A clinical comparison of unrelated cord blood transplantation and unrelated bone marrow transplantation for adult patients with acute leukaemia in complete remission

We performed a clinical comparison of unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) and unrelated bone marrow transplantation in adult acute leukaemia patients in complete remission (CR) who received the same conditioning regimen, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis and supportive treatment. The incidence of acute GvHD was almost the same between the two groups, but the haematopoietic recovery was delayed and the incidence of chronic GvHD was higher in the UCBT group. The probability of 2 year disease-free survival was similar between the two groups. These results suggest that adult acute leukaemia patients in CR without a suitable donor should be considered as candidates for UCBT.     

Assessment of left internal mammary artery graft patency by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography

BACKGROUND: The successful application of noninvasive Doppler spectrum analysis has been reported for the hemodynamic assessment of LIMA graft after myocardial revascularization. HYPOTHESIS: The objective of this study was to assess the utility of transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTE) in providing information on LIMA flow in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: In all, 22 patients (aged 62 +/- 8 years) with LIMA graft to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery who underwent coronary angiography were assessed using high-frequency (5 MHz) transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. They were compared with 25 patients with angina (control group A, aged 59 +/- 12 years), in whom an ungrafted LIMA was assessed, and with 17 patients (control group B, aged 59 +/- 9 years) with angiographically normal coronary arteries, in whom the LAD was assessed. RESULTS: A biphasic pattern (systolic and diastolic) was recorded in all cases. In 14 patients with a normal graft or < 70% stenosis (Group 1) and in control group B, blood flow was maximal during diastole. In eight patients with severe graft stenosis > 70% (Group 2) and control group B, blood flow was maximal during systole, with low diastolic flow. The diastolic fraction of the velocity time integrals was 0.81 +/- 0.11 for Group 1 and 0.25 +/-0.06 for Group 2 (p < 0.05). A diastolic velocity time integral fraction < 0.5 predicted > 70% stenosis with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The ratio of systolic/diastolic peak velocities was 0.61 +/- 0.31 for Group 1 and 3.21 +/- 0.49 for Group 2 (p < 0.05). A systolic/diastolic peak velocity > 1 predicted stenosis > 70% with a sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency TTE is a useful noninvasive method for detecting LIMA graft blood flow. Severe graft stenoses exhibited Doppler velocity patterns, which were different from those of patent grafts, or grafts with moderate stenoses.     

Endoscopic management of biliary and pancreatic ascariasis in Viet-Nam. Report of a series of 91 cases

AIM: Ascariasis is the most widespread helminthiasis in the world. Biliary and pancreatic involvement, frequently encountered in endemic areas, is a serious public health problem. Surgical management is often required. The purpose of our work was to assess the feasibility of emergency endoscopic treatment of biliary and pancreatic ascariasis in the Viet Duc hospital (Hanoi, Vietnam), and to evaluate outcome. METHODS: A prospective study conducted over a 3-year period included 91 patients with biliary and pancreatic ascariasis. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings and abdominal ultrasound and was confirmed by endoscopic procedures. RESULTS: The 91 patients, 21 males and 70 females, mean age 41 +/- 17 years, underwent endoscopic procedures to retrieve the worm. The procedure was successful in 89 patients (97.8%). Mild pancreatitis occurred in four patients who underwent biliary sphincterotomy. The mean hospital stay was 3.1 days. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic management of ascariasis is feasible, with a very low morbidity and a high rate of success. With this treatment, hospital stay is greatly shortened.     

Multiple small pulmonary emboli associated with transient antiphospholipid syndrome in human Parvovirus B19 infection

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been reported to occur in several conditions other than antiphospholipid syndrome, including infections. We herein report the case of a 21-year-old Japanese woman with Parvovirus B19 infection, who developed multiple pulmonary emboli associated with aPL, a lupus anticoagulant and IgM anticardiolipin antibody. Eight weeks later, antiphospholipid antibodies spontaneously disappeared and normal pulmonary flow was observed. Considering the high prevalence of Parvovirus B19 infection, we should be aware of thrombosis associated with transient aPL antibodies in this infectious disease.     

米氮平对阿片类稽延性戒断症状患者焦虑情绪和睡眠障碍的干预

目的:观察具有较强催眠作用的抗抑郁药米氮平并合美沙酮对阿片类稽延性戒断症状患者焦虑情绪以及睡眠障碍的干预作用,并与单用美沙酮比较。方法:选择2005-01/03在佛山市顺德区伍仲佩纪念医院戒毒治疗中心接受脱毒治疗的120例患者为观察对象。随机分成治疗组和对照组,每组60例。对照组采用单一美沙酮治疗,40mg/L,静脉注射,1次/d。治疗组在美沙酮治疗同时并用米氮平进行干预,剂量为15mg,每晚睡前一次,口服。疗程2周。采用海洛因稽延性戒断症状评定量表评定患者戒断症状的改善情况。于治疗前,治疗后1,2周由同一位精神科医师进行评定。海洛因稽延性戒断症状评定量表包含焦虑情绪(烦躁、心慌)、躯体不适(全身乏力、全身难受、四肢不适、食欲差和肌肉关节疼痛)及睡眠障碍(易醒、早醒、入睡困难)3个主要症状的10个调查子项目,按症状项目的严重程度分为4级,各项得分相加为总分。评分标准:0无症状;1轻度,询问出;2中度,主诉症状,但能忍受;3重度,不能忍受。总分越高,稽延性戒断症状越严重。同时在治疗前及2周结束时对患者进行实验检查,分别测定肝功能,肾功能,电解质及脑电图。实验数据采用独立样本t检验,P<0.05为差异呈显著性。结果:120例均进入结果分析。①两组患者基线资料比较:治疗组与对照组患者在年龄,性别,婚姻,职业,教育程度及吸毒方式,吸毒剂量,吸毒时间等方面比较差异不显著(P>0.05)。②两组患者不同时间海洛因稽延性戒断症状评定量表总评分结果:治疗组和对照组治疗前无差异,治疗后1周,2周治疗组总评分显著低于对照组,差异显著犤(74.13±3.72),(84.65±3.90),t=15.13,P<0.01犦;犤(28.72±2.67),(51.28±3.02),t=43.37,P<0.01犦。③两组患者不同时间睡眠障碍评分结果:治疗组和对照组入睡困难在治疗后1周有差异(t=2.34,P<0.05),而早醒,易醒在治疗后1周两组无显著差异(t=-0.26,0.15,P>0.05)。治疗2周后治疗组睡眠障碍的入睡困难,早醒,易醒子项目的评分显著低于对照组(t=-5.11,-2.8,-3.38,P<0.01)。结论:合用米氮平组治疗第2周,即改善了患者的焦虑情绪和睡眠障碍,提高了治疗依从性,治疗效果优于单用美沙酮。     

People With Multiple Sclerosis Use Many Fall Prevention Strategies but Still Fall Frequently

Objective

To compare the use of fall prevention strategies by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who do or do not fall.

Design

Prospective cohort. All assessments were completed between January 2011 and December 2011. Data used in this analysis were collected as part of an observational study that included baseline assessment followed by prospective counting of falls using fall calendars.

Setting

Veterans Affairs and university medical centers.

Participants

People with MS (N=58) of any subtype, aged 18 to 50 years, with Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤6.0, recruited from MS clinics at the Portland VA Medical Center and Oregon Health and Science University and from the surrounding areas.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Measures included the occurrence of falls over 3 months and scores on the Fall Prevention Strategy Survey (FPSS) and the relations between fall prevention strategy use reported on the FPSS and falls.

Results

A total of 52 subjects completed the study. Of these, 33 (63%) subjects fell at least once in the 3-month period, and 19 (36%) subjects did not fall. The mean total FPSS score for the fallers was significantly higher than the nonfallers (mean ± SD, 8.1±6.4 vs 4.0±4.1; range, 0–20 vs 0–15; P=.007), and FPSS scores correlated with monthly fall rates (ρ=.49, P=.01). A higher proportion of fallers than nonfallers used the strategies of turning on lights at home, asking others for help, and talking to a health care professional about fall prevention. However, both groups rarely talked to a health care professional about fall prevention or asked a provider to check whether any medications might increase fall risk.

Conclusions

People with MS who fall use more fall prevention strategies than those who do not fall.     

羊水细胞培养技术的临床应用

目的探索羊水细胞染色体培养改良方法,提高培养、收获成功率,满足临床诊断需要。方法对493例羊水标本进行细胞培养和染色体收获,并对实验细节进行优化,建立标准操作程序。结果羊水培养成功率99.8%（492/493）,发现21-三体6例、18-三体2例、其他异常2例。结论采取严格质量控制;保留换液后的上清,解决因收获失败无法诊断的问题;采取肝素抗凝等,消除母血细胞干扰,可使羊水细胞培养成功。     

乳腺导管注射敏感抗生素治疗炎症性乳头溢液的疗效观察及护理

目的观察乳腺导管药物注射治疗炎症性乳头溢液的疗效及总结护理要点。方法 2002年10月-2004年 10月,对92例炎症性乳头溢液的病人,根据乳头溢液细菌学检查与药敏实验结果,采用丁胺卡那霉素加地塞米松经乳腺导管进行注射治疗,每7d治疗1次,3-5次为1疗程。结果总有效率为96．7％,其中治愈占82．6％,好转占14．1％,无效占3．3％。结论炎症性乳头溢液采用丁胺卡那霉素加地塞米松进行注射治疗,配合良好的护理及健康教育,可取得较好的疗效;而且该治疗方法简便、安全高效,是治疗炎症性乳头溢液可靠治疗手段。     

Factors Associated With Health Care Personnel Influenza Vaccination Behavior

Influenza vaccination is recommended for all health care personnel (HCP), but immunization rates for this group continue to be suboptimal. This study explores relationships between individual characteristics, beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, and vaccination behavior through 2 surveys conducted at a university health center. The findings suggest that HCP who were vaccinated the year before, intended to be vaccinated next year, believed influenza vaccination was important, and were more knowledgeable are more likely to receive a vaccine.     

Impaired heart contractility in Apelin gene-deficient mice associated with aging and pressure overload

Apelin constitutes a novel endogenous peptide system suggested to be involved in a broad range of physiological functions, including cardiovascular function, heart development, control of fluid homeostasis, and obesity. Apelin is also a catalytic substrate for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the key severe acute respiratory syndrome receptor. The in vivo physiological role of Apelin is still elusive. Here we report the generation of Apelin gene-targeted mice. Apelin mutant mice are viable and fertile, appear healthy, and exhibit normal body weight, water and food intake, heart rates, and heart morphology. Intriguingly, aged Apelin knockout mice developed progressive impairment of cardiac contractility associated with systolic dysfunction in the absence of histological abnormalities. We also report that pressure overload induces upregulation of Apelin expression in the heart. Importantly, in pressure overload-induced heart failure, loss of Apelin did not significantly affect the hypertrophy response, but Apelin mutant mice developed progressive heart failure. Global gene expression arrays and hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed genes in hearts of banded Apelin(-/y) and Apelin(+/y) mice showed concerted upregulation of genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and muscle contraction. These genetic data show that the endogenous peptide Apelin is crucial to maintain cardiac contractility in pressure overload and aging.