尸体植入新型人工腰椎间盘腰椎节段生物力学测试

目的:评价植入新型人工腰椎间盘的腰椎节段的稳定性和压缩力学性能。方法:将人工腰椎间盘植入6具新鲜青壮年尸体标本的L4-5椎间隙,进行三维运动范围和压缩刚度测试,并与植入前和髓核切除后进行比较。结果:新型人工腰椎间盘植入后,腰椎节段的三维运动范围为前屈146°,后伸66°,左侧弯79°,右侧弯89°,左轴向旋转85°,右轴向旋转87°。其压缩刚度比髓核切除后高(P<005)。结论:新型人工腰椎间盘植入后既保证了腰椎节段的三维运动功能,又起到了稳定脊柱的功能。     

MR perfusion imaging of pulmonary parenchyma using pulsed arterial spin labeling techniques: FAIRER and FAIR

Magnetic resonance imaging of pulmonary parenchyma perfusion using pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) techniques is presented. ASL uses magnetically labeled water as an endogenous, freely diffusible tracer. Presented are comparative results of ASL methods called Flow sensitive Alternating Inversion Recovery (FAIR), and FAIR with an Extra Radiofrequency pulse (FAIRER). Six healthy human volunteers were imaged. Perfusion-weighted images at different time delays, TI, were calculated from the subtraction of the control and tag images, which were acquired within a single breathhold. Detailed pulmonary structures can be visualized with negligible cardiac or respiratory motion artifacts. Different patterns of signal enhancement between the pulmonary vessels and parenchyma are shown in the perfusion images acquired at different TIs.     

Abbreviated cyclosporine AUCs on Neoral – the search continues!

 Cyclosporine is a powerful immunosuppressant with a narrow therapeutic window and considerable inter- and intrapatient variability. The pre-dose trough concentration (C_min) is commonly used for therapeutic drug monitoring. With the new microemulsion (Neoral), intrapatient variability was reduced. However, the usefulness of Neoral C_min was questioned. Firstly, because of the improved and more-rapid absorption, accidental intake before blood sampling has a greater impact on C_min than with classic cyclosporine. Secondly, C_min may be low despite high drug exposure, due to rapid clearance in children. A full pharmacokinetic (PK) profile with determination of the area under the curve (AUC) is expensive and cumbersome, and therefore a search for an abbreviated AUC began. Here, we present a retrospective analysis of 84 PK profiles from 78 pediatric renal transplant recipients. By analysis of rejection episodes and toxicity, we estimated a target AUC above 5,000 ng×h/ml in the early post-transplant period and 3,900 ng×h/ml beyond 100 days. The abbreviated AUC using the 2- and 6-h concentrations (C2 and C6) and a simple estimate derived from the 3-h concentration (C3) were equally well correlated with the AUC. From our data, we recommend a target C3 at approximately 800 ng/ml early after transplantation and 450–550 ng/ml beyond 100 days. Received: 28 January 1998 / Revised: 10 June 1998 / Accepted: 15 June 1998     

Multidisciplinary approach to palliation of obstructive jaundice caused by a central hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obstructive jaundice due to intraductal tumour growth is a rare symptom in association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We report a 65-year-old white male who was admitted to our department with a 2-week history of progressive jaundice. At laparotomy, the liver showed advanced cirrhosis due to long-standing biliary obstruction. Cholangiography confirmed total obstruction of the main bifurcation of the hepatic duct by intraductal tumour growth. Combination treatment with surgical segment III drainage, transcatheter arterial embolization and radioembolization with yttrium-90 resin particles and endoscopic stenting was performed. This form of treatment has never been reported before. RESULTS: With these combined procedures, relief of jaundice and a survival time of 32 months could be achieved. CONCLUSION: The combination of palliative methods may relieve jaundice, ensure a good quality of life and possibly prolong survival in patients with mechanical tumour obstruction of the biliary tree by HCC.     

Effect of the aryl substituent on antitumor activity of 2-substituted-1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones and 2-substitutedanthracene-1,4,9,10-tetraones

2-(1-Aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)- and 2-aroyl-DHAQ derivatives (DHAQ, 1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone), and 2-(1-aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-ATO derivatives (ATO, anthracene-1,4,9,10-tetraone) were synthesized and their antitumor activities were determined. 2-(1-Aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-DHAQ derivatives showed a stronger cytotoxicity compared to the series of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone derivatives. It was suggested that the presence of aryl group at the side chain accelerated the bioreductive activation leading to cell death. 2-Aroyl-DHAQ derivatives, despite their higher electrophilicity, revealed smaller cytotoxicity and antitumor activity (expressed by T/C value) than 2-(1-aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-DHAQ derivatives. Thus, no consistent relationship between the electronic effect on aromatic side chain and the cytotoxicity was observed. ATO series exhibited a higher antitumor activity (T/C, 125 to approximately 218%), though their cytotoxicity was not further improved compared to that of 2-(1-aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones. They manifested no correlation between the cytotoxicity and the antitumor activity. In case of 2-[1-hydroxy-1-(4-propylphenyl)-methyl]-ATO, the most bioactive one in vivo among the same series, it showed an ED50 value of 10.2 mg/mL and a T/C value of 218%. It is assumed that the anthracene-1,4,9,10-tetraones after uptake into cellular tissues might be transformed to a cytotoxic metabolite(s).     

Site-dependent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis and proliferation in human gastric carcinoma

To determine the role of site of tumor implantation on tumor angiogenesis, we implanted gastric cancer cells in the orthotopic (stomach) and ectopic (subcutaneous) locations in nude mice. Tumors in the stomach demonstrated greater vascularization, higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and greater proliferation compared with tumors in the subcutaneous tissues. These data suggest that the relationships among the expression of VEGF, vascularization, and proliferation of human gastric cancer cells are regulated by the organ microenvironment. In addition, VEGF may provide a target for anti-angiogenic therapy for gastric cancers.     

Oxolinic acid and diazepam: Their reciprocal antagonism in rodents

The stimulant effects of oxolinic acid were investigated in rats and mice. This drug, given orally, consistantly induced, in doses ranging from 16 to 256 mg·kg^-1, locomotor stimulation and stereotyped behavior.These effects were antagonized by pimozide (1 mg·kg^-1), -methyltyrosine (64 mg·kg^-1) or reserpine (4 mg·kg^-1, 24 h before testing) pretreatment, suggesting a facilitatory role of oxolinic acid on catecholaminergic processes.Diazepam (4–16 mg·kg^-1) reduced the stimulant effects induced by oxolinic acid but not those induced by amphetamine; oxolinic acid (8 mg·kg^-1) markedly reduced the antipunishment effect elicited in rats by diazepam (2 mg·kg^-1). Since benzodiazepines have been reported to enhance GABA functioning, these data suggest that oxolinic acid may impair GABA transmission. However, neither muscimol (0.5–1 mg·kg^-1) or -acetylenic-GABA (16–64 mg·kg^-1) selectively reduced the stimulant effects elicited by oxolinic acid. Therefore, the possible facilitation exerted by this drug on catecholaminergic systems may not derive from the release of an inhibitory GABAergic control.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORNEAL DELLEN AND TEARFILM BREAKUP TIME

The BUT of 51 strabismus patients were measured before and after operation. The average pre-op BUT was 28.75 seconds(10.96"-91.80"). The post-op BUT in all operated eyes were reduced significantly, no matter what procedures had been performed and whether dellen appeared or not(P<0.01). The BUT in the group complicated dellen reduced from 23.22"(pre-op) to 8.61"(post-op). The incidence of dellen was 22.54% in this study. The incidence of dellen after rectus resection procedure(47.75%) was much higher than that after rectus recession(5.13%)(P<0.01). This study showed that dellen was closelyre related to the BUT and occurred more often in the eyes on which resection procedure was performed. It is considered that excessive lacrimation and elevation of the bulbar conjunctiva near the limbus may disturb the stability of the precornea tearfilm and cause the tearfilm break up earlier. Local corneal dehydration and dellen formation may be caused by reduced BUT. The incidence of dellen after operation may be higher if the cornea was carefully observed.     

Antibiotic sensitivity of enteric pathogens in Vietnam

The in vitro antimicrobial susceptibilities of 675 common enteropathogenic isolates from faecal specimens of patients with diarrhea (E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella and V. cholerae), and 568 E. coli isolates from faecal flora of healthy persons, which were collected as part of a National antibiotic resistance surveillance in Vietnam, were determined. The agar dilution method was used for the following nine antibiotics: ampicillin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, kanamycin, trimethoprim, trimethoprim in combination with sulfamethoxazole (1/20), and sulfisomidin. Gentamicin was the most active of the antibiotics tested against all bacterial species with MICs in the range 0.125-4 mg/l. All strains were susceptible to nalidixic acid (0.125-8 mg/l) and more than 90% were susceptible to kanamycin. Among E. coli and Shigella isolates from patients the frequencies of resistance to commonly used antibiotics were high: ampicillin 73% and 84%, doxycycline 83% and 94%, chloramphenicol 71% and 91%, sulfisomidin 82% and 92%, respectively. Resistance to trimethoprin, as well as to the combination with sulfamethoxazole was found in 21% and 23%, respectively. The frequencies of multiple resistance (resistance to three or more antibiotics) were also high (77% and 89%, respectively). Less than 10% of Salmonellae and V. cholerae isolates were resistant to ampicillin, sulfisomidin or trimethoprim. Among E. coli from healthy people the frequencies of resistance were lower than in isolates from patients: ampicillin 23%, doxycycline 40%, chloramphenicol 21% and sulfisomidin 34%. However, the same patterns of multiple resistance were found in both groups.