Beta-2-adrenoceptor agonists as inhibitors of lung vascular permeability to radiolabelled transferrin in the adult respiratory distress syndrome in man

Increased lung vascular permeability leading to increased plasma protein extravasation and accumulation (PPA) is a characteristic feature of acute lung injury. Using a previously described technique, PPA was monitored in the lungs of patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) — an extreme example of acute lung injury in man. An external radiation probe detector was used to monitor the pulmonary accumulation of the plasma protein transferrin radiolabelled in-vivo with ^113mIn. Ten patients with ARDS exhibiting increased PPA indices (>1.0x10^-3/min) were given an intravenous infusion of terbutaline (7 g/kg) over 30 min. Of the four patients in whom the post-drug PPA indices remained within the ARDS range, none survived, whilst five of the six patients in whom the post-drug PPA indices were reduced to below 1.0x10^-3/min survived. PPA indices prior to the administration of terbutaline were not significantly different between the survivor (n=5) and non-survivor (n=5) groups. There was a significant decrease in the PPA indices following terbutaline in survivors (p<0.01) but not in non-survivors. Thus beta-2-agonists in therapeutic doses can inhibit increased lung vascular permeability in man. These findings may have prognostic and therapeutic implication for beta-2-agonists in ARDS.     

The Oxford Clinical Cataract Classification and Grading System

A composite slit-lamp based system for the clinical classification and grading of cataract is described. Cataract features are classified morphologically, and individual features are graded by comparison with standard diagrams mounted adjacent to the slit-lamp. Attention has been paid to relevant aspects of measurement theory, with equal interval steps between the grades. The image degrading effect of the cataract is assessed using a resolution target projection ophthalmoscope. The method may be used in conjunction with photographic and image analysing techniques.     

Sleep patterns of Down's syndrome children: Effects of butoctamide hydrogen succinate (BAHS) administration

Several investigators have described the altered sleep patterns in Down's syndrome subjects. The most relevant findings have been a reduction in percentage of REM sleep, a prolonged latency to the first REM episode, an increase in undifferentiated sleep, and a reduced ratio of the oculomotor frequencies. Because it is of interest to identify new drugs able to increase the percentage of REM sleep in mentally retarded subjects, we studied the effects of butoctamide hydrogen succinate (BAHS) on nocturnal sleep in eight young institutionalized Down's syndrome subjects.BAHS produced a significant increase in the percentage of REM sleep as well as a decrease in undifferentiated sleep and latency to the first REM.     

Trigeminal neuropathy and partial nose destruction

Summary Two cases of trigeminal neuropathy with tissue loss are described, one in a Spillane-Wells syndrome, the other in a Riley-Day syndrome. Although the etiology was different, nose-picking led in both cases to a typical punchedout lesion of the skin and cartilage of nose tip, columella and alae nasi. Reconstruction was performed only in the first case, after resolution of the neuropathy. Reconstruction should not be considered for cases with persistant anaesthesia.Head: M. Lejour     

Widespread osteolytic lesions of the long bones in basal cell nevus syndrome

Three members of a family, father, daughter, and son, with the basal cell nevus syndrome are presented. A very unusual manifestation of widespread cyst-like osteolytic lesions in all the tubular bones was observed in the father, together with osteoblastic spotty osteopoikilotic lesions in the skull and the mandible of the same patient. Cyst-like osteolytic lesions have been described previously in this syndrome, mainly in the phalanges. We believe that such lesions can occur in any bone.     

Speech suppression without aphasia after bilateral perisylvian softenings (bilateral rolandic operculum damage)

The authors describe a patient who suffered two successive, right and left, strokes that caused bilateral rolandic operculum damage. The clinical picture was characterized by selective impairment of volitional facio-pharyngo-glosso-masticatory movements with sparing of automatic and reflex motor activity (Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome). Though completely speechless, the patient was not aphasic. This dissociation is discussed in the light of the peculiar localization of lesions evidenced by CT-scan.

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Sommario Viene descritta una paziente portatrice di due lesioni ischemiche coinvolgenti l'opercolo rolandico in entrambi gli emisferi. Il quadro clinico era caratterizzato da una compromissione selettiva dei movimenti volontari (con integrità di quelli automatici e riflessi) bilateralmente a livello facio-faringo-glosso-masticatorio (sindrome di Foix-Chavany-Marie). La paziente, del tutto incapace di articolazione e fonazione, non risultava afasica ad una valutazione neuropsicologica. Questa dissociazione viene discussa in riferimento alla particolare localizzazione delle lesioni alla T.A.C. cerebrale.

     

膳食维生素C与代谢综合征风险的meta分析

目的用meta分析的方法定量评估膳食维生素C与代谢综合征(metabolic syndrome,MetS)风险的关系,为MetS的预防与治疗提供依据。方法系统检索PubMed、EMBASE、中国知网(CNKI)、万方数据库(WanfangData)以及维普数据库(VIP)中由建库至2021年12月公开发表的关于膳食维生素C与MetS风险关系的流行病学观察性研究。提取数据后,应用Stata 12.0软件进行meta统计分析。结果共纳入7篇文献,总样本量为29363人,包括8300例MetS患者。meta分析结果显示,膳食维生素C摄入量最高组发生MetS的风险较最低组低7%(RR=0.93,95%CI:0.89~0.98)。剂量-反应meta分析结果显示,膳食维生素C与MetS风险之间呈线性关系(非线性P>0.10),摄入量每增加50 mg/d并不能明显降低MetS的发生风险(RR=0.97,95%CI:0.92~1.02)。结论MetS与膳食维生素C摄入量之间存在关联性,高膳食维生素C摄入可降低MetS的风险。     

Specifics of chronic fatigue syndrome coping strategies identified in a French flash survey during the COVID-19 containment

The COVID-19 pandemic has focused health systems on supporting patients affected by this virus. Meanwhile in the community, many other contained patients could only use self-care strategies, especially in countries that have set up a long and strict containment such as France. The study aimed to compare coping strategies deployed by patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS; a poorly recognised syndrome) to those with better known and referenced chronic conditions. An online flash survey was conducted during the containment period in partnership with French Patients Organizations including ME/CFS national association. Therefore, ‘Brief COPE’ version of Lazarus and Folkman's Ways of Coping Check List has been adapted to the specificity of the containment. The survey was e-distributed in France from 15 April to 11 May 2020. Differences of coping strategies were analyzed using Wilcoxon–Mann–Withney test. Amongst 637 responses, 192 were complete, presenting a wide variety of diseases, including 93 ME/CFS. The latter have significantly different coping strategies than recognised diagnosed diseases patients: similar uses of emotion focused coping but less uses of seek social support and problem-focused copings. In conclusion, coping strategies are different for those who deal with the daily experience of ME/CFS, highly disabling chronic condition with diagnostic ambiguity, low degree of medical and social recognition and without treatment. Better understanding of those strategies is needed to provide the means for health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians, to accompany those patients.     

低分子肝素钙抗凝对多囊卵巢综合征所致不孕症患者来曲唑诱导排卵疗效的影响

目的分析低分子肝素钙抗凝对多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)所致不孕症患者来曲唑诱导排卵疗效的影响。方法选取2014年1月—2019年1月九江市第三人民医院和彭泽县妇幼保健院收治的156例PCOS所致不孕症患者,采用随机数字表分成两组,每组78例。对照组口服来曲唑治疗,观察组采取口服来曲唑联合低分子肝素钙注射液治疗。比较两组的疗效、子宫内膜容受性、凝血功能指标、促排卵结局及不良反应。结果观察组总有效率[94.87%(74/78)]显著高于对照组[80.77%(63/78)],差异有统计学意义(χ²=7.252,P=0.007)。治疗后,观察组子宫内膜厚度、子宫动脉搏动指数(PI)及阻力指数(RI)分别为(9.75±1.03)mm、(1.30±0.26)及(0.58±0.12),对照组子宫内膜厚度、PI及RI分别为(7.48±0.95)mm、(1.71±0.33)及(0.66±0.11),两组比较差异均有统计学意义(t=14.308,8.619,4.340,均P<0.05)。治疗后,两组凝血功能指标比较差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。观察组妊娠率[52.56%(41/78)]显著高于对照组[32.05%(25/78)],自然流产率[2.44%(1/41)]显著低于对照组[16.00%(4/25)],差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。观察组不良反应发生率[16.67%(13/78)]与对照组[12.82%(10/78)]比较差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.459,P=0.498)。结论PCOS所致不孕症患者在应用来曲唑诱导排卵的同时联合低分子肝素钙抗凝治疗能有效改善患者的凝血-纤溶状态,明显提高患者的子宫内膜容受性,改善促排卵结局。