Measurement of xenon diffusing capacity in the rat lung by hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI and dynamic spectroscopy in a single breath-hold.

We used the dual capability of hyperpolarized 129Xe for spectroscopy and imaging to develop new measures of xenon diffusing capacity in the rat lung that (analogously to the diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide or DLCO) are calculated as a product of total lung volume and gas transfer rate constants divided by the pressure gradient. Under conditions of known constant pressure breath-hold, the volume is measured by hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI, and the transfer rate is measured by dynamic spectroscopy. The new quantities (xenon diffusing capacity in lung parenchyma (DLXeLP)), xenon diffusing capacity in RBCs (DLXeRBC), and total lung xenon diffusing capacity (DLXe)) were measured in six normal rats and six rats with lung inflammation induced by instillation of fungal spores of Stachybotrys chartarum. DLXeLP, DLXeRBC, and DLXe were 56 +/- 10 ml/min/mmHg, 64 +/- 35 ml/min/mmHg, and 29 +/- 9 ml/min/mmHg, respectively, for normal rats, and 27 +/- 9 ml/min/mmHg, 42 +/- 27 ml/min/mmHg, and 16 +/- 7 ml/min/mmHg, respectively, for diseased rats. Lung volumes and gas transfer times for LP (TtrLP) were 16 +/- 2 ml and 22 +/- 3 ms, respectively, for normal rats and 12 +/- 2 ml and 35 +/- 8 ms, respectively, for diseased rats. Xenon diffusing capacities may be useful for measuring changes in gas exchange associated with inflammation and other lung diseases.     

肝癌间质及癌旁病变的病理分析

目的　研究肝癌间质及癌旁病变的临床病理意义。方法　在 2 0例肝癌组织标本中取 45个癌结节 ,分别在癌结节中间、癌旁肝组织等部位取组织 4块 ,连续切片 ,显微镜下观察。结果　 19个结节有完整窦内皮细胞围绕癌巢 ,其中癌结节肉眼小于3cm者 13个 ,大于 3cm者 6个。 2 6个癌结节无完整窦内皮细胞围绕癌巢 ,其中癌结节直径大于 3cm者 2 4个 ,小于 3cm者 2个。2 0例中有 13例合并肝硬化 ,17例有乙型肝炎病毒感染和HBsAg阳性。 结论　病理连续切片 ,显微镜下观察肝癌间质及癌旁病变是预测肝癌患者预后的重要病理学指标     

Renal Allograft Biopsies with Borderline Changes: Predictive Factors of Clinical Outcome

The clinical outcome and appropriate management for patients showing 'borderline changes' on allograft biopsy after renal transplantation is still controversial. In an attempt to identify predictive factors of clinical outcome of patients with such lesions, we reviewed the clinical course of 91 patients with borderline changes. Multivariate analysis revealed significant and independent effects of histological stage (i + t < or = or > 2) and time to borderline changes (< or = or > 3 months after transplant) on serum creatinine levels at 1 year from borderline changes episodes (respectively, p = 0.04 and p = 0.02) and only a significant effect of time to borderline changes on serum creatinine levels at 2 years (p = 0.005). Renal function at 1 year and 2 years as 5- and 8-year graft survival were not significantly different in the group of patients treated with antirejection therapy (T group, n = 49) compared with the untreated group (UT group, n = 42). This study strongly suggests that borderline changes with histological score (i + t) > 2 and late episodes of borderline changes should be considered to be of poor prognosis.     

细胞间黏附分子-1在实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎大鼠中表达的动态变化及作用

目的探讨细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)在实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎(EAE)大鼠中表达的动态变化及其作用。方法分别取免疫后第4、6、8、10、12、14、16、18、20天EAE大鼠脑和脊髓制成石蜡切片,行HE染色和ICAM-1半定量免疫组化分析。结果免疫后第8天ICAM-1表达即出现明显上调,早于临床症状的发生;随免疫后时间的延长,ICAM-1表达呈逐渐增高后缓慢下降的变化趋势,并且与EAE大鼠病情评分呈显著正相关(r=0.57,P=0.003)。结论ICAM-1的表达上调可能在EAE发病中具重要作用。     

On the Limitations of Therapy Manuals

While the benefits of training manuals can hardly be questioned, they are exceedingly limited in reducing variability attributed to the "therapist factor." We propose that manuals provide a useful outline of the general principles of a therapeutic approach, but can only reduce therapist variability at the expense of other essential therapeutic phenomena. Manuals cannot adequately convey, for example, how the effective therapist functions as a model of adult living and as a person who provides guidance. We suggest that such an experience cannot readily be packaged in manualized form, though manuals may serve as a useful beginning. Recommendations for therapist manualized training include greater attention to the subtleties of human relationships and adequately conveying that any technique is effective only when catalysed by a living, relational process.     

Granulomatous jellyfish dermatitis

The induction of a granulomatous inflammation by jellyfish toxins is rare. More typically, acute toxic and urticarial reactions are seen. An 11-year-old boy developed a striated urticarial erythema on the left cheek after contact with a gelatinous mass while swimming in the sea in Croatia. After initial erosion, a striated induration developed in the area of contact. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous inflammation with some eosinophils. While topical steroid-based antiinflammatory and antibacterial therapy over several weeks was not effective, topical therapy with tacrolimus 0.1% for two two-week treatment periods led to healing of the skin changes with a slight scar. There was no clinical recurrence after 5 month of follow-up.     

妊高征与眼底视网膜病变的临床探讨

目的 :探讨妊高征患者临床特征与视网膜病变的关系。方法 :观察 2 2 0例妊高征患者的眼底情况。结果 :视网膜病变与水肿关系不密切 ,与平均动脉压、蛋白尿的严重程度、病程及红细胞压积有密切关系 ;有眼底改变者 118例 ,占 5 0 .3%。结论 :眼底镜检查是临床上借以了解视网膜血管的常用方法 ,并可反映妊高征病情的程度 ,为产程处理提供依据     

Can a failed ileal pouch anal anastomosis be left in situ?

OBJECTIVE: Failure after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is reported with a frequency of 10-20%. The failed IPAA can be excised or defunctioned. Indications for excision and further management of an indefinitely diverted pouch are poorly described. The aim of the present investigation was to investigate pouch-related problems and the histopathological pattern of the pouch mucosa in this group of patients. METHOD: In a cohort of 620 patients having IPAA with a median follow-up of 14 years, 56 patients with failure were identified. The patients with defunctioned pouches were assessed with regard to pouch-related problems and endoscopy with biopsies was performed. Biopsies were stained with haematoxylin-eosin, PAS for neutral mucins and Alcian blue/high iron diamine for sialomucins/sulphomucins. Morphological changes were grouped into three types modified according to Veress and assessed for dysplasia. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with an indefinitely diverted pouch were found. The follow-up time after surgery for failure was 10 years. Thirteen patients completed the follow-up. Except for two patients with pelvic/perineal pain, there were no clinical problems. The majority of patients displayed mild to moderate macroscopic signs of inflammation. Morphologically, findings ranged from a preserved mucosal pattern to intense inflammatory reaction. No case of dysplasia or carcinoma was found. CONCLUSION: Most patients with an indefinitely diverted pouch had no complaints regarding the pouch. There was no case of dysplasia. Indefinite diversion may be preferable to pouch excision, especially given the associated morbidity.     

ITERATIVE DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING FOR MINIMUM ENERGY CONTROL PROBLEMS WITH TIME DELAY

This paper presents the use of iterative dynamic programming employing exact penalty functions for minimum energy control problems. We show that exact continuously non-differentiable penalty functions are superior to continuously differentiable penalty functions in terms of satisfying final state constraints. We also demonstrate that the choice of an appropriate penalty function factor depends on the relative size of the time delay with respect to the final time and on the expected value of the energy consumption. A quadratic approximation (QA) of the delayed variables is much better than a linear approximation (LA) of the same for relatively large time delays. The QA improves the rate of convergence and avoids the formation of ‘kinks‘. A more general way of selecting appropriate penalty function factors is given and the results obtained using four illustrative examples of varying complexity corroborate the efficacy of the method.