Longitudinal decline in pulmonary function in atopic cough and cough variant asthma

OBJECTIVE: Cough variant asthma and atopic cough are different clinical manifestations of eosinophilic airway inflammation presenting with isolated chronic non-productive cough. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal change in pulmonary function in cough variant asthma and atopic cough. METHODS: Longitudinal change in FEV1 was prospectively examined in 20 patients with cough variant asthma, 14 patients with atopic cough and 271 asymptomatic healthy subjects. All were lifetime non-smokers. Of the 20 cough variant asthma patients, 13 were taking long-term inhaled corticosteroid therapy (ICS) (beclomethasone dipropionate 615 +/- 58 micro g/day) and the other seven were not. Spirometry was taken at first visit, after cough was almost completely relieved on therapy, and at least once every year for 5 or more years afterwards. RESULTS: The slope of longitudinal change in FEV1 was not significantly different among cough variant asthma patients (- 0.029 +/- 0.007/year), atopic cough patients (- 0.021 +/- 0.022/year) and asymptomatic subjects (- 0.028 +/- 0.002 L/year). In patients with cough variant asthma, the slope in patients not taking inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) was 0.032 +/- 0.007 L/year, which was not significantly different from that in patients taking ICS (- 0.027 +/- 0.010 L/year). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary function decline is not greater in cough variant asthma than atopic cough and the normal population, and long-term ICS has no effect on the decline in cough variant asthma.     

高血压患者左室舒张功能与左室肥厚的关系及随龄改变

为探讨原发性高血压 (以下简称高血压 )患者的左室舒张功能和左室肥厚的关系及其随龄改变 ,抽取 1995年 2月至 2 0 0 2年 7月间门诊高血压患者 4 81例为高血压组 ,以同期体检健康者 2 54 3例为对照组 ,年龄 10～ 80岁 ,并将原发性高血压患者分为 3级 ,每级中按性别分 2组。采用惠普 2 50 0彩色多普勒超声诊断系统检测 2组的室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、E/A等指标。使用SPSS软件进行统计学处理分析。结果 :高血压和正常对照组相比E/A显著下降 ,室间隔和左室后壁显著增厚 (P <0 .0 1)。 2个组的E/A均随年龄下降 ,而室间隔厚度随年龄增厚 ,且室间隔厚度和E/A呈显著负偏相关 (P <0 .0 1)。在高血压分级组中 ,Ⅰ～Ⅲ级高血压组中男性的室间隔厚度均厚于女性 (均P <0 .0 1) ,Ⅰ、Ⅱ级高血压组中男性的左室后壁厚度厚于女性 (P <0 .0 5,P <0 .0 1) ,Ⅰ级高血压组中女性的E/A低于男性 (P <0 .0 5)。提示 :左室舒张功能随着年龄的增加而降低 ,而且和高血压左室肥厚呈负偏相关关系 ,性别对其也有一定的影响     

重度烧伤患者休克期血浆B型钠尿肽含量变化及意义

Objective To study the plasma content of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with severe burn during shock stage and probe its clinical significance. Methods Forty-two patients aged 18-60 years, with total burn surface area ≥30%TBSA or full-thickness burn area ≥10% TBSA, hospital-ized within 4 hours after burn, were divided into A group (with total burn surface area 30% -50% TBSA or full-thickness burn area 10% -20% TBSA, n = 21 ), and B group (with total burn surface area 50% TB-SA or full-thickness burn area > 20% TBSA, n = 21 ). Twenty patients admitted during the same time for plastic surgery were enrolled as control group. The plasma levels of BNP, creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, troponin I (Tnl) of all patients were determined on admission. The levels of BNP, Tnl and fluid resuscita-tion volume were examined at 8, 16, 24, 48 post burn hour (PBH) in A and B groups. Analysis of correla-tion between BNP and fluid resuscitation volume was performed. Results On admission: BNP level in A group (68±19 ng/L) and B group (99±38 ng/L) , respectively, was increased as compared with that in control group (17±7 ng/L, P <0.01 ). Tnl level in A group (2.13±0.67 μg/L) and B group (2.98± 0.58μg/L), respectively, was increased as compared with that in control group (0.12 ± 0.03 μg/L, P < 0.01). There was no obvious difference in CK, CK-MB levels among A, B, and control groups ( P > 0.05). BNP levels in A, B groups continuously rose during 8 - 48 PBH, and they were positively correlated with fluid resuscitation volume. TnI level peaked at 24 PBH, and decreased at 48 PBH. Conclusions The plasma level of BNP is sensitive to reflect changes in myocardial ischemia and hypoxia as a rise in level of TnI in shock stage of severe burn, and it was positively correlated with fluid resuscitation volume. BNP can be used to guide fluid resuscitation during shock stage.     

Intensity-dependent regional cerebral blood flow during 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in healthy volunteers studied with H215O positron emission tomography: I. Effects of primary motor cortex rTMS.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) affects the excitability of the motor cortex and is thought to influence activity in other brain areas as well. We combined the administration of varying intensities of 1-Hz rTMS of the motor cortex with simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET) to delineate local and distant effects on brain activity. METHODS: Ten healthy subjects received 1-Hz rTMS to the optimal position over motor cortex (M1) for producing a twitch in the right hand at 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120% of the twitch threshold, while regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured using H(2)(15)O and PET. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was delivered in 75-pulse trains at each intensity every 10 min through a figure-eight coil. The regional relationship of stimulation intensity to normalized rCBF was assessed statistically. RESULTS: Intensity-dependent rCBF increases were produced under the M1 stimulation site in ipsilateral primary auditory cortex, contralateral cerebellum, and bilateral putamen, insula, and red nucleus. Intensity-dependent reductions in rCBF occurred in contralateral frontal and parietal cortices and bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus and occipital cortex. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that 1-Hz rTMS delivered to the primary motor cortex (M1) produces intensity-dependent increases in brain activity locally and has associated effects in distant sites with known connections to M1.     

人鼻粘膜表面超微结构及纤毛输送功能的研究

研究结果表明:①人鼻粘膜的上皮在胚胎期的发育并不完善。在新生儿,纤毛上皮细胞的融合刚刚开始,其表面的纤毛呈微绒毛状。②在最常见的四种鼻粘膜炎症病变中,其超微结构的损害程度以伴有化脓性感染者最重,慢性肥厚性鼻炎与萎缩性鼻炎次之,变态反应性鼻炎最轻。③上述四种炎症病人的鼻纤毛输送能力均较正常人差,其中以伴有化脓性感染者最差,慢性肥厚性鼻炎和萎缩性鼻炎次之,变态反应性鼻炎最轻。     

Changes in cardiovascular function induced by verapamil in healthy subjects and in patients with ischemic heart disease

Alterations in cardiovascular function induced by the acute intravenous administration of verapamil (5 or 10 mg) in 52 patients (29 with ischemic heart disease and 23 without heart disease) were evaluated with use of invasive techniques (right and left heart catheterization, left ventricular cineangiography, and coronary arteriography). The most significant changes were represented by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance and systemic arterial pressure, and an increase in heart rate and cardiac output. Contractility indexes were not depressed in either group, and altered ventricular wall motion tended to improve to a slightly smaller degree than in patients treated with nitroglycerin. The use of verapamil in patients with ischemic heart disease appears to be safe, and concern about the negative inotropic influences in humans no longer seems justified.     

An investigation of the neuropsychological profile in adults with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS).

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is associated with deletions on the long arm of chromosome 22, mild intellectual disability, poor social interaction and a high prevalence of psychosis. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the neuropsychological functioning of adults with VCFS. We compared 19 adults with VCFS with 19 age, gender and IQ matched controls using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Compared to controls, adults with VCFS had significant impairments in visuoperceptual ability (Visual Object and Space Perception Battery), problem solving and planning (Tower of London) and abstract and social thinking (Comprehension WAIS-R). It is likely that haploinsufficiency (reduced gene dosage) of a neurodevelopmental gene or genes mapping to chromosome 22q11 underlies the cognitive deficits observed in individuals with VCFS.     

Platelets as targets of snake venom metalloproteinases

For centuries snake venoms have been known to interfere with haemostasis and this is now known basically due either to toxins activating/inhibiting clotting factors, having effects on blood vessels or interfering with platelet function. In this short review, the interaction of one major group of toxins, the snake venom metalloproteinases, with platelets is considered. This is relevant for understanding the mechanism of haemorrhage induced by these toxins.     

脉冲多普勒超声心动图评定正常人的左室舒张功能

本文用脉冲多普勒超声心动图(PDE)对103例不同年龄的正常人进行左室舒张功能的评定,表明年龄是影响正常人左室舒张功能的主要因素,并推荐一个40岁以上人群舒张功能正常与否的参考标准。