The association between potential risk factors and the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was studied in Shanghai Bureau of Sanitation. The study identified a total of 202 cases among 30,289 subjects, and showed that smoking, in particular heavy smoking, had a strong association with tuberculosis after simultaneous adjustment for other factors. Using a multivariate binomial regression, the factors adjusted included the age, sex, history of contact, area of housing and type of work. The relative risk of heavy smokers compared with nonsmokers was 2.17 (95% confidence interval 1.29-3.63). The study showed that although males and old age were associated with a higher risk of tuberculosis than females and young age respectively, these differences were due to the smoking factor. The study also found that the risk of tuberculosis among the subjects with previous patient contacts was twice as high as that among the non-contacts.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Displacement of mediastinal clips by postoperative mediastinal hemorrhage.

We have reported a case in which the separation of radiopaque surgical clips after cardiac operation proved to be a sensitive sign of mediastinal hemorrhage. Echocardiography was done for confirmation.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Kinetic studies of the reaction of hydroxyl radicals with trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene.

Rate coefficients are reported for the gas-phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with C2HCl3 (k(1)) and C2Cl4 (k2) over an extended temperature range at 740+/-10 Torr in a He bath gas. These absolute rate measurements were accomplished using a laser photolysis/laser-induced fluorescence (LP/LIF) technique under slow flow conditions. The simple Arrhenius equation adequately describes the low temperature data for k1 (<650 K) and the entire data set for k2 and is given by (in units of cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1)): k1(291 - 650 K) = (9.73+/-1.15) x 10(-13) exp (158.7+/-44.0)/T, k2(293 - 720 K ) = (1.53+/-0.14) x 10(-12) exp (-688.2+/-67.5)/T. Error limits are 2sigma values. The room temperature values for k1 and k2 are within +/-2sigma of previous data using different techniques. The Arrhenius activation energies for k1 and k2 are a factor of 2-3 lower than previously reported values. The experimental measurements for both k1 and k2 in conjunction with transition state and variation transition state theory calculations infer an OH addition mechanism. The lack of a measurable kinetic isotope effect for k1 is consistent with this mechanism. Insight into the subsequent reactions of the chemically activated intermediate are presented in the form of potential energy diagrams derived from ab initio calculations.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide in ischaemic preconditioning in diabetic rat hearts.

1. It has been suggested that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is involved in the protection provided by ischaemic preconditioning in rat hearts and that ischaemic preconditioning is absent in diabetic rat hearts. 2. In the present study, we tested the relationship between sensory nerve function and ischaemic preconditioning in diabetic rats. 3. In 4- and 8-week diabetic rats and age-matched non- diabetic controls, 30 min global ischaemia and 40 min reperfusion caused a significant decrease in cardiac function and a marked increase in creatine kinase (CK) release. Ischaemic preconditioning, by three cycles of 5 min ischaemia and 5 min reperfusion, improved the recovery of cardiac function and decreased CK release during reperfusion in 4-week diabetic rat hearts. However, the cardioprotection afforded by ischaemic preconditioning was lost in 8-week diabetic rat hearts. Pretreatment with CGRP for 5 min also significantly improved the recovery of cardiac function and decreased CK release in rats subjected to 4 or 8 weeks of diabetes. 4. The content of CGRP in the coronary effluent during ischaemic preconditioning was significantly increased in 4-week diabetic rat hearts (P < 0.05). However, only a slight increase in the release of CGRP was shown in 8-week diabetic rat hearts (P > 0.05). 5. In summary, the present results suggest that the protection afforded by ischaemic preconditioning is attenuated in diabetic rats and that the change may be related to the reduction in CGRP release in diabetic rat hearts.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide mRNA expression in rat dorsal root ganglia by heat stress involves the heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide pathway.

SD rats were pretreated with whole body hyperthermia (rectal 42 degrees C) for 15 min. The level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in plasma, and alpha- and beta-CGRP mRNA as well as heme oxygenease-1 and heme oxygenase-2 mRNA in dorsal root ganglia were determined by radioimmunoassay and semi-quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Heat stress induced only the expression of alpha-CGRP or heme oxygenease-1 but not beta-CGRP or heme oxygenase-2 mRNA, and the release of CGRP and induction of alpha-CGRP mRNA expression were abolished by pretreatment with Zinc protoporphyrin IX, the heme oxygenase inhibitor, or methylene blue, the inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. These results indicate that induction of alpha-CGRP mRNA expression in rat DRG by heat stress involves the heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide pathway.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-proliferative effects of oridonin on SPC-A-1 cells and its mechanism of action.

Oridonin, an extract from the Chinese herb Rabdosia rubescens, is currently one of the most important traditional Chinese herbal medicines. We investigated the anti-proliferative effect of oridonin on the lung cancer cell line SPC-A-1 and its mechanism of action. Growth inhibition was measured using a microculture tetrazolium assay and apoptosis was measured by several standard methods. Western blot analysis measured the expression of bcl-2 and bax proteins. Oridonin (> 28 micromol/l) inhibited the growth of SPC-A-1 cells and induced apoptosis. Marked morphological changes indicative of apoptosis were observed, especially in cells treated with oridonin for 48 - 60 h. Western blot analysis revealed downregulation of bcl-2 and upregulation of bax proteins following treatment with oridonin for 48 h. We conclude that oridonin demonstrated anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on SPC-A-1 cells in vitro, and that changes in bcl-2 and bax protein levels may play an important role in its mechanism of action.

Apoptosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Techniques for covering soft tissue defects resulting from plantar ulcers in leprosy: Part I--General considerations and summary of results.

Recurrent plantar ulceration is a common and serious complication occurring consequent to impairment of the tibial nerve in leprosy patients. In spite of many therapies and long therapeutic course, it is extremely difficult to abolish this complication in many cases because of extensive skin and soft tissue cushion loss due to repeated infection. Since the early 70's we have been using microscopic surgical techniques to reconstruct the ulcerated area using eight types of the flaps. In this series of papers we review our experience (76 patients). Post-operatively, the flaps survived in all cases, the long-term results have proved satisfactory, and recurrent ulceration occurred in only three patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Azygo-portal disconnection by the abdominal route].

Azygo-portal disconnection by the abdominal route consists of devascularization of the lower oesophagus, cardiac orifice and greater gastric tuberosity by ligation of the varices and section of the oesophagus, combined in every case with truncular vagotomy and gastric bypass. In emergencies the abdominal approach enables the bleeding points to be accurately localized. In the treatment of haemorrhages due to portal hypertension, this technique offers an alternative to porto-caval bypasses when these cannot be performed (thrombosis or portal cavernoma) or when the risk of encephalitis is too high. However, contrary to liver transplantation, it is a palliative technique for cirrhotic patients.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection after cesarean section with intact amniotic membranes.

We describe a preterm neonate delivered by cesarean section with intact membranes who had herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis at 9 days of age and whose twin with a separate amniotic membrane that was pierced for insertion of a fetal scalp electrode simultaneously had HSV infection of the scalp. That no histologic evidence of HSV infection was seen in either placenta suggests the potential for HSV penetration of intact amniotic membranes as a mode of transmission of HSV to the neonate. Although the extent of risk of HSV infection in a second twin remains unclear, we believe that when infection is suspected in one of a set of twins, appropriate cultures should be obtained from both infants, and acyclovir therapy should be considered for both.

Acyclovir↗