Follow-up chest radiographs in Vietnam veterans: are they useful?

Agent Orange exposure and its long-term health consequences on Vietnam veterans have been widely discussed in the past few years. Myriad physical and mental disabilities have been studied with regard to exposure to various herbicides. The number of persons potentially exposed is large, since 2.4-2.8 million U.S. military personnel served in Vietnam. A case-control study was undertaken to determine if persons who served in the U.S. military in Vietnam have either cardiovascular or pulmonary effects that can be demonstrated on long-term follow-up chest radiographs. Information regarding military service in Vietnam was obtained from interviews and, in some cases, review of military records. Vietnam veterans did not have an increased prevalence of abnormalities on follow-up chest radiographs. A subset of Vietnam veterans who had greater estimated opportunities for Agent Orange exposure also did not appear to be at greater risk than the control population.     

Disappearance of inhibitor to factor VIII in HIV-infected hemophiliacs with progression to AIDS or severe ARC

The spontaneous disappearance of the inhibitor to factor VIII (FVIII) was observed in two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men with hemophilia A. Both men had end-stage HIV infection, one with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and one with severe AIDS-related complex (ARC). Loss of the inhibitor was associated with a fall in T4 helper lymphocytes to less than 100 per mm3 in both patients. Subsequent spontaneous and traumatic hemorrhages were treated successfully with standard doses of FVIII concentrate, resulting in adequate FVIII:C levels and good hemostasis. The mechanism by which the anti-FVIII inhibitor disappears is not known, but it is likely to be related to a quantitative decline in T4 cell number.     

Binding characteristics of anti-Rh0(D) antibodies to Rh0(D)-positive and Du red cells

The relation of human erythrocyte Rh0(D) to Du sites is an important unresolved question in the field of immunohematology. To compare the immunological reactivity of Rh0(D)-positive and Du erythrocytes, the binding characteristics of two anti-Rh0(D) antisera to human Rh0(D)- positive and Du ("low-grade") erythrocytes were studied. 14C-Protein A and direct antibody-labeled techniques were used to generate binding curves and to derive double-reciprocal plots. The results show that the number of antigen sites differ by a factor of 10 to 15 between the Rh0(D)-positive and Du red cells, but that the dissociation constants between anti-Rh0(D) and the Rh0(D) and Du antigens are indistinguishable when studied by the two labeling methods and two different anti-Rh0(D) antibodies. The extent of binding to 112 different Du samples showed a normal distribution and was independent of apparent phenotype. These data suggest immunologic identity of Rh0(D) and Du ("low-grade") sites and that the difference between the antigens of Rh0(D) and Du cells is quantitative only. The data are incompatible with the "missing mosaic" and gene interaction theories of mechanism.     

Complex fractures of the proximal humerus: role of CT in treatment

The authors reviewed the computed tomography (CT) scans, plain radiographs, and subsequent treatment of 17 patients with complex proximal humeral fractures. CT scans and radiographs were compared in the demonstration of fracture lines, displacement of fracture fragments, rotation of fragments relative to their normal positions, and status of the head and articular surface of the humerus. The impact of CT findings on the decision to treat with surgery versus closed reduction and on the choice of surgical procedure was assessed. Surgery was not performed in nine patients because CT scans showed no significant displacement of fragments previously judged displaced or "indeterminate" on radiographs. Surgery was performed in eight patients; CT demonstrated significant abnormalities not definitely shown with radiography. In six of these eight patients, CT scans demonstrated unsuspected abnormalities that directed the choice of surgical procedure. CT scans provide clinically useful information for the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures when radiographs provide inadequate or indefinite information.     

黄花倒水莲提取物对小鼠免疫器官的影响

目的：研究黄花倒水莲提取物对免疫器官的影响。方法：采用称重法侧定小鼠的体重和脾脏、胸腺重量。结果：黄花倒水莲提取物能显著增加小鼠的体重和显著增加小鼠胸腺重量及胸腺指数。结论：黄花倒水莲提取物能增加小鼠的体重和胸腺的重量。     

综述：α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂可改善血糖控制，但对2型糖尿病重要预后的效果尚不确定

问题：α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂能够有效地改善2型糖尿病患者的血糖控制吗？[编者按]     

A rare intrahepatic portacaval tubular shunt in a patient with spastic paraparesis

Although there are numerous communications between the portal and systemic venous systems, intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts are not frequently encountered in clinical practice. Here we report a patient who presented with spastic paraparesis, who was found to have chronic liver disease with tubular intrahepatic portacaval shunting.     

56例心脏肿瘤外科治疗

目的 本文总结了56例心脏肿瘤外科治疗经验及体会。方法 所有患者均在体外循环下进行肿瘤切除，心肌保护方法采用温血心麻液连续灌注，如果肿瘤侵犯心脏重要的组织结构应该做姑息切除，以免出现严重的并发症。结果 心脏良性肿瘤54例，其中53例为心脏黏液瘤，1例为心脏脂肪瘤，心脏恶性肿瘤2例，均为肉瘤。良性肿瘤均能彻底切除。术后心功能能迅速恢复，长期随访无复发，有良好的临床效果。恶性肿瘤不能彻底切除，手术效果差，术后并发症多。结论 心脏肿瘤是性黏液瘤多见，手术效果好。心脏恶性肿瘤以肉瘤多见，因广泛侵润难以彻底切除。     

同种异体骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗大鼠急性心肌梗死实验研究

目的探讨大鼠同种异体骨髓单个核细胞（bone marrow mononuclear cells，BM—MNCs）在急性心肌梗死区分化增殖潜能及其修复重建心肌作用。方法健康雄性Wistar大鼠24只，用结扎冠状动脉左前降支的方法建立大鼠心肌梗死模型，随机分为对照组（AMI＋培养基，12只），移植组（AMI＋BM—MNCs，12只）；分别将制备的培养基和BM—MNCs悬液心外膜下植入梗死心肌周围。移植术后4周，观察心肌梗死区及其周边区组织形态学特点、心肌梗死面积变化。结果实验组与对照组相比心肌梗死面积明显缩小（P〈0．01）；实验组心肌梗死区内有BrdU标记阳性的BM—MNCs移植细胞存活，向心肌源性细胞分化并且诱导了大量的新生毛细血管。结论同种异体BM—MNCs移植在细胞水平完成了对心肌梗死区再心肌化和再血管化过程，可以改善急性心肌梗死后的心脏功能。