Incremental Value of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Over Transesophageal Multiplane Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Cardiac Masses and Defects

In the present study, we compared three-dimensionally (3-D) reconstructed images with multiplane two-dimensional (2-D) transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) images in 17 patients with various cardiac masses and defects. To overcome the problem of making measurements from 3-D reconstructed images, we carefully "dissected" the 3-D dataset using paraplane and anyplane 2-D sections, which were then used to obtain the maximum sizes of the cardiac masses and defects. Of the 15 vegetations and 9 abscesses detected by 3-D TEE in 7 patients, only 8 (53%) vegetations and 4 (44%) abscesses were detected by multiplane 2-D TEE (P < 0.02). Also, the exact anatomical location, shape, geometry, and extent of various cardiac masses and defects were more clearly delineated by 3-D than 2-D TEE. The maximum dimensions of cardiac masses and defects were larger by 3-D than by 2-D TEE in 17 (89%) of the 19 lesions available for comparison (P < 0.002). In addition, 3-D TEE correlated more closely than 2-D TEE when compared to surgical measurements in three patients in whom they were available. Thus, it would appear that in several instances, the exact size of the cardiac lesion could only be assessed by analysis of the 3-D volumetric dataset. Out preliminary study has demonstrated the superiority of transesophageal 3-D reconstruction over multiplane 2-D TEE in both qualitative and quantitative assessment of various cardiac mass lesions and pathological defects.     

失去肝动脉血液供应后大鼠肝门部胆管周围血管丛变化的三维构像研究

目的 探讨完全失去肝动脉血液供应后，大鼠肝门部胆管周围血管丛（PBP）的形态学变化。方法 将SD大鼠随机分为两组，对照组仅游离胆总管、门静脉、腔静脉和肝总动脉，不做切断；实验组结扎肝动脉，并切断肝十二指肠韧带除门静脉以外的其它组织，阻断其它侧支血管对肝门部胆管的血液供应。术后应用计算机对大鼠肝门部组织切片进行PBP三维可视化构建，并对PBP内层微血管进行定量分析，对胆管壁组织进行病理学检查。结果 实验组肝门部胆管分叉部位PBP平面结构显示胆管扩张，胆管壁明显增厚，壁内微血管尖细，排列紊乱，内层微血管密度减低；PBP立体构像显示空间结构紊乱，不规则，微血管细小，管壁不均匀增厚。与对照组相比，实验组肝门部PBP内层微血管总数明显减少（P〈0．01），肝门部PBP内层微动脉数也明显减少（P〈0．05）。实验组肝门部胆管壁呈慢性增生性炎症改变。结论 失去含氧量高的动脉血液供应时，PBP形态结构将会发生一系列改变，胆管壁组织也将发生相应的病理变化。     

Validity and ethics of penile circumference measures of sexual arousal: A reply to McConaghy

McConaghy (1989) argued that the validity of penile circumference responses (PCRs) is at best unestablished and that penile volume responses (PVRs) have been demonstrated to be clearly superior indices of sexual arousal and orientation. In his critique, McConaghy stated that (i) penile erection has been incorrectly identified with sexual arousal, (ii) that PCRs have not been shown to accurately discriminate between divergent patterns of sexual arousal (including paraphilias), (iii) that the methodologies used to compare the two types of transducers are inappropriate, and (iv) that PCRs should not be used for diagnostic and treatment decisions. In this paper, McConaghy's criticisms are reviewed in the context of the existing literature on the subject. Although PCRs and PVRs involve different methodologies, they generally yield results that bear more similarities than differences. Furthermore, there is an extensive and growing literature on the use of PCR measures with various paraphilias. Several of McConaghy's arguments should be considered tentative while others are clearly unsubstantiated. Most of McConaghy's concerns over the validity and uses of PCR measures are empirical questions. Suggestions for future research are offered.     

低浓度5-Fu24-小时持续化疗对BEL-7402肝癌细胞株的细胞周期的影响

目的研究低浓度5-Fu 24-小时持续化疗和高浓度5-Fu短时间化疗对BEL-7402肝癌细胞株的细胞周期的影响：方法用低浓度(1000．0μg/L)的5．Fu对BEL-7402肝癌细胞株进行持续24小时的培养(A组)，用高浓度(50000．0μg/L)的5-Fu对BEL-1 7402肝癌细胞株进行2小时培养(B组)，在培养后的不同时间点用流式细胞技术检测细胞周期的变化。结果A组结果显示：0h、4h、8h、12h、16h、20h和24h的S期细胞的百分数分别为25.23％、32．35％、39．28％、41．05％、46．02％、47．00％及47．14％。B组结果显示：0h、4h、8h、12h、16h、20h和24h的S期细胞的百分数分别为24．68％、68．43％、46．67％、43．67％、35．42％、33．22％及32．96％。结论5-Fu引起的S期细胞周期阻滞不但和浓度相关，也和作用时间相关。低浓度(1000．0μg/L)的5-Fu持续化疗较高浓度(50000．0μg/L)的5-Fu短时间(2小时)化疗更容易引起BEL-7402肝癌细胞株S期阻滞。     

The Effect of Cuts in Medicare Reimbursement on Hospital Mortality

Objective. To determine if patients treated at hospitals under different levels of financial strain from the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 had differential changes in 30-day mortality, and whether vulnerable patient populations such as the uninsured were disproportionately affected.
Data Source. Hospital discharge data from all general acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania from 1997 to 2001.
Study Design. A multivariate regression analysis was performed retrospectively on 30-day mortality rates, using hospital discharge data, hospital financial data, and death certificate information from Pennsylvania.
Data Collection. We used 370,017 hospital episodes with one of four conditions identified by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as inpatient quality indicators were extracted.
Principal Findings. The average magnitude of Medicare payment reduction on overall net revenues was estimated at 1.8 percent for hospitals with low BBA impact and 3.6 percent for hospitals with a high impact in 1998, worsening to 2 and 4.8 percent, respectively, by 2001. Operating margins decreased significantly over the time period for all hospitals ( p <.05). While unadjusted mortality rates demonstrated a disproportionate rise in mortality for patients from high impact hospitals from 1997 to 2000, adjusted analyses show no consistent, significant difference in the rate of change in mortality between high-impact and low-impact hospitals ( p =.04–.94). Similarly, uninsured patients did not experience greater increases in mortality in high-impact hospitals relative to low-impact hospitals.
Conclusions. An analysis of hospitalizations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania did not find an adverse impact of increased financial strain from the BBA on patient mortality either among all patients or among the uninsured.     

绿脓杆菌MSHA菌毛株菌苗与白血病免疫应答反应

绿脓杆菌(MSHA)菌苗是一种具有广谱抗感染效果的免疫调节剂。我们观察了20例白血病患者多次疫苗主动免疫的免疫应答反应,14例病人血中广谱抗体效价升高,临床上有很好的治疗反应,6例抗体效价无变化,而临床症状加重,最后均死于败血症。上述结果提示白血病病人对疫苗的免疫应答反应,在白血病缓解中起着重要作用,对临床早期准确判断白血病患者的预后很有意义。     

青天葵抗甲、乙型流感病毒作用研究

目的研究青天葵在体外抗甲、乙型流感病毒株作用。方法选用狗肾细胞培养法考察青天葵不同极性部位对甲型(FM1)、乙型(昆40B)流感病毒的作用。结果青天葵水溶性部位对甲型流感病毒FM1有抑制作用。结论青天葵具有体外抗甲型流感病毒作用。     

Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and uterine artery arteriography of fibroids: assessment of changes in vascularity before and after embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and uterine artery arteriography in depicting changes in fibroid vascularity before and after embolization. METHODS: Preembolization and postembolization three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and selective uterine artery arteriography were retrospectively compared in 15 patients who underwent uterine artery embolization for treatment of symptomatic fibroids. Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography was performed by using a scanner with color power angiographic imaging capability. Vascularity was quantified by using an estimation of power-weighted pixel density as described by our group in previously published studies. Uterine artery arteriography was performed by using a standard selective microcatheter embolization technique. For purposes of comparison, fibroids were classified as either hypervascular or hypovascular relative to myometrial vascularity before and minutes to several hours after uterine artery embolization. Changes in fibroid vascularity (i.e., from hypervascular to hypovascular) as depicted by three-dimensional color Doppler sonography were compared with those shown on uterine artery arteriography and classified as being in agreement or disagreement. RESULTS: In 13 (87%) of 15 patients there was agreement; in 2 (13%) of 15 there was disagreement. In both cases of disagreement, three-dimensional color Doppler sonography showed collateral flow not depicted by uterine artery arteriography The mean reduction in quantitated vascularity after uterine artery embolization was 44% (range, 19%-78%). CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography accurately depicts fibroid vascularity and in some cases can reveal collateral flow not depicted by uterine artery arteriography.     

牵张力作用下培养的人牙周膜成纤维细胞生成NO的实验研究

目的：观察在机械牵张力作用下牙周膜成纤维细胞NO的生成情况以及iNOS的表达情况。方法：用自行研制的细胞加载系统，对培养至第4代的人牙周膜成纤维细胞施以频率为每分钟6个周期（5s拉伸，5s松弛）、拉伸率为12％的牵张力，分别于加载后3，10，20，40，60min取上清液进行NO含量检测；以及于加载24，48，96h后固定细胞，进行iNOS免疫组化反应。结果：NO含量在所研究时间范围内逐渐增加；iNOS免疫组化结果显示iNOS的染色强度随着作用时间延长而增强。结论：牙周膜成纤维细胞在机械牵张力作用下合成NO增多，它可能通过合成和释放NO这一途径，在应力作用下的牙周组织改建过程中起作用。