PHARMACOKINETICS OF PROPOFOL IN CHILDREN

The pharmacokinetics of propofol were studied in 12 healthyChinese children, aged 4–12 yr, undergoing circumcisionunder inhalation an-aesthesia. All patients received a singlei.v. bolus dose of propofol 2.5 mg kg^–1 and blood concentrationsof propofol over the subsequent 24 h were measured using highpressure liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.Data were consistent with a three-compartment model with a mean(SEM) elimination half-life of 209 (29) min and total body clearanceof 40.4 (3.6) ml min^–1 kg^–1. The mean (SEM) apparentvolume of distribution at steady state was 5.0 (2.7) litre kg^–1and volume of the central compartment was 0.6 (0.1) litre kg^–1.The mean (SEM) ratio of k₁₂: k₂₁ was 1.4 (0.2), suggesting that,after injection of a single bolus dose in children, propofolis distributed rapidly to the shallow compartment. The meanratio of k₃₁: k₁₀ suggests that lipophilicity constrains returnof the drug to the central compartment.     

Cremation of Leadless Pacemaker

Cremation of implanted cardiac electronic devices can be associated with explosion from rapid gas formation causing potential hazard to the crematoria staffs and facilities. We present four patients who had undergone cremation with a leadless pacemaker (Micra^TM, Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) left inside their bodies. There was neither reported explosion nor damage to the cremation chamber during the cremation process. In this small series, cremation of Micra^TM is not associated with noticeable explosion.     

Clinicopathological features of megaloblastic anaemia in Hong Kong: a study of 84 Chinese patients

Megaloblastic anaemia is uncommon in Hong Kong. Eighty-four consecutive Chinese patients with megaloblastic anaemia were studied. There were 48 males and 36 females, with a median age at presentation of 67 years. Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in all cases, with none of the patients showing folate deficiency. The frequency of pernicious anaemia in our patients was higher than in other south-east Asian series but comparable with western ones. When compared with patients in the West, our cases showed the following main differences: virtual absence of folate deficiency, even in alcoholics; absence of associated gastric malignancies; and a high frequency of tuberculosis.     

广东翁源县新生儿脐带血铅含量及影响因素

目的 调查广东省翁源县新生儿脐带血铅的含量,分析其影响因素,为当地优生优育政策提供科学依据。方法 选取广东省韶关市翁源县妇幼保健院和新江镇卫生院作为研究现场,对所有在2011年9月1日-2012年8月31日分娩的576名孕妇进行问卷调查,同时采集新生儿脐带血标本。结果 576名新生儿脐带血铅含量为12.77～253.63 μg/L,中位数和四分位数间距分别为31.96和18.37 μg/L;44名（7.64%）新生儿脐带血铅含量>100 μg/L;单因素分析显示,孕期住房距公路距离>50 m（OR=0.39,95%CI=0.19～0.78）、孕妇孕期平均每天走公路时间>30 min（OR=2.51,95%CI=1.30～4.84）、孕期喝咖啡（OR=4.47,95%CI=2.38～8.39）、孕期饮茶（OR=3.00,95%CI=1.60～5.62）和孕期补钙（OR=0.26,95%CI=0.13～0.52）与新生儿脐带血铅含量有关;多因素分析显示,孕期喝咖啡（OR=3.58,95%CI=1.11～11.57）和补钙（OR=0.31,95%CI=0.10～0.97）与新生儿脐带血铅含量有关。结论 当地新生儿脐带血铅含量水平较高,孕妇妊娠期住宅距公路距离及其生活习惯与之相关。     

Trisomy 8 in acute promyelocytic leukaemia: an interphase study by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Summary. Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is characterized by t(15;17)(q24;q21). Trisomy 8 is the commonest accompanying karyotypic aberration. We investigated 14 APL patients for trisomy 8 using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Conventional cytogenetic analysis showed trisomy 8 in two of nine successfully karyotyped cases. With FISH, a possible third case showing a subclone (1-2-5%) with trisomy 8 was found. The trisomy 8 clone size defined by karyotyping and FISH was concordant in one case and discordant in another, in which trisomy 8 was found in 100% of metaphases but only in 48% of leukaemic prbmyelocytes by FISH. Therefore trisomy 8 was mosaic in all the cases, suggesting that it had arisen from clonal evolution. AU-trans-retinoic acid successfully induced morphologic remission in both cases with trisomy 8.