The effect of donor red cell sedimentation rate on efficiency of granulocyte collection by centrifugal leukapheresis

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte collection relies on the use of a red cell- sedimenting agent and is influenced by poorly defined intrinsic donor characteristics. The donor's baseline red cell (erythrocyte) sedimentation rate (ESR), a readily measurable intrinsic donor variable, may influence the effectiveness of red cell-sedimenting agents and affect the granulocyte yield. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The in vitro and in vivo effects of 6-percent hydroxyethyl starch on the donor ESR were prospectively studied in 67 granulocytapheresis procedures with a blood cell separator, and the findings were correlated with granulocyte collection efficiency (GCE). A relationship that predicts the GCE on the basis of the donor ESR was then derived and tested. RESULTS: The 3.7-fold mean increase in the donor ESR measured after in vitro addition of hydroxyethyl starch approximated the 3.3-fold increase measured when it was administered to the donors. Higher baseline ESR correlated with larger in vitro and in vivo hydroxyethyl starch-induced increases in ESR and predicted more efficient cell collections and greater cell yields. Furthermore, both ESR and GCE, which varied significantly among donors, remained constant for a given donor undergoing repeat procedures. The results could be summarized by a simple predictive formula that relates the GCE (%) to the ESR (mm/hour): GCE = 1.3ESR + 45. The GCE and yield as predicted by the formula were accurate within 10 percent of the observed values in six subsequent procedures. CONCLUSION: In granulocyte harvests using a blood cell separator with hydroxyethyl starch as the sedimenting agent, 1) both ESR and GCE vary widely among donors yet may remain relatively constant for a given donor; 2) the baseline ESR correlates with hydroxyethyl starch-modified ESR and with GCE; and 3) it may be possible to predict GCE and yield from the donor's baseline ESR.     

'Localized amyloidosis': 123I-labelled SAP component scintigraphy and labial salivary gland biopsy

In apparently localized amyloidosis, there is no appropriate test to determine whether systemic deposits exist. We studied the value of serum amyloid P component (SAP) scintigraphy and labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy on patients with apparently localized amyloidosis in 12 patients who had neither clinical nor biological evidence of systemic amyloidosis. All patients had an LSG biopsy and echocardiography. Iodine-123-labelled serum amyloid P component (123I-SAP) scintigraphy was performed in all patients. Whole-body scintigraphy was done, and tissue retention was evaluated at 24 h and 48 h. Of these 12 patients, three had amyloidosis in their LSG and had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy; these three had a secondary clinical history of systemic amyloidosis. Three other patients had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy without detectable systemic amyloid deposits, but one had a previous history of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome treated with infiltration. 123I-SAP scintigraphy in association with LSG biopsy may be helpful in determining the localized or systemic character of amyloid disease.      

瘢痕疙瘩家系Fas基因的突变：2个家系10份标本分析

目的:观察瘢痕疙瘩家系样本中Fas基因有无突变,探讨Fas基因突变在瘢痕疙瘩形成中的意义。方法:实验于2005-01/05在上海基康公司完成。①标本来自南方医科大学南方医院整形外科2005年收集的A和B两个瘢痕疙瘩家系,所有参与观察的家系成员均签署知情同意书。②采用聚合酶链反应及基因测序技术,分别以A家系两例患者的瘢痕疙瘩组织为观察对象,以其周围正常皮肤及外周静脉血作为自身对照;其配偶的外周静脉血作为正常对照。并以B家系中两例患者的外周静脉血作为不同家系间的对照。共取10份样本,4份组织样本,6份静脉血标本。检测10份样本中Fas基因外显子1～9的基因序列。结果:①基因测序发现所检测的10个瘢痕疙瘩家系标本Fas基因的1～8外显子均未发现突变。②2份瘢痕疙瘩组织标本在第9外显子编码区的11bp,53bp两个位点上存在单个碱基的基因突变或多态性改变。结论:瘢痕疙瘩Fas基因外显子9区段的基因结构异常极有可能造成Fas蛋白的功能改变,从而导致身体局部瘢痕疙瘩的形成。     

认知矫正治疗对慢性精神分裂症患者临床症状和社会功能的影响

目的:观察认知矫正治疗对慢性精神分裂症患者临床症状和社会功能的改善作用。方法:选择2003-01/08在北京回龙观医院住院的慢性精神分裂症患者104例。均符合CCMD-Ⅲ及DSM-Ⅳ关于精神分裂症诊断标准;年龄25～55岁;病程≥2年;病情稳定,处于迁延、残留或部分缓解状态;药物治疗状况稳定,近期无换药打算;纳入对象或家属同意入组并签署知情同意书。应用随机数字表法将患者分认知矫正治疗组和对照组,每组52例。在相近药物治疗的基础上,认知矫正治疗组以Ann Delahunty和Rodney Morice等制定的神经认知矫正手册(汉化)为治疗工具,在治疗师的指导下进行认知作业练习,内容包括认知灵活性、工作记忆、计划执行功能3大功能模块。对照组予以相同时间的工娱治疗,主要包括有治疗师指导的操作性音乐治疗和舞蹈治疗。治疗前后两组患者分别进行PANSS、住院精神患者社会功能缺陷量表和护士观察量表的评定。结果:实验共纳入慢性精神分裂症患者104例,认知矫正治疗组44例,对照组46例进入结果分析,14例脱落。①治疗前后两组患者PANSS量表总分以及阴性症状量表、复合量表、一般精神病理量表、反应缺乏量表4个分量表的评分均有下降,组内比较差异有显著性意义(t=2.12～4.59,P<0.05);减分情况在两组间差异不明显(P>0.05)。②两组患者的社会功能缺陷量表总分在治疗后均有下降,与治疗前比较,差异有显著性意义(t=3.89,2.04,P<0.05);两组间比较,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。认知矫正治疗组治疗后护士观察量表的总病情以及总消极、迟滞2个分量表评分下降,与治疗前比较差异有显著性意义(t=1.49,1.19,2.81,P<0.05);其中迟滞项的减分在两组间比较,差异具有显著性意义(F=4.97,P<0.05)。③社会功能量表的改善与词语流畅性的改善呈正相关(R2=0.36,P<0.05),护士观察量表中总病情与积极两项评分的改善也与言语流畅性测验的改善正相关(R2=0.37,0.34,P<0.05)。结论:认知矫正治疗能在一定程度上改善精神分裂症患者的社会功能,并与部分认知功能的改善相关,但对临床症状无明显改善作用。     

Is technology the best medicine? Three practice theoretical perspectives on medication administration technologies in nursing

Even though it is often presumed that the use of technology like medication administration technology is both safer and more effective, the importance of nurses' know‐how is not to be underestimated. In this article, we accordingly try to argue that nurses' labor, including their different forms of knowledge, must play a crucial role in the development, implementation and use of medication administration technology. Using three different theoretical perspectives (‘heuristic lenses') and integrating this with our own ethnographic research, we will explore how nursing practices change through the use of medication technology. Ultimately, we will argue that ignoring (institutional) complexity and the various types of important knowledge that nurses have, will seriously complicate the implementation of medication administration technology.     

Open-access transvaginal sonography in women of reproductive age with abnormal vaginal bleeding: a descriptive study in general practice

Background

Diagnostic ultrasonography is used by GPs in approximately 10% of patients of reproductive age with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal sonography is recommended as a first-line diagnostic instrument for assessing uterine pathology.

Aim

To assess if findings resulting from openaccess sonography were in agreement with the GPs’ working hypotheses and if these findings contributed to GPs’ management.

Design and setting

Prospective observational cohort study of GPs working in the health district of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam and their patients consulting with abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Method

Data on patients’ history, GPs’ primary working hypotheses, and intended management were recorded. After sonography, GPs recorded their actual management.

Results

A total of 122 patients were included by 18 GPs from June 2003 to December 2004. Data from 89 patients were available for analysis. The GPs’ working hypotheses implied ‘no structural pathology’ in 65/89 patients, and ‘fibroids’ in 24/89 patients. Sonographic findings were confirmed in 50/65 patients where ‘no structural pathology’, and in 14/24 of those where ‘fibroids’ were expected. Initially, GPs had intended to refer nine patients to a gynaecologist. Actual management after sonographic assessment was watchful waiting or drug therapy in 57/89 patients. Eighty-nine per cent of these patients had normal sonographic findings. The actual referral rate rose to 27/89 patients. In 17 referred patients, sonographic findings were suggestive of intracavitary abnormalities.

Conclusion

Open-access sonography contributed to more accurate diagnoses and improved GPs’ management of women with abnormal vaginal bleeding.     

Lipid Levels: A Link Between Cardiovascular Disease and Osteoporosis?

Epidemiological observations support a positive relationship between cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and osteoporosis, where cholesterol has been indicated to be a possible link. Only a few studies have investigated the relation between lipids and BMD, but the association remains unclear. We studied the relationship between serum lipids and BMD of the calcaneus. A cross‐sectional population‐based study was performed, based on data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, including 620 men and 635 women, 65–88 yr of age. BMD was measured by quantitative ultrasound (QUS), velocity of sound (VOS; m/s), and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA; dB/MHz). Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, testosterone, and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D. No association was found between total cholesterol (TC) and QUS. Men and women in the highest quartile of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐c) had a significantly lower QUS (men—VOS: β = ?20.8, p = 0.00; BUA: β = ?5.2, p = 0.02; women—VOS: β = ?18.6, p = 0.00) compared with men and women in the lowest quartile. An even stronger positive association was seen between TC/HDL‐c ratio and QUS (men—VOS: β = 21.8, p = 0.00; BUA: β = 5.5, p = 0.01; women—VOS: β = 19.2, p = 0.00; BUA: β = 3.6, p = 0.05). Our analysis shows that the lipid profile that is favorable in the prevention of CVD (i.e., high levels of HDL‐c and low TC/HDL‐c ratio) is unfavorable for QUS. These results indicate that HDL‐c levels do not explain the association between osteoporosis and CVD.     

The effects of an indigenous muscarinic drug, Betel nut (Areca catechu), on the symptoms of schizophrenia: a longitudinal study in Palau, Micronesia

OBJECTIVE: This study tested the findings of a prior study indicating a therapeutic relationship between consumption of betel nut and symptoms of schizophrenia. METHOD: The subjects were 65 outpatients with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Symptoms rated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale were compared between high- and low-consumption betel chewers in a repeated-measures design. Movement disorders were assessed with the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale and Simpson-Angus Rating Scale. Global health and social functioning were assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item and 36-item Short-Form Health Surveys, respectively. RESULTS: Male high-consumption betel chewers had significantly milder positive symptoms than low-consumption chewers over 1 year. Betel chewing was not associated with global health, social functioning, or movement disorders. Betel chewing was associated with tobacco use but not with cannabis or alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have clinical significance in betel-chewing regions and broader implications for theory of muscarinic neurophysiology in schizophrenia.