Attitudes Toward Transplantation in U.K. Muslim Indo-Asians in West London

The worldwide shortage of organs for transplantation makes it important to understand why some oppose donation. Attitudes vary with religion and ethnicity. Accordingly, we undertook a qualitative study of the attitudes of 141 U.K. Muslim Indo-Asians to organ donation. Participants were observed, focus group discussions held and in-depth individual interviews conducted. We identified a high level of alienation from the health care system in general. With respect to organ donation in particular, its importance was generally discounted, often in deference to authority figures within the community who appeared negatively disposed. The culture-specific issues arguing against donation included a sense of the sacredness of the body, a fatalistic approach to illness, a belief that organs took on an independent role as 'witnesses' to an individual's life on Judgement Day and an anxiety that the donor would have no control of the probity of the recipient of an organ. We believe these data suggest a need to improve in a culturally sensitive fashion the provision of health information provided to this community.     

Right atrial myxoma presenting as post partum ascites and fever of unknown origin.

A case is reported of right atrial myxoma presenting clinically as ascites and fever of unknown origin. An extensive work-up, including laboratory investigations, X-ray imaging, laparoscopy and laparotomy, failed to explain the clinical picture which was manifested post partum. Echocardiography was diagnostic and led to the curative treatment of surgical resection.     

The effect of naloxone on the preoperative gastric volume and pH

The effect of 4 mg oral naloxone on preoperative gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was studied in a double-blind, randomized study. Twenty patients received 10 ml of naloxone (4 mg) mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, and 20 patients received 10 ml of isotonic saline mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, 2 h before surgery. Gastric content was obtained immediately after intubation of the trachea. No significant difference in gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was found between the two groups. It is concluded that naloxone does not affect gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion to a degree great enough to protect against aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs.     

家族性巨大黑色素细胞增生症

背景：家族性巨大黑色素细胞增生症（FGM）是一种罕见疾病，于1984年首次描述并命名为“家族性巨大黑色素细胞黑变病”。其病因尚不清楚。色素增多或减少处皮肤中的黑色素细胞似乎无法向周围的角质形成细胞输送黑色素。目的：作者报道4例新发FGM患者。实施电镜检查以便进一步阐明本病的潜在缺陷。患者和方法：对患者进行临床检查，并在色素沉着处和减退处皮损切取活检标本，将标本分成两份；一份经苏木素伊红和马松丰塔纳染色后行常规显微镜检查，