Pediatric patients with achondroplasia: CT evaluation of the craniocervical junction

Twenty-six patients (4 months to 6 years old) with achondroplasia complicated by sleep apnea and/or other neurologic manifestations underwent plain computed tomography (CT) of the craniocervical junction; six also underwent CT myelography. For objectification, multiplanar reconstruction was used to complement axial plane measurements by providing coronal and sagittal measurements; multiplanar reconstruction also improved perception of the longitudinal relationships between the brain stem and subarachnoid space. A narrow subarachnoid space was found in all 26 patients; marked cord compression was present in nine, six of whom underwent CT myelography. These six had marked focal obliteration of the subarachnoid space on both plain CT and CT myelography. Since the subarachnoid space immediately above and below the craniocervical junction is normally capacious, when marked constriction was present, no additional information could have been gained from CT myelography. Thus, plain CT was shown to be sufficient for surgical planning (suboccipital decompression) in nine patients with cord compression due to achondroplasia.     

广西鼠疫指示动物犬血清IHA、ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的一致性研究

目的 了解应用IHA、ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的一致性,评价方法的优劣,以便更好地制订鼠疫监测的方法及防治策略.方法 对广西鼠疫监测点隆林、西林县的犬血清使用IHA及ELISA两种试验方法,并进行一致性研究,评价IHA与ELISA方法的可靠性.结果 IHA检测鼠疫F1抗体阳性率为0,ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的总阳性率为4.4%(12/273);IHA与ELISA之间的一致性为95.6%,其Kappa值等于0,呈轻度一致.结论 间接血凝试验方法特异、操作简便是传统的鼠疫监测手段之一;酶联免疫吸附试验具有敏感性高、特异性强、操作简便等特点,且与间接血凝试验有轻度一致性,适宜在鼠疫监测中推广应用.     

A clinical study assessing the tolerability and biological effects of infliximab, a TNF-alpha inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important regulator of the chronic inflammation contributing to tumour progression. Infliximab, an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody was investigated in this trial of patients with advanced cancer. The primary objectives were to determine the safety profile and biological response of infliximab in a cancer population. Clinical response was a secondary objective. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients received infliximab at 5 mg/kg (n = 21) or 10 mg/kg (n = 20) i.v. at 0 and 2 weeks and then every 4 weeks. Post-treatment samples were measured for changes in plasma and serum TNF-alpha, CCL2, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Infliximab was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxic effects. At both doses of infliximab, neutralisation of serum TNF-alpha was observed after 1 h while plasma CCL2, IL-6 and serum CRP were decreased 24 and 48 h following infliximab administration. Seven patients experienced disease stablisation (range 10-50+ weeks). There was no evidence of disease acceleration in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab treatment was safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced cancer. There was evidence of biological activity with baseline TNF-alpha and CCL2 being correlated with infliximab response.     

Feeding during acute diarrhea as a risk factor for persistent diarrhea

Dietary intake during diarrhea in children less than three years of age was estimated from information recorded on illustrated dietary forms used by children's caretakers during the first week of illness in a prospective community-based study of diarrheal diseases in Lima, Peru. The frequency of consumption and the amount consumed of food groups and selected commonly consumed foods were analyzed by the final duration of the diarrheal episode. Cereals were less frequently consumed during the acute phase of diarrheal episodes that ultimately became persistent (>14 days'duration), apparently shortening the duration of the episode by one day (median duration of four days in children not consuming vs three days in children consuming cereals during diarrhea, p <0.02 Kaplan-Meier logrank test). Only roots and tubers (mainly potatoes) were consumed in greater quantity during episodes that became persistent. There was no evidence that consumption of breast milk or non-maternal milk was associated with an alteration in diarrheal duration. This study provides further evidence of the beneficial effects of continuing feeding during diarrhea using foods available at the home level, especially cereals, which are commonly used in the diet of young children.     

Extracts of Monascusus Purpureus beyond Statins——Profile of Efficacy and Safety of the Use of Extracts of Monascus Purpureus

Monascus purpureus is a fungus that has been tradi-tionally used in China for thousands of years to produce ricewine . Traditionally the fungus is used to ferment non-gluti-nous cooking of rice ,to produce a kind of famous red ricewine .Its main traditional indications consist of disordersdue to the accumulation of fats (nosologically linked withthe problems of stasis of circulation in traditional Chinesemedicine) ,liver disorders and some forms of tumor as ithelps i mprove the circulation of …     

Measurement of urinary retinol binding protein by immunonephelometry

A method is described for the determination of retinol binding protein (RBP) by immunonephelometry. The assay is sensitive to 5 microg/l and has acceptable imprecision. The method correlates with an established ELISA assay. A provisional normal range is proposed for daytime random urine samples. The increased excretion of RBP in adult subject with type 1 diabetes mellitus is demonstrated.