Blood flow acceleration in the carotid and brachial arteries of healthy volunteers: respective contributions of cardiac performance and local resistance

Summary— The influence of local resistance and cardiac performance on peripheral blood acceleration was investigated in 14 healthy male volunteers. Steady and pulsatile flow was studied in the brachial and in the common carotid arteries, ie, two territories that exhibit marked differences in resistive characteristics. Instantaneous blood velocity (V), mean blood velocity (V_m) and artery diameter (D) were evaluated at rest by an ultrasonic range-gated pulsed Doppler flowmeter using a double transducer probe, thus allowing the calculation of mean blood flow (Q). Mean local resistance (R) was obtained by dividing the mean arterial pressure by Q. The peak value of the local acceleration of the blood was obtained by computer-assisted calculation of the first derivative of instantaneous blood velocity (G_max = +dV/dt_max). Peak aortic blood acceleration (GAo) was simultaneously measured from the suprasternal notch using a pulsed Doppler velocity meter. In the brachial and the common carotid arteries, G_max was of a similar magnitude (551 ±30 and 555 ± 44 cm/s², respectively) despite major differences in the respective D, V_m, Q and R values. In neither artery was there a relationship between G_max and either resting Q or R. At the brachial artery level, G_max was positively related to GAo ( r = 0.79, P = 0.0008). At the common carotid artery level, there was a weak, although non significant relationship between G_max and GAo ( P = 0.08). Our results indicate that the local acceleration of peripheral blood flow in the brachial artery is related rather to upstream central impulse than to downstream hemodynamics, and suggest some regional differences in the hemodynamic determinants of the local acceleration of peripheral blood flow.     

Application of reflectance spectroscopy to the estimation of uric acid, urea and glucose: an evaluation of the Ames Seralyzer

An original approach to the measurement of analytes in clinical chemistry has now become available, in which dry reagent strip technology is linked to measurement by reflectance spectroscopy. The present studies have evaluated the performance of the first of these test systems—for uric acid, urea and glucose, in serum—by comparison with conventional liquid chemistry methods. Satisfactory performance in terms of both precision and accuracy was obtained for all three test systems, the current “state-of-the-art” performance criteria being met; the Seralyzer system proved reliable and easy to use in the hands of trained operators. It should find a place as a “Stat” analyser in the laboratory, in specified wards and in Health Centres.     

Influence of co-culture with established human endometrial epithelial and stromal cell lines on sperm movement characteristics

The effects of co-culture of human spermatozoa with human immortalized endometrial cells - epithelial or stromal - on sperm movement characteristics, including hyperactivation, were studied using computer- assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Epithelial and stromal cell types could be separated following 8-10 days of culture of endometrial cells originating from human biopsies. Both cell types were immortalized by the SV 40 large T antigen. Co-incubation of sperm with epithelial and stromal monolayers enhanced the rate of hyperactivation: 24.9% (P <0.05) and 17.8% (P = 0.05) versus 9.5% as control, respectively, whereas the majority of motility parameters remained unchanged. Conditioned media had no effect upon sperm parameters, including hyperactivation. Co-incubation with either monolayer was able to maintain sperm motility over a longer period than incubation in control medium alone. In four patients whose spermatozoa did not exhibit hyperactivation, co-incubation with epithelial cells, but not conditioned medium, allowed normal rates of hyperactivation (range: 6.9- 15.6%).      

Improved oocyte quality is obtained with follicle stimulating hormone alone than with follicle stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin combination

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of pure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) with that of FSH/human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) combination in downregulated cycles. A total of 357 patients was evaluated retrospectively. Sixty percent of patients in the FSH group and 55% in the FSH/HMG group were new; the others were repeat patients. Ovulation was suppressed with leuprolide acetate in all patients, followed by either FSH (n = 218) or FSH/HMG (n = 119). There was no difference in patients' age, infertility factors, number of ampoules used, length of stimulation, oestradiol levels on day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration, number of oocytes recovered or the number of embryos transferred. Also, nuclear maturity at aspiration and fertilization rates were not different between the two groups. FSH stimulation resulted in a significantly higher percentage of mature oocytes that showed the typical 'mature' morphological characteristics (P < 0.0001). The clinical pregnancy rates per transfer were 40 and 28% in patients stimulated with pure FSH and FSH/HMG respectively (P < 0.05). The significantly higher number of immature oocytes matured in vitro in the FSH/HMG group (P = 0.001) suggests a possible effect on in-vitro maturation, due to luteinizing hormone present in HMG. The difference in mature oocyte quality may be an important determinant in the higher pregnancy rates for the FSH- stimulated patients.      

急性髓细胞白血病血型变异1例

1　临床资料　患者 ,女 ,6 1岁 ,1999- 0 6 - 0 3日确诊为急性红白血病 (M6 ) .先后 4次住院 ,鉴定血型均为 O型 . 2 0 0 0 - 0 1- 2 2日复诊 ,正反鉴定表明 ,患者红细胞与抗 - B不凝集 ,与抗 - A凝集 ,血清中有抗 - B抗体 (表 1) ,吸收释放试验证实为 A型 (表2 ) .输 A型浓缩红细胞 2 μ,无不良反应 .表 1　血型正反鉴定试剂血清试剂红细胞标本抗 A 抗 B 抗 A+ B Ac Bc Oc被检红细胞 2 + -3+ ---自身血清 -3+ -表 2　吸收、放散试验被检 RBC吸收抗血清后上清被检 RBC吸收抗血清后释放液试剂细胞抗 A修正液抗 B修正液抗 A修正液抗…     

综合疗法治愈狼疮性急性肾衰1例

1　病例报告　患者 ,女 ,6 0岁 ,因反复发热 2 5 a、全身性关节疼痛 2 3 a,双下肢水肿 2 mo,腹胀、尿少 1mo,于 1998- 10 - 2 0入院 .1975年患者出现发热 ,全身关节疼痛 ,四肢关节周围皮肤出现结节性红斑 ,触之疼痛 ,多次化验血沉 115 mm· h- 1 ,抗核抗体阴性 ,类风湿因子阳性 ,未找到狼疮细胞 ,诊断为“类风湿性关节炎”.1986年因上述症状复发再次入我院 ,多次检查后发现血抗核抗体 ( ) ,抗双链 DNA抗体 ( ) ,临床确诊为系统性红斑狼疮 (SL E) ,狼疮性肝炎 ,狼疮性胸膜炎 ,狼疮性肺炎 .经治疗好转 ,但上述症状反复发作 .此次上述症状复…