Modulation of systolic and diastolic function by endothelin-1: relation to coronary flow

Different conclusions have been reached with regard to the effect of endothelin (ET-1) on cardiac contractility. We examined systolic and diastolic function in response to constant known concentrations of ET-1 with or without ET-1 induced reductions in coronary flow (CF). Rat hearts (n= 21) were buffer-perfused using constant coronary flow (cCF) or constant perfusion pressure (cPP). Left ventricular function was assessed isovolumically. Addition of ET-1 (10^-9 M) in the cCF group caused a gradual increase in PP from 61 ± 2 to 165±6mmHg (mean±SE) (P < 0.01). Within 10 min left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) increased from 111 ± 2 to a maximum of 134±4mmHg (P < 0.01) and [L\dP/dt] increased from 1640 ± 81 to a maximum of 2020 ± 92 mmHg s“¹ (P < 0.01). After 15 min left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), a measure of diastolic stiffness (DS), also increased. With ET-1 (10 ⁸ M), similar haemodynamic alterations appeared more rapidly. In the cPP group, ET-1 (10”⁹ M) caused a sharp decrease in CF and LVSP fell from 115 ± 8 to 62±12 mmHg at 10 min (P < 0.001). Systolic function remained stable at a reduced level for 1 h. DS did not change. Thus, ET-1 possesses positive inotropic effects and increases diastolic stiffness. Both effects may be masked by vasoconstriction-induced ischaemia.     

腓骨高位截骨在膝关节骨性关节炎的应用

目的:探讨腓骨高位截骨术对膝关节骨性关节炎的短中期疗效。方法:2014年10月至2016年7月,采用腓骨高位截骨治疗膝关节骨性关节炎76例,男22例,女54例;年龄47~82岁,平均61.62岁。术前查体膝关节内侧压痛,内侧麦氏征阳性,摄膝关节负重正侧位X线片显示内侧间隙变窄,术后行膝内侧间隙、股骨胫骨角、VAS疼痛评分及AKS评分进行评价。结果:术后随访10~18个月,平均8.9个月。与术前相比,术后膝内侧间隙明显变宽,股骨胫骨角度变大。术前VAS疼痛评分5.70±1.56,术后1周3.70±1.03,1个月3.20±0.95,3个月2.35±0.99,1年2.10±0.97。膝关节功能AKS评分术前疼痛14.45±1.76,活动度12.60±1.98,稳定性12.15±1.72;末次随访疼痛42.60±2.28,活动度21.80±2.14,稳定性20.85±2.16。VAS评分术前与术后各时间段相比差异有统计学意义,AKS评分术前与术后差异均有统计学意义。结论:腓骨高位截骨操作简单,并发症少,能有效减轻膝关节疼痛,改善膝关节功能,临床效果满意。     

原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤的X 线诊断

目的　探讨X线诊断原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤的价值。方法　回顾性分析 2 1例原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤的X线所见并与手术病理对照。结果　X线表现包括充盈缺损、黏膜改变、肠腔狭窄和龛影。结论　根据临床及X线表现 ,术前可以正确诊断原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤。     

Fatty acid-binding protein-4 as a biomarker predicting acromegaly-associated diabetes mellitus

Background/aimThe known pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) in acromegaly is mainly based on growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) excess. Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP-4), a novel adipokine, is found to induce insulin resistance and type 2 DM. We aimed to investigate the possible effect of FABP-4 on glucose metabolism in patients with acromegaly.Materials and methodsThis case-control study included 28 patients newly diagnosed with acromegaly and 57 healthy volunteers. The patients with acromegaly were classified according to their glycemic status as with DM, prediabetes, and normal glucose tolerance. Anthropometric measurements, laboratory test results, and FABP-4 levels of the subjects were evaluated.ResultsAlthough no difference was observed in FABP-4 levels between acromegaly and control groups, the FABP-4 level was higher in the patients with acromegaly having DM compared to the patients with acromegaly having prediabetes and NGT, and the control group (p = 0.004, p = 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the FABP-4 is an independent predictor of DM in acromegaly (β = 7.382, OR = 38.96, 95% CI: 1.52-5.76, p = 0.018).Conclusion The FABP-4 may be a helpful predictor of acromegaly-associated DM.     

口服氨基葡萄糖联合关节腔内注射治疗膝骨性关节炎

目的 探讨口服氨基葡萄糖联合关节腔内注射治疗膝骨性关节炎的疗效.方法 门诊选取膝骨性关节炎患者402例,将患者按第1次关节腔内注射药物的不同分为透明质酸钠关节腔内注射组(214例)和三联针(透明质酸钠、醋酸曲安奈德、盐酸利多卡因)关节腔内注射组(188例),并在治疗后1、2、3、5周对患者按预先设定的疗效评价标准进行随访.结果 治疗后两组患者西安大略麦马斯特大学骨性关节炎指标可视化量表 (WOMAC) 疼痛指标和机体功能指标均明显下降,而且随观察时间延长,呈逐渐下降趋势,组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但治疗后第1周随访,三联针关节腔内注射组疼痛指标下降趋势更明显,两组治疗期间塞来昔布用量比?差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).两组的不良反应发生率分别为8.9%(19/214)和8.5%(16/188),主要表现为轻中度的胃肠道不适和便秘.结论 口服氨基葡萄糖联合关节腔内注射在短期内能有效减轻膝骨性关节炎患者疼痛,改善关节功能,第1次关节腔内注射三联针能更快、更有效地缓解疼痛,减少了塞来昔布的用量.     

Hypnotherapy: A Useful Adjunctive Therapeutic Modality in Hansen's Disease

Hypnotherapy is a useful adjunctive psychotherapeutic procedure used in various conditions such as pain disorders, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata. However, it is less utilized in the field of dermatology. Only limited data exist on its role in the management of various skin diseases. There is dearth of literature on the role of hypnotherapy in Hansen''s disease (HD). We report two cases of HD, one with very resistant neuralgia and the other with recurrent erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). Both the patients were assessed using hospital anxiety and depression scale, dermatology life quality index and the neuralgia was assessed using the visual analog scale. Three sessions of hypnotherapy were given to both the patients. There was dramatic improvement in the incidence of ENL and neuralgia and we could rapidly reduce the dose of drugs used for both conditions.     

Bacterial colonization of chronic leg ulcers: current results compared with data 5 years ago in a specialized dermatology department

Background In nearly every chronic wound different bacteria species can be detected. Nevertheless, the presence of such microorganisms is not necessarily obligatory associated with a delayed wound healing. But from this initially unproblematic colonization an infection up to a sepsis can arise in some patients. The aim of our clinical investigation was to analyse the spectrum of microbial colonization of patients with a chronic leg ulcer in our specialized dermatological outpatient wound clinic, and to compare them with the results of comparable data already collected 5 years ago. Objectives In our retrospective investigation the results of bacteriological swabs were documented in 100 patients with a total of 107 chronic leg ulcers. All patients visited the specialized wound outpatient clinic, Department of Dermatology, University of Essen in Germany. Methods A total of 60 patients were female, 40 were male. The mean age was 65 years. Altogether a total of 191 bacterial isolates and 25 different bacterial species could be identified. Results The most often detected species were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 60), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 36) as well as Proteus mirabilis (n = 17). In 10 patients (10%) we identified a colonization with methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Merely in 6 patients the taken swabs were sterile. Five years ago a comparable investigation was already carried out in our wound outpatient clinic. At that time we could detect in particular more frequent MRSA (21.5% vs. 10%) and rarely P. aeruginosa (24.1% vs. 33.6%). Conclusion The results of our investigation demonstrate the current spectrum of the bacterial colonization in patients with chronic leg ulcers in a university dermatological wound centre in comparison to the last 5 years. In our institution we were able to demonstrate a shift of the detected bacterial species from gram‐positive in direction to gram‐negative germs. Beside the already known problems with MRSA, in future therapeutic strategies in patients with chronic leg ulcers the increasing amount of gram‐negative bacteria and especially of P. aeruginosa should considered.     

A holiday break for adolescents provided by the Malcolm Sargent cancer fund for children

The paper describes a holiday for a group of adolescents with cancer (from the Young Oncology Unit at the Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK) at Malcolm Sargent House, Prestwick, Scotland. The aim was to provide an opportunity for young people with cancer to build and to develop therapeutic relationships away from the pressures of hospital, home and treatment. The nature and range of care given by the nurses and social worker who accompanied them is described and includes accounts of individual progress which are demonstrated by brief case studies.     

Pharmacokinetics of biliary excretion of N-nitrosodimethylamine in rats fed diets containing levels of protein

Albino Wistar rats (Rattus norvegius) fed semi-purified diets containing 3.5%, 8%, 27%, and 64% casein, respectively, as the protein source, were poisoned with an intraperitoneal dose of 20mg N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)/kg, following cannulation of the bile duct, in vitro, under urethane anaesthesia. Bile exudates was collected at designated time intervals and analysed for unchanged NDMA using thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography methods. Rats on 64% high protein diet (HPD) were the highest excretors of NDMA, followed by rats on the 3.5% kwashiorkorigenic diet (KWD), 8% low protein diet (LPD) and 27% normal protein diet (NDP) as the least excretors, in that order. The corresponding values for culmulative excretions of NDMA were 4.38%, 2.74%, 2.96% and 4.11%, and for elimination rate contents they were 54.05Kh⁻¹, 23.01Kh⁻¹, 23.76Kh⁻¹ and 48.88Kh⁻¹, while the respective elimination half-life values were 0.013h, 0.031h, 0.029h and 0.014h. The toxicological and pharmacological implication of the pharmacokinetic findings are discussed.     

Increased trinucleotide repeat instability with advanced maternal age

Nucleotide repeat instability is associated with an increasing number of cancers and neurological disorders. The mechanisms that govern repeat instability in these biological disorders are not well understood. To examine genetic aspects of repeat instability we have introduced an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat into transgenic mice. We have detected intergenerational CAG repeat instability in transgenic mice only when the transgene was maternally transmitted. These intergenerational instabilities increased in frequency and magnitude as the transgenic mother aged. Furthermore, triplet repeat variations were detected in unfertilized oocytes and were comparable with those in the offspring. These data show that maternal repeat instability in the transgenic mice occurs after meiotic DNA replication and prior to oocyte fertilization. Thus, these findings demonstrate that advanced maternal age is an important factor for instability of nucleotide repeats in mammalian DNA.