Lymphomatous superficial lymph nodes: US detection

Superficial adenopathy is the most frequent clinical manifestation of lymphoma, both at initial workup and later when disease recurs. Data obtained by means of physical examination and ultrasonography (US) of the cervicosupraclavicular, axillary, and inguinal regions were compared for 120 patients, 60 at the time of initial staging and 60 during follow-up for a previously treated lymphoma. Twenty-nine in the second group had recurrent disease, as confirmed with histologic examination. For all 120 patients, US revealed clinically impalpable lesions in an average of 10.8% of cases for the cervicosupraclavicular region, 17.9% for the axillary region, and 4.1% for the inguinal region. Eight of the 29 relapses were not detected at physical examination, and three were demonstrated solely with US. These findings emphasize the value of US exploration of the superficial node-bearing regions in patients with lymphoma, during both initial staging and follow-up.     

Évaluation médico-économique du baclofène intrathécal chez les patients présentant une spasticité chronique sévère

A medicoeconomic evaluation of continuous intrathecal baclofen (Lioresal^®) infusion for symptomatic treatment of severe spinal spasticity was realised using a monocentric, comparative, retrospective approach where subjects were their own controls (n = 22). Study results confirm the efficacy of baclofen on symptoms, functional status of patients and on a non specific quality of life scale. Conversely, use of baclofen lead to a 67% increase of average annual costs of care for these patients and reaches around 173,500 French francs (~29,000 US$)/year. Such a cost seems to be acceptable with respect to clinical benefits. © 1998 Elsevier, Paris     

Cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferation is enhanced in primary sclerosing cholangitis: A role for IL-17A

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the biliary tree and a risk factor for development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The pathogenesis of PSC-related CCA is largely unclear, although it is assumed that chronic inflammatory environment plays a pivotal role. We aimed to investigate the effect of inflammation-related cytokines in PSC on the proliferation rate of cancer cells. For this, the proliferation index in PSC-CCA and sporadic CCA was determined by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. The percentage of Ki-67 positivity in cancer cells was significantly higher in PSC-CCA than in sporadic CCA (41.3% ± 5.7% vs 25.8% ± 4.1%; P = .038). To assess which cytokines in the inflammatory environment have the potential to stimulate cancer cell proliferation, patient-derived CCA organoids (CCAOs) were exposed to five cytokines related to PSC (Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha). Only IL-17A showed a significant stimulatory effect on cell proliferation in CCAOs, increasing organoid size by 45.9% ± 16.4% (P < .01) and proliferation rate by 38% ± 16% (P < .05). IL-17A immunohistochemistry demonstrated that PSC-CCA might express more IL-17A than sporadic CCA. Moreover, correlation analysis in sporadic CCA and PSC-CCA found a significant correlation between IL-17A expression and proliferation. In conclusion, tumor cell proliferation is increased in PSC-CCA cells compared with sporadic CCA cells. IL-17A increases CCA cell proliferation in vitro and may contribute to the high proliferation rate in PSC-CCA in situ. Therefore, IL-17A represents a new potential therapeutic target in (PSC-)CCA, to be tested in future trials.     

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in adults is proving to be useful. The aim of this study was to determine if ABPM is accurate in the lower blood pressure range encountered in children and, equally important, whether it is acceptable to children. Thirty one children, between the ages of 6 and 18 years, were assessed using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that uses an auscultatory method. Blood pressure was measured in the contralateral arm with a mercury sphygmomanometer and an oscillometric device at the beginning and end of the study for comparison. Over a blood pressure range of 90-130 mm Hg systolic and 40-80 mm Hg diastolic, a close agreement was found with the sphygmomanometer; the limits of agreement (+/- 2 SD) were 11.6 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and 13.6 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The bias was less than 1.0 mm Hg. The ambulatory device was worn by all patients for at least 16 hours with an average of 52 recordings per patient. The majority found the device comfortable to wear and were not woken from sleep.     

Lactobezoar and cows' milk protein intolerance

A baby girl of an atopic family who developed eczema, asthma, and cows' milk protein intolerance was found to have a gastric lactobezoar at age 9 1/2 months. She responded well to the removal of the bezoar and to the appropriate dietary treatment.     

在缝合基础上局部应用纤维蛋白胶对周围神经再生的影响

目的:在缝合的基础上局部应用纤维蛋白胶治疗损伤的周围神经,观察纤维蛋白胶对周围神经再生的影响。方法:实验于2005-03/07在大连医科大学中心实验室完成。实验材料:纤维蛋白胶(广州倍绣生物技术有限公司,主要成分:纤维蛋白原50～70mg/支和凝血酶400U/支,从哺乳动物血中提纯,经过灭菌消毒,冻干制成,不含致热源)。实验分组:选择健康SD大鼠48只,按随机数字表法分为两组,每组24只:单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组、单纯缝合组。实验方法:大鼠麻醉后,于左大腿后外侧做2cm纵切口,显露坐骨神经。距梨状肌下缘远侧约1.5cm处切断坐骨神经,切除远端1～2mm,采用10-0无创伤线缝合神经外膜,使远近端保留约1～2mm间隙。单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组:对称缝合2针,将纤维蛋白胶注入缝合周围在神经对合端生成凝胶环,混合物固化形成再生室。单纯缝合组:单纯外膜缝合。实验评估:①术后连续观察动物行为学:手术侧后肢及足趾的运动情况,有无溃疡形成,足趾、趾甲的溃疡愈合情况,观察展爪反射。②术后8周两组各取4只大鼠行神经电生理检查,检测神经传导速度、潜伏期。③术后2,4,6,8周两组各取2只大鼠行苏木精-伊红染色后光镜下观察神经再生情况。④术后8周两组各取4只大鼠采用LUZEX-F彩色图像分析仪对甲苯胺蓝染色神经组织切片中轴突数目及轴突直径进行分析。⑤术后8周两组各取4只大鼠行醋酸铀枸橼酸铅染色,Phlip-10型透射电镜下观察轴突再生情况。⑥术后8周两组各取4只大鼠行辣根过氧化物酶标记观察脊髓前角运动神经元情况。结果:纳入大鼠48只,均进入结果分析。①术后大鼠行为学观察:术后8周单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组大鼠除足趾略见下垂、屈曲现象外,步态基本正常,展爪反射基本正常,下肢活动已接进正常,单纯缝合组下肢活动略差。②神经电生理检查:术后8周单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组神经传导速度快于单纯缝合组[分别为(11.13±0.37),(9.26±0.44)m/s],潜伏期短于单纯缝合组[分别为(1.83±0.18),(2.17±0.19)ms],差异有显著性意义(F=27.78,5.53,P<0.05)。③光镜下神经再生情况:单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组再生的有髓神经纤维髓鞘较厚、直径较大、数量多、排列规则,再生良好。单纯缝合组再生的有髓神经纤维髓鞘较薄、直径较小、数量少、排列不规则,再生较差。④轴突数目及轴突直径:单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组在轴突数目、轴突直径大于单纯缝合组[分别为(2187±107),(1847±96)个/400倍视野;(2.79±0.15),(2.05±0.17)μm],差异有显著性意义(F=80.70,42.92,P<0.05)。⑤透射电镜下轴突再生情况:术后8周单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组大鼠再生轴突发育良好,排列有序,轴突直径大小相差小,髓鞘厚薄一致,轴突染色均匀,雪旺细胞核呈卵圆型。单纯缝合组大鼠轴突发育差,排列不规则,髓鞘薄,可见扩张血管,部分区域有出血水肿。⑥辣根过氧化物酶标记观察脊髓前角运动神经元情况:单纯缝合 纤维蛋白胶组在实验侧腰骶段前角可见辣根过氧化物酶标记的大型运动神经元,且数目较多。单纯缝合组标记的数量较少。结论:在修复神经过程中应用纤维蛋白胶,可明显促进损伤的周围神经修复与再生,优于单纯缝合的效果。