Practical value of a new serum digitoxin assay

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new fluorescence polarization immunoassay, TDx, for digitoxin by comparing the results of this assay with those of a radioimmunoassay (RIA). Thirty-three serum samples were obtained from 15 patients during, and for 4 weeks after, a 4-week course of digitoxin therapy. Each sample was separated by centrifugation, coded, and frozen until analysis. At the time of analysis, each sample was divided and analyzed simultaneously by TDx and RIA. Nine samples yielded results less than 2 ng/ml (limit of assay sensitivity) by one or both methods and were excluded from further data analysis. Linear regression analysis of the results of the remaining 24 paired samples (x = TDx, y = RIA) revealed a strong correlation coefficient of r2 = 0.95, slope = 0.95, and a y intercept of -0.99 (y = -0.99 + 0.95x). Additionally, the TDx results were lower than the RIA values in only five of 33 paired samples; and these occurred in four patients who had a significantly lower mean estimated creatinine clearance than that of the other 11 patients (39.0 +/- 9.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 vs. 63.3 +/- 11.8 ml/min/1.73 m2, p less than 0.01). The TDx system is a comparable alternative to the RIA method, but differences in specificity and sensitivity may exist and should be evaluated more thoroughly.     

Ischemic rat brain extracts induce human marrow stromal cell growth factor production

Intravenous administration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats provides functional benefit. We tested the hypothesis that these functional benefits are derived in part from hMSC production of growth and trophic factors. Quantitative sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of hMSCs cultured with normal and MCAo brain extracts were performed. hMSCs cultured in supernatant derived from ischemic brain extracts increased production of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These neurotrophins and angiogenic growth factors increased in a post‐ischemia time‐dependent manner. The hMSC capacity to increase expression of growth and trophic factors may be the key to the benefit provided by transplanted hMSCs in the ischemic brain.     

An etiological and clinicopathological study of early syphilis in oropharynx]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of the early stage treponema pallidum infected tissue in ear, nose, oropharynx and larynx and to raise relevance ratio of syphilis in nose and oropharynx and enhance doctor's self-protection awareness. METHODS: The histopathologic characteristics were studied by using HE staining, Warthin-Starry (W-S) staining was adopted to examine the treponema pallidum(TP) in lesion issue and its exudates smear for 12 cases biopsy tissues of suspicious syphilis. The diagnosis was confirmed by venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL), rapid plasma reagin circle test(RPR), treponema pallidum hemagglutination test(TPHA) and fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption test (FTA-ABS). Treat with curing syphilis methods which published by nation. RESULTS: In the 12 cases mucous membrane specimen, the squamous epithelium proliferated, neutrophilic granulocyte infiltrated, within inherent membrane generous plasmacyte and lymphocyte infiltrated. W-S staining: plenty of treponema pallidum were found inside mucous membrane epithelium and exudate smear. Serology examination: 11 cases VDRL(++++), 7 cases RPR (+), 11 cases TPHA(+), 1 case FTA-ABS(+). After systemic treatment, 11 cases are clinically recovered. All patients serology become negative. CONCLUSION: W-S staining method can directly demonstrate histopathologic characteristics in early syphilis, in intrinsic membrane numerous plasmacyte infiltration. Combining with specific syphilis serology examination could increase diagnosis rate of syphilis in nose and oropharynx.     

强化过程控制和精细化管理保证护理质量持续改进

质量管理是医院生存和发展的战略战术。质量就是生命,质量就是效益,21世纪护理质量的起步要求是护理质量管理者应在缺陷预防和质量持续改进方面做出尝试,护理管理者应在推行精细化管理,强化护理过程控制方面做出努力,以满足广大病人的健康服务需求。1质量发展及其概念1.1护理质量管理的发展阶段美国护理质量管理大体经历了3个历史性发展阶段:20世纪70年代“质量控制阶段”,20世纪80年代“质量保证阶段”,20世纪90年代“质量促进阶段”。质量控制阶段的主要特点:①由质量管理人员发现已出现的质量问题,然后做出处理;②技师评价方式为依照标准…     

100例性病患者心理健康状况调查分析

目的：探讨性病患者的心理健康状况,为临床治疗和护理提供依据。方法：采用症状自评量表（SCL-90）对100例性病患者的心理健康状况进行测验。结果：100例性病患者SCL-90检测的阳性率为51%,阳性样本因子分居前的是敌对、强迫症状、抑郁、人际敏感。结论：性病患者广泛存在的心理问题,在药用治疗的同时应注意心理方面的治疗和疏导。     

West Nile virus preferentially transports along motor neuron axons after sciatic nerve injection of hamsters

Prior findings led us to hypothesize that West Nile virus (WNV) preferentially transports along motor axons instead of sensory axons. WNV is known to undergo axonal transport in cell culture and in infected hamsters to infect motor neurons in the spinal cord. To investigate this hypothesis, WNV was injected directly into the left sciatic nerve of hamsters. WNV envelope-staining in these hamsters was only observed in motor neurons of the ipsilateral ventral horn of the spinal cord, but not in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). To evaluate the consequence of motor neuron infection by WNV, the authors inoculated wheat germ agglutinin—horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) 9 days after WNV sciatic nerve injection, and stained the spinal cord and the DRG for HRP activity 3 days later. The degree of HRP-staining in DRG was the same in WNV- and sham-infected animals, but the HRP-staining in the motor neuron in the ventral horn was considerably less for WNV-infected hamsters. To investigate the mechanism of WNV transport, hamsters were treated with colchicine, an inhibitor of membranous microtubule-mediated transport. The intensity of the WNV-stained area in the spinal cord of colchicine-treated hamsters at 6 days after WNV infection were significantly reduced (P≤.05) compared to the placebo-treated hamsters. These data suggest that WNV is preferentially transported through the motor axons, but not the sensory axons, to subsequently infect motor neurons and cause motor weakness and paralysis.     

Lipid extract from completely sporoderm‐broken germinating Ganoderma sinensis spores elicits potent antitumor immune responses in human macrophages

Ganoderma sinensis has been used widely in Oriental countries for the prevention and treatment of various diseases including cancer. Previous studies have shown that the lipid extract from Ganoderma exhibits direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Here, it is reported that the lipid extract from germinating G. sinensis spores, at lower concentrations that have no direct tumoricidal activity, induce potent antitumor immune responses in human monocytes/macrophages. Upon stimulation with the lipid extract, monocytes/macrophages exhibited markedly increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and surface expression of costimulatory molecules. Conditioned medium from stimulated cells effectively suppressed the growth of tumor cells. Apparently, the lipid extract triggered macrophage activation via a mechanism different from that associated with LPS. Moreover, it was observed that the lipid extract could partially re‐establish the antitumor activity of the immunosuppressive tumor‐associated macrophages. These results indicated that in addition to its direct tumoricidal activity, the lipid extract from G. sinensis spores could exert antitumor activity by stimulating the activation of human monocytes/macrophages. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chronic fatigue of the small enterprise workers participating in an occupational health checkup center in southern Taiwan

Purpose  There has been increasing interest in the occupational health of workers in small enterprises, especially in developing countries. This study examines the association between psychosocial job characteristics and fatigue, and attempts to identify risk factors for fatigue among workers of small enterprises in southern Taiwan. Methods  A structured questionnaire was administered to workers receiving regular health examinations between August 2005 and January 2006. The questionnaire collected demographic information and data on working conditions, personal health status and life styles. It also collected information on psychosocial job characteristics, fatigue and psychological distress using three instruments. Results  A total of 647 workers with mean age of 43.7 were completed. Probable fatigue was found in 34.6% of the sample. Fatigue was found by multiple logistic regressions to be associated with the lack of exercise, working in shifts, depression score and lack of social support at workplace. Conclusions  This study found associations between life style, psychosocial job characteristics and fatigue. Because the high prevalence of probable fatigue was found in such small enterprises, the authors suggest that a short interview with some quick questionnaires in health checkup for these small enterprise workers are helpful to early detect psychosocial and fatigue problems.