Iwo Jima: 50th anniversary surprise

Retained metal fragments frequently are visualized in x-ray examinations of wounded combat veterans. Retained projectiles (bullets) are seen less often because of surgical removal.     

Carcinoma of the breast: detection with MR imaging versus xeromammography

Detectability of breast cancer with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging versus xeromammography was quantitatively compared. MR images were obtained of breasts of 120 women who underwent xeromammography. T1 values were determined for masses larger than 2 cm. Cancer was histologically confirmed in 39 breasts and was considered excluded from 81 due to results of biopsy, cyst aspiration, or sonography or absence of change in xeromammographic findings over time. Images were blindly interpreted by three observers, and results were expressed as receiver operating characteristic curves. Detectability of breast cancer was substantially better with xeromammography than with MR imaging for all observers (P less than .03, 10(-6), and .001). On MR images, spiculation of a mass, distorted architecture, skin thickening, and nipple or skin retraction were specific but relatively insensitive indicators of cancer. Masses with smooth, distinct margins and signal intensity greater than that of fat on T2-weighted images were always benign. Other findings and T1 values were not diagnostically useful. The authors conclude that xeromammography is superior to MR imaging in detection of breast cancer.     

Moderate acute exercise (70% VO2 peak) induces TGF‐β, α‐amylase and IgA in saliva during recovery

Strenuous exercise promotes changes in salivary IgA and can be associated with a high incidence of upper respiratory tract Infections. However, moderate exercise enhances immune function. The effect of exercise on salivary IgA has been well studied, but its effect on other immunological parameters is poorly studied. Thus, this study determined the effect of moderate acute exercise on immunological salivary parameters, such as the levels of cytokines (TGF‐β and IL‐5), IgA, α‐amylase and total protein, over 24 h. Ten male adult subjects exercised for 60 min at an intensity of 70% VO₂ peak. Saliva samples were collected before (‘basal’) and 0, 12 and 24 h after an exercise session. The total salivary protein was lower after 12 and 24 h than immediately after exercise, whereas α‐amylase increased at 12 and 24 h after exercise compared with basal levels. The IgA concentration was increased at 24 h after exercise relative to immediately after exercise, and there was no difference in the IL‐5 while TGF‐β concentration increased in recovery. In conclusion, 70% VO₂ peak exercise does not induce changes immediately after exercise, but after 24 h, it produces an increase in salivary TGF‐β without changing IL‐5.     

A Role Beyond Learning for NMDA Receptors in Reward-Based Decision-Making—a Pharmacological Study Using d-Cycloserine

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are known to fulfill crucial functions in many forms of learning and plasticity. More recently, biophysical models, however, have suggested an additional role of NMDA receptors in evidence integration for decision-making, going beyond their role in learning. We designed a task to study the role of NMDA receptors in human reward-guided learning and decision-making. Human participants were assigned to receive either 250 mg of the partial NMDA agonist d-cycloserine (n=20) or matching placebo capsules (n=27). Reward-guided learning and decision-making were assessed using a task in which participants had to integrate learnt and explicitly shown value information to maximize their monetary wins and minimize their losses. To tease apart the effects of NMDA on learning and decision-making we used simple learning models. D-cycloserine shifted decision-making towards a more optimal integration of the learnt and the explicitly shown information, in the absence of a direct learning effect. In conclusion, our results reveal a distinct role for NMDA receptors in reward-guided decision-making. We discuss these findings in the context of NMDA''s roles in neuronal super-additivity and as crucial for evidence integration for decisions.     

Morbidity associated with heroin overdose presentations to an emergency department: A 10‐year record linkage study

Introduction: To examine hospitalizations in a cohort of 224 patients who presented with non‐fatal heroin overdose to an ED. Methods: A record linkage study, using the morbidity, mental health and mortality databases in the Data Linkage Unit of the Department of Health, Western Australia. The main outcome measures were hospital separations 5 years before and after entry into the cohort. Results: Before entry into the cohort, 199 (89%) patients had an admission to mental health services. These 199 had a combined total of 1367 separations, most commonly for a mental health condition, injury or poisoning. Women had more than twice the relative risk (RR) of men for all separations (RR 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.96–2.82, P < 0.001) and for injury and poisoning separations (RR 2.04, 95% CI 1.56–2.66, P < 0.001). The highest concentrations of separations occurred within 1 year before and 1 year after entry into the cohort. There were 12 (5.4%, 95% CI 2.9–9.4%) deaths, most commonly from overdose. Conclusion: Non‐fatal heroin overdose ED presentations are associated with a cluster of hospitalizations around that episode, likely to be related to heroin availability. Presentation to hospital by heroin users represents an opportunity to counsel less risky behaviour.     

肾移植术后肾功能延迟恢复原因及术后血液净化的干预作用

目的：分析肾移植术后常见并发症肾功能延迟恢复的诱因，并观察术后血液净化干预所发挥的临床效应。方法：选择1996—12/2006—12在解放军第三军医大学大坪医院野战外科研究所泌尿外科明确诊断为肾移植术后肾功能延迟恢复的患者193例，其中接受尸肾移植192例，活体肾移植1例，均知情同意。根据患者的临床资料，分析术后肾功能延迟恢复的主要原因。除5例因术前安置腹膜透析管继续采用腹膜透析外，其余均选择血液透析治疗，其中35例穿插接受过连续性肾脏替代治疗或血液透析滤过，8例血浆置换2-5次。终止透析的标准为每日尿量〉1500mL，血肌酐〈300μmol／L。分析术后肾功能延迟恢复的原因，观察接受透析治疗后肾功能延迟恢复患者的临床疗效。结果：193例患者全部进入结果分析。①术后肾功能延迟恢复的病因：急性肾小管坏死89例（46．1％），术后早期低血压42例（21．8％），排斥反应37例（19．2％），动静脉吻合口狭窄9例（4-7％），尿路梗阻8例（4．1％），动脉过长扭曲5例（2．6％），环孢素A肾毒性2例（1．0％），髂内动脉粥样硬化斑块阻塞1例（0．5％）。（④术后肾功能转归：移植肾功能恢复正常者145例（75．1％）；术后3个月血肌酐135-300μmol／L29例（15．3％）；〉300μmol/L15例（7．8％）；因超急性排斥反应切除移植肾2例（1％），肺部重症感染死亡2例（1％）。③术后接受血液透析次数：术后接受血液透析189例，透析1—5次移植肾功能恢复正常20例（13．8％）；6-10次41例（28．3％）；11-20次82例（56．6％）；21-25次2例（1．4％）；〉25次44例，仅1例恢复正常（0．7％），其余43例患者带肾存活。结论：急性肾小管坏死、术后早期低血压和排斥反应是引起肾移植术后肾功能延迟恢复的主要原因。在肾功能延迟恢复患者确定以血液净化为主的方案后，绝大多数移植肾功能可以恢复。