Cerebrovascular disease: outpatient evaluation with selective carotid DSA performed via a transbrachial approach

A total of 355 outpatients and 73 inpatients were studied for cerebrovascular disease with intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The studies were performed by means of selective carotid and vertebral artery catheterization from a transbrachial approach. Selective catheterization of the carotid artery was possible in 95% of patients, with definitive examinations of both extra- and intracranial circulation obtained in 95%-100% of all patients. Vessel opacification was very good to excellent, and the technique was inherently free from artifact caused by vessel overlap or involuntary motion. There were 25 complications, of which 20 were local in nature. Iodine load per case was extremely low, averaging 4.2-7.0 g. Selective carotid and vertebral catheterizations by the brachial route proved to be as safe as intravenous DSA and aortic arch intraarterial DSA with less contrast material load and superior images.     

A COMPARISON OF PRESCRIBED MEDICATION IN LEARNING DISABILITY PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER RESETTLEMENT FROM HOSPITAL INTO THE COMMUNITY

SUMMARY The use of prescribed medication was examined in 34 people with learning disability who underwent a planned resettlement from a hospital into the community. No significant differences were found in the number of subjects receiving antipsychotic, antimuscarinic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant medication, lithium preparations, and non-psychoactive medication, just prior to discharge and 1 year after discharge. This study indicates that long-stay hospitalised adults with moderate, severe or profound mental retardation can successfully be relocated into the community — in spite of suffering from behavioural and major psychiatric disorders — with the aid of appropriate medication, psychiatric follow-up, and community resources.     

入睡脑电信号的去噪

利用正常人入睡脑电产生的低顿磁场诱导睡眠这一方法在临床试验中获得了较好的效果．但标准入睡脑电特征信号的获取较难。故从MIT标准脑电数据库中选取8例正常人睡眠脑电，先经R＆K分阶和专家分阶校对，然后利用db4小波去除各类噪声干扰，具体步骤为：①根据脑电节律和干扰信号的频带确定分解层次。②根据脑电信号和小波基函数特点选择适合的小波基函数。③分解信号，对含有噪声的频带进行消噪处理。④据小波系数重构去噪后的脑电信号。最后分离脑电δ, θ,α,β等基本节律，提取出了较为纯净的入睡脑电特征信号。试验证明db4小波函数能有效去除各类噪声，分离脑电节律．提取出入睡脑电特征信号。     

转化生长因子β与糖尿病性眼部并发症

目的:转化生长因子β是一类生物学功能复杂的细胞因子,与很多眼科疾病相关。综述其分子结构、受体和信号传导通路及其生物学功能,着重介绍转化生长因子β与眼病及糖尿病性眼部并发症的关系和作用。资料来源:应用计算机检索Medline,Pubmed and Springer databases 1990-01/2006-01相关转化生长因子β与眼部并发症的文献,检索词"transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β),ophthalmological disease,diabetic complication",限定文献语言种类为"English"。同时检索CNKI 1990-01/2006-01相关文献,检索词为"转化生长因子β,眼病,糖尿病并发症",限定语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,选取符合研究要求的有关文章找全文。纳入标准:①有关糖尿病性眼部并发症的研究。②有关转化生长因子β在眼科疾病的研究。排除标准:重复研究。资料提炼:共收集到156篇相关文献,纳入30篇符合标准的文献。资料综合:①转化生长因子β是一类人体大多数细胞都能分泌的细胞因子,其生物学功能复杂,表现的生物学效应与浓度、环境等因素密切相关,能导致多种组织发生异常改变。②眼部组织包括角膜上皮细胞、角膜内皮细胞、睫状体色素上皮细胞、晶状体上皮细胞及视网膜色素上皮细胞都能产生转化生长因子β,且有其受体表达,与多种眼部疾病有明确关系。③糖尿病是一种累及全身多器官的代谢异常疾病,在眼部主要是糖尿病性视网膜病变以及白内障等严重致盲性眼病。其病情发生、发展都具有独特特征,发病也可能存在与一般情况不同的机制。结论:转化生长因子β生物学功能复杂,在糖尿病主要致盲眼病(白内障和视网膜病变)发生、发展过程中可能具有重要的作用和特殊的机制。探寻转化生长因子β以及其他具有相似生物学功能生长因子的作用机制和相互影响,为此类疾病的预防、诊断和治疗提供新的思路具有积极的临床意义。     

Motor performance in five-year-old extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survivors: a population-based study

Introduction  

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is a cardio-pulmonary bypass technique to provide life support in acute reversible cardio-respiratory failure when conventional management is not successful. Most neonates receiving ECMO suffer from meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), sepsis or persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH). In five-year-old children who underwent VA-ECMO therapy as neonates, we assessed motor performance related to growth, intelligence and behaviour, and the association with the primary diagnosis.