Elaboration by mammalian mesenchymal cells infected with Trypanosoma cruzi of a fibroblast-stimulating factor that may contribute to chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Myocardial fibrosis can occur as a complication of chronic infection of the heart with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas' disease) and can lead to serious disability. To assess whether there might be a direct relationship between intracellular parasitization and subsequent tissue fibrosis in this disease, we tested serum-free conditioned media from cultures of fibroblasts, vascular smooth-muscle cells, and myocardial cells for fibroblast-stimulating activity. Conditioned media from all infected cultures, but not from uninfected cultures, stimulated fibroblast [3H]thymidine incorporation, DNA and protein synthesis, and cell proliferation. Fibroblast-stimulating activity was also detected in extracts of amastigotes but not of trypomastigotes or epimastigotes. We conclude that parasitization of mesenchymal cells, including myocardial cells, results in elaboration of a fibroblast-stimulating factor(s), perhaps of parasite origin. We postulate that this factor may play a role in initiation of myocardial fibrosis in Chagas' disease.     

地塞米松对布比卡因诱导小鼠神经元毒性的影响

Objective To investigate the effect of dexamethasone on the toxicity of bupivacaine in murine neurons.Methods Murine neuroblastoma cell line N2a was obtained from ATCC cell bank (USA). The cells were cultured in 10% fetal cow serum/MEM culture medium and divided into 4 groups voup I control (Con); group II bupivacaine ( Bup); group Ⅲ dexamethasone (Dex) and group IV Dex + Bup. The culture medium contained bupivacaine 900 μmol/L in group Bup and dexamethasone 1 μmol/L in group Dex respectively. In group Dex + Bup ( IV ) Bup was added to the culture medium with a final concentration of 900 μmol/L at 12 h after pretreatment with Dex 1 μmol/L. The cells were inoculated in 24 well plates (0.5 ml in each well, 24 wells in each group) and 10 cm culture dishes (7 ml in each dish, 4 dishes in each group). The release rate of LDH was calculated and the morphology of the cells and nucleus condensation (by Hoechst 3334224 fluorescent staining) was detected at 9 h of incubation in 24 well plates. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential (by JC-1 assay) and phosphorylation of Akt and ERKs (by Western blot) were measured at 5 h of incubation in 24 well plates and in culture dishes respectively. ResultsBupivacaine caused severe damage to the N2a cells as evidenced by increase in LDH release and nucleus condensation (apoptosis), dephosphorylation of Akt and ERKs, decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and severe morphological changes. Dexamethasone pretreatment significantly attenuated bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity. Conclusion Dexamethasone can protect N2a cells from bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity through stabilization of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and inhibition of dephosphorylation of Akt and ERKs.     

Effects of chronic exposure to arsenate on the cardiovascular function of rats.

Cardiovascular function was studied in anaesthetised male rats which received 50 micrograms/ml of arsenic (as sodium arsenate) in deionised drinking water for 320 days. High urinary excretion of arsenic was found at the end of treatment and the metal accumulated considerably in the kidneys and liver, which both presented slight alterations. No histopathological modifications were evident in other organs. Base line blood pressure, cardiac inotropism, and chronotropism and cardiovascular reactivity to noradrenaline, acetylcholine, angiotensin II, bradykinin, histamine, and serotonin did not differ in exposed or in control animals. In the exposed group, however, there was potentiation of the effects of vascular beta-adrenoceptor stimulation and a reduction in the vascular responsiveness to angiotensin I. Chronic arsenic exposure did not affect the baroreflex sensitivity but was able to induce sympathetic hyperactivity or hypersensitivity, or both, possibly associated with an antivagal action. Our results might help to explain the cardiovascular alterations seen in people chronically exposed to high concentrations of arsenic.     

多体位短间隔及加压追踪法全消化道钡餐检查的临床分析

目的:探讨多体位、短间隔及加压追踪法在全消化道钡餐透视检查的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析34例经手术病理确诊或内科治愈或钡餐明确诊断(憩室)的X线表现。年龄12岁81岁,男19例,女15例。采用多体位、短间隔加压追踪法的全消化道钡餐透视检查。结果:空肠近段神经鞘瘤并溃疡出血1例,先天性巨小肠1例,小肠粘连连带压迫空肠近段并不完全性肠梗阻1例,回盲部腺癌并不完全性肠梗阻1例,阑尾切除术后回肠末段肠粘连并不完性肠梗阻1例,美克尔憩室炎并周围溃疡伴不完全性肠梗阻1例,空回肠多发憩室4例,空肠炎9例,回肠炎5例,空回肠炎3例,肠激惹综合征3例。结论:多体位、短间隔加压追踪法全消化道钡餐透视检查,检出率较高,在小肠疾患的检查中有重要的临床意义。     

洁净手术部对建筑设计的需求

功能先进的洁净手术部已成为现代综合医院的重要标志,近年来得到政府、医疗界、工程技术界的重视.2002年12月GB50333-2002"医院洁净手术部建筑技术规范"的国家标准(简称国标)正式颁布.其中对洁净手术部用房规定了主要技术指标,在实施指南中对设备管理做出了要求.随着医疗市场的需求,全国各地投资改造、新建洁净手术部已成为潮流.我院7500平方米洁净手术部(设备层3000平方米,手术区3000平方米,附属区1500平方米)运营近3年的时间接待来访医院百余家.现就使用后对建筑方面的一些建议供大家讨论借鉴:     

Diagnostic delay after dimenhydrinate use in vomiting children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of dimenhydrinate was associated with delay in the diagnosis and management of treatable illnesses or with direct adverse effects in children with vomiting presenting to an emergency department. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey and review of drug reaction and telephone inquiry records. SETTING: The emergency department of a tertiary care children's hospital and a provincial poison information centre. PATIENTS: The parents of 148 children who presented with vomiting completed the questionnaire. The database at the poison information centre included 474 reports of adverse drug reactions over an 8-year period and 105 reports of telephone inquiries over a 4-year period. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-one (14%) of 148 children had received dimenhydrinate before arrival at the emergency department. The patients who had received dimenhydrinate were more likely than the others to present more than 12 hours after the onset of vomiting (14 [67%] of 21 v. 43 [34%] of 127, p less than 0.01). The discharge diagnoses for those who had received dimenhydrinate included asthma, pelvic inflammatory disease and urinary tract infection. No clinically important direct adverse reactions to dimenhydrinate were documented. CONCLUSIONS: The use of dimenhydrinate in children with vomiting is associated with a risk of delay in the diagnosis of treatable medical conditions.     

一阶导数高速脉冲极谱法用于盐酸普鲁卡因的定量分析

研究了一阶导数高速脉冲极谱法,并运用于盐酸普鲁卡因及其注射制剂的定量分析。在-0.04 V(对 Ag/AgCl)处出现的良好导数峰,于1.0～6.0×10~(-4)mol/L 范围内,导数峰电流与浓度呈线性关系。检测限为3.0×10~(-8)mol/L。操作简便、快速、灵敏,结果准确。     

The General Practice Research Club.

The General Practice Research Club was established in 1969, and now has 120 members. A meeting of the club is held twice a year, at which various papers, from research ideas through to completed, published studies are presented. A survey of 40 individuals who had presented papers at meetings during the period 1984-89 showed that almost half (18) had presented papers on clinical topics. As a result of the presentation, 29 individuals had modified their research, with 11 undertaking major alterations. The meeting was rated most highly by those offering ideas and plans for research. Most individuals responded positively to the meetings, commenting that they valued peer review, found the meetings encouraging, and useful for focusing ideas. Lack of criticism and feedback was commented upon. The club has an important role to play in encouraging research by service general practitioners.