Primary intramedullary spinal cord primitive neuroectodermal tumor with intracranial seeding in an infant

Primary spinal cord primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a rare entity. In all, 13 cases have been reported in the literature, including 3 with intracranial seeding. A 3-month-old girl with involvement of the spinal cord below the mid-thoracic level is described. The brain MRI revealed findings indicative of seeding along the intracranial subarachnoid space. Biopsy, duraplasty and removal of laminotomy flap were done. In spite of a good response to the first cycle of postoperative 8-drugs-in-a-day chemotherapy, further treatment was refused. She died 21 days after the onset of leg weakness, which reveals the rapid progression of untreated cases. To our knowledge, this is the first case of spinal cord PNET with parenchymal involvement that has been described in an infant.     

Dexniguldipine hydrochloride inhibits growth of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and expression of protein kinase C isoforms alpha and zeta

New therapeutic regimens are needed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In view of the importance of protein kinase C (PKC) in tumorigenesis, we evaluated the effects of dexniguldipine hydrochloride (DNIG) on the in vitro growth of CFPAC-1 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and the expression of PKC isoforms. DNIG is a potent antineoplastic drug with well-established anti-PKC activity and the ability to reverse multidrug resistance. DNIG (1.6-25 mu M) decreased the number of cells in culture in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an EC(50) of 4.9 mu M on day 1 and 2.8 mu M on day 3. When PKC isoform expression in CFPAC-1 cells was analyzed by immunoblotting, the predominant isoforms were identified as alpha and zeta. The expression of PKC alpha and zeta was inhibited significantly by DNIG (0.63-2.5 mu M). These results suggest that DNIG suppresses the proliferation of CFPAC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, possibly by inhibiting the expression of specific PKC isoforms.     

Risk factors in dental implant failure

The goal of this study was to assess risk factors for dental implant failure. Eighty-three implants were placed in thirty patients who were followed for three years using digital subtraction radiography. The following putative risk factors for implant failure were employed in the model: age, sex, implant length, implant position, implant surface coating, smoking habit, and presence of infection. Implant failure was defined as progressive bone loss compromising the implant. We found that the presence of infection (P < 0.001) and absence of HA coating (P < 0.001) were the primary factors associated with early implant failure.     

On the military physician Cui and his academic achievements

Based on the 385 pieces of recipes and its discourses quoted from Cui's by Wai Tai Mi Yao (Medical secret of an official), this author discusses the brief biography of Cui Zhiti, a military physician of the Tang Dynasty and his achievements on field epidemics, field internal medicine, field surgery and comes to a conclusion that Cui Zhiti and his "Cui's Collected Essential Recipes" is of significance in China's military medical history.     

Effects of cocaine on human nasal mucosa

Summary The effects of cocaine on the contractile response of isolated human nasal mucosal blood vessels to field stimulation and methoxamine were investigated. Results showed that cocaine antagonized methoxamine and inhibited field stimulation. The drug increased resting tension in human nasal mucosa in vitro through direct actions and potentiated mucosal contractions by norepinephrine and epinephrine. The study indicated that high concentrations of cocaine may actually antagonize -adrenoceptors, but these concentrations are not necessary in eliciting desired degrees of vasoconstriction in nasal blood vessels while being applied as a local anesthetic.     

Antitumor effects of GBS toxin: a polysaccharide exotoxin from group Bβ-hemolytic streptococcus

A group B streptococcus (GBS) isolated from human neonates diagnosed with sepsis and respiratory distress (early-onset disease) produces a polysaccharide exotoxin (GBS toxin) that, when infused in sheep, causes lung pathophysiology similar to that seen in humans. Histological studies have demonstrated that GBS toxin induces a strong inflammatory response in the lung, with pulmonary sequestration of granulocytes and extensive capillary endothelial damage. The susceptibility of humans to GBS toxin is age-dependent and limited to about 4 days after birth. It is rarely evident thereafter. This suggests that the binding of GBS toxin to the target endothelium occurs via specific components in the developing lung endothelial cells of the newborn that are later lost. We report here that GBS toxin can also bind to developing endothelium associated with neoplasia and induce an inflammatory response. GBS toxin was shown by immunohistochemistry to bind to capillary endothelium of human large-cell carcinomas. In nude mice bearing human tumor xenografts, intravenously administered GBS toxin caused tumor necrosis and hemorrhagic lesions, and substantially inhibited the rate of growth of the tumors. In BALB/c mice bearing Madison lung tumors, GBS toxin induced an inflammatory response resulting in marked changes in tumor morphology, including vasodilation, endothelial and tumor cell necrosis, invasion of lymphocytes and macrophages, and capillary thrombosis. In these tumor models, no evidence of toxicity to the vasculature of other tissues was observed. The reported pathophysiology of GBS in human neonates, the lack of disease in non-neonates colonized with GBS, and these results suggest that GBS toxin may have potential as a well tolerated agent in cancer therapy of some human tumors.Abbreviations GBS group BStreptococcus - PBS phosphate-buffered saline This work was supported in part by a grant from the March of Dimes Foundation     

Accuracy of a rapid 10-minute carbon-14 urea breath test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori-associated peptic ulcer disease

Urease in the human gastric mucosa is a marker for infection with Helicobacter pylori (HP), an organism which is associated with peptic ulcer disease. To detect gastric urease, we examined 184 patients (144 males, 40 females; mean age: 49.8±15.6 years) with suspected peptic ulcer disease. Fasting patients were given orally 5 Ci of carbon-14 labelled urea. From each patient only one breath sample was collected in hyamine at 10 min. The amount of ¹⁴C collected at 10 min was expressed as follows: [(DPM/mmol CO₂ collected)/(DPM administered)] × 100 × body weight (kg). The presence of HP colonization was determined by examination of multiple endoscopic prepyloric antral biopsy specimens subjected to culture or a rapid urease test. For the purpose of this study, HP-positive patients were defined as those with characteristic bacteria as indicated by a positive result of either the culture or the rapid urease test; HP-negative patients were defined as those with negative findings on both the culture and the rapid urease test. Of the 184 cases, 99 (53.8%) were positive for HP infection, and 85 (46.2%), negative. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid 10 min ¹⁴C-urea breath test for the diagnosis of HP-associated peptic ulcer disease were evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with a variable cut-off value from 1.5 to 4.5. When a cut-off value of 1.5 was selected, the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity, 83.5%; when a cut-off value of 4.5 was selected, the sensitivity was 54.5% and the specificity, 97.6%. Correspondence to: Chia-Hung Kao     

The efficacy of psychotropic drugs: implications for power analysis.

The estimation of the correct sample size to successfully test a hypothesis has become critical. A common approach to this problem is for the investigating team to complete a pilot study of a few patients to establish the "active drug-placebo" difference, using this "effect size" to perform the power analysis for sample size estimation. Given the variability evident in the effect size from completed and published studies, the pilot study approach may not be entirely dependable. The authors propose a method to obtain this initial "active drug-placebo" difference, in the field of psychotropic drug research. They apply meta-analysis to statistically summarize effect sizes obtained from an exhaustive review of the literature for a specific psychotropic drug in a given clinical condition. All double-blind, random assignment studies are used to calculate the effect size; therefore, no selection bias exists. These literature-based effect sizes are then used to perform the traditional power analysis for sample size estimation. The authors propose these estimations as a convenient reference source for future clinical investigators.     

艾灸对大鼠胃溃疡模型的影响

<正> 近年来,胃粘膜的保护作用很受人们关注,这方面的研究也取得了显著的进展本文试图用醋酸烧灼胃粘膜面造成大鼠胃溃疡模型,以此为对象,研究艾灸在保护胃粘膜方面可能存在的作用。