Comparative haematological and plasma chemistry values in purpose-bred squirrel, cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys

Haematological and blood chemistry data have been compared for three species of purpose-bred primates, Macaca mulatta (rhesus monkey), Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus monkey), Saimiri sciureus (squirrel monkey). These species were housed over a 9-month period in identical conditions (diet, tap water, room temperature and relative humidity, and lighting regime) in our primate facility. Blood and urine assays were conducted using the same pre-analytical conditions (blood sampling procedure, anticoagulant and storage of sample), and analytical methods (reagent and equipment).The results indicated that squirrel, rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys have essentially biologically similar values for all of the parameters examined. However, haemoglobin level, reticulocyte, plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin and urea nitrogen values, and urinary osmolality in cynomolgus monkeys were statistically lower than those of rhesus monkeys. Erythrocyte count, plasma ALT, calcium and potassium in cynomolgus monkeys were statistically higher than those of rhesus monkeys. Erythrocyte count, haemoglobin level, haematocrit, reticulocyte, plasma total bilirubin and chloride and urinary osmolality in cynomolgus monkeys were statistically lower than those of squirrel monkeys. Leucocyte count, plasma total protein, albumin and calcium in cynomolgus monkeys were statistically higher than those of squirrel monkeys. Squirrel monkeys showed marked deviations in four assays from the other two species: ratio of lymphocytes to neutrophils, AST, ALT and urine volume.The results obtained in this study will be used as baseline data for haematology and clinical chemistry characteristics for three species of purpose-bred monkeys.     

ECLIPS: An extended clinical laboratory information processing system

The clinical laboratory is regarded as a component of the medical care system extending from physician to laboratory staff and back to physician. From this concept a computer-based system of laboratory information is derived, emphasizing: (1) total laboratory responsibility for the test and its request, and (2) physician-oriented output reports.     

Cytogenetic studies of bone marrow and extramedullary tissues and clinical course during metamorphosis of chronic myelocytic leukemia

Of 33 consecutive patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia, examined during metamorphosis, 82% showed chromosome abnormalities in addition to the Ph1. Aberrations most frequently encountered were +8 (39%), +22q - (30%), and i(17q) (18%). Translocations other than the Ph1 were observed in four cases and - Y clones in four cases. Discrepancies in the cytogenetic pattern between bone marrow and extramedullary tissues or blood were noted in a total of 15 patients. In six cases, transformation occurred in extramedullary organs at a time when it was not present in the marrow. In three cases the bone marrow transformation was preceded by a lymph node blastic infiltrate; in one case, by a skin infiltrate; and in one case, by a subdural blastoma. Clonal abnormalities additional to the Ph1 were identified in the tumor tissue from all these cases. Patients with primary extramedullary transformation tended to have a lower median age at onset of metamorphosis, shorter survival, and higher incidence of chromosome abnormalities than the cases without extramedullary involvement. Patients with only Ph1-positive cells and no other anomalies had a slightly longer duration of metamorphosis and longer total survival. Basophilia and thrombocytopenia were more marked in cases with i(17q) than in the rest of the series.     

催经止孕药Ru-486的临床药代动力学

应用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)研究了抗孕激素药,Ru-486的临床药代动力学。六名志愿受试者,一次口服Ru-486 50毫克后测得该药的药代动力学各项参数,血药半寿期t 1/2 33.0小时,一级消除速率常数Kel 0.021 hr~(-1),血药表观容积Vd 120.1 Liter,体内血药总廓清率Cl2.5 Liter/hr,药-时曲线下面积Auc 19825.1 ng/ml/hr。实验表明,服药后一小时血药浓度迅即达高峰,随后转入消除期,血浆药物浓度在消除相的头4～8小时消除较快,而后逐渐减慢,持续24小时,到48小时血药浓度已较低(0.15±0.07μg/ml)。     

Younger Nursing Home Residents: A Scoping Review of Their Lived Experiences,Needs, and Quality of Life

ObjectivesThe percentage of younger nursing home (NH) residents (ages 18–64 years) in some countries such as the United States and Canada has been increasing over the years. In fact, it is generally held that younger NH residents are considerably different from the older residents (age ≥65 years). There is a need to understand who they are, why they resided in NHs, and their quality of life (QoL). The aims of the study were to describe the experiences, needs, and QoL among younger residents living in NHs.DesignScoping review.Settings and Participants(Younger) Residents of NHs.MethodsFive databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus) and Google Scholar were used to search for relevant studies. PRISMA diagram was used to guide this scoping review.ResultsThe key findings of the study cover 5 themes: (1) Confinement, (2) Lack of socialization, (3) Lack of privacy, (4) Lack of appropriate settings, and (5) Loss of identity, as well as results of QoL were generated.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis scoping review provides a deeper understanding of the lived experiences, needs, and QoL among younger NH residents. The results provide suggestions for future studies regarding new interventions to optimize the QoL of NH residents.     

A Local COVID-19 Support Platform for Nursing Homes: Feedback and Perspectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on nursing homes (NHs), which were not prepared to manage infections among their at-risk patient populations. In order to comply with the French government's guidelines, we rapidly set up a local support platform (LSP) to help NHs manage their cases of COVID-19. The LSP comprised multidisciplinary decision support, a specialist phone hotline, mobile geriatric medicine teams, and videoconferences on COVID-19.We first quantified the LSP's interventions in 63 local NHs since the start of the first wave of COVID-19 (March 2020): 9 instances of multidisciplinary decision support, 275 calls to the specialist phone hotline, 84 interventions by mobile geriatric medicine teams, and 16 videoconferences. The LSP had been used during and between the first and second waves of the epidemic, and all had evolved to meet the NHs' needs.     

Absence of COVID-19 Disease Among Chronically Ventilated Nursing Home Patients

ObjectiveTo describe the experience of COVID-19 disease among chronically ventilated and nonventilated nursing home patients living in 3 separate nursing homes.DesignObservational study of death, respiratory illness and COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results among residents and staff during nursing home outbreaks in 2020.Setting and Participants93 chronically ventilated nursing home patients and 1151 nonventilated patients living among 3 separate nursing homes on Long Island, New York, as of March 15, 2020. Illness, PCR results, and antibody studies among staff are also reported.MeasurementsData were collected on death rate among chronically ventilated and nonventilated patients between March 15 and May 15, 2020, compared to the same time in 2019; prevalence of PCR positivity among ventilated and nonventilated patients in 2020; reported illness, PCR positivity, and antibody among staff.ResultsTotal numbers of deaths among chronically ventilated nursing home patients during this time frame were similar to the analogous period 1 year earlier (9 of 93 in 2020 vs 8 of 100 in 2019, P = .8), whereas deaths among nonventilated patients were greatly increased (214 of 1151 in 2020 vs 55 of 1189 in 2019, P < .001). No ventilated patient deaths were clinically judged to be COVID-19 related. No clusters of COVID-19 illness could be demonstrated among ventilated patients. Surveillance PCR testing of ventilator patients failed to reveal COVID-19 positivity (none of 84 ventilator patients vs 81 of 971 nonventilator patients, P < .002). Illness and evidence of COVID-19 infection was demonstrated among staff working both in nonventilator and in ventilator units.Conclusions and ImplicationsCOVID-19 infection resulted in illness and death among nonventilated nursing home residents as well as among staff. This was not observed among chronically ventilated patients. The mechanics of chronic ventilation appears to protect chronically ventilated patients from COVID-19 disease.     

无呼吸道症状肺癌35例临床分析

目的：探讨完全无症状或无呼吸道症状肺癌的早期诊断。方法：随机抽取1995年2月至2001年3月经临床及病理诊断为肺癌的380例,其中“无症状”肺癌35例进行分析。结果：由于“无症状”肺癌的异位内分泌等作用,致使患者表现为神经科,骨科,皮肤科,消化科,内分泌科学等多学科病变。结论：为了提高“无症状”肺癌的早期确诊率,及早行胸片,CT片,支行镜等相关检查相当重要,定期体检对于早期发现肺癌有重要的意义。