Clearing the clouds: Case‐report and review of the literature

In peritoneal dialysis (PD), a cloudy dialysate is an alarming finding. Bacterial peritonitis is the most common cause, however, atypical infections and non‐infectious causes must be considered. A 46‐year‐old man presented with asthenia, paraesthesia, foamy urine and hypertension. Laboratory testing revealed severe azotaemia, anaemia, hyperkalaemia and nephrotic‐range proteinuria. Haemodialysis was started through a central venous catheter. Later, due to patient preference, a Tenckhoff catheter was inserted. Conversion to PD occurred 3 weeks later, during hospitalization for a presumed central line infection. A month later, the patient was hospitalized for neutropenic fever. He was diagnosed an acute parvovirus infection and was discharged under isoniazid for latent tuberculosis. Four months later, the patient presented with fever and a cloudy effluent. Peritoneal fluid (PF) cytology was suggestive of infectious peritonitis, but the symptoms persisted despite antibiotic therapy. Bacterial and mycological cultures were negative. No neoplastic cells were detected. Mycobacterium tuberculosis eventually grew in PF cultures, despite previous negative molecular tests. Directed therapy was then initiated with excellent response. Thus, facing a cloudy effluent, one must consider multiple aetiologies. Diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis is hampered by the lack of highly sensitive and specific exams. Here, diagnosis was only possible due to positive mycobacterial cultures.     

A head-to-head comparison of measurement properties of the EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L in acute myeloid leukemia patients

Quality of Life Research - This study aimed to compare the measurement properties of EQ-5D-3L(3L) and EQ-5D-5L(5L) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in China. We consecutively recruited...     

RNA silencing: a conserved antiviral immunity of plants and animals

RNA silencing is a novel RNA-guided gene regulatory mechanism operational in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms from fission yeast, plants, to mammals. This article reviews the recent progress on aspects of RNA silencing that are related to its biological function as a conserved antiviral immunity of plants and animals, and highlights features of this novel antiviral response in invertebrate animals as compared to the known innate and adaptive immunities. Finally, we discuss evidence that suggests a natural antiviral role for RNA silencing in vertebrates as well as experimental approaches that may facilitate the identification of first mammalian viral suppressors of RNA silencing.     

临床活体部分小肠移植术移植肠的处理

目的 报告我国首例活体小肠移植术的移植肠处理体会。方法 为１例１８岁男性超短肠综合征患放行了活体部分小肠移植术,供肠来自患的父亲（４４岁）,切取供体回肠１５０ｃｍ,ＵＷ液灌洗血管,将移植肠动、静脉车受体腹主动及及下腔静脉而吻合,移植肠近端与受体空肠近端行端端吻合,远端与受体空肠远端行侧端吻合,末端造口,术后给子抗排斥,抗感染,抗凝及营养支持等治疗。结果 术后管出现贫血,单纯疱疹病感染和急性排斥     

135例急性感染性疾病所致肝功能损害临床分析

目的　分析临床急性感染性疾病所致肝功能损害的特点及其恢复时间。方法　对 135例急性感染性疾病患者入院肝功能指标进行分析 ,观察治疗第 2周及第 4周时患者异常肝功能指标恢复情况。结果　除 6例死亡外 ,其余患者异常肝功能指标升高多在正常值上限 3倍以内 ,治疗第 4周异常肝功能指标治愈率分别为 AL T92 .4%、AST91.6 %、GGT75 .6 %、AL P91.3%、 SB10 0 %、 SB’ 10 0 %和 TBA 85 .7% ,HBs Ag ( )携带者与 HBs Ag (- )者治疗第 4周上述指标治愈率无显著差异。第 4周时 GGT仍升高者恢复缓慢或不易恢复正常。结论　急性感染性疾病致肝功能损害多呈轻度及一过性升高 ;HBs Ag ( )携带者肝脏应急储备及修复功能较正常人无明显下降 ;GGT恢复缓慢或不易恢复正常者可能留有持久性的肝内毛细胆管损伤     

Novel imaging techniques for diabetic macular edema

Retinal edema should be defined as any increase of water of the retinal tissue resulting in an increase in its volume. It may be of cytotoxic or vasogenic origin. Development of vasogenic macular edema is dependent on a series of factors such as blood pressure, blood-retinal barrier permeability, retinal cell damage, retinal tissue osmotic pressure and retinal tissue compliance. Objective measurements of retinal thickness are now possible using the Retinal Thickness Analyser. Localised measurements of blood-retinal barrier permeability may also be obtained using the Retinal Leakage Analyser, a modified confocal scanning laser fluorometer, while obtaining simultaneously angiographic images of the choroid and retina. These new imaging techniques show that cytotoxic and vasogenic retinal edema may occur independently in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. These findings offer new perpectives for designing novel therapeutic strategies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

应用原生质体融合法选育林可霉素高产菌株

将林可霉素产生菌N65—2^#、S78—1^#的原生质体分别热灭活和紫外灭活，并将灭活原生质体用PEG融合，从中获得92-201^#融合株，其摇瓶效价分别较N65—2^#、S78—1^#提高17％、52％，且色素分泌少，传代稳定性强。