应用5％咪喹莫特软膏单一治疗皮肤原位鳞状细胞癌（鲍温病）：一项随机、双盲、安慰剂对照试验

背景:作者设计了一项随机、双盲、安慰剂对照试验,以评价使用5%咪喹莫特软膏治疗皮肤原位鳞状细胞癌(SCC)的初步疗效及安全性。方法:将活检证实为皮肤原位SCC的31例患者随机分配至安慰剂组(n=16)或5%咪喹莫特软膏治疗组(n=15),1次/d,持续16周。在第28周时,对主要终点即皮肤原位     

Rheumatoid arthritis: MR imaging manifestations

Radiologic assessment of the stage and treatment response of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is based on the presence of bone erosions, joint-space narrowing, and osteoporosis. Most radiologic methods for staging RA lack interobserver correlation and are time consuming. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides excellent depiction of soft-tissue abnormalities of the joints affected by RA, which allows detection of early changes. Nineteen joints of 17 patients with RA were studied with surface-coil MR imaging. Measurable abnormalities demonstrated by MR imaging but not clearly seen on plain radiographs included bone erosions, joint effusion, synovial sheath effusion, and cartilage irregularity and thinning. Seven patients of this group underwent MR imaging before and after 6 months of gold therapy. Four patients had significant interval changes on MR images that were not seen on plain radiographs. MR imaging may become a sensitive and objective method for quantitative assessment of the joint changes of RA.     

Neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis: correlation of clinical and CT findings

Review of 31 computed tomographic (CT) scans in 15 neonates with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) type 2 revealed the most characteristic early findings to be patchy and widespread areas of low attenuation, primarily in white matter, with minimal contrast material enhancement in a meningeal pattern. The low-attenuation lesions increased rapidly in size and prominence during the course of the disease. This was usually accompanied by increased attenuation of cortical gray matter that persisted for weeks to months. Atrophic changes appeared rapidly, being evident in the 3d week. Late findings consisted of very extensive, diffuse, low attenuation of white matter with cortical atrophy. Calcification assumed a variety of distributions, from punctate to an extensive gyral pattern. The cerebellum was involved in nine patients. Early CT findings were not good predictors of outcome, but later serial CT scans showing progression or stability of findings were more accurate in prognosis. CT serves primarily to confirm the diagnosis of neonatal HSE.     

Nonfatal venous air embolism after contrast-enhanced CT

Contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed in 100 patients. Fifty milliliters of contrast material was intravenously injected by hand and followed by a drip infusion of 100 mL of contrast material. Venous air embolism occurred in 23% of the patients. The amount of embolism was minimal in 20 patients and moderate in three. Although large amounts of embolism have been reported to be associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, none of the patients in this study had immediate or delayed complications as a result of the small degree of embolism. The locations of the emboli were in the subclavian or axillary vein in nine, right or left brachiocephalic vein in three, internal jugular vein in two, superior vena cava in two, right ventricle in two, and main pulmonary artery in 12 patients. In patients at high risk for cerebral air embolism, such as those with intracardiac shunts or pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, extreme caution should be used--even in the routine administration of intravenous fluids or contrast media--to prevent venous air embolism and resultant neurologic deficits.     

EPR spectrometer for clinical applications

This article describes an EPR spectrometer specifically designed and constructed for EPR spectroscopy in humans. The spectrometer is based on a permanent magnet, suitable for measurements at 1200 MHz. The magnet has a full 50 cm gap between the poles, which facilitates accurate and comfortable placement of the subject for the EPR measurement at any location on the human body. The bridge includes features to facilitate clinical operations, including an indicator for phasing of the reference arm and a 2 level RF amplifier. Resonators with holders for each type and site of measurement have been developed that comfortably position the resonator and the patient and prevent artifacts due to motion. The initial applications for which the spectrometer has been designed are for oximetry using loops on the surface, oximetry using implanted resonators for measuring deep sites, and measurements in the teeth for determination of exposures to clinically significant doses of ionizing radiation. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effect of alpha thalassaemia trait and enhanced gamma chain production on disease severity in beta thalassaemia major and intermedia

One hundred and twenty patients with homozygous beta thalassaemia were selected to determine the clinical effects of certain genetic factors which may modify disease severity. Genetic analysis defined specific beta thalassaemia mutations, the alpha thalassaemia genotype, and the presence of an XmnI restriction enzyme site, associated with increased fetal haemoglobin (HbF) production under certain conditions. Genotypic data with globin chain synthesis were related to the age when regular transfusions began and subsequent pubertal development. This study showed that the major determinants of disease severity in beta thalassaemia were the beta thalassaemia mutations, with co-inheritance of alpha thalassaemia trait and coinheritance of a high HbF determinant acting as ameliorating factors. The presence of an alpha thalassaemia deletion significantly reduced initial disease severity, although the effect on pubertal development was less clear. It is concluded that detailed genetic analysis should be performed in all newly diagnosed patients with thalassaemia. This, in conjunction with clinical assessment, will help to predict disease severity and prognosis.     

Peptide-induced deletion of CD8 T cells in vivo occurs via apoptosis in situ

The ultimate fate of T cells undergoing antigen-induced cell death in vivo remains controversial. Whereas apoptosis of CD4+ T cells driven by superantigen is readily detectable in lymphoid organs, CD8+ T cells have been reported to disappear from the lymphoid organs and accumulate in the liver where they undergo apoptosis. Using transgenic mice that produce large numbers of ovalbumin-specific CD8+ T cells (OT-I cells), we were able to investigate the events that follow soluble peptide administration in an independent CD8+ T cell system. Here we show that the OT-I cells undergo proliferation and apoptosis in situ in lymphoid organs in response to antigenic stimulation with no evidence for liver involvement. This is similar to the course of events found for CD4+ T cell activation and counters the view that the liver is a general site for CD8+ T cell clearance following antigen-specific activation.