红花籽粕对小鼠的急性毒性及抗溃疡性结肠炎作用研究

目的 评价红花籽粕(红花Carthamus tinctorius的种子经过压榨提取红花籽油后的副产品)对小鼠的急性毒性及抗溃疡性结肠炎(ulcerative colitis,UC)作用。方法 C57BL/6小鼠ig不同剂量的红花籽粕,7 d后计算脏器指数,采用苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察肝、脾、肾组织病理变化,测定血清中肝功能、肾功能及血脂水平,以评价红花籽粕的急性毒性。建立葡聚糖硫酸钠(dextran sulphate sodium,DSS)诱导的UC小鼠模型,每天记录小鼠体质量,测定疾病活动指数(disease activity index,DAI)评分、结肠长度以及脏器指数,采用HE染色和阿利新蓝-过碘酸雪夫(AB-PAS)染色评价结肠组织病理学变化,采用qRT-PCR和Western blotting检测结肠组织中炎症和黏膜屏障相关因子表达。结果 急性毒性实验中,与对照组比较,红花籽粕组小鼠脏器指数、血液生化指标没有显著差异,脏器病理切片也未见异常。红花籽粕对DSS诱导的UC小鼠具有较好的保护作用,可以显著改善体质量减轻、DAI评分升高、结肠长度缩短等临床症状(P<0.01),减轻结肠组织病理损伤,抑制肠道炎症细胞的浸润,保护杯状细胞,提高紧密连接蛋白和黏蛋白的表达(P<0.05、0.01、0.001),改善肠道屏障完整性。结论 红花籽粕具有较高的安全性,且对DSS诱导的UC小鼠具有显著的治疗作用。     

住院病人抗菌药物利用情况分析

目的：对本院住院病人抗菌药物使用情况进行调查，提出存在的问题，促进抗菌药物合理使用。方法：采用WHO建议的限定日剂量（DDD）和药物使用指数（DUI）ff析10个科室住院病人抗菌药物的利用情况。结果：DDDs值排列前17位的抗菌药物中DUI≤1有10个，占58．82％，DUI〉1有7个，占41．17％；所调查病例中外科病例占60．32％，其中手术病例占42．50％，所调查科室抗菌药物使用率为82．62％。抗菌药物使用频次以头孢菌素类居首位，并以二代和三代居多。抗菌药物联合使用的以二联为多，占29．83％。结论：本院抗菌药物的使用存在一定的问题，要加强管理。     

PERORAL ENDOSCOPIC DUODENAL BIOPSY IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN

ABSTRACT. Peroral endoscopic duodenal biopsy was used in the diagnosis and follow-up of forty-nine infants and children with suspected small intestine disease. Their ages ranged between one month and 12 years. Fifty-four upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures were performed and 139 biopsies were taken. The mean procedure time was 3.2 min with a range of 1.5–5.5 min. There were no complications. Tissue adequate for histopathologic examination was obtained in all but one of the fifty-four procedures. On the basis of this experience we think that peroral endoscopic duodenal biopsy is faster, safer and as diagnostic as conventional suction biopsy in infants and children. It is also more informative when other diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract are suspected.     

Synthesis and immunological characterization of a 134-mer synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal half of the HIV-1 nucleoprotein,p24

A 134-mer peptide corresponding to the N-terminal sequence of p24 (residues 146–279 of the gag gene product of the LAV strain) was chemically synthesized using highly optimised protocols on an ABI 430A synthesizer. The crude peptide was obtained by treating the peptide-resin with HF, then purified by a combination of size exclusion and RP-HPLC. One hundred milligram of 90% pure 134-mer can be obtained within a month. Both mice and rabbit polyclonal antisera raised against a commercial preparation of recombinant p24, and a pooled sera from HIV-1 infected individuals reacted strongly with the 134-mer peptide in ELISA. Both mice and rabbits immunized with the free peptide emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant generated strong anti-peptide and anti-p24 antibody responses as judged by immunoblots and ELISAs. Immunodominant epitopes were mapped to residues 201–227 (LKETINEEAAEWDRVHPVHAGPIAPG). These B-cell epitopes had previously been identified by mouse monoclonal antibodies raised against HIV-1 virus or gag gene products. Furthermore, murine T-cell lines generated against the 134-mer peptide were found to respond to two short peptides, P24B (residues 195–215) and P24D1 (residues 268–279). These two T-cell epitopes were previously reported as human helper T-cell and CTL epitopes, respectively. These results clearly indicate that the synthetic 134-mer peptide could elicit both T- and B-cell responses to HIV-1 similar to those obtained with the natural viral gag protein, and could be useful for the development of a synthetic HIV vaccine     

QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF RESIDUAL ANTIDEPOLARIZING BLOCK (PART II)

An attempt to estimate residual neuromuscular blockade afterthe administration of anti-depolarizing relaxants to anaesthetizedpatients is described. A train of four supra-maximal nerve stimuliwas applied to the ulnar nerve and the twitch response (mechanicalor electrical) was recorded. The frequency of the train usedwas 2–2.4 Hz with an interval of 10 seconds between thetrains. Clinical recovery from the relaxant was assessed bythe ability to lift the head. The ratio of the height of thefourth response of the train to that of the first (ratio (c))gave a good indication of the degree of residual neuromuscularblock as indicated by this simple clinical test. As ratio (c)increased muscle power improved. Obvious muscle weakness wasassociated with values of ratio (c) of less than 0.6.     

TESTICULAR AND EPIDIDYMAL INVOLVEMENT IN LEPROSY PATIENTS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO GYNECOMASTIA

Sixty-six male patients with leprosy were studied. Only those with the lepromatous type developed testicular and epididymal changes. Nine of the 38 patients showed decreased sexual function, and 7 developed gynecomastia. These changes were believed to be due to the altered gonadal state.     

Thyroid function and volume in epileptic children using carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and valproate

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ), oxcarbazepine (OXC), and valproic acid (VPA) on thyroid function and volume in epileptic children. METHODS: Fifty-three epileptic children (age, 3-17 years) treated with OXC (n = 10), CBZ (n = 12), or VPA (n = 31) at least for 1 year were evaluated in terms of thyroid hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test, and thyroid volumes. RESULTS: The patients in the OXC and CBZ groups had similar total thyroxin (TT4) and free T4 (fT4) median levels that were significantly lower than those of the VPA group (P < 0.016). Total tri-iodothyrosin median levels were lower in the CBZ group compared to the VPA group (P < 0.016). Basal TSH levels and thyroid volumes were similar in all groups (P > 0.016). One child from the OXC group (10%), one from the CBZ group (%8.3), and six from the VPA group (19.3%) had hypothyroidic status according to the TRH stimulation test. No statistically significant correlations were found between thyroid gland volume and thyroid function variables and between anti-epileptic drug receiving time and thyroid function or thyroid volume, respectively, in any of the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid function should be evaluated periodically in children using CBZ, OXC or VPA. The children taking VPA seems to be at greater risk compared to children onr CBZ or OXC therapy. Except for the basal TSH values in the VPA group, the parameters predictive for the subclinical hypothyroid status remain to be evaluated in further studies.     

Randomized, Evaluator-Blind, Split-Face Comparison Study of Single Cross-linked versus Double Cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Glabellar Lines

BACKGROUND At present, various hyaluronic acids are being used to rejuvenate facial skin. There is no comparative study of single cross-linked hyaluronic acid (SCHA) versus double cross-linked hyaluronic acid (DCHA). The objective of our study is to compare the effectiveness and complications of SCHA versus DCHA in the treatment of glabellar lines.
METHODS Ten female patients were enrolled in this randomized, evaluator-blind study. One side (left vs. right) of each patient's glabellar lines was treated with SCHA and the other side was treated with DCHA. Two independent blinded observers reviewed the clinical photographs at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the treatment and assessed for degree of improvement as well as complications.
RESULTS The two products were equally effective in producing an optimal cosmetic result, although at 6, 9, and 12 months posttreatment, a higher proportion of patients showed over 50% improvement with DCHA than with SCHA. At 12 months posttreatment, DCHA was considered superior in 70% of patients, whereas SCHA was superior in 10% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS Both SCHA and DCHA are equally effective in producing an optimal cosmetic result. DCHA provides a more durable esthetic improvement when compared to SCHA in the treatment of glabellar lines.     

Tuberculous peritonitis in 11 children: Clinical features and diagnostic approach

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous peritonitis (TBP) is a rare manifestation of childhood tuberculosis characterized by long-lasting abdominal symptoms and exudate and lymphocytes in the ascitic fluid. The diagnosis of TBP is rarely established unless a high index of suspicion is maintained. METHODS: The diagnostic features of 11 cases who were hospitalized with TBP in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Ward of Dicle University Hospital, Turkey, were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Seven cases were male and the ages of all cases ranged between 1 and 11 years. The onset of symptoms was 1-12 months (mean +/- SD 3.1 +/- 2.7 months) prior to the admission time. Nine patients gave a history of familial tuberculosis. Three cases had Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scars and the results of five tuberculin unit (TU) tests in cases without and with BCG were over 10 and 15 mm, respectively. The most common presenting clinical symptoms and signs at admission were abdominal distention and ascites (100%), fever (27%) and loss of weight (18%). One case had accompanying tuberculous meningitis and two cases had concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis. Only one of 11 samples of ascitic fluid yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the polymerase chain reaction method and no other microbiologic evidence was obtained in culture specimens. Ultrasonographic and computed tomographic imagings revealed high-density ascites that contributed well to the diagnosis. The diagnosis in two patients was proven histopathologically via peritoneoscopy and laparoscopy. All cases were treated with isoniazide, rifampisin for 9 months and pyrazinamide for the first 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Radiologic diagnostic techniques, positive skin tests and a history of exposure to tuberculosis may contribute to the diagnosis of TBP, helped by clinical symptoms and findings, particularly when invasive diagnostic methods via peritoneoscopy and laparoscopy are not available in developing countries.