Cyclosporine Interacts with Mycophenolic Acid by Inhibiting the Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2

In mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-treated organ transplant recipients, lower mycophenolic acid (MPA) plasma concentrations have been found in cyclosporine (CsA) compared with tacrolimus (Tac)-based immunosuppressive regimens. We previously demonstrated that CsA decreases exposure to MPA and increases exposure to its metabolite MPA-glucuronide (MPAG), possibly by interfering with the biliary excretion of MPAG. To elucidate the role of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp)-2 in the interaction between MMF and CsA, we treated three groups of 10 Mrp2-deficient rats (TR- rat) for 6 days with either vehicle, CsA (8 mg/kg) or Tac (4 mg/kg) by oral gavage. Hereafter, co-administration with MMF (20 mg/kg) was started in all groups and continued through day 14. The 24-h MPA/MPAG area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was determined after single (day 7) and multiple MMF doses (day 14). On both study days, there were no significant differences in the mean MPA and MPAG AUC between CsA and Tac-treated animals. We conclude that the pharmacokinetics of MMF are comparable in Mrp2-deficient rats receiving either CsA or Tac as co-medication. This finding suggests that CsA-mediated inhibition of the biliary excretion of MPAG by the Mrp2 transporter is the mechanism responsible for the interaction between CsA and MMF.     

肝动脉解剖变异在中晚期肝癌介入治疗中的意义

目的 探讨放射学肝动脉解剖变异及其在中晚期肝癌介入导管治疗中的临床意义。方法 回顾性分析125例中晚期肝癌肝动脉造影表现及其介入治疗资料。结果 125例中107例(85．6％)有典型肝动脉分布。肝动脉变异18例(14．4％)，其中肝右动脉变异10例(8％)，而又以肝右动脉始于肠系膜上动脉者最多，占6．4％。副肝左动脉变异1例(0．8％)。肝左动脉和肝右动脉同时变异2例(1．6％)。肝总动脉变异3例(2．4％)。胃十二指肠动脉起自肝右动脉和腹腔动脉各1例(1．6％)。对123例成功进行了肝动脉化疗栓塞，2例肝右动脉变异因角度关系超选插管未成功。结论 认识肝动脉解剖变异有助于提高插管的成功率和中晚期肝癌的介入治疗疗效。     

不同剂量orexin2A对麻醉大鼠催醒效果观察

目的研究侧脑室注射不同剂量orexin2A对麻醉大鼠脑电图（electroencephalogram,EEG）、翻正反射消失（loss of righting reflex,LRR）持续时间、共济失调等的影响。方法腹腔注射氯胺酮75mg/kg及咪达唑仑5mg/kg麻醉大鼠后,侧脑室注射不同剂量orexin2A,通过大鼠脑电δ波比例、LRR持续时间及共济失调监测,了解不同剂量orexin2A对麻醉大鼠催醒效果。结果与对照组相比,侧脑室注射orexin2A1nmol后,大鼠脑电δ波、LRR持续时间及共济失调时间,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;侧脑室注射orexin2A4、7、10nmol后,大鼠脑电δ波、LRR持续时间及共济失调时间,差异有统计学意义（t=22.81～36.45,P〈0.01）;高剂量组与超高剂量组比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论侧脑室注射orexin2A可使麻醉深度变浅,麻醉时间缩短,并可促进麻醉后运动功能恢复,存在一定的量效关系。     

46例首诊伴远处转移鼻咽癌的预后分析

Objective To retrospectively analyze the therapeutic results of patients with initially di-agnosed metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods From January 1995 to December 1998, 46 NPC patients with distant metastases were treated in Fujian provincial cancer hospital. Among these pa-tients, 43 were single site metastasis and 3 were multiple sites metastases;The site of metastasis were 19 pa-tients in the liver, 11 in the bone, 7 in the lung, 1 in the brain, 6 in mediastinal nodes and 6 in axillary lymph nodes. All patients received standard radiotherapy to the primary site and cervical node region with a median dose of 72 Gy. Forty-one patients (89%) received 1-5 cycles chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-flu-orouracil), and 23 (50%) received palliative irradiation to the metastatic site. Results The median surviv-al time was 20 months. The 1-, 2-, 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 66%, 47%, 30% and 19%, respectively. Irradiation to the metastatic sites and KPS were the significant prognostic factors. Pa-tients with palliative irradiation to the metastatic site had longer survival than those without (39 months vs. 13 months, X2=8.63, P=0.012). Patients with good performance status (KPS≥80) had better outcomes thanthose with poor performance status (26 months vs. 12 months, X2= 3.95, P=0.035) . Conclusions Active therapy may prolong the survival of patients with initially diagnosed metastatic NPC, especially for those who have good performance status. Under systematic chemotherapy, radiotherapy to the primary site and supportive care, the palliative irradiation to the metastatic site may also yield a good result.     

腹腔镜辅助胃底贲门癌根治术：附22例报告

目的探讨腹腔镜辅助下行D2式胃底贲门癌根治术的临床效果。方法回顾性分析3年间行腹腔镜辅助下胃底贲门癌根治术22例患者的临床资料。全组均行腹腔镜辅助下近端胃大部切除术。结果无中转开腹,平均手术时间188(162~270)min。术中平均出血182(100~260)mL。淋巴结清扫18.6(10~32)枚。术后患者平均胃肠道功能恢复时间78(48~140)h。1例肿瘤侵犯食管下段的患者术后发生吻合口瘘,经留置空肠营养管、抗炎、充分引流等处理后4周痊愈。无手术死亡。全组术后随访1~37个月,平均9.2个月,无复发转移病例。结论腹腔镜辅助下行D2式胃底贲门癌根治术方法可行,效果好,具有视野清晰、创伤小、出血少、恢复快等优点。     

Novel IgE peptide-based vaccine prevents the increase of IgE and down-regulates elevated IgE in rodents

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy with anti-IgE antibodies for treatment of allergy is promising but a short half-life and extremely high cost limit its application. OBJECTIVE: We sought to develop IgE vaccines that induce longer-lasting auto-antibodies to neutralize self-IgE as an alternative therapy. METHODS: The vaccine was made by conjugating three synthetic peptides corresponding to human IgE receptor-binding sites to a carrier, hepatitis B surface antigen. To test the immunogenicity of the vaccine, rats were immunized with the vaccine or hepatitis B surface antigen as control. Serum IgG titres to human IgE and the IgE of other species were measured. The inhibition by rat antisera of the binding of human IgE to its receptor was assessed by ELISA, flow cytometry analysis, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), and its ability to recognize receptor-bound IgE was examined. The in vivo effect of the vaccine was evaluated in trichosanthin-sensitized mice and rats. In the preventative study, vaccination started before sensitization commenced, while in the treatment study, vaccination started after sensitization. Sensitized mice and rats receiving injections of the carrier served as controls. Trichosanthin-specific IgE was measured using PCA. RESULTS: Sera from vaccine-immunized rats contained high titre antibodies that reacted with soluble and plate-bound but not with receptor-bound human IgE; they also reacted with mouse, rat, and dog IgE. Furthermore, the sera inhibited the binding of human IgE to its receptor in a dose-dependent manner. In preventative and treatment studies, serum trichosanthin-specific IgE levels were significantly reduced in vaccinated groups compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Antibodies against self-IgE can be induced by IgE peptide-based vaccines, which are effective in preventing the increase of IgE and in down-regulating IgE in sensitized animals.     

One-year follow-up results of combined use of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery in professional voice users

The purpose of this study was to present our experience with combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery and to evaluate 1-year follow-up results of the technique in a series of professional voice users. Fifteen patients with Reinke’s edema who underwent microlaryngoscopic surgery were included. Videolaryngostroboscopy, perceptual and acoustic voice analyses were performed before and after surgery. During the 1-year follow-up, no recurrence of Reinke’s edema was encountered. Significant postoperative improvement was obtained in the quality of voice, in terms of GRBAS scores, Fo, jitter, shimmer and NHR. No evidence of laryngeal cancer was found on the histological examinations. Combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation provides a reliable and safe method for Reinke’s edema surgery, and cessation of smoking, voice rest and control of the laryngopharyngeal reflux contribute to the success of surgery. We consider that the removal of redundant mucosa of the vocal fold reduces the risk of the recurrence of Reinke’s edema and provides better quality of voice. However, it does not imply that our method is superior to others’, but this procedure constitutes an effective treatment of choice for Reinke’s edema patients, including professional voice users.     

Selective parity RARE imaging.

This work describes a novel method for rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE)/fast spin-echo (FSE) imaging that removes the constraint of compliance with the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) condition. In a multiecho sequence, echoes with either odd or even parities are acquired. The refocusing angles are chosen using a recursive algorithm, so that the signal amplitude satisfies a predetermined modulation function. In the examples given in this article an exponential decay to a plateau is used. At each echo the echo parity that gives the desired signal amplitude for the minimum refocusing angle is selected. It is further shown that in the presence of an initial magnetization having an arbitrary phase distribution, the complex conjugate of the signal of one echo parity has to be taken and its k-space coordinates reversed. T(2) (*)-weighted images are presented and initial applications to diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and functional imaging shown.