Bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax: the first 10 cases reported in the United States.

From October 4 to November 2, 2001, the first 10 confirmed cases of inhalational anthrax caused by intentional release of Bacillus anthracis were identified in the United States. Epidemiologic investigation indicated that the outbreak, in the District of Columbia, Florida, New Jersey, and New York, resulted from intentional delivery of B. anthracis spores through mailed letters or packages. We describe the clinical presentation and course of these cases of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax. The median age of patients was 56 years (range 43 to 73 years), 70% were male, and except for one, all were known or believed to have processed, handled, or received letters containing B. anthracis spores. The median incubation period from the time of exposure to onset of symptoms, when known (n=6), was 4 days (range 4 to 6 days). Symptoms at initial presentation included fever or chills (n=10), sweats (n=7), fatigue or malaise (n=10), minimal or nonproductive cough (n=9), dyspnea (n=8), and nausea or vomiting (n=9). The median white blood cell count was 9.8 X 10(3)/mm(3) (range 7.5 to 13.3), often with increased neutrophils and band forms. Nine patients had elevated serum transaminase levels, and six were hypoxic. All 10 patients had abnormal chest X-rays; abnormalities included infiltrates (n=7), pleural effusion (n=8), and mediastinal widening (seven patients). Computed tomography of the chest was performed on eight patients, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy was present in seven. With multidrug antibiotic regimens and supportive care, survival of patients (60%) was markedly higher (<15%) than previously reported.     

Randomized clinical study comparing Compeed® cold sore patch to acyclovir cream 5% in the treatment of herpes simplex labialis

Background Hydrocolloid technology has been proven effective in treating dermal wounds. A previous study showed that a newly developed thin hydrocolloid patch [Compeed® cold sore patch (CSP)] provided multiple wound‐healing benefits across all stages of a herpes simplex labialis (HSL) outbreak. Methods An assessment of CSP efficacy and safety was conducted in an international, multicentre, assessor‐blinded study, which enrolled 728 subjects with a history of recurrent HSL. Of these, 351 experienced an HSL outbreak and were randomized to use CSP (n = 179) or acyclovir cream 5% (n = 172) at the onset of symptoms until the lesion healed, for a maximum of 10 days. The primary end point was the subject's global assessment of therapy (SGAT; 0–10 scale; 0 = no response, 10 = excellent response). Multiple secondary end points included clinician‐assessed healing time and subject assessment of lesion protection, noticeability and social embarrassment. Results CSP and acyclovir were highly effective (mean SGAT = 7.89 and 8.00, respectively), with no significant difference observed (P = 0.65). The difference in healing times between products was not significant (median, 7.57 days with CSP vs. 7.03 days with acyclovir, P = 0.37). Both treatments were well tolerated. Conclusion CSP using hydrocolloid technology provides an efficacious and safe alternative to topical antivirals in treating HSL as a wound while affording additional immediate benefits of wound protection, discretion and relief of social embarrassment.     

Occupational predictors of pregnancy outcomes in Irish working women in the Lifeways cohort

Objective  The objective of this study was to explore the association between occupational factors and pregnancy outcomes in a prospective cohort of Irish pregnant women.
Design  This study has a prospective design.
Population  The Lifeways cohort included 1124 pregnant women, 676 of whom delivered a single baby and were working at their first prenatal care visit when they filled in a self-administered questionnaire.
Methods  Occupational factors were measured using this questionnaire and included eight factors describing job and working conditions. Data including pregnancy outcomes were also obtained from clinical hospital records. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for well-known risk factors.
Main outcome measures  Birthweight (≤3000 g and ≤2500 g), preterm delivery (<37 gestation weeks) and small-for-gestational-age.
Results  Significant associations were found between physical work demands and low birthweight (≤2500 g) and working with between a temporary contract and preterm delivery. Trends were also observed between working 40 hours or more a week and shift work, and birthweight of 3000 g or less. The study of a cumulative index showed that being exposed to at least two of these occupational factors significantly predicted birthweight of ≤3000 g (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.17–5.08) and of ≤2500 g (OR = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.08–20.07) and preterm delivery (OR = 5.18, 95% CI: 1.00–27.01).
Conclusions  Our findings suggest that occupational factors may predict birthweight through their predictive effects on preterm delivery. This is one of the few prospective studies on pregnancy outcomes that include working conditions. As they may be modifiable, occupational factors deserve more attention in relation to birth outcomes.     

Variables affecting weight gain in renal transplant recipients

Previous studies of renal transplant recipients have suggested that weight gain after transplantation is relatively common, especially among certain populations. We conducted a retrospective review of 977 renal transplant recipients at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to identify patterns of weight change (as mean percentage of body weight at transplantation) attributed to race, sex, income, age at transplantation, pretransplantation time on dialysis, incidence of diabetes, rejection episode(s), and/or obesity (body mass index >/= 30 kg/m(2)) at transplantation. Patients were evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months posttransplantation and at 2 and 3 years, when available. Univariate analysis at 1 year showed that blacks achieved a greater weight change than whites (P = 0.0004), women had greater gains than men (P = 0.0001), and low-income patients had greater mean gains versus medium- (P = 0.0001) and high-income patients (P = 0.0001). Advancing age and weight gain were inversely correlated (P = 0.0002). Having one or more rejection episode indicated less weight gain than having no rejection episode (P = 0.0220). Incidence of diabetes or time on dialysis was not a significant predictor of weight gain. Black race, female sex, low income, younger age, and no incidence of rejection episodes were significantly associated with weight gain at 1 year in the multivariate analysis.     

干细胞移植在帕金森病治疗中的应用与进展

目的:综述干细胞移植治疗帕金森病的机制与进展。资料来源:应用计算机检索Medline 2000-01/2006-12与干细胞移植治疗帕金森病相关的文章,检索词为“stem cell,Parkinson disease,transplantation”,限定文献语种为“English”;万方数据库2004/2007期间与有关文章,检索词为“干细胞,帕金森病,移植”,并限定文章语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,并查看每篇文献后的引文。选择所述内容与干细胞移植治疗帕金森病的机制及应用进展相关的文章,无论观察对象是实验动物还是患者全部纳入,重复的研究以近3年且发表在较权威杂志者优先。资料提炼:共收集到500余篇相关文献,52篇符合纳入标准,选用其中31篇作为本文参考文献。资料综合:干细胞能向特定神经细胞定向分化,并在动物模型身上取得明显的治疗效果,为干细胞移植治疗帕金森病带来了新的希望。另外,联合TH、胶质细胞源性神经营养因子基因治疗帕金森病,由于胶质细胞源性神经营养因子的神经营养作用和TH具有分泌多巴胺能神经递质的功能,既能提高脑内多巴胺水平,又能使多巴胺能神经元长期存活、阻止多巴胺能神经元变性,重建宿主神经通路。因此,把干细胞作为基因载体、进行干细胞移植联合多基因治疗,为帕金森病的治疗提供了新的思路。结论:目前大部分的干细胞治疗帕金森病的研究结论是基于动物实验的结果,它们能否在人类身上得到类似或更好的的结果,目前尚未可知,其分子机制、致瘤性及免疫排斥等问题还需进一步研究。     

用气囊充气模拟结肠镜引起大鼠胃运动的变化

1 对象和方法成年雄性SD大鼠84只,清洁级,体质量(200±20) g. 置于安静、温暖(20℃)、避强光的环境中饲养. 随机均分成2组,每组42只; 再随机均分成7个亚组用于直肠顺应性检测,制定压力曲线.     

Gastroenterology in developing countries： Issues and advances

Developing countries shoulder a considerable burden of gastroenterological disease. Infectious diseases in particular cause enormous morbidity and mortality. Diseases which afflict both western and developing countries are often seen in more florid forms in poorer countries. Innovative techniques continuously improve and update gastroenterological practice. However, advances in diagnosis and treatment which are commonplace in the West, have yet to reach many developing countries. Clinical guidelines, based on these advances and collated in resource-rich environments, lose their relevance outside these settings. In this two-part review, we first highlight the global burden of gastroenterological disease in three major areas： diarrhoeal diseases, hepatitis B, and Helicobacter pylori. Recent progress in their management is explored, with consideration of future solutions. The second part of the review focuses on the delivery of clinical services in developing countries. Inadequate numbers of healthcare workers hamper efforts to combat gastroenterological disease. Reasons for this shortage are examined, along with possibilities for increased specialist training. Endoscopy services, the mainstay of gastroenterology in the West, are in their infancy in many developing countries. The challenges faced by those se~ing up a service are illustrated by the example of a Nigerian endoscopy unit. Finally, we highlight the limited scope of many clinical guidelines produced in western countries. Guidelines which take account of resource limitations in the form of ＂cascades＂ are advocated in order to make these guidelines truly global. Recognition of the different working conditions facing practitioners worldwide is an important step towards narrowing the gap between gastroenterology in rich and poor countries.