Serial CT findings of Paragonimus infested dogs and the Micro-CT findings of the worm cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serial CT findings of Paragonimus westermani infected dogs and the microscopic structures of the worm cysts using Micro-CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the committee on animal research at our institution. Fifteen dogs infected with P. westermani underwent serial contrast-enhanced CT scans at pre-infection, after 10 days of infection, and monthly thereafter until six months for determining the radiologic-pathologic correlation. Three dogs (one dog each time) were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. After fixation of the lungs, both multi-detector CT and Micro-CT were performed for examining the worm cysts. RESULTS: The initial findings were pleural effusion and/or subpleural ground-glass opacities or linear opacities at day 10. At day 30, subpleural and peribronchial nodules appeared with hydropneumothorax and abdominal or chest wall air bubbles. Cavitary change and bronchial dilatation began to be seen on CT scan at day 30 and this was mostly seen together with mediastinal lymphadenopathy at day 60. Thereafter, subpleural ground-glass opacities and nodules with or without cavitary changes were persistently observed until day 180. After cavitary change of the nodules, the migratory features of the subpleural or peribronchial nodules were seen on all the serial CT scans. Micro-CT showed that the cyst wall contained dilated interconnected tubular structures, which had communications with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus. CONCLUSION: The CT findings of paragonimiasis depend on the migratory stage of the worms. The worm cyst can have numerous interconnected tubular channels within its own wall and these channels have connections with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus.     

复合珊瑚羟基磷灰石人工骨的研制及其成骨效应

目的 自行研制复合珊瑚羟基磷灰石人工骨并评估其成骨效应。方法 取南海澄黄滨珊瑚碳酸钙在特定条件下经过“热液交换反应”，制成单纯珊瑚羟基磷灰石(coralline Hydroxyapatite，CHA)人工骨，并将其与基因重组骨形态发生蛋白(rhBMP2)和几丁糖复合制成了三种复合珊瑚羟基磷灰石(composite Coralline Hydroxyapatite，CCHA)人工骨，将此三种不同配型的复合人工骨和单纯CHA人工骨分别植入四组24只SD大白鼠肌肉内。手术后2、4、6、8周取材进行组织学观察，计数高倍单位视野内的成骨细胞数量和炎性细胞数量。采用SPSS8.0统计软件处理系统分析。结果 术后各时期取材结果显示：B组(CHA rhBMP2)和D组(CHA rhBM2P 几丁糖)的单位视野内成骨细胞数量明显多于A组(单纯CHA)和C组(CHA 几丁糖)：而C组和D组的单位视野内炎性细胞数量明显少于A组和B组。即D组人工骨的单位视野内的成骨细胞数量多、炎性细胞少。结论 rhBMP2-几丁糖／CHA复合人工骨不但具有显著的成骨诱导作用，还具有炎症反应轻及持续的诱导成骨作用，是一良好的骨移植替代物。     

Refractory hemolytic uremic syndrome improved by plasmapheresis using cryosupernatant fraction as a replacement fluid: A case report

A 52-year-old woman who had had 6 months of chemotherapy using mitomycin C and cisplatin for cervical cancer presented with hemolytic uremic syndrome. Conventional plasmapheresis using whole-plasma fraction was ineffective. However, plasmapheresis using the cryosupernatant fraction dramatically improved symptoms of hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in this case. The activity of factor VIII in the cryosupernatant fraction of plasma as a replacement fluid decreased after removal of cryoprecipitate, indicating effective removal of von Willebrand factor. The pathogenesis of her hemolytic uremic syndrome may have been associated with von Willebrand factor multimers contained in the cryoprecipitate of plasma. Similar use of the cryosupernatant fraction of plasma could not be found in other reports of cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Plasmapheresis using the cryosupernatant fraction of plasma may improve refractory hemolytic uremic syndrome.     

Effect of Oral Administration of A Prostacyclin Analog (Op-41483) On Pulmonary Function and Bronchial Responsiveness in Stable Asthmatic Subjects

To examine whether prostacyclin has an attenuating effect on nonspecific bronchial responsiveness in asthma, we measured provocative concentration of methacholine producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (PC₂₀-FEV₁) before and after oral administration of a chemically stable prostacyclin analog (OP-41483) (200 μg 4 times a day for 4 days) in 8 patients with stable asthma. Neither baseline pulmonary function nor PC₂₀-FEV₁ significantly improved after the treatment. These results suggest that prostacyclin may have no direct effect on bronchial responsiveness in asthmatics. Further studies using more potent and long-lasting prostacyclin mimetic will be needed to confirm the conclusion.     

合肥市部分人群SARS认知及行为态度

目的　了解合肥市部分人群对 SARS的认知情况及行为态度。方法　对合肥市两个社区及一所大学的部分人群共 1332人进行现况调查 ,比较不同性别、职业、文化程度对 SARS的总体认知水平。结果　合肥市人群对 SARS的认知情况尚好 ,总体平均得分 ( 15 .0 2± 1.98)分 (总分 18分 )。结论　合肥市居民对 SARS的认知水平总体较高 ,但存在群体差异 ,卫生行政部门应加强对公众的宣传教育 ,以提高全体居民的健康意识 ,进而预防 SARS的发生     

Change in body image of patients with alcohol dependence during treatment process]

In order to find useful information for the establishment of new treatment method to alcohol dependence, we investigated the change of the body image of patients with alcohol dependence before and after the treatment. HABIT (Haga Body Image Test), a questionnaire about body image developed in department of psychiatry in Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, was used to examine the change of body image between pre- and post-3-month conventional treatment program in 46 patients with alcohol dependence hospitalized into special institutions for treatment of the disease in Kyoto. Patients with poor outcome of the treatment showed improvement of body image on visceral function, feeling of appetite and outward appearance, while patients with good outcome indicated no significant change in these aspects. This finding likely suggests that the treatment would result in good outcome in patients having stable feeling of physical health, and the cognitive treatment approach about these aspects of body image should be performed on the patients with poor treatment outcome. On the other hand, the body image about motor function showed significantly higher score in the patients approach for the patients with poor outcome to become aware of their physical activity would be effective.     

Ethylnitrosourea-induced apoptosis in primordial germ cells of the rat fetus.

Ethylnitrosourea (ENU) is a simple alkylating agent. It induces gene mutations in fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs), and a high incidence of congenital malformations is also found in the offspring of male mice treated with ENU at the embryonic stage. It is also reported that decreases in the fertility rate and weights of the testis and ovary were found in the offspring from dams treated with ENU. In this study, we analyzed the occurrence of apoptotic cell death and the expression of p53 protein which is thought to play an important role in the DNA damage-induced apoptosis after administration of ENU to pregnant rats on day 13 of gestation to obtain a clue for clarifying the toxic effect of ENU on PGCs. Apoptotic cells increased in PGCs in fetal gonads from 3 h after treatment. The number of apoptotic PGCs peaked at 6 h and gradually decreased towards 24 h after treatment. On the other hand, p53-positive PGCs increased from I h after treatment, prior to the induction of apoptosis. The number of p53-positive PGCs peaked at 3 h and returned to the control level at 24 h after treatment. These results suggest that ENU induces apoptosis in rat fetal PGCs immediately after its administration to dams and excess cell death by apoptosis may have a close relation to the later occurrence of decreases in the fertility rate and gonadal weight. Moreover, a possible involvement of p53 is suggested in the ENU-induced apoptosis in PGCs.     

New surgical technique of left ventricular free wall rupture: double patch sealing method.

We experienced two cases of left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Case 1, with the blowout type of LVFWR was initially closed by direct suture, followed by hemostasis using a double patch sealing method (DPS) by which the tear was doubly sealed with large and small bovine pericardium patches to which GRF glue was applied. Case 2 with the oozing type of LVFWR was treated only using DPS. Complete hemostasis was achieved in both cases, and aneurysmal dilatation or constrictive heart failure were not detected by postoperative left ventriculography. Therefore, DPS may be useful for treating LVFWR following AMI.     

Experimental Hydrocephalus in Suckling Hamster Induced by Myxovirus Infection

Abstract This study was undertaken to elucidate the pathogenesis of the hydrocephalus and aqueductal stenosis induced by intracerebral mumps virus inoculation in suckling hamsters.
Mild ventricular dilatation became apparent after 5 days of inoculation. Focal denuding of the ependymal layer and subsequent aqueductal stenosis were observed by 14 days after inoculation. The virus antigen was detected not only in the ependymal cells and choroid plexus, but also in some neurons in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and cerebellum. In the cerebral aqueduct, the orderly arrangement of the cilialy clusters was destroyed on the 5th day after inoculation. After 10 days, proliferation of GFAP positive cells was noticed around the cerebral aqueduct and subsequently caused aqueductal stenosis. In the advanced state of hydrocephalus, the cerebellum was displaced downward and showed an elongated, atrophic and sleevelike structure similar to the Arnold-Chiari malformation. It was suggested that the extensive damage of the ependymal cilia may account for early ventricular dilatation, and subsequent aqueductal stenosis with glial proliferation is the main cause of the advanced hydrocephalus. It has not yet been determined whether the mumps virus can pass through the human placenta or not. If it can, however, our results strongly suggest that mumps virus infection in the human fetus will cause congenital hydrocephalus.