Outcome in Children With Significantly Abnormal Cerebral Blood Flow Detected by Doppler Ultrasonography: Focus on the Survivors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Doppler waveform patterns of loss of diastolic flow, appearance of retrograde diastolic flow, or no detectable flow in the cerebral arteries suggest significantly abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF). A retrospective study was performed to show that significantly abnormal CBF alone, without clinical criteria, is not necessarily specific to brain death in the young pediatric population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven pediatric patients, from newborn to 4 years of age, were found to have significantly abnormal CBF, including 7 patients with loss of diastolic flow, 28 with retrograde diastolic flow, and 23 with no detectable cerebral flow on serial Doppler sonographic examinations. Their clinical data and sonographic results were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-two patients died, a few of whom had only transient improvement of cerebral flow. All of the patients with no detectable cerebral flow expired. Five patients survived with or without sequelae. Their underlying conditions that caused increased intracranial pressure were treated by medical and/or surgical intervention, and diastolic reversal of CBF corrected within 1 day in all 5. CONCLUSIONS: Although no detectable flow is a lethal sign, pediatric patients with loss or reversal of diastolic flow may survive with prompt and effective treatment. Using Doppler ultrasound to diagnose cerebral circulatory arrest should be done with caution in pediatric patients.     

The epidemiology and surveillance of blood lead in Taiwan (R.O.C.): A report on the PRESS-BLL project

 To monitor the lead hazards in industries and to investigate the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in lead-exposed workers, a lead surveillance system (PRESS-BLLs) has been established and operated in Taiwan, Republic of China, since July 1993. A cohort of lead-exposed workers who received a periodic annual health examination at 55 accredited hospital laboratories was constructed. A total of 9807 separate BLL measurements were reported to the system in 1994. The mean BLL was 15.8 μg/dl in male workers and 11.6 μg/dl in female workers. The mean BLL of lead-exposed workers was significantly (P<0.05, z-test) higher than that of the general Taiwanese population (8.6 μg/dl for males and 6.7 μg/dl for females). In addition, the BLLs of 983 (10.0%) workers exceeded the regulatory action level (40 μg/dl for males; 30 μg/dl for females). The workplaces and homes of 57% of the workers with elevated BLLs were thoroughly investigated to determine the sources of lead contamination. These actions identified the causes of elevated BLLs and set up strategies to reduce workers’ lead exposure. The establishment of this occupational lead surveillance system represents a method for monitoring of lead hazards from occupational and environmental settings to prevent lead poisoning. The information acquired from the system can help in the setting up of a priority of prevention and the development of control measures. It is also useful for further monitoring of changes in the BLLs of the lead-exposed-worker cohort. The Health Department of Taiwan can use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of current industrial hygiene practice. Subjects with elevated BLLs have been medically treated and placed on long-term follow-up for sequelae. Received: 2 September 1996/Accepted: 29 November 1996     

论神经在腧穴针感形成中作用

腧穴针感在针刺防治疾病过程中发挥着重要作用。本文从针刺作用的感受器,腧穴针感的外周传入神经,以及针感与中枢神经的关系,诸方面,列举大量实验结果和理论,阐明针感形成的物质基础是神经系统。     

Rat model of distraction osteogenesis

Prior studies of distraction osteogenesis in dog and rabbit models have shown predominantly intramembranous bone formation. Other models of fracture healing normally display mixtures of both endochondral and intramembranous bone formation. We have established a rat model of tibial lengthening that reliably reproduces the pattern of zonal osteogenesis previously observed in dog and rabbit models. A distraction rate of 0.25 mm twice a day with a 0-day latency period produced intramembranous bone with zones of progressive mineralization from collagen. With this protocol, rats bridged the distraction gap with a 25% increase in the tibial bone length. After 20 days of distraction and 50 days of consolidation, the three-point bending stiffness, as a percentage of the contralateral control, reached a level equivalent to that measured in the canine model for a 15% lengthening (28-day distraction and 84-day consolidation). Radiodensitometric analysis of the regenerate bones measured 97% of the unaffected contralateral tibial densities, and mineral analyses demonstrated that calcium and phosphorus levels in the regenerate bone reached 78% of contralateral tibial levels by day 70. We concluded that a rat model of distraction ostegenesis will be useful for a wide range of studies involving rapid intramembranous bone formation.     

Reversal of diastolic cerebral blood flow in infants without brain death

The reversal of diastolic cerebral blood flow has been regarded as a characteristic waveform of brain death and a useful confirming sign. We report 2 patients who had diastolic flow reversal but survived. One, a 1-month-old boy with status epilepticus, had reversal of diastolic cerebral blood flow detected by Doppler ultrasound soon after admission. Reversal disappeared after medical management for increased intracranial pressure and seizure control. He recovered without sequelae. The other, a 6-month-old girl with choroid plexus papilloma, had reversal of diastolic flow during abrupt clinical deterioration. Emergent surgical removal of the tumor was performed and she survived with hemiparesis and psychomotor retardation. Our patients demonstrated that even in the presence of diastolic reversal of cerebral blood flow, prompt and effective treatment can avoid a fatal outcome.     

HMME在不同溶液中光漂白反应动力学规律

目的 分析国产光敏剂血卟啉单甲醚（HMME）在不同溶液中光漂白反应动力学规律，加深对光漂白反应复杂反应过程的理解，并为HMME-PDT治疗微血管病变的数学建模研究提供实验依据和参数。 方法 根据光化学反应动力学原理，从理论上推导出在单纯溶液和复杂溶液（含可被光氧化的底物）中，单态氧介导的光漂白反应动力学方程，通过对实验测定的漂白数据（不同时间点的HMME浓度）进行拟合，进一步验证理论推导出光漂白反应动力学方程。 结果 HMME在单一溶液体系（PBS、DMSO）中的光漂白符合1级反应动力学过程，在含底物的复杂体系（白蛋白缓冲液、细胞悬液）中符合2级反应动力学过程。 结论 HMME在不同溶液体系中的光漂白遵循不同的反应动力学规律。根据化学反应动力学原理进行光漂白等复杂光化学反应过程的数学模拟是可行的，并有利于对复杂光化学反应过程的深入理解。     

主动吸入药物烟对大鼠一氧化氮的影响

目的　探讨主动吸入药物烟对大鼠NO的影响。方法　制备大鼠主动吸烟模型 ,采用硝酸还原酶法测定各组大鼠血清、肺、心肌及脑组织的NO含量。结果　非药物烟组大鼠血清、肺、心肌及脑组织中NO含量明显低于非给烟对照组 ,药物烟高、中剂量组NO含量明显高于非药物烟组 ,接近非给烟对照组。结论　吸烟对大鼠血液、肺、心肌及脑组织有不同程度的损伤作用 ,使NO含量降低 ;药物烟具有一定的保护和防止NO含量降低的作用。     

葡萄籽多酚对多药耐药的逆转作用及其机制

目的：探讨葡萄籽多酚(GSPs)逆转多药耐药的作用及其对多药耐药相关蛋白GSTπ、TopoⅡ α表达的影响。方法：以人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞及其耐药株MCF-7／ADR细胞作为实验对象，用MTT法观察GSPs对多药耐药的逆转作用，免疫细胞化学技术观察GSPs对GSTπ、TopoⅡα等多药耐药相关蛋白表达的影响。结果：GSPs在1．2、2．4mg／L浓度时对细胞无毒性作用，并且均能逆转MCF-7／ADR细胞的多药耐药性，逆转倍数分别为5．77和9．79倍；GSPs可使MCF-7／ADR细胞GSh表达下降，但对TopoⅡ α表达无影响。结论：体外试验证实GSPs具有多药耐药逆转作用，其机制可能与降低肿瘤细胞内GSTπ的表达有关，提示GSPs是一种潜在的肿瘤化疗增敏剂。