卡维地洛对不稳定型心绞痛患者血浆炎症因子的影响

目的观察卡维地洛对不稳定型心绞痛（UAP）患者高敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、白介素-6（IL-6）及细胞间可溶性黏附分子1（sICAM-1）水平的影响。方法UAP患者62例采用完全随机化方法分成对照组（n=30）和治疗组（n=32）,在常规抗血小板、扩血管治疗基础上,对照组予美托洛尔（12.5mg,2次/d×3d）口服,治疗组服卡维地洛（6.25mg,2次/d×3d）,在治疗前后分别测定hs-CRP、IL-6、sICAM-1值。结果对照组和治疗组在治疗前hs-CRP、IL-6、sICAM-1均无显著性差异;用药后两组3指标均较用药前显著降低（P<0.05）;治疗组在用药后IL-6、sI-CAM-1显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。同时,用药后两组患者的心率、血压、心肌耗氧量均较用药前显著降低（P<0.05）,治疗组的心肌耗氧量显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论卡维地洛可显著降低UAP患者的炎症因子IL-6、sICMA-1水平。     

Increased glucose excursion in cystic fibrosis and its association with a worse clinical status

BACKGROUND: Abnormal glucose tolerance is a frequent co-morbidity in cystic fibrosis patients (CF), and is associated with a worse prognosis. The objectives are to investigate (a) the relative contribution of insulinopenia and insulin resistance (IR) for glucose tolerance and (b) the association between various glucose parameters and CF clinical status. METHODS: Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in 114 consecutive CF patients not known to be diabetic as well as 14 controls similar for age and BMI. RESULTS: Abnormal glucose tolerance was found in 40% of patients with CF: 28% had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 12% had new cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD). Compared to control subjects, all CF patients were characterized by an increased glucose excursion (AUC). While reduced early insulin release characterised CF, IGT and CFRD patients also present IR thus both mechanisms significantly contribute to glucose tolerance abnormalities. Increased glucose AUC and reduced early insulin release but not glucose tolerance categories were associated with a reduced pulmonary function (FEV(1)). CONCLUSION: In CF, early insulin secretion defect but also IR contribute to glucose intolerance. Early in the course of the disease, increased glucose AUC and reduced early insulin secretion are more closely associated with a worse clinical status than conventional glucose tolerance categories.     

Comparative studies of chemotherapy of human tumor cells in vitro by tritiated thymidine uptake inhibition and soft agar clonogenic assay

A rapid nonsterile short-term assay has been investigated in which percent inhibition of incorporation of the DNA precursor (3H)-thymidine is measured following exposure of tumor cells to the test drugs. To evaluate the usefulness of the short-term assay in providing a rapid reliable assessment of chemotherapeutic response, the short-term assay was compared with the soft agar clonogenic assay. Sensitivity to five anticancer drugs was compared using three human tumor cell lines (epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, pancreatic carcinoma, and bladder carcinoma). The short-term assay produced results that were similar to results of the clonogenic assay in two of the three tumors tested, for three drugs (cis-platin, doxorubicin, and BCNU), but did not detect responses to two antimetabolites (5-FU and MTX) in any tumor. Further studies of this short-term assay should focus on alkylating agents and other nonantimetabolites.     

IgA antiendomysium antibodies in human umbilical cord sections as a screening test in relatives of patients with celiac disease

We performed the serum IgA antiendomysium antibody (EmA) assay by indirect immunofluorescence on human umbilical cord sections in 86 subjects with celiac disease, in 187 first-degree relatives of such patients, and in a control group of 68 unrelated subjects, to investigate the suitability of the method in the screening of populations at risk of gluten sensitivity. Conventional EmA assay using monkey esophagus sections was performed in parallel experiments. The results obtained showed a perfpect correlation between the two methods. All the celiac patients and none of the controls were positive for EmA. EmA positivity was also observed in 11 apparently healthy relatives: intestinal biopsy performed in five of them invariably showed villous atrophy and increase of mucosal lymphocytes. Taking into account the low cost of EmA assay on human umbilical cord, especially when compared to monkey esophagus sections, the method is probably suitable and effective in identifying latent, asymptomatic gluten sensitivity in at-risk populations.     

药物敏感试验指导肺癌合并恶性胸腔积液的顺铂联合其他药物胸腔内化疗

目的用药物敏感试验预测肺癌合并恶性胸腔积液癌细胞对顺铂联合其他药物的敏感度，观察其在指导此类患者的顺铂联合其他化疗药物胸腔内化疗的价值。方法将44例胸腔积液癌细胞阳性肺癌患者随机分为两组：药物敏感试验组（20例，有2例因体外药物敏感试验失败而被排除）和对照组（22例）。药物敏感试验组患者用三磷酸腺苷-肿瘤细胞药物敏感试验（ATP-TCA）法分别检测胸腔积液癌细胞对顺铂加香菇多糖、顺铂加甘露聚糖肽、顺铂加A群链球菌制剂、顺铂加干扰素、顺铂加金黄色葡萄球菌滤液制剂、顺铂加卡介苗多糖核酸、顺铂加红色诺卡菌细胞壁骨架、顺铂加白细胞介素-2的敏感度，并选择抑瘤率最高的联合化疗药物对患者进行胸腔内化疗，观察治疗后胸腔积液完全缓解率及胸腔积液癌细胞转阴率，并与对照组比较。结果药物敏感试验组患者对各联合化疗药物敏感的例数为：顺铂加香菇多糖14例、顺铂加甘露聚糖肽18例、顺铂加A群链球菌制剂17例、顺铂加干扰素10例、顺铂加金黄色葡萄球菌滤液制剂16例、顺铂加卡介苗多糖核酸15例、顺铂加红色诺卡菌细胞壁骨架17例、顺铂加白细胞介素-216例。药物敏感试验组完全缓解率为65．0％，对照组为27．3％（P〈0．05）。药物敏感试验组胸腔积液癌细胞转阴率为80．0％，对照组为45．5％（P〈0．05）。结论用药物敏感试验指导肺癌合并恶性胸腔积液的胸腔内个体化化疗可提高完全缓解率和胸腔积液癌细胞转阴率，该方法具有临床实用价值。     

Two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative disc disease: improved clinical outcome with restoration of lumbar lordosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative lumbar diseases is routine, there are few reports on double-level PLIF. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of double-level PLIF. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective study of operated cases in Gifu, Japan. PATIENT SAMPLE: Nineteen patients (8 men and 11 women, 59.5+/-10.2 years) who underwent double-level PLIF between 1996 and 2001. OUTCOME MEASURES: Operation time, blood loss, complications, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for back pain and lumbar sagittal alignment were evaluated. METHODS: Patients were examined retrospectively at follow-ups of 3.6+/-1.7 years. Primary diseases were spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, degenerative scoliosis and herniated intervertebral disc. Fusion areas were L3 to L5 in 15 cases and L4 to S1 in 4 cases. RESULTS: The mean JOA score increased from an initial score of 12.9+/-3.5 to 21.3+/-4.9 at the final follow-up. There was a positive correlation (R=0.718, p<.001) between the increase in lordotic angle and the increase in the JOA score. Several parameters suggested that the surgical invasiveness was not minimal. CONCLUSION: Double-level PLIF provided satisfactory results and preserved lumbar spine lordosis.     

肠易激综合征Manning诊断标准的评价

目的 评价Manning标准诊断肠易激综合征(IBS)的真实性。方法 采用自行设计的调查表对499例对象进行调查。结果 1．随着Manning标准中结合指标数的增多，IBS组与非溃疡性消化不良及溃疡性结肠炎组鉴别的灵敏度及其95％CI明显下降，特异度及其95％CI明显上升，同时阳性预测值、阳性似然比及阴性似然比也明显上升。2．符合Manning标准中二项以上结合指标，IBS组就具有较好与健康对照组鉴别的灵敏度及其95％CI、特异度及其95％CI。结论 Manning标准中需要3项以上结合指标可较好地使IBS与非溃疡性消化不良或溃疡性结肠炎鉴别；2项以上结合指标可较好地使IBS与健康人鉴别。     

Effect of Kang''''ai Injection(康艾注射液) on Serum Level of Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma during Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy(RT)is an important ap-proach for treatment of esophageal carcinoma(EC),especially for patients who have missedthe chance of surgical section.The efficacy ofRTis not satisfactory for its1-year,3-year and5-year survival rates being merely50%,20%,and10%respectively(1).Researches in recent years showed thatbetter efficacy can be obtained by combiningRTwith Chinese herbal medicines for EC thatincapable to be resected.Kang ai Injection(康艾注射液,KAI)is a Chinese herbal prep-arati…     

Notes on the use of low magnification telescopes in low vision care

Several areas related to the use of telescopes in low vision are reviewed. These include: contrast sensitivity function; eccentric viewing through a telescope; field of view; telescope used in reverse; and IOL-spectacle lens telescopic systems. Experimental data are included to support selected clinical observations routinely made by low vision clinicians.