Endophthalmitis at the Bristol Eye Hospital: an 11-year review of 47 patients

We reviewed data from 47 patients who were treated for endophthalmitis at our hospital during the 11-year period 1980-90. The most common clinical features were hypopyon (75%), diminished vision (72%), ocular pain (68%), discharge (57%), corneal oedema (51%), conjunctival injection (49%), abnormal red reflex (34%), corneal ulcer (32%) and corneal perforation (6%). A total of 54 isolates were obtained from 41 (87%) of the 47 patients. Gram-positive bacteria were more common (72%), than Gram-negative organisms (22%). Two cases were due to fungi, and herpes simplex virus was isolated from one case. The two most common Gram-positive organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (25%), and Staphylococcus aureus (11%), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa predominated among the Gram-negative bacteria isolated (15%). Mixed bacterial species were obtained from 29% of the infected patients, including one from whom Vibrio fluvialis was isolated. Predisposing factors included ocular surgery (60%)--mostly for cataract extraction (47%), penetrating trauma (15%) and periocular (15%) or systemic (11%) infections. All patients received antibiotics (generally chloramphenicol and/or a beta-lactamase-stable penicillin plus an aminoglycoside) prior to culture, when treatment was adjusted according to specific aetiological agents. Seventy-nine per cent of patients received topical or systemic steroids. Vitrectomy (diagnostic and therapeutic) was performed on 21% of patients. Sixty-three per cent of culture-positive patients lost vision (no perception of light) in the affected eye, compared to 17% of culture-negative cases (P < 0.05 Fisher exact test). Similarly, a better visual outcome (acuity of 6/12 or better) was associated with coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection than with streptococcal or fungal infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Integrinα4在骨肉瘤中的表达与意义

Objective： To investigate the expression of integrin α4 in osteosaxcoma and significance. Methods- Forty-six patients with osteosarcoma （Enneking Ⅰ-Ⅲ） were analyzed for the expression of α4 integrin subunit using immunohistochemical method. Results： Twenty-nine （63.04%） of 46 samples demonstrated positive （＋-＋＋） integrin α4 expression. Loss expression of integrin α4 was observed in the patients with advanced Enneking stage （P=0.0040） and with metastatic disease at presentation （P=0.0158）. Integrin α4 expression correlated with cell differentiation, the level of malignancy and the invasive behavior of osteosaxcoma. Conclusion： The loss expression of integrin α4 subunit might be a predictor indicating the invasive potential of osteosarcoma and play a role in metastasis of osteosaxcoma patients.     

The effect of calcium dobesilate on venous function following saphenectomy in coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether prophylactic use of calcium dobesilate (CD) can improve venous function after saphenous vein harvest in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients who underwent elective CABG were divided into four equal groups. In Group A, the greater saphenous vein (GSV) was harvested below the knee and, in Group B, through the knee till the groin. These patients remained untreated. Group C received CD in a dosage of 1500 mg po daily after the GSV was harvested below the knee. Group D received same dosage of CD after the GSV was harvested through the knee till the groin. Venous function of ipsilateral leg was evaluated clinically and by Doppler ultrasonography in the postoperative first week and second month. RESULTS: Clinical findings of venous insufficiency were observed with a similar rate between groups at both early and late periods. In Groups A and B, after 2 months, flow velocities decreased and reflux periods increased significantly. In groups C and D, treatment with CD for 2 months after saphenectomy resulted in a significant increase in flow velocities and a significant decrease in reflux periods. Patients in Groups B and D have significantly more impaired venous functions. CONCLUSION: Saphenectomy results in ipsilateral leg venous dysfunction, which seems to be unrelated to leg swelling and to be more prominent in patients with high-level saphenectomy. In addition, to be careful about the restriction of the saphenectomy procedure into the most appropriate level, prophylactic use of CD can prevent this deterioration when it was added to varice socks.     

Bronchial response to breathing dry gas at 3.7 MPa ambient pressure

In diving, pulmonary mechanical function is limited by the increased density of the gas breathed. Breathing cold and dry gas may cause an additional increase in airways resistance. We have measured forced vital capacity, forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and forced midexpiratory flow rate (FEF_25%–75%) before and after breathing dry or humid gas at 29–32°C during a standardized exercise intensity on a cycle ergometer at an ambient pressure of 3.7 MPa. The atmosphere was a helium and oxygen mixture with a density of 6.8 kg · m^–3. Six professional saturation divers aged 26–37 years participated in the study. There were no significant differences in convective respiratory heat loss between the exposures. The mean evaporative heat loss was 67 W (range 59–89) breathing dry gas and 37 W (range 32–43) breathing humid gas, corresponding to water losses of 1.7 g · min^–1 (range 1.5–2.2) and 0.9 g · min^–1 (range 0.8–1.1), respectively. There was a significant reduction in FEV₁ of 4.6 (SD 3.6)% (P<0.05), and in FEF_25%–75% of 5.8 (SD 4.7)% (P<0.05) after breathing dry gas. There were no changes after breathing humid gas. By warming and humidifying the gas breathed in deep saturation diving bronchoconstriction may be prevented.     

钙剂加维生素D治疗对糖尿病患者钙代谢的影响

本文报道NIDDM患者在常规治疗的基础上加用钙剂和维生素D治疗后的钙代谢变化。糖尿病患者单纯用常规治疗控制血糖后,负钙平衡不能完全纠正,而加用钙剂和维生素D治疗后,负钙平衡能完全纠正,并且高于正常对照组平衡值(P<0.01)。说明钙剂加维生素D治疗对糖尿病性骨质疏松是有益的。     

Parvalbumin expression reveals a vibrissa-related pattern in rabbit SI cortex

The expression of parvalbumin-like immunoreactivity (PV-LIR) was examined in the mystacial representation within the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of postnatal day 21 and adult rabbits. PV-LIR was expressed in a prominent vibrissa-like array of patches in layer IV despite the fact that barrels were indistinct in the cytoarchitecture. Each patch consisted of dense terminal-like PV-LIR and a preferential concentration of intensely labeled stellate neurons. Layer V contained scattered small and large intensely labeled basket cells. Layer Vb had a distinct layer of lightly labeled large pyramidal cells that received labeled basket cell terminations. Upper layer VI also contained patches of terminal-like PV-LIR that were in register with the overlying vibrissae pattern. These patches also contained a preferential distribution of labeled non-pyramidal cells as well as modified pyramidal cells. These results suggest that PV-LIR in rabbits delineates cortical modules composed of thalamorcotical afferents and inhibitory local circuits in the absence of a distinct barrel cytoarchitecure. In contrast, prior studies of rat SI cortex have revealed a distinct barrel cytoarchitecture but a uniform distribution of PV-LIR. The differences in PV-LIR between rodents and lagomorphs within the vibrissae representation in SI may be related to species differences in thalamic and local cortical circuits devoted to the whisker sense.     

腹主动脉灌注丙泊酚减轻脊髓缺血-再灌注损伤与抗氧化和减轻钙超载的关系

目的 本研究拟探讨腹主动脉灌注丙泊酚减轻脊髓缺血-再灌注损伤是否与其抗氧化和减轻钙超载相关.方法 新西兰大耳白兔60只,随机均分为生理盐水(NS)组、10%脂肪乳(P0)组、丙泊酚30mg/kg(P30)组、40mg/kg(P40)组、50mg/kg(P50)组和60mg/kg(P60)组.全麻后开腹阻断肾动脉远端腹主动脉及双侧髂总动脉30min,并从阻断即刻开始,经股动脉预置导管向腹主动脉分别灌注生理盐水、10%脂肪乳及不同剂量的丙泊酚溶液至开放停止.再灌注48h,取L5脊髓节段,检测脊髓组织的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量和脊髓前角神经细胞内Ca2 荧光强度.结果 与NS和P0组比较,P30、P40、P50和P60组的SOD活性显著升高(P<0.05),MDA含量和Ca2 荧光强度显著降低(P<0.05).SOD活性:P50组最高(P<0.05),P40、P60组高于P30组(P<0.05).MDA含量:P50组最低(P<0.05),P60组低于P30、P40组(P<0.05).Ca2 荧光强度:P60组低于P50组,P50组低于P30、P40组(P<0.05).结论 丙泊酚可剂量依赖性地保护脊髓组织SOD活性、降低MDA含量和脊髓前角神经细胞内Ca2 荧光强度,提示该保护作用与其抗氧化和减轻神经细胞钙超载有关.