Surgical bypass of the systemic atrioventricular valve in children by means of a valved conduit

The surgical approach to relief of mitral stenosis in children is still a controversial problem. We describe our experience with four severely symptomatic children in whom a valved conduit from the left atrium to the left ventricle was successfully used to bypass a hypoplastic systemic atrioventricular valve. A left atrial-left ventricular extracardiac conduit was implanted in these patients with a hypoplastic mitral anulus and an adequate left ventricular chamber. There were no early or late deaths. Postoperative cardiac catheterization performed in all patients 1 month after the operation showed reduced size of the left atrium, a reduction of the left atrial-left ventricular gradient from a mean of 14 mm Hg to a mean of 5 mm Hg, and an increase of the left atrial outlet from a mean diameter of 10.7 mm to 28.7 mm (including the diameter of the native mitral valve plus the internal diameter of the valved conduit). The application of this unconventional operation in children with congenital or acquired stenosis of the systemic atrioventricular valve should be considered when the mitral valve obstruction cannot be relieved by conventional valve repair or replacement. Furthermore, the left atrial-left ventricular conduit does not preclude future alternative surgical options.     

Nutritional status of the elderly in Naples

Nutritional status (anthropometry, food habits, thiamin and riboflavin status) has been evaluated in 136 (70 males and 66 females) free living healthy elderly individuals (age range 65-69 yrs) from the district of San Carlo Arena that can be considered representative of the sociocultural and economic level of the city of Naples. By assuming as reference values those of middle aged individuals, 50 percent of elderly men and 85 percent of elderly women showed different degree of excess body fat. As far as food habits are concerned legumes, vegetables and fruit daily intake was quite high whilst alcohol consumption was low. Furthermore milk and eggs intake was low and infrequent. Although prevalence of excess body weight was high, total daily energy intake was found to be equal or slightly above dietary recommendations for the elderly. Diet composition showed a high protein intake whilst CHO and fat intake was slightly below recommendations. Micronutrients' intake was insufficient for calcium in 10 percent of both males and females and for iron in 20 percent of men and 40 percent of women. Niacin intake was low in about 50 percent of both men and women. Thiamin nutritional status was found low in 20 percent of men and women and riboflavin status in 40 percent of men and 20 percent of women. In conclusion obesity and overweight are very frequent in an urbanized sample of free living healthy elderly individuals of Naples. On the other hand serum calcium and iron and some vitamin deficiency is not uncommon. The composition of the diet seems to be also poor in some micronutrients.     

The ultraviolet derivative spectrophotometric determination of neutral liposome-entrapped beta-lactam antibiotics

A simple, non-invasive spectrophotometric assay to measure the concentration of some beta-lactam antibiotics in turbid solutions containing liposomes was carried out. Since zero-order spectra gave strong interference because of sample turbidity, derivative spectrophotometry was used to enhance the spectral details. Derivative spectra showed bands in the ultraviolet region due to the presence of the cephalosporin and penicillin beta-lactams. A linear relationship between derivative amplitudes and antibiotic concentration was found when antibiotic-containing liposome solutions were measured. A saturative trend in the liposome-encapsulation was observed. The antibiotic entrapment was lowered by increasing the cholesterol-phospholipid ratio in the mixture used for liposome preparation. After treatment of antibiotic-loaded liposomes with beta-lactamase, a hydrolytic enzyme specific for beta-lactams, the remaining antibiotic concentration decreased significantly, showing that some of the antibiotic was retained on the outer surface of the vesicles.     

腹茧症16例诊治体会

目的 探讨腹茧症的诊断及治疗方法。方法 回顾性分析l6例腹茧症的临床资料及随访结果。结果 16例腹茧症均经手术治疗并确诊。术前11例误诊为机械性肠梗阻2～l0年，4例为误诊慢性阑尾炎，l例误诊为腹部肿块。术后并发症2例，全部患者均临床治愈。并获随访1～l0年，2例分别因反复发作肠梗阻于1年和5年死亡，2例反复发作不完全性肠梗阻合并营养不良，12例情况良好。结论 腹茧症术前诊断困难，上消化道造影和B超及CT对诊断可能有帮助；包膜切除，肠粘连松解是治疗本病的有效方法。     

Validating screening instruments for neuroepidemiologic surveys: experience in Sicily. Sicilian Neuro-Epidemiologic Study (SNES) Group.

In a hospital setting in Sicily, we assessed a screening instrument developed for a prevalence survey of parkinsonism, peripheral neuropathies, stroke, and epilepsy. The subjects consisted of (1) hospital patients with any of the above-mentioned diseases, to investigate sensitivity; and (2) hospital visitors free of all these diseases, to investigate specificity. The standard for comparison was a clinical evaluation based on specified criteria. Trained interviewers administered the screening instrument, asking subjects to answer symptom questions and to perform simple physical tasks. For the questions and tasks together, the sensitivity estimates were 100% for parkinsonism (n = 21), 96% for peripheral neuropathies (n = 22), 96% for stroke (n = 22), and 96% for epilepsy (n = 22), while the specificity estimate was 86% (n = 21). Analogous estimates were computed for the set of questions, for the set of tasks, and for each question and task individually. Despite limitations in our approach, we concluded that the screening instrument would be adequate for its intended use.     

High serum levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐8 in severe asthma: markers of systemic inflammation?

BACKGROUND: Severe asthma is characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophilic inflammation in the airways. Blood cytokines, markers of 'systemic' inflammation, may be a feature of amplified inflammation in severe asthma. OBJECTIVE: To detect differences in IL-8, TNF-alpha, IL-16 and IL-13 levels in the serum(s) of stable severe and mild-moderate asthmatics related to blood leucocytes proportion, airway calibre and exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels. METHODS: We assessed cytokine serum levels by ELISA and blood leucocyte counts by an alkaline peroxidase method in 20 healthy controls, 22 mild-moderate [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)(%pred): 89+/-3] and 14 severe asthmatics [FEV1(%pred): 49+/-2]. RESULTS: IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels were higher in severe asthmatics than in mild-moderate asthmatics or in controls (P<0.05). No differences in IL-16 and IL-13 levels were detected. Severe asthmatics showed higher circulating neutrophil and eosinophil number than controls (P<0.05). In severe asthmatics, exhaled NO levels were superior than in controls (P<0.05), but inferior than in mild-moderate asthmatics (P<0.05). We found positive correlation between TNF-alpha levels and exhaled NO (r=0.67; P=0.01) or circulating neutrophil counts (r=0.57; P=0.03) in severe asthmatics. CONCLUSION: sTNF-alpha and sIL-8 are markers of 'systemic' inflammation in severe asthmatics, in conjunction with augmented circulating neutrophils, suggesting the involvement of neutrophil-derived cytokine pattern in severe asthma.     

神经反射检查在脑出血急性期康复护理中的应用

出血性脑血管疾病在急性期病情凶险,病死率、致残率高。过去,我们对这些认识不足,只重视抢救生命,而忽视患者的功能恢复[1],以至于侧重早期的急救而错过了最佳的康复时机。为降低急性脑出血患者的病死率和致残率,提高生活质量,2003年6月-2005年6月,本研究对60例脑出血急性期的患者,在常规治疗护理的同时应用神经反射检查的方法给予神经系统反射刺激,经观察比较神经功能缺损评分,治疗组显著优于对照组,现报道如下。资料与方法1.一般资料。本组均为2003年6月-2005年6月我院收住院的脑出血患者,均符合1995年全国第4次脑血管病学术会议提出的诊…     

传染性非典型肺炎患者泪液和血液中特异性抗体检测的对比研究

目的：通过传染性非典型肺炎(SARS)患者泪液病毒特异性抗体的检测，寻找SARS病毒是否通过泪液或眼结膜传播的理论依据，了解泪液和血液中SARS病毒特异性抗体检测结果的一致性程度。方法：用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测18例不同病程的SARS患者泪波及血清SARS病毒特异性抗体。结果：18例SARS患者泪液中的特异性IgM类和IgG类抗体均为阴性，而同组患者有13例其血液中的特异性IgM类和IgG类抗体呈阳性。结论：SARS病毒可能不通过泪液或结膜传播。     

经肝动脉介入治疗并发胆囊坏死(2例报告并文献复习)

目的 :探讨经肝动脉介入治疗并发胆囊坏死的发生原因和防治措施。方法 :报告 2例经肝动脉介入治疗并发胆囊坏死的病例 ,均经手术病理证实。并结合文献资料分析这一并发症发生的机率、原因 ,以及为了减少并发症的发生需要注意的一些问题。结果 :近 8年来我院共做经肝动脉介入治疗 6 80例次 ,并发胆囊坏死 2例 (0 3% )。其发生原因是多方面的。超选择插管不到位是该并发症发生的主要原因。结论 :胆囊坏死是经肝动脉介入治疗比较常见的严重并发症之一 ,在今后工作中应引起足够的重视 ,尤其对肝血管瘤的介入治疗更应慎重 ,使这一并发症的发生率降至最低限度。