目的 探讨慢性乙型肝炎患者血清HBV DNA水平与肝组织病理学损害和HBsAg／HBcAg表达的关系。方法 对248例慢性乙型肝炎患者进行肝穿刺活检,采用免疫组织化学法检测HBsAg和HBcAg,同时检测患者血清HBVDNA水平。结果 在肝脏炎症程度G1～G4四组患者之间血清HBV DNA水平无显著性差异（P〉0．05）,肝纤维化程度S1～S4四组患者之间血清HBV DNA水平也无显著性差异（P〉0．05）;在肝组织HBsAg表达强度-～＋＋＋四组患者之间血清HBV DNA水平无显著性差异（P〉0．05）,而肝组织HBcAg随血清HBV DNA水平的增高而表达增强。结论 慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织炎症活动度和纤维化程度与血清HBV DNA水平无相关性。     

388例慢性HBV感染者血清学与肝组织病理学指标的相关性分析

分析388例慢性HBV感染血清学及肝组织病理学指标的相关性.结果发现,HBeAg阳性者肝组织炎症分级为G2、G3-G4及纤维化分级为S2、S3～s4所占比率较阴性者低;纤维化分级为SO、炎症分级为GO～G1者的HBV-DNA均值显著高于纤维化分级S1～S4、炎症分级G2～G4者(P＜0.05、0.01);肝组织HBsAg表达为"+"者与"++～+++"者的血清HBV-DNA均值无显著差异;肝组织HBcAg阳性者HBV-DNA均值显著高于阴性者(P＜0.01);血清ALT水平正常及轻度升高者肝组织纤维化和(或)明显炎症发生率显著低于ALT中、重度升高者(P＜0.05).认为血清HBV-DNA与肝组织HBcAg表达有一致性,与肝内HbsAg表达无明显相关,HBV.DNA水平低可能提示肝组织炎症活动度和纤维化程度高;对慢性乙肝病毒携带者行肝活检可判断肝组织病变程度并决定是否行抗病毒治疗.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者病理舌苔与血清HBV DNA含量、肝脏HBcAg蛋白表达的关系

目的：通过对慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者病理舌苔与血清HBV DNA含量、肝脏HBcAg表达的研究,揭示CHB患者病理舌苔与病毒复制的关系,为临床宏观望舌诊病,以外揣内提供理论指导。方法：B超引导下肝脏穿刺,免疫组化法检测CHB患者肝脏HBcAg蛋白表达;荧光定量PCR（FQ-PCR）技术检测CHB患者血清HBV DNA含量。结果：①黄腻苔和白厚苔组CHB患者血清HBV DNA含量最高,与薄白苔组相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。薄白苔组HBV DNA病毒复制以少量（〈105copies/ml）为主（P〈0.01）。②黄腻苔和白厚苔组CHB患者肝组织HBcAg阳性细胞率明显高于薄黄苔和薄白苔组（P〈0.01）,其肝细胞HBcAg分布形态以浆膜型和混合型为主（P〈0.05）;薄白苔组以单纯核型为主（P〈0.01）。结论：CHB患者其舌苔厚薄与病毒载量有一定关系,血清HBV DNA含量高者,肝脏HBcAg阳性细胞率亦较高。     

慢性HBV感染者肝脏病理与ALT、性别及年龄等因素关系研究

目的探讨慢性HBV感染者肝脏病理特征与ALT、性别、年龄和HBV DNA的相关性。方法选取282例慢性HBV感染者行肝脏穿刺病理检查,分别就炎症分级和肝纤维化分期与性别、年龄、ALT、HBV DNA水平的关系进行研究。结果 282例中炎症分级≥2级所占比例为58.51%,肝纤维化分期主要分布在S1(35.11%)和S2(34.75%);不同炎症分级之间,性别差异无统计学意义;在年龄方面,G2~G4组均高于G0组(P坶0.05);在ALT方面,G2~G4组均高于G0和G1组(P均0.05),G4组高于G2和G3组(P均0.05);不同炎症分级组HBV DNA水平差异无统计学意义。不同肝纤维化分期之间,患者性别分布方面S2组男性比例高于S3组(P0.05);在年龄方面,S1、S2、S3组年龄依次升高(P均0.05);ALT方面,S4组高于S0~S3组(P均0.05);HBV DNA水平方面,S3组高于S1组(P0.05),S4组高于S0~S3组(P均0.05)。结论慢性HBV感染者大部分炎症分级为G2以上,肝纤维化分期为S4以下。随着ALT升高,炎症分级和肝纤维化分期逐渐加重,但ALT≥2倍正常值上限后肝纤维化程度不再随之变化。男性患者肝纤维化程度较重。随着年龄增加肝脏炎症程度逐渐增加。     

Biliary microlithiasis,sludge,crystals,microcrystallization,and usefulness of assessment of nucleation time

BACKGROUND:The process of microcrystallization,its sequel and the assessment of nucleation time is ignored.This systematic review aimed to highlight the importance of biliary microlithiasis,sludge,and crystals,and their association with gallstones,unexplained biliary pain,idiopathic pancreatitis, and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.DATA SOURCES:Three reviewers performed a literature search of the PubMed database.Key words used were"biliary microlithiasis","biliary sludge","bile crystals","cholesterol crystallisation","bile microscopy","microcrystal formation of bile","cholesterol monohydrate crystals","nucleation time of cholesterol","gallstone formation","sphincter of Oddi dysfunction"and"idiopathic pancreatitis".Additional articles were sourced from references within the studies from the PubMed search.RESULTS:We found that biliary microcrystals account for almost all patients with gallstone disease,7%to 79%with idiopathic pancreatitis,83%with unexplained biliary pain, and 25%to 60%with altered biliary and pancreatic sphincter function.Overall,the detection of biliary microcrystals in gallstone disease has a sensitivity ranging from 55%to 87%and a specificity of 100%.In idiopathic pancreatitis,the presence of microcrystals ranges from 47%to 90%.A nucleation time less than 10 days in hepatic bile or ultra-filtered gallbladder bile has a specificity of 100%for cholesterol gallstone disease.CONCLUSIONS:Biliary crystals are associated with gallstone disease,idiopathic pancreatitis,sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, unexplained biliary pain,and post-cholecystectomy biliary pain.Pathways of cholesterol super-saturation,crystallisation, and gallstone formation have been described with scientificsupport.Bile microscopy is a useful method to detect microcrystals and the assessment of nucleation time is a good method of predicting the risk of cholesterol crystallisation.     

Antibacterial activity of cefpodoxime in comparison with cefixime,cefdinir, cefetamet,ceftibuten, loracarbef,cefprozil, BAY 3522, cefuroxime,cefaclor and cefadroxil

Summary The new oral cephalosporins cefpodoxime, cefixime, cefdinir, cefetamet and ceftibuten demonstrate enhanced activity against Enterobacteriaceae susceptible to the established compounds as well (e.g. cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefadroxil). In addition, cefpodoxime, cefixime, cefdinir, cefetamet and ceftibuten include in their spectrum species hitherto resistant to oral cephalosporins (Proteus vulgaris, Providencia spp.,Yersinia enterocolitica). Besides, the majority of these compounds demonstrate relevant activity (MIC₅₀ equal to or below 2 mg/l) againstEnterobacter spp.,Citrobacter freundii, Serratia spp. andMorganella morganii. Ceftibuten is the most potent oral cephalosporin against most of the Enterobacteriaceae. Non-fermentative bacilli (Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas spp.) remain completely resistant to oral cephalosporins (except someAcinetobacter species against cefdinir andPseudomonas cepacia against ceftibuten). Antistaphylococcal activity for oral cephalosporins is highest for cefdinir followed by BAY 3522, cefprozil, cefuroxime and cefpodoxime. Loracarbef, cefaclor and cefadroxil are about equally active, while the other compounds are only weakly active (cefixime) or inactive (cefetamet, ceftibuten). Enterococci are insensitive to new generation oral cephalosporins as they have been to established compounds. The most active oral cephalosporins against hemolytic streptococci are cefdinir and cefprozil.Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus milleri andStreptococcus mitior are most susceptible to cefpodoxime, cefdinir, cefuroxime and BAY 3522. Penicillin resistant pneumococci have to be regarded as resistant to all oral cephalosporins. Fastidious pathogens likeHaemophilus spp.,Moraxella catarrhalis andNeisseria gonorrhoeae are more susceptible to cefpodoxime, cefixime, cefdinir, cefetamet and ceftibuten than to the other oral cephalosporins. The activity of oral cephalosporins is only weak againstListeria spp.,Helicobacter pylori and anaerobic pathogens (except BAY 3522).Bordetella pertussis remains resistant to all absorbable cephalosporins. Progress in antibacterial activity of oral cephalosporins was mainly achieved by cefpodoxime, cefixime, cefdinir, cefetamet and ceftibuten against Enterobacteriaceae and the fastidious pathogens and against staphylococci and the nonenterococcal streptococci by cefdinir, BAY 3522, cefprozil and cefpodoxime.

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Antibakterielle Aktivität von Cefpodoxim im Vergleich mit anderen oralen Cephalosporinen

Zusammenfassung Die neuen oralen Cephalosporine Cefpodoxim, Cefixim, Cefdinir, Cefetamet und Ceftibuten zeigen eine verstärkte Aktivität auch gegen solche Enterobacteriaceae, die gegen etablierte Substanzen empfindlich sind (z.B. Cefuroxim, Cefaclor, Cefadroxil). Zusätzlich schließt das Spektrum von Cefpodoxim, Cefixim, Cefdinir, Cefetamet und Ceftibuten Spezies ein, die gegen die bisherigen oralen Cephalosporine resistent waren (Proteus vulgaris, Providencia spp.,Yersinia enterocolitica). Daneben zeigt die Mehrheit der neuen Substanzen erhöhte Aktivität (MHK₅₀<2 mg/l) gegenEnterobacter spp.,Citrobacter freundii, Serratia spp. undMorganella morganii. Gegen die meisten Enterobacteriaceae ist Ceftibuten das wirksamste orale Cephalosporin. Non-Fermenter (Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas spp.) bleiben gegenüber oralen Cephalosporinen vollständig resistent (mit Ausnahme einigerAcinetobacter-Spezies gegen Cefdinir undPseudomonas cepacia gegen Ceftibuten). Die Antistaphylokokken-Aktivität oraler Cephalosporine ist am höchsten bei Cefdinir, gefolgt von BAY 3522, Cefprozil, Cefuroxim und Cefpodoxim. Loracarbef, Cefaclor und Cefadroxil sind etwa gleich aktiv, während die anderen Substanzen nur schwach aktiv (Cefixim) oder inaktiv sind (Cefetamet, Ceftibuten). Enterokokken sind gegenüber der neuen Generation oraler Cephalosporine ebenso unempfindlich wie gegenüber den etablierten Substanzen. Die aktivsten oralen Cephalosporine gegen hämolysierende Streptokokken sind Cefdinir und Cefprozil.Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus milleri undStreptococcus mitior sind am empfindlichsten gegen Cefpodoxim, Cefdinir, Cefuroxim und BAY 3522. Penicillin-resistente Pneumokokken müssen als resistent gegenüber allen oralen Cephalosporinen betrachtet werden. Anspruchsvolle Erreger wieHaemophilus spp.,Moraxella catarrhalis undNeisseria gonorrhoeae sind gegen Cefpodoxim, Cefixim, Cefdinir, Cefetamet und Ceftibuten empfindlicher als gegen die anderen oralen Cephalosporine. Die Aktivität oraler Cephalosporine gegenListeria spp.,Helicobacter pylori und Anaerobier (Ausnahme BAY 3522) ist nur schwach.Bordetella pertussis bleibt gegen alle resorbierbaren Cephalosporine resistent. Der Fortschritt in der antibakteriellen Aktivität oraler Cephalosporine wurde gegen Enterobacteriaceae und anspruchsvolle Erreger hauptsächlich durch Cefpodoxim, Cefixim, Cefdinir, Cefetamet und Ceftibuten erlangt, gegen Staphylokokken und Streptokokken (außer Enterokokken) durch Cefdinir, BAY 3522, Cefprozil und Cefpodoxim.

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Supported by Luitpold-Werk, a company of the Sankyo group.     

Electrochemical Recovery and Behaviors of Rare Earth (La,Ce, Pr,Nd, Sm,Eu, Gd,Tb, Dy,Ho, Er,Tm, and Yb) Ions on Ni Sheets

The electrochemical behaviors of rare earth (RE) ions have extensively been studied because of their high potential applications to the reprocessing of used nuclear fuels and RE-containing materials. In the present study, we fully investigated the electrochemical behaviors of RE(III) (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) ions over a Ni sheet electrode in 0.1 M NaClO₄ electrolyte solution by cyclic voltammetry between +0.5 and −1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Amperometry electrodeposition experiments were performed between −1.2 and −0.9 V to recover RE elements over the Ni sheet. The successfully RE-recovered Ni sheets were fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The newly reported recovery data for RE(III) ions over a metal electrode provide valuable information on the development of the treatment methods of RE elements.     

Clinical trials update: highlights of the scientific sessions of The American College of Cardiology 2002: LIFE,DANAMI 2, MADIT-2, MIRACLE-ICD,OVERTURE, OCTAVE,ENABLE 1 & 2, CHRISTMAS,AFFIRM, RACE,WIZARD, AZACS,REMATCH, BNP trial and HARDBALL

This article continues a series of reports updating recent research developments of particular interest to personnel involved in the treatment and management of patients with heart failure. This is a summary of selected presentations made at the American College of Cardiology 51st Annual Scientific Session held in Atlanta on 17-20 March 2002. Reports of the following clinical studies are included: LIFE, DANAMI 2, MADIT-2, MIRACLE-ICD, OVERTURE, OCTAVE, ENABLE 1 & 2, CHRISTMAS, AFFIRM, RACE, WIZARD, AZACS, REMATCH, BNP trial and HARDBALL.