Trigone sensitivity testing is a measure of exteroceptive function

The trigone sensitivity test, a complementary test to cystometry, has been proposed as a method for distinguishing certain clinical disorders. Pressure is applied to the trigone region of the bladder by pulling upon a Foley catheter with the balloon inflated and the amount of force needed to induce an urge to void is recorded. Although the trigone sensitivity test has been proposed as a test of exteroceptive function, it is possible that deeper receptors, perhaps proprioceptors, are actually responsible for the awareness of the urge to void during the study. The present investigation compared the trigone sensitivity test with provoked detrusor contraction in 107 patients. The findings indicate that variations in the two responses occur independently of each other. It is concluded that different neural pathways are responsible for the two functions. The hypothesis that exteroceptive and not proprioceptive nerves are being measured during trigone sensitivity testing is supported by these findings.     

Anorectal function in the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome

The anorectal function of nine patients with solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) (5 F: 4 M, median age, 27 (range, 19–41 years) and nine control subjects (5 F: 4 M, median age, 47 (35–66)P<0.01) has been investigated by a new technique that radiologically visualizes the anorectum during voiding of a semisolid contrast medium, while simultaneously measuring intrarectal pressure and anal sphincter EMG activity. A degree of rectal prolapse was demonstrated in eight of the SRUS patients; six of these lesions were clinically occult. Abnormal failure of the anal sphincter to relax on voiding was present in seven of the SRUS patients. These abnormalities resulted in the SRUS patients requiring a greater increase in intrarectal pressure (median, 100 cm water) to void than the control subjects (median, 65 cm water,P<0.01). This combination of high intrarectal pressure and rectal prolapse during straining seems to be the cause of SRUS This work was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council.     

Specific sensitization to common allergens and pulmonary function in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the evolution to chronic obstructive disease remains controversial. AIM: We aimed to assess the association between individual sensitization to common allergens and lung function. METHOD: We analysed data from 12,687 subjects aged 20 to 44 years, from 34 centres in 15 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Participants performed a blood test, lung function test, methacholine challenge, and answered an administered questionnaire. The relationships between specific IgE, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were assessed for each study centre stratified by sex, followed by random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Asthmatics sensitized to house dust mite had a lower FEV1 (-119 mL in women and -112 mL in men) and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.95%, and -2.48%) than asthmatics without sensitization. Asthmatics sensitized to cat had a lower FEV1 (statistically significant for women only) and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. Asthmatic women sensitized to grass had a lower FEV1 and a lower ratio, and those sensitized to Cladosporium had a lower FEV1. A weak association was found with sensitization to cat and to Cladosporium among non-asthmatic women, which disappeared after adjusting for BHR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that atopy was related to a lower lung function, which was only apparent among asthmatics. This relationship was explained by specific sensitization to cat and to house dust mite, the latter being homogeneous across areas.     

白细胞介素-18基因修饰的胎肝细胞经脾移植对小鼠免疫功能的影响

目的：观察表达mIL-18的重组腺病毒基因修饰的胎肝细胞（AdmIL-18/BNL.CL2)经脾移植对正常小鼠免疫功能的影响。方法：实验组小鼠经脾移植AdmIL-18/BNL.CL2，同时设LacZ病毒对照组（Ad-LacZ/BNL.CL2),BNL.CL2细胞对照组及空白对照组。2周后处死，留取血清，制备腹腔巨噬细胞、脾淋巴细胞、肝组织匀浆液，提取肝组织总RNA。采用ELISA法检测各组小鼠血清、腹腔Mφ和脾细胞培养上清、肝匀浆中细胞因子的含量；采用半定量RT－PCR法，检测肝组织细胞因子mRNA相对表达量；以LDH释放法测定腹腔Mφ杀伤活性和脾NK细胞活性，用MTT还原比色法测定脾淋巴细胞的增殖活性。结果：实验组小鼠血清、细胞培养上清及肝匀浆中，IL－18、IL－2、IFN－γ、TNF-α稔均高于其它对照组，而IL－4、IL－10水平则低于对照组；半定量RT－PCR结果与ELISA检测结果一致；同时，实验组腹腔Mφ的杀伤活性和脾NK细胞活性，及脾淋巴细胞增殖活性也明显高于对照组。结论：AdmIL-18能有效转染至胎肝细胞并稳定表达mIL-18;AdmIL-18基因修饰的胎肝细胞经脾移植后，可显著提高肝脏、脾脏免疫细胞活性，活化腹腔Mφ，促进Th1类细胞因子表达，抑制Th2类细胞因子的分泌。     

80例健康青年分别经针刺或艾灸肺俞穴后的肺功能变化

目的：探讨针刺与艾灸肺俞穴对健康人肺功能的影响。方法：我们选择了20－22岁健康男性80例，随机分为针刺组和艾灸组各40例，于针刺，艾灸前和针刺，艾灸后10min测试用力肺活量（FVC），用力呼气量（FEV1．0），最大呼气中段流速（MMF），最大呼气流量（PEFR），75％，50％，25％肺活量时的最大呼气流速（V75，V50，V25），结果：显示经针刺和艾灸肺俞穴后2组FVC，FFV1．0均显著增加，P＜0．05，2组间比较针刺组FVC明显高于艾灸组，P＜0．05，而且艾灸组MMF，V25亦显著降低P＜0．05，结论：健康人经针刺和艾灸肺俞穴后均可使大气道阻力减少，肺容量增加，提示一定量的艾燃烧后的烟雾可使健康人肺功能受到影响，使肺的小气道收缩，出现阻塞性改变。     

哮喘患儿血清嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白改变及其意义

目的：评价变应性哮喘患儿血清嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白（S-ECP）水平改变及其意义。方法：测定25例哮喘发作期患儿糖皮质激素吸入治疗12周前后，及20例未予糖皮质激素吸入治疗的哮喘缓解期患儿S-ECP水平，并对发作期患儿S-ECP水平变化与血嗜酸性粒细胞计数（B-EOS）、肺功能一秒用力呼气量（FEV1）、一秒用力呼气量比用力肺活量（FEV1/FVC）及症状评分的关系作相关性分析。结果：哮喘发作组治疗后S-ECP水平较治疗前显著降低，与对照组（健康儿童10名）比较差异无显著性；哮喘缓解组S-ECP水平明显高于发作组治疗后，但明显低于发作组治疗前。哮喘发作组治疗前S-ECP水平变化与B-EOS无相关性，与FEV1、FEV1/FVC呈负相关，与症状评分呈正相关。结论：监测S-ECP水平可作为评价哮喘气道炎症程度、病情预后和指导抗炎治疗的有效指标。     

神经干细胞静脉移植治疗脊髓损伤的实验研究

[目的]观察神经干细胞静脉移植对损伤大鼠脊髓功能的治疗作用。[方法]取孕14—16dSD胎鼠的脑室下区组织，体外培养后鉴定细胞。制作脊髓全切模型，伤后1周将Brdu标记好的神经干细胞通过尾静脉注射移植到大鼠体内，移植后及8周行皮层体感诱发电位（CSEP）检测和BBB功能评分，并留损伤脊髓处作病理切片及免疫组化染色。[结果]（1）移植后8周BBB评分损伤组、移植组都有所恢复，但都未达到正常水平，移植组恢复较好；（2）模型制作后，CSEP波均消失，细胞移植后8周移植组的波形有不同程度的恢复，但潜伏期延长；（3）移植组大鼠脊髓损伤处存在大量Brdu染色阳性细胞，表明移植的细胞在体内可到达损伤脊髓处并能存活；脊髓损伤部位NF-200及GFAP染色阳性的细胞表明移植的细胞可以分化为具有神经元和胶质细胞特性的细胞。[结论]静脉移植的神经干细胞能到达损伤区代替受损的神经元及神经胶质细胞，使损伤的脊髓功能得到一定程度的恢复。     

No Correlation Between Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations and Echocardiographic Measurements of Left Atrial Size or Left Ventricular Size and Function in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with activation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). The exact trigger for the release of ANP is still being debated. Atrial volume, pressure, and wall stretch are considered to be the main determinants of ANP activation. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma ANP concentrations in patients with persistent AF and to analyze the echocardiographic determinants of ANP concentration in this group. The study population included 67 patients, 59 ± 7 years of age, with a median AF duration of 5.5 months (range 0.1–12). The relationship between plasma ANP concentrations and echocardiographic left atrial (LA) diameter and volume, and left ventricular (LV) diameter and ejection fraction (EF) was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The median baseline plasma ANP concentration was 63 pg/mL (range 21–126) in the study group versus 34 pg/mL (range 16–73) in a control group. The mean left antero-posterior atrial dimension, LA volume, LV enddiastolic diameter, and LVEF were 48 mm, 104 mL, 52 mm, and 54%, respectively. A significant linear positive correlation was found between plasma ANP concentration and maximal LA volume (r = 0.62, P < 0.01). A negative correlation was found between LVEF and plasma ANP concentration (r =−0.42, P = 0.01). However, by multivariate regression analysis, no echocardiographic parameter was an independent predictor of plasma ANP concentration. Plasma ANP concentrations were independent of echocardiographic measurements of LA size or LV size and function in patients with persistent AF.     

Functioning and disability 6–15 years after traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden

Objectives –  To assess long‐term functioning and disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Material and methods –  Individuals (n = 88) in Norrbotten, northern Sweden, who had been transferred for neurosurgical care were assessed with internationally established TBI outcome measures 6–15 years post‐injury. Results –  There was an improvement in overall outcome from discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to follow‐up. Many individuals had a high degree of motor and cognitive functioning, which enabled them to live independently in their own home without assistance, but there remained a disability related to community reintegration and social participation. This affected their productivity and to some degree their marital stability. The remaining disability and reduced productivity were related to the age at injury and the injury severity. Conclusions –  Our data showed that individuals with a TBI can achieve and maintain a high degree of functioning many years after the injury. Increasing age and a greater injury severity contributed to their long‐term disability.     

危重型毛细支气管炎抢救体会：附31例分析

231例毛细支气管炎,危重型38例占16.4％,抢救成功31例占81.6％。本文讨论了危重型毛细支气管炎并多器官功能衰竭的发生与预后及平喘药物的合理选用。认为早期应用免疫疗法、迅速平喘、保护重要器官功能及合理治疗并存症是抢救成功的关键。