Digitalis poisoning from medicinal herbs. Two different mechanisms of production]

Two cases of digitalis toxicity due to uncontrolled ingestion of medicinal herbs are presented. The first of them was caused by oleander (Nerium oleander); digoxinemia levels were very high in this patient (4.44 ng/l), who presented many brady- and tachyarrhythmias. These arrhythmias disappeared when digoxinemia returned to normal values. The second patient had atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular rate, severe hypokalemia (2.1 mEq/l) and normal digoxinemia levels. He was taking medicinal herbs for a cold, with sorbitol between its components. Sorbitol may be similar to mannitol and glycerol (osmotic diuretic drugs) when taken at high doses. Uncontrolled ingestion of medicinal herbs is not safe, and severe poisoning can occur.     

血管内皮生长因子受体启动子驱动重组腺病毒双自杀基因系统选择性杀伤大肠癌细胞

OBJECTIVE: To observe the selective killing effect of adenovirus (Ad)-mediated double suicide gene driven by kinase domain-containing receptor(KDR) promoter on human colorectal cancer LoVo cells and human umbilical vein endothelial ECV304 cells. METHODS: The plasmid pAdEasy-KDR-CDglyTK was transfected into 293 packaging cells for amplification of the infectious Ad and used to infect the KDR-producing cells (ECV304 and LoVo) and the KDR-nonproducing cells (LS174T) respectively. The three cells were treated with the prodrugs 5-flurocytosine (5-FC) and ganciclovir (GCV) at different concentrations after infection. The killing effects of the fusion gene system on the cells were evaluated. The distribution of cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The infection rates of the recombinant Ad were similar among the 3 cells, gradually increasing with the increment of multiplicity of infection (MOI) and reaching 100% with the MOI of 200. The LoVo cells and ECV304 cells infected with Ad-KDR-CDglyTK were highly sensitive to both of the prodrugs (P>0.1), whereas the infected LS174T cells failed to exhibit similar sensitivity (P<0.001). The killing effect of CD/TK fusion gene on the target cells was much stronger than that of either suicide gene (P<0.001). The cell cycle of LoVo cells was arrested at G1 phase. CONCLUSION: The CD/TK fusion gene system driven by KDR promoter can selectively kill KDR-expressing human colorectal cancer LoVo cells and endothelial cells.     

卡氏肺孢子虫的超微结构观察

采用皮下注射醋酸可的松和低蛋白饲养方法诱发SD大鼠自然感染卡氏肺孢子虫后,取其肺组织,按常规方法进行透射电镜的系统观察。结果除为Yoshida提出的卡氏肺孢子虫生活史的有性增殖和无性增殖循环的最新设想提供了某些形态学依据外,还继Vossen等之后再次发现该病原在1型肺泡上皮细胞内寄生的情况。本文最后就卡氏肺孢子虫对宿主的致病机理进行了讨论。     

云南水族人群红细胞酸性磷酸酶多态分布

采用淀粉凝胶电泳法对云南水族人红细胞酸性磷酸多态分布状况进行了调查，检出ＥＡＰＡ型６例，ＥＡＰＢＡ型４５例，ＥＡＰ５５例。计算出基因频率分别为：ＥＡＰ＾Ａ０．２６８９，ＥＡＰ＾Ｂ０．７３１１．ＥＡＰ在云南水族人群中的ＤＰ值为０．５１８５。文中对ＥＡＰ在不同人群中的分布进行了比较分析。     

乙肝一号和六号对原代培养鸭肝细胞DHBVDNA复制的影响

用胰蛋白酶灌流ＤＨＢＶ实验感染北京雏鸭肝脏，制备原代鸭肝细胞培养，观察了体外培养条件下乙肝一号、乙肝六号对ＤＨＢＶＤＮＡ复制的影响。     

Appropriateness of hysterectomy in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hysterectomy is among the most frequently performed surgical procedures in developed countries, but few studies from the Asia-Pacific region have assessed the appropriateness of hysterectomy. The purpose of this study was to examine the rate of inappropriate hysterectomy in Taiwan and its association with patient characteristics and indications for the procedure. METHODS: A random sample of hysterectomies for which claims were submitted to the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance from July 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998 was selected. A total of 658 charts were reviewed by an expert panel composed of 5 senior gynecologists. RESULTS: Overall, 74.2% of patients underwent hysterectomy for appropriate reasons, 5.6% for uncertain reasons, and 20.2% for inappropriate reasons. Inappropriate procedures were positively associated with younger age and premenopausal status. Primary indications that accounted for over 25% of inappropriate procedures were chronic pelvic pain (42.9%), abnormal uterine bleeding (37.5%), and endometriosis (27.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a high rate of inappropriate hysterectomy in Taiwan. Gynecologists and physician organizations should take action to improve physician agreement on the use of hysterectomy, especially for indications associated with high rates of inappropriate procedures.     

冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病病人冠状动脉旁路移置术的治疗效果

①目的 探讨冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(CAD)病人行冠状动脉旁路移置术的治疗效果。②方法 148例CAD病人，体外循环下行旁路移置术(CABG)62例，非体外循环下行旁路移置术(OPCAB)86例。③结果 围手术期死亡3例，8例病人使用主动脉内球囊反搏(IABP)，145例病人术后康复出院。④结论 冠状动脉旁路移置术是治疗CAD的一种安全有效的方法，在掌握手术适应证及技术条件允许情况下应尽量行非体外循环旁路移置术和全动脉化旁路移置术。     

失血性休克复苏及监测指标研究进展

创伤、失血性休克是一古老的临床研究课题。不仅在平时常见，更重要的是与战伤救治密切相关。尽管近10年来取得了一些进展，但复苏时机、复苏目标、液体种类的选择、复苏后继续生命支持以及监测技术等仍是临床以及研究人员面临的重大挑战。本文将就近年来有关上述问题的最新研究进展进行分析和讨论，以期提高对该复杂综合征的认识，为今后的研究提供帮助。     

以问题为中心的病案教学法在临床核医学中的实践

目的 设计以问题为中心的病案小组讨论教学法，在临床核医学核素治疗见习的教学实践中进行验证和评价。方法 总结近几年在临床核医学见习带教中的问题与缺陷；以病案引入问题，教师引导，进行小组讨论；评价教学效果。结果 临床核医学及其教学具有不同于其它临床学科的鲜明特点和规律；经改革的教案，收到学生和教师的良好反馈。结论 以问题为中心的病案小组讨论教学法，切合临床核医学见习实际，有效可行。     

Omega-3 fatty acids in major depressive disorder. A preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Patients with depression have been extensively reported to be associated with the abnormality of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including significantly low eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in cell tissue contents (red blood cell membrane, plasma, etc.) and dietary intake. However, more evidence is needed to support its relation. In this study, we conducted an 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, comparing omega-3 PUFAs (6.6 g/day) [corrected] with placebo, on the top of the usual treatment, in 28 patients with major depressive disorder. Patients in the omega-3 PUFA group had a significantly decreased score on the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression than those in the placebo group (P < 0.001). From the preliminary findings in this study, omega-3 PUFAs could improve the short-term course of illness and were well tolerated in patients with major depressive disorder.