Association analysis of genes in the renin‐angiotensin system with subclinical cardiovascular disease in families with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Diabetes Heart Study

Aims Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major complication of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) and nitric oxide production are both important regulators of vascular function and blood pressure. Genes encoding proteins involved in these pathways are candidates for a contribution to CVD in diabetic patients. We have investigated variants of the angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) genes for association with subclinical measures of CVD in families with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Atherosclerosis was measured by carotid intima‐media thickness and calcification of the carotid and coronary arteries in 620 European Americans and 117 African Americans in the Diabetes Heart Study. Because of the role of these systems in blood pressure regulation, blood pressure was also investigated. Results Compelling evidence of association was not detected with any of the SNPs with any outcome measures after adjustments for covariates despite sufficient power to detect relatively small differences in traits for specific genotype combinations. Conclusions Genetic variation of the RAS and NOS3 genes do not appear to strongly influence subclinical cardiovascular disease or blood pressure in this diabetic population.     

Development of the Qualeffo–31, an osteoporosis-specific quality-of-life questionnaire

Introduction Vertebral deformities are a common consequence of osteoporosis and are known to decrease quality of life. The Qualeffo–41 is a quality-of-life questionnaire especially developed for measuring quality of life in patients with vertebral deformities. It consists of 41 questions arranged in five domains: pain, physical function, social function, general health perception, and mental function. The objectives of this study were: (1) to develop a shorter version of the Qualeffo–41 by removing redundant questions; and (2) to investigate the scale characteristics, reliability, and validity of this shorter version. Methods The study was performed using data from the Qualeffo validation study and the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation (MORE) study. The analyses were performed in patients with vertebral deformities (n=579). Factor analysis on polychoric correlations and an item response theory (IRT) model, i.e., the generalized partial credit model (GPCM), were used to create a shorter version of Qualeffo–41. Using GPCM, scoring weights were computed for all items. Results Three items were removed from the data set because of too many missing values. Factor analysis identified three instead of five domains: (1) pain, (2) physical function, and (3) mental function. Five items had factor loadings <0.4 and were not included in the GPCM. After excluding several items, the domains pain (four items), physical function (18 items), and mental function (nine items) showed a good, reasonable, and excellent fit, respectively. This indicates that the mental function domain and the pain domain are more unidimensional than the physical function domain. All three domains showed a very high correlation (r ≥0.95) with the corresponding domains of the Qualeffo–41. Conclusions Qualeffo–31 was developed, consisting of three domains with a reasonable to excellent fit to the GPCM. Although the fit to the GPCM supports the construct validity of the Qualeffo–31, validation in a new study should be performed before using it in practice.     

运用市场手段实现医药自然分开的理论探讨

回顾了韩国、我国台湾和大陆实行医药分开改革的过程,认为我国以往的相关改革陷入了“管制”的思维误区。认为通过制度设计,创造医疗机构门诊处方自由流动的环境,依靠市场竞争形成处方流向结构多元化,可以实现医药自然分开状态。提出了“医药自然分开”、“处方流向结构”和“处方分散度”等新概念。     

Linear atrophoderma of Moulin together with leuconychia: a case report

Linear atrophoderma of Moulin has a distinctive disease pattern characterized by hyperpigmented atrophoderma and was described originally in 1992. It follows the line of Blaschko, and occurs without preceding inflammation, subsequent induration or scleroderma. The lesions usually develop during childhood or adolescence, and the prognosis is good. The diagnosis is made clinically and histopathologically. In our 18-year-old male patient, there were atrophic plaques unilaterally located on the trunk and arm, and white discoloration on all finger nails. Histopathological examination revealed epidermal atrophy together with disruption of collagen fibres.     

Reviewing the definition of "elderly"

Conventionally, "elderly" has been defined as a chronological age of 65 years old or older, while those from 65 through 74 years old are referred to as "early elderly" and those over 75 years old as "late elderly." However, the evidence on which this definition is based is unknown. We have attempted to review the definition of elderly by analyzing data from long-term longitudinal epidemiological studies, and clinical and pathological studies that have been accumulated at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology. Our recommendation might be a starting point in developing a strategy for a successful society by reviewing the definition of elderly based on comprehensive evidence in all aspects of social, cultural and medical sciences.     

胃癌术后残胃无力(附17例分析)

目的:探讨胃癌术后残胃无力的诊治及预防。方法:对1998年~2004年间284例胃癌术后出现的17(6%)例残胃无力患者进行回顾性研究。结果:残胃无力发生于术后6~15天,症状持续10~21天。经消化道造影确诊,用非手术方法治疗后症状全部消失。结论:消化道造影是可靠的诊断方法,非手术方法治疗效果肯定。     

Effect of short daily home haemodialysis on quality of life, cognitive functioning and the electroencephalogram.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease patients have a poor quality of life (QoL), suffer from impaired cognitive functioning, and their electroencephalogram (EEG) shows abnormalities. Conventional haemodialysis (CHD) only partially restores these disorders. Short daily haemodialysis (SDHD) has been reported to improve QoL, but effects on cognitive functioning and EEG have yet to be described. METHODS: Of the 13 patients (11 male, 2 female, age 45.5 +/- 8.1 years), 11 completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life and Affect Balance Scale questionnaires, 10 underwent neuropsychological testing, and all 13 underwent EEG examination. For the neuropsychological assessments, nine patients (six male, three female, age 45.4 +/- 12.6) who remained on the CHD schedule, served as controls. The dialysis schedule of thrice-a-week for 4 h was changed in the experimental group to six times a week for 2 h (SDHD) over a period of 6 months and back to thrice a week for 4 h. RESULTS: When on SDHD, patients rated several dimensions of health-related QoL as being improved. After resuming CHD, one of these dimensions again decreased and several others worsened even lower than baseline. Cognitive functioning did not change when compared with control data. On the EEG, alpha peak frequency increased slightly when on SDHD but decreased significantly after resuming CHD. CONCLUSIONS: SDHD improves health-related QoL, but has no clear effects on cognitive functioning and EEG. Resumption of CHD after SDHD decreases aspects of QoL and EEG alpha peak frequency but has no effect on cognitive functioning.     

超声及临床特征对附睾局灶性病变的鉴别价值

目的:评价超声及临床特征在附睾局灶性病变鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析附睾局灶性病变48例,包括非特异性附睾炎、附睾结核和附睾精液囊肿。分析附睾局灶性病变大小、形态、位置、回声强度及均一性,鞘膜腔是否有积液;病灶血流的程度以及患者年龄、病程和阴囊压痛程度。结果:附睾结核病灶平均面积比非特异性附睾炎病灶大(P<0.05),并多可见钙化斑。非特异性附睾炎病灶的血流信号比附睾结核(P<0.05)及附睾精液囊肿(P<0.01)丰富;非特异性附睾炎病程比附睾结核(P<0.01)和附睾精液囊肿(P<0.01)短;非特异性附睾炎病灶的压痛比附睾结核(P<0.01)和附睾精液囊肿(P<0.01)明显。附睾局灶性病变发生位置及有无鞘膜积液无明显区别(P>0.05)。结论:超声和临床特征对附睾局灶性病变鉴别诊断具有重要的价值,为临床诊断、治疗附睾疾病及评价疗效提供客观依据。     

急性低氧运动对血液流变性和红细胞形态的影响及电解质饮料的干预效果

目的:探讨急性低氧运动对血液流变性和红细胞形态的影响以及补充电解质饮料的干预效果。方法:受试者为8名健康成年男性,均进行两次实验。第1次为急性低氧运动加补充电解质饮料(运动前和运动中)实验,第2次为急性低氧运动不补充任何液体实验,两次实验间隔1周。受试者以70%最大摄氧量(VO2max)强度在低氧环境(O2浓度为15.5%,环境温度为20℃,湿度为55%)下进行1小时的功率自行车运动。分别测定受试者运动前、后的血液流变学指标并观察其红细胞形态的变化。结果:不补液情况下,受试者运动后的血液粘度、红细胞压积及红细胞刚性指数显著增加(P<0.01)。红细胞形态由双凹圆盘形变为一面凸、一面凹的草帽形。运动前和运动中补充电解质饮料,受试者运动后的各项血液流变学指标与运动前相比变化均不显著(P>0.05),且运动后红细胞形态未见明显变化。结论:运动前和运动中补充电解质饮料可缓解急性低氧运动对机体血液流变性产生的不良影响。