Out-patient visits for gastrointestinal cancer at a quaternary South African hospital-trends and geospatial distribution

BackgroundThis study sought to determine trends in out-patient visits for gastrointestinal cancer (GC) at a quaternary hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa; and identify geographical regions which contribute most to GC-related out-patient clinic utilization at this hospital.MethodData for GC-related outpatient visits over an 11-year period was obtained from the hospital''s administrative database. Trends were analyzed using simple regression and trend line analyses. Patient residential postal codes from the administrative database were used to determine the geospatial distribution of complex GC in KZN.ResultsStrong increasing trends in GC-related out-patient visits were noted for age >65 years old (R²=0.8014), male (R²=0.7020), female (R²=0.7292), lower GC (R²=0.7094), and rural residence (R²=0.7008). Moderate increasing trends in GC-related out-patient visits were noted for age ≤65 years old (R²=0.6556), upper GC (R²=0.6498), and urban residence (R²=0.6988). The magnitude at which the number of out-patient visits increased was greater for urban residence when compared with rural residence (p=0.006). Urban centers and some regions along the North and South coast of KZN contributed the most toward GC-related out-patient visits.ConclusionOut-patient visits for complex GC in KZN are increasing. Several regions have been identified for anti-cancer interventions and decentralized out-patient services.     

Influence of complement on sperm motility

Isolated sperm from normo-, oligo- and astheno-spermic men were incubated for 20 h in medium supplemented with 8% heat-inactivated or untreated human serum, and in medium with heated or untreated serum deficient in complement factor C3. Before and after incubation, sperm motility was assessed by means of a computer-assisted semen analyser. The results did not show significant differences between the motility of sperm incubated in heated or untreated serum. It is concluded that heating of homologous serum is not necessary for preserving sperm motility and in some cases may even be disadvantageous.     

Image-directed percutaneous biopsies with a biopsy gun

Core tissue for histologic study is believed by many pathologists to be more diagnostic than material from needle aspiration. Recently, a biopsy "gun" has been introduced, which simplifies core biopsies. With this device, 182 biopsies of multiple anatomic sites were performed with ultrasonic, computed tomographic, and fluoroscopic guidance and 18-gauge needles. High-quality histopathologic specimens were obtained in 177 of the biopsies, and diagnostic target tissue was obtained in 167. Only three significant complications occurred: one bleeding complication that required transfusion and two cases of pneumothorax that necessitated placement of chest tubes. The biopsy gun eliminated the disjointed movements of conventional "skinny" needle biopsies, and none of the samples demonstrated significant "crush" artifact or obscuring blood, problems that are commonly associated with manual biopsy techniques. Patient discomfort was decreased with this system compared with that of manual biopsies, and the total procedure time was reduced. Because of these distinct advantages, the authors now use the biopsy gun exclusively for all percutaneous biopsies and recommend that other institutions consider the use of this biopsy method.     

去甲硫氨酸全肠外营养对大鼠血清氨基酸谱的影响

目的观察去甲硫氨酸全肠外营养对大鼠血清氨基酸谱等的影响.方法 Wistar大鼠24只,随机分为含甲硫氨酸(+MetTPN,n=12)和去甲硫氨酸全肠外营养2组(-MetTPN,n=12),分别给予相应的TPN支持.治疗7d后,每组随机抽取6只大鼠处死,检测血清FAA(HPLC法)、肝肾功能和全血常规,同时作心、肺、肝、肾组织病理学检查.两组其余大鼠继续原TPN治疗,观察生存期.结果 -MetTPN组大鼠血清游离Met、Cys明显降低,Asp、Glu、Ser等显著增高;大鼠体重下降;血清总蛋白和白蛋白水平下降;血常规和肾功能未见明显异常;组织学检查见肝细胞轻度肿胀,细胞核仁增粗,心肺肾未见明显异常;平均生存18d.对照组上述检查未见异常,除一只大鼠因导管并发症于TPN第16d死亡,其余大鼠全部存活.结论 -MetTPN一周可致大鼠血清游离Met、Cys明显降低和Asp、Glu、Ser等显著增高,及轻度肝功能改变;随着-MetTPN时间延长,出现严重的代谢紊乱和器官功能障碍导致死亡.     

微小染色体维持蛋白5和细胞增殖核抗原在肺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:检测MCM5蛋白和PCNA在肺癌组织中的表达,探讨两者与肺癌各临床病理因素之间的关系及两者相互的联系,从而为评估肺癌的发生发展、预后及治疗提供理论依据。方法:运用免疫组织化学技术分别检测MCM5蛋白和PCNA在68例肺癌组织和20例正常组织中的表达情况,分析其与临床病理因素之间的关系及两者相互的联系。结果:MCM5表达的阳性信号位于细胞核,胞浆无着色。在正常肺组织中,MCM5的表达局限在上皮基底部的1/3至1/2的细胞,在肺癌组织中,MCM5的表达分布广泛,靠近上皮表面的细胞也可见大量表达。(1)正常肺组织和肺癌组织的MCM5的表达的差别有统计学意义(P<0.01)。(2)肺癌中MCM5表达与分化程度、淋巴结转移有显著相关性(P<0.05),与病人年龄、性别无显著相关性(P>0.05)。(3)PCNA的表达与肺癌的分化程度无显著相关性(P>0.05)。(4)在肺正常组织中,PCNA标记指数高于MCM5标记指数,两者具有显著差异性(P<0.05)。在肺癌组织中,PCNA与MCM5标记指数无显著差异性(P>0.05)。结论:(1)在肺组织中,微小染色体维持蛋白5(MCM5)是一种可靠的细胞增殖标志物。根据MCM5染色的组织结构差异和平均光密度能比较准确区分肺正常组织和癌组织。MCM5表达与肺癌的分化程度显著相关,因此MCM5表达可以提示肺癌的恶性程度,有助于临床判断病人的预后以及选择合适的治疗方法。MCM5与其他增殖标志PCNA相比是一种更好的细胞增殖标志物,是肺癌细胞的更好标志和分级指标。(2)PCNA在肺癌组织中过表达,提示PCNA的过表达与肺癌的发生发展关系密切。     

Sera from patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia generate platelet-derived microparticles with procoagulant activity: an explanation for the thrombotic complications of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is characterized by moderate thrombocytopenia and thrombotic complications, whereas quinine/quinidine-induced thrombocytopenia usually presents with severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding. Using flow cytometry and assays of procoagulant activity, we investigated whether sera from patients with these immune drug reactions could stimulate normal platelets to generate platelet-derived microparticles with procoagulant activity. Sera or purified IgG from patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia stimulated the formation of platelet-derived microparticles in a heparin-dependent fashion. Further studies showed that heparin-induced thrombocytopenia sera also produced a marked increase in procoagulant activity. In contrast, sera from patients with quinine- or quinidine-induced thrombocytopenia did not generate platelet-derived microparticles nor generate increased procoagulant activity. However, quinine/quinidine-induced thrombocytopenia sera produced a significant increase in the binding of IgG to platelets in a drug-dependent fashion, whereas sera from patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia demonstrated no drug-dependent binding of IgG to platelets. We also observed increased levels of circulating microparticles in patients with acute heparin-induced thrombocytopenia compared with control patients. Our observations indicate that the generation of procoagulant platelet-derived microparticles in vivo is a plausible explanation for the thrombotic complications observed in some patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.