Detection of glaucomatous damage using multifocal ERG

The first‐order kernel analysis in multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) using low contrast stimulation is suggested as a way to detect the inner retinal responses in animal studies. In this case report, this protocol is applied to human patients with glaucoma to demonstrate the possibility of using mfERG as a tool to detect glaucomatous damage. Two patients with glaucoma were recruited and had mfERG measurements with the 103‐scaled hexagonal stimulus pattern at low (50 per cent) contrast. Their responses were analysed and compared with those from normal subjects with the mfERG measured under the same condition. In the normal subjects, there were obvious oscillatory components on the ascending and descending limbs of the first‐order kernel response to 50 per cent contrast. In the glaucomatous patients, the oscillatory component on the descending limb was obviously diminished. In addition, this component was significantly diminished in the quadrant with a glaucomatous visual field defect. This suggests that the low‐contrast stimulation condition in mERG measurement may provide a good way to detect glaucomatous damage and this may help in clinical diagnosis of glaucoma.     

Just-in-Time Evidence-Based E-mail “Reminders” in Home Health Care: Impact on Patient Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of two information-based provider reminder interventions designed to improve self-care management and outcomes of heart failure (HF) patients. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Interview and agency administrative data on 628 home care patients with a primary diagnosis of HF. STUDY DESIGN: Patients were treated by nurses randomly assigned to usual care or one of two intervention groups. The basic intervention was an e-mail to the patient's nurse highlighting six HF-specific clinical recommendations. The augmented intervention supplemented the initial nurse reminder with additional clinician and patient resources. DATA COLLECTION: Patient interviews were conducted 45 days post admission to measure self-management behaviors, HF-specific outcomes (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-KCCQ), health-related quality of life (EuroQoL), and service use. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Both interventions improved the mean KCCQ summary score (15.3 and 12.9 percent, respectively) relative to usual care (p< or =.05). The basic intervention also yielded a higher EuroQoL score relative to usual care (p< or =.05). In addition, the interventions had a positive impact on medication knowledge, diet, and weight monitoring. The basic intervention was more cost-effective than the augmented intervention in improving clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the positive impact of targeting evidence-based computer reminders to home health nurses to improve patient self-care behaviors, knowledge, and clinical outcomes. It also advances the field's limited understanding of the cost-effectiveness of selected strategies for translating research into practice.     

Characterization of a novel metabolite intermediate of ziprasidone in hepatic cytosolic fractions of rat, dog, and human by ESI-MS/MS, hydrogen/deuterium exchange, and chemical derivatization.

Ziprasidone (Geodone), a novel atypical antipsychotic agent, is recently approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. It undergoes extensive metabolism in preclinical species and humans after oral administration, and only a very small amount of administered dose is excreted as unchanged drug. In vitro studies using human liver microsomes have shown that the oxidative metabolism of ziprasidone is mediated primarily by CYP3A4. However, coadministration of ziprasidone with ketoconazole, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, showed only a modest increase in its exposure. Therefore, in vitro metabolism of ziprasidone was investigated in hepatic cytosolic fractions to further understand its clearance mechanisms in preclinical species and humans. The major metabolite from incubation of ziprasidone in cytosolic fractions of rat, dog, and human was characterized by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and found to be the product of reductive cleavage. Derivatization and hydrogen/deuterium exchange were used to deduce that the addition of two hydrogen atoms had occurred at the benzisothiazole moiety. Further studies to determine the enzyme involved in the formation of this metabolite are currently in progress. The identification of this novel metabolite in cytosol has clarified the clearance mechanism of ziprasidone in humans and preclinical species.     

Novel azapeptide inhibitors of cathepsins B and K. Structural background to increased specificity for cathepsin B

Abstract: We have designed and synthesized a new series of azapeptides which act as potential inhibitors of cathepsin B and/or cathepsin K. Their structures are based upon the inhibitory sites of natural cysteine protease inhibitors, cystatins. For the synthesized azapeptides, the equilibrium constants for dissociation of inhibitor–enzyme complex, K_i, were determined. Comparison of these values indicated that all of the azainhibitors act much stronger toward cathepsin B. Z‐Arg‐Leu‐His‐Agly‐Ile‐Val‐OMe ( 7 ) proved to be approximately 500 times more potent for cathepsin B than for cathepsin K. To be able to explain the obtained experimental values we used the molecular dynamics procedures to analyze the interactions between cathepsin B and compound 7 . We also determined the structure of the most potent and selective cathepsin B azainhibitor by means of NMR studies and theoretical calculations. In this report, we describe SAR studies of azapeptide inhibitors indicating the influence of the conformational flexibility of the examined compounds on inhibition of cathepsins B and K.     

介入治疗下肢深静脉血栓的临床应用

目的 探讨介入治疗下肢深静脉血栓(deep venous thrombosis,DVT)的效果. 方法 38例DVT均行深静脉置管接触性溶栓,12例联合血管球囊扩张及血管内支架置入术.按我院疗效观察标准:治愈,造影检查示血栓完全溶解,静脉壁光滑;显效,静脉回流通畅,静脉内有附壁血栓,管腔内径≥2/3;有效,静脉内仍有血栓残留,管腔内径＜2/3;无效,造影检查示静脉回流不通畅. 结果 治愈22例,显效14例,有效2例.治疗中无严重并发症发生.34例随访3～24个月,其中3～6个月7例,7～12个月12例,13～24个月15例,血栓复发2例,经再次深静脉置管接触性溶栓治疗后部分再通. 结论 介入治疗DVT操作简便,安全有效.     

Radiographic manifestations and pathologic basis of parosteal osteosarcoma. Analysis of 17 cases.

The authors reviewed the radiographic manifestations of 17 cases of parosteal osteosarcoma, with pathologic correlation in 15. There were two types of parosteal osteosarcoma radiologically. The majority of cases were type I with uniformly dense masses which had regular borders. They often adhered to the cortex and showed no evidence of soft-tissue invasion which correlated with low-grade pathologic malignancy and a relatively benign clinical course. Type II involved the bone, soft-tissue and the medullary cavity. These lesions were poorly differentiated and frequently accompanied by metastatic lesions.

     

CT导向下经皮射频消融术治疗肾上腺恶性肿瘤

目的对29例肾上腺肿瘤患者行射频消融（RFA）治疗，研究其近期局部治疗效果、不良反应和副作用。方法肾上腺肿瘤患者共29例，病灶总数31个，其中直径≤2．0cm的病灶共5个，2．1-4．0cm者18个，4．1-6．0cm者5个，≥6．1cm者3个，经RFA治疗1个月后行螺旋CT双期增强扫描评价肿瘤治疗效果。结果上述病灶经消融治疗后达到完全坏死者分别为5个、18个、3个、2个。患者无严重并发症出现。结论RFA治疗安全可靠，副作用小，是治疗肾上腺恶性肿瘤的有效方法之一。     

多疗程治疗的癌症病人入院时的焦虑状态调查

[目的]了解恶性肿瘤病人反复多次入院治疗时的心理状态,通过护理干预帮助病人更快投入治疗情境.[方法]通过焦虑自评量表(SAS)进行心理测验,随机将病人分为对照组和实验组,针对结果分别进行相应护理,1周后复查.[结果]实验组和对照组护理后的SAS评分差异显著.[结论]癌症病人多疗程入院的病人焦虑状况严重,实施焦虑的支持护理及心理辅助,可较好地促进病人进入治疗角色,减少弃治轻生的发生.