Injection of botulinum A toxin into the gastrocnemius muscle of patients with cerebral palsy: a 3-dimensional motion analysis study

Botulinum A toxin (BOTOX^®) was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle of 26 cerebral palsy subjects with equinus gait. All subjects were equinus walkers without fixed contracture of the triceps-surae muscle. Injections were performed at 3 month intervals, if needed, as determined by the treating clinician. There were 14 subjects with spastic hemiplegia, 11 subjects with spastic diplegia and 1 subject with spastic quadriplegia. In the case of those subjects with bilateral equinus gait the dose was divided and given into both the right and left gastrocnemius muscle. Gait analysis data was collected prior to the first injection and subsequently at 3 month intervals for 1 year. Kinematic and electromyographic data was obtained. This data was analyzed to provide objective information about the outcome of treatment. Four subjects moved away and were lost to follow-up. Seven subjects left the study to have surgery. The data collected revealed statistically significant improvements in dynamic ankle dorsiflexion in both stance and swing phases, stride length, and electromyography of the tibialis anterior. There were no complications. While the results of this study are promising, additional prospective studies are needed to determine the feasibility of preventing muscle contractures over a longer time period. Furthermore, there is a need for inclusion of other muscles in future research. Future research should also compare BOTOX^® treatment with alternative methods of dealing with muscle spasticity such as: casting, orthotic devices, physical therapy, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and surgical lengthening.     

Alcohol effects on the percentage of beta waves in the electroencephalograms of twins

Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were made from 26 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) and 26 pairs of dizygotic (DZ) adult male twins, before and after alcohol ingestion. After a baseline EEG and a light breakfast, 1.2 ml/kg of ethanol was given orally over 15 min and the EEG repeated four times at hourly intervals. Alcohol caused a significant drop in the percentage of beta waves (14-30 cycles/sec) during the 1st hr. For the percentage of beta waves in 38 pairs of twins with complete data, MZ twin beta-wave intraclass correlations (RMZ) ranged between 0.85 and 0.91 before and after alcohol, but the DZ intraclass correlations (RDZ) started at 0.54 and fell to 0.05 at 2 hr after alcohol before recovering to baseline levels. These correlations resulted in heritability estimates [2(RMZ-RDZ)] of 0.68 at baseline and 1.73 at 2 hr. A heritability of 1.43 was found for the 1st hr drop in percentage of beta waves (RMZ = 0.78, RDZ = 0.06). These unrealistically high heritabilities, due to RDZ's approaching 0.0, suggest a failure of assumptions in the linear twin model that was used. Also, these findings are similar to, but more exaggerated than, findings in resting EEG's and visually evoked EEG potentials of twins and are compatible with the influence of gene interactions.     

酒精所致精神障碍52例临床分析

对2054例住院病人进行回顾性临床分析中,发现有52例诊断为酒精所致精神障碍,发生率为2.53%,均为男性,平均年龄44.2±9.0岁,发生率呈逐年增加趋势。嗜酒的原因与遗传、职业、文化水平、民族风俗有关,黎族患者占27例(51.92%)。临床以幻觉、被害妄想、妒嫉妄想、行为障碍为多见。治疗:使用奋乃静23例(44.23%)的频率较高,显效率88.46%。长期大量酗酒,可致躯体损害,复发达11例(21.15%)。早期限制及戒酒可减少躯体的损害。     

Ballistocardiogram of avian eggs determined by an electromagnetic induction coil

As an avian embryo grows within a eggshell, the whole egg is moved by embryonic activity and also by the embryonic heartbeat. A technical interest in detecting minute biological movements has prompted the development of techniques and systems to measure the cardiogenic ballistic movement of the egg or ballistocardiogram. (BCG). In this context, there is interest in using an electromagnetic induction coil (solenoid) as another simple sensor to measure the BCG and examining its possibility for BCG measurement. A small permanent magnet is attached tightly to the surface of an incubated egg, and then the egg with the magnet is placed in a solenoid. Preliminary model analysis is made to design a setup of the egg, magnet and solenoid coupling system. Then, simultaneous measurement with a laser displacement measuring system, developed previously, is made for chicken eggs, indicating that the solenoid detects the minute cardiogenic ballistic movements and that the BCG determined is a measure of the velocity of egg movements.     

慢性活动性肝炎中单核性细胞超微形态研究

经电镜观察,慢活肝中主要为淋巴细胞及单核巨噬细胞浸润。淋巴细胞分3型,通过4种方式与肝细胞接触,可能代表杀伤肝细胞的动态过程。与肝细胞接触的主要为起细胞毒作用的T_8~+Ⅱ型淋巴细胞及单核巨噬细胞。多数T_4~+淋巴细胞为Ⅰ型淋巴细胞,可能为T辅助细胞。在肝细胞损伤中,淋巴细胞及单核巨噬细胞均起重要作用。     

BUERGER'S DISEASE IN HONG KONG: A REVIEW OF 89 CASES

Background : A retrospective analysis of 103 case records from 1978 to 1996 with a provisional diagnosis of Buerger's disease was undertaken at the Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital. The aim of the study was to elucidate the clinical course and evaluate the results of surgical intervention of Buerger's disease in Hong Kong Chinese people. Methods : Fourteen patients were subsequently excluded from the study because of inability to fulfil our diagnostic criteria. Data on clinical presentation, investigations, indications and results of surgical intervention were reviewed. Sympathectomies and arterial reconstructions were performed on 42 and four patients, respectively, for critical ischaemia or rest pain. Outcome was analysed with respect to the rate of ulcer healing, pattern of recurrence and limb loss. Results : The patients were all young male heavy smokers with a mean age of 36.5 years. The majority of patients (80%) presented with ischaemic ulceration or gangrene. Vascular reconstruction was undertaken in four patients and satisfactory long-term results were obtained in three patients. Sympathectomy was able to relieve symptoms in 87% of operated patients and ischaemic ulceration healed in 2.6 (mean) ± 1.7 (SD) months after the operation. If the patient continued to smoke, surgical intervention did not exempt the patient from a relapse or amputation. Conclusion : Sympathectomy provides short-term pain relief and promotes ulcer healing in patients with Buerger's disease but carries no long-term benefit. Complete abstinence from smoking is the only means of arresting the progression of the disease.     

体外静脉—静脉转流下原位肝移植围术期酸碱,生化的变化

目的:观察体外静脉转流下原位肝移植围术期酸碱和生化的变化。方法:7例病人行原位肝移植术,在无肝期行体外静脉-静脉转流,监测围术期酸碱和生化指标。结果:(1)与术前相比,pH各期有所下降,但仍维持在正常范围,BE和SBC在转流60分钟及关腹时降低;与转流前期相比。pH以后各期变化不大。术期pH在7.35～7.45范围之内;(2)血糖在各期都升高,血钙降低,体温逐渐降低;(3)血钾在肝血管开放后一过性增高,由3.17mmol/L升至3.53mmol/L。结论;体外静脉转流下原位肝移植术,术中酸碱和生化变化轻微,避免了明显的代谢性酸中毒和高血钾,但体温和血糖变化明显。     

骨与关节肿瘤和瘤样病变1084例统计分析

目的：分析青海高原地区骨与关节肿瘤及瘤样病变的发病情况。方法：对１９６３～１９９５年１０月的１０８４例骨与关节肿瘤及瘤样病变进行了统计分析。结果：良性骨肿瘤７２２例（６６．６１％），恶性骨与关节肿瘤２４９例（２２．９７％），瘤样病变１１３例（１０．４２％），良、恶性肿瘤之比为２．９∶１，男女之比为１．２２∶１，好发年龄为１１～３０岁，好发部位为胫骨（２７．３％），其次为股骨（２１．８％）。良性骨肿瘤以骨软骨瘤（５４．４３％）、软骨瘤（２１．１９％）、骨巨细胞瘤（９．９７％）多见。原发恶性骨肿瘤以骨肉瘤（３３．３％）、软骨肉瘤（１０．８５％）、骨髓瘤（１０．０５％）多见。瘤样病变则以孤立性骨囊肿（４６．０１％）和骨纤维结构不良（３０．９７％）多见。结论：本组结果与国内文献对比有许多相似之处，但良性骨肿瘤与恶性骨肿瘤之比与国内文献有较大不同，可能与高原环境有关。     

Linkage studies and mutation analysis of the PDEB gene in 23 families with Leber congenital amaurosis.

The phenotype in the rd mouse is similar to the clinical presentation of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) in humans. Recently a nonsense mutation in the beta subunit of the cGMP phosphodiesterase (Pdeb) gene has been defined as the cause for the rd phenotype in the mouse and has raised the question as to whether mutations in the human PDEB gene might cause LCA. We have previously cloned and characterized the human homologue of the mouse Pdeb gene and have mapped it to chromosome 4p16.3. In this study, a total of 23 LCA families of various ethnic backgrounds have been investigated. Linkage analysis using highly polymorphic (CA)n microsatellites has excluded the PDEB gene as a cause for LCA in 6 families. In the remaining 17 families, we have searched for mutations in the 22 exons of the PDEB gene using single-strand gel electrophoresis (SSGE). Multiple exonic polymorphisms have been determined. However, no DNA changes in the PDEB gene have been identified in our study population which could be causative for the LCA phenotype.     

The influence of pentoxifylline on motility and viability of spermatozoa from normozoospermic semen samples

In order to evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline on sperm motility and longevity, a controlled in-vitro study was conducted on normozoospermic donor semen samples using the Cellsoft automated system for sperm motility analysis. After incubation and selection, pentoxifylline was found to improve the recovery of spermatozoa and to increase their velocity. In the subgroup of progressively motile spermatozoa, curvilinear velocity was also enhanced. It is concluded that pentoxifylline has an effect on the vigour, but not on the pattern, of sperm motion. Pentoxifylline did not improve the motility characteristics of senescent spermatozoa in normozoospermic sperm samples. Sperm survival, as shown by supra-vital staining, and motility longevity both decreased with time after pentoxifylline treatment.