黄芪多糖治疗糖尿病作用机制的研究进展

黄芪多糖(APS)是中药黄芪的主要活性成分之一,具有增强免疫、降低血糖、抗炎等多种药理作用。众多研究表明,APS在糖尿病及其并发症的治疗中发挥着重要作用,能够改善胰岛素抵抗,增加胰岛素敏感性,减轻机体内的氧化应激水平,调节脂质代谢,调节机体免疫功能,并且可以通过多种途径延缓糖尿病并发症的发生及发展。     

Abstinence or Controlled Drinking in Clinical Practice: a test of the dependence and persuasion hypotheses

Forty-six clients of a clinical psychology service were assigned, in accordance with a three-step design which involved a random element, to abstinence (ABST) or controlled drinking (CD), and were followed up to 12 months after initial assessment. No support was found for the dependence hypothesis: those with higher levels of dependence/severity assigned to CD and those with lower levels assigned to ABST were just as likely as other clients to do well, and there was no relationship between level of dependence/severity and the type of drinking outcome (ABST or CD). There was tentative support for the hypothesis that experience in the follow-up year would be related to initial beliefs and preferences, although these were not independent of treatment type. The present report is not able to comment on the prediction of outcome in the longer term.     

Acute and 2-Week Inhalation Toxicity Studies on Aerosols of Selected Ethylene Oxide/Propylene Oxide Polymers in Rats

The ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) polymers evaluatedin this study have previously been shown to have a low orderof toxicity and/or irritancy by ocular, dermal, or oral routesof administration. These studies evaluated the acute inhalationtoxicity of respirable aerosols of three EO/PO compounds (U-660,U-2000, and U-5100) that differ in chain length, molecular weight,and viscosity. The respective 4-hr LC50 values (95% confidencelimits) for U-660, U-2000, and U-S 100 in Wistar albino ratswere 4670 (4090–5320), 330 (227–480), and 106 (45–245)mg/m³. Occasionally, slight increases in respiration rate andslight hyperactivity were observed during the postexposure period.All deaths were delayed for 2–5 days postexposure. Bodyweight gains were transiently depressed in rats exposed to U-2000and U-5100. Discolored lungs and livers occurred in animalswhich died during the 14-day postexposure period. Subsequently,a repeated-exposure study was conducted on U-5100 in F-344 ratsexposed for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 9 exposures at mean concentrationsof 0, 5, 26, and 50 mg/m³ Portions of the control and 50 mg/m³groups were maintained for an additional 2-week recovery period.Exposure-related effects included transient urogenital wetnessin 50 mg/m³ group females; decreased body weight gain (7–29%)in all U-5100 groups except the 5 mg/m³ group females; increasesin absolute (17–52%) and relative lung weights in allU-5100 groups; macroscopic red foci in the lungs; and microscopicfindings of congestion and hemorrhage of pulmonary alveolarcapillaries and necrosis of alveolar epithelial cells. Lungweights remained elevated after the 2-week recovery period,but the severity of the microscopic lesions was noticeably less,indicating partial reversibility of the lesions. In conclusion,EO/PO polymers have a higher order of toxicity by inhalationin comparison to other routes of administration, vary considerablyin their acute lethal toxicity as a function of chain length/molecularweight, and induce pulmonary hemorrhage, and possibly edema,following repeated aerosol exposures at concentrations as lowas 5 mg/m³.     

Oxygen analysers

Five currently available fuel cell oxygen analysers were studied with a view to their use in anaesthesia. The accuracy, response time and safety features of these analysers are discussed. Fuel cell analysers appear to be suitable oxygen monitors for routine anaesthetic use.     

Comparison of effect of SnF2 and NaF mouthrinses on caries incidence, salivary S. mutans and gingivitis in high caries prevalent adults

Abstract – The effect of SnF₂ and NaF mouthrinses were compared in subjects initially selected because of their high caries prevalence and high levels of salivary S. mutans. Subjects rinsed twice a day with either SnF₂ or NaF (200 ppm F⁻). Subjects in both groups continued to be caries active during the course of the study. However, at the first year examination subjects rinsing with SnF₂ had less S. mutans/ml saliva, a lower caries incidence and less gingivitis. After 2 yr the S. mutans levels in the SnF₂ rinsing group remained significantly less. Both caries incidence and gingivitis were lower in the SnF₂ group after 2 yr but the difference was not significant.     

Continuous incisional infusion of local anesthetic in pediatric patients following open heart surgery

Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of a continuous subcutaneous local anesthetic (LA) infusion in pediatric patients following open heart surgery. Background: The use of a continuous LA infusion has been shown to be beneficial following adult cardiac surgery. To date there are no studies in the pediatric population. Methods/Materials: Using a prospective, randomized, and double blind design, we compared LA, either 0.25% levobupivacaine or bupivacaine (Treatment Group) to saline (Placebo Group) delivered subcutaneously via a continuous infusion for 72 h after open heart surgery in 72 patients. Requirements for postoperative analgesics and pain scores were recorded for 72 h and plasma levels of local anesthetic were measured. Secondary outcomes measures included time to first oral intake, time to first bowel movement, time to urinary catheter removal, length of stay, requirements for antiemetics and additional sedation. Results: Total morphine requirements over the first 24 h were less in the Treatment Group than the Placebo Group (0.05 mg·kg^?1 vs 0.2 mg·kg^?1, P = 0.007); this was true for all patient groups except those patients weighing less than 6.3 kg. The number of patients requiring no morphine was greater in the Treatment Group (7/35 vs 1/37, P = 0.02). The Treatment Group also received less midazolam, lorazepam, and ketorolac than the Placebo Group over 72 h due to the reduced clinical need for these agents in patients weighing less than 31 kg. There were no differences in secondary outcomes. Conclusions: A continuous incisional infusion of LA reduced postoperative analgesic requirement and sedative use in pediatric patients undergoing a median sternotomy incision. Dosed at a maximum rate of 0.4 mg·kg^?1·h^?1, a continuous incisional infusion of LA is effective and safe for up to 72 h, with plasma levels of local anesthetic well below the toxic threshold.     

Motor proficiency of 6‐ to 9‐year‐old children with speech and language problems

Aim This study compared the gross motor skills of school‐age children (mean age 7y 8mo, range 6–9y) with developmental speech and language disorders (DSLDs; n=105; 76 males, 29 females) and typically developing children (n=105; 76 males, 29 females). The relationship between the performance parameters and the children’s age was investigated as well as the role of the type of DSLD. Method The children with DSLDs were classified by their schools’ speech and language therapists into three subgroups: children with speech disorders (n=16), those with language disorders (n=41), or those with both (n=48). They were tested with the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd edition. Results Compared with their typically developing peers, all three DSLD subgroups scored lower on the locomotor (all p values <0.001) and object control sub tests (all p values <0.001). Significant performance differences were found between the three types of DSLD (all p values <0.01) where the children with language disorders only performed better. Older children performed better than the younger ones (p_locomotor=0.029, p_{object control} <0.001), but the magnitude of differences between the children with DSLDs and their peers did not change with increasing age. Interpretation Children with DSLDs have poor gross motor skills. Although the performance of children with DSLDs improves with increasing age, it lags behind that of typically developing children. The present results emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for children with motor deficits.