Refinements of environmental assessment during an outbreak investigation of invasive aspergillosis in a leukemia and bone marrow transplant unit.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate an outbreak of aspergillosis in a leukemia and bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit and to improve environmental assessment strategies to detect Aspergillus. DESIGN: Epidemiological investigation and detailed environmental assessment. SETTING: A tertiary-care university hospital with a 37-bed leukemia and BMT unit PARTICIPANTS: Leukemic or BMT patients with invasive aspergillosis identified through prospective surveillance and confirmed by chart review. INTERVENTIONS: We verified the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection by reviewing medical charts of at-risk patients, performing a case-control study to determine risk factors for infection, instituting wet mopping to clean all floors, providing N95 masks to protect patients outside high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered areas, altering traffic patterns into the unit, and performing molecular typing of selected Aspergillus flavus isolates. To assess the environment, we verified pressure relationships between the rooms and hallway and between buildings, and we compared the ability of large-volume (1,200 L) and small-volume (160 L) air samplers to detect Aspergillus spores. RESULTS: Of 29 potential invasive aspergillosis cases, 21 were confirmed by medical chart review. Risk factors for developing invasive aspergillosis included the length of time since malignancy was diagnosed (odds ratio [OR], 1.0; P=.05) and hospitalization in a patient room located near a stairwell door (OR, 3.7; P=.05). Two of five A. flavus patient isolates were identical to one of the environmental isolates. The pressure in most of the rooms was higher than in the corridors, but the pressure in the oncology unit was negative with respect to the physically adjacent hospital; consequently, the unit acted essentially as a vacuum that siphoned non-HEPA-filtered air from the main hospital. Of the 78 samples obtained with a small-volume air sampler, none grew an Aspergillus species, whereas 10 of 40 cultures obtained with a large-volume air sampler did. CONCLUSIONS: During active construction, Aspergillus spores may have entered the oncology unit from the physically adjacent hospital because the air pressure differed. Guidelines that establish the minimum acceptable pressures and specify which pressure relationships to test in healthcare settings are needed. Our data show that large-volume air samples are superior to small-volume samples to assess for Aspergillus in the healthcare environment.     

开放性结肠直肠切除术后的腹内游离气体

立位Ｘ线胸片可敏感而特异地显示膈下游离气体 ,对开放性结肠直肠切除术后空腔脏器出现破损是一项有效的检查 ,但由于剖腹术后气腹自然吸收所需要的时间未知 ,其作用尚未被确定。本次试验的目的即在于确定这一时间。　　 3个月内连续 92例接受了连续性结肠直肠切除术的病人 (8例拒绝合作 ,9例采用了腹腔镜技术 )中的 75例参与了这次试验 (平均年龄 6 2 1岁 ,男∶女 =1 3∶1) ,手术指征分别为直肠癌 6例 ,憩室病 2例 ,肠道炎症 2例 ,放疗引起狭窄 3例 ,功能性疾患 (慢性运输性便秘 ,直肠脱垂 ) 2例 ,其它 (家族性腺瘤息肉、乙状结肠扭转、短…     

Computed tomography appearances of the lung parenchyma in pulmonary hypertension

Computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool in the workup of patients under investigation for pulmonary hypertension (PH) and may be the first test to suggest the diagnosis. CT parenchymal lung changes can help to differentiate the aetiology of PH. CT can demonstrate interstitial lung disease, emphysema associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, features of left heart failure (including interstitial oedema), and changes secondary to miscellaneous conditions such as sarcoidosis. CT also demonstrates parenchymal changes secondary to chronic thromboembolic disease and venous diseases such as pulmonary venous occlusive disease (PVOD) and pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis (PCH). It is important for the radiologist to be aware of the various manifestations of PH in the lung, to help facilitate an accurate and timely diagnosis. This pictorial review illustrates the parenchymal lung changes that can be seen in the various conditions causing PH.     

The equivalence of English and Chinese SF-36 versions in bilingual Singapore Chinese

Objective: To assess the equivalence of English and Chinese versions of the SF-36. Methods: Using a crossover design with block randomisation and stratification by age, identical English or Chinese questionnaires containing the English (UK) and Chinese (HK) SF-36 versions were administered 3–16 days apart to 168 free-living, bilingual, ethnic Chinese volunteers in Singapore. Item level equivalence of both versions was assessed by comparing item means and orderings within each scale. Scale level equivalence was assessed by comparing internal consistency (Cronbach's ), results of factor analysis and mean scale scores (using paired t-tests and intra-class correlations). Results: Item and scale level comparisons supported the equivalence of both versions. For both the versions, item means, item ordering and Cronbach's were similar, and factor analysis yielded two factors with similar factor loadings. There was no clinically important difference in mean scale scores for seven of eight scales, and intra-class correlations were excellent/good for five scales (0.69–0.77) and moderate for three scales (0.55–0.57). Conclusion: English (UK) and Chinese (HK) SF-36 versions are equivalent in bilingual Singapore Chinese. Our data suggest that SF-36 scores from English- and Chinese-speaking subjects may be combined in studies using the SF-36, increasing the power and representativeness of such studies.     

骨形态发生蛋白2表达异常与脊柱的融合

目的:综述近几年来国内外对骨形态发生蛋白2表达异常及其基因突变的研究,重点分析突变对脊柱融合的影响,为基因重组骨移植提供理论依据。资料来源:应用计算机检索Medline和Science Direct Online数据库1989-01/2007-01期间与骨形态发生蛋白2表达异常及脊柱融合相关的文章,检索词为"BMP2,BMP,gene mutation,mutation,gene expression,abnormal expression,spinal fusion,bony fusion,bone transplantation",限定文章语言种类为English。同时计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库2000-01/2007-01期间与骨形态发生蛋白2表达异常及脊柱融合相关的文章,检索词为"骨形态发生蛋白2,脊柱融合,骨移植,基因突变,表达异常",限定文章语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,选择有关骨形态发生蛋白2生物学活性、信号转导机制、基因突变、与骨诱导的关系、在脊柱融合中的研究进展的文献,共收集到121篇,排除综述类及重复研究。资料提炼:选择其中有代表性的30篇进行综述,涉及到骨形态发生蛋白2的生物学活性、诱导成骨机制、突变的分子学基础、基因突变及影响蛋白表达异常的其他因素。资料综合:骨移植植骨融合的形成是一个多因子、多基因的过程,涉及到骨生成、骨诱导和骨传导3个环节。骨形态发生蛋白2是骨发育和修复的关键调节剂,骨折愈合时尤其需要。国内外学者对于骨形态发生蛋白2基因的自身突变研究取得了很大进展,已检测出不同部位多个位点的突变。基因变异导致所编码氨基酸发生改变,从而引起相应多肽结构发生变异,影响蛋白质的理化性质。无论是体内的骨形态发生蛋白2抑制因子,突变导致的生物活性改变,还是其增龄性效应,最终都将引起局部骨形态发生蛋白2含量下降及生物学活性减退,可能直接导致脊柱融合术后植骨愈合不良或植骨不愈合的发生。结论:对骨形态发生蛋白2表达异常尤其对其基因进行突变分析,寻找影响植骨融合的遗传学因素,具有非常重要的临床意义。     

骨形态发生蛋白4转基因治疗大鼠的胫骨缺损

目的:观察基因工程技术构建人骨形态发生蛋白4复制缺陷腺病毒的成骨效果。方法:实验于2006-03/08在安徽医科大学第一附属医院实验动物中心完成。实验分组:选取普通级雄性SD大鼠30只,体质量(200±10)g,全部动物胫骨上端部分分别造成8mm×5mm长方形缺损。采用自身对照法,右侧骨缺损为实验组,左侧骨缺损为对照组。实验组植入人骨形态发生蛋白4复制缺陷腺病毒复合明胶海绵,对照组植入单纯明胶海绵。实验评估:术后分别于4,6,8周麻醉后处死10只动物,取材行X线、组织病理、免疫组织化学、透视电镜检查,观察成骨情况。结果:纳入30只大鼠,全部进入结果分析。①大鼠胫骨缺损X线、组织病理学检查结果:术后8周实验组和对照组骨缺损均得到修复,但实验组无论从成骨时间、成骨效果、新生骨量等方面都要优于对照组。其中各时间点实验组骨密度明显高于对照组,差异有显著性意义[4周:(95.91±16.33),(87.93±11.52);6周:(128.34±10.64),(102.41±9.81);8周:(138.36±10.49),(121.56±9.63);P<0.01]。各时间点实验组新生骨占骨缺损面积比明显高于对照组,差异有显著性意义[4周:(41.39±5.65)%,(26.58±5.62)%;6周:(80.35±7.25)%,(65.41±6.52)%;8周:(96.45±2.76)%,(82.22±7.30)%;P<0.01]②术后4周免疫组织化学染色结果:实验组软骨及骨痂内呈强阳性反应,而对照组骨痂内骨形态发生蛋白4表达微弱。结论:人骨形态发生蛋白4重组腺病毒具有良好的成骨活性,骨形态发生蛋白4直接转基因治疗能够加快骨缺损的修复。     

新复合纤维蛋白胶可注射性磷酸钙人工骨的理学特性

目的:检测纤维蛋白胶复合β-磷酸三钙/磷酸二氢钙复合人工骨材料的物理学性能,评价纤维蛋白胶对β-磷酸三钙/磷酸二氢钙骨水泥性能的影响,以及其作为注射型复合人工骨用于修复骨缺损的可行性。方法:实验于2006-12/2007-06在南方医科大学珠江医院中心实验室和华南理工大学生物材料实验室完成。①材料:β-磷酸三钙由上海瑞邦生物材料有限公司提供,磷酸二氢钙为东泰化工赠,纤维蛋白胶购自广州倍绣生物技术有限公司。②复合材料制备:将β-磷酸三钙/磷酸二氢钙骨水泥按3∶1的比例充分混合后,与纤维蛋白胶按凝固后的体积2∶1体积比混合,制成复合人工骨材料。③观察指标:测定复合材料的凝固时间,抗压强度,抗稀散性能,并用扫描电镜观察其煅烧前后的显微结构特征,以未加纤维蛋白胶的磷酸钙水泥为对照(CPC组)。结果:复合人工骨材料的平均初凝时间长于CPC组(P<0.004),终凝时间在初凝时间后2～4 min;复合材料的抗压强度为(14.72±1.81)MPa。复合材料较CPC组有良好的抗稀散性能,扫描电镜发现,纤维蛋白胶贯穿于磷酸钙水泥晶体间,并将磷酸钙水泥晶体紧密连接。煅烧后复合材料的孔径有增大,空隙率为57.28%,并且微孔之间有空隙互相贯通。结论:该骨水泥复合材料凝固时间符合临床操作的需要;抗压强度达到松质骨强度的要求;煅烧后磷酸钙水泥的空隙率明显提高,有利于材料的降解。