Gold: an old drug still working in refractory pemphigus

BACKGROUND: The mainstay of treatment for pemphigus is systemic corticosteroids. Different adjuvants have been used to reduce side-effects of long-term corticotherapy. Gold is an anti-inflammatory drug used in autoimmune diseases, whose use has waned with the advent of new immunosuppressive agents. OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of the use of intramuscular gold treatment of pemphigus vulgaris refractory to previous therapies. METHODS: Thirteen patients with pemphigus vulgaris who had failed to respond to several prior therapies were treated with aurothiomalate, as a steroid-sparing agent. Patients were monitored to assess disease activity and gold toxicity. RESULTS: Seven patients achieved complete remission. Four patients were able to taper prednisone doses, although pemphigus flared when prednisone was discontinued or reduced. Toxicity was observed in the other two patients. CONCLUSIONS: In 53.4% of the patients, the use of chrysotherapy resulted in the complete clearing of the disease, discontinuation of all systemic therapies and induced a long-term clinical remission. Prednisone doses were able to be reduced in the remaining 46.6%. Any side-effects were reversible with drug discontinuation. Gold therapy showed efficacy as a secondary line treatment in refractory pemphigus vulgaris.     

输尿管镜气压弹道碎石治疗输尿管结石110例

目的总结输尿管镜气压弹道碎石治疗输尿管结石的临床效果。方法采用F8/9.8 Wolf硬性输尿管镜、JUN—AIR气压弹道碎石机治疗110例输尿管结石。结果输尿管镜直视下一次碎石成功105例，成功率95．5％（105／110），1～6周内结石全部排净。2例因置镜失败改开放手术，3例输尿管上段结石上移至肾脏行ESWL2例，口服排石药物治疗1例。术后泌尿系感染5例，轻度肉眼血尿1～3d。结论输尿管镜气压弹道碎石是治疗输尿管中、下段结石的有效方法之一，具有碎石率高、安全、并发症少、操作简单的优点。     

对耳轮过度前突畸形的整复

对耳轮过度前突为对耳轮的角度过锐，致使耳轮的位置相应后移，表现为与招风耳完全相反的畸形。畸形虽不十分明显，但影响美观。自１９９２年４月开始应用患侧耳廓软骨和耳后皮瓣对５例患者８只外耳进行治疗得到满意效果。认为文中所述方法是矫正对耳轮过度前突畸形的良好方法。     

Early changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels after packed red cell transfusion in patients with acute anemia

BACKGROUND: Equilibration of hemoglobin concentration after transfusion has been estimated to take about 24 hours, but some studies have shown that earlier measurements reflect steady-state values in persons who have not bled recently. This study was aimed at assessing the changes over time in hemoglobin concentration after transfusion in acutely anemic patients because of recent bleeding. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-two normovolemic patients recovering from an acute bleeding episode who were no longer thought to be bleeding and who received a 2- unit red cell transfusion were studied. At baseline and 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes and 24 hours after transfusion, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values were measured. RESULTS: The administration of 2 units of packed red cells elicited a 24-hour increase of 22.4 +/− 6.8 g per L in hemoglobin concentration. Hemoglobin values were not different at any of the defined posttransfusion times. Hematocrit levels experienced similar changes over time. Agreement between 15-minute and 24-hour values was excellent, as only 6 percent of patients exhibited a clinically significant difference (> 6 g/L) between the hemoglobin measurements. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin and hematocrit values rapidly equilibrate after transfusion in normovolemic patients who are recovering from an acute bleeding episode. This fact would allow a rapid assessment of the effects of transfusion and of the recurrence of bleeding in patients remaining at risk.     

L-arginine reverses the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporin in renal transplant patients

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin has been shown to facilitate renal vasoconstriction and to have an antinatriuretic effect. The existence of an interference of cyclosporin with the vasodilating properties of endothelium mediated by nitric oxide production could mediate these effects. On the other hand, the infusion of the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine has been shown to induce renal vasodilatation and to facilitate natriuresis in normal volunteers. We have investigated the renal effects of the administration of an infusion of L-arginine in renal transplant patients chronically treated with cyclosporin. To facilitate the analysis of the data the effects of the administration of a similar dose of cyclosporin on renal function during the infusion of a vehicle were also investigated during the administration of a vehicle of L-arginine. DESIGN: Ten male renal transplant patients, chronically treated with cyclosporin and with a stable renal function were studied during 2 consecutive days after the administration of the usual morning dose of cyclosporin. The first day they received an intravenous infusion of vehicle and the second the infusion of graded doses of L-arginine (50, 100, 150 mg/kg/h) during 3 consecutive h. RESULTS: The first day, after cyclosporin administration a significant fall (P < 0.01) was observed in natriuresis and kaliuresis in the absence of changes in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate. After the administration of L-arginine significant (P < 0.01) increases of renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and natriuresis were seen. The increase in blood levels of cyclosporin after its administration did not differ between days 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that L-arginine facilitates renal vasodilatation and natriuresis in renal transplant patients. Furthermore, the observed increase in sodium excretion could indicate that L-arginine counteracts the antinatriuretic effect of cyclosporin.      

乙酰胆碱受体抗体量与眼型重症肌无力病情关系的实验观察

目的　观察血清乙酰胆碱受体抗体 (Ach Rab)含量与眼型重症肌无力患者病情程度和发展为全身型重症肌无力的关系。方法　 2 0例眼型重症肌无力患者按受累程度分为轻、中、重三组 ,采用固相酶免疫吸附法测定血清 Ach Rab含量 (P/ N值 )。结果　对照组和病情轻、中、重三组血清 P/ N值分别为 :0 .6 7± 0 .45、0 .78± 0 .30、1.16± 0 .18和 1.5 1± 0 .13。轻度组与对照组比较无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,中度组与轻度组比较差异显著 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,重度组与中度组比较有非常显著差异 (P <0 .0 1)。3例 P/ N值明显高患者 (中度组 1例、重度组 2例 ) 2年后发展成全身型。结论　 P/ N值可反映患者病情程度和提供眼型重症肌无力发展为全身型重症肌无力的预兆信息。     

The Effect of Acupuncture on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women

According to the TCM theory that the kidney is in charge of the bone, the authors carried out a study on the effect of acupuncture on bone mineral density in 40 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated by the method of reinforcing the kidney to strengthen the bone, with satisfactory therapeutic results reported as follows.