Splanchnic ischaemia and its role in multiple organ failure

Multiple organ failure remains the leading cause of death in the intensive care unit. Increasing numbers of investigators have focused their attention on the role of gastrointestinal tract in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. Their data indicate that inadequate gut perfusion leads to a measurable imbalance between oxygen delivery and the needs of the tissues, i.e., ischaemia. Gut ischaemia of sufficient duration impairs gastrointestinal tract barrier function, facilitating the passage of enteric bacterial endotoxin into the circulation. It has been hypothesized that production of tumor necrosis factor α, and other biologic mediators by endotoxin–stimulated macrophages, triggers a generalized and uncontrolled inflammatory response that ultimately leads to multiple organ failure.
Preliminary evidence suggests that survival can be improved significantly if gut ischaemia is promptly identifed and aggressively treated by administration of fluids and inotropic drugs, using gastric intramucosal pH as the therapeutic endpoint. Future studies are needed to determine whether additional treatment modalities can improve outcome once the inflammatory response has fully developed.     

Toll-like receptors in Borrelia burgdorferi-induced inflammation

Lyme arthritis, the most common manifestation of late Lyme disease, has been associated with the presence of Borellia burgdorferi in the joint. However, it is still unclear whether the pathogen itself is able to elicit such a sustained inflammatory response, or whether an aberrant immunological reaction of the host is the main driving force. Borrelia antigens, including lipoproteins, flagellin and DNA, are ligands of Toll-like receptors, and can thus elicit a strong stimulation of host cells, such as neutrophils, mononuclear cells and resident tissue cells. Understanding the molecular basis of the signalling events caused by Borrelia lipoproteins will lead to a greater understanding of inflammation in Lyme arthritis and, hopefully, new treatment strategies for chronic antibiotic-resistant disease.     

中西医结合治疗慢性盆腔炎100例疗效观察

目的:采用中西医结合治疗慢性盆腔炎,减少复发,提高治愈率。方法:对我院门诊患者100例采用胎盘组织液肌注,金钢藤胶囊口服,并用我院自制中药妇炎肠疗液灌肠。结果:临床显效40例,有效56例,无效4例,总有效率96％。结论:中西医结合治疗慢性盆腔炎疗效满意,是目前治疗慢性盆腔炎的最好方法。     

Treatment with combined oral contraceptives induces a rise in serum C-reactive protein in the absence of a general inflammatory response

BACKGROUND: The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is well established. C-reactive protein (CRP) is the strongest independent predictor of myocardial infarction and stroke in women. Recent studies have indicated that CRP levels are raised during use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of COCs on serum CRP levels and to indicate the underlying mechanisms of an expected increase. METHOD: In a prospective randomized cross over-study 35 women used two different preparations of COC, one second and one third generation. Serum levels of CRP, serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), antibodies against oxidized LDL, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) along with insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and IGFBP-3 were analyzed before and during the two treatments. E-selectin, von Willebrand factor and factor VIII concentrations in plasma were also measured. RESULTS: A rise in serum CRP was observed during both treatments; the median level increased from 0.45 mg L(-1) at baseline to 1.48 mg L(-1) with second generation and to 2.02 mg L(-1) with third generation COC. The serum levels of SAA increased slightly during treatment with the third generation COC. IL-6 and TNFalpha were unaffected by treatment. Both preparations lowered IGF-I and raised IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations. CONCLUSION: The raised serum CRP concentration during treatment with COCs appears to be related to a direct effect on hepatocyte CRP synthesis and does not reflect IL-6 mediated inflammation, endothelial activation or induction of insulin resistance.     

Inflammaging as a Major Characteristic of Old People: Can It Be Prevented or Cured?

Widespread aging at the population level is a recent phenomenon that emerged in affluent societies. Inflammation is necessary to cope with damaging agents and is crucial for survival, particularly to cope with acute inflammation during our reproductive years. But chronic exposure to a variety of antigens, especially to some viruses such as cytomegalovirus, for a period much longer than that predicted by evolution, induces a chronic low-grade inflammatory status that contributes to age-associated morbidity and mortality. This condition carries the proposed name "inflammaging". Centenarians are unique in that, despite high levels of pro-inflammatory markers, they also exhibit anti-inflammatory markers that may delay disease onset. The key to successful aging and longevity is to decrease chronic inflammation without compromising an acute response when exposed to pathogens.     

外科系统分离菌对抗生素耐药性的监测

研究外科感染的病原菌及其对抗生素的耐药性，以指导临床用药。方法：采用Ｖｉｔｅｋ－ＡｍｓＳｙｓｔｅｍ和Ｋ－Ｂ法，对外科临床标本进行细菌培养并菌株对１８种的耐药性。     

多功能盆腔炎治疗仪

本治疗仪的主要特点是采用腔内治疗电极并将电疗，热疗，磁疗和按摩疗法有机结合在一起，对盆腔炎实施综合同步治疗；采用数字频率合成技术，所有治疗波形全部由软件生成，使输出的电疗波形不断变化，从根本上解决了电疗过程中人体对单一电疗波形的适应性。     

鳞癌相关抗原的检测及临床意义

本文对７７例肺癌，４８例食管鳞癌和１４例良性疾病病人进行了鳞癌相关抗原（ＳｑｕａｍｏｕｓＣｅｌｌＣａｒｉｎｏｍａＡｎｔｉｇｅｎ，ＳＣＣ—Ａｇ）测定，肺鳞癌（４５例）阳性率为６８．８％（＞１．５ｎｇ／ｍｌ）；腺癌（１８例）阳性率１６．６％；小细胞癌（８例）阳性率１２．５％；大细胞癌（６例）阳性率１６．７％。食管鳞癌阳性率３１．３％。１４例良性疾病均阴性。治疗前ＳＣＣ—Ａｇ浓度与肿瘤分期呈对应关系，肺鳞癌Ⅰ期阳性率为２２．２％；Ⅱ期为６４．２％；Ⅲ期８２．３％；Ⅳ期则１００％。食管鳞癌Ⅰ～Ⅱ期阳性率为１３．４％；Ⅲ～Ⅳ期阳性率为４８％。在行肿瘤根治切除的病人，其ＳＣＣ—Ａｇ在术后７２小时内转阴，而行非根治手术的病人，其ＳＣＣ—Ａｇ仍为阳性。治疗后无转移和复发的鳞癌病人，其ＳＣＣ—Ａｇ持续阴性，该抗原在治疗后由阴性再次上升为阳性，临床均证实为复发。     

Immunoregulatory Effect of Substance P in Human Eosinophil Migratory Function

Substance P (SP) is a tachykinin involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes. To investigate a modulatory role of the neuropeptide SP in allergic inflammation, we studied its priming effect on human eosinophil chemotaxis and kinetic responses towards platelet activating factor (PAF) and recombinant human interleukin 5 (rhlL-5). Blood was obtained from normal subjects and eosinophils were separated by Percoll discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. High purification was obtained by negative selection procedure (CD16-beads) and the experiments were performed in a 48-well microchemotaxis Boyden chamber. In the present study we demonstrate a potent synergistic effect of 100nM dose of SP on the migratory function of human eosinophils stimulated by PAF and rhIL-5. This synergism was chemotaxis specific and was abolished by NK-1 receptor antagonist (FK888). The results suggest that neurogenic stimuli may play a significant role in eosinophil infiltration via its priming effect on the cell.