A field trial of wheat-based oral rehydration solution among Afghan refugee children

A total of 326 Afghan children aged between 6 months and 5 years with uncomplicated nondysenteric diarrhea for the previous 24 h to 5 days were treated at home by their mothers with either wheat-salt solution (WSS) or World Health Organization recommended glucose-oral rehydration salts (G-ORS). For 7 consecutive days the children were examined in the household and the mothers interviewed to assess the progress, feeding practices, and perception of treatment efficacy. Children treated with WSS recovered significantly earlier; the mean duration on treatment was 4.0 days (SD 1.7 days) on WSS compared to 6.4 days (SD 1.7 days) on G-ORS. By the second day of treatment, significantly more mothers using WSS (56%) reported that their children had formed stools versus 11 % of their G-ORS counterparts; the mean stool frequency after 2 days was also significantly reduced; 3 stools day⁻¹ (SD 2.1) on WSS versus 5 (SD 2.9) on G-ORS. The cereal-based solution was not confused with normal food and led to better feeding patterns. By day 2, 74% of the mothers using WSS had resumed their normal feeding frequencies as opposed to 33% of G-ORS mothers. On recovery the WSS group had gained significantly more weight; the WSS group gained 169 g (SD 142 g) while the G-ORS group lost 150g (SD 174 g). This study suggests by subjective and objective measures that WSS could be considered as an effective home fluid for the first-line treatment of diarrhea.     

A non-invasive tape absorption method for recovery of inflammatory mediators to differentiate normal from compromised scalp conditions

Background/aims: A simple non-invasive tape (Sebutape^TM) adsorption method was used to recover inflammatory proteins from normal and compromised human scalp (i.e. dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis) in order to assess the inflammatory and immunologic changes relevant to these clinical conditions. Methods: The scalps of subjects identified by a dermatologist as having either dandruff (n = 18), seborrheic dermatitis (n = 19) or normal scalp (n = 16) were visually graded to obtain total adherent scalp flaking scores (TASFS). Sebutape samples were then collected from both the high and low TASFS scalp sites using a one-minute tape application. To recover inflammatory molecules, tapes were extracted in buffered saline with sonication and the tape extracts analysed using commercial immunoassay methods for pro-inflammatory cytokines [i.e. interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and the immunologic cytokines [i.e. IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ)]. Nitric oxide (NO) was also assayed on tape extracts using the Greiss reaction. To account for differences in protein loading on the tapes all cytokine and NO results were normalized using the total protein (TP) amounts recovered in tape extracts. Results: The IL-1α/TP levels recovered from dandruff and seborrheic scalps were significantly decreased (P = 0.03) compared to normal appearing scalp levels. The scalp levels of IL-1ra/TP and the ratio of IL-ra to IL-1α were significantly (P = 0.002) or directionally (P = 0.07) higher in seborrheic dermatitis scalps and dandruff scalps, respectively, compared to normal scalps. The IL-1ra and the IL-1ra/IL-1α ratio values correlated well with the TASFS. The TNF-α/TP levels recovered from dandruff scalps were significantly higher (P = 0.02) than levels recovered from seborrheic dermatitis and normal scalp subjects. IL-2/TP was significantly increased (P = 0.01) and IFN-γ and NO significantly decreased (P = 0.05) in the seborrheic dermatitis scalp samples compared to normal controls. Conclusion: The Sebutape method has proven useful for distinguishing normal from diseased scalp conditions. The cytokines recovered from the scalp tape samples showed distinct patterns that differentiated dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and normal scalp populations. These methods may also prove useful for monitoring the clinical efficacy of therapeutic actives for treating dandruff and seborrhea.     

强痛宁中延胡索乙素的质量标准研究

用薄层扫描色谱法测定了复方中药制剂中延胡索乙素的含量,方法回收率为102.2％±1.85％,在0.51～4.6μg范围内呈良好的线性关系,并用薄层色谱法对本品中的冰片进行了鉴别。     

Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma): CT manifestations

Nests of granulocytic tumor cells in patients who have myelogenous leukemia are termed chloromas. Eight cases of chloroma seen on CT were reviewed. Lymph nodes, subcutaneous tissues, peritoneum, pleural space, pelvis, and portal hepatis were involved. Two patients exhibited chloroma as the sole manifestation of their disease during bone marrow remission. The extracranial appearance of chloroma on CT is that of small, nonenhancing, nodular densities that resemble lymphoma. Cranial involvement is characteristically in the orbit. The central nervous system appearance is variable, however, and high attenuation masses may occur that mimic lymphoma, hematoma, and metastatic neuroblastoma. The recognition of these lesions is important, since radiation, not chemotherapy, is often the preferred treatment for localized chloroma.     

Electromagnetically Navigated In Situ Fenestration of Aortic Stent Grafts: Pilot Animal Study of a Novel Fenestrated EVAR Approach

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology - Assess electromagnetically guided in situ fenestration of juxtarenal aortic stent grafts in an in vivo model. Using a newly developed electromagnetic...     

The beta-globin gene on the Chinese delta beta-thalassemia chromosome carries a promoter mutation

A new type of delta beta-thalassemia characterized by decreased expression of the beta-globin gene and increased expression of both G gamma and A gamma globin gene in the absence of a detectable deletion has recently been described in the Chinese population. In this study we characterize the mutant beta-globin gene from this delta beta- thalassemia chromosome. An A to G transversion is identified in the "ATA" sequence of the promoter region that leads to decreased expression of the beta-globin gene in vivo and in vitro. We also demonstrate the presence of this mutation in every individual with a high fetal hemoglobin phenotype in this family and its absence in every individual with a normal hemoglobin phenotype. This same promoter mutation has recently been detected in Chinese beta-thalassemia genes where it is present on chromosomes of the same haplotype as that of the delta beta-thalassemia chromosome we are studying. These data support the hypothesis that an as yet unidentified mutation occurred on the ancestral chromosome carrying the promoter mutation and subsequently gave rise to the delta beta-thalassemia phenotype.     

Subgroup effects despite homogeneous heterogeneity test results

Background  

Statistical tests of heterogeneity are very popular in meta-analyses, as heterogeneity might indicate subgroup effects. Lack of demonstrable statistical heterogeneity, however, might obscure clinical heterogeneity, meaning clinically relevant subgroup effects.     

关节软骨脱细胞支架材料的制备

目的:探讨脱细胞关节软骨支架材料的制备方法,制备软骨理想的组织工程支架材料。方法:实验于2005-12/2006-08在兰州大学第二医院骨科研究所实验室完成。实验方法:利用冷冻干燥、化学去污剂等方法制备脱细胞的兔关节软骨。在无菌状态下取青紫蓝兔的新鲜兔关节软骨,剪成3.5mm×3.5mm,厚度0.2～2.0mm,在冷冻干燥器中冻干12h。在10g/L Triton X-100、Tris-HCl液内加入蛋白酶抑制剂-苯甲基黄酰氟,持续振荡48h后标本以双蒸馏水连续冲洗后置于DNase I酶和RNase A酶混合液中消化。置于10g/L Triton X-100、Tris-HCl液中洗脱。实验评估:①大体观察:肉眼观察脱细胞后关节软骨的外观形态。②组织学观察:将制备的脱细胞关节软骨行石蜡包埋切片,行苏木精-伊红染色、Massion三色染色并在光镜下观察。③扫描电镜观察:将制备的脱细胞关节软骨以戊二醛-锇酸双固定后,行扫描电镜观察。结果:①脱细胞后关节软骨外观形态:肉眼下可见正常关节软骨呈白色或淡黄色,脱细胞后关节软骨色呈灰白,半透明状,无光泽,外形与软骨相似并且仍维持了关节软骨的结构。②脱细胞后关节软骨的组织学变化:苏木精-伊红染色显示,软骨细胞消失,软骨巢分辨不清,在巢内没有蓝染的核物质,核细胞碎屑,只有红染为残留的细胞外基质。Massion三色染色显示,脱细胞后关节软骨内主要含有胶原纤维。③脱细胞后关节软骨的超微结构:扫描电镜下显示,脱细胞后关节软骨陷窝呈蜂窝状,未见到残余的细胞核、细胞器,残余的空穴高低不平。结论:经冷冻干燥、化学去污剂等方法可完整去除软骨中的细胞成分,保留胶原纤维等细胞外基质。     

Successful treatment of gastrointestinal vasculitis due to systemic lupus erythematosus with intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide: a clinical case report and review of the literature

Gastrointestinal vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is quite rare and almost always accompanied by evidence of active disease in other organs, although occasionally it may be the presenting feature of the disease. Gastrointestinal involvement in SLE may present as lupus peritonitis, non-necrotizing pancreatitis, gastrointestinal vasculitis or surgical abdomen. Here we report a severe case of SLE which presented initially with fever of unknown origin. Severe distress, abdominal pain, the presence of occult blood in the stool and high acute-phase proteins were explained by a lupus peritonitis and intestinal vasculitis resembling inflammatory bowel disease. Whereas high-dose prednisone treatment did not prevent a severe relapse, we observed a sustained remission following i.v. cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. In the literature, only two similar cases are reported: one died despite a change in the therapy of a bowel perforation; our case was the second that improved under pulse cyclophosphamide. We suggest the use of cyclophosphamide after failure of steroids early in the course of SLE gastrointestinal vasculitis to prevent devastating complications.      

Effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia in patients with and without histological gastritis: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial

In the present double-blind placebo-controlled study the effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia was evaluated in patients with and without histological gastritis. Patients with functional dyspepsia and whose symptoms persisted after a 2 week run-in period with antacid treatment were randomized to receive cisapride (10 mg) or matching placebo three times daily for 4 weeks. Symptoms of epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, belching, early satiety and heartburn were graded on a four-point scale based on patients’ feedback and diary card recording. A global response was also formulated by the investigators. One hundred and four patients entered the study and 76 completed the trial, comprising 36 patients with histological gastritis and 40 patients without gastritis. Symptom scores in both gastritis and non-gastritis groups were significantly improved by both cisapride and placebo; however, the improvement was not statistically different between the two treatment groups. Cisapride produced a good or better global response in 58% of subjects with histological gastritis and in 53% of subjects without gastritis compared with 47% and 52%, respectively, of patients on placebo; this difference was not statistically significant. Gastric histology did not influence the effect of cisapride on the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.