'Fungal soup': Report of two cases of tumour-like blocked pulmonary cavities with liquid content infected with aspergilli, a rare form of pulmonary aspergillosis

Abstract:   Two cases of a rare and uncommonly described form of Aspergillus lung disease were diagnosed from incidental CXR abnormalities. This strange presentation has been described in the literature as 'tumour-like blocked pulmonary cavities with liquid content infected by aspergilli' . The details of these two cases are reported together with a discussion of the diagnostic features of the disease and its position in the spectrum of pulmonary diseases caused by Aspergillus .     

维拉帕米在治疗室上性心动过速中致心绞痛1例报道

目的对1例室上性心动过速患者在用维拉帕米治疗中导致心绞痛发作分析。方法对1例室上性心动过速患者在用维拉帕米治疗前后的症状、体征、及心电图变化情况进行观察。结果室上性心动过速患者在用维拉帕米治疗中导致心绞痛。结论维拉帕米治疗室上性心动过速时可导致心绞痛发作。     

Captopril angioscintigraphic test in the screening for renovascular hypertension in the light of long-term own observation (1098-2001)

In 430 patients (pts) with hypertension (209F + 221M, mean age 46 +/- 13 yrs) screening value of the captopril angioscintigraphic test (CAT) was evaluated in years 1986-2001 in the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension (RVHT). Captopril renin test (CRT) and CAT were performed simultaneously in all 430 pts. Classical renal angiography was performed in 95 pts suspected for RVHT on the basis of clinical anamnesis and positive result at least one of captopril tests. Results were as follows. The critical renal artery stenosis (RAS) was found in 47 pts. At least one positive captopril test was found in 42 from 47 pts with critical RAS in angiography. CRT was found to be more sensitive and CAT more specific for hemodynamically significant RAS. The absence of false positive results of CAT as well as considerable percentage of false positive results of CRT stress the importance of isotopic test as the screening test for the diagnosis of RVT. Simplicity of the test, availability as well as immediately obtained result allow to propose CAT as a routine ambulatory screening test for RVHT.     

Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: twenty years of center's experience

Twenty years of our experiences in diagnosis and treatment of peritonitis in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis are presented. Special attention was put on reduction of frequency and efficacy of treatment improvement of this complication. Influence of peritonitis on peritoneal transport and dialysis adequacy was also analyzed. There were neither persistent changes of peritoneal membrane permeability nor worsening of dialysis adequacy following peritonitis.     

原发性高血压患者尿微量白蛋白与冠状动脉病变程度的关系

目的研究原发性高血压患者尿微量白蛋白与冠状动脉病变程度的关系。方法资料完整的原发性高血压患者中,据24h尿白蛋白定量结果分为尿微量白蛋白阳性组82例,从尿微量白蛋白阴性患者中选择与阳性组血压匹配的82例作为阴性对照组,比较两组冠状动脉狭窄程度。结果原发性高血压患者冠心病发病率在尿微量白蛋白阳性组[60/82(74%)]显著高于阴性组[42/82(52%)],且双支病变发病率较高(25%比12%,P<0.05),三支病变发病率也较高(15%比3%,P<0.05)。结论在原发性高血压患者中,尿微量白蛋白阳性者比阴性者有更高的冠心病发病率和更加严重的冠状动脉狭窄性病变。     

Ectopic chondro‐ossification and erroneous extracellular matrix deposition in a tendon window injury model

The acquisition of chondro‐osteogenic phenotypes and erroneous matrix deposition may account for poor tissue quality after acute tendon injury. We investigated the presence of chondrocyte phenotype, ossification, and the changes in the expression of major collagens and proteoglycans in the window wound in a rat patellar tendon window injury model using histology, von Kossa staining and immunohistochemistry of Sox 9, major collagens, and proteoglycans. Our results showed that the repair tissue did not restore to normal after acute injury. Ectopic chondrogenesis was observed in 33% of samples inside wound at week 4 while ectopic ossification surrounded by chondrocyte‐like cells were observed in the window wound in 50% of samples at week 12. There was sustained expression of biglycan and reduced expression of aggrecan and decorin in the tendon matrix in the repair tissue. The erroneous deposition of extracellular matrix and ectopic chondro‐ossification in the repair tissue, both might influence each other, might account for the poor tissue quality after acute injury. Higher expression of biglycan and aggrecan were observed in the ectopic chondro‐ossification sites in the repair tissue, suggesting that they might have roles in ectopic chondro‐osteogenesis. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:37–46, 2012     

Mullerian cyst of the uterus misdiagnosed as ovarian cyst on pelvic sonography

Mullerian cyst of the uterus, also known as endosalpingiosis, is rare and often can be misdiagnosed as adnexal cyst on pelvic sonography. A 47‐year‐old woman was referred for an incidental finding of a right adnexal mass on pelvic sonography, suspected to be an ovarian cyst. During laparoscopy, a pedunculated cystic mass arising from the right anterior uterine wall was seen. The mass was resected laparoscopically and histologic examination showed a benign Mullerian cyst of the uterus. Diagnosis of Mullerian cyst of the uterus can be challenging. However, with increased awareness, preoperative diagnosis of this condition should be possible sonographically. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42 :183–184, 2014     

Timing for Initiation of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Patients With Septic Shock and Acute Kidney Injury

The optimal timing for renal replacement therapy initiation in septic acute kidney injury (AKI) remains controversial. This study investigates the impact of early versus late initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on organ dysfunction among patients with septic shock and AKI. Patients were dichotomized into “early” (simplified RIFLE Risk) or “late” (simplified RIFLE Injury or Failure) CRRT initiation. Patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 or those on long‐term dialysis were excluded. Organ dysfunction was quantified by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. From January 2008 to June 2011, 120 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Thirty‐one (26%) underwent “early” while 89 (74%) had “late” CRRT. No significant difference was noted between groups on improvement of total SOFA/non‐renal SOFA score or noradrenaline equivalent in the first 24 and 48 h after CRRT initiation. Dialysis requirement and mortality (at 28 days, 3 months and 6 months) did not differ. In conclusion, improvement of non‐renal SOFA score 48 h after CRRT correlated with SOFA score on CRRT initiation (P = 0.040) and APACHE IV risk of death (P = 0.000), but not estimated glomerular filtration rate on CRRT initiation (P = 0.377). Improvement of non‐renal SOFA score correlated with SOFA score on CRRT initiation and APACHE IV risk of death. However, this retrospective review cannot identify any significant clinical benefit of early CRRT initiation in patients presenting with septic shock and AKI.     

Expression profiles of miRNAs in human pancreatic cancer cell lines

Objective： To analyze initially the differences of miRNAs expression profiles in human pancreatic cancer cell lines by microarray technique. Methods： A total of 743 probes were designed according to the known miRNAs sequences of human, mice, and rats. miRNAs microarray was manufactured and its credibility was verified. Total RNAs were extracted and miRNAs were separated from human pancreatic cancer cell lines （SW1990, Capan-2, BxPC-3, Aspc-1, and Pancl） and immortal human pancreatic duct epithelial cell line H6C7. They were labeled with T4 RNA ligase, then were hybridized with microarray. Through array scan and analysis, miRNAs expression profiles in pancreatic cancer were obtained. The results were verified by Northern blotting and RT-PCR. Results： A total of 63 rniRNAs related to pancreatic cancer were found to be differentially expressed in 5 pancreatic cancer cell lines, including 25 down-regulated and 38 up-regulated miRNAs. Expressions of mir-21 and let-7 were also confirmed： Conclusion： The results suggested that miRNAs expression profiles could be found in pancreatic cancer cells.