Assessment of quality of life in children with peanut allergy

Children with a peanut allergy (PA) are faced with food and social restrictions due to the potentially life-threatening nature of their disease, for which there is no cure or treatment. This inevitably impacts upon their quality of life (QoL). QoL of 20 children with PA and 20 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) was measured using two disease-specific QoL questionnaires (higher scores correspond to a poorer QoL). One questionnaire was designed by us and the other was adapted from the Vespid Allergy QoL questionnaire. We gave subjects cameras to record how their QoL is affected over a 24-h period. Response rates for both questionnaires were 100%. Mean ages were 9.0 and 10.4 years for PA and IDDM subjects, respectively. Children with a PA reported a poorer quality of life than children with IDDM: mean scores were 54.85 for PA subjects and 46.40 for diabetics (p = 0.004) in questionnaire 1 and 54.30 and 34.50 (p≤0.001) in questionnaire 2. PA children reported more fear of an adverse event and more anxiety about eating, especially when eating away from home. Photographs fell into seven common categories: food, management, environment, away from home, physical activities, restaurant and people. Most photographs related to food and management issues and revealed difficulties for both groups regarding food restrictions. PA subjects felt more threatened by potential hazards within their environment, felt more restricted by their PA regarding physical activities, and worried more about being away from home. However, they felt safe when carrying epinephrine kits and were positive about eating at familiar restaurants. The QoL in children with PA is more impaired than in children with IDDM. Their anxiety may be considered useful in some situations, promoting better adherence to allergen avoidance advice and rescue plans.     

Cementless total hip arthroplasty in the treatment of severe hip dysplasia or dislocated hips

We present our experience over 6 years with the use of uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) with a mean follow-up of 3 years. In a 6-year period, 26 THAs were performed in 19 patients with Hartofilakidis grades 2 and 3 dislocation of the hips. Out of 19 patients, seven had bilateral dislocations. Uncemented acetabular and femoral components were used in all patients. Patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were included in the study. The average age at the time of surgery was 38 (range 20–69) years. Approaches used include trochanteric osteotomy in 14 (54%) patients and a lateral approach in 12 (46%) patients. In addition, subtrochanteric osteotomy was performed in four (15%) patients. A Mallory-head femoral stem was used in 15 (58%) patients; a DDH femoral stem was in nine (35%), and the S-ROM femoral prosthesis in two (8%). A Mallory head acetabular shell was used in all cases, a 22.2-mm chrome cobalt head was used in 18 (69%), and a 28-mm chrome cobalt head was used in eight (31%). The average follow-up was 3 (range 1–6) years. The Harris hip score (HHS) improved in the cohort from a mean preoperative score of 51 to a mean postoperative score of 86 (p<0.05). The mean preoperative SF36v2 score was 42 compared to postoperatively of 67(p<0.05). The complication rate was 11% with nonunion of a subtrochanteric osteotomy in one patient, dislocation in one, and trochanteric bursitis due to fracture of Dall-Miles cables in one. THA for DDH is a technically demanding procedure. This short-term follow-up of THA for DDH using uncemented implants is encouraging for arthrosis secondary to DDH. It provides better function compared to arthrodesis or excision arthroplasty, especially in young individuals. A long-term follow-up is required in order to establish the role of this management strategy.     

Influences of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis on cancerous invasion in experimentally induced tongue carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Although it is clear that dissemination via the blood system involves angiogenesis, it is uncertain whether tumors also induce lymphangiogenesis or simply invade existing peritumoral vessels. The purpose of this study was to elucidate changes in tumor blood and lymph vessels in cases involving the invasion of squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity, and its significance. Blood and lymph vessels densities in tongue carcinomas induced in hamsters were investigated. METHODS: Tongue cancer was induced by abrading the right margin of the tongue of each hamster with an endodontic barbed broach and subsequently applying 1.0% 9,10-dimenthl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) dissolved in acetone, three times a week, at the same site. Fresh frozen sections were prepared and blood vessels stained blue by perfusion with Coomassie Brilliant Blue and lymph vessels stained brown for 5'-nucleotidase. The effects on the blood vessels and lymph vessels were observed. RESULTS: The results showed that blood and lymph vessel densities were greater in the advanced carcinoma tissues than in normal tissue. These were compared in terms of the mode of cancer invasion. As tumor invasion progressed, the blood vessel density decreased but lymph vessel density tended to be higher in high-degree tumor invasion than in low-degree tumor invasion. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C was seen more frequently as tumor invasion progressed. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicated that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are affected by cancerous invasion.     

合并乙肝的涂阳肺结核病人DOTS中肝损害观察

目的 观察免费板式组合药在DOTS中对合并乙肝的涂阳肺结核病人肝损害情况。方法 比较HBsAg、HBeAg、HBcAb阳性的涂阳肺结核病人与无乙肝的涂阳肺结核病人DOTS前后肝功能损害情况。结果 合并乙肝病人肝损害发生率66．3％，无乙肝者肝损害发生率8．6％，两者相比差异有显著性（P〈0．01）。22．5％病人因肝损害需更改治疗方案。结论 DOTS中合并乙肝的病人采用板式组合药用2H3R3Z3E3／4H3R3方案易发生肝损害，对这类病人应慎用常规方案，并要密切全程观察肝功能，尽可能应用肝损害较小的抗结核药。     

涂剂中苯甲酸和硝酸咪康唑含量的薄层色谱扫描测定法

本文建立了苯甲酸咪康唑剂涂剂的薄层色谱扫描测定法。点样后的硅胶GF_(254)薄层板,经正已烷—氯仿—甲醇—二乙胺(42:21:13:5)混合溶剂上行展开后,反射锯齿扫描测定,λ=220um,SX=3,外标一点法定量计算。苯甲酸和硝酸咪康唑测定的线性范围分别2～6μg和12～36μg,方法准确、简便。     

Seasonal variation in the content of a febrifugine and isofebrifugine alkaloid mixture in aerial parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hydrangea macrophylla</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otaksa</Emphasis>, with special reference to its antimalarial activity

Febrifugine and isofebrifugine alkaloid mixtures extracted from the leaves and buds of Hydrangea macrophylla var. Otaksa, collected during different months, in Japan, were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Leaves collected during the flowering season, namely from June to August, contained 0.16–0.31 mg/g of the alkaloid mixture, whereas those collected from September to December had less than 0.03 mg/g of the mixture. However, extracts of buds harvested from October to February contained a consistently larger amount (more than 0.49 mg/g) of the alkaloids. Hot-water extracts from the leaves and buds collected during different seasons were evaluated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium yoelii 17XL in mice. The extract of leaves collected in August demonstrated high antimalarial activity, and all mice that received the extract survived the infection. In contrast, the extract of leaves collected in December showed little activity. The extract of buds collected in December cleared parasites, but with subsequent mortality to mouse. The present results show that the amount of antimalarial agent—febrifugine and isofebrifugine mixture—in H. macrophylla var. Otaksa is both part- and season-dependent, suggesting that the choice of plant parts and their harvesting season are important factors worth considering in the pharmacological use of medicinal plants.     

Triterpenoid saponins, new metalloprotease snake venom inhibitors isolated from Pentaclethra macroloba.

We report here the antiproteolytic and antihemorrhagic properties of triterpenoid saponin inhibitors, named macrolobin-A and B, from Pentaclethra macroloba, against Bothrops snake venoms. The inhibitors were able to neutralize the hemorrhagic, fibrin(ogen)olytic, and proteolytic activities of class P-I and P-III metalloproteases isolated from B. neuwiedi and B. jararacussu venoms. Clotting and fibrinogenolytic activities induced by snake venoms and isolated thrombin-like enzymes were partially inhibited. Furthermore, the potential use of these inhibitors to complement antivenom therapy as an alternative treatment and/or used as molecular models for development of new therapeutical agents in the treatment of snake bite envenomations needs to be evaluated in future studies.     

医院检验科设备的维修分析

医院检验科设备是为临床提供诊断依据最基础也是最常用的检验手段之一，本文简要介绍了检验科设备在日常工作中容易发生的故障判别及修复时的要点。     

肾结核40例临床分析

目的 分析6年来肾结核的临床表现和诊断方法。方法回顾性分析近6年收治的40例肾结核患者的临床资料。结果表现为膀胱刺激征的典型肾结核占65％，不典型肾结核占35％，其临床症状以腰痛、血尿为主。所有患者尿常规均异常。B超、静脉尿路造影（IVU）、逆行肾盂造影（RP）、磁共振尿路水成像（MRU）确诊率分别为20％、55％、66．7％和77．8％。结论膀胱刺激征仍是肾结核的主要临床表现，不典型肾结核有所增加。IVU是首选诊断方法，MRU对晚期肾结核诊断具有重要价值。     

发育性髋脱位的影像学研究进展

发育性髋脱位是一种常见的小儿骨科疾病。临床表现较隐匿,影像学检查对其诊断有重要价值。本文对X线、造影、超声、CT、MRI等影像检查方法对发育性髋脱位的诊断应用进行综述,探讨各种方法的优缺点及对发育性髋脱位的诊断价值。