组织型纤溶酶原激活剂及其抑制物的变化与冠心病的关系

目的：观察冠心病患者纤溶活性的变化及其在冠心病发病中的作用，探讨其临床意义。方法：用酶联免疫双抗夹心(ELISA)法测定58例冠心病患者血浆中组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(t—PA)及纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1(PAI-1)抗原含量，反映纤溶-抗纤溶活性的变化，并对冠心病患者组与对照组纤溶指标进行不同性别间的比较。结果：急性心肌梗死、不稳定心绞痛患者PM-1的含量、PAI-1／t—PA比值明显高于对照组，且急性心肌梗死患者PM-1的含量较不稳定心绞痛患者显著为高。但t—PA在急性心肌梗死、不稳定心绞痛患者均无显著降低。患者组及对照组不同性别间纤溶及抗纤溶水平均未见有显著差异。结论：血栓性疾病与纤溶系统的异常有密切关系。纤溶系统活性的变化及纤溶-抗纤溶的平衡失调在缺血性心脏病的发生、发展中起着重要作用。     

The workload of trainees in general practice

During their first training period in general practice the authors felt that they did not encounter the balanced workload which is the foundation for learning to be a GP. Previous studies confirmed the existence of differences in overall and specific workload between trainees and trainers. From their own experience and from the relevant literature they addressed several factors which might affect the workload of trainees. A study was undertaken to determine differences in workload between trainees and trainers, and to investigate whether certain characteristics of practice and of trainees affect the workload of trainees. Details of surgery consultations with 34 trainee-trainer partnerships were recorded in the north of the Netherlands over 2 weeks. Questionnaires were filled in by trainers, trainees and practice assistants from these 34 general practices. The total number of contacts recorded was 10,103. It was found that trainees see fewer elderly and female patients, less chronic and oncological conditions, but more minor illnesses. They see only 30% of patients with problem behaviour. Factors that influence the trainees' workload, as compared to their trainers' are: list size; selection in the allocation of patients; trainee's experience prior to starting the training stage, and the trainee's sex. Except for problem behaviour, trainees generally see a cross-section of their trainer's practice population. Selection would provide a more balanced workload for trainees.     

5-HT1B Receptor Polymorphism and Clinical Response to Sumatriptan

The 5-HT₁ receptor agonist, sumatriptan, is highly effective in the treatment of migraine. Some patients, however, do not respond or experience recurrence of the headache. In addition, some patients report chest symptoms after sumatriptan. We investigated whether these different responses could be attributed to genetic diversity of the 5-HT_1B receptor, which most likely mediates the therapeutic action and the coronary side effects of sumatriptan. Allele frequencies of two polymorphisms in the 5-HT_1B receptor gene ( G861C and T-261G ) were investigated in migraine patients with consistently good response to sumatriptan (n=14), with no response (n=12), with recurrence of the headache (n=12), with chest symptoms (n=13), and in patients without chest symptoms (n=27). Allele frequencies (G:0.74; C:0.26 at nt 861 and T:0.39; G:0.61 at nt -261) did not differ between patient groups, indicating that genetic diversity of the 5-HT_1B receptor does not seem to be involved in the different clinical responses to sumatriptan.     

Liposomal 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 compounds block proliferation and induce differentiation in myelomonocytic leukaemia cells

The vitamin D₃ derived hormone 1,25 (OH)₂ vitamin D₃ (1,25 D₃) is able to induce growth arrest and differentiation in myelomonocytic leukaemia cells. In order to allow for specific delivery to leukaemic cells the lipophilic compound was incorporated into the lipid membranes of liposomes. Liposomal 1,25 D₃ reduced proliferation as measured by ³H-thymidine incorporation in HL60 leukaemia cells by up to 60%. When liposomes were prepared at different concentrations of 1,25 D₃ 65% inhibition was achieved at 48 n M . The MC 1288 stereoisomer of 1,25 D₃ was more potent and had the same activity at 48 n M .
The effect of the liposomal compounds was specific to myeloid cells as they reduced proliferation in myelomonocytic HL60, monoblastic U937 and monocytic Mono Mac 6 cells but not in the T-cell lines Jurkat and Molt 4.
The antiproliferative effect of liposomal 1,25 D₃ was associated with an induction of differentiation since treated HL60 cells showed a monocytic morphology, increased expression of CD14 and decreased expression of CD33.
When peripheral blood leukaemic cells from M4 and M5 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients were admixed with liposomal compounds an antiproliferative effect was seen in all five cases, including the two cases where free compounds led to enhanced growth. Liposomal delivery of 1,25 (OH)₂ vitamin D₃ may offer a novel approach to treatment of myelomonocytic leukaemia.     

Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure: Will the Solution Be Shocking?

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) may occur in as many as 40% of all patients who suffer from heart failure. This review describes the scope of the problem, risk factors for SCD, the effect of medications used in heart failure on SCD and the potential effect of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in primary prevention.     

All-trans retinoic acid suppresses liver injury induced by Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide in rats

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been reported to exert major effects on the immune system, including monocytes/macrophages. The present study was designed to determine whether ATRA would modulate macrophage-associated liver injury induced by Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. All-trans retinoic acid administration alleviated the liver injury and reduced the incidence of death following hepatic failure. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels 5 h after, and survival rates within 12 h after the administration of LPS were significantly lower in the ATRA-treated group (134 ± 119 IU/L and 72.7%) compared with the control group (713 ± 411 IU/L and 18.2%; P < 0.05). Histological findings supported these results. These effects may be due to suppression of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and superoxide anions produced by activated macrophages. Serum levels of TNF-α 1 h after LPS administration were significantly lower in the ATRA-treated group (60.5 ± 7.0 ng/mL) as compared with the control group (105.2 ± 39.3 ng/mL; P < 0.05). Formazan deposition that was generated by the perfusion of the liver with nitroblue tetrazolium, also suggested suppression of the release of superoxide anions from hepatic macrophages. These results suggest that ATRA acts as an immunomodulator in liver injury by suppressing the activation of liver macrophages.     

胰岛素抵抗性高血压大鼠α1肾上腺素受体亚型的改变

目的和方法：用高糖喂养复制胰岛素抵抗性高血压（ｉｎｓｕｌｉｎ－ｒｅｓｉｓｔａｎｔｈｙｐｅｒｔｅｎｓｉｏｎ，ＩＲＨ）大鼠模型，用放射配体结合实验和离体左心房及主动脉收缩功能实验，观察ＩＲＨ大鼠α１肾上腺素受体（α１－ａｄｒｅｎｏｃｅｐｔｏｒ，α１－ＡＲ）及其３种亚型在心脏和主动脉的改变。结果和结论：ＩＲＨ大鼠与同龄ＳＤ大鼠相比：（１）心脏α１－ＡＲ密度下降４８％（Ｐ＜００５），而介导的正性变力效应不变。（２）心脏α１－ＡＲ３种亚型占α１－ＡＲ总数的比例和在介导心脏正性变力效应中的作用表现为α１Ｂ－ＡＲ增加，α１Ｄ－ＡＲ减少，而α１Ａ－ＡＲ不变。（３）介导主动脉收缩的α１－ＡＲ及各亚型对激动剂的敏感性及最大收缩效应均无明显改变。     

Basic sciences in problem-based learning and conventional curricula: students' attitudes

The purpose of this study was to compare the attitudes toward basic sciences of students in a preclinical problem-based curriculum and a conventional lecture-based curriculum at the end of their second year of medical school. The results showed that the PBL class had more positive attitudes toward basic sciences than students in the conventional class. These results may reflect a learning environment where students meet many scientist role models as teachers and where basic science is learnt in the context of clinical problems.