Carcinomas with identical and with different specific antigens

Summary Immunological investigations demonstrated that certain human malignant neoplasms possess similar specific antigenic and immunogenic properties. On the other hand, there are tumors which have qualitatively different specific antigens. The immunological group to which the tumor belongs is not connected with localization of the tumor, its structure or blood group.Presented by Active Member of the AMN SSSR N. N. Zhukov-Verezhnikov     

Infectious diseases and immunological markers associated with patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with rituximab

Background: The use of rituximab (RTX) is increasing, even in developing countries. It has become the first-line therapy or adjuvant to chemotherapy (CHOP; cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin and prednisone) for various diseases, including B cell lymphoma and autoimmune diseases.

Aim: We describe the infectious diseases and immunological markers associated with RTX treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Methods: Serum immunoglobulins were determined before and after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) administration. Pneumo-23IgG-specific anti-pneumococcal antibodies were evaluated before and after vaccination. Immunophenotyping and lymphocyte proliferation were determined in the course of the treatment.

Results: Seven patients were followed and median age was 56.0?±?5.0?years (range, 41.9–71.6?years). At baseline, the mean level of IgG was 333.7?±?40.8?and IgM 40.9?±?11.3?mg/dL, respectively; immunoglobulin A and E (IgA and IgE) were under the limit of detection. Two patients had reduced or absent B cells and T cell subsets were at normal levels in five patients. All patients failed to mount an efficient post-vaccination immune response against hepatitis B virus, tetanus, diphtheria and against the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. During RTX/CHOP treatment, human-IgG-immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy was introduced in six patients after recurrent infections, including community-acquired pneumonia (85.7%), chronic sinusitis (85.7%) and gastroenteritis (42.9%).

Conclusion: Poor response against pneumococcal vaccines increases the susceptibility of respiratory diseases in these patients. In patients with NHL treated with RTX, the benefits achieved with IVIg replacement for the control of recurrent infectious diseases is of paramount importance. Clinicians dealing with monoclonal antibodies against cancer therapy, especially RTX, should be aware of the increasing risks for symptomatic induced hypogammaglobulinemia and respiratory infections.     

Sleep in children with autism with and without autistic regression

The purpose of the present investigation was to characterize and compare traditional sleep architecture and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep microstructure in a well-defined cohort of children with regressive and non-regressive autism, and in typically developing children (TD). We hypothesized that children with regressive autism would demonstrate a greater degree of sleep disruption either at a macrostructural or microstructural level and a more problematic sleep as reported by parents. Twenty-two children with non-regressive autism, 18 with regressive autism without comorbid pathologies and 12 with TD, aged 5-10years, underwent standard overnight multi-channel polysomnographic evaluation. Parents completed a structured questionnaire (Childrens' Sleep Habits Questionnaire-CSHQ). The initial hypothesis, that regressed children have more disrupted sleep, was supported by our findings that they scored significantly higher on CSHQ, particularly on bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep duration and night wakings CSHQ subdomains than non-regressed peers, and both scored more than typically developing controls. Regressive subjects had significantly less efficient sleep, less total sleep time, prolonged sleep latency, prolonged REM latency and more time awake after sleep onset than non-regressive children and the TD group. Regressive children showed lower cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) rates and A1 index in light sleep than non-regressive and TD children. Our findings suggest that, even though no particular differences in sleep architecture were found between the two groups of children with autism, those who experienced regression showed more sleep disorders and a disruption of sleep either from a macro- or from a microstructural viewpoint.     

Allergy screening with Phadiatop® and CAP Phadiatop® in combination with a questionnaire in adults with asthma and rhinitis

The efficiency of the new screening tests for atopy, Phadiatop and CAP Phadiatop, was studied by comparing their results with a clinical diagnosis of atopy in 100 consecutive adults with asthma and/or rhinitis. Further, the diagnostic efficiency of a combination of Phadiatop and a few standardized questions was studied. The Phadiatop was found to have a specificity of 0.98, and a sensitivity of 0.92 and the CAP Phadiatop a specificity of 0.94 and a sensitivity of 0.96. When the Phadiatop was combined with a few questions, a sensitivity of 1.00 was achieved. It is concluded that Phadiatop and CAP Phadiatop have a higher diagnostic precision than other hitherto used methods for screening of atopic allergy. The place of Phadiatop in a diagnostic flow chart is suggested.     

Satisfaction with treatment decision-making and treatment regret among Latinas and non-Latina whites with DCIS

Objective

To examine differences in treatment decision-making participation, satisfaction, and regret among Latinas and non-Latina whites with DCIS.

Methods

Survey of Latina and non-Latina white women diagnosed with DCIS. We assessed women's preferences for involvement in decision-making, primary treatment decision maker, and participatory decision-making. We examined primary outcomes of satisfaction with treatment decision-making and treatment regret by ethnic-language group.

Results

Among 745 participants (349 Latinas, 396 white) Spanish-speaking Latinas (SSL) had the highest mean preference for involvement in decision-making score and the lowest mean participatory decision-making score and were more likely to defer their final treatment decision to their physicians than English-speaking Latinas or whites (26%, 13%, 18%, p < 0.05). SSLs reported lower satisfaction with treatment decision-making (OR 0.4; CI 95%, 0.2–0.8) and expressed more regret than whites (OR 6.2; CI 95%, 3.0–12.4). More participatory decision-making increased the odds of satisfaction (OR 1.5; CI 95%, 1.3–1.8) and decreased the odds of treatment regret (OR 0.8; CI 95%, 0.7–1.0), independent of ethnicity-language.

Conclusion

Language barriers impede the establishment of decision-making partnerships between Latinas and their physicians, and result in less satisfaction with the decision-making process and more treatment regret.

Practice implications

Use of professional interpreters may address communication-related disparities for these women.     

Satisfaction with communication in ICU patients and relatives: comparisons with medical staffs' expectations and the relationship with psychological distress

Objective

To study intensive care unit (ICU) patients’ and relatives’ satisfaction in regard to communication with medical staff (nurses and physicians), perceived support, environmental strain and their psychological distress. Further, to compare this with expectations of the medical staff.

Methods

Cross-sectional study, 4–6 weeks post-ICU discharge. Respondents to the questionnaire were: 255 (63%) patients, 354 (82%) relatives and 145 (74%) medical staff. Degree of satisfaction and distress were measured on a five-point Likert-scale (0 = low to 4 = high).

Results

The mean score for patient satisfaction with communication was 3.0 (95%CI 2.9–3.1) and for relatives 3.4 (3.3–3.5). This was significantly higher than expected by the staff for patients 2.5 (2.4–2.6) and relatives 2.8 (2.7–2.9), both p < 0.001. Relatives’ degree of psychological distress, 2.5 (2.4–2.6) was significantly higher than for patients’, 1.6 (1.5–1.7), but was significantly lower than expected by the staff, 2.9 (2.8–3.0) and 2.7 (2.6–2.8) respectively, both p < 0.001.

Conclusion

Patients and relatives were more satisfied with the communication than expected by the staff. The staff overestimated the patients’ and relatives’ psychological distress. Relatives report more psychological distress symptoms post-ICU discharge compared to the patients.

Practice implications

Medical staff is aware of psychological distress in ICU patients and relatives and effort to reduce this during ICU stay and afterwards should be implemented.     

几种具有抗疲劳、抗缺氧作用的藏药植物资源

由于藏民族主要生活在高海拔地区,因此在藏药中有许多著名的抗疲劳、抗缺氧药用植物资源,如红景天、沙棘等。本文整理了沙棘、冬虫夏草、蕨麻和红景天等几种(类)具有抗疲劳、抗缺氧作用藏药植物资源及其目前有关这些植物资源的开发利用研究状况,以期为开发运动员专用保健饮料和保健食品提供参考。     

伊痛舒运用于颈源性头痛的治疗及护理

颈源性头痛好发于中老年或长期处于工作紧张状态的电脑工作及文字工作者,已成为疼痛门诊中的常见病种,其病因较为繁杂.随着对头痛不断研究,越来越多的学者发现,颈部疾病可以导致头痛,颈源性头痛在头痛人群中与偏头痛相近,大约为17.18%[1-2].我科采用伊痛舒及香丹注射液行颈2椎旁神经组滞治疗该病,取得了良好的疗效.现报告如下.     

Coinfection with hepatitis C and B viruses with pre-C mutant

We report on a case of co-infection VHB-VHC with a pre-core mutant, a rare association in the literature. The last consensus conference in march 2002 did not help us so much, since only VHC-VIH co-infection was considered. We report on our therapeutic experience about the treatment and discuss the recent studies aimed to define the function of respective virus in the case of co-infection. In the present case, the VHC infection has been completely cured, but some problems with the VHB infection are still unsolved.     

Tolerance and rebound with zafirlukast in patients with persistent asthma

Background  

The potential for tolerance to develop to zafirlukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) receptor antagonist (LRA) in persistent asthma, has not been specifically examined.     

阿尔茨海默病和血管性痴呆患者的认知功能和精神行为症状

目的:比较轻中度阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)和血管性痴呆(vascular de-mentia,VD)患者的认知功能损害和精神行为症状的特点。方法:本研究为病例对照研究。选取神经内科老年记忆障碍门诊中就诊的轻中度老年期痴呆患者共115例,均符合美国精神病学会精神障碍诊断和统计手册第四版(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders,Fourth Edition,DSM-Ⅳ)的痴呆诊断标准。AD组61例,符合NINCDS-ADRDA可能或很可能AD诊断标准;VD组54例,符合NINDS-AIREN可能或很可能VD诊断标准中的皮质下缺血性血管性痴呆。采用简易精神状态评定表(Mini-Mental StateExamination,MMSE),世界卫生组织-加利福尼亚洛杉矶大学听觉词语学习测验(World Health Organiza-tion-University of California,Los Angeles,auditory verbal learning test,WHO-UCLA AVLT),画钟测验(Clock Drawing Test,CDT),神经精神问卷(Neuropsychiatric Inventory,NPI)对两组患者从记忆力、语言、注意力等方面以及妄想、幻觉、激越、抑郁、淡漠、易激惹、异常的运动行为等方面进行评估。结果:AD患者较VD患者MMSE量表中的语言能力,WHO-UCLA AVLT测评中的延迟回忆和长时延迟再认减退明显(均P<0.05),VD患者较AD患者MMSE中的注意力减退明显(P<0.05);NPI量表中,AD患者淡漠、激越、易激惹、异常运动行为明显多于VD患者(P<0.05),抑郁少于VD患者(P<0.05)。结论:AD和VD患者在认知功能损害和精神行为症状方面存在差异,AD患者的语言能力、记忆力较差,而VD患者的注意力较差;AD淡漠、激越、易激惹、异常运动行为多见,VD抑郁多见。临床工作中对痴呆患者的认知功能和精神行为症状测评有助于AD和VD的鉴别。     

苯那普利和缬沙坦联合应用对大鼠阿霉素肾病的影响

目的:探讨苯那普利和缬沙坦对大鼠阿霉素肾病的干预作用。方法:实验Wistar大鼠实行右肾切除手术,以阿霉素尾静脉注射造模,分别用苯那普利、缬沙坦及两者联合灌胃。用药后2～8周检测血、尿标本;透射电镜下观察肾形态学变化;用TUNEL法检测肾组织细胞凋亡。结果:与肾病组相比,3个干预组中的肌酐、尿素氮、尿蛋白、血压均降低,且差异显著;电镜下肾小球超微结构改善;凋亡细胞减少,差异显著。联合应用组与单用组差异显著。结论:苯那普利、缬沙坦及两者联合应用均可延缓阿霉素肾病肾小球硬化的进展,其机制可能与减少细胞的凋亡及肾超微结构的改善有关,两药联合应用效果更显著。