Arterial and venous effects of serotonin in the forearm of healthy subjects are not age-related

The influence of age on the regional arterial and venous effects of serotonin (5-HT) was investigated in 13 young (aged 22-31 years) and seven older (aged 50-69 years) healthy volunteers. Single-dose infusions of 5-HT (1, 10, and 80 ng/kg/min) and of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ritanserin (50, 150, and 500 ng/kg/min) were administered into the brachial artery. Subsequently, the relative arterial and venous effects of the highest dose of 5-HT were investigated. Forearm blood flow (FBF) and maximum venous outflow (MVO) were measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Heart rate (HR) and intraarterial (i.a.) blood pressure were recorded semicontinuously. In both age groups, 5-HT induced an initial transient arterial dilation, followed by a persistent increase in FBF for the doses of 1 and 10 ng/kg/min and a relative small decrease in FBF for the highest dose. In both age groups, the highest dose of 5-HT induced a similar large reduction in MVO (p less than 0.05 for both). The reduction in MVO was attenuated by ritanserin (500 ng/kg/min, p less than 0.05 for both groups). In the younger subjects, this dose of ritanserin also unmasked an arterial dilator effect of the highest dose of 5-HT (p less than 0.05). The single infusions of ritanserin did not influence FBF significantly in either study group. No significant differences were observed between the age groups. These results show that in the forearm of healthy subjects arterial and venous vascular responses to 5-HT were not age-related. In the arterial vascular bed, 5-HT acted predominantly as a vasodilator; at high doses, mainly venous vasoconstriction was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Intussusception in Taiwanese children: analysis of incidence, length of hospitalization and hospital costs in different age groups.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the characteristics of intussusception in Taiwanese children of different age groups, including the incidence, length of hospitalization and hospital costs. METHODS: Children with a diagnosis of intussusception who were hospitalized from 1999 through 2001 were identified from a nationwide health insurance claims database. The incidence of intussusception was calculated by age, gender, and season. Length of hospitalization and hospital costs were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 6988 cases of intussusception were identified in Taiwan from 1999 to 2001. Among them, 4859 cases occurred in children below 15 years of age. The average incidence among children below age 15 years was 34.5 per 100,000, with a peak incidence of 118.8 per 100,000 observed among children younger than 24 months old. The highest incidence of intussusception in Taiwanese children occurred between 12 and 24 months of age. According to the data for patients below 15 years of age hospitalized for intussusception in year 2000, males were more likely to be affected than females (61.3% vs 38.7%). Intussusception-related hospitalizations were rare in infants in the first few months of life, increased in those 6 to 12 months old, and peaked among children 1 to 3 years old. Among the 952 patients with intussusception admitted to hospitals in 2000, 297 (31.2%) received surgery, incurring higher median medical costs (New Taiwan Dollars [NT dollars] 42,265 or US dollars 1234) and longer median hospital stay (6.2 days) than the 655 patients who did not require surgery (NT dollars 6290 or US dollars 185 for hospitalization of 2.4 days). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that the incidence of intussusception peaked in the second year of life in Taiwanese children. There was also a male predominance and lack of seasonal variation in incidence.     

Acute pancreatitis combined with acute Budd-Chiari syndrome as the initial manifestation of small cell lung cancer.

Tumor metastasis to the pancreas is a rare but recognized cause of acute pancreatitis. Autopsy series have reported a 24-40% of pancreatic involvement in small cell lung cancer. However, only a very few cases of tumor-induced acute pancreatitis have been described. Budd-Chiari syndrome complicating lung cancer is a rarely reported condition. We report a 68-year-old woman with extensive small cell lung cancer with the unusual initial presentation of both acute pancreatitis and acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. This patient suffered from progressive epigastralgia for 3 weeks. Severe epigastralgia with radiation to back and progressive jaundice developed 2 days prior to admission. After admission, the liver enlarged rapidly and the ascites increased markedly. Chest roentgenogram showed a mass lesion over the left lower lung field. Poorly differentiated carcinoma cells were found in ascites and bone marrow. The patient died on the ninth day of hospitalization before chemotherapy was initiated. Prompt diagnosis of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer may allow early chemotherapy treatment which favorably influences recovery when the pancreatitis is mild. Although prolonged survival might have been expected had this patient recovered from pancreatitis and received chemotherapy, diagnosis was delayed due to difficulty in immunohistochemical diagnosis of the tumor and the unusual clinical presentation. The use of stains employing antibodies against neurofilament and neuron-specific enolase cell antigens is important for early diagnosis of poorly differentiated metastatic tumor cells.     

第一产程胎心监护异常226例的相关因素分析

目的探讨第一产程胎心监护异常的相关因素，提示处理措施。方法2004年1月1日。12月31日对我院226例第一产程胎心监护异常的相关因素进行回顾性分析。结果第一产程胎心监护异常为综合因素所致，胎儿高危因素为91.59％，母体高危因素为65．49％，产程处理因素为42．92％。结论第一产程胎心监护异常主要与胎儿因素、母体因素有关，提高产前检查质量、加强产程监护、正确选择分娩方式极为重要。     

Unusual case of Klüver-Bucy syndrome in a Chinese boy.

Following an encephalopathic illness, a 13-year-old Chinese boy had a partial form of Klüver-Bucy syndrome with emotional disturbance, recent memory loss, hypersexuality, and polyphagia. Other unusual features included narcolepsy, polydipsia, and polyuria. Virologic studies failed to incriminate the etiologic agent, including herpes simplex virus. Brain biopsy of the frontal lobe demonstrated Alzheimer type II astrocytosis.     

Central metabotropic glutamate receptors differentially participate in interleukin-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area of conscious rats.

The present study investigated the role of central metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area. Experiments were carried out on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230 to 280 g. After administration of 0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 pg of IL-1beta into a subcutaneous area of the vibrissa pad, we examined the withdrawal behavioral responses produced by 10 successive trials of an air-puff ramp pressure applied ipsilaterally or contralaterally to the IL-1beta injection site. Subcutaneous injection of IL-1beta produced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area. Intracisternal administration of CPCCOEt, a mGluR1 antagonist, or MPEP, a mGluR5 antagonist, reduced IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia. Intracisternal administration of APDC, a group II mGluR agonist, or L-AP4, a group III mGluR agonist, reduced both IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia. The antiallodynic effect, induced by APDC or L-AP4, was blocked by intracisternal pretreatment with LY341495, a group II mGluR antagonist, or CPPG, a group III mGluR antagonist. These results suggest that groups I, II, and III mGluRs differentially modulated IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia, as well as mirror-image mechanical allodynia, in the orofacial area. PERSPECTIVE: Central group I mGluR antagonists and groups II and III mGluR agonists modulate IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area. Therefore, the central application of group I mGluR antagonists or groups II and III mGluR agonists might be of therapeutic value in treating pain disorder.     

Postural effect on gas exchange in patients with unilateral pleural effusions

The effect of body position (right and left lateral decubitus positions) on arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) and the relationship between this postural effect on gas exchange and pulmonary function were evaluated in 21 patients who had unilateral pleural effusions without roentgenographic and bronchoscopic evidence of bronchopulmonary disorders. Our results indicated that a positional influence on gas exchange existed in these patients. We failed to find a consistent relationship between the size of effusion estimated by chest roentgenogram and alterations in PaO2 during different positions. Postural change did affect gas exchange in the patients with unilateral pleural effusions and this postural effect on gas exchange was highly correlated with their FEV1 and FVC. This may be of clinical significance in managing such patients.     

1例脊髓空洞症侧脑室延髓池内分流术的护理

1 病例介绍病人,男,34岁,左下肢步态不稳10年,加重伴酸麻、隐痛1年,于2004年4月入院.入院时精神欠佳,生活不能完全自理,左上肢肱二腱、肱三腱反射和下肢膝反射亢进,右上肢肱二腱、肱三腱反射减弱,右前臂及手部触觉消失,左下肢膝关节以下触觉、位置觉、浅感觉消失.MRI示脊髓空洞症.术前检查未发现手术禁忌证,行全身麻醉下环枕畸形减压、侧脑室延髓池内分流术.手术顺利,术中输红细胞悬液400 mL,放置皮下引流管1根,术后恢复好,无并发症发生,病人生活上基本自理,出院随访1年,情况良好.……     

性别对骨关节炎患者全膝关节置换术后康复效果的影响

目的 探讨性别因素对接受人工全膝关节表面置换术的膝骨关节炎患者术后功能的影响. 方法 前瞻性研究了 2003年 3月～ 2005年 8月期间行单侧人工全膝关节表面置换术(均使用不保留后交叉韧带后稳定型固定平台假体)的 40例 (40髋 )膝关节骨关节炎患者,男女各 20例( 20膝),对其相关的临床因素用 t检验和χ 2检验进行分析. 结果平均年龄:男 72.6岁、女 70.8岁;病程:男 10.4年、女 9.7年;体重指数:男 26、女 26;术后平均住院时间:男 17 d、女 18 d;止血带使用时间:男 104 min、女 94 min;引流量:男 806 mL、女 742 mL;术前、术后 1周、 2周和 1年的膝关节伸屈度数男分别为 7.0°～ 114.0°、 3.0°～ 91.0°、 0.4°～ 103.0°和 0～ 125.0°,女分别为 8.0°～ 111.0°、 2.0°～ 86.0°、 1.0°～ 98.0°和 0～ 122.0°;术前、术后 1周、 2周和 1年的膝关节活动度:男分别为 108°、 89°、 109°和 123°,女分别为 104°、 87°、 101°和 126°;术前和术后 1年的 HSS评分:男分别为 57、 89分,女分别为 53、 87分.两性别组各时间点的伸屈度数、活动范围及术前和术后 1年的 HSS评分差异无统计学意义 (P >0.05);而同一患者术前和术后 1年的伸屈度数及 HSS评分则差异有统计学意义 (P >0.05). 结论 性别对行全膝关节置换的骨关节炎患者术后功能无明显影响,全膝关节置换能有效缓解骨关节炎相关的疼痛并改善膝关节的功能.     

Functional imaging studies in cannabis users.

Cannabis remains the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. This update examines the available literature on neuroimaging studies of the brains of cannabis users. The majority of studies examining the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration used PET methods and concluded that administration of THC leads to increased activation in frontal and paralimbic regions and the cerebellum. These increases in activation are broadly consistent with the behavioral effects of the drug. Although there is only equivocal evidence that chronic cannabis use might result in structural brain changes, blood-oxygenation-level-dependent-fMRI studies in chronic users consistently show alterations, or neuroadaptation, in the activation of brain networks responsible for higher cognitive functions. It is not yet certain whether these changes are reversible with abstinence. Given the high prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents, studies are needed to evaluate whether cannabis use might affect the developing brain. Considerable further work, employing longitudinal designs, is also required to determine whether cannabis use causes permanent functional alterations in the brains of adults.