Cabergoline compared to levodopa in the treatment of patients with severe restless legs syndrome: results from a multi-center, randomized, active controlled trial.

We report the first large-scale double-blind, randomly assigned study to compare two active dopaminergic therapies for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), the dopamine agonist cabergoline (CAB) and levodopa/benserazide (levodopa). Patients with idiopathic RLS were treated with fixed daily doses of 2 or 3 mg CAB or 200 or 300 mg levodopa for 30 weeks. Efficacy was assessed by changes in the IRLS (International RLS Severity Scale) and by time to discontinuation of treatment due to loss of efficacy or augmentation. 361 of 418 screened patients (age 58 +/- 12 years, 71% females) were randomly assigned and treated (CAB: n = 178; levodopa: n = 183) in 51 centers of four European countries. Baseline IRLS total score was 25.7 +/- 6.8. The baseline-adjusted mean change from baseline to week 6 in IRLS sum score was d = -16.1 in the CAB group and d = -9.5 in the levodopa group (d = -6.6, P < 0.0001). More patients in the levodopa group (24.0%) than in the CAB group (11.9%, P = 0.0029, log-rank test) discontinued because of loss of efficacy (14.2% vs. 7.9%, P = 0.0290) or augmentation (9.8% vs. 4.0%, P = 0.0412). Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 83.1% of the CAB group and in 77.6% of the levodopa group. In both groups, most frequent AEs were gastrointestinal symptoms (CAB: 55.6%, levodopa: 30.6%, P < 0.0001). This first large-scale active controlled study in RLS showed superior efficacy of cabergoline versus levodopa after a 30-week long-term therapy. Tolerability was found more favorable with levodopa than with cabergoline.     

133Granulation Tissue Induction by Lassar Ointment vs. Collagen‐Polyvynilpyrrolidone in Venous Ulcers

Venous leg ulcers derived from tissue destruction is the consequence of a chronic inflammatory process that produces pain and physical disability, diminishing quality of life in patients. In this work, Lassar ointment and lyophilized collagen‐polyvinylpyrrolidone were administered separated each on one half in the same ulcer to 9 patients at the beginning and every 4 days. On day 16, all patients were auto‐grafted with partial thickness skin. Granulation tissue and graft integration were assessed clinically during 3 months. Inflammatory infiltrate, type I and III collagens, elastic fibers, alkaline phosphatase as well as blood vessels were evaluated histologically or histochemically in biopsies taken at the beginning and 16 days after the local treatment. Clinically and morphologically, both treatments demonstrated appropriate granulation tissue promotion and optimal graft integration since the beginning. Nevertheless, in Lassar ointment treated group regionalization of alkaline phosphatase activity was observed, as well as the presence of granuloma in 2 of the 9 patients. In conclusion, Lassar ointment or lyophilized collagen‐polyvinylpyrrolidone are two different promoters of granulation tissue in venous leg ulcers, however Lassar ointment has the capability to produce granuloma and an exacerbated immune response; in consequence, ulcer recidivism could be present, may be due to mineral deposits in the wound.     

Reduced expression of CD69 and adhesion molecules of T lymphocytes in asthmatic children receiving immunotherapy

T lymphocytes play a fundamental role in the initiation and regulation of chronic inflammatory responses in patients with asthma. CD69 is an early marker of T‐cell activation. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1, CD54) and L ‐selectin have been reported to increase in patients with allergic diseases and asthma. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the expression of CD69, CD54, and L ‐selectin by T lymphocytes of children with asthma, before and after immunotherapy. Eighteen children newly diagnosed with asthma, 11 good and nine poor responders to immunotherapy, and 16 normal subjects, were enrolled in this study. The percentages of CD69⁺, CD54⁺, and CD62L⁺ cells in T lymphocytes were measured by using flow cytometry. The levels of CD69, CD54, and CD62L in serum and culture supernatants were determined by using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of CD69 and CD54 on CD3⁺ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in children with asthma than in control patients. All the patient groups expressed (spontaneously and following stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin together with mite‐extract proteins) greater amounts of CD69 and CD54 than did control subjects. With long‐term immunotherapy, the percentages of CD69⁺ and CD54⁺ T lymphocytes were significantly lower in patients with a good response to immunotherapy. Our results also showed significantly lower serum L ‐selectin levels following immunotherapy. In conclusion, successful immunotherapy resulted in decreased expression and production of CD69 and CD54. These results may explain, in part, the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy.     

Laryngeal tuberculosis: a review of 26 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To review the clinical characteristics of laryngeal tuberculosis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 26 histopathology-confirmed cases in a tertiary medical center from 1992 to 2006. RESULTS: The female patients were significantly younger than male patients. Hoarseness is the most common symptom (84.6%) because true vocal fold is most commonly involved (80.8%). Infection usually involves unilateral (66.7%) and right-side larynx but multiple subsites of the larynx (57.7%). The appearance of the affected larynx may have mixed features and change before diagnosis. Laryngeal tuberculosis is usually misdiagnosed as laryngeal cancer, especially in patients with malignant signs such as enlarged cervical lymph nodes and vocal fold immobility. Chest film is better than sputum examinations for screening. CONCLUSION: We should be especially alert about TB infection when facing young female patients with unusual laryngeal lesions. Extensive laser excision before diagnosis should be avoided because after antituberculous treatment, prognosis is usually good and vocal fold immobility could be reversible.     

嗜铬细胞瘤患者围手术期处理的改进

目的：探讨提高嗜铬细胞瘤患者围手术期安全性的措施。方法：对15例嗜铬细胞瘤患者、术前采用选择性α1受体阻滞剂多沙唑嗪控释片(可多华)控制高血压；11例患者采用3D DCEMRA进行肿瘤定位；术中均采用联合高容量血液稀释(AHH)和术中患者自体血回输纠正血容量。结果：除1例持续性高血压患者需联合钙离子拮抗剂和ACEI药物降压外．其余患者血压控制均为满意；根据3D DCEMRA定位选择手术径路者均顺利完成手术；AHH联合术中自体血回输使14例患者避免了异体输血。结论：本文围手术期处理改进．可多华可明显减少药物的不良反应；采用3D DCEMRA进行肿瘤定位，可增加手术安全性；AHH联合术中自体血回输可减少医疗成本和异体输血，以及由此而引起的并发症。     

血管内氧合器的研制

为了探索呼吸辅助的新方法，我们采用国产聚丙烯中空纤维，自行设计、制造模具，研制出一种血管内氧合器。该氧合器是一个小的、细长的可经单侧股静脉或颈静脉切开，置入腔静脉内的装置。氧合器有效长度４０ｃｍ，膜交换面积０．０９ｍ＾２。经负压调节通过血管内氧合器的氧流量，以防止纤维破裂造成的血管内气栓的危险。一根双腔导气管使气体经同一静脉切开部位循环，气体经内芯管流经血管内氧合器尖端，然后经中空纤维束流出。目前     

Population toxicokinetics of tetrachloroethylene

 In assessing the distribution and metabolism of toxic compounds in the body, measurements are not always feasible for ethical or technical reasons. Computer modeling offers a reasonable alternative, but the variability and complexity of biological systems pose unique challenges in model building and adjustment. Recent tools from population pharmacokinetics, Bayesian statistical inference, and physiological modeling can be brought together to solve these problems. As an example, we modeled the distribution and metabolism of tetrachloroethylene (PERC) in humans. We derive statistical distributions for the parameters of a physiological model of PERC, on the basis of data from Monster et al. (1979). The model adequately fits both prior physiological information and experimental data. An estimate of the relationship between PERC exposure and fraction metabolized is obtained. Our median population estimate for the fraction of inhaled tetrachloroethylene that is metabolized, at exposure levels exceeding current occupational standards, is 1.5% [95% confidence interval (0.52%, 4.1%)]. At levels approaching ambient inhalation exposure (0.001 ppm), the median estimate of the fraction metabolized is much higher, at 36% [95% confidence interval (15%, 58%)]. This disproportionality should be taken into account when deriving safe exposure limits for tetrachloroethylene and deserves to be verified by further experiments. Received: 20 April 1995/Accepted: 24 August 1995     

白细胞介素—2新的功能位点及其中枢镇痛作用

白细胞介素－２（ＩＬ－２）不仅是重要的免疫调节因子，而且还具有重要的中枢调节作用。本实验以钾离子透入引起大鼠甩尾反应为指标，发现侧脑室注射ＩＬ—２能显著提高动物痛阈，并能被纳洛酮所阻断，表示ＩＬ－２的中枢镇痛作用可能与阿片受体有关。利用基因定位突变技术获得的无免疫活性ＩＬ－２实查体仍具有中枢镇痛作用，表明ＩＬ—２分子上发挥镇痛和免疫调节作用的功能位点是相互独立的。纳洛酮能够阻断ＩＬ—２的中枢镇痛作用，而不能影响ＩＬ—２增殖ＣＴＬＬ－２细胞的作用，提示ＩＬ－２发挥镇痛和免疫调节作用可能通过不同的受体途径。ＩＬ－２分子中第４５位Ｔｙｒ残基突变为Ｖａｌ后，虽仍保留了免疫活性，但丧失了镇痛功能，表示４５位Ｔｙｒ残基是ＩＬ—２发挥中枢镇痛功能的关键残基之一。我们推测ＩＬ—２的镇痛功能位点可能在ＩＬ—２分子中第４５位Ｔｙｒ残基附近区域。     

应用吻合器行中、下段直肠癌切除术后吻合口漏──附10例报告

我科自１９８１年３月至１９９１年１２月应用吻合器行中、下段直肠癌切除术６７例，同期发生吻合口漏１０例（１４９％）。本文分析了吻合口漏发生的因素。病变部位、病灶范围、术中操作技术、术前肠道灌洗以及术后骶前引流是影响吻合口漏的重要因素。本文总结了吻合口漏的治疗方法，提倡保守治疗，或加作暂时性横结肠造口术。     

精氨酸加压素（AVP）的衍生物AVP4—8不能作用于AVPV1a受体而诱发电流反应

在微量注射大量肝脏ｍＲＮＡ之后，通过电压箝方法进行功能鉴定，两栖类卵母细胞成功地表达了ＡＶＰＶ１ａ受体。但在灌流ＡＶ４－８溶液时，却不能诱导卵母细胞产生内向振荡电流反应。提示ＡＶＰ４－８不能通过ＡＶＰＶ１ａ受体而介导生理学效应。