Pycnogenol® as an Adjunct in the Management of Childhood Asthma

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study involving 60 subjects, aged 6-18 years old, was conducted over a period of 3 months to determine the effect of Pycnogenol® (a proprietary mixture of water-soluble bioflavonoids extracted from French maritime pine) on mild-to-moderate asthma. After baseline evaluation, subjects were randomized into two groups to receive either Pycnogenol® or placebo. Subjects were instructed to record their peak expiratory flow with an Assess® Peak Flow Meter each evening. At the same time, symptoms, daily use of rescue inhalers (albuterol), and any changes in oral medications were also recorded. Urine samples were obtained from the subjects at the end of the run-in period, and at 1-, 2-, and 3-month visits. Urinary leukotriene C₄/D₄/E₄ was measured by an enzyme immunoassay. Compared with subjects taking placebo, the group who took Pycnogenol® had significantly more improvement in pulmonary functions and asthma symptoms. The Pycnogenol® group was able to reduce or discontinue their use of rescue inhalers more often than the placebo group. There was also a significant reduction of urinary leukotrienes in the Pycnogenol® group. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of Pycnogenol® as an adjunct in the management of mild-to-moderate childhood asthma.     

中西医结合要为妇女生殖健康创新页

45年来,复旦大学妇产科医院在中西医结合临床及科研方面取得了可喜的成就.针刺促排卵的研究,通过观察血雌激素和中枢β-内啡肽(β-EP)的关系,提出了针刺通过耗竭中枢β-EP而促排卵的新认识,认为针刺促排卵的主要适应症是青春期月经失调,并将针刺成功地应用于治疗神经性厌食;补肾化痰的俞氏温补方治疗多囊卵巢综合征(polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS)被证实是通过提高血促卵泡激素(follicle stimulating hormone, FSH)并诱发排卵而起作用;益肾化瘀的天癸方是通过降低患者及动物模型的雄激素和胰岛素,引起以中枢阿片促黑激素皮质素原、神经肽Y和瘦素受体为主的神经-内分泌-代谢网络调节而发挥促排卵和减肥作用,对高胰岛素型PCOS有良效,并在研究中提出了对PCOS分类的新设想;益肾清火的更年春通过提高中枢与周围组织的雌激素受体及其mRNA表达来调节围绝经期妇女的神经-内分泌-免疫-代谢网络而获优越疗效.这些研究表明,疾病是外环境影响下患者生命网络的某些主脉失调所致,而且亚健康状态的妇女具有初步网络失控的现象,中西医结合将为女性生殖医学研究找到捷径,调控生命网络是防病治病的主要思路.     

原发性肝癌患者肝切除术前、后免疫细胞表型分析

目的研究原发性肝癌(PrimaryLiverCarcinoma,PLC)患者肝切除术前、后免疫细胞表型的变化。方法采用直接免疫荧光标记,流量血细胞计数法(FlowCytometry,FCM)检测方法,动态观察120例PLC患者肝切除术前后外周血T淋巴细胞亚群、NK细胞和HLA鄄DR含量变化。结果肝切除术前肝功能Child鄄PughB级、OGTTL型和术前施行肝动脉栓塞化疗患者外周血CD8+T细胞含量明显低于正常人组,CD4+/CD8+比值则较高(P<0郾05)。全部肝癌患者肝切除术前、后CD3+CD4+T细胞和NK细胞(CD3-CD16+CD56+)含量无明显差异。术后第1天、第3天、第7天和第2周外周血淋巴细胞CD3+CD8+含量明显低于肝切除术前和术后第3周(P<0.01);而CD4+/CD8+比值则显著高于肝切除术前和术后第3周(P<0郾01)。结论PLC合并肝硬变肝储备功能不足、术前肝动脉栓塞化疗和肝切除术可导致机体细胞免疫功能低下,PLC患者肝切除术前行肝动脉栓塞化疗的价值有待深入研究。     

神经生长因子基因转染联合强化铁营养防治豚鼠爆震性聋的实验研究

Objective To study the protective effects of adenovirus-mediated human beta-nerve growth factor gene (hNGFβ) transfer combined with iron fortified nutrition on blast hearing damage in guinea pigs. Methods Deafness was induced by blast (172dB SPL) in 35 healthy guinea pigs. Seven days after noise exposure, 10 guinea pigs were inoculated with adenovirus-mediated hNGFβ (Ad-hNGFβ) into the perilymphatic space (the gene group), another 10 guinea pigs were given hNGFβ combined with iron fortified nutritional diet (the combination group), still another 10 guinea pigs were inoculated with artificial perilymphatic fluid (APF), and 5 guinea pigs served as control, given neither medicine nor noise exposure. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold shifts were monitored in the guinea pigs before blast exposure and after gene transfer. Changes in cochlear morphology were examined with immunohistochemical and HE staining. Results One week after successful inoculation of hNGFβ, it was noted that Ad-hNGFβ protein was expressed in each turn of the cochlea, and its intensity was almost equal. After gene transfer in the combination group and the gene group, ABR threshold shifts at week 1 and 4 were significantly smaller than those of the APF group. HE staining showed that the number of the spiral ganglion cells in the combination group and the Ad-hNGFβ group was significantly higher than that of the control group after 4 weeks (P<0.01). Conclusions Ad-hNGFβ combined with iron fortified nutritional diet was effective in the prevention and treatment of blast hearing damage of cochlear hair cells.     

Localization of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow using new stimulator for the inching test.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of the TenElectrodes, a new stimulator for inching test, in the diagnosis and localization of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). METHODS: Sixty-two ulnar nerves in 40 control subjects and 24 ulnar nerves in 23 patients with typical symptoms and signs of UNE were studied. The inching test of ulnar motor nerve using TenElectrodes was done along 8 cm across the elbow in the extended position. RESULTS: In the inching test of the control group, the mean segmental latency difference was 0.19+/-0.08 ms. Maximal latency difference over a 1 cm segment did not exceed 0.40 ms in any of the controls but exceeded 0.5 ms or more in all clinical UNE patients. In all UNE patients, the lesion sites were identified by the inching test using TenElectrodes: the retroepicondylar groove (54.2%), the humeroulnar arcade (29.2%), and dual compression (16.6%). CONCLUSIONS: TenElectrodes is a useful stimulator for the inching test in the diagnosis of UNE. The precise localization of compression was possible in all patients with UNE and the most common site was the retroepicondylar groove.     

Factors Affecting Cardiac Catheterization Rates in Elders with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background: Elder patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. The reasons for this are unclear.
Objectives: To assess whether elder patients who had a documented history of dementia, lived in extended care facilities, or had do not intubate–do not resuscitate (DNR-DNI) advance directives were less likely to receive cardiac catheterization, despite having ACS with high-risk features.
Methods: This was a medical record review conducted at an urban teaching hospital. DNR-DNI status before hospitalization, extended care facility (nursing home or assisted living) residence, and a previous diagnosis of dementia were obtained from the medical record. Patients 65 years and older who presented to the emergency department with acute myocardial infarction or with unstable angina with ST segment deviation were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed, and odds ratios (ORs) were reported with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Of the 201 eligible patients, 66 (32.8%) patients did not undergo cardiac catheterization. In the univariate analysis, patients who had dementia, resided in extended care facilities, or were DNR-DNI were less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. Only extended care facility residence (OR, 0.18; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.83) and DNR-DNI status (OR, 0.19; 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.92) remained significantly associated with decreased cardiac catheterization in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: Elder patients with ACS residing in extended care facilities or who are DNR-DNI are less likely to receive cardiac catheterization. Future studies concerning the quality of ACS care for elders should take these variables into account.     

改良内侧上颌骨切除术治疗21例鼻息肉病

目的:探讨鼻息肉病的可行性手术方法,以提高治疗效果。方法:21例鼻息肉病患者一侧行唇龈沟径路,保留下鼻甲的改良内侧上颌骨切除术(modifiedmedialmaxillectomy,MMM);另侧行单纯鼻息肉摘除和鼻内筛窦切除术,并作为对照组。结果:术后随访12～34个月,平均20个月;改良内侧上颌骨切除术侧未见复发,另侧复发6例,两组复发率差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:改良内侧上颌骨切除术使鼻息肉病患者术后复发率显著降低,治疗效果显著,是一种可供选择的有效的治疗手段。     

尿毒症患者的性激素变化及其临床意义探讨

目的 :探讨女性尿毒症患者卵巢功能障碍的发病情况及其临床意义。方法 :应用酶免疫法 (EIA)测定了2 3例更年期前女性尿毒症非透析患者、15例透析患者及 2 9例健康献血者中促卵泡素 (FSH)、泌乳素 (PRL)、促黄体素 (LH)、雌二醇 (E2 )及孕酮 (P)的水平。结果 :尿毒症女患者PRL、FSH及LH均较健康对照组升高 ,而孕酮值显著降低 ,对此均有显著差异 ;且尿毒症女患者PRL升高、孕酮值降低与肾小球滤过率 (GFR)呈明显相关。透析患者较非透析患者PRL升高更为明显 ,孕酮值亦较非透析患者有所升高 ,但无显著意义。结论 :尿毒症女患者的排卵障碍及月经紊乱等都与尿毒症的严重程度相平行。透析并不能改善尿毒症女患者的卵巢功能障碍 ,只有纠正与改善肾功能 ,才能使尿毒症女患者的卵巢功能得以改善