Mass Screening for Neuroblastoma and Estimation of Costs

ABSTRACT. On the basis of epidemiological data and medical costs for patients with neuroblastoma, we have calculated the cost of mass screening for neuroblastoma with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) compared to the cost when it is not performed. If the sensitivity of the mass screening is 80 % and 22 000 infants are screened annually the cost will be 27809000 yen ($191800). If mass screening is not performed, the cost will be 28 446 000 yen ($196 200). The difference in cost (637 000 yen or $4 400) is fairly small. If the sensitivity is 75 % and 16 500 infants are screened, the difference is also small (174000 yen or $1 200). Therefore, mass screening with the HPLC method will not be an undue financial burden. But re-screening at an older age will be done with less financially favorable results, considering that the sensitivity may not be as high as that of the first screening and that mothers are somewhat reluctant about re-screening. The balance of the cost of mass screening by qualitative methods may also be less favorable, since the detection rate is low.     

Prevalence of and risk factors for nocturia: Analysis of a health screening program

BACKGROUND: We examined the prevalence of and risk factors for nocturia in Kurashiki city and the surrounding area, a rural area in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data on 6517 individuals (4568 men and 1949 women) who participated in a multiphasic health screening. We analyzed the relationships between nocturia assessed by a questionnaire (voiding twice or more during night) and other variables including age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic renal failure, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), smoking habit and alcohol intake. RESULTS: Overall, 1856 individuals (28.5%) answered that they arose to urinate at least twice during the night. This rate increased with age from 16.5% in individuals younger than 50 to 60.0% in those older than 69. Logistic regression analysis revealed that cohorts of subjects 50-59, 60-69, and 70 years old or over had, respectively, 1.75, 3.35, and 6.21 times the prevalence of nocturia of the 49 years or younger cohort. Hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.64) and DM (OR 1.70) were other independent positive risk factors for nocturia. On the other hand, current smokers who smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day were less likely to have nocturia than non-smokers (OR 0.72). In male individuals, BPH was another independent positive risk factor (OR 1.35). Gender was not associated with nocturia. CONCLUSIONS: Although population bias is an important limitation to this study, nocturia is associated with various factors suggesting that multiple approaches are needed to the treatment of patients with nocturia.     

老年2型糖尿病患者胰岛素抵抗相关指标的检测和意义

目的:探讨老年2型糖尿病胰岛素抵抗(IR)及其相关性,为老年2型糖尿病的合理防治提供临床依据。方法:选择120例老年2型糖尿病患者,按胰岛素敏感指数(HOMA)胰岛素抵抗(HOMA-IR)50百分位点将患者分为两组:胰岛素相对敏感组(HOMA-IR<3.56)和胰岛素相对抵抗组(HOMA-IR≥3.56),比较体重指数(BMI)、腰/臀比(WHR)、血压、血生化学检查等指标。用年龄>40岁,<60岁的2型糖尿病患者做对照组。结果:两组老年患者在年龄、性别、舒张压、空腹血糖、胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白、糖化血红蛋白、HOMA胰岛β细胞功能方面无差异;但BMI、WHR、收缩压、甘油三脂、空腹胰岛素、HOMA-IR差异具有显著性。多线性回归分析后,只有腰/臀比、收缩压、甘油三脂、HOMA-IR存在统计学差异。老年患者与对照组相比,IR发生率明显增加,且两者腰/臀比、收缩压、甘油三脂方面也差异显著。结论:IR与老年2型糖尿病密切相关,是临床防治糖尿病的重要靶点。     

广西壮、汉族体重指数与血压、血脂、脂肪肝等相关因素的关系

目的：探讨广西地区人群体重指数（BMI）与血压、血糖、血脂、脂肪肝、心电图异常、性别、民族及其他心脑血管病史等因素的相关性，并比较这些因素在壮族与汉族人群中的差异。方法：对在本院及田阳县、田东县参加体检的1105例壮族与汉族人群询问病史并检查身高、体重、血压、空腹血糖、血脂、肝脏B超、心电图等。结果：在按制其他因素后，汉族人群BMI与脂肪肝、舒张压水平及高血压病史呈密切正相关关系，男性BMI高于女性；壮族人群BMI与脂肪肝、血清甘油三酯浓度及收缩压水平有密切正相关关系，汉族人群的年龄、BMI、血清甘油三酯浓度、胆固醇浓度、收缩压水平、脂肪肝检出率及心电图异常检出率均较壮族人群高。结论：肥胖与脂肪肝、血压、血脂密切相关，且广西汉族人群肥胖、脂肪肝、高血脂、高血压及心电图异常较壮族人群更常见。     

四逆汤煎煮过程中乌头类生物碱的溶出和水解平衡

目的 研究四逆汤中乌头类生物碱的溶出平衡和水解平衡。方法 利用电喷雾质谱分析，比较了制附子、四逆汤、四逆汤药渣和含有3种双酯型生物碱的混合对照品体系中的乌头碱类二萜生物碱。结果 在煎煮过程中双酯型生物碱溶解并发生水解反应，而脂类生物碱则难溶于水。乌头碱、中乌头碱、次乌头碱水溶性相近，但是次乌头碱在水中的热稳定性更高，C19二萜骨架上C3取代基(—OH或—H)的变化影响生物碱的稳定性。结论四逆汤中的乌头碱类生物碱的种类及含量由其溶解性和化学稳定性共同决定。     

The influence of partial gastrectomy on biochemical parameters of bone metabolism and bone density

Summary Since it has been suggested that gastric resections are followed by changes in bone metabolism, the aim of our study was to determine the biochemical parameters of bone metabolism and radial and lumbar bone density in 15 male ulcus patients treated by partial gastrectomy (Billroth II). Comparing the data with those of a corresponding control group, the lumbar bone density measured by quantitative computed tomography was statistically significantly lower (P < 0.04) in the patient group, whereas the peripheral bone mass of the distal part of the nondominant forearm measured by single-photon absorptiometry showed no statistically significant difference. In addition, a marked increase in alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.002) and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline (P < 0.003) was found in the gastrectomy group, whereas the 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels were found to be significantly decreased (P < 0.04). Osteocalcin, a biochemical marker for osteoblast activity, and the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), a marker of collagen formation, were slightly but not significantly higher in gastrectomy-treated patients. The serum parathyroid hormone levels were similar in both groups. As none of the patients had any radiologic evidence of osteopenia, the changes in biochemical parameters of bone metabolism and bone mass in patients who had undergone partial gastrectomy could be a marker of latent bone loss.Abbreviations DPA/SPA dual/single-photon absorptiometry - BMD bone mineral density - QCT quantitative computed tomography - PICP carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen - 250HD₃ 25-hydroxy-vitamin D - iPTH parathyroid hormone - OC osteocalcin - BMC bone mineral content     

A Double Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial of Ipriflavone for Prevention of Postmenopausal Spinal Bone Loss

One hundred ninety-eight postmenopausal women (aged 50–65 years) with vertebral bone density (VBD) 1 SD below the mean value for normal, age-matched, postmenopausal subjects were enrolled in six Italian centers and 134 completed 2 years of treatment. All subjects were randomly allocated to a 2-year treatment with oral ipriflavone (200 mg t.i.d.) or a matching placebo, according to a double-blind, parallel group design. All patients also received an oral daily calcium supplement of 1 g as calcium carbonate. VBD and markers of bone turnover were measured at baseline, and every 6 months. A complete routine analysis of liver and kidney functions along with hematological parameters were measured before and at the end of treatment period. The valid completers analysis showed a significant increase of VBD in ipriflavone-treated women with average percent changes of +1.4 after 1 year, and +1% at the end of treatment period (P < 0.05). The placebo group presented a significant decrease of VBD after 2 years of treatment (P < 0.05). The difference between treatments was significant (P < 0.01). The intention to treat analysis confirmed the significant decrease of VBD in the placebo group, with no changes in ipriflavone-treated women. Skeletal ALP significantly decreased in ipriflavone-treated women (P < 0.05). Serum BGP and urine HOP/Cr showed a significant decrease only in ipriflavone-treated women, suggesting an inhibitory effect on bone turnover rate. Adverse reactions, mainly gastrointestinal, occurred to a similar extent in the two treatment groups. The evaluation of patients' compliance, assessed by residual tablets count, revealed a drug intake of more than 80% after 2 years in 92.5% and 92.8% of patients treated with ipriflavone or placebo, respectively. This study demonstrates that ipriflavone can prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women with low bone mass. Received: 1 April 1996 / Accepted: 5 March 1997     

Bone Mass in Female Volleyball Players: A Comparison of Total and Regional Bone Mass in Female Volleyball Players and Nonactive Females

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate bone mass in female athletes participating in an impact loading sport (volleyball), and especially to investigate whether any changes in bone mass might be related to the type and magnitude of weightbearing loading and muscle strength. The volleyball group consisted of 13 first division players (age 20.9 ± 3.7 years) training for about 8 hours/week, and the reference group consisted of 13 nonactive females (age 25.0 ± 2.4 years) not participating in any kind of regular or organized sport activity. The groups were matched according to weight and height. Areal bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in total body, head, lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle, trochanter, the whole femur, and humerus using dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry. Isokinetic concentric peak torque of the quadricep and hamstring muscles was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Compared with the controls, the volleyball players had a significantly (P < 0.05–0.01) higher BMD of the total body (6.1%), lumbar spine (13.2%), femoral neck (15.8%), Ward's triangle (17.9%), trochanter (18.8%), nondominant femur (8.2%), and humerus (dominant 9.5%, nondominant 10.0%), but not of the head and the dominant whole femur. The dominant humerus showed significantly higher BMD than the nondominant humerus in both the volleyball and nonactive group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in muscle strength of the thigh between the two groups. In the nonactive group, muscle strength in the quadriceps, and especially hamstrings, was correlated to BMD of the adjacent bones (whole femur, hip sites) and also to distant sites (humerus). However, in the volleyball group there were no correlations between muscle strength and BMD of the adjacent bones, but quadricep strength correlated to BMD of the humerus. These results clearly show that young female volleyball players have a high bone mass. The demonstrated high bone mass seems to be related to the type of loading subjected to each BMD site. Muscle strength of the thigh seems to have little impact on BMD in female volleyball players. Received: 18 June 1996 / Accepted: 31 October 1996