80例健康青年分别经针刺或艾灸肺俞穴后的肺功能变化

目的：探讨针刺与艾灸肺俞穴对健康人肺功能的影响。方法：我们选择了20－22岁健康男性80例，随机分为针刺组和艾灸组各40例，于针刺，艾灸前和针刺，艾灸后10min测试用力肺活量（FVC），用力呼气量（FEV1．0），最大呼气中段流速（MMF），最大呼气流量（PEFR），75％，50％，25％肺活量时的最大呼气流速（V75，V50，V25），结果：显示经针刺和艾灸肺俞穴后2组FVC，FFV1．0均显著增加，P＜0．05，2组间比较针刺组FVC明显高于艾灸组，P＜0．05，而且艾灸组MMF，V25亦显著降低P＜0．05，结论：健康人经针刺和艾灸肺俞穴后均可使大气道阻力减少，肺容量增加，提示一定量的艾燃烧后的烟雾可使健康人肺功能受到影响，使肺的小气道收缩，出现阻塞性改变。     

The Effect of Reduced Somatosensation on Standing Balance: A Systematic Review

The objective of this review is to identify and review publications describing the impact of reduced somatosensation on balance. Based on knowledge of the association between specific somatosensory loss and deterioration of balance, conclusions can be made about role of somatosensation in standing balance.A systematic literature review is presented in which publications from the years 1993 through 2007 were searched in Medline and Embase. Medical Subject Headings (MESH) terms and free text words (related to balance, somatosensory loss, and lower limb) were used to perform the searches. Fifteen articles were selected for detailed review based on predetermined inclusion criteria, and three of the included articles described the effect of experimentally reduced somatosensation on balance in healthy subjects. Ten of the articles described balance in diabetic neuropathy (DN). The last two included articles described balance in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 1A (CMT1A) or type 2 (CMT2).The literature indicates that the tactile sensation is reduced in DN, CMT1A, and CMT2 and when the plantar surface of the feet was hypothermically anesthetized. Joint motion sensation seems to be impaired in patients with DN, and passive joint position sensation appears to be reduced in healthy subjects with anesthesia of ankle and foot from prolonged ischemia. This reduced somatosensation seems to have a negative effect on balance in patients with DN and CMT2; however, this appeared not to be the case in patients with CMT1A and in healthy subjects.     

成人水痘20例临床分析

目的探讨成人水痘的临床特点。方法分析20例成人水痘的临床特点，并与30例儿童水痘比较。结果患者出疹时间、皮疹分布区域、发热时间和并发症等，成人水痘都与儿童水痘不同。结论与儿童水痘相比较，成人水痘有自己的临床特点。     

Double congenital bronchoesophageal fistulae in an adult

We report adult congenital bronchoesophageal fistula with both symptomatic fistula and asymptomatic one. A 56-year-old woman with a history of cough after drinking fluids was diagnosed as bronchoesophageal fistula by upper gastrointestinal series that showed a diverticulum in the middle portion of the esophagus with a fistula between the esophagus and right lower lung. Esophagoscopy revealed an orifice of the fistula located 27 cm from the incisors. Computed tomography showed chronic inflammatory change with bronchiectasis in the S6 segment of the right lung. The patient underwent video assisted thoracic surgery that identified two fistulae without missing a symptomatic one, and both were successfully resected. The fistulae were lined by squamous epithelium and smooth muscle without evidence of malignancy, infection or chronic inflammation that were histologically compatible with congenital fistulae.     

Comparative kinetics of phenobarbital after administration of the acid and the propylhexedrine salt (barbexaclone)

Summary The kinetics of phenobarbital (PB) was compared after oral administration of equivalent doses of the drug as the acid or the propylhexedrine salt (barbexaclone) to 7 normal volunteers. The absorption and elimination parameters were very similar. It was concluded that propylhexedrine did not affect the serum kinetics of PB given as barbexaclone.     

Elevation of plasma thioredoxin levels in HIV-infected individuals

Thioredoxin (Trx), a ubiquitous protein intimately involvedin redox and protein disulfide reductions, has been shown tobe released from cells and to have cytokine-like activities.In addition, Trx has been implicated in the redox regulationof immunological responses and shown to be deficient in tissuesfrom AIDS patients. In studies presented here, plasma Trx levelswere measured by ELISA in plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals(n = 136) and HIV-negative controls (n = 47). To account forthe release of Trx into plasma due to hemolysis, the Trx measurementswere corrected according to the level of hemoglobin in the plasmasample. Data presented show that, in contrast to tissue Trxlevels, corrected plasma Trx levels are significantly higherin HIV-infected individuals than in controls (P < 0.0001).Furthermore, {small tilde}25% of the HIV-infected individualsstudied have plasma Trx levels greater than the highest levelfound in controls (37 ng/ml). Detailed multiparameter FACS analysisof peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the infectedindividuals demonstrates that those with higher plasma Trx levels(37 ng/ml or greater) tend to have lower overall CD4 counts.In addition, increases in plasma Trx levels correlate with decreasesin monochlorobimane staining (indicative of lower intracellularglutathione levels in PBMC) and with changes in surface antigenexpression (CD62L, CD38 and CD20) that occur in the later stagesof HIV infection. These correlations suggest that elevationof plasma Trx levels may be an important component of advancedHIV disease, perhaps related to the oxidative stress that oftenoccurs at this stage.     

Single-dose oral omeprazole for reduction of gastric residual acidity in adults for outpatient surgery

Omeprazole is a substituted benzimidazole that causes dose-dependent intracellular inhibition of gastric acid secretion in humans. This double-blind study examined the effect of omeprazole in decreasing gastric acidity and gastric residual volume in outpatient adults. Unpremedicated outpatients, ASA I-III, 18 years or older (n = 17), were randomly assigned to receive omeprazole 80 mg, or placebo by mouth the night before scheduled elective outpatient surgery. The patients were fasted for 8 h prior to surgery. After the patient was anesthetized, an orogastric tube was inserted with proper placement verified by auscultation for gastric sounds. Gastric residual contents were withdrawn into a Luken's trap, and pH was then determined and gastric volume indexed to weight (ml.kg-1). Data were analyzed by a t-test, with P less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Patient characteristics of both groups were similar. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups for pH (P = 0.02), but not between the two groups for gastric volume indexed to weight (P = 0.07).     

Pharmacokinetics of a valpromide isomer,valnoctamide, in healthy subjects

Summary The pharmacokinetics of a single 400 mg oral dose of valnoctamide (VCD) has been investigated in seven healthy, adult, male volunteers. VCD was not biotransformed rapidly to its corresponding acid valnoctic acid (VCA), unlike its isomer valpromide (VPD). It had a mean residence time of 13.2 h and a terminal half-life of 9.3 h. Throughout the study, only low plasma levels of VCA could be detected. Thus, unlike VPD, which is a prodrug of the corresponding acid, (valproic acid, VPA). VCD appears to act as a drug in its own right, and it does not undergo similar hydrolysis. The pharmacokinetic difference may account for the different pharmacological activities of the two isomers.     

Long-term results of the antegrade continent enema procedure for constipation in adults

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of the Antegrade Continent Enema (ACE) procedure for treating severe constipation in adults. METHODS: Over 10 years 37 ACE conduits were created in 32 patients (median age 35 years, 26 women) with constipation caused by slow transit, obstructed defaecation or both. Conduits were created from the appendix (n = 20, 54%), ileum (n = 10, 27%), neoappendix caecostomy (n = 5, 14%) or colon (n = 2, 5%). Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed to determine outcome. RESULTS: After a median follow up of 36 (range 13-140) months, 28 (88%) required at least one further procedure on a primary conduit, including reversal in 19 (59%). Five patients had a second conduit fashioned, two successfully. Conduit type and constipation cause did not significantly influence the rates of ACE reversal or major revision. Ileal conduits were associated with fewer minor revision procedures for stenosis (1 in 7 patients) than appendix conduits (21 in 20 patients). There was one (3%) serious complication. Satisfactory ACE function was ultimately achieved in 47% of patients, at last follow up. After ACE reversal, 9 (28%) patients underwent formation of an end stoma and 3 patients had a colectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Revision procedures are common, but approximately half of patients can expect satisfactory long-term ACE function. ACE conduit reversal does not preclude subsequent alternative surgical strategies to treat this difficult condition.     

Growth, bone maturation and pubertal development in children with the EMG-syndrome

In 7 patients (5 girls, 2 boys) with the EMG or Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome, statural growth, bone age (BA), weight and pubertal development were studied longitudinally. Height was above the 90th percentile (%) for chronological age (CA) after age 2 years, reaching an average of 2.5 SD above the mean at or after puberty. Adult or attained height also exceeded significantly (P<0.015) parental (genetic) target height by 13.2 cm on the average. In one girl, adult height prognosis (190 cm) could be reduced to an adult height of 183 cm by high-dose estrogen treatment. In most children, growth velocity remained above the 90th % up to 4–6 years of age and normalized thereafter. In all patients studied, bone age was markedly advanced and particularly so during the first 4 years after birth. Weight was above the 90th–97th % during infancy and early childhood and remained there, appropriate or slightly subnormal for height, until adulthood, except for 3 girls who reached and maintained the 50th % during or after puberty. Spontaneous pubertal development occurred within normal limits for CA and around the 50th % for BA. Except for the marked bone age acceleration, the reason for the increased statural growth and adult height in patients with the EMG syndrome is still unknown.