Potential preventive strategies and therapies in urinary tract infection

There are perhaps five strategies either presently advocated or under investigation for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI): antibiotics, including natural peptides; functional foods; vaccines; probiotics; and miscellaneous, including avoidance of spermicides and maintenance of good hygiene. It is not possible to state the proportion of patients using antibiotics versus foods such as cranberry or using alternative approaches such as avoidance of spermicides. The majority of women who are referred to specialists will be prescribed long-term, low-dose antibiotics. However, given the magnitude of the problem, it is safe to state that large numbers of women are at least experimenting with alternative remedies such as drinking of cranberry juice or ingestion of herbal remedies with a view to enhancing their immune response. Vaccine development remains a long way from human use and has yet to be developed for organisms other than Escherichia coli. The use of probiotics to restore the normal vaginal flora and provide a competitive bacterial barrier to pathogens is close to becoming available as an alternative preventive approach. The next decade should see the introduction of new methods for reduction of the high incidence of UTI and better management of recurring urogenital infections.     

重庆市1997年中小学生身体形态与机能发育研究

目的：了解重庆市中小学生生长发育现状和变化特点。方法：对1997年重庆市7－17岁中小学生的生长发育调查资料进行分析,并与本市1990年和全国1995年资料进行对比分析。结果：男生11－15岁,女生9－14岁为生长发育快速增长期;城市学生的生长发育好于乡村学生;男女生的形态发育出现两次交叉,机能发育无交叉。7年间,形态指标的发育在大多数年龄纷呈上升趋势,但均低于全国水平（P＜0．01）。机能发育指标,无论城乡男女,绝大多数年龄组均低于1990年本市水平和1995年全国水平（P＜0．01）。结论：重庆市中小学生形态发育存在长期增长趋势,而机能发育较差。     

High resolution evoked potentials of cognition

Summary The precision of four methods of quantifying neuroelectric signals has been improved by increasing EEG spatial sampling, using up to 124 electrodes, and by accurate anatomical registration of the EEG with Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs). One such method, equivalent dipole modeling, is a well-known form of source localization which is useful when the generator of the scalp recorded signal approximates a simple dipolar source, as is usually the case with early and mid-latency Evoked Potentials (EPs). Two methods of enhancing spatial detail which benefit from increased spatial sampling include the Laplacian Derivation and the Finite Element Deblurring method. The latter is a new technique which estimates the EP distribution at the superficial cortical surface. The fourth method, Evoked Potential Covariance, characterizes the spatiotemporal relationships among EP segments at different recording sites. This is useful when studying functional neural networks underlying higher cognitive functions. These methods are reviewed and examples of results of their application in recent experiments are presented.Supported by competitive grants from The National Institute of Mental Health, The National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, The Office of Naval Research, The National Science Foundation NASA and The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the United States Federal Government. Thanks to all members of the EEG Systems Laboratory and SAM Technology, past and present, for their vital contributions to the work presented here.This paper is based on an invited lecture given at the Tenth Anniversary Meeting of The Japanese Society for Brain Electromagnetic Topography held in Fukuoka, Japan in September, 1992.     

Functional imaging and localization of electromagnetic brain activity

Functional imaging of electric brain activity requires specific models to transform the signals recorded at the surface of the human head into an image. Two categories of model are available: single-time-point and spatio-temporal methods. The instantaneous methods rely only on the few voltage differences measured at one sampling point. To create a spatial image from this limited information, they require strict assumptions that rarely conform with the underlying physiology. Spatio-temporal models create two kinds of images: first, a spatial image of discrete equivalent multiple dipoles or regional sources, and second, an image of source current waveforms that reflect the temporal dynamics of the brain activity in circumscribed areas. The accuracy of the spatial image is model dependent and limited, but it can be validated from the spatio-temporal data by the "regional source imaging" technique, introduced here. The source waveforms are linear combinations of the scalp waveforms, and thus, specific derivations which image local brain activities at a macroscopic level. Brain source imaging of somatosensory evoked potentials revealed temporally overlapping activities from the brainstem, thalamus and from multiple sources in the region of the contralateral somatosensory projection areas.     

Elektromyographische und funktionsanalytische Befunde bei obstruktiven Defäkationsstorungen

Zusammenfassung Zur Beurteilung der funktionellen Ergebnisse bei Patienten mit obstruktiven Defäkationsstö-rungen warden bei 27 Patienten (im Alter von 42–74 Jahren) elektromyographische, manometrische und radiologische Untersuchungen durchgeführt. Die Elektromyographie stellt eine dynamische Untersuchungstechnik dar und erlaubt eine Differenzierung zwischen neuro- und myogenen Störungen der willkürlichen Bekkenbodenmuskulatur. Patienten mit einer obstruktiven Defäkation lassen sich elektromyographisch in eine Gruppe mit neurogenen, eine Gruppe mit myogenen und eine weitere Gruppe mit neuromyogenen Veränderungen einteilen. Die Gruppen mit neurogenen bzw. myogenen Veränderungen zeigten statistisch signifikante Unterschiede gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe bei der mittleren Amplitude, der Entladungsfrequenz und dem Integral. Die neurogene Patientengruppe zeigte weiterhin Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Aktionspotentialdauer und die myogene hinsichtlich der Aktionspotentialhöhe. 77 % der untersuchten Patienten waren nicht in der Lage, während der Defakation den Beckenboden zu relaxieren.

---

Einctromyographic and functional analytic findings in obstructed defecation. A contribution to discriminate between neurogenic and myogenous sphincter injuries

Summary The aim of this study was to get further information about functional results in patients with outlet obstruction. We investigated 27 patients (age between 42 and 74 years) by electromyography (EMG), manometry and radiology with contrast-solution. The electromyography, a dynamic investigation method, allows the differentiation between neuronal and muscular malfunctions of the voluntary controlled pelvis muscles. Patients with outlet obstruction should be divided into three groups by EMG diagnosis: One group with neuronal alterations, another group with muscular alterations and one group with neuro-muscular alterations. We obtained marked statistical differenceds between patients with neuronal or muscular malfunctions in the mean amplitude, the turns per second and the integration of the mean amplitude compared to the control group (14 patients). Patients with only neuronal alterations showed furthermore statistically significant distinctions of the action potential duration from control, whereas the data of patients with muscular malfunctions were significantly different from control in the peak amplitude of the action potentials. 77 % of all investigated patients were not able to relax the pelvis muscles during defecation.

     

Die Bedeutung des Musculus canalis ani für die Kontinenz und anorectale Erkrankungen

Zusammenfassung Es wird die funktionelle Morphologie des bisher wenig bekannten M. canalis ani beschrieben. Dieser Muskel liegt dem Sphincter ani internus auf und zieht längs durch die submuköse und subcutane Schicht des Analkanals. Es wird gezeigt, daß er ein Bestandteil des Kontinenzorgans ist und für den Verlauf anorectaler Erkrankungen bedeutsam ist.

---

The importance of the musculus canalis ani for continence and anorectal diseases

Summary The functional morphology of the M. canalis ani is described. Hitherto this muscle has not been studied in detail. The M. canalis ani is located inside of the M. sphincter ani internus and reaches through the spatium submucosum et subcutaneum of the analcanal. This muscle is part of a described organ of continence. Its importance in the course of anorectal disease is shown.

     

试论抗真菌中药研究战略

在认真分析前一阶段抗真菌中药研究状况的基础上，本文阐述了对今后如何开展其研究的看法：进一步从有抗真菌活性的中药中提取有效成分；加强抗深部感染真菌中医研究、抗真菌中药复方研究及利用动物真菌性疾病模型进行研究；开展中药对抗真菌抗生素和化学合成药物减毒增效作用研究以及中药抗真菌机理研究等。     

Lung volume measurements in infants with and without chronic lung disease

Infants born prematurely who develop chronic lung disease (CLD) have airways obstruction and hence may have low lung volume. The aim of this study was to test that hypothesis and ascertain whether the nature of the comparison control group influenced the results. Sixteen infants who were oxygen dependent for more than 28 days (CLD) and eight infants without CLD had measurements of functional residual capacity (FRC) at 14 and 28 days. The 16 CLD infants consisted of eight less than 27 weeks gestational age (group A) and eight greater than 26 weeks gestational age (group B). The eight infants without CLD (group C) were each matched for gestational age and gender to infants in group B. Group A compared to group C had lower FRCs both at 14 days (median 18 ml/kg vs 27 ml/kg, P<0.01) and 28 days (median 20 ml/kg vs 26 ml/kg, P<0.05), but group A differed from group C with respect to both gestational age (P<0.01) and birth weight (P<0.01). The FRC results of group B were lower than those of their matched controls (group C) only at 28 days (median 22 vs 26 ml/kg, P<0.05). Overall, the FRC results at 14 and 28 days correlated significantly with the duration of oxygen and ventilator dependence and weakly with gestational age. Conclusion These results support the hypothesis that FRC results are lower in infants with CLD compared to those without CLD when measured in the neonatal period and emphasize the importance of an appropriate control group. Measurement of lung volume may facilitate assessment of the response to therapies for CLD. Received: 5 May 1997 / Accepted in revised form: 29 September 1997     

电针刺激对外伤性脊髓损伤患者功能独立性评定影响的临床研究

目的:通过观察电针刺激疗法对外伤性脊髓损伤患者的生活独立功能的影响,为脊髓损伤患者寻求一条有效的康复治疗途径。方法:62例外伤性脊髓损伤患者被随机分成治疗组32例,接受电针刺激加运动治疗、作业治疗;对照组30例,接受单纯性运动治疗、作业治疗。在治疗前后进行功能独立性评定。结果:治疗组与对照组的功能独立性积分均明显高于治疗前(P<0.01),而治疗组治疗后的分值97.78±19.55明显高于对照组的分值87.53±16.67(P<0.05)。同样,治疗组的住院效率明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:电针刺激加运动与作业治疗的综合康复手段能明显改善外伤性脊髓损伤患者的生活独立能力,且能科学地提高住院效率。