Verletzungsmuster und -ursachen in modernen Kriegen

Epidemiological analyses of injury patterns and mechanisms help to identify the expertise military surgeons need in a combat setting and accordingly help to adjust infrastructure and training requirements. Therefore, a MEDLINE search (1949–2009), World Wide Web search (keywords “combat, casualties, war, military, wounded and neurosurgery”) and an analysis of deaths among allied war casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq were performed. Up to 10th December 2009 there had been 4,688 allied military deaths in Iraq and 1,538 in Afghanistan. Of these 22% died in non-hostile action, 33% in direct combat situations and the majority of 45% in indirect combat actions. The leading causes of injury were explosive devices (70%) and gunshot wounds. Chest or abdominal injuries (40%) and traumatic brain injuries (35%) were the main causes of death for soldiers killed in action. The case fatality rate in Iraq is approximately half that of the Vietnam War, whereas the killed-in-action rate in Afghanistan (18.7%) is similar to the Vietnam War (20%); however, the amputation rate is twice as high in modern conflicts. Approximately 8–15% of the fatal injuries seem to be potentially survivable. Military surgeons must have an excellent expertise in a wide variety of surgical specialties. Life saving emergency care, especially in the fields of thoracic, visceral and vascular surgery as well as practical skills in the fields of neurosurgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery are required. Additionally, it is of vital importance to ensure the availability of sufficient tactical and strategic medical evacuation capabilities for the wounded.     

Persistence of CCR5 usage among primary human immunodeficiency virus isolates of individuals receiving intermittent interleukin‐2

Objective

To investigate the impact of intermittent interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) plus combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on HIV‐1 entry co‐receptor use.

Methods

Primary HIV‐1 isolates were obtained from 54 HIV‐1‐positive individuals at baseline and after 12 months using co‐cultivation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with activated PBMC of HIV‐negative healthy donors. HIV‐1 co‐receptor use was determined on U87‐CD4 cells.

Results

Fourteen out of the 21 (67%) IL‐2‐treated individuals harbouring a primary CCR5‐dependent (R5) HIV‐1 isolate at baseline confirmed an R5 virus isolation after 12 months in contrast to 3 out of 7 (43%) of those receiving cART only. After 12 months, only 1 R5X4 HIV‐1 isolate was obtained from 21 cART+IL‐2‐treated individuals infected with an R5 virus at entry (5%) vs. 2/7 (29%) patients receiving cART alone, as confirmed by a 5‐year follow‐up on some individuals.

Conclusions

Intermittent IL‐2 administration plus cART may prevent evolution towards CXCR4 usage in individuals infected with R5 HIV‐1.

     

实验动物皮肤病原真菌检测方法的改良

目的对实验动物皮肤病原真菌2种培养方法进行了比较。方法将采集到的3只皮肤真菌感染病兔样品经由沙氏平皿法和沙氏试管斜面培养法分别进行培养。结果在3只真菌感染病兔中应用试管斜面法我们只检测到1例皮肤病原真菌阳性,而采用沙氏平皿法3例阳性全部检出。结论结合临床检测经验,我们认为本研究的沙氏平皿法优于沙氏试管斜面法,在实验动物皮肤病原真菌常规检测中具有推广应用价值。     

Clinical Impact of Tumour Involvement of the Anastomotic Doughnut in Oesophagogastric Cancer Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Published colorectal cancer surgery data suggest no role for the analysis of the anastomotic doughnuts following anterior resection. The usefulness of routine histological analysis of the upper gastrointestinal doughnut is not clear. Our study assessed the impact of cancer involvement of the doughnut on clinical practice. Factors associated with doughnut involvement and the effect on patients'' survival were also analysed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinicopathological details of 462 patients who underwent potentially curative oesophagogastrectomy for cancer with a stapled anastomosis between 1994 and 2006 in two specialist centres were retrospectively analysed. Univariate, multivariate and survival analyses were carried out.

RESULTS

Approximately 5% of doughnuts (22 of 462) were histologically involved with cancer. Microscopic involvement of the proximal resection margin, local lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion within the main resected specimen were independently associated with doughnut involvement (all P < 0.05). However, these three factors taken together failed to predict doughnut involvement. Doughnut involvement was an independent adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.0013).

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to findings in colorectal surgery, doughnut involvement with cancer appears to have useful prognostic information following oesophagogastrectomy. Routine histological analysis of upper gastrointestinal doughnuts is justified. Doughnut involvement could potentially strengthen the indications for adjuvant therapy in the future.     

Breast Gangrene in an HIV-Positive Patient

Introduction

Breast gangrene has been reported as a complication following puerperal sepsis, breast surgery, nipple piercings, warfarin toxicity, etc. We report a case of primary breast gangrene in an HIV-positive individual which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first of its kind.

Case report

A 40-year-old previously healthy woman presented with fulminating left breast gangrene. She was detected to be HIV positive. Mastectomy was performed. The detailed management of the condition is discussed.

Conclusion

Severe necrotising infections may be initial manifestations of HIV infection and patients with such infections should be screened for HIV.     

Occupational voice demands and their impact on the call-centre industry

Background  

Within the last decade there has been a growth in the call-centre industry in the UK, with a growing awareness of the voice as an important tool for successful communication. Occupational voice problems such as occupational dysphonia, in a business which relies on healthy, effective voice as the primary professional communication tool, may threaten working ability and occupational health and safety of workers. While previous studies of telephone call-agents have reported a range of voice symptoms and functional vocal health problems, there have been no studies investigating the use and impact of vocal performance in the communication industry within the UK. This study aims to address a significant gap in the evidence-base of occupational health and safety research. The objectives of the study are: 1. to investigate the work context and vocal communication demands for call-agents; 2. to evaluate call-agents' vocal health, awareness and performance; and 3. to identify key risks and training needs for employees and employers within call-centres.     

K/DOQI-recommended intact PTH levels do not prevent low-turnover bone disease in hemodialysis patients

The guidelines proposed by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) suggested that intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) should be maintained in a target range between 150 and 300 pg ml(-1) for patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Our study sought to verify the effectiveness of that range in preventing bone remodeling problems in hemodialysis patients. We measured serum ionized calcium and phosphorus while iPTH was measured by a second-generation assay. Transiliac bone biopsies were performed at the onset of the study and after completing 1 year follow-up. The PTH levels decreased within the target range in about one-fourth of the patients at baseline and at the end of the study. The bone biopsies of two-thirds of the patients were classified as showing low turnover and a one-fourth showed high turnover, the remainder having normal turnover. In the group achieving the target levels of iPTH 88% had low turnover. Intact PTH levels less than 150 pg ml(-1) for identifying low turnover and greater than 300 pg ml(-1) for high turnover presented a positive predictive value of 83 and 62%, respectively. Our study suggests that the iPTH target recommended by the K/DOQI guidelines was associated with a high incidence of low-turnover bone disease, suggesting that other biochemical markers may be required to accurately measure bone-remodeling status in hemodialysis patients.     

马钱子碱抗肝细胞癌作用的实验研究

目的 探讨马钱子碱抗肝细胞癌的作用及其机制.方法 体外培养人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞,加入不同浓度的马钱子碱(2.5～400μg/ml),细胞培养72 h,MTT法测定细胞生长抑制率.Western blotting和荧光定量RT-PCR技术分别测定培养24、48、72 h肝癌细胞PCNA、Cyclin D1、FAS基因mRNA和蛋白表达.结果 随着马钱子碱用量逐渐增加,对人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721生长抑制作用增强,马钱子碱用量为320 μg/ml时对肝癌细胞生长抑制率接近100%.马钱子碱作用肝癌细胞24 h与作用48 h相比,Fas蛋白和mRNA表达差异无统计学意义(分别F=2.547,1.582,均P＞0.05),作用72 h时差异有统计学意义(分别F=1.036,1.137,均P＜0.05);PCNA和Cyclin D1的mRNA和蛋白表达各时间点差异无统计学意义(PCNA分别F=3.612,2.174,3.029;Cyclin D1分别F=2.361,2.915,1.976,均P＞0.05).结论 马钱子碱抑制肝癌细胞生长,可能通过肝癌细胞FAS基因和蛋白表达增加,诱导肝癌细胞凋亡发挥抑制作用,而与PCNA和Cyclin D1作用无关.

Abstract：

Objective To study the effect of brucine on the growth of a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line in vitro. Methods Brucine was added into a liver cancer cell line of SMMC-7721 in vitro, at drug concentration of brucine from 2. 5 μg/ml to 400 μg/ml. The inhibition rate of cell growth was measured by MTT technique after the cells were cultured for 72 hours. The protein and mRNA expression of PCNA,cyclin D1 and FAS were respectively assayed with Western blotting and fluorescent quantitation RT-PCR techniques at 24, 48, 72 h. Results The inhibition rate of liver cancer cell was near 100% when the brucine concentration was at 320 μg/ml. The protein and mRNA expression of FAS were of no significant difference at 24 h vs 48 h ( seperately F = 2. 547,1. 582, all P ＞ 0. 05 ), and significant difference existed at 24 h vs 72 h( seperately F = 1. 036, 1. 137, all P ＜ 0. 05 ). The protein and mRNA expression of PCNA,Cyclin D1 were of no significant difference between various time period( seperately PCNA F = 3.612,2. 174,3.029;Cyclin D1 F=2.361,2.915,1.976,all P＞0.05). Conclusions Brucine inhibits the growth of liver cancer cells, by inducing increased apoptosis of the cells probably through FAS overexpression.