A comparative study of the polymerase chain reaction and conventional procedures for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion.

Preliminary reports by ourselves and others suggest that amplification of mycobacterial DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and rapid diagnostic test for tuberculosis. We recently described a PCR assay with a 336 bp repetitive sequence specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the DNA target, which gave encouraging results in culture-positive smear-negative clinical specimens. In the present prospective study of patients with pleural effusions we compared PCR of the pleural fluid with conventional procedures. 84 adult patients with pleural effusions were divided into 4 groups. In group A (44 patients), M. tuberculosis was detected by culture of pleural fluid, pleural biopsy or extrapleural source. In group B (6 patients), tuberculous infection was confirmed by histology (group A excluded). Group C (3 patients) had clinical evidence of tuberculosis. Group D (31 patients) had no evidence of active M. tuberculosis infection. Analysis of the pleural fluid confirmed a sensitivity for PCR of 81%. The sensitivity of pleural fluid culture, culture of pleural biopsy, and histology of biopsy was 52.8%, 69.8% and 77.3% respectively. There were however 7 PCR positive results within group D; 6 of these were in patients with malignant effusions. We conclude that for the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis PCR is more sensitive than laboratory culture as determined by the analysis of pleural fluids. Positive PCR results among patients with malignant effusions may be false-positives or the result of latent tuberculous infections. PCR should remain an investigational procedure until prospective studies in high and low prevalence areas have critically evaluated the specificity of the assay.     

CN80-2对鼠肝匀浆SOD,GSH-PX 的影响

本文给小鼠 CN80-2灌胃(3g/kg)14天,及鼠肝组织中加入 CN80-2(0.3g/ml)温育2h,均可提高鼠肝组织中超氧化物歧化酶含量(P<0.01,P<0.05),其抑制脂质过氧化物的作用与冬虫夏草相近(P<0.05),CN80-2还可提高谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的含量。     

Nitric oxide and the control of renin secretion

Summary— Research during recent years has established nitric oxide as a unique signaling molecule that plays important roles in the regulation of the cardiovascular, nervous, renal, immune and other systems. Nitric oxide has also been implicated in the control of the secretion of hormones by the pancreas, hypothalamus, pituitary and other endocrine glands, and evidence is accumulating that it contributes to the regulation of the secretion of renin by the kidneys. The enzyme nitric oxide synthetase is present in vascular and tubular elements of the kidney, particularly in cells of the macula densa , a structure that plays an important role in the control of renin secretion. Guanylyl cyclase, a major target for nitric oxide, is also present in the kidney and is responsive to changes in nitric oxide levels. Drugs that inhibit nitric oxide synthesis generally suppress renin release in vivo and in vitro , suggesting a stimulatory role for the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in the control of renin secretion. Under some conditions, however, blockade of nitric oxide synthesis increases renin secretion. Recent studies indicate that nitric oxide not only contributes to the regulation of basal renin secretion, but also participates in the renin secretory responses to activation of the renal baroreceptor, macula densa and beta adrenoceptor mechanisms that regulate renin secretion. Future research should clarify the mechanisms by which nitric oxide regulates the secretion of renin and establish the physiological significance of this regulation.     

Severe hepatotoxicity associated with nevirapine use in HIV-infected subjects

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected South African patients (n=468) received blinded lamivudine or emtricitabine, stavudine, and either nevirapine or efavirenz (based on screening viral load). Baseline characteristics were analyzed in univariate and multivariate regression, to identify risk factors for hepatotoxicity (grade 3 or greater increase in serum aminotransferase levels). The occurrence of early hepatotoxicity was 17% in the nevirapine group and 0% in the efavirenz group and was balanced between the lamivudine and emtricitabine arms. Two subjects died of hepatic failure. Independent risk factors were body-mass index (BMI) <18.5, female sex, serum albumin level <35 g/L, mean corpuscular volume >85 fL, plasma HIV-1 RNA load <20,000 copies/mL, aspartate aminotransferase level <75 IU/L, and lactate dehydrogenase level <164 IU/L. The use of nevirapine in female patients with a low BMI should be discouraged.     

Neurodevelopmental outcome in full-term newborns with refractory neonatal seizures

Aim: This retrospective study describes the prognosis of full‐term newborns with refractory neonatal seizures, comparing the need for treatment with two versus three or more antiepileptic drugs. Methods: We reviewed our database (January 2002–December 2007) to include newborns with refractory neonatal seizures and abnormal electroencephalogram. Group A consisted of 17 newborns with two antiepileptic drugs. Group B consisted of 29 newborns with three or more antiepileptic drugs. Outcome was determined at 2 years of age using the Dutch Bayley Scales of Infant Development or a neurodevelopmental classification scheme. Results: Group A and group B were comparable regarding to a variety of demographic and aetiologic factors. Thirteen newborns died before 2 years of age and one was lost to follow‐up. Normal development at 2 years of age was found in 50% and 5% for group A and B, respectively. Severe neurodevelopmental delay at 2 years of age was found in 30% and 68% for group A and B, respectively. Conclusion: The number of antiepileptic drugs probably reflects increased seizure burden and is – in that way – related to poor outcome. This may be useful information for early prediction of adverse neurological outcome in the first days of life.     

神经调节素对阿尔茨海默病大鼠模型海马细胞凋亡和核转录因子κB表达的影响

目的 研究神经调节素1β( neuregulin 1β,NRG1β)对β-淀粉样蛋白1-40(beta-amyloid protein,Aβ1-40)所致的模拟阿尔茨海默病模型大鼠空间学习记忆能力、神经元凋亡、核转录因子κB( nuclear factor kappa B,NFκB)表达的影响,探讨NRG改善学习记忆能力的作用机制.方法 成年健康雄性Wistar 大鼠30只,随机数字表法分为对照组、模型组和治疗组,每组10只,经侧脑室微量注射Aβ1-40建立实验性阿尔茨海默病模型大鼠,经侧脑室注射NRG1β(0.3μg·kg-1)干预治疗.各组大鼠实验前及造模7d后、治疗14d后均用Y型迷宫检测大鼠学习和记忆功能,利用HE染色观察海马神经细胞的结构变化,原位TUNEL法检测海马神经细胞凋亡,免疫组织化学法检测海马神经细胞NFκB的表达.结果 模型组大鼠学习能力[ (57.50±1.58)次]和记忆能力[(7.20±1.03)次]较对照组学习[(59.50±2.79)次]和记忆能力[(7.50±1.08)次]明显下降(=20.36,5.28,P＜0.05),海马区神经细胞排列稀疏、紊乱,有明显神经元脱失,TUNEL阳性细胞数明显增多、NFκB表达增加(P＜0.05).NRG1β治疗组大鼠学习记忆能力[ (67.70±4.90)次,(5.80±0.63)次]及细胞结构较模型组[(79.10±4.12)次,(4.40±0.69)次]显著改善( t=5.63,4.69,P＜0.05).相对于模型组[(41.10±7.95)次,(29.30±7.24)个],NRG1β治疗组NFκB表达(25.90±6.67)明显减弱、细胞凋亡数量[(23.50±3.89)个]明显减少(t=4.63,2.23,P＜0.05).结论 NRG1β能抑制海马神经细胞NFκB表达,减少细胞凋亡,从而改善阿尔茨海默病大鼠的学习和记忆能力.     

Interaction between artemether-lumefantrine and nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-infected patients

Artemether-lumefantrine and nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) are the most commonly recommended first-line treatments for malaria and HIV, respectively, in Africa. Artemether, lumefantrine, and nevirapine are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme system, which nevirapine induces, creating potential for important drug interactions. In a parallel-design pharmacokinetic study, concentration-time profiles were obtained in two groups of HIV-infected patients: ART-naïve patients and those stable on nevirapine-based therapy. Both groups received the recommended artemether-lumefantrine dose. Patients were admitted for intense pharmacokinetic sampling (0 to 72 h) with outpatient sampling until 21 days. Concentrations of lumefantrine, artemether, dihydroartemisinin, and nevirapine were determined by validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods. The primary outcome was observed day 7 lumefantrine concentrations, as these are associated with therapeutic response in malaria. We enrolled 36 patients (32 females). Median (range) day 7 lumefantrine concentrations were 622 ng/ml (185 to 2,040 ng/ml) and 336 ng/ml (29 to 934 ng/ml) in the nevirapine and ART-naïve groups, respectively (P = 0.0002). The median artemether area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 8 h [AUC_{(0-8 h)}] (P < 0.0001) and dihydroartemisinin AUC_{(60-68 h)} (P = 0.01) were lower in the nevirapine group. Combined artemether and dihydroartemisinin exposure decreased over time only in the nevirapine group (geometric mean ratio [GMR], 0.76 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.65 to 0.90]; P < 0.0001) and increased with the weight-adjusted artemether dose (GMR, 2.12 [95% CI, 1.31 to 3.45]; P = 0.002). Adverse events were similar between groups, with no difference in electrocardiographic Fridericia corrected QT and P-R intervals at the expected time of maximum lumefantrine concentration (T_max). Nevirapine-based ART decreased artemether and dihydroartemisinin AUCs but unexpectedly increased lumefantrine exposure. The mechanism of the lumefantrine interaction remains to be elucidated. Studies investigating the interaction of nevirapine and artemether-lumefantrine in HIV-infected patients with malaria are urgently needed.