Bidirectional transvenous/subcutaneous defibrillation of ventricular fibrillation in dogs: success rates, energy requirements, currents, voltages and impedance

Four hundred and thirteen defibrillations of alternating current-inducedventricular fibrillation were performed in 10 halothane-anaesthetizeddogs (body weight: 24.5–30.5 kg). Success rates, energydemands, currents, peak voltages and impedance were determined.A transvenous catheter electrode system (Medtronic 6880, rightventricular apex and superior vena cava, distance 100 or 150mm) and subcutaneous patch electrodes (Intec 67 L, 2nd/3rd and/or3rd/4th left intercostal space) were used for bidirectionaldefibrillation. Loading voltages ranged from 600 to 850 V. Withan electrode distance of 100 mm and a pulse duration of 2 msseparated by 1 ms, success rates were 100%, 40% and 0% for 850,650 and 600 V, respectively. With a 3-ms pulse duration, thecorresponding rates were 100%, 60% and 50%. With a 2-ms pulseduration, successful defibrillation was achieved with energieslower than 15 J in 27%, with energies between 15 and 20 J in77%, and 100% with energies higher than 20 J. Defibrillationcurrents were 4.4–9.3 A for pulse 1 (superior vena cava/ventricularapex) and 6.3–13.4 A for pulse 2 (patch/ventricular apex),respectively. Effective peak voltages ranged from 510 to 787V and from 514 to 777 V and averaged 89.6% of the loading voltages.Impedance values (peak voltage/current) were 75.5–117.7(pulse 1) and 51.7–94.9 Ohms (pulse 2). Fifty consecutivedefibrillations in one animal resulted in a decrease of impedance(114.6 to 84.9 Ohms, pulse 1; 75.4 to 53.0 Ohms, pulse 2). Defibrillationof ventricular fibrillation can be achieved with acceptablylow energies using a bidirectional transvenous/subcutaneoussystem, avoiding thoracotomy and general anaesthesia for implantationof the defibrillation system.     

Ischemic stroke in infancy,childhood, and adolescence

The authors studied 34 patients with juvenile ischemic cerebrovascular disease over a 15-year period. Of the 34 patients, 23 had intracranial occlusions attributed to cerebral thrombosis or embolism and 11 had occlusions resulting from moyamoya disease. Clinicopathological features were evaluated in the 23 cases with ischemic stroke, but not those with moyamoya disease. The cause of the arterial occlusion remained undetermined in 11 patients and was found to be an embolism based on congenital heart disease in 8, on trauma in 3, and on infection in 1. Cerebral angiography was performed in 21 patients. Of these, 17 had stenoses or occlusions corresponding to their symptoms. CT scans were performed in 10 patients; the lesion in question showed no stenosis or occlusion with cerebral angiography. With regard to prognosis, patients with unknown etiology had good outcomes compared with those with congenital heart disease. With respect to acute infantile hemiplegia, 10 patients had convulsive seizures and 4 had a history of an earlier infection. Angiography and CT scans in patients with congenital heart disease demonstrated arterial occlusive sites in the middle cerebral artery region. Three patients had abscesses after their ischemic lesions.     

细菌性肝脓肿患者发生血小板减少影响因素研究

背景细菌性肝脓肿(PLA)是临床常见的内脏器官感染性疾病,既往PLA发生血小板减少的临床研究较少。目的 分析PLA患者发生血小板减少的流行病学和临床特征,并探讨发生血小板减少的影响因素。方法 纳入北京大学人民医院2011年1月至2020年12月161例因PLA住院的患者为研究对象。收集患者资料,包括年龄、性别、体质指数(BMI)、发病症状(发热、腹痛、恶心、呕吐)、既往病史信息(高血压、糖尿病、冠心病、肝胆疾病、恶性肿瘤);收集患者入院时辅助检查结果,包括白细胞计数、中性粒细胞绝对值、淋巴细胞绝对值(ALC)、单核细胞绝对值、血红蛋白、C反应蛋白(CRP)、降钙素原(PCT)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBiL)、尿素氮(BUN)、肌酐(Scr)、白蛋白(ALB)、凝血酶原时间(PT)、活化部分凝血活酶时间、纤维蛋白原、D-二聚体(D-Dimer)、血小板计数(PLT);收集患者肝脓肿影像学检查(腹部CT或超声)结果(是否多个脓肿)、病原学检查结果(血培养、培养出肺炎克雷伯菌比例);收集患者的并发症情况及预后情况。根据外周血PLT是否<1...     

一例伴有复杂疾病的脑脓肿患者护理案例经验总结

针对复兴医院收治的一例伴多种基础疾病的脑脓肿患者进行全方位的护理管理,包括健康宣教、心理疏导、密切病情观察、对症护理管理、强化患者和家属的自我管理以及康复指导等。患者安全出院,对护理工作满意度较高。     

Clinicopathologic differences between 22 cases of CD56-negative and CD56-positive subcutaneous panniculitis-like lymphoma in Japan

CD56 is an important marker for prospecting clinicopathologic features of cytotoxic T-cell and natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas. We examined 22 cases of subcutaneous panniculitis-like lymphoma and classified these into CD56-positive and CD56-negative groups. The 11 CD56-negative cases were mainly in the younger age group and had systemic subcutaneous nodules without ulceration. They exhibited subcutaneous invasion by medium-sized lymphoma cells, scattered erythrophagocytosis, patchy necrosis, and little tumor invasion in the superficial dermis. Their lymphoma cells had characteristics of CD3 epsilon-, CD8-, TcR beta F1-, T-cell intracellular antigen (TIA)1-, and granenzyme B-positive cytotoxic T cells and were negative for apoptosis-promoting proteins CD95 (Fas), Bax, CPP32 (caspase 3), and p53 (DO7). Ten patients were alive despite clinical signs of hemophagocytic syndrome and relapses in 7 cases. The 11 CD56-positive cases had systemic ulcerative skin tumors composed of pleomorphic lymphoma cells with massive necrosis and little erythrophagocytosis involving the subcutis and also often the whole dermis. Their tumor cells were positive for CD3 epsilon, TIA1, granenzyme B, CD95, CD95L (Fas ligand), Bax, and CPP32. Three cases were of the TcR beta F1-positive phenotype, 1 was of the TcR gamma/delta-positive T-cell phenotype, and 6 were of the TcR beta F1- and TcR gamma/delta-negative NK/T-cell phenotype. Six cases were p53 (DO7) positive. Seven cases had complications of liver dysfunction and cytopenia, and 8 died of disease. One CD56-negative case and 3 CD56-positive cases had nuclear signals of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA in their lymphoma cells. The 2 groups had significantly (P <0.01) different prognoses by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. Patients with CD56-negative and CD56-positive groups had statistically different clinicopathologic, immunohistologic, and functional findings and prognoses.     

In vitro biosynthesis of plasma proteins under ischemic conditions of closed-circuit perfusion of healthy and intoxicated rabbit liver

We are elaborating on the kinetics and mechanisms of septic rabbit liver to de novo biosynthesize acute-phase response (APR) proteins under in vitro conditions of deepening ischemia in reference to their in vivo prevalence in serum and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) collected at predetermined times. The significance of the data is interpreted as relevant to grafting cadaveric liver into end-stage liver diseased patients and APR-induced ischemic heart diseases (IHD). Hepatic APR was induced by CCl(4)-intubation, and the administration of cholera toxin (CT) or scorpion venom (SV), or both, to rabbits. Hepatic functional efficiency, in terms of biosynthesis of APR proteins in closed circuit perfusion of the isolated intoxicated liver with oxygenated saline or L-15 media paralleled the two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2D-IEP) spectrum of APR serum proteins at time of liver isolation. We are suggesting: (a) in vitro biosynthesis of plasma proteins by isolated perfused liver is the result of in vivo decoded and retained APR inflammatory signals; and (b) decoded inflammatory signals are expressed not withstanding the perfusate's organic composition. Furthermore, 90 min of ischemic perfusion in saline or L-15 medium precipitated mitochondrial aberrations which resulted in further deterioration of de novo biosynthesis of APR plasma proteins. Regardless of the nature of the inflammatory stimuli, mitochondrial aberrations rendered the perfused organ a biologically inert tissue mass that was incapable of resuming biological function upon perfusion with oxygenated L-15 medium. This is most likely due to ischemia-induced irreversible hepatic necrosis. Thus, in vitro aberrations of mitochondrial function(s) critically limit the capability of the isolated liver to resume its organic function to sustain biosynthesis of de novo plasma proteins. Extrapolation of these results to the surgical management of end-stage liver diseases points to the importance of the status and the handling protocol(s) of the cadaver donor liver prior to successful grafting. We conclude that although histology of a cadaver liver may reveal well-preserved hepatic cellular organelles with at least minimal intra- and intercellular communication required for viable hepatic function, we deem it essential to further define acceptable minimal capabilities to de novo biosynthesize plasma proteins by a cadaver liver as a measure of its functional viability and suitability for transplantation. Ultimately, this measure may improve the success of liver transplants with minimal surgical and drug interventions.     

Recognition of a novel naturally processed, A2 restricted, HCV-NS4 epitope triggers IFN-gamma release in absence of detectable cytopathicity

Using short term CTL lines derived from HLA A2/K^b transgenic mice and IFN-gamma release assays we demonstrate that the NS4.1769 epitope, is generated from natural processing of the NS4 antigen, and presented in the context of the A2/K^b molecules. Interestingly, T cell recognition of the naturally processed form of the NS4.1769 epitope was associated with significant IFN-gamma release, but no direct cytolytic activity. Epitopes of this phenotype might be of interest, in terms of therapy of chronic HCV infection by associating the benefit of localized lymphokine release with low or absent direct cytopathicity.     

Isolations of Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii from a breast abscess

The recently described species Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii was isolated from a breast abscess in a 38-year-old woman on two occasions. We discuss the pathogenic role of this bacteria and the methods used for its isolation.     

Effects of dynamic leg exercise on subcutaneous blood flow rate in the lower limb of man

Subcutaneous blood flow (SBF) was studied simultaneously in the upper arm at heart level and in the lower limb during positional changes and during leg exercise in seven healthy males. SBF was estimated by local clearance of ‘“Xenon registered by portable cadmium telluride detectors. Venous pressure was recorded directly on dorsum on the foot. Changinr the position from supine to head-up tilt, SBF decreased by 43 % (P < 0.01) at the arm level, 40% at the thigh (P < 0.01), 47% at the calf (P < 0.01) and decreased by 51 % at the ankle level (P < 0.01). Performing 20 heel-raisings per min in nearly erect posture, SBF increased by 96% at the thigh (P < 0.01), 25% at the calf (P > 0.1) and increased by 18% at the ankle level (P > 0.1). At 40 heel-raisings per min SBF increased by 99% at the thigh (P < 0.0 1), 121 % at the calf (P < 0.0 1), but only 44% at the ankle level (P > 0.1). During leg exercise subcutaneous vascular resistance was significantly increased at arm and ankle levels. In contrast, a vasodilatory response was noticed at the thigh and calf levels and seemed associated with a decrease in local venous pressure to below the trigger level of the sympathetic veno-arteriolar reflex mechanism. In conclusion, SBF in the lower limb of man was increased during exercise. The increase in SBF could only partly be ascribed to the concomitant increase in perfusion pressure. The local blood flow response seemed modified by changes in sympathetic nervous activity and metabolic rate.