Adjunct effect of loratadine in the treatment of acute sinusitis in patients with allergic rhinitis

H₁-blockers are often added to the standard treatment of acute sinusitis, but this is not supported by a controlled study. A multicentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was done in 139 allergic patients (15–65 years) to assess the adjunct efficacy of loratadine in acute exacerbation of rhinosinusitis. Sinusitis was diagnosed by symptoms and confirmed by rhinoscopy and sinus radiograph. Allergy was characterized by skin tests, RAST, and history. Patients were treated with antibiotics (14 days), oral corticosteroids (10 days), and loratadine (10 mg OD) or placebo (28 days). Treatment efficacy was assessed over 28 days by symptom scores quoted daily by patients. Physicians also rated total symptom scores at entry and at day 28. At entry, both groups had similar symptoms. Placebo-treated patients improved significantly, but patients who received loratadine had a significantly greater improvement in sneezing ( P =0.003) after 14 days, and in nasal obstruction ( P =0.002) after 28 days. Physicians found that patients receiving loratadine were significantly improved compared to placebo patients ( P =0. 0125). Loratadine in addition to standard therapy was found to improve the control of some symptoms of sinusitis.     

An influenza A(H3) reassortant was epidemic in Australia and New Zealand in 2003

During 2003, Australia and New Zealand experienced substantial outbreaks of influenza. The strain responsible was an A(H3N2) influenza virus described as A/Fujian/411/2002-like, which had circulated as a minor variant in the previous Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter, mainly in Korea and Japan. Early in the year the isolates were very similar to those that had been previously isolated in the NH, however, a reassortant strain emerged early in the New Zealand winter, followed by the appearance of similar viruses in Australia and other regional areas. While the hemagglutinin HA1 sequence of these viruses demonstrated only minor differences from the A/Fujian/411/2002 reference strain, the neuraminidase gene was clearly different from that of other recently circulating H3 viruses and most closely matched an earlier reference strain A/Chile/6416/2001. Three internal genes (NS, NP, M) in the reassortant viruses were also more closely related to the A/Chile/6416/2001 lineage. This reassortant A(H3) virus predominated in Australia and New Zealand in 2003 was also seen in Brazil and Malaysia during 2003 and was widespread in the United States and Europe during their 2003-04 winter. Interestingly most of the strains of A(H3) that were isolated at the beginning of the 2004 winter in Australia, did not have this earlier A/Chile/6416/2001-like neuraminidase but had a neuraminidase that was similar to that of the reference strain A/Fujian/411/2002. This was suggestive of the re-introduction of influenza A(H3) from other countries, however, there was still low level circulation of the reassortant virus in 2004 with isolates detected in Australia and Singapore.     

Subsensitivity of T lymphocytes to sympathomimetic and cholinergic stimulation in bronchial asthma.

The effect of adrenergic and cholinergic drugs on short incubation “active” E rosette formation was studied in 19 patients with bronchial asthma and 17 healthy controls. Both groups had an equal absolute number of baseline “active” E rosettes, but the asthmatics demonstrated a higher percent baseline value. The beta adrenergic drug isoproterenol (10^?3 M) inhibited the formation of “active” E rosettes in asthmatics by only 18.0% as compared to a 60.8% inhibition in the control group. Carbamylcholine (10^?5 M) a cholinergic agonist, also showed a lower than normal response in asthmatics, 34.3% enhancement of “active” E rosetting compared to a 52.4% enhancement in the controls. The alpha adrenergic agent phenylephrine (10^?5 M) exhibited equal enhancing effects in both groups, 34.2% in the asthmatics and 36.5% in the controls. Isoproterenol (10^?3 M) had a minimal effect on inhibition of long incubation “total” E rosettes in both groups studied. The beta adrenergic abnormality conforms to the beta blockade theory of asthma of Szentivanyi. The cholinergic abnormality is unexplained in view of the hyperresponsiveness of patients with asthma to cholinergic agents in vivo. Patients with bronchial asthma probably have an autonomic dysfunction that may play a role in the pathogenesis of their disease.     

Effects of sex and estrous cycle on modulation of the acoustic startle response in mice

Potential sex differences in amplitude, habituation, prepulse inhibition (PPI) and prepulse facilitation (PPF) of the acoustic startle response (ASR) were investigated using male and female mice from the two different inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (C57) and C3H. Furthermore, the effects of the estrous cycle were tested. The estrous cycle appeared to have no effect on ASR amplitude, habituation, PPF and PPI, the latter being in contrast to results in rats and humans. While sex had no effect on PPI or PPF, males exhibited higher startle amplitudes than females, irrespective of strain, which we discuss to be due to increased male anxiety. In addition, long-term habituation was stronger in C57 males and short-term habituation was weaker in C3H males with respect to females. These results provide evidence for influence of the reproductive hormones on startle reactivity and startle habituation; we therefore conclude that future studies involving genetic influences on behavior using inbred strains are only complete if both sexes are included.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Segmented Poly(ether ester)s Containing H‐Bonding Units

A series of poly(ether ester)s containing different H‐bonding units (amide, carbamate, urea) was prepared by polycondensation in bulk, using Ti(OBu)₄ as a catalyst. The copolymers were obtained starting from PEG1000, 1,4‐butanediol, and a symmetrical, bis‐ester terminated monomer carrying H‐bonding units. These materials were designed for biomedical applications, in which ultimate biodegradability of the materials is required. The influence of the nature of the H‐bonding unit and of the length of the methylene spacer between H‐bonding groups on the thermal and solubility properties of copolymers was investigated. Amide containing copolymers were more thermally stable than ones containing carbamate, consistent with the observed behavior of the corresponding monomers. In most cases, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) traces were quite complex because of phase separation and dependent on the applied cooling rate. Copolymers containing urea bonds were less soluble in most organic solvents, but their thermal properties were not significantly different than their amide containing counterparts.

Synthesis of amide‐based diester monomers.     

Ejaculatory incompetence: a theoretical formulation and case illustration

Three theoretical formulations of ejaculatory incompetence have been proposed in the literature. They include: (1) aversive conditioned inhibition of the ejaculatory reflex, (2) an "autosexual" orientation associated with discrepant levels in the cognitive and physiological dimensions of sexual arousal, and (3) a discriminative learning model. These three models are discussed in relation to their theoretical and therapeutic implications. Clinical data supporting the discriminative view is presented.     

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus Spread by Short- and Long-Range Transmission,France, 2016–17

We detected 3 genotypes of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) virus in France during winter 2016–17. Genotype A viruses caused dramatic economic losses in the domestic duck farm industry in southwestern France. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that genotype A viruses formed 5 distinct geographic clusters in southwestern France. In some clusters, local secondary transmission might have been started by a single introduction. The intensity of the viral spread seems to correspond to the density of duck holdings in each production area. To avoid the introduction of disease into an unaffected area, it is crucial that authorities limit the movements of potentially infected birds.     

运动训练对慢性应激大鼠β—内啡肽分泌的影响

目的：探讨运动训练对慢性应激大鼠β－内啡肽（β－EP）分泌的变化。方法：对大鼠进行为期8周的不同负荷运动训练,并在运动训练后期给予3周的冷刺激,测定大鼠下丘脑和血清中β－EP的含量。结果：（1）经过3周的冷应激后,大鼠产生显著的身心变化,下丘脑和血清β－EP的含量均显著升高,从而表明冷应激可使机体β－ED的合成和释放增多。（2）经过8周的运动训练后,大鼠下丘脑β－EP含量显著升高,血清β－EP含量显著下降;而对运动训练的大鼠施加冷刺激后,大鼠下丘脑和血清中β－EP含量显著低于应激组,以中等负荷运动训练组最为明显。结论：运动训练可以减少内源性β－EP的释放,有效对抗大鼠机体对冷刺激产生的应激反应,维持机体在应激状态下内分泌功能的稳定。     

四种祛风类中药治疗原发性肾小球肾炎的临床研究

目的 :评价口服火把花根、祖师麻、清风藤碱和雷公藤多甙单独与联合用药治疗原发性肾小球肾炎的效果。方法 :选择 6 5 6例经单味或两味祛风类中药治疗的原发性肾小球肾炎患者 ,观察不同治疗患者的临床表现、尿蛋白定量、尿常规、肝肾功能等指标变化。结果 :单味药治疗肾炎的缓解率为 2 4.0 %～ 44 .5 % ,两味药联合治疗肾炎的缓解率为 5 1.9%～ 5 9.2 % ;清风藤碱治疗的各种临床表现的肾炎缓解率均低于其他治疗组 ,单味药火把花根、祖师麻和雷公藤多甙对单纯性蛋白尿的缓解率为 5 0 .0 %～ 6 9.7% ,对单纯性血尿的缓解率为 36 .0 %～ 5 0 .0 % ,对蛋白尿合并血尿的缓解率为 19.5 %～ 2 2 .7% ,联合用药对各种表现的缓解率均高于单味药组 ,对单味药未缓解的部分病例两味药治疗仍有一定效果 ,复发率低于单味药组 ;联合用药组消化道反应、肾功能损害、停经和白细胞减少发生率与单味药组均无明显差别 ,转氨酶增高发生率增加 ,但谷丙转氨酶 >10 0 U /L者少见。结论 :四种祛风类单味药对肾小球肾炎均有一定疗效 ,联合治疗能够显著增加对肾小球肾炎的疗效