Infantile spasms. A retrospective study of 105 cases.

This paper is a summary of our observations on 105 cases of infantile spasms. The age of onset was around six months after birth, but the patients came for treatment mainly about one year after onset. Fever of unknown cause, asphyxia, birth injury, infection of the central nervous system, tuberous sclerosis, phenylketonuria and recent immunization etc. were complained. Clinically, it is characterized by head nodding, mental retardation, myoclonic jerks and various neurologic deficits. EEG findings showed classical or modified arrythmia or other epileptiform patterns. About one third of 22 cases examined had abnormal brain stem auditory evoked potentials. Among 42 patients who underwent CT scanning before ACTH treatment, 18 were normal and 7 abnormal; during ACTH treatment 3 normal and 4 abnormal; after completion of treatment, 4 normal and 6 abnormal, suggesting no further atrophy of the brain. Examination of trace elements of the hair by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method in 23 patients revealed a significant difference in lead, calcium and zinc contents between patients and 101 controls, but no statistical difference in iron and copper contents between the two groups. Sodium valproate, prednisone and ACTH appear to be effective in the treatment of infantile spasms. Eight patients fully recovered, and they can go to school without difficulty. Many patients derived various degrees of improvement to the satisfaction of their parents. Two patients were still amented and often attacked by myoclonus. The effects, side effects of these drugs, and the possible pathogenesis were discussed.

     

Cytotoxic lipid esters from Peucedanum ledebourielloides

Two cancer cell growth inhibitory esters, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-glucosyl glycerol (1) and 1,6-dihydroxy-hexane-bis-palmitoyl ester (2), together with arachidic acid-2-hydroxy-glycerol ester, daucosterol, and oleanolic acid, were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum ledebourielloides (Apiaceae family). The structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The esters 1 and 2 displayed significant activity against the SGC-7901, HT-29, and HL-60 cancer cell lines.     

Influence of moderate hypothermia on cerebral oxygenation in pigs with intracranial hypertension

BACKGROUND: Moderate hypothermia is one of the effective therapeutic methods for head injury in recent years, there are many mechanisms of moderate hypothermia for brain protection, and its influence on cerebral oxygenation is also one of them. OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of moderate hypothermia on cerebral oxygenation of animals with acute intracranial hypertension, and further investigate the protective mechanism of moderate hypothermia. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital affiliated to the Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. MATERIALS: Twenty healthy little pigs, either male or female, weighing 4.5–5.5 kg, were used. Neurotrend-typed multiparameter monitoring system (Diametrics Company, British); CMA/100 micro-injection pump (Carnegie Company, Sweden). METHODS: The experiment was conducted in the Changzheng Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA in November, 2001. The pigs were randomized into two groups: the normothermia group (control group, n =10) and moderate hypothermia group (n =10). ① Bilateral femoral arteries were separated, one was connected to pressometer for monitoring mean arterial pressure (MEP), and the other for analysis of blood gases [including peripheral blood pH value, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), HCO3–]. ② Rectal temperature was monitored with mercurial thermometer. ③ Intracranial pressure was monitored using Camino optic ICP probe placed in the subdural space. ④ Neurotrend multiparameter monitoring sensor was inserted into the white matter for about 4 cm to determine cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP, CPP=MAP(ICP), brain tissue partial oxygen pressure (PO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), HCO3– and brain temperature. The rectal temperature of animals in the moderate hypothermia group was lowered to 34 ℃ using ice bags, and the body temperature was maintained at 33–35 ℃ for 2 hours. The changes of the parameters were observed continuously, and the pigs in the normothermia group were not treated with cooling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① MAP, ICP, rectal temperature, CCP; Indexes of cerebral oxygenation detected with Neurotrend-typed multiparameter monitoring system; ② Results of blood gases analysis in the moderate hypothermia group. RESULTS: All the 20 pigs were involved in the analysis of results. ① MAP, ICP, rectal temperature, CCP and indexes of cerebral oxygenation: In the moderate hypothermia group, the ICP after cooling was obviously lower than that before cooling [(3.31±1.19), (5.33±0.95) kPa, P < 0.05], CCP was higher, brain tissue PCO2 [(12.03±1.73), (10.59±2.01) kPa, P < 0.05], and brain tissue pH value was higher [(7.03±1.63), (9.40±1.30) kPa, P < 0.05], whereas the brain temperature was decreased as compared with that before cooling [(34.9±0.3), (37.2±0.2) ℃, P < 0.05]. ② Results of blood gases analysis in the moderate hypothermia group: There were no significant differences in the parameters of peripheral arterial blood gases analysis before and after cooling in the moderate hypothermia group (P > 0.05) CONCLUSION: Moderate hypothermia will not impair the cerebral oxygenation, and it can reduce brain tissue CO2 and decrease brain tissue acidosis.     

Early uptake of 99mTc-C2A in the acute phase of myocardial infarction as a prognostic indicator for follow-up cardiac dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: The C2A domain of Synaptotagmin I is a molecular probe for the specific imaging of cell death. Here we test the hypothesis that the uptake of 99mTc-C2A in the acute phase of an infarction is associated with cardiac dysfunction in follow-ups. METHODS: The left coronary artery was occluded in Sprague-Dawley rats for 0, 10, 20, and 30 min. 99mTc-C2A was injected intravenously at 2 h of reperfusion. Anterior planar images were acquired with one million counts on a gamma camera 3 h after injection. 99mTc-C2A uptake was calculated as the total counts in the left ventricle region minus blood pool signal. The in-vivo signal detected was correlated with wall motion score index at 1 and 3 weeks follow-ups measured by echocardiography. RESULTS: 99mTc-C2A uptake was higher with increased ischemic time (2244+/-852, 4054+/-1223, and 6178+/-1451 for 10, 20, and 30 min ischemia, analysis of variance P<0.001). A significant correlation was found between 99mTc-C2A uptake and wall motion score index at 1 week (R=0.800, P=0.0006) and 3 weeks (R=0.810, P=0.0008). CONCLUSION: In this ischemia/reperfusion model, 99mTc-C2A uptake in the acute phase was associated with functional abnormality at 1 and 3 weeks. This demonstrates the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of 99mTc-C2A as a novel imaging agent.     

对诊断PADAM的游离睾酮指数的评估

目的 评价诊断中老年男子部分雄激素缺乏综合征（PADAM）的游离睾酮指数（FTI）.方法 对129例45岁以上健康男性的FTI进行年龄相关分析.以推算的游离睾酮（CFT）值为依据,对FTI进行有效性检验.结果 男子在中老年期FTI与增龄呈明显的负相关.FTI敏感性97.78%,特异性58.33%.结论 计算简单的FTI可用于PADAM病人的筛选和随访,尤其对70岁以上男子是血清FT较为有效的参数.