Freezing of gait in postmortem-confirmed atypical parkinsonism.

The frequency and pathophysiology of freezing of gait (FoG) in atypical parkinsonism is unknown. We analysed the frequency of FoG in postmortem-confirmed atypical parkinsonian disorders (APD) comprising corticobasal degeneration (CBD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Sixty-six patients with pathologically confirmed APD (CBD, n = 13; DLB, n = 14; MSA, n = 15; PSP, n = 24) formed the basis for a multicenter clinicopathological study. Clinical features at first and last clinical visit were abstracted from patient records on standardized forms following strict instructions. At the first visit (median 36 months after symptom onset), 24% of APD had FoG (CBD, 8%; DLB, 21%; PSP, 25%; MSA, 40%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of FoG and urinary incontinence (P = 0.04) at first visit. At last visit, 47% of APD had FoG (CBD, 25%; PSP, 53%; DLB, 54%; MSA, 54%). Clinicopathological correlation based on routine postmortem examination failed to identify a consistent neuropathological substrate of FoG. This study demonstrates that (1) FoG is common in APD, and (2) urinary incontinence is significantly associated with FoG in these disorders. Whether FoG and urinary incontinence share similar neuropathological substrates remains to be determined by future studies.     

肾综合征出血热患者T细胞亚群数量与白细胞介素2,4水平变化的关系

采用ABC免疫组化染色法及单克隆抗体夹心法ELISA，同步检测了34例肾综合征出血热（HFRS）患者外周血T细胞亚群数量和血清白细胞介素2和4（IL－2、IL－4）水平。发现HFRS病程中各T细胞亚群数量均有不同程度的升高，其中CDS阳性T细胞在各病期均有升高。IL－4水平升高仅见于发热期．而IL－2的升高主要在低血压期和少尿期。病程中有CD4／CD8比值的下降甚至倒置。这种比值的变化与IL－2和IL－4的动态变化有一定的相关性。结果揭示，在HFRS发病机理中存在Thl型和Th2型免疫反应等多种免疫病理机制。     

小儿糖尿病血胰岛细胞抗体与胰岛素自身抗体

报道并分析20例小儿糖尿病患儿的临床资料及血胰岛细胞抗体(ICA)及胰岛素自身抗体(IAA)的测定资料。在20例患儿中,临床表现多不典型。在酮症酸中毒的治疗中小剂量胰岛素疗法方法简便,安全可靠,并发症少。本组患儿ICA阳性率55%,IAA阳性率30%,经卡方检验均显著高于对照组,推测病毒感染引起自身免疫反应,产生ICA及IAA而致本病发生。     

Patient-proxy response comparability on measures of patient health and functional status

The present study evaluates the response comparability between 361 elderly hip fracture patients admitted from the community to seven Baltimore area hospitals between 1984 and 1986 and interviewer selected proxies on items pertaining to patients' pre-fracture health and functional status. Agreement across items ranges from very poor to good and varies with respect to the health or functional area assessed. Proxies tend to overestimate patient disability relative to the patients themselves, especially with regard to capacity to perform instrumental activities of daily living. Although proxies who report the greatest contact with patients respond most comparably to the patients, when they do disagree, proxies with the greatest patient contact tend to overestimate patient disability. The authors suggest that attention to item construction and phrasing may improve response comparability.     

儿童颈椎间盘钙化症的影像诊断

目的 探讨儿童颈椎间盘钙化症的影像表现及诊断价值，并提高对本病的认识。方法 回顾分析16例儿童颈椎钙化性椎间盘病的影像表现。结果 16例患均行颈椎平片检查，5例行CT扫描并作了三维重建，8例行MRI检查。16例平片均显示了椎间盘钙化灶，均为单发，CT平扫加三维重建显示4例钙化呈卵圆形，1例钙化为不规则形。MRI检查不仅显示了椎间盘内改变还清晰显示了病变相邻椎体边缘信号改变，在T1、T2加权像上呈低信号。结论 平片检查可以显示椎间盘钙化；CT平扫加三维重建能清晰显示了钙化灶的大小、形态；MRI检查在显示受累椎体及周围组织的改变方面明显优于CT和平片。     

Prevalence of latex sensitization and allergy in Portuguese children

The prevalence of latex allergy has been increasing not only in risk groups but also in the general population, where it is accepted to average 1%. In children, latex sensitization prevalence studies are scarce and involve different population sampling and allergy testing methods, which makes it difficult to compare across studies. Nevertheless, existing studies point towards a low prevalence of latex allergy in children, which still needs to be confirmed in the Portuguese population. Aiming at studying the prevalence of latex sensitization and allergy in a sample of Portuguese children, we studied 182 children from two different hospital outpatient clinics. A standardized questionnaire focusing on atopic background, previous history and allergic signs or symptoms on exposure to latex or fruits was given to all children and parents. Skin prick testing was performed with a battery of common aeroallergens as well as latex. Serum total IgE, Phadiatop, F x 5E and latex-specific IgE were determined in all children. Specific IgE to latex-crossreacting fruits was determined in latex-sensitized children. Based upon the questionnaire, the prevalence of latex allergy would be 0.5%. The prevalence of latex sensitization would be 3.8%, when based solely upon skin prick testing, and 12.1% (>/=0.35 IU/ml) or 6.6% (>/=0.70 IU/ml) when based singly upon determination of latex-specific IgE. When positive results for either test were considered, the prevalence of latex sensitization was 14.3%. All latex-sensitized children were atopic. Sensitivity to latex-crossreacting foodstuffs was demonstrated in 61.5% of latex-sensitized children (16/26). This study shows that the prevalence of latex allergy and sensitization in Portuguese atopic and non-atopic children, as analysed using various diagnostic methods, is similar to that observed in other countries. In addition, the assessment of latex allergy and sensitization should always include skin prick testing and determination of serum IgE.     

Discordance in HIV-1 viral loads and antiretroviral drug concentrations comparing semen and blood plasma

Objectives

For individuals not on antiretroviral therapy, the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV appears negligible when blood plasma (BP) viral loads are <1500 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL. It is not clear whether this observation can be extrapolated to individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Because of differential tissue penetration, antiretroviral drug concentrations may be sufficient to maintain an undetectable viral load in the BP yet not achieve adequate levels to suppress HIV in the genital tract. Therefore, we wanted to correlate HIV viral loads and drug concentrations in semen plasma (SP) and BP.

Methods

Thirty‐three men were included. All were on combination antiretroviral therapy with an undetectable BP viral load for at least 1 year. Blood and semen samples were collected within 2 h of each other and tested for HIV RNA by the NucliSens QT (bioMerieux, St Laurent, QC, Canada) method; drug concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Two of the 33 patients (6.1%) with BP viral loads below detection had time‐matched HIV viral loads in SP ≥700 copies/mL. Both patients were on efavirenz, the SP concentrations of which were ≤10% of the levels in BP and well below the minimal therapeutic drug monitoring target concentration required to suppress HIV.

Conclusions

Because, at least in part, of poor drug penetration into the genital tract, an undetectable HIV viral load in the BP does not guarantee an undetectable viral load in semen. In view of this, caution should be taken in concluding that patients on HAART with suppressed viraemia are sexually non‐infectious.     

大陷胸汤灌肠治疗流出急性肾衰的观察与护理

目的 探讨中药大陷胸汤高位保留灌肠对流行性出血热（EHF）急性肾衰的治疗作用。方法 将60例EHF急性肾衰患者随机分为对照组与治疗组各30例，对照组予以常规治疗，治疗组在常规治疗的基础上加用大陷胸汤高位保留灌肠，观察两组患者治疗前后的疗效。结果 治疗组治愈23例，好转6例，无效1例，总有效率96．7％；对照组治愈17例，好转7例，无效6例，总有效率80．0％；两组疗效比较，有显著差异性p〈0．05（x^2=4．630）。结论 大陷胸汤高位保留灌肠治疗EHF急性肾衰疗效显著，且简便、安全、经济、病人乐于接受等优点。     

Adipose tissue and liver lipid metabolism in obese children: role of the body mass index and the presence of acanthosis nigricans.

AIMS: The aims of our study were to determine if insulin resistance is associated with increased plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate and triglycerides in obese children. We also studied whether the presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) led to further alterations in the above parameters. METHODS: A total of 101 children were studied on their first visit to the paediatric endocrine clinic. Seventy-four were obese, 30 of them with AN. The remaining 27 were non-obese healthy children (control group). NEFAs, glycerol, triglycerides, 3-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and glucose were determined in blood samples obtained after overnight fasting. The insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated following the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Data from the three groups were compared using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: No differences in age, sex ratio and pubertal stage were observed among the three groups. The group of children with the highest body mass index (BMI) showed higher plasma levels of insulin and leptin, higher IRI and lower plasma levels of adiponectin. As insulin and IRI increased, NEFA and 3-hydroxybutyrate decreased and triglycerides increased. When obese children were categorized by BMI, the presence of AN further exacerbated these differences. CONCLUSIONS: In obese children, insulin resistance is associated with plasma lipid alterations suggestive of both decreased adipose tissue lipolysis and hepatic beta-oxidation and increased hepatic synthesis of triglycerides. Such a metabolic condition may facilitate fat storage and hinder weight loss.