血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶缺血修饰蛋白与新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病严重程度的相关性分析

目的 探讨血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、缺血修饰蛋白（IMA）与新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病（HIE）病情严重程度的关系。方法 选择2016年3月至2017年2月潮州市中心医院新生儿科收治的81例HIE患儿作为HIE组,根据病情轻重,将HIE组分为轻度HIE组32例、中度HIE组24例及重度HIE组25例;选择同期30例正常足月新生儿作为对照组。分别检测对照组生后1~2 d及3组患者HIE急性期与恢复期血清NSE、IMA水平,分析两者与HIE病情严重程度的关系。采用Pearson相关分析,分析三组HIE急性期及恢复期NSE、IMA的相关性。结果 3组HIE急性期及恢复期NSE、IMA均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。其中重度HIE组急性期NSE、IMA[（61.14±30.8）μg/L,（97.26±2.46） U/mL]高于中度HIE组[（40.30±10.81）μg/L,（93.08±1.90） U/mL]及轻度HIE组[（18.75±1.40）μg/L,（83.75±0.78） U/mL],差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。恢复期重度HIE组NSE,IMA[（20.81±9.57）μg/L,（83.34±2.01） U/mL]及中度HIE组[（21.14±7.04）μg/L,（82.28±2.17） U/mL]均高于轻度HIE组[（10.89±5.14）μg/L,（73.17±1.91） U/mL],差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Pearson相关性显示,三组患者HIE急性期,恢复期NSE与IMA均呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论 血清NSE与IMA水平的变化与HIE病情严重程度正相关。     

新生儿缺血缺氧性脑病患儿血清CCL5 GM-CSF表达及其与预后相关性

目的 探究新生儿缺血缺氧性脑病（HIE）患儿血清趋化因子5（CCL5）、粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（GM-CSF）的表达水平及与预后的关系。方法 选取2015年1月至2019年5月在海南省妇女儿童医学中心诊治的82例HIE患儿作为患病组,根据患儿病情严重程度,分为轻度组（31例）、中度组（26例）与重度组（25例）,另取同期60例健康新生儿作为健康组。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测受试者血清中CCL5、GM-CSF的表达水平,采用新生儿神经行为测定（NBNA）评分评估各组新生儿的神经系统的发育情况,分析血清CCL5、GM-CSF之间及二者与NBNA评分的相关性;采用格塞尔发育量表（GDS）评估患儿预后情况,并分析其与CCL5、GM-CSF表达的关系。结果 HIE患儿血清CCL5、GM-CSF的表达水平分别为（83.41±10.95）ng/L、（52.27±11.71）pg/mL,与健康组相比,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。随着病情加重,HIE患儿血清中CCL5表达水平升高,GM-CSF表达水平下降,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。HIE患儿血清CCL5与NBNA评分呈负相关（r=-0.318,P<0.05）,GM-CSF水平与NBNA评分呈正相关（r=0.338,P<0.05）,CCL5水平与GM-CSF水平呈负相关（r=-0.359,P<0.05）。对HIE患儿随访1年,CCL5高表达患儿GDS评分低于CCL5低表达患儿, GM-CSF高表达患儿GDS评分高于GM-CSF低表达患儿,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 血清CCL5在HIE患儿中表达上调,GM-CSF在HIE患儿中表达下调,二者水平与HIE患儿预后有关,可能作为评价HIE患儿预后的潜在标志物。     

地佐辛与舒芬太尼经静脉患者自控镇痛对食管癌患者术后镇痛的效果比较

目的 比较地佐辛与舒芬太尼经静脉患者自控镇痛（PCIA）给药对食管癌患者术后的镇痛效果。方法 116例择期行食管癌根治术的患者随机分为地佐辛组（n=58）和舒芬太尼组（n=58）,两组患者麻醉方法及麻醉药物使用均相同,术毕给予PCIA,地佐辛组药物为0.8 mg/kg地佐辛和6 mg托烷司琼用生理盐水配制成100 mL,舒芬太尼组药物为舒芬太尼2.5 μg/kg和托烷司琼6 mg用生理盐水配制成100 mL。记录两组患者术后48 h内PCIA按压次数和镇痛药物累积消耗量,计算有效按压率;分别于术后6h （T₂）、12 h （T₃）、24 h （T₄）和48 h （T₅）评估疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分,分别于术前（T₀）、T₁、T₃、T₄和T₅时检测T细胞亚群CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺和NK细胞,记录两组患者术后不良反应发生情况。结果 地佐辛组患者术后48 h内按压次数和镇痛药物累积消耗量分别为（5.1±2.2）次和（60.6±11.2） mL,低于舒芬太尼组（7.2±2.6）次和（88.8±9.1） mL （P<0.05）;地佐辛组患者T_2~5时安静时VAS评分[（2.1±0.9）、（1.9±0.6）、（2.0±0.5）、（1.7±0.4）分]和活动时VAS评分[（2.6±1.1）、（2.2±0.8）、（2.3±0.7）、（1.9±0.8）分]均低于舒芬太尼组（P<0.05）;与舒芬太尼组相比,地佐辛组患者T_3~5时CD3⁺细胞[（57.8±9.2）%、（62.3±7.8）%、（66.3±9.5）%]均升高,T₃时CD4⁺[（27.8 ±6.8）%]升高,T_3~4时CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值[（1.15±0.62）、（1.24±0.52）]和NK细胞[（20.2±6.9）%、（21.3±4.9）%]升高,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）;地佐辛组患者术后总不良反应发生率22.4%,显著低于舒芬太尼组的39.7%（P<0.05）。结论 与舒芬太尼相比,地佐辛应用于食管癌患者术后镇痛,可提高镇痛效果、改善患者机体细胞免疫功能、减少术后不良反应的发生。     

超声引导股神经-股外侧皮神经阻滞联合喉罩全麻在股骨干骨折手术的应用效果

目的 探讨超声引导下股神经-股外侧皮神经阻滞联合喉罩全麻用于股骨干骨折手术的临床效果。方法 选择2014年9月到2018年5月黄山市人民医院收治的股骨干骨折手术患者30例,采用股神经-股外侧皮神经阻滞联合喉罩全麻,超声定位后注入0.5%罗哌卡因15 mL阻滞股神经和0.375%罗哌卡因5 mL阻滞股外侧皮神经。观察患者神经阻滞前（T₀）、阻滞后5 min（T₁）、10 min（T₂）、15 min（T₃）、30 min（T₄）的血流动力学变化;观察感觉及运动阻滞的起效和持续时间;同时观察有无恶心、呕吐及术后尿潴留等不良反应。结果 30例患者T₀、T₁、T₂、T₃、T₄收缩压分别为（144.67±14.81）、（141.53±14.32）、（141.67±13.88）、（142.00±12.40）、（145.00±11.65）mmHg,不同时间点收缩压的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。T₀、T₁、T₂、T₃、T₄舒张压分别为（79.73±4.39）、（77.90±4.29）、（79.87±3.87）、（78.77±4.29）、（79.17±3.48）mmHg,不同时间点舒张压的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。T₀、T₁、T₂、T₃、T₄心率分别为（80.00±4.98）、（78.90±3.21）、（78.33±3.92）、（79.33±3.02）、（78.07±3.38）次/分,不同时间点心率的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。患者感觉阻滞的起效时间平均为（6.77±0.90）min,持续时间为（339.90±65.67）min;运动阻滞的起效时间平均为（12.23±2.28）min,持续时间为（213.00±39.08）min。30例患者均无恶心、呕吐及术后尿潴留发生。结论 超声引导下行股神经-股外侧皮神经阻滞联合喉罩全麻应用于股骨干骨折手术,血流动力学稳定,镇痛时间长,术后并发症极少,可推广应用。     

烧伤脓毒血症患者血清降钙素原和血浆凝溶胶蛋白水平的变化及意义

目的 探讨烧伤脓毒血症患者血清降钙素原（PCT）和血浆凝溶胶蛋白（GSN）水平的变化及意义。方法 选取2008年2月至2013年3月恩施州中心医院烧伤整形科118例严重烧伤患者,分为烧伤脓毒血症组（n=51）和烧伤非脓毒血症组（n=67）,选取健康者45例作为对照组,烧伤脓毒血症组患者根据预后,分为死亡组（n=18）和存活组（n=33）。分别于患者入院当天（T₁）、第2天（T₂）、第4天（T₃）、第7天（T₄）和第14天（T₅）,以及对照组体检当天,利用全自动免疫分析仪检测PCT水平,利用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA法）检测血浆中GSN含量,利用logistic回归分析血清PCT和血浆GSN水平对患者预后的影响。结果 烧伤脓毒血症组患者T_1-4时血清PCT水平均高于烧伤非脓毒血症组和对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;烧伤脓毒血症组患者T_2-5时血浆GSN水平均低于烧伤非脓毒血症组,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;烧伤脓毒血症组患者T_1-5时血浆GSN水平均低于烧伤非脓毒血症组和对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;死亡组患者T_1-5时血清PCT水平均高于存活组,而T_1-5时血浆GSN水平均低于存活组,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;Spearman相关分析显示,烧伤脓毒血症组患者血清PCT总体水平与患者预后呈正相关（r=0.437,P < 0.05）,而血浆GSN水平与患者预后呈负相关（r=-0.518,P < 0.05）;logistic回归分析显示,血清PCT总体平均值和血浆GSN总体平均值均是影响患者预后的独立危险因素（P < 0.05）。结论 烧伤脓毒血症患者血清PCT和血浆GSN水平随病情变化而动态改变,PCT总体水平与患者预后呈正相关,而血浆GSN水平与患者预后呈负相关,可作为早期预测患者病情及预后的指标。     

右美托咪定复合舒芬太尼对心脏手术快通道麻醉术后镇痛效果及血清C反应蛋白的影响

目的 评价右美托咪定复合舒芬太尼对婴幼儿心脏手术快通道麻醉术后镇痛效果及血清C反应蛋白（CRP）的影响。方法 选择2017年1月至2018年1月在河南科技大学第一附属医院行先天性心脏病房缺和室缺修补术的患儿60例,采用随机数字表法分为右美托咪定复合舒芬太尼镇痛组（Ⅰ组）和舒芬太尼镇痛组（Ⅱ组）,每组30例。Ⅰ组患儿于缝皮前20 min开始静脉泵注右美托咪定1 μg/（kg·h）,至手术结束,Ⅱ组患儿给予等容量生理盐水。术后镇痛泵药液配方：Ⅰ组为右美托咪定37.5 μg/kg+舒芬太尼2.5 μg/kg+托烷司琼0.1 mg/kg,Ⅱ组为舒芬太尼2.5 μg/kg+托烷司琼0.1 mg/kg,均加生理盐水至100 mL,泵速2 mL/h。记录术毕（T₁）、苏醒（T₂）、拔管（T₃）、术后第6小时（T₅）、术后第24小时（T₆）、术后第48小时（T₇）的心率（HR）、平均动脉压（MAP）;记录术后4 h （T₄）、T₅、T₆、T₇疼痛行为量表（FLACC）评分和Ramsay镇静评分;记录术前（T₀）、T₅、T₆、T₇的血清CRP水平;记录术后48 h内不良反应的发生情况。结果 Ⅱ组患儿在T₂、T₃、T₅、T₆时点的MAP和HR均高于Ⅰ组（MAP：F_组间=10.105,P=0.034;HR：F_组间=10.830,P=0.030）;Ⅰ组患儿在T₄、T₅、T₆时点FLACC评分低于Ⅱ组（F_组间=23.091,P=0.001）,Ramsay镇静评分高于Ⅱ组（F_组间=21.534,P=0.002）;Ⅱ组患儿T₆、T₇时点血清CRP水平高于I组（F_组间=14.981,P=0.018）。与Ⅱ组比较,Ⅰ组患儿术后48 h内恶心、呕吐发生率降低,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 右美托咪定复合舒芬太尼用于婴幼儿心脏手术快通道麻醉,术后镇痛安全有效,不良反应少,术后应激反应减轻。     

柱前衍生-HPLC测定白消安在家兔体内的药动学参数

目的 建立测定家兔血清中白消安浓度和家兔体内药动学特征的柱前衍生化HPLC。方法 以1,5-戊二醇二甲磺酸酯为内标,二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸钠为衍生化试剂。流动相：甲醇-水（54∶46）,流速：0~20 min（1.0 mL·min^-1）,20~27 min（1.3 mL·min^-1）。柱温：30℃,检测波长：280 nm,进样量：25 μL。家兔分别以灌胃、静注的方式给予白消安,按本法测定血药浓度,DAS 3.0计算药动学参数。结果 白消安的血药浓度在0.1~3.4 mg·-L¹ 内线性关系良好（r=0.999 7）,日内、日间精密度以及样品稳定性符合中国药典2015年版的规定。低、中、高浓度的萃取回收率分别为90.0%,89.0%,91.5%。不同给药途径获得的药动学参数：单剂量口服t_1/2=（2.26±0.66）h,k=（0.33±0.12）·h^-1,k_a=（2.54±1.3）·h^-1,AUC_0–t=（1.95±0.18）h·mg·mL^-1;单剂量静脉注射t_1/2=（1.53±0.09）h,k=（0.45±0.03）·h^-1,AUC_0–∞=（4.38±0.26）h·mg·mL^-1。多剂量口服后C_ss=（0.48±0.03）mg·mL^-1,AUC_0–τ=（3.87±0.26）h·mg·mL^-1。结论 建立的柱前衍生-HPLC法适用于白消安血药浓度测定及药动学研究,不同给药途径的药动学参数为临床药动学研究提供了依据。     

血清超敏C反应蛋白白介素6与冠状动脉病变程度的相关性

目的 探讨血清超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、白介素-6（IL-6）与冠状动脉病变严重程度的相关性。方法 选择2017年2月至2019年12月在昆明理工大学附属攀钢集团总医院住院并接受冠状动脉造影（CAG）检查的患者317例,根据CAG检查结果,将其分为正常组（n=81）与冠心病（CHD）组（n=236）。依据冠状动脉Gensini积分,将CHD组患者分为低危组132例（<20分）、中危组78例（20～40分）和高危组26例（>40分）。比较各组患者临床资料、血清hs-CRP和IL-6水平的差异。结果 CHD组患者年龄为（57.82±9.54）岁、高血压109例（46.19%）、糖尿病75例（31.78%）、低密度脂蛋白水平为（3.69±1.34）mmol/L、hs-CRP水平为（18.21±9.79）mg/L、IL-6水平为（25.70±12.62）pg/L,均高于正常组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。低、中及高危组患者血清hs-CRP、IL-6水平进行比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。高危组患者hs-CRP水平为（29.47±17.91）mg/L、IL-6水平为（35.31±8.69）pg/L,均高于低、中危组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。血清hs-CRP、IL-6水平与冠状动脉Gensini积分呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论 血清hs-CRP和IL-6与冠状动脉病变程度具有一定的相关性。     

珍菊降压片在大鼠体内药动学研究

目的 建立同时测定大鼠血浆中芦丁和氢氯噻嗪的LC-MS/MS方法,并研究珍菊降压片在大鼠体内的药动学。方法 采用蛋白质沉淀法处理血浆样品,色谱柱为Pntulips BP-C₁₈柱（2.1 mm×50 mm,5μm）,流动相为乙腈-水梯度洗脱,柱温为30℃;流速为0.45 mL·min^-1。采用电喷雾离子源,选择离子反应监测模式。采用DAS 2.0软件计算药动学参数。结果 方法学验证结果表明内源性杂质不干扰待测物和内标的测定,芦丁和氢氯噻嗪的线性范围分别为5~1 000 ng·mL^-1（r²=0.997 1）和2.5~500 ng·mL^-1（r²=0.995 8）。芦丁和氢氯噻嗪药动学参数：AUC_（0-t）为（107 157.31±38 056.63）,（130 387.28±46 306.69）ng·mL^-1·min^-1;T_1/2z为（108.65±20.95）,（240.86±46.44）min;T_max为（34.25±16.34）,（120.00±0.00）min;C_max为（683.44±254.03）,（368.45±136.95）ng·mL^-1。结论 该方法准确度、精密度、回收率和基质效应均符合生物基质样品测试要求,适用于珍菊降压片在大鼠体内的药动学研究。     

丙戊酸钠和丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的药动学研究

目的 研究丙戊酸钠和丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的药动学特征,评价其优势丙戊酸盐,为临床合理用药提供参考。方法 SD大鼠随机分为2组,分别灌胃给予丙戊酸钠片和丙戊酸镁片。于不同时间点眼眶取血。采用HPLC测定血清中丙戊酸的血药浓度,计算2种丙戊酸盐在大鼠体内的药动学参数,并比较2种丙戊酸盐之间的差异。结果 HPLC测定丙戊酸血药浓度方法专属性好,血清丙戊酸浓度在10.00~110.00 μg·mL^-1内线性关系良好。精密度、稳定性和回收率均符合要求。丙戊酸钠和丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的主要药动学参数：T_1/2分别为（14.02±3.86） h和（12.11±1.95） h;T_max分别为（3.67±0.58） h和（2.67±0.26） h;C_max分别为（67.10±10.87）μg·mL^-1和（75.67±12.94）μg·mL^-1;AUC_（0-t）分别为（969.86±72.08）μg·mL^-1·h和（1 093.56±48.69）μg·mL^-1·h;AUC_（0-∞）分别为（1 178.10±185.29）μg·mL^-1·h和（1 279.35±109.18）μg·mL^-1·h;MRT_0-t分别为（10.73±2.05） h和（13.06±3.24） h。V_d分别为（16.31±2.18） L和（23.47±2.19） L;CL分别为（0.056 3±0.009） L·h^-1和（0.051 1±0.004） L·h^-1。结论 与丙戊酸钠相比,丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的药动学参数具有一定的优势,可能是一种更具有治疗优势的丙戊酸盐。     

Affective and Anxiety Disorders and Alcohol and Drug Dependence:

Depression and anxiety frequently coexist in patients with substance use disorders. This clinically-oriented article examiens the relationship between these conditions and emphasizes data showing that substances of abuse can cause signs and symptoms of both depression and anxiety. These substance-related syndromes appear to have a different course and prognosis than uncomplicated, independent anxiety and major depressive disorders, and clinicians should consider the role of alcohol and other drugs in all patients presenting with these complaints. The authors will also outline an approach for diagnosing and managing patients with the combination of a substance use and depressive or anxiety disorder.     

Synthesis and anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of gaultherin and its analogs

The synthesis of gaultherin (1) and its analogs was carried out to provide 11 glycosides under phase-transfer catalytic conditions. The activities of all synthesized compounds were evaluated by nitric oxide production inhibitory assay in vitro. Methyl 2-O-(4-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosylbenzoate (5f) showed significantly anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects by the evaluation in vivo. Structure–activity relationships within these compounds were discussed.     

Modelling and simulation of variability and uncertainty in toxicokinetics and pharmacokinetics

Two important methodological issues within the framework of the variability and uncertainty analysis of toxicokinetic and pharmacokinetic systems are discussed: (i) modelling and simulation of the existing physiologic variability in a population; and (ii) modelling and simulation of variability and uncertainty when there is insufficient or not well defined (e.g. small sample, semiquantitative, qualitative and vague) information available. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models are especially suited for separating and characterising the physiologic variability from the overall variability and uncertainty in the system. Monte Carlo sampling should draw from multivariate distributions, which reflect all levels of existing dependencies in the intact organism. The population characteristics should be taken into account. A fuzzy simulation approach is proposed to model variability and uncertainty when there is semiquantitative, qualitative and vague information about the model parameters and their statistical distributions cannot be defined reliably.     

成骨细胞的功能与损伤和骨质疏松的防治

骨质疏松是一种全身性骨骼疾病,导致骨折风险增加。成人的骨量通过破骨细胞的骨吸收和成骨细胞的骨形成作用来维持动态平衡,治疗骨质疏松症的理想策略是抑制破骨细胞的骨吸收和/或增强成骨细胞的骨形成功能。目前针对保护成骨细胞及增强其功能的骨质疏松疗法相对较少。因此,本文针对成骨细胞相关功能蛋白、各种细胞损伤机制（内质网应激、氧化应激、机械过载、微小RNA和长链非编码RNA的影响等）及骨质疏松的治疗与预防作一综述,以期为针对增强成骨细胞功能的骨质疏松治疗策略提供新思路。     

Self-stimulation and amphetamine: Tolerance to d and l isomers and cross tolerance to cocaine and methylphenidate

The effects of the d and l isomers of amphetamine on self-stimulation responding were tested following acute and chronic administration. Tolerance and post-drug depression of responding occurred in tests with both isomers, indicating no role for p-hydroxynorephedrine (PHN) which is one of the metabolites of d-amphetamine. In the second experiment, d-amphetamine, methylphenidate and cocaine all produced quantitatively and qualitatively similar effects on self-stimulation responding following acute administration. Following chronic administration of d-amphetamine, animals showed tolerance to all three drugs, indicating cross-tolerance among them. These data are consistent with an hypothesis that tolerance and post-drug depression following chronic amphetamine treatment are the result of decreases in postsynaptic receptor sensitivity, which would lead to a decreased effectiveness of all three drugs, regardless of their pre-synaptic mechanisms.     

益生菌与肿瘤防治

益生菌广泛存在于自然界中,通过维持宿主体内菌群平衡、影响肠屏障功能和调节免疫应答等作用,提高宿主健康水平,被公认为"肠道健康卫士".一些益生菌可以增强机体的免疫功能,抑制致癌物质,影响肿瘤细胞的基因表达,对肿瘤具有拮抗作用.大量研究表明,益生菌在未来的肿瘤防治中有很好的应用和发展前景.     

Acamprosate and naltrexone treatment effects on ethanol and sucrose seeking and intake in ethanol-dependent and nondependent rats

Rationale  Two pharmacotherapies are approved for treating alcohol craving (acamprosate and naltrexone), but both have shown mixed findings in animals and humans. Objectives  The present experiments utilized a “reinforcer blocking” approach (i.e., rats were able to consume ethanol during treatment) to better understand the efficacy of these treatments for ethanol seeking and drinking using ethanol-dependent and nondependent rats. Materials and methods  In “nondependent” experiments, drugs (acamprosate 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg; naltrexone 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg) were administered over 3-week periods prior to operant sessions with a low response requirement to gain access to reinforcers for 20 min. For “dependent” experiments, rats were made dependent in vapor/inhalation chambers. Results  Acamprosate and naltrexone had similar effects on intake in nondependent and dependent rats; neither drug was selective for ethanol over sucrose drinking. In nondependent animals, naltrexone was more efficacious at more doses than acamprosate, and acamprosate’s effects were limited to a dose that also had adverse effects on body weight. Both pharmacotherapies showed more selectivity when examining reinforcer seeking. In nondependent rats, acamprosate and naltrexone had response-attenuating effects in ethanol, but not sucrose, groups. In dependent animals, acamprosate had selective effects limited to a decrease in sucrose seeking. Naltrexone, however, selectively decreased ethanol-seeking in nondependent rats. Conclusions  The naltrexone-induced decreases in seeking suggested a change in incentive motivation which was selective for ethanol in nondependent rats. The “nondependent” paradigm may model early stages of “problem drinking” in humans, and the findings suggest that naltrexone could be a good intervention for this level of alcohol abuse and relapse prevention.     

Antiinfective and encrustation-inhibiting materials--myth and facts

Catheters, urethral and ureteral stents and other urological implants are frequently affected by encrustration and infection due to their permanent contact with urine. Indwelling urinary catheters provide a haven for microorganisms and thus require extensive monitoring. Several surface modification techniques have been proposed to improve the performance of devices including the immobilization of biomolecules, the incorporation of hydrophilic grafts to reduce protein adsorption, the creation of hydrophobic surfaces, the creation of microdomains to regulate cellular and protein adhesion, new polymers and antimicrobial coatings. Physico-chemical explanation to elucidate the mechanism of such encrustation or infection inhibiting materials is still not available. Our series of experiments showed a marked decrease of silver-activity in biological fluids which corresponds with the controversial clinical results obtained with silver coated urinary catheters. Rifampicin/minocycline coated catheters had very low activity against Gram-negative rods, enterococci and Candida spp., the main causing organisms of urinary catheter infection. Surface engineered materials and antimicrobial drug delivery systems will be the next generation of sophisticated urinary catheters and stents, if both efficacy as well as efficiency has been proved clinically.     

Alprazolam and lorazepam single and multiple-dose effects on psychomotor skills and sleep

Summary The effects of alprazolam 0.5 mg and lorazepam 2 mg on cognitive and psychomotor skills were assessed in twelve normal volunteer subjects in a randomised, double-blind, crossover design. Single and multiple dose effects were monitored using a battery of tests comprising critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), choice reaction time (CRT), simulated car tracking, and subjective ratings of perceived sedation (LARS) and of sleep behaviour (LSEQ). Compared with placebo baseline scores, treatment with lorazepam 2 mg (both single and multiple doses) resulted in a widespread impairment of CRT, tracking accuracy, and CFFT. Single doses of alprazolam 0.5 mg reduced CFFT with respect to the placebo baseline. Single and multiple dose treatment with both drugs resulted in subjective reports of sedation, a reduction of sleep onset latency, and improved sleep quality. Only lorazepam 2 mg significantly disrupted the integrity of behaviour on waking from sleep. These results suggest important pharmacodynamic differences between the two drugs in the doses used.