The significance of arterial hypertension at the onset of clinical lupus nephritis.

The prognostic importance of hypertension at the onset of clinical lupus nephritis is not well established. We studied retrospectively 44 patients with lupus nephritis in order to ascertain the prevalence of hypertension at presentation and to investigate a possible association between hypertension and renal functional impairment. A correlation was also sought between hypertension and histological class of lupus nephritis. Hypertension was graded as mild (diastolic 95-99 mmHg), moderate (100-114) or severe (> 115). Impaired renal function (creatinine > 120 mumol/l) was graded as mild (120-200 mumol/l), moderate (200-350 mumol/l), or severe (> 350 mumol/l). Histological class and the presence of hypertensive renal vascular lesions was recorded. The prevalence of hypertension was 38%. There were 17 hypertensives and 27 normotensives. The incidence of renal impairment was greater in the hypertensives, 47% vs 18.5% (p = 0.04). Mean serum creatinine was also higher higher in this group (p = 0.02). The presence of hypertensive renal vascular lesions identified a high-risk subgroup who had a higher incidence of renal functional impairment and worse renal function than the hypertensive group as a whole. Even at an early stage, hypertension and hypertensive renal vascular lesions correlated well with renal functional impairment. Aggressive treatment of hypertension is therefore essential in early lupus nephritis in order to prevent further deterioration of renal function as the disease evolves.     

Risk factors and coronary heart disease in Durban blacks--the missing links.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is still relatively uncommon in the black population of South Africa. We embarked on a study to determine the prevalence of risk factors leading to CHD in the black population of Durban. The study sample was selected from patients attending a dental clinic at a hospital. A total of 458 patients (age range 16-69 years) was studied. The prevalence of CHD was 2.4%. The percentage prevalences of selected risk factors were: hypertension (blood pressure > or = 140 mmHg systolic and/or > or = 90 mmHg diastolic) 28% (31.9% for males, 25.4% for females); protective levels of high-density lipoprotein/total cholesterol > or = 20%, 81.3%; diabetes mellitus 4.9% for males, 2.9% for females; smoking > or = 10 cigarettes per day 28.1% for males, 3.4% for females; obesity 3.7% for males 22.6% for females. We found the Minnesota Coding System for electrocardiographic changes of CHD and the Rose questionnaire to be unreliable for eliciting CHD in blacks. Hypercholesterolaemia is less common, and this may explain the low incidence of CHD in blacks. Epidemics of CHD as seen in Indian, coloured and white South Africans can still be prevented in the black population, but preventive measures must be instituted rapidly.     

A case of pemphigus vulgaris possibly triggered by quinolones

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disorder in which both genetic and environmental factors, mainly drugs, are thought to play a part in its aetiopathogenesis. Although some drugs that contain thiol groups, such as D-penicillamine and captopril, and non-thiol drugs, such as cephalosporin, have been reported to trigger or induce pemphigus, there are no previous reports regarding the influence of quinolones in triggering this disease. Here we present a case of pemphigus possibly triggered by quinolones.     

HPLC和1HNMR分析确定cis-A-和cis-B-羟甲芬太尼的组成和构型

羟甲芬太尼(1)是一个强效的镇痛剂和高亲和、高选择性的阿片μ受体激动剂。通过HPLC和¹HNMR分析,cis-A-l被确定为由等量的cis-(+)-(3R,4S,2'S)-l和:cis-(—)-(3S,4R,2'R)-1组成的外消旋体,cis-B-l被确定为由等量的cis-(—)-(3R,4S,2'R)-1和cis-(+)-(3S/,4R,2'S)-1组成的外消旋体。     

黑柴胡中新三萜皂甙的结构鉴定

从黑柴胡(Bupleurum smithii Wolff)根中分离出10个化合物,均为首次由该植物中获得。其中二个新三萜皂甙,即柴胡皂甙k和l(saikosaponin k and l),其结构经紫外、红外、核磁共振氢谱,碳谱和质谱等波谱测定和解析,分别确定为3β,16β,23,28-四羟基齐墩果烷-11,13(18)-二烯-3-O-β-D-吡喃木糖基-(1→2)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-(1→3)-β-D-吡喃呋糖甙和3β,16α,23,28,30-五羟基齐墩果烷-11,13(18)-二烯-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-(1→3)-β-D-吡喃呋糖甙。     

Eruption effects of microdontia--a case report

A patient presented at the Department of Orthodontics, Medunsa Dental Hospital, complaining of "crooked teeth". On clinical examination it was evident that several teeth were unerupted. The absence of a normal eruption pattern of certain teeth as well as delayed eruption of others, resulted in a malocclusion.