'Localized amyloidosis': 123I-labelled SAP component scintigraphy and labial salivary gland biopsy

In apparently localized amyloidosis, there is no appropriate test to determine whether systemic deposits exist. We studied the value of serum amyloid P component (SAP) scintigraphy and labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy on patients with apparently localized amyloidosis in 12 patients who had neither clinical nor biological evidence of systemic amyloidosis. All patients had an LSG biopsy and echocardiography. Iodine-123-labelled serum amyloid P component (123I-SAP) scintigraphy was performed in all patients. Whole-body scintigraphy was done, and tissue retention was evaluated at 24 h and 48 h. Of these 12 patients, three had amyloidosis in their LSG and had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy; these three had a secondary clinical history of systemic amyloidosis. Three other patients had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy without detectable systemic amyloid deposits, but one had a previous history of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome treated with infiltration. 123I-SAP scintigraphy in association with LSG biopsy may be helpful in determining the localized or systemic character of amyloid disease.      

鸡胚胎素对小鼠红细胞数量及免疫器官质量的影响

目的:建立血虚和免疫抑制动物模型,观察鸡胚胎低温提取物对其红细胞造血以及免疫器官质量的影响。方法:实验于2001-04/2002-09在新乡医学院药物研究室完成。①实验材料:健康昆明种小鼠50只,雌雄各半。鸡胚胎素[中国发明专利公开(公告)号:CN1748713],符合研究者申报专利时提出的质量检验标准。②鸡胚胎素对血虚模型小鼠红细胞数值及血红蛋白含量的影响:取20只小鼠,随机排列表法分为鸡胚胎素组、模型对照组,10只/组,建立失血性血虚动物模型。失血后24h当红细胞数<3.2×1012L-1、血红蛋白含量<84g/L,且小鼠外观出现皮色苍白、食欲不振等现象时,代表造模成功。次日,鸡胚胎素组给予鸡胚胎素5g/(kg·d)灌胃,模型对照组给予生理盐水20mL/(kg·d)灌胃,连续14d。分别于失血前、失血后24h、末次给鸡胚胎素后2h尾部采血测定两组红细胞数量及血红蛋白含量的变化。③鸡胚胎素对免疫抑制模型小鼠免疫器官质量的影响:取30只小鼠,随机排列表法分为鸡胚胎素组、模型对照组、正常对照组,10只/组。鸡胚胎素组给予鸡胚胎素5g/(kg·d)灌胃,模型对照组和正常对照组均灌服等量生理盐水,连续14d。在第11天上午鸡胚胎素灌胃2h后,鸡胚胎素组、模型对照组腹腔注射环磷酰胺60mg/(kg·d),连续4d,复制免疫抑制动物模型。末次给予环磷酰胺2h后颈椎脱位法处死小鼠,计算胸腺、脾脏质量指数。结果:50只小鼠均进入结果分析。①失血前及失血后24h鸡胚胎素组与模型对照组的红细胞数值、血红蛋白含量基本相似(P>0.05)。末次给鸡胚胎素后2h与模型对照组比较,鸡胚胎素组红细胞数值、血红蛋白含量均明显升高(t=3.39,P<0.01;t=2.52,P<0.05)。②末次给环磷酰胺2h后与模型对照组比较,鸡胚胎素组、正常对照组的胸腺质量指数和脾脏质量指数均明显升高(t=6.62,P<0.01;t=2.47,P<0.05)。结论:鸡胚胎素灌胃对血虚小鼠具有较好的促红细胞造血功能,同时对环磷酰胺造成的免疫器官质量下降具有明显的增重作用。     

La vérification ultime au lit du malade: résultats d''une enquête nationale sur les réactifs et dispositifs utilisés en France

The national reference Center for blood groups checked samples of reagents and devices used in France for a definitive verification of pretransfusion ABO tests performed at the patient's bedside, as defined by French health authority regulations. The results of an initial inquiry was published in 1991. The new study shows no significant improvement of the quality of reagents and devices. This is a major concern considering the importance of ABO incompatibility in severe hemolytic transfusion reactions.     

A randomized prospective comparison of oral versus intraperitoneal ofloxacin as the primary treatment of CAPD peritonitis

Summary: Oral ofloxacin has been successfully used in our centres for the primary treatment of peritonitis complicating continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In view of the progressive rise in the resistance rate to ofloxacin among peritoneal bacterial isolates, a study was conducted to determine if oral ofloxacin remains a viable first line treatment for CAPD peritonitis in our centres and if the result can be improved by changing from an oral to an intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. In patients on three 2 L daily CAPD exchanges, ofloxacin given at the i.p. dosage of 200 mg loading followed by 25 mg/L of peritoneal dialysate achieved overnight trough peritoneal levels which are at least four times the minimal 90% inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of most bacterial pathogens without significant accumulation in the systemic circulation. This i.p. dosage was therefore chosen for the clinical study and the result was compared to that using ofloxacin given in the oral dosage of 400 mg loading followed by 300 mg once daily as maintenance. of all the recruited episodes, 35 were eligible for analysis. the overall primary cure rate including primary failures and relapses was 55.6% (10/18) in the oral treatment group and 70.6% (12/17) in the i.p. treatment group. the corresponding figures for gram positive bacterial (g +) infections were 36.4% and 50%, for gram negative bacterial (g -) infections were 66.7 and 80% and for culture negative infections were 75 and 80%. In culture positive cases, all treatment failures were due to resistant infections which were observed in 42.3% of all bacterial isolates, 47.1% of g + isolates and 33.3% of g - isolates. Due to the high background level of bacterial resistance among our CAPD population, ofloxacin monotherapy given either by the oral or the i.p. route can no longer be recommended for the primary treatment of CAPD peritonitis.     

A STUDY OF THE APPROPRIATENESS OF ANTIBIOTIC USE IN THE MEDICAL WARDS OF A TERTIARY TEACHING HOSPITAL IN MALAYSIA

A prospective study was conducted to determine the proportion of patients who received an antibiotic within 12 hours of admission to the medical wards. During the four-week study, 234 patients were admitted to medical wards from casualty; 68 patients (29%) received an antibiotic. The survey indicated that antibiotics were inappropriate in 22–65% of those treated. This study also shows that as many as 67% of patients who received intravenous antibiotics could have been equally well treated with oral preparations.     

Finger dexterity in well-functioning cohort of office workers in Macau

AimThe study aimed to describe the finger dexterity in office workers of an Asian population.MethodsOne hundred twenty-seven right-handed office workers, aged 21–50 with a similar split of male and female, were recruited with finger dexterity measured by the O’Connor Finger Dexterity Test. The grip strength, tip and lateral pinch strength of both hands were also measured.ResultsThis study provided the percentile score of the O’Connor Finger Dexterity Test of both males and females in the Asian population. Raw scores of below 218 and 213 seconds in male and female participants respectively reach the 90th percentile, and above 237 and 235 seconds in male and female below the 10th percentile. Results showed no significant difference in local mean scores across different age groups, between male and female and with varying hours of working in typing, filing, and writing. A significant difference was only found in finger dexterity and years of working as office workers. No significant correlation was found between the finger dexterity with grip strength, tip and lateral pinch of the dominant right hand. The results were similar to the original normative score with similar work skills and demands.ConclusionThe mean scores could be used as a valid reference for local occupational therapists to evaluate the finger dexterity of office workers. However, caution has to be taken that conclusions drawn can be biased because of the relatively small sample size, and the results cannot be generalized to represent a wider Asian population.     

升麻酰胺及其类似物的合成

升麻酰胺是从兴安升麻(Cimicifuga dahurica)根茎中分到的新天然产物,本文经7步反应完成了该化合物的全合成,总收率为31%,三氟乙酰氧基用作C-1的离去基团,其结构经光谱分析和元素分析证实与天然物相一致。此外,还报道其7个类似物的合成及初步的抗肿瘤活性实验结果。     

Effets tardifs de la radiothérapie chez l'enfant

Although most pediatrie tumors can be cured with lower doses of radiation than their adult counterparts, long-term radiation-induced complications and sequelae remain a major concern both in terms of frequency and intensity. Most of them have been extensively documented in the pre-chemotherapeutic era like those affecting bone, cartilage and soft tissue growth or CMS and endocrine glands. More recently the emphasis has been put on the apparent increasing incidence of reported second malignancies. This could have been favored by the chemo-radiation combinations used in most children but also has been made possible mainly by the extensive follow-up of the increasing cohort of cured children.