Therapeutic Consequences of Variation in Intraarterial Pressure Measurements After Iliac Angioplasty

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of intraarterial measurement of transstenotic pressure gradients for the detection of hemodynamically suboptimal iliac angioplasty. Methods: In 14 patients, referred for diagnostic angiography, mean pressure gradients in the aorta and iliac artery were obtained twice, using a double-sensor pressure catheter. Additional iliac measurements were performed during pharmacologically induced flow augmentation. Repeatability was assessed by calculation of the mean difference plus standard deviation (MD ± SD) and repeatability coefficient (2 × SD). These results were extrapolated to 137 iliac angioplasty procedures with secondary stenting where there was a residual pressure gradient > 10 mmHg. Results: MD ± SD for repeated measurements at rest and during flow augmentation were 0 ± 2 mmHg and 1 ± 3 mmHg, respectively. Repeatability coefficients were 3 and 6 mmHg. Mean pressure gradients after hemodynamically insufficient angioplasty were 8 ± 7 mmHg at rest and 17 ± 5 mmHg following vasodilatation. Inaccurate pressure recordings may have led to inappropriate stent placement in less than 2.5%, and inappropriate denial of stent placement in less than 5% of the lesions. Conclusion: Variability of intraarterial pressure measurements has little consequence in the detection of hemodynamically significant stenosis after angioplasty. Received: 0/00/00/Accepted: 0/00/00     

Effects of Sclerocarya birroea Hochst. extract on some metabolic activities in the rat

The decoction of Sclerocarya birroea Hochst. shows hypoglycaemic effects, an increase in plasma IRI in normal rats and an incremented oral-glucose tolerance. The decoction is also active against diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia.     

Managing asthma in accident and emergency departments: an assessment in non teaching hospitals

Background: The management and follow-up of asthma patients presenting at Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments have mostly been studied in children's hospitals or specialised teaching hospitals. Aims: To study the adequacy of assessment, treatment and follow-up of patients presenting at A&E departments in non-teaching hospitals. Methods: A twenty-five per cent sample of presentations to A&E departments in all public hospitals in the Illawarra for one year was selected for a case note audit. Information on demographics, assessment, management and referral was extracted from the A&E case notes and medical records of cases with documentation of a final diagnosis of asthma. Chi square and Fischer's Exact tests were used for comparisons among hospitals. Results: Of 359 presentations with a final diagnosis of asthma, 88% were self referred and only 5% were first presentations. Objective measures of airways obstruction was not documented in 34% of admissions and 48% of nonadmissions. There was no documented follow-up in 28% of cases. The assessment and management of asthma in A&E was significantly poorer in smaller hospitals. Conclusion: Evidence of high use of A&E as a primary care facility by asthma patients was found in the study. There is a need to implement protocols to optimise assessment and treatment of asthma in smaller hospitals. (Aust NZ J Med 1993; 23: 672–677.).     

The scope of the cataract problem in the Middle East and the Mediterranean

The region is characterized by diversity in cultural, political, economic and health conditions. Blindness in the region varies from 6.4% to 0.2% with cataract ranking highly as an underlying cause. There is a need to develop national policies to deliver affordable, technically suitable, and cost effective management plans to reduce cataract. Economic, demographic, health, and manpower statistics are essential information to be considered in formulating such policies.     

Role of intracortical mechanisms in the late part of the silent period to transcranial stimulation of the human motor cortex

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) of the human motor cortex produce a silent period (SP) following motor evoked potentials (MEPs). The early part of the SP can be explained by decreased alpha motor neuron excitability, whereas the late part is presumably due to suprasegmental mechanisms. In order to determine the level of the suprasegmental contribution to the generation of SPs, we recorded excitatory and inhibitory responses to TMS, TES, and percutaneous electrical brainstem stimulation (PBS) in the voluntarily activated first dorsal interosseous muscle of the hand. Stimulus intensities were set so that PBS and TES induced MEPs with areas equal to or larger than those of MEPs obtained with TMS. This procedure revealed that SPs were 49% and 83% shorter with TES and PBS, respectively, than with TMS. As TMS is more effective than TES or PBS in activating cortical interneurons, these findings support the idea that a significant component of the SP arises from intracortical mechanisms.     

鼻部源性突眼的CT分析

目的：为了提高对鼻部源性突眼的认识。材料和方法：本文19例鼻部源性突眼，其中鼻咽癌7例，鼻咽纤维血管瘤2例，鼻腔纤维血管瘤、恶性肉芽肿和嗅神经母细胞瘤各1例，上颌窦癌和软骨肉瘤各2例，上颌窦恶性肉芽肿、纤维肉瘤和恶性纤维组织细胞瘤各1例，全部病例均作轴位CT扫描，12例加作增强扫描，详细分析了它们CT表现。结果：源于鼻咽的放疗前鼻咽癌和纤维血管瘤，其病变主要位于鼻咽腔和咽旁，后者显著增强并有钙斑，与前者不同；源于上颌窦的肿瘤，病变占据上颌窦的全部或大部分，软骨肉瘤有钙斑且无强化，易与其它肿瘤区别，它们破坏上颌窦顶部进入眼眶；鼻腔嗅神经母细胞瘤在鼻腔和筛窦形成肿块，破坏筛骨眶板侵入眼眶。结论：根据CT所见，可判断突眼原因。     

Phase II trial of piroxantrone in patients with recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Summary Twenty-two patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with piroxantrone 150 mg/m² intravenously every 21 days. There were no objective responses. The 95% upper confidence bound for response is 15%. Primary toxicity was hematologic.     

非脱垂子宫经腹、阴式全切除术临床比较

目的 探讨非脱垂子宫经阴道与经腹全切术的临床比较。方法 2000年5月～2001年1月对阴式子宫全切术 (TVH)28例及腹式子宫全切术 (TAH)35例分为两组进行手术 ,对临床指标进行观察比较。结果 28例TVH手术均成功。平均重量255g(120～510g)。与TAH手术比较 ,其术后病率、肛门排气时间及术后住院天数有显著性差异 ( p<0.001及 p<0.05) ,但其手术时间及术中出血量无显著性差异 ( p>0.05)。结论 随着微创手术的开展 ,利用阴道天然孔道 ,经阴道切除较大的子宫是有效和安全的 ,手术的成功与术者经验、技术及子宫活动度有关 ,有合适器械也是手术成功的因素。     

功能性消化不良与幽门螺杆菌关系探讨

功能性消化不良是一种人群中发病率很高的消化系统症状群，其发病机理未完全阐明，本文通过对２７４２例各类型功能性消化不良患者的胃粘膜的幽门螺杆菌感染情况作分析，发现动力障碍型ＨＰ阳性率６５．３％，溃疡型ＨＰ阳性率７４％，胃食管反流型ＨＰ阳性率２４％，特发型ＨＰ阳性率２１．４％，前两型与后两型的阳性率差异有显著性（Ｐ〈０．０５），而前两型之间阳性率差异无显著性（Ｐ〉０．０５），说明ＨＰ与动力障碍型和溃疡     

Effect of UVB 311 nm irradiation on normal human skin

Ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) on the skin induces erythema, inflammation and modifications of the immune system. These changes have been reported after excessive short-term or long-term exposure to broad spectrum UVB. In this study, we examined the effects of local repetitive UVB irradiation of 311 nm wavelength on the skin of seven young volunteers. Skin biopsies were taken before and after UVB irradiation, and we immunohistochemically analyzed the expression of CD1a and HLA-DR antigens of Langerhans cells (LC), the possible infiltration of dermis/epidermis by CD11b macrophages, the modifications or the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) involved in the binding of leukocytes to the endothelial surface and the development of perivascular infiltrates of LFA-1⁺ mononuclear cells. We also determined the expression of substance P receptors (SPR) using biotinylated substance P (SPB). Exposure of UVB 311 nm induced a drastic reduction of CD1a⁺ cells and a moderate increase of HLA-DR⁺ dendritic cells in the epidermis without infiltration by CD11b macrophages. An increase of the binding of SPB to upper layer epidermal cells was noted in five of seven biopsies. In the dermis, vessel-associated ICAM-1 expression increased and an induction of E-selectin occurred on nearly 20 to 40% of endothelial cells, but VCAM-1 expression remained undetectable. The percentage of LFA-1⁺ cells did not change significantly after irradiation. These observations may be compatible with a selective role of UVB 311 nm on the skin immune response.