Treatment of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin

Summary Fourteen patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy were treated with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG). Ten received 10 g/day of IVGG and 4 received 400 mg/kg of body-weight/day of IVGG for 5 consecutive days. Improvement of spastic paraparesis was observed in 10 within 7 days of the commencement of IVGG. The therapeutic effects were sustained for more than 3 weeks in some patients. There were no side effects. Analysis of factors of relevance to the clinical improvement with IVGG showed that the beneficial response was preferentially found in patients having a high CSF titre of anti-HTLV-I antibodies, a high CSF IgG level and a marked brain MRI abnormality.     

Active production of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM antibody in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy

We investigated the presence of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM in sera and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) by Western blot analysis. Analyses of 36 serum samples revealed that most patients (31/36; 86.1%) had anti-HTLV-I IgM, whereas only four of 23 (17.4%) HTLV-I carriers had it. In studies of cerebrospinal fluid, anti-HTLV-I IgM was detected in 24 of 36 (66.7%) HAM patients, whereas none was detected in nine HTLV-I carriers. The differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that persistent active replication of HTLV-I occurs in the central nervous system as well as in the peripheral blood of HAM patients, and may contribute to the development of HAM.     

青年急性冠脉综合征冠脉造特点及随访

目的:探讨青年急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)冠状动脉(冠状)造影特点及其与远期心脏事件的关系。方法:比较青年ACS与老年ACS患者冠脉病变程度、范围,并进行心脏事件随访。结果:78例青年ACS患者有冠脉病变74例(94.9％),单支病变46例(58.9％);171例老年ACS患者有冠脉病变166例(97.1％),单支病变41例(23.9％)。平均随访9个月,青年ACS患者发生心脏事件者10例(12.8％),其中心绞痛再入院6例(7.7％);老年ACS患者发生心脏事件者47例(27.5％),其中心绞痛再入院30例(17.5％),两组比较差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:ACS患者冠状动脉粥样硬化青年时期之前已经发生,ACS预后与冠脉病变程度和年龄呈正相关。     

37. Perioperatives Risiko — Kontroversen zur Pathogenese -Integration der Standpunkte

Zusammenfassung 1. Das perioperative Risiko muss als Gesamtrisiko von Anaesthesisten und Chirurgen gemeinsam erfasst werden. 2. Gemeinsame Risikoklassen sind dringend erforderlich. 3. Art und Umfang von Screeninguntersuchungen bedürfen einheitlicher Festlegungen. 4. Jedes Risiko muss durch geeignete Vorbehandlungsmassnahmen gemindert werden. 5. Intraoperatives Vorgehen sowie intra- und postoperatives Monitoring sollten gemeinsam diskutiert werden. 6. Die postoperative Phase sollte Gegenstand prospektiver Untersuchungen werden.     

Poor association between allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E levels, skin sensitivity and basophil degranulation: a study with recombinant birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and an immunoglobulin E detection system measuring immunoglobulin E capable of binding to FcɛRI

BACKGROUND: Results from several studies indicate that the magnitude of immediate symptoms of type I allergy caused by allergen-induced cross-linking of high-affinity Fc epsilon receptors on effector cells (mast cells and basophils) is not always associated with allergen-specific IgE levels. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of results from intradermal skin testing, basophil histamine release and allergen-specific IgE, IgG1-4, IgA and IgM antibody levels in a clinical study performed in birch pollen-allergic patients (n = 18). METHODS: rBet v 1-specific IgEs were measured by quantitative CAP measurements and by using purified Fc epsilon RI-derived alpha-chain to quantify IgE capable of binding to effector cells. Bet v 1-specific IgG subclasses, IgA and IgM levels were measured by ELISA, and basophil histamine release was determined in whole blood samples. Intradermal skin testing was performed with the end-point titration method. RESULTS: Our study demonstrates on the molecular level that the concentrations of allergen-specific IgE antibodies capable of binding to Fc epsilon RI and biological sensitivities are not necessarily associated. A moderate association was found between cutaneous and basophil sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the quantitative discrepancies and limitations of the present diagnostic tools in allergy, even when using a single allergenic molecule. The quantity of allergen-specific serum IgE is only one component of far more complex cellular systems (i.e. basophil-based tests, skin tests) used as indirect diagnostic tests for IgE-mediated allergic sensitivity.     

缬沙坦加参麦注射液治疗充血性心力衰竭的临床观察

目的观察缬沙坦（Valsartan）加参麦注射液（Shenmai Injection,SI）对充血性心力衰竭（CHF）心肌损害的疗效。方法采用随机分组的方法,分别用常规治疗（31例）和缬沙坦、SI加常规治疗（31例）,并对CHF的各项实验室指标[血浆肌钙蛋白T（cTnT）、心肌酶谱]进行观察。结果在CHF进程中,cTnT浓度随着心功能恶化呈进行性增高。应用缬沙坦加SI治疗2周后,患者左室收缩功能得到明显改善,未发现严重不良反应。结论血浆cTnT可作为CHF患者预后判断的一项重要生化指标。缬沙坦加SI是治疗CHF安全有效的药物。     

参附注射液对家兔心脏骤停-心肺复苏模型循环恢复的影响

目的观察参附注射液对家兔缺氧型心脏骤停-心肺复苏 (CA- CPR)模型循环恢复的影响.方法 30只家兔随机分为三组,每组 10只;夹闭气管复制缺氧型 CA- CPR模型.预防组 (A组 )夹管前 10min、自主循环恢复后 8、 15min分别静注参附注射液,治疗组 (B组 )自主循环恢复后 8、 15、 22min静注参附注射液,对照组 (C组 )静注生理盐水,时间同 A组;监测夹管前后家兔的心电图、平均动脉压 (PAP)的变化,并记录开始 CPR至自主循环恢复时间和自主呼吸恢复时间、肾上腺素用量、撤呼吸机时间;自主循环维持 4h,并计算 4h存活率.结果三组 CPR成功率、 4h存活率相近;在自主循环恢复时间方面 A组明显快于 C组,在自主呼吸维持时间、肾上腺素用量、撤呼吸机时间方面则两组相近.结论参附注射液可明显缩短家兔缺氧型 CA- CPR模型的自主循环恢复时间,对促进 CA的循环恢复具有积极意义.     

影响终末期肾衰竭患者心脏扩大的因素

目的了解成都铁路分局医院血液进化中心终末期肾衰竭并维持性血液透析患者心脏扩大的影响因素,以便提高患者的血液透析质量和生存率。方法回顾本血液净化中心收治的216例终末期肾衰竭并维持性血液透析2月以上患者,根据心脏彩色多普勒检查,分为心脏扩大与心脏未扩大2组,对可能影响心脏扩大的因素:年龄、血液透析病程、每周血液透析时间、高血压、容量超负荷、血红蛋白水平、低蛋白血症等用SPSS10.0软件作Logistic回归分析。结果终末期肾衰竭并维持性血液透析患者216例,心脏扩大者183例,未扩大者33例,心脏扩大的发生率为84.72%。心脏扩大与容量超负荷呈显著正相关,P=0.002,OR值42.619;心脏扩大与高血压呈正相关,P=0.026,OR值15.353;心脏扩大与血红蛋白水平呈负相关,P=0.043,OR值0.934。心脏扩大与年龄、血液透析病程、每周血液透析时间和低蛋白血症无相关关系。结论终未期肾衰竭并维持性血液透析患者心脏扩大发生率高,而容量超负荷、高血压、血红蛋白水平是影响它的关键,高血压及容量超负荷是促进心脏扩大的独立危险因素,血红蛋白水平下降亦是促进心脏扩大的独立危险因素。     

The role of the le fort I maxillotomy in the management of incompletely resected pituitary macroadenomas.

Objective: The options available for the treatment of a nonsecreting pituitary macroadenoma that has been incompletely resected include reoperation, fractionated radiation therapy, and radiosurgery. Reoperation in this setting may be hindered by the same obstacles that prevented a complete resection during the initial surgical procedure, and should prompt consideration of an alternate approach or exposure. Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2003, 10 consecutive patients were referred to the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for the evaluation of a nonsecreting pituitary macroadenoma that measured 3 cm or greater in diameter despite having undergone an attempt at a complete resection elsewhere. Each of these patients was reoperated using a Le Fort I maxillotomy to enhance the exposure provided by a traditional transsphenoidal approach. Results: A total or near total (> 95%) resection was achieved in each case. One patient required reoperation for the repositioning of a fat graft to treat a cerebrospinal fluid fistula and one patient experienced a worsening of anterior pituitary function postoperatively. Five patients noted improved vision and no patient experienced further visual loss. Three patients have required subsequent treatment of small foci of recurrent or progressing tumor with stereotactic radiation therapy. No patient has received fractionated radiation therapy. Conclusion: The added exposure provided by a Le Fort I maxillotomy facilitates the resection of pituitary macroadenomas that have been incompletely resected by a traditional transnasal, trans-sphenoidal approach.