Plant cardiac glycosides and digoxin Fab antibody

The potential application of the Digoxin Fab antibody (Wellcome Digibind) in the clinical management of plant poisoning was investigated. The cardiac glycoside contents of various Australian plants were studied using immunoassay techniques. The cross-reactions of the Fab antibody and two digoxin assay antibodies against extracts of these plants were also studied. Results obtained indicated that the Digibind antibody cross-reacted with a wide range of glycosides contained in Australian plants and therefore could be of use in the treatment of life-threatening plant poisoning.     

An outbreak of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in children with malignancy

An outbreak of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in three patients within a 6 week period was reported. Two patients had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and one had brain-stem glioma. They shared common features of immuno-suppression and absence of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and had been nursed in the same room. The severity of PCP and its response to treatment may be related to the degree of immunosuppression. Because of the morbidity and mortality of PCP, chemoprophylaxis should be given to all at-risk cases. Furthermore, isolation of patients with PCP should be considered in view of increasing evidence of nosocomial transmission.     

Erythromycin treatment for gastrointestinal dysmotility in preterm infants

To report our clinical experience on the use of oral erythromycin for the treatment of severe gastrointestinal dysmotility in preterm infants.

Methodology:

A case series study of seven preterm infants (six were very low birthweight) with severe intestinal dysmotility in a tertiary neonatal centre.

Results:

All responded favourably without adverse effects and tolerated full enteral feeding within 1–2 weeks of the commencement of the drug.

Conclusions:

As prolonged total parenteral nutrition carries significant risk of complications, this therapy could be considered in selected preterm infants who fail to establish enteral feeding after an extended period, and in whom an anatomically obstructive lesion of the gastrointestinal tract has been excluded. Meanwhile, we would caution against the widespread implementation of this therapeutic approach until formal evaluation by randomized controlled trials have established the exact role of erythromycin, or its analogues, in the treatment of intestinal dysmotility in preterm infants.     

雌激素与C型利尿钠肽介导的青春期线性生长的关系

 目的：探讨青春期女孩雌激素与C型利尿钠肽（C-type natriuretic peptide, CNP）介导的长骨生长的关系,及两者在中枢性性早熟女孩GnRHa治疗相关身高增长减速中的作用。方法：（1）检测56例正常不同青春发育期女孩空腹血清雌二醇（E2）、CNP的N端前肽（N-terminal propeptide of CNP, NT-proCNP）、胰岛素样生长因子1（insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF-1）以及骨形成生化标志物N端中段骨钙素（N-terminal mid-fragment of osteocalcin, N-MID OC）的浓度。（2）检测13例特发性中枢性性早熟（idiopathic central precocious puberty, ICPP）女孩在促性腺激素释放激素类似物（gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, GnRHa）治疗开始、治疗6个月末及12个月末时血清E2、NT-proCNP、IGF-1和N-MID OC水平,并计算身高增长速度（height velocity, HV）。结果：(1) 在56例正常不同青春发育期女孩中,与青春前期相比,血清NT-proCNP、IGF-1、E2和N-MID OC浓度均自青春早期开始升高（P<005或P<0.01）;血清NT-proCNP在青春中期维持高水平,至青春后期达峰值（P<005）;血清IGF-1和E2浓度于青春中期继续升高（P<0.01）,亦至青春后期达峰值（P<0.01）;血清N-MID OC浓度于青春中期达到峰值（P<0.05）,青春后期则开始下降（P<0.05）。(2) ICPP女孩GnRHa治疗6个月末HV、血清NT-proCNP和血清N-MID OC均较治疗开始时显著下降（P<0.05）,但与12个月末相比无显著差异;GnRHa治疗开始、治疗6个月末和12个月末后血清IGF-1浓度无显著差异;治疗后血清E2显著下降并回复至青春前期水平（P<0.05）。结论：女孩血清NT-proCNP水平随青春发育进程升高,与血清E2和IGF-1浓度平行,提示女孩青春期升高的雌激素在一定程度上可诱导CNP介导的青春期生长加速。ICPP女孩经GnRHa治疗后,随着雌激素受抑,生长速度减慢,血清NT-proCNP浓度下降,并与生长速度和骨形成平行,提示GnRHa致ICPP女孩生长减速部分缘于雌激素被抑制后CNP介导的长骨生长减慢。     

Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Hong Kong

A pilot cord blood TSH screening program for congenital hypothyroidism was commenced in Hong Kong in April 1982. By April 1984, 14 411 neonates born in two hospitals were screened for this disorder. Five cases of primary hypothyroidism and two cases of transient hypothyroidism were detected. The detection of cases of congenital hypothyroidism with only moderately elevated cord blood TSH values means that the recall rate will remain high.     

Acute scrotal swelling: A sign of neonatal adrenal haemorrhage

Two neonates presented with acute scrotal swelling suggestive of testicular torsion. Surgical exploration in one patient revealed an infected haematoma. Subsequent investigations including ultrasonography and urinary catecholamine determination disclosed adrenal haemorrhage as the cause of the scrotal haematoma. A second patient in whom a purplish discolouration of the right hemiscrotum was noted was also investigated with ultrasonography, which revealed a normal right testis and a right adrenal haematoma. Both cases of adrenal haemorrhage resolved spontaneously on conservative treatment. Adrenal haemorrhage should be considered as a possible cause of acute scrotal swelling in neonates. Ultrasonography assessment should be performed in such cases to examine the intra-abdominal organs especially the adrenal glands.     

Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery in Asia

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery in Asia has gone a long way since 1992. In this article, the authors attempted to unfold the history of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in Asia, and report on the latest development. It is concluded that laparoscopic colorectal surgery will continue to flourish in Asia, and we will be entering a new era of endo‐laparoscopic surgery and robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery.