SOME ANATOMICAL DATA RELATED TO THE TRANSNASO- SPHENOIDAL RESECTION OF PITUITARY FOSSA TUMORS

Since the beginning of this century, trans- naso-sphenoidal resection of the pituitary fossa tumors has been widely used clinically. It has more merits than other operative approaches used before. In China it has been adopted by both ENT doctors and neurosurgeons since 1959.1 In order to afford some relevant anatomical data, we measured 137 adult sagittal plane skulls with distinct landmarks.     

EXTERNAL MALLEOLUS ACTION ON ANKLE STABILITY IN FIBULAR RESECTION

In the management of ankle joint fractures, re- duction and fixation of the lateral malleolus should be emphasized. The lateral maUeolus should have anatomical reduction and fixation should be reliable. Fibular integrity is essential in stabilizing the ankle joint. Routine section of the fibula may result in separation of the inferior tibiofibular joint, ankle instability and talus displacement. Eventually this leads to traumatic arthritis. So special attention should be paid to fibular resection, even partial removal of the fibula for transplantation should be carried out carefully.     

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AMINO ACID CONTENTS AND LDH ISOZYME BY ELECTROPHORESIS AND SLAB-PAGE IN ADULT WORMS OF ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES, ASCARIS SUUM AND TOXOCARA CANIS^

Comparative studies are made on the relative percentages of amino acid content and LDH isozyme by electrophoresis and Slab-PAGE in adult worms of Ascaris lumbricoides, Ascaris suum and Toxocara canis. The results show that there are remarkable differences of Arg and His of 17 amino acids bet. ween Toxocara canis and human intestinal ascaris, human biliary ascaris and pig ascaris; there are also obvious differences of band positions of LDH isozyme electrophoretic patterns and band position and amount of slab-PAGE patterns among them, whereas no marked differences are found in these three indices in human intestinal ascaris, human biliary ascaris and pig ascaris.     

Apopotic gene Bax expression in carotid plaque

The expression of BAX in carotid atherosclcrosis and its regulation is far from defined. Objectives To investigate BAX expression in stable/fibrous and instable/vulnerable carotid plaque and its clinical significance. Methods 25 cases of carotid plaque specimens obtained from endarterectomy were divided into two groups, stable/fibrous 14 cases, vulnerable/instable 11 cases; aortic artery and its branches from hepatic transplantation donors 6 case as control. The expression of proapoptotic BAX was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization(ISH) and in situ TdT dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results 5 eases of BAX ( ) were detected by ICH and ISH, 4 case of TUNEL ( ) were detected by TUNEL in stable/fibrous carotid plaque, while 10 cases were BAX ( )by IHC(P<0.05) , 11 case by ISH and 9 case by TUNEL were detected in instable/vulnerable carotid plaque (P<0.01), respectively. The intensity of BAX ( ) cells by IHC and ISH was 8.63±2.62 and 10.32±3.12 in fibrous plaques, whereas 122±21.64 and 152±23.35 in vulnerable plaques, respectively. No expression of BAX was found in controlled group. Conclusion The higher expression of Bax in vulnerable carotid plaque may be one mechanisms in molecular pathogenesis of carotid atherosclerosis which affect plaque stability and be the cause of higher incidence of stroke than fibrous carotid plaques, the regulation of BAX expression in different stage of atherosclerosis may provide targets in gene therapy for carotid atherosclerosis.     

Paracentral Corneal Dellen： A Rare Sign of Graves Ophthalmopathy

Purpose:To report a rare sign, paracentral corneal dellen that developed in a middleaged female patient with Graves ophthalmopathy.Methods:A paracentral corneal dellen developed in the left eye in a 42-year-old woman who was diagnosed as Graves ophthalmopathy. The patient had remarkable upper eyelid retraction, upper eyelid lag and upward motility restriction. The Graves ophthalmopathy was classified as Grade Ⅳ according to NOSPECS classification.Results:Local artificial tear film and 0.3％ Tobramycin eye drops were administered to both eyes.Twenty-four hours later, the left corneal dellen disappeared.Conclusions:Graves ophthalmopathy can lead to paracentral corneal dellen because of severe upper eyelid retraction and upward motility restriction of the eye in spite of the lack of lagophthalmos. Artificial tear drop and antibiotic eye drop therapy helped even though the patient did not have corneal exposure. Eye Science 2003;19:174-175.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CLINICAL USE OF ANTIBIOTIC AND PRODUCTION OF ESBLS

Extended -spectrum β -lactamases(ESBLs)aremainlyproducedbymembersofthefamilyEnter obacteriaceaewhichcanhydrolyzeβ -lactamantibi oticsincludingthethird - generationcephalosporinandaztreonam ,theESBLs- producingbacillishowedmedian -highresistancetoceftazidimeandaztreonamparticularly[1] .NowadaystheprevalenceofESBLs -producingstrainshavebeenreportedinmanyareasaroundtheworld[2 ] .ButthereisfewinformationabouttherelationshipbetweentheuseofantibioticandtheproductionofESBLs .Weperformedastud…     

hCG/ATP-induced Leydig cell calcium channel reaction at different extracellular calcium ion concentration

Objective: To study the calcium channel reaction of human Leydig cells induced by hCG/ATP at different extracellular calcium ion concentrations. Methods: The Leydig cell calcium ion concentration was examined with laser confocal microscope, when the cells were stimulated with hCG/ATP at different extracellular calcium contrations. Results: With calcium-containing extracellular fluid, the Leydig cells were sensitive to hCG stimulation and when the extracellular fluid was calcium-free, the Leydig cells did not respond to the stimulation. However, the Leydig cells did respond to ATP stimulation no matter the extracellular fluid contained calcium or not. Conclusion: In human Leydig cells, there are calcium channels sensitive to hCG and ATP. The extracellular calcium ion concentration plays an important role in the regulation of Leydig cell metabolism by hCG/ATP.     

A GIANT INTRAOCULAR FOREIGN BODY OF NONMAGNETIC METAL REPORT OF A CASE

A perusal of the medical literature re- vealod only one case of giant nonmetallic in traocular foreign body, 15x11x7 mm, removed in China However, no mention was made of the operative result of the wounded eye in the report. Usually after removal of intraocular foriegn bodies, especially the giant ones, the eyeball becomes inevitably atrophied, thus it has to be enucleated soon after operation. We removed a giant intraocular metallic foreign body, measuring 18.1x9x1.5 mm and weighing 0.24 g, from the left eye of a patient at our clinic. Follow-up l year after operation found that the eyeball of the affected eye was good in appearance with preservation of partial vision.     

Oxygen Reverses Deficits of Cognitive Function and Memory and Increased Heart Rate Induced by Acute Severe Isovolemic Anemia

Background: Erythrocytes are transfused to improve oxygen delivery and prevent or treat inadequate oxygenation of tissues. Acute isovolemic anemia subtly slows human data processing and degrades memory, increases heart rate, and decreases self-assessed energy level. Erythrocyte transfusion is efficacious in reversing these effects of acute anemia. We tested the hypothesis that increasing arterial oxygen pressure (Pao2) to 350 mmHg or greater would supply sufficient oxygen to be equivalent to augmenting hemoglobin concentration by 2-3 g/dl and thus reverse the effects of acute anemia.

Methods: Thirty-one healthy volunteers, aged 28 +/- 4 yr (mean +/- SD), were tested with verbal memory and standard, computerized neuropsychologic tests before and twice after acute isovolemic reduction of their hemoglobin concentration to 5.7 +/- 0.3 g/dl. Two sets of tests were performed in randomized order at the lower hemoglobin concentration: with the volunteer breathing room air or oxygen. The subject and those administering the tests and recording the results were unaware which gas was administered. As an additional control for duration of the experiment, 10 of these volunteers also completed the same tests on a separate day, without alteration of hemoglobin concentration, at times of the day similar to those on the experimental day. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and self-assessed sense of energy were recorded at the time of each test.

Results: Reaction time for digit-symbol substitution test increased, delayed memory was degraded, mean arterial pressure and energy level decreased, and heart rate increased at a hemoglobin concentration of 5.7 g/dl (all P < 0.05). Increasing Pao2 to 406 +/- 47 mmHg reversed the digit-symbol substitution test result and the delayed memory changes to values not different from those at the baseline hemoglobin concentration of 12.7 +/- 1.0 g/dl, and decreased heart rate (P < 0.05). However, mean arterial pressure and energy level changes were not altered with increased Pao2 during acute anemia.     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE ACTION OF MALE HOR MONE ON HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN-CHOLESTEROL

Plasma testosterone and estradiol are determined in 72 patients with abnormal high density lipoprotein. cholesterol (HDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol/total cholesterol (H/T) ratio values, and in 72 randomly chosen males with normal HDLC and H/T values. The results showed that plasma testosterone levels in the groups with abnormal HDL-C and H/T were obviously lower than those in the controls. Statistically significant differences were found in all the abnormal groups in comparison with the controls (P0.20). Testosterone levels lowered further with increasing age in the groups with abnormal HDL-C and H/T., the most obvious drops were in the groups around 56 years of age (P<0.005). The data indicate that male hormone deficiency may reduce HDL-C and H.'T and facilitate the process of atherosclero_is. Therefore, it seems rational to treat such patients with male sex hormone preparations or to use the traditional Chinese medicines which strengthen Yang (maleness) in a new attempt to treat and prevent CHD.