Isolation of chlamydiae in untreated and Cytochalasin B treated McCoy cells.

A comparison was made between untreated McCoy cells and McCoy cells treated with Cytochalasin B for the isolation of chlamydiae of subgroup A. Chlamydiae were isolated in both cell systems from 125 specimens, whereas six agents were isolated only in untreated cultures and seven agents were isolated only in Cytochalasin B treated cultures.     

Hybrid intravenous digital subtraction angiography of the carotid bifurcation

A hybrid digital subtraction angiography technique and noise-reduction algorithm were used to evaluate the carotid bifurcation. Temporal, hybrid, and reduced-noise hybrid images were obtained in right and left anterior oblique projections, and both single- and multiple-frame images were created with each method. The resulting images were graded on a scale of 1 to 5 by three experienced neuroradiologists. Temporal images were preferred over hybrid images (average score = 3.2 and 2.4, respectively). The percentage of nondiagnostic examinations, as agreed upon by two readers, was higher for temporal alone than temporal + hybrid (4 and 1, respectively). In addition, also by agreement between two readers, temporal + hybrid images significantly increased the number of bifurcations seen in two views (87%) compared to temporal subtraction alone (64%).     

Chlorpromazine--a specific effect on breathlessness?

Previous work has left unresolved questions on whether promethazine reduces the sensation of breathlessness. This study was designed to provide a definitive answer and to determine the contributions from promethazine's major pharmacological actions. Twelve healthy subjects participated in a double-blind, within-subject comparison of promethazine and placebo each given acutely by mouth. Breathlessness was assessed with visual analogue scales during a progressive exercise test and was related to minute ventilation. Promethazine had no significant effect on breathlessness nor on the relationship between breathlessness and ventilation. The role of histamine-antagonism was investigated in a subgroup of the subjects by administration of mebhydrolin. No effect on breathlessness was detected. In contrast, the standard phenothiazine, chlorpromazine, caused a marked and statistically significant reduction in breathlessness without affecting ventilation and without causing detectable sedation. This unexpected finding merits further study in patients and is discussed with reference to the role of chlorpromazine as a constituent of Brompton's Mixture.     

The challenge of evaluating annual mammography screening for young women with a family history of breast cancer

It has been recommended that women aged 40-49 years with a significant family history of breast cancer should be offered annual mammography screening (http://www.nice.org.uk). An observational study known as FH01 (http://www.screeningservices.org/btw/fh01/index.asp) is evaluating this policy in a cohort of 6000 women at moderately increased risk of breast cancer due to family history. The main aims are to assess the likely impact on breast cancer mortality and cost-effectiveness. Measuring these outcomes is challenging in an environment where a randomized trial is not feasible and there is no natural comparison group. In this paper, we present some approaches to estimating effectiveness and the planned analyses. These involve comparison of disease stage and likely consequent breast cancer mortality in the cohort offered screening with that estimated in the absence of screening. The estimation uses observed outcomes in external populations and estimated outcomes for the hypothetical situation where screening had not taken place.     

固相萃取GC-FID和GC-MS分析血浆中碱性药物

报道了用X-5固相萃取分离、毛细管GC-FID和GC-MS定性定量分析人血浆中34种碱性药物的方法。在优化的提取条件下,大部分药物的最低检测浓度在0.5～2.0μg·ml^-1之间,线性范围、定量精密度等满足临床中毒分析的要求。