Relation between global health and care consumption in Quebec immigrants]

This article examines the relationship between global health and care consumption in immigrants and native Quebecers. Care consumption is defined as the percentage of the population who consulted a health professional, while global health is represented by the ridit index. Mean values for ridit and care consumption do not differ significantly between immigrants and native Quebecers. The ridit increases significantly with age in native Quebecers and immigrants, indicating a progressive deterioration of global health for both groups. However, the relation between ridit values grouped for age and health professional consultation do not differ significantly between immigrants and native Quebecers. These results suggest a close link between global health and care consumption. The recently established immigrants represent an exception however. Those persons who arrived between 1980 and 1987 enjoy a better global health than native Quebecers, but consult health professionals in an identical manner.     

Primary cutaneous carcinosarcoma: review and presentation of a case with emphasis on clinical characteristics and management

Carcinosarcomas are rare malignant biphasic tumours that contain intermingled carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. Primary cutaneous carcinosarcomas (PCCS) are extremely rare. We present the 20th reported case and review the literature especially regarding histogenesis and clinical features such as diagnosis and management. PCCS resembles other non-melanocytic neoplasms of the skin. Diagnosis is obtained by primary excision with subsequent histologic and immunohistochemical examination. PCCS is a potentially lethal neoplasm, but radical surgery is successful in most cases.     

Disease-free survival after autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia

Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) makes it possible to escalate the dose of cytotoxic treatment to a lethal range. Disease- free survival (DFS) following myeloablative therapy and ABMT has been shown to be superior to conventional treatment in high risk patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It was the purpose of the present study to compare hematopoietic reconstitution, actuarial DFS, and relapse rate of patients transplanted in first complete remission (CR) of AML with those in second or subsequent CR, and to evaluate transplant related mortality. Fifty-two patients with AML, 22 in first CR (low risk) and 30 in second or subsequent CR (high risk), underwent total body irradiation (12.1 to 16.7 Gy) and cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment (200 mg/kg) followed by ABMT. The autograft was incubated with the active CY derivative Mafosfamide (ASTA Werke, Bielefeld, Federal Republic of Germany) to reduce the number of possibly contaminating clonogenic tumor cells. All patients showed three lineage engraftments with platelet recovery observed as being the slowest. The transplant related death rate was low at 5.8%. There was no significant difference in the kinetics of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell or platelet reconstitution between the low and high risk patient subgroups. The estimated probability of DFS (relapse) after ABMT in first CR was 61% (36%) compared with 34% (65%) in second or subsequent CR, the longest follow-up being 55 months and 57 months, respectively (median follow-up 31 months and 19 months, respectively). ABMT offers a stable long-term DFS when performed in first CR with no relapses occurring in over a year after transplantation. Six later relapses, however, were seen after ABMT in second or subsequent CR, although DFS was not statistically different from that of first remission patients (P = .72).     

EMPHYSEMATOUS PYELONEPHRITIS RESPONDING TO MEDICAL THERAPY

We describe two type 2 diabetic patients with unilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis who responded to medical treatment alone. Escherichia coli was isolated in both patients. The presence of gas was confirmed early by ultrasound and CT scan of abdomen. Following treatment, good functional recovery was demonstrable in the affected kidneys by isotope renogram. We stress the need for early diagnosis of this condition and aggressive treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics.     

60Coγ射线局部辐射后小鼠非辐射区域骨髓巨核细胞的变化

目的:临床局部辐射条件下会造成非辐射区域组织及细胞功能损害,最为突出的是对造血功能的影响。实验建立60Coγ射线左半身辐射动物模型,观察局部电离辐射对其非辐射区域骨髓巨核细胞的影响。方法:实验于2003-10/2005-03在解放军第三军医大学辐照中心和全军复合伤研究所完成。①实验动物:6～8周龄SPF级雄性昆明小鼠180只,随机数字表法分为正常对照组、全身辐射组、左半身辐射组、全身屏蔽辐射组,45只/组。②实验方法:全身辐射组小鼠固定于辐射架内;左半身辐射组小鼠麻醉后固定体位,用铅砖屏蔽右半身;全身屏蔽辐射组小鼠麻醉固定体位,用铅砖屏蔽全身。以60Coγ射线一次性辐射,剂量率68.46cGy/min。正常对照组不作任何干预。③实验评估:辐射后不同时相检测小鼠血清丙二醛含量及超氧化物歧化酶活性变化,计数外周血血小板,检测骨髓巨核祖细胞集落形成单位,观察骨髓组织病理改变及CD41a、CD61的表达。结果:全身辐射组第8天死亡2只,第9天死亡4只,其余各组无脱失。①外周血血小板计数:辐射后第2,7天,左半身辐射组外周血血小板数量显著低于正常对照组(P<0.01),但高于全身辐射组(P<0.01)。②血清丙二醛含量及超氧化物歧化酶活性变化:辐射后第2,9天,左半身辐射组血清丙二醛含量显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01),低于全身辐射组(P<0.01);血清超氧化物歧化酶活性显著低于正常对照组(P<0.01),高于全身辐射组(P<0.01)。③骨髓巨核祖细胞集落形成单位的变化:与正常对照组比较,辐射后6h左半身辐射组非辐射侧的巨核祖细胞集落形成单位显著降低(P<0.01),高于全身辐射组及左半身辐射组(P<0.01)。④骨髓组织病理改变:正常对照组有核细胞比例较高,分布均匀,并见多量散在分布的细胞龛;辐射2d后,左半身辐射组非辐射侧骨髓有核细胞较正常对照组减少,但好于全身辐射组、左半身辐射组。⑤骨髓CD41a及CD61表达的变化:辐射后2d与正常对照组比较,左半身辐射组非辐射侧骨髓CD41a及CD61阳性细胞数和相对荧光强度均显著降低(P<0.01),但高于全身辐射组、左半身辐射组(P<0.01)。结论:局部电离辐射作用后,可导致小鼠非辐射区域骨髓巨核细胞增殖能力降低,血小板减少,产生功能障碍。氧自由基激活可能参与了该损伤过程。     

False positives in plasma ammonia measurement and their clinical impact in a pediatric population

OBJECTIVE: Plasma ammonia measurement is greatly influenced by pre-analytical conditions, which may lead to false positives. We wanted to evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of plasma ammonia false positives in a pediatric population. DESIGN AND METHODS: Over a 28-month period, charts of patients with elevated ammonemia were retrospectively reviewed to identify false positives defined as elevated concentrations that subsequently normalized without plausible explanation for the elevations. RESULTS: 1880 Ammonia measurements were available in 479 patients. Elevated results that subsequently normalized were found in 86 patients. Forty-one (48%) of these patients had most likely falsely elevated ammonemia. Additional blood sampling and laboratory testing were the most frequent consequences of false positives. CONCLUSION: There is a high proportion of false positives among elevated plasma ammonia measurements. Capillary samples and delay between sampling and centrifugation are possible contributing factors. Clinical consequences of false positives were most often limited.     

A crucial role for TNF-α in mediating neutrophil influx induced by endogenously generated or exogenous chemokines,KC/CXCL1 and LIX/CXCL5

Background and purpose:

Chemokines orchestrate neutrophil recruitment to inflammatory foci. In the present study, we evaluated the participation of three chemokines, KC/CXCL1, MIP-2/CXCL2 and LIX/CXCL5, which are ligands for chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), in mediating neutrophil recruitment in immune inflammation induced by antigen in immunized mice.

Experimental approach:

Neutrophil recruitment was assessed in immunized mice challenged with methylated bovine serum albumin, KC/CXCL1, LIX/CXCL5 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Cytokine and chemokine levels were determined in peritoneal exudates and in supernatants of macrophages and mast cells by elisa. CXCR2 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression was determined using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy.

Key results:

Antigen challenge induced dose- and time-dependent neutrophil recruitment and production of KC/CXCL1, LIX/CXCL5 and TNF-α, but not MIP-2/CXCL2, in peritoneal exudates. Neutrophil recruitment was inhibited by treatment with reparixin (CXCR1/2 antagonist), anti-KC/CXCL1, anti-LIX/CXCL5 or anti-TNF-α antibodies and in tumour necrosis factor receptor 1-deficient mice. Intraperitoneal injection of KC/CXCL1 and LIX/CXCL5 induced dose- and time-dependent neutrophil recruitment and TNF-α production, which were inhibited by reparixin or anti-TNF-α treatment. Macrophages and mast cells expressed CXCR2 receptors. Increased macrophage numbers enhanced, while cromolyn sodium (mast cell stabilizer) diminished, LIX/CXCL5-induced neutrophil recruitment. Macrophages and mast cells from immunized mice produced TNF-α upon LIX/CXCL5 stimulation. Methylated bovine serum albumin induced expression of ICAM-1 on mesenteric vascular endothelium, which was inhibited by anti-TNF-α or anti-LIX/CXCL5.

Conclusion and implications:

Following antigen challenge, CXCR2 ligands are produced and act on macrophages and mast cells triggering the production of TNF-α, which synergistically contribute to neutrophil recruitment through induction of the expression of ICAM-1.     

Frozen Section Analysis for Intraoperative Margin Assessment During Breast-Conserving Surgery Results in Low Rates of Re-excision and Local Recurrence

Background Negative surgical margins minimize the risk of local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery. Intraoperative frozen section analysis (FSA) is one method for margin evaluation. We retrospectively analyzed records of patients who received breast-conserving therapy with intraoperative FSA of the lumpectomy cavity to assess re-excision rates and local control. Methods Records were retrospectively reviewed for individuals who underwent breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive carcinoma between 1993 and 2003. Inclusion criteria were a minimum of 2 years follow-up and intact tumor at the time of operation. The major outcome measure was local recurrence. The Kaplan-Meier test was used to evaluate local recurrence rates between groups. Results 290 subjects with an average age of 57.2 years (range 27–89) underwent 292 lumpectomies with FSA. 11.3% had DCIS, 73.3% had infiltrating ductal, 5.8% had infiltrating lobular, and 9.6% exhibited other forms of invasive carcinoma. 70 subjects underwent additional resection at the time of breast surgery, 16 underwent subsequent re-excision, and 17 underwent subsequent mastectomy. At a median follow-up of 53.4 months (range 5.8–137.8), there were six local recurrences (2.74%) in patients who had breast-conserving procedures and two local recurrences in patients who underwent mastectomy. There were no statistically significant associations among local recurrence rate, tumor size, nodal status, or overall stage. Local recurrences were higher in patients with DCIS compared with invasive carcinoma, and tumors >2cm. Conclusions Intraoperative FSA allows resection of suspicious or positive margins at the time of lumpectomy and results in low rates of local recurrence and re-excision. The low local recurrence rate reported here is comparable to those reported with other margin assessment techniques.     

一阶导数差示脉冲极谱法的建立及在药物分析中的应用

本文研究了一阶导数差示脉冲极谱法,并将其运用于扑尔敏、氟哌啶醇、维生素B₆及其制剂的定量分析中。方法简便、快速、灵敏、结果准确。