A Complication of Stellate Ganglion Block?

Abstract: Stellate ganglion block is commonly used to treat the sympathetically maintained pain which may occur in one‐third of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1. A complication that followed a single block and presented a diagnostic dilemma for the ophthalmologist is reported.     

转移因子口服液佐治小儿单纯性肾病综合征临床研究

目的：观察转移因子口服液佐治小儿单纯性肾病综合征的疗效。方法：将75例诊断为单纯性肾病综合征的患儿随机分为治疗组和对照组,对照组主要采用泼尼松口服治疗,治疗组另加用转移因子口服液治疗。观察两组的感染率、复发率及治疗前后血IgG、IgA水平。结果：治疗组的感染率和复发率明显较低;治疗后血IgG、IgA水平明显提高,与对照组比较差异明显（P〈0.01）。结论：转移因子口服液佐治小儿单纯性肾病综合征可以降低患者的感染率和复发率,提高血IgG和IgA水平,是治疗肾病综合征的有效方法之一。     

Differences in arrhythmogenicity between the canine right ventricular outflow tract and anteroinferior right ventricle in a model of Brugada syndrome

BACKGROUND: The Brugada syndrome is characterized by ST-segment elevation on the ECG, especially in the right precordial leads sensitive to the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that right ventricular electrophysiologic heterogeneity caused arrhythmogenicity in the Brugada syndrome. METHODS: Action potentials (APs) were mapped on the epicardium of 14 RVOT preparations and on the transmural surfaces of 15 pairs of RVOT and right ventricular anteroinferior (RVAI) preparations isolated from canine hearts. Brugada ECG and arrhythmias were induced with pilsicainide (2.5-12.5 micromol/L), pinacidil (1.25-12.5 micromol/L), and terfenadine (2.0 micromol/L). RESULTS: Low doses of drugs elevated the J-ST segment and induced APs with both short and long action potential durations (APDs) in contiguous RVOT epicardial regions. In addition, APs in the RVOT had a larger phase 1 notch and longer APD than in RVAI. The longest APDs were in the epicardium in RVOT but in the endocardium in RVAI regions. High doses of drugs eliminated the phase 2 dome of the AP and abbreviated APDs in the epicardium but not in endocardium and reduced the epicardial heterogeneity of APs but increased the transmural gradient of APD in 14 (93%) of the RVOT preparations. In contrast, abbreviations of epicardial APDs occurred in only 4 (27%) of the RVAI preparations. Ventricular tachycardia occurred more frequently in the RVOT (47%) than in paired RVAI preparations (7%). Blocking the transient outward current reduced the heterogeneity of APs and eliminated arrhythmogenicity in all preparations. CONCLUSION: Compared with the RVAI region, the RVOT has greater electrophysiologic heterogeneity that contributes to arrhythmogenicity in this model of Brugada syndrome.     

Massive Immune Hemolysis Caused by Anti-D After Dual Kidney Transplantation

Massive immune hemolysis due to passenger lymphocyte-derived anti-D has not been reported in renal transplantation. A 50-year-old (B-positive) male received a dual deceased-donor kidney transplant (B-negative) for diabetic renal failure. Two weeks post-transplant, the patient developed severe hemolytic anemia. The donor anti-D titer was 1:8. The recipient anti-D titer (zero pre-transplant) increased from 1:4 to 1:16 over 4 days. Rapid hemolysis caused severe anemia, minimum Hb = 4.2 g/dL, while selectively lysing the patient's autologous red cells during this time. The hemolytic anemia did not impair the allografts and subsided without monoclonal B-cell pharmacotherapy or apheresis. The anti-D titer decreased to barely detectable levels at four months and had cleared when checked 2 years post-transplant. Transfusion support subsided after two months. If complications of anemia can be avoided, the deleterious effects of hemolysis may be well tolerated by renal allografts using antigen negative transfusion alone.     

小鼠吗啡依赖纳洛酮催促戒断跳跃反应模型的建立

目的建立稳定的小鼠吗啡依赖纳洛酮催促戒断跳跃反应模型。方法小鼠连续皮下注射吗啡,以纳洛酮催促戒断跳跃反应为指标,调整吗啡给予天数(5,6,7,10d)、吗啡累积剂量(360,560,640,945,1100,1105,1200mg/kg)、每日给予吗啡的频数[一天二次(bid),一天三次(tid)]、纳洛酮催促紧前给予吗啡与否、以及纳洛酮剂量(10,20mg/kg),建立四个造模方案包括八个子方案。结果方案A、B2、C2吗啡组小鼠跳跃反应率未达100%;方案B1、C1、D2、D3、D4吗啡组小鼠跳跃次数变异系数较大。方案D1采用小鼠连续皮下注射倍增剂量的吗啡,tid×6d,每日每次剂量分别为5,10,20,40,80,160mg/kg;第7天皮下注射吗啡160mg/kg,3h后腹腔注射纳洛酮10mg/kg,吗啡组小鼠可产生显著的跳跃反应,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01),且变异系数小(CV为0.22),该方案吗啡依赖小鼠跳跃反应次数适度,离散度小。结论选用方案D1可建立稳定的小鼠戒断跳跃反应模型。     

Effects of tracheal extubation on coronary blood flow,myocardial metabolism and systemic haemodynamic responses

Global coronary blood flow and metabolism were measured in seven patients on the first postoperative day following coronary revascularization to test the hypothesis that tracheal extubation produces adverse haemodynamic responses akin to those observed during tracheal intubation. Regional coronary flow and metabolic measurements were made in five of the seven patients. Extubation from a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 5 cm H₂O was associated with a statistically significant rise in cardiac index from 3.44 ± 0.23 L · min^-1 · m^-2 to 3.73 ± 0.15L·min^-1 ·m^-2 related to an increase in stroke index, without significant changes in heart rate, mean arterial and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Consequently the changes in myocardial oxygen consumption (8.52 ± 0.55 to 8.85 ± 0.93 ml · min^-1) and coronary blood flow (172 ± 18 to 179 ± 17 ml·min^-1) were less prominent than those reported during intubation, where substantial rises in myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary flow occurred. Two patients experienced cardiac lactate production but there were no changes in systemic or coronary haemodynamics, nor were there clinical or electrocardiographic signs of ischaemia. We conclude that extubation does not appear to be associated with adverse systemic or coronary haemodynamic responses in patients following coronary bypass grafting. However, the revascularized myocardium may remain vulnerable to anaerobic metabolism in the immediate postoperative period. Pour savoir si comme ľintubation, ľextubation de la trachée provoque des perturbations hémodynamiques, on a mesuré le métabolisme et la circulation coronarienne globale chez sept patients, au lendemain ďun pontage aorto-coronarien. On a aussi calculé les valeurs régionales de ces mêmes variables pour cinq ďentre eux. Ľindex cardiaque de 3.44 ± 0.23 L · min^-1 · m^-2 sous pression positive en respiration spontanée (CPAP) de 5 cm. H₂O s’est élevé à 3.73 ± 0.15 L · min^-1 · m^-2 post-extubation avec une augmentation significative du volume ďéjection. La fréquence cardiaque et les pressions artérielles moyennes et capillaires pulmonaires n’ont pas changé. Ainsi ľaugmentation de la consommation ďoxygène du myocarde de 8.52 ± 0.55 à 8.85 ± 0.93 ml · min^-1 et celle du flot coronarien de 172 ± 18 à 179 ± 17 ml · min^-1 ont été moindres que celles, importantes, déjà observées lors de ľintubation. On a noté chez deux patients une production de lactate par le myocarde, sans changement de ľhémodynamic systémique et coronarienne non plus que de signe clinique ou électrocardiographique ďischémie. Donc, après un pontage coronarien, ľextubation ne semble pas causer ďeffet néfaste sur les circulations systémique et coronarienne, toutefois, le myocarde revascularisé peut demeurer sensible au métabolisme anaérobique.     

Spontaneous Regression of Budd-Chiari Syndrome (Hepatic Venous Occlusion) in a Young Female

ABSTRACT. Hultcrantz R, Angelin B, Einarsson K, Friman L (Departments of Internal Medicine and Roentgenology, Serafimer Hospital, and Department of Internal Medicine, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden). Spontaneous regression of Budd-Chiari syndrome (hepatic venous occlusion) in a young female. Acta Med Scand 1987; 221:503–7. A case of occlusion of the hepatic veins in an 18-year-old girl is presented. The onset was sudden with massive ascites and markedly impaired general condition. The diagnosis was based on liver biopsy and angiograms of the caval and hepatic veins as well as of the celiac artery. No predisposing factors could be found. The patient was treated conservatively with laparo-centesis and diuretics. Clear improvement was seen after two weeks, and after four weeks she had no ascites and could be discharged. All liver function tests were then normalized. After three months, all diuretics could be withdrawn, and in the following 11 years she has remained completely recovered. The case illustrates that also widespread thrombi of the hepatic veins may sometimes rapidly dissolve spontaneously, with apparent total reconstitution of hepatic function. This case is unusual since previously reported cases have had high mortality rates and, in surviving cases, operative procedures or large doses of diuretics have been required to control the ascites.     

Association between cord blood IgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-4, the β-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE, lymphotoxin-α, and tumor Necrosis factor-α

High cord blood immunoglobulin E (cbIgE) is known to be associated with increased risks of atopic diseases in childhood. The relationship between genetic polymorphisms and high cbIgE has not been well documented. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between cbIgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-4 -590C/T, the beta-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI-beta) E237G, lymphotoxin (LT)-alphaNcoI alleles, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha -308G/A. A total of 320 mother-neonate pairs were recruited from four maternity hospitals from different locations of Taiwan. Cord blood was obtained and assayed for cbIgE. Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to assess the genotypes. Three hundred pairs of mothers and neonates were included in the final analysis. Infants with IL-4 -590 C allele were found to have higher risk of elevated cbIgE (> or =0.35 IU/ml, 24.3%) (p = 0.004). After adjusting for gender, birth order, maternal age, and history of allergic disease in maternal and paternal families, odds ratios for CC and CT genotypes were 4.41 and 3.16 (95% confidence interval 0.78-22.67, and 1.66-6.13), respectively, using TT genotype as reference. The genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha were not associated with cbIgE before or after the adjustment. Our finding suggested a significant association of cbIgE with genetic polymorphism of IL-4 -590C/T, but not with the genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha.     

ANALYSIS OF BURIED BUMPER SYNDROME AFTER PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY DUE TO USE OF A BUTTON‐TYPE KIT

Background: Buried bumper syndrome (BBS) is a rare complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Along with the widespread use of the button‐type kit, BBS is encountered frequently. Methods: In the present study, we examined causes and treatments for BBS among 1400 patients who had undergone PEG. Results: The causes of BBS after PEG were classified into two categories: early causes consisted of wound infection, inappropriate size of kit and severe lordosis, while late causes were inappropriate exchange of kit, rough management or weight gain. The treatments for BBS could be determined by the degree of wound infection, fistula and burial of the bumper. Conclusion: We prepared a flowchart for replacement, by which BBS can be managed safely and quickly without surgical or endoscopic intervention.     

Obstinate cough as a sole presenting symptom of non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) causes many kinds of symptoms such as hypercalcemia, hypertension, polycythemia and fever. Here we describe a rare case of RCC presenting with a persistent cough. After radical nephrectomy, the obstinate cough disappeared. When the tumor recurred locally, the cough also recurred. Furthermore, the cough disappeared completely again after the removal of the recurrent tumor. Although all the clinical findings suggested that the RCC caused the cough, we could not identify a specific humoral substance responsible for the cough.