Randomized Trials of Rate vs. Rhythm Control for Atrial Fibrillation

Recent randomized trials have not demonstrated mortality or stroke risk reduction benefits from a rhythm-control compared to rate-control strategy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. These studies reinforce the need for continued anticoagulation in both strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation and risk factors for stroke. Although rate control can be rationalized as a first line approach, rhythm control strategies may be justified for patients who are younger, who remain symptomatic or functionally impaired, or who have a first episode of atrial fibrillation.     

Paired kidney analysis of tacrolimus and cyclosporine microemulsion-based therapy in Chinese cadaveric renal transplant recipients

Few studies used paired kidneys for comparison between tacrolimus and cyclosporine in renal transplantation. Most of the published data used whole blood trough levels for drug monitoring. However, the use of limited sampling strategy and abbreviated formula to estimate the 12-h area under concentration-time curve (AUC(0-12)) allowed better prediction of drug exposure. Sixty-six first cadaveric renal transplant recipients receiving paired kidneys were randomized to receive either tacrolimus-based (n = 33) or cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral)-based therapies (n = 33). Abbreviated AUC(0-12) was used for drug monitoring and dose titration. Mean follow-up duration was 2.8 +/- 2 years. The patient and graft survival were comparable. Fewer incidence of acute rejection was observed in tacrolimus group (15% vs. 27.3%) though the difference was not significant (P = 0.23). The absolute value and the rate of decline of creatinine clearance were both significantly better in tacrolimus-treated patients. Prevalence of hypertension, post-transplant diabetes mellitus, infection, and malignancy were similar in both groups. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (11/33 vs. 4/33) and gum hypertrophy (6/33 vs. 1/33) was more common in cyclosporine-treated patients (P = 0.04 in both parameters). This was the first prospective, randomized study with paired kidney analysis showing the renal function was significantly better in tacrolimus-treated patients than in cyclosporine-treated patients.     

米非司酮对妊娠中期胎儿心脏超微结构的影响

目的:探讨米非司酮对妊娠中期胎儿心脏超微结构的影响。方法:将计划引产孕妇随机分为两组:对照组(水囊组)10例,实验组(米非司酮+水囊)15例。实验组按孕龄分为实验Ⅰ组(10例,16~22周),实验Ⅱ组(5例,23~28周)。实验组口服米非司酮100mg,连服3天,行水囊引产,对照组只行水囊引产。胎儿娩出后取心肌组织进行样本制备,然后在电镜下观察组织的超微结构。结果:细胞肿胀、空化,细胞膜不完整,闰盘分离,部分细胞连接消失。细胞核多呈不规则形,核内染色质凝聚呈块状,部分细胞核空化,核周围可见脂褐素。大部分肌丝断裂,肌节结构消失,少数可辩残留肌节结构,其间可见少量核糖体,但各带结构不清。线粒体肿胀,高度空化,嵴断裂,细胞基质局部空化。毛细血管内皮细胞肿胀。心肌组织细胞的超微结构有改变,且孕龄越小,超微结构改变越明显。结论:米非司酮可以引发胎儿心脏的缺血缺氧性改变。     

Spinal entry route for ventral root afferent fibers in the cat

Twelve anesthetized and paralyzed cats were used to study the spinal entry routes of ventral root afferent fibers. In all animals, the spinal cord was transected at two different levels, L5 and S2. The L5 through S2 dorsal roots were cut bilaterally, making spinal cord segments L5-S2 neurally isolated from the body except for the L5-S2 ventral roots. From this preparation, a powerful excitation of the discharge rate of motor neurons and dorsal horn cells within the isolated spinal segments was observed after intraarterial injection of bradykinin (50 micrograms in 0.5 ml saline). This excitation of the spinal neurons can be considered the most convincing evidence of the potential physiologic role of the ventral root afferent fibers entering the spinal cord directly through the ventral root, because the apparent route of neuronal input from the periphery is through the ventral roots. However, additional control experiments conducted in the present study showed that the excitation persisted even after cutting all ventral roots within the isolated spinal segments, indicating that excitation was not mediated by the ventral roots. Furthermore, direct application of bradykinin on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord also increased the motoneuronal discharge rate, suggesting that excitation of spinal neurons produced by intraarterial injection of bradykinin is due to a direct action of bradykinin on the spinal cord. Thus, we provided an alternate explanation for the most convincing evidence indicating that physiologically important ventral root afferent fibers enter the spinal cord directly through the ventral root. Based on existing experimental evidence, it is likely that the majority of physiologically active ventral root afferent fibers travel distally toward the dorsal root ganglion and then enter the spinal cord through the dorsal root.     

Polymerizable amphiphiles, 2. Micellization of 1-O-3-(4-vinylphenyl)propyl-β-D-glucopyranose

1-O-3-(4-Vinylphenyl)propyl-β-D -glucopyranose ( 1 ) undergoes in water a closed association under formation of N-mers. The unimer/N-mer association is directly visible in the Schlieren pattern of ultracentrifugal synthetic boundary experiments. Association numbers and mass-concentration-based equilibrium constants of association were calculated from the variation of N-mer concentrations with unimer concentrations and from the concentration dependence of inverse apparent average molar masses as measured by both vapor phase osmometry and sedimentation equilibrium. Association numbers were also calculated from the combination of sedimentation coefficients with diffusion coefficients, sedimentation coefficients with intrinsic viscosities, and diffusion coefficients with interinsic viscosities as well as from the dependence of apparent mass-average molar masses on inverse apparent number-average molar masses. All methods gave in general different association numbers and equilibrium constants. The effect, which was not found for other non-ionic amphiphiles, is probably due to the existence of consecutive equilibria between the unimer and a low molar mass P-mer which associates to a higher molar mass R-mer. Viscosity data are in agreement with the picture of a spherical micelle for the dominant P-mers with about 10 water molecules per glucose residue. The micellization of 1 is both enthalpy- and entropy-driven, in contrast to the micellization of 1-O-octyl-β-D -glucopyranose which is a strictly entropy-driven process.     

经肝动脉As2O3碘化油化疗栓塞 对兔肝移植瘤生长及转移的影响

目的观察As2O3与碘油联合经肝动脉化疗栓塞术后对兔VX2肝移植瘤生长及转移的作用.方法 40只家兔肝内肿瘤种植后2周,随机分为5组,经肝动脉插管分别给予不同处理,实验设生理盐水灌注组、As2O3灌注组、单纯碘油栓塞组、阿霉素碘油栓塞及As2O3碘油栓塞组,As2O3的用量为2 mg/kg.肿瘤种植后5周,测量动物体重,所有动物均处死,取出肝脏及双肺标本,测定肝脏的重量,计算肝移植瘤的体积、坏死面积,观察肝内、双肺及其他器官肿瘤转移的发生率.结果肿瘤植入后5周,各处理组动物体重均有明显的下降,肝脏重量增加,计算的肝指数各组分别为9.8±2.2、9.7±2.1、8.5±2.0、8.4±2.1、6.4±1.2;肿瘤体积分别为(35.5±7.6) cm3、(32.2±9.7) cm3、(21.2±8.5) cm3、(20.9±11.3) cm3、(11.8±4.0) cm3,栓塞治疗组与非栓塞治疗组间差异有统计学意义,As2O3碘油栓塞治疗组与其他组相比差异有统计学意义.平均坏死率各组间差异无明显的统计学意义.双肺转移结节的数目各组分别为52.4±32.2、51.8±26.3、54.8±29.2、53.5±30.7、19.6±17.0;转移结节的直径各组分别为(3.8±1.2) mm、(3.6±1.1) mm、(3.9±1.3) mm、(3.5±1.6) mm、(2.2±0.7) mm.As2O3碘油栓塞治疗组与其他各组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 As2O3与碘油联合经肝动脉栓塞治疗,可抑制肝移植瘤的生长及肺转移.     

The effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on the self-esteem, depression, and self-efficacy of runaway adolescents in a shelter in South Korea.

This study examined the effects of cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBT) on the self-esteem, depression, and self-efficacy of runaway adolescents residing in a shelter in Seoul, South Korea. The study used a control group pretest-posttest design. The experimental group and the control group consisted of 14 and 13 male subjects, respectively, with subjects having been randomly assigned to these groups. The experimental group participated in a CBT that consisted of eight sessions over an 8-week period; the control group did not participate in the program. To examine the effects of the CBT on dependent variables, the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used. The scores on depression decreased significantly (z = -2.325, p = .02) and those on self-efficacy increased significantly (z = -2.098, p = .03) after the intervention in the experimental group. There was no significant change on self-esteem (z = -1.19, p = .23). In the control group, the scores on depression, self-esteem, and self-efficacy did not change significantly after the intervention period. The CBT developed in this study consisted of structured and specific content that could be usefully applied to runaway adolescents residing in a shelter.     

肾病综合征患者腺苷脱氨酶活性的变化及意义

通过检测对激素不同反应、不同病情的肾病综合征（NS）患者的血清及淋巴细胞内腺苷脱氨酶（ADA）的活性变化，观察ADA活性与临床疗效的关系。