Embolization in cataclysmal hemorrhage caused by squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

Cataclysmal hemorrhage occurred in eight patients with known aggressive squamous cell tumors of the head and neck. Angiography showed neovascularity, narrowing, beading of affected arteries, and pseudoaneurysms. Postembolization residual stump formation was seen in a few patients. A total of 11 embolization procedures were performed in these eight patients. Embolization materials included polyvinyl alcohol, isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate, and detachable balloons. Survival times ranged from 5 to 274 days, with no deaths as a direct result of hemorrhage. Only one severe complication following embolization was noted.     

SULFONAMIDES IN BUFFALOES: EFFECT ON CERTAIN BLOOD CONSTITUENTS AND SERUM ENZYMES

1. Three groups of four clinically healthy buffaloes were injected with sulphadiazine, or sulphadimidine, or sulphathiazole in a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. 2. Changes in the serum enzyme activities (SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase) observed with the tested sulphonamides were insignificant, except for increases in SGOT level 6 h after sulphathiazole injection, and in GOT/GPT ratio 30 min and 24 h after sulphadimidine injection. 3. The creatinine level was not affected in sulphonamide-injected animals. All blood samples collected 15 min to 24 h after sulphathiazole injection showed marked increase in glucose and urea levels. Concerning the other two sulphonamides, no significant change was observed in these parameters except for an increased glucose level 24 h after sulphadiazine injection.     

Age of the uterus does not affect pregnancy or implantation rates; a study of egg donation in women of different ages sharing oocytes from the same donor

The importance of age of the recipient (uterine age) with regards to pregnancy rate, delivery rate and miscarriage rate following oocyte donation was evaluated using retrospective data analysis of cases where two recipients from different age groups shared oocytes from a single donor and had equal numbers of embryos transferred. A total of 104 women (21-52 years of age) underwent a total of 104 cycles of oocyte donation. They were divided into groups according to age (group A: age 39 years or less and group B: age between 40 and 52 years). The minimum age difference between a pair of recipients was five years. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was given using oestradiol valerate (6 mg daily) for at least 10 days, followed by a combination of oestradiol with either intramuscular progesterone (100 mg daily), or vaginally administered micronized progesterone (300 microg daily). Women with ovarian function received down-regulation using a luteinizing hormone- releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue before hormone replacement was commenced. A total of 52 transfer cycles was performed in each age group and pregnancy, delivery and miscarriage rates were analysed as outcome measures; 20 pregnancies were achieved in each group (an identical pregnancy rate of 38.5%). In group A seven pregnancies miscarried out of 20 (35%), which was not significantly different from the rate in the older population, group B, where eight out of 20 pregnancies miscarried (40%). The delivery rate in group A was 25% (13 out of 52), again not significantly different from the delivery rate in group B of 23.1% (12 out of 52). In conclusion, using egg donation as a model, the decline in fecundity with age cannot be explained by uterine factors alone.      

Intracranial hematomas: imaging by high-field MR

Twenty intracranial hematomas between 1 day and over 1 year old were imaged using magnetic resonance at 1.5 T, with T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo pulse sequences. Characteristic intensity patterns were observed in the evolution of the hematomas, which could be staged as acute (less than 1 week old), subacute (greater than 1 week and less than 1 month old), or chronic (greater than 1 month old). Acute hematomas were characterized by central hypointensity on T2-weighted images (WIs). Subacute hematomas had peripheral hyperintensity on T1-WIs and then on T2-WIs. This hyperintensity proceeded to fill in the hematoma in the chronic stage. In subacute and chronic hematomas, there was hypointensity on T2-WIs in the immediately adjacent part of the brain. On T2-WIs of acute and subacute hematomas, the nearby white matter was characterized by hyperintensity, consistent with edema. A different mechanism is proposed for each of the three characteristic intensity patterns. Two of these mechanisms increase in proportion to the square of the magnetic field magnitude.     

阿片类联合激素及抗惊厥药治疗晚期癌痛的临床观察

目的　探讨晚期癌痛应用阿片类药物的合理用药方案。方法　选择伴有中、重度疼痛的晚期肿瘤患者,分３组,第一组３６例,采用盐酸羟考酮控释片（奥施康定）单药治疗;第二组１９例,用奥施康定和甲强龙联合治疗;第三组２５例,用奥施康定联合加巴喷丁。观察３组患者治疗后的疼痛缓解情况和生活质量。结果　单用奥施康定组完全缓解率为６３.９％,奥施康定联合甲强龙组为６８.４％,奥施康定和加巴喷丁联用组为４８.０％。主要毒副反应为便秘,其次为恶心、呕吐。第二组毒副反应最轻,第三组部分患者出现头晕和嗜睡。结论　阿片类药物奥施康定治疗晚期癌痛具有较好的疗效,其中奥施康定联合甲强龙尤其适合肺癌伴脑转移或骨转移患者,且安全性高,值得临床推广。     

Anorectal pressure in patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids

This study was carried out on 30 patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids and 20 normal controls. The anal sphincter pressure was studied before and after surgery. A significantly high anal pressure was found in all patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, when compared with normal controls, and there was no relation between this increase and the degree of hemorrhoids. One week following surgery, this high pressure was reduced significantly and was not affected by the type of operation. Thus, this increase in resting anal pressure is due to an overactivity of the internal hemorrhoids, which is secondary to the presence of the hemorrhoidal mass.