版权保护期限的合宪性之争——从美国1998年《松尼·波诺版权期限延长法案》谈起

版权是赋予作品的法律权利,对版权的保护一般是有期限的,然而在美国却有不断延长版权保护期限的趋势。1998年《松尼·波诺版权期限延长法案》(CTEA)又将版权的保护期延长了20年,这引起了轩然大波,甚至动用了违宪审查,围绕着Eldred v.Ashcroft案美国各方就此展开了激烈的辩论。本文以CTEA的出台和埃尔德雷德(Eldred)诉讼为背景,思考私人领域的版权保护中的公共政策考量。

Efficacy of additional treatment with azathioprine in a patient with prednisolone-dependent gastric sarcoidosis

Gastric sarcoidosis with noncaseating granuloma is rare. Although corticosteroid produces a dramatic clinical response, it is unknown whether azathioprine show efficacy in prednisolone-dependent cases. Here, we report a case of gastric sarcoidosis in a 25-year-old man with severe epigastlargia. Gastroendoscopy revealed multiple map-like ulcerations. Histological examination showed multiple noncaseating granulomatous lesions in gastric mucosa, which were incompatible with diagnoses of Crohn's disease or tuberculosis. He was started on prednisolone at 30 mg/d, and his symptoms improved within 7-d. The prednisolone was gradually tapered by 5 mg every 2-wk, but oral azathioprine at 50 mg was added after symptoms recurred at tapered dose of 10 mg. Endoscopy 4-wk later showed healing ulcers, and, lymphocytic infiltration was absent. The efficacy of additional azathioprine in gastric sarcoidosis is not well defined. Here, we report a case of prednisolone-dependent gastric sarcoidosis that improved after additional azathioprine, and also review the literature concerning the treatment, especially for prednisolone-dependent cases.

Protective effect of prednisolone on ischemia-induced liver injury in rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of prednisolone on cell membrane bleb formation, calpain μ activation and talin degradation during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: The hilar area of the left lateral and median lobes of rat liver (68%) was clamped for 60 min and followed by 120 min reperfusion. Prednisolone was administered at 1.0, 3.0, or 10 mg/kg at 30 min before ischemia. In addition to biochemical and microscopic analyses, activation of calpain μ was determined using specific antibodies against the intermediate (activated) form of calpain μ. Degradation of talin was also studied by Western blotting. RESULTS: In the control and prednisolone (1.0 mg/kg) groups, serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) level were elevated, and cell membrane bleb formation was observed after 120 min of reperfusion. Moreover, calpain μ activation and talin degradation were detected. Infusion of prednisolone at 3.0 or 10 mg/kg significantly suppressed serum AST and ALT, and prevented cell membrane bleb formation. At 10 mg/kg, prednisolone markedly suppressed calpain μ activation and talin degradation. CONCLUSION: Prednisolone can suppress ischemia- reperfusion injury of the rat liver. Its cytoprotective effect is closely associated with the suppression of calpain μ activation and talin degradation.

Treatment of radiation-induced hemorrhagic gastritis with prednisolone:A case report

Radiation-induced gastritis is an infrequent cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.It is a serious complication arising from radiation therapy,and the standard treatment method has not been established.The initial injury is characteristically acute inflammation of gastric mucosa.We presented a 46-year-old male patient with hemorrhagic gastritis induced by external radiotherapy for metastatic retroperitoneal lymph node of hepatocellular carcinoma.The endoscopic examination showed diffuse edematous hyperemicmucosa with telangiectasias in the whole muscosa of the stomach and duodenal bulb.Multiple hemorrhagic patches with active oozing were found over the antrum.Anti-secretary therapy was initiated for hemostasis,but melena still occurred off and on.Finally,he was successfully treated by prednisolone therapy.We therefore strongly argue in favor of perdnisolone therapy to effectively treat patients with radiation-induced hemorrhagic gastritis.

Newly developed autoimmune cholangitis without relapse of autoimmune pancreatitis after discontinuing prednisolone

A 57-year-old man presented with a 2-wk history of painless jaundice and weight Iossl He had a large ill- defined enhancing mass-like lesion in the uncinate pro- cess of the pancreas with stricture of the distal common bile duct. Aspiration cytology of the pancreatic mass demonstrated inflammatory cells without evidence of malignancy. Total serum immunoglobulin G level was slightly elevated, but IgG4 level was normal. After the 2-wk 40 mg prednisolone trial, the patient＇s symptoms and bilirubin level improved significantly. A follow-up computed tomography （CT） scan showed a dramatic resolution of the pancreatic lesion. A low dose steroid was continued. After six months he self-discontinued prednisolone for 3 wk, and was presented with jaundice again. ACT scan showed newly developed intrahepatic biliary dilatation and marked concentric wall thickening of the common hepatic duct and the proximal common bile duct without pancreatic aggravation. The patient＇ s IgG4 level was elevated to 2.51 g/L. Prednisolone was started again, after which his serum bilirubin level became normal and the thickening of the bile duct was resolved. This case suggests that autoimmune pancre- atitis can progress to other organs that are not involved at the initial diagnosis, even with sustained pancreatic remission.

Long-term Effect of TCM Decoctions in Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome

Fifty-seven cases of nephrotic syndrome were treated with TCM decoctions as accessory treatment for prednisone and cyclophosphamide, and the effects were observed in a follow-up period of 5-15 years. The long-term complete remission rate of 68.4% and recurrence rate of 26.3% in the treatment group were respectively higher and lower than those in the control group (P

A Medical Record of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Case HistoryPatient Chen, female, 68 years, case number: 9800297; date of hospitalization: May 11, 1998.Chief complaints: Fever accompanied with cough and lassitude for 3 months and skin rash for 7 days.History of present illness: In early Feb. 1998, the patient got fever accompanied with cough, chest distress, and expectoration of sticky sputum. She had been diagnosed at a hospital and later at a clinic as chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, and treated for more than 50 days with antibiotics and medication of some drugs for cough and sputum, but with no complete remission of the symptoms. One week previously, she developed general skin rash mainly in the face, accompanied with itching, high body temperature of 38~39℃, aggravated cough and chest distress, lassitude, poor appetite, slight thirst, absence of bowel movement for 3 days, and yellow brownish urine.

Voltammetric Trace Determination of Prednisolone in Human Serum and Urine-Studies the Interaction with Albumin

The Voltammetric properties of Pure Prednisolone in a direct method in the aqueous solution were studied. The substance has revealed a clear and major two reduction peaks at potential -1.22 Volt and -1.45 Volt against the reference electrode （Ag/AgCI/SatKC1）. The calibration curve of the prednisolone in the Phosphate Buffer （pH = 7） has been studies. The relationship has been linear within the scope of concentration 0.398 × 10 6-3.846 ×10-6 mol. The correlation coefficients are 0.9981, 0.9958 for the first and second peaks. Another two calibration curves were also constructed in the presence of human serum and urine. Standard addition method was successful used to determine the drug in serum, urine as well as in the analysis of drug in the tablet. The molecular binding ofprednisolone with Albumin was also studied at different temperature. The Vant hoff equation is used to calculate the thermodynamic parameters, the results indicate that the （ion-ion） of binding suggested.

Seventy Cases of External Humeral Epicondylitis Treated by Local Blocking and Massotherapy

External humeral epicondylitis or tennis elbow, is a commonly encountered disease in orthopaedics and traumatology. The curative effect is not satisfactory as far as its treatment by western and traditional Chinese medicine is concerned, which has a long course of treatment and a high recurrent rate. 70 cases of external humeral epicondylitis were treated by massotherapy after local blocking from August 1995 to October 1997 at this hospital with satisfactory therapeutic effects.Clinical DataOf the 70 cases in this series treated by massotherapy after local blocking, 30 were males and 40 females, ranging in age from 19 to 65 years. 55 cases were 30 to 50 years old, 20 had the left elbow affected and 50 the right elbow. 7 cases had a history of trauma, 50 a history of chronic strain, and 13 the cause unknown. The shortest duration of disease was 15 days and the longest 24 months.Among 50 cases in the control group treated by massotherapy, 20 cases were males and 30 females, ranging in age from 16 to 58 years. 40 cases were 30 to 50 years old. 15 cases were affected on the left elbow and 35 on the right elbow. 6 cases had a history of trauma, 32 a history of chronic strain, and 12 the cause unknown. The shortest duration of diseases was 7 days and the longest 22 months.

Shen's Experience in Application of the Drugs for Tonifying the Kidney to.Reduce and Withdraw Adrenocortical Hormone

Adrenocortical hormone (ACH) has antiinflammatory and antiallergic actions, changes stress state and controls the attack of some severe and obstinate diseases. The treatment of chronic diseases with ACH often leads to its dependence; especially oral administration of ACH for a long time is liable to inhibit the function of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical-thymic axis (HPAT), and results in the hypo-reservation of adrenal cortex. Hence, sudden ACH withdrawal or decrease often causes the disease recurrence, even adrenocortical crisis. Academician Shen Ziyin has a wealth of clinical experience in both the withdrawal and reduction of ACH and the keeping of therapeutical effectiveness to form his unique remedy in the application of drugs. Shen's rich experience is described as follows.

Multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann simulation of slide damping in micro-scale shear-driven rarefied gas flow

To investigate the slide film damping in the micro-scale shear-driven rarefied gas flows, an effective multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method(MRT-LBM) is proposed. Through the Knudsen boundary layer model, the effects of wall and rarefaction are considered in the correction of relaxation time. The results of gas velocity distributions are compared among the MRT, Monte Carlo model(DSMC) and high-order LBM, and the effects of the tangential momentum accommodation coefficient on the gas velocity distributions are also compared between the MRT and the high-order LBM. It is indicated that the amendatory MRT-LBM can unlock the dilemma of simulation of micro-scale non-equilibrium. Finally, the effects of the Knudsen number, the Stokes number, and the gap between the plates on the damping are researched. The results show that by decreasing the Knudsen number or increasing the Stokes number, the slide film damping increases in the transition regime;however, as the size of the gap increases, the slide film damping decreases substantially.

Effects of the Integrated TCM-WM Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome on Growth and Sexual Development

Fifty children with nephrotic syndrome were treated by using herbal drugs for nourishing yin to reduce pathogenic fire, strengthening qi and tonifying the kidney, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in combination with glucocorticoid and immunodepressant. The body height, secondary sex characters, age of the first spermatorrhea for male and of menarche for female children, bone age measured with roentgenograms on the left wrist in 50 cases of the treatment group were compared with those in 31 cases of the control group treated by glucocorticoid and immunodepressant. The results showed that the delay of growth and sexual development as side-effects of glucocorticoid and immunodepressant were markedly reduced by the integrated TCM-WM treatment.

Observation on therapeutic effect of chronic fatigue syndrome treated with Panlongci (coiling dragon needling) and moving cupping on back

Objective To compare the differences of therapeutic effect of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） treated with the combined therapy of Panlongci （coiling dragon needling） and cupping on back and the western medicine therapy with prednisone. Methods Seventy-two cases were randomly divided into 2 groups of acupuncture-cupping group （37 cases） and prednisone group （35 cases）. In acupuncture-cupping group, Jiaji points （夹脊 EX-B 2） of the level of T1–L5 were applied with coiling dragon needling once a day, combining with moving cupping on back once every two days. In prednisone group, prednisone tablets of 10 mg were orally taken at 8：00 am everyday. Seven days were counted as one treatment course, and 2 courses were carried on totally. FS-14 scale and BELL’s CFS integral table were applied to evaluate the fatigue degree of patients before and after the treatment, and the therapeutic effects of both groups were compared. Results After one course of treatment, the BELL’s scores of both groups were obviously improved （both P0.01）, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups （P0.05）; after 2 courses of treatment, the BELL’s score in acupuncture-cupping group improved more obviously than that of the prednisone group （P0.05）, and the total effective rate of 91.9% （34/37） in acupuncture-cupping group was superior to that of 71.4% （25/35） in prednisone group （P0.05）. Conclusion The therapeutic effect of chronic fatigue syndrome treated with coiling dragon needling and moving cupping on back is positive, which is superior to that of prednisone with oral administration.

Combined prednisone and levothyroxine improve treatment of severe thrombocytopenia in hepatitis B with compensatory cirrhosis accompanied by subclinical and overt hypothyroidism

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between hypothyroidism and thrombocytopenia in hepatitis Brelated compensatory liver cirrhosis and to determine whether treatment with levothyroxine and prednisone is superior in a multicenter, open-label, observational study in China. In total, 125 consecutive hepatitis B-related compensated liver cirrhosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia accompanied by hypothyroidism were included. The patients were divided into four groups according to treatment strategy: a control group(n=29), a prednisone group(n=25), a levothyroxine group(n=32) and a prednisone plus levothyroxine group(n=39). Severe thrombocytopenia was more prevalent in hepatitis B-associated compensatory liver cirrhosis patients with hypothyroidism than in euthyroid patients(29.6% vs. 14.7%, P<0.05). Combination treatment with prednisone and levothyroxine decreased the risk of bleeding and improved platelet recovery compared to control treatment and treatment with either prednisone or levothyroxine alone. The platelet count before therapy, serum thyroid stimulating hormone and combination treatment with prednisone and levothyroxine were associated with bleeding events. Therefore, the present study suggests that hypothyroidism is associated with severe thrombocytopenia in hepatitis B-associated compensatory liver cirrhosis. Treatment with prednisone plus levothyroxine may present a novel approach in these patients.

Effect of Preoperative Acupuncture on Peri-operative Pain in Patients Following a Thoracotomy

Objective： To observe the effect of preoperative effect on peri-operative pain in patients following a thoracotomy. Methods： 120 cases following lung-cancer thoracotomy were randomly allocated into four groups, 30 in each group. Cases in group A and B were treated with acupuncture analgesia 3 d before operation; cases in group A and C were treated with acupuncture analgesia after operation; and cases in group D were treated with general anesthesia. The pain management indexes in four groups were all controlled below 3. After that, analgesia-related β-endorphin and stress-related cortisol were observed before and after operation. In addition, the specific doses of postoperative analgesic-Fentanyl in four groups were compared. Results： The comparison of β-endorphin between group A, C and D showed P〈0.05 one day before operation, so did group B, C and D 1 day before operation. The intra-group comparison of cortisol between the day of admission and 1 day after extubation and between 1 day before operation and one day after extubation in group A, B and D showed P〈0.05, so did group C between the day of admission and 1 day after extubation. In addition, the contents of Fentanyl in postoperative analgesic pump in four groups showed P〈0.05 through one-factor analysis of variance, showing a significant difference. Conclusion： Preemptive analgesia could increase the β-endorphin in patients following a thoracotomy and showed remarkable advantage when compared with the conventional postoperative analgesia. It did not cause significant difference regarding stress index cortisol. Acupuncture has no remarkable advantage when compared with operation and extubation for the major immediate stress. Additionally, postoperative acupuncture could be a substitute for the dose of pain killers and the match can be reduced by 20%.