Lymph node metastases in the neck and parotid gland from an unknown primary melanoma

A lymph node metastasis in the neck or parotid region from an unknown primary melanoma is an uncommon occurrence. Out of a total of 300 patients with head and neck melanoma treated at the Netherlands Cancer Institute between 1976 and 1992, 17 (5.7%) presented in this way. The most common site for metastatic lymph nodes (18 nodes in 17 patients) was level V (n= 7), followed by the parotid region (n= 4), level II (n= 4), level III (n= 2), and level IV (n= 7). Two patients had local excision of the neck node metastasis only, while the remaining 15 patients underwent more extensive surgical treatment. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate in this group was 48%, with a median survival of 36 months, which is more or less similar to the prognosis of stage II melanoma of the head and neck with a known, surgically treated primary tumour. No relation was found between disease-free interval and sex, the number of positive lymph nodes or the duration of symptoms.     

Human chronic kidney allograft rejection is accompanied by increased intraglomerular cathepsin B and L activity

Abstract The major reason for late graft losses is chronic rejection. Recently, a large number of studies have indicated that proteolytic enzymes play an important role as mediators of glomerular injury. The cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and L degrade structural matrix proteins such as type I collagen and laminin. We investigated intraglomerular protease activities in 12 patients after kidney graftectomy because of end-tage renal disease following chronic rejection. A group of 12 patients undergoing nephrectomy because of cancer served as controls using only non-involved parts of the kidney. The activities of cathepsins B and L in homogenates of isolated glomeruli were measured fluorometrically methylcoumarylamidc substrates and related to DNA content. In rejected kidney allografts we observed significantly enhanced intraglomerular cathepsin B activity and cathepsin B + L activity.     

Diving physiology and pathophysiology

Summary. Divers have worked at 500 m depth in the sea and have reached 700 m in simulated chamber dives. A prerequisite for this has been extensive physiological studies of the body's reactions to pressure and pressure changes. This paper reviews such physiological and pathophysiological studies with emphasis on recent developments.     

Normal morphology of sacroiliac joints in children: magnetic resonance studies related to age and sex

Objective. To determine in a prospective study the normal MRI morphology of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) in relation to age and sex during adolescence. Design and patients. A total of 98 children (63 boys, mean age 12.7±2.8 years; 35 girls, mean age 13.7±2.3 years), ranging in age from 8 to 17 years, with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) but without signs of sacroiliitis fulfilled the study prerequisites (no back pain and no pathologic changes of the SIJs on physical examination before MRI in a 1.5-year follow-up). An additional eight HLA-B27-negative boys and eight HLA-B27-negative girls without arthritis served as controls. The MRI protocol comprised a T1-weighted SE sequence, an opposed-phase T2*-weighted GE sequence, and a dynamic contrast-enhanced study in single-section technique. Results. Noncontrast MRI permitted differentiation of “open” from ossified segmental and lateral apophyses of the sacral wings, with a significant difference in age (P <0.05) between children with open and ossified apophyses. Ossification of the apophyses of the sacral wings was seen significantly earlier (P <0.05) in girls than in boys. Girls also had a significantly higher incidence of transitional lumbosacral vertebrae, pelvic asymmetries, and accessory joints. In the contrast-enhanced opposed-phase MRI study, normal cartilage of the SIJs showed no contrast enhancement whereas the joint capsule showed a moderate enhancement. Conclusion. There are significant age- and sex-related differences in the normal MRI morphology of juvenile SIJs. Our findings might serve as a standard of comparison for the evaluation of pathologic changes – in particular for the early identification of juvenile sacroiliitis.     

Free vascularized jejunum interposition for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction after total laryngopharyngectomy

The records of 28 patients who underwent free jejunal graft reconstruction after resection for cancer involving the pharynx were analysed. Seven patients had a T₃ carcinoma, 15 patients T₄ and six patients recurrence after laryngectomy. Ten patients had received radiotherapy in the past. Post-operatively, 15 patients (54%) had complications and two patients (7%) died. No significant difference was observed in the complication rate between the group that received radiotherapy in the past and those who did not. Nineteen patients received post-operative radiotherapy. Nine patients had no radiotherapy on the basis of complete resection or because of serious complications. For the whole group the 2-year recurrence free period and survival were 42% and 51% respectively. The postoperative radiotherapy group had a significantly better survival (73%) and recurrence free period (63%) than the group without post-operative radiotherapy (0%). Thus, post-operative radiotherapy seems indicated irrespective of resection margins.     

Nitric oxide in paraventricular nuclei of rat hypothalamus under extreme conditions

The activity of nitroxide synthetase (NOS) was studied histochemically and levels of oxytocin and vasopressin immunocytochemically in rat hypothalamus paraventricular nuclei in on-earth experiments simulating space flight conditions with landing. Colonization of oxytocin and NOS was found in large-cell neurons of paraventricular nuclei. After 15 days under conditions of simulated microgravitation followed by 1-day double gravitation and a short-term (1 day) macrogravitation, activities of NOS and content of neuropeptides increased in large-cell neurons of paraventricular nuclei of experimental animals. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 3, pp. 282–284, March, 1998     

引导科技干部保持医院发展转型期间和谐心态的着力点

当前部队医院正处于发展转型期，如何引导科技干部适应转型发展新形势，经受住各种考验，始终保持理性平和、协调平衡、积极向上的心理状态，是一个不容忽视的现实问题，也是事关医院内部和谐和医院建设发展又好又快的大事，更是我们思想政治工作者必须着力认真研究、加以解决的重要课题。     

Modulation of infection-induced inflammation and locomotive deficit and longevity in senescence-accelerated mice-prone (SAMP8) model by the oligomerized polyphenol Oligonol.

Oligonol is produced from the oligomerization of polyphenols (typically proanthocyanidin from a variety of fruits such as lychees, grapes, apples, persimmons, etc.) and contains catechin-type monomers and oligomers of proanthocyanidins. The ability of Oligonol to affect infection-dependent eye inflammation, locomotion and longevity in senescence-accelerated prone mice (SAMP8) (a model of senescence acceleration and geriatric disorders with increased oxidative stress and neuronal deficit) was investigated. Oligonol (60mg/kg) significantly modulated the extent of inflammation scores in the eye of SAMP8 mice. Examination of the mice indicated infection with mouse hepatitis virus and pinworm (Syphacia obvelata) in both males and females and with the intestinal protozoa (trichomonad) in males. A comparison of the two groups (using log-rank test) and the difference in the mean life span between groups (using Student's t-test) indicated significant differences in survival (p=0.043) and the mean life span (p=0.033) in male SAMP8 mice. Oligonol increased the mean life span and this was statistically significant. In the open-field locomotive test, the 7-week-old SAMP8 mice crossed more than 40 partitioned lines in 1min. At 48-week-old control untreated male SAMP8 crossed 2 lines. The Oligonol-treated 48-week-old male SAMP8 mice crossed 17 lines however. The improved locomotive activity was statistically significant even after 36weeks in the Oligonol-treated male SAMP8 but this was not the case throughout the time course of the study in the Oligonol-treated female SAMP8. Thus Oligonol treatment to SAMP8 mice modulated the severity of infection-dependent inflammation, prolonged life-span and significantly improved locomotive activity indicating potential benefit to aging-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases. This presents potential for further research to define infection-dependent inflammation associated with degenerative conditions and the molecular mechanism of dietary antioxidant protection.     

14年间住院病人主要病因和死因变化趋势

目的　探讨 1990～ 2 0 0 3年住院病人的主要病因和死因及变化趋势的方向、强度。方法　分析我院 1990～ 2 0 0 3年录入广东省卫生厅“广东省医院统计病案管理系统”的统计资料 ,计算住院病人主要疾病、死亡病因 1990～ 1999年、2 0 0 0～ 2 0 0 3年两个阶段的年均构成比 ,观察顺位变化 ,用回归分析的方法计算变化趋势。结果　 1) 1990～ 1999年主要住院病因顺位是消化系统疾病 (15 .6 2 % )、损伤和中毒 (13.16 % )、循环系统疾病 (11.2 4 % )、呼吸系统疾病 (10 .4 7% )、恶性肿瘤 (10 .4 3% ) ;2 0 0 0～ 2 0 0 3年顺位是循环系统疾病 (16 .4 1% ) (其中缺血性心脏病占 2 2 .98% ,脑血管病占 39.6 8% ) ,损伤和中毒(12 .80 % )、消化系统疾病 (11.76 % )、呼吸系统疾病 (9.5 3% )、恶性肿瘤 (8.73% ) ,循环系统疾病呈显著上升趋势 (B =4 .2 6 ,P <0 .0 5 ) ,消化系统疾病呈显著下降趋势 (B =- 3.17,P <0 .0 5 ) ;2 ) 1990～ 2 0 0 3年住院死因顺位为恶性肿瘤 (2 9.2 9% )、循环系统疾病 (2 5 .91% )、损伤和中毒 (12 .6 3% )、呼吸系统疾病(6 .18% ) ,消化系统疾病 (5 .77% ) ;2 0 0 0～ 2 0 0 3年恶性肿瘤呈显著下降趋势 (B =- 3.88,P <0 .0 5 ) ,循环系统疾病呈上升趋势但无显著性 (B =0 .84 ,P >0