Endocrine and metabolic response in the human newborn to first feed of breast milk

The hormonal and metabolic response to the first feed of breast milk was studied in 12 infants at 4-6 hours of age. After the feed there was an increase in blood glucose concentration but no changes in the concentrations of lactate, pyruvate, alanine, or ketone bodies. The feed was followed by an increase in the concentrations of plasma insulin, growth hormone, gastrin, and enteroglucagon, but no change in levels of plasma glucagon or gastric inhibitory peptide. Several hormone systems are functionally active at birth and are stimulated by the first feed of milk.     

Perforated colorectal neoplasms: correlation of clinical, contrast enema, and CT examinations

Results of clinical, contrast enema (CE), and computed tomographic (CT) examinations in 39 patients with perforated colorectal neoplasms were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty patients were toxemic at initial presentation, but in only four patients was the diagnosis of perforated colorectal neoplasm initially suspected clinically. CE study was performed in 22 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 11 cases, neoplasm alone in eight, and neither neoplasm nor perforation in three. CT was performed in 38 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 36; pericolic phlegmon but no mass lesion was evident in two. In 16 patients, CT also demonstrated metastatic disease. Because of its reliability in establishing the diagnosis and staging the extent of the inflammatory and neoplastic disease, CT is indicated in cases of suspected or proved perforated colorectal neoplasm and in cases in which CE study findings are indeterminate or suggestive of perforated neoplasm.     

Increasing sexually transmitted infection rates in young men having sex with men in the Netherlands, 2006–2012

Background

Men having sex with men (MSM) remain the largest high-risk group involved in on-going transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV, in the Netherlands. As risk behaviour may change with age, it is important to explore potential heterogeneity in risks by age. To improve our understanding of this epidemic, we analysed the prevalence of and risk factors for selected STI in MSM attending STI clinics in the Netherlands by age group.

Methods

Analysis of data from the national STI surveillance system for the period 2006–2012. Selected STI were chlamydia, gonorrhoea, infectious syphilis and/or a new HIV infection. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with these selected STI and with overall STI positivity. Analyses were done separately for MSM aged younger than 25 years and MSM aged 25 years and older.

Results

In young MSM a significant increase in positivity rate was seen over time (p?<?0.01), mainly driven by increasing gonorrhoea diagnoses, while in MSM aged 25 and older a significant decrease was observed (p?<?0.01). In multivariate analyses for young MSM, those who were involved in commercial sex were at higher risk (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9). For MSM aged 25 years and older this was not the case. Having a previous negative HIV test was protective among older MSM compared to those not tested for HIV before (OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.8-0.8), but not among younger MSM.

Conclusions

MSM visiting STI clinics remain a high-risk group for STI infections and transmission, but are not a homogenous group. While in MSM aged older than 25 years, STI positivity rate is decreasing, positivity rate in young MSM increased over time. Therefore specific attention needs to be paid towards targeted counselling and reaching particular MSM sub-groups, taken into account different behavioural profiles.

     

Acute unilateral pulmonary nonventilation due to mucous plugs

Acute bronchial obstruction by mucous plugs may be manifested clinically by dyspnea, hypoxemia, and respiratory alkalosis mimicking pulmonary thromboembolism. In eight cases with complete interruption of ventilation to an entire lung, chest radiography failed to reveal the extent of the obstruction. Perfusion was substantially less affected than ventilation. Routine ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy with technetium-99m DTPA aerosol aids in the diagnosis of acute major bronchial obstruction in patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism.     

红外光谱法和X-射线粉末衍射法研究棉酚的多晶型

棉酚是棉子中的一种色素,具有广泛生理活性。棉酚、醋酸棉酚、甲酸棉酚曾初步试用于男性节育,但有一定毒副作用,影响了临床进一步试用。目前国内外学者仍在进一步研究。棉酚的结构式如下: