Asthma increase among farmers: a 12-year follow-up

Respiratory disease is a well known health hazard for farmers, but the long-term prognosis is less well known. This is a 12-year follow-up of an investigation of Swedish farmers, most of them dairy farmers. A questionnaire was mailed to all 418 farmers who were alive of the farmers originally participating in 1982. They were invited to an interview, spirometry, and blood sampling. Ninety-one per cent (380) of the farmers, 321 men and 59 women, responded to the questionnaire. The mean age was 56 years for the men and 55 years for the women. Of the group, 10% were smokers, 25% ex-smokers, and 65% had never smoked. The population estimate for asthma in the farmers was 8.9% in 1994 compared to 2% in 1982, and to 5.4%–6.6% in the general population in the region in 1982. Of the asthmatic subjects, one-third had positive RAST tests (radioallergosorbent tests). Almost 90% of the new onset asthma cases since 1982 had non-IgE-mediated asthma. Most of the IgE-mediated asthmatics had had symptoms for many years, while 70% of the non-IgE-mediated asthmatic farmers had no or only wheezing with colds 1982. Two new cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis were identified, and 7.3% had experienced inhalation fever during the last 12 years. In general, individuals with asthma and chronic bronchitis who had left farming were in better health in 1994 as compared to 1982. In conclusion, farmers have an enhanced risk to develop asthma increasing with age. Asthma in farmers is often non-IgE-mediated.     

乙酸盐预处理对MPTP诱导亚急性帕金森病小鼠的神经保护作用

目的 初步探索乙酸盐(Ace)对1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶(MPTP)诱导亚急性帕金森病小鼠的神经保护作用及可能机制.方法 将24只小鼠随机分为对照组、MPTP组、MPTP+Ace组,每组8只,对照组和MPTP组饮用正常饮用水,MPTP+Ace组饮用水中添加1 mol/L Ace,连续7 d后,MPT...     

Sheehan's syndrome presenting as psychosis: a rare clinical presentation

Sheehan''s syndrome (SS) refers to the occurrence of varying degree of hypopituitarism after parturition (1). It is a rare cause of hypopituitarism in developed countries owing to advances in obstetric care and its frequency is decreasing worldwide. However, it is still frequent in underdeveloped and developing countries. Sheehan''s syndrome is often diagnosed late as it evolves slowly (2,3). Reports of psychoses in patients with Sheehan''s syndrome are rare. Herein, a case report of psychosis in a 31 year old woman who developed Sheehan''s syndrome preceded by postpartum haemorrhage is presented. Treatment with thyroxine and glucocorticoids resulted in complete remission after attaining euthyroid and eucortisolemic state.     

帕金森病小鼠模型行为学检测方法的比较研究

目的比较目前常用的5种帕金森病(PD)小鼠模型行为学检测方法在PD研究中的作用。方法用MPTP建立C57BL小鼠PD模型,通过行为学检测(自主活动计数、滚轴实验、游泳实验、爬杆实验、悬挂实验)、免疫组织化学和荧光分光光度法,对比5种行为学检测方法的平均数与变异系数,观察MPTP对PD小鼠模型的行为学、黑质多巴胺(DA)神经元和纹状体酪氨酸羟化酶免疫反应阳性(TH-ir)神经纤维以及纹状体DA水平的影响。结果给与MPTP后,小鼠行为学计数降低,爬杆实验未能得到检测结果,悬挂实验变异系数很高,结果有明显的偶然性,滚轴实验结果变异系数中等,平均数呈现一定的上升趋势,自主活动计数中移动与站立和游泳实验的平均数则呈现明显的下降趋势,变异系数很低,而黑质DA神经元数目减少约58%,纹状体TH-ir神经纤维密度减低,纹状体DA水平明显降低约88%,两组相比差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论MPTP所致的C57BL小鼠的神经病理、生化改变与PD患者近似,自主活动计数和游泳实验优于其他行为学检测方法。     

Frequency of cognitive impairment and depression in Parkinson's disease: A preliminary case-control study

Background:

This study aimed to determine the frequency of cognitive impairment and depression in our Parkinson''s Disease (PD) and their relationship with disease severity and disability.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 40 PD patients and 40 age-, sex-, and educationally matched controls were studied. The Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Motor and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores and the Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage were documented. Depression was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), while cognition was evaluated using a composite score of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and category fluency score.

Results:

A total of 55% (22/40) of PD and 10% (4 of 40) of controls had depression (P<0.001). A total of 60% of PD (24/40) and 5% of controls (2/40) had cognitive impairment (P<0.001). Both NMS coexisted in 16 of 40 PD (40%) compared with none of the controls (P<0.001). UPDRS (motor and ADL) scores and HY stage were significantly worse with impaired ZSDS scores - P 0.001. UPDRS ADL was significantly impaired by the presence of cognitive impairment. Coexisting depression and cognitive impairment were associated with significant worsening of all scores of severity and disability.

Conclusion:

Cognitive impairment and depression accompany our PD and are related to disability and worsening disease severity.     

不同手术方式治疗创伤性踝关节炎临床疗效对比

目的 分析比较3种不同手术方式治疗创伤性踝关节炎的临床疗效,旨在为临床治疗提供理论依据。方法 选取本院2011年1月～2013年4月收治的90例创伤性踝关节炎患者,按照不同治疗方式将患者分为3组,每组30例,分别采用人工全踝关节置换术（踝关节置换组）和踝关节融合外架固定术（踝关节融合外架固定组）、踝关节融合内固定术（踝关节融合内固定组）。踝关节置换组患者平均随访时间为（34.56±3.42）个月,踝关节融合外架固定组患者平均随访时间为（33.14±3.26）个月,踝关节融合内固定组患者平均随访时间为（36.78±4.57）个月。观察比较3组患者术前、术后AOFAS踝 后足评分、术后生活质量改善情况以及早期临床疗效。结果 3组患者在年龄、性别、随访时间、体重指数（BMI）、术前活动度等临床资料比较无差异（P>0.05）,但踝关节置换组术后踝关节活动度较术前明显改善（P<0.05）;术前3组患者AOFAS踝后足评分比较无差异（P>0.05）,术后3组患者AOFAS踝 后足评分均有升高,但踝关节置换组AOFAS踝 后足评分明显高于踝关节融合外架固定组及踝关节融合内固定组（均P<0.05）,而踝关节融合外架固定组及踝关节融合内固定组间AOFAS踝 后足评分比较无差异（P>0.05）;术前3组患者SF-36评分比较无差异（P>0.05）,术后3组患者SF-36评分均有升高,但踝关节置换组SF-36评分明显高于踝关节融合外架固定组与踝关节融合内固定组（均P<0.05）,而踝关节融合外架固定组与踝关节融合内固定组间SF-36评分比较无差异（P>0.05）;创伤性踝关节炎术后都存在一定的并发症,主要包括骨不连、假体松动、浅深部感染、对位对线不良等,踝关节置换组并发症发生率为20.00%,踝关节融合外架固定组并发症发生率为26.67%,踝关节融合内固定组并发症发生率为26.67%,3组并发症发生率比较无差异（P>0.05）。结论 采用人工全踝关节置换术治疗创伤性踝关节炎比踝关节融合术疗效更好,能更快地改善患者的生活质量,且没有增加患者术后并发症的发生率,可在临床推广应用。     

Parkinson's disease and primate research: past, present, and future

Scientific research involving non-human primates has contributed towards many advances in medicine and surgery. This review discusses its role in the progress made towards our understanding of Parkinson's disease and its treatment. Established medical treatments like dopamine agonists continue to need primate models to assess their efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action. The recently developed treatment of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus required validation in primates before entering the clinic. Controversies surrounding future treatments such as gene therapy show the need for properly evaluated preclinical research using appropriate animal models before progression to clinical trials. Research on primates has played--and continues to play--a crucial part in deepening our understanding of Parkinson's disease, improving current therapies, and developing new treatments that are both safe and effective. In animal research, the "three Rs" of humane technique--reduction, refinement, and replacement--should be adhered to.     

Women's reproductive autonomy: medicalisation and beyond

Reproductive autonomy is central to women's welfare both because childbearing takes place in women's bodies and because they are generally expected to take primary responsibility for child rearing. In 2005, the factors that influence their autonomy most strongly are poverty and belief systems that devalue such autonomy. Unfortunately, such autonomy is a low priority for most societies, or is anathema to their belief systems altogether. This situation is doubly sad because women's reproductive autonomy is intrinsically valuable for women and also instrumentally valuable for the welfare of humankind. This paper takes for granted the moral and practical necessity of such autonomy and digs deeper into the question of what such a commitment might entail, focusing on the mid-level policy making that, at least in the US and Canada, plays a significant role in shaping women's options. This paper examines a large teaching hospital's policy on reduction of multifetal pregnancies. The policy permits reduction of triplets to twins, but not twins to a singleton. As there is no morally relevant difference between these two types of reduction, it is evident that inappropriate medicalisation can still limit women's autonomy in undesirable ways.     

Frequency-specific Alterations of Large-scale Functional Brain Networks in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Background:

Previous studies have indicated that the cognitive deficits in patients with Alzheimer''s disease (AD) may be due to topological deteriorations of the brain network. However, whether the selection of a specific frequency band could impact the topological properties is still not clear. Our hypothesis is that the topological properties of AD patients are also frequency-specific.

Methods:

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 10 right-handed moderate AD patients (mean age: 64.3 years; mean mini mental state examination [MMSE]: 18.0) and 10 age and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age: 63.6 years; mean MMSE: 28.2) were enrolled in this study. The global efficiency, the clustering coefficient (CC), the characteristic path length (CpL), and “small-world” property were calculated in a wide range of thresholds and averaged within each group, at three different frequency bands (0.01–0.06 Hz, 0.06–0.11 Hz, and 0.11–0.25 Hz).

Results:

At lower-frequency bands (0.01–0.06 Hz, 0.06–0.11 Hz), the global efficiency, the CC and the “small-world” properties of AD patients decreased compared to controls. While at higher-frequency bands (0.11–0.25 Hz), the CpL was much longer, and the “small-world” property was disrupted in AD, particularly at a higher threshold. The topological properties changed with different frequency bands, suggesting the existence of disrupted global and local functional organization associated with AD.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates that the topological alterations of large-scale functional brain networks in AD patients are frequency dependent, thus providing fundamental support for optimal frequency selection in future related research.     

Edible Bird''s Nest Attenuates Menopause-Related Bone Degeneration in Rats via Increasing Bone Estrogen-Receptor Expression

Objective:To investigate the mechanistic basis for the attenuation of bone degeneration by edible bird's nest(EBN)in ovariectomized rats.Methods:Forty-two female Sprage-Dawley rats were randomized into 7 groups(6 in each group).The ovariectomized(OVX)and OVX+6%,3%,and 1.5%EBN and OVX+estrogen groups were given standard rat chow alone,standard rat chow+6%,3%,and 1.5%EBN,or standard rat chow+estrogen therapy(0.2mg/kg per day),respectively.The sham-operation group was surgically opened without removing the ovaries.The control group did not have any surgical intervention.After 12 weeks of intervention,blood samples were taken for serum estrogen,osteocalcin,and osteoprotegerin,as well as the measurement of magnesium,calcium abd zinc concentrations.While femurs were removed from the surrounding muscles to measure bone mass density using the X-ray edge detection technique,then collected for histology and estrogen receptor(ER)immunohistochemistry.Results:Ovariectomy altered serum estrogen levels resulting in increased food intake and weight gain,while estrogen and EBN supplementation attenuated these changes.Ovariectomy also reduced bone ER expression and density,and the production of osteopcalcin and osteorotegerin,which are important pro-osteoplastic hormones that promote bone mineraliztion and density.Conversely,estrogen and EBN increased serum estrogen levels leading to increased bone ER expression,pro-osteoplastic hormone production and bone density(all P<0.05).Conclusion:EBN could be used as a safe alternative to hormone replacement therapys for managing menopausal complications like bone degeneration.     

Mechanisms of Electroacupuncture on Alzheimer''s Disease: A Review of Animal Studies

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is the main type of dementia affecting elderly people. The medicines used for treating AD have limits in their ability to alleviate cognitive and functional decline. Electroacupuncture(EA), an economical alternative and complementary therapeutic measure used in Chinese medicine, has strong clinical applicability, and its treatment effects are more reliable as its stimulation factors can be standardized. EA has been effectively used for ameliorating spatial learning and memory impairment in AD patients and rodent AD models. Here, we summarized the mechanisms of EA on rodent AD models, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for identifying new targets and research directions, and exploring appropriate EA stimulation parameters, then provide a detailed methodology to optimize the effects of EA, ultimately reducing the heavy burden of treating AD patients on families and countries. Our review showed that 8 acupoints were used when treating AD animals; Baihui(GV 20) was the most frequently used. Four mechanisms of EA were studied:(1) protection of cerebral neurons from oxidative stress, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity and hormone levels;(2) regulation of metabolism, including glucose metabolism and plasma metabolism;(3) regulation of brainderived neurotrophic factor; and(4) regulation of β-amyloid peptide protein deposition.     

A patient with Graves' disease who survived despite developing thyroid storm and lactic acidosis

A 56-year-old woman with Graves'' disease presented with the complaints of diarrhea and palpitations. Physical examination and laboratory data revealed hypothermia and signs of mild hyperthyroidism, heart failure, hepatic dysfunction with jaundice, hypoglycemia, and lactic acidosis. The patient was diagnosed as having developed the complication of thyroid storm in the absence of marked elevation of the thyroid hormone levels, because of the potential hepatic and cardiac dysfunctions caused by heavy alcohol drinking. A year later, after successful treatment, the patient remains well without any clinical evidence of heart failure or hepatic dysfunction. Thyroid storm associated with lactic acidosis and hypothermia is a serious condition and has rarely been reported. Prompt treatment is essential even if the serum thyroid hormone levels are not markedly elevated. We present a report about this patient, as her life could eventually be saved.     

Acupuncture Points for Treating Parkinson''s Disease Based on Animal Studies

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a well-known neurodegenerative disease caused by dopaminergic cell death in the nigrostriatal pathway. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can be a potential therapy for the treatment of PD, but it is not clear which acupuncture points (acupoints) play major roles in reliving symptoms of PD. Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Fengfu (GV 16), Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) acupoints have frequently been to investigate the effectiveness and action mechanism of acupuncture for treating PD, but it is not clear why they were selected. This review summarizes the current understanding of the acupoints for PD treatment based on Oriental medicine theories and on the accumulated findings from previous animal studies. The results of this study will be useful to development of a strategy for future research in this field.     

Effects of Acupuncture on Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence from Neuroimaging Studies

As the worldwide population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) increases. However, the results of promising medications have been unsatisfactory. Chinese acupuncture has a long history of treating dementia, but lack of evidence from well-designed randomized controlled trials that validate its efficacy and safety, as well as its lack of clear underlying mechanisms, contribute to its limited application in clinical practice. In recent years, brain imaging technologies, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, have been used to assess brain responses to acupuncture in a dynamic, visual, and objective way. These techniques are frequently used to explore neurological mechanisms of responses to acupuncture in AD and provide neuroimaging evidence as well as starting points to elucidate the possible mechanisms. This review summarizes the existing brain imaging evidence that explains the effects of acupuncture for AD and analyzes brain responses to acupuncture at cognitive-related acupoints [Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), and Taixi (KI 3)] from perspectives of acupoint specificity and acupoint combinations. Key issues and directions to consider in future studies are also put forward. This review should deepen our understanding of how brain imaging studies can be used to explore the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in AD.     

Modifications to Norman's procedure for hypermobility of the TMJ

Background

Norman''s procedure is a well known surgical technique for the hypermobility of temporomandibular joint. In this procedure after performing glenotemporal osteotomy the augmentation of the zygomatic root of the temporal bone is done by placing a bone graft from the iliac crest to prevent forward movement of the condyle beyond the eminence. This paper describes the clinical outcome of two modifications added to Norman''s procedure. In addition to the conventional procedure inferiorly based pedicled flap from the temporal fascia was sutured to the antero-lateral aspect of the capsule. Intraorally pterygoid disjunction was carried out only in those case in which hypermobility was associated with painful temporomandibular joint disorder.

Methods

Modified Norman’s procedure was performed in 10 patients (4 females & 6 males), 7 of them were bilateral and 3 cases were unilateral under general anesthesia.

Results

After one year follow up in none of the cases graft failed or rejected though recurrence along with TMJ pain was noticed in 2 cases.

Conclusion

This technique is versatile but long-term follow up on a larger number of patients is necessary to be able to draw definitive conclusions.