Adverse ocular effects associated with niacin therapy.

In a retrospective survey of patients taking medication for hyperlipidaemia, those taking niacin (nicotinic acid) were more likely (p < 0.05) to report sicca syndromes, blurred vision, eyelid oedema, and macular oedema compared with those who never took niacin. Additionally, 7% of those taking niacin discontinued the drug owing to adverse ocular side effects, while none of the other lipid lowering agents were found to cause these side effects (p = 0.016). Data from spontaneous reporting systems support a possible association of decreased vision, cystoid macular oedema, sicca-like symptoms, discoloration of the eyelids with or without periorbital or eyelid oedema, proptosis, loss of eyebrow or eyelashes, and superficial punctate keratitis with the use of niacin in high doses. Decreased vision may be marked, and if the drug is not discontinued, may progress to cystoid macular oedema. All ocular side effects listed above are reversible if the association with niacin is recognised and the drug is discontinued; both the incidence and severity of the ocular side effects seem to be dose dependent.     

亚硒酸钠对顺铂致人体淋巴细胞增殖抑制的拮抗作用

目的 检测亚硒酸钠是否能够削弱或解除顺铂对植物血球凝激素(PHA)刺激的人体外周血淋巴细胞的增殖抑制。方法 用顺铂和亚硒酸钠单独或联合处理PHA刺激的人体外周血淋巴细胞，顺铂(0．05，0．20，0．50mg／L)在细胞培养24h时加入，亚硒酸钠(0．05mg／L)在不同处理中分别在细胞培养开始时加入或与顺铂同时加入；培养72h后检测转化淋巴细胞的有丝分裂指数。结果0．05mg/L亚硒酸钠在培养开始时加入，PHA刺激转化的淋巴细胞有丝分裂指数较对照增长42．8％(P＜0．05)，与顺铂同时加入，有丝分裂指数增长13．7％(P＞0．05)。0．05与0．20mg/L顺铂处理细胞，有丝分裂指数未发生显性改变，当顺铂剂量为0．50mg/L时，细胞有丝分裂指数较对照降低54．5％(P＜0．001)。亚硒酸钠预处理细胞可以解除0．50mg/L顺铂所致的细胞增殖抑制，使有丝分裂指数恢复正常，但亚硒酸钠与顺铂同时加入时，被顺铂抑制的有丝分裂指数只能部分提高。结论0．05mg/L亚硒酸钠单独作用于淋巴细胞可直接促进细胞增殖，与顺铂联合处理细胞时，可降低顺铂毒性，拮抗顺铂的抗增殖作用。亚硒酸钠在细胞培养开始时加入培养体系效果更佳。     

Changing mortality patterns in Nauruans: an example of epidemiological transition.

An analysis of mortality data for the years 1982-5 was carried out for the Micronesian population (aged 15 years and over) of the central Pacific Island, Nauru. Among males, the most common causes of death were circulatory system disorders (33.3%), accidents (25.2%), and diabetes mellitus (12.1%). The majority of accidents occurred in the 15-34 year age group and involved motor vehicles. Among females, neoplasms (almost all lung and cervix) (22.4%), circulatory system disorders (20.7%), and diabetes mellitus (17.2%) were the most common causes of death. When accidents are excluded, 59.4% of deaths were in persons with diabetes. Compared with Australia, mortality rates in almost all age groups were at least five times higher for males and females for a comparable period. Nauruan life expectancy (39.5 years for men and 48.5 years for women) is one of the lowest in the world. These data confirm the high mortality associated with diabetes mellitus in Nauruans as evidenced in earlier studies. Modernization of this society through the affluence acquired by the mining of phosphate has led to serious public health problems relating to non-communicable diseases so that the mortality trends now mirror those of developed societies.     

曲尼司特对豚鼠肺组织β肾上腺素受体向下调节的影响

用放射配体结合分析法分别测定了正常组、特布他林组、特布他林十曲尼司特组豚鼠的肺组织β受体最大结合力和解离常数,结果显示:给特布他林后豚鼠肺组织β受体发生明显的向下调节.曲尼司特可预防此向下调节的发生.     

Large granular lymphocyte expansions in patients with Felty's syndrome: analysis using anti-T cell receptor V beta-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Felty's syndrome (FS), the association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and idiopathic neutropenia, remains an unexplained phenomenon. HLA-DR4 is found in over 90% of cases. Patients with FS may have a T cell lymphocytosis of CD3+CD8+CD57+ large granular lymphocytes (LGL syndrome). In this study of 47 patients with FS, 19% had clear evidence for LGL expansions, while in total 42% had variable evidence for the LGL syndrome using currently available techniques. Of these T cell expansions, 76% were clonal, as demonstrated by Southern blotting and analysis with T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain constant region probes. This technique may fail to detect clonal populations in some patients. Cytofluorographic analysis using antibodies specific for TCR V beta chains identified patients with clonal LGL expansions with results comparable to those obtained with Southern blotting. No evidence for shared V beta usage among expansions from different patients was seen. The role of LGL in RA and FS is currently unclear, but this technique offers a practical and accessible means of identifying patients with LGL expansions, as a starting point for further investigation.     

A case of cystadenocarcinoma of the liver

A case of cystadenocarcinoma of the liver is reported. The patient was a 73-year-old woman in whom a tumor was detected in the lateral segment of the liver during a health examination. Ultrasonograms and computed tomograms showed a multilocular cystic mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a multilocular lowintensity mass, including a high-intensity portion and a portal branch compressed by the tumor. MRI with gadolinium showed an enhanced cyst wall. The cystic part of the tumor became smaller and the solid part became larger over a 1-month period, indicating that the tumor was malignant. Subsegmentectomy (S₃) was performed and cystadenocarcinoma with cystadenoma was diagnosed by histopathological examination. Identification of changes in the appearance of a tumor should be helpful for the differential diagnosis of cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma.