白细胞介素-21在疾病中作用的研究进展

白细胞介素-21(IL-21)是一种新近发现的细胞因子,具有广泛生物学活性,能够调节B细胞的分化及免疫球蛋白类别转换,促进T细胞、NK细胞的增殖、分化,提高NK细胞杀伤活性,是多种自身免疫性疾病、感染性疾病、变态反应性疾病和肿瘤的重要致病因素,在疾病的发生发展中举足轻重,具有潜在临床研究价值,可能成为多种疾病治疗的新靶标.作为新的免疫系统调节因子,IL-21在免疫性疾病中的作用越来越受到关注,已成为近年来研究的热点.     

Quality of life and functional status in patients with cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx: pretreatment values of a prospective study

We assessed the pretreatment health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functional status of patients with advanced oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Eighty patients were investigated. HRQOL was assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30/QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires. Functional status assessment comprised speech and oral function tests. The results revealed a wide range of HRQOL and functional deficits before treatment. HRQOL appeared to be related to some extent to tumor site (patients with oral tumors reported more pain compared to patients with oropharyngeal tumors) and tumor classification (patients with T3-T4 tumors reported more trouble opening the mouth and felt more ill compared to patients with T2 tumors). Comorbidity appeared to have a major impact. Patients with comorbidity had significantly worse scores on several scales/items on both the EORTC questionnaires. Functional deficits were related to tumor site, classification and comorbidity. Patients with oral cavity tumors (versus oropharyngeal tumors), patients with T3-T4 tumors (versus T2 tumors), and patients with comorbidity (versus without comorbidity) scored significantly worse on several speech and oral function tests. Impaired speech and oral function appeared to be clearly related to global quality of life (QLQ-C30) and self-reported speech (QLQ-H&N35). Many patients with advanced oral and oropharyngeal cancer have compromised HRQOL and functional status before the start of treatment. In addition to tumor site and tumor classification, comorbidity appears to have a major impact on HRQOL and functional status. Knowledge of pretreatment HRQOL and functional status levels is useful for better understanding the impact of treatment on these outcomes over time.     

感音神经性聋儿多频稳态诱发电位及短纯音听性脑干反应与行为测听的相关性

目的 比较多频稳态诱发电位（MASSR）、短纯音听性脑干反应（Tb—ABR）与感音神经性聋儿行为测试听阈的差值．研究MASSR和Tb—ABR反应阈与行为听阈之间是否存在相关性以及在不同听力损失聋儿、不同的频率之间的差异。方法 对60名感音神经性聋儿分别测试MASSR和Tb—ABR反应阈和行为听阈，评价MASSR反应阈、Tb—ABR反应阈与行为听阈的相关性。结果 MASSR反应阈、Tb—ABR反应阈和行为听阈之间均有较高的相关性。二者在频率为2、4kHz时，对行为听阈的预测具有相似的、较高的准确性；但在频率为0．5、1kHz时，MASSR的准确性较Tb—ABR高。结论 MASSR和Tb—ABR均可用作感音神经性聋儿言语频率客观听阈的预测，为低龄儿童及难以检测行为听力的患儿提供诊断依据。     

婴幼儿血管环合并先天性气管狭窄的诊断与治疗

目的 探讨血管环合并先天性气管狭窄的手术方式,以降低手术风险.方法 回顾性分析通过CT影像学检查、纤维支气管镜、彩色多普勒超声心动图等明确诊断的血管环患儿53例,年龄5.0 d～2.5岁,中位年龄12.5个月,包括肺动脉吊带,双主动脉弓,右弓合并异常左锁骨下动脉,无名动脉压迫等.其中12例(男8例,女4例)伴气管狭窄症状.患儿均行手术治疗,8例死亡,出院病例随访3～5年,间隔时间6个月.结果 53例患儿分为2组.41例(男25例,女16例)无气管狭窄的患儿行血管环矫治,3例死亡,病死率为7.3％.12例(男8例,女4例)血管环合并气管狭窄患儿,其中7例行选择性血管环矫治,2例死亡;5例行血管环矫治+气管狭窄修补,3例死亡,病死率为41.7％.41例无气管狭窄的病例中,7例有心内畸形,2例死亡.12例合并气管狭窄的患儿,3例存在心内畸形,2例死亡;5例行心脏及气管联合手术,3例死亡,7例行选择性血管环修补,2例死亡.结论 血管环合并气管狭窄的患儿,并不均需要同时矫治血管环及气管狭窄.气管狭窄、合并心内畸形均增加了血管环患儿的手术风险,对此类患儿需制订个体化的治疗方案.     

不同低出生体重儿听力损失相关因素分析

目的探讨不同低出生体重儿听力损失及损失程度与出生体重、胎龄的关系。方法应用听性脑干诱发电位对不同低出生体重儿进行听力测试,以单侧耳Ⅴ波反应阈>30dBnHL者作为2～4kHz范围内听力损失指标。结果测试不同低出生体重儿246名,听力损失63名。<1000g超极低出生体重儿3例,听力损失发生率100%;<1500g的极低出生体重儿46例,其听力损失发生18例(39.1%);<2500g的低出生体重儿197人,其听力损失发生42人(21.3%),不同出生体重发生听力损失差异显著(P<0.001)。其中中～重度10例,极重度2例,且出生体重与听力损失程度呈负相关,出生体重越轻,听力损失越重(r=0.378P=0.002)。胎龄<30周的早产儿3例,均有听力损失发生;胎龄30～34周的早产儿47例,听力损失22人(46.8%);胎龄34～37周的早产儿共171人,听力损失发生30人(17.5%);胎龄>37周的足月小样儿25例,听力损失发生8例(32%),不同胎龄患儿发生听力损失差异显著(P<0.001)。结论不同低出生体重儿是听力损失的高发人群,听力损失与不同低出生体重、胎龄有明显的关系,听力损失程度与出生体重呈显著负相关。足月小样儿是独立的高危因素。     

Quality of life in hospice patients with terminal illness

To better understand quality of life (QOL) and its important correlates among patients with terminal illness, a cross-sectional correlational design was used in a study based on Stewart, Teno, Patrick, and Lynn's conceptual model of factors affecting QOL of dying patients and their families. Sixty participants were recruited from two local hospice programs in the midwestern region of the United States. Data were collected at the participants' homes. The participants had an above average QOL. Living with the caregiver, spirituality, pain intensity, physical performance status, and social support as a set explained 38% of the variance in their QOL. Among these five predictors, living with the caregiver, spirituality, and social support statistically were significant predictors of the QOL of these participants. Participants who did not live with their caregivers experienced less pain intensity, perceived higher spirituality, had more social support, and had a significantly better QOL. Important contributions of these findings are discussed.     

Interaction study between digoxin and a preparation of hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha)

Hawthorn, an herbal supplement, is currently being evaluated for the treatment of heart failure. The flavonoid components of hawthorn may be responsible for hawthorn's beneficial effects in the treatment of heart failure. However, these components may also affect P-glycoprotein function and cause interactions with drugs that are P-glycoprotein substrates, such as digoxin, which is also used to treat heart failure. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hawthorn on digoxin pharmacokinetic parameters. A randomized, crossover trial with 8 healthy volunteers was performed evaluating digoxin 0.25 mg alone (D) for 10 days and digoxin 0.25 mg with Crataegus special extract WS 1442 (hawthorn leaves with flowers; Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals) 450 mg twice daily (D + H) for 21 days. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed for 72 hours. There were no statistically significant differences in any measured pharmacokinetic parameters. The AUC0-infinity, Cmax-Cmin, Cmin, and renal clearance for the D group were 79 +/- 26 mcg.h/L, 1.4 +/- 0.7 mcg/L, 0.84 +/- 0.2 mcg/L, and 74 +/- 10 mL/min versus 73 +/- 20 mcg.h/L, 1.1 +/- 0.1 mcg/L, 0.65 +/- 0.2 mcg/L, and 81 +/- 22 mL/min for the D + H group, respectively (p > 0.05). Following 3 weeks of concomitant therapy, hawthorn did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetic parameters for digoxin. This suggests that both hawthorn and digoxin, in the doses and dosage form studied, may be coadministered safely.     

Mononucleosis syndrome and coincidental human herpesvirus-7 and Epstein-Barr virus infection

Two girls (a 5 year old and a 21 month old) experiencing mononucleosis syndrome with coincidental human herpesvirus (HHV)-7 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections are described. One patient had primary HHV-7 infection and reactivated EBV infection. The other had primary HHV-7 and EBV infections. These cases indicated that HHV-7 is capable of inducing infectious mononucleosis-like illness. Multiple herpesvirus infection in one of the patients also suggests that interaction among herpesviruses can occur in vivo. The consequence of this interaction may have clinical implications.     

The EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire (QLQ-C30): validity and reliability when analysed with patients treated with palliative radiotherapy

The EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is designed to measure cancer patients' physical, psychological and social functions. The questionnaire is composed of multi-item scales and single items. 247 patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 before palliative radiotherapy and 181 after palliative radiotherapy. The questionnaire was well accepted with a high completion rate in the present patient population consisting of advanced cancer patients with short life expectancy. In addition, the questionnaire was found to be useful to detect the effect of palliative radiotherapy over time. The scale reliability was excellent for all scales except the role functioning scale. Excellent criterion validity was found for the emotional functioning scale where it was correlated with GHQ-20. Performance of the questionnaire was improved after the second evaluation as compared with the first. The present study shows that the EORTC QLQ-C30 is found to be practical and valid in measuring quality of life in patients with advanced disease.