非程控降温,—80℃冻存自体外周血干细胞的研究

目的：观察非程控降温、－80℃冻存的方法对自体外周血十细胞（APBSC）的保存效果。方法：以6％羟乙基淀粉（HES）、5％二甲基亚砜（DMSO）及4％人血白蛋白（ALB）的混合物为冷冻防护剂，将APBSC直接置于－80℃下保存，冻存前反复苏后测定APBSC的CFU－GM、BFU－E；观察移植后造血功能重建情况。结果：13例患者白细胞在十3～＋7天下降至（0．0～0．1）×10／L，白细胞（0．0～0．2）×109／L持续时间3～6天，于＋9～＋11天恢复至1．0X109／L以上．中性粒细胞绝对值（ANC）于＋9～＋11天达到0．5X109／L。血小板在＋3～＋7天下降至（2．0～21）×109／L，于＋8～＋15天恢复至20×109／L以上。CFU－GM、BFU－E回大率分别为76．5％、78．4％。结论：非程控降温、－80℃冻存是一简便、经济、有效的自体外周血于细胞保存方法。     

Isolation of pathogenic bacteria from hospital staff apparel in Nigeria

A survey of bacteria contamination of hospital staff apparel in use in Anambra State, Nigeria, was carried out to determine the extent of contamination by clinically important bacteria. Of a total of 125 swab samples of hospital staff apparel, 72 (58%) showed bacterial contamination including 32 (70%) of 46 samples from hand gloves, 28 of 45 (62%) samples from protective gowns, and 12 of 34 (35%) samples from face-shields. The potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated were Salmonella spp, Proteus vulgaris, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The isolation of clinically important bacteria from the apparel suggests the need for improved infection control measures.     

A double blind, randomised, parallel group study to investigate the dose equivalence of Dysport® and Botox® in the treatment of cervical dystonia

OBJECTIVE—This study was designed toestablish whether a ratio of three units of Dysport^® isequivalent to one unit of Botox^® for the treatment ofcervical dystonia.
METHODS—Patients with predominantly rotationalcervical dystonia, and a minimum of four previous Botox treatments,were randomised to receive either the clinically indicated dose ofBotox or three times that dose in Dysport units. Study botulinum toxinwas administered in a double blind fashion, to one or more clinicallyindicated muscles, at one or more sites per muscle. Patients returnedfor assessment two, four, eight, and 12 weeks after treatment.
RESULTS—A total of 73 patients (Dysport, 38;Botox, 35) were entered. The Dysport group received a mean (SD) dose of477 (131) (range 240-720) Dysport units, and the Botox group receiveda mean (SD) dose of 152 (45) (range 70-240) Botox units. The mean(SEM) post-treatment Tsui scores for the Dysport group (4.8 (0.3)) andthe Botox group (5.0 (0.3)) were not statistically different (p=0.66).The study had 91% power to detect a clinically significant differenceof two points. Both groups showed substantial improvement in Tsui scoreby week 2 (mean (SD); Dysport, 46 (28)%; Botox, 37 (28)%), with apeak effect at week 4 (mean (SD); Dysport, 49 (29)%; Botox, 44 (28)%). A similar response profile was seen for other assessments ofefficacy. The duration of effect, assessed by time to retreatment, wasalso similar (mean (SD); Dysport, 83.9 (13.6) days; Botox, 80.7 (14.4)days; p=0.85). During the study 22 of 38 (58%) Dysport patientsreported 39 adverse events, and 24 of 35 (69%) Botox patients reported56 adverse events (p=0.35). A global assessment of efficacy and safetyconsidered that 29 of 38 (76%) Dysport patients and 23 of 35 (66%)Botox patients were treatment successes (p=0.32).
CONCLUSION—Patients with predominantly rotationalcervical dystonia treated with the clinically indicated dose of Botoxor three times that dose in Dysport units show similar improvements anddo not have significantly different safety profiles.

     

Early dissemination of Borrelia burgdorferi without generalized symptoms in patients with erythema migrans

The diagnosis of erythema migrans (EM) is not always easy, and reports of culture- or PCR-confirmed diagnosis as well as reports of EM with simultaneous disseminated disease are few. Characteristics and incidence of EM in addition to frequency of early dissemination of B. burgdorferi were studied in the archipelago of South-Western Finland prospectively using questionnaires, skin biopsies and blood samples. Clinical EM was recognized in 82 patients (incidence 148/100,000 inhabitants/year). Of skin biopsy samples, 35.5% were positive by PCR (the majority B. garinii), and 21.5% by cultivation (all B. garinii). Of blood samples, 3.8% were positive by PCR, and 7.7% by cultivation. Of the patients, 30.9% were seropositive at the first visit, and 52.9% 3 weeks later. Of the patients with laboratory confirmed diagnosis, the EM lesion was ring-like in 31.8% and homogeneous in 65.9%. Dissemination of B. burgdorferi, based on culture or PCR positivity of blood samples, was detected in 11.0% of the patients. The frequency of generalized symptoms was nearly the same in patients with as in those without dissemination (22.2% vs 27.4%). Only 21.4% of the patients with culture-positive EM recalled a previous tick bite at the site of the EM lesion. We conclude that EM lesions are more often homogeneous than ring-like. B. burgdorferi may disseminate early without generalized symptoms.     

Monitoring drug therapy: an applied approach

While it has been agreed that drug therapy monitoring in health care institutions is desirable and necessary, the pharmacists who carry out such programs must have a system that fills their special needs. Pharmaceutical Consultant Services, P.A. has developed a manual monitoring system to provide patient profiles for long-term care patients. This instruction guide explains the system and its application; pharmacists may wish to use this system or simply to learn from it.     

白细胞介素4剪接变异体在哮喘患者中的表达

目的检测哮喘患者外周血中IL-4及其变异体IL-4δ2的表达,探讨其在哮喘发病机制中的作用。方法采用半定量RT-PCR技术,检测10例哮喘患者IL-4及其变异体的表达,并与正常健康人群进行比较。结果哮喘患者IL-4表达较健康人群高,而且IL-4和IL-4δ2的比值远远高于健康人。结论IL-4和IL-4δ2表达的相对性可能在哮喘发病机制中具有重要作用,其可能是Th2细胞在不同临床疾病中功能多样性的原因之一。     

Surfactant protein A and B genetic variants in respiratory distress syndrome in singletons and twins

Interactive genetic and environmental factors may influence the differentiation of surfactant and the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). DNA samples from 441 premature singleton infants and 480 twin or multiple infants were genotyped for surfactant-specific protein (SP)-A1, SP-A2, and SP-B exon 4 polymorphisms and intron 4 size variants in a homogeneous white population. Distributions of the SP-A and SP-B gene variants between RDS and no-RDS infants were determined alone and in combination. SP-A1 allele 6A2 (p = 0.009) and the homozygous genotype 6A2/6A2 (p = 0.003) were overrepresented in RDS of singletons when the SP-B exon 4 genotype was Thr/Thr, and underrepresented in RDS of multiples when the SP-B genotype was Ile/Thr (p = 0.012 for 6A2 and p = 0.03 for 6A2/6A2) or Thr/Thr (p = 0.12 for 6A2 and p = 0.018 for 6A2/6A2, respectively). The SP-A 6A2 allele in the SP-B Thr131 background predisposed the smallest singleton infants to RDS, whereas near-term multiples were protected from RDS. There was a continuous association between fetal mass and risk of RDS, defined by the SP-A and SP-B variants. Labeled lung explants with the Thr/Thr genotype showed proSP-B amino-terminal glycosylation, which was absent in Ile/Ile samples. Genetic and environmental variation may influence intracellular processing of surfactant complex and the susceptibility to RDS.     

Fragile X‐associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) in grey zone carriers

The grey zone (GZ; 45–54 CGG repeats in the FMR1 gene) is considered a normal allele; however, several studies have found a high frequency of GZ in movement disordered populations. Here, we describe neurological features of fragile X‐associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) in two carriers of GZ alleles, although FXTAS has been defined as occurring only in premutation carriers (55–200 CGG repeats). Both patients had family members who had premutation and were diagnosed with FXTAS. The presence of relatively high GZ alleles with elevated fragile X mental retardation 1 mRNA (FMR1‐mRNA) combined with a family history of FXTAS that may represent a facilitating genetic background for FXTAS are the factors that led to the presence of FXTAS in these individuals with a GZ allele. Further research into clinical involvement of GZ alleles is recommended and the definition of FXTAS may require revision.