A survey: conscious sedation with epidural and zygapophyseal injections: is it necessary?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Substantial variation exists regarding the use of sedation before interventional spine techniques. Patient preference should play an important role in decision making regarding the need for sedation. However, little is known about patients' anxiety levels before spinal injections and their perceptions about the necessity of sedation. PURPOSE: To determine patient perception for need for sedation before epidural steroid injections and zygapophyseal joint injections. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Survey of consecutive spinal injection patients in an outpatient spine center. PATIENT SAMPLE: 500 consecutive lumbar, thoracic, and cervical patients receiving spinal injections. OUTCOME MEASURES: A 12-item questionnaire assessing patients' perceived anxiety before to a spinal injection. METHODS: Subjects were given the questionnaire after their spinal injection. Percentages requesting sedation for a first and potential second procedure were assessed. Additionally, anxiety level and pain rating, location of injection, age, sex, and other medication use were analyzed to determine the effect on the request for sedation. RESULTS: 17% of patients questioned requested sedation before an injection, and 28% would request sedation if they were to have a second injection. CONCLUSIONS: Routine sedation before diagnostic and therapeutic injections is not necessary as the majority of patients would not request sedation before the procedure when given the option. However, in some patients sedation is indicated, and all patients would benefit from educational material on sedation before the injection.     

Nonselective cation channels activated by the stimulation of muscarinic receptors in mammalian gastric smooth muscle.

Muscarinic receptors play key roles in the control of gastrointestinal smooth muscle activity. However, specific physiological functions of each subtype remain to be determined. Single cell RT-PCR experiments showed that all five subtypes of muscarinic receptors were present in circular smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig gastric antrum. Nonselective cation channels (NSCC) activated by ACh or CCh are coupled to pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive Go protein through m4 subtype as well as m2 and m3 subtypes in guinea-pig stomach. CCh-activated currents (I(CCh)), especially the steady-state I-V relationship of I(CCh) showed a chracteristic U-shaped curve; reversal potential of around 0 mV and inward rectification at around +15 mV and a negative slope conductance at negative potential range. Under physiological conditions, the measured single channel conductance of NSCC was approximately 25 pS. The single channel conductance was modulated by external monovalent and divalent cations including Na+, Cs+, Li+, and Ca2+ through changing both the open probability and unitary conductance. Through the NSCC, Ca2+ can move into the cell from extracellular solution as well as Na+. Calculated fractional Ca2+ current of I(CCh) (f(Ca)) was around 1% at the 2 mM [Ca2+]o and at the 4 mM [Ca2+]o, f(Ca) was 2.3%. Quinidine blocked I(CCh) potently in a reversible manner; IC50 was 0.25 microM. There were two kinds of I(CCh) modulations through Ca(2+)-dependent pathways in guinea-pig gastric smooth muscle cells; 1) Facilitation of I(CCh) via Ca2+/CaM-dependent MLCK pathway, 2) Desensitization of I(CCh) via Ca(2+)-dependent PKC pathway. In the mouse stomach, all seven types of TRPC mRNA were detected with RT-PCR. On the basis of electrophysiological, pharmacological, and molecular biological experiments, we reported the mTRPC5 as a candidate for the NSCC activated by muscarinic stimulation in mouse stomach.     

针对MAGE-1基因RNAi在恶性胶质瘤SHG-44细胞中的作用研究

目的构建抑制黑色素瘤抗原-1(MAGE-1)的siRNA表达载体,鉴定其在人恶性胶质瘤细胞系SHG-44细胞中对MAGE-1基因表达的干涉作用。方法化学合成2对编码短发夹RNA序列的靶向MAGE-1基因寡核苷酸链,克隆到经BglⅡ、HindⅢ双酶切的pSUPER载体上,重组构建RNA干涉(RNAi)质粒载体。利用逆转录多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)、流式细胞术和荧光显微镜,检测经稳定转染后SHG-44细胞中MAGE-1的表达,以了解siRNA的干扰效果。结果重组构建的pSUPER-MAGE-1载体经双酶切电泳及插入基因片段序列分析,表明寡核苷酸链成功插入到预计位点,并且序列与预期完全一致。稳定转染后G418筛选出的SHG-44多克隆细胞MAGE-1的表达经RT-PCR、流式细胞术和荧光显微镜检测,2对siRNA均有较明显的干涉作用。结论成功构建了针对MAGE-1基因的siRNA表达载体,抑制SHG-44细胞中的MAGE-1分子的表达。     

原发性肾上腺皮质癌的诊治分析

目的总结和提高原发性肾上腺皮质癌的诊治水平。方法回顾分析16例肾上腺皮质癌患者的临床资料。根据其临床症状、内分泌功能测定、影像学特点做出诊断，手术治疗并随访。结果16例患者中，内分泌功能紊乱者8例，以库欣征、性征异常、醛固酮增多症为主。超声、CT、MRI测定肿瘤直径为4．8～19．5cm，平均7．8cm。3例有远处转移。行根治性切除术13例，侵及同侧肾脏者做肾和肾上腙切除术2例，肾上腺肿瘤并腔静脉癌栓切除2例，腔静脉部分切除1例。病理结果：Ⅰ其耳2例，Ⅱ期8例，Ⅲ期3例，Ⅳ期3例。随访3-62个月，手术2年以上的11例患者中有6例仍存活，但1例肺转移，1例骨转移；死亡5例，平均存活26个月。结论肾上腺皮质癌患者预后差。影像学检查结合临床症状是早期诊断的关键，根治性手术是惟一有效的治疗方法。     

The modified outside-in suture: vertical repair of the anterior horn of the meniscus after decompression of a large meniscal cyst

This article describes a modified suture technique designed for the vertical repair of the anterior horn of the meniscus after arthroscopic decompression of a large meniscal cyst. This procedure comprises of three steps: first, the meniscus was pierced vertically using a suture hook and a No. 0 PDS suture. Second, both ends of the No. 0 PDS on the femoral and tibial surfaces of the meniscus were pulled to the outside of the joint capsule using a spinal needle preloaded with suture material. Finally, a skin incision was made adjacent to the suture materials, and both ends were tied. We recommend this technique not only for the vertical repair of the anterior horn of the meniscus after decompression of large meniscal cyst, but also to repair a longitudinal tear of the meniscus.     

褪黑素对子宫内膜异位症大鼠细胞凋亡相关蛋白的影响

目的观察褪黑素(MT)对大鼠子宫内膜异位症(EM)模型细胞凋亡调控相关蛋白的影响。方法采用手术移植法制备大鼠EM模型,大鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型对照组和MT高、低剂量组,免疫组织化学法检测异位内膜Bcl-2、Fas、细胞间粘附分子(ICAM)-1的表达,同时检测脾脏自然杀伤(NK)细胞活性。结果MT治疗组与模型组比较异位内膜Bcl-2、ICAM-1表达明显下降,Fas表达明显升高,脾脏NK细胞活性显著增加。结论MT具有抑制异位内膜Bcl-2、ICAM-1表达以及增强Fas表达和脾脏NK细胞活性的作用。     

综合性医院抑郁症的特点及疗效分析

目的:了解综合性医院神经内科门诊抑郁症的临床特点及抗抑郁治疗的临床疗效.方法:对46例抑郁症患者的临床特点进行研究分析,同时对其中24例患者给予帕罗西汀治疗,对汉密尔顿抑郁评定表(HAMD)的平均总分数、汉密尔顿4因子及临床总体印象量表(CGI)评分在治疗前后进行比较.结果:46例抑郁症患者均以不同程度的躯体症状为主诉,临床表现多种多样,可涉及全身各系统;其中24例抑郁症患者给予帕罗西汀治疗后,汉密尔顿抑郁评定表的平均总分数、汉密尔顿4因子及临床总体印象量表评分分数在治疗后较治疗前显著减少(P＜0.01).结论:了解抑郁症患者躯体症状的临床特点,对于抑郁症的诊断和治疗至关重要.帕罗西汀对抑郁症患者具有明显的抗焦虑作用及早期改善睡眠的作用且整体抗抑郁疗效好.     

Prevalence and risk behaviors of Chinese men who seek same-sex partners via the internet in Hong Kong.

To examine the prevalence of Internet sex networking among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong and risk behaviors associated with the behavior, a telephone survey of 15,230 Hong Kong Chinese men aged 18-60 was conducted. Of the 283 active MSM (having engaged in some MSM behaviors in the last 6 months) identified, 17.7% had networked for MSM partners via the Internet in the last 6 months. Younger age (odds ratio [OR] for age < or = 25 vs. age >25 = 4.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.35-9.28) and being an anal-sex MSM (OR = 4.72, 95% CI=2.36-9.44) were independent predictors of Internet sex networking. Being an Internet sex networker was associated with some risk behaviors such as having contracted a sexually transmitted disease (adjusted OR = 4.79, 95% CI = 1.34-17.11), having had > or = 3 MSM partners (adjusted OR = 4.74, 95% CI = 2.20-10.23), and having engaged in anal sex (adjusted OR = 3.95, 95% CI = 1.89-8.23). HIV prevention programs for MSM should thereby include Internet-based interventions.     

Application of a pigment measuring device – Mexameter®– for the differential diagnosis of vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus

Background/purpose: Vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus (ND) present similar hypopigmented macules with significantly different prognoses. Although the distinction between the two diseases is important, differential diagnosis relies on medical history and physical examination, which is far from decisive in some cases. The Mexameter^® is an objective skin color-measuring device, and has been reported to provide a reproducible and sensitive means of quantifying small skin color differences. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of a Mexameter^® for discriminating these diseases.
Methods: A selection of 202 hypopigmented skin lesions (182 from vitiligo and 20 from ND) were the objects of this study. Using a Mexameter, MIs were obtained from lesions and symmetrically located control skin. RMIs, ratios of the MIs of lesional skins to control skins, were calculated.
Results: The mean MIs and RMIs were significantly different for vitiligo and ND. The mean RMI of ND lesions was 74±13, which was significantly higher than that of vitiligo lesions (50±24). No ND lesion had an RMI of <50%.
Conclusion: This study shows that the Mexameter^®, an objective pigment-measuring device, can be used to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of hypopigmentary disorders, and that the relative melanin index (RMI), which represents the relative pigment levels, might be a more effective parameter than the melanin index (MI) itself for comparing pigmentation differences.