冠状动脉慢性完全闭塞病变侧支压力大小与闭塞远端心肌灌注的临床研究

目的 分析冠状动脉慢性完全闭塞病变（CTO）侧支大小与闭塞远端心肌灌注水平的关系和闭塞远端不同灌注水平对CTO开通术后远端心肌灌注恢复和心功能的影响。 方法 连续入选2018年1月1日至2018年10月1日就诊于西京医院的CTO患者。所有患者术前完善心肌声学造影以评价闭塞远端心肌血流灌注[峰值强度(A)、血流速度(β)、心肌血流量(A×β）]。开通CTO支架植入后使用温度压力导丝测定冠状动脉楔压Pw,并计算侧支压力指数（CPI）。以CPI≥0.25和CPI<0.25分为侧支丰富组和侧支不良组。观察两组患者术前在A、β、A×β方面的差异。采用心肌声学造影半定量分析,根据闭塞远端心肌灌注水平分为灌注缺损组和灌注延迟组。观察两组患者术前、术后1d、术后1个月在A、β、A×β方面的差异以及心功能恢复情况。 结果 ①CPI<0.25和CPI≥0.25两组患者闭塞远端心肌灌注水平在术前,术后1d,术后1个月的差异无统计学意义。②灌注缺损组术前A[（4.9±0.6）dB vs (5.8±0.8) dB]和A×β[（14.1±2.4）dB/s vs (16.2±2.2) dB/s]显著低于灌注延迟组（均P<0.01）;β在两组间的差异无统计学意义。③CTO开通术后1d,1个月,灌注缺损组A[术后1d (6.1±0.8)dB vs (6.9±0.9) dB,P=0.01],[术后1个月（7.7±1.1）dB vs（8.5±1.0）dB,P<0.05]仍显著低于灌注延迟组;灌注延迟组和灌注缺损组远端心肌的 β和A×β差异无统计意义。④灌注缺损组术前左室射血分数(LVEF)显著低于灌注延迟组[（45±7）%vs（49±4）%,P<0.05）];CTO开通术后1个月灌注延迟组射血分数较术前提高,差异有统计学意义[（50±3）% vs（49±4）%,P=0.02]。灌注缺损组CTO开通术后1个月的LVEF与术前相比未见明显变化[（45±7）% vs (45±6)%]。 结论 ①CPI无法预测CTO闭塞远端心肌的灌注水平;②CTO开通后,闭塞远端心肌的灌注恢复不受CPI的影响;③CTO开通后远端心肌灌注水平和心功能的恢复受术前闭塞远端心肌灌注水平的影响。     

PCI术后运用18F-FDG PET/CT显像评估心肌存活情况及其与预后的关系

目的 急性心肌梗死患者经皮冠状动脉介入（PCI）术后通过18F-氟代脱氧葡萄糖正电子发射断层扫描CT(18F-FDG PET/CT)显像对其心肌存活情况进行评价,并分析心肌存活情况与患者预后的关系。方法 选取2020年6月至2022年9月进行PCI术的72例急性心肌梗死患者,均进行了术后即刻冠脉造影,并进行了术后8F-FDG PET/CT心肌显像检查、超声心动图检查。根据术后即刻冠脉造影结果,将其分为灌注良好组与灌注不良组,比较两组的心肌存活情况;根据存活心肌节段个数,将灌注不良组又分为≥4组与<4组,比较两组的心功能指标。结果 灌注不良组的灌注、代谢总评分以及灌注-代谢评分均高于灌注良好组,存活心肌节段<4组的LVEF、LVEDD分别小于、大于存活心肌节段≥4组,差异均存在统计学意义（P<0.05）;灌注-代谢评分与LVEF呈正相关,与LVEDD呈负相关。结论 18F-FDG PET/CT心肌代谢显像用于PCI术后可有效评价患者的心肌存活情况,能够以此评估患者术后的预后心功能恢复情况,有助于为临床上PCI术后制定相关的进一步干预措施提供指导。     

应用腺苷负荷心肌灌注显像随访老年冠状动脉介入术后患者的临床研究

目的 观察腺苷负荷心肌灌注显像对老年经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)患者疗效评估包括心肌血运恢复及心功能恢复情况。 方法 选择怀疑冠心病和已明确诊断老年冠心病患者,常规完成冠状动脉造影,53例行PCI,于PCI前、后6个月进行腺苷负荷心肌灌注显像检查,并同时进行心血管主要不良事件随访,完成随访40例。腺苷负荷心肌灌注显像把心肌分为16节段,计算核素扫描总积分及测定心功能。 结果 心肌扫描总积分与冠状动脉总狭窄指数呈正相关(r=0.675,P＜0.01);PCI后心肌扫描总积分与治疗前比较明显减低,分别为（2.2±2.3）与（4.5±1.9）分,差异有统计学意义(t=7.348,P＜0.01);PCI术后心肌灌注改善总有效率86.8％(40/53);PCI术后左心室射血分数较术前明显改善,分别为(58.3±10.5)％与（53.8±10.3）％,差异有统计学意义(t=3.497,P＜0.01)。 结论腺苷负荷心肌灌注显像作为一种无创的检测方法可以准确判定老年PCI术后血流恢复及心功能恢复情况,对老年人PCI术后疗效评价具有一定优势。     

99Tcm-MIBI 心肌灌注显像及18F-FDG PET心肌代谢显像探测左心室室壁瘤心肌存活性的临床价值

目的 评估99锝m-甲氧基异腈(99Tcm-MIBI)单光子发射计算机断层(SPECT)心肌灌注显像及18F-脱氧葡萄糖(FDG)正电子发射断层(PET)心肌代谢显像探测左心室室壁瘤(室壁瘤)心肌存活性的临床价值.方法 46例确诊为室壁瘤合并左心功能不全[左心射血分数(LVEF)36%±7%],行99Tcm-MIBI SPECT+18F-FDG PET显像,并接受血运重建术的患者,随访(80±27)个月.根据室壁瘤是否有存活心肌[灌注-代谢不匹配分(MMS)≥2.0分]以及是否行室壁瘤切除术,将患者分为4个小组:室擘瘤无存活心肌(A组):血运重建术为Al组(n=8),血运重建术+瘤切除术为A2组(n=15);窒壁瘤有存活心肌(B组):血运重建术为B1组(n=10),血运重建术+瘤切除术为B2组(n=13).结果 A1、A2、B1、B2 4个组心脏事件发生率分别为25%(2/8),40%(6/15).20%(2/10)和31%(4/13)(P＞0.05).除A1组外,其他各组的术后左心功能均得到明显改善(P＜0.05).多因素logistic回归分析筛选出与术后LVEF改善相关的独立影响因素,为左心室的MMS(OR=2.34,95% CI 1.08～5.06,P＜0.05),非室壁瘤部位的心肌灌注分(OR=0.24.95% CI 0.07～0.85,P＜0.05)和远端血管病变(OR=0.008,95% CI 0.001～0.560.P＜0.05).结论 室壁瘤接受血运重建术的患者,长期预后良好.室壁瘤部位有存活心肌的患者,单纯的血运重建术也可以明显改善左心功能,且与心肌存活的量相关.     

99mTc-MIBI心肌灌注显像预测急性心肌梗死患者延迟PCI疗效的临床意义

目的评价^99mTc-MIBI心肌灌注显像在急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者延迟经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）策略中的意义。方法 55例未行急诊PCI的AMI患者,以术前静息及硝酸甘油介入^99mTc-MIBI心肌灌注显像结果分为有存活心肌组和无存活心肌组,观察两组PCI前后1周静息心肌灌注缺损计分变化及PCI前、PCI后12个月后超声心动图改变。结果有存活心肌组和无存活心肌组静息心肌灌注显像缺损积分PCI前分别为（11.66±0.43）、（12.41±0.64）分,PCI后分别为（7.02±0.56）、（10.09±0.45）分,两组PCI前后心肌血流灌注均有改善（P均<0.05）,有存活心肌组心肌血流灌注改善更显著（P<0.01）。超声心动图检测显示PCI前两组左室射血分数（LVEF）及左室舒张末期内径（LVEDD）比较有统计学差异（P<0.05或<0.01）,PCI后12个月有存活心肌组LVEF、LVEDD改善优于无存活心肌组（P<0.05或<0.01）。结论静息及硝酸甘油介入^99mTc-MIBI心肌灌注显像可作为判断AMI患者延迟PCI疗效的可靠方法。     

~(18)F-FDG PET/CT心肌代谢显像评价冠状动脉慢性闭塞性病变存活心肌及与侧枝循环形成的相关性

目的:冠状动脉慢性闭塞性病变(CTO)患者行~(18)F-FDG PET/CT心肌葡萄糖代谢显像,检测左心室存活心肌的部位、范围和程度,评估其与侧枝循环形成的关系。方法:入选CTO患者60例,1周内分别完成~(99mTc-MIBI)静息门控心肌灌注SPECT/CT(GSPECT)断层显像和~(18)F-FDG门控心肌葡萄糖代谢PET/CT显像(GPET)评价左心室存活心肌及左心室整体功能,冠状动脉造影评价CTO病变的位置、血管数量及侧枝循环形成。GPET数据采用定量门控心脏断层软件QGS分析,获取左心室功能参数,舒张末期容积(EDV),收缩末期容积(ESV)和左心室射血分数(LVEF)。侧枝循环形成的程度应用Rentrop分级评价。比较CTO患者中侧枝循环形成不同的患者存活心肌的部位、范围及左心室功能参数之间的差异。结果:CTO患者Rentrop分级不同的患者中,侧枝循环良好组(RentropⅡ和RentropⅢ)患者的心肌血流灌注优于侧枝循环不良组(RentropⅠ和Rentrop 0级),但是侧枝循环良好组与侧枝循环不良组患者~(18)F-FDG PET/CT评价的存活心肌的范围及左心室整体功能和重构状态未见明显差异。侧枝循环形成与心肌梗死区域存活心肌的范围不具有"一一对应"的关系,在侧枝循环良好组,有10%的患者存活心肌面积≤10%,通过血运重建术开通闭塞血管后,预估患者的临床获益小;而在侧枝循环不良组,仍有10%的患者存活心肌的面积10%,通过血运重建术开通闭塞血管后,患者心肌血流灌注改善,心功能恢复较好,患者能够获得较好的临床预后。结论:CTO病变患者心肌存活范围与左心室射血分数与侧枝循环形成不具有明显的相关关系,在进行介入及搭桥血运重建术前,综合评级存活心肌的部位、范围及冠状动脉侧枝循环形成,能够为患者制定个体化的治疗方案,最大限度的改善患者的预后,有重要的临床价值。     

冠状动脉旁路移植术对冬眠心肌的作用

目的：探讨冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）对冬眠心肌的作用。方法：对123例曾患心肌梗死在CABG前后,分别作硝酸异山梨醇脂介入^99mTc－甲氧基异丁基异腈（ISDN^99mTc－MIBI） 灌注显像、小剂量多巴酚丁胺超声负荷试验）LDDSE）和 射断层氟脱氧葡萄糖（PET18F－FDG）心肌代谢显像以鉴别科眠心肌的存在,并观察CABG后相应节段灌注、代谢和收缩功能的变化。结果：（1）38例ISDN^99mTc－MIBI灌注显像术前后比较,正常灌注节段数从159例至195,异常灌注节段数从183减至147,ISDN阳性组灌注计分从术前的8．12减笃术后的3．76,ISDN阴性组无明显变化。（2）65例LDDSE术前后比较,在有收缩储备的133段中,CABG后运动改善的有112段,无收储备191段中,运动改善的有31段。（3）45例PET18F－FDG代谢显像术前后比较,在代谢－灌注不匹配、部分匹配和匹配三组,节段室壁运动改善率分别为87．5％、55．6％和28．6％。全组无手术和住院死亡病例发生。出院后随访5－40个月,无远期死亡。123例中、91例心功能Ⅰ级（74％）,32例心功能Ⅱ级（26％）。结论（1）对心肌梗死后合并心功能不全的患CABG能取得良好的临床效果;（2）ISDN^99mTc－MIBI心肌灌注显像、LDDSE和PET18F－FDG心肌代谢显像均能较准确地鉴别科眠心肌和梗死心肌、,为外科治疗抉择提供重要参考依据,并提供有价值的预测。     

心肌梗死区存活心肌对糖尿病急性心肌梗死患者PCI术后心功能的影响(英文)

目的:探讨糖尿病急性心肌梗死经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)术后患者心肌梗死区存活心肌对左室重构及左心功能的影响。方法:208例2型糖尿病并急性心肌梗死PCI术后的患者接受静息状态下18-氟脱氧葡萄糖正电子发射断层扫描术(18F-FDG PET)心肌代谢显像与99m锝-甲氧基异丁基异腈单光子发射型计算机断层成像术(99Tcm-MIBI SPECT)心肌灌注显像,根据心肌梗死区有无存活心肌,分为有心肌存活组(115例,灌注-代谢不匹配)和无心肌存活组(93例,灌注一代谢匹配)。检测两组PCI术前、术后超声心动图各指标,观察心肌梗死区心肌存活状态对于左室重构以及心功能的影响。结果:心肌梗死12个月后有存活心肌组左室射血分数(LVEF)显著高于无存活心肌组[(46.7±6.98)%比(44.1±7.12)%],左室舒张末期内径(LVEDd)[(53.17±4.77)mm比(55.46±4.75)mm],左房内径[(35.89±12.08)mm比(39.25±11.31)mm]显著小于无存活心肌组,P均<0.05。舒张期二尖瓣血流速度峰值的比值12个月后两组无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论:于2型糖尿病合并急性心肌梗死的患者,心肌梗死区有存活心肌患者较无心肌存活患者,LVEF明显改善,左室舒张末期内径显著缩小。     

冠状动脉血运重建术对左心室收缩功能严重减低患者左心室重构及收缩功能的作用

目的:评价冠状动脉血运重建术对陈旧性心肌梗死伴左心室收缩功能严重减低患者的左心室重构及整体和节段收缩功能的改善作用.方法:对陈旧性心肌梗死伴左心室收缩功能严重减低(左心室射血分数 0.39±0.05),并证明病变部位有存活心肌的患者26例,均完成冠状动脉血运重建术,其中冠状动脉旁路移植术12例,经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 支架14例.于冠状动脉血运重建术前、后[平均(6.8±2.9)月]进行二维超声心动图检查,评价左心室容积及整体和节段收缩功能的变化,并完成术后临床随访.结果:26例患者冠状动脉血运重建术后与术前相比, 57.4%的运动异常节段(156/272)有收缩运动改善;术后平均左心室舒张末容积(LVEDV)和收缩末容积(LVESV)均显著缩小(P<0.05～0.01),而左心室射血分数和室壁节段运动评分指数均显著改善(P均<0.001);随访期间的临床症状和NYHA心功能分级亦均明显改善,无心脏事件发生.去除4例行室壁瘤切除者后,各指标的变化与上述相同.再以冠状动脉血运重建术后左心室射血分数增加≥0.05与否分为心功能改善者和心功能无改善者各11例,心功能改善者的LVEDV和LVESV均较术前显著缩小(P均<0.01),心功能无改善者两参数较术前均无明显扩大.此外,术后功能改善的节段数与术后左心室射血分数呈显著正相关(r=0.51,P<0.01);而术后功能无改善节段数在心功能无改善者显著高于心功能改善者(P<0.05).结论:对陈旧性心肌梗死伴左心室收缩功能严重减低并证明病变部位有存活心肌的患者,冠状动脉血运重建术能够阻抑进行性左心室重构,改善左心室整体、节段收缩功能和临床症状.术后功能改善节段数与整体心功能改善正相关,而无功能改善节段数可能与术后整体心功能不改善有关.     

冠状动脉旁路术前存活心肌的评价(附13例报告)

目的对１３例准备行冠状动脉旁路术（ＣＡＢＧ）的冠心病患者术前行硝酸异山梨酯（ＩＳＤＮ）介入２０１ＴＩ心肌断层显像，评价其检测存活心肌及预测心功能恢复的价值。方法ＣＡＢＧ术前患者于多巴酚丁胺负荷高峰时注射２０１ＴＩ行负荷、３小时再分布心肌显像后，静脉点滴ＩＳＤＮ并再次注射２０１ＴＩ（ＩＳＤＮ／ＲＩ）进行心肌显像，ＣＡＢＧ术后３个月复查静态心肌显像，并比较术前后左室射血分数。结果１３例患者负荷像共有４８个节段灌注异常，ＩＳＤＮ／ＲＩ显像后有２９个节段灌注改善，其中２６个节段在术后心肌灌注亦有改善；不可逆灌注或异常加重的１９节段中，术后仍有１７个节段灌注无改善，ＩＳＤＮ／ＲＩ显像检测存活心肌的准确性为８９．５％。且左室射血分数的提高与ＩＳＤＮ／ＲＩ显像可逆灌注节段数密切相关（ｒ＝０．７３，Ｐ＜０．００５）。结论ＩＳＤＮ／ＲＩ２０１ＴＩ心肌显像在估测存活心肌和预测心功能恢复方面有较高的临床实用价值。     

The immunoneuroendocrine role of melatonin

Abstract: A tight, physiological link between the pineal gland and the immune system is emerging from a series of experimental studies. This link might reflect the evolutionary connection between self-recognition and reproduction. Pinealectomy or other experimental methods which inhibit melatonin synthesis and secretion induce a state of immunodepression which is counteracted by melatonin. In general, melatonin seems to have an immunoenhancing effect that is particularly apparent in immunodepressive states. The negative effect of acute stress or immunosuppressive pharmacological treatments on various immune parameters are counteracted by melatonin. It seems important to note that one of the main targets of melatonin is the thymus, i.e., the central organ of the immune system. The clinical use of melatonin as an immunotherapeutic agent seems promising in primary and secondary immunodeficiencies as well as in cancer immunotherapy. The immunoenhancing action of melatonin seems to be mediated by T-helper cell-derived opioid peptides as well as by lymphokines and, perhaps, by pituitary hormones. Melatonin-induced-immuno-opioids (MHO) and lymphokines imply the presence of specific binding sites or melatonin receptors on cells of the immune system. On the other hand, lymphokines such as -γ-interferon and interleukin-2 as well as thymic hormones can modulate the synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland. The pineal gland might thus be viewed as the crux of a sophisticated immunoneuroendocrine network which functions as an unconscious, diffuse sensory organ.     

Changes in connexin43, the gap junction protein of astrocytes, during development of the rat pineal gland

Abstract: The abundance of gap junctions between rat pineal astrocytes formed by connexin43 (Cx43) was studied during development. Levels and distribution of Cx43 were measured by immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence, respectively. The amount of Cx43 in cells located within the gland was low until about the 7th postnatal day and increased to adult values between the 14th and 21st days postpartum. Although astrocytes, recognized by their vimentin immunoreactivity, were scarce before birth, they were abundant by the 7th postnatal day suggesting that the low levels of Cx43 found at this age corresponded to a low expression of this protein. Localization of the immunoreactivity to Cx43 and vimentin showed a close correlation, indicating that mature or immature pineal astrocytes form gap junctions made of Cx43. Since Cx43 levels attained their adult values at about the time the innervation and the functional state of the gland reached maturity (2–3 weeks after birth), it is proposed that astrocyte gap junctions are involved in the function of the adult rat pineal gland.     

Conservative management of perforated duodenal diverticulum： A case report and review of the literature

Duodenal diverticula are a relatively common condition. They are asymptomatic, unless they become complicated, with perforation being the rarest but most severe complication. Surgical treatment is the most frequently performed approach. We report the case of a patient with a perforated duodenal diverticulum, which was diagnosed early and treated conservatively with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage of secondary retroperitoneal abscesses. We suggest this method could be an acceptable option for the management of similar cases, provided that the patient is in good general condition and without septic signs.     

Response of rat pineal melatonin to calcium, magnesium, and lithium is circadian stage dependent

Abstract: Herein we documented the response of pineal melatonin production to electrolytes known to be effective on pineal function in view of a possible circadian stage dependence. We studied the release of melatonin by perifused rat pineal glands at 2 different circadian stages corresponding to the middle of the light and dark periods, i.e., respectively, 7 and 19 HALO (Hours After Light Onset, L:D = 12:12). The initial efflux rates were, as expected, much higher in the perifusates of glands removed from rats sacrificed during the dark phase than of those removed during the light phase. After 3 hr of perifusion, melatonin release reached similar levels which were found constant up to the 8th hr of perifusion, whatever the circadian stage. Perifusion of the glands with physiological concentrations for the rat of calcium (5.2 mmol/1) and magnesium (1.34 mmol/1) resulted in a stimulatory effect on the pineal glands removed from rats sacrificed in the middle of the dark period (19 HALO), whereas no effects were observed on the pineal glands removed from rats sacrificed during the light (7 HALO). Lithium (0.28 and 0.55 mmol/1) was ineffective on melatonin release in pineal glands removed 7 and 19 HALO. Our results show differences in the initial efflux rates of melatonin and in the response of perifused pineal glands to calcium and magnesium according to the circadian stage.     

Presence of immunoreactive growth hormone and prolactin in the ovine pineal gland

Abstract: The use of antisera raised against bovine growth hormone (GH) and ovine prolactin (PRL) enabled the detection of related immunoreactive (ir) sequences of proteins in ovine pineal tissue. The isolation of PRL-like ir-material was accomplished using a 0.25 M ammonium sulphate (pH 5.5) extraction followed by ethanol precipitation, whereas the resulting 2.0 M ammonium sulphate (pH 7.0) precipitate contained a GH-like immunoreactivity. Gel chromatography of the GH-like immunoreactivity (Sephadex G-100) indicated the presence of several GH-like fragments ranging in the M_r range of 7,000 to 55,000. Analyses of the PRL-like ir-material found in pineal tissue on HPLC using a TSK 545-DEAE column led to the resolution into a single peak of immunoreactivity. A single peak of activity was also observed following chromatofocusing and hydrophobic interaction chromatography of the ir-peak from the TSK 545-DEAE column. The PRL-like ir-material inhibited the binding of [¹²⁵I]ovine PRL-S14 to anti-ovine PRL antibodies without showing an affinity for binding to anti-rat PRL or anti-bovine GH antibodies. Scatchard analysis of the binding of pineal PRL-like ir-material and pituitary ovine PRL-S14 to liver membranes from day-20 pregnant rats revealed similar affinity constants (K_a of 4.7 ± 0.2 × 10⁹ M^-1). In addition, the replication of Nb 2 Node rat lymphoma cells was stimulated by pineal PRL-like ir-material, an effect known to be specific for lactogenic hormones. The pineal PRL-like immunoreactivity appeared on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels as a single major band of M_r 24,000. The functional status of PRL-and GH-like ir-material in the ovine pineal remains to be determined, but evidence is presented that the overall protein synthesis rate of the rat pineal responded to circulating concentrations of PRL.     

Microbiology of human immunodeficiency virus anorectal disease

PURPOSE: Individuals who are seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus are at high risk for opportunistic infection and anorectal disorders. Little prospective information is available regarding anorectal pathogens in these patients. METHODS: One hundred sixty-three HIV-seropositive patients presented to the colorectal clinic between 1989 and 1992. Forty-seven (29 percent) patients were thought to have an infectious process and were prospectively studied using a standardized multiculture protocol. RESULTS: Mean age was 33 (range, 19–59) years. All were male; high-risk behavior accounted for 87 percent of HIV transmissions. Presenting complaints included anorectal pain (79 percent), pus per anum (28 percent), and blood per anum (26 percent). Examination revealed perianal tenderness (60 percent), condyloma (38 percent), perianal ulcers (38 percent), and anal fissures (34 percent). Sixty-six sets of cultures were performed; 28 patients had one set, 15 had two sets, and 4 had three sets. Thirty-two of these 47 patients (68 percent) had positive cultures including herpes (50 percent), cytomegalovirus (25 percent),Neisseria gonorrhoeae (16 percent), chlamydia (16 percent), acidfast bacilli (2 percent), and others (9 percent). Six of 32 patients with positive cultures had more than one organism cultured. Sixteen (50 percent) patients with positive cultures were treated medically, 8 (25 percent) were treated surgically and 8 (25 percent) were treated with both modalities. Sixty-one procedures were performed on 17 patients for condylomata. Eighteen patients had 20 procedures for abscesses, 50 percent of whom had positive cultures for other than common bowel flora; all improved. Fourteen patients underwent 33 procedures for perianal fistulas.Mycobacterium fortuitum was cultured from one patient who required 13 procedures for abscesses and fistulas. Forty-five (96 percent) patients were followed for an average of 12.5 months ±2.9 SEM (range, 1–94 months). Symptoms were improved or resolved in 22 of 32 (69 percent) patients with positive cultures and in 11 of 13 (84 percent) with negative cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Specific pathogens may often be identified in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients with anorectal disorders if aggressively sought. Although patients without specific pathogens identified may be expected to improve with planned empiric treatment, positive identification allows more directed therapy.