Endogenous motion of liver correlates to the severity of portal hypertension

BACKGROUND Degree of portal hypertension(PH) is the most important prognostic factor for the decompensation of liver cirrhosis and death, therefore adequate care for patients with liver cirrhosis requires timely detection and evaluation of the presence of clinically significant PH(CSPH) and severe PH(SPH). As the most accurate method for the assessment of PH is an invasive direct measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG), the search for non-invasive methods to diagnose these conditions is actively ongoing.AIM To evaluate the feasibility of parameters of endogenously induced displacements and strain of liver to assess degree of PH.METHODS Of 36 patients with liver cirrhosis and measured HVPG were included in the casecontrol study. Endogenous motion of the liver was characterized by derived parameters of region average tissue displacement signal(dantero, dretro, d RMS) and results of endogenous tissue strain imaging using specific radiofrequency signal processing algorithm. Average endogenous strain μ and standard deviation σ of strain were assessed in the regions of interest(ROI)(1 cm × 1 cm and 2 cm × 2 cm in size) and different frequency subbands of endogenous motion(0-10 Hz and 10-20 Hz).RESULTS Four parameters showed statistically significant(P 0.05) correlation with HVPG measurement. The strongest correlation was obtained for the standard deviation of strain(estimated at 0-10 Hz and 2 cm × 2 cm ROI size). Three parameters showed statistically significant differences between patient groups with CSPH, but only dretro showed significant results in SPH analysis. According to ROC analysis area under the curve(AUC) of the σROI[0…10 Hz, 2 cm × 2 cm] parameter reached 0.71(P = 0.036) for the diagnosis of CSPH; with a cut-off value of 1.28 μm/cm providing 73% sensitivity and 70% specificity. AUC for the diagnosis of CSPH for μROI[0…10 Hz, 1 cm × 1 cm] was 0.78(P = 0.0024); with a cut-off value of 3.92 μm/cm providing 73% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Dretro parameter had an AUC of 0.86(P = 0.0001) for the diagnosis of CSPH and 0.84(P = 0.0001) for the diagnosis of SPH. A cut-off value of-132.34 μm yielded 100% sensitivity for both conditions, whereas specificity was 80% and 72% for CSPH and SPH respectively.CONCLUSION The parameters of endogenously induced displacements and strain of the liver correlated with HVPG and might be used for non-invasive diagnosis of PH.     

Endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to septic arthritis caused by group A Streptococcus infection: A case report and literature review

Streptococcus pyogenes is a rare pathogen that causes endogenous endophthalmitis (EE). A healthy 58-year-old woman was diagnosed with EE secondary to septic arthritis caused by S. pyogenes. She underwent enucleation after hospitalization for 14 days with appropriate antibiotic cover. A literature search for outcomes of this condition revealed reports on only 10 eyes among 8 cases identified: 8 eyes (80%) developed poor visual outcome and 5 eyes (50%) underwent enucleation. There were no cases with immunocompromise. Our case report and literature review suggest the importance of awareness of the occurrence of S. pyogenes infection in immunocompetent hosts, and thus early diagnosis and aggressive treatment may be required to improve visual outcome.     

The Bradykinin-potentiating peptides from venom gland and brain of Bothrops jararaca contain highly site specific inhibitors of the somatic angiotensin-converting enzyme

Pyroglutamyl, proline-rich oligopeptides, classically referred to as bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs) are found in Bothrops jararaca venom, and are naturally occurring inhibitors of the somatic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The chemical and pharmacological properties of these peptides were essential for the development of captopril, the first active site directed inhibitor of ACE, currently used to treat human hypertension. ACE is a complex ectoenzyme of the vascular endothelium, possessing two catalytic sites, performing diverse specific roles. Recent advances concerning novel features of BPPs revealed that they might still contribute to a better understanding of the cardiovascular physiology and pathology. The molecular biology of the BPPs revealed that they are part of two distinct C-type natriuretic peptide precursors found in the venom gland and the brain of B. jararaca, each containing seven BPPs. In situ hybridization studies detected the presence of the corresponding mRNA precursor in snake brain regions correlated with neuroendocrine functions, such as the ventro-medial hypothalamus, the paraventricular nuclei, the paraventricular organ, and the subcommissural organ. In this article we discuss the large variety of homologous BPPs in B. jararaca venom and brain, its significance, and whether the BPPs could represent novel endogenous neuropeptides.     

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.     

Quantification of naturally occurring benzodiazepine-like substances in human breast milk

The possible occurrence of benzodiazepine-like substances in human breast milk was investigated in 35 healthy, newly delivered women who were known not to be taking benzodiazepines. Maternal blood samples and a sample of breast milk were obtained on the fifth post partum day. A radioreceptor technique (lower limit of detection 1.5 ng/ml; difference between duplicates at various concentrations <7%) was used for measuring benzodiazepine-like substances in blood and breast milk (with and without prior extraction). No benzodiazepine-like substances could be demonstrated in any of the blood samples taken from the 35 women. Measurable concentrations of benzodiazepine-like substances were demonstrated in all but 1 of the 35 breast milk samples. The mean concentration of benzodiazepine-like substances for all 35 women was 4.3±2.3 ng/ml (range 0–9.3 ng/ml) expressed as lorazepam. The corresponding value for extracted breast milk was 2.6±1.5 ng/ml (range 0–7.0 ng/ml). There was no association between concentrations of benzodiazepine-like substances in breast milk and maternal age, weight, height and body mass or parity, or the sex of the infant and infant birth weight. We suggest that non-detectable amounts of benzodiazepine-like substances in serum are concentrated in the mammillary glands and excreted in a higher concentration in breast milk. It is less likely that the relevant benzodiazepines are produced in the mammillary glands.     

微波快速过氧化物酶染色法与灌注法用于微循环形态学研究之比较

以健康Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大白鼠为材料，对微波快速内源性过氧化物酶染色与灌注法显示微血管的方法进行了对比研究。结果，过氧化物酶组织化学法具有不用灌注，操作简单，所用时间短，对血管无扩张、破裂等人为改变的特点，保持了微血管真实的自然形态和管径大小，可以定量或半定量地判定组织器官活体时的血液循环状况。可以用于人及动物的大脑、脊髓、皮肤、耳及食管等组织内微血管形态学研究和定量分析。并对过氧化物酶显示微血管的原理和微波辐射促进染色的原理及特点进行了分析、讨论。     

荔枝果实发育期间内源激素含量动态

本研究测定了荔枝果实发育期间内源激素含量的动态。结果表明果实发育前期细胞分裂素(CTK),生长素(IAA)含量较高;中期乙烯(Eth),赤霉素(GA),的含量较高,这与果实的生长发育及落果有密切相关。同时,果实发育前期应用外源CTK、中期应用GA、处理果穗可显著提高产果率。     

有抑郁症史者想象力的研究

实验组为45名缓解的内源性抑郁症患(男25例,女20例)。对照组为15名缓解的双相障碍患者(男8例,女7例),71名正常人(男41例,女30例)。利用作者建立的想象结局法发现:实验组想象力总分显著低于正常人组,特别是当涉及不愉快事件的测题时,单项分亦显著低于正常人。双相障碍组总分亦显著低于正常人。实验组有关性内容的比率得分显著低于正常人。     

33例精神分裂症患者氯丙嗪治疗前后血小板聚集功能

本文对精神分裂症患者用氯丙嗪治疗前后PAg(T)功能进行观察及BPRS评定,发现精分症患者PAg(T)功能明显高于对照组,用氯丙嗪治疗1个月后,BPRS评定分值下降,患者临床症状消除,而PAg(T)第一时相无变化,第二时相明显升高,说明氯丙嗪聚药物可促发血小板释放内源性致聚物质,同时也说明患者PAg(T)异常不仅仅是情绪应激所致,更重要的是血小板生理功能异常。