Value of spiral CT in hemodynamically stable patients following blunt chest trauma

Introduction: Features of spiral CT (SCT) — fast scanning, dynamic injection of contrast allowing optimal vessel opacification, and supplemental multiplanar imaging — promises to provide increased accuracy in the diagnosis of acute and non acute thoracic vascular disease. Recent work demonstrating the cost effective triage of hemodynamically stable patients after blunt chest trauma for angiography based on dynamic CT findings has prompted an investigation into the accuracy of SCT in this clinical setting. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients seen in the emergency department over the period of one year for aortic, thoracic, or blunt chest trauma evaluation was performed (74 patients) and all SCT scans available were reviewed and data reformatted for optimal delineation of pathology using maximum intensity projection and multiplanar reformation. The accuracy and predictive positive and negative values of SCT were calculated with respect to angiography, surgical, and/or clinical follow up evaluation. Results: Twenty three (31%) patients went directly to angiography owing to mediastinal widening on chest film and hemodynamic instability, of which four were positive and required emergent surgery. Seven hemodynamically stable patients (9%) had noncontrast SCT owing to mediastinal widening on chest film, all of which had angiography with none having great vessel trauma. Fourty four hemodynamically stable patients (60%) had contrast enhanced SCT (ceSCT), of which five (11%) were abnormal and underwent angiography, four of these were positive for aortic damage, one for a subclavian artery laceration. Of the remaining 39 patients who had normal ceSCT; five had angiography, all of which were normal. Of the remaining 34 patients that had normal ceSCT none had adverse outcome on clinical follow-up, minimum of 12 months. Conclusion: The predictive positive value for aortic trauma of ceSCT in blunt trauma is 80%, with a predictive negative value of 100%, indicating that it is feasible for SCT to be a first line exam in blunt chest trauma in the future.     

Dodecon,das lösliche Hämagglutinin bei allen Adenoviren der Untergruppe II

Zusammenfassung Die Sedimentationsraten der kompletten löslichen Hämagglutinine der Adenoviren wurden bei 16 Prototypen der Untergruppe II im Saccharose-Gradienten bestimmt. Die Werte waren für alle Viren ähnlich (65±10S). Dies bedeutet, daß die strukturellen Komponenten ebenfalls identisch sein dürften, also Dodecon (1).

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Dodecon, the soluble hemagglutinin present in all adenovirus types of subgroup II

Summary The sedimentation rate of the soluble complete hemagglutinins of 16 prototype adenoviruses of subgroup II were determined by means of sucrose gradient centrifugation. The rates were similar for all types (65±10S), thus indicating that the structural components may also be identicali.e. dodecon (1).

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Durchgeführt mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Flow cytometric analysis of cell proliferation dynamics in the B cell compartment of the mouse

Using a method which allows simultaneous flow cytometric detectionof cell surface markers and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation,the distribution and proliferative behavior of B lineage subpopulationswas studied in intact adult mice. In the bone marrow we coulddefine two subsets of B cells on the basis of differential expressionof the pan-B cell marker B220 and of membrane-associated µand immunoglobulin heavy chains. B220^dullµ^+– Bcells were found to emerge from rapidly dividing cells and probablyrepresent B cells recently generated from B220^dullµ^–pie-B cells. In contrast, oniy few, If any, of the B220^brightµ⁺⁺B cells were labeled with BrdU after a period of 8 days, suggestingthat these cells represent long-lived B cells residing in thebone marrow. Analysis of BrdU-Incorporation into splenic B cellsshowed that only 20% of these cells had gone through cell divisionduring the preceding 8 days. Almost none of the B cells in theperitoneum, a large fraction of which belongs to the Ly1 B subset,were labeled with BrdU over a period of 7 days in 8-month-oldanimals.     

Urinary pharmacokinetics of betalains following consumption of red beet juice in healthy humans.

The aim of the present pilot study was to characterise the renal elimination of betalains after consumption of red beet juice (RBJ). Six healthy, non-smoking female volunteers were given a single oral dose of either 500 mL of a commercial RBJ containing 362.7 mg of betalains and 500 mL of tap water, respectively, in a sequential manner. Urine was collected in intervals up to 24 h post-dose. Renal excretion of betalains was determined spectrophotometrically and quantified as betanin-equivalents. In addition, the identity of individual compounds was confirmed by HPLC coupled with diode-array detection and positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry, respectively. The amount (mean+/-S.D.) of intact betalains (betanin and isobetanin) recovered in urine was 1001+/-273 microg corresponding to 0.28+/-0.08% of the administered dose. Maximum excretion rates were observed after a median tmax,R of 3.0 h (range 2.5-8.0 h) amounting to 91.7+/-30.1 microg/h. The terminal elimination rate constant (lambdaz) and the corresponding half-life were 0.097+/-0.021 h(-1) and 7.43+/-1.47 h, respectively. Using the lambdaz estimates obtained the expected total betalain amount excreted in urine was 1228+/-291 microg. Based on the results obtained it is assumed that either the bioavailability of the betalains is low or that renal clearance is a minor route of systemic elimination for these compounds. The urinary excretion rates of unmetabolised betalains were fast and appeared to be monoexponential suggesting a one-compartment model. In order to get a more complete picture of the pharmacokinetics and health-promoting properties of red beet betalains, quantitative data on betalain bioavailability should include measurements of unchanged compounds and their corresponding metabolites in plasma, urine and bile.     

中西医结合治疗重型颅脑损伤及出血性中风并发应激性溃疡出血的效果观察

目的探索重型颅脑损伤及出血性中风并发应激性溃疡出血的中西医结合治疗效果,以发挥中西医结合治疗的优势.方法 96例应激性溃疡出血患者被随机分为观察组(48例)和对照组(48例).观察组在对照组常规治疗的基础上加用云南白药和白芨.结果观察组显效率72.92%,总有效率为93.75%;对照组显效率45.83%,总有效率为77.09%,经χ2检验,两组显效率差异有非常显著性(χ2＝7.43,P＜0.01),总有效率差异有显著性(χ2＝4.34,P＜0.05).结论中西医结合治疗重型颅脑损伤及出血性中风合并应激性溃疡出血是一种十分有效的方法.