Chronic orchialgia: Consider gabapentin or nortriptyline before considering surgery

OBJECTIVE: To establish if there is a role for gabapentin or nortriptyline in the treatment of chronic orchialgia. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients with chronic orchialgia were seen in the chronic pain clinic by a multidisciplinary team. A pain questionnaire was completed prior to commencing either gabapentin or nortriptyline. They were reviewed at 3 months and a repeat questionnaire completed. A 50% improvement in pain was considered successful. RESULTS: Complete data was available for 19 patients. Overall, 61.5% of patients commenced on gabapentin and 66.6% of patients commenced on nortriptyline had a greater than 50% improvement in pain. Patients with post-vasectomy testicular pain were considered as a subgroup. None of these patients had a greater than 50% improvement in pain. However, 80% of patients in the subgroup with idiopathic chronic orchialgia had a greater than 50% improvement in pain. CONCLUSION: Although this is a small study, it appears that gabapentin and nortriptyline are effective in the treatment of idiopathic chronic orchialgia but not post-vasectomy pain.     

Reizhusten, Belastungsdyspnoe und zystische Lungenveränderungen bei einem 28jährigen Patienten

Zusammenfassung Eine neu aufgetretene Dyspnoesymptomatik und eine symmetrische, apikal betonte retikulonodul?re Zeichnungsvermehrung im R?ntgen-Thorax bei jungen rauchenden Erwachsenen müssen an das seltene Krankheitsbild der pulmonalen Histiocytosis X denken lassen. Klinischer Befund, laborchemische- und Lungenfunktionsuntersuchungen zeigen unspezifische Befunde. Neue radiologische Verfahren wie die hochaufl?sende Computertomographie (HRCT) leisten bei gezielter Indikationsstellung eine entscheidende differentialdiagnostische Hilfestellung. Dieser Fall verdeutlicht die M?glichkeit einer Diagnosesicherung durch transbronchiale Biopsien unter Verzicht auf offene Lungenbiopsien. Eine ambulante Diagnostik war m?glich, das h?here Risiko eines operativen Eingriffes konnte vermieden werden. Die Indikation zur Therapie ist nicht gesichert und wird daher durch den Grad der subjektiven bzw. funktionellen Einschr?nkung sowie den Verlauf bestimmt.     

Electro-oculogram of Retinal Vein Occlusion

Twenty five cases, including 26 eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) were examined by means of the electro-oculogram. The results showed that 23 of the 26 eyes suffering from RVO exhibited abnormalities of the electro-oculogram (EOG). The potential difference and Arden ratio in the RVO eyes were lower than those in the normal eyes (P<0.01). The more the visual acuity of ill eyes was decreased, the higher the abnormal rate of EOG in ill eyes was. 14 eyes had the visual acuity less than 0.1, whose EOGs were abnortmal. Six eyes had the visual acuity from 0. 2 to 0. 4, in which the EOGs of 5 eyes were abnormal. Six eyes had the visual acuity more than 0. 5, a-mong which the EOGs of 4 eyes were abnormal. Based on the above observations, it may be considered that the circulatory disturbance resulting from RVO damages not only the internal layer but also the external layer of the retina. We suggest that EOG is a useful method for distingquishing lesions caused by RVO and may reflect the functional condition     

血清载脂蛋白A1,B100含量测定在冠心病诊断中的价值

分别采用联合火箭免疫电泳技术和酶法对49例冠心病患者和50例健康人血清载脂蛋白 A_1(apoA_1),载脂蛋白 B_(100)(apoB_(100)),以及血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG),高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL—ch)的含量进行了测定。结果冠心病患者血清 apoB_(100)(0.99±0.26g/L)明显高于健康人(0.62±0.18g/L);而apoA_1/apoB_(100)比值(1.22±0.35)则明显低于健康人(2.12±0.49);TC,TG,HDL-ch 的含量亦有统计学意义。提示,在预示冠心病危险因素的各种脂类及脂蛋白中,以 apoB_(100)增高 apoA_1/apoB_(100)比值降低最为灵敏,最为准确,且高于单纯测定TC,TG 和 HDL-ch。     

1-stage reconstruction of microtia associated with hemifacial soft tissue aplasia

Four cases of microtia association with hemifacial aplasia were repaired by one-stage reconstruction. The operations included external ear reconstruction and correction of facial deformity with free vascularized dermis fat flaps. All were successful, the results were satisfied. The method and the device of the operation are described in detail. The advantages of the technique are discussed.     

橡皮生肌膏联合氦氖激光治愈顽固性皮肤溃疡2例

皮肤慢性溃疡是较难治愈的疾病,自2003年采用橡皮生肌膏外用配合氦氖激光照射治疗皮肤溃疡取得良好疗效。现报告如下。1病例介绍[例1]病人,男,45岁。5年前因外伤致足跟部皮肤破损并感染,经各种治疗无效,伤口长年不愈,于2005年3月12日来我院就诊。查体:全身情况尚好,左足跟可见3     

Hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with concomitant chemotherapy for inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: clinical analysis of 70 cases]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hyperfractionated radiation therapy and concomitant chemotherapy for inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Seventy patients were randomized equally into two group. The therapy group received radiotherapy with hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with concomitant chemotherapy, and the control group was treated with chemotherapy only. RESULT: The overall response rate, including the rate of both complete (CR) and partial responses (PR), in the therapy group was 60.0% with a CR rate of 8.6%. The overall response rate in the control group was 40.0% with a CR rate of 5.7%. The difference in overall response rate was statistically significant between the two groups (P<0.05). The median survival time, 1- and 2-years survival rate were 12.8 months, 48.6%, and 25.7%, respectively, in the hyperfractionated radiotherapy group, and 9.4 months, 34.3%, and 17.1%, respectively, in the chemotherapeutic group (P 0.031). The major toxic effects of the chemotherapy were myelosuppression and radiation esophagitis. CONCLUSION: Hyperfractionated radiation therapy plus concomitant chemotherapy with paclitaxel for inoperable stage III NSCLC improves the short-term response of the patients, but fail to raise the survival rate.     

Nuclear Factor κB and Anesthetic Preconditioning during Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion

Background: Volatile anesthetic preconditioning (APC) protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, but the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain undefined. To investigate the molecular mechanism of APC in myocardial protection, the activation of nuclear factor (NF) [kappa]B and its regulated inflammatory mediators expression were examined in the current study.

Methods: Hearts from male rats were isolated, Langendorff perfused, and randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) the control group: hearts were continuously perfused for 130 min; (2) the IR group: 30 min of equilibration, 15 min of baseline, 25 min of ischemia, 60 min of reperfusion; and (3) the APC + IR group: 30 min of equilibration, 10 min of sevoflurane exposure and a 5-min washout, 25 min of global ischemia, 60 min of reperfusion. Tissue samples were acquired at the end of reperfusion. NF-[kappa]B activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The NF-[kappa]B inhibitor, I[kappa]B-[alpha], was determined by Western blot analysis. Myocardial inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor [alpha], interleukin 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase, were also assessed by Western blot analysis.

Results: Nuclear factor [kappa]B-DNA binding activity was significantly increased at the end of reperfusion in rat myocardium, and cytosolic I[kappa]B-[alpha] was decreased. Supershift assay revealed the involvement of NF-[kappa]B p65 and p50 subunits. APC with sevoflurane attenuated NF-[kappa]B activation and reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor [alpha], interleukin 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. APC also reduced infarct size and creatine kinase release and improved myocardial left ventricular developed pressure during IR.     

关木通引起慢性间质性肾炎7例报告

目的　观察关木通所致慢性肾损伤的临床和病理改变特点。方法　本组 7例中 ,男 5例 ,女 2例。 3例服关木通汤药 ,4例服含关木通成药。分析服用时间、累积总量与肾损害首发症状及症状出现时间、肾功能和肾病理改变的关系。结果　汤药组 :服药时间平均 3 3 3个月 ,累积总量平均 82 9 3 g ,首发症状为乏力 3例 ,夜尿增多 2例 ,平均时间为 8 3个月 ,Cr平均 40 2 μmol/L。肾病理 :3例均为重度寡细胞性肾间质纤维化 ,肾小管广泛萎缩。成药组 :服药时间平均 7 5个月 ,累积总量平均 13 6g ,乏力 3例 ,夜尿增多 1例 ,恶心呕吐、头痛头晕 1例 ,平均18 8个月 ,Cr 3 62 8μmol/L。肾病理为重度寡细胞性间质纤维化和灶状纤维化各 2例 ,肾小管灶状萎缩 3例 ,广泛萎缩 1例。结论　汤药组关木通积累大 ,发病时间早 ,肾病理改变重。提示关木通所致肾损其临床表现、病理改变与服用关木通时间、剂量相关。