Sexual dysfunction following traumatic hand injury

The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and nature of sexual dysfunction present in a population with traumatic hand injuries. One hundred twenty patients were seen for psychological evaluation during the first two months postinjury. Forty-nine percent (59) reported sexual dysfunction during the initial two months. Six months postinjury 19% (23) continued to have sexual dysfunction. At that time a more extensive sexual history was obtained. Three categories of sexual dysfunction were identified following interviews: (1) impotence (35% or 8 patients), (2) reduced sexual desire (65% or 15), and (3) rejection of sexual contact by the partner (39% or 9). Four major causes of impaired sexual functioning were reported: (1) pain (22% or 5 patients), (2) deformity anxiety (52% or 12), (3) replant anxiety (9% or 2), and (4) contagious anxiety (39% or 9). The results of this study indicate that persistent sexual dysfunction may be a major difficulty following hand trauma. The type of dysfunction as well as the perceived cause of dysfunction are not the same for each case. Consideration of each is necessary to design efficacious intervention strategies.     

Molecular epidemiology of dengue type 3 virus in Brazil and Paraguay, 2002-2004.

We studied the molecular epidemiology of dengue virus type 3 (DENV-3) in Brazil and Paraguay by analyzing the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (5' and 3'UTRs) and the E protein gene of viruses isolated between 2002 and 2004. Both 5' and 3'UTRs were highly conserved. However, the 3'UTR of two isolates from Brazil contained eight nucleotide deletions compared with the remaining 26 viruses. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that DENV-3 was introduced into Brazil from the Caribbean Islands at least twice and into Paraguay from Brazil at least three times.     

Transient early computed tomographic changes mimicking tumor progression after brain tumor irradiation

Transient computed tomographic (CT) changes occurring within three months after radiotherapy are described in three patients with cerebral gliomas. These changes consist of enlargement of an area of central necrosis, new tumor enhancement, and increased tumor enhancement with adjacent low-density changes. Subsequent scans showed regression of these changes in all patients. It is proposed that these changes are the direct effect of radiation on tumor tissue and adjacent normal brain; possible mechanisms are discussed. These radiation-induced changes mimic tumor progression on CT. The importance of recognizing their transient nature is stressed.     

Methylprednisolone exacerbates axonal loss following optic nerve trauma in rats

The excitability of human axons can be studied reliably using the technique of threshold tracking, which allows the strength of a test stimulus to be adjusted by computer to activate a defined fraction of the maximal nerve or muscle action potential. The stimulus current that just evokes the target response is considered the 'threshold' for that response. More useful than the resting threshold are other indices of axonal excitability derived from pairs of threshold measurements, such as refractoriness, supernormality, strength-duration time constant and 'threshold electrotonus' (i.e. the changes in threshold produced by long-lasting depolarizing or hyperpolarizing current pulses). Each of these measurements depends on membrane potential and on other biophysical properties of the axons. Together they can provide new information about the pathophysiology underlying abnormalities in excitability in neuropathy.     

Aorto-iliac reconstructions for intermittent claudication

Over a 12-year period, 290 aortofemoral reconstructions were performed for intermittent claudication involving 449 legs in 262 patients. The accumulative patency rate in surviving patients was 79 per cent at 5 years. The patency rate was significantly better in patients who stopped smoking after operation, and in men compared with women. Dacron grafts were significantly more successful than endarterectomy in men. If there was no associated superficial femoral artery occlusion, endarterectomy and Dacron bypass grafts were equally successful, but Dacron bypass grafts were significantly superior to endarterectomy if the superficial femoral artery was severely stenosed or occluded. The success rates for improving the patients' intermittent claudication were 90 per cent at 3 months and 72 per cent at 3 years. The success rate at 3 years was 80 per cent if the superficial femoral artery was patent but only 62 per cent if the superficial femoral artery was severely stenosed or occluded. Mortality and morbidity rates fell markedly in the last 6 years of the study.     

异基因造血干细胞移植后慢性移植物抗宿主病危险因素分析

目的探讨异基因造血干细胞移植后慢性移植物抗宿主病(cGVHD)的发生及其危险因素。方法总结1997年11月至2005年1月治疗的96例患者临床资料,分析了受者年龄、供受者性别、疾病种类、状态、病程、干细胞来源、HLA配型、预处理方案(是否全身照射)、回输细胞数量、移植早期感染、是否发生过急性移植物抗宿主病(aGVHD)等因素与cGVHD发生的关系。结果36例患者发生了cGVHD,发生率为44.4%。发生局限型cGVHD的19例患者的5年生存率为18/19(94.7%),发生广泛型cGVHD的17例患者5年生存率为8/17(47.1%)。两者比较差别有统计学意义(P<0.01)。单因素分析显示:供受者性别、疾病种类、状态、病程,干细胞来源、预处理方案(是否全身照射)、回输细胞数量、移植早期感染均与cGVHD的发生无显著相关性(P>0.05)。多因素分析(logistic回归)确定HLA配型不合(RR=2.17,P<0.01)、发生过aGVHD(RR=2.91,P<0.01)是发生cGVHD的主要危险因素。单因素分析显示:受者年龄越大,cGVHD发病危险性越高(P<0.05)。结论HLA配型不合及发生过aGVHD、受者年龄较大是与cGVHD发生相关的危险因素。     

中耳类癌一例

患者女，43岁，右耳反复流脓伴听力减退5年，2004年11月1日入院。查体：右外耳道几乎完全被一肿物堵塞，其质地柔韧，四周光滑，与外耳道各壁无粘连。表面呈乳头状生长，颈淋巴结无肿大。纯音测听呈重度传导性聋。颞骨CT示右外耳道软组织影，鼓室呈含气腔，听骨链周围见有软组织影，但听骨链及鼓室骨质无破坏，乳突气化好，无炎症表现（图1）。肿物活组织检查为慢性炎症。