Inhibition of bone healing by pamidronate in calvarial bony defects.

OBJECTIVE: Pamidronate has been studied as a therapeutic drug for various osteopenic diseases. However, avascular osteonecrosis in the jawbone has been recently reported in patients receiving pamidronate. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of pamidronate on bone regeneration in a controlled animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the effect of parmidronate on bone healing in a local bony defect area, a rabbit calvarial bony defect model was used and poly L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) used as a drug carrier material. Four defect groups were made in each rabbit calvaria and the defects were treated as follows: untreated bony defect (group 1), PLGA only (group 2), 2 mg of pamidronate with PLGA (group 3), and 3 mg of pamidronate with PLGA (group 4). Bone healing was evaluated by radiography and histology at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: In radiographic analysis, radiopacity was lower in pamidronate groups than non-operated rabbit calvarial bone at all observation points (P < .05). In histological analysis, the initial bone formation at 1 week was not different among groups, but it was much lower in the pamidronate groups than in the control or PLGA group after 2 weeks. Newly formed bone at 1 week underwent avascular necrosis after 2 weeks in both pamidronate groups. Avascular necrosis was not observed until 8 weeks in both topically applied pamidronate groups. CONCLUSION: Collectively, pamidronate inhibits bone healing in rabbit calvarial bony defect and it may explain the avascular necrosis of the jaws in patients receiving pamidronate.     

Treatment failure in intracranial primary germinomas

Object A radiation dose of 40–50 Gy is able to produce a cure rate of more than 90% in intracranial pure germinoma. However, many attempts have been made to reduce the dose and volume of radiation without compromising the disease control rate because of the toxicity of irradiation. This retrospective study is intended to provide the physician with an appropriate therapeutic strategy. Materials and methods We reviewed a series of 10 recurrent germinomas among 117 germinomas diagnosed histologically or clinically between 1979 and 2002. These patients involved underwent three different treatment modalities; radiation alone (N = 71), chemotherapy alone (N = 9), and combined therapy (N = 37). The 10-year overall and relapse-free survival rates were 97 and 93% in the radiation alone group, 89 and 67% in the chemotherapy alone group, and 92 and 92% in the combined therapy group, respectively. As expected, both radiation therapy and combined therapy were effective in controlling the disease. Tumor recurrence was closely related to the volume of radiation but not to the dose of radiation. If the tumor bed and craniospinal axis were fully covered, the radiation dose might be reduced. Chemotherapy alone showed earlier recurrence and a higher tumor recurrence rate. In the case of combined therapy, chemotherapy was useful in reducing the radiation dose but revealed some toxicity (death of two patients). Conclusions The investigation of a possible further dose reduction seems worthwhile. Radiation therapy alone with a dose of less than 40 Gy should be compared with ongoing chemotherapeutic protocols combined with low-dose irradiation.     

Effects of Botulinum Toxin Type A on Contouring of the Lower Face

BACKGROUND: Masseteric muscle hypertrophy is an uncommon dition represented as a swelling of the masseter muscle. Recent reports have demonstrated the successful use of botulinum in the treatment of masseteric hypertrophy. OBJECTIVE: This study was a prospective trial to evaluate the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) in the treatment of masseteric muscle hypertrophy according to doses of 10, 20, and 30 U. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients were referred to the dermatologic clinic for the management of masseteric muscle hypertrophy. Ultrasonographic measurements of the thickness of the masseter muscle were performed, and clinical photographs were taken before treatment and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 months after the treatment. RESULTS. The median values of percentage reduction of muscle mass were 10.3%, 16.5%, 23.7%, 24.7%, 21.6%, 16.5% in the 10 U group; 11.9%, 18.8%, 24.8%, 27.7%, 26.7%, and 21.8% in the 20 U group; and 12.0%, 19.4%, 25.0%, 27.8%, 37.8%, and 24.1% in the 30 U group. CONCLUSION. The adequate dose of botulinum toxin type A for treatment of masseteric muscle hypertrophy should be above 20 U. The effect of botulinum toxin type A is maintained for at least 9 months as the treatment of masseteric muscle hypertrophy.     

Pituitary abscess in a pregnant woman.

Pituitary abscess is a rare and potentially lethal condition. Pituitary abscess in a pregnant woman has not been previously described. A 38-year-old pregnant woman (34 weeks gestation) with a pituitary mass complained of a progressive headache and sudden visual impairment. She was afebrile and had no inflammatory symptoms on admission. On MRI, the preoperative diagnosis was pituitary adenoma with sphenoid sinusitis. She underwent an uncomplicated transsphenoidal procedure for removal of the pituitary mass. The next day, labor commenced and a healthy preterm baby was delivered. Pathologic examination of the intrasellar mass showed polymorphonuclear cells, debris and no tumor cells. The sellar contents were cultured and Streptococcus viridans was grown. To our knowledge this is the first case of pituitary abscess reported during pregnancy. Although the patient was pregnant, the transsphenoidal approach was safe for the mother and the fetus. Surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy are required for the definitive treatment of this condition.     

Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Induces Apoptosis through Down-Regulation of c-mycGene and Overexpression of p27Protein in Cervical Carcinoma

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is known to be a potent growth inhibitor for many cell types, including most epithelial cells. In skin keratinocytes, TGF-β1 has been shown to inhibit growth and to rapidly reduce c-mycexpression. However, the molecular mechanism of TGF-β1 action on cell growth of cervical carcinoma has not yet been elucidated. We thus assessed the effect of TGF-β1 on the growth of cervical carcinoma cell lines. Two cervical squamous carcinoma cell lines, CUMC-3 and CUMC-6, were incubated with varying concentrations of TGF-β1, and growth inhibition was evaluated with tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. After culture in TGF-β1 for 24 h, inhibition of growth was detected in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 0.1–10 ng/ml in both cell lines. This effect of TGF-β1 on cultured carcinoma cells was associated with apoptotic process including oligonucleosomal ladder DNA and apoptotic body formations. Northern blot analysis revealed c-mycmRNA expression was suppressed by 10 ng/ml of TGF-β1 following 3 h of treatment in both cell lines. Western blot analysis showed that the level of p27^Kip1protein was increased after TGF-β1 treatment in both cell lines. These results suggest that the mechanisms by which TGF-β1 inhibits the growth of cervical carcinoma are complex and may include effects on down-regulation of c-mycgene, and overexpression of p27^Kip1protein.     

Inter- and intra-individual variability of non-invasive tear break-up time in Hong Kong Chinese

Non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT) has been proposed as a measure of tear film integrity which is superior to the more commonly used tear break-up time (TBUT), since it does not alter the volume or the physicochemical properties of the tear layer by the addition of fluorescein. We measured NITBUT by measuring the time taken for distortions or discontinuities to appear in the reflected image of a grid pattern which covered about 80 per cent of the corneal surface. NITBUT measures were made 100 times on seven Hong Kong Chinese subjects with up to 20 consecutive measures being made on a single day. We also measured NITBUT on one occasion on an unselected population of 52 Hong Kong Chinese subjects. NITBUT shows a skewed distribution in all subjects, with many shorter values and some extremely long values. There are statistically significant variations in NITBUT from day to day, and from subject to subject. The group of 52 subjects also had a skewed NITBUT distribution with many short values and some very long values. The arithmetic mean does not adequately represent NITBUT data, either for individual subjects or for this group of subjects. As many as five to eight measures may be necessary to gain a stable estimate of the NITBUT and stability of the measure is improved if extreme values are omitted. We recommend the use of nonparametric statistics to compare NITBUT values from day to day in or between subjects.     

化学中毒与急性缺氧的双因素联合效应的实验研究

目的 研究化学中毒与急性缺氧两因素的联合效应。方法 建立常压常氧、常压缺氧和低压缺氧3种模型，以梭曼(Soman)、氰化钠(NaCN)和4-DMAP(4-dimethylaminophenol)为代表，测定大鼠、小鼠、家猫、PC12细胞、兔血红细胞等在3种模型条件下对毒物药物的行为、生化和生理指标变化。结果梭曼单独作用可导致动物协调运动下降、脑等组织含水率增加、脑组织AChE活性降低、MR下调、NE和cAMP含量增加。急性缺氧单独作用也可引起动物协调运动及自主活动的降低、脑等组织含水率的增加、外周血和脑组织AChE活性升高、MR受体上调、NE和cAMP含量增加、4-DMAP药效升高。化学中毒与急性缺氧同时作用，上述变化更加复杂。结论 化学中毒与急性缺氧两种因素同时作用于机体，对机体产生广泛而复杂的损伤作用。此种作用为两因素的联合效应。缺氧引起的机体功能下降对联合效应的增加部分贡献较大。急性缺氧既可使重要的组织成分发生质或量的变化，也会影响某些抗毒剂的作用强度。     

糖皮质激素在川崎病治疗中作用的循证医学研究

目的 通过循证医学方法研究肾上腺皮质激素在川崎病治疗中的作用.方法 采用循证医学方法,检索国内外5种大型专业数据库,筛选出随机或半随机对照研究的文献,再人工筛查确定适宜文献.通过Meta分析,比较激素与丙种球蛋白治疗川崎病在退热时间和冠状动脉病变发生率方面的差异.结果 初筛得到443篇文献.经过人工检索,8篇文献符合要求而被纳入标准.其中,3篇文献共有49例川崎病患儿接受甲基强的松龙治疗,5篇文献共有406例患儿接受强的松治疗.对照组共有33例接受静脉丙种球蛋白治疗,435例接受阿司匹林治疗.各组间患儿性别、年龄、病程差异无显著意义.①甲基强的松龙组(3篇文献):24例发生冠状动脉病变,对照组18例发生,两组病变发生率差异无显著意义.在退热方面,1篇文献显示甲基强的松龙组发热时间明显较丙种球蛋白组缩短,差异有显著意义;2篇文献显示差异无显著意义.②强的松组(8篇文献):28例发生冠状动脉瘤,阿司匹林对照组11例发生,3篇文献提示强的松组冠状动脉瘤发生率明显高于对照组.强的松组76例发生冠状动脉扩张,对照组75例发生,3篇文献提示强的松组冠状动脉扩张发生率明显高于对照组,2篇文献提示强的松组冠状动脉扩张发生率略低于对照组,但差异无显著意义.结论 目前的研究资料显示,激素治疗与丙种球蛋白治疗川崎病在冠状动脉病变发生率方面尚无差异或增高.在缩短热程上两者差异也不显著.尚可进一步通过更大数量病例的随机对照研究来证实本结果.目前治疗川崎病不主张单独应用激素.