BACKGROUND: The cell mediated immunity has an important role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. sIL-2R has been known as a sensitive marker of T lymphocyte activation. Elevated serum levels of sIL-2R have been found in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases, and various granulomatous diseases. Elevated levels of sIL-2R have been also found in the seam and pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculosis. To evaluate the diagnostic value of sIL-2R in the differentiation of tuberculous pleurisy and. nontuberculous pleurisy. We measured the level of sIL-2R in the sera and pleural fluids of 12 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and 32 patients with nontuberculous pleurisy. METHOD: Samples of pleural fluid and serum were centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 min to remove cell pellets. Soluble R-2R was measured with a sandwitch enzyme immunoassay using the Cellfree r Interleukin-2 Receptor Test kit( T-cell science, Inc. Cambridge, MA). RESULTS: The results obtained were as follows: 1) The sIL-2R level in pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with nontuberculous pleurisy(P<0.005). 2) When the sIL-2R level above 5,000 u/ml in pleural fluid was used as the cut-off value to diagnose tuberculous pleurisy, it had a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 90.9%. 3) The sIL-2R level in the sera of the patients with tuberculous pleurisy was higher than that of patients with bacterial pleural effusions and normal control group(P<0.05) and there was no difference of levels compared with malignant pleural effusions and transudative pleural effusions(P>0.05). 4) In patients with tuberculous pleurisy, the mean concentration of sIL-2R in pleural fluid was higher than that in serum(P<0.005). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the measurement of elevated levels of pleural fluid sIL-2R in tuberculous pleurisy may be useful in the differential diagnosis between patients with tuberculous pleurisy and nontuberculous pleurisy.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Organ Transplantation ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pleurisy* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

Primary hypomagnesemia is a rare inherited disorder and it is considered to be due to either a defect in the intestinal transport of magnesium or a defect in renal tubular transport. It is important to measure the urinary excretion of magnesium to differentiate the causes of magnesium deficiency. We report here an one-month-old female infant of primary hypomagnesemia who presented generalized tonic-clonic seizures. She had hypomagnesemia(<1.5mg/dL) and several seizure attacks but normal magnesium creatinine ratio in random urine and normal magnesium excretion in 24-hour urine. Continuous oral magnesium supplementation was necessary to avoid the recurrence of symptoms and maintain serum rnagnesium levels.
Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnesium ; Magnesium Deficiency ; Recurrence ; Seizures

Agenesis of corpus callosum occurs sporadically and may be transmitted as sex-linked, or autosomal-dominant or recessive traits. It has been associated with different syndromes. Clinical pictures vary from severe intellectual and neurologic abnormalities to asymptomatic and normaly intelligent cases. Agenesis of corpus callosum may occur alone, but it is more frequently associated with a high incidence of other anomalies. We report a male infant with agenesis of corpus callosum who was diagnosed to have ileal atresia and duplication.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum* ; Corpus Callosum* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male

No abstract available.
Angina, Unstable*

Background: Osteomyelitis resulting from bacterial strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that are resistant to multiple drugs, brings further clinical challenges. There is currently no model of osteomyelitis induced by MRSA using rats with calvaria defects. So, We induced osteomyelitis in rat models with the calvaria bone defect. Methods: The rats were randomly divided into six groups according to inoculation dose levels, which ranged from 6 × 100 to 6 × 105 CFU/5 µl. Bone tissues were retrieved from all rats used in the study and assessed using histology, microbiology, and radiobiology 4 weeks after surgery to evaluate the relationship between inoculation dose and infectivity. Results: In Histological results, high levels of inflammatory responses, bone necrosis, and bacteria were observed in treatment groups G3 to G5. In IHC staining, high levels of cox-2 expression were observed in treatment groups G3. Microbiological observations also indicated that significantly higher numbers of CFUs were found in G3 to G5. In radiography results, the bone mineral density in G3 to G5 was significantly higher than in the control group, G1, and G2. Our results indicate that an inoculating dose of 6 × 103 CFU/5 μl is sufficient to induce the development of osteomyelitis in rat models. Conclusion This study suggests that the minimum dose (6 × 103CFU/5 µl) can induce osteomyelitis in calvaria rat model. This can offer information and ability of more accurately modeling osteomyelitis and simulating the challenge of osteomyelitis treat.

Background: Osteomyelitis resulting from bacterial strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that are resistant to multiple drugs, brings further clinical challenges. There is currently no model of osteomyelitis induced by MRSA using rats with calvaria defects. So, We induced osteomyelitis in rat models with the calvaria bone defect. Methods: The rats were randomly divided into six groups according to inoculation dose levels, which ranged from 6 × 100 to 6 × 105 CFU/5 µl. Bone tissues were retrieved from all rats used in the study and assessed using histology, microbiology, and radiobiology 4 weeks after surgery to evaluate the relationship between inoculation dose and infectivity. Results: In Histological results, high levels of inflammatory responses, bone necrosis, and bacteria were observed in treatment groups G3 to G5. In IHC staining, high levels of cox-2 expression were observed in treatment groups G3. Microbiological observations also indicated that significantly higher numbers of CFUs were found in G3 to G5. In radiography results, the bone mineral density in G3 to G5 was significantly higher than in the control group, G1, and G2. Our results indicate that an inoculating dose of 6 × 103 CFU/5 μl is sufficient to induce the development of osteomyelitis in rat models. Conclusion This study suggests that the minimum dose (6 × 103CFU/5 µl) can induce osteomyelitis in calvaria rat model. This can offer information and ability of more accurately modeling osteomyelitis and simulating the challenge of osteomyelitis treat.

Background: Several studies have suggested that the spinal cord may be an important site of anesthetic action and have established that general anesthetics potentiate the effects of GABA at the GABAA receptor. It was, therefore, hypothesized that the suppression of nocifensive movements during anesthesia is due to an enhancement of GABAA receptor-mediated transmission. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine behaviorally whether intrathecal GABA, glycine, or opioid receptor antagonists may change the anesthetic effect of isoflurane and enflurane. Methods: The minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane and enflurane was determined in Sprague-Dawley rats, by the tail-clamp technique. First, MAC was determined and then concentration of each inhalation agent was increased by 0.2% from the sub-MAC level. Moving latencies were observed after the intrathecal administration of each receptor antagonist. Rectal temperature was measured and maintained at a steady level during the experiment. Results: The spinal antinociceptive effects of isoflurane and enflurane were significantly reversed by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline and picrotoxin (P < 0.05). The rectal temperature was well maintained within the range of 37-39 degrees C. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the general anesthesia induced by isoflurane and enflurane, which are similar in terms of their action mechanism, is likely to be related to the spinal GABAA receptor system.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, General ; Animals ; Bicuculline ; Enflurane* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glycine ; Inhalation ; Isoflurane* ; Picrotoxin ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid ; Spinal Cord

Heart failure unresponsive to bed rest, low sodium diet, digitalis, diuretics, vasodilators and cardiac inotropic agents is a difficult therapeutic problem. Although remission was achieved with such treatment, its duration was short and easily recurred. We present a report of severe refractory congestive heart failure in three patients successfully treated with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). These patients were admitted to the hospital many times and treated by conventional methods but cannon maintain their condition for a long time. In all three patients, edema, pulmonary congestion, electrolyte abnormalities, decreased ejection fraction and fractional shortening of myocardioum were eliminated or improved by CAPD. All three patients improved from Class IV congestive heart to Class II, as defined by the New York Heart Association, and experienced a define improvement in their sense of well being We conclude CAPD as an effective and the useful treatment for servere congestive heart failure refractory to conventional medical treatments.
Bed Rest ; Diet ; Digitalis ; Diuretics ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Pulmonary Edema ; Sodium ; Vasodilator Agents

Villous tumor of the duodenum are rare, only 89 cases having been reported and reviewed in several recent publication. Malignancy is discovered in approximately 30-45% leading to the recommandation that all such tumors be excised regardless of the endoscopic findings. Two cases of villous tumor of the duodenum were reported and locally excised. The pathologic specimens showed carcinoma in situ, no evidence of hematogenous and lymphatic metastasis.
Carcinoma in Situ ; Duodenum* ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Publications

Intracranial manifestations associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) include arachnoid cysts, dolichoectasias, and subdural hematoma (SDH), although there are only a few reports of SDH in patients with ADPKD. We report a case of spontaneous SDH in a patient with ADPKD. A 33-year-old woman complained of severe nausea and vomiting for 10 days. She had suffered from a headache for several months. She was diagnosed with ADPKD and hypertension 6 years earlier, and the hypertension was well controlled. Her mental state was drowsy in the emergency room. Her blood pressure was 180/105 mmHg. There was no evidence of head trauma. Results of a peripheral blood CBC and blood chemistry analysis were within normal limits, as were the results of a blood coagulation test and urinalysis. She was pregnant and in the eighth week of gestation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed SDH in the left lateral convexity and focally in the right lateral convexity, and brain herniation. Surgical drainage was performed through a burr hole, under general anesthesia. Intra-operatively, 62 mL of liquefied subdural hematoma were removed. She recovered completely without sequelae.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Arachnoid Cysts ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Female ; Headache ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nausea ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; Pregnancy ; Urinalysis ; Vomiting