Combined anti-bradycardia/anti-tachycardia pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillator systems in patients with recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias]

In 41 patients with recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation an integrated pacemaker-defibrillator-system (PCD, Medtronic, model 7216 A or 7217 B) was implanted. In 21 out of 24 (88%) patients a new transvenous implantation technique in combination with a subcutaneous patch electrode was used. The implanted devices comprise antibradycardiac pacemaker functions, two different forms of antitachycardiac pacemaker functions (ramp and burst pacing), and internal cardioversion or defibrillation capabilities. During a mean follow-up of 8 months 147 episodes of ventricular tachycardia were detected, 131 of them were terminated successfully by antitachycardiac pacing; in 13 episodes internal cardioversion was applied to revert ventricular tachycardia. Twenty-seven episodes of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia (greater than 200/min) were detected and successfully terminated by internal defibrillation. In six patients with intermittent rapid atrial fibrillation, change of antiarrhythmic therapy was required to avoid activation of the device. The new integrated pacemaker-defibrillator systems improve therapy in patients with life-threatening tachyarrhythmias by reducing the number of internal cardioversions/defibrillations; the non-thoracotomy approach reduces the post operative risk.     

A chimeric EGFR/neu receptor in functional analysis of the neu oncoprotein.

As the factor binding to the neu protein has been unknown, it has not been possible to confirm experimentally the proposed growth-factor receptor like functions of the neu protein. To approach this problem we constructed a recombinant receptor which enabled ligand regulation of the neu tyrosine kinase. The hybrid receptor consisted of the extracellular ligand binding, transmembrane and protein kinase C-substrate domains joined to the intracellular tyrosine kinase and carboxyl-terminal domains of the neu protein. Several properties of NIH3T3 cells carrying this construct were tested. We obtained the first experimental evidence that the neu proto-oncogene has mitogenic and transforming activities only in the presence of a ligand stimulating its tyrosine kinase activity. Various cellular and molecular biological parameters indicated that the chimeric receptor behaved very similarly to the EGFR. Also, this chimeric receptor has allowed us to compare the constitutive oncogenic and the ligand-activated non-oncogenic activities of the neu tyrosine kinase. In the future we plan to focus on characterization of possible differences between EGFR and neu signalling in more differentiated cellular backgrounds.     

A prolonged outbreak of ornithosis in duck processors.

In 1985 an outbreak of ornithosis affected 13 of 80 (16%) workers in a duck-processing plant. New employees were three times more likely to become cases than established employees. The highest attack rate was in those on the production line. Following the outbreak, an occupational health scheme was set up to monitor the health of new recruits to the company. Serological evidence of recent infection was demonstrated in 18 of 37 (49%) new employees tested in the first 3 months of employment. Five (14%) also had clinical evidence of ornithosis. Veterinary investigation of the ducks demonstrated a high proportion with asymptomatic chlamydial infection. It is suggested that ornithosis may be more common in duck processors than is currently supposed. Strategies to reduce occupational risks are discussed.     

The relation of the accumulation of cadmium in human placenta to the intake of high-fibre grains and maternal iron status.

Exposure to cadmium via the diet is known to depend to a large extent on the intake of cereal grains, particularly the high-fibre fractions of wheat. Subjects with low iron status absorb more cadmium than those with better iron status. The purpose of the present study was to determine to what extent cadmium accumulation in human placenta is affected by the intake of grain fibre and maternal iron status during pregnancy. Thirty-nine pregnant women participated in the study. In each trimester the women were requested to complete a dietary history and to allow blood samples to be taken for haemoglobin, serum ferritin and serum thiocyanate determinations, the latter as a marker for smoking. At delivery the whole placenta was taken for the determination of the cadmium concentration. The 32 women who had serum thiocyanate levels less than 70 mumol/l, who had completed at least one dietary history and from whom a blood sample was obtained in the third trimester, were included in the final statistical analyses. In the group of women who consumed less than the median intake of grain fibre and had more than 15 micrograms ferritin/l serum in the third trimester, the placenta cadmium concentration was nearly half that in the placentae of women who had consumed more grain fibre or had lower iron status in late pregnancy.     

Fractures of the distal humerus.

We present a rational approach to the classification and surgical management of intraarticular fractures of the distal humerus. The fractures are classified on the basis of the surgical anatomy of the distal humerus, which is divided into two skeletal columns held together by the trochlea. The basic surgical aim is to restore all three elements with sufficient stability to permit functional movement. The surgical tactics are presented in detail.     

新氨基糖苷类抗生素89－07给药方案研究

用小鼠败血症系统感染模型，以感染小鼠肾匀浆活菌计数为标准，以庆大霉素为对照药，探讨日剂量单次与分两次给药两种方案对新氨基糖苷类抗生素８９—０７体内抗留作用的影响。结果表明大肠杆菌９０－０２０、绿脓假单胞菌３—３７４、金葡球菌９０—５０６对抗生素８９—０７和庆大霉素均敏感（ＭＩＣ范围０．０６２５～２ｍｇ／Ｌ）；抗生素８９—０７和庆大霉素日剂量单次给药组（ＯＤ）３株实验菌的肾匀浆活菌计数值由给药前的４．９４±０．０９、４．６０±０．２７、４．８６±０．１０１ｇｃｆｕ／ｍｌ分别降至１．９４±０．１９、１．８４±０．２５、１．８８±０．２５１ｇｃｆｕ／ｍｌ（给药后７～８ｈ）．日剂量分两次给药组（ＢＩＤ）则分别降至２．９５±０．４８、２．８７±０．３７、３．４４±０．２７１ｇｃｆｕ／ｍｌ。ＯＤ组对３株实验菌的最大杀菌作用Ｅｍａｘ分别为３．０２、２．９７和２．８５１ｇｃｆｕ／ｍｌ，ＯＤ给药方案的体内杀菌作用明显优于ＢＩＤ方案。