Feasibility of treating hyperfibrinogenemia with intermittently administered batroxobin in patients with ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack for secondary prevention.

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of batroxobin in treating hyperfibrinogenemia for secondary stroke prevention. Patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) were measured for plasma fibrinogen levels. Selected participants had concomitant hyperfibrinogenemia (plasma fibrinogen > or = 3.0 g/l). Patients enrolled between 1 July 2003 and 31 December 2004 were treated with batroxobin; patients enrolled between 1 January 2002 and 30 June 2003 were treated without batroxobin. Batroxobin was administered intermittently via intravenous injection at 3-monthly intervals. Patients in both groups were followed for 1 year. Any cerebrovascular events and suspected adverse events were recorded. In total, 112 ischemic stroke/TIA patients with concomitant hyperfibrinogenemia were enrolled, 52 being treated with batroxobin and 60 without batroxobin. Six patients (11.5%) with batroxobin and 16 patients (26.7%) without batroxobin had recurrent cerebral ischemic events during follow-up. Stroke/TIA recurrence in patients without batroxobin was higher than that in patients with batroxobin (P < 0.05). Two patients with batroxobin and two patients without batroxobin developed hemorrhagic stroke during follow-up. There were five deaths (9.6%) in the batroxobin group, and seven deaths (11.7%) in the nonbatroxobin group during follow-up (P > 0.05). Intermittent intravenous injection of batroxobin can efficiently reduce the risk for stroke/TIA recurrence in patients with concomitant hyperfibrinogenemia.     

无国界医生在救援中备灾的重要性

无国界医生致力于应对天灾和战祸所引起的人道医疗危机。灾后实时爆发的人道医疗危机包括急性的外科创伤问题和基础医疗系统的破坏导致疫症发生。本文介绍了无国界医生的救援经验以及专业的备灾体系。     

脂肪性肝病的治疗对策

当前酒精性肝病(ALD)患病率居高不下，而非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)发病率不断攀高，且起病渐趋低龄化，两者与病毒性肝炎并存者亦不少见。更为可怕的是，NAFLD不但与ALD相似，可导致肝硬化、肝细胞癌和肝功能衰竭，而且与2型糖尿病以及动脉硬化性心脑血管事件关系密切。然而迄今尚缺乏防治脂肪性肝病(FLD)的特效药物，现有对策主要为“提高认识、综合防治，加强宣教，重在实施”。     

Lung Cancer and COPD: a Common Combination

Background and objectiveTo analyse frequency, characteristics and patient survival with lung cancer (LC) and Common Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), comparing them with patients that do not have COPD.Material and methodsA retrospective study, of patients diagnosed by means of cytohistology. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 15.0.ResultsA total of 996 patients were diagnosed, 39.8% with COPD. Mean age70±9.19 years. GOLD stages: I 18.2%, II 53.6%, III 24%, IV 4.2%. The histological types: squamous cell carcinoma 48.2%, adenocarcinoma 22%, and small cell carcinoma 22.5%. Survival was longer in the COPD group.ConclusionsLC and COPD are combined in 39.8%. Squamous cell type is more frequent and survival was longer in the COPD group.     

Plasma levels and vascular effects of vasopressin in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested that endogenous vasopressin (AVP) acts as a spasmogen during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Given that AVP could induce vasospasm in the grafted vessel, we assessed the release of this peptide during and after CABG, and explored ways of counteracting its contractile effect on the internal mammary artery (IMA). METHODS: Plasma levels of AVP were determined by radioimmunoassay in 16 patients before, during and after CABG. Using isometric force recording techniques, we also investigated the mechanisms involved in the contractile effect of AVP in ring preparations of IMA specimens taken from 95 patients. RESULTS: Plasma AVP levels peaked after the start of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and correlated well with serum osmolality (Pearson's r=0.9490; P<0.0001; n=16). An inverse correlation was observed between plasma AVP levels recorded at this stage and the maximal contraction induced in vitro by AVP in vascular rings from the same patients (Pearson's r=-0.6968; P<0.01; n=16). No change in the AVP response was produced by endothelium removal, exposure to the NO precursor (3 x 10(-4)M L-arginine), inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (3 x 10(-5) M L-NAME) or soluble guanylate cyclase (3 x 10(-6) M 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol [4,3,-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ)), removal of the superoxide anion (100 U/ml superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus 1200 U/ml catalase) or hydroxyl radical (10(-4) M deferoxamine), or specific alpha1 - (10(-6) M prazosin) or endothelin (10(-5) M bosentan) receptor antagonism. In contrast, adenylate cyclase activation (3 x 10(-8) M forskolin) reduced the contractile response to AVP, while prostanoid synthesis (3 x 10(-6) M indomethacin) inhibition and blockade of Ca2+ -activated potassium channels (KCa) (10(-3) M tetraethylammonium (TEA)) enhanced AVP contraction. Age, gender and smoking also modified the AVP response. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a role for AVP as a modulator of vascular tone in human IMA. The effect of AVP is dependent on prostanoids and Ca2+ -activated K+ channels, so its dysfunction in pathophysiological cardiovascular processes could mean that AVP, among other factors, produces vasospasm in IMA grafts.     

输尿管上段结石的微创手术治疗

目的：探讨输尿管上段结石的治疗方法。方法：回顾性分析输尿管镜下气压弹道碎石(URSL），后腹腔镜输尿管切开取石(RLU)、经皮肾穿刺取石(PCNL)治疗输尿管上段结石患者的临床资料。其中URSL组25例，RLU组20例。PCNL组9例。结果：URSL组碎石成功18例；7例不成功，其中3例改为开放手术，1例改为后腹腔镜取石。2例行ESWL术，1例仅留置双J管。术后1个月拔管后自行排出。2例并发输尿管穿孔。RLU组取石成功18例，2例滑入肾内，经配合输尿管镜和腹腔镜直视下经皮肾穿刺取石成功，术后15例有伤口漏尿。PCNL组成功9例，无并发症。结论：USRL创伤小。术后恢复快。是治疗输尿管上段结石的较为满意的治疗方法。PCNL创伤小，取石成功率高，在结石靠近肾盂、儿童输尿管上段结石并同侧肾结石和结石以下输尿管狭窄时应优先考虑。但技术难度较大。RLU可作为URSL不成功后的辅助治疗方法。     

瘢痕成纤维细胞中TGF-β受体与整合素相互作用的实验研究

目的:了解TGF-β受体和整合素在瘢痕增生和挛缩过程中的作用.方法:通过荧光定量PCR法(FQ-PCR)测定经TGF-β受体、整合素和粘着斑激酶(FAK)抗体阻断后培养的瘢痕成纤维细胞TGF-β受体以及整合素表达量的变化.结果:经不同抗体阻断后培养的瘢痕成纤维细胞其TGF-β RI和整合素β 1的基因拷贝数均较阴性对照组有不同程度的下降(P＜0.05).结论:TGF-β受体和整合素介导的信号传导途径间可能存在着正反馈的效应,共同促进瘢痕的增生和挛缩.FAK是两条信号传导途径的交汇点和作用的中心环节.     

Estado actual del valor pronóstico de los marcadores moleculares en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal y la predicción de respuesta al tratamiento adyuvante

Colorectal cancer is one of the best studied of all malignant diseases interms of genetics and/or molecular prognostic factors. These factors, and relationships with prognosis, may have important implications especially in the design of surgical and adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy options. However, the true prognostic significance of all known factors has yet to be realised. We have reviewed the literature with specific focus on the role of molecular markers involved in prognosis and the prediction of response to adjuvant treatment.     

Panhypopituitarism as first manifestation of a lung cancer

Pituitary metastases of solid tumours are infrequent, specially as a first manifestation. When they happen, they are usually due to breast or lung cancer and are asymptomatic or produce diabetes insipidus. It is very strange that they produce hormonal deficiency. We present a case report of a bronchogenic adenocarcinoma in a 65-year-old man which began with panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus and visual alterations. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large sellar mass, with clivus infiltration and invading the right cavernous sinus. The biopsy result was adenocarcinoma metastases from lung cancer.