Volume 92 · Issue 12 · 1979

An effective antimalaria constituent was extracted from a traditional Chinese medicinal herb--Qinghao (Artemisia annua L) 靑蒿 in 1972. It was named Qinghaosu 青蒿素. According to the data from spectral analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and chemical reaction it is a new type sesquiterpene lactone with a peroxy-group. Pharmacologic studies and clinical observations in every type of malarial infection show that Qinghaosu is a new type antimalaria drug with rapid action and low toxicity. It has direct parasiticidal action on plasmodium in the erythrocytic stage. The parasites in plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum (including cerebral malaria and chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria) especially in the areas of chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria were cleared more rapidly than that with chloroquine and quinine etc, it is ineffective in the tissue stage. In general the short term recurrence rate is higher with Qinghaosu than with chloroquine.

Schizophrenics are proven by tests to have abnormal 5-HT metabolism and lower central 5-HT turnover rate inclining us to believe that the course of schizophrenia may be related to severe biochemical changes and may be due to more severe defects in related enzymic activities. This paper presents the methods and results of this study.

A preliminary investigation on plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) is made in 25 normal subjects, 30 coronary heart disease (CHD) cases and 10 asymptomatie hyperlipidemia cases. Results show that in CHD and hyperlipidemia plasma LCAT activity tends to reduce. In IIa type hyperlipidemia plasma LCAT activity is significantly lower than in the normal group, while that in types IV and IIb remain unchanged. It is demonstrated that plasma LCAT activity is diet dependent. In the normal group plasma LCAT tends to reduce 2 hours after the intake of 100 gm of glucose and significantly increase 14 hours after a high fat meal. But in cases of CHD and hyperlipidemia plasma LCAT remains unchanged after the fatty meal. The results are discussed.

The long-term results of a local-made dacron prosthesis in replacement of the thoracic aorta are presented. Of the 36 patients treated by this method, the early and late mortalities of operative resection and grafting were 11.1% and 19.5%. The longest follow-up period was 14 years. Most of the survivors are in excellent condition.

This paper reports 163 cases of intra- and ex-trahepatic choledocholithiasis treated by nonoperative general attack therapy (GAT) using combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine from 1971 to 1976. The results were encouraging in 70% of the cases. Stones expelled were found in the stool or loss of stone shadows was recorded on cholangiograms in 64.4%, and in 26.6% the X-ray stone shadow disappeared after treatment. Indications for GAT include ductal stones around 1 cm in transverse diameter, extensive intrahepatic stones and postoperative residual stones. The mechanism of stone expulsion by GAT is discussed on the basis of both clinical and laboratory studies. Factors that may influence clinical GAT results are also discussed.

This article reports the successful in vitro cultivation of 465 Ancylostoma duodenale and 193 Ancylostoma caninum with 7 kinds of media of which the serum of young dogs was considered the most satisfactory. It was most favorable for hookworm rapid growth, oviposition, longer survival and increased copulation. Observations were made on the physiologic features of worm egg-laying, copulation and growth. It was found that in vitro young worms survived much longer than adult ones. Three young Ancylostoma duodenale survived for more than 200 days. The important factors affecting cultivation were: The selection of proper culture media, the pH of the selected media, bacterial contamination and temperature of the culture.

52 cases of acoustic neurinoma operated on during the years 1973-1974 are reported. The results of operation performed under either general anesthesia or acupuncture anesthesia with 3 different approaches are analyzed and compared. The lateral suboccipital approach with acupuncture anesthesia is considered to be the method of choice for removal of this tumor. The technics for the 3 approaches are described in detail with illustrations.

Progeria is a rare disease of unknown etiology, characterized by dwarfism, premature senility and early death. This report presents a case of progeria in Beijing. The patient, a girl, now aged 15, was a premature infant. The clinical and X-ray appearance is characteristic. The clinicoradiologic diagnosis of progeria is not difficult, if one keeps this disease in mind.

Laser, mainly the CO2 device, has been used in the treatment of ENT diseases, including chronic rhinitis, epistaxis, superficial localized angioma, nevus and wart, with good results. Laser therapy in tonsillitis and malignant tumor has also been satisfactory.

When certain bone tumors require the removal of an entire segment of the mandible, autogenous bone immediate grafting after mandibular resection is a widely accepted technic in current maxillofacial bone surgery. The rib and iliac crest are generally considered to be the best materials for this purpose. But the disadvantages of these approaches are obvious. The author proposes the use of autogenous boiled tumor bone instead. Using the author's technic operations were performed upon 5 patients with various mandibular tumors. Four cases achieved wound healing at first intention. In 1 of these new bone formation was revealed on radiagraphs and normal mandibular function was restored. The other 3 cases showed no sequelae at short-term follow-up. Analysis is made of the causes of the 1 failure. The technic of autogenous boiled tumor bone immediate grafting is briefly described and its advantages are evaluated. The author feels that use of boiled autogenous tumor bone instead of autogenous fresh bone is feasible in selected cases, including malignant tumor.