Identification of human reagins isolated with immunosorbent as IgE

An immunosorbent prepared by attaching covalently the constituents of the aqueous extract of ragweed pollen to aminocellulose was used to remove reagins from a fraction of allergic serum enriched with respect to skin-sensitizing activity. The adsorbed antibodies were eluted with a solution of 2M NaI, pH 9.1, or of glycine-HCl, pH 2.5. The presence of ragweed-binding IgE antibodies in these eluates was revealed by radioimmunoelectrophoresis and radio-Ouchterlony analysis. Guinea pigs, which had been rendered tolerant to normal human cord serum proteins, were immunised with these eluates and produced anti-IgE antibodies, as demonstrated by radioimmunodiffusion and by reversed PCA in monkeys. These results confirm that human reagins elicited to the allergens of ragweed pollen belong to the IgE class of immunoglobulins.     

DSA及动脉栓塞在骨与软组织肿瘤中的临床应用

目的:研究介入治疗在骨科肿瘤术前的临床应用价值。方法:对9例骨科肿瘤做介入治疗患者均行DSA造影,并用明胶海绵条做供养动脉栓塞。结果:肿瘤均有不同程度的坏死、液化和囊变,术中易剥离,出血少,术野清楚,缩短手术时间。结论:骨科肿瘤术前栓塞能够有效地减少术中失血,提高手术治疗成功率,是一种有价值的术前辅助性治疗方法。     

Achilles tendon imaging

The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body, yet one of the most commonly injured. Tendon degeneration is a relatively common disorder, predisposing to tears and often associated with paratenonitis. Numerous other diseases involve the Achilles tendon, some with classic imaging appearances, others with non‐specific appearances. The aim of this pictorial essay is to review the radiographic, computed tomographic, ultrasonographic and MR appearances of the normal and diseased Achilles tendon.     

Documentation of growth parameters and body mass index in a paediatric hospital

BACKGROUND

New recommendations suggest that the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts and body mass index (BMI) for age be used for Canadian children. Little information is available on how often growth parameters are documented in hospital settings.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of documentation of growth parameters in the medical records of a tertiary care paediatric hospital.

METHODS

A prospective, 14-day audit of 491 charts of children seen in the emergency department (ED) or admitted to a ward was performed to determine the frequency of documentation of height/length, weight, head circumference, BMI or weight for height, and presence of growth charts. Similar data were sought from the most recent clinic visit for all ward charts.

RESULTS

Growth parameters, aside from weight, were infrequently documented in the medical record. Height/length was documented in no ED charts and in 42% of ward charts. BMI or weight for height were almost never found, and growth charts were present in only 23% of ward charts, one clinic chart and one ED chart.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of documentation of growth parameters in the teaching hospital setting were unacceptably low. Implementation of the use of the 2000 CDC growth charts will require not only education regarding BMI but also steps to encourage more regular measurement of height and use of shared growth charts in all areas of the hospital. A simple conceptualization framework for health care providers to use as a counselling tool is presented.     

FDG-PET is able to detect pancreatic carcinoma in chronic pancreatitis

Purpose 2-(¹⁸F)-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is an imaging technique which enables detection of malignancies. FDG-PET has been established as a tool for the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma (CA). Early detection is mandatory as cure can only be achieved in non-advanced disease. This is, however, very difficult with conventional radiological techniques. Patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) are at risk of developing CA. A simple, reliable screening method for malignant degeneration is highly desirable. We set out to investigate whether FDG-PET is able to detect CA in the setting of CP and can fulfil a potential role in the early detection of CA in CP.Methods FDG-PET was performed in 77 CP patients and in six patients with CP complicated by CA (CP + CA). We included 26 CA patients as a positive control. A positive scan was defined as focal FDG accumulation in the pancreas region.Results In 67 of the 77 CP (87%) patients, pancreatic FDG accumulation was absent. Six patients had significant accumulation. In CA, 24/26 patients had a positive PET. Five out of the six patients with CP + CA had focal uptake, while minor uptake was seen in one patient. FDG-PET was positive in almost all CA patients and CP + CA patients. FDG-PET was negative in the large majority (87%) of CP patients, which suggests that a positive PET scan in CP patients must lead to efforts to exclude a malignancy.Conclusion These data suggest that FDG-PET has a potential role as a diagnostic tool for detecting CA in longstanding CP.     

活化Mφ培养上清液对VSMCs增殖和Ⅰ、Ⅲ胶原合成的影响

目的观察活化巨噬细胞培养上清液对原代培养VSMCs增殖和Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原合成的影响。方法体外原代培养大鼠血管平滑肌细胞并制备活化巨噬细胞培养上清液,以细胞计数和MTT染色评价不同浓度和作用时间的巨噬细胞培养上清液对VSMCs增殖的影响,L-^3H脯氨酸掺入法和反转录PCR（RT-PCR）检测Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原合成的变化。结果活化巨噬细胞培养上清液促进VSMCs增殖,细胞计数和MTT染色结果随作用浓度和作用时间渐增;L-3H脯氯酸掺入和RT-PCR示胶原合成和Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原mRNA表达随浓度和时间的增加而上升。结论活化巨噬细胞分泌促进VSMCs增殖和胶原代谢,此作用呈时间和剂量依赖性。     

Towards an understanding of salient neighborhood boundaries: adolescent reports of an easy walking distance and convenient driving distance

Numerous studies have examined the association between the surrounding neighborhood environment and physical activity levels in adolescents. Many of these studies use a road network buffer or Euclidean distance buffer around an adolescent's home to represent the appropriate geographic area for study (i.e., neighborhood). However, little empirical research has examined the appropriate buffer size to use when defining this area and there is little consistency across published research as to the buffer size used. In this study, 909 12^th grade adolescent girls of diverse racial and geographic backgrounds were asked to report their perceptions of an easy walking distance and a convenient driving distance. These two criterions are often used as the basis for defining one's neighborhood.