Meta-analysis: the efficacy of intravenous H2-receptor antagonists in bleeding peptic ulcer

BACKGROUND: Although a previous meta-analysis found that intravenous H2-receptor antagonists were only weakly beneficial in bleeding gastric ulcer and of no benefit in bleeding duodenal ulcer, patients with ulcer bleeding continue to receive such treatment. AIM: To re-evaluate the efficacy of intravenous H2-receptor antagonists in ulcer re-bleeding, surgery and mortality by updating the previous meta-analysis. METHODS: After two independent literature searches, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of intravenous H2-receptor antagonists in bleeding ulcer published between 1984 and 2000 were added to those from the initial meta-analysis. Pooled rates of re-bleeding, surgery and death were re-calculated, together with the relative risk reduction, absolute risk reduction, number needed to treat and Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio. RESULTS: Intravenous H2-receptor antagonists did not significantly reduce re-bleeding, surgery or death in bleeding duodenal ulcer. There were small but significant reductions in re-bleeding, surgery and death in bleeding gastric ulcer; the absolute risk reductions were 7.2%, 6.7% and 3.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous H2-receptor antagonists are of no value in bleeding duodenal ulcer, although they may be mildly beneficial in bleeding gastric ulcer. Because proton pump inhibitors have a greater inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion than H2-receptor antagonists, they may be more effective in ulcer bleeding and should be further evaluated for that indication.     

质子泵抑制剂治疗消化性溃疡出血的系统评价和汇总分析

目的回顾关于质子泵抑制剂治疗溃疡出血患者的随机对照研究，确定该治疗对于死亡率、再出血和外科干预措施的影响。设计系统评价和汇总分析。资料来源包括Cochrane协作网的临床试验注册库、Medline、Embase、手工检索的摘要和制药公司。评价方法在经内镜证实存在溃疡出血并至少有以下事件之一——死亡、再出电、外科干预的患者中，进行随机对照研究，比较质子泵抑制剂与安慰剂或H2受体拮抗剂的疗效。所有临床试验依据方法学质量来进行分级。由2个评定者独立回顾每个临床试验，将分歧按照多数人的意见来统一。结果我们选出了21项随机对照研究，包括2915例患者。质子泵抑制剂治疗对于死亡率没有显著影响[比值比1．11，95％可信区间0．79～1．57；需要治疗的人数（NNT）无法计算]。但是质子泵抑制剂可以降低再出血的发生（0．46，0．33～0．64；NNT为12）和外科治疗的比例（0．59，0．46～0．76；NNT为20）。对其中10项具有高质量方法学的临床试验进行汇总分析，得到相似的结论：死亡率的OR值为0．96（0．46～2．01）；再出血的OR值为0．41（0．25～0．68），NNT为10；外科手术的OR值为0．62（0．46～0．83），NNT为25。结论质子泵抑制剂的治疗可以降低溃疡的再出血风险，减少对外科手术的需要，但患者的总体死亡率没有改善。     

重型颅脑损伤开颅术中急性脑膨出原因及防治

目的探讨重型颅脑损伤开颅术中急性脑膨出原因及防治。方法对术中出现急性脑膨出的46例病人进行回顾性分析。结果导致脑膨出的主要原因有迟发性颅内血肿、急性弥漫性脑肿胀、低血压、低血氧及较大回流静脉的损伤。结论术中出现急性脑膨出的病因是多方面的，针对不同的病因采取相应的措施，可以减轻脑组织的损害，降低病死率。     

Survey of the definition and screening of neonatal hypoglycaemia in Australia

Objective : To determine the approach to identifying neonatal hypoglycaemia and the definition of neonatal hypoglycaemia used by neonatal paediatricians in Australian Level 3 neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
Methodology : A questionnaire was sent to the 101 neonatal paediatricians in the 22 Level 3 NICU in Australia asking their method of screening for, and definition of, neonatal hypoglycaemia.
Results : Responses were received from 70 neonatal paediatricians, including all 22 directors. A bedside glucose meter is used in 19 of 22 NICU to screen for hypoglycaemia, whilst one NICU uses a glucose analyzer and another NICU uses a visual colour comparison method. One NICU does not screen, but has blood glucose measured in a satellite laboratory. If the screening method suggests hypoglycaemia, 62 of 63 neonatal paediatricians proceed to blood glucose determination in a laboratory, mostly using plasma samples. Based on the laboratory measurement, the definition of neonatal hypoglycaemia ranged from <1.1 to 3.0 mmol/L.
Conclusions : The majority of neonatal paediatricians in Australian NICU screen for neonatal hypoglycaemia using a bedside glucose meter. There is a wide range in the definition of neonatal hypoglycaemia from <1.1 to 3.0mmol/L.     

Heterogeneity of chemosensitivity of esophageal and gastric carcinoma

Esophageal and gastric cancer have a poor prognosis, and chemotherapy is rarely of long-term benefit. This may be related in part to heterogeneity of chemosensitivity and to constitutive resistance to individual cytotoxic drugs. This study aimed to demonstrate the degree of heterogeneity of chemosensitivity between tumors. We have examined the heterogeneity of chemosensitivity in esophageal and gastric cancer specimens (n=85) using an ex vivo ATP-based chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA). A variety of chemotherapeutic agents were tested. Sixty-four specimens were endoscopic biopsy samples; the remainder were from resection specimens. Cells were obtained from 62 specimens (73%). Eight assays were infected due to contamination/infection of the biopsy material, giving an evaluability rate of 87%. Analysis of the data showed considerable heterogeneity of chemosensitivity. The most active single agents identified by the assay were mitomycin C (56% sensitivity) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 42% sensitivity). Exposure of tumor cells to combinations of drugs showed ECF (epirubicin, cisplatin, 5-FU) and mitomycin C+5-FU to be moderately active regimens. Other experimental drug combinations showed greater activity. There is a marked heterogeneity of chemosensitivity in esophageal and gastric cancers. The degree of heterogeneity observed suggests that the ATP-TCA could be used to individualize chemotherapy by selecting agents for particular patients. This approach provides the rationale for a trial of ATP-TCA-directed therapy to determine whether individualization of chemotherapy might improve patient response and survival.