Epidemiological study of risk factors related to childhood visceral leishmaniasis

This case control study was carried out to determine certain clinical and epidemiological risk factors related to childhood visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Study was conducted in paediatric wards of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Dependable variables are sex, age, housing, use of mosquito net, malnutrition, sleeping habit and seasonality. A total of 60 cases and 60 suitably matched controls were studied between January 2000 to December 2000. The exposure rate of VL is more in boys (70%) than in girls (30%). The frequency rate of VL was higher in children >10 years of age group (66.6%) than in other age groups. Mud house dwelling is significantly associated with the development of VL (81.6%) and carries 28.9 times greater risk of developing VL, than those dwelling in bamboo house (13.3%). The difference of this proportion is statistically significant (p<0.001, OR=28.9). The exposure rate of VL was slightly higher (51.6%) in mosquito net non-users than the mosquito net users. Grade III malnutrition was found significantly associated with (83.3%) VL (p<0.005). The frequency rate of VL was higher in children sleeping on floor than in children sleeping on Chowki or Khat (OR=2.07). Rainy season is significantly associated with VL (60%) and carries 2.4 times greater risk of developing VL than other seasons (p<0.05, OR=2.4). It can be concluded that mud house dwelling, grade III malnutrition, sleeping on floor and seasonality (rainy season) are the important risk factors of VL in children.     

刺五加制剂对中老年人恒定负荷运动中脂肪利用的影响

以 2 0名 45～ 5 5岁志愿者为试验对象 ,随机分为试验组与对照组进行双盲干预试验 ,研究刺五加制剂对人体运动能力的影响。结果表明 :试验组服用刺五加制剂 80 0mg 14天后 ,在 45 0kg·m/min(75W)持续恒定功率负荷运动时呼吸商由 0 95下降至 0 90 ,使运动时脂肪供能增加 17% ,而对照组无改变。结论 :刺五加制剂可能通过增加运动中的脂肪供能 ,节省肌糖元 ,从而发挥抗疲劳作用。     

单隧道双束和单束ACL重建的生物力学比较研究

目的比较单隧道双束和单隧道单束ACL重建膝关节稳定性的差异。方法选用6侧人体膝关节标本,保留完整的关节囊及周围韧带,行单隧道双束和单束ACL重建,在MTS-858生物材料试验系统上测试膝关节在胫前加载(134N)和旋转加载(5N·m内旋胫骨)下屈曲0°、15°、30°、60°、90°位时的运动学反应。每个膝关节在4个不同条件下进行测试:ACL完整、ACL损伤、单隧道双束重建ACL以及单隧道单束重建ACL,其中单隧道双束及单束ACL均采用双股腘绳肌腱。结果 (1)胫前加载:双束组在屈曲30°、60°和90°位,单束组在屈曲90°位时关节前后稳定性获得良好恢复(P0.05);在屈曲60°位时双束组的胫前位移明显低于单束组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。(2)旋转加载:与ACL完整组相比较,双束组的胫骨内旋角度在屈曲0°、60°位时无明显变化(P0.05),屈曲90°位时明显减少(P0.05);单束组在屈曲0°时无明显变化(P0.05)。屈曲60°和90°位时双束组的胫骨内旋角度明显小于单束组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论与单隧道单束ACL重建相比,单隧道双束ACL重建能够更好地恢复膝关节前后稳定性及旋转稳定性。     

Primary varices pathogenesis. The appealing unitary model

Primary varices pathogenesis is still unclear about the trigger event and the disease progression. Throughout time, a lot of hypotheses were created, each with a certain degree of veracity, to explain the aforementioned dilemmas. Present day investigation technologies allowed the undeniable progress in deciphering venous mechanics and biochemistry. Objectifying venous hemodynamic and valvular-parietal changes, their dynamic progression as well, lead to important clarifications in primary varicose disease physiopathogenesis. The importance of establishing a complete, unitary pathogenic model implies the practical possibility of immediately applying the right therapy addressing the pathogenic mechanism of this disease (i.e. correcting the "pressure escape" gateway) correlated with the progression stage (reflux degree) and the type of primary varices (gravitational, non-gravitational, or "suspended" varices). Initially, our study produces a critical evaluation of the classic pathogenic hypotheses and, later on, based on our long time experience in this field, it presents a complete and unitary, evolutive and pathogenic model in primary varices. The proposed model details a pathogenesis and a progression far more nuanced in primary varices, based on solid evidence, having obvious therapeutic implications and predictable results.     

Preterm outcome table (POT): a simple tool to aid counselling parents of very preterm infants

BACKGROUND: Outcome figures published in scientific journals are often cumbersome and difficult to understand by parents during counselling before or immediately after a very premature birth. AIM: To provide simplified up-to-date outcome information in a table for ease of counselling. METHODS: Regional perinatal mortality rates for very premature births (23-31 weeks gestation) and incidence of significant neonatal events for those admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) were obtained from the NSW Midwives Data Collection, ACT Maternal and Perinatal Data Collection and the NSW and ACT NICUS Data Collection for 2000 and 2001. Neurodevelopmental outcome was obtained for the same cohort at 2-3 years of age, corrected for prematurity. The percentage outcomes were rounded off to the closest conservative multiple of 5 for each data point in a table. RESULTS: The preterm outcome table (POT) for each gestational week was constructed from a total of 2315 births. Of these, 401 (17.3%) were reported as stillborn and were predominantly of 23 to 25 weeks gestation. Of those admitted to NICU, hospital survival rates were 30, 50, 65, 75, 80, 90 and > 95% for 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28-29 and 30-31 weeks, respectively. Neurodevelopmental outcome was available for 470 (75%) children, of whom 15% had a moderate to severe functional disability at 2-3 years of age, corrected for prematurity. Simplified data on survival to discharge and outcome were tabulated. CONCLUSION: POT appears simple and easy to use but also provides realistic data to assist clinicians in the counselling process.     

Incidence of high chromogranin A serum levels in patients with non metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma

Background

ChromograninA in prostate carcinoma (PC) indicate NE differentiation. This tumour is more aggressive and resistant to hormone therapy.

Patients and methods

We analyzed the incidence of pre-operative ChromograninA serum levels in non metastatic PC patients. Serum PSA and ChromograninA were analyzed before treatment. Clinicopathological parameters were evaluated in relation to serum ChromograninA. 486 patients were enrolled.

Results

We found 352 pT2 and 134 pT3. 21 patients were N+. 278 patients had Gleason score levels <7; 173 patients had levels = 7 (122 were 3+4 and 51 4+3); and 35 patients with levels >7. Median PSA pre-operative level was 7.61 ng/ml. PSA was significantly associated with pT stage (pT2 with PSA abnormal 23.6% vs pT3 48.5%, p < 0.0001) and with a Gleason score (PSA abnormal 60% in the Gleason score was >7 vs 29.5% in the Gleason score = 7 vs 27.3% in the Gleason score <7, p < 0.0001). In 114 patients pre-operative ChromograninA levels were elevated (23.5%). Serum ChromograninA levels had no significant association with PSA (p = 0.44) and pT stage (p = 0.89). abnormal ChromograninA levels increased from a Gleason score of <7 (25.5%) to >7 (31.4%) (p = 0.12). The serum ChromograninA levels in the two groups of patients were subdivided before and after 2005 on the basis of different used assays, showing no correlation with serum ChromograninA and other parameters.

Conclusions

This study showed that ChromograninA levels correlated to NE differentiation and possible aggressiveness of PC. Pre-operative circulating ChromograninA could complement PSA in selecting more aggressive PC cases, particularly in the presence of a higher Gleason score. Complementary information is provided by the absence of a correlation between serum ChromograninA and PSA levels.     

64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像与冠状动脉造影诊断动脉粥样硬化的应用比较

目的评价64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像技术的准确性及与冠状动脉造影检查结果的符合率。方法对比分析64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像与冠状动脉造影检查的65例患者结果。结果65例患者455个冠状动脉节段,64排螺旋CT灵敏度、特异度及准确度分别达54.6%、95.1%、85.5%,分近、中远段比较,64排螺旋CT对于冠状动脉近段符合率高于远段。结论64排螺旋CT诊断冠状动脉粥样硬化的敏感性及特异性较高,具有良好的临床应用前景,但也有一定的局限性。     

前交叉韧带损伤膝关节6个自由度静态加载体的稳定性*☆

背景：由于膝关节的体外标本无法模拟膝关节的真实运动,而体内的运动测试又无法获得骨结构的运动信息,因而不能得到准确的膝关节稳定性数据,也就无法对膝关节损伤的早期诊断及防治措施进行深入的研究。 目的：应用计算机三维重建技术、2D/3D图像配准技术及图像处理技术对前交叉韧带损伤膝关节6个自由度变化进行静态加载体内稳定性测试。 方法：8例患者单侧膝关节前交叉韧带断裂而对侧正常,膝关节在屈曲0°,30°,60°和90°时分别进行134 N前加载。采集各角度相互垂直的2D图像,与3D CT图像在虚拟X射线投射系统进行2D/3D图像配准,还原膝关节不同角度时的股骨和胫骨相对3D位置关系,获得膝关节6个自由度数据。 结果与结论：前交叉韧带断裂后胫骨前移均明显增加,在完全伸直(0°)时胫骨前移最小,胫骨前移在30°时达到最大;胫骨前移在60°和90°时逐渐减小,各角度间比较差异均有显著性意义(P=0.000)。前交叉韧带断裂后,膝关节胫骨内旋、内移均较健侧增加(P=0.000)。提示通过2D/3D图像配准技术可以实现对膝关节静态加载的体内稳定性分析;前交叉韧带损伤后膝关节前移、内旋和内移均明显增加。