Genetic analysis of host responses in sepsis

During much of the past century, the microbe itself stood at the heart of microbial pathogenesis. Little thought was devoted to the host per se, though it was granted that differences in susceptibility to certain infections did exist between individuals, and between different ethnic groups. During the past 20 years, extraordinary strides in our grasp of mammalian genetics have made the host side of the equation far more approachable. A restricted collection of genes now presents itself as the likely repository for genetic differences that foretell susceptibility to infectious disease. The Toll-like receptors, of which 10 are presently known to exist in humans, offer an excellent example of this genetic reductionism, in that they embody the afferent component of the innate immune system, and strongly influence the containment of an infection from its earliest stages. The Toll-like receptors were identified as the culmination of a long and relentless inquiry into the yet-unsolved clinical problem of sepsis.     

麦冬类中药组织切片计算机三维重建图鉴

利用计算机技术实现麦冬类中药组织连续切片三维重建与动态显示,为计算机辅助生药学鉴定和教学提供了新的三维图像技术和研究资料。     

Family dynamics and emotional expression among patients with chronic pain and depression

Exploration of the relative roles of family dynamics and release of constrained, negative emotion in changing pain and depressive symptoms. Eighteen patients presenting mild to moderate depression and diagnoses of psychogenic pain disorder were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. One group was designed to facilitate the release of constrained and overcontrolled negative affect while the other was designed to provide information about pain and depression. Findings suggest that initial incongruity between patient's and significant other's ratings of family relationships retard changes in pain status and depressive symptoms. No significant differences were noted between patients who were taught to express negative feelings and those who were taught simply to understand those feelings. Results are discussed in terms of theories about family dynamics in the initiation and maintenance of pain conditions and in terms of the role of constrained affect as a precursor to both psychogenic pain and depression.     

THE IMPACT OF PRE-CLERKING CLINICS ON SURGICAL OPERATION CANCELLATIONS: A PROSPECTIVE AUDIT

Pre-clerking of all patients undergoing elective general surgical operations was introduced at our hospital in an attempt to reduce an unacceptably high operation cancellation rate. A prospective audit has been performed on the effect of this policy on the cancellation rate. Before the introduction of pre-clerking there was a marked seasonal variation in the number of patients who failed to attend for surgery, which could be explained by absence on holiday. This seasonal variation disappeared after the start of pre-clerking clinics, but there has been no reduction in the number of cancellations for medical reasons.     

Impact of clinical history on fracture detection with radiography

The effect of knowledge of localizing symptoms and signs in the detection of fractures was studied. Forty radiographs of the extremities were examined twice by seven radiologists; the sessions were separated by 4 months. In 26 cases, a subtle fracture was present; 14 cases were normal. In half of the cases at each session, the precise location of pain, tenderness, or swelling was provided. The observer was asked to determine if the case was normal or abnormal (provide the exact location of the fracture) and to indicate the degree of confidence in the diagnosis. Responses were converted to a numeric scale for analysis. Analysis of receiver operator characteristic parameters indicates that clues regarding location of trauma facilitate detection of fractures. The improvement is based largely on an increased true-positive rate without an increased false-positive rate, regardless of the decision criteria of the radiologist (overall willingness to "overread" or "underread"). This has direct clinical applicability and reinforces the plea of radiologists for precise clinical information.     

雷丸多糖的抗炎及免疫刺激作用

Lei Wan, Poliporus mylittae Cook et Mass(Omphalia lapidescena Scbraet) is a kind of fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, as an antheiminthie From Lei Wan, an "active component designated as. S-4001 had been isolated.Preliminary results indicate that S-4001 belongs to D, β, 1-3 glucan with some 1-6 linkages.After administration of S-4001, significant antiinflammatory activity was found in various experimental animal models, including croton oil induced ear edema in mice and agar or yeast induced ankle swelling in rats. An inhibitory action on leucocyte migration inducced by intraperitoneal injection of CMC in rats was also observed. The plasma content of corticosterone was significantly increased, but the content of ascorbic acid in the adrenals did not change in rats given S-4001. Apart from these actions, S-4001 showed a number of immunostimulating actions such as increasing the clearance of Congo red from mice blood and potentiating the immunohemolysis reaction in 615 mice.