155例过敏性紫癜患儿的临床特征分析

目的 探讨儿童过敏性紫癜（HSP）的发生发展、临床特征和实验室指标，进一步辅助临床诊疗。方法 选择安徽医科大学第一附属医院2015年1月至2018年1月收治的155例HSP患儿，回顾性分析患儿的一般资料、临床表现及实验室指标。结果 冬春季节儿童HSP发病率较高，年龄2~17岁，平均（7.70±2.95）岁，呼吸道感染为最多见的诱因。尿蛋白（χ²=110.012，P=0.000）、尿RBC>5/HP （χ²=60.006，P=0.000）为儿童HSP合并肾损害的危险因素。结论 HSP多发于学龄期，春、冬季节多见，男女发病率相近，发病的诱因以呼吸道感染为主，尿蛋白、尿RBC>5/HP提示儿童HSP合并肾脏受累。     

阿帕替尼联合化疗在铂类敏感复发性卵巢癌患者中的疗效及安全性评价

目的 观察阿帕替尼联合多柔比星脂质体和顺铂方案化疗在铂类敏感复发性卵巢癌患者中的疗效以及药物不良反应。方法 选取我院2017年1月—2019年6月收治的84例铂类敏感复发性卵巢癌患者，采用随机数字分组法分为对照组和观察组，每组42例。对照组给予贝伐珠单抗联合多柔比星脂质体和顺铂化疗，观察组给予阿帕替尼联合多柔比星脂质体和顺铂化疗。主要研究终点：客观有效率（ORR）、疾病控制率（DCR）、中位总生存期（mOS）和中位无进展生存期（mPFS）；次要研究终点：腹水定量，血清人附睾蛋白4（HE4）、糖类抗原125（CA125）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）水平的变化，以及药物不良反应发生率。结果 治疗后，观察组患者实体瘤ORR、DCR分别为50.00%、78.57%，高于对照组的26.19%、57.14%（χ²=5.048， P=0.025； χ²=4.421， P=0.036）。观察组患者腹水总缓解率为71.43%，高于对照组的50.00%（χ²=4.043， P=0.044）。观察组患者血清HE4、CA125和VEGF水平低于对照组（t=8.136， P=0.019；t =7.351， P=0.024；t =9.311， P=0.014）。两组患者胃肠道反应、骨髓抑制和肝肾功能损伤发生率相比较，差异无统计学意义（χ²=0.207， P=0.649； χ²=0.762， P=0.383； χ²=0.454， P=0.500）。观察组患者手足综合征、高血压和口腔黏膜炎发生率高于对照组（χ²=4.141， P=0.042； χ²=6.891， P=0.009； χ²=6.574， P=0.010）。观察组患者mOS为17.5个月， mPFS为15.0个月，分别高于对照组患者的14.2个月和10.1个月（χ²=8.623， P=0.012； χ²=9.758， P=0.009）。结论 阿帕替尼联合多柔比星脂质体和顺铂方案化疗，在铂类敏感复发性卵巢癌患者中的疗效肯定，可延长其生存期，且不良反应可耐受，值得临床推广。     

胸部DR高仟伏成像与CT成像在尘肺病诊断中的价值比较

目的 探讨DR高仟伏成像和胸部CT成像在尘肺病诊断中的差异。方法 采用随机数字表法选取2013年6月至2019年12月在合肥市第三人民医院（合肥市职业病防治院）住院的40例尘肺病患者的影像学资料，比较DR高仟伏成像和胸部CT成像对尘肺病患者及其合并症检出率的差异，并评价两种方法在尘肺病分期中的价值。结果 DR高仟伏成像和胸部CT成像对尘肺病检出的一致性较好（Kappa=0.648，P<0.001）。DR高仟伏成像对Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ期尘肺病患者的检出率分别为73.1%（19/26）、87.5%（7/8）和100.0%（6/6），而CT成像的检出率分别为92.3%（24/26）、100.0%（8/8）和100.0%（6/6）。对于Ⅰ期尘肺者，CT的检出率明显高于DR高仟伏胸片成像（P=0.003）。CT成像对尘肺病患者肺大泡、胸膜增厚及纵隔淋巴结肿大等合并症的检出率均高于DR高仟伏成像（χ_肺大泡²=4.501，P_肺大泡=0.034，χ_胸膜增厚²=6.275，P_胸膜增厚=0.012，χ_{淋巴结肿大}²=4.507，P_{淋巴结肿大}=0.034）。结论 胸部DR高仟伏成像和CT成像对尘肺病的检出率一致，但胸部CT检查更易早期发现尘肺病患者的影像学改变及肺部合并症。     

锥型束CT在双颌前突患者尖牙唇侧牙槽骨缺损中的应用

目的 探讨锥型束CT （CBCT）在双颌前突患者尖牙唇侧牙槽骨缺损中的应用价值。方法 选取2016年1~12月于安徽省立医院就诊的未经正畸治疗的双颌前突成人患者65例,按照垂直骨面型将患者分为低角组（20例）,均角组（31例）以及高角组（14例）,在相同参数下拍摄CBCT,比较各组中尖牙唇侧牙槽骨缺损及骨开窗,骨开裂的检出率情况,并分析其分布特征。结果 65例患者中尖牙唇侧牙槽骨缺损检出率为67.31%,其中骨开窗检出率为40.77%,牙槽骨开裂检出率为26.54%。牙槽骨骨开窗主要发生在上颌（χ²=69.380,P<0.05）,而骨开裂主要发生在下颌（χ²=18.959,P<0.05）。低角组骨开窗的检出率7.68%低于均角组21.92%和高角组11.15%,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。3组间骨开裂检出率差异无统计学意义（χ²=0.346,P>0.05）。结论 CBCT可反映双颌前突患者尖牙唇侧牙槽骨缺损中骨开窗,骨开裂的易发部位,。     

紫杉醇、紫杉醇脂质体和白蛋白结合型紫杉醇在头颈肿瘤中的疗效比较

目的 探讨紫杉醇（paclitaxel,PTX）、PTX脂质体（paclitaxel liposome,L-PTX）和白蛋白结合型PTX（albumin bound paclitaxel,nab-PTX）在头颈肿瘤中的疗效。方法 采用回顾性研究,收集整理2017年1月-2018年6月69例宁波市医疗中心李惠利医院头颈恶性肿瘤患者的临床资料,其中31例PTX联合卡铂治疗为PTX组,26例L-PTX联合卡铂治疗为L-PTX组,12例nab-PTX联合卡铂治疗为nab-PTX组。比较3组患者近期临床疗效以及不良反应情况。结果 Nab-PTX组患者的近期疗效优于PTX组（66.67%vs 32.26%,χ²=4.209,P=0.040）。L-PTX组患者中性粒细胞减少发生率高于PTX组（χ²=4.079,P=0.043）,白细胞减少发生率高于PTX组（χ²=4.422,P=0.035）和nab-PTX组（χ²=5.640,P=0.018）;nab-PTX组患者脱发、恶心呕吐、腹泻等不良反应发生率低于PTX组（χ²=5.530,P=0.019;χ²=6.423,P=0.011;χ²=4.438,P=0.035）和L-PTX组（χ²=5.025,P=0.025;χ²=5.025,P=0.025;χ²=5.088,P=0.024）,周围神经炎发生率低于PTX组（χ²=4.711,P=0.030）。结论 Nab-PTX联合卡铂治疗头颈肿瘤的近期疗效显著,患者不良反应明显减少。     

重组人干扰素α-1b对反复呼吸道感染患儿免疫及炎症状态的影响

目的： 探究重组人干扰素α-1b对反复呼吸道感染患儿免疫及炎症状态的影响。方法： 选取166例反复呼吸道感染患儿作为研究对象，随机分为研究组和对照组各83例，其中对照组采用常规治疗方法进行治疗，研究组在其基础上采用重组人干扰素α-1b进行治疗，一个疗程后，比较两组患者治疗效果、治疗前后免疫球蛋白指标水平及T淋巴细胞群检查指标水平。结果： 研究组治疗总有效率（86.75%）显著高于对照组（61.45%），两组数据的差异具有统计学意义（P<0.001，x²=13.841）。治疗前，两组患者IgA、IgM、IgG的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）；治疗后，研究组IgM水平高于对照组（P=0.092，t=1.332），IgA、IgG水平显著高于对照组，差异具有统计学意义（P<0.001，t=93.047；P<0.001，t=8.037）。治疗前，两组患者CD₄⁺、CD₃⁺、CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺三项指标水平无明显差异（P>0.05）；治疗后，两组患者三项指标水平均明显升高，且研究组三项指标水平均显著高于对照组，差异具有统计学意义（P<0.001，t=15.515；P<0.001，t=7.346；P<0.001，t=5.462）。通过6个月的随访，研究组复发率（50.60%）明显低于对照组（69.88%），两组数据的差异具有统计学意义（P=0.011，t=6.439）。研究组患者发作次数明显少于对照组，病程显著短于对照组，两组数据的差异具有统计学意义（P<0.001，t=6.386；P<0.001，t=6.306）。研究组发生不良反应17例，占20.48%，对照组发生不良反应24例，占28.91%，两组数据的差异无统计学意义（x²=1.587，P=0.208）。结论： 重组人干扰素α-1b对反复呼吸道感染患儿治疗效果优越，可有效控制患儿病情，改善机体免疫功能，值得临床推广应用。     

手术联合化疗治疗铂敏感型复发性卵巢癌的临床疗效

目的 探讨手术联合化疗对铂敏感型复发性卵巢癌的临床疗效。方法 选择2013年1月至2015年12月安徽省立医院收治的铂敏感型复发性卵巢癌患者80例,根据治疗方法分为手术+化疗组（41例）和单纯化疗组（39例）。比较两组患者1年随访期限内治疗生存期、病死率,并通过监测血常规、彩超、CT或MRI,比较两组患者并发症、病灶及转移情况。结果 手术+化疗组患者平均生存期为（21.37±5.64）个月,单纯化疗组为为（14.22±4.82）个月,差异有统计学意义（t=5.83,P=0.00）。手术+化疗组患者病死率为34.13%,单纯化疗组为71.82%,差异有统计学意义（χ²=1.28,P=0.32）。手术+化疗组患者治疗后并发症发生率为19.51%,单纯化疗组为30.77%,差异有统计学意义（χ²=11.82,P=0.03）。手术+化疗组治疗后病灶及转移发生率为35.90%,单纯化疗组发生率为56.41%,差异有统计学意义（χ²=2.67,P=0.00）。结论 手术联合化疗方法对铂敏感型复发性卵巢癌具有较高的临床效应,值得推广应用。     

不同发病孕周的妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症围产儿结局分析

目的 探讨不同发病孕周的妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症（ICP）患者的围产儿结局。方法 选取2015年11月至2017年11月黄山市人民医院诊治并分娩的ICP患者167例,按ICP不同发病孕周分为4组,1组为妊娠≤27⁺⁶周（15例）,2组为妊娠28周~31⁺⁶周（29例）,3组为妊娠32~33⁺⁶周（26例）,4组为妊娠≥34周（97例）。比较4组患者早产、剖宫产、羊水污染、胎儿窘迫、新生儿窒息及死胎的发生率。以孕32周为界,比较妊娠<32周组（44例）及妊娠≥32周组（123例）患者早产、剖宫产、羊水污染、胎儿窘迫、新生儿窒息、死胎的发生率以及其血清总胆汁酸（TBA）及重度ICP发生率的情况。结果 4组患者早产、剖宫产、羊水污染、新生儿窒息及死胎的发生率差异均有统计学意义（χ²=46.587,P<0.001;χ²=7.990,P=0.046;χ²=24.557,P<0.001;χ²=9.045,P=0.019;χ²=11.777,P=0.003）。妊娠<32周组患者早产、剖宫产、羊水污染、胎儿窘迫、新生儿窒息、死胎的发生率高于妊娠≥32周组,差异有统计学意义（χ²=42.626,P<0.001;χ²=7.838,P=0.005;χ²=24.204,P<0.001;χ²=4.751,P=0.029;χ²=9.612,P=0.002;χ²=7.592,P=0.006）。妊娠<32周组患者的血清TBA水平高于妊娠≥32周组,差异有统计学意义（t=3.435,P=0.001）;妊娠<32周组患者重度ICP发生率高于妊娠≥32周组,差异有统计学意义（χ²=4.042,P=0.044）。结论 妊娠<32周ICP患者血清TBA水平高,围产儿不良结局发生率高,临床应重视并积极诊治孕32周之前发病的ICP患者。     

醋酸阿比特龙联合多西他赛与泼尼松在转移性去势抵抗性前列腺癌患者中的应用及Naa10与治疗敏感性的关系

目的 探讨醋酸阿比特龙联合多西他赛与泼尼松在转移性去势抵抗性前列腺癌（mCRPC）患者中的应用及N-末端α位乙酰基转移酶基因10（acetyltransferase gene 10,Naa10）与治疗敏感性的关系。方法 回顾性选择2017年10月-2019年12月邢台医学高等专科学校第二附属医院收治的122例mCRPC患者为研究对象,入选患者均经过雄激素剥夺治疗。根据治疗方案不同将患者分为对照组和试验组,对照组患者静脉滴注多西他赛注射液,剂量75 mg·m^-2,每3周1次;口服醋酸泼尼松片,1次1片,每天2次;在注射多西他赛注射液化疗前1天、当天和后1天均口服醋酸地塞米松片,1日2次,总剂量7.5 mg。试验组患者在对照组的基础上空腹口服醋酸阿比特龙片,每次1 g,每日1次,治疗4个周期（12周）。比较两组患者近期临床疗效、不良反应及远期生存率等情况,随访3年,计算患者的中位生存期。免疫组化法检测mCRPC癌组织中Naa10蛋白表达,将患者分成Naa10阳性表达组和阴性表达组,分析其临床病理参数,单因素和Cox回归分析确定影响mCRPC预后的因素,分析Naa10蛋白阳性表达与治疗敏感性的关系。结果 治疗4个周期后,试验组患者9例完全缓解、40例部分缓解、8例疾病稳定及4例疾病进展,治疗总有效率为80.33%;对照组患者2例完全缓解、34例部分缓解、20例疾病稳定及5例疾病进展,治疗总有效率为59.02%,两组间比较差异显著（χ²=6.556,P=0.011）。试验组和对照组患者均出现骨髓抑制（χ²=0.209,P=0.648）、肝功能损伤（χ²=0.830,P=0.362）、胃肠道反应（χ²=0.370,P=0.543）、水钠潴留（χ²=0.209,P=0.648）及心脏毒性（χ²=0.899,P=0.343）等3级以上不良反应,但两组间差异未见显著性。mCRPC癌组织中Naa10蛋白阳性表达与治疗周期（χ²=9.106,P=0.003）、淋巴结转移（χ²=5.055,P=0.025）、T分期（χ²=4.391,P=0.036）、骨转移病灶数（χ²=19.863,P=0.000）、内脏转移（χ²=5.009,P=0.025）等具有显著相关性,但与年龄（χ²=3.059,P=0.080）、化疗方案（χ²=0.880,P=0.348）、EOCG评分（χ²=3.453,P=0.178）、民族（χ²=0.135,P=0.713）及Gleason评分（χ²=0.837,P=0.360）等没有显著相关性。单因素分析结果显示,mCRPC患者中位生存期与EOCG评分（χ²=7.464,P=0.006）、淋巴结转移（χ²=6.114,P=0.013）、化疗方案（χ²=7.049,P=0.030）、治疗周期（χ²=5.051,P=0.038）、T分期（χ²=1.196,P=0.035）、骨转移病灶数（χ²=9.611,P=0.008）、内脏转移（χ²=1.085,P=0.048）及Naa10蛋白阳性表达（χ²=15.600,P=0.000）等指标具有显著相关性。Cox回归分析结果显示,骨转移病灶数（>10个）（OR=2.404,95% CI：1.424~4.056）、治疗周期（>8个疗程）（OR=0.458,95% CI：0.253~0.832）、化疗方案（试验组）（OR=0.360,95% CI：0.160~0.801）和Naa10蛋白阳性表达（OR=2.563,95% CI：2.106~3.117）是mCRPC患者预后生存的独立影响因素（P<0.05）。结论 醋酸阿比特龙联合多西他赛与泼尼松应用于mCRPC治疗,可有效提高近期临床疗效,延长生存期,且不增加不良反应,同时Naa10蛋白高表达是mCRPC患者预后不良的危险因素,临床宜监测指标,及时调整和评估临床治疗效果。     

380例呼吸道感染患儿肺炎支原体检测结果分析

目的 分析呼吸道感染患儿肺炎支原体（MP）感染的分布特征,为临床防治提供有效依据。方法 回顾性分析安徽医科大学第一附属医院2017年1~12月收治的呼吸道感染患儿380例临床资料,所有患儿均采用间接免疫荧光法检测了肺炎支原体（MP）IgM,统计分析呼吸道感染患儿MP阳性率及MP感染患儿年龄、性别及季节性分布。结果 380例呼吸道感染患儿中MP-IgM阳性148例,MP阳性率为38.95%;其中女患儿阳性率44.86%高于男患儿31.33%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;MP感染患儿中,学龄前组患儿阳性率最高为58.54%,婴儿组患儿阳性率最低为8.33%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;春夏季MP阳性率高于秋冬季,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,其中5月份检出阳性率最高,为58.53%。结论 MP是引起儿童呼吸道感染的重要病原体,呼吸道感染患儿MP感染女性多于男性、以学龄前患儿多见、好发于春夏季。     

Efficacy of gut lavage,hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the therapy of paraquat or diquat intoxication

Clinical and in vitro investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of gut lavage, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the treatment of poisoning with paraquat or diquat. In a patient suffering from diquat intoxication 130 times more diquat was removed by gut lavage 30 h after ingestion than was removed by complete aspiration of the gastric contents.Determination of in vitro clearances for paraquat and diquat by hemodialysis showed that, at serum concentrations of 1–2 ppm, such as are frequently encountered in poisoning in man, toxicologically relevant quantities of herbicide cannot be removed from the body. At a concentration of 20 ppm, on the other hand, hemodialysis proved to be effective, the clearance being 70 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 100 ml/min. The efficacy of hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal was on the whole better. Especially at concentrations around 1–2 ppm, the clearance values for hemoperfusion were some 5–7 times higher than those for hemodialysis.In a patient suffering from paraquat poisoning, both hemodialysis as well as hemoperfusion were carried out. The in vitro results could be confirmed: At serum concentrations of paraquat less than 1 ppm no clearance could be obtained by hemodialysis while by hemoperfusion with activated charcoal quite high clearance values were measured and the serum level dropped down to zero.

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Zusammenfassung Klinische Untersuchungen und Laboratoriumsversuche wurden durchgeführt, um die Wirksamkeit von Darmspülung, Hämodialyse und Hämoperfusion bei Paraquat- und Deiquat-Vergiftungen zu prüfen.Bei einem Patienten wurde 30 Std nach Deiquat-Aufnahme durch Darmspülung 130mal mehr Deiquat entfernt als durch vollständige Aspiration des Mageninhaltes. In vitro-Versuche ergaben, daß bei Blutserumkonzentrationen von 1–2 ppm, die bei Vergiftungen oft gemessen werden, durch Hämodialyse keine toxikologisch relevanten Paraquat- oder Deiquat-Mengen entfernt werden können. Dagegen erwies sich die Hämodialyse bei 20 ppm und einer Blutumlaufgeschwindigkeit von 100 ml/min mit einer Clearance von 70 ml/min als wirksam. Die Hämoperfusion mit beschicheter Aktivkohle war in diesen Versuchen aber eindeutig überlegen, denn insbesondere bei Konzentrationen um 1–2 ppm waren die Clearance-Werte 5–7mal höher als bei der Hämodialyse.Die in vitro-Ergebnisse wurden bei einem Patienten mit einer Paraquat-Vergiftung bestätigt: Bei Konzentrationen unter 1 ppm war die Hämodialyse wirkungslos, während durch Hämoperfusion relativ hohe Clearance-Werte erreicht wurden, so daß der Serumspiegel rasch unter die Nachweisgrenze abfiel.

     

In vitro studies on sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) as enzyme carriers in organophosphorus (OP) antagonism

This study describes a new approach for organophosphorous (OP) antidotal treatment by encapsulating an OP hydrolyzing enzyme, OPA anhydrolase (OPAA), within sterically stabilized liposomes. The recombinant OPAA enzyme was derived from Alteromonas strain JD6. It has broad substrate specificity to a wide range of OP compounds: DFP and the nerve agents, soman and sarin. Liposomes encapsulating OPAA (SL)* were made by mechanical dispersion method. Hydrolysis of DFP by (SL)* was measured by following an increase of fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selective electrode. OPAA entrapped in the carrier liposomes rapidly hydrolyze DFP, with the rate of DFP hydrolysis directly proportional to the amount of (SL)* added to the solution. Liposomal carriers containing no enzyme did not hydrolyze DFP. The reaction was linear and the rate of hydrolysis was first order in the substrate. This enzyme carrier system serves as a biodegradable protective environment for the recombinant OP-metabolizing enzyme, OPAA, resulting in prolongation of enzymatic concentration in the body. These studies suggest that the protection of OP intoxication can be strikingly enhanced by adding OPAA encapsulated within (SL)* to pralidoxime and atropine.     

Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability,Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity

Abstract

The uptake of metals from food and water sources by insects is thought to be additive. For a given metal, the proportions taken up from water and food will depend both on the bioavailable concentration of the metal associated with each source and the mechanism and rate by which the metal enters the insect. Attempts to correlate insect trace metal concentrations with the trophic level of insects should be made with a knowledge of the feeding relationships of the individual taxa concerned. Pathways for the uptake of essential metals, such as copper and zinc, exist at the cellular level, and other nonessential metals, such as cadmium, also appear to enter via these routes. Within cells, trace metals can be bound to proteins or stored in granules. The internal distribution of metals among body tissues is very heterogeneous, and distribution patterns tend to be both metal and taxon specific. Trace metals associated with insects can be both bound on the surface of their chitinous exoskeleton and incorporated into body tissues. The quantities of trace meals accumulated by an individual reflect the net balance between the rate of metal influx from both dissolved and particulate sources and the rate of metal efflux from the organism. The toxicity of metals has been demonstrated at all levels of biological organization: cell, tissue, individual, population, and community. Much of the literature pertaining to the toxic effects of metals on aquatic insects is based on laboratory observations and, as such, it is difficult to extrapolate the data to insects in nature. The few experimental studies in nature suggest that trace metal contaminants can affect both the distribution and the abundance of aquatic insects. Insects have a largely unexploited potential as biomonitors of metal contamination in nature. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms mediating trace metal bioavailability and exchange will facilitate the development of general predictive models relating trace metal concentrations in insects to those in their environment. Such models will facilitate the use of insects as contaminant biomonitors.     

Pharmacological treatment of COVID-19: an opinion paper

The precocity and efficacy of the vaccines developed so far against COVID-19 has been the most significant and saving advance against the pandemic. The development of vaccines has not prevented, during the whole period of the pandemic, the constant search for therapeutic medicines, both among existing drugs with different indications and in the development of new drugs. The Scientific Committee of the COVID-19 of the Illustrious College of Physicians of Madrid wanted to offer an early, simplified and critical approach to these new drugs, to new developments in immunotherapy and to what has been learned from the immune response modulators already known and which have proven effective against the virus, in order to help understand the current situation.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.     

Alzheimer’s disease – current trends in basic and clinical research. Highlights from the 16th ECNP

Advances in the molecular biological knowledge of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have led to a growing interest by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds that selectively modulate nAChR function. The ability of (-)-nicotine, an activator of nAChRs, to enhance attentional aspects of cognition in animals and humans, to exert neuroprotective and anxiolytic-like effects, and presumably to mediate the negative correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's) Disease, has focused interest on the potential therapeutic utility of modulators of nAChR function for treatment of some of the deficits associated with these progressive, neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous compounds are known which activate nAChRs and which might serve as lead compounds toward the development of such agents. The pharmacologic diversity of neuronal nAChR subtypes suggests the possibility of developing selective compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents. This broader class of agents, collectively called cholinergic channel modulators (ChCMs), is anticipated to encompass compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents, which generally exhibit low selectivity. This selectivity may be achieved by preferentially activating some subtypes of nAChRs (i.e., Cholinergic Channel Activators, ChCAs) or inhibiting the function of other subtypes (Cholinergic Channel Inhibitors, ChCIs). An overview of the biology of nAChRs and the rationale for the use of ChCMs for the treatment of dementia related to neurodegenerative diseases are presented, followed by a discussion of lead compounds and compounds under consideration for clinical evaluation.