CT features of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with acute abdominal pain: emphasis on ischemic bowel disease

PURPOSE: To evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with acute abdominal pain. Special emphasis was placed on the analysis of ischemic bowel disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the images from 39 abdominal CT examinations performed in 33 patients with SLE and acute abdominal pain. Images were evaluated for bowel wall changes, mesenteric changes, fluid collection, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, peritoneal enhancement, and hepatomegaly as well as for changes in other abdominal organs. Ischemic bowel disease was diagnosed if at least three of the following signs were seen: bowel wall thickening, target sign, dilatation of intestinal segments, engorgement of mesenteric vessels, and increased attenuation of mesenteric fat. RESULTS: Thirty-one (79%) of the 39 examinations had CT findings diagnostic of ischemic bowel disease, including symmetric bowel wall thickening (n = 29), target sign (n = 26), and mesenteric vascular engorgement and haziness (n = 31). In 24 cases, bowel wall thickening was multifocal, with variable length, and did not appear to be confined to a single vascular territory. CONCLUSION: The most common CT finding in patients with SLE and acute abdominal pain is ischemic bowel disease. CT is useful for detecting the primary cause of gastrointestinal symptoms, planning treatment, and monitoring for infarction or perforation.     

Long-term fate of heterotopic liver transplants in rats with portal vein inflow only

Previous studies have suggested that hepatic arterial flow in heterotopic partial liver transplants is necessary to ensure graft survival and regenerative capacity. This report presents findings in a syngeneic rat strain (Lewis) that partial liver transplants can be successfully heterotopically transplanted in the long term with the only inflow coming from the portal vein. When the host liver undergoes a nearly complete resection at 3-4 weeks, the transplanted liver regenerates to maintain the health of the host. Moderate to massive hepatocellular necrosis occurs in the first 3 months postoperatively, with recovery by 4-5 months. Liver transplants 8-10 months postoperatively appear architecturally normal. No host liver tissues were found to be regenerating after subtotal host liver resection. We conclude that portal vein reconstruction without hepatic arterial inflow can sustain a partial liver transplant in the long term, replacing the function of the host liver.     

Conversion factor for comparison of data from Humphrey and Medmont automated perimeters

Background : Clinical experience has shown that the sensitivity indices reported by the Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA) are generally higher than those given by the Medmont Automated Perimeter (M600). It is the purpose of this paper to determine a conversion factor for the two perimeters and to confirm this prediction using clinical data. Theory predicted that HFA_sensitivity ? 5 dB = M600_sensitivity. Methods : Sensitivity versus eccentricity profiles were measured over the central visual field on 10 young subjects using both perimeters. Results : Both the HFA and the M600 operate within the realms of the Weber law and measure similar Weber fractions. The sensitivity profiles had similar slopes (about ?0.2 dB/degree) and were separated by about six decibels with the HFA reporting higher sensitivity values. This result confirmed the theoretical prediction. Conclusion : The difference in threshold sensitivities between the two perimeters is a result of differences in scaling factors and instrument luminances. A suggested clinical conversion factor is to subtract 5 dB from the HFA data to approximate those of the M600.     

Effects of terbutaline on force and intracellular calcium in slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibres of the rat.

1. The effect of the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, terbutaline, was investigated on simultaneously measured force and intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in intact rat soleus muscle fibres, and on contractile protein function and Ca2+ content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in skinned fibres. 2. Terbutaline (10 microM) had no significant effect on either resting force or [Ca2+]i. Exposure to terbutaline increased both the integral of the indo-1 ratio transient and peak twitch force by 37%. 3. At sub-maximal (10 Hz) stimulation frequencies, terbutaline accelerated force relaxation but had highly variable effects on tetanic force amplitude. The corresponding indo-1 ratio transients were significantly larger, and faster to decay than the controls. 4. Terbutaline increased tetanic force at near maximal stimulation frequencies (50 Hz) by increasing tetanic [Ca2+]i. Force relaxation was accelerated at this frequency with no significant change in the indo-1 ratio transient decay rate. 5. All of terbutaline's effects on force and indo-1 ratio transients in intact fibres were completely blocked and reversed by ICI 118551 (1 microM). 6. Mechanically skinned fibres isolated from intact muscles pre-treated with terbutaline showed no significant changes in SR Ca2+ content, myofilament [Ca2+]i-sensitivity or maximum force generating capacity. 7. The results suggest that terbutaline primarily modulates force by altering the amplitude and decay rate of the [Ca2+]i transient via phosphorylation of both the ryanodine receptor (RR) and the SR pump regulatory protein, phospholamban (PLB). The high variability of responses of slow-twitch muscles to beta2-agonists probably reflects individual differences in basal phosphorylation levels of PLB relative to that of RR.     

Expression of the recombinantKlebsiella aerogenes UreF protein as a MalE fusion

Expression of the active urease of the enterobacterium, Klebsiella aerogenes, requires the presence of the accessory genes (ureD, ureE, ureF, and ureG) in addition to the three structural genes (ureA, ureB, and ureC). These accessory genes are involved in functional assembly of the nickel-metallocenter for the enzyme. Characterization of ureF gene has been hindered, however, since the UreF protein is produced in only minute amount compared to other urease gene products. In order to overexpress the ureF gene, a recombinant pMAL-UreF plasmid was constructed from which the UreF was produced as a fusion with maltose-binding protein. The MBP-UreF fusion protein was purified by using an amylose-affinity column chromatography followed by an anion exchange column chromatography. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the fusion protein were purified and shown to specifically recognize both MBP and UreF peptides. The UreF protein was shown to be unstable when separated from MBP by digestion with factor Xa.     

Verapamil in the prophylaxis of bronchial asthma

Summary A single oral dose of verapamil 80 mg was shown significantly to inhibit histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in 8 out of 16 asthmatic subjects (maximum increase in PD_20FEVHi 416%). There was still significant protection ( PD_20FEV1Hi>100%) in the responders 5 h after the oral dose. The relationship of the bronchoprotective effect to the plasma level of verapamil was also examined. Responders and non-responders did not differ significantly in the peak plasma level or the time course of the plasma verapamil concentration.The protective effect was not correlated with the peak plasma level of verapamil or with the baseline bronchial hyperreactivity.     

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.     

兴山五味子的质量研究

兴山五味子;;襄五脂素;;主要药理作用     

Attitude change towards mental illness during nursing education--a cross-cultural study of student nurses in Korea, Republic of China and Japan.

This is an initial report of a cooperative project by colleagues in Korea, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Japan, involving the measuring of attitudes toward mental illness. The discussion mainly revolves around the influence of mental health education in nursing on attitudes towards mental illness. The subjects' attitudes were assessed by Wig's profiles. The attitudes of freshmen who had just entered nursing schools and seniors who had already finished clinical training in psychiatry were compared to measure the attitude change during the course of nursing education, if any. Non-medical students served as a control group. As a result, a seemingly "negative and pessimistic" attitude was demonstrated in the senior student nurses. The findings are examined and discussed.