Randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing montelukast and cetirizine for treating perennial allergic rhinitis in children aged 2–6 yr

Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) were recently added to the method of treating allergic rhinitis (AR). However, in children under 6 yr old, there has been no study about its efficacy in treating AR. We aim to compare the clinical efficacy of montelukast, cetirizine and placebo in the treatment of children from 2 to 6 yr old with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), to see if there are any significant differences. Sixty children were selected and treated with montelukast, or cetirizine, or placebo once daily. The efficacy of the three agents was compared with the Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) and Total Symptom Score (TSS) by diary. In addition, we also examined serum IgE, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), blood eosinophil counts, nasal airway resistance (NAR) and eosinophil percentage in nasal smears. The results revealed that both montelukast and cetirizine were significantly efficacious compared with placebo in NAR, eosinophil percentage in nasal smears, PRQLQ, TSS and all symptom items except nasal itching, throat itching and tearing. For nasal itching, only cetirizine was significantly efficacious. On the other hand, for night sleep quality, montelukast was significantly superior to cetirizine.     

Immunohistochemical localization of prostaglandin H synthase isoenzyme proteins in the gingival tissue of patients with periodontitis

Prostaglandins are inflammatory mediators that are believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of periodontal disease. Prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS, EC 1.14.99.1) is the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis. The enzyme exists as two separately encoded isoforms. PGHS-1 which is constitutively expressed and PGHS-2 which is induced by inflammatory stimuli. This is the first report describing the expression of the isoenzymes in gingival tissue from patients diagnosed with adult periodontitis. Tissue was fixed in an alcohol-based fixative and embedded in paraffin. Methods were developed using immunohistochemical controls, such that embedded sections could be processed and stained using isoform-specific antibodies and a peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemistry technique. Along with populations of mononuclear inflammatory cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts, the gingival epithelial cell layer appears to be a rich and important source of prostaglandin production within the periodontium of patients with periodontitis as detected by this newly developed immunohistochemical staining technique for PGHS-1 and PGHS-2.     

Migration and chemical modification of silicone in women with breast prostheses

Studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy in human volunteers to evaluate their livers in vivo and to analyze their blood in vitro suggest that there are measurable amounts of silicon compounds in the blood of some women with implants and that there is migration of silicone to other organs such as the liver.     

Robust fixed‐order H2 controller for micro air vehicle—design and validation

Design and real‐time validation of a robust fixed‐order H₂ optimal controller for micro aerial vehicle, named Sarika‐2, is presented. Strengthened discrete optimal projection equations, which approximate the first‐order necessary optimality condition, are used for the controller design. Effect of low‐frequency gust disturbance and high‐frequency sensor noise is alleviated through the output sensitivity and control sensitivity minimization. The novelty of this paper is that a single robust H₂ controller, which is designed at the central operating point, ensures simultaneous stabilization of the radio‐controlled aircraft over the entire cruise speed range of 16–26 m/s. The controller is implemented on a digital‐signal‐processor‐based flight computer, and subsequently, it is validated through the real‐time hardware‐in‐loop‐simulation. The responses obtained from the hardware‐in‐loop‐simulation compares well with those obtained from the off‐line simulation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

肝硬化病人门静脉和肝动脉多谱勒血流参数变化的意义

目的 :探讨肝硬化门脉高压病人门静脉和肝动脉彩色多谱勒血流参数变化的意义。方法 :肝硬化伴食道静脉曲张的病人 6 6例 ,正常人对照组 5 8例。测量门静脉血流速度 (PVV)和肝动脉阻力参数 (HA- PI) ,计算肝血管指数。结果 :在肝硬化门脉高压病人比对照组 PVV明显降低 (12± 2 .2 ) cm/ s;(15 .8± 2 .6 ) cm/ s,P<0 .0 0 1)和 HA- PI明显增高(1.3± 0 .15 ;0 .94± 0 .16 ,P<0 .0 0 1) ,肝血管指数明显减低 [(8.6± 2 .1) cm/ s;(16 .7± 4 .2 ) cm / s,P<0 .0 0 1) ]。彩色多谱勒血流参数 PVV、HA- PI、肝血管指数对肝硬化门脉高压的诊断的敏感性和特异性分别为 89%、84 %、83%、81%、95%、91%。结论 :肝血管指数对肝硬化门脉高压的诊断的敏感性和特异性更高。     

Acute Cellular Rejection Predominated by Monocytes Is a Severe Form of Rejection in Human Renal Recipients With or Without Campath-1H (Alemtuzumab) Induction Therapy

Campath-1H has been used successfully for induction and has resulted in a low rate of acute cellular rejection (ACR) in renal transplantation in combination with various postoperative immunosuppression regimens. This study was undertaken to investigate the extent of monocyte involvement in ACR, with or without Campath-1H induction. We found that monocytes represented the majority of inflammatory cells in grades Ib or higher ACR, but not with Ia type of ACR, regardless of the status of Campath-1H induction. Cases of ACR, following Campath-1H induction, appear to demonstrate a 'pure form' of monocytic ACR, whereas monocytes were mixed with many other types of inflammatory cells in the cases of ACR in the absence of Campath-1H induction. In addition with Campath-1H induction, the cases of monocyte-predominant ACR were found to uniformly exhibit a good response to corticosteroid treatment. We conclude that monocyte-predominate ACR may represent a severe form of rejection, with or without Campath-1H treatment.     

SOMATOM CT高压熔断丝炸裂故障分析

简要介绍西门子SOMATOM CT高压发生器的工作原理,并着重分析了高压63A熔断丝炸裂故障原因及其判断与排除方法。文章指出了在检修高压发生器的过程中特别要注意的事项。     

Analgesia produced by intrathecal administration of the kappa opioid agonist, U-50,488H, on formalin-evoked cutaneous pain in the rat

The antinociceptive activity of the selective k opioid agonist U-50,488H, given intrathecally (i.t.) against chemically induced cutaneous pain in rats, was assessed from cumulative dose-response experiments and the formalin test. Three successive i.t. doses of 5, 10 and 35 nmol of U-50,488H produced a gradual reduction of pain scores which was statistically significant at all observation periods. This effect was antagonized significantly by 3 mg/kg i.p. of the opiate antagonists, naloxone and WIN 44,441-3. The analgesia profile showed a clear dose-response relationship. A dose producing 50% ‘maximum posible analgesia’ of 6.20 nmol (95% confidence interval: 3.05–12.59 nmol) was calculated. The results indicated that cutaneous pain of a chemical/inflammatory nature is highly sensitive to activation of k receptors of the spinal cord dorsal horn.     

Expression of differential nitric oxide synthase isoforms in human gastric mucosa infected with Helicobacter pylori

Objective: To study the relationship between nitric oxide synthase ( NOS) expression in human gastric mu-cosa and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Methods: Gastric mucosa samples were obtained from antrum of 33 patients received gastroendoscopy. H. pylori infection was confirmed by Giems staining and bacteria culture under mi-croaerophilic conditions. Expression of iNOS, eNOS and nitrotyrosine were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: (1) The positive rate of H. pylori infection was 66. 7% (22/33) . (2) iNOS positive staining in inflammatory cells was detected in 77. 3% (17/22) of samples with H. pylori and 27. 3% (3/11) without H. pylori infection (P < 0.01). (3) eNOS expression in inflammatory cells was found in 77. 3% (17/22) of samples with H. pylori and 18.2% (2/11) without H. pylori infection ( P < 0. 01) . (4) Nitrotyrosine expression in inflammatory cells was observed in 59. 1% ( 13/22) of samples with H. pylori and 54.5%(6/11) without H. pylori infection (P>0.05). (5) Moderate a