Hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia. A comparative study of histology and prognosis after surgery

Specimens of excised tissue from the porta hepatis in 26 infants with extrahepatic biliary atresia undergoing hepatic portoenterostomy were analysed histologically for the presence and size of biliary ductules. No correlation could be found between the establishment of effective biliary drainage and the number or size of biliary ductules. it is suggested that prognosis after surgery may be related to the intrahepatic lesion and age of the child at operation rather than to the histology of the extrahepatic bile duct remnants.     

Adjustable maintenance dosing with budesonide/formoterol compared with fixed-dose salmeterol/fluticasone in moderate to severe asthma

BACKGROUND: Current asthma guidelines recommend that patients are educated to adjust their medication according to their asthma severity using physician-guided self-management plans. However, many patients take a fixed dose of their controller medication and adjust their reliever medication according to asthma symptoms. OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether asthma control improved if patients adjusted the maintenance dose of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort Turbuhaler* 160/4.5 microg) according to asthma severity compared with traditional fixed dosing (FD) regimens. METHODS: Symptomatic patients with asthma (n = 658, mean symptom score 1.5, mean inhaled corticosteroids 735 microg/day, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV(1)] 84% predicted) were randomised after 2 weeks' run-in to either: budesonide/formoterol adjustable maintenance dosing (AMD), budesonide/formoterol FD or salmeterol/fluticasone (Seretide Diskus dagger 50/250 microg) FD. In a 4-week double-blind period, both budesonide/formoterol AMD and FD groups received two inhalations twice daily (bid) and salmeterol/fluticasone FD patients received one inhalation bid. In the following 6-month open extension, both FD groups continued with the same treatment. Patients in the AMD group with well-controlled asthma stepped down to one inhalation bid; others continued with two inhalations bid. All AMD patients could increase to four inhalations bid for 7-14 days if symptoms worsened. All patients used terbutaline or salbutamol for symptom relief throughout. The primary variable was the odds of achieving a well-controlled asthma week (WCAW). RESULTS: The odds ratio for achieving a WCAW did not differ between the FD regimens; however, during the open period, budesonide/formoterol AMD increased the odds of achieving a WCAW vs. budesonide/formoterol FD (odds ratio 1.335; 95% CI: 1.001, 1.783; p = 0.049) despite a 15% reduction in average study drug use. Budesonide/formoterol AMD patients had a lower exacerbation rate over the study: 40% lower vs. salmeterol/fluticasone FD (p = 0.018); 32% lower vs. budesonide/formoterol FD (NS). During the double-blind period, there were no clinically relevant differences between the budesonide/formoterol FD and salmeterol/fluticasone FD groups. Budesonide/formoterol AMD patients used less reliever medication in the open extension: 0.58 vs. 0.92 occasions/day for budesonide/formoterol FD (p = 0.001) and 0.80 occasions/day for salmeterol/fluticasone FD (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Adjustable maintenance dosing with budesonide/formoterol provides more effective asthma control by reducing exacerbations and reliever medication usage compared with fixed-dose salmeterol/fluticasone.     

Do farming exposures cause or prevent asthma? Results from a study of adult Norwegian farmers

Background: A protective effect of endotoxin exposure on atopy and asthma in farmers' children has been postulated. Studies of adult farmers have shown conflicting results but often lack exposure data. The prevalence of asthma in farmers with different exposure levels to microbial agents and irritant gases was compared.

Methods: Atopy was defined as a positive response to multiple radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) with a panel of 10 common respiratory allergens, and asthma was ascertained by a questionnaire using a stratified sample (n = 2169) of a farming population from south-eastern Norway. Exposure of farmers to total dust, fungal spores, bacteria, endotoxins, and ammonia was assessed by exposure measurements.

Results: The prevalence of asthma was 3.7% for physician diagnosed asthma and 2.7% for current asthma. The prevalence of atopy was 14%, but most asthmatic subjects were non-atopic (80%). Compared with farmers without livestock, (1) asthma was significantly higher in cattle farmers (OR_adj 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.8) and pig farmers (OR_adj 1.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.5), (2) non-atopic asthma was significantly higher in pig farmers (OR_adj 2.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.3) and in farmers with two or more types of livestock (OR_adj 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.3), and (3) atopic asthma was less common in farmers with two or more types of livestock (OR_adj 0.32, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.97). Exposure to endotoxins, fungal spores, and ammonia was positively associated with non-atopic asthma and negatively associated with atopic asthma. No associations were found with atopy.

Conclusions: Exposure to endotoxins and fungal spores appears to have a protective effect on atopic asthma but may induce non-atopic asthma in farmers.

     

Effect of oral and inhaled salbutamol in infants with bronchiolitis

The response of bronchiolitis to bronchodilator drugs is controversial. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of oral or metered dose inhaler (MDI) salbutamol using a coffee cup as a spacer device in bronchiolitis. In the trial, 31 hospitalized patients between 6 and 24 months of age, who exhibited the first episode of acute bronchiolitis without any other predisposing illness such as cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease etc., were randomly assigned to receive oral salbutamol (n=11, 0.1 mg/kg per dose, four times a day), or MDI salbutamol (n = 12, 200 μg per dose, every 3 h) or formed the control group without any bronchodilator therapy (n = 8). All of the patients were given supplemental oxygen as needed and adequate hydration was maintained. The patients were evaluated with clinical symptom scores. There were no differences in the beneficial or side effects of salbutamol, or the number of days in hospital between the treatment groups and the control group. It was concluded that there is no beneficial effect in using bronchodilators in infants with bronchiolitis. Supplemental oxygen and maintenance of normal hydration may be adequate.     

Applicability of LDLR flanking microsatellite polymorphisms for prenatal diagnosis of homozygous state for familial hypercholesterolemia

Analysis of newly identified microsatellite polymorphisms flanking the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene was undertaken in the kindred of a child with apparent homozygous LDLR deficiency. The applicability of these approaches to prenatal diagnosis is considered and compared with previous approaches applying functional studies of the LDLR in amniotic fibroblasts.     

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination for treating male subfertility: a controlled study

In this randomized crossover trial we investigated whether the use of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with low-dose human menopausal gonadotrophin in couples with male subfertility leads to a higher probability of conception when intrauterine insemination (IUI) is applied. We also investigated whether the efficacy of IUI in natural or stimulated cycles was related to the severity of male subfertility. Seventy-four couples completed 308 treatment cycles. Thirteen pregnancies occurred after IUI in a natural cycle (pregnancy rate per completed cycle: 8.4%) and 21 after IUI in a stimulated cycle (pregnancy rate per completed cycle: 13.7%). The difference between the two treatment modalities was not statistically significant. The efficacy of IUI in stimulated cycles was related to the severity of the semen defect. In couples with a total motile sperm count < 10 x 10(6), ovarian stimulation did not improve treatment outcome, while it did in couples with a total motile sperm count > or = 10 x 10(6). Compared with the expected chance of conceiving spontaneously without treatment, both natural and stimulated cycles improved the probability of conception. We conclude that, for the group as a whole, ovarian stimulation did not improve the probability of conception. However, in couples with less severe semen defects, ovarian stimulation did improve the probability of conception.      

Absence of relationship between tuberculin reactivity and atopy in BCG vaccinated young adults

BACKGROUND: An inverse association between tuberculin responses and atopy has been observed in Japanese children, indicating that BCG immunisation, subclinical exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis without clinical disease, or host characteristics may influence the T helper (Th) lymphocyte balance with decreased atopy as a result. This study was undertaken to determine whether tuberculin reactivity is inversely related to atopy in young adults vaccinated with BCG at the age of 14. METHODS: Men and women aged 20-44 years were tested using the adrenaline-Pirquet test with Norwegian produced synthetic medium tuberculin (n = 891). In addition, their serum total and specific IgE antibodies against mite, cat, timothy grass, mould and birch were measured. RESULTS: Of the 574 subjects with complete examinations, 64% had a positive adrenaline-Pirquet tuberculin test (> or =4 mm) and 27% exhibited IgE antibodies (> or =0.35 kU/l) to one or more of the five specific allergens. The geometric mean of total serum IgE in the population was 30.2 kU/l. Tuberculin reactivity and log IgE were not correlated (r = 0.043, p = 0.30). The mean tuberculin reactivity was 4.6 mm, 4.9 mm, and 5.0 mm in the lower, middle and upper tertile of IgE distribution (<14 kU/l, 14-61 kU/l, >61 kU/l). The prevalence of atopy, as assessed by either the presence of any of the five specific IgE antibodies or by each specific IgE antibody separately, did not differ between subjects with a positive and those with a negative tuberculin test. These results persisted after adjustment for age, sex, and smoking status in multivariate logistic regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In this young adult population, BCG vaccinated at the age of 14, no significant relationship between a positive tuberculin reaction and atopy was observed. If a true relationship had been found, our study suggests that it may be limited to populations immunised in early childhood when a substantial modulation of the immune system can occur.     

定性及定量分析脆性组氨酸三联体基因蛋白表达在食管癌变过程中的临床意义

目的定性和定量分析脆性组氨酸三联体基因蛋白（Fhit蛋白）在食管癌及癌前病变（不典型增生）组织中的表达,探讨Fhit蛋白与食管癌发生发展的关系.方法收集色素内镜初筛并经组织病理学证实标本94例,应用免疫组化及流式细胞术（FCM）,定性及定量检测Fhit蛋白在食管癌变过程中的表达情况.结果①从食管鳞状上皮→不典型增生（癌前病变）→原位癌→浸润癌,随着食管病变的加重,定性及定量检测Fhit蛋白表达均呈逐渐降低趋势;②免疫组化结果显示：正常组、不典型增生Ⅰ级组、不典型增生Ⅱ级组、不典型增生Ⅲ级组、原位癌组、浸润癌组中Fhit蛋白表达分别为82.35%、75.00%、43.75%、35.29%、30.00%、33.33%;正常组与食管不典型增生Ⅰ级组Fhit蛋白表达差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,与其余各组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;浸润癌组与正常组、不典型增生Ⅰ级组差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,浸润癌组与不典型增生Ⅱ级、Ⅲ级组、原位癌组差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;③FCM结果显示：不典型增生Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级组间Fhit蛋白表达量差异有统计学意义（P〈0.001）,不典型增生Ⅱ级、Ⅲ级组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,不典型增生Ⅱ级与正常组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.001）,不典型增生Ⅲ级与食管癌组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）.结论 Fhit蛋白表达缺失是食管癌变过程的早期事件,随病理组织学分级的增高Fhit蛋白表达阳性率逐渐降低,其蛋白表达的缺失在食管癌发生、发展过程中可能起着重要作用.     

自体富血小板血浆对Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术中输血和短期转归的影响

目的观察自体富血小板血浆(autologous platelet-rich plasma,aPRP)对深低温停循环(deep hypothermic circulatory arrest,DHCA)下的Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术中输血量和术后短期转归的影响。方法选择2016年6月至2017年8月在本院接受手术治疗的急性Stanford A型主动脉夹层患者83例,男60例,女23例,年龄24～81岁,BMI 19.0～41.9kg/m2,ASAⅣ级。根据是否制备aPRP将患者分为观察组(n=35)和对照组(n=48)。两组患者于麻醉诱导插管后经右侧颈内静脉置入三腔中心静脉导管和Swan-Ganz导管外鞘。随后,观察组于手术开始前完成aPRP制备,对照组开始手术。记录麻醉、手术、心肺转流(cardiopulmonary bypass,CPB)、主动脉阻断和DCHA时间。记录血栓弹力图反应时间(R)、α角和最大振幅(MA);记录术中出血量和红细胞、血浆、冷沉淀和血小板用量;记录术后机械通气时间、ICU留观时间、30d内严重并发症(神经系统并发症、需要持续肾脏替代治疗的急性肾功能不全、二次插管或气管切开、胸骨后感染或胸骨愈合不良、开胸止血)发生率和死亡率。结果观察组手术时间明显短于对照组(P0.05)。麻醉、CPB、主动脉阻断时间差异无统计学意义。观察组DCHA时间明显短于对照组(P0.05)。观察组TEGα角和MA明显大于对照组(P0.05)。观察组术中红细胞、血浆和冷沉淀用量明显少于对照组(P0.05)。两组术后机械通气时间、ICU留观时间、术后30d严重并发症发生率和死亡率差异无统计学意义。结论在DCHA下的Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术,aPRP可减少术中红细胞、血浆和冷沉淀的用量,但对术后机械通气时间、ICU时间、术后30d内严重并发症发生率和死亡率无明显影响。