Experimental axonopathy induced by immunization with campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharide from a patient with guillain‐barré syndrome

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejunj) infection is the most common antecedent in the axonal variant of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). Antibodies against nerve gangliosides found in GBS patients recognize cross‐reactive epitopes in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of C. jejuni. This led to the molecular mimicry hypothesis of GBS. We immunized eleven rabbits with a LPS extracted from HS:19 C. jejuni strain isolated from a patient with GBS and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)(group I). In a second experiment we immunized seven rabbits with LPS, CFA and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)(group II). All group I rabbits developed high titers of anti‐LPS, anti‐GM1, anti‐GD1b antibodies and lower titers of anti‐GD1a. One rabbit, 50 days after initial inoculation, showed tremor and weakness. All rabbits of group II developed high titres of antiganglioside antibodies and six animals showed weakness 59–113 days after initial inoculation. Two rabbits died. Pathology showed mild to moderate, tendentially grouped, axonal degeneration in sciatic nerves of four out of five animals. Control rabbits of group I (immunized with CFA only) did not develop antibodies, controls of group II (immunized with CFA + KLH) developed low titers of IgG anti‐GM1. None developed neurological signs or showed axonal degeneration. C. jejuni LPS is a potent B‐cell stimulator capable to induce a strong antiganglioside response in rabbits. However, to induce the neuropathy is crucial to employ KLH, a glycoprotein known to stimulate both humoral and cellular responses. This animal model reproduces the pathogenetic process hypothesized in axonal GBS with antiganglioside antibodies post C. jejuni infection.     

Spinal lipomas in childhood]

Spinal lipomas account for 5% of the tumors of the spinal cord, frequently present already at birth. Most commonly they are associated with forms of dysraphism, but lipomas without bony involvement are considered dysembriogenetic lesions too. Children with lipoma frequently have intact neurological functions, but may become symptomatic later on. Diagnosis is possible also in neurologically intact patients because of skin lesions or subcutaneous masses. Many surgeons suggest early surgery to prevent injury to neural structures from traction due to cord tethering; others prefer to wait for the rise of any symptom before considering surgery. However, neurological recovery after surgery is rarely observed, and, when present, is always partial; the primary goal of surgery is to stop the clinical progression through the detethering of the cord.     

Regional effect of estradiol on rat caudate-putamen dopamine receptors: lateral-medial differences

The effect of a chronic 17 beta-estradiol (10 micrograms, b.i.d.) treatment of 2 weeks to ovariectomized rats was investigated on lateral and medial caudate-putamen dopamine receptors. Dopamine D2 receptors were assayed with [3H]spiperone binding to caudate-putamen homogenates or by autoradiography of forebrain sections. Estradiol treatment leads to a significant increase in the density of lateral caudate-putamen dopamine receptors while for the medial dopamine receptors the increase is non-significant. This effect is observed when plasma levels of 17 beta-estradiol and prolactin are increased. These results indicate that the effect of estradiol on striatal dopamine receptors is heterogeneous and that those in the lateral part are more susceptible to this steroid.     

Transcutaneous bilirubin measurement in preterm infants]

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry is an effective screening tool for neonatal jaundice in full-term babies. But its accuracy is not shown yet in preterm infants. METHODOLOGY: We carried out a prospective study in a neonatal intensive care unit. The study included 47 preterm infants. From birth, a transcutaneous bilirubin measurement (BTc) using the BiliCheck was made on the forehead of each newborn every 8 h. Blood sampling for determination of total serum bilirubin (BS) was combined with BTc: 1) if value of BTc was higher than limits values for phototherapy; 2) on the second day of life and 3) 4 hours after cessation of phototherapy. RESULTS: Mean gestational age was 30 week and mean birth weight was 1419 g. We studied 151 pairs of BTc and BS. Mean values obtained by BTc and BS were respectively 160.6+/-50 mumol/L and 190.6+/-61.4 mumol/L. A significant correlation between BTc and BS was found. But the limits of agreement were very wide. The negative predictive value (NPV) of BTc was above 90% in each group of gestational age. DISCUSSION: The need for phototherapy cannot be determined by BTc in preterm infants. But the BTc is reliable when its value is under the limits for phototherapy. CONCLUSION: With a very high incidence of neonatal jaundice (87%) in our cohort, a value of BTc under the limits for phototherapy has a good NPV in preterm infants.     

急性输液反应的影响因素及防治措施

目的 对临床发生的急性输液反应进行分析，找出发生的原因，探讨预防措施。方法对201885例次输液治疗中的52例次输液反应资料进行分析。结果 经分析，属药物因素27例（52％），属操作因素11例（21％），属病人因素11例（21％），属输液器具因素3例（6％）。结论 把好药品和操作关，改善操作环境，严格操作规程是减少输液反应的关键。     

有机-无机复合型聚合物电解质的研究进展

聚合物电解质是现在锂离子电池研究领域的热点，有机－无机复合型聚合物电解质（CSPE）是现在聚合物电解质的研究主流。在聚合物电解质中添加无机添末，特别是纳米材料，大大改善了聚合物电解质的机械性能、离子导电性能以及界面稳定性能。对CSPE性能进行了评价，对在CSPE中添加无机粉末性能改善机理作了概括和探讨，并对CSPE的前景作了展望。     

门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染关系的临床研究

目的 :探讨门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染的关系。方法 :对 68例门静脉高压症胃病患者的上消化道粘膜病理改变、出血状况及与幽门螺杆菌感染之间的关系进行分析。结果 :肝功能受损越重 ,门静脉高压症胃病患者的病理改变越明显。在重度门静脉高压症胃病患者中 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率为 69.44% ,而在轻度患者中 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率为 43.75% ,两者比较有显著性差异 (χ2 =4.57,P<0 .0 5)。结论 :门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染有一定的关系 ,病症越重 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率越高