Evidence that the Receptor for Soluble CD14:LPS Complexes may not be the Putative Signal-Transducing Molecule Associated with Membrane-Bound CD14

Membrane-bound CD14 acts as a receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils. Studies have suggested that the activation of monocytes/macrophages by the binding of LPS to membrane-bound CD14 may require the association of a signal-transducing molecule with membrane-bound CD14. The observation that non-CD14 expressing cells, such as endothelial cells, can nevertheless be activated by a complex of LPS and a soluble form of CD14 (sCD14) suggests that the receptor for this complex may be identical to the signal transducing molecule associated with membrane-bound CD14. The studies described show that two CD14-specific MoAb are able to block the LPS-induced activation of endothelial cells but do not affect the response of monocytes to LPS. This suggests that the interaction of the sCD14:LPS complex with endothelial cells is distinct from the interaction of membrane-bound CD14 with its putative signal-transducing molecule.     

A prospective randomized trial of colchicine in prevention of liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

Background : The clinical course of chronic hepatitis B is variable. Patients with hepatic decompensation, bridging necrosis or an alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 100 ng/mL during an exacerbation of hepatitis have a high risk of developing cirrhosis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of colchicine in the prevention of cirrhosis in such patients.
Methods : Patients with risk factor(s) were randomized to receive either colchicine 5 mg/week or no specific treatment, the end point being development of cirrhosis.
Results : After a follow up period of 4 years, the treatment group had a marked reduction in exacerbations of acute hepatitis (32% vs. 63%/patient/year, P <0.005). Seven out of 38 patients in the treatment group and 10 out of 27 patients in the control group developed cirrhosis. The calculated cumulative incidence of cirrhosis by the end of first, second, third and fourth years in the treatment group was 8.7, 18.6, 32 and 32%, respectively. The corresponding figures in the control group were 30, 35.5, 46.3 and 73.2%, respectively, with a P -value of 0.057.
Conclusions : The results suggest that colchicine may prevent cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with risk factor(s), possibly by suppressing exacerbations of hepatitis through an anti-inflammatory effect.     

Antisense Smad2 inhibits high glucose-stimulated production of extracellular matrix in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells

Transforminggrowthfactor-β1(TGF-β1)is amultifunctionalpolypeptidethatregulatesanum-berofcellularprocesses,includingcellprolifera-tion,differentiation,apoptosis,migration,matrix synthesis,andtheimmuneresponse[1,2].Inchron-icrenaldiseases,TGF-β1isakeymediatorofex-tracellularmatrix(ECM)accumulation[3].Oneof thetargetrenalcellsforTGF-β1isglomerular mesangialcellsthatarecapableofproducingcom-ponentsofECM,suchascollagens,lamininand fibronectin[4,5].Recentstudiesindicatedthatinhi-bitionofT…     

Effect of hepatitis C antibody screening in blood donors on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan

A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generation immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepatitis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 patients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, seven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti-CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of chronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-July 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening has effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.     

后腹腔镜手术切除肾上腺节细胞神经瘤疗效观察

目的 :探讨后腹腔镜微创手术治疗肾上腺节细胞神经瘤的适应证和可行性。方法 :采用后腹腔镜手术治疗肾上腺节细胞神经瘤患者 5例 ,其中左侧肾上腺节细胞神经瘤 2例 ,右侧 3例。结果 :5例后腹腔镜手术全部获得成功 ,4例肾上腺肿瘤为单发 ,1例为多发 (4个肿瘤 ) ;肿瘤最大直径 2 .5～ 8.0 (4 .2± 1.8)cm ;手术时间35～ 10 5 (5 9± 2 7)min ,估计出血量 10～ 30 (19± 7)ml,术后镇痛剂吗啡用量 0～ 2 0 (8± 8)mg ,2例未用镇痛剂 ;排气、恢复进食时间 1～ 3(1.4± 0 .5 )d ;术后住院时间 4～ 7(5 .4± 1.5 )d。无围手术期并发症发生。结论 :后腹腔镜手术切除肾上腺节细胞神经瘤是安全可行的 ,能充分体现腹腔镜手术创伤小、恢复快的优点。肾上腺节细胞神经瘤是腹腔镜手术很好的适应证。     

关于癌症患者"坚强"的概念分析

全文以Walker和Avant概念分析格式介绍坚强（hardiness）的定义和特征,说明案例,分析前置因子和后果,列举坚强的评估方法和在不同人群中的运用.希望通过对坚强的全面分析加深医务人员对此概念的理解,从而有助于激发患者的坚强特质.     

切开复位内固定治疗Gartland Ⅲ型肱骨髁上骨折

目的探讨切开复位内固定治疗Gartland Ⅲ型肱骨髁上骨折的疗效。方法1999年10月-2005年4月，对62例平均年龄7．5岁的患儿，应用切开复位克氏针固定治疗Gartland Ⅲ型肱骨髁上骨折。其中伸直尺偏型41例，伸直桡偏型18例，伸直中间型3例；无伴发血管、神经损伤和筋膜室间隔综合征。闭合性骨折47例，开放性骨折15例。结果术后56例获得随访，随访时间为6～15个月，平均11．5个月。所有骨折均获得愈合。根据Flynn标准进行疗效评价，其中优22例（占39．3％），良21例（37．5％），可9例（16．1％），差4例（7．1％）。伤后8h内手术的优良率为89．7％，伤后8h后手术的优良率为63．0％。直接手术治疗的优良率为90．1％，曾接受手法复位的优良率为67．7％。结论切开复位内固定治疗Gartland Ⅲ型肱骨髁上骨折可取得满意的疗效，是安全、有效的治疗方法。     

创建良好的心理环境提供全方位优质服务

医院为患者创建温馨、舒畅的心理环境是当前医院改革中亟待解决的极其重要的任务之一。本文从①充分了解患者的心理需求；②注意患者的不良心理因素；③注意医务人员的不良因素三个方面阐述医院如何为患者创造良好心理环境及其重要性。并重点强调自觉培养自身良好的心理素质，保持稳定良好心态及自控力，尊重、理解患者，学习、实践与患者的沟通技巧，增强责任感，树立良好的白衣天使形象等要素是创建的基础。     

头孢呋辛酯制备工艺的改进

以头孢呋辛钠为原料，从制备（R，S）-乙酸1-溴乙酯开始。经酯化反应的溶剂沉淀过程无须分离直接制得高纯度非晶型的头孢呋辛酯。本制备方法简便，适于工为化生产。     

夜间电子生物阻抗测量装置对阴茎勃起功能障碍的检测

目的 :探讨夜间电子生物阻抗测量装置 (NEVA)在阴茎勃起功能障碍的诊断中的应用价值。方法 :对 4 1例主诉阴茎勃起功能障碍者 (障碍组 ) 19例主诉无勃起功能障碍但有射精障碍者 (无障碍组 )进行NEVA检测。结果 :障碍组夜间试验中的夜间勃起的次数、阴茎勃起的最大体积改变、最长持续时间等客观指标均要差于无障碍组 ,差异有统计学意义 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :NEVA为非侵入性检测、可鉴别心理性阴茎勃起功能障碍和严重的器质性勃起功能障碍 ,且对勃起功能障碍的定性和定量具有一定的客观性。