Prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disorders in a Spanish multiple sclerosis cohort

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid autoimmune disorders in a cohort of untreated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and compare it with a stratified sample of an adult population. We prospectively studied 93 untreated MS patients. The control group included 401 healthy subjects selected by stratified sampling in a non-iodine-deficient area. Antithyroid antibodies (ATA) (antibodies against peroxidase and thyroglobulin) were considered positive at titres ≥149 IU/ml. Antibodies were positive in 11 MS patients (11.8%; 95% CI 5.3–18.4%). This prevalence was five times higher ( P  = 0.0001) when compared with that in the control population. We found six cases with subclinical hypothyroidism (6.45%; 95% CI 11.4–1.5) in contrast to 2.24% in the control group. Comparing MS with positive and negative ATA, there was a non-significant, slightly higher frequency of low Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in the ATA-positive group (81% vs. 73.2%). One year after start of interferon (IFN) treatment, only one patient developed subclinical thyroid dysfunction. MS patients have a higher prevalence of ATA compared with the general population. An initial ATA and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) determination is recommended in all MS patients. A periodic assessment of thyroid function during IFN treatment only seems to be justified in those cases where positive ATA or dysfunction is present before treatment.     

SARS一线护士的健康调查及防治对策的探讨

目的 调查从事SARS一线护理工作的护士健康状况，为制定合理的卫生保健措施提供可借鉴的建议。方法 对一线工作人员不同时间点的各项生理指标进行观测，并根据结果采取针对措施。结果 一线工作护士各项生理指标均较正常时出现明显波动，采取相应措施后有明显改善。结论 良好的防治措施对改善一线护士的健康状况大有裨益。     

Phase II Trial of Fludarabine Phosphate in Multiple Myeloma Using a Loading Dose and Continuous Infusion Schedule

A phase II trial of fludarabine phosphate using a bolus and continuous infusion regimen in previously treated multiple myeloma was performed. No responses were observed in eleven patients. There was no significant non-hematologic toxicity noted. Fludarabine phosphate is inactive in multiple myeloma using this schedule.     

基于64层CT对心脏体模冠脉狭窄成像的客观评估方法

本文设计了一种心脏冠脉狭窄程度的客观评估方法，并自行开发了工具软件对图像数据进行自动处理和计算。此后，本文采用该方法对四组心脏动态体模冠脉狭窄成像的数据进行了分析，对该客观评估方法各方面的特性进行了检验和评定。     

Nucleolus-associated J chains in myeloma cells: clinical significance

Bone marrow aspirates from 20 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), 4 with smoldering multiple myeloma (S-MM), 1 with idiopathic Bence Jones proteinuria (I-BJP), and 6 with primary macroglobulinemia (PMG) were examined for nucleolus-associated J chain. The incidence of nucleolar J chain-positive (J+) cells among nucleolated cells producing M-component was measured. This incidence (94.0-100%) in terminal MM was significantly higher than that (0-58.0%) in non-terminal MM. Judging from a low incidence in the remission phase, chemotherapy might cause a selective elimination of less differentiated myeloma cells with J+ nucleoli and might have some effect on J chain synthesis. The incidence of nucleolar J+ cells was very low in S-MM. The IgM cells in PMG, where J chain is present in a disulfide-linked form, had no or few J+ nucleoli. No correlation between the incidence of nucleolar J+ cells among nucleolated plasma cells and the percentage of nucleolated cells or that of J+ cells was found. Large J+ nucleoli seemed to be another morphological feature indicating anaplastic myeloma cells. A high incidence of nucleolar J+ cells may be one of the indicators for progressive disease.     

Free amino acid pattern of cerebrospinal fluid in meningeal pathology

Free amino acid concentrations of CSF were measured in bacterial meningitis, aseptic meningitis, meningoradiculitis Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth, multiple sclerosis, carcinomatous meningitis, and controls. Almost all CSF amino acids were highly elevated in bacterial but not in aseptic meningitis, meningoradiculitis Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth or carcinomatous meningitis thus providing a laboratory tool for their differential diagnosis. In carcinomatous meningitis the amino acid pattern indicates metabolic activity of tumor cells. Minimal alterations were found in multiple sclerosis which have no diagnostic value.     

Delineating the sites and progression of in vivo atrophy in multiple system atrophy using fluid-registered MRI.

We describe the pattern and progression of atrophy delineated using fluid registration of serial magnetic resonance imaging scans in a case of multiple system atrophy (MSA). The in vivo findings were consistent with those found at postmortem, including significant supratentorial atrophy concurrent with an unusual degree of cognitive impairment for MSA.     

''Gender gap'' in multiple sclerosis: magnetic resonance imaging evidence

The authors evaluated the gender difference in the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of the lesions occurring in the brain of 413 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Men had fewer contrast-enhancing lesions (P = 0.01), but a higher proportion of lesions evolving into 'black holes' (P = 0.001), when compared with women. Thus, our data indicate that men with MS are prone to develop less inflammatory, but more destructive lesions than women. This study results provides support for a modulation of the MS pathological changes by gender.