DRESS syndrome: a detailed insight

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a serious and potentially fatal adverse effect to therapeutic medications. The incidence of this condition varies among different ethnicities because of the difference in the genetic makeup. Though fever, rash and eosinophilia are essential features for the diagnosis of this syndrome, these vary from patient to patient along with the involvement of various organs such as liver, kidney, lungs, pancreas, etc. Some of the atypical features are dysphagia, agranulocytosis, and chylous ascites. Phenytoin, phenobarbitone, carbamazepine, and allopurinol are the most common drugs responsible for developing this syndrome, although the list is fairly long. Among the criteria used for the diagnosis of DRESS syndrome, European Registry of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Drugs and Collection of Biological Samples (RegiSCAR) criteria is the most commonly used one. The management of this syndrome involves early removal of the causative agent and treatment with anti-histamines and emollients in the mild form, corticosteroids in the moderate form and plasmapheresis in the severe form along with other alternatives drugs. Healthcare professionals should be more vigilant about the early manifestations of this syndrome, as early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes considerably.     

尿白蛋白排泄率与糖尿病中医症状关系的临床研究

目的:研究尿白蛋白排泄率与糖尿病患者中医症状的关系,为中医糖尿病的诊断治疗提供一种可量化的方法。方法:测取入选患者的尿白蛋白排泄率和中医证候得分并进行统计分析。结果:糖尿病中医症状表现越严重,尿白蛋白排泄率越高。结论:尿白蛋白排泄率与糖尿病中医证候之间存在固有的联系,可以为中医糖尿病的诊断治疗提供一种可量化的方法,传统的中医证候的科学性可以被现代医学证实。     

泌尿生殖道感染者支原体检测及药敏分析

目的检测我院门诊泌尿生殖道支原体感染情况及支原体培养加药敏试验分析。方法采用微量肉汤稀释法,对3 263例泌尿生殖道感染者解脲支原体(UU)和人型支原体(MH)进行8种抗生素的药敏试验。结果检出支原体1 142例,阳性率为35%,女性患者(42%)明显高于男性患者(30%),且UU感染(25%)明显高于MH感染(1%)和UU MH混合感染(8%)。UU药敏分析对红霉素、罗红霉素、交沙霉素、阿齐霉素、强力霉素、美满霉素、氧氟沙星、环丙沙星的敏感率分别为60%、68%、74%、86%、55%、40%、25%、2%;UU MH混合感染对8种抗生素均出现不同程度的耐药菌株。结论泌尿生殖道感染者中,支原体感染处于国内较高水平,且对不同种类抗生素有较高的耐药性,特别是UU MH混合感染,临床上做支原体培养加药敏试验,对指导临床合理用药很有必要。     

Pre-attack and pre-episode symptoms in cluster headache: a multicenter cross-sectional study of 327 Chinese patients

BackgroundThere have been a few studies regarding the pre-attack symptoms (PAS) and pre-episode symptoms (PES) of cluster headache (CH), but none have been conducted in the Chinese population. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and features of PAS and PES in Chinese patients, as well as to investigate their relationships with pertinent factors.MethodsThe study included patients who visited a tertiary headache center and nine other headache clinics between January 2019 and September 2021. A questionnaire was used to collect general data and information about PAS and PES.ResultsAmong the 327 patients who met the CH criteria (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition), 269 (82.3%) patients experienced at least one PAS. The most common PAS were head and facial discomfort (74.4%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis depicted that the number of triggers (OR = 1.798, p = 0.001), and smoking history (OR = 2.067, p = 0.026) were correlated with increased odds of PAS. In total, 68 (20.8%) patients had PES. The most common symptoms were head and facial discomfort (23, 33.8%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the number of triggers were associated with increased odds of PES (OR = 1.372, p = 0.005).ConclusionsPAS are quite common in CH patients, demonstrating that CH attacks are not comprised of a pain phase alone; investigations of PAS and PES could help researchers better understand the pathophysiology of CH.     

Efficacy,safety, and tolerability of mirabegron in patients aged ≥65 yr with overactive bladder wet: a phase IV,double-blind,randomised, placebo-controlled study (PILLAR)

BackgroundThe majority of patients with overactive bladder (OAB) are aged >65 yr. There has been no prospectively designed study assessing treatment efficacy with the β3-adrenoreceptor agonist, mirabegron, specifically in this age group.ObjectiveA phase IV study comparing flexibly dosed mirabegron versus placebo in elderly patients with OAB and urgency incontinence.Design, setting, and participantsCommunity-dwelling patients aged ≥65 yr with OAB for ≥3 mo.InterventionFollowing a 2-wk placebo run in, patients with one or more incontinence episodes, three or more urgency episodes, and an average of eight or more micturitions/24 h were randomised 1:1 to double-blind 25 mg/d mirabegron or matched placebo, for 12 wk. After week 4 or 8, the dose could be increased to 50 mg/d mirabegron/matched placebo based on patient and investigator discretion.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisCoprimary endpoints: change from baseline to end of treatment (EOT) in the mean numbers of micturitions/24 h and incontinence episodes/24 h. Secondary endpoints: change from baseline to EOT in the mean volume voided/micturition, mean number of urgency episodes/24 h, and mean number of urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for the mean number of micturitions/24 h, mean volume voided/micturition, and mean number of urgency episodes/24 h. Stratified rank ANCOVA was used for the mean numbers of incontinence episodes/24 h and urgency incontinence episodes/24 h.Results and limitationsStatistically significant improvements were observed for mirabegron versus placebo in change from baseline to EOT in the mean number of micturitions/24 h, mean number of incontinence episodes/24 h, mean volume voided/micturition, mean number of urgency episodes/24 h, and mean number of urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Safety and tolerability were consistent with the known mirabegron safety profile.ConclusionsMirabegron efficacy, safety, and tolerability over 12 wk were confirmed in patients aged ≥65 yr with OAB and incontinence.Patient summaryWe examined the effect of mirabegron compared with placebo in people aged 65 yr or older with overactive bladder and incontinence. Mirabegron improved the symptoms of overactive bladder compared with placebo. Side effects were similar to those already known for mirabegron.     

A pilot investigation of e‐cigarette use and smoking behaviour among patients with chronic airway disease or respiratory symptoms

BackgroundThis pilot study aimed to investigate the current status of e‐cigarettes (ECs) use patterns among patients with chronic airway disease or chronic respiratory symptoms and the effects of ECs use on respiratory and mental health.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey was conducted at the outpatient clinic of eight teaching hospitals in South Korea between November 2019 and December 2019. All adult ECs users (19 years and above) who visited the outpatient clinic as a patient with chronic airway disease or chronic respiratory symptoms were eligible to participate in this study.ResultsA total of 51 subjects responded to the survey. Most of the participants were male (92.2%) and the mean age was 41.8 years. Dominant airway diseases were asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Most of the subjects had a history of cigarette smoking, and 19 subjects were dual users of current cigarettes and ECs. Most of the subjects started ECs use due to health‐related reasons. When comparing exclusive ECs users and dual users, St. George''s respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, the proportion of cases with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and average Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence scores for ECs were higher in dual users than exclusive ECs users (mean 4.64 vs. 2.38, p = 0.006), respectively.ConclusionMost of the subjects started ECs use due to health concerns, but dual users have more respiratory symptoms and higher nicotine dependence in this pilot study. One hypothesis that comes from these results is that greater nicotine dependence may influence behaviours, habits, and views about ECs. These preliminary observations need confirmation in a large cohort.     

“司揣内外”的意义与临床应用

探讨了“司揣内外”的概念和应用及其临床意义和重要性。认为“司揣内外”是以外知内、知常达变,纯真的观察诊断方法;是研究病机的特异方法;是因果关系的辨证方法;是以点治面、标本缓急的治疗原则。是人们在对人体生命运动及疾病的观察、探索过程中,积累大量医学经验知识的基础上,汲取先秦哲学思想和逻辑思维方法,形成独特的医学科学方法,具有非常重要的临床指导意义和应用价值。     

协同刺激信号在血吸虫感染中的作用

T细胞活化除需要T细胞抗原受体传导的第一信号外,还需要协同刺激分子传导的第二信号。本文根据国内外的研究进展,对血吸虫感染中发挥重要作用的协同刺激信号分别进行介绍。     

The Cervical Cap

In the past several years, a new trend has emerged where women in in- creasingly growing numbers are becoming hesitant to accept the risks associated with hormonal and invasive methods of birth control. It is as part of this trend that a revival of sorts is occurring with the cervical cap, a form of birth control with roots which precede recorded history and which, in its modern form, was widely advocated in late 19th and early 20th century Europe. Based on the prin- ciple of occlusion, the cervical cap appears effective and risk-free, both vital concerns to women of all centuries. Women's health activists and organizations have been in the forefront of this revival. Two of the first organizations t o take an active interest in making the cap available were the New Hampshire Feminist Health Center inconcord, New Hampshire, and theEmmaGoldman Women's Health Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa. The National Women's Health Network, a national organization based in Washington, D.C., has also been an active advo- cate on the cervical cap's behalf.