Case Control Study of Chronic Bronchitis in glass Bangle Workers

Eighty-nine cases of chronic bronchitis were matched against167 asymptomatic controls from the glass bangle industry ofFirozabad. Factors of age, social status, smoking habit andduration of exposure were studied. Duration of exposure wasfound to be a factor contributing significantly to the causationof disease. Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Dr B. N. Gupta, Division of Epidemilogy, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow P.O. Box 80, 226001, India     

Clinical Study on Long-Term Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis with Integrative Medicine

Ａｎｋｙｌｏｓｉｎｇｓｐｏｎｄｙｌｉｔｉｓ（ＡＳ）ｉｓａｒｈｅｕｍａｔｉｃｄｉｓｅａｓｅｗｉｔｈｈｉｇｈｉｎｃｉｄｅｎｃｅ，ｉｎｄｕｃ ｉｎｇｄｉｓａｂｉｌｉｔｙａｎｄｉｎｖａｄｉｎｇｔｈｅｓｐｉｎａｌａｘｉａｌｊｏｉｎｔａｓｉｔｓｃｈｉｅｆｃｈａｒａｃｔ     

Surgical management of bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: analysis and follow-up of 28 cases

BACKGROUND: Biliary tract lesions pose a dreaded complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In a retrospective study we analyzed the clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic management and outcome of 28 patients presenting with iatrogenic bile duct injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1994 and 2001 we treated 28 patients with bile duct lesions following laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our center. Operation notes and charts of all patients were reviewed systematically. A follow-up examination of each patient was performed after a median of 12 months (range 1-90). RESULTS: Twenty-two patients presented with major circumferential bile duct defect lesions. Less severe injuries (n=6) were two minor bile leaks, one bile duct stricture and three tangential lesions. Twenty-six patients were referred to our institution within 16 days (range 0-226 days). Six patients were treated by nonsurgical procedures: endoscopic stenting in four and percutaneous intervention in two. In one of the remaining patients a cystic duct leak was closed via laparotomy, and in 21 a hepaticojejunostomy was performed. Reconstruction of a hepaticojenunostomy was performed in two of these patients. Patients were dismissed from the hospital after a median of 13 days (range 4-156). Four patients presenting with generalized biliary peritonitis required prolonged intensive care. One or more episodes of cholangitis were seen in five patients during follow-up examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Major iatrogenic bile duct injuries are associated with high morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Interdisciplinary cooperation and early referral to an experienced center is crucial in the management of patients suffering from this affliction. Cholangitis is a marked problem in the follow-up.     

青年人群血清流感抗体水平纵向监测

通过对北京４０５例青年１９９２～１９９４年流感抗体的纵向监测结果表明，３年中Ｂ型流感表现很活跃，抗体分别在１９９３年和１９９４年春出现高峰。Ａ型流感抗体在１９９３年春出现高峰。其中２１８例个体连续３年６次抗体检测，据抗体波动提示：３年中流感３个亚型总的感染频率为４４０％，每个体每年平均为１．４次，其中Ａ１型感染频率最高，每个体３年内平均１．８次；Ａ３型次之为１．５２；Ｂ型为１．０６。流感３个亚型抗体在机体内有６７％～７３％高水平抗体个体可在０．５～１年内下降至≤２０的低水平。２１８例个体中Ａ１型抗体３年内长期低水平者有３％，Ａ３有９％，Ｂ有３８％。     

Results of physical therapy for idiopathic clubfoot: a long-term follow-up study

Physical therapy without anesthesia or plaster casts was used to treat 338 cases of clubfoot (CF). Our technique is based on progressive sequential manipulations at birth. We first reduce the varus and later the equinus component of the CF. The gentle stretches used in this technique are complemented by active physiotherapy stimulating the muscles, and then a simple splint is suited to the foot to fix its degree of realignment. When used alone, this technique achieves 77% good and fair results. In resistant cases, complementary surgery was used. We obtained 96% good and fair results.     

Some central effects of brofaromine given repeatedly are phase-dependent

Effects of the MAO-A-inhibitor brofaromine (BRO), 10 mg/kg po after repeated (twice daily for 14 days) administration on the spontaneous behavior (exploratory and basal locomotor activities) and the exploratory activity modified by methoxamine, clonidine and d-amphetamine in male Wistar rats were studied in both light and dark phases of a diurnal cycle (L: 0700-1900 h). After single administration BRO in the light phase had no effects. In the dark phase BRO decreased the exploration (62% of control, p less than 0.01), increased the clonidine-evoked hypoactivity and amphetamine-evoked hyperactivity. The L-D differences occurred also after repeated administration. BRO in the light phase did not influence the exploration, decreased basal locomotor activity, did not change methoxamine and clonidine action and potentiated the action of amphetamine. In the dark phase, however, it did not influence the exploration and basal locomotor activity, intensified the methoxamine effect, and did not change the clonidine and amphetamine actions. The results demonstrate that the effects of BRO on behavior in rats: 1) differ from the effects caused by other antidepressants which are not MAO inhibitors; 2) are phase-dependent after both single and repeated administration.     

Reversal of diabetes in BB rats by transplantation of encapsulated pancreatic islets

Prolonged survival of pancreatic islet allografts implanted in diabetic BB rats was achieved by encapsulation of individual islets in a protective biocompatible alginate-polylysine-alginate membrane without immunosuppression. Intraperitoneal transplantation of the encapsulated islets reversed the diabetic state of the recipients within 3 days and maintained normoglycemia for 190 days. Normal body weight and urine volume were maintained during this period, and no cataracts were detected in the transplant recipients. In contrast, control rats receiving transplants of unencapsulated islets experienced normoglycemia for less than 2 wk. These results demonstrated that microencapsulation can protect allografted islets from both graft rejection and autoimmune destruction without immunosuppression in an animal model that mimics human insulin-dependent diabetes.