糖尿病长期腹膜透析患者营养状况及骨密度的特点

目的了解糖尿病长期腹膜透析患者的营养状况及骨密度特点。方法 33例长期腹膜透析患者随机分为非糖尿病组与糖尿病组,对两组患者的营养状况及骨密度进行横断面调查。结果两组患者血肌酐、血尿素氮、血清总蛋白的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。糖尿病组患者血红蛋白低于非糖尿病患者[(98.76±9.44)g/L vs.(106.4±10.69)g/L,P=0.023],人血白蛋白、前白蛋白均明显低于非糖尿病患者[(35.19±4.24)g/L vs.(40.07±4.48)g/L,P=0.036;(0.30±0.07)g/L vs.(0.37±0.06)g/L,P=0.042]。糖尿病患者血清转铁蛋白高于非糖尿病患者[(2.42±0.69)g/L vs.(1.99±0.52)g/L,P=0.041]。糖尿病患者右髋关节、左髋关节骨密度T值明显低于非糖尿病患者[(-2.93±1.19)g/cm vs.(-1.82±1.23)g/cm,P=0.032;(-2.67±1.07)g/cm vs.(-1.67±1.03)g/cm,P=0.021]。结论糖尿病长期腹膜透析患者营养状况及骨质疏松更严重,应加强营养不良及骨质疏松的防治。     

老年男性2型糖尿病患者甲状旁腺素、维生素D与骨密度的关系

目的 探讨老年男性2型糖尿病患者主要钙调激素甲状旁腺素(PTH)和维生素D的变化对骨密度的影响.方法 应用双能X线骨密度仪测定60例老年男性2型糖尿病患者的腰椎和髋部骨密度,检测血清中骨代谢及血糖相关的指标,并根据骨密度测定结果将60例老年男性2型糖尿病患者分为骨量减少组(32例)、骨质疏松组(12例)、正常组(16例),测定3组的血清PTH和25羟维生素D3,分析其与患者不同部位骨密度的相关性.结果 依据患者腰椎或髋部的骨密度值,骨质疏松的检出率为20.0％(12/60),骨量减少的检出率为53.3％(32/60).3组的血清PTH比较差异有统计学意义(F=3.32,P=0.043),骨量减少组、骨质疏松组与正常组相比,PTH水平明显上升[(44.87±10.62)、(50.24±20.32)μg/L与(36.96±12.36)μg/L,P均＜0.05].但25羟维生素D3浓度3组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).相关分析显示,PTH水平与髋部骨矿面密度(BMD)呈显著负相关(r=-0.224,P ＜0.05),与腰椎BMD无显著相关性(r=-0.187,P＞0.05).结论 老年男性2型糖尿病患者的髋部BMD与血清PTH浓度负相关.     

老年2型糖尿病患者骨矿密度研究

目的应用双能X线骨密度仪,探讨老年2型糖尿病患者骨矿密度(BMD)的变化情况。方法以国际临床骨测量学会制定的骨密度测定方法学为标准,分别测量118例老年2型糖尿病患者和97例老年健康志愿者(对照组)的骨密度,测量部位包括腰椎、股骨近端和非优势侧前臂骨1/3段,比较两组BMD变化。结果老年2型糖尿病患者腰椎、左侧股骨近端和左侧前臂骨1/3段BMD绝对值分别为:(0.79±0.21)g/cm^2,(0.78±0.19)g/cm^2,(0.65±0.18)g/cm^2,低于健康对照组(0.99±0.17)g/cm^2,(0.91±0.14)g/cm^2,(0.89±0.16)g/cm^2,两组差异有统计学意义(t=-6.53,-4.12,-5.37;P<0.01)。老年2型糖尿病组男性腰椎[(0.78±0.20)g/cm^2]、股骨近端[(0.74±0.23)g/cm^2]、左侧前臂骨1/3段[(0.66±0.18)g/cm^2]BMD值均大于女性[(0.74±0.23)g/cm^2]、股骨近端[(0.69±0.15)g/cm^2]、左侧前臂骨1/3段[(0.65±0.15)g/cm^2],差异有统计学意义(t=-5.62,-5.49,-4.37;P<0.01)。健康对照组男性腰椎[(1.06±0.14)g/cm^2]、股骨近端[(0.94±0.11)g/cm^2]、左侧前臂骨1/3段[(0.95±0.14)g/cm^2]BMD值均大于女性[(0.98±0.13)g/cm^2]、股骨近端[(0.93±0.14)g/cm^2]、左侧前臂骨1/3段[(0.91±0.13)g/cm^2],差异有统计学意义(t=-6.19,-7.38,-3.49;P<0.01)。结论各年龄段老年2型糖尿病患者腰椎、股骨近端和前臂骨BMD均低于同年龄段健康人群;男性BMD值均大于女性。     

2型糖尿病患者瘦体重与骨矿含量和骨密度的相关性分析

目的 探讨超重肥胖的2型糖尿病患者瘦体重与骨矿含量(BMC)及骨密度的相关性.方法 选取2014年6月到2016年8月在我院内分泌科住院治疗且符合入选条件的76例2型糖尿病患者,根据体质量指数(BMI)不同分为正常糖尿病组(BMI<24 kg/m2)和超重肥胖糖尿病组(BMI≥24 kg/m2).入院后符合观察条件的入组患者测量收集其收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、腰围(WC)、体质量指数(BMI)、空腹血糖(FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、血脂(TC、TG、HDL-C、LDL-C)、丙氨酶氨基转移酶(ALT)、血肌酐(SCr)、血钙(Ca)、血磷(P)、血25羟维生素D(25OHD).采用双能X线测定患者骨密度、骨矿含量(BMC)、体脂百分比(BF%)、瘦体重(LBM)、脂肪量(FM)、男性脂肪和女性脂肪的比率(A/G).对上述相关指标进行统计学处理分析.结果 25OHD在超重肥胖糖尿病组(17.1±12.6)μg/L低于正常糖尿病组(23.8±8.2)μg/L(P<0.05),而BMI、腰围、骨密度、BMC、脂肪和脂肪含量百分比在超重肥胖糖尿病组[BMI(27.8 ± 2.1)kg/m2、腰围(96.8 ± 7.9)cm、骨密度(1.12 ± 0.14)g/cm2、BMC (2.47±0.38)kg、脂肪和脂肪含量百分比(1.18±0.23)]高于正常糖尿病组[BMI(22.3±1.7)kg/m2、腰围(84.5±7.9)cm、骨密度(0.93 ± 0.13)g/cm2、BMC(2.02 ± 0.28)kg、脂肪和脂肪含量百分比(2.02 ±0.28)](P均<0.05).瘦体重和机体不同部位的BMC,骨密度存在明显的正相关(r值分别为0.37、0.37、0.35、0.43,P<0.05或P<0.001).BMI、A/G比率也和不同位点的BMC和骨密度存在正相关[BMI (r值分别为0.38、0.31、0.28、0.33,0.27、0.25、0.23、0.37,P<0.05或P<0.001)].机体脂肪百分比和BMC、骨密度呈负相关[r值分别为-0.30、-0.27、-0.25、-0.33,P<0.05或P<0.001)].在矫正了年龄,性别,BMI和25OHD后,使用多元线性回归分析提示瘦体重是 BMC 的强烈预测因子(回归系数为0.210,P=0.001).结论 在2型糖尿病患者中BMI升高患者的 BMC、骨密度明显升高,且瘦体重是BMC的强烈影响因素.     

维持性血液透析患者血清vaspin水平与胰岛素抵抗的相关性研究

目的 探讨维持性血液透析患者血清vaspin的水平及其与胰岛素抵抗的关系.方法 选取我院透析中心终末期肾病维持性血液透析患者48例,测定血脂、尿素氮(BUN)、肌酐(Cr)、尿酸(UA)等指标,并抽血测定血清vaspin、血清胰岛素(FIns)、血糖(FBG),计算胰岛素敏感指数(ISI),胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)及腰臀比(WHR)、体质量指数(BMI),根据是否有糖尿病分为糖尿病组18例和非糖尿病组30例,同时选取30例健康体检者作为对照组,并对相关数据进行统计分析.结果 ①维持性血液透析患者血清vaspin水平较正常对照组降低,(0.91±0.36)μg/L vs (1.15±0.31) μg/L(P＜0.01).②糖尿病组和非糖尿病组两组患者的血清vaspin水平差异无统计学意义,(0.87±0.38) μg/L vs (0.97±0.34) μg/L(P＞0.05).③相关分析显示:vaspin除与BUN、Cr、UA、WHR相关外,尚与性别有关(r=-0.294、-0.284、一0.278、-0.375、0.244,P＜0.05),其中,女性vaspin水平高于男性(1.11±0.38) μg/L vs (0.93±0.33) μg/L(P＜0.05).vaspin与HOMA-IR、FIns、FBG、年龄、BMI则没有相关性(r=-0.098,-0.146,0.049,-0.095、-0.182,P＞0.05).结论 在维持性血液透析中存在有糖脂代谢紊乱和胰岛素抵抗,血清vaspin水平下降,与肾功能相关,但与胰岛素抵抗不相关.     

中老年2型糖尿病患者血清骨硬化蛋白和体脂肪率与骨骼的相关性

目的探讨中老年2型糖尿病(type 2diabetes mellitus,T2DM)患者血清骨硬化蛋白(sclerostin,SOST)、体脂肪率(fat mass percentage,FM%)的变化以及其与骨骼健康的相关性。方法病程5a的中老年T2DM患者128例为T2DM组,同期体检健康者64例为对照组。采用ELISA测定血清SOST水平,双能X线骨密度测量L_(1-4)、左侧股骨骨密度(bone mineral density,BMD)及相应部位FM%,分析SOST、FM%、BMD等相关性。结果T2DM组血清SOST[(224.92±76.94)ng/L]、股骨FM%[(23.79±5.98)%]高于对照组[SOST(193.37±61.91)ng/L、股骨FM%(21.98±5.06)%](P0.05),腰椎及股骨BMD[(1.11±0.16)、(0.98±0.15)cm~2/g]与对照组[(1.09±0.18)、(0.98±0.19)cm~2/g]比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);相关性分析显示,T2DM组血清SOST与甲状旁腺激素呈负相关(r=-0.300,P=0.010),与腰椎、股骨BMD无相关性(r=-0.160,P=0.880;r=-0.150,P=0.190);腰椎、股骨FM%与血清SOST值均呈正相关(r=0.320,P=0.004;r=0.270,P=0.015);股骨FM%与BMD明显负相关(r=-0.280,P=0.001)。结论中老年T2DM患者血清SOST水平、FM%明显增高,有可能参与了骨质疏松的病理过程。     

被动吸烟对2型糖尿病女性患者血糖控制的影响

目的 探讨被动吸烟对2型糖尿病女性患者血糖控制的影响.方法 以在我院新诊断的90例女性被动吸烟的2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者作为被动吸烟组,以性别、年龄、体质量指数(BMI)、运动控制及糖尿病并发症伴发情况等为配比条件选取新诊断的90例不被动吸烟的2型糖尿病患者作为非被动吸烟组,测定两组的空腹血糖(FBG)、餐后2小时血糖(2 hPBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)及空腹胰岛素(FIns)水平,并进行1∶1的配对研究.结果 被动吸烟组的FBG、2 hPBG、HbA1c水平及反映胰岛素抵抗程度的胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)均显著高于非被动吸烟组,(8.24±2.10) mmol/L vs (7.56±2.06) mmol/L,(13.92±2.65) mmol/L vs (13.06±2.60) mmol/L,(7.94±1.41)％ vs (7.52±1.36)％和(3.49 vs 3.14)(P＜0.05).被动吸烟组的HbA1c≥8.0％的比例亦明显大于非被动吸烟组27.8％ vs 15.6％(P＜0.05).HbA1c与HOMA-IR呈显著正相关(r=0.217,P＜0.01).结论 被动吸烟可显著干扰T2DM患者的血糖控制,其机制可能与其加重胰岛素抵抗有关,被动吸烟的T2DM患者发生糖尿病并发症的危险可能远远高于不被动吸烟的T2DM患者.     

2型糖尿病患者血清白蛋白水平变化及影响因素分析

目的探讨2型糖尿病患者血清白蛋白水平变化及其影响因素。方法 2型糖尿病患者194例为糖尿病组,同期体检健康者157例为对照组。比较2组血清白蛋白水平,分析2型糖尿病患者临床特征与血清白蛋白水平的关系,Spearman法分析血清白蛋白与各指标的相关性,多重线性回归分析2型糖尿病患者血清白蛋白水平变化的影响因素。结果糖尿病组血清白蛋白水平[(40.4±4.5)g/L]低于对照组[(46.9±2.1)g/L](P0.05);2型糖尿病患者血清白蛋白水平在年龄≥60岁[(38.9±4.6)g/L]、谷丙转氨酶40 u/L[(40.4±3.4)g/L]、糖化血红蛋白≥8%者[(40.4±4.5)g/L]低于年龄60岁、谷丙转氨酶≥40 u/L、糖化血红蛋白8%者[(41.2±4.2)、(42.6±2.8)、(43.0±2.3)g/L](P0.05),病程≥10 a者[(39.3±4.3)g/L]低于病程1 a、1～10 a者[(42.0±3.5)、(41.0±4.7)g/L](P0.05),体质量指数(body mass index, BMI)24 kg/m~2者[(37.9±4.3)g/L]低于BMI 24～28 kg/m~2、≥28 kg/m~2者[(40.3±4.7)、(40.9±3.6)g/L](P0.05),尿微量白蛋白与肌酐比值(urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, UACR)30 mg/g、30～300 mg/g、≥300 mg/g者[(42.4±2.9)、(40.7±3.2)、(37.6±3.5)g/L]依次降低(P0.05),病程1 a与病程1～10 a者、BMI 24～28 kg/m~2与BMI≥28 kg/m~2者血清白蛋白水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);Spearman相关分析结果显示,血清白蛋白与年龄、病程、UACR呈负相关(r=-0.313,P0.001;r=-0.368,P0.001;r=-0.625,P0.001),与BMI呈正相关(r=0.261,P=0.020);多重线性回归分析结果显示,年龄(β=-0.198,P=0.004)、病程(β=-0.282,P=0.001)、UACR(β=-0.473,P0.001)可负相影响2型糖尿病患者血清白蛋白水平,BMI(β=0.150,P=0.013)可正相影响2型糖尿病患者血清白蛋白水平。结论 2型糖尿病患者血清白蛋白水平降低,且受年龄、病程、BMI、UACR的影响。     

合并代谢综合征的老年2型糖尿病患者血清内脂素、网膜素水平变化及其影响因素分析

目的观察合并代谢综合征的老年2型糖尿病患者血清内脂素(Visfatin)、网膜素(Omentin)水平变化及其影响因素。方法选用病例-对照研究,共入选120例,病例组根据代谢综合征及2型糖尿病诊断标准入选合并代谢综合征的老年2型糖尿病患者60例,同期入选年龄、性别匹配的60例健康体检者为对照组,酶联免疫吸附法检测内脂素、网膜素,常规测量身高、体重、血压,计算BMI、HOMR-IR,检测空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素、总胆固醇、甘油三酯等指标,比较两组内脂素、网膜素水平,并将内脂素、网膜素与其他指标进行相关分析。结果合并代谢综合征的老年2型糖尿病患者血清内脂素、网膜素水平降低[内脂素:(1.08±0.69)μg/L vs.(4.06±1.04)μg/L,网膜素(9.29±6.53)μg/L vs.(14.87±7.57)μg/L,P均<0.01],血清内脂素与BMI(r=-0.331)、HOMA-IR(r=-0.634)、WHR(r=-0.118)、FPG(r=-0.59)呈负相关,血清网膜素与BMI(r=-0.323)、HOMA-IR(r=-0.338)、WHR(r=-0.149)、FPG(r=-0.346)均呈负相关。结论合并代谢综合征的老年2型糖尿病患者血清内脂素、网膜素水平降低,并与BMI、HOMR-IR、腰臀比、空腹血糖呈负相关。     

糖基化终产物及脂代谢紊乱与糖尿病神经病变的相关分析

目的探讨糖基化终产物(advanced glycosyl end products,AGEs)及脂质代谢紊乱与糖尿病外周神经病变(diabetic peripheral neuropathy,DPN)的关系。方法设立DPN病变组及无糖尿病神经病变组(NDPN),其中DPN患者84例,NDPN患者93例;对该177例2型糖尿病患者血清AGEs水平及脂质代谢各项指标检测结果进行回顾性分析。结果DPN组较NDPN患者的血清AGEs水平显著升高,(19.7±3.1)mg/L vs(14.4±2.4)mg/L(P<0.05),DPN组患者血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和载脂蛋白B(ApoB)水平均显著高于NDPN组,分别为(5.6±1.8)mmol/L vs(3.1±1.2)mmol/L,(2.4±2.1)mmol/L vs(1.5±0.9)mmol/L,(3.7±0.9)mmol/L vs(2.1±0.7)mmol/L,(1.2±0.9)g/L vs(0.7±0.3)g/L(均P<0.05);DPN患者的尿微量白蛋白(U-MA)排泄率水平较NDPN组显著升高,(90.9±193.5)mg/g vs(28.4±35.4)mg/g(P<0.01);多因素线性相关分析显示血清AGEs水平血清TC、TG、ApoB和LDL-C水平呈正相关(r值分别为0.58、0.52、0.54和0.63,均P<0.01)。结论AGEs大量生成和堆积、脂质代谢紊乱及二者间的相互作用是2型糖尿病患者并发DPN的重要危险因素,提示AGEs、脂质代谢紊乱可能参与糖尿病神经病变的发生发展过程。     

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.