Traumatic cervical Brown-Sequard and Brown-Sequard-plus syndromes: the spectrum of presentations and outcomes.

Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) and Brown-Sequard-plus syndrome (BSPS) are characterised by asymmetrical paresis with hypalgesia more marked on the less paretic side. This study examined the clinical features of 38 patients (30 males and 8 females; mean age = 32 years) with traumatic cervical BSS or BSPS who underwent comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation. Twenty two injuries were caused by road traffic accidents, 8 by penetrating injuries, 5 by diving injuries, and 3 by other causes. After an average of 35 days in acute care and 79 days in rehabilitation, 37 patients had increased muscle strength, all 38 patients improved functional abilities, 29 patients walked independently, 34 had spontaneous bladder emptying, 36 were discharged home, and 14 were employed. Statistically significant increases (p less than 0.001) were made in modified Barthel index functional scores between admission and discharge. Patients with BSPS had a better prognosis than did those with 'pure' BSS. Patients with predominant upper limb weakness had more favourable outcomes than did those with predominant lower limb weakness. Few other potentially predictive demographic, injury, or neurological factors were associated with functional outcome. Patients with BSS or BSPS generally have a good prognosis for neurological and functional improvement.     

金丹肝泰1号对大鼠急性肝损伤防治作用的实验研究

用D-氨基半乳糖（D-GaIN）制备大鼠急性肝损伤模型。方法：检测血清丙氨酸氨基转氨酶（ALT）和血清天门冬氨酸氨基转氨酶（AST）的活性，观察光镜下肝组织的病理学改变，探讨对急性肝损伤的保护作用。结果：口服浸膏可显降低急性肝损伤大鼠血清ALT和AST水平，减轻肝细胞的变性坏死，其作用强度与肝炎宁相当，但弱于联苯双酯。     

CHILDREN'S CONSENT TO PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT: ALL OR NOTHING?

An adolescent with a history of attempted suicide who refused to involve his father in the treatment plan is presented. Issues surrounding consent to psychiatric treatment in childhood are discussed and the assessment process outlined. Contributions by primary healthcare professionals are emphasised.     

黄芪、雷公藤多甙对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞分泌IL-6的影响

目的:观察黄芪和雷公藤多甙对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞分泌IL-6水平的影响.方法:应用细胞培养技术进行肾小球系膜细胞培养,采用血清药理学方法,制备黄芪药物血清,雷公藤多甙药物血清,并分为低、中、高3个剂量梯度,观察药物血清对正常状态下肾小球系膜细胞分泌IL-6的影响,采用细胞ELISA法测定IL-6含量.结果:黄芪、雷公藤多甙各不同剂量组均可抑制肾小球系膜细胞产生IL-6,其抑制作用随剂量增加而增殖,其中尤以雷公藤高剂量组、中剂量组及黄芪高剂量组作用明显.结论:黄芪可抑制肾小球系膜细胞分泌IL-6,这一作用与雷公藤类似.这可能是黄芪防治肾小球硬化的作用机制之一.     

Palatal implants: a new approach for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term safety and efficacy of palatal implants in patients with mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective, non-randomized study conducted at 5 clinical sites. Three polyester implants were placed in the soft palate under local anesthesia during a single-stage office procedure. Polysomnography was conducted at baseline and 90 days post-procedure. Subjective quality of life data were collected. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were evaluated; the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from 25.0 +/- 13.9 to 22.0 +/- 14.8 events/hour (P = 0.05). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) decreased from 11.0 +/- 5.1 to 6.9 +/- 4.5 (P < 0.001), and the snore score decreased from 7.9 +/- 2.1 to 4.0 +/- 3.0 (P < 0.001). No serious complications occurred during the study. CONCLUSION: Palatal implants can be an effective initial low morbidity treatment option for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate OSA.     

喷雾(冰冻)干燥法制备钠、锂快离子导体

对两种性能较好的快离子导体Na_3Zr_2Si_2P_3O_(12)(Nasicon)和Li_(1.8)Ti_(1.2)·Cr_(0.8)P_3O_(12)用喷雾干燥法和冰冻干燥法制备粉料和陶瓷烧结,并对样品进行了X射线衍射分析,形貌和显微结构观察以及阻抗谱测量等。实验结果表明:两种方法制备的粉料具有颗粒细,均匀性好,合成温度低等优点。在300℃时,两种样品的电阻半分别为10.05 Ω.cm和94.8 Ω.cm。激活能分别为0.25 eV和0.27ev。     

Melatonin Levels in the Gastrointestinal Tissues of Fish, Amphibians, and a Reptile

Melatonin was detected by radioimmunoassay in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of several species of fish (sturgeon, rainbow trout, carp), amphibians (axolotl, leopard frog, bullfrog), and one reptile (red-sided garter snake), which were sacrificed during the daytime. The highest levels of melatonin were detected in the snake [means = 1018 pg/g stomach, 328 pg/g proximal gut (PG), 511 distal gut (DG)] and carp (means = 102 pg/g stomach, 146 pg/g PG and 141 pg/g DG). Lowest levels were found in the axolotl (means = 44 pg/g stomach and PG, 92 pg/g DG) and the bullfrog (means = 73 pg/g esophagus, 78 pg/g stomach, 20 pg/g PG, and 152 pg/g DG). In most cases there were no statistically significant differences in the melatonin levels among various GIT tissues of the same species but there were differences in tissue levels between different species.