The role of macrophages in demyelination

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). In particular in the CsA-induced chronic relapsing form (CREAE), pronounced demyelination occurs, in temporal association with relapses. It is still a matter of discussion which cell type ultimately is responsible for the actual process of demyelination. Macrophages, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and also astrocytes are possible candidates. In this short overview, the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of EAE is discussed. It is shown that in particular, newly recruited macrophages play a crucial role in the generation of clinical signs. Possible mechanisms by which macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases are presented.     

Integrating human factors into the medical curriculum

Background  The study of human factors is a scientific discipline that deals with the interactions between human beings and the elements of a system. This is important because shortcomings in these areas, if unchecked, can result in adverse outcomes. Research into human factors in industries where safety is paramount has provided the basis of countermeasures against human error. Adverse outcomes in medicine resulting from human error exact a high cost in both patient suffering and financial outlay.
CRM training  One of the approaches used to minimise the effect of human error is to train people in a set of knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin the domain-specific competencies for that profession. These are referred to as non-technical skills (NTS). In aviation, such an approach has been shown to be both translatable from the training environment to the workplace and effective in reducing adverse outcomes.
Discussion  Medicine has incorporated this style of training, usually centred around simulator-based courses, but as yet in a piecemeal, episodic fashion which relies on participants volunteering to attend courses. Unlike other industries there is no systematic approach to linking the content of this teaching with the more conventional range of topics. As a consequence it is difficult to assess the impact of human factors training in medicine. This is partly because very little work has been done to date in identifying the key non-technical skills required in medicine, and the overall experience of workplace based assessment is limited. Lessons from other high reliability organisations may help to address the main challenges of developing the content, integrating it into the curriculum, reinforcing the concepts in the workplace through staff development and establishing its role in summative assessment.     

人工食管植入术后影像学检查的实验研究

目的 探讨影像学检查方法在人工食管实验研究中的应用价值。方法 对10只植入胸段记忆合金组合式人工食管的实验动物模型术后所进行X线平片和食管造影检查结果进行观察分析研究。结果 X线平片清晰显示胸内植入记忆合金组合式人工食管植入的位置原位固定〉9个月3只；2—3月内脱管3只；〉3个月内脱管4只；管体全部滑至胃内，食管造影连续摄片显示重度新生食管狭窄3只；轻度新生食管狭窄4只，同期介入安放食管支架2只．全组仅见1只发生吻合口细小瘘。无发现其它胸内并发症。结论 ①X线检查是进行人工食管动物实验研究简单且实用的检查方法．②食管造影连续摄片检查方法可为已建立植入人工食管的猪实验动物模型术后的观察研究及介入治疗提供多方面的支持帮助。     

Effect of anti-interferon-γ and anti-interleukin-2 monoclonal antibody treatment on the development of actively and passively induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the SJL/J mouse

SJL/J mice challenged with myelin basic protein (MBP) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) developed only mild chronic-relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with very low incidence. However, treatment of challenged mice with anti-infeferonγ (IFN-γ) monoclonal antibody (mAb) determined severe disease in all cases. Similarly, in passive EAE, the addition of anti-IFN-γ to the in vitro MBP-activated cells at the time of transfer led to significant disease exacerbation in all recipients. The disease enhancing effect was observed only when the mAb was given at the time of active challenge or of passive transfer, but not at later times. Anti-interleukin-2 (IL-2) antibody had only a marginal effect in the active induction, but drastically reduced the manifestations of passive EAE, even when mixed with a disease-enhancing dose of anti-IFN-γ. These findings support the notion that IL-2 is required for disease induction whereas IFN-γ plays a disease-limiting role early in the development of EAE.     

Three-dimensional bone kinematics in an anterior laxity test of the ankle joint

Questions addressed in this in-vitro study are (1) what are the actual three-dimensional kinematics of talus and calcaneus during an anterior drawer test as performed with the quasi-static anterior ankle tester (QAAT) (2) does laxity measurement with the QAAT represent the true anterior translation of talus relative to the tibia?. Simultaneous measurements were made with the QAAT and a three-dimensional kinematics analysis system in five specimens. The three-dimensional translations and rotations on three axes were analysed at 25, 50 and 100 N of applied anterior load, with increased ligament damage. For four out of five remaining specimens, anterior translation values of talus and calcaneus and values as measured with the QAAT show a significant increase with growing ligament damage and with higher loads. Skeletal motions of talus and calcaneus show great similarity in three different motion axes, with increased ligament damage and at any given load. Skeletal translations and rotations of talus and calcaneus show great similarity during an anterior drawer movement of the ankle joint. Anterior skeletal translation of the talus and calcaneus show fair correlation with the anterior displacements measurements of the QAAT. These QAAT measurements show an overestimation of the laxity value by more than 200% irrespective of the load applied.     

An Educator''s Guide to Teaching Emergency Medicine to Medical Students

There is a need for every medical school graduate to handle emergencies as they arise in the daily practice of medicine. Emergency medicine (EM) educators are in a unique position to provide students with basic life support skills, guidance in assessing the undifferentiated patient, and exposure to the specialty of EM during all years of medical school. Emergency physicians can become involved in a variety of education experiences that can supplement the preclinical curriculum and provide access to our specialty at an early stage. A well-designed course in the senior year allows students to develop critical thinking and patient management skills that are necessary for any medical career path. It can ensure that all medical students are exposed to the skills essential for evaluating and stabilizing the acutely ill patient. To implement this type of course, learning objectives and evaluation methods must be set when the curriculum is developed. An effective course combines didactic and clinical components that draw on the strengths of the teaching institution and faculty of the department. A structured clerkship orientation session and system for feedback to students are essential in nurturing the development of student learners. This article provides an approach to assist the medical student clerkship director in planning and implementing EM education experiences for students at all levels of training, with an emphasis on the senior-year rotation.     

农药唑呀威毒理及中毒治疗的实验研究

唑呀威（Ｔｒｉａｚｕｒｏｎ）系新型的高效杀蚜虫剂。目前，对其抑制胆碱酯酶活性的毒理尚报道不一。作者在进行毒性测试和发现１６名包装工夏季作业时８名出现明显症状的基础上，开展动物实验研究。结果发现，唑呀威有较有机磷农药更为快速的胆碱酯酶抑制作用，大鼠经口染毒１１２．５ｍｇ／ｋｇ仅３０ｍｉｎ内即见全血胆碱酯酶活性显著下降，Ｐ＜０．０１；且存在明显剂量－反应关系。高剂量（２００ｍｇ／ｋｇ）还可引起心血管系统的损害。注射阿托品有显著解救效果，染毒同时给药的解救效果明显优于染毒后５分钟给药，提示愈早给药解救效果愈好。作者由此提出了临床中毒急救措施的建议     

Choosing a career in general practice: the influence of medical schools

Summary. This paper reviews the literature on career choice to investigate the undergraduate influences on the preference of Australian graduates for a career in general practice. Although isolation of influencing factors is difficult, admission criteria and undergraduate curricula may influence career preference. As the institutional environment of medical schools is weighted towards scientific research and specialized medicine, medical students may be socialized into choosing non-generalist careers. Medical schools should consider broadening selection criteria and curriculum exposure to produce graduates with a broad range of career interests.     

温阳健心灵口服液治疗充血性心力衰竭的临床与实验研究

以煎剂形成筛选治疗CHF的处方，发现温阳益气方改善泵血功能的效果优于单纯益气和养阴益气的处方。根据前方制备的温阳健心灵口服液保持了原煎剂的疗效，并被毒理学试验证明毒性极低。动物药效学及临床试验发现该药不仅能改善心衰犬和病人的左室收缩功能，还能改善其舒张功能。除此，它还具有利尿作用和使PAWA、SVR和PVR下降的作用，这也是它抗心衰的机理之一。90例的临床观察（疗程2周）表明该药总有效率、近期治愈率和显效率分别达88．9％、7．4％和18．5％，其效与开搏通组无明显差异。