Anoxic encephalopathy after ultraviolet radiation session: follow-up and results

Anoxic encephalopathy is the consequence of acute cerebral oxygen deprivation usually generated by cardiac arrest and/or respiratory failure. Recently an interesting case of one patient with cerebral anoxia after ultraviolet radiation session has been published. This paper shows the clinical evolution of this patient after inclusion in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, which included treatment of the psychopathological, neuropsychological and functional impairments that this pathology often generates. Over successive decades cerebral anoxia has come to be identified principally as one of the most significant causes of an isolated amnesia syndrome. Our patient presented at baseline intense difficulties in every verbal and visual memory processes associated with moderate impairments in sustained, selective and shifting attention as well as temporal disorientation. Compensation of memory deficit was the main rehabilitation strategy used in this case. This rehabilitation approach was possible thanks to the high degree of self-awareness of memory deficits shown by the patient and the selective impairment of memory with partial preservation of the rest of cognitive functions. This particular case gives us the opportunity to show the multidisciplinary approach of cognitive rehabilitation and the process of reintegration to social activities and to productive work even when deficits persist.     

Lymphocyte subtypes CD3+, CD19+, CD16+CD56+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD3+HLA-DR+ in peripheral blood obtained from patients after thoracic organ transplantation

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes (CD3⁺, CD19⁺, CD16⁺CD56⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and CD3⁺HLA-DR⁺) obtained from thoracic organ recipients at various periods after transplantation.

Material and Methods

Seventeen patients after lung transplantation (LT) and 5 patients after heart transplantation (HT) included 13 males (76.5%) and 4 females (23.5%) of overall mean age at the time of transplantation of 46.7 ± 11.55 years and mean body mass index of 21.1 ± 4. Lymphocyte phenotypes were estimated using Simultest IMK Plus.

Results

A significant decrease in lymphocytes of the majority of subtypes was observed at 1 year posttransplantation compared with normal ranges: CD19⁺ B lymphocytes in 56% of patients, CD8⁺ T cells among 48% and CD16⁺CD56⁺ natural killer elements, 56%. In contrast, there were increased numbers of activated lymphocytes (CD3⁺HLA-DR⁺). Beyond the 1-year observation, we observed a trend to normalize parameters among the majority of subjects.

Conclusion

A clear tendency to a decrease number of peripheral blood lymphocytes of various subtypes was observed among thoracic organ recipients in the first year posttransplantation with the exception of activated HLA-DR⁺ cells. After the first year, there was slow restoration of lymphocytes.     

Shockwave therapy under ultrasonographic guidance in rotator cuff calcific tendinitis

OBJECTIVES: This is the first efficacy evaluation in patients with rotator cuff calcific tendinitis treated with shockwave therapy delivered using a dedicated extracorporeal lithotripter and ultrasonographic guidance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with rotator cuff calcific tendinitis received shockwave therapy delivered using a lithotripter specifically designed for the musculoskeletal system (DORNIER EPOS ULTRA), under ultrasonography guidance (which is not part of the conventional procedure). The cumulative dose per patient was 1300 mJ/mm2 divided in two or three sessions. Three, six, 12, and 24 weeks after treatment, the patients were evaluated using a visual analog scale for pain, the ASES self-questionnaire, Constant's score, and plain radiographs. RESULTS: Improvements in the pain and self-questionnaire scores were noted in 36.6% of patients after 12 weeks and 55.1% after 24 weeks. Plain radiographs were changed in 26.6% of patients after 12 weeks (with complete clearance of the calcific deposits in 6.6%) and in 24.1% of patients after 24 weeks (complete clearance in 17.2%). CONCLUSION: These results seem less favorable than those reported with dedicated lithotripters and computed tomography guidance.     

Pain Medication Requirements After Sacropexy and Combination Interventions

Background and Objectives:

Laparoscopic surgery is associated with reduced morbidity, and postoperative pain is reduced. The aim of this study was to assess postoperative pain intensity, analgesic requirements, and the influence of cofactors after laparoscopic sacral colpopexy.

Methods:

The study assessed 287 patients treated with laparoscopic sacropexy for genital prolapse with a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification grade >1. Patients were asked to evaluate their pain postoperatively using a 4-point verbal pain rating scale. In addition, medical records were analyzed regarding the requirement for analgesic medication.

Results:

Patients distinguished between abdominal pain and shoulder pain after laparoscopy. Abdominal pain reached maximum severity on day 1 and showed a good response to nonsteroidal antiphlogistics, whereas shoulder pain was rarely found (6.27%). Of the patients, 38% required no pain treatment or required 1 dose at most. The need for pain medication reached its climax on day 1 and decreased during the 5 following days. Non-opioid analgesics provided a sufficient therapeutic effect.

Conclusion:

Laparoscopic sacropexy is associated with a moderate degree of postoperative pain. Non-opioid analgesics should be preferred as first-line therapy. The typical shoulder-tip pain showed only a low prevalence in our study group. From our point of view, the low rate of shoulder-tip pain corresponded with the low intra-abdominal carbon dioxide pressure.     

选择性动脉造影诊断和栓塞治疗严重鼻腔大出血

目的：评价选择性动脉造影和栓塞术诊断和治疗严重鼻腔大出血的临床价值。方法：自发性出血41例，外伤性出血11例，鼻咽纤维血管瘤出血3例，鼻咽部恶性肿瘤出血2例。采用Seldinger技术，经股动脉插管造影诊断和栓塞治疗。选用明胶海绵条、手术用丝线或可脱性球囊及弹簧圈栓塞出血的动脉。结果：57例患者共行造影诊断和栓塞治疗59次，6例做了双侧颌内动脉栓塞。55例经导管栓塞治疗后迅即达到良好止血效果，术后随访6个月至2年均未再出血。本组病例中，7例颈内动脉海绵窦段损伤引起鼻腔大出血，用可脱性球囊和（或）弹簧圈栓塞治疗获成功。4例面部外伤性鼻出血，2例单纯颌内动脉栓塞止血，另2例经造影证实，由外伤所致眼动脉的筛支形成动脉瘤出血，经外科手术夹闭筛动脉后出血停止。结论：选择性动脉造影诊断和栓塞治疗严重鼻腔大出血，疗程短、痛苦小、成功率高、临床效果显著，具有一定推广价值。     

艾滋病病毒感染者罹患皮肤烧伤治疗体会

目的：总结艾滋病病毒HIV感染罹患皮肤烧伤的治疗和预防措施。方法：对1997年1月-2001年10月收治的两例烧伤前伴有艾滋病病毒感染病人隔离治疗，同时上报主管部门。结果：两例患烧伤创面均治愈出院，未发生并发症。建议到国家指定医疗单位采取强制性隔离治疗。结论：加强对入院烧伤病人HIV检测，避免HIV感染扩散。     

肺泡蛋白沉着症的临床和影像学分析

目的：探讨肺泡蛋白沉着症（PAP）的临床、影像特点以及诊断。材料和方法：对15例经纤维支气管镜活检或开胸活检病理及肺泡灌洗证实的原发性肺泡蛋白沉着症患者的胸片和CT表现进行回顾性分析。并比较全肺灌洗治疗前、后胸部影像与动脉血气、肺功能及临床表现间的关系。结果：PAP胸部影像表现呈多样化,可归纳为：地图样表现、碎石路样表现、肺实变表现、肺水肿样表现及肺间质纤维化样表现等。但肺部阴影相对稳定（即短期内如无感染,胸部阴影不会发生显著变化）,胸部影像与临床症状常不平衡。结论：肺部影像可以充分显示肺泡蛋白沉着症的特点,也是随访观察临床疗效和预后转归的最重要指标之一。临床和影像相结合可以有效确诊本病。     

Early prediction of IgA nephropathy progression: proteinuria and AOPP are strong prognostic markers

BACKGROUND: Inflammation and oxidative stress have been incriminated in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The aim of the present study was to assess whether markers reflecting these pathophysiologic processes, namely C-reactive protein (CRP) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), would allow-in conjunction with clinical and histopathologic parameters-to predict disease progression. METHODS: Between 1994 and 1997, 120 adult patients with biopsy-proven IgAN were included in a prospective cohort study, and followed until the end of 2002 or start of dialysis. In every patient, we determined plasma levels of CRP and AOPP. These parameters were included, together with clinical data, in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, with halving of baseline creatinine clearance as the primary renal end point. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients reached the renal end point, including 30 who had to start dialysis. With multivariate analysis, the most potent independent risk factors of poor renal outcome were proteinuria > or =1 g/day [proportional hazard risk (HR) = 23.7, P= 0.0001], hypertension (HR = 8.13, P= 0.008), and AOPP plasma level (HR = 1.09 per 10 micromol/L, P= 0.042), whereas angiotensin II inhibitors were protective (HR = 0.19, P= 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data support the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of IgAN and suggest that patients with proteinuria > or =1 g/day should be eligible for early implemented antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies, with AOPP plasma level as a surrogate marker to evaluate their effects.     

Three-year outcome of isolated glomerulitis on 3-month protocol biopsies of donor HLA antibody negative patients

Transplant glomerulitis (TG) can lead to the diagnosis of acute humoral rejection when associated with C4d. Recent data have shown that, in patients with donor-specific antibodies, TG is a sign of humoral rejection, even in the absence of C4d. However, the clinical significance of isolated TG, i.e. TG without C4d deposition or morphological evidence of rejection, has not been specifically studied in protocol biopsies of recipients without donor-specific antibodies. We compared 20 isolated TG-patients with 44 selected recipients without TG or any rejection-associated change. The two groups had similar baseline characteristics. After a 3 year follow-up, renal function, acute rejection rate, and development of HLA antibodies were not significantly different between the two groups. Isolated TG had no deleterious consequences on the 3 year graft outcome. Eleven patients of the glomerulitis-group had another allograft biopsy during follow-up: glomerular lesions returned to normal in six patients whereas the persistence of glomerulitis or features consistent with chronic transplant glomerulopathy were noticed in the remaining five patients. Four of these five patients had pretransplant non-donor specific HLA antibodies. In conclusion, although isolated TG had no impact on allograft function at 3 year, histological outcome could be related to patient sensitization.     

早期肠内营养及其输注方式对大鼠重症急性胰腺炎病理和肠道功能的影响

目的:观察早期肠内营养及其不同输注方式对重症急性胰腺炎的影响。方法:采用胰管逆行注射建立大鼠重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)模型,假手术组用生理盐水,SAP组随机分为持续、间隙和未行肠内营养3个亚组(每组12只),假手术组同样分为3个亚组(每组8只)。各组于48 h后启动肠内营养,72 h后再次麻醉大鼠,收集组织及血液标本;检测指标包括肠道转运系数、血淀粉酶、器官细菌移位率、血清细胞因子TNF-α、胰腺病理评分及血浆D-乳酸等。结果:①、SAP后48h进行肠内营养并未加重胰腺炎;肠内营养组与未行肠内营养组在血淀粉酶、胰腺病理评分方面,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);然而早期肠内营养可以促进肠蠕动,减少肠道细菌移位率,两组间在肠道转运系数、脏器细菌移位率及血清TNF-α水平方面,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。②、SAP行肠内营养的两种方式间,各项指标比较无显著差异。结论:SAP大鼠在早期行肠内营养是可行的,其可保持肠道生理的完整性、减少了脏器细菌移位率,但未改善预后;持续和间隙二种肠内营养输注方式间无显著差异。