Haemophagocytic syndrome associated with hepatitis‐B virus infection responding to etoposide

Haemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) secondary to viral infections usually has a variable course and can be life‐threatening. We report a 53‐year‐old male patient who presented with fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. He had deranged liver function, abnormal clotting and markedly elevated serum ferritin. Bone marrow biopsy showed prominent haemophagocytosis. The patient was investigated thoroughly and found to have evidence of chronic hepatitis B‐virus (HBV) infection by serological tests and liver biopsy. Other conditions associated with HPS such as lymphoma, malignancy and other viral or bacterial infections were not present. The patient did not respond to steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins or cyclosporin but responded to etoposide and became apyrexial. He also became HBV negative on lamivudine. The patient died of infection later on but there was no evidence of recurrence of HPS. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report of HPS associated with isolated HBV infection.     

碱离子水饮用后血小板聚集率的的变化(附30例报告)

目的:报告30例饮用豪斯牌碱离子水前、后血小板聚集率的变化。方法:饮用碱离子水前、后(2～3月,>3～6月)作比浊法血小板聚集试验,以1分钟、5分钟及5分钟内最大聚集率(Max％)为指标,同时检测部分血粘度指标及凝血因子,并用自动生化仪检测血糖、血脂、主要电解质及部分肝、肾功能。结果:饮碱离子水后,血小板聚集率明显下降,而以疾病组(Max>80％)下降尤为明显,P均<0.001。饮碱离子水后血小板聚集率的下降,部分可能与损伤的血管内皮得到修复有关。主要电解质及部分肝、肾功能无明显异常改变。结论:由于心、脑血管血栓性疾病患者血小板聚集率多明显升高,饮碱离子水后血小板聚集率明显下降,且长期饮用对主要电解质及部分肝、肾功能无明显异常改变,作者认为碱离子水使用方例、安全、有效、价廉,因而对心、脑血管血栓性疾病防治方面可能是一种积极的辅助方法,值得临床进一步探索。     

Cholera in India: an analysis of reports, 1997�C2006

Objective

To more accurately define the annual incidence of cholera in India, believed to be higher than reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods

We searched the biomedical literature to extract data on the cases of cholera reported in India from 1997 to 2006 and compared the numbers found to those reported annually to WHO over the same period. The latter were obtained from WHO’s annual summaries of reported cholera cases and National health profile 2006, published by India’s Central Bureau of Health Intelligence.

Findings

Of India’s 35 states or union territories, 21 reported cholera cases during at least one year between 1997 and 2006. The state of West Bengal reported cases during all 10 years, while the state of Maharashtra and the union territory of Delhi reported cases during nine, and Orissa during seven. There were 68 outbreaks in 18 states, and 222 038 cases were detected overall. This figure is about six times higher than the number reported to WHO (37 783) over the same period. The states of Orissa, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam and Chhattisgarh accounted for 91% of all outbreak-related cases.

Conclusion

The reporting of cholera cases in India is incomplete and the methods used to keep statistics on cholera incidence are inadequate. Although the data are sparse and heterogeneous, cholera notification in India is highly deficient.     

Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction and Their Correlation with Educational Standards among Dental Assistants

A disparity exists in the educational qualifications of dental assistants working in various public and private institutions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of professional and personal characteristics on job satisfaction among dental assistants. A cross-sectional survey was performed among dental assistants using a 24-item self-administered questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between overall job satisfaction and other variables. The overall response rate was 72.1%. Factor analysis suggested that five underlying factors were related to job satisfaction. The mean score for overall job satisfaction was 3.86 (satisfied) out of 5. Among the work environment factors, the highest mean score, 4.26 (satisfied), was obtained for quality of service, and the lowest mean score, 2.78 (neutral), was obtained for the perception of income. The income and general prospects of the profession was significantly associated with overall job satisfaction. This study suggests that for dental assistants, professional and personal life, quality of service, perception of income and prestige and self-respect are important factors for job satisfaction. Despite differences in professional formation standards, in general, the study participants were considerably satisfied with their jobs.     

全固态乌头碱电化学检测器的研制及其在流动注射分析中的应用

报道一种新型结构的全固态乌头碱电化学检测器的研制及其在流动注射分析中的应用。采用流动注射分析法对川乌、草乌及其中成药(小活络丸)中剧毒成分(双酯型生物碱)进行了测试,方法简便快速,结果同光度法接近。本文还提出了电化学法研究乌头碱水解动力学原理。在pH 6.5,温度98℃的条件下测得乌头碱水解成苯甲酰乌头碱的速度常数为1.36×10~(-2)min~(-1)。