Effects of hypoxic preconditioning on the changes of expression of neuroglobin mRNA and labeled positive cells following cerebral ischemia in gerbils

INTRODUCTION Neuroglobin (NGB) is a recently discovered member of the vertebrate globin family [1], predominantly expressed in various brain regions of human and vertebrate. The expression of NGB was increased in case of ischemia, which may play a role in…     

Proposal of a modified Child-Turcotte-Pugh scoring system and comparison with the model for end-stage liver disease for outcome prediction in patients with cirrhosis.

The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) has a better predictive accuracy for survival than the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) system and has been the primary reference for organ allocation in liver transplantation. The CTP system, with a score range of 5-15, has a ceiling effect that may compromise its predictive power. In this study, we proposed a refined CTP scoring method and investigated its predictive ability. An additional point was given to patients with serum albumin < 2.3 g/dL, bilirubin > 8 mg/dL or prothrombin time prolongation > 11 seconds. The modified CTP system, containing class D, was compared to the MELD and original CTP system in 436 patients. There was a significant correlation between the MELD and modified CTP score (rho = 0.59, P< 0.001). Using mortality as the endpoint, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve for modified CTP system was 0.895 compared with 0.872 for MELD (P = 0.450) and 0.809 for original CTP system (P < 0.001) at 3 months; the area was 0.890, 0.837 and 0.756, respectively (P = 0.051 and < 0.001, respectively) at 6 months. The risk ratio per unit increase for the modified CTP score was 2.7 and 3.08 at 3 and 6 months respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the modified CTP system can be proposed as an alternative prognostic model for cirrhotic patients. By extending the score range according to the influence of the laboratory-derived variables, the modified CTP system has a better performance than the original system and is as efficient as the MELD for outcome prediction.     

Longitudinal Analysis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus-Specific Antibody in SARS Patients

The serum antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus of 18 SARS patients were checked at 1 month and every 3 months after disease onset. All of them except one, who missed blood sampling at 1 month, tested positive for the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody at 1 month. Fifteen out of 17 tested positive for the IgM antibody at 1 month. The serum IgM antibody of most patients became undetectable within 6 months after the onset of SARS. The IgG antibody of all 17 patients, whose serum was checked 1 year after disease onset, remained positive.     

795例肺癌术后发生心律失常的多因素分析

目的探讨肺癌术后发生心律失常的危险因素及其防治。方法回顾分析2002年1月～2004年1月我院肺癌手术795例，其中全肺切除术176例，肺叶切除术509例，楔型切除术110例。术后发生心律失常273例，应用Logistic回归对影响术后发生心律失常可能的危险因素进行分析。结果本组病例心律失常总发生率为34.3％（273／795），多因素Logistic逐步回归分析显示高龄、吸烟史、心律失常史、全肺切除、术中心包损伤、术后肺不张是术后心律失常的主要危险因素（P〈0.05），术后镇痛是保护因素（P=0.017）。结论心脏的储备功能降低、对手术损伤及缺氧的耐受力降低是导致术后心律失常的原因，采取一些预防措施可以减少其发生率。     

Serial CT findings of Paragonimus infested dogs and the Micro-CT findings of the worm cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serial CT findings of Paragonimus westermani infected dogs and the microscopic structures of the worm cysts using Micro-CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the committee on animal research at our institution. Fifteen dogs infected with P. westermani underwent serial contrast-enhanced CT scans at pre-infection, after 10 days of infection, and monthly thereafter until six months for determining the radiologic-pathologic correlation. Three dogs (one dog each time) were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. After fixation of the lungs, both multi-detector CT and Micro-CT were performed for examining the worm cysts. RESULTS: The initial findings were pleural effusion and/or subpleural ground-glass opacities or linear opacities at day 10. At day 30, subpleural and peribronchial nodules appeared with hydropneumothorax and abdominal or chest wall air bubbles. Cavitary change and bronchial dilatation began to be seen on CT scan at day 30 and this was mostly seen together with mediastinal lymphadenopathy at day 60. Thereafter, subpleural ground-glass opacities and nodules with or without cavitary changes were persistently observed until day 180. After cavitary change of the nodules, the migratory features of the subpleural or peribronchial nodules were seen on all the serial CT scans. Micro-CT showed that the cyst wall contained dilated interconnected tubular structures, which had communications with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus. CONCLUSION: The CT findings of paragonimiasis depend on the migratory stage of the worms. The worm cyst can have numerous interconnected tubular channels within its own wall and these channels have connections with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus.     

The use of the facial translocation technique in the management of tumors of the paranasal sinuses and skull base.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the efficacy of facial translocation in the management of tumors of the skull base and paranasal sinuses. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: From July 1993 to December 1999, 75 patients, aged 3 to 102 years old, underwent facial translocation. Thirty-three (44%) patients also underwent a combined neurosurgical procedure. Nineteen (25%) had previous surgery. These patients were followed up to 6 years. RESULTS: There were 21 benign and 54 malignant tumors. There were no perioperative deaths. The morbidity rate was 31%. Of the 54 patients with malignant tumors, the actuarial 3-year survival rate was 59%, whereas the local control rate was 54%. CONCLUSION: The facial translocation technique offers favorable exposure of the critical zones of the anterior and middle cranial base, thus facilitating extensive resection and reconstruction. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that facial translocation is one of the best surgical approaches to the skull base.     

Cutaneous Metastasis From Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous metastasis from adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland is very rare. OBJECTIVE: To present an unusual case of cutaneous metastasis from adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland. METHODS: A 63-year-old woman with multiple subcutaneous nodules on the abdomen and a gradually enlarged mass over the right parotid area was examined. A skin biopsy was taken from one of the abdominal nodules. RESULT: Skin biopsy demonstrated the characteristic histopathologic features of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma. A subsequent computerized tomography of the head and neck revealed a huge soft tissue mass involving the right parotid gland. Computerized tomography of the chest revealed extensive nodular pleural thickening, and pleural biopsy also showed typical histopathologic features of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma. All of these results are consistent with the diagnosis of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland with disseminated metastases. CONCLUSION: We report a rare case of cutaneous metastasis from adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland. The presentation of cutaneous metastasis is often nonspecific and may mimic benign lesions. Subcutaneous nodules that are rapidly developing or eruptive, are rapidly growing and have stony hardness in nature, have pain or tenderness, and have nonhealing ulceration remind us of the possibility of cutaneous metastases. Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons should keep the diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis in mind and always perform skin biopsy when encountering these lesions.