Definition of carcinoma of the gastric cardia

Summary This study concerns the definition of carcinoma of the gastric cardia. The topography of the esophagogastric mucosal junction (mucosal EGJ) was investigated with an endoscope in 182 patients who were free of hiatal hernias, ulcers, and neoplasms in the esophagus and stomach. The relationship between the EGJ and the cardiac gland area was then examined histologically in 56 resected specimens containing intact EGJs and cardia gland areas. Furthermore the cancerous center was determined; the shortest distance between the cancerous center and the EGJ and the amount of esophageal invasion were measured in 102 resected carcinomas located close to the junction; the carcinomas contained the EGJ and were good enough for pathohistological examination. The EGJ was located 0.5–1.0 cm proximal to the His angle (the gastric cardia) in radiological and endoscopic examinations. Histologically the cardiac gland area was found to straddle the EGJ at a range of about 1 cm proximal and 2 cm distal to the junction. Among the upper stomach carcinomas, most of the tumors (87.5%) whose center was located within 2 cm from the EGJ invaded the esophagus. In conclusion, carcinoma of the gastric cardia is defined as a lesion with its center located within 1 cm proximal and 2 cm distal to the EGJ.

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Definition des Kardiacarcinoms

Zusammenfassung Diese Untersuchung befaßt sich mit der Definition von Carcinomen der Kardia. An 182 Patienten, die weder Hiatushernien, Ulcera noch Neoplasien des Oesophagus bzw. des Magens aufwiesen, wurde die Lage des Übergangs von der Oesophagus- zur Magenmucosa (esophagogastric mucosal junction, EGJ) endoskopisch untersucht. Dann wurde die Beziehung zwischen EGJ und dem Drüsengebiet der Kardia histologisch anhand von 56 Resektaten mit intaktem EGJ und Kardiadrüsenzone untersucht. Außerdem wurde an 102 resezierten Carcinomen mit Sitz in der Nähe des gastrooesophagealen Übergangs die kürzeste Ent fernung zwischen Carcinomzentrum und EGJ und das Ausmaß der Oesophagusinfiltration bestimmt; die Proben schlossen den EGJ ein und konnten pathohistologisch beurteilt werden. Bei der radiologischen und endoskopischen Untersuchung fand sind der EGJ 0,5–1,0 cm vom His-Winkel entfernt. Die histologische Untersuchung zeigte, daß die Kardiadrüsenzone sich vom EGJ etwa 1 cm nach proximal und 2 cm nach distal erstreckt. Die meisten Tumoren des oberen Magens (87,5%), deren Zentrum innerhalb von 2 cm vom EGJ entfernt lag, infiltrierten in den Oesophagus. Ein Kardiacarcinom ist demzufolge als Läsion zu definieren, deren Zentrum innerhalb von 1 cm proximal und 2 cm distal des EGJ liegt.

     

大颗粒小泡非突触部位的胞吐——论神经肽释放的另一种形式

本文在以前的工作基础上,进一步用电镜及免疫细胞化学方法,研究了大颗粒小泡非突触部位胞吐作用。实验结果表明,切除大鼠刚髭部皮肤1—24小时之后,术侧延髓后角浅层大颗粒小泡胞吐比对照侧明显增多(P<0.01),术后3—9天复又下降(近似对照动物),术后14—15天又急剧上升(P<0.01)。这些胞吐大部分出现于延髓后角浅层四种轴突终末的非突触部位,少最也发生于树突及轴突中。从术后第6天开始,术侧P物质明显减弱,而甲硫-脑腓肽略有增强。研究结果提示;1)后角浅层胞吐增多,P物质下降及脑腓肽增高,反映了中枢内不同神经元对去传入神经的功能调整作用;2)大颗粒小泡在非突触部位释放神经肽,弥散地作用于远距离的受体,可能起着神经调制物的作用。     

Timing deficits in apraxia of speech

Summary This paper deals with a particular aspect of speech motor control in patients suffering from apraxia of speech. Three experiments are reported concerning the phase relations between individual speech gestures. These include the timing of laryngeal, velar and labial movements relative to lingual gestures.A total of 8 patients and 12 normal controls were examined using speech material which was designed according to appropriate phonetic paradigms. Evaluation was performed on the basis of speech signal parameters referring to the kinematics of inter-articulatory phasing. Deviations of the patient group were found in all three experiments. This suggests that disturbed phase relations of individual speech movements are a general feature of apraxic speech. It is further hypothesized that the described motor symptoms are the origin of a variety of phonemic errors. Support for this view is provided by appropriate examples which refer to the examined paradigms. By this argument, much of the disturbed phonemic structure of apraxic speech may be accounted for by timing deficits.     

傣药芽拉勐龙（Cassia alata L．）的最佳采收时间探讨

傣药芽拉勐龙（Cassia alata L．）是傣医药史籍中有记载且傣医临床中最常用的药材之一，它在泰国应用同样广泛多见，是已开发应用得较为成熟的药用植物，相关研究也较多。在西双版纳，民间傣医常在夏秋季节采收芽拉勐龙，认为这期间的芽拉勐龙叶才有更好的疗效，但尚未发现相关的理论依据支持这种说法，因此笔者在2008年7月到11月间，采集每个月份的芽拉勐龙叶进行其乙醇提取物的含量测定，以找到它的最佳采集使用期。通过其采收季节中有效成分含量的比较结果显示，有效成分最高的时间是11月份，故在采收芽拉勐龙时，应掌握时机，在11月份采收为佳。     

Kniegelenkluxationen

Zusammenfassung Kniegelenkluxationen sind seltene, aber schwer wiegende Verletzungen mit z. T. erheblichen Folgen. Begleitende Nerven- und Gefäßverletzungen sind nicht selten. Bei spontaner Reposition kann das Verletzungsausmaß initial unterschätzt werden. Die primäre Diagnostik muss die neurologische Untersuchung sowie die sichere Beurteilung des Gefäßstatus einschließen. Die Sicherung der Durchblutung des betroffenen Beins steht in der Akutphase im Vordergrund, Läsionen müssen notfallmäßig operativ versorgt werden. Bei drohendem Kompartment ist eine Faszienlogenspaltung erforderlich, die Instabilität wird temporär mittels Fixateur externe transfixiert. Bei Hochrasanztraumen sind Begleitverletzungen auszuschließen, bei sedierten und beatmeten Patienten z. B. mit Spiral-CT. Sind nur die Kreuzbänder betroffen, kann ein arthroskopisch gestützter Ersatz vorgenommen werden, Transplantate werden bevorzugt von der Gegenseite entnommen. Die im angloamerikanischen Sprachraum verwendeten Allografts haben sich in unserer Region noch nicht durchgesetzt. Bei ausgedehnten Kapselläsionen und Beteiligung der Kollateralbänder sind arthroskopische Techniken nicht indiziert, es sollte offen rekonstruiert und ggf. augmentiert werden; sekundär verbliebene Instabilitäten können gezielt dem Bandersatz zugeführt werden.     

Quantification of Basal and Stimulated ROS Levels as Predictors of Islet Potency and Function

We have developed a luminol-based assay using intact islets, which allows for quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, an index capable of characterizing metabolic and mitochondrial integrity prior to transplantation was created based on the capacity of islets to respond to high glucose and rotenone (mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I inhibitor) by production of ROS. To validate this assay, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative defense capacity were evaluated by detection of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), respectively. Also, flow cytometric analyses of ROS (dihydroethidine), apoptosis (Annexin V, active caspases), necrosis (Topro3), and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1) were done in parallel to correlate with changes in luminol-measured ROS. ATP/ADP ratios were quantified by HPLC and the predictive value of ROS measurement on islet functional potency was correlated with capacity to reverse diabetes in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic NOD.scid mouse model as well as in human transplant recipients. Our data demonstrate that levels of ROS in islets correlate with the percentage of apoptotic cells and their functional potency in vivo. The ROS indices following glucose and rotenone exposure are indicative of metabolic potency and mitochondrial integrity and can be used as surrogate markers to evaluate the quality of islets prior to transplantation.     

Lung function development in the first 2 yr of life is independent of allergic diseases by 2 yr

The aim of the study was to assess if lung function at birth predicts lung function at 2 yr and secondly, if lung function development was influenced by the common phenotypes of recurrent bronchial obstruction (rBO) or atopic eczema (AE) by 2 yr. Lung function was assessed at birth (n = 802) and at 2 yr within the prospective birth cohort study 'the Environment and Childhood Asthma Study' in Oslo. The 135 children with lung function measured at birth by tidal flow volume (TFV) loops and passive respiratory mechanics, who were included in a nested case-control study were reinvestigated at 2 yr with clinical examination, TFV loops (n = 90) (mean age 26.6 (3.7 s.d.) months), skin prick test and parental interview. Children were categorized into quartiles (lower, middle two, upper) according to time to peak tidal expiratory flow/total expiratory time (t(PTEF)/t(E)) at birth as well as clinical phenotype based on the presence of rBO and/or AE (ever) by 2 yr. The observed reduction in mean t(PTEF)/t(E) from birth to 2 yr within the quartiles, were not significantly different after controlling for 'regression to the mean'. t(PTEF)/t(E) at birth correlated significantly with t(PTEF)/t(E) at 2 yr, (r = 0.475, p < 0.001). Children with both rBO and AE by 2 yr had significantly lower t(PTEF)/t(E) at 2 yr (p = 0.002) and at birth (p = 0.027), compared with children with no rBO or AE. Clinical phenotype at 2 yr did not influence the change in t(PTEF)/t(E) from birth to 2 yr. This study demonstrates a clear tracking of lung function from birth, not influenced by rBO or AE by 2 yr.     

Peritoneal dialysis patient survival: a comparison between a Swedish and a Korean centre.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patient mortality remains high, and this high mortality may be due to many factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, old age, co-morbid diseases, malnutrition, low residual renal function (RRF) and a high peritoneal transport rate have been shown to influence survival, but the relative importance of these factors may differ between different patient populations. Besides, centre practice patterns may differ between centres and may influence patient survival. In addition, the literature suggests that dialysis patient survival may be better in Asian than in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The influence of centre and patient characteristics on patient survival was investigated in 132 Korean and 106 Swedish incident PD patients, who underwent initial biochemical measurements and assessment of adequacy of dialysis, nutritional status, RRF and peritoneal transport characteristics. RESULTS: At the start of PD, Korean patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes, peritoneal Kt/V(urea), peritoneal creatinine clearance and peritoneal fluid removal, and lower body mass index, RRF and dialysate to plasma creatinine concentration ratio (D/P Cr) compared with Swedish patients. Significantly more patients from Korea were placed on temporary haemodialysis before PD (100 out of 132) when compared with Swedish patients (21 out of 106). During the follow-up, there was a significantly higher rate of transfer to other units in Korea and a significantly higher rate of kidney transplantation in Sweden. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall patient survival did not differ and relative risk for death was also not different between the two centres even after adjustment for age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, RRF and D/P Cr. On Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age, diabetes, RRF and D/P Cr were found to be independent predictors of mortality in the combined cohort of patients. While age, diabetes and D/P Cr were independent predictors of mortality in Korean patients, age and RRF independently predicted mortality in Swedish patients. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in centre and patient characteristics, we were unable to confirm a survival advantage for Korean over Swedish PD patients. The results of this study suggest that the reported difference in survival between Asian and Caucasian dialysis patients may have been due, in part, to differences in centre and patient characteristics rather than to race as such. The genetic influence on patient characteristics remains, however, to be elucidated.