Cosolvency of Dimethyl Isosorbide for Steroid Solubility

Dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), which is currently under investigation for its potential use as a pharmaceutical vehicle and drug permeation enhancer, is a water-miscible liquid with relatively low viscosity. The solubilization behavior of DMI as a cosolvent for nonpolar drugs was characterized via dielectric constant measurements of binary solvent systems containing DMI and either water, propylene glycol (PG), or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Evidence from the dielectric constant profiles and NMR studies suggest that DMI undergoes complexation with water and PG, but not with PEG, through hydrogen bonding interactions. The solvent complexation exhibited a major effect on the solubilities of prednisone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone in the mixed solvent systems. Maximum solubility of each drug was found to occur near a DMI/water or DMI/PG concentration ratio of 1:2. In the DMI–PEG mixed system, while there is no apparent interaction between DMI and PEG molecules, the solubility of prednisone was found to increase with decreasing dielectric constant.     

Neuropeptide levels in the basal ganglia of aged common marmosets following prolonged treatment with MPTP

Summary Aged common marmosets were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 0.5–2.0 mg/kg/week i.p.) for 16 or 24 weeks, observed for a total of 30 weeks and then killed for measurement of biochemical pramaters in basal ganglia. The MPTP treatment induced a marked depletion in dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels in the caudate nucleus and putamen. In contrast, the concentrations of five neuropeptides: [Met⁵]-enkephalin, [Leu⁵]-enkephalin, cholecystokinin, substance P and neurotensin as measured by a combined HPLC/RIA method, remained unaltered in all basal ganglia regions examined. Enkephalin precursor levels, as reflected by cryptic [Met⁵]-enkephalin content, were increased in the putamen, but not in the caudate nucleus, as a consequence of MPTP administration. Cryptic [Leu⁵]-enkephalin content remained unchanged in the striatum of MPTP treated marmosets. Overall, these results suggest an increase in striatal [Met⁵]-enkephalin release following chronic MPTP treatment of aged marmosets. However, the chronic treatment of aged marmosets with MPTP does not reproduce the neuropeptide alterations characteristic of Parkinson's disease.     

谷氨酰胺肠外营养对创伤后多器官衰竭患者的营养作用

目的探讨补充谷氨酰胺(Gln)的肠外营养在严重创伤后多器官衰竭(MOF)患者治疗中的作用。方法采用随机对照方法,将60例MOF患者分为Gln组和对照组,每组30例。Gln组给予Gln1.5ml/kg联合常规治疗[热量104～125kJ/(kg·d),其中脂肪供热40%,氮供给量为0.2～0.25g/(kg·d)的完全胃肠外营养(TPN)支持];对照组仅给予常规治疗,连续7d。对照分析营养指标、免疫指标、并发症及临床结果。结果所有患者营养指标(血清白蛋白、前清蛋白、转铁蛋白)和免疫指标(IgG、IgA、IgM)明显减低,处于负氮平衡。第8天时,Gln组营养指标明显高于治疗前及对照组(P<0.05),负氮平衡得到纠正(P<0.05),而对照组仅血清白蛋白、转铁蛋白较治疗前增高(P<0.05),仍处于负氮平衡(P>0.05)。Gln组免疫指标明显高于治疗前及对照组(P<0.01),而对照组仅IgG高于治疗前(P<0.01)。对照组14例(46.7%)出现了血清胆红素、丙氨酸转氨酶和血糖的升高,而Gln组仅4例(13.3%)增高(P<0.05),至14d时对照组病死率为36.7%,而Gln组仅为10%,两者相比差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论应用Gln的肠外营养能够明显纠正MOF患者的营养代谢障碍,纠正负氮平衡,增强免疫功能,降低并发症及病死率。     

赤芍总苷对沙土鼠全脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effects of the total paeony glycoside (TPG) against global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in gerbils. METHODS: Gerbils models of global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury were prepared by bilateral common carotid artery ligation for 12 min followed by 24-hour reperfusion. The effects of TGP on brain edema index, superoxide dismatase (SOD) activity and malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration of the cerebral tissue homogenate and pathology of the brain were examined 24 h after model establishment. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, TPG at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg could significantly relieve brain edema, enhance SOD activity and lower MDA concentration in the gerbils. Pathological examination showed that the gerbils with TPG treatment had milder injury of the cells in the hippocampal CA1 region. CONCLUSIONS: TPG has obvious protective effects against global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

外伤性延迟性脾破裂的诊断和治疗（附21例报告）

目的探讨外伤性延迟性脾破裂的发病规律、临床特点、诊断和治疗方法。方法结合国内外资料及本组病例进行回顾性分析。结果明确诊断16例，误诊为肝破裂2例，宫外孕破裂2例，脾肿瘤1例。21例均手术治疗，行脾切除14例，其中保留副脾2例；脾切除加自体脾组织网膜内移植术3例；脾缝合修补术3例；脾部分切除术1例。死亡1例，原因有就诊晚、失血性休克。结论本病由于腹腔内出血与受伤时间间隔长，容易误诊。诊断除依靠病史、临床表现外，应及时进行腹腔穿刺、B超及CT检查。治疗以脾切除为主，可根据病情、脾破裂的程度以及是否有合并伤等情况采取保脾手术。     

Clusterin expression in cutaneous CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders and their histologic simulants

Background:  Clusterin is a ubiquitous 80 kDa heterodimeric glycoprotein previously shown to be expressed on tumor cells of systemic and, to a lesser extent, primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC-ALCL). Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP), an important differential diagnosis of ALCL, has been studied for clusterin expression in only a small number of cases. The aim of this study was to compare clusterin immunostaining patterns in LyP and other cutaneous histologic simulants with those of PC-ALCL.
Methods:  Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of PC-ALCL (6), LyP (20), mycosis fungoides with large cell transformation (MF-LCT, 12), pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA, 12), arthropod bite reaction (ABR, 12) and lymphomatoid reactions (LR, 9) were immunostained for clusterin and evaluated for staining pattern and distribution. All diagnoses were made with clinicopathologic correlation.
Results:  Characteristic dot-like Golgi staining was identified in 10/20 LyP (50%), 4/6 PC-ALCL (67%) and 9/12 MF-LCT (75%). Two of 12 PLEVA (17%), 1 of 12 ABR (8%) and 2 of 8 LR (25%) had lymphocytes (< 25%) with diffuse cytoplasmic staining. Dermal dendritic cells stained strongly for clusterin. High background staining occurred in some cases.
Conclusion:  Clusterin immunostaining does not reliably distinguish between LyP, PC-ALCL or MF-LCT, but could distinguish LyP from its reactive histologic simulants.     

Cross-cultural invariance of the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory: Adolescent samples from Canada and Singapore

We provide further evidence for the two-factor structure of the 9-item Academic Expectations Stress Inventory (AESI) using confirmatory factor analysis on a sample of 289 Canadian adolescents and 310 Singaporean adolescents. Examination of measurement invariance tests the assumption that the model underlying a set of scores is directly comparable across groups. This study also examined the cross-cultural validity of the AESI using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis across both the Canadian and Singaporean adolescent samples. The results suggested cross-cultural invariance of form, factor loadings, and factor variances and covariances of the AESI across both samples. Evidence of AESI's convergent and discriminant validity was also reported. Findings from t-tests revealed that Singaporean adolescents reported a significantly higher level of academic stress arising from self expectations, other expectations, and overall academic stress, compared to Canadian adolescents. Also, a larger cross-cultural effect was associated with academic stress arising from other expectations compared with academic stress arising from self expectations.     

外用红花油引起皮肤过敏2例

例 1 .患者男 ,33岁 ,于 2 0 0 2年 1 1月因患腰肌纤维组织炎来我科治疗。我们采用外涂红花油并配合神灯照射 ,灯距 30 cm,照射 30 min,每日 1次。首次治疗结束后 ,患者述其治疗部位有痒感。查看皮肤为暗红色 ,并有红色血疹出现。次日 ,全身再行治疗后 ,上述症状加重 ,痒甚。停用红花油改为神灯照射 ,3次后过敏症状消失痊愈。例 2 .患者女 ,35岁 ,于 2 0 0 1年 8月因左脚背烫伤 ,即自涂红花油于患处 ,约 2 h后 ,涂红花油处皮肤呈深红色 ,并出现米粒样红色丘疹 ,瘙痒。为止痒 ,患者再次自行涂红花油于患处 ,约 1 h后局部出现烧灼感 ,奇痒 ,红…     

Quality of object relations versus interpersonal functioning as predictors of therapeutic alliance and psychotherapy outcome

The purpose of the study was to compare an interview measure of quality of object relations to questionnaire and interview measures of recent interpersonal functioning with respect to the prediction of therapeutic alliance and psychotherapy outcome. The sample consisted of 64 patients who had received approximately 20 sessions of short-term individual psychotherapy within a controlled, clinical-trial investigation. Ratings of therapeutic alliance were provided independently by the patient and the therapist after each session. Outcome measures, which were provided by three sources (patient, therapist, and independent assessor), covered the areas of interpersonal functioning, psychiatric symptomatology, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Quality of object relations, which characterizes the patient's lifelong pattern of relationships, was the best predictor. It was significantly related to patient-rated and therapist-rated therapeutic alliance and to patient improvement of both general symptomatology and specific target problems. The study also replicated previous studies that have reported significant relationships between therapeutic alliance and therapy outcome. The advantages of pretherapy predictors of therapy outcome, such as quality of object relations, are discussed.