FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOME RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIAN GENERAL PRACTICE: RESULTS FROM THE ANBP2 PILOT STUDY

1. The present study aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a 5 year cardiovascular outcome trial of the treatment of 6000 elderly hypertensive patients in Australian general practices. 2. General practitioners (GPs) were invited to participate by mail and personal follow-up. Patient records were reviewed to identify subjects for a blood pressure (BP) screening programme. Blood pressure was measured on three occasions and eligible subjects were included if the average BP was 160 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic if systolic BP was 140 mmHg. 3. Seven hundred and forty-one GPs were approached and 89 were enrolled in the study (12% of mail invites and 75% of those receiving a personal contact). In 16 practices where screening was completed, 82 000 records were reviewed to identify 4% patients eligible for screening. Twenty-two per cent of eligible subjects attended screening. Of 1938 subjects screened, 180 (9%) had BP 5=160/90 mmHg. Forty-seven percent of subjects (n = 916) were receiving antihypertensive therapy and 184 (20%) were withdrawn from therapy. One hundred and sixteen (63%) of these subjects had BP return to study entry levels within 6 weeks. Fifty-seven newly diagnosed and 81 previously treated subjects were randomized (7% of the screened population). 4. Based on the high participation rate of GPs, the response rate of patients to attend a BP screening programme and the 7% randomization to screening ratio for entry into the study, the ANBP2 pilot study has demonstrated that it is feasible to recruit subjects from Australian general practices to a cardiovascular outcome trial.     

肌病肾病代谢综合征治疗进展

肌病肾病代谢综合征是急性动脉阻塞致骨骼肌溶解的严重并发症。积极治疗原发病，及早补液扩容、碱化尿液、早期血液净化治疗是降低截肢率、病死率的关键。本文就肌病肾病代谢综合征治疗进展作一综述。     

单独肝尾状叶血管瘤切除术

肝尾状叶由于解剖位置特殊,位置深,难以显露,手术难度大,是肝脏外科领域手术操作的难点与研究热点.随着肝血流控制技术的发展、肝实质离断技术的提高,肝尾状叶肿瘤切除率明显提高[1].2006年4月至2008年10月,我科完成单独肝尾状叶血管瘤切除术9例,现将手术技巧与疗效报道如下.     

Cytology and cytophotometry in thyroid diseases.

The authors studied the cytological and cytophotometrical aspects in imprints from freshly surgically removed thyroids with the following diseases: nodular goiter, Graves' disease, lymphofibrous chronic thyroiditis, folliculo-papillary cancer, medullary carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma. In all the cases the cytological aspects were confirmed by the histopathological diagnosis in paraffin sections. The dextrodeviation and the plurimodal irregular aspects of nucleic acid content and nuclear volumes histograms were in agreement with the cytological features. In addition the linear regression analysis disclosed a diminished correlation between nuclear volumes and the content of nucleic acids paralleling the cellular dedifferentiation.     

Reference ranges for haematology, biochemical profile and electrophoresis in a single herd of Ragusana donkeys from Sicily (Italy)

Donkeys, an endangered species, have recently gained a new application with the use of their milk to feed humans with allergic processes. The Ragusana donkey breed from Sicily is used to produce milk for humans with allergic diseases. In order to evaluate the hygienic, nutritional and management measures on a farm of Ragusana donkeys, complete blood counts, extended biochemical profiles and serum protein electrophoresis, as part of metabolic profile test (MPT), were performed in Ragusana donkeys. Fifty-four donkeys were studied and grouped according to their age, (1) 29 females and a single stallion (n=30), (2) young females, 1 – 3 years old (n=10) and (3) young of both sexes under 1 year old (n=14). The RBC count, RDW value, Lymp, and Mono counts, and PDW values were statistically greater in donkeys under one year old than in adult donkeys, while the Seg Neu count was lower. The CPK, ALP, iPhos, and HCO₃, values were statistically higher in the group of donkeys under 1 year of age than adult donkeys while Cl and LDH values were statistically lower in donkeys under 1 year than adult donkeys. Additionally, statistically significant increased values for CPK, ALP, Alb, Chol, iPhos, HCO₃, and UIBC in young donkeys under 1 year when compared with young donkeys, 1 – 3 years were observed. A statistically significant decreased value for Urea and an increased value for Crea in young donkeys, 1 – 3 years old were found as compared to adults. The serum protein fractions recognised by electrophoresis were: albumin, alpha globulin (subdivided into alpha-1 and alpha-2-globulins), beta globulin, and gamma globulin. In the alpha-1-globulin region three small peaks were constantly noticed, and alpha-2-globulins were statistically different between the three groups being greater in young donkeys under 1 year of age. The results obtained were used both to establish reference ranges and a data bank for the farm of Ragusana donkeys for future needs in assessing the metabolic status and health of the animals.     

Vascular networks of the nucleus lentiformis

Summary The nucleus lentiformis vascular networks were studied in 30 brains by injecting the vascular system with gelatinous Indian ink. The nucleus lentiformis is divided into a medial part, the globus pallidus, and a lateral part, the putamen. These two parts differ completely from one another in their embryology, structure and functions. For these reasons, each part presents a specific vascular network. The putaminal network is dense and shows many similarities with the cerebral cortex vascular network; the pallidal one is simpler and less dense. These two vascular networks are located close to each other without overlapping. Their specificity may be in relation with the histological structure, with the morphogenetic evolution or with the functional activity of both nuclei to which they provide the vascularization.

---

Les réseaux vascularies du noyau lenticulaire

Résumé L'étude des réseaux vasculaires du noyau lenticulaire (NL) est réalisée sur 30 cerveaux dont le système vasculaire a été injecté à l'encre de Chine gélosée. Le NL est constitué par deux parties, le putamen (néostriatum) et le globus pallidus (paléo-striatum), totalement différentes sur les plans morphologique, embryologique et fonctionnel. Chacune de ces parties possède un réseau vasculaire spécifique et caractéristique. Les deux réseaux se côtoient sans se chevaucher. Le réseau vasculaire putaminal est dense et présente de nombreuses similitudes avec le réseau vasculaire du cortex cérébral. Le réseau vasculaire pallidal se caractérise par sa simplicité et sa moindre densité. Leur spécificité peut être en rapport avec la structure histologique, l'évolution morphogénétique et avec l'activité fonctionnelle des noyaux dont ils assurent l'irrigation.

     

L1 knockout mice show dilated ventricles, vermis hypoplasia and impaired exploration patterns

L1 is a neural cell adhesion molecule mainly involved in axon guidance and neuronal migration during brain development. Mutations in the human L1 gene give rise to a complex clinical picture, with mental retardation, neurologic abnormalities and a variable degree of hydrocephalus. Recently, a transgenic mouse model with a targeted null mutation in the L1 gene was generated. These knockout (KO) mice show hypoplasia of the corticospinal tract. Here we have performed further studies of these KO mice including magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, neuropathological analysis and behavioral testing. The ventricular system was shown to be abnormal with dilatation of the lateral ventricles and the 4th ventricle, and an altered shape of the Sylvius aqueduct. Additionally, the cerebellar vermis of the KO mice is hypoplastic. Their exploratory behavior is characterized by stereotype peripheral circling reminiscent of that of rodents with induced cerebellar lesions.      

Selected pool of peptides from ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

We have validated a new test for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. A pool of synthetic peptides derived from ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins was used to detect the number of specific gamma interferon-producing T cells by means of an enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Sixty-eight individuals positive for M. tuberculosis infection, either human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive or -seronegative, were studied. The test results were highly specific (87.5%) and sensitive (93.1%), more so than a classical lymphoproliferative assay (specificity and sensitivity of 77.27%), opening new possibilities for diagnosis and screening of tuberculosis. Moreover, the test allowed us to distinguish individuals infected with M. tuberculosis from those vaccinated with BCG.     

咪唑斯汀治疗慢性荨麻疹临床疗效评价及对血清IL-4水平的影响

目的：评价咪唑斯汀治疗慢性荨麻疹的疗效，探讨IL-4在慢性荨麻疹发病中的作用。方法：对32例慢性荨麻疹患用咪唑斯汀治疗，评价疗效，记录不良反应。同时用ELISA法检测慢性荨麻疹患治疗前后及正常人血清IL-4的水平。结果：治疗1、2wk后总有效率分别为62．5％、84．4％(P＜0．01)，不良反应3例。治疗前血清IL-4水平较正常人明显升高(P＜0．01)；治疗后IL-4水平下降(P＜0．01)，与正常人比较差异不甚明显(P＞0．05)。结论：咪唑斯汀是一种有效、安全的治疗慢性荨麻疹的药物，能降低慢性荨麻疹患血清IL-4的水平。     

黄芩苷、丹参酮ⅡA、三七皂苷R1对过氧化氢所致大鼠海马神经元损伤的保护作用

目的:探讨黄芩苷、丹参酮ⅡA、三七皂苷R1对过氧化氢所致的大鼠海马神经元损伤的保护作用.方法:采用新生1d SD大鼠海马神经元原代培养,以H2O2(50μM)造成细胞损伤模型,将黄芩苷、丹参酮ⅡA、三七皂苷R1的高(20μg/ml)和低(0.2μg/ml)两个剂量加入到培养细胞液中.在4h时,检测细胞形态及释放出的LDH活性变化,观察到上述药物对海马神经元损伤的直接保护作用.结果:低剂量黄芩苷和三七皂苷R1与模型组比较,未见明显差异,三种组分高剂量和丹参酮ⅡA低剂量组与模型组比较,均有明显差异.结论:黄芩苷、丹参酮ⅡA、三七皂苷R1对过氧化氢所致的大鼠海马神经元损伤具有一定的保护作用.