Additional bedtime H2‐receptor antagonist for the control of nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough: A Cochrane systematic review

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of additional bedtime H₂‐receptor antagonists (H₂RAs) in suppressing nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough (NAB) via a systematic review. METHODS: Eligible trials were identified by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966–June 2004), EMBASE (January 1980–June 2004) and CINAHL (January 1982–June 2004). Additional hand‐searching was conducted on the proceedings of correlated conferences, eight important Chinese journals and references of all included trials. All randomized controlled trials evaluating H₂RAs for the control of NAB were eligible for inclusion. The systematic review was conducted using methods recommended by The Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: Only two randomized crossover studies, comprising 32 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Because the design, dosage and duration of the treatments were different between the studies, it was not possible to conduct meta‐analysis. There were no consistent conclusions found between the two included studies in evaluating H₂RAs for the control of NAB. CONCLUSIONS: No implications for practice at this stage can be concluded. Appropriately designed large‐scale randomized controlled trials with long‐term follow up are needed to determine the effects of additional bedtime H₂RAs in suppressing NAB.     

Anton’s syndrome due to a giant anterior fossa meningioma. The problem of routine use of advanced diagnostic imaging in psychiatric care

Summary We present a case of blindness and Anton’s syndrome in a psychiatric patient with late diagnosis of a giant frontal meningioma. The criteria for advanced diagnostic imaging in the psychiatric population are discussed. We conclude that MR or CT scan is indicated in psychiatric in-patients who fail to improve with standard psychiatric treatment. This strategy should be submitted to a cost-benefit analysis.     

Hepatic gene downregulation following acute and subchronic exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Chronic exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been shown to lead to the development of hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity in the liver of female rats. In this study, we investigated hepatic gene downregulation in response to acute and subchronic TCDD exposure. We identified 61 probes which exhibited a downregulation of twofold or greater following subchronic (13 weeks) exposure to TCDD. Comparative analysis of the hepatic expression of these 61 probes was conducted with rats subchronically exposed to PeCDF, PCB126, PCB153, and a mixture of PCB126 and PCB153. PCB153 produced little or no alteration in these probes, while the binary mixture mimicked most closely the downregulation observed with TCDD. To discern if the repression of genes within this probe set occur as a primary response to TCDD exposure, we analyzed the early responsiveness of 11 genes at 6, 24, and 72 h following a single exposure to TCDD. We observed early repression of the 11 genes within this early time course, indicating that the repression of this subset of genes occurs as a primary response to TCDD exposure and not as a secondary response to 13 weeks of subchronic treatment. In addition, the gender, species, and AhR dependence of these responses were also investigated. Gender- and species-dependent repression was observed within this subset of genes. Furthermore, utilizing AhR knockout mice, we were able to determine the AhR-dependent downregulation of seven of 11 genes. Together these results assist efforts to understand the multitude of effects imposed by TCDD and AhR ligands on gene expression.     

抗黄精皂苷多克隆抗体的制备

首先将薯蓣皂苷通过3-羟基位的改造，制成3-琥珀酰薯蓣皂苷，再通过碳二亚胺将其与牛血清白蛋白和卵清蛋白偶联制成免疫原和包被原，免疫新西兰大白兔制备出多克隆抗体，抗体效价为1：12800，为进一步建立黄精皂苷ELISA方法打下基础。     

暴发流行的肺炎衣原体肺炎影像学表现分析

目的研究肺炎衣原体肺炎暴发流行的胸部影像学特征表现。方法对经过痰和咽试子标本,PCR,MIF检测证实的15例暴发流行的肺炎衣原体肺炎住院患者胸部X线和高分辨CT表现进行分析。结果本组暴发流行的肺炎衣原体肺炎患者均有发热,头痛,全身肌肉酸痛,干咳,声音嘶哑,咽痛等症状。肺部呼吸音减低或细湿啰音4例(26.7%),出现明显肺部影像学表现10例(66.7%)。10例暴发流行的肺炎衣原体肺炎常表现为多发或单发以小叶为中心阴影和腺泡状结节影(100%),病变以两中、下肺叶,外、中带分布;以小叶分布的气腔实变和磨玻璃样阴影(分别为100%和40%)和支气管血管束增厚(90%)。无肺门或纵隔淋巴结增大和胸腔积液。结论暴发流行的肺炎衣原体肺炎具有群体发病,临床和影像学表现有相似的特征,早期CT检查更能真实地反映病变大小、多少和分布范围。     

ENDOSCOPIC NASOBILIARY DRAINAGE: CURRENT INDICATIONS AND EVALUATION OF THE PRODUCTS

Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) is a well established mode of biliary decompression. Although ENBD is certainly an uncomfortable procedure with the potential risk of spontaneous dislocation or removal of the drainage catheter by disoriented patients, it has several advantages over endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) using an indwelling stent. The current indications for ENBD are: (i) temporary drainage to treat obstructive jaundice and cholangitis caused by malignant or benign biliary stricture; (ii) urgent drainage to treat suppurative cholangitis primarily caused by common bile duct stones; (iii) temporary drainage after stone removal in patients with suspected incomplete clearance and/or with cholangitis; and (iv) biliary leaks that occur primarily after surgery, as well as other indications. Different types of nasobiliary catheters are currently available that have been designed with various diameters, shapes, and materials. However, the current catheters are not considered by most endoscopists to be sufficient. Further improvements are needed to achieve better drainage and better maneuverability.     

Wound Botulism Associated with Black Tar Heroin

The incidence of wound botulism is increasing and the epidemiology of the disease is changing. The majority of new cases are associated with injection drug use, in particular, the use of Mexican black tar heroin. This case report and discussion of wound botulism illustrate the following important points: Dysphagia, dysphonia, diplopia, and descending paralysis, in association with injection drug use, should alert the treating physician to the possibility of wound botulism. In such patients, the onset of respiratory failure may be sudden and without clinically obvious signs of respiratory weakness. For the reported patient, maximum inspiratory force measurements were the only reliable indicator of respiratory muscle weakness. This is a measurement not routinely performed in the ED, but may prove essential for patients with suspected wound botulism. To minimize the effect of the botulinum toxin and to decrease length of hospital stay, antitoxin administration and surgical wound debridement should be performed early.     

Effect of norethisterone acetate on serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters as well as on blood coagulation in female monkeys (M. fascicularis)

The effects of daily oral administration of a high dose of 10 mg norethisterone acetate (NET-Ac.)/kg/day over 14 weeks on serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters as well as on blood coagulation were investigated in female monkeys (M. fascicularis). Measurements of lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol were performed in weeks —5 and — 1 before treatment and in weeks 4, 8 and 12 after treatment. In addition, various blood coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters were determined in weeks 11–14 after treatment with NET-Ac. Furthermore, the serum levels of norethisterone (NET) were determined in order to monitor the real systemic compound exposure and revealed that C_max and AUC (0–3 h) values reached for norethisterone in this experiment in monkeys were about 25 times higher than those obtained after an oral contraceptive dose of NET-Ac. in women.

The results of lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol determinations showed decreases in serum total lipids, phospholipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol associated with similar decreases in HDL-, LDL- and VLDL-cholesterol fractions after NET-Ac.-treatment in monkeys. These effects were observed from week 4 onwards and maintained their magnitude up to week 12 after treatment. Since both HDL- and LDL-cholesterol fractions decreased, the HDL/LDL-ratio remained almost unchanged. Thus, the results obtained in this study after high-dose treatment with NET-Ac. in monkeys did not indicate any changes of lipid and lipoprotein parameters which in humans are supposed to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular lesions, namely a decrease in HDL- and increase in LDL-cholesterol fractions.

The results of blood coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters showed increased antithrombin-III and plasminogen levels besides minor changes in other parameters, thus indicating that NET-Ac. -treatment does not contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular thrombotic events in the cynomolgus monkey.     

人参根总皂甙对热应激小鼠免疫功能保护作用的机制初探

小鼠在45℃高温环境15 min.末梢血T淋巴细胞百分数和淋巴细胞占白细胞百分数均下降.血清皮质酮升高。应激前15 min lP人参根总皂甙(GRS)50、100 mg·kg~(-1)可防止末梢血T淋巴细胞百分数的降低,但不能抑制血清皮质酮的升高。GRS50mg·kg~(-1)ip可防止末梢血中淋巴细胞占白细胞百分数的降低。GRS50 mg·kg~(-1)、利血平0.5 mg·kg~(-1)或水杨酸毒扁豆碱0.3 mg·kg~(-1)ip均可消除热应激对小鼠迟发超敏反应的抑制作用。