Ligustrazine inhibits high voltage-gated Ca~(2+) and TTX-resistant Na~+ channels of primary sensory neuron and thermal nociception in the rat:a study on peripheral mechanism

Objective Ligustrazine, also named as tetramethylpyrazine, is a compound purified from Ligusticum chuanxiong hort and has ever been testified to be a calcium antagonist. The present investigation was to determine the antinoci-ceptive effect of ligustrazine and, if any, the peripheral ionic mechanism involved. Methods Paw withdrawal Latency ( PWL) to noxious heating was measured in vivo and whole-cell patch recording was performed on small dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Results Intraplantar injection of ligustrazine (0.5 mg in 25μl) significantly prolonged the withdrawal latency of ipsilateral hindpaw to noxious heating in the rat. Ligustrazine not only reversibly inhibited high-voltage gated calcium current of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron in dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 1.89 mmol/L, but also decreased tetrodotoxin (TTX) -resistant sodium current in relatively selective and dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 2.49 mmol/L. Conclusion The results suggested that ligustrazine could elevate the threshold of thermal nociception through inhibiting the high-voltage gated calcium current and TTX-resistant sodium current of DRG neuron in the rat.     

Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: Can We Afford the Cost of Cardioverter-Defibrillators? Data from the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study

Background: Large randomized trials show that in appropriately selected patients with left ventricular dysfunction, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can improve overall survival at 2–5 years. Since direct implementation of the criteria used in the MADIT II and SCD-HeFT will lead to a marked rise in ICD implants, there is a growing fear that increased use of ICDs may cause a dramatic burden to health care systems. The ICD has traditionally been seen as an expensive form of treatment, which is difficult to accept at the first look. This is mainly due to the nonlinear character of the ICD investment, characterized by high initial expenditure, followed by a deferred pay-off in terms of clinical benefits. Cost-effectiveness analysis may help provide a different perspective on the problem of ICD cost, as may estimation of the daily cost of ICD treatment, assuming a time horizon of 5–7 years—a particularly interesting subject for further registry studies.
Methods and Results: Based on real expenditure data from 2002 to 2005, as recorded in the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study of patients implanted on MADIT II indications, we estimated the daily costs associated with the device and leads. Over a 5–7 year time horizon, the average daily cost was estimated to be €4.60–€6.70. Translation of these figures into U.S. market conditions suggests a daily cost of around $7.90–$11.40.
Conclusions: These findings appear useful to help evaluate the affordability of ICD in comparison with other therapeutic options in a context of limited available economic resources.     

试论加强国际合作与促进我国医学伦理学教育的发展

原北京医科大学(现为北京大学医学部)从20世纪90年代初开始,积极寻求与美国中华医学基金会的合作以促进医学伦理学的学科发展和国际化水平的提高。十几年来,北京大学医学部作为基地和依托极大地支持和引领了我国医学伦理学的教学改革与发展,增强了相关人员的医学伦理意识以及医学伦理学理论对实践的指导作用,促进了伦理学知识和能力的培训,提升了我国生物医学科研伦理的实力,奠定了医学伦理学继续教育的基础,使医学伦理学实现了系统性和跨越式的发展。     

深圳市全人口结核病控制实施效果评价

目的　研究深圳市实施包含非户籍人口在内的全人口结核病控制模式。方法 在全人口中推行以发现和彻底治疗传染性肺结核病为主的现代结核病控制和监测策略。结果 从1993年至2001年,登记涂阳肺结核8483例,治愈率96.3%。肺结核疫情明显下降,深圳市户籍人口涂阳患病率下降55.9%,非户籍人口涂阳患病率下降38.6%。结论 实施全人口结核病控制是必要的、可行的和科学的。     

腹腔镜下切口疝补片修补术的临床应用

目的 探讨腹腔镜下腹壁切口疝修补术的手术方法、安全性等问题。方法对2004年3月至2006年5月79例行腹腔镜下补片修补术治疗腹壁切口疝病人的临床资料进行分析。结果 78例（98．7％）手术成功，1例因腹腔内广泛粘连而中转开放修补。平均手术时间为88min，平均术后住院4．6d，18例（22．8％）病人术中发现有1个以上的隐匿性缺损。术后并发症：术后短期内修补区腹壁明显疼痛58例（73．4％）。腹壁缝合点较长时间疼痛6例（7．6％），浆液肿14例（17．7％），无手术死亡，1例术后出现肠瘘，经保守治疗好转，1例腰部切口疝的病人术后复发。结论 多数病人腹壁切口疝可以经腹腔镜行粘连松解及补片修补术，并可在术中发现其他隐性缺损，手术安全性较高。对腹腔内广泛粘连而影响操作器械进入及粘连分离者，应及时中转开腹手术。     

初次吸毒者与复吸者戒毒期间生活质量比较

目的:了解包头市初次吸毒者与复吸者戒毒期间的生活质量。方法:用QOL-DA2.0量表对戒毒人员的生活质量进行调查。结果:初次吸毒者与复吸者各纬度进行t检验显示躯体功能纬度(t=10.51)、心理功能纬度(t=5.94)、症状及毒副作用纬度(t=6.41)、社会功能纬度(t=10.47)和总分(t=10.48)均有统计学意义(P<0.001),表明戒毒期间初次吸毒者的生活质量高于复吸者。结论:在戒毒期间初次吸毒者的生活质量较复吸者易改善。     

中型听神经瘤术中听力保存及影响因素

目的 探讨中型听神经瘤听力保存的影响因素.方法 回顾性研究了乙状窦后入路听神经瘤显微手术58例.其中,试图听力保存的中型肿瘤22例.术前、术后行听力学检测纯音听阈(PTA)、言语识别率(SDS)和听觉诱发电位(BAEP),进行对比分析.结果 全部58例病人中,听力得以较好保存的4例.除去未考虑听力保存的大型肿瘤,22例中型肿瘤中听力得以保存的(较好保存PTA 60dB,SDS≥50%;部分保存PTA≤60dB,SDS≥50%)9例.12例肿瘤和耳蜗神经粘连重,10例没有粘连或粘连轻.结论 肿瘤与耳蜗神经的分界面是否粘连是听力保存的重要影响因素.术中神经监测对指导肿瘤切除是有益的,但术者的局部解剖知识和显微外科技术仍是手术成功的最基本因素.