Percutaneous vertebroplasty compared with optimal pain medication treatment: short-term clinical outcome of patients with subacute or chronic painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The VERTOS study

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess the short-term clinical outcome of patients with subacute or chronic painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) compared with optimal pain medication (OPM). METHODS: Randomization of patients in 2 groups: treatment by PV or OPM. After 2 weeks, patients from the OPM arm could change therapy to PV. Patients were evaluated 1 day and 2 weeks after treatment. Visual analog score (VAS) for pain and analgesic use were assessed before, and 1 day and 2 weeks after start of treatment. Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO) and Roland-Morris Disability (RMD) questionnaire scores were assessed before and 2 weeks after start of treatment. Follow-up scores in patients requesting PV treatment after 2 weeks OPM treatment were compared with scores during their OPM period. RESULTS: Eighteen patients treated with PV compared with 16 patients treated with OPM had significantly better VAS and used less analgesics 1 day after treatment. Two weeks after treatment, the mean VAS was less but not significantly different in patients treated with OPM, whereas these patients used significantly less analgesics and had better QUALEFFO and RMD scores. Scores in the PV arm were influenced by occurrence of new VCF in 2 patients. After 2 weeks OPM, 14 patients requested PV treatment. All scores, 1 day and 2 weeks after PV, were significantly better compared with scores during conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Pain relief and improvement of mobility, function, and stature after PV is immediate and significantly better in the short term compared with OPM treatment.     

三维适形放疗结合252锎中子腔内后装照射治疗中晚期食管癌的临床研究

目的：探讨三维适形放疗结合锎（252Cf）中子腔内后装照射治疗中晚期食管癌的疗效、不良反应及晚期并发症。方法：92例中晚期食管癌患者全部采用三维适形放疗结合锎（252Cf）中子腔内后装照射治疗。三维适形放疗总剂量为45Gy-54Gy,分25-30次,5-6周完成;腔内照射3-4Gy/次,1次/周,共2-4次,总吸收剂量10Gy-16Gy。结果：治疗结束3个月进食梗阻缓解率为95%。近期疗效：完全缓解（CR）27%,部分缓解（PR）69.6%。1、2、3年局部控制率分别为82%、51%、32%;1、2、3年生存率分别为：78%、35%、18%;急性放射性食管炎发生率为54%;晚期食管狭窄发生率9%;食管穿孔发生率2%。结论：中晚期食管癌采用三维适形放疗结合锎（252Cf）中子腔内后装照射能够迅速而持久地缓解进食梗阻症状,提高局部控制率及生活质量,近期疗效显著,放疗不良反应未见明显增加。     

广西鼠疫指示动物犬血清IHA、ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的一致性研究

目的 了解应用IHA、ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的一致性,评价方法的优劣,以便更好地制订鼠疫监测的方法及防治策略.方法 对广西鼠疫监测点隆林、西林县的犬血清使用IHA及ELISA两种试验方法,并进行一致性研究,评价IHA与ELISA方法的可靠性.结果 IHA检测鼠疫F1抗体阳性率为0,ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的总阳性率为4.4%(12/273);IHA与ELISA之间的一致性为95.6%,其Kappa值等于0,呈轻度一致.结论 间接血凝试验方法特异、操作简便是传统的鼠疫监测手段之一;酶联免疫吸附试验具有敏感性高、特异性强、操作简便等特点,且与间接血凝试验有轻度一致性,适宜在鼠疫监测中推广应用.     

Parentage analysis by endonuclease shattering of hypervariable DNA

Single-locus DNA probes for tandem repeat sequences are now used in conjunction with particular endonucleases to characterize heritable restriction fragment lengths in parentage tests. Southern blots of this type, however, demonstrate only two attributes of an allele: its length and the presence of nucleotide sequences that are complementary to the probe. Not all restriction fragments of the same apparent length that react with the same probe are identical. Differences between comigrating fragments can be detected by the selection of a restriction enzyme that recognizes sites in a subset of the repeat sequences, and the information content of these loci is therefore increased. This report describes a paternity case in which two brothers appeared, after DNA phenotyping using Hinf I, to be the father. A second phenotyping using Hae III excluded one of the brothers.     

Effects of medium- and long-chain triglycerides on sleep and thermoregulatory processes in neonates

Sleep processes and body temperature regulation of neonates are never taken into account in the evaluation of nutrients, although these functions are implicated in the regulation of energy metabolism and are influenced by the nutritional state and its metabolic consequences. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are currently used in paediatric units during the first weeks of because they are considered to be a rapid source of energy, easy to assimilate for growing premature infants, whose digestive function is immature. However, no study has described the thermic effect of these nutrients on body temperature regulation and sleep. The present study aimed at analysing the influence of three feeding formulas with different content of MCT on sleep processes and on thermoregulation of neonates fed until desired intake was reached. Whatever the thermal conditions (thermal equilibrium or cool environment), the MCT-fed groups had higher body temperatures and than groups fed without MCT, for whom total sleep time was reduced at thermal equilibrium. In this group, the large amount of quiet sleep seems to favour a strategy of conserving energy . Higher energy expenditure in MCT-fed groups is not harmful to growth rate since nutritional efficiency is even better reflected by a larger body mass gain. The thermic effect of MCT contributes to lessening the vulnerability of neonates exposed to low incubator temperatures.     

Regrowth of the rat biliary tree after 70% partial hepatectomy is coupled to increased secretin-induced ductal secretion

BACKGROUND & AIMS: After partial hepatectomy, liver regeneration occurs with the return of hepatocyte mass to normal, Limited data exist regarding the renewal of the biliary tree after partial hepatectomy. This study tested the hypothesis that, after partial hepatectomy, the biliary tree regenerates by proliferation of the remaining cholangiocytes, leading to an increase in secretin-induced ductal bile secretion. METHODS: After 70% partial hepatectomy, cholangiocyte proliferation was assessed in situ by morphometric analysis and In vitro by measurement of 3H-thymidine incorporation. Ductal secretion was estimated by measurement of secretin receptor gene expression and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels in vitro and by the effect of secretin on ductal bile secretion in vivo. RESULTS: DNA synthesis was undetectable in control cholangiocytes, increased and peaked at day 3 after partial hepatectomy, and returned to normal by day 28. Morphometric analysis showed regrowth of the biliary tree beginning at day 1 with restoration by day 10. The expression of secretin receptor gene and secretin-induced cAMP levels and secretin- induced bicarbonate-rich choleresis increased during the period of bile duct renewal. CONCLUSIONS: After partial hepatectomy, the increase in secretin-induced ductal bile secretion observed during bile duct renewal results from proliferation of remaining cholangiocytes. (Gastroenterology 1996 Dec;111(6):1633-44)