Neonatal erythema infectiosum

A report is presented of a patient with neonatal erythema infectiosum who developed petechiae, transient thrombocytopenia and transient cardiac failure due to transplacental transmission of human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) infection. It is suggested that the thrombocytopenia was caused by platelet-associated IgG produced by the patient, and that the cardiac failure may have been caused by direct entry of HPV B19 into the cardiac tissue.     

Significance of electrostimulation in detecting neurovascular bundle during radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE: The reported rate of erectile dysfunction after nerve-sparing prostatectomy varies according to physicians. Because exact preservation of the neurovascular bundle (NVB) solely depends on the judgment of the physician, he or she should try to correctly identify the NVB and also avoid neurophysiologic injury of the NVB during the procedure. The purpose of the present study is to assess the status of the NVB preservation by physician's judgment at the operation, the changes in intracavernous pressure related to intraoperative electrical stimulation and postoperative histopathological examination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients who underwent nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy judged by intraoperative electrical stimulation of the NVB were included in this study. Bilateral, unilateral and non-nerve-sparing procedures were performed in 18, 17, and 3 cases, respectively. The NVB preservation evaluated by intraoperative physician's judgment was compared to that evaluated by postoperative histopathological examination. Furthermore, the NVB preservation evaluated by intraoperative electrical stimulation was compared to that by physician's judgment and postoperative histopathological examination. RESULTS: For 68 of 76 NVB (89.5%), intraoperative subjective judgment and histopathological assessment were identical. For 66 of 76 NVB (86.8%), electrical stimulation findings and the physician's judgments were identical, and for 70 of 76 NVB (92.1%), electrical stimulation findings and histopathological findings were identical. CONCLUSION: Even if physicians are convinced of a successful nerve-sparing procedure, there are some cases in which the NVB is not preserved accurately or neurophysiological damage is suffered. Therefore, intraoperative electrical stimulation of the NVB as well as the cavernosal nerve is very useful in evaluation of NVB preservation.     

The Effects of Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation (cSCS) on Experimental Stroke

Cervical spinal cord stimulation (cSCS) has been employed as a treatment for intractable pain for the past 20 years. Recently, we reported that cSCS increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in cats and humans. The present study was designed to examine the effects of cSCS on experimental cerebral strokes, using a cat middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAO). A total of 31 cats were randomly assigned to three groups; Group 1: control. Group 2: sham operation, Group 3: cSCS. Mortality of the control group was 92% as long as 4 days after MCAO. Groups 2 and 3 showed a prolongation of survival rate (44% and 56%, respectively). CSCS reduced the rate of death within 24 hours after MGAO. There was no alteration of infarct size, which was estimated by the TTC method and measured by computer technique (PDP-11/23), was found in dead cats of all groups. In cats that survived in Group 3, however, drastic prevention of an infarct progression was found, compared to Group 2. The results provide a ciinical application of cSCS for stroke patients, although no evident mechanism was obtained.     

北京市应用大便比色卡进行胆道闭锁症筛查的临床研究

目的探索建立胆道闭锁症的筛查流程及大便比色卡用于胆道闭锁症筛查的方法学评价。方法对2013年12月4日至2014年4月30日在北京市朝阳区所属的25家助产机构分娩的新生儿发放大便比色卡,家长根据该卡片比对婴儿大便颜色至生后4个月,通过短信、电话和42天门诊进行结果追访,总结大便比色卡筛查胆道闭锁症的结果。结果共有19 252名新生儿参加了大便比色卡筛查胆道闭锁症,根据2014年1~3月的筛查数与活产数,应用大便比色卡筛查胆道闭锁症的筛查率91.3%;增加短信提醒追访方式后,门诊可疑患儿就诊率由0.65‰增加到1.89‰。大便比色卡阳性结果 12例,1例在生后55天确诊胆道闭锁症(Ⅲ型),3例分别于生后75天、47天、55天诊断为巨细胞病毒感染性肝炎、乳儿肝炎、肠道外营养相关性胆汁淤积症。其他8例为一过性大便比色卡阳性便。1例于生后24 h因黄疸住院,7天诊断为胆道闭锁症(Ⅲ型),未发现大便比色卡阳性便。胆道闭锁症的发病率为1∶9626。结论大便比色卡是简便有效的筛查胆道闭锁症的方法,可早期发现黄疸不明显的患儿,同时还可筛查出其他引起胆汁淤积症的疾病。     

Hemoglobin Koln Disease Occurring as a Fresh Mutation: Erythrocyte Metabolism and Survival

Electrophoretic and fingerprinting studies in a patient with congenital hemolytic anemia revealed the presenceof the unstable hemoglobin Köln (^98valmet). Examination of parents and siblings gave normal results. Extensive bloodgroup and isozyme studies were consistent with the thesis that Hb Köln diseasein the propositus was the result of afresh mutation in one of his parent’sgametes. In the propositus, the activitiesof enzymes of the Embden-Meyerhof andpentose phosphate pathways were increased, but the level of ATP was decreased. Methemoglobin reduction wasdelayed when the NADPH-dependentsystem was utilized with added methylene blue and gave a false-positive resultin the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase screening test. Methemoglobin reduction in the absence of methylene bluewas normal. Increased methemoglobinand Heinz body formation, decreasedosmotic fragility, decreased red cell deformability, and a disproportionatepotassium loss without sodium gain occurred with metabolic depletion. Therate of decline of glutathione in propositus’ cells paralleled that in normal cells.Autologous survival of Hb Köln cells wasdecreased but was not compromised further by oxidant drugs. Marked splenicsequestration of Hb Köln erythrocyteswas demonstrated, and an excellent response to splenectomy with improvederythrocyte survival was observed. Theintracellular precipitation of unstableglobin chains, intracellular dehydration,and increased membrane rigidity probably all contribute to the splenic entrapment of these erythrocytes.

Submitted on April 20, 1971 Revised on June 4, 1971 Accepted on June 29, 1971     

Electrophysiological Characteristics of Localized Reentrant Atrial Tachycardia Occurring After Catheter Ablation of Long-Lasting Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Mapping of recurrent atrial tachycardia (AT) after extensive ablation for long-lasting persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is complex. We sought to describe the electrophysiological characteristics of localized reentry occurring after ablation of long-lasting persistent AF.
Methods: Out of 70 patients undergoing catheter ablation of long-lasting persistent AF, 9 patients (13%, 55 ± 8 years, 8 males) in whom localized reentry was demonstrated in a repeat ablation were studied. Localized reentry was defined as reentry in which the circuit was localized to a small area and did not have a central obstacle. The mechanism of AT was determined by electroanatomical and entrainment mapping.
Results: Nine localized reentries with cycle length of 243 ± 41 ms were mapped in 9 patients. The location of AT was the left atrial appendage in 4 patients, anterior left atrium in 2, left septum in 2, and mitral isthmus in 1. In all ATs, a critical isthmus of <10 mm in width was identified in the vicinity of the prior linear lesions or ostia of isolated pulmonary veins. Ablation of the critical isthmus, which was characterized by continuous low-voltage activity (median voltage: 0.15 mV, mean duration: 117 ± 31 ms), terminated AT and rendered it noninducible. Additionally, ablation was performed for all of inducible ATs. At 11 ± 7 months after the procedure, 8 of 9 patients (89%) were free from any arrhythmias.
Conclusions: After ablation of long-lasting persistent AF, localized reentry may arise from a site in the vicinity of the prior ablation lesions. Ablation of the critical isthmus eliminates the arrhythmia.