Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: the importance of early magnetic resonance imaging

The diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is frequently missed or delayed with consequent delay in instituting therapy in the crucial phase of the illness. The role of MRI in the diagnosis of ADEM is well established, however, the value of its early utilization of treatment on the outcome of patients has not been adequately stressed. Three patients with ADEM are described. Delay in the diagnosis of the first was associated with severe sequelae, while in the other two early diagnosis and institution of corticosteroid therapy which was facilitated by MRI, was associated with a better outcome. MRI should be carried out early once the diagosis of ADEM is entertained.     

Corticosteroid therapy does not prevent nephritis in Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Nephritis occurs in 20%–50% of children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), and the onset of renal involvement may be delayed for weeks or months in a substantial proportion of patients. The present study was performed to determine whether corticosteroid therapy was effective in preventing delayed nephritis in children with HSP. The medical records of 69 children with HSP were reviewed. Nineteen patients had acute nephritis occurring from 1–12 days after the onset of other signs and symptoms. The remaining 50 patients had no evidence of acute renal involvement. Of these 50 patients, 20 were treated during the acute phase of the illness with corticosteroids, while 30 never received corticosteroid therapy. Delayed nephritis (>3 weeks following an initial normal urinalysis) occurred in 4 of 20 (20%) patients who received prior corticosteroid treatment, and in 6 of 30 (20%) patients who were not treated. These results indicate that early corticosteroid therapy does not prevent delayed nephritis in children with HSP.     

Open-field behavior, habituation and passive avoidance learning: Effect of ACTH and hydrocortisone on Normal and adrenalectomized rats

Exploratory behavior (GMA) and habituation rate (IH) were studied in an open-field situation in normal and adrenalectomized rats. Following this procedure the rats were subjected to passive avoidance learning (PA). Wide-spreading individual differences were observed in the exploratory behavior and the tendency of habituation of normal rats. As compared to the normal values, either the adrenalectomy which was performed 24 hr, 7 days and 28 days prior to the experiments or the ACTH and hydrocortisone treatment failed to modify the GMA and the IH significantly. An improvement of PA was found in the normal rats following ACTH and hydrocortisone treatment. In the adrenalectomized animals the hydrocortisone proved to be effective, whereas ACTH did not influence PA. No correlation was found between GMA, IH versus PA values and the influence of ACTH and hydrocortisone administration on these parameters. It is concluded that the direction of PA is unpredictable on the basis of the open-field test performed on R-Amsterdam strain of rats, and the effect of ACTH on passive avoidance learning is mediated through the adrenal glands.     

兔激素性股骨头坏死的血液流变学改变

目的　探讨血液流变学指标在激素性股骨头坏死过程中的变化规律及其作用。方法　20只兔随机分成2组，每组10只。A组（激素性股骨头坏死动物模型组）：间隔24h耳缘静脉内2次注射大肠杆菌内毒素，每次40μg/kg，注射内毒素后注射醋酸泼尼松龙20mg/kg。B组（正常对照组）。两组分别在注射后24h、72h、7d、14d 及21d，进行血浆黏度、全血黏度、血小板计数及血脂测定，21d取股骨头和肝脏行病理组织学观察。结果　A组用药后24h血浆黏度、全血黏度升高，血脂升高(P<0.01)血小板计数减少(P<0.01)，用药后72h、7d、14d 及21d，持续异常，与B组相比差异显著。A组21d时病理切片见股骨头骨细胞和肝细胞变性、坏死。结论　在激素性股骨头坏死动物模型中，血液流变学指标异常在引起血栓前状态，形成血栓导致骨坏死过程中可能发挥了重要作用。     

Effects of frustration on behaviour and plasma corticosteroid levels in pigs

Frustration was elicited in pigs by not rewarding the operant response of subjects having learnt to press a panel with their snout to get a food reward. When pigs were exposed singly to this situation, they extinguished their operant responding. Plasma corticosteroid levels increased during frustration and the number of responses emitted was correlated negatively with the initial plasma corticosteroid levels. When two pigs were submitted together to the frustration situation, they developed aggressive behaviour accompanied by increases of plasma corticosteroid levels. These experiments demonstrate that pigs are sensitive to the effects of frustration elicited by the omission of an expected reward.     

LASIK术后糖皮质激素应用方案比较

目的　评价LASIK术后糖皮质激素的合理应用时间。方法　采用前瞻性研究 (双盲 ) ,观察行LASIK治疗的 10 0例 (2 0 0眼 )患者 ,根据术后用药不同随机分为试验组、对照组 ,各10 0眼。其中试验组LASIK术后使用典必殊滴眼液一周 ,对照组使用 0 1%氟美童滴眼液一月及托百士滴眼液一周 ,两组患者除术后糖皮质激素应用不同外 ,术前准备、手术方法及术后其他用药均相同 ;为不掩盖症状 ,术后均不使用人工泪液。观察指标包括术前、术后一日、术后三日、术后一周、术后二周、术后一月、术后三月的眼部症状 (包括疼痛、眼干、异物感 )及体症 ,包括裸眼视力、最佳矫正视力及有效球镜、弥漫性角膜基质炎 (DLK)、荧光素染色 (FL)、眼压。等级资料采用非参数独立样本U检验 (Mann -WhitneyTest) ,计量资料采用计量资料统计学方法。结果　术后二周时试验组和对照组DLK存在统计学差异 (P <0 0 5 ) ;角膜荧光素染色 ,试验组二周时恢复术前水平 ,对照组三月时尚未恢复术前水平 ;其他观察指标各时间段差异均无显著意义 (P >0 0 5 )。结论　LASIK术后短期应用强效激素 (一周 )即可获得预期临床效果 ,更有效预防DLK ,以避免长时间使用激素的副作用 ,同时方便患者使用提高治疗依从性     

Retrospective analysis of corticosteroid doses administered to patients with terminal cancer for dyspnea alleviation and survival

Dyspnea negatively affects the survival and quality of life of patients with terminal cancer. Although corticosteroids are currently used to treat dyspnea, the association between corticosteroid dosage and survival remains unclear. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the relationship betweencorticosteroid doses, administered to hospitalized patients with terminal cancer for dyspnea alleviation, and survival. Subsequently, we investigated the associations between corticosteroid doses, which were classified into three categories, and the length of survival in days after stratifying 52 patients treated between January 2012 and December 2015 into corticosteroid responders and non-responders. The mean daily corticosteroid doses were 28.68?±?14.4?mg for responders and 29.13?±?18.5?mg for non-responders. The mean corticosteroid doses on the first day were 27.86?±?14.9?mg for responders and 27.73?±?19.5?mg for non-responders. The mean total corticosteroid doses administered during the first 2 days of treatment were 56.84?±?29.2?mg for responders and 57.16?±?38.5?mg for non-responders. The mean survival was 11.33?±?7.5 days and 5.27?±?3.35 days among responders and non-responders, respectively. In conclusion, the administration of corticosteroid for dyspnea alleviation did not correlate with survival. However, reactivity to corticosteroids increased the duration of corticosteroid use, which may have contributed to survival.     

Development of a safe dexamethasone-eluting electrode array for cochlear implantation

Abstract

Objectives

Cochlear implantation can result in trauma leading to increased tissue response and loss of residual hearing. A single intratympanic application of the corticosteroid dexamethasone is sometimes used clinically during surgery to combat the potential effect of trauma on residual hearing. This project looked at the safety and efficacy of dexamethasone eluted from an intracochlear array in vivo.

Methods

Three trials were conducted using normal hearing adult guinea pigs implanted with successive iterations of dexamethasone-eluting (DX1, DX2, and DX3) or non-eluting (control) intracochlear electrode arrays. The experimental period for each animal was 90 days during which hearing tests were performed at multiple time points.

Results

There was no significant difference between matched control array and dexamethasone array groups in terms of spiral ganglion neuron density, organ of Corti condition, or fibrosis and ossification. A cochleostomy seal was present in all implanted cochleae. There were no differences in the degree of hearing threshold shifts between DX1 and DX3 and their respective control arrays. Cochleae implanted with DX2 arrays showed less hearing loss and marginally better spiral ganglion neuron survival than their control array counterparts. Post-explant inspection of the DX2 and DX3 arrays revealed a difference in pore density following dexamethasone elution.

Conclusion

The dexamethasone doses used were safe in the guinea pig cochlea. Dexamethasone did not inhibit formation of a cochleostomy seal. The level of hearing protection afforded by dexamethasone eluting from an intracochlear array may depend upon the degree of elution and level of trauma inflicted.