应用自体免疫法治疗顽固性扁平疣

目的：以便利快捷的治疗手段激活患者自身特定的免疫系统。方法：采用手术切取患者自身1～2粒新鲜疣体埋植于上臂内侧皮下。结果：临床应用46例，少则1～2周，多则2～3个月，扁平疣全部消失，不留痕迹。疗效明显而持久，术后6个月至3年随访，无1例复发。结论：特定的抗原激活自体免疫系统产生了相应的抗体从而达到治疗效果。此法安全可靠，操作简便，疗效肯定，不失为一种值得推广的实用型治疗手段。     

Detection of hepatoma associated embryonic antigen in tumour-bearer serum.

Embryonic antigen associated with an aminoazo dye-induced rat hepatoma was identified in the serum from rats bearing progressively growing tumours. Antigenic activity in serum samples was detected by their capacity to neutralize multiparous rat serum antibody reacting with surface embryonic antigens expressed upon viable hepatoma cells as assessed with use of the indirect membrane immunofluorescence test. Serum taken at various states of tumour growth from hepatoma-bearing rats was separated by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration column chromatography at pH 7.3 and pH 2.8 with use of procedures designed to identify free circulating antigen and antigen derived from immune complexes. Hepatoma-associated embryonic antigen was demonstrable in tumour-bearer serum in a free form most markedly in the later stages after implantation of tumour cells (from the end of the 2nd week to the 5th week of tumour growth). Antigenic activity in fractions derived from immune complexes was detected earlier during tumour development (from day 8 after tumour induction), and this was present in all serum samples taken up to the 5th week after tumour cell inoculation.     

Relaxation training and single-item desensitization in the group treatment of insomnia

Twenty-four sleep-disturbed subjects were assigned to one of three group therapy conditions: relaxation-alone, desensitization with relaxation practice, and desensitization without relaxation practice. After three sessions, significant improvement occured in reported latency of sleep onset, rated difficulty in falling asleep, and number of awakenings during the night. While no differences between therapy conditions were found in the main analyses, there was case evidence suggesting a possible superiority of desensitization plus relaxation practice in the more severe cases of insomnia.     

A rapid, sensitive electron-capture gas chromatographic procedure for analysis of metabolites of N-methyl,N-propargylphenylethylamine, a potential neuroprotective agent

INTRODUCTION: N-Methyl,N-propargyphenylethylamine (MPPE) is a novel analog of (-)-deprenyl, a drug prescribed for Parkinson's disease and shown to have neuroprotective and neurorescue properties in a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo models. MPPE is also neuroprotective, but has the advantage over (-)-deprenyl of not being metabolized to amphetamine or N-methylamphetamine. METHOD: In this paper, extractive derivatization with pentafluorobenzenesulfonyl chloride (PFBSC) followed by electron-capture gas chromatography was utilized to study the metabolism of MPPE. RESULTS: The procedure is rapid and reproducible, giving derivatives with excellent chromatographic properties. Using this procedure, it has now been shown that beta-phenylethylamine (PEA), N-methylphenylethylamine (N-methylPEA) and N-propargylphenylethylamine (N-propargylPEA) are formed from MPPE during incubation of this drug with human liver microsomes. Levels of all three metabolites were shown to increase with increasing time of incubation with the microsomes. DISCUSSION: Extractive derivatization with PFBSC followed by electron-capture gas chromatography represents an efficient means of separating and quantitating the metabolites of MPPE, a novel neuroprotective agent.     

Bioavailability of phthalate congeners to earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in artificially contaminated soils

Bioavailability of phthalate congeners, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and dioctyl phthalate, to earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were studied when earthworms were exposed to two artificially contaminated agricultural and forest soils. Only DBP and DEHP were detected in earthworms. The uptake kinetics of DBP and DEHP in earthworms was fast within the initial 10 days followed by a nearly steady state for the subsequent 20 days. An equilibrium partitioning model could be used to describe the uptake kinetics of DBP and DEHP by earthworm in two types of soils (r = 0.709-0.864). The average biota-to-soil accumulation factors (BSAFs) of DBP and DEHP at 5 mg kg(-1) in soil were 0.27 +/- 0.07 and 0.17 +/- 0.03, respectively, in agricultural soil, while the BSAFs were 0.21 +/- 0.06 and 0.07 +/- 0.02, respectively, in forest soil. The concentrations of phthalates in earthworms increased with increasing concentrations of phthalates in soil. There was a significant correlation between logC(soil) and logC(worm), with r = 0.999-0.993, demonstrating a single linear partitioning of phthalates between soil and earthworms. The bioavailability of DBP and DEHP was assessed by Soxhlet, methanol, and methanol-water (1:1) extraction methods. Our results indicated that the extractable amounts of freshly added DBP and DEHP in soils by these extraction methods were significantly correlated with those in earthworms. It was observed that the extractable DBP and DEHP by the methanol and methanol-water (1:1) extraction methods decreased with their increasing residence time in soil. In contrast, the amount extracted by the Soxhlet extraction method did not show a similar decline. Therefore, Soxhlet extraction was a poor indicator of the bioavailability of DBP and DEHP to earthworms in soil, which could lead to overestimation of the risk of soil-associated DBP and DEHP. The extractable DBP and DEHP by methanol and methanol-water (1:1) significantly decreased over 440 days. Compared with the methanol-water (1:1) extraction method, the methanol extraction method was preferred for its ability to predict the bioavailability of DBP and DEHP in aged soils.     

Comparison of repetitive movements between ballet dancers and martial artists: risk assessment of muscle overuse injuries and prevention strategies

Studies show that 64%-80% of professional dancers need to stop performing for extended periods due to Overuse Syndrome (OS). Although ballet and Tae-Kwon-Do seem to have similarities in muscle lengthening, the Tae-Kwon-Do injury rate is significantly lower. Identifying differences between both skills should provide insights for OS prevention. Therefore, the aims of this study are to quantitatively determine the diversities in intensity between both skills, to identify muscles at risk, and to draw possible prevention strategies from the comparison. The methods used were 3D motion capture and biomechanical modeling. Six ballet dancers and five Tae-Kwon-Do artists participated in the study. The results show that intensity during Tae-Kwvon-Do is higher than that during ballet, particularly for small muscles. As inteinsity cannot be responsible for higher injuries, strength training for small muscles and shorter exercise duration in Tae-Kwon-Do may account for the reversed rate; consequently, this is a promising procedure for ballet training. Clearly, further studies are needed to validate this conclusion.     

Data from a longitudinal study provided measurements of cognition to screen for Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND: This article presents a computerized method to help predict individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). This would be a valuable tool for clinicians in developing treatment plans for potential AD patients. Using the initial level and rates of change in visual memory performance, such a method could predict potential AD patients in a fast and inexpensive manner. A longitudinal case-control study of 52 female and 145 male participants was performed in a gerontology research center using premorbid tests of visual memory and neurologic examinations to identify individuals with and without dementia and AD. METHODS: The classification method for each individual starts on the second examination and proceeds to compute that person's risk of AD one examination at a time based on all the follow-up information of the remaining individuals. RESULTS: By performing a crossvalidation study, the optimal combination of sensitivity and specificity derived from a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed 65% of the Alzheimer cases and 75% of the noncases were correctly classified for females, while 65 and 60% of cases and noncases, respectively, were correctly classified for males. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal measurements of cognition can be useful in detecting the presence of AD.     

口咬渔网锤致铅绞痛一例

患者女,35岁,渔民,因脐周部反复剧烈疼痛,伴面色苍白冷汗,无呕吐,无柏油样大便,于2007年4月在当地卫生院治疗5 d,拟诊为"胃炎"、"胆囊炎"、"肾绞痛",经解痉、止痛等综合治疗,病情未见好转,到多家医院做胃镜、B超等全面检查,均未明确诊断.患者腹痛频繁,病情逐日加重,于2008年1月到本院门诊检查.就诊时,经详细询问病史,患者为渔民,2007年3月左右在家织渔网时,曾用口咬渔网锤1个多月(渔网锤是一种以铅为主要成分的蓝灰色有毒合金).患者既往史、个人史及家族史无特殊,无胃病、胆囊炎及肾绞痛等病史.     

Effects of Somatostatin Prophylaxis after Pylorus-preserving Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Increased Delayed Gastric Emptying and Reduced Plasma Motilin

Somatostatin inhibits gastroenteropancreatic exocrine secretion and is often used after pancreaticoduodenectomy to reduce pancreatic secretion to minimize tissue damage and pancreatic stump complications. Because our earlier clinical work saw a major increase in delayed gastric emptying (DGE) with somatostatin prophylaxis after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD), this small-group study was designed to confirm or disprove that observation. From August 1997 to December 2000, a total of 23 post-PPPD patients were randomized to receive somatostatin prophylaxis [somatostain (+)] (n = 11) or not [somatostatin] (−) (n = 12). The incidence of DGE, scintographic solid-phase emptying results on day 14 postoperatively, and sequential fasting plasma motilin levels were compared, as motilin levels are related to both gastric motility and somatostatin levels. The somatostatin(+) group exhibited greatly increased patient complaints of DGE: 9 of 11 (82%) versus 3 of 12 (25%) in the somatostatin(−) group. Radiologic scintography showed somatostatin prophylaxis prolonged the half-time (T_1/2) of solid-phase emptying: 144.5 ± 51.4 minutes for somatostatin(+) versus 89.0 ± 59.9 minutes for somatostatin(−) (p < 0.001). Comparing pre-PPPD and post-PPPD plasma motilin levels prior to somatostatin infusion, motilin decreased 80% in reaction to the surgery. For somatostatin(−) patients, motilin levels oscillated, or “rang,” postoperatively, reaching a higher level on day 3, declined to a new record minimum on day 7, and by day 21 were 50% of the original and the slope of the recovery curve was increasing well. In somatostatin(+) patients the same ringing pattern was observed but decreased with motilin levels 30% to 70% lower than in the somatostatin(−) patients. By day 21 somatostatin(+) motilin levels were recovering but still only 20% original levels, and the slope of the recovery curve was not optimistic. On postoperative day 14 the plasma motilin levels (below approximately 6 bg/ml) correlated strongly with DGE for both groups. Despite the small sample size, the results indicated that (1) somatostatin prophylaxis significantly decreases fasting plasma motilin; (2) somatostatin prophylaxis produces lingering suppression of plasma motilin; (3) PPPD surgery itself significantly reduces fasting motilin levels with recovery to 50% normal at day 21; (4) the mechanism of somatostatin-induced DGE seems related to reduced fasting plasma motilin levels.