Ultrasonically guided fine-needle biopsy in focal intrahepatic lesions: six years' experience

We report the results of 322 ultrasonically guided percutaneous fine-needle biopsies of focal intrahepatic lesions. The technique is original in several respects; it is an aspiration of both the lesion and normal-looking liver, and it includes both cytology and histology when the tiny cores are obtained. Cytology included Papanicolaou and Giemsa staining and other special staining when necessary. Sensitivity was 88.6% and specificity was 100% in the diagnosis of malignancy. Out of 141 metastases, 14 false negatives, 5 misclassifications, and 122 correct diagnoses were obtained. Out of 69 hepatomas the correct diagnosis of malignancy was made in 63 patients and of these the correct classification in 49. Complications occurred in six patients and marked hemorrhage in four. This technique is a simple, accurate, safe method for the diagnosis of focal intrahepatic lesions.     

Kinetic fluorometric determination of aluminum in serum

We describe a simple fluorometric method for determining aluminum in serum samples by monitoring the rate of reaction of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde-p-methoxybenzoylhydrazone with aluminum ions. The emission of the resulting fluorescent metal-chelate formed is measured at 475 nm. Aluminum was measured in the supernate of serum after proteins were removed by precipitation with concentrated nitric acid, and calculations were based on the technique of standard additions. Within-run precision (CV) was 7.8% and 4.8% at mean aluminum concentrations of 7.7 and 60.7 micrograms/L, respectively (n = 10); between-run precision (CV) was 8.9% and 5.7% at mean aluminum concentrations of 23.3 and 46.8 micrograms/L, respectively (n = 10). The standard curve for the method is linear over the range of 0-250 micrograms of aluminum per liter. Samples from 49 patients were analyzed for aluminum by the proposed method (y) and by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (x). Linear regression analysis of the results yielded the equation y = 0.98x + 2.3 (r = 0.989, Syx = 6.7). The proposed method is comparable in sensitivity to the well-accepted atomic absorption spectrometric method but is simpler and less expensive.     

Assessment of value of glycosylated albumin and protein in detection of gestational diabetes

There is a recognized need for the early detection of gestational diabetes, and a single blood test, if reliable, would be advantageous. Because serum albumin and total protein are glycosylated and have short life spans, we investigated the usefulness of glycosylated albumin and glycosylated protein in the detection of gestational diabetes. We studied five groups, each with 20 subjects: nonpregnant and pregnant controls, nonpregnant and pregnant insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients, and gestational diabetic patients. All patients with no history of diabetes had an oral glucose tolerance test to define their carbohydrate status. Our results showed that percent glycosylated albumin and percent glycosylated protein were significantly elevated in both groups of IDDM patients compared with the other groups. However, gestational diabetic patients had glycosylated albumin and glycosylated protein values similar to those of both control groups. Both glycosylated albumin and glycosylated protein correlated well with HbA1c determinations. Thus, glycosylated albumin and glycosylated protein may be a good index of glycemic control, but they are of little value in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes because of a lack of sensitivity: 8 and 3% for glycosylated albumin and glycosylated protein, respectively.     

Isolation of Stomatococcus mucilaginosus from drug user with endocarditis.

Stomatococcus mucilaginosus was isolated from the blood of a patient with endocarditis and a past history of drug abuse and aortic valve replacement. At autopsy, Gram stain of the aortic valve revealed gram-positive cocci. Our isolate was atypical for S. mucilaginosus in that colonies were nonmucoid and nonadherent to agar surfaces. Cellular capsules were demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. Phenotypic characteristics identified by conventional methods as well as profile numbers obtained by using two commercial identification systems for staphylococci, the API Staph-Ident and the dms Staph Trac, are presented. Practical tests that differentiate S. mucilaginosus from the genera Micrococcus and Staphylococcus include growth on nutrient agar containing salt and lysostaphin susceptibility. Additional tests that helped differentiate our isolate from group D streptococci included hydrolysis of L-pyrrolidonyl-beta-naphthylamide and streptococcal serogrouping.     

以病人选择医生为契机 全力推进人事分配制度改革

介绍了邯郸市中心医院在病人选医生中,努力完善制度,提高素质,深化内容,并以此为突破口,建立了灵活、高效的人事分配制度.用较为低廉的医疗费用,为人民群众提供了较好的医疗服务.     

Cytoskeletal and muscle-like elements in cochlear hair cells

Summary Monospecific antibodies to actin and to tubulin were used as immunofluorescent probes to evaluate the distribution of microtubules and actin filaments in the organ of Corti in mouse and guinea pig. The results indicate that in cochlear receptor cells actin and actin filaments as well as tubulin and microtubules are integral cytoskeletal elements. The presence of actin suggests a possible contractile mechanism within the sensory cilia whereas tubulin is thought to play an important role in the stability of sensory cells. Both proteins are discussed to form structural elements required for the mechano-chemical coupling in hearing.

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Abbreviations ATP adenosin-tri-phosphate - SDS sodium-dodecyl-sulphate - PBS phosphate-buffered saline Dedicated to Professor Dr. A. Herrmann on the occasion of his 80th birthday