VASOCONSTRICTION IN THE RENAL VASCULAR BED DURING EXERCISE: STUDIES IN CONTROL AND HEART FAILURE RABBITS

1. The effects of graded treadmill exercise on renal blood flow (RBF) were examined in seven rabbits, in which congestive heart failure (CHF) was produced by the administration of doxorubicin, 1 mg/kg, twice weekly for 8 weeks, and in seven controls. A third group of five rabbits underwent doxorubicin treatment with the addition of surgical section of the left renal sympathetic nerve. 2. During submaximal exercise, there was a small reduction in RBF in controls, which was greatly exaggerated in CHF. 3. In both control and heart failure rabbits, there was a precipitous fall in RBF as exercise fatigue developed. 4. Renal sympathectomy ablated these changes in RBF during exercise. 5. It is concluded that in heart failure there is an exaggerated, sympathetically mediated, diversion of blood flow away from the kidney. The onset of exercise fatigue in both normal and heart failure rabbits is accompanied by a marked intensification of this process.     

影响脐血IgE值因素的研究

目的　本研究对影响脐血IgE值的可疑因素进行分析 ,探讨影响儿童食物过敏的可疑因素。方法　选取孕期妇女 10 5名及其所生婴儿 ,采用标准问卷调查获取资料 ,对影响脐血IgE的因素进行分析。 结果　母亲的过敏性疾病史、父亲过敏性疾病史中的皮炎表现型、孕期妇女过敏性疾病发作史、有过敏史妇女孕后期摄入过量的牛奶和鸡蛋均与脐血IgE值的上升有关 ,且上述 5个因素对脐血IgE水平的影响依次降低。 结论　母亲的过敏性疾病史和父亲过敏性疾病史中的皮炎表现型是导致新生儿脐血IgE值升高的主要危险因素 ;同时 ,妊娠期加强对有过敏史妇女的保护 ,防止过敏性疾病的复发 ,在孕后期控制有过敏史妇女牛奶、鸡蛋等大分子食物致敏原的摄入 ,有助于降低脐血IgE值。     

Quantification of perfusion fMRI using a numerical model of arterial spin labeling that accounts for dynamic transit time effects.

A new approach to modeling the signal observed in arterial spin labeling (ASL) experiments during changing perfusion conditions is presented in this article. The new model uses numerical methods to extend first-order kinetic principles to include the changes in arrival time of the arterial tag that occur during neuronal activation. Estimation of the perfusion function from the ASL signal using this model is also demonstrated. The estimation algorithm uses a roughness penalty as well as prior information. The approach is demonstrated in numerical simulations and human experiments. The approach presented here is particularly suitable for fast ASL acquisition schemes, such as turbo continuous ASL (Turbo-CASL), which allows subtraction pairs to be acquired in less than 3 s but is sensitive to arrival time changes. This modeling approach can also be extended to other acquisition schemes.     

Value of digital volume tomography in patients with conductive hearing loss

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an extension of panoramic tomography. With this diagnostic technique, characterized by high resolution, a narrow section width (0.125 mm) and three-dimensional display, small pathological processes can be well visualized. Twenty-five patients with the history of a progressive hearing loss were examined with DVT (Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Japan). The results were compared with pre- and intraoperative findings to evaluate the diagnostic value of DVT in cases of erosion of the ossicular chain. With high resolution and artifact-free demonstration of the middle ear and the ossicular chain, it was possible to define its continuity preoperatively by DVT in all 25 cases. An intact ossicular chain was found by DVT in 13 cases and was later confirmed by surgery. The predicted erosion of the ossicles was verified in 12 patients, and a tympanoplasty type III was performed. Digital volume tomography is an excellent technique to examine the middle ear cleft and inner ear, and expands the application of diagnostic possibilities in the lateral skull base. Therefore, improvement in preoperative diagnosis is achieved along with more accurate planning of the surgical procedure. Digital volume tomography delivers a small radiation dose with a high resolution and a low purchase price for the equipment.     

Clinical and Physical Evaluation of the Infertile Male: Testicular Measurement or Orchidometry/Klinische und physikalische Bewertung des infertilen Mannes: Hodenmessung oder Orchidometrie

Summary: For the quantitative determination of the testicular size or volume, two groups of apparatus are available: on the one hand, model testes, which are extremely valuable in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies during the period of pubescence, and on the other hand, measuring devices, with which the testicular dimensions can be specified. The latter instruments are helpful chiefly during the adolescent years and the diagnosis of problems surrounding fertility. The testicular volume can be calculated subsequently from the specific testicular measurements. The formula, for computing the volume of an ellipsoid, seems to be the most suitable for this purpose. Appliances also have been developed, which allow the largest (longitudinal) dimension (in mm) and the testicular volume (in cm3) to be read off simultaneously. A tonometer can be useful to quantitatively estimate the testicular consistency, which is a parameter of the testicular integrity at the level of tubular function (spermatozoa production).     

Large volume injection and infiltration system

Summary A system which can be used for injection or infiltration of large volumes of fluid is described. This consists of a syringe which fills automatically from a reservoir through an inlet/outlet valve.     

Adipokines in cord blood and risk of wheezing disorders within the first two years of life

BACKGROUND: Adipokines are involved in the regulation of many inflammatory processes and are present at very high concentrations in cord blood of term infants. OBJECTIVE: We analysed data of a large prospective birth cohort study to examine whether adiponectin and leptin concentration in cord blood are determinants of wheezing disorders in children within the first 2 years of life. METHODS: Seven hundred and forty mothers and their newborns were included in this analysis. Adiponectin and leptin concentrations were measured in cord blood. The cumulative incidence of physician-reported asthma or obstructive bronchitis was recorded during a 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: During the first 2 years of life, asthma or obstructive bronchitis was reported by the caring paediatricians for 157 (19.6%) of the children. We found a strong interaction of cord blood adiponectin and history of atopic disease in the mother with respect to the risk of physician-reported asthma or obstructive bronchitis (P=0.006). Compared with children with cord blood levels in the middle quintile (reference category), the odds ratios for physician-reported asthma or obstructive bronchitis in the bottom quintile and top quintile were 0.14 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02-0.90] and 2.12 (95% CI 0.67-6.66), respectively (P for trend=0.0003), among children of mothers with a history of atopy. This association was independent of other established risk factors. Leptin levels in cord blood were not associated with risk of asthma or obstructive bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS: In children of mothers with a history of atopy, concentrations of adiponectin in cord blood could play an important role in determining risk of wheezing disorders in early childhood.     

眼轴线后部眶容积增大与眼球内陷比值的测定研究

目的:通过测量眼眶爆裂性骨折伴有眼眶扩大患者的后部眼眶容积、观察眼球内陷出现的时间及程度,研究后部眶容积扩大与眼球内陷的关系比值,为病情预测和眶内填充手术提供比较精确的参考数据。方法:将96例患者按发病时间分为早期病例组(60例、受伤时间1周以内)和晚期病例组(36例、受伤时间3个月以上),早期组除进行后部眼眶容积测量外,分别于1周、2周、3周测定眼球突出度(相差>1mm为阳性),记录眼球内陷出现时间,用卡方检验进行统计学分析;晚期组测量后部眶容积增大值和眼球内陷量,对其相关性采用Pearson统计方法进行统计学分析,并得出回归方程及相关系数。结果:早期组60例患者中,(58.33%)例患者在1周内出现眼球内陷,4(880%)例在2周内出现内陷,3周时有5(388.33%)例呈现出内陷;2周时出现眼球内陷的例数与1周时有显著性差异(χ2=62.484,P<0.001),2周时出现眼球内陷例数与3周时无差异(χ2=1.563,P>0.05),1周时出现眼球内陷例数与3周时有显著差异(χ2=76.885,P<0.001),后部眶容积增大与眼球内陷的比值约为1.0,两者之间呈正相关(r=0.994,P<0.001),即后部眶容积每增加1ml,产生1.0mm的眼球内陷。结论:眼球内陷通常于伤后2周～3周出现,3个月时趋向稳定;后部眶容积增大与眼球内陷产生比值为1.0,呈正相关;后部眶容积扩大与眼球内陷比值可预测发生眼球内陷的可能性和程度,为手术矫正眼球内陷提供可靠、精确的参考,具有十分重要的临床指导意义。     

去除白细胞输血的临床意义

目的:评估去除白细胞输血的临床应用价值。方法:251例患者接受了去除白细胞红细胞悬液761U,(每人1￣8U不等),对其中200U红细胞悬液滤除白细胞前、后分别进行白细胞计数和血红蛋白测定,并对其输血反应进行了观察。结果:发现应用白细胞滤器后,其白细胞数比过滤前显著减低,过滤前、后白细胞数分别为(6.16±1.44)×109/L与(0.12±0.10)×109/L(P<0.01),血红蛋白过滤前、后无显著性差异,分别为:(161.58±23.31)g/L与(157.84±22.35)g/L,P>0.05。251例接受去白细胞受血者均未出现输血反应。结论:白细胞滤器能有效去除白细胞,去除白细胞能减少非溶血性输血反应。     

The current role of preoperative and intraoperative autologous blood donation in pediatric open-heart surgery

Objective: We assessed the current role of preoperative and intraoperative autologous blood donation in pediatric open-heart surgery. Methods: Group 1 consisted of 51 patients between 5 and 10 years old who underwent preoperative autologous blood donation. Group 2 consisted of 50 age-matched patients without preoperative donation as controls. Intraoperative donation was conducted in both groups prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. We evaluated perioperative blood cell count, blood loss, and the need for homologous blood products. Results: No serious complications occurred in preoperative or intraoperative donation. Total preoperative donation storage was 17.5±3.4 mL/kg. Intraoperative donation was 21.7 ±6.1 mL/kg in Group 1 and 12.8±4.0 mL/kg in Group 2 (p<0.001). On admission, serum hemoglobin was lower in Group 1 (12.2±1.0 g/dL versus 13.6±1.6 g/dL, p<0.001) but returned postoperatively to the preoperative value. It hovered at a depressed level in Group 2 (12.2±1.4 versus 10.2±1.1 g/dL, p<0.001). The homologous blood requirement was significantly less in Group 1 than in Group 2 (0% versus 10%, p<0.05). Postoperative platelet counts showed similar curves, and blood loss was not statistically significantly different between groups. Conclusion: Preoperative and intraoperative donations are safe and continue to contribute uniquely to blood conservation, providing important options in comprehensive blood conservation programs in current pediatric open-heart surgery.