ANTIBODIES TO SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE and ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC AUTOANTIBODIES IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: ASSESSMENT and RELEVANCE IN AN AUSTRALIAN POPULATION USING TWO DIFFERENT ASCA ASSAY KITS

A number of North American and European studies have elucidated a relationship between antibodies to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) and Crohn's disease (CD).
Aims  (1) To ascertain whether this relationship is relevant to Australian patients; (2) To compare the results with two different commercial ASCA kits; (3) To examine the usefulness of this test in combination with perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (pANCA) for distinguishing Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis (UC).
Methods  Serum samples were obtained from 28 patients with CD, 27 patients with UC and 22 non-IBD patients presenting for investigation of other gastroenterological illnesses. ASCA IgG and IgA were determined by enzyme immunoassay using the two test kits. pANCA was detected by indirect immunofluorescence.
Results  Using the Medizym test kit, the presence of either IgG or IgA ASCA was 50% sensitive and 93% specific for CD. The QUANTA Lite kit yielded a higher sensitivity of 79% but specificity of 74%. The sensitivity of pANCA for UC was 48% but was 100% specific. Used in combination, ASCA+ve/pANCA–ve was only 50% sensitive but 100% specific for CD using the Medizym kit compared with 79% sensitivity and 93% specificity using QUANTA Lite. The combination of ASCA–ve/pANCA+ve was 41% sensitive and 100% specific for ulcerative colitis using the Medizym kit compared with 30% sensitive and 100% specific using QUANTA Lite.
Conclusions  At least 50% of Australian patients with CD have ASCA detectable in serum, confirming the results of overseas studies. Sensitivity was greater with the QUANTA Lite kit whereas the Medizym kit was slightly more specific. ASCA may aid in the diagnosis of CD. When used in combination with pANCA it may also help distinguish CD from UC in difficult cases.     

Non‐ablative 1550‐nm erbium‐glass and ablative 10 600‐nm carbon dioxide fractional lasers for acne scars: a randomized split‐face study with blinded response evaluation

Background Non‐ablative 1550‐nm erbium‐doped fractional photothermolysis systems (FPS) and 10 600‐nm carbon dioxide fractional laser systems (CO₂ FS) have been effectively used to treat scars. Objective We compared the efficacy and safety of single‐session treatments of FPS and CO₂ FS for acne scars through a randomized, split‐face, evaluator‐blinded study. Methods Eight patients with acne scars were enrolled in this study. Half of each subject’s face was treated with FPS and the other half was treated with CO₂ FS. We used a quartile grading scale for evaluations. Results At 3 months after the treatment, the mean grade of improvement based on clinical assessment was 2.0 ± 0.5 for FPS and 2.5 ± 0.8 for CO₂ FS. On each side treated by FPS and CO₂ FS, the mean duration of post‐therapy crusting and scaling was 2.3 and 7.4 days respectively and that of post‐therapy erythema was 7.5 and 11.5 days respectively. The mean VAS pain score was 3.9 ± 2.0 with the FPS and 7.0 ± 2.0 with the CO₂ FS. Conclusion We demonstrated the efficacy and safety of single‐session acne scar treatment using FPS and CO₂ FS in East Asian patients. We believe that our study could be used as an essential reference when choosing laser modalities for scar treatment.     

抗痫灵在大鼠肝脏中代谢的研究

用离体大鼠肝脏灌流法,研究了抗痫灵在肝脏灌流过程中的代谢规律。用高效液相色谱法由灌流液中分离、制备得到了两种代谢物,经紫外吸收光谱与质谱鉴定,确定代谢物的结构为3,4-次甲基二氧桂皮酰羟基哌啶及阿魏酰哌啶,后者经化学合成得到了进一步的确证。本文还研究了肝循环过程中抗痫灵的代谢动力学,揭示了大部份抗痫灵以原形结合贮存于肝脏中。     

HPLC法测定冬凌草萜含片中冬凌草甲素的含量

目的：对冬凌草萜含片中的冬凌草甲素进行含量测定。方法：采用ＨＰＬＣ法,以Ｃ１８－ＯＤＳ为色谱柱,甲醇－水（５５：４５）为流动相,检测波长为２４２ｍｍ。结果：回收率为９８．２３％,ＲＳＤ为２．１２％。结论：该方法简便、可靠,适合冬凌草及其制剂的质量控制。     

β-巯基乙醇和神经生长因子定向诱导鼠骨髓基质细胞分化为神经细胞的验证

目的:验证β-巯基乙醇、神经生长因子对大鼠骨髓基质细胞体外定向诱导分化为神经细胞的可行性。方法:实验于2005-05/2006-02在锦州医学院外科实验室完成。①选取清洁级1月龄SD大鼠30只,全骨髓培养法从大鼠骨髓中分离培养骨髓基质细胞。②取第3代骨髓基质细胞,以含胎牛血清的DMEM培养液培养消化后,计数细胞量,描绘细胞增殖曲线。③取第3～5代骨髓基质细胞,接近70%～80%融合后,分为3组:β-巯基乙醇诱导组:加入含1mmol/Lβ-巯基乙醇的无血清培养基预诱导24h后,去除预诱导液,再加入含5mmol/Lβ-巯基乙醇的无血清培养基诱导5h;神经生长因子诱导组:加入碱性成纤维细胞生长因子20μg/L进行预诱导24h后,去除预诱导剂,磷酸盐缓冲液洗涤3次,再加入含神经生长因子50μg/L无血清培养基诱导24h;阴性对照组:仅加等量无血清培养基。观察各组诱导后细胞的形态学改变。④免疫组化法检测诱导后各组细胞的神经元特异性烯醇化酶、微管相关蛋白和胶质纤维酸性蛋白的表达和分化率。结果:①骨髓基质细胞的生长曲线:培养第1～4天为潜伏期,此后细胞增殖加速并进入对数生长期,第9天达到高峰,以后细胞增值速度减慢,进人平台期。骨髓基质细胞倍增时间约为32h。②骨髓基质细胞诱导分化后的形态学观察结果:β-巯基乙醇诱导组经β-巯基乙醇诱导1h,细胞形态即发生改变,胞体收缩成球形或锥形,折光性增强,部分细胞周围有光晕,有较多长突起。5h后,神经元样细胞明显增多,可形成神经网络状结构,但是死亡细胞逐渐增多;神经生长因子诱导组形态学变化出现较迟,在12h才有明显的形态学改变,表现为胞体变大,有类似轴突和树突的细长突起。24h表现更为明显,部分细胞间也可见网络状排列,细胞死亡现象不明显;阴性对照组无明显的形态学改变,仍为长梭形细胞。③神经元样细胞免疫组化测定结果:β-巯基乙醇诱导组、神经生长因子诱导组神经细胞特异性烯醇化酶、微管相关蛋白表达均为阳性,表现为胞体和突起被染成棕黄色,而胶质纤维酸性蛋白呈阴性;阴性对照组无阳性结果出现。β-巯基乙醇诱导组神经细胞特异性烯醇化酶、微管相关蛋白分化率分别为(71.2±3.8)%和(64.1±2.7)%,神经生长因子诱导组分别为(46.2±2.5)%和(42.9±1.9)%,两组间差异有显著性意义(P<0.05,t=-5.205)。结论:β-巯基乙醇、神经生长因子均可成功诱导大鼠骨髓基质细胞分化为神经元样细胞。     

Salmonella meningitis and its complications in infants

OBJECTIVE: To review the presenting features, complications and outcome of infants with Salmonella meningitis. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective review of all cultures of cerebrospinal fluid positive for bacteria in children below 12 years of age, processed at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur from 1973 to 1997. Records of all cases positive for Salmonella species were retrieved and studied. RESULTS: Thirteen infants aged 3 days to 9 months with Salmonella meningitis were included. The median age of onset of symptoms was 4 months. The clinical and laboratory features were similar to other causes of bacterial meningitis. Salmonella enteritidis was the commonest serotype isolated. Nine infants developed fits, six of which were difficult to control. Other complications noted were hydrocephalus (five), subdural effusions (four), empyema (three), ventriculitis (two), intracranial haemorrhage and cerebral abscess (one each). The use of ampicillin and/or chloramphenicol and inadequate duration of therapy resulted in recrudescence or relapse in five infants. The overall mortality was 18%. The presence of empyema, intracerebral abscess, ventriculitis, hydrocephalus, and intracranial haemorrhage were associated with adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae or death. More than half of those who survived had normal long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: Infants who developed neurological complications as a result of Salmonella meningitis had significant mortality and adverse long-term neurodevelopment outcome.