Prognostic role of alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference in acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the utility of the alveolar - arterial oxygen pressure difference (AaDO (2)) in predicting the short-term prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study retrospectively enrolled 114 consecutive patients with acute PE, diagnosed by either spiral computed tomography or high probability ventilation - perfusion lung scans. During the first 24 h of admission, all patients had initial artery blood gas collected under room air. Patient exclusion criteria were chronic lung disease, septic emboli, and moderate and low probability lung scans. Patients were assigned to 2 groups based on either 30-day death or a 30-day composite event. Receiver operating characteristic analyses was used to determine the AaDO(2) cut-off value for predicting primary and composite endpoints. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in AaDO(2) between the 30-day composite endpoint group and the 30-day composite event-free survival group (p=0.012). The AaDO(2) had a strong trend between the 30-day death group and the survival group (p=0.062). The best cut-off value for AaDO(2) was 53 mmHg and using this, the positive predictive value for 30-day death was 25% and the negative predictive value was 92%. For the 30-day composite endpoint, the positive predictive value for AaDO(2) was 35%, and the negative predictive value was 84%. In this study, thrombocytopenia was also an indicator of poor prognosis for patients with acute PE. CONCLUSION: The AaDO(2) measurement is a highly useful and simple measurement for predicting short-term prognosis in patients with acute PE. It has high negative predictive value and moderate positive predictive value for 30-day death and 30-day composite event. Aggressive thrombolytic treatment strategies should be considered for patients with an initial poor prognostic parameter (ie, AaDO(2) >or=53 mmHg).     

计算机体层成像多平面重建在评价椎间融合中的作用

目的 探讨计算机体层成像多平面重建(CTMPR)在评价椎间融合中的作用,寻找定量评价椎间融合的新方法.方法 13例行腰椎间融合的患者术后1周、3个月、6个月行CTMPR,行椎间融合器(Cage)内植骨CT值定量测量.结果 术后1周Cage内植骨CT值为(619.52±26.97)Hu,术后3个月为(628.69±42.60)Hu,术后6个月为(657.77±37.43)Hu.术后1周与术后3个月相比无显著性差异,与术后6个月相比有显著性差异.结论 CT值的测量在椎间融合的判断中具有高准确性.     

丈夫射精，妻子为什么没有感觉

一日,我接到一位女土的咨询电话,她希望我能解释一下为什么每次过性生活时,丈夫射精她没有感觉.这是一个有关提高夫妻性爱质量的问题. 一般来说,夫妻在做爱过程中,丈夫射精妻子都会有所感觉.要么妻子感到丈夫急促的喘气声,身体激烈地晃动,小腹有紧张感;要么妻子感到阴道中有一股液体暖流;要么妻子的阴道口出现收缩感,随之带来快感乃至达到性高潮妻子在丈夫射精时没感觉,一般表现为以下几种情况.     

An open-label pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topically applied pimecrolimus cream for the treatment of steroid-induced rosacea-like eruption

BACKGROUND: Steroid-induced rosacea-like eruption is characterized by facial rosacea-like dermatitis in patients that have been treated with topical steroids for relatively long periods. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of 1% pimecrolimus topical cream for steroid-induced rosacea-like eruption. METHODS: In an open-label pilot study, 40 patients were enrolled and instructed to apply 1% pimecrolimus cream twice daily for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated by a rosacea clinical score, investigator's global assessment, overall erythema severity, and tolerability at weeks 0, 2, and 6. RESULTS: In 35 patients, the rosacea clinical score decreased significantly from 16.0+/-4.3 at baseline to 8.1+/-3.3 at week 2 and 4.2+/-2.5 at week 6 (P<0.0001). Investigator's global assessment was 4.1+/-1.1 (baseline), then decreased to 1.4+/-0.8 (week 2) and 0.5+/-0.6 (week 6) (P<0.0001). By week 6, 48.6% of the patients were clear. Overall erythema severity was 2.4+/-0.7 (baseline), 0.9+/-0.4 (week 2), and 0.3+/-0.4 (week 6) (P<0.0001). Cutaneous adverse events (local burning, stinging, and itching) occurred in 17.5%. CONCLUSION: Pimecrolimus cream might be efficacious, safe, and well tolerated for steroid-induced rosacea-like eruption. The small sample size and open label nature of this study is its limitation. Further double-blind, vehicle-controlled studies are needed.     

Molecular epidemiology and control of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is difficult to control. Due to a dramatic increase in the nosocomial MRSA infection rate at our hospital from 2000 to 2001, this study was conducted to identify the source of these infections and the effectiveness of control measures. METHODS: 179 healthcare workers (HCWs) were screened for carriage of MRSA. Starting in April 2001, all patients with MRSA infection or colonization were put in strict contact and cohort isolation. The bacterial isolates of HCW carriers and patients with MRSA infection from April 2001 to September 2001 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk-diffusion method and molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: Fifteen HCWs were found to be carriers of MRSA. They were all given topical mupirocin treatment. After these interventions, the nosocomial MRSA infection rate decreased from 1.23 to 0.53 per 1000 patient-days. All 61 MRSA isolates available for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular typing were multidrug resistant. PFGE study revealed 2 predominant types, type C and type Y, comprising 36 and 12 isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates the importance of measures to control nosocomial MRSA infections in hospitals that already have a high incidence of endemic MRSA infection. Elimination of carriage by healthcare workers, and strict contact and cohort isolation are the main effective measures.     

Magnetic nanoparticle labeling of mesenchymal stem cells without transfection agent: cellular behavior and capability of detection with clinical 1.5 T magnetic resonance at the single cell level.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of labeling human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by ionic superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) without a transfection agent and verifying its capability to be detected with clinical 1.5 T magnetic resonance (MR) at the single-cell level. Human hMSCs were incubated for 24 h with an ionic SPIO, Ferucarbotran. The labeling efficiency of hMSCs was determined by iron content measurement spectrophotometrically, and the influence of labeling on cell behavior was ascertained by examination of cell viability using the trypan blue exclusion method, cell proliferation analysis using MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) change, differentiation capacity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production measured by dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescent probe. Labeled hMSCs were scanned under 1.5 T MRI with three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) T(2)-weighted gradient echo (GRE) pulse sequences. Human hMSC labeling without transfection agent was efficient. The iron content in hMSCs was 23.4 pg Fe/cell. No significant change was found in viability, proliferation, MMP change, ROS production, or differentiation capacity. About 45.2% of the hMSCs could be detected using 1.5 T MRI at the single cell level with 3D GRE and four repetitions.     

D2-40 immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of seminoma and embryonal carcinoma: a comparative immunohistochemical study with KIT (CD117) and CD30.

The distinction between seminoma and embryonal carcinoma based on morphology alone can sometimes be problematic, requiring the use of immunohistochemistry to facilitate diagnosis. D2-40 is a monoclonal antibody that reacts with an oncofetal antigen expressed by fetal germ cells and testicular germ cell tumors. The diagnostic value of D2-40 immunohistochemistry in distinguishing seminoma from embryonal carcinoma has not been determined. D2-40 immunoreactivity was evaluated in a series of testicular germ cell tumors and compared with that of KIT (CD117) and CD30, to assess the relative utility of this marker in discriminating between seminoma and embryonal carcinoma. Forty testicular germ cell neoplasms were examined, which included 19 seminomas, three embryonal carcinomas, three teratomas, one yolk sac tumor, and 14 mixed germ cell tumors. The 14 cases of mixed germ cell tumors contained components of seminoma (n=7), embryonal carcinoma (n=11), teratoma (n=10), yolk sac tumor (n=2), and choriocarcinoma (n=1). All cases of pure seminoma and the seminomatous components of mixed germ cell tumors exhibited positive immunoreactivity for D2-40. Focal positivity for D2-40 was also observed in 29% of the embryonal carcinoma samples. D2-40 immunoreactivity in seminomas was characterized by diffuse membrane staining, whereas for embryonal carcinomas, staining was focal and distributed along the apical surfaces of the neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemical staining for KIT was observed in 92% of the seminoma samples and in none of the embryonal carcinomas. Conversely, CD30 expression was identified in 93% of the embryonal carcinoma samples and in none of the seminomas. Other germ cell components showed no immunoreactivity for D2-40, KIT, or CD30. KIT and CD30 are effective immunohistochemical markers in separating seminoma from embryonal carcinoma. Although a highly sensitive marker for seminomas, D2-40 positivity was also observed in a subset of embryonal carcinomas, thus limiting the utility of this antibody for discriminating between these two malignancies.     

柯萨奇病毒诱发实验性多发性肌炎的初步研究

分别用不同量的柯萨奇病毒Ｂ１、２、３感染和兔肌匀浆加完全弗氏佐剂免疫正常豚鼠；拟建立多发性肌炎模型。结果发现：０．１ｍｌ毒力为１０－５ＴＣＩＤ５０柯萨奇病毒Ｂ１感染豚鼠组，３周后出现多发性肌炎症状。肌酶谱异常与其它组有明显差异，病理检查证实为多发性肌炎改变。单纯兔肌匀浆免疫对照组未发病。提示柯萨奇病毒Ｂ１感染及感染的病毒量与多发性肌炎的发病相关     

The incidence of immunosuppression-related skin disease in long-term transplant patients

One hundred and twenty-one patients who had received a renal allograft between 4 months and 21 years previously (mean +/- SD, 71 +/- 62 months) were studied. Seventy-two patients were conventionally immunosuppressed with azathioprine and prednisolone, and 36 had been exposed to the current regime of cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisolone. Forty-five patients had viral warts, of whom 20 had more than 10 warts. The presence of viral warts was significantly associated with pale skin type, excess sun exposure, and with duration of allograft. Viral warts were significantly more common in those on conventional immunosuppressive therapy, but this could be solely a reflection of the difference in duration of transplant between the 2 groups. Twelve patients were found to have developed dysplastic or neoplastic skin lesions since transplantation. The incidence of dysplasia increased with increasing age and was significantly associated with pale skin type, excess sun exposure, and duration of allograft. Despite the shorter duration of treatment in those on the new treatment regime, there was no difference between the 2 groups in the proportion of patients with dysplastic skin lesions. Immunosuppression-related skin disease may be a significant problem in allograft recipients in this country, and we suspect that patients taking cyclosporine will have similar problems to those on conventional immunosuppressive drugs alone. Immunosuppressed patients should be advised to avoid sun exposure, to use sunscreens, and should be monitored carefully for the development of dysplastic lesions.     

Trends in incidence and clinical presentation of temporal arteritis in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1950-1985

Ninety-four Olmsted County, Minnesota residents with temporal arteritis (TA) initially diagnosed between 1950 and 1985 (incidence cohort) were identified. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence of TA per 100,000 population age 50 years or older was 17.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.6-20.5), with a marked increase in incidence with age and a threefold greater incidence in women (23.4, 95% CI 18.2-28.7) than in men (7.4, 95% CI 3.7-11.0). The previously described secular increase in TA incidence in Olmsted County women continued from 1970 through 1985, while TA incidence in men declined in this latter time period. Although the frequency of classic clinical manifestations of TA declined over time, the percentage of patients undergoing biopsy who have positive specimens remained relatively constant (women 41%, men 26%). The incidence rate of temporal artery biopsy also increased for women during this period, but declined for men, suggesting that the differing trends in TA incidence by sex may be partially attributable to a detection bias. Future research in TA etiology and epidemiology should focus on possible causal factors linked to the differential TA incidence by sex.