Levetiracetam monotherapy in Alzheimer patients with late-onset seizures: a prospective observational study

Levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy was investigated in 25 patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) and new-onset epileptic seizures in a prospective open-label study. At a daily dose of 1000–1500 mg, 72% were seizure-free for at least one year; 16% discontinued for untolerability; 8% were unresponsive; 4% were lost to follow-up. These results suggest the need for controlled studies to confirm if LEV can be a first-choice drug in AD.     

脑梗死后早发性癫(癎)发作临床特点分析

目的:探讨脑梗死(CI)后早发性癫癎发作(EES)的临床特点。方法:对2643例确诊为CI患者的临床资料进行回顾性研究。结果:CI后EES的发生率为4.58%,女性高于男性(P<0.05);婴幼儿及未成年人高于成年人(P<0.01)和老年人(P<0.01);累及皮质的发生率高于未累及皮质的(P<0.01);EES作为CI首发症状者占49.59%,24h内出现者占76.03%,1周内出现者占94.21%,仅有5.79%在第2周出现;局灶性发作占65.29%,全面性发作占34.71%;给予AEDs治疗发作均可控制,伴有EES的患者病死率高于不伴有者(P<0.05)。结论:CI后EES较为常见,女性多于男性,未成年人的发生率高于成年人及老年人,与梗死部位有关,以局灶性发作为主,抗癫癎治疗有效,临床预后较差。     

Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for the small exophytic renal mass.

OBJECTIVES: Nephron-sparing surgery has emerged as the treatment of choice for the incidentally detected small renal mass, especially those less than 4 cm in size. We describe our technique and experience with the laparoscopic excision of these lesions. METHODS: Between June 2001 and October 2003, 20 patients underwent nephron-sparing surgery at our institution. Twenty-one laparoscopic partial nephrectomy procedures were performed. All tumors were detected incidentally by cross-sectional imaging. All patients had a solid renal mass or a complex cystic renal mass of Bosniak category III or greater. All solid tumors were exophytic and less than 4cm in diameter. Both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches were used. Hemostasis was achieved without hilar control in 20 of the 21 cases. RESULTS: Twenty renal units were approached transperitoneally, and 1 retroperitoneally. Mean tumor size was 2.6 cm (range, 1.2 to 4). Mean estimated blood loss was 211 mL (range, 50 to 500), and mean operative time was 165 minutes. Pathology revealed renal cell carcinoma in 14 (70%). No intraoperative complications occurred. Two patients required blood transfusions postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Carefully selected patients with small, exophytic renal masses can safely undergo laparoscopic excision. When achievable, this procedure can be a more logical alternative to ablative techniques for the minimally invasive management of such lesions.     

冷保存对大鼠部分移植肝再生的影响

目的探讨冷保存对大鼠部分肝移植术后肝再生的影响。方法健康SD大鼠分为Ⅰ组（肝切除组）、Ⅱ组（冷保存1h部分肝移植组）和Ⅲ组（冷保存8h部分肝移植组）。观察各实验组生存率，比较各组术后1、6、12、24、48、72、168h肝质量／体质量比率、肝再生率、有丝分裂指数及增殖细胞核抗原表达。结果Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组7d存活率分别为100％、90％、40％；Ⅲ组术后2～3d大鼠肝质量／体质量比率、肝再生率、有丝分裂指数较Ⅰ、Ⅱ组明显偏低（P〈0．05）；Ⅲ组术后12h内增殖细胞核抗原表达较其余两组明显偏低（P〈0．05），48h才达高峰，至第7天阳性表达仍处高水平。结论长时间冷保存降低了部分肝移植术后的肝再生能力和大鼠术后生存率。     

部分性脾动脉栓塞治疗脾功能亢进

目的探讨脾功能亢进行脾部分栓塞时对门脉压力及外周血液变化的影响。方法对36例脾功能亢进患者,采用Seldinger's法经皮脾动脉超选择性插管造影,计数直径>1mm的脾内动脉血管数。用明胶海绵碎屑(1mm×1mm×1mm)或PVA颗粒实行脾动脉栓塞,栓塞上述血管的60%～80%,并进行1～36个月(平均20个月)临床随访观察对比手术前后门脉压力、血液成分的变化。结果平均门脉压力由4.05kPa降至2.51kPa,外周血液红细胞由2.0×1012/L升至4.20×1012/L,白细胞从3.2×109/L升至5.0×109/L,血小板从40×109/L升至150×109/L。食管静脉曲张引发上消化道出血4例中,术后3例未再出血。结论栓塞程度以脾血管数为计数单位,控制在60%～80%时,可较好地改善脾功能亢进患者外周血象、门静脉压力,减轻食管静脉曲张程度。     

小儿非癫痫性发作临床分析

目的　对小儿时期的各种非癫痫性发作进行分析。方法　对 3 2例疑似非癫痫性发作的患儿进行临床分析 ,同时进行录像脑电图或 2 4h动态脑电图监测。结果　 3 2例患儿发作期及发作间期脑电图均无异常放电 ,证实为非癫痫性发作 ,以生理性发作最多 (16例 ,占 5 0 % ) ,其平均年龄最小 (3 .5岁 )。结论　儿童时期存在多种形式的非癫痫性发作 ,以生理性发作最多 ,且非癫痫性发作易被误诊为癫痫及其他疾病 ,采用动态脑电图监测对诊断及鉴别诊断均有指导意义     

A fluorometric micromethod for estimation of carnosinase in dried blood samples

Human alkaline phosphatases extracted with butanol from liver, kidney and placenta, and from foetal and adult small intestine each contain fragments with molecular masses within the range of approximately 8 kDa to 20 kDa which can be removed by digestion with bromelain. However, in the case of adult intestine, this fragment (which is presumed to represent a membrane-binding domain) can only be demonstrated in tissue extracted immediately after removal at operation. Similar fragments are also present in foetal intestinal phosphatase in amniotic fluid, and in liver and bone alkaline phosphatases recovered from serum. Again, however, adult intestinal phosphatase from serum differs in the absence of the bromelain-sensitive fragment. These observations indicate differences in the ways in which intestinal and non-intestinal alkaline phosphatases gain access to the circulation, and also have implications for structural studies on intestinal phosphatase extracted post mortem from adult tissue.     

Laparoscopic partial fundoplication vs laparoscopic Nissen-Rosetti fundoplication

Background: Since 1992, all patients at our institution who have met standard accepted criteria for surgical intervention for complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease have been entered into a prospective sequential clinical study to evaluate outcomes of the laparoscopic approach to the Nissen-Rosetti procedure and a modified Toupet procedure. Methods: A standardized workup with upper GI series, esophagography, and endoscopy was used in all patients. Manometry, pH testing, and other special tests were used selectively. A measuring technique was used to determine wrap size without the use of dilators. The short gastric vessels were left intact in all patients. A cosurgeon approach was used, with technical factors described herein. Results: Some 226 of 231 cases were completed laparoscopically (98%)—125 patients in the Nissen-Rosetti group and 101 in the partial fundoplication group. There were no clinical failures in either group. The partial fundoplication group performed better than the Nissen-Rosetti group in all categories of comparison. Return to normal eating habits was much earlier in the partial wrap group (p < 0.0001). Postop distal esophageal sphincter pressures in the two groups were equal at 15 mmHg. Eight patients suffered significant dysphagia requiring endoscopy and dilatation, all in the Nissen-Rosetti group (p < 0.01). Minor complications occurred in 12% of the total group. There was a total surgical revision rate of 3%. There were no gastric or esophageal perforations. Average operative time was 30 min. Average hospital stay was 1.4 days. Hospital charges for the laparoscopic approach averaged $6,000 dollars compared to $12,000 for the open approach. Conclusion: Laparoscopic partial fundoplication is as effective as laparoscopic Nissen-Rosetti fundoplication, with a higher satisfaction rate and fewer side effects. Measuring for wrap and hiatus size eliminates the need for and risk of using stiff dilators. By utilizing cosurgeons and currently available technology, cost, operative time, hospital time, and complications can be reduced to a finite minimum. Received: 12 December 1995/Accepted: 12 August 1996     

Our Distal Aortic Perfusion System in Descending Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repairs

Abstract: We have used heparin-bonded partial cardio-pulmonary bypass to support distal aortic circulation during aortic cross-clamping. However, there were no cardiotomy reservoirs with fully reliable thromboresistance. To resolve this problem, a short-acting anticoagulant (nafamostat mesilate) was added into a cardiotomy reservoir. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of our distal perfusion system. From May 1995 through the end of May 1996, 27 patients underwent descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs with this adjunct, 4 being excluded from the experiment. Twenty patients who had undergone conventional partial cardiopulmonary bypass were defined as the control group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the morbidity, mortality, gas transfer, or transfusion requirements despite the fact that more complicated surgical procedures (shown by a two-fold increase in the prevalence of reoperation) were required in the group that had received the current distal perfusion adjunct. the heparin-bonded group. In conclusion, our perfusion system is very effective for descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs.     

Influence of aminophylline and strychnine on the protective activity of excitatory amino acid antagonists against maximal electroshock-induced convulsions in mice

Summary Aminophylline reversed the protective action of both, D-3-(2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)-1-propenyl-1-phosphonic acid (D-CPP-ene — a competitive NMDA antagonist) and valproate (used as a conventional antiepileptic drug for comparative purposes) against maximal electroshock-induced seizures. The respective ED₅₀ values of aminophylline were 55.7 and 98.4mg/kg i.p. However, aminophylline (up to 100mg/kg i.p.) did not influence the protective efficacy of 1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methyl-enedioxy-5H-2, 3-benzodiazepine (GYKI 52466 — a non-NMDA antagonist). Strychnine affected the protection provided by D-CPP-ene, GYKI 52466, and valproate against maximal electroshock — the ED₅₀ values of strychnine for the reversal of the anticonvulsive effects of D-CPP-ene, GYKI 52466 or valproate were 0.082, 0.35 and 0.28mg/kg s.c., respectively.An involvement of strychnine sensitive glycinergic receptor-mediated events in the mechanism of the anticonvulsive activity of excitatory amino acid antagonists and valproate may be postulated. The ineffectiveness of aminophylline to reduce the anticonvulsive effects of GYKI 52466 may distinguish a new class of antiepileptic drugs offering an advantage over conventional antiepileptics in patients with epilepsy, requiring aminophylline for pulmonary reasons.