Is phenytoin contraindicated in patients receiving cranial irradiation ?

Three recent publications have reported the development of erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome in patients receiving cranial irradiation and sodium phenytoin. Some authors have recommended that patients receiving whole brain radiation therapy and who have had seizures should not be prescribed phenytoin but an alternative anticonvulsant. This article reviews the current literature pertaining to the development of this potentially lethal complication in patients receiving whole brain radiation and phenytoin, with reference to the single recorded case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a patient receiving cranial irradiation and phenytoin in Auckland, New Zealand. While the clinical picture in the 16 patients reported in the literature and the current case report differed from the classical form of erythema multiforme, a similar pattern of presentation and outcome appeared in all patients reviewed, suggesting that the combination of phenytoin, cranial irradiation and the gradual reduction of concomitant steroids seem to lead to the development of erythema multiforme and/or Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The data presented, although sparse, suggest that phenytoin should not be prescribed in patients receiving cranial irradiation.     

Live attenuated varicella vaccine: the KMcC strain in healthy children

The KMcC strain of live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine was studied in healthy children as a preliminary step toward varicella vaccine studies with this strain in children with leukemia. Forty-three children were immunized: 26 with the 40th passage vaccine and 17 with the 50th passage. Studies included surveillance for clinical reactivity, oropharyngeal excretion of vaccine virus, viruria, and viremia. Antibody responses were assayed by fluorescent antibody to membrane antigens and immune adherence hemagglutination. Cell-mediated immune responses were assayed by lymphocyte proliferation to varicella-zoster virus specific antigens. There was 100% seroconversion to the KMcC passage 40 and 50 vaccines (by fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen assay). Every child studied developed in vitro lymphocyte proliferation to varicella-zoster virus antigens. Papular skin lesions, probably vaccine related, occurred in 31% of the 40th passage vaccinees but in only 6% of the 50th passage vaccinees. The 50th passage KMcC strain vaccine is sufficiently immunogenic and safe to initiate clinical studies with leukemia patients.     

Facial nerve monitoring parameters as a predictor of postoperative facial nerve outcomes after vestibular schwannoma resection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the intraoperative stimulus threshold and response amplitude measurements from facial electromyography can predict facial nerve function at 1 year after vestibular schwannoma resection. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary academic center. PATIENTS: Seventy-four consecutive vestibular schwannoma patients. INTERVENTION: The minimal stimulus intensity (in milliamperes) and electromyographic response amplitude (in microvolts) were recorded during stimulation applied to the proximal facial nerve after vestibular schwannoma removal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Facial nerve outcomes at 1 year were evaluated using the House-Brackmann scale. Analysis was then performed to evaluate whether these electrophysiologic recordings and tumor size could predict facial nerve functional outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 74 patients, 66 of 74 (89%) had House-Brackmann Grade I or II facial nerve function and 8 of 74 (11%) had House-Brackmann Grade III-VI function at 1 year after surgery. If standards were set for intraoperative minimal stimulus intensity of 0.05 mA or less and response amplitude of 240 microV or greater, the authors were able to predict a House-Brackmann Grade I or II outcome in 56 of 66 (85%) patients at 1 year after surgery. With these same electrophysiologic parameters, only 1 of 8 (12%) House-Brackmann Grade III-VI patients also met this standard and thus gave a false-positive result. Logistic regression analysis of the data showed that both a stimulus threshold of 0.05 mA or less and a response amplitude of 240 microV or greater predicted a House-Brackmann Grade I or II outcome with a 98% probability. However, stimulus threshold or response amplitude alone had a much lower probability of the same result. In addition, although tumor size was found to independently predict facial nerve outcomes at 1 year, it did not improve the ability to predict facial nerve function over a model using stimulus intensity and amplitude alone. CONCLUSION: Individually, minimal stimulus intensity or response amplitude was less successful in predicting long-term postoperative facial nerve function. However, if both parameters are considered together, the study demonstrates that they are good prognostic indicators for facial nerve function at 1 year after surgery.     

氨溴索治疗小儿毛细支气管炎77例

1临床资料2002-01／2004-02收治临床症状典型且无并发症毛细支气管炎患儿116例，发病年龄3-24(平均8．4)mo，男61例，女55例，按就诊时间顺序分为氨溴索雾化吸入组(观察组)、氨溴索静脉点滴组(对照Ⅰ组)和常规治疗组(对照Ⅱ组)，分别为38，39，39例．常规治疗组给予头孢噻肟钠50mg／kg，2／d及穿琥宁80-120mg／d分别静脉滴注及对症治疗(如吸氧、镇静、退热等处理)；观察组在常规治疗的基础上加用氨溴索4mg加生理盐水10mL超声雾化吸入10～15min，2／d；     

Airway and body surface sensors for triggering in neonatal ventilation

Failure of neonatal patient triggered ventilation may reflect a delay in delivery of flow relative to the inspiratory effort of the infant. Transmission of diaphragmatic contraction to the sensor site (patient delay) and further transmission to and within the sensing device (device delay) both contribute to the delay in triggering. Patient and device delays were studied for different sensing systems in 36 infants, 24 of whom were intubated. Device delay was long (<40 ms) with a conventional apnoea monitor compared with sensors placed at the airway opening (2 ms), the inspiratory (12 ms) and expiratory (3 ms) pressure transducers of the ventilator, the Graseby capsule (8 ms), strain gauges (3 ms) and oesophageal pressure (6 ms). In near normal infants, the sum of patient and device delays for the latter sensors was less than 20 ms and a minor component of the total delay. However, in severe lung disease the total delay may be more than 100ms even for airway sensors.