Operative treatment of median cervical cysts

Median cervical cysts are congenital anomalies arising from remaining thyroglossal duct epithelium. A major problem in the surgical treatment of these cysts is the high frequency of recurrence. Embryonic considerations indicate an important causal role for the hyoid bone in these recurrences. We studied the relationship between operative techniques and the number of recurrences in 36 patients treated in our hospital. Fourteen patients sent from other hospitals had a recurrent fistula; in thirteen cases the hyoid bone was still in place. All patients who had the central part of the hyoid bone excised were cured. In 14 patients without adequate excisions of the hyoid bone we found four recurrences. To prevent recurrence a total excision of thyroglossal duct epithelium is necessary.     

A novel hybridoma antibody (PASE/4LJ) to human prostatic acid phosphatase suitable for immunohistochemistry

A murine monoclonal antibody PASE/4LJ to prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) was used to immunostain a wide variety of sections of benign and malignant tissues (654 blocks). Non-neoplastic adult and fetal prostatic glands, primary and metastatic prostatic carcinomas, and scattered cells in prostatic and penile urethra were positive. Rat, dog and rabbit prostates were negative. Nine of 400 tumours of non-prostatic origin showed some positivity: 6/36 carcinoids, 1/9 islet cell tumours, 1/55 ovarian adenocarcinomas (serous) and one carcinosarcoma of the lung (epithelial portion). Positive staining was seen in islet cells in 4/5 specimens of normal pancreas, and in 4/9 blocks of normal pancreas surrounding a pancreatic tumour. Loops of Henle, maculae densae, and distal tubules in 10/10 fetal and 2/9 adult kidneys were also positive, with proximal tubules and collecting ducts negative. All other 159 blocks of non-neoplastic adult and fetal tissues were negative. The antibody was also affinity purified from ascitic fluid, and shown not to inhibit the enzyme activity of prostatic acid phosphatase.     

表皮生长因子对牛眼小梁细胞c—fos基因表达的诱导

目的研究表皮生长因子（ｅｐｉｄｅｒｍａｌｇｒｏｗｔｈｆａｃｔｏｒ，ＥＧＦ）对小梁细胞的作用。方法应用分子杂交技术研究ＥＧＦ对体外培养的牛眼小梁细胞ｃ－ｆｏｓ基因表达的诱导和３Ｈ胸腺核苷酸（３Ｈ－ｔｈｙｍｉｄｉｎｅｉｎｃｏｒｐａｒａｔｉｏｎ，３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ）掺入法观察细胞ＤＮＡ的合成。结果小梁细胞的３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ掺入率随着ＥＧＦ浓度不同而变化，浓度为２０～１５０ｎｇ／ｍｌ时，细胞掺入率随浓度增加升高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。与对照组相比，ＥＧＦ刺激停止生长的小梁细胞０．５小时后，ｃ－ｆｏｓ基因开始表达，１小时后达高峰，至２小时后消失。不同浓度ＥＧＦ刺激小梁细胞１小时后，ｃ－ｆｏｓ基因表达呈浓度依赖性。结论实验结果表明ＥＧＦ刺激小梁细胞增殖或进入生长状态，可能与ｃ－ｆｏｓ基因产物的信号传递作用有关。     

Evidence that the Receptor for Soluble CD14:LPS Complexes may not be the Putative Signal-Transducing Molecule Associated with Membrane-Bound CD14

Membrane-bound CD14 acts as a receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils. Studies have suggested that the activation of monocytes/macrophages by the binding of LPS to membrane-bound CD14 may require the association of a signal-transducing molecule with membrane-bound CD14. The observation that non-CD14 expressing cells, such as endothelial cells, can nevertheless be activated by a complex of LPS and a soluble form of CD14 (sCD14) suggests that the receptor for this complex may be identical to the signal transducing molecule associated with membrane-bound CD14. The studies described show that two CD14-specific MoAb are able to block the LPS-induced activation of endothelial cells but do not affect the response of monocytes to LPS. This suggests that the interaction of the sCD14:LPS complex with endothelial cells is distinct from the interaction of membrane-bound CD14 with its putative signal-transducing molecule.     

Patients with prosthetic joints: Are they at risk when receiving invasive dental procedures?

Most prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are due to wound contamination at the time of surgery. Some infections occur due to the hematogenous spread of bacteria from distant sites of infection. A review of the literature fails to associate PJI with transient bacteremias from invasive dental procedures. Several authors have described conditions which, they believe, render patients with prosthetic joints more at risk for infection. Prosthetic joint patients with these "high risk" conditions have the same types of infecting organisms as other patients with PJI. This indicates that the infecting bacteria are from wound contamination or distant sites of infection and not related to dental procedure bacteremias. Based on this review, antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated for patients with prosthetic joints when receiving invasive dental procedures, since there is no proven benefit and there are known risks involved with the use of antibiotics. However, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), in an advisory statement, suggest prophylaxis for "high risk" patients. The ADA and AAOS recommend a single dose of amoxicillin, cephradine, or clindamycin when prophylaxis is selected. The dentist is ultimately responsible for making treatment recommendations for his or her patients.     

脑前循环系统动脉瘤的外科治疗

本文报告113例脑前循环系统动脉管其中包括颈内动脉后交通动脉瘤75例.前交通动脉瘤17例,大脑中动脉瘤10例,人脑前动脉-胼周动脉瘤3例,颈内动脉-眼动脉瘤2例,颈内动脉海绵窦段动脉瘤1例.多发动脉瘤5例.共118个动脉瘤在显微镜下直视手术,动脉瘤直接夹闭术108例.孤立或包裹术5例:5例多发动脉瘤行同期手术3例,分期手术2例.术中发生动脉瘤破裂18次.Hunt和HessⅠ～Ⅱ级病人中有例行早期手术.全组术后死亡率为7.9%.着重讨论手术时机.术中动脉瘤破裂处理及多发动脉瘤的治疗.     

Individual differences and surrogate medical decisions: Differing preferences for life-sustaining treatments

This study examines the relationships between patient characteristics and surrogate decision maker characteristics on surrogates' preferences for life-sustaining treatments. Caucasian and African-American caregivers and noncaregivers (n=110) responded to a vignette involving a medical crisis in a hospitalized older man who suffered cardiac arrest, one of the most common causes of death among older Americans. This man was described as either a cognitively intact or moderately demented family member. Participants made decisions regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), CPR and ventilation, and CPR and tube feeding. Analyses followed a 2 (cognitive status) 2 (caregiving status) 2 (racial background) analysis of covariance design, with education and income used as covariates. In general, participants were less likely to initiate life-sustaining treatments in demented patients. Caucasian caregivers were less likely to initiate CPR and ventilation and CPR and tube feeding. Results indicate that characteristics of the patient and the interplay between cultural issues and experience with caregiving affect surrogate judgements regarding life-sustaining treatments.     

Wound Botulism Associated with Black Tar Heroin

The incidence of wound botulism is increasing and the epidemiology of the disease is changing. The majority of new cases are associated with injection drug use, in particular, the use of Mexican black tar heroin. This case report and discussion of wound botulism illustrate the following important points: Dysphagia, dysphonia, diplopia, and descending paralysis, in association with injection drug use, should alert the treating physician to the possibility of wound botulism. In such patients, the onset of respiratory failure may be sudden and without clinically obvious signs of respiratory weakness. For the reported patient, maximum inspiratory force measurements were the only reliable indicator of respiratory muscle weakness. This is a measurement not routinely performed in the ED, but may prove essential for patients with suspected wound botulism. To minimize the effect of the botulinum toxin and to decrease length of hospital stay, antitoxin administration and surgical wound debridement should be performed early.