Nails in systemic disease

Nail plate and nail unit abnormalities may be helpful as diagnostic tools or as a part of the puzzle for confirmation of systemic disease. There are specific and nonspecific nail signs, which can be seen involving one or more nails, that occur simultaneously or secondary to systemic disease. Occasionally these clues can be diagnostic, while most are nonspecific reaction patterns. Nail changes occur in the nail plate as a result of nail matrix abnormalities caused by systemic disease and other systemic insults such as reactions to medications. In this article we review some of the more common nail signs that can be used to help diagnose systemic disease.     

Pharmacokinetics, metabolism and renal excretion of sulfatroxazole and its 5-hydroxy- and N4-acetyl-metabolites in man

Hydroxylation is the predominant pathway of metabolism for sulfatroxazole in the body, accounting for 70 per cent of the dose. Fifteen per cent of the dose is acetylated unimodally and 10 per cent is excreted unchanged. The half-lives of sulfatroxazole and its metabolites 5-hydroxysulfatroxazole and N4-acetylsulfatroxazole are approximately 22 h after administration of sulfatroxazole. N4-acetylsulfatroxazole, taken as parent drug, is eliminated by renal excretion (92 per cent of the dose). The initial elimination half-life of N4-acetylsulfatroxazole is 4.5 h, which later increases to 70 h as the result of the acetylation-deacetylation equilibrium. Probenecid inhibits the renal excretion of the metabolites 5-hydroxy- and N4-acetylsulfatroxazole. Inhibition of the N4-acetyl metabolite favours the deacetylation, which results in an increase of the T 1/2 of sulfatroxazole from 20 to 30 h. The protein binding value of sulfatroxazole is 84 per cent, that of N4-acetylsulfatroxazole is 37 per cent. Sulfatroxazole is excreted renally by passive processes, while the metabolites are excreted by both passive and active processes.     

Discriminative conditioning-related slow potential and single-unit responses in the frontal cortex of urethane-anesthetized rats

A model is described for obtaining long-term and stable discriminative conditioning-related slow-potential and single-unit responses from the frontal cortex of urethane-anesthetized rats. Responses were recorded and analyzed to reinforced (rewarding medial forebrain bundle stimulation) and non-reinforced tone cues. In the present study, cortical event-related slow potentials provided an adequate index of the level of discriminative conditioning. Single-unit response patterns are described for 57 neurons which demonstrated a discriminative response to either the reinforced or non-reinforced tone cue.     

Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

Recovery profile of single motoneurons after electrical stimuli in man

The H-reflex of 120 soleus motoneurons was recorded using fibre EMG. The recovery profile of these motoneurons was studied during monitoring surface H-reflex records in 28 adult subjects. The spectrum of motoneurons tested was homogeneous with two extremes of neurons having different characteristics. A motoneuron population (forming about 69% of our sample) had a high threshold level for electrical stimuli, short recovery time, and short recovery fringe time (called type A). A second population of motoneurons (forming about 20-30% of our sample) had a low threshold level for electrical stimuli, long recovery fringe time (called type B). During an isometric muscle contraction every motoneuron showed an early shift in recovery time (i.e. each had a shorter recovery time) with shortened recovery fringe time. These changes were larger for motoneurons type B than motoneurons type A. With paired identical electrical stimuli of varying interstimulus intervals a motoneuron may fire in response to the conditioning and test stimuli giving an H2, but not in response to both stimuli. This occurred for interstimulus intervals of 4-11 ms. A strong inhibition period was recorded with interstimulus intervals of 12-80 ms in which all motoneurons did not show any recovery. Most motoneurons recovered in orderly fashion between 80 and 300 ms of interstimulus interval, and this recovery coincided with the fast recovery recorded in surface H-reflex. All motoneurons were recovered by 3000 ms of interstimulus intervals. These findings emphasize the importance of eliciting the H-reflex every 3-5 s in H-reflex methodology in order to be assured that all excited motoneurons have been recovered.     

用护理工时量化法考核ICU护士的绩效

目的探索一种适合ICU护理工作特点的管理模式，提高管理效应。方法用护理工作量、ICU护理质量标准奖惩考核、职称系数三部分综合考评护理工时，与护士的绩效工资分配直接挂钩。结果护理工时量化法实施后，护理质量考核评分，患者？医生对护理质量满意率显著高于实施前（P〈0．05，P〈0．01）。结论护理工时量化绩效分配克服了经验式管理的弊端，建立了有效的激励机制，体现了多劳多得、优劳优得的分配原则，挖掘了护理人员的自身潜力，提高了护理质量。     

活体亲属肾移植手术的17例报告

目的总结活体亲属肾移植的临床经验。方法对供、受者进行全面的免疫学检查，对供者行IVU检查了解分侧肾功能，行DSA或MRA、螺旋CT血管三维成像检查了解血管的变异情况之后，开放式手术摘取供肾13例，经后腹腔镜活体供肾摘取4例，按常规方法移植给受者。免疫抑制方案为环孢素A（或FK506）、霉酚酸酯（或硫唑嘌呤、雷帕鸣）、强的松三联免疫抑制剂。结果13例开放式手术时间1．5～3．0h，平均2．0h；热缺血时间1．0～1．5min，平均1．2min；术中出血量60～200ml，平均140ml，术中及术后均未输血；术后住院7～10d，平均8d。4例后腹腔镜手术时间3．0～4．5h，平均3．5h；热缺血时间2．5～3．5min，平均2．8min；术中出血量60～100ml，平均75ml，术中及术后均未输血；术后3～5d出院。移植肾血液循环恢复后10～40s泌尿，平均20s。1例受者术后45d发生轻微的急性排斥反应，应用激素冲击3d后逆转，其余受者均无并发症。随访4～60个月，人／肾存活率为100％，移植肾功能良好。结论活体亲属肾移植安全可行，取左肾尽量靠近腹主动脉壁切断肾动脉，取右肾切取少许下腔静脉片。     

后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗上尿路移行细胞癌(附83例报告)

目的 探讨后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的效果和安全性. 方法 2003年3月～2006年7月,我院采用后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗83例上尿路移行细胞癌.经尿道袖状电切患侧输尿管口周围1.5 cm范围膀胱壁达膀胱外脂肪组织,采用后腹腔镜切除肾及全长输尿管.术后留置导尿管7 d.11例术后辅助放疗. 结果 83例手术均成功.手术时间115～205 min,平均156 min.术中出血50～150 ml,平均80 ml.无术中并发症.术后住院7～11 d,平均8.5 d.病理报告：82例上尿路移行细胞癌,1例肾盂上皮中～重度不典型增生.术后随访3～38个月,平均10.8月.术后12个月内行膀胱镜检查发现膀胱肿瘤6例,其中5例行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切,1例行腹腔镜根治性膀胱全切术、左侧输尿管皮肤造口术.2例肾盂肿瘤（pT3 G3和pT2 G3）于术后3个月肝转移.2例输尿管中段肿瘤（pT3 G3和pT3 G2～3）术后6个月原位复发并肺转移.1例输尿管下段肿瘤（pT3 G3）术后6个月骨转移.失访1例.其余71例均未发现肿瘤复发、切口转移及远处转移. 结论 对于上尿路移行细胞癌,采用后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜行肾、输尿管全切及膀胱袖套状切除具有创伤小、安全、恢复快等优点,值得临床推广应用.     

重组大鼠肝再生增强因子对急性肾衰竭大鼠肾脏的保护作用

目的 探讨重组大鼠肝再生增强因子(rrALR)对庆大霉素所致急性肾衰竭（ARF）大鼠肾小管上皮细胞及肾功能的保护作用。 方法 雌性Wistar大鼠150只，随机分成5组，每组30只，即健康对照组，ARF模型组，模型+空质粒对照组（空质粒组），模型+rrALR干预组（ALR组）：根据给予rrALR的剂量不同分为ALR1组和ALR2组两个亚组。分别于实验的第4、8、12、16和21天每组随机抽取6只大鼠在留取血、尿标本后，处死大鼠并取肾组织标本。常规生化方法检测各组大鼠BUN、Scr和尿N-乙酰-β-D-葡萄糖苷酶（NAG）酶的变化；PAS染色观察各组大鼠肾组织病理学改变；免疫组化法检测大鼠肾组织中ALR和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达；Western印迹法检测肾组织中ALR蛋白的表达量。 结果 ARF大鼠各组BUN、Scr及尿NAG酶水平在第4、8、12、16天时均较对照组显著升高（P < 0.05）。与模型组和空质粒组相比，ALR组BUN、Scr及尿NAG酶水平明显降低（P < 0.05）；肾组织病理损害程度在各时间点明显减轻；而肾组织的ALR蛋白表达增加（P < 0.05）；肾小管上皮细胞增殖活跃；PCNA阳性细胞呈弥漫性分布，增殖指数（PI）明显升高（P < 0.05）。 结论 rrALR对急性损伤的肾小管上皮细胞具有减轻病变和促进再生修复的作用，可明显改善ARF大鼠的肾功能。