Perforation of the inferior vena cava with aortic and vertebral penetration by a suprarenal Greenfield filter

Various complications have been reported after insertion of the Greenfield filter. This report describes an unusual complication after suprarenal placement of this filter: spreading of the filter struts, with perforation of the inferior vena cava, and penetration of the aorta and a vertebral body, followed by fracture of one of the struts.     

Classification of children as slow or rapid acetylators based on concentrations of isoniazid in saliva following oral administration of body-weight and surface-area-related dosages of the drug

The acetylator phenotype of 180 children aged 3-11 years was determined on the basis of isoniazid concentrations in saliva collected at 5 hours after oral administration of body-weight and surface-area-related dosages of the drug in a syrup form. Isoniazid 2.5 mg/kg was administered on one occasion and 75 mg/m2 surface-area on another, with an interval of 3 days between the occasions. A cross-over design was employed and the sequence was determined by random allocation. The distribution of the concentrations was bimodal with both procedures, indicating the presence of two groups namely, the slow and rapid acetylators. The criterion for a rapid acetylator was a concentration of 0.3 micrograms/ml or less by body-weight-related dosage and 0.4 micrograms/ml or less by that based on surface-area. Based on these criteria, 62% of the children were classified as slow acetylators and 38% as rapid acetylators by body-weight, and 59 and 41%, respectively by surface-area, and the findings were similar in children in the different age-groups. The agreement between the two procedures was 98%.     

Ultraviolet-B irradiation of platelets: a preliminary trial of efficacy

Prior studies established that ultraviolet-B light (UVB) irradiation of platelet concentrates (PCs) at appropriate doses can eliminate the mixed lymphocyte culture-stimulating and -responding capacity of lymphocytes in the PCs without adversely affecting in vitro platelet function. The in vivo recovery and survival and in vitro characteristics of UVB-irradiated platelets were investigated in paired studies. PCs were stored for 1 day and then exposed to UVB. Platelet recovery, survival, and function were comparable to those of nonirradiated platelets. Recovery and survival of platelets stored for 5 days before UVB exposure were decreased relative to controls, although they were considered clinically acceptable. Paired transfusion studies were also performed in seven thrombocytopenic patients by using platelets obtained by apheresis. Comparable posttransfusion platelet increments and bleeding time corrections were obtained with both irradiated and control (nonirradiated) platelets. It can be concluded that platelets survive and function relatively normally in vivo after UVB irradiation sufficient to abolish lymphocyte reactivity in mixed lymphocyte culture. Long-term studies of UVB-irradiated PCs are needed to assess their potential in reducing recipient alloimmunization.     

GRAPE: a graphical pipeline environment for image analysis in adaptive magnetic resonance imaging

Purpose

We present a platform, GRAphical Pipeline Environment (GRAPE), to facilitate the development of patient-adaptive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols.

Methods

GRAPE is an open-source project implemented in the Qt C++ framework to enable graphical creation, execution, and debugging of real-time image analysis algorithms integrated with the MRI scanner. The platform provides the tools and infrastructure to design new algorithms, and build and execute an array of image analysis routines, and provides a mechanism to include existing analysis libraries, all within a graphical environment. The application of GRAPE is demonstrated in multiple MRI applications, and the software is described in detail for both the user and the developer.

Results

GRAPE was successfully used to implement and execute three applications in MRI of the brain, performed on a 3.0-T MRI scanner: (i) a multi-parametric pipeline for segmenting the brain tissue and detecting lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), (ii) patient-specific optimization of the 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI scan parameters to enhance the contrast of brain lesions in MS, and (iii) an algebraic image method for combining two MR images for improved lesion contrast.

Conclusions

GRAPE allows graphical development and execution of image analysis algorithms for inline, real-time, and adaptive MRI applications.

     

佐剂性关节炎大鼠细胞因子和淋巴细胞亚群变化与可铁宁的影响

目的:观察吸烟者体内尼古丁代替主要产物可铁宁在佐剂性关节炎动物模型抗炎和调节免疫方面的作用。方法:实验于2005-10/2006-09在南方医科大学南方医院检验科及实验动物中心完成。实验动物:SD大鼠50只。实验分组和给药:随机选取SD大鼠40只注射完全弗氏佐剂,致炎建立佐剂性关节炎模型,剩余的10只SD大鼠为正常组。将40只佐剂性关节炎大鼠随机分为炎症组10只,可铁宁低、中、高剂量组各10只,可铁宁各组于佐剂注射后1周开始灌胃给药,分别给0.5,1.5,4.5g/kg体质量剂量药物,连续7d。实验评估:致炎后28d开始进行运用ELISA及流式细胞术,检测用药后对白细胞介素1β、白细胞介素2,T细胞增殖等指标(CD4 ,CD8 ,CD4 /CD8 )的影响。结果:50只大鼠全部进入结果分析。①各组大鼠血清中白细胞介素1β、白细胞介素2含量:与炎症组相比,可铁宁高、中、低剂量各组白细胞介素1β含量明显下降[(101.4±11.24),(53.40±8.23),(60.34±5.97),(72.31±8.06)ng/L,P<0.05],白细胞介素2含量明显升高[(121.3±21.2),(195.9±51.6),(174.3±40.3),(169.7±53.2)ng/L,P<0.05],且作用有一定的剂量依赖性。②各组大鼠淋巴细胞亚群CD4 ,CD8 ,CD4 /CD8 变化:造模第28天,与正常组相比,炎症组的CD4 增加,CD8 明显降低(P<0.05),CD4 与CD8 的比值显著增加(P<0.05);与炎症组相比较,可铁宁高剂量组的CD4 显著降低(P<0.05);可铁宁各组的CD8 明显增加(P<0.05),CD4 与CD8 比值显著下降,呈剂量依赖性。结论:可铁宁可调节大鼠血清中异常的白细胞介素1及白细胞介素2含量,可铁宁在试验动物水平有抗炎和免疫调节的作用。