Identification of a common variant in the lipoprotein lipase gene in a large Utah kindred ascertained for coronary heart disease: the -93G/D9N variant predisposes to low HDL-C/high triglycerides

Defects in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene are associated with dyslipidemia in the general population. Several rare mutations in the gene, as well as two common coding region polymorphisms, D9N and N291S, exhibit deleterious effects on circulating lipid levels. Using a linkage-based approach, we have identified a large Utah kindred segregating the D9N variant in the LPL gene. The kindred was ascertained for premature coronary heart disease and was expanded based on familial dyslipidemia. A genomic scan identified a region of linkage including LPL, and mutation screening identified the segregating variant. In the kindred, the variant shows high penetrance for a hypoalphalipoproteinemia phenotype, but is also associated with hypertriglyceridemia and elevated insulin levels. The strength of linkage was dependent on the combination of phenotype definition and model parameters, favoring the use of a MOD score approach. Most other studies of LPL have proceeded by mutation screening of randomly chosen individuals or selected affected probands; this is the first example identifying a segregating LPL mutation using direct linkage.     

Morphological evaluation of human embryos and derivation of an embryo quality scoring system specific for day 3 embryos: a preliminary study

A scoring system specific for day 3 embryos has not been extensively explored. Most IVF laboratories continue to grade embryos solely on the basis of cell number and percentage fragmentation as was traditionally done for day 2 embryos. Additional morphological features, some unique to day 3 embryos, may be useful in selecting embryos most likely to blastulate and implant. The objective of this study was to derive an embryo scoring system for day 3 transfers which is predictive of positive pregnancy outcomes. A total of 316 transferred embryos from 93 patients was recorded on videotape and evaluated. The following parameters were used to grade the embryos: cell number, fragmentation pattern (FP), cytoplasmic pitting, compaction, equal sized blastomeres, blastomere expansion and absence of vacuoles. The clinical pregnancy rate was 41.9%, with an implantation rate of 18% per embryo transferred. The mean number of embryos transferred per patient was 3.4. Three formulae were derived to score embryo quality in each transfer based on the average score of individual embryos transferred. In the first scoring system, cell number alone was used to predict pregnancy outcome. The second scoring system was based on blastomere number and the observed FP. The third scoring system utilized both blastomere number and FP but also combined this with five morphological criteria to yield a final day 3 embryo quality (D3EQ) score. We found the D3EQ score to be prognostic of pregnancy outcome. This study suggests that although cell number and FP are certainly predictors of positive pregnancy outcomes, additional parameters specific to day 3 embryos should be used to stratify a cohort of embryos further.     

肺癌患者化疗前后血清Hcy、IGF-Ⅱ和TSGF检测的临床意义

目的：探讨肺癌患者化疗前后血清Hcy、IGF-Ⅱ和TSGF水平的变化及临床意义。方法：应用免疫法和放射免疫分析对35例肺癌患者进行了血清Hcy、IGF-Ⅱ和TSGF含量检测,并与30名正常健康人作比较。结果：肺癌患者在化疗前血清Hcy、IGF-Ⅱ和TSGF水平均非常显著地高于正常人组（P〈0.01）,化疗后6个月在未复发的27例中明显下降接近于正常人组,而复发的8例,其数值又回升至化疗前水平（P〈0.05）。结论：检测肺癌患者血清Hcy、IGF-Ⅱ和TSGF水平的变化可作为诊断和疗效观察的参考。     

血栓性脑血管疾病患者治疗前后血小板活化膜表面糖蛋白检测及临床意义

目的 :探讨血栓性脑血管疾病患者治疗前后血小板活化标记物CD62 P,GPⅡb/Ⅲa的表达及其临床应用价值。方法 :采用流式细胞仪 (FCM )检测治疗前后血小板活化标记物CD62 P、GPⅡb/Ⅲa的表达。结果 :血栓性脑血管疾病患者治疗前血小板活化标志物CD62 P、GPⅡb/Ⅲa分别为CD62 P5 2 .19± 12 .3 7% ,GPⅡb/Ⅲa 77.98± 14 .2 2 % ,较正常对照组有显著性升高 (P <0 .0 1) ;治疗后CD62 P3 1.16± 17.43 % ,GPⅡb/Ⅲa 40 .71± 11.64 %较治疗前有显著性下降 (P<0 .0 1) ,但仍高于正常对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :血小板活化标志物CD62 P、GPⅡb/Ⅲa对血栓性脑血管疾病的诊断具有重要价值 ,为临床症状缓解后患者长期药物预防提供理论依据     

Caspase-3/CPP32 immunoreactivity and its correlation with frequency of apoptotic bodies in human prostatic carcinomas and benign nodular hyperplasias

AIMS: Apoptosis is mediated by apoptosis-specific genes, certain oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Caspase-3, a group of cystein proteases, is involved in the induction of apoptosis and has been considered to correlate with apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether caspase-3 is expressed in prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and correlated with the apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the apoptotic index and caspase-3 immunoreactivity in 40 cases of benign nodular hyperplasia (BPH) and 40 cases of prostate carcinoma (PCA) by in-situ labelling and immunohistochemistry. The mean number of apoptotic bodies in cases with BPH was not significantly different from cases with PCA I (Gleason score 2-4), but samples from patients with PCA II (Gleason score 5-7) and PCA III (Gleason score 8-10) showed a significantly higher apoptotic number than cases with BPH. Positive staining for caspase-3 was seen in 42.5% (17/40) of the BPH, and 27.5% (11/40) of the PCA: PCA I was 41.7% (5/12), PCA II 14.3% (2/14) and PCA III was 28.6% (4/14). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the number of apoptotic bodies was not correlated with the caspase-3 expression and there was no relationship between caspase-3 expression and Gleason score. However, the number of apoptotic bodies was significantly higher in cases with intermediate (Gleason score 5-7) and high-grade (Gleason score 8-10) PCAs than cases with BPH and low-grade PCAs (Gleason score 2-4).     

The atopy patch test -- reproducibility and comparison of different evaluation methods

BACKGROUND: There is still a lack of standardization of the atopy patch test (APT) in test procedures and evaluation methods. Our aim was to examine the reproducibility of APT results and to compare visual evaluation to chromametry and laser Doppler imaging. METHODS: Fifty-two volunteers with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) were included. The APT was performed on tape-stripped and unstripped test fields on their backs using cat dander, house dust mite and grass pollen allergens from two different suppliers. Responders were re-tested 4-12 weeks later with the same allergens on their forearms. RESULTS: Using Allergopharma allergens, 14 (26.9%) volunteers showed one or more positive reactions. The reproducibility rate was 56.3%. The Erlangen atopy score in APT-positive and negative volunteers was 19 +/- 6 vs 15 +/- 6. The test agreement in volunteers tested with both allergens, from Allergopharma and Stallergènes, was poor. Correlation of the results between the three evaluation methods was significant (P < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The low reproducibility rate of APT results and the poor inter-test-agreement using allergens from different suppliers show that much work remains to make the APT a reliable tool in identifying relevant aeroallergens that lead to flare ups of AEDS. Compared to chromametry and laser Doppler imaging, visual scoring was superior in differentiation between irritative and allergic reactions.     

The use of a pretherapeutic, predictive score to determine inclusion criteria for the non-surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Non-surgical management of ectopic pregnancy has recently become an alternative to surgery. We have investigated a pretherapeutic score to define the indication for non-surgical and surgical treatment in 61 patients with ectopic pregnancy. The score was performed before the patients' inclusion in a nonsurgical management scheme. The score used six criteria which were evaluated on a scale from 1 to 3: gestational age, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) level, progesterone level, abdominal pain, haemoperitoneum volume and haematosalpinx diameter (estimated by laparoscopy or transvaginal ultrasound). Three scores, 10, 11 and 12, were studied in order to define a threshold beyond which surgical treatment should be performed. For each one, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were analysed. The success rate of non-surgical treatment was 75% (46/61). For patients undergoing medical treatment with a score less than or equal to 12, the success rate was significantly higher compared with a success rate of 50% when the score was greater than 12. We conclude that a score less than or equal to 12 permits non-surgical management with a success rate of 82%. A score greater than 12 indicates that laparoscopic surgery may be more suitable. The choice between different non-surgical approaches, did not influence the success rate. When ultrasound reveals embryo heart activity, medical treatment is always possible if the score is less than or equal to 12.     

急性胰腺炎患者空腹高血糖发生率及其危险因素分析

目的:回顾性分析急性胰腺炎(AP)患者空腹高血糖发生率及其危险因素。方法:收集2018-01—2018-12武汉大学人民医院胰腺外科133例AP且无糖尿病(DM)病史的住院患者病历资料,按照不同性别、年龄、AP临床分型、病因、CT指数评分(CISI)等分组,χ2检验分析各组临床因素与空腹高血糖(FPG≥6.1mmol/L)发生率的关系,多因素二元logistic回归分析空腹高血糖独立危险因素。结果:AP临床分型(χ2=5.494,P=0.019)和CTSI(χ2=6.236,P=0.013)与AP患者空腹高血糖相关(P<0.05)。CTSI≥6分(P=0.015,OR=2.920,95%Cl=1.234—6.905)为AP患者空腹高血糖的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。结论:临床分型中重症+重症及CTSI≥6分的AP患者易发生空腹高血糖,尤其CTSI≥6分是AP后空腹高血糖的独立危险因素,临床应高度关注。     

氨基葡萄糖胶囊干预膝骨关节炎患者外周血单个核细胞中软骨代谢相关基因的表达

背景:目前关于氨基葡萄糖的研究多集中于对膝骨关节炎的治疗作用,但关于其对膝骨关节炎患者外周血中软骨代谢相关基因影响的研究有限。目的:观察氨基葡萄糖胶囊对膝骨关节炎的治疗效果及对软骨代谢相关基因表达的影响。方法:选取2017年3月至2019年2月郑州大学附属郑州中心医院收治的90例膝骨关节炎患者,另选取同期医院体检中心收入的40例健康受试者,检测并对比健康受试者与膝骨关节炎患者治疗前外周血单个核细胞中软骨寡聚基质蛋白、Ⅱ型胶原纤维α1、聚糖蛋白、特异性组织抑制物3基因表达水平。采用随机数表法将膝骨关节炎患者分为常规组和研究组,分别给予双氯芬酸钠缓释片、双氯芬酸钠缓释片+氨基葡萄糖胶囊治疗12周,对比治疗前后2组外周血单个核细胞中各基因表达水平、Lequesne指数,统计治疗期间2组不良反应发生情况。结果与结论:①与健康受试者比较,膝骨关节炎患者外周血单个核细胞中软骨寡聚基质蛋白、特异性组织抑制物3 mRNA相对表达量升高(P<0.05),Ⅱ型胶原纤维α1、聚糖蛋白mRNA相对表达量降低(P<0.05);②治疗前研究组和常规组外周血单个核细胞中各基因表达水平比较,差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05);治疗后2组外周血单个核细胞中软骨寡聚基质蛋白、特异性组织抑制物3 mRNA相对表达量均低于治疗前,且研究组低于常规组(P<0.05);治疗后2组外周血单个核细胞中Ⅱ型胶原纤维α1、聚糖蛋白mRNA相对表达量均高于治疗前,且研究组高于常规组(P<0.05);③治疗前研究组和常规组Lequesne指数比较,差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05);治疗后2组Lequesne指数均低于治疗前,且研究组低于常规组(P<0.05);④研究组和常规组不良反应发生率比较,差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05);⑤结果表明,氨基葡萄糖胶囊可有效改善膝骨关节炎患者临床症状且安全可靠,可能通过抑制软骨寡聚基质蛋白、特异性组织抑制物3基因表达,促进Ⅱ型胶原纤维α1、聚糖蛋白基因表达实现的。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对心房颤动患者外向钾电流的作用

目的：研究血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)对心房颤动(AF)患者心房肌外向钾电流的作用及其受体机制。方法: 采用急性酶解法获取游离心房肌细胞，应用膜片钳全细胞技术记录外向钾电流。结果: (1) 在钳制电位-10 mV~+50 mV时, AF组瞬时外向钾电流(I_to1)密度明显低于窦性心律(SR)组（P<0.01），而持续性外向钾电流（I_sus）密度与SR组无明显差异。(2) 以0.1 μmol/L AngⅡ灌流后，在钳制电位0 mV~+50 mV时，SR患者的Ito1密度明显低于灌流前（P<0.01），其动力学特性没有改变，AngⅡ对AF组I_to1的抑制作用明显低于SR组 (P<0.01)。0.1 μmol/L AngⅡ对两组I_sus没有影响。(3) AngⅡ对Ito1的抑制作用可逆，10 μmol/L缬沙坦（valsartan）以及1 μmol/L沙拉新(saralasin)均能完全消除0.1 μmol/L AngⅡ对Ito1的抑制，以10 μmol/L valsartan灌流后，膜电位+50 mV时I_to1的电流密度增加（22.46±4.30）%。结论: AngⅡ通过Ⅰ型受体（AT₁R）介导，明显抑制心房肌细胞膜I_to1，是AF患者心房肌瞬时外向钾通道电重构的机制之一。