Sex differences in the clinical presentation and management of airflow obstruction.

The aim of the present study was to explore differences in the clinical expression, clinical diagnoses and management of airway diseases in a primary-care setting. Patients aged >or=35 yrs who had ever smoked were enrolled when they presented for any reason to one of eight rural primary-care practices. Respiratory symptom questionnaires and spirometry were administered. In total, 1,034 patients had acceptable and reproducible spirometry, of whom 550 (53%) were males and 484 (47%) were females. Males smoked more than females (41.2 versus 29.2 pack-yrs) respectively, and were more likely to have a pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity <0.70 at 22.4 versus 11.8%, respectively. However, more females than males reported breathlessness (51.0 versus 42.8%, respectively), a prior diagnosis compatible with airflow obstruction and taking respiratory medications (23.4 versus 14.9%, respectively). In conclusion, the current results suggest that females are more likely than males to report breathlessness and be prescribed respiratory medications independent of differences in the severity of airflow obstruction.     

Hypoxic ventilatory response in successful extreme altitude climbers.

A very high ventilatory response to hypoxia is believed necessary to reach extreme altitude without oxygen. Alternatively, the excessive ventilation could be counterproductive by exhausting the ventilatory reserve early on. To test these alternatives, 11 elite climbers (2004 Everest-K2 Italian Expedition) were evaluated as follows: 1) at sea level, and 2) at 5,200 m, after 15 days of acclimatisation at altitude. Resting oxygen saturation, minute ventilation, breathing rate, hypoxic ventilatory response, maximal voluntary ventilation, ventilatory reserve (at oxygen saturation = 70%) and two indices of ventilatory efficiency were measured. Everest and K2 summits were reached 29 and 61 days, respectively, after the last measurement. Five climbers summited without oxygen, the other six did not, or succeeded with oxygen (two climbers). At sea level, all data were similar. At 5,200 m, the five summiters without oxygen showed lower resting minute ventilation, breathing rate and ventilatory response to hypoxia, and higher ventilatory reserve and ventilatory efficiency, compared to the other climbers. Thus, the more successful climbers had smaller responses to hypoxia during acclimatisation to 5,200 m, but, as a result, had greater available reserve for the summit. A less sensitive hypoxic response and a greater ventilatory efficiency might increase ventilatory reserve and allow sustainable ventilation in the extreme hypoxia at the summit.     

Combined transbronchial needle aspiration and positron emission tomography for mediastinal staging of NSCLC.

There are no data available combining transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) of mediastinal lymph nodes and positron emission tomography (PET) in the staging of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of the current study was to determine if these two methods can enhance the negative predictive value of the individual modality alone, for a specific lymph node station, and if this integrated approach can reduce the number of mediastinoscopies. A total of 113 patients with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (> or = 1 cm), who underwent both TBNA and PET scanning, were included. In 51 patients, histopathology, confirmed by surgical lymph node dissection, was compared with PET results and TBNA. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy to detect malignant lymphadenopathy was 68 (13/19), 89 (119/134), 46 (13/28), 95 (119/125) and 86% (132/152) for PET, respectively; 54% (6/11), 100 (53/53), 100 (6/6), 91 (53/58) and 92% (59/64), respectively for TBNA; and 100 (11/11), 94 (50/53), 79 (11/14), 100 (50/50) and 95 (61/64) for combined TBNA and PET, respectively. Combination of transbronchial needle aspiration and positron emission tomography has the potential to allow adequate mediastinal staging of nonsmall cell lung cancer with enlarged lymph nodes in most patients without the need for mediastinoscopy.     

Caudate nucleus volume and cognitive performance: Are they related in childhood psychopathology?

BACKGROUND: Impaired neuropsychological test performance, especially on tests of executive function and attention, is often seen in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Structures involved in fronto-striatal circuitry, such as the caudate nucleus, may support these cognitive abilities. However, few studies have examined caudate volumes specifically in children with ASD, or correlated caudate volumes to cognitive ability. METHODS: Neuropsychological test scores and caudate volumes of children with ASD were compared to those of children with bipolar disorder (BD) and of typically developing (TD) children. The relationship between test performance and caudate volumes was analyzed. RESULTS: The ASD group displayed larger right and left caudate volumes, and modest executive deficits, compared to TD controls. While caudate volume inversely predicted performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in all participants, it differentially predicted performance on measures of attention across the ASD, BD and TD groups. CONCLUSIONS: Larger caudate volumes were related to impaired problem solving. On a test of attention, larger left caudate volumes predicted increased impulsivity and more omission errors in the ASD group as compared to the TD group, however smaller volume predicted poorer discriminant responding as compared to the BD group.     

撬拨复位外固定架治疗Pilon骨折

[目的]采用关节镜监视下撬拨复位外固定架治疗Pilon骨折。[方法]2002年2月－2004年4月采用关节镜监视下撬拨复位超踝关节可动外固定架结合克氏针、空心螺钉治疗Pilon骨折9例。[结果]本组病例随访时间平均12．6个月。采用Teeny＆Wiss踝关节症状和功能评分法，术后评分80—96分，平均88分。优秀3例，良好5例，一般1例。[结论]采用关节镜监视下撬拨复位超踝关节可动外固定架结合克氏针、空心螺钉治疗Pilon骨折能更好的恢复关节面的解剖关系，有利于踝关节的早期活动，可防止踝关节退行性变、创伤性关节炎及关节僵硬的发生，可避免伤口并发症和骨不连的发生，疗效满意。     

Tuberculosis trends in Madrid, 1994-2003: impact of immigration and HIV infection.

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) cases reported from nine districts of Madrid, where the percentage of immigrant population varied from 1.9% in 1996 to 12.2% in 2003. OBJECTIVE: To describe the trends in TB incidence from 1994 to 2003. DESIGN: Observational study. RESULTS: Between 1994-1995 and 2002-2003, the TB rate decreased from 48.5 (95% CI 45.8-51.1) to 23.3 per 100000 population (95% CI 21.5-25.1) (P < 0.001). The percentage of TB cases co-infected with HIV decreased from 55.9% in 1994 to 14.3% in 2003 (P < 0.001), whereas TB cases in foreigners increased from 2.6% in 1994 to 33.7% in 2003 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the TB rates showed a marked decrease in the study period, the increasing impact of immigration contributed to slowing down the trend.     

异丙酚对小鼠海马脑片细胞外信号调节激酶ERK1/2磷酸化水平的影响

目的 观察异丙酚对小鼠海马脑片细胞外信号调节激酶ERK1／2磷酸化水平的影响。方法BALB／C小鼠，体重18～22g，雌雄不拘，迅速断头取脑，取海马用震动切片机切成450μm厚的脑片。量效实验随机将脑片分为空白对照组（C组）及不同浓度异丙酚组[10^-4mmol／L（P1组）、10^-5mmol／L（P2组）、10^-6mmol／L（P3组）、10^-7mmol／L（P4组）、10^-8mmol／L（P5组）、10^-8mmol／L（P6组）]；分别以不同浓度的异丙酚36℃恒温孵育海马脑片1h。时效实验应用5μmol／L异丙酚孵育脑片，分别于孵育即刻、1、2、5、7、9、12、15、30、60min取出脑片；取5μmol／L异丙酚孵育5min后的部分脑片，以人工脑脊液洗出异丙酚，分别于洗出2、4、7、10、25min取出脑片。应用SDS-PAGE和Westem blot生化技术及Gel Doc凝胶成像系统半定量检测小鼠海马p-ERKI／2水平。结果 异丙酚能降低ERK1／2磷酸化水平，降低呈时间、浓度依赖性（P〈0．05）。随异丙酚孵育5min后洗出时间延长，ERK1／2的磷酸化水平逐渐恢复，但洗出25min时仍明显低于药物处理前水平（P〈0．01）。结论 异丙酚能显著地抑制小鼠海马脑片细胞外信号调节激酶ERK1／2磷酸化水平。