Clinical aspects and immune reactions in sarcoidosis*

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology, affecting young adults and frequently involving the lungs. Objective: The aim of the present review was to give an overview of the clinical aspects in sarcoidosis. Results: The majority of patients recover, but some develop a chronic disease that may result in fibrosis and respiratory failure. Besides the lungs, peripheral lymph nodes, the skin, the liver and the eyes are commonly affected as well. The genetic background, as well as environmental factors, is of importance for developing sarcoidosis. The incidence varies in different populations, in the Nordic countries approximately with 20/100 000 new patients yearly. Sarcoidosis is diagnosed when clinical and radiological findings are supported by histological evidence in the form of non‐caseating epithelioid cell granulomas, and when other causes of these features are excluded. Patients in need of treatment are usually treated with corticosteroids, topically or as oral steroids. A clinical effect of immunomodulatory drugs blocking tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α has been suggested from several case reports, while two controlled studies showed only minor effects; however, with a tendency to a more pronounced effect on patients with a more severe disease. The immune response in sarcoidosis, with a typical accumulation of CD4+ T‐cells to the lungs, indicate the existence of specific antigens in this disease. Recently, antigens derived from infectious agents such as Mycobacteria and Proprionibacterium acnes have come into focus. Lymphocyte populations with immunoregulatory functions have recently been investigated and seem to be dysfunctional in sarcoidosis, opening the possibility of developing new treatment strategies in this disease. Conclusion: Recent technical developments have provided better tools, enabling detailed and more thorough analyses of the inflammatory process in sarcoidosis. Please cite this paper as: Grunewald J. Clinical aspects and immune reactions in sarcoidosis. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2007; 1:64–73.     

食管胃吻合口-胸腔瘘的影像学诊断和介入治疗

目的：探讨食管胃吻合口-胸腔瘘的影像学特征及其介入治疗方法。方法：回顾性分析6例具有完整临床资料的食管胃吻合口-胸腔瘘的口服碘水造影及CT表现；透视下，置入蘑菇状覆膜内支架封堵瘘口。结果：6例口服碘水造影显示对比剂均经吻合口溢入胸腔；6例螺旋CT检查，其中5例显示吻合口与胸腔相通，1例瘘口小而未显示。全部病例顺利置入内支架，既完全封堵了瘘口，又解决了进食问题。结论：根据口服碘水造影和螺旋CT征象可以诊断食管胃吻合口-胸腔瘘，置入蘑菇状覆膜内支架封堵瘘口操作简单、安全、近期疗效明显，是一项值得推广的新技术。     

斑点酶联免疫吸附试验检测伤寒特异性抗体

目的　验证斑点酶联免疫吸附试验 (Dot -ELISA)检测伤寒抗体的敏感性和特异性。方法　采用Dot -ELISA测定伤寒沙门菌包膜抗原V、菌体抗原O和鞭毛抗原Hd 的特异性抗体 ,并与肥达氏反应相比较。结果　肥达氏反应均为阴性 ,而经Dot -ELISA试验 ,疑似伤寒患者血清中检出 3种抗体阳性 1例 ,非伤寒发热病人血清中检出单项Hd 抗体阳性1例。Dot -ELISA法比肥达氏反应敏感 10倍以上 ,且无交叉反应。结论　该法有较高的特异性和敏感性 ,且操作简单、快速、无需特殊设备 ,宜于临床推广应用。     

纤维支气管镜对右中叶肺不张的诊治价值(附50例报告)

目的：探讨应用纤维支气管镜检查术在右中叶肺不张诊断和治疗中的价值。方法：对50例右中叶肺不张患者应用纤维支气管镜进行诊断和治疗。结果：50例右中叶肺不张中非特异性炎症29例、肺癌12例、结核3例、异物1例、未确定诊断5例，总确诊率90％(45／50)；50例中33例经纤维支气管镜直视下局部治疗后复张，有效率66％(33／50)，术后未见严重并发症。结论：纤维支气管镜对右中叶肺不张有一定的临床诊断和治疗价值。     

促红细胞生成素治疗透析前贫血临床分析

目的观察人类重组红细胞生成素(r-HuEPO)对透析前贫血的疗效,探讨早期治疗肾性贫血的意义.方法患者分两组,治疗组应用r-HuEPO皮下注射,补充叶酸、铁剂,给予饮食疗法、大黄散、控制血压等措施.对照组不用r-HuEPO治疗,其它措施相同.观察症状、HGB、HCT、SCr和血清钾、钠、氯水平.结果治疗组症状改善,生活质量提高;HGB、HCT明显升高,与对照组比较有显著性差异(P＜0.01).血清肌酐无明显升高.结论r-HuEPO能明显提高HGB、HCT水平,安全有效治疗透析前贫血,肾性贫血早期治疗值得重视和进一步探讨.     

The Effects of Na~+/Ca~(2+) exchange (NCX) on the Repolarization of Canine Ventricular Myocyte-Potential Arrhythmogenic Effect of NCX during a Mis-matched Repolarization and Relaxation Xiamen Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen University

The Effects of Na~+/Ca~(2+) exchange (NCX) on the Repolarization of Canine Ventricular Myocyte-Potential Arrhythmogenic Effect of NCX during a Mis-matched Repolarization and Relaxation Xiamen Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen University@巩燕$Visiting scholar of cardiac arrhythmia research institute,university hospital of Oklahoma!U.S.A @王焱 @BELA Szabo$Basic cardiac research laboratory,cardiac arrhythmia research institute,university hospital of Oklahoma!…     

眼眶动静脉畸形致眼上静脉扩张的影像学表现

目的探讨眼眶动静脉畸形(AVM)致眼上静脉(SOV)扩张的影像学及血管造影表现。设计回顾性病例系列。研究对象6例临床表现与硬脑膜海绵窦瘘(CCF)相似的眼眶AVM患者。方法总结分析所有患者的影像学检查结果,如CT、MRI和选择性脑血管造影。主要指标影像学征象及血流动力学。结果CT和MRI均可显示所有患者的SOV扩张。另外,尚存在眼球突出、AVM畸形血管团等征象。所有6例AVM均位于眼眶内,1例尚合并颅内AVM。所有患者的主要引流静脉均为SOV,动脉包括脑膜中动脉、上颌动脉和眼动脉。结论眼眶AVM可引起与CCF相似的临床和影像学征象,但AVM通常不引起海绵窦膨大,血管造影仍是确诊的必需手段,而无创技术是辅助血管造影进行明确诊断的重要手段。(眼科,2007,16:395-398)     

Emergency Medicine Practitioner Knowledge and Use of Decision Rules for the Evaluation of Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: Variations by Practice Setting and Training Level

Background Several clinical decision rules (CDRs) have been validated for pretest probability assessment of pulmonary embolism (PE), but the authors are unaware of any data quantifying and characterizing their use in emergency departments. Objectives To characterize clinicians' knowledge of and attitudes toward two commonly used CDRs for PE. Methods By using a modified Delphi approach, the authors developed a two‐page paper survey including 15 multiple‐choice questions. The questions were designed to determine the respondents' familiarity, frequency of use, and comprehension of the Canadian and Charlotte rules. The survey also queried the frequency of use of unstructured (gestalt) pretest probability assessment and reasons why physicians choose not to use decision rules. The surveys were sent to physicians, physician assistants, and medical students at 32 academic and community hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom. Results Respondents included 555 clinicians; 443 (80%) work in academic practice, and 112 (20%) are community based. Significantly more academic practitioners (73%) than community practitioners (49%) indicated familiarity with at least one of the two decision rules. Among all respondents familiar with a rule, 50% reported using it in more than half of applicable cases. A significant number of these respondents could not correctly identify a key component of the rule (23% for the Charlotte rule and 43% for the Canadian rule). Fifty‐seven percent of all respondents indicated use of gestalt rather than a decision rule in more than half of cases. Conclusions Academic clinicians were more likely to report familiarity with either of these two specific decision rules. Only one half of all clinicians reporting familiarity with the rules use them in more than 50% of applicable cases. Spontaneous recall of the specific elements of the rules was low to moderate. Future work should consider clinical gestalt in the evaluation of patients with possible PE.