STUDIES ON ERYTHRO-KINETICS IN INFANCY:XII. Survival in Adult Recipients of Cord Blood Red Cells Labelled in Vitro with Di-isopropyl fluorophosphonate (DF32P)

Cord blood red cells from 8 full-term infants were labelled in vitro with di-iso-propylfluorophos-phonate (DF³²P) and transfused into 8 adult recipients. The disappearance of the labelled cells was slightly curvilinear with a rate of 1.0–1.5% per day during the first month after transfusion and 0.7-1.0% per day during the following month. The data are discussed with reference to earlier studies and it is concluded that cord blood red cells from full-term infants disappear from the circulation of adult recipients in much the same way as from the circulation of newborn infants. The finding favours the hypothesis that “intrinsic” rather than “extrinsic” factors are likely to cause the difference in life span between foctal and adult red cells.     

Dengue virus infection in travellers returning to Berlin, Germany: clinical, laboratory, and diagnostic aspects

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection endemic throughout the tropics and subtropics. The global prevalence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent years and it has been recognized as a potential hazard to tourists. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we analyzed the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory features and serological/virological results in a series of German travellers returning to Berlin with acute dengue virus infection. STUDY DESIGN: Laboratory-confirmed dengue virus infections among German travellers returning to Berlin were studied retrospectively during the period of 1993-2001. Seventy-one patients tested positive for dengue fever and were included in this study. RESULTS: The majority of patients (77.5%) contracted the disease in South Central and South East Asia. The most important clinical characteristics were fever and prostration (100%), headache, predominantly frontal or retroorbital (86%), arthralgia (79%), morbilliform rash (66%) and myalgia (48%). The most meaningful laboratory results were: marked leucopenia (72%), thrombocytopenia (70-89%), hyponatremia (41%) and increased hepatic enzymes ALAT (41%), ASAT (45%) and LDH (62%). Dengue virus infection was diagnosed by means of a matching clinico-epidemiological history and positivity of specific serology and/or virus isolation. Hemorrhagic phenomena appeared in 10 of the 71 patients (14%), out of which one was diagnosed with DHF according to WHO criteria. All patients recovered fully. CONCLUSION: Pretravel advice should be given to all travellers to dengue-endemic areas. DF must be included in the differential diagnosis of patients returning febrile from tropical areas.     

Twitch potentiation after voluntary contraction

Twitch potentiation was studied in human tibialis anterior (TA) and plantarflexor (PF) muscles after maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs). Potentiation was greater in TA and other dorsiflexor (DF) muscles than in PF and was dependent on the intensity of the voluntary effect. It was also observed that potentiation was maximal after MVCs of approximately 10-s duration; after longer voluntary contractions, the potentiation was partially suppressed by fatigue, especially in the TA. Potentiation was significantly larger when muscles were tested in a shortened position regardless of the position at which the preceding MVCs had been performed.     

Sodium Alginate (Gaviscon®) does not reduce apnoeas related to gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm infants

Background

Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) frequently recurs in preterm infants. We have previously shown that a significant but variable proportion of AOP is induced by gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR).

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of sodium alginate in reducing the frequency of GOR-related AOP.

Subjects

Twenty-eight preterm infants with AOP were studied by a six-hour recording of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring and polysomnography, including two three-hour postprandial periods: sodium alginate was given after one single meal named as drug-given (DG) meal, while the other as drug-free (DF).

Results

During 165 h of registration, 715 apnoeas were recorded, 368 after-DG and 347 after-DF (p = .99); furthermore, 851 GOR episodes were detected, 315 after-DG and 536 after-DF (p = .001). No differences in the number of AOP were found between DG and DF. A significant reduction in the number of acid GORs and in acid exposure was found during DG, while the administration of sodium alginate didn't influence non-acid GOR indexes. The frequency of GOR-related apnoeas didn't differ between DG and DF.

Discussion

Sodium alginate doesn't reduce the total number of AOP nor GOR-related apnoeas. On the other hand, it reduces acid GOR features, while it had no effect on non-acid GOR indexes.     

DF3启动子调控的hTERT基因RNAi载体的构建及靶向干扰效果的鉴定

目的：构建带有肿瘤特异性DF3启动子、针对hTERT基因的RNA干扰表达载体pGenesil-10-miR30-DF3-hTERT,探讨该表达载体的肿瘤靶向性基因抑制作用。方法：分别用针对hTERT基因的RNA干扰寡核苷酸序列及DF3启动子取代质粒pGenesil-10-Micro30中原有的miR30序列及CMV启动子,构建pGenesil-10-miR30-DF3-hTERT载体并进行酶切及测序鉴定。将该载体分别转染人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞、肝癌HepG2细胞及造血干细胞,ELISA法检测hTERT蛋白的表达情况。结果：重组质粒经酶切及测序鉴定证实符合设计要求,构建成功。ELISA法检测结果显示,实验组MCF-7细胞及HepG2细胞的hTERT蛋白下降显著（P〈0.05）,其中以MCF-7细胞下降更为明显;造血干细胞实验组则无明显变化（P〉0.05）。结论：DF3启动子调控的hTERT基因的RNA干扰表达载体能有效抑制DF3阳性肿瘤细胞中hTERT的表达,以乳腺癌细胞效果最为显著,而对端粒酶阳性的正常细胞不产生影响。     

中医外治糖尿病足研究概况

糖尿病足为本虚标实,本虚为气血阴阳亏虚,标实为瘀血、寒凝、热毒、湿热;中医外治操作简便,效果显著,有熏洗（足浴、熏蒸）、外敷（膏剂、散剂、药纱）等。中医外治法研究尚处于初级阶段,多数文献报告样本量小,观察时间短,可重复性和应用性亟待加强;疗效判定、辨证分型,最佳治疗方式等尚无统一标准;每日换药对非住院患者成为一种负担,间接导致许多特效药物不能很好推广,亟待普及患者自我换药。期待未来对糖尿病足普及无菌换药知识,生产相关一次性消毒用具;糖尿病足与全身代谢紊乱密切相关,需多学科合作,专业化治疗。     

心理干预在儿童牙科畏惧症的临床应用

目的探讨在口腔科临床工作中实施心理干预对儿童牙科畏惧症的影响。方法采用Venham临床焦虑及合作行为级别评定量表筛选在口腔科门诊就诊的有牙科恐惧症的患儿86例,随机分为干预组（43例）与对照组（43例）。干预组在进行常规口腔诊疗的同时给予心理干预,对照组仅行常规口腔诊疗。结果干预组和对照组儿童在口腔治疗前的Venham级别评定无显著差异（P〉0.05）;干预组治疗前后Venham级别评定有显著差异（P〈0.01）,呈明显下降趋势;对照组治疗前后Venham级别评定无显著差异（P〉0.05）。结论在口腔科患儿诊疗过程中对患儿进行心理干预,可缓解其紧张、恐惧心理,促进医患合作,降低儿童牙科畏惧症的发生。     

介入治疗糖尿病足临床疗效观察

目的探讨动脉灌注抗凝溶栓和球囊扩张术治疗糖尿病足的有效性。方法糖尿病足患者72例,一组40例予以介入治疗加对症治疗,另一组32例仅予以对症治疗,检测两组治疗前后的血糖、踝肱指数、感觉改变、足的分级等。结果介入治疗组有效率97．5％,对照组75．0％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论介入治疗糖尿病足创伤性小,对糖尿病足治疗的有效性高,溃疡的愈合时间缩短,是微创治疗的新发展。