The prevalence of chromium allergy in Denmark is currently increasing as a result of leather exposure

Background Chromium allergy has traditionally been caused by occupational skin contact with cement. In 1983, Danish legislation made the addition of ferrous sulphate compulsory in cement to reduce the water‐soluble chromium content to not more than 2 ppm. An effect from this intervention has previously been demonstrated among Danish construction workers. Objectives To investigate the development of chromium allergy among patients with dermatitis tested between 1985 and 2007 in Denmark. Furthermore, to determine causative exposures in patients with chromium allergy. Patients and methods A retrospective analysis of patch test data was performed (n = 16 228) and charts from patients with chromium allergy were reviewed. Comparisons were made using a χ² test. Logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations. Results The prevalence of chromium allergy decreased significantly from 3·6% in 1985 to 1% in 1995 (P_trend < 0·001) but increased to 3·3% in 2007 (P_trend < 0·001). The frequency of clinically relevant cement exposure decreased significantly among patients with chromium allergy from 12·7% in 1989–1994 to 3·0% (P < 0·01) in 1995–2007, whereas the frequency of relevant leather exposure increased significantly from 24·1% during 1989–1994 to 45·5% during 1995–2007 (P < 0·02). Conclusions Chromium allergy is currently increasing in Denmark due to leather exposure.     

Psychiatric patients and their response to experimental stress

Serum levels of Epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), heart rate (HR), skin conductance reaction (SCR) and skin conductance level (SCL) were measured in schizophrenic, endogenous depressed and anxiety patients as well as in normal controls. Conditions were rest, noise and a mental arithmetic (MA) task. Schizophrenic and depressed patients had an attenuated HR response to MA. Moreover, Schizophrenic patients also had higher NE base level and the highest NE secretion during noise. Anxiety and depressed patients showed significantly lower phasic electrodermal activity (SCR) throughout the whole trial, exclusively anxiety patients had significantly higher tonic electrodermal activity (SCL). These findings indicate that autonomous reactions discriminate between patient groups and controls as well as between each other.     

第一产程胎心监护异常226例的相关因素分析

目的探讨第一产程胎心监护异常的相关因素，提示处理措施。方法2004年1月1日。12月31日对我院226例第一产程胎心监护异常的相关因素进行回顾性分析。结果第一产程胎心监护异常为综合因素所致，胎儿高危因素为91.59％，母体高危因素为65．49％，产程处理因素为42．92％。结论第一产程胎心监护异常主要与胎儿因素、母体因素有关，提高产前检查质量、加强产程监护、正确选择分娩方式极为重要。     

玉溪市2004年女职工普查结果分析

目的：为了解女职工患妇女病现状，充分认识普查普治必要性。方法：对玉溪市部分女职工进行常规妇科检查、白带多项快染、宫颈荧光筛查、乳腺红外线扫描。结果：女职工患病率74．54％，阴道炎患病率18．67％，宫颈糜烂患病率21，04％，子宫肌瘤占受检人数10．79％，慢性输卵管炎占9．60％，卵巢囊肿占4．3％，乳腺小叶增生患病率为26．86％，乳腺纤维瘤占0．43％，IF荧光宫颈癌筛查3-4分占8．33％。结论：女职工患病率高，提高宣传力度，定期开展妇女病普查普治尤为必要。     

稳定性核素测定大鼠小肠蛋白质合成

目的：建立稳定性核素（[L-^15N]亮氨酸）测定大鼠小肠蛋白质合成率的方法。方法：分别测定静脉注射相同剂量[L-^15N]亮氨酸不同时相的大鼠小肠^15N丰度及不同剂量[L-^15N]亮氨酸同一时相的大鼠小肠^15N丰度。结果：大鼠小肠游离氨基酸池中^15N核素丰度在注射后0．5h内呈线性上升并达高峰，维持4h后缓慢下降，小肠蛋白质中的^15N丰度0．5h至12h基本维持不变；随着注射剂量的增加，大鼠小肠蛋白质分数合成率（FSR）亦增加，当[L-^15N]亮氨酸剂量在1．0mmol／kg以上，FSR并不随施加[L15N]亮氨酸剂量的加大而增加。结论：在进行大鼠小肠蛋白质合成率测定时，一次性静脉注射的测量最佳时限为0．5h，剂量为1．0mmol／kg。     

Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

Investigation of the Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Stage Ⅱ Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in treatment of Stage Ⅱ breast cancer. METHODS The data from 113 patients with breast cancer of the same pathologic type in Stage Ⅱ,during the period of 1995 to 2001,were analyzed retrospectively.Among the patients,47 were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and 66 received no adjuvant therapy before surgery（control group）.After the patients of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group had received 2 courses of chemotherapy with the CMF regimen,the surgical procedure was conducted. RESULTS Complete remission（CR）was attained in 9 of the 47 cases receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and partial remission（PR）was reached for 22 cases.The rate of breast-conserving surgery was enhanced from 22.73%to 46.81%（P〈0.05）in the neoadjuvant treatment group. There was no difference in the 5-year overall survival（OS）and disease-free survival（DFS）rate between the two groups（P〉0.05）,but the 5-year OS and DFS of the cases with clinical tumor remission was higher compared to the control group（P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can enhance the rate of breast conservation for Stage Ⅱ breast cancer and may improve the prognosis of the cases with clinical remission.     

抑癌基因PTEN在胃癌中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨胃癌组织中PTEN基因表达与胃癌临床病理的关系及其对预后的判断价值。方法应用免疫组化SP技术和图像分析技术,研究PTEN在胃癌和正常胃黏膜组织中的表达情况及阳性表达面积、强阳性表达面积,分析与病理参数的关系,并采用Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析不同表达水平对术后生存率的影响。结果发现胃癌组织PTEN表达阳性率、阳性面积、强阳性面积均明显低于正常胃黏膜组织（P〈0.01）。胃癌组织PTEN表达与胃癌组织分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴转移、肿瘤分期明显相关,术后3、5 a生存率低表达者明显低于高表达者（P均〈0.05）。结论PTEN基因表达低下或丢失与胃癌发生、浸润、转移有关,可作为预测术后生存率的指标。     

Peritoneal dialysis patient survival: a comparison between a Swedish and a Korean centre.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patient mortality remains high, and this high mortality may be due to many factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, old age, co-morbid diseases, malnutrition, low residual renal function (RRF) and a high peritoneal transport rate have been shown to influence survival, but the relative importance of these factors may differ between different patient populations. Besides, centre practice patterns may differ between centres and may influence patient survival. In addition, the literature suggests that dialysis patient survival may be better in Asian than in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The influence of centre and patient characteristics on patient survival was investigated in 132 Korean and 106 Swedish incident PD patients, who underwent initial biochemical measurements and assessment of adequacy of dialysis, nutritional status, RRF and peritoneal transport characteristics. RESULTS: At the start of PD, Korean patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes, peritoneal Kt/V(urea), peritoneal creatinine clearance and peritoneal fluid removal, and lower body mass index, RRF and dialysate to plasma creatinine concentration ratio (D/P Cr) compared with Swedish patients. Significantly more patients from Korea were placed on temporary haemodialysis before PD (100 out of 132) when compared with Swedish patients (21 out of 106). During the follow-up, there was a significantly higher rate of transfer to other units in Korea and a significantly higher rate of kidney transplantation in Sweden. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall patient survival did not differ and relative risk for death was also not different between the two centres even after adjustment for age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, RRF and D/P Cr. On Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age, diabetes, RRF and D/P Cr were found to be independent predictors of mortality in the combined cohort of patients. While age, diabetes and D/P Cr were independent predictors of mortality in Korean patients, age and RRF independently predicted mortality in Swedish patients. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in centre and patient characteristics, we were unable to confirm a survival advantage for Korean over Swedish PD patients. The results of this study suggest that the reported difference in survival between Asian and Caucasian dialysis patients may have been due, in part, to differences in centre and patient characteristics rather than to race as such. The genetic influence on patient characteristics remains, however, to be elucidated.