Prevalence of elevated serum prostate-specific antigen in rural Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Recent hospital and cancer registry data show increasing prostate cancer incidence in Nigeria, which was previously regarded as a low incidence region. This study investigates the prevalence of prostate cancer risk in a previously unscreened cohort of rural Nigerians. METHODS: Rural Nigerian men, 40 years and older, were screened by serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE) and those with PSA >/= 4 ng/mL and/or abnormal DRE were referred for prostate biopsy. RESULTS: Of 200 consecutive men invited, 151 (75.5%) presented for screening, the mean age was 56.45 + 15.1 and 95 (61.6%) were >/= 50 years of age. Of the 140 who consented to a blood test, PSA correlated with age (r = 0.3, P < 0.01), 14 (10.0%) had abnormal PSA >/= 4 ng/mL, increasing from 3 (3.6%) in men < 60 years to 4 (50%) in men >/= 80 years. The rate was 13 (15.7%) for men >/= 50 years and there was no evidence of increased incidence of prostatitis in the community. Mean (median) PSA in ng/mL increased from 1.17 (0.60) in the youngest to 13.75 (4.45) in the oldest cohort. Of those who accepted DRE, 38 (29.0%) had an enlarged prostate, including two who had nodular prostate, one-third with symptoms, increasing from 4 (5.4%) in those < 50 years to 6 (75.0%) in men >/= 80 years. The proportion of men with PSA >/= 4 ng/mL among those with enlarged vs normal prostate is 27.0 to 3.4%, P < 0.001, and the pattern was similar for men >/= 60 years and those < 60 years of age. The 40 (32.0%) men referred for prostate biopsy defaulted mainly because they did not fully understand the need for further investigation because they were symptom free or afraid of the possible side-effects of the procedure or diagnosis of cancer. CONCLUSION: The proportion of men with PSA >/= 4 ng/mL is comparable to that of previously unscreened populations with high incidence of prostate cancer such as African-American men. A larger study is required to confirm these findings and intensify efforts to determine the prostate cancer detection rate by biopsy in this population. A prostate cancer awareness and education campaign will be useful in this community.     

Le sommeil de l’analyste

The state of “nodding off” which the psychoanalyst may experience during therapy is a phenomenon that requires further investigation into its nature, causes, and effects. Even if it occurs only sporadically and is a physiological necessity, it nevertheless has a certain effect and can present certain advantages. This introduction of resistance in the form of sleep can sometimes provide an opportunity in the development of sensorimotor functions for the patient to verbalize his experience, and in any case this phenomenon should not be taken lightly. Recourse to current knowledge regarding sleep can improve our understanding of this phenomenon, and we should be prepared to take the risk of examining psychoanalysis on the basis of a non-analytical approach, i.e. primarily psychobiological and cognitive. This also permits a link to be made between the psychoanalyst’s therapeutic activity and the contextual phenomena which influence cerebral activity and its level of vigilance which is expressed by specific types of verbalization. The pertinence of this risk-taking should also be examined, and a distinction made between physiologically necessary somnolence and other causes. It appears that in the present context, the induction of a state of somnolence is caused by the narcissistic characteristics of a transferential relation that is in the process of development; that is to say, the “positive aspects’’ of narcissism, which are an integral part of psychic growth. However, we should also bear in mind that these narcissistic characteristics can also be expressed in the form of resistance.     

The influence of liver dysfunction on cyclosporine pharmacokinetics —A comparison between 70 per cent hepatectomy and complete bile duct ligation in dogs—

The influence of experimentally induced hepatic dysfunction on the pharmacokinetics of Cyclosporine A (CsA) was determined in dogs. The pharmacokinetics of oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) CsA were studied before and after 70 per cent hepatectomy or complete bile duct ligation (CBDL). Changes in liver function were monitored by serial measurements of serum bilirubin, and by the maximum removal rate (Rmax) and plasma disappearance rate (ICG-K) of indocyanine green (ICG). Concentrations of CsA in whole blood were measured by HPLC. Seventy per cent hepatectomy caused significant liver dysfunction: the ICG-Rmax decreased by 47.7±7.1 per cent (mean±SD) and the ICG-K decreased by 61.3±9.7 per cent during the first week after hepatectomy. At the same time, the systemic clearance (CLs) of IV-CsA decreased by 43.9±8.2 per cent, the area under the concentration curve (AUC) of IV-CsA increased by 35.4±20.8 per cent and the bioavailability of CsA decreased by 26.4±14.8 per cent. CBDL also induced significant liver dysfunction: the ICG-Rmax decreased by 39.1±12.8 per cent and the ICG-K decreased by 65.6±3.6 per cent in the second week after the operation. During the same period, the AUC of PO-CsA decreased by 69.9±10.7 per cent and the bioavailability of CsA also decreased markedly by 73.9±15.6 per cent. These data indicate that hepatic impairment significantly influences the pharmacokinetics of CsA, not only by the changes in intestinal absorption, but also by those in hepatic, metabolism. Dose adjustment is therefore necessary in the presence of hepatic dysfunction in order to maintain an adequate blood concentration of CsA without causing side effects. This research was performed in the Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Health Center, University of Pittsburgh, USA     

Successful treatment of blunt trauma involving complete laceration of the pancreas and duodenum in a 7-year-old child: Report of a case

The acute onset of peritoneal signs and shock in a 7year-old boy who had been hit in the epigastrium by a log-seesaw mandated surgical treatment. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated complete laceration of the pancreas as well as duodenal injury, and a duodenoduodenostomy with distal pancreaticogastrostomy was subsequently performed. Temporary external drainage of the stomach and distal pancreas led to an uneventful recovery in the early postoperative period. Although the patient's postoperative development was appropriate for his age, the orifice of the distal pancreas spontaneously closed 2.5 years following surgery. We present this report to stress the fact that every effort should be made to preserve the pancreas following abdominal injury in children.     

带塑料插入件栓式附着体义齿修复后满意度的调查

目的 通过问卷调查表对患者戴用附着体义齿后的主观感受进行研究.方法 选择上下牙列缺损患者42例,共制作带塑料插入件栓式附着体义齿47例,于戴牙后1个月,患者基本适应戴用义齿,通过问卷调查,了解患者戴用义齿后的适应情况、对义齿的满意程度及咀嚼功能的变化等.结果 患者对带塑料插入件栓式附着体义齿和传统可摘局部义齿两种修复方式比较,在总的满意度、美观、舒适、咀嚼、语言、适应期、食物结构改变等方面,前者明显优于后者,差异有统计学意义.结论 带塑料插入件栓式附着体义齿在美观及功能上不仅能满足患者的要求,而且远优于传统可摘局部义齿.     

三维时间飞跃法MR血管造影血液铸型诊断颈内动脉系颅内动脉瘤的优势

目的　与多层面螺旋CT三维血管造影 (MS 3D CTA)和DSA比较 ,探讨三维时间飞跃法MR血管造影 (threedimensionaltimeofflightMRA ,3DTOFMRA)图像后处理血液铸型技术 (fly around)诊断颈内动脉系颅内动脉瘤的优势和临床应用价值。方法　 18名疑诊颈内动脉系颅内动脉瘤病人 ,男 4例 ,女 14例 ;年龄 17～ 76岁 ,平均 4 9 8岁 ;其中蛛网膜下腔出血 (SAH) 14例、动眼神经麻痹 4例。所有病人均接受 3DTOFMRA和MS 3D CTA检查 ,17名接受DSA检查 ,确诊后均经手术治疗。 3DTOFMRA用Toshiba 1 5T超导型MR系统VISART的 3D TOF序列采集原始数据。其参数为 :TR 30ms,TE 6 8ms ,反转角 2 0° ,视野 (FOV) 17cm× 19cm ,矩阵 16 0× 2 5 6 ,采集层块厚度 5 0～ 6 0mm ,层厚 1 2mm ;原始图像后处理方法采用最大密度投影 (MIP)和血液铸型。MS 3D CTA用Toshiba多层螺旋CT Aquilion采集原始数据。其参数为 :扫描速度 0 5s/r,层厚 1 0mm ,螺距 3 5 ;用高压注射器静脉注射非离子型对比剂 ,注射剂量 2 0ml/kg体重 ,注射流率 4 0～ 5 0ml/s ,延迟时间 15～ 18s ;原始图像后处理方法同 3DTOFMRA。图像后处理工作站均用SGIO2 ,后处理软件为Alatoview ,版本 1 4 2。DSA用SiemensMulti StartOT经股动脉插管行常规脑动脉四血管造影     

Vitapan Classical比色板的数码摄影研究(Ⅱ)

目的:研究VitapanClassical比色板各比色片中1/3部分的色度值的分布规律,以利于提高临床上的比色准确率。方法:在自然光线下用数码相机对VitapanClassical比色板进行摄影,将拍摄结果输入计算机,经Photoshop7.0软件处理后,记录各比色片中1/3部分的亮度和RGB值。结果:各比色片中1/3部分的亮度和R、G、B值是不同的。结论:数码摄影能够较真实地再现VitapanClassical比色片的颜色,可以作为临床比色方法和烤瓷材料颜色选择的补充。     

急非淋白血病完全缓解后巩固治疗的对照研究

目的探讨急非淋白血病完全缓解后巩固治疗与缓解期的关系。方法对３０例坚持与未坚持完全缓解后巩固化疗的急非淋患者（每组１５例）进行对照研究。比较两组患者的完全缓解期。结果两组患者入院时情况、治疗及达完全缓解时间经统计学处理无明显差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）；而坚持巩固化疗组平均持续完全缓解期（１９．８ｍｏ）明显长于对照组（８．４ｍｏ），统计学具有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论急非淋白血病达完全缓解后，坚持骨髓抑制性治疗对延长完全缓解期以达长期生存目的具有重要意义。     

A Ro/SS-A auto-antibody positive mother's infant revealed congenital complete atrioventricular block,followed by insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and multiple organ failure

We experienced a congenital complete atrioventricular block infant who was born from a Ro/SS-A antibody positive mother. Ro/SS-A antibody was also found in this baby which was presumed to be mediated by the maternal placenta. Temporary cardiac pacing was required at birth and pacemaker implantation was performed at 9 months. At 11 months of age, the baby fell into shock and experienced multiple organ failure because of diabetes mellitus-induced coma. The association between congenital complete heart block and the Ro/SS-A antibody is well known. However, the accompaniment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus has not been reported previously. As the Ro/SS-A antigen appears in the cytoplasm of many tissues, the possibility of an association between Ro/SS-A antibody and diabetes mellitus is difficult to deny. We report this rare case to draw attention to the possibility that babies who are born from an Ro/SS-A antibody positive mother may develop diabetes mellitus as well as congenital complete heart block.     

玻璃纤维增强复合树脂在总义齿基托中的应用

目的：增强总义齿基托的机械性能，提高总义齿的基托抗折裂能力。方法：对E－玻璃纤维用KH－550处理剂进行表面处理后，加入总义齿基托中，制成玻璃纤维增强复合树脂。结果：经过1年的临床观察后复诊，没有发现裂纹。结论：玻璃纤维增强得合树脂可以有效地增强总义齿基托的机械性能。