Surgery for posterior inguinal wall deficiency in athletes

This study retrospectively evaluated the outcome for patients undergoing herniorraphy for chronic groin pain due to posterior inguinal wall deficiency, and correlated the outcome with preoperative investigation findings. There were 47 patients (with a total of 52 herniorraphies) who were contacted by phone between six and 50 months post surgery. Subjects had a diagnosis of posterior inguinal wall deficiency made on history and clinical examination. Thirty seven patients had an ultrasound scan prior to the surgery (three bilateral) with a total of 40 symptomatic groins scanned. There were 26 abnormal scans (22 posterior inguinal wall deficiency and four hernias) and 14 normal scans. Twenty nine patients had a technetium-99m bone scan with 22 having increased uptake at the symptomatic pubic tubercle, while 13 had increased uptake at other sites in the groin. Seventy seven percent of patients had a full return to sport after surgery and the average time to return to sport was four months. There was no significant difference in outcome between subjects who had an abnormal ultrasound scan on the symptomatic side and those who had a normal scan. There was a significant difference in outcome between patients who had a bone scan with increased uptake at the symptomatic pubic tubercle and those who did not (p < 0.04). Our study supports previous research that good results can be obtained with surgery when posterior inguinal wall deficiency is the sole diagnosis. Ultrasound scan does not appear to aid in predicting surgical outcome, while the role of isotope bone scanning requires further study.     

脑膜瘤组织中Survivin和PCNA的表达

目的 探讨Survivin和PCNA在脑膜瘤组织中的表达及临床意义。方法 采用免疫组织化学sP法检测97例脑膜瘤组织和18例正常脑膜组织中Survivin和PCNA的表达。结果 Survivin在正常脑膜和脑膜瘤组织中阳性表达率为0％和65．9％（64／97），差异具有显著性（P〈0．001）。Survivln表达阳性率在脑膜瘤Ⅱ级（85．7％）和Ⅰ级（51、7％）之间、Ⅲ级（93．8％）和Ⅰ级之间差异具有显著性（P〈0．001）。PCNA蛋白在正常脑膜和脑膜瘤组织中表达阳性率为0％和55．7％（54／97），差异具有显著性（P〈0．001）。PC—NA表达阳性率在脑膜瘤Ⅱ级（71．4％）和Ⅰ级（41、7％）之间，Ⅲ级（87．5％）同Ⅰ级之间差异具有显著性（P〈0．001）。Survivin与PCNA蛋白在脑膜瘤中的表达呈正相关关系（rs=0．640，P〈0．01）。结论 Survivin过度表达和脑膜瘤发生及PCNA的表达密切相关，两者参与了脑膜瘤发生、增殖和发展。     

Narrowband UVB therapy for vitiligo: does the repigmentation last?

BACKGROUND: Since 1997, a number of trials have shown promising results in treating generalized vitiligo with narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) both in adults and children. However, there is little knowledge concerning the duration and permanency of the treatment-induced repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: Our main objective was to perform a follow-up trial of successfully treated patients receiving narrowband UVB for generalized vitiligo. METHODS: We have investigated to what degree the treatment-induced repigmentation remains stable for up to 2 years post-treatment. We performed an initial open trial including 31 patients with generalized vitiligo. They received narrowband UVB thrice weekly for up to 12 months. Patients experiencing > 75% repigmentation were defined responders and were included in the follow-up trial. Responders were followed every 6 months for up to 2 years after cessation of treatment. We observed the pigmentation status and registered any changes indicating loss of pigmentation and relapse. RESULTS: Eleven of the 31 treated patients were included in the follow-up trial. Six patients had relapse and five patients had stable response 24 months after cessation of treatment. Four out of six relapses were within 6 months post-treatment. CONCLUSION: In our study population of 31 patients with generalized vitiligo, five patients (16%) experienced > 75% stable repigmentation 2 years after cessation of a treatment programme of up to 1 years narrowband UVB therapy.     

Neuroimaging in Pineal Tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread.     

Effects of cerulenin on the endogenous fatty acid synthetic activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

PURPOSES: Inhibition of cerulenin on the endogenous fatty acid synthetic activities of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa was assayed. METHODS: Squamous cell carcinoma and normal oral mucosa were collected fresh from surgical specimens. The collected tissues were minced in RPMI 1640 and divided into 3 groups: cerulenin treated, dimethylsulfoxide treated, and control. The tissues were incubated in [1(2)-(14)C]acetic acid, sodium salt for the last 2.5 hours of the treatment at 37 degrees C in 5% CO(2). After labeling, total lipids were extracted and counted for (14)C by scintillation counting. RESULTS: Endogenous fatty acid synthetic activities of oral squamous cell caranoma in the cerulenin-treated group decreased by 19% at 1 hour, 64% at 2 hours, and 87% at 4 hours; remained nearly unchanged in the dimethylsulfoxide-treated group; and increased slightly in the control group. The oral mucosa tissues were only mildly affected by cerulenin in fatty acid synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Cerulenin significantly inhibits fatty acid synthetic activity in squamous cell carcinoma and only mildly affected the oral mucosa, indicating that the fatty acid synthetic pathway may be exploited as a target for developing anticancer drugs.     

高频超声引导定位前臂浅静脉穿刺

目的探讨高频超声引导定位穿刺前臂浅静脉的应用价值。方法对40例常规浅静脉穿刺失败，采用高频探头在同一体表区域寻找并标记浅静脉走行及深度，确认进针方向后再次静脉穿刺，必要时采用实时引导。结果11例经高频超声标记、29例经高频超声实时引导静脉穿刺均一次成功。结论高频超声引导下静脉穿刺的成功率高，无并发症，是一种简便有效的方法，值得在临床推广应用。     

Angiopoietin1/Tie2 and VEGF/Flk1 induced by MSC treatment amplifies angiogenesis and vascular stabilization after stroke.

Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and promote angiogenesis after stroke. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and its receptor Tie2 mediate vascular integrity and angiogenesis as does VEGF and its receptors. In this study, we tested whether MSC treatment of stroke increases Ang1/Tie2 expression, and whether Ang1/Tie2 with VEGF/ vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) (Flk1), in combination, induced by MSCs enhances angiogenesis and vascular integrity. Male Wistar rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and treated with or without MSCs. Marrow stromal cell treatment significantly decreased blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage and increased Ang1, Tie2, and occludin (a tight junction protein) expression in the ischemic border compared with MCAo control. To further test the mechanisms of MSC-induced angiogenesis and vascular stabilization, cocultures of MSCs with mouse brain endothelial cells (MBECs) or astrocytes were performed. Supernatant derived from MSCs cocultured with MBECs significantly increased MBEC expression of Ang1/Tie2 and Flk1 compared with MBEC alone. Marrow stromal cells cocultured with astrocytes also significantly increased astrocyte VEGF and Ang1/Tie2 expression compared with astrocyte culture alone. Conditioned media from MSCs alone, and media from cocultures of MSCs with astrocytes or MBECs, all significantly increased capillary tube-like formation of MBEC compared with control Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium media. Inhibition of Flk1 and/or Ang1 significantly decreased MSC-induced MBEC tube formation. Knockdown of Tie2 expression in MBECs significantly inhibited MSC-induced tube formation. Our data indicate MSC treatment of stroke promotes angiogenesis and vascular stabilization, which is at least partially mediated by VEGF/Flk1 and Ang1/Tie2.     

应用气相色谱法鉴别海南省大劣按蚊

大劣按蚊是海南省疟疾的主要传播媒介。本文应用气相色谱法,分析海南省不同地区、不同季节大劣按蚊的皮质烃类。经统计学分析,它们的成分无显著性差异。应用聚类分析法,它们的距离系数很接近。提示海南省的大劣按蚊很可能是同一种。