Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia in adults: four years' experience in a medical center in northern Taiwan.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has become an important nosocomial pathogen in immunocompromised patients in Taiwan. Patients with underlying diseases such as diabetes, uremia, and solid malignancy are extremely vulnerable to this organism. S. maltophilia bacteremia has a mortality rate of up to 62% if appropriate antibiotics are not instituted early. Knowledge of the risk factors for infection as well as local susceptibility patterns is helpful in determining which patients should receive empirical antibiotics active against S. maltophilia. This study assessed the characteristics of 50 episodes of S. maltophilia bacteremia in 48 patients admitted between March 3, 1999 and May 21, 2003. The new fluoroquinolone levofloxacin showed promising in vitro activity against S. maltophilia in view of the increasing resistance of isolates to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. For patients at risk for S. maltophilia infection, such as those receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU or those with multiple vascular access devices, the need for antimicrobial agents to which S. maltophilia is normally sensitive should be considered in selecting empiric therapy.     

In vitro differentiation of human adipose-derived adult stromal cells into neuron-like cells in hippocampal astrocyte conditioned medium

BACKGROUND: At present, researches on differentiating from human adipose-derived adult stromal cells (hADASC) to neuron-like cells are focus on inducing by artificial-synthetic compound solution; however, hippocampal astrocyte conditioned medium (HCAM) can induce in vitro differentiation from hADASC to neuron-like cells is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To observe whether HCAM can induce in vitro differentiation from hADASC to neuron-like cells. DESIGN: Randomized control study. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Taixing People's Hospital; Central Laboratory, North China Coal Medical College. MATERIALS: Donor of adipose tissue was donated by female volunteers suffering from caesarean section in the department of obstetrics & gynecology in our hospital and aged 20－35 years. Adipose tissue was collected from subcutaneous tissue of abdomen during the operation. In addition, 8 male newborn Wistar rats within 24 hours with average body mass of 20 g were provided by Animal Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Rabbit-anti-human Nestin polyclonal antibody, rabbit-anti-human glial fibriliary acidic protein (GFAP) polyclonal antibody, rabbit-anti-human neuro-specific enolase polyclonal antibody and mouse-anti-human microtubal associated protein 2 (MAP-2) polyclonal antibody were provided by Wuhan Boster Company. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Central Laboratory of North China Coal Medical College from October 2004 to June 2005. hADASC was cultured with HCAM and its growth and morphological changes were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope. Immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expressions of Nestin, which was a specific sign of nerve precursor, neuro-specific enolase and MAP-2, which was a specific sign of nerve cell, and GFAP, which was a specific sign of neuroglial cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nestin, which was a specific sign of nerve precursor, neuro-specific enolase and MAP-2, which was a specific sign of nerve cell, and GFAP, which was a specific sign of neuroglial cells. RESULTS: On the 3rd day of culture, partial hADASC started deformation from slender shuttle-shape cells to neuron-like cells. It suggested that cells stretched out apophysis, which were mainly double-pole or multiple-pole cells. Five days later, immunohistochemical detection suggested that expression of Nestin (10.5±0.037) was found out in cells; meanwhile, expressions of GFAP (38.4±0.052) and neuro-specific enolase (NSE) (15.7±0.023) were also found out in cells; however, expression of MAP-2 was not observed. Western blot indicated that, 5 days after effect of HCAM, Nestin was found out in hADASC; meanwhile, expressions of GFAP and neuro-specific enolase were also found out; however, expression of MAP-2 was not observed. CONCLUSION: HCAM can induce the differentiation from hADASC to neuron-like cells in vitro.     

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for difficulty in withdrawal of double J ureteral stents due to ureteral lithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to coping with lithiasis-induced difficulty in withdrawing double J ureteral stents. METHODS: This study includes 6 patients with difficulty in withdrawing the stents due to lithiasis, who were in the anterior prone position or posterior oblique supine position to receive ESWL treatment. The stones were localized by double-band intersection X-ray system. The treatment voltage of shock wave was 11.2 kV initially, which was gradually increased to 18.1 kV, and the shock wave attack amounted to 1,000 to 3,000 times in total. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After ESWL treatment, the encrusted double J stents were successfully withdrawn in all the 6 cases, without causing any morbidity related to the use of ESWL. Among the various techniques available for removing encrusted double J stents, ESWL appears to be the most effective and the least invasive modality.     

肾上腺脑白质营养不良MRI表现(附3例报告及文献复习)

目的 探讨肾上腺脑白质营养不良的MRI特征，提高对本病的认识。方法 回顾性分析3例经临床和生化证实的。肾上腺脑白质营养不良患者的MRI表现。结果 3例患者均表现为双侧对称性侧脑室三角区白质病变，T1WI呈低信号，T2WI呈高信号，经胼胝体压部相连，呈蝶翼状分布。结论肾上腺脑白质营养不良的MRI表现具有典型特征，MR检查能准确反映病变的病理变化、范围及进展情况。MRI作为一种无创性并且敏感的检查方法，在对肾上腺脑白质营养不良的诊断和治疗方面具有重要的指导意义。     

鼓室穿刺治疗腭裂渗出性中耳炎的临床评价

目的　探讨腭裂修复同期 ,鼓室穿刺对腭裂伴分泌性中耳炎患者中耳功能及听力损失的影响。方法　将 80例 ( 14 6耳 )患有分泌性中耳炎的腭裂患者 ,随机分为实验组 ( 78耳 ) :常规腭裂修复术 ,术毕作鼓室穿刺。对照组 ( 68耳 ) :单纯腭裂修复术。术后 6个月两组均进行鼓室图、脑干听觉诱发电位检查 ,并进行比较。结果　实验组术后无论与术前比较 ,还是与对照组术后比较 ,鼓室图、V波反应阈值及轻、中度听力损失 ,均有显著进步 (P <0 0 1) ;术后半年内实验组听力恢复早 ,而且治愈率高 ( 96 2 % ,75 /78) ,明显优于对照组 ( 3 8 2 % ,2 6/68)。结论　腭裂修复同期鼓室穿刺 ,不仅有助于改善伴有分泌性中耳炎腭裂患者的中耳功能 ,提高听力 ;而且可避免或减少粘连性中耳炎的发生     

参附注射液对肠缺血-再灌注大鼠肿瘤坏死因子α的影响

目的观察肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)在大鼠肠缺血-再灌注损伤过程中的作用及参附注射液对TNF-α的影响,探讨参附注射液防治肠缺血-再灌注损伤机制。方法 SD大鼠随机分为肠缺血-再灌注组(IR组)、参附注射液预处理组(SF组)和假手术组(C组)。采用阻断肠系膜上动脉(SMA)的方法制造肠缺血-再灌注模型。分别测定各组动物血浆、肠组织TNF-α含量及血液动力学变化;光镜观察肠粘膜损伤情况。结果IR组再灌注后MAP下降,与C组和SF组比有显著性差异(P<0.01);SF组肠粘膜损伤程度减轻,与IR组比有显著性差异(P<0.01);SF组血浆及肠组织TNF-α水平降低,与IR组比有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论参附注射液可明显防治大鼠肠缺血-再灌注导致的肠粘膜损伤,这种作用可能是通过抑制TNF-α的释放实现的。     

'What do you notice?' Using posters containing questions and general instructions to guide preschoolers' science and mathematics learning

To increase preschoolers' science and mathematics learning experiences both within and outside the classroom, we developed age-appropriate materials containing general questions and instructions that teachers and parents could use when interacting with their students and children. The questions and instructions were related to a specific science or mathematics skill (e.g., classifying), but were general enough so that they could be applied to a variety of situations. Observations of three classrooms and interviews with the classroom teachers and aides, and the parents of the children in the classrooms suggested that use of these materials was beneficial to the children, teachers, and parents, and resulted in increasing the amount of science and mathematics activities and discussions in two of the classrooms as well as outside the classrooms.