A randomized crossover trial of tamoxifen versus ovarian ablation for metastatic breast cancer in premenopausal women: A report of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) trial MA.1

Background: The outcome of breast cancer is usuallydetermined by multiple factors. Serum tumor necrosis factoralpha concentration has been found to be increasedin the circulation of patients with malignancy. Thisstudy was designed with the aim to investigateany correlation between the serum tumor necrosis factoralpha and the clinicopathological fetures and furthermore evaluatethe prognostic significance of serum tumor necrosis factoralpha concentration in breast cancer. Methods: Forty consecutivepatients with invasive breast cancer undergoing modified radicalmastectomy were prospectively included and evaluated. Venous bloodsamples were collected before the surgery. Sera wereobtained by centrifugation, and stored at – 70°C until assayed. The control group consisted 30healthy, age-matched subjects. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosisfactor alpha were measured by the quantitative sandwichenzyme immunoassay technique. The data on tumor size,age, estrogen receptor status, lymph node status andTNM staging were reviewed and recorded.Results: The mean value of serum tumor necrosis factor alphain patients with invasive breast cancer was 1.47± 0.58 pg/ml and that of the controlgroup was 0.98 ± 0.37 pg/ml, and thedifference was significant (P < 0.01). With univariableanalysis, patients with maximum tumor size of 5cm or larger (P=0.03), more advancedTNM staging (P < 0.01); and more advancedlymph node status (P < 0.01) were shownto have significantly higher serum concentrations of tumornecrosis factor alpha. However, with multivariable analysis, TNMstaging appeared as the only independent factor (P< 0.01) predicting the significant, higher serum concentrationsof tumor necrosis factor alpha. Conclusion: Preoperative evaluationof serum tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations maybe a valuable parameter for reflecting the severityof staging for invasive breast cancer.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B markers in the population of catalonia (Spain). Rationale for universal vaccination of adolescents

The prevalence of hepatitis B markers was determined in a representative sample of the general population of Catalonia (Spain). HBsAg was found in 0.5% of children (less than 15 years of age) and in 1.7% of adults (more than 15 years of age), and anti HBs in 1.6% and 18%, respecitvely. Age-specific prevalence for both markers showed a low risk for hepatitis B before puberty, and a progressive rise since adolescence, suggesting that perinatal transmission and horizontal transmission in children are relatively uncommon in Spain. Prevalence of hepatitis B markers was significantly higher among subjects with low education level, residing in an urban area and born outside Catalonia, but in the stratified analysis, a statistical significant difference was only maintained in the prevalence of HBV markers between those who live in urban and rural areas, and between those who were born outside Catalonia and in Catalonia. These data may be used as a basis for a strategy of hepatitis B prevention in Spain which include universal vaccination of adolescents, passive-active immunization of newborns to HBsAg positive mothers and vaccination of susceptible adults subjects from high-risk groups.Preventive Medicine Unit.Liver Unit.Corresponding author.     

髋关节滑膜软骨瘤病误诊1例

患者女,33岁,农民.因右膝关节疼痛8年、右髋部腹股沟区疼痛6年、加重半年于2001年12月入院.起病以来无发热、消瘦,无嗜酒史及糖皮质激素服用史,无外伤史.在外院曾诊断为右股骨头缺血性坏死并于1999年诊断为右髋关节结核后口服抗痨药物半年,因症状无好转自行停药.入院前行走100米后即感右髋疼痛.……     

行列资料诊断试验预告值和准确度的一次性标化研究

本文建立了行列资料诊断试验预告值和准确度的一次性标化方法，省去了标化过程理论样本Ｎｔ的设定和求有关理论值的计算过程，导出行列资料中标准化Ⅰ级阳性预告值和标准化Ⅱ级阳性预告值、标准化Ⅰ级阴性预告值和标准化Ⅱ级阴性预告值、标准化可疑预告值和标准化准确度的一次性标化公式。分析了标化与非标化预告值的关系及转化规律。     

乙型和丙型肝炎病毒血清学标志与原发性肝癌关系的研究

目的：研究原发性肝齐(PHC)病人中乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)和丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)血清学标志的分布状况。方法：选择全市40家医院收治住院确诊PHC患者100例，用ELISA法进行HBsAg、抗-HBs、HBeAg、抗-HBe和抗-HBc和抗-HCV检测。结果：PHC组HBV和抗-HCV的感染率分别为89．0％和8．0％，明显高于对照组(P＜0．001)，两者的ARP(归因危险度百分比)分别为93．0％和88．0％。HBV血清学标志在PHC的分布较高的是HBsAg、抗-HBc和HBsAg、HBeAg、抗-HBc组合。协同作用分析结果显示HBsAg、抗-HCV同时阳性者的OR值为46．28，较单一指标阳性的OR为高，也高于两者单独阳性的OR值之和。结论：HBV和HCV感染均是PHC发生的主要病原学因素。HBV是肝癌发生的主要因素。     

代谢综合征患者血管内皮损伤标志物、C反应蛋白与胰岛素抵抗的关系

目的:观察代谢综合征(MS)患者血管内皮损伤标志物血管性假性血友病因子抗原(vWF:Ag)、凝血酶调节蛋白(TM)及超敏C反应蛋白(Hs-CRP)的水平变化及其与胰岛素抵抗的关系。方法:测定67例MS患者(其中合并冠心病31例)及35例健康对照组TM、vWF:Ag、Hs-CRP、空腹胰岛素(Fins)水平,计算胰岛素抵抗指数(IR)。结果:单纯MS组(B组)TM、vWF:Ag、Hs-CRP水平明显高于对照组(A组),P<0.05;MS合并冠心病组(C组)TM、vWF:Ag、Hs-CRP水平均高于A组和B组,差异有显著性统计学意义(P<0.05)。单因素直线相关分析表明TM、vWF:Ag、Hs-CRP与IR显著正相关(r分别为0.32、0.36、0.38)。结论:MS患者血管内皮损伤标志物、CRP水平升高,且与IR抵抗有关。     

Persistent platelet activation in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with low doses of aspirin

BACKGROUND: The percentage of diabetic patients who do not benefit from the protective effect of aspirin is larger than in other populations at cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: We compared the ability of aspirin to suppress TxA2 and platelet activation in vivo, in type-2 diabetics vs. high-risk non-diabetic patients. METHODS: Urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2, plasma sCD40 L, and sP-selectin were measured, together with indices of low-grade inflammation, glycemic control, and lipid profile, in 82 patients with type-2 diabetes and 39 without diabetes, treated with low doses of aspirin. RESULTS: Urinary 11-dehydro-TxB2, plasma sCD40L and sP-selectin were significantly higher in diabetics than in controls: [38.9 (27.8-63.3) vs. 28.5 (22.5-43.9) ng mmol(-1) of creatinine, P = 0.02], [1.06 (0.42-3.06) vs. 0.35 (0.22-0.95) ng mL(-1); P = 0.0001], [37.0 (16.8-85.6) vs. 20.0 (11.2-35.6) ng mL(-1), P = 0.0001], respectively. The proportion of individuals with diabetes increased across quartiles of 11-dehydro-TxB2, sCD40L, and sP-selectin, with the highest quartiles of 11-dehydro-TxB2, sCD40L and sP-selectin, including 66%, 93.3%, and 93.3% of individuals with diabetes. Markers of platelet activation positively correlated with indices of glycemic control but not with markers of low-grade inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet dysfunction associated with insufficient glycemic control, may mediate persistent platelet activation under aspirin treatment.     

The effects of brisk walking on markers of bone and calcium metabolism in postmenopausal women

Weight-bearing exercise has been shown to maintain or increase bone mass in younger as well as older individuals but the mechanisms by which mechanical loading affects bone metabolism are not known in detail. Twelve postmenopausal women participated in a single bout of brisk walking (50% of VO_{2 max}) for 90 minuttes. Calciotropic hormones and markers of type I collagen formation (PICP) and degradation (ICTP) were measured before the exercise, and 1, 24, and 72 hours following the exercise. Total body bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Brisk walking did not induce any significant changes in the concentrations of ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, or osteocalcin. A significant increase of PICP was noted 24 and 72 hours (P<0.01) after exertion and a significant decrease in the concentration of serum ICTP at 1 hour (P<0.05) was followed by an increase at 72 hours (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the increases in the concentrations of PICP and ICTP at 72 hours. Strong inverse correlations between the basal levels of PTH and BMD (r=−0.78;P<0.01) as well as between osteocalcin and BMD (r=−0.83;P<0.01) were noticed. The changes in serum levels of bone collagen markers indicate an altered bone collagen turnover due to this moderate endurance exercise. The results also support the fact that serum levels of PTH as well as those of osteocalcin are associated with total body BMD in postmenopausal women.     

Imaging of constipation in infants and children

The aims of this review article are to present epidemiology, important definitions, clinical considerations, and etiologic and pathogenetic aspects of constipation in infants and children. Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the the anorectum are described. Special attention is given to the indications for diagnostic imaging, imaging techniques, and imaging findings with different causes of constipation. Other diagnostic modalities, such as anorectal manometry, electromyography, and biopsy techniques are briefly discussed. The central question as to whether diagnostic imaging is needed for the diagnostic workup of infants and children suffering from constipation can be answered affirmatively. Especially the combination of barium enema or defecography and anorectal manometry allows definition of those infants and children who do not need biopsy and surgery for Hirschsprung's disease. The special role of defecography in this context is underlined. Received 16 May 1997; Revision received 5 August 1997; Accepted 6 August 1997