Laparoscopic nephrectomy in a porcine model.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed in 15 male pigs, the procedure was successful in 14. Extraction of the intact kidney through a 5-cm lower abdomen incision was done in 7 animals; complete destruction and evacuation of the kidney was accomplished by a round-knife suction device through a 1-cm port in another 7 pigs. Grossly, the specimen consisted of sausage-like tubular renal tissue and a small amount of tissue debris. Pathology revealed that the glomerular and tubular structures were well preserved, no interstitial hematoma could be found. Four ports were usually used, one 1-cm umbilical camera port, one 0.5-cm port for ureter traction, and two 1-cm working ports along the midclavicular line. All the pigs recovered uneventfully. The average operation time was 3 h 20 min. The application of endo-GIA (United States Surgical Corporation) for renal hilum reduced the operative time to 2 h 20 min. Complications included renal vein tear during endoclip application and cutting in the first case, mild subcutaneous emphysema in 2 cases. This first pig received exploratory laparotomy for the repair and ligation of the renal vein. No more major complications occurred with increasing experience. From this porcine experiment, we conclude that the combination of laparoscopy, a tissue destroyer and an endobag for the entrapment of kidney seem to be a promising technique for clinical nephrectomy.     

视网膜眼电图对DMD/BMD携带者的检测价值探讨

目的研究杜氏／贝氏进行性肌营养不良（DMD／BMD）携带者视网膜眼电图（ERG）的改变，探讨ERG对DMD／BMD携带者的诊断意义。方法对22个基因突变类型明确的DMD／BMD家系．用定量PCR法结合系谱分析将家系中女性成员分成肯定携带者和非携带者，对患者和家系女性成员进行详细的眼科检查和ERG检测，并用ERG国际测量标准记录结果。结果22名患者中17名出现异常ERG改变；11名肯定携带者中5名出现ERG异常，14名非携带者无ERG改变，两组无重叠。结论ERG是一项对DMD／BMD诊断非常敏感和特异的检查，而ERG对携带者的诊断也具有一定的临床意义。     

SARS家庭聚集型病例8例报告分析

SARS是由变异冠状病毒引起的新型烈性传染病，具有在家庭和医院内聚集发病的特点。其影像学表现对于临床诊断和随诊观察具有重要价值。本文报告了分属3个家庭的8个病例发病早期(1周)影像学表现(包括胸部平片和CT)和部分临床表现资料，讨论并分析SARS早期影像学表现的若干特点及与临床表现之间的关系。     

Potential contribution of nuclear factor-kappaB to cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays a key role in inflammation, which is involved in the development of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In the present study, we assessed the potential role of NF-kappaB in regulation of cerebral vasospasm. Nuclear factor-kappaB DNA-binding activity was measured in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) treated with hemolysate and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, 80 micromol/L), an inhibitor of NF-kappaB. Forty-two rabbits were divided into three groups: control, SAH, and PDTC groups (n=14 for each group). The caliber of the basilar artery was evaluated. Nuclear factor-kappaB DNA-binding activity and the gene expression levels of cytokines and adhesion molecules in the basilar artery were measured. Immunohistochemical study was performed to assess the expression and localization of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and myeloperoxidase (MPO). It was observed that NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity was significantly increased by treatment with hemolysate in cultured VSCMs, but this increase was suppressed by pretreatment with PDTC. Severe vasospasm was observed in the SAH group, which was attenuated in the PDTC group. Subarachnoid hemorrhage could induce increases of NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity and the gene expression levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, ICAM-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, which were reduced in the PDTC group. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated that the expression levels of TNF-alpha, ICAM-1, and MPO were all increased in the SAH group, but these increases were attenuated in the PDTC group. Our results suggest that NF-kappaB is activated in the arterial wall after SAH, which potentially leads to vasospasm development through induction of inflammatory response.     

Development of quality of care indicators for Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major cause of disability. To date, there have been no large-scale efforts to measure the quality of PD care because of a lack of quality indicators for conducting an explicit review of PD care processes. We present a set of quality indicators for PD care. Based on a structured review of the medical literature, 79 potential indicators were drafted. Through a two-round modified Delphi process, an expert panel of seven movement disorders specialists rated each indicator on criteria of validity, feasibility, impact on outcomes, room for improvement, and overall utility. Seventy-one quality indicators met validity and feasibility thresholds. Applying thresholds for impact on outcomes, room for improvement, and overall utility, a subset of 29 indicators was identified, spanning dopaminergic therapy, assessment of functional status, assessment and treatment of depression, coordination of care, and medication use. Multivariable analysis showed that overall utility ratings were driven by validity and impact on outcomes (P < 0.01). An expert panel can reach consensus on a set of highly rated quality indicators for PD care, which can be used to assess quality of PD care and guide the design of quality improvement projects.     

Status and trend of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan, December, 1991.

From May 1, 1985 to December 31, 1991, a total of 4,962,707 serum samples from 8 population groups in Taiwan were tested for anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (anti-HIV-1). In total, 256 samples were seropositive; of these individuals, 43 developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): 29 were homosexuals; 5 were hemophiliacs; 8 were heterosexuals and 1 was of unknown risk. Although the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and AIDS remains low compared with other countries, since 1988 the increase has been rapid. Before 1977 the majority were homosexuals and hemophiliacs; thereafter the risk groups diversified, with a trend away from homosexuals and hemophiliacs towards heterosexuals and intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs). A few patients have caused serious social problems for the public, health care workers and families. Active community efforts are needed to achieve future success in the control of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan.     

代谢综合征患者肾动脉狭窄的SCTA与DSA对比研究

目的探讨代谢综合征(MS)患者中肾动脉狭窄的发生率及无创性筛检的必要性与可靠性。方法45例MS患者预行肾动脉螺旋CT血管造影(SCTA),对所检出的14例肾动脉狭窄者行肾动脉数字减影血管造影(DSA)对照,并对SCTA及DSA结果进行对比分析。结果45例MS患者中SCTA显示肾动脉正常31例,其余14例患者存在单侧或双侧肾动脉狭窄,DSA对照显示肾动脉正常6条,肾动脉狭窄22条,与SCTA显示的情况基本符合。结论MS患者中肾动脉狭窄的发生率约31.1%,对可疑患者应常规予以肾动脉SCTA检查。     

Suppression of acute lymphoblastic leukemia by the human wild-type p53 gene.

Independent mutations in both alleles of the p53 tumor suppressor gene are a frequent finding in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines and in the cells of some T-ALL patients in relapse. One major goal of studying the status of p53 (and other tumor suppressor genes) in human cancer is to facilitate the suppression of the tumorigenic phenotype through the restoration of the expression of the wild-type allele. While the efficient insertion of a suppressor into all cells of solid/metastatic human tumors may at present be impossible, insertion into leukemia cells may be feasible due to the accessibility of the leukemia cells in the body. To examine the feasibility of suppressing the tumorigenicity of human T-leukemia cells, the human T-ALL cell line Be-13, which lacks endogenous p53 protein, was infected with a recombinant retrovirus encoding the wild-type allele of human p53 (hwtp53). Expression of p53 reduced the growth rate of infected Be-13 cells in vitro, suppressed colony formation in methylcellulose cultures, and abrogated their tumorigenic phenotype in nude mice in vivo. These results suggest that suppression of the leukemic phenotype of relapse T-ALL-derived Be-13 cells is feasible. Acute leukemia cell suppression via high-efficiency infection with retroviruses encoding wtp53 may be feasible and beneficial in T-ALL cases as part of a bone marrow transplantation regimen in an effort to reduce the frequency of posttransplantation relapse.     

项目记忆和源记忆的功能磁共振成像研究

目的探讨项目记忆和源记忆的神经基础及其是否存在性别差异。方法健康男女各8名，实验材料为504个高频双汉字词，项目记忆和源记忆实验任务，Block设计，GE1．5T采集功能磁共振成像（mRI）数据，用SPM99分析，得到男女脑功能激活图（P〈0．002，体素块〉20）。结果在P〈0．002，体素块〉20时，女性项目记忆激活双前额叶背外侧BA6（激活数目左右侧分别为62和11个），源记忆较多激活左前额叶背外侧BA6／46（激活数目为59个）；男性项目记忆激活右前额叶背外侧BA6／46（激活数目为64个），源记忆激活双前额叶背外侧BA6（左右侧分别为9和40个）。结论项目记忆更多激活右侧前额叶背外侧，而源记忆更多激活左侧前额叶背外侧。女性较多地引起左前额叶背外侧激活；而男性较多地引起右前额叶背外侧激活。     

Influence of blood supply of the esophageal and gastric stumps on anastomotic healing after esophagogastrostomy in rabbits]

OBJECTIVE: To study how blood supply of the esophageal and gastric stumps influences the anastomotic healing after esophagogastrostomy in rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-seven New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups to receive esophagogastrostomy, followed by different procedures. Except for those in group I, all the rabbits were subjected to procedures of reducing the blood supply either of the esophageal or the gastric stump (group II and group III, respectively), followed by single-layer esophagogastric anastomoses using interrupted 5-0 polypropylene sutures. Ten days after operation, all the rats were killed and the anastomotic sites excised for measurement of the inner diameter, tensile strength, and hydroxyproline concentration. RESULTS: Healing of the esophagograstric anastomosis was obtained in all the rabbits but one with anastomotic leakage in group I and one with perforation of the gastric fundus in group III. The anastomotic inner diameters were similar in all the three groups, whereas the tensile strength and hydroxyproline concentration at the anastomoses decreased in group III in comparison with the other two groups (P<0.05) that had similar measurements (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Extended length of the free esophageal stump does not significantly affect anastomotic healing as decrease of blood supply in the gastric stump.