Polymorphous Ventricular Tachycardia Associated with a Marked Prolongation of the Q-T Interval Induced by Amiodarone

We report the case of a patient who developed a life-threatening polymorphous ventricular tachycardia (PVT) after six weeks of treatment with amiodarone. The Q-T interval was markedly prolonged at 0.86 second. The drug induction of PVT was strongly suggested by the fact that PVT resolved four days after withdrawal of amiodarone when the Q-T interval had shortened to 0.60 second; the arrhythmia has not recurred in the nine months of follow-up since then. Amiodarone, though a very effective antiarrhythmic agent, may induce serious PVT.     

不同大小钛颗粒对骨髓间充质干细胞粘附能力的影响

目的研究磨屑钛颗粒对骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）粘附能力影响的可能细胞分子机制。方法选用经体外传代纯化培养后的大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（rBMSCs），与不同直径大小的钛颗粒悬液共孵育，再采用精准的流室系统对钛颗粒负荷的rBMSCs施加一定的流体剪切应力（FSS）后立刻固定细胞，经免疫荧光抗体染色，结合流式细胞术定量分析rBMSCs表面粘附分子表达的变化情况。同时设置相应的未经钛颗粒孵育的rBMSCs细胞为对照组细胞。结果剪切应力可明显上调rBMSCs表面粘附分子的表达。不同直径大小的钛颗粒可不同程度地抑制rBMScs的粘附能力，颗粒越小，抑制作用越明显。结论磨屑颗粒所引起的BMSCs细胞流变学异常是人工关节无菌性松动发生的可能机制。     

持续性心房颤动患者心脏电复律对血浆醛固酮水平的影响

目的 :探讨持续性心房颤动 (Af)患者电复律后对血浆醛固酮水平的影响。方法 :对患有持续性Af的 31例患者实施心脏直流电复律 ,分别于复律前 2h和复律后 4 8h测定血醛固酮及肾素水平。结果 :31例患者中的 2 9例 (94 % )成功转复为窦性心律 ,复律成功患者血醛固酮水平从 (346± 73) pmol/L显著下降到 (171± 36 )pmol/L(P <0 .0 5 ) ,且醛固酮 /肾素比值显著减小 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :持续性Af患者成功电复律后血醛固酮水平可明显降低。     

Natural history of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive cirrhosis in Taiwan: A clinicopathological study

To clarify the natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated liver cirrhosis, the clinical, laboratory and histological features of 174 untreated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive cirrhotics were analysed, with a mean follow-up period of 34 months (range 8–135 months) after liver biopsy. Male patients were predominant (86.8%) and the mean age of the whole group was 45 years, s.d. = 12 (range 15–82 years). Serum HBeAg and HBV-DNA positivity were 38.9% and 31.8%, respectively. The calculated annual rate of spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion was 6.4% which was significantly lower than that (12%) of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Superinfection by δ-agent was rare, and anti-δ antibody was detected in only 1.7% of them. The occurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma in the whole group was 5.7%/year which was not higher than that of HBsAg-negative cirrhotics (6.2%/year). Serial liver biopsy showed that in the late evolution of cirrhosis, hepatitic activity tended to decline. Active cirrhosis may represent the intermediate stage between CAH and inactive liver cirrhosis. The 5-year survival probability rate of the patients belonging to Child's functional classes A, B and C was 83.4% (s.d. = 5.7), 79.2% (s.d. = 9.4) and 30.9% (s.d. = 14.3), respectively. Most patients were in a well-compensated state on entry into the study and remained stable for several years after diagnosis. Major causes of death include massive variceal bleeding, hepatic failure and/or hepatorenal syndrome, infection and hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Ascending infection of the biliary tract after surgical sphincterotomy and biliary stenting

It has been widely accepted that there is an ascending route of bacterial infection of the biliary tract but there is a lack of direct evidence. This hypothesis was tested in an animal experiment using the cat as an animal model. The implantation of biliary stents and surgical sphincterotomy were performed in these animals, with sham controls. Stents bypassing the sphincter of Oddi with the tip in the duodenal micro-organisms and the biliary tract was heavily contaminated. Blockage of these stents resulted in biliary obstruction. Stents implanted within the common bile duct, proximal to the sphincter were largely unaffected by biofilm formation. After surgical sphincterotomy the biliary tract was also contaminated but, in the absence of obstruction, the animals did not develop any symptoms. It was concluded that ascending infection by duodenal biliary reflux, via the sphincter of Oddi, is an important route of infection in the biliary system.     

Mucosal pharmacokinetics and pilot study of short course of parenteral imipenem in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Abstract Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection is known to reduce the incidence of duodenal ulcer recurrence. The most commonly used regimen for H. pylori infection is triple antimicrobial therapy for 1-2 weeks. This treatment is associated with frequent side effects and hence unsatisfactory compliance. As in vitro data showed that H. pylori is sensitive to imipenem, the pharmacokinetics of this drug in the gastric milieu, and the clinical efficacy of imipenem with omeprazole in eradicating H. pylori infection were studied. Imipenem/cilastatin levels in serum, gastric secretion and gastric mucosa were assayed in four patients after intravenous injection of a bolus dose of 500 mg. The serum and gastric secretion levels of imipenem achieved were more than 10 times the minimum inhibitory concentration of the drug for H. pylori. Gastric mucosal levels of imipenem vary considerably with time, which probably indicates rapid elimination of the drug into the gastric lumen. In the second part of this study, imipenem/cilastatin was given intravenously for the first 2 days after diagnosis of H. pylori infection in patients with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcers. The patients were also treated with 4 weeks of omeprazole. Clearance of H. pylori was initially achieved at the end of 2 days in 20 out of 22 (91%) patients. However, when the biopsies were repeated at 8 weeks, recurrence of H. pylori infection was evident in 19 cases (86.3%) indicating a failure of eradication. It was concluded that imipenem/cilastatin in combination with omeprazole failed to eradicate H. pylori infection.     

Diagnosis and Ablation of Multiform Fascicular Tachycardia

Ablation Multiform Fascicular Tachycardia . Introduction: Fascicular tachycardia (FT) is an uncommon cause of monomorphic sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). We describe 6 cases of FT with multiform QRS morphologies. Methods and Results : Six of 823 consecutive VT cases were retrospectively analyzed and found attributable to FT with multiform QRS patterns, with 3 cases exhibiting narrow QRS VT as well. All underwent electrophysiology study including fascicular potential mapping, entrainment pacing, and electroanatomic mapping. The first 3 cases describe similar multiform VT patterns with successful ablation in the upper mid septum. Initially, a right bundle branch block (RBBB) VT with superior axis was induced. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) targeting the left posterior fascicle (LPF) resulted in a second VT with RBBB inferior axis. RFCA in the upper septum just apical to the LBB potential abolished VT in all cases. Cases 4 and 5 showed RBBB VT with alternating fascicular block compatible with upper septal dependent VT, resulting in bundle branch reentrant VT (BBRT) after ablation of LPF and left anterior fascicle (LAF). Finally, Cases 5 and 6 demonstrated spontaneous shift in QRS morphology during VT, implicating participation of a third fascicle. In Case 6, successful ablation was achieved over the proximal LAF, likely representing insertion of the auxiliary fascicle near the proximal LAF. Conclusions : Multiform FTs show a reentrant mechanism using multiple fascicular branches. We hypothesize that retrograde conduction over the septal fascicle produces alternate fascicular patterns as well as narrow VT forms. Ablation of the respective fascicle was successful in abolishing FT but does not preclude development of BBRT unless septal fascicle is targeted and ablated. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 297‐304, March 2013)     

Flecainide‐Associated Bradycardia‐Dependent Torsade de Pointes: Another Potential Mechanism of Proarrhythmia

Although flecainide has a risk of proarrhythmia in patients with structural heart disease, its mechanism has been mainly ascribed to use‐dependency and a rapid ventricular response to organized atrial tachyarrhythmias or to ventricular tachycardia. We present a patient who experienced recurrent syncope due to bradycardia‐dependent torsade de pointes (TdP) associated with flecainide‐related bradycardia and QT prolongation. Bradycardia‐dependent TdP with QT prolongation can be considered as one of mechanisms of flecainide‐induced proarrhythmia.     

不同灸量温针治疗风寒型颈椎病的临床观察

目的：比较不同灸量温针治疗风寒型颈椎病的临床疗效。方法：采用随机对照方法将90例风寒型颈椎病患者分为3组：A组（温针1壮组）、B组（温针3壮组）、C组（温针5壮组）,每组30例。所有患者均给予“项八针”针刺治疗,同时在大椎穴处给予温针治疗。采用简化McGill疼痛问卷及颈椎功能评定表对患者的疼痛症状和颈椎功能进行评价。结果：①疼痛：治疗后,三组患者的PRI、VAS、PPI评分均显著降低（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,且B、C两组患者的PRI、VAS、PPI评分低于A组（P〈0．05）,而B、C两组的评分比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。②颈椎功能：治疗后,三组患者的颈椎功能评分均显著升高（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,且B、C两组患者的评分高于A组（P〈0．05）,而B、C两组的评分比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：温针灸量3壮为治疗风寒型颈椎病的理想灸量。     

Expandable Metallic Stents: in the Benign Strictures of Intrahepatic Ducts in Patients with Primary Intrahepatic Stones

Abstract: In Korea there is a prevalence for primary intrahepatic stones. Patients with primary intrahepatic stones and oriental cholangiohepatitis ofen have accompanying intrahepatic strictures. Despite complete removal of the intrahepatic stones, sustained intrahepatic strictures will evoke bile stasis and impairment of liver function. So the correction of intrahepatic strictures in addition to the removal of the stones is important in the management of primary intrahepatic stones. We inserted self-expandable metallic stents in 16 patients with primary intrahepatic stones for the correction of intrahepatic strictures after complete removal of their intrahepatic stones. All of the patients had a previous history of abdominal surgery for the removal of intrahepatic stones. The criteria for insertion of expandable metallic stents was recurrent stenosis after successful balloon dilatation. The metallic stents inserted were Gianturco-Rosch stents (24F) and the stents were inserted via a T-tube or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) track. In the follow-up period of an average of 12 months (9–15 months), 14 (88%) out of 16 patients experienced relief of pruritus and improved liver function. But two patients (12%) with secondary biliary cirrhosis showed no improvement of their clinical symptoms and signs. In conclusion, these findings suggest that expandable metallic stents will be useful in the management of intrahepatic strictures, which recurred after successful balloon dilatation, in patients with primary intrahepatic stones.