L-carnitine supplementation and physical exercise restore age-associated decline in some mitochondrial functions in the rat

In mammals, during the aging process, an atrophy of the muscle fibers, an increase in body fat mass, and a decrease in skeletal muscle oxidative capacities occur. Compounds and activities that interact with lipid oxidative metabolism may be useful in limiting damages that occur in aging muscle. In this study, we evaluated the effect of L-carnitine and physical exercise on several parameters related to muscle physiology. We described that supplementing old rats with L-carnitine at 30 mg/kg body weight for 12 weeks (a) allowed the restoration of L-carnitine level in muscle cells, (b) restored muscle oxidative activity in the soleus, and (c) induced positive changes in body composition: a decrease in abdominal fat mass and an increase in muscle capabilities without any change in food intake. Moderate physical exercise was also effective in (a) limiting fat mass gain and (b) inducing an increase in the capacities of the soleus to oxidize fatty acids.     

The pattern of functional and organic disorders in an Asian gastroenterological clinic

Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine the pattern of structural and functional disorders encountered in an Asian gastroenterological clinic and to compare this pattern with findings from Western centres. Consecutive new patients (totalling 2384) attending the clinics of two consultant gastroenterologists were studied. Of these, 2141 suffered from gastroenterological problems. One thousand and sixty-three (49.6%) had structural diseases, the commoner ones being liver disease, peptic ulcer, malignancy, haemorrhoids and gallstones. The remainder who were found to have no structural disease ( n = 1078; 50.4%) were deemed to have functional disorders including non-ulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel, simple constipation and functional diarrhoea. The proportions of functional and structural disease were similar to those in the West. Major differences included a higher frequency of hepatoma and a lower frequency of inflammatory bowel disease and gastro-oesophgeal reflux in the present series.     

索他洛尔对急性心肌梗死血小板活化及纤溶活性和内皮血管活性物质的影响

目的 :探讨索他洛尔对急性心肌梗死 (AMI)血小板活化、纤溶活性和内皮血管活性物质的影响。方法 :新西兰大白兔 4 0只 ,随机分为 4组 ,每组 10只 ,Ⅰ组 :假手术组 ,Ⅱ组 :AMI组 ,Ⅲ组 :利多卡因组 ,Ⅳ组 :索他洛尔组 ;Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组分别结扎冠状动脉左室支中点 ,4h后取血分别测定血栓素B2 (TxB2 )、6 酮 前列腺素F1α(6 keto PGF1α)、内皮素 (ET)、一氧化氮 (NO)浓度和组织型纤溶酶原激活剂 (t PA)、纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物 (PAI)活性 ;摘取心脏 ,测定心肌梗死范围。结果 :Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组与Ⅰ组比较 ,血浆TxB2 、ET、NO浓度和PAI活性显著升高(P <0 .0 1) ,6 keto PGF1α浓度、t PA活性显著下降 (P <0 .0 1) ,Ⅲ组与Ⅱ组比较 ,差异无显著性意义 ,Ⅳ组与Ⅱ组比较 ,血浆TxB2 、ET、NO浓度和PAI活性明显降低 (P <0 .0 1) ,6 keto PGF1α浓度、t PA活性显著升高 (P <0 .0 1) ,梗死范围减小。结论 :索他洛尔抑制AMI早期血小板活化 ,改善纤溶活性 ,减少ET和NO的释放 ,缩小心肌梗死范围     

Efficacy and complications of covered Wallstents in malignant distal biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy and the complications associated with the use of the covered Wallstent in the setting of unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. METHODS: Between March 2001 and January 2003, all patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction that required drainage were treated with a covered Wallstent. Every 2 months, the patients were evaluated clinically and biochemical tests of liver function were obtained. Data were recorded for the following variables: early complications (within 30 days of stent placement), early and late stent occlusion, duration of stent patency, need for subsequent biliary intervention, and patient survival. RESULTS: A total of 88 covered Wallstents were inserted in 80 patients. Stent patency rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 90%, 82%, and 78%, respectively. Complications included stent migration (5), stent occlusion (12), episodes of cholecystitis (3), and episodes of post-ERCP pancreatitis (5). Biliary intervention was required in 9 patients subsequent to placement of the initial covered Wallstent. CONCLUSIONS: Deployment of a covered Wallstent is safe and relatively easy. It achieves biliary drainage with an acceptable risk to benefit ratio in the majority of patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction.     

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with HIV Infection Among Men Having Sex with Men in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

To learn more about risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam and their prevalence of HIV, we conducted a study among MSM in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to determine HIV-1 prevalence and behaviors associated with infection. This consisted of formative (35 MSM) and cross-sectional (600 MSM) studies at 72 sites, including 75 transvestites, 55 bisexuals, 10 sex workers, and 460 other MSM. Only 5.3% cohabited with a wife/girlfriend, but 30% reported ever having sex with a female. Prevalence of HIV was 8%, ranging from 33% in sex workers to 7% among transvestites and other MSM. Injecting drugs, selling sex, being 20–40 years old, having less than 6 years of education, and having more than five male anal sex partners in the past month were associated with being HIV-infected. MSM are an HIV bridge group, and should be included in sentinel surveillance. Targeted interventions should be implemented.     

18F-FDG PET/CT利尿延迟显像膀胱放射性廓清效果的影响因素

目的 探讨¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT利尿延迟显像膀胱放射性廓清效果的影响因素。方法 回顾性收集85例盆腔利尿延迟显像患者的PET/CT资料,测量膀胱常规及利尿延迟显像最大标准化摄取值（SUV_max）,记录延迟时间;分析常规显像膀胱SUV_max、呋塞米注射途径（静脉注射或肌内注射）、延迟时间、年龄、性别因素对利尿延迟显像膀胱SUV_max的影响。结果 根据呋塞米注射途径不同,分为静脉注射组（n=34）和肌内注射组（n=51）,2组利尿延迟显像膀胱SUV_max分别为3.10（2.60,3.45）和2.90（2.30,3.90）,差异无统计学意义（Z=-0.894,P=0.372）;延迟显像时间分别为¹⁸F-FDG注射后（215.00±30.03）min和（198.43±25.19）min,差异有统计学意义（t=-2.655,P=0.010）。2组间年龄差异无统计学意义（t=1.150,P=0.253）,2组中不同性别患者间延迟显像膀胱SUV_max差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。静脉注射组和肌内注射组利尿延迟显像膀胱SUV_max与延迟时间和患者年龄均无明显相关性。结论 注射¹⁸F-FDG后充分水化、应用呋塞米利尿,约180 min行盆腔延迟显像能显著降低膀胱放射性,患者年龄、性别、呋塞米注射途径对于膀胱放射性廓清效果无明显影响。     

我院药物临床试验受试者管理分析及对策

目的分析药物临床试验中影响受试者管理的主要因素,探讨提高受试者招募及依从性的策略。方法回顾性分析济南军区总医院2008年1月~2014年10月40项药物临床试验资料,共1351例受试者。对受试者招募完成率及其影响因素、受试者脱落原因及其影响因素进行分析。结果国际多中心临床试验的招募完成率高于国内项目,可能与其委托合同研究组织(CRO)、配备临床研究协调员(CRC)以及设计多样化的招募方式有关。脱落受试者76例,失访和疗效欠佳是最主要的脱落原因。影响受试者脱落的主要因素有受试者个人因素、环境因素、疾病因素及药物因素等。年龄>65岁者、外地、病情严重、发生不良反应、门诊受试者的脱落率高于其他受试者(P<0.05)。口服药物的脱落率高于注射和吸入药物(P<0.05)。结论通过优化试验方案、接待潜在受试者、发展潜在受试者以及充分知情来提高招募质量及效率。受试者依从性管理细化至试验各阶段,包括试验早期进行依从性预评估、充分知情和依从性教育,试验实施阶段通过建立联络表、随访卡、爱心卡、用药日记卡及坚持持续督导,并且临床常规为受试者提供健康教育及咨询服务。