The Prospective Assessment of Autonomic Nerve Function by Pupillometry in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The study aimed to compare the longitudinal assessment of autonomic nerve function by computerized infrared pupillometry and standard cardiovascular tests in adolescents with diabetes. Adolescents (n = 150) were assessed at two time points (T1 and T2). The median time interval between assessments was 1.5 (range 0.9–3) years. At T1 the median age was 14.5 (range 8.3–19.5) years and the median duration was 6.5 (range 1.1–16) years. The pupillary variables assessed included the resting pupil diameter, the maximum constriction velocity, and the reflex amplitude of constriction. Heart rate reflexes were assessed in response to deep breathing, the Valsalva manoeuvre, and on standing from a lying position (30/15 ratio). Between visits there was a significant decrease in maximum constriction velocity (6.0 mm s^?1 vs 6.3 mm s^?1, p = 0.0001) and resting pupil diameter (6.2 mm vs 6.3 mm, p = 0.001). At reassessment pupillary abnormalities increased from 32 (21 %) to 45 (30%), with 17 (54 %) of the initial abnormalities persisting. Adolescents with abnormally slow maximum constriction velocity compared to those with normal maximum constriction velocity had a higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c%) at T2 (p = 0.02) and between assessments (p = 0.01). Cardiovascular test abnormalities did not increase between visits and the persistence of initial abnormalities was low (21 %). In summary, pupillometry appears a more sensitive test of autonomic nerve dysfunction in adolescents with diabetes than assessment of cardiovascular reflexes.     

左心室舒张(充盈)功能的影响因素

本文用X线电影摄影方法评价了49例左室舒张(充盈)功能的影响因素。冠心病(CAD)组23例,高血压病组12例,正常对照组14例。左室充盈功能或顺应性主要受冠脉病变严重程度的影响。冠脉狭窄程度越重,并有陈旧性心肌梗塞、室壁运动异常、EF下降,则充盈功能受损愈明显。血压、年龄因素对舒张充盈功能的影响较小。在CAD组中,心率与1/3充盈分数呈负相关,与正常化高峰充盈率(NPFR)不相关,而EF则与NPFR相关良好。     

小叶锦鸡儿的抗炎作用

小叶锦鸡儿可明显对抗角叉菜胶、热烫及巴豆油所致的炎症,抑制小鼠毛细血管通透性、单核巨噬细胞系统的吞噬功能、肉芽组织增生及大鼠炎症部位PGE₂的合成和释放。     

Image technique optimization in MR imaging of a titanium alloy joint prosthesis

The purpose of this study was to explore systematically the effect of the imaging parameters changeable by the user in spin-echo (SE) imaging sequences to minimize image distortion when imaging joint prostheses. A titanium alloy hip joint prosthesis was studied at 1.0 T. The SE imaging parameters were bandwidth/pixel (BW/p), TE, strength of encoding gradients (matrix size), echo train length (ETL), and direction of phase and frequency encoding. The effect of ETL in rapid acquisition relaxation enhanced (RARE) sequences was also evaluated with a turbo-SE sequence using a different ETL with the same TR and an effective TE. It is concluded that an optimized image quality can be achieved in SE imaging by using a high bandwidth/pixel value (at least 130 Hz/pixel), a high resolution matrix (256–512), sequences with multiple refocusing, and a frequency-encoding axis parallel to the long axis of the prosthesis. The degree of distortion is reduced with this optimized technique.     

慢性肺心病左心功能探讨

通过42例重型肺心病、7例轻型肺心病、16例肺心病伴发冠心病患者和30例正常人在静息状态下的左右心脏射血分数及其临床资料的分析表明,重型肺心病患者在病情的急性发作期,存在有不同程度的左心功能不全,而轻型肺心病患者则无左心功能不全的表现。表明慢性肺心病仅在病程晚期,才由以右心为主的疾病发展成为全心病。本文还对重型肺心病与肺心病伴发冠心病患者的左心功能进行比较,结果表明,肺心病伴发冠心病患者左室功能受损程度更为明显,双重病因导致的左室功能减退,常造成心肌更严重的损害而且不容易恢复。     

Obstructive and restrictive ventilatory impairment in polyvinylchloride fabrication workers

Responses to a standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire, spirometry, and cross-shift decreases in lung function between 70 current employees of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) fabrication plant and a control group consisting of 48 men employed in a vegetable packing plant were compared. FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in the PVC workers. Cross-shift drops in Vmax75 of 15% or more were also more prevalent in the exposed group (p = .01). When examining the association between months of work within the exposed workforce and spirometric indices of airway obstruction, no relationship could be demonstrated. However, an inverse dose-response relationship was seen between level of FVC and duration of employment, suggesting a restrictive impairment. While the specific exposures have not been identified, it appears that employment in PVC fabrication may be associated with both obstructive and restrictive ventilatory effects.     

红细胞不同温度长期冻存后形态和免疫功能的变化及其临床意义

目的 探讨一种简便、有效的红细胞长期保存的方法。方法 红细胞在－40℃、80℃及－196℃（液氮）不同温度下长期保存18个月后，分别测定冻存前后红细胞平均体积（MCV）、红细胞渗透脆性（RFT）及红细胞免疫功能（RBC－C3bRR、ERPN）。结果 红细胞－40℃长期冻存后，MCV和RFT较冻存前显著提高（P＜0.05)，RBC－C3bRRt ERPN较冻存前显著降低（P＜0.05)。红细胞－80℃、－196℃长期冻存后，MCV、RFT、RBC－C3bRR及ERPN较冻存前无明显改变（P＞0.05)。结论 红细胞经－80℃、－196℃长期冻存后，其形态、结构和免疫功能保存良好。－80℃低温冻存是一种简便、有效的红细胞长期保存的方法。     

Respiratory health status in swine producers using respiratory protective devices

A cross-sectional survey on respiratory health in swine producers showed that 30% of 301 examined men usually used a dust mask when working inside a barn. They did not differ significantly from dust mask nonusers in respect to respiratory symptoms and lung function. This analysis was undertaken to determine whether the respiratory health of dust mask users was associated with reasons why they had started individual respiratory protection. The subjects were recontacted in order to identify those who started using a mask to deliberately prevent symptoms (42 men) and those who started protection because of pre-existing respiratory symptoms (44 men). Not unexpectedly, betweengroup comparisons of respiratory symptoms and lung function suggest that swine producers who wear dust masks for preventive purposes have better respiratory health than those who wear dust masks because of symptoms or those who do not use individual respiratory protection. The individual reasons for starting dust mask usage should be examined among potential determinants of the outcomes of prospective studies which can then provide more valid assessment of the effect of individual respiratory protection. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Safety pharmacology of the respiratory system: Techniques and study design

The known effects of drugs from a variety of pharmacologic/therapeutic classes on the respiratory system and worldwide regulatory requirements support the need for conducting respiratory evaluations in safety pharmacology. The objective of these studies is to evaluate the potential for drugs to cause secondary pharmacologic or toxicologic effects that influence respiratory function. Changes in respiratory function can result either from alterations in the pumping apparatus that controls the pattern of pulmonary ventilation or from changes in the mechanical properties of the lung that determine the transpulmonary pressures (work) required for lung inflation and deflation. Defects in the pumping apparatus are classified as hypo- or hyperventilation syndromes and are evaluated by examining ventilatory parameters in a conscious animal model. The ventilatory parameters include respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute volume, peak (or mean) inspiratory flow, peak (or mean) expiratory flow, and fractional inspiratory time. Defects in mechanical properties of the lung are classified as obstructive or restrictive disorders and can be evaluated in animal models by performing flow-volume and pressure-volume maneuvers, respectively. The parameters used to detect airway obstruction include peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory flow at 25 and 75% of forced vital capacity, and a timed forced expiratory volume, while the parameters used to detect lung restriction include total lung capacity, inspiratory capacity, functional residual capacity, and compliance. Measurement of dynamic lung resistance and compliance, obtained continuously during tidal breathing, is an alternative method for evaluating obstructive and restrictive disorders, respectively, and is used when the response to drug treatment is expected to be immediate (within minutes post-dose). The species used in the safety pharmacology studies conducted in our laboratory are the same as those used in toxicology studies since pharmacokinetic and toxicologic/pathologic data are available in these species. These data can be used to help select test measurement intervals and doses and to aid in the interpretation of functional change. The techniques and procedures for measuring respiratory function parameters are well established in guinea pigs, rats, and dogs.     

糖尿病患者微血管病变与血小板功能

测定21例有微血管病变和27倒无并发症的糖尿病人血小板功能，并与40例正常人作比较。结果发现糖尿病人，尤其是微血管病变者血浆血栓烷素（TXB2）、第八因子相关抗原（VWF）浓度及血小板膜糖蛋白（G、P）Ib显著高于对照组。提示血小板功能异常可能对糖尿病患者做血管并发症的发生起重要作用。