Different behaviour of radioiodinated human recombinant interleukin-1 and its receptor antagonist in an animal model of infection

Recently, we demonstrated that radiolabelled interleukin-l (IL-1) specifically accumulates in focal infection in mice through interaction with its receptor. Unfortunately, systemic side-effects of IL-1 limit its clinical application. We investigated whether this problem could be circumvented by using the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-Ira), an equally sized protein that binds to the same receptors as IL-1 without induction of biological effects. Biodistribution of¹²⁵I-IL-1 and¹²⁵I-IL-Ira was determined in Swiss mice withStaphylococcus aureus-induced abscesses in the left calf muscle at 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after injection of either 0.4 MBq¹²⁵I-IL1 or 0.4 MBq¹²⁵I-IL-Ira. In vitro, the proteins displayed similar binding characteristics. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed a tendency for IL-Ira to associate with serum proteins. Both proteins rapidly cleared from most organs. However, the abscess uptake of¹²⁵I-IL-Ira was significantly lower than that of¹²⁵I-IL-1 at all time points (48 h p.i.: 0.06±0.01%ID/g vs 0.60±0.04%ID/g;P<0.02). The abscess-to-contralateral muscle ratios did not exceed 15.5±2.9 for¹²⁵I-IL-lra, while the ratios for¹²⁵I-IL-1 reached 46.9±5.7 at 48 h p.i. Despite similar in vitro receptor binding, the abscess uptake of IL-Ira was much lower than that of IL-1. The interaction of IL-Ira with serum proteins in vivo may reduce its availability for receptor binding in the infection. Although on theoretical grounds IL-Ira is very interesting, these characteristics will prevent its development as a clinically useful radiopharmaceutical to image infection.     

Double β-lactam regimen compared to an aminoglycoside/β-lactam regimen as empiric antibiotic therapy for febrile granulocytopenic cancer patients

In a prospective, randomized trial, 205 febrile episodes in granulocytopenic cancer patients were treated with ceftazidime with or without tobramycin (C±T), both agents being administered only if the initial granulocyte count was below 200/l, or ceftazidime plus piperacillin (C+P). The overall response rate was 71% (39 of 60 for C±T and 45 of 58 for C+P). Logistic regression analyses documented no evidence of a significant difference between the two regimens in overall treatment effect after accounting for the linear effects of potentially important variables, such as infection type and granulocyte count. Although the response rates for the subgroup of patients with bacteremias was better with the C+P regimen (P=0.06), there was no difference in response for patients with bacteremia and profound (<100/gml) sustained granulocytopenia. The double -lactam combination demonstrated in vitro synergism in 73%; antagonism was not seen. Both regimens produced execllent serum bactericidal levels (C±T geometric mean peak 1:170; C+P peak 1:137) against gram-negative but not gram-positive pathogens (1:4; 1:7 respectively) that had caused bacteremia. Emergence of resistance and significant coagulopathy and/or bleeding did not occur during therapy. Antibiotic-related nephrotoxicity was noted in 7 of 95 trials in the C+P and in 6 of 89 trials in the C±T group (P=0.19). The incidence of secondary infections in patients with profound (<100/l) sustained granulocytopenia was lower in the C±T group (P=0.04). Alimentary canal anaerobic flora preservation with C±T, and suppression with C+P, was demonstrated. These results suggest that these regimens are of similar effectiveness and neigher is associated with major toxicity.     

Special Hospital seclusion and its clinical variations

Summary

• ? The terminology used in the published literature to indicate that a patient is being denied, or is denying themself, the company of other people is wide and varied.
• ? With ever growing concerns of the rights, both civil and legal, of patients receiving treatment, either solicited or unsolicited, there is a need to identify the patterns of practice in any given organization and to establish their relationship to the terminological semantic.
• ? The Special Hospitals, who cater for those patients requiring a high degree of security, have been assumed to use seclusion to a greater degree than any other form of personal-space facility, either forced by the staff or elected by the patient. However, this has largely been based on hearsay and speculation.
• ? Seclusion may be perceived as a clinical psychiatric intervention to prevent the serious deterioration of a person's mental state or as a method of containment of a dangerous situation when all else fails.
• ? This study was based on a survey of all seclusion facilities within the Special Hospital system and discussions with over 100 nursing staff about the differing types and methods of providing patient withdrawal from the ward community for whatever reason.
• ? The results highlighted a clear uniformity of practice throughout the system despite the differing terminologies used.

     

The characteristics of suicide attempters admitted to the main general hospital in Fiji Islands

Objective: To study the characteristics of suicide attempters attending the main general hospital in Fiji Islands. Method: Consecutive suicide attempters were clinically evaluated, and their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were compared with those of other patients seen in the psychiatric service between January 15, 1999 and January 14, 2000. Results: Thirty-nine suicide attempters were seen, representing 36.8% of all the cases referred to the psychiatric service. The prevalence of attempted suicide in the Greater Suva Area was 34.8 per 100,000. Majority (56.4%) were young (16–25 years), Indians (59%), female (61.5%), students (41%), never married (74.4%) and of Hindi faith (48.7%). The commonly used methods were ingestion of drugs and pesticides. The intention to die was present in 20 (51.3%) of the population. Social problems and/or psychiatric comorbidity were present in over 60% of cases. Suicide attempters were significantly younger, more of single persons (P<.0001), and fewer were in employment (P<.001) than nonsuicidal cases seen. The difference was not significant when the two groups were compared regarding gender, race or religion. Conclusions: Young people attempt suicide in disturbed psychosocial milieu, using available poisoning methods with strong desire to die. Apparently, high proportion of female Indians in this group reflects high rate of service utilization by them. Unemployment is an insignificant predisposing factor.     

Hospital-related differences in breast cancer management

A retrospective review is presented of 1353 consecutivepatients with histopathologically confirmed invasive breast carcinoma treatedradically with curative intent during the decade 1980–89.None had received adjuvant systemic therapy with hormonesor prolonged chemotherapy. The distribution of lymph-node negative(N–) and lymph-node positive (N+) patients was 75%and 25%, respectively.The treatment and outcome were analysed as regardsconventional prognostic parameters, in particular considering the axillarylymph-node status and the responsible hospital category (GeneralMunicipal Hospitals (MH)) versus Comprehensive Cancer Center (CC)).The most striking difference was detected as regardsthe number of examined lymph nodes. The mediannumber of nodes described at the MH was7, as compared to 14 at the CC(p < 0.001). In patients with pT1 tumoursthe highest rate of lymph-node positivity was observedwhen 10 or more axillary nodes were removed.Adjuvant radiotherapy reduced the loco-regional recurrence rate inthe N– patients, whereas only the regional recurrenceswere reduced among the N+ patients. The five-and 10-year tumor-related survival rates were 86% and76%, respectively, with no difference between the MHand the CC.As life-prolonging adjuvant hormone therapy and chemotherapy isnow available for patients with axillary lymph nodemetastases, it is important that patients with breastcancer are operated adequately with the aim toremove at least 10 axillary lymph nodes. Athorough examination of the axillary content should beperformed by the pathologist, and the number ofresected lymph nodes and metastases should be reported.The establishment of nation-wide standard criteria for themanagement of breast cancer is recommended.     

衡阳地区不孕不育者支原体感染现状

目的　了解湖南省衡阳地区不孕不育者解脲脲原体 (Uu)、人型支原体 (Mh)感染现状。　方法　设计Uu、Mh特异性引物 ,用PCR扩增 13 7例不孕不育者标本 ,统计分析Uu、Mh感染情况。　结果　在 13 7例不孕不育者中 ,Uu阳性 5 1例 ( 3 7.2 % ) ,Mh阳性 3 6例 ( 2 6.3 % )。　结论　不孕不育者的Uu与Mh感染率明显高于正常生育者 ( χ2 =8.70 ,P <0 .0 5 )。     

广东省中医院人际氛围调查研究

本研究对广东省中医院的人际沟通,以及群体内聚力进行初步调查,了解了管理者的人际沟通、组织内聚力的现状与特点,以及可能存在的问题,为探讨在综合医院,加强员工的凝聚力,挖掘内部潜力,期望为进一步制定有效的管理改善方案,提高医院管理水平,改善组织沟通,增强组织内聚力等提供科学依据.     

集成技术在医院图书馆的应用

本文结合医院图书馆实际，采用系统集成及光驱虚拟技术，构建不同系统协同工作的网络环境，实现了多个系统功能的互通，提高了图书馆现代化管理水平及综合服务能力，解决了图书馆建设中存在的管理水平低、服务手段落后及数据库资源闲置浪费等问题。本技术对资金和技术人员紧缺的中小型医院图书馆实现网络共享光盘数据库具有现实意义。     

加强医学工程技术队伍建设

本文作者于前几年通过发函形式对海军7所中心医院医疗器械科人员编制、业务工作等情况进行了调研，就医院工程技术队伍建设谈些意见，现仍有较高的参考价值，表格数据略。     

国际医疗废物分类及基本特点

医疗废物中存在传染性病菌、病毒、化学污染物及放射性等有害物质,具有极大的危险性,在国外被视为"顶级危险"和"致命杀手".根据国际医疗废物分类的特点,系统阐述各类医疗废物的基本特征,以帮助社会加深对<医疗废物管理条例>的认识.