Primary aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus with pituitary invasion – a rare differential diagnosis of sellar lesions

Summary Aspergillosis belongs to the group of mycotic diseases of paranasal sinuses. The invasive forms, and particularly the fulminant forms, are potentially fatal. Isolated aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus or the clivus is a difficult diagnosis, since the often misleading clinical manifestations of this rare disease develop late. These patients become apparent by neurological signs such as cavernous sinus syndrome, pseudotumor of the pituitary or the orbit. Diagnosis is often made intra-operatively or on histological examination. We report a case of invasive aspergillosis uniquely involving the sellar area revealed by clinical features suggesting a pseudotumor of the pituitary. Although such lesions are almost always seen in immune suppressed subjects, in our case, the patient was immune competent and had no past history of sinusitis. The question of whether, and when to perform limited or extensive surgery remains an issue for discussion, owing to the rarity of this disease honed by lack of experience. It depends on several factors: the kind of disease, the immunity, the subtype of invasive fungal sinusitis and the degree of tissue invasion.     

颈椎病与中医辨证关系的探讨(附100例分析)

目的:探讨颈椎病与中医分型的辨证关系。方法:对100例该病的影像表现与中医分型进行系统分析。结果:主要临床表现颈部活动受限,颈、肩、背部疼痛,常伴头痛、头晕、视物模糊、耳鸣等症状。风寒型以软组织所致颈曲改变为主。肝肾亏虚型、痰湿交阻型以骨质增生、椎间隙及椎间孔狭窄为主。结论:X线、CT是本病首选检查方法,能与中医辨证有机结合,对中西医治疗有重要意义。     

Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

Lower limb blocks for children

Femoral and lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh blocks have been performed in a group of 50 children; the method has not previously been described in paediatric practice. The technique was judged to have been successful in 48 (96%) of the children. There were no early or late complications. It is concluded that these blocks are easy to perform, even in small children and infants, and that they can produce reliable postoperative analgesia for a variety of orthopaedic and plastic procedures.     

曼氏血吸虫与日本血吸虫交叉免疫原性的血清学实验研究

以曼氏血吸虫的虫卵和成虫免疫家兔后所产生的特异性抗体,可用以日本血吸虫虫卵、尾蚴和成虫为抗原分别进行的COP,CHR和ELACIEP测出,表明两种人体血吸虫存有显著的交叉抗原成分。应用此种血清交叉反应性,以检测抗异种人体血吸虫的抗体,似有效而可取的,可用以辅助诊断援外回国人员是否感染国外人体血吸虫病。     

Increased plasma cathepsin D concentration in hepatic carcinoma and cirrhosis but not in breast cancer

Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay, plasma total cathepsin D concentration was assayed in 40 breast cancer patients and 84 patients with various liver diseases and compared to that of 52 normal subjects. There were no significant variations found in breast cancer patients related to tumor size, node invasiveness or metastases. In normal women, cathepsin D levels were slightly but not significantly increased in the luteal phase and in pregnancy. By contrast, plasma cathepsin D concentration was significantly increased in 70-75% of patients with liver disease (cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma, hepatitis), but not in those with liver steatosis. Cathepsin D was independent of most of the plasma hepatic function tests and was correlated with alpha-fetoprotein in cirrhosis and with alpha-fucosidase in primary hepatocellular carcinoma. We conclude that plasma cathepsin D is not a useful marker in breast cancer. However, since the cellular level of this protease is associated with risk of metastasis in breast cancer, clinical follow-up will be required to test whether high cathepsin D plasma concentration has any prognostic value in liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocarcinoma.     

识时度势保持特色力求发展--中西医合校的回顾与思考

新疆医科大学为全国第二家中西医合并院校.在新疆进行中西医合校,实属时势所使,事在必行.强弱相合,处于弱势的中医学院只有坚持相对独立,才能保证于合校后发扬中医药特色、办好中医药教育.中西医合校,给原本弱小的新疆高等中医药教育事业的发展带来了诸多可供凭借和利用的积极因素,同时也存在不少负面影响.新疆医科大学在实践中认清了中西医同校的优势与缺憾,采取扶持和爱护中医的策略,不断尝试规避冲突、化解矛盾、趋利祛弊、务期和谐,终喜事业有成,使高等中医药教育得以在新疆生存,并越过低谷,走上健康发展之路.     

眼底动脉硬化与血压、血糖、血脂的多元分析与评估

目的探讨眼底动脉硬化与血压、血脂、血糖的相关性，评估中风危险度。方法对2004年5月至2008年10月就诊的患者335例，作为观察组，并与无症状的健康体检者180例作对照，动态检测眼底动脉硬化、血压、血糖、血脂的异常变化，并做综合量化评估。结果脑血管疾病与眼底动脉硬化、血压、血糖、血脂等因素密切相关。结论眼底动脉硬化、血糖、血脂、血压异常的量化评分，能够预估中风，以便采取预防性治疗。