Adherence to treatment in patients with epilepsy: associations with seizure control and illness beliefs.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated non-adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment amongst patients with epilepsy in secondary care. The associations between adherence and seizure control, perceptions of illness and medication, anxiety and depression were also examined. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of fifty-four patients with epilepsy were recruited from a hospital epilepsy clinic. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent were estimated to be non-adherent to medication. There was a negative correlation between adherence and frequency of seizures. Patients with poorly controlled epilepsy were more anxious, and expected a longer duration of their epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Assessment of adherence should be a routine part of management of epilepsy. Further recognition and support should be given to patients who have poor seizure control since they are more likely to be more anxious and have unhelpful illness and treatment beliefs.     

GLUT1 and GLUT8 in endometrium and endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Glucose is provided to cells by a family of glucose transport facilitators known as GLUTs. These transporters are expressed in a tissue specific manner and are overexpressed in many primary tumors of these tissues. Regulation of glucose transport facilitator expression has been demonstrated in endometrial tissue and endometrial adenocarcinoma. The following experiments were conducted to quantify and localize the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT8 in benign endometrium and compare this expression to endometrial cancer. Endometrial tissue samples were obtained from random hysterectomy specimens of patients with benign indications for surgery and endometrial cancer. Immunoblot and immunolocatization studies were performed using GLUT1 and GLUT8 specific antisera. Endometrial samples from 65 women who had undergone hysterectomy were examined (n=38 benign, n=27 malignant). A 44 and a 35.4 kDa immunoreacive species was demonstrated in endometrium and endometrial cancer for GLUT1 and GLUT8, respectively. Upregulation of GLUT1 expression was demonstrated with increasing grade of tumors (P<0.002). GLUT8 expression was increased in all tumor subtypes compared to atrophic endometrium (P<0.001). Apical localization by GLUT1 and GLUT8 was demonstrated in endometrial glands. GLUT1 and GLUT8 demonstrated diffuse intracellular localization in the cancer subtypes. GLUT1 and GLUT8 are expressed in both human endometrium and endometrial cancer. There appears to be a step-wise progression in GLUT1 and GLUT8 expression as tumor histopathology worsens. GLUT1 and GLUT8 may be important markers in tumor differentiation, as well as providing energy to rapidly dividing tumor cells.     

DLCO/Q and diffusion limitation at rest and on exercise in patients with interstitial fibrosis

Pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and pulmonary capillary blood flow (Qp) were measured on exercise in patients with a low DLCO with the aim of predicting, from the overall DL/Qp ratio, diffusion limitation for oxygen and relating it to the fall in arterial oxygen saturation actually observed. Five patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (DLCO ranging from 20-54% predicted normal) exercised for 5 min at a work load equal to 60% of their maximum (45 to 90 watts). At 5 min (and previously at rest) they rebreathed rapidly for 15 sec from a 1.0 L bag containing helium (He), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and freon-22, 30% oxygen in argon and less than 1 ppm 11C-labelled carbon monoxide. Pulmonary capillary blood flow (Qp) and diffusing capacity (DLCO) were measured from flow-weighted breath-by-breath concentrations of freon-22 and 11CO, after correction for gas mixing delays (using He and SF6). Oxygen saturation (SaO2) (ear oximetry), MO2 and MCO2 and cardiac frequency were measured. PAO2 (ideal) was derived and mixed venous O2 saturation and content were calculated (Fick); PaO2 and PVO2 were derived from standard dissociation curves. For comparison, DLCO and Qp were measured in a similar fashion in five normal subjects exercising at 60 watts. Mean DLCO in patients with fibrosis was 9.62 (SD 2.88) ml.min-1, mm Hg-1 on exercise and mean Qp was 10.48 (SD 1.79) L.min-1 giving mean DLCO/Q ratios of 0.92 (SD 0.28). At 60 watts mean DLCO/Qp in normal subjects was 2.54 (SD 0.3), 2.76-times greater than in patients. SaO2% fell in patients by 3-15% on exercise. Predictions of alveolar-end capillary PO2 gradients from these overall DL/Q gradients showed that diffusion limitation accounted for 99% of the alveolar-arterial PO2 gradient on exercise in fibrosing alveolitis. Hughes (1991 Respir. Physiol. 83:167-178) [corrected] suggests that this simple approach overestimates the contribution of diffusion limitation by about 30%.     

Anaesthesia for endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneuryms is now widely used and has important implications for the neuroanaesthetist. Significant issues include the decision to use general anaesthesia, factors associated with anaesthesia in the interventional radiology suite and treatment of complications. As endovascular treatment is now supported by evidence and established in practice, neuroanaesthetists should be involved in planning these procedures from a process, and individual patient, perspective.     

TUVP手术时间对血红蛋白及电解质的影响

目的 了解经尿道前列腺汽化电切手术时间对血红蛋白及血清电解质的影响。方法 对64例经尿道前列腺汽化电切术患按手术时间分组，观察手术前后血红蛋白及血清电解质的变化。结果 手术时间对血清电解质的降低有的影响，对血红蛋白降低的影响不显。结论 减少TUR综合征的关键是要操作熟练，缩短手术时间及手术中注意止血。     

Photometrics: a new method of measuring the cross-sectional area of the subglottis.

A new endoscopic method of measuring the cross-sectional area of a subglottic stenosis is presented. The method was tested against existing techniques using a model. By standardizing the distance from the objective of the endoscope to the stenotic area we were able to measure the cross-sectional area using a graduated grid held against the video screen. This technique was then compared with the standard one of estimating the diameter of a stenosis from the external diameter of the bronchoscope which can be passed through the stenosis. The methods were found to be equally accurate in measuring the lumen diameter. However, when measuring the minimum cross-sectional area, three of five observers were significantly better (P less than 0.01) using the photometric method rather than the standard method (Wilcoxon's rank sum test for paired data). The photometric technique of measuring the cross-sectional area of the subglottis is easily performed, non-traumatic, and allows a visual record to be kept.     

矢状缝早闭(舟状头)全颅成形术

目的探讨治疗矢状缝早闭(舟状头)畸形的手术方法。方法采用David“‖”形颅缝重建法(6例)、旋转骨瓣截骨法(2例)、梅花颅骨瓣头颅盖成型法(3例)等术式对舟状头进行矫治。结果11例患儿均治愈,外形满意。结论1~3个月舟状头宜采用简单的David“‖”形颅缝重建法进行治疗,3个月以上的患儿可选用浮动颅骨瓣头颅成型术、梅花瓣法颅骨瓣头颅盖成型术等方法进行治疗。     

Marathon medicine.: Dan Tunstall-Pedoe (ed.). (348 pages, {pound}19.95.) Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd, 2000. ISBN 1-85315-460-1.

If there was to be an award for the most readable digest ofall medical matters relating to running marathons, then DanTunstall-Pedoe’s latest volume must surely stand a winningchance. The contents are based on discussions     

Vulvar leiomyomatosis in a patient with esophagogastric leiomyomatosis: review of the syndrome

A case of vulvar leiomyomatosis in a young adult with a history of esophagogastrectomy as a child for esophagogastric leiomyomatosis is presented. The steroid receptor profile of the tumor is described. Therapy with a combination of gonadotropin suppression and surgery was undertaken. The literature pertaining to this rare combination is discussed.