A double-blind study of the influences of eszopiclone on dysgeusia and taste function

Taste disturbance is a common, but poorly understood, side effect of a large number of medications. This double-blind study examined the frequency, intensity, and quality of taste disturbances related to the widely used hypnotic sleep aid eszopiclone (ESZ; Lunesta^®), as well as their associations with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), time of day, phenyl thiocarbamide (PTC) taste sensitivity, and ESZ saliva and blood levels. Sixty six percent of 24 female subjects and 53% of 15 male subjects reported dysgeusic sensations, mostly bitter/metallic, during the drug administration (respective placebo figures 17% and 7%). No meaningful relationships were found between the frequency or the intensity of the sensations and age, BMI, or PTC taste sensitivity. Dysgeusia was more intense and longer lasting in women than in men, stronger in the morning than in the evening, and positively correlated with drug plasma and saliva levels. In women, intensity ratings decreased across treatment days. Taste test measures were marginally, at best, influenced by ESZ. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the dysgeusia associated with ESZ is systemically influenced by a number of factors, including sex, time since drug administration, and both blood and saliva levels of the drug.     

Persistent fetal circulation: An evolving clinical and radiographic concept of pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

The roentgenographic presentations of 11 newborn infants with hypoxemia secondary to pulmonary vasospasm and subsequent right-to-left shunting of blood through the foramen ovale and/or ductus arteriosus (persistent fetal circulation) are described (P. F. C. Syndrome). One infant had radiographically normal lungs, while ten had pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities including hyaline membrane disease [4], meconium aspiration syndrome [4], or an ill defined pattern of retained lung fluid [2]. The roentgenographic appearance of the lungs, however, was discordant with the severe hypoxemia observed in most. Heart size was variable but some degree of cardiomegaly was commonly present. Tolazoline, a potent vasodilator, was useful diagnostically and may have resulted in increased survival. An expanded clinical and roentgenographic concept of the PFC syndrome is suggested.Presented in part at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Pediatric Radiology, Atlanta, Georgia, September, 1975, and at the 13th Meeting of the European Society of Pediatric Radiology, Stockholm, Sweden, May 21, 1976     

Evaluation of acute trismus by MRI: a case report

We describe a rare case of a bilateral peritonsillar cellulites (PTC). The clinical presentation of fever, trismus and odynophagia was consistent with PTC, more evident on the right side; but the presence of bilateral tonsillar swelling and midline uvula confounded the diagnosis. In spite of the throat examination was performed with a great difficulty due to trismus, the T2 weighted fat saturated STIR magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided us to make the diagnosis and to start the intravenous antibiotic treatment immediately.     

直接胆管造影时胆囊不显影的意义探讨

本文回顾性分析连续130例(ERCP 78例、PTC 52例)肝内外胆管显影好、技术上满意、未作胆囊切除而胆囊或胆囊管不显影的直接胆管造影片及手术结果。按使胆囊不显影病变的部位将所有病例分成3组:(1)胆囊和/或胆囊管病变(83例,63.8％):(2)胆总管中下段病变(37例,28.5％);(3)肝总管远端或胆总管近端病变(9例,6.9％)。分析胆囊和/或胆囊管不显影的原因及发病机制。 本研究证明:直接胆管造影中,(1)如果肝内外胆管显影好且无梗阻性病变,胆囊和/或胆囊管不显影可下“病理胆囊”的诊断;(2)如果肝内外胆管显影好,胆总管或肝总管远端有梗阻性病变,胆囊和/或胆囊管不显影不一定提示胆囊或胆囊管病变。     

姜黄素和芦荟胶冻干粉及PTC的抗放射作用研究

〔目的〕 通过对受γ射线外照射小鼠骨髓、小肠和睾丸形态、肝组织化学发光、外周血象的改变,比较姜黄素、芦荟胶冻干粉和ＰＴＣ三种药物的抗放射线效果,并探讨其作用机理。〔方法〕 放射源为＾６０Ｃｏ,剂量率１４６．２０ｃＧｙ／ｍｉｎ,哈身照射２００ｃＧｙ。照后６ｈ眼球取血,测外周血象;活杀小鼠取肝脏制匀浆,做化学发光测定;取股骨、小肠和睾丸固定于甲醛溶液、包埋、切片行ＨＥ染色,在光学显微镜下计数凋亡细胞。〔结果〕 （１）外周血淋巴细胞绝对值姜黄素组、ＰＴＣ组显著高于照射对照组（Ｐ〈０．０５）,白细胞各组间无显著差异;（２０化学发光值测定显示,姜黄素组、姜黄素组、ＰＴＣ组显著高于照射对照组（Ｐ〈０．０５）;（３）姜黄素组、ＰＴＣ组和芦荟组小鼠骨髓、小肠和睾丸凋亡细胞数明显低于照射对照组（Ｐ〈０．０１）。〔结论〕 三种药物     

DNA双链断裂感应分子ATM能与PTC1相互作用

目的：研究DNA双链断裂感应分子ATM与原癌基因ret重排活化蛋白PTC1的相互作用。方法：用Flag抗体Western印迹检测，ATM免疫共沉淀真核细胞内过表达的PTC1；RET抗体检测ATM免疫共沉淀真核细胞内过表达的c-ret;用HA／myc抗体Western印迹检测，HA－ret TK myc-LZPR免疫共沉淀蛋白复合物；荧光蛋白标记的亚细胞定位。结果：PTC1可以与ATM激酶相互作用，此作用不依赖于电离辐射，且不被PI3K家族特异性抑制剂沃氏蓝霉素（wortmannin)所抑制，而野生型RET蛋白则不能同ATM结合；缺失体实验进一步证明两者的结合区段为ATM的LZPR结构域与PTC1的酪氨酸激酶结构域，构建PTC1绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒的亚细胞定位实验显示，PTC1以弥散形式分布于细胞质内。结论：胞浆蛋白PTC1可能借债某种途径使ATM在DNA损伤反应发生后重新定位，介导了细胞的恶性转化机制。     

PTC与PTBD在恶性梗阻性黄疸诊断治疗上的应用

本文报告对肿瘤性黄疸病人行PTC86例,PTBD30例的临床体会。指出PTC方法简单、成功率高、合并症少。PTBD治疗梗阻黄疸作用分为术前减黄和姑息外引流两方面。尤其是不需X线设备,床旁体表定位下的PTBD17例,15例成功,更为简便、合并症少,对梗阻性黄疸有治疗价值。作者建议,对肿瘤性黄疸病人采用以下诊治步骤:B超→ERCP→床旁PTBD→经管造影,决定治疗方案为进一步手术治疗或永久带管外引流,提供有力依据。     

N990炭黑/低密度聚乙烯复合材料的电性能

采用熔融复合方法制备了N990炭黑/低密度聚乙烯(LDPE)复合材料,研究了其微观结构和电性能。结果表明:N990炭黑在复合材料中分布较均匀,对LDPE具有诱导结晶作用。复合材料的渗流阈值为20%,临界电阻率指数为9.2,PTC强度都大于4个数量级。复合材料在熔点之下,电阻率的对数值与相对体积存在线性关系。     

KAI1在甲状腺乳头状癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:研究肿瘤转移抑制基因KAI1在甲状腺乳头状癌(PTC)细胞膜和细胞浆中的表达有无差异;KAI1在PTC中表达情况的临床意义。方法:Western blot法分别检测:KAI1蛋白在30例PTC原发灶标本、7例淋巴结转移灶标本、13例癌旁组织标本和13例良性病变标本细胞膜和细胞浆中的表达;KAI1在30例PTC原发灶中总蛋白表达情况。结果:KAI1蛋白在PTC标本胞膜上表达明显低于胞浆中;而在癌旁组织、淋巴结转移标本和良性病变中表达无差异。KAI1蛋白在PTC中的表达阳性率与有无淋巴结转移有明显相关,无淋巴结转移者阳转移性率明显高于有淋巴结转移者;而KAI1表达阳性率与肿瘤原发灶大小及患者年龄无关、与TNM分期负相关。结论:KAI1蛋白在肿瘤组织中表达没有定位于细胞膜可能是其失去对肿瘤进展和转移抑制的原因。KAI1蛋白的低表达对PTC的临床进程明显相关,可作为判断临床演进、淋巴转移的指标和潜在的治疗靶向。