Effects of specific post-menopausal hormone therapies on bone mineral density in post-menopausal women: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Long-term post-menopausal hormone therapy (pHT) was often regarded as first-line therapy to prevent fractures in post-menopausal women, a recommendation under scrutiny given the benefit-risk profile of the Women's Health Initiative results of the estrogen-progestin combination. Apart from controlled clinical studies providing data with fractures as an end point, measures of lumbar and hip bone mineral density (BMD) may be used to assess bone-related effects of pHT. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of 2-year trials, published between 1990 and December 2002, and assessing changes in BMD by any estrogen including ethinyl estradiol, any estrogen plus any progestin, or tibolone. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and systematic reviews. Thirty-nine randomized, prospective, controlled 2-year trials were analysed in pre-specified groups according to the profile of the compounds. RESULTS: Virtually all pHT regimens at least maintain BMD at the lumbar spine and the hip compared with baseline; there is no apparent difference between the various estrogenic compounds. Tibolone, a synthetic progestin, appears to be as effective as any estrogen. Most trials were conducted in early post-menopausal women, fewer in women with hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The size of impact on BMD does not appear to differ between tibolone and any estrogen compound studied.     

Behavioral treatment parameters with primary dysmenorrhea

Fourteen women with primary dysmenorrhea were administered four sessions of systematic desensitization (SD) by either a male or a female therapist. The following measures were taken during the flow periods before and after treatment and at a 6-month follow-up: menstrual symptom checklist, medication usage, invalid hours, and menstrual attitudes. At pretreatment, menstrually distressed women had significantly higher scores on all measures compared to a normative group and an explicitly nondistressed group. At posttreatment, treated women's scores on the dependent variables were significantly reduced. All indices were reduced to a nondistressed level at posttreatment and at 6-month follow-up. Type of dysmenorrhea (congestive vs. spasmodic), trait anxiety level, and therapist sex did not predict differential responsiveness to SD. SD did not affect frontalis EMG, peripheral blood flow, or pain threshold. A Retrospective Symptom Scale of menstrual distress was found to be highly reliable, valid, and sensitive.     

HSV-TK/GCV自杀基因系统治疗宫颈癌的研究

目的探讨HSV-TK/GCV自杀基因系统对人宫颈癌细胞系Hela体外及体内杀伤作用及其产生的旁观者效应.方法采用脂质体转染法将GINaTK载体转入包装细胞PA317.取病毒上清液感染人宫颈癌细胞Hela,得到带有HSV-TK基因的Hela/TK细胞,并将其分别用于体外和体内实验.结果载体HSV-TK导入了PA317细胞.体外实验结果显示,当Hela/TK细胞数占混合细胞10%时,低浓度(10μg/ml)的GCV就可将50%左右的肿瘤细胞杀死.体内实验结果显示GCV可明显抑制Hela/TK细胞在BALB/C小鼠体内的肿瘤形成.经GCV治疗后,肿瘤体积分别较对照组肿瘤体积缩小约11.1%、30.6%和47.2%(均P＜0.001);RT-PCR检测HSV-TK基因在肿瘤组织中有表达;实验组肿瘤组织与对照组相比存在明显的病理学改变.结论逆转录病毒可介导HSV-TK基因转入人宫颈癌细胞Hela并获稳定表达,HSV-TK/GCV自杀基因系统在体内外对宫颈癌细胞均有杀伤作用,且存在明显的旁观者效应.     

Invasive electrophysiological evaluation of patients with sleep apnoea-associated ventricular asystole—methods and preliminary results

SUMMARY  Twelve patients (aged 48 ± 12 y) with ventricular asystole of >3s due to complete atrioventricular (AV) block ( n = 8), sinoatrial (SA) block or sinus node arrest ( n = 3) or both ( n = 1) associated with obstructive sleep apnoea underwent invasive electrophysiological evaluation of sinus node function and AV conduction properties before and after administration of atropine (0.02 mg kg^-1). Ventricular asystole lasted for 5.9 ± 2.8 s (range 3.1–13 s). Sinus node function was assessed by measurement of sinus node recovery time, sinoatrial conduction time, and the response of sinus rate to atropine. Parameters of AV-conduction assessment included AH- and HV-intervals, AV- and VA-Wenckebach periods, and effective refractory period of the AV node before and after atropine. Sinus node function was normal in 11 of the 12 study patients and moderately abnormal in 1 patient. AV-nodal function was normal in 8 patients and moderately abnormal in 4 patients. A slightly prolonged HV-interval (59–63 ms) was present in 6 patients. Intra- or infra His block was not observed in any patient. In conclusion, normal or only moderately abnormal electrophysiological findings in patients with sleep apnoea-associated ventricular asystole suggest that a neurally mediated cardioinhibitory reflex may cause ventricular asystole in these patients. This sleep apnoea-triggered 'vasovagal' reflex may unmask pre-existing mild to moderate structural abnormalities of the AV conduction system.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression: a potential prognostic and predictive marker for high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

AIMS: To study cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast and its association with histological features. COX-2, an inducible prostaglandin synthase, has been shown to be important in mammary carcinogenesis, being associated with increased tumour size and unfavourable outcome in breast cancer. Animal studies indicate that COX-2 inhibition is effective in the prevention and treatment of mammary cancers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-one cases of DCIS diagnosed during 1990-2000 were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry for COX-2 was performed and the COX-2 staining scores were correlated with histological features. The majority of cases [41 of 51 (80%)] had positive COX-2 staining, of which 13 cases (25%) had strong staining. High nuclear grade DCIS was significantly associated with increased COX-2 staining (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: High-grade lesions are known to be associated with a higher recurrence rate following excision and are often oestrogen receptor negative, and as such, may be less responsive to adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. There is a need to examine further the role of COX-2 expression in DCIS, as both a prognostic and predictive factor.     

The ARIA/EAACI criteria for antihistamines: an assessment of the efficacy, safety and pharmacology of desloratadine

Background:  The definition of allergic rhinitis and the classification of its severity and treatment have advanced in recent years following the publication of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact of Asthma (ARIA) document. The ARIA and the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (ARIA/EAACI) have published a set of recommendations that outline the pharmacological and clinical criteria to be met by medications commonly used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Methods:  An international group of experts met to assess the profile of the antihistamine, desloratadine, under the ARIA/EAACI criteria. Data on desloratadine were collected from peer-reviewed clinical studies and review articles, which were corroborated and augmented by comprehensive public access documents from the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).
Results and conclusion:  Based on this systematic review, it was concluded that the efficacy, safety and pharmacology of desloratadine broadly meet the ARIA/EAACI criteria for antihistamines.     

帕罗西汀合并认知疗法治疗酒依赖伴发抑郁及对戒酒的影响

目的评价帕罗西汀合并认知疗法治疗酒依赖伴发抑郁的疗效及对戒酒的影响。方法将98例酒依赖伴发抑郁的患者随机分为研究组和对照组,分别用认知疗法合并帕罗西汀、单用帕罗西汀治疗4个月。用汉密顿抑郁量表(HAMD)评定疗效;用复饮率评定戒酒效果。结果治疗1个月后,研究组HAMD评分16.79±6.50与对照组相近17.88±6.59(P>0.05)。治疗4个月后HAMD评分10.76±5.32、明显低于对照组14.54±5.12(P<0.01);临床疗效(痊愈率44.44%、显效率22.22%、有效率33.34%)明显高于对照组(21.74%、21.74%、56.52%)(P<0.05);复饮率(24.44%)低于对照对照组(45.56%)(P<0.05)。结论认知疗法合并帕罗西汀治疗酒依赖伴发抑郁疗效较好,戒酒效果较好。     

地震救援中现场截肢的探讨

目的探讨地震救援中现场截肢手术适应证、手术方法及伦理问题。方法映秀镇地震救援中现场截肢2例共3个肢体，采用局部麻醉，截肢平面靠近压迫物。术后补充等张盐水，补液速度1．5L／h，静脉滴注5％碳酸氢钠溶液150mL。口服头孢克肟胶囊，400mg顿服。结果截肢后2例患者均未出现严重并发症，次日送后方医院行二次截肢。结论灾难救援中现场截肢必须综合考虑，严格掌握适应证，必要的截肢可以挽救伤员生命。     

The effect of hormone replacement therapy on bone mass in patients with ovarian failure due to bone marrow transplantation

Long permanent remissions in malignant hematopoietic disorders can often be achieved by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) or by allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Previous studies have shown that such therapies may induce osteoporosis due to iatrogenic ovarian failure. The administration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in these women could prevent the adverse effects of long-term ovarian failure without remarkable side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the bone mass is affected by HRT in patients undergoing ABMT or BMT adjusting the results for age, weight, and height. Subjects and methods: Thirteen women with previous ABMT/BMT were treated with a standard dose (0.625 mg/day) of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) or with 50 μg/day of 17-β-estradiol in transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) plus 5 mg/day of medroxyprogesterone acetate sequentially added to the last 12 days of estrogen therapy. Bone mass was measured prior to and 12 months following HRT. Blood samples were collected before therapy and during the 6th and 12th treatment months. Results: The mean time elapsed between bone transplantation and HRT initiation was 13.0 months (range 3–26 months). Before treatment nine patients were osteopenic and after HRT bone mass increased in all cases. Following ABMT/BMT, hepatic hyperenzymemia was detected in three patients. After 6 and 12 months of treatment no significant changes were observed in hepatic enzymes. Conclusion: Although hepatic hyperenzymemia is commonly considered as a contraindication for HRT, our results suggest that HRT is safe for these patients and that such therapy should be initiated after transplantation in women to prevent adverse effects of long-term ovarian failure.     

Ethical considerations for enzyme replacement therapy in neuronopathic Gaucher disease

Elstein D, Abrahamov A, Zimran A. Ethical considerations for enzyme replacement therapy in neuronopathic Gaucher disease. Clin Genet 1998: 54: 179–184. 0 Munksgaard, 1998
Enzyme replacement therapy for Gaucher diseases, the most prevalent lysosmal storage disease, was originally approved by the FDA for type I patients and has proven to be both safe and effective in reducing hepatosplenomegaly and improving the hematological parameters. However, the use of enzyme treatment in both neuronopathic forms has heretofore been on an investigational or trial basis, with reports of progression of neurological deterioration even at very high doses. To date, there are no guidelines for clinicians with regard to enzyme replacement therapy in the neuronopathic forms of metabolic diseases. Herein, we discuss strategies derived from the literature ub-his treatment of very premature babies and from the Jewish Halachic point of view. In conclusion, we describe recommendations for the ethical treatment and/or withdrawal of treatment. as well as practical guidelines for dosage regimens, in children with neuronopathic Gaucher disease.