The Hemodynamic Mechanisms of Lung Injury and Systemic Inflammatory Response Following Brain Death in the Transplant Donor

Brain-dead donors are the major source of lungs for transplantation. Brain death is characterized by two hemodynamic phases. Initially, massive sympathetic discharge results in a hypertensive crisis. This is followed by neurogenic hypotension. Up-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators occurs in all organs and lung injury develops; this can adversely affect graft function post-transplantation. The mechanisms of the systemic and lung inflammation are unknown. We hypothesized that the hemodynamic changes are responsible for these inflammatory phenomena. Brain death was induced by intra-cranial balloon inflation in rats. This resulted in hypertensive crisis, followed by hypotension. There was a significant increase in blood neutrophil CD11b/CD18 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage, compared with control animals. Rupture of the capillary-alveolar membrane was demonstrated by electron microscopy. Elimination of the hypertensive response by α-adrenergic antagonist pre-treatment prevented inflammatory lung injury, reduced the systemic inflammatory markers and preserved capillary-alveolar membrane integrity. Correction of the neurogenic hypotension with noradrenaline ameliorated the systemic inflammatory response and improved oxygenation. We conclude that the sympathetic discharge triggers systemic and lung inflammation, which can be further enhanced by neurogenic hypotension. Management of the brain-dead donor with early anti-inflammatory treatment and vasoconstrictors is warranted.     

Enteral versus parenteral nutritional support in acute pancreatitis: A clinical review

Abstract   A critical analysis of the trials comparing enteral with parenteral nutritional support in acute pancreatitis is presented with particular scrutiny of the clinical endpoints in each trial. The heterogeneity of the trials and the discrepancies in caloric intake between enterally and parenterally fed patients are discussed. The hazards of each route of nutritional support are highlighted and the concept of 'nutritional bioavailability' in the context of acute pancreatitis is introduced. It is concluded that although there is evidence to support enteral feeding as the preferred option, both routes have a role.     

Characteristics of Acute Asthma Patients Attended Frequently Compared with Those Attended Only Occasionally in an Emergency Department

Asthma patients that depend on emergency department (ED) services are generally considered to have extremely poor disease control and prognosis. It is important to identify characteristics related to poor disease control and frequent visits to the ED to apply appropriate clinical management. This study comprised a cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients with asthma exacerbation (age ≥12 years) presenting at the adult ED of a large, tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital over a 2-month period. The frequent visitors (FV) were defined by ≥3 visits to the ED in the preceding year, and the occasional visitors (OV) by ≤2 visits. Eighty-six patients (61 females and 25 males) were included in the study (mean age 38 ± 18 years). Of these patients, 51.2% were FV and 48.8% were OV. Sixty-nine percent had annual income lower than A$3000 and 66.3% had ≤8 years of the formal education. Only 18.6% had used inhaled corticosteroids, 79.1% identified the asthma attack severity, 70.9% increased or initiated inhaled β-agonist, 20.9% increased or initiated steroid therapy, and 55.8% had an asthma action plan for attack. The number of hospital admissions in past year (OR 4.3, P = .02), use of home nebulizer (OR 3.6, P = .05) and the lack of a written asthma action plan (OR 3.3, P = .03) were independently associated with frequent visits to the ED. We conclude that a substantial proportion of the patients that visit the ED are FV. These patients are more likely to have hospital admission in the past year, to use a home nebulizer, and to lack a written asthma action plan. They should be considered the most important target for asthma education.     

综合医院医务人员感染SARS情况对比分析

目的：分析在防治SARS工作初期、后期医务人员感染SARS的差异和采取的对策，为减少综合医院内医务人员SARS的感染提供参考。方甚：对本院自2003年3月24日至6月2日SARS诊断治疗任务中发生的医务人员的感染原因和采取的对策进行回顾性分析。结果：防治SARS工作初期，急诊科交叉感染和在SARS隔离病房等与SARS患者密切接触的工作岗位，共有17名医务人员感染，及时隔离治疗，均已痊愈，未造成医护人员的进一步交叉感染：经加强防护培训，改善工作条件，在防治SARS工作后期，仅发生2名护工感染，亦已痊愈，派出非典医疗队实现零感染。结论：综合医院内医务人员感染SARS的问题严峻，加强医院内的全员防护培训，按岗分区管理，改善医务人员的工作条件和病人的隔离观察环境，做好监督检查，积极应对，可以减少医务人员的SARS感染。     

Medical management of chronic pancreatitis

慢性胰腺炎的临床表现包括疼痛、脂肪泻和糖尿病。在西方国家，慢性胰腺炎最常见的病因是酗酒。70％以上的病人在就诊时有疼痛的临床表现，而且，这些患者中又有75％以上会在几年之后出现疼痛减轻或完全消失。对于所有的慢性胰腺炎的病人来说，均应排除非胰源性疼痛和胆道梗阻、胰腺假性囊肿等胰腺局部并发症。应建议所有慢性胰腺炎病人戒烟、戒酒。阿片类镇痛剂仅应用于治疗疼痛严重的病人。尽管有报道认为胰酶替代治疗有助于止痛，但是，对于已经确诊的慢性胰腺炎病人来说，该疗法无效。激素类药物进行腹腔神经丛阻滞术可能有助于病人度过剧烈疼痛期。顽固性疼痛是进行胰液引流或胰腺切除的适应证。建议应用适量胰酶替代联合(或不联合)制酸剂治疗营养不良。慢性胰腺炎导致的糖尿病与原发性糖尿病的治疗原则相似。     

TPA诱导的血小板聚集的研究

应用不同浓度ＴＰＡ诱发血小板聚集，观察２０名正常人血小板的聚集率。结果显示：ＴＰＡ从５ｎｇ／ｍｌ到１０ｎｇ／ｍｌ之间，随着浓度的增加，血小板聚集率逐渐增加，最佳浓度为１０ｎｇ／ｍｌ。当ＴＰＡ浓度〉１０ｍｇ／ｍｌ时，继续增加ＴＰＡ浓度，血小板聚集率将不再升高，且于２０ｍｇ／ｍｌ时出现明显的解聚现象。     

他汀类药物早期干预对急性冠脉综合征患者血脂、高敏C反应蛋白和纤维蛋白原的影响

目的 比较他汀类药物和阿司匹林联合用药与单用阿司匹林对急性冠脉综合征患者血脂、高敏C反应蛋白及纤维蛋白原的影响。方法 所有患者均在急性冠脉综合征发病后72h内开始接受药物治疗，他汀组(40例)应用他汀类药物加阿司匹林治疗8周，对照组(16例)单用阿司匹林治疗，观察两组总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、高敏C反应蛋白和纤维蛋白原水平的变化。结果 治疗8周后，他汀组各指标显著降低，面对照组仅高敏C反应蛋白水平显著下降。他汀类药物降低高敏C反应蛋白、纤维蛋白原的程度与其降脂作用无关。结论 他汀类药物与阿司匹林联合用药降低高敏C反应蛋白和纤维蛋白原的作用可能优于单用阿司匹林，并与其抗炎作用有关。     

急性肾功能衰竭的治疗进展

目的：探讨急性肾功能衰竭的治疗。方法：复习有关急性肾功能衰竭的治疗文献，作一总结。结果：使用人工合成三肽序列（RGD）的多肽、生长因子、心房利钠因子和人工肾小管治疗急性肾功能衰竭都取得了较好的疗效。结论：这些新的治疗可望改善急性肾衰的预后和降低死亡率。