Factors determining the ability of parents to effectively administer intramuscular adrenaline to food allergic children

Intramuscular adrenaline is the treatment of choice for food-related anaphylactic reactions. Although auto-injectable adrenaline devices are routinely prescribed for patients at risk of serious reactions, previous studies have shown that only one-third to one and a half of patients or their carers are able to properly use these devices. The aim of this study was to determine which factors are most strongly associated with the effective use of these devices. A 122 children with food allergies who had previously been prescribed EpiPens and were attending a single specialist pediatric allergy center in the UK. were studied prospectively. A 69% of parents were unable to use the EpiPen, did not have it available, or did not know when it should be administered. A prior practical demonstration was associated with a 4-5 fold greater chance that parents would be able to use the device (p < 0.005). Prior consultation with an allergy specialist rather than a general physician, and parents who independently sought additional information from the national self-help allergy organization were also four to six times more likely to be competent with these devices (p < 0.005). The study clearly shows that for EpiPens to be used safely and effectively it is essential to educate the carer at the time the device is prescribed.     

咀嚼槟榔习惯与牙体磨损关系的临床研究

目的 :探讨长期咀嚼槟榔与牙体磨损的关系。方法 :对长期咀嚼槟榔的 6 4例患者的咀嚼槟榔时间、频率及其牙体牙合面磨损、曲面体层片进行分析。结果 :所有患者后牙牙合面出现不同程度的磨损 ,且咀嚼槟榔时间越长 ,牙合面磨损越严重 (P <0 .0 1) ;咀嚼频率越高 ,牙合面磨损加重 (P <0 .0 1) ,磨损严重者可伴根尖周炎症及牙槽骨不同程度吸收。结论 :长期咀嚼槟榔可导致牙体牙合面不同程度磨损。     

Identification of antibacterial principles against Streptococcus mutans and inhibitory principles against glucosyltransferase from the seed of Areca catechu L

During the course of our studies on dental caries prevention by traditional medicines, fatty acids (myristic and oleic acids etc.) and procyanidins from betel nuts (the seed of Areca catechu L.) were respectively revealed to be the major antibacterial principles against a primary cariogenic bacterium, Streptococcus mutans, and the major inhibitory principles against glucosyltransferase from S. mutans.     

多层螺旋CT三维重建在左肾静脉压迫综合征中的临床应用

目的探讨多层螺旋CT(MSCT)三维重建在左肾静脉压迫综合征中的诊断价值。方法应用16层螺旋CT对11例左肾静脉压迫综合征病例进行泌尿系增强多期扫描,并获得各种后处理图像。结果11例左肾静脉压迫综合征病例均可见肠系膜上动脉(SMA)压迫左肾静脉(LRV)的征象。CT多平面重建(MPR)直观地显示了腹主动脉(AO)与SMA之间的夹角(α),最大为21.88,°最小为12.86°,平均为17.95°。CT横断位图像显示扩张的左肾静脉直径为12~15.3 mm,平均为13.26 mm;LRV受SMA压迫狭窄处直径为3.0~4.0 mm,平均为3.26 mm。左侧卵巢静脉或睾丸静脉直径为2.1~2.6 mm,平均为2.2 mm。5例增强扫描肾实质期(后期)显示双肾实质密度相差20 HU以上。结论MSCT在胡桃夹综合征诊断中具有明显的优势。     

Allergy to pine nuts in a bird fancier

A patient is described with the bird-egg syndrome who experienced an anaphylactic reaction after eating some of her parrot's food (pine nuts: Pinus pinea ). Specific IgE against this nut and another pine nut ( P cembra ) was demonstrated by RAST. Cross-reactivity between these botanically related seeds was shown by RAST inhibition. Besides avian antigens, bird food antigens should be taken into consideration when symptoms of allergy occur on exposure to birds.     

槟榔与白胡椒对猪囊尾蚴形态学改变的影响

目的　观察研究中药槟榔、白胡椒对体外培养的猪囊尾蚴形态学改变的影响。方法　取经槟榔、白胡椒药液作用不同时间的囊尾蚴进行大体形态及扫描电镜观察。结果　经槟榔、白胡椒分别作用 3 0min ,1h后所有虫体蠕动均停止。槟榔、白胡椒对囊尾蚴分别作用 2 0min ,40min ,虫体表面开始出现部分剥蚀区 ,且随时间延长 ,其剥蚀区增大。结论　两种药物作用于囊尾蚴的效果均好 ,可以作为人或猪囊虫病的治疗药物     

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis of small molecular weight compounds (under 10 KDa) as biomarkers of rat hearts undergoing arecoline challenge

Context: Statistical and clinical reports indicate that betel nut chewing is strongly associated with progression of oral cancer because some ingredients in betel nuts are potential cancer promoters, especially arecoline. Early diagnosis for cancer biomarkers is the best strategy for prevention of cancer progression. Several methods are suggested for investigating cancer biomarkers. Among these methods, gel-based proteomics approach is the most powerful and recommended tool for investigating biomarkers due to its high-throughput. However, this proteomics approach is not suitable for screening biomarkers with molecular weight under 10 KDa because of the characteristics of gel electrophoresis.

Objective: This study investigated biomarkers with molecular weight under 10 KDa in rats with arecoline challenge.

Materials and methods: The centrifuging vials with membrane (10 KDa molecular weight cut-off) played a crucial role in this study. After centrifuging, the filtrate (containing compounds with molecular weight under 10 KDa) was collected and spotted on a sample plate for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis.

Results: Compared to control, three extra peaks (m/z values were 1553.1611, 1668.2097 and 1740.1832, respectively) were found in sera and two extra peaks were found in heart tissue samples (408.9719 and 524.9961, respectively). These small compounds should play important roles and may be potential biomarker candidates in rats with arecoline.

Discussion and conclusions: This study successfully reports a mass-based method for investigating biomarker candidates with small molecular weight in different types of sample (including serum and tissue). In addition, this reported method is more time-efficient (1 working day) than gel-based proteomics approach (5~7 working days).