Additional bedtime H2‐receptor antagonist for the control of nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough: A Cochrane systematic review

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of additional bedtime H₂‐receptor antagonists (H₂RAs) in suppressing nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough (NAB) via a systematic review. METHODS: Eligible trials were identified by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966–June 2004), EMBASE (January 1980–June 2004) and CINAHL (January 1982–June 2004). Additional hand‐searching was conducted on the proceedings of correlated conferences, eight important Chinese journals and references of all included trials. All randomized controlled trials evaluating H₂RAs for the control of NAB were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review was conducted using methods recommended by The Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: Only two randomized crossover studies, comprising 32 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Because the design, dosage and duration of the treatments were different between the studies, it was not possible to conduct meta‐analysis. There were no consistent conclusions found between the two included studies in evaluating H₂RAs for the control of NAB. CONCLUSIONS: No implications for practice at this stage can be concluded. Appropriately designed large‐scale randomized controlled trials with long‐term follow up are needed to determine the effects of additional bedtime H₂RAs in suppressing NAB.     

Genetic variations of HSD11B2 in hypertensive patients and in the general population, six rare missense/frameshift mutations.

Mutations in the gene encoding 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, HSD11B2, cause a rare monogenic juvenile hypertensive syndrome called apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME). In AME, defective HSD11B2 enzyme activity results in overstimulation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) by cortisol, causing sodium retention, hypokalemia, and salt-dependent hypertension. Here, we have studied whether genetic variations in HDS11B2 are implicated in essential hypertension in Japanese hypertensives and the general population. By sequencing the entire coding region and the promoter region of HDS11B2 in 953 Japanese hypertensives, we identified five missense mutations in 11 patients (L14F, n = 5; R74H, n = 1; R147H, n = 3; T156I, n = 1; R335H, n = 1) and one novel frameshift mutation (4884Gdel, n = 1) in a heterozygous state, in addition to 19 genetic variations. All genetic variations identified were rare, with minor allele frequencies less than 0.005. Four of 12 patients with the missense/frameshift mutations showed renal failure. Four missense mutations, L14F, R74H, R147H, and R335H, were successfully genotyped in the general population, with a sample size of 3,655 individuals (2,175 normotensives and 1,480 hypertensives). Mutations L14F, R74H, R147H, and R335H were identified in hypertensives (n = 6, 8, 3, and 0, respectively) and normotensives (n = 8, 12, 5, and 0, respectively) with a similar frequency, suggesting that these missense mutations may not strongly affect the etiology of essential hypertension. Since the allele frequency of all of the genetic variations identified in this study was rare, an association study was not conducted. Taken together, our results indicate that missense mutations in HSD11B2 do not substantially contribute to essential hypertension in Japanese.     

Refractory Ascites After Liver Transplantation: An Analysis of 1058 Liver Transplant Patients at a Single Center

A retrospective study of 1058 liver transplant recipients was performed to determine: (i) the incidence, etiology, timing, clinical features and treatment of refractory ascites (RA), (ii) risk factors for RA development, (iii) predictors of RA disappearance, (iv) predictors of survival following RA and (v) the impact of RA on patient survival. Sixty-two patients (5.9%) developed RA and its disappearance occurred in 27/62 cases. Patients having hepatitis C virus (HCV) had a significantly higher hazard rate of developing RA (p < 0.00001). No other baseline characteristic was associated with RA. Cox stepwise regression analysis of the hazard rate of RA disappearance found two significant factors: HCV recurrence as the reason for developing RA implied a poorer outcome (p = 0.006), whereas an unknown reason implied a favorable outcome (p = 0.02). In addition, survival following RA was significantly poorer among patients having bacterial peritonitis or HCV recurrence. Finally, the mortality rate was significantly (nearly 8.6 times) higher in patients following RA development while it was ongoing (p < 0.00001); however, if the RA disappeared, then the additional risk of death also disappeared. This study illustrates the importance of developing an optimal treatment strategy to (i) effectively treat RA if it develops and (ii) prevent hepatitis C recurrence.     

应用64层CT一次扫描完成心脏冠脉成像及心功能分析的可行性初步研究

目的研究64层CT一次扫描同时完成心脏冠脉成像及心功能分析的可行性。方法96例患者均行MSCT心脏成像扫描和MR心脏检查,数据分别按照冠脉成像和心功能分析要求进行重建和后处理,评估。结果1271段冠脉血管中有约99%血管显示清晰,达到诊断要求;心功能分析数据左室舒张末期容积(LVEDV)、左室收缩末期容积(LVESV)、左室每搏输出量(LVSV)、左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室心肌容积(LVMV)与MR相关数据的相关系数分别为0.84、0.91、0.94、0.89、0.88。结论MSCT可以在一次扫描中完成冠脉成像和心功能数据采集,具有极高应用价值。     

管理人员职业紧张常模及转换表研制

目的中高层管理人员、一般管理人员职业紧张常模、应用表、分级标准研究。方法采用职业紧张量表(OSI-R),对中高层管理人员263例、一般管理人员569例,共计832例常模样本进行研究。结果首先,采用OSI-R量表分别研制了中高层管理人员、一般管理人员职业紧张常模;其次,在常模的基础上,分别研制了常模样本粗分转换为T分表。职业紧张程度分级职业任务和紧张反应问卷中,T分≥70分者,为高度职业紧张、紧张反应;T分在60分至69分范围内者,为中度职业紧张、紧张反应;T分在40分至59分范围内者,为适度职业紧张和紧张反应;处于正常范围。T分低于40分者,为相对缺乏职业紧张和紧张反应。在应对资源问卷中,T分低于30分者,表明高度缺乏应对资源;T分在30分至39分范围内者,表明中度缺乏应对资源;T分在40分至59分范围之间者,具有适度的应对资源,属于正常范围;T分≥60分者,表明有很强的应对资源。结论将职业紧张的模式结合中高层管理人员、一般管理人员职业紧张常模及应用表,分别针对不同个体主要紧张源、紧张反应、应对资源,采取有针对性的干预(组织、个体)措施,以降低中高层管理人员、一般管理人员职业紧张程度,保护和促进工作能力是职业卫生领域面临的重要任务之一。