Norephedrine (phenylpropanolamine) stimulates oxygen consumption and lactate production in the perfused rat hindlimb

d,l-Norephedrine (phenylpropanolamine) which is both a demethylated analogue and a metabolite of d,l-ephedrine, is a reputed anorectic agent. In the present study the proposed most active isomer of this mixture, l-norephedrine has been assessed as a peripherally acting thermogenic agent in the isolated perfused rat hindlimb. l-Norephedrine produced a dose-dependent increase in oxygen uptake and perfusion pressure and increased lactate production. Whereas propranolol potentiated the increase in oxygen uptake and perfusion pressure produced by l-norephedrine, prazosin significantly and nitroprusside totally inhibited both of these changes. Nitroprusside also completely inhibited the increase in lactate production. We conclude that norephedrine has a hitherto unrecognized peripheral thermogenic activity in the perfused rat hindlimb resulting from its interaction with alpha 1 adrenergic receptors that control vasoconstriction in this tissue.     

Successful pregnancies following remission in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia--case report.

We report two successful pregnancies in a 17-year-old Arab girl who had received modern combination chemotherapy and central nervous system minimal disease therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of 9.5 years.     

HCVRNA阳性的丙型肝炎诊断和治疗探讨

HCVRNA阳性的丙型肝炎46例，均经临床和／或组织学确诊。治疗组24例用IFNa－nl或a－2b3×106IU，隔日一次；对照组22例用一般护肝药物。HCVRNA12周转阴率治疗组为83．3％，对照组为9．0％（P＜0．001）。ALT和AST复常率治疗组也优于对照组（P＜0．05）。随访观察满48周者治疗组15例中HCVRNA持续转阴11例（73．3％）．对照组5例均持续阳性。治疗组中5例做了Ⅰ～Ⅲ型HCV基因分型，结果均为Ⅱ型。同时对急、慢性丙型肝炎的发病过程和病理诊断作了讨论。     

Determination of antigen-dependent activity of human lung cancer transfer factor by H3-leucine leucine leukocyte adherence inhibition assay]

This report is to demonstrate the antigen-dependent activity of human lung cancer transfer factor (Sp-TF). Sp-TFM was prepared from spleen of mice immunized with the human lung cancer cell line A549. [3H]-leu leukocyte adherence inhibition assay ([3H]-leu-LAI) was modified to identify activity of Sp-TFM. Leukocytes obtained from non-immunized mice were divided into eight groups as follows: 1. Control without TF or antigen; 2. Sp-TFM and antigen of cell line A549 (A549 Ag); 3. Sp-TFM alone; 4. Sp-TFM and ascitic tumor cell H22 antigen of mice (H22Ag); 5. Sp-TFM and antigen of human gastric cancer cell (HGCCAg); 6. Sp-TFM and antigen of human normal lung tissue (NLTAg); 7. Nor special TF of mice (N-TFM) and A549Ag; 8. A549Ag alone. When normal leukocytes were incubated with Sp-TFM and A549 antigen, the leukocytes adherence inhibition index (LAII) was significantly higher than those of the other groups. The different LAII of Sp-TFM to A549Ag and other experimental groups were highly significant (P less than 0.001). The results demonstrated that Sp-TFM could transfer specific cell mediated immunity to non-immune leukocytes. The TF prepared from spleen of goat immunized with antigen from lung cancer of patients (Sp-TFG) showed antigen specific activity as well as Sp-TFM.     

Clinical evaluation of technetium-99m infecton for the localisation of bacterial infection

The aim of the study was to distinguish infection from inflammation in patients with suspected infection using technetium-99m Infecton. Ninety-nine patients (102 studies) referred for infection evaluation underwent imaging with 400 MBq^99mTc-Infecton at 1 and 4 h. Most patients had appropriate microbiological tests and about half (56) had radiolabelled white cell scans as well. No adverse effects were noted in any patient. The clinical efficacy of^99mTc-Infecton depended in part on whether imaging was undertaken during intibiotic therapy for infection or not. In consultation with the microbiologist, 5–14 days of appropriate and successful antibiotic therapy was considered adequate to classify some results as true-negatives. The figures for sensitivity and specificity of^99mTc-Infecton for active or unsuccessfully treated infection were 83% and 91% respectively. It is concluded that^99mTc-Infecton imaging contributed to the differential diagnosis of inflammation. It is being used as the first imaging modality when bacterial infection is suspected.     

人脑胶质瘤逃避免疫监视机制的研究

为研究胶质瘤逃避免疫监视的机制，检测了胶质瘤体外细胞系培养上清（SN）抗PHA－P刺激正常人及胶质瘤患者外周血淋巴细胞增殖的作用。证实了胶质瘤可自分泌免疫抑制因子。经抗TGFβ2单抗中和SN试验，TGFβ2免疫组化染色及Northern杂交进一步表明该因子主要成分为TGFβ2并对胶质瘤患者血浆皮质醇，生长激素及儿茶酚胺含量及细胞免疫功能进行检测，发现血浆去甲肾上腺素显著降低，其水平与CD8亚群％呈负相关，与CD4／CD8比值及淋巴细胞增殖率呈正相关。初步提示存在胶质瘤的情况下，神经－免疫调控紊乱，可能起着抑制性调节作用。     

The pharmacokinetics of lignocaine in humans during a computer-controlled infusion.

Several types of chronic pain syndromes are effectively treated with sodium channel blockers such as lignocaine. Further investigation of this therapeutic modality would be facilitated by refinement of the parameters describing lignocaine distribution and elimination. This would allow precise lignocaine infusion by a computer-controlled infusion to attain and maintain stable target lignocaine concentrations. Arterial blood samples were obtained at frequent intervals during a computer-controlled infusion of lignocaine in 12 adult human volunteers. Plasma lignocaine concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 microg/ml were targeted for 15 min at each concentration. A three-compartment mammillary pharmacokinetic model best described the resulting concentration vs time profile. A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using three different techniques; the two-stage, pooled and mixed effects modelling. There was marked overshoot of the plasma concentration above the target prior to refinement of the pharmacokinetic parameters. The best parameters of a three-compartment mammillary model fit to the measured concentration using the pooled data approach were: V(1) = 7.44, V(2) =11.5 and V(3) = 97.71; Cl(1) = 0.585, Cl(2) = 2.23 and Cl(3) =1.64 l/min. Similarly calculated parameters using NONMEM were V(1) = 6.99, V(2) =12.2 and V(3) =1341; Cl(1) = 0.703, Cl(2) =1.24 and Cl(3) =1.49 l/min. The addition of age as a covariate of the pharmacokinetic parameters improved the model in both cases. Height, lean body mass and body surface area as covariates of the pharmacokinetic parameters did not improve the predicted value of the model. Prospective testing of the pharmacokinetic parameters will be required to define whether they function well. The refinement of pharmacokinetic parameters for the computer-controlled intravenous infusion of lignocaine will facilitate further research in pain therapy. Published lignocaine pharmacokinetic values have a relatively large central volume of distribution, and hence, when implemented as a computer-controlled infusion, result in dramatic overshoot shortly after targeting a higher plasma concentration. In light of the long-lasting pain relief provided by sodium channel blockade in neuropathic pain states, overshoot of plasma concentrations must be avoided if the concentration vs effect relationship is to be defined.     

Risk factors of acute pancreatitis]

A total of 689 operative cases of acute necrotic pancreatitis (ANP) were collected from 42 hospitals all over the country by the ANP Cooperative Study Group in the years of 1987 to 1989. General data, laboratory findings, pathology of the pancreas and the type of surgical treatment were analysed according to the outcome of the patient. The results showed that 37% of the cases were related to cholelithiasis, the highest incidence was in age above 60, and female patients were predominant and with higher mortality. Laboratory findings at admission, WBC greater than 20,000/mm3, Hb greater than 15 g%, blood sugar greater than 200 mg%, serum bilirubin greater than 5 mg%, BUN greater than 20 mg%, and serum calcium less than 7 mg% were related to the markedly elevated mortality rate. Operative findings noted in patients with bloody or cloudy peritoneal fluid, necrotic changes up to 75% of the pancreas, more than 2 areas of extrapancreatic involvements and resection of a large portion of the pancreas was found to be necessary were all related to a higher mortality. And emergency operations performed within 24 hours after the onset of the disease was also related with a highest mortality rate.     

Ancillary Community Pharmacy Services Provided to Older People in A Largely Rural and Ethnically Diverse Region: A Survey of Consumers in West Texas

Little is known about the quality of pharmacy services provided to the rural elderly population. This exploratory study examines rural/urban and ethnic differences in perceived access to ancillary pharmacy services among elderly people. Two telephone surveys were conducted using directory listings in West Texas to generate a longitudinal sample. Persons aged 65 years and older who were not cognitively impaired were asked to complete the survey. The number of participants in both rounds of the survey was 3,689. Seven ancillary pharmacy services were examined: delivery of medications, medication counseling, written medication information, blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose monitoring, osteoporosis screening, and immunization. The sample was stratified by county of residence (urban, rural, or frontier) and racial/ethnic background. Chi-square tests were performed to detect rural/urban and racial/ethnic differences in access to the seven ancillary services. The association between proficiency in English and access to the services was also examined. Rural residents were more likely than urban residents to report that their pharmacies provide delivery of medications, medication counseling, and immunization services, but they were less likely than their urban counterparts to report that their pharmacies provide blood pressure monitoring. Access to ancillary pharmacy services was reported as poorer by older Hispanic people compared with non-Hispanics. Deficiency in English was significantly related to inequality in reported access to ancillary pharmacy services. It is essential to consider the special needs of rural and Hispanic elderly people to ensure equitable access to ancillary pharmacy services.