Geste antagonistes in idiopathic lower cranial dystonia.

Geste antagonistes, or sensory tricks, are well described in focal dystonia affecting the neck, hand, and face. Improvement in dystonic movements is typically maintained while the trick is performed, but disappears when the geste ends. We investigated the phenomenological features of geste antagoniste maneuvers in 19 patients with idiopathic lower cranial dystonia who were prospectively evaluated over a period of 6 years. Of the 19, 10 were men, mean age of onset was 49.8 years, and the most commonly involved lower cranial area was the jaw (10 patients). In most patients, dystonia was task-specific. Taking advantage of the improvement with a sensory geste, we manufactured oral appliances that mimicked the geste in 8 patients, and 3 continue to use it.     

Treatment of hepatitis B and C after liver transplantation. Part 2, hepatitis C

Abstract End-stage liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus is a major indication for liver transplantation. However, recurrence of hepatitis in the graft is a major issue. HCV re-infection after transplantation is almost constant, and recent data confirm that it significantly impairs patient and graft survival. Factors that may influence disease severity and consequent progression of HCV graft injury remain unclear. Chronic HCV infection develops in 60%–80% of patients, and 6%–28% ultimately progress to cirrhosis within 5 years. Pre-transplantation antiviral treatment is not easily related to poor tolerance. Attempts to administer prophylactic post-transplantation antiviral treatment are under evaluation but are limited by antiviral drug side effects. Treatment of established graft lesions with interferon or ribavirin as single agents has been disappointing. Combination therapy gave promising results, with sustained virological response in 25% of patients, but indications, modality and duration of treatment should be assessed.     

Nephrology and renal replacement therapy in Romania--transition still continues (Cinderella story revisited).

INTRODUCTION. This report describes the current status of nephrology and renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Romania, a country with previously limited facilities, highlighting national changes in the European context. METHODS: Trends in RRT development were analysed in 2003, on a national basis, using the same questionnaires as in previous surveys (1991, 1995). Survival data and prognostic risk factors were calculated retrospectively from a large representative sample of 2284 patients starting RRT between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001 (44% of the total RRT population investigated). RESULTS: In 2003, RRT incidence [128 per million population (p.m.p.)] and prevalence (250 p.m.p.) were six and five times higher, respectively, than in 1995. The annual rate of increase in the stock of RRT patients (11%) was supported mainly by an exponential development of the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) population (+600%), while the haemodialysis (HD) growth rate was stable (+33%) and renal transplantation made a marginal contribution. Renal care infrastructure followed the same trend: nephrology departments (+100%) and nephrologists (+205%). The characteristics of RRT incident patients changed accordingly to current European epidemiology (increasing age and prevalence of diabetes and nephroangiosclerosis). The estimated overall survival of RRT patients in Romania was 90.6% at 1 year [confidence interval (CI) 89.4-91.8] and 62.2% at 5 years (CI 59.4-65.0). Patients' survival was negatively influenced (Cox regression analysis) by age >65 years (P < 0.001), lack of pre-dialysis monitoring by a nephrologist [P = 0.01, hazards ratio (HR) = 0.8], severe anaemia, lack of erythropoetin treatment (P < 0.001, HR = 0.6), and co-morbidity, e.g. cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001, HR = 1.8) and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001, HR = 2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Although the rate of increase in RRT patient stock in 1996-2003 in Romania was the highest in Europe, the prevalence remained below the European mean. As CAPD had the greatest expansion, followed by HD, an effective transplantation programme must be set up to overcome the imbalance. The quality of RRT appears to be good and survival was similar to that in other registries. Further evolution implies strategies of prevention, based on national surveys, supported by the Romanian Renal Registry.     

Endocrine therapy with or without radical prostatectomy for T1b-T3N0M0 prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively compared the 5-year survival rates of T1b-T3N0M0 prostate cancer patients treated either by endocrine therapy plus radical prostatectomy or endocrine therapy alone. METHODS: Clinical T1b-T3N0M0 prostate cancer patients were enrolled at 104 institutions in Japan. They were assigned to study 1 (n = 176), if they were indicated to prostatectomy, if not indicated, they were assigned to study 2 (n = 151). The indication of prostatectomy was based on the clinical judgement of physicians and/or patients. Those assigned to study 1 underwent prostatectomy and adjuvant endocrine therapy with or without preoperative androgen deprivation. Those assigned to study 2 were treated with leuprorelin acetate with or without chlormadinone acetate. They were followed-up every 3 months until death or for 5 years and over. RESULTS: Those assigned to study 1 were younger (mean age 67.2 vs 75.7 years), less advanced in clinical stage, and had lower prostate specific antigen levels (mean 43.8 vs 103.6 ng/mL). Death for any reason was observed less frequently in study 1 (n = 29, 16%) than study 2 (n = 50, 33%), and the 5-year overall survival rate was higher in study 1 (87 vs. 68%). However, prostate cancer deaths were comparatively seldom (9% in study 1 and 7% in study 2), resulting in the identical 5-year cause specific survival rate in both study groups (91%). In both study groups the overall survival was almost equal to the natural survival of age-matched men. CONCLUSIONS: Endocrine therapy offers a reasonable survival rate in T1b-T3 prostate cancer patients within a 5-year follow-up. Observation will be extended to determine 10-year outcomes.     

应用抗凝剂的心脏瓣膜置换患者接受胆道手术的术前处理

目的总结瓣膜置换患者行胆道手术的术前用药方法。方法对38例瓣膜置换后在服用华法令过程中因胆道疾病需行择期手术治疗的患者随机分为2组,肝功能正常组(A组)23例、肝功能不正常组(B组)15例均于术前3d停服华法令,B组术前12h肌注VitK110mg。术前无应用华法令历史的患者115例做为对照组。结果38例患者停药2d后A组血浆凝血酶原时间与对照组差异无显著意义,B组于术前12h肌注VitK110mg后,血浆凝血酶原时间与对照组相比差异也无显著性意义。结论瓣膜置换患者在抗凝期间行胆道手术,只要准备充分,围手术期是安全的。     

中西药合用对帕金森病大鼠旋转行为的影响

目的 观察中西药合用对帕金森病(Parkinson disease，PD)大鼠旋转行为的影响。方法 采用6羟多巴胺注射于脑右侧黑质造成偏侧帕金森病模型，并用滋补肝肾、通络解毒的中药以及西药美多巴进行治疗，同时设立美多巴对照组，观察中西药合用对PD大鼠旋转行为的影响。结果 中西药合用可使模型大鼠的旋转圈数明显减少。结论 中西药合用能明显改善PD模型大鼠的旋转行为。     

进展期霍奇金病经化疗达完全缓解后,巩固放疗的Meta分析

目的 应用Meta分析的方法评价进展期霍奇金病经化疗达完全缓解后巩固放疗的作用。材料和方法 在MEDLINE、CBMdisc数据库检索进展期霍奇金病化疗达完全缓解行巩固性放疗或不行巩固性放疗的前瞻性随机对照研究。对入选研究的总生存、无事件生存优势比进行Meta分析。结果 4项研究入选，以α=0．05为检验水准，巩固性放疗组与对照组(不作巩固性放疗)相比，5年总生存优势比=1．18，P=0．46；5年无事件生存优势比=1．05．P=0．83：巩固性侵犯野放疗组与对照组相比，5年总生存优势比=0．96，P=0．87。结论 进展期霍奇金病经化疗达到完全缓解后，巩固性放疗对总生存及无事件生存均无益处。     

浅谈基因治疗的现状及其面临的困境

基因治疗将在未来的疾病治疗中扮演重要的角色，然而这一新颖的技术却面临着诸多问题，本文论述了基因治疗的发展现状及其所面临的技术难题。     

蜂毒素微球经动脉介入治疗大鼠肝癌的实验研究

目的:观察蜂毒素微球(M-MS)经动脉介入对大鼠肝癌的治疗作用.方法:采用改良的复乳-液中干燥法制备蜂毒素-聚乳酸/羟乙酸微球,建立大鼠移植性肝癌模型并随机分为四组,分别经肝动脉灌注生理盐水(NS,1.5ml/kg)、蜂毒素(Melittin,0.35mg/kg)、空白微球(B-MS,10mg/kg)和蜂毒素-聚乳酸/羟乙酸微球(10mg/kg).比较治疗后各组大鼠的肿瘤生长情况、肿瘤坏死程度和生存时间.结果:与生理盐水组比较,Melittin组、B-MS组肿瘤生长受到明显抑制(P<0.01),肿瘤坏死程度以轻中度为主,但两组动物生存时间均未能明显延长(P>0.05).M-MS组与NS组、Melittin组及B-MS组相比,肿瘤生长抑制显著(P<0.01),肿瘤坏死更广泛、更彻底,且经蜂毒素微球治疗的大鼠生存期显著延长(P<0.01).结论:蜂毒素以药物微球的剂型经肝动脉给药,抗肿瘤效果明显优于单纯的蜂毒素和空白微球.