Binge alcohol-induced alterations in BDNF and GDNF expression in central extended amygdala and pyriform cortex on infant rats

Mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy may cause a neurotoxic syndrome termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the offspring, which includes cognitive deficits and emotional/social disturbances. These alterations are thought to be caused, at least in part, by alcohol-induced imbalance in neurotrophic factor levels, which are critically involved in normal neurodevelopment. Our goal was to study whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression were affected by alcohol in central extended amygdala (CEXA) and pyriform cortex (Pyr), structures strongly involved in emotional/social behaviors. Further, we evaluated how these changes could be related to blood and brain alcohol concentrations. Postnatal day (PND) pups at 7, 15 and 20-days old were administered alcohol (2.5 g/kg s.c. at 0 and 2 h) or saline. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of BDNF and GDNF at 2, 12 and 24 h after drug administration. Also, gas chromatography was bused to measure blood alcohol levels (BALs) and brain alcohol levels (BrALs) at each hour, from 2 to 8 h after the second alcohol administration. Results showed: (1) alcohol-induced enhancement of BDNF positive cells on PND 7 and 20, a decrease on PND 15 in the CEXA, and no changes in the Pyr on PND 7 and 20, but a diminished on PND 15; (2) GDNF positive cells rise after alcohol administration for the three ages in the CEXA and Pyr except on PND 15, where there was a decline; and (3) pharmacokinetics analysis demonstrated age-related differences showing equal BALs on PND 7 and 20 but higher BALs on PND 15. In contrast, BrALs were higher on PND 7 than 15 and 20. Hence, BALs may not be predictive of BrALs in postnatal rats. Furthermore, we did not find a relationship between age in pharmacokinetic differences and neurotrophins response. In conclusion, the CEXA and Pyr are brain structures sensitive to alcohol-induced imbalance in neurotrophic factors expression; and BALs are not a mirror of BrALs.     

Establishing diagnostic reference levels for interventional procedures in Kenya

PurposeTo quantify ionizing radiation exposure to patients during interventional procedures and establish national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs) for clinical radiation exposure management.MethodsThe cumulative reference point air kerma, kerma area product, fluoroscopy time and other operational parameters were monitored for 50 children and 261 adult patient procedures in five catheterization medical laboratories in Kenya. To estimate the risk associated with the exposure, effective doses were derived from the kerma area product using conversion factors from Monte Carlo models.ResultsAbout 3% of the measured cumulative reference point air kerma for the interventional procedures approached the threshold dose limit with the potential to cause deterministic effects such as skin injuries. In interventional cardiology, the results obtained for both children and adults indicated 33% were below the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). In adult interventional radiology, 29% for cumulative reference point air kerma, and 43% for kerma area product and fluoroscopy time respectively were below the diagnostic reference levels. NDRLs were proposed for routine use in the procedures considered and for the non-existent DRLs situations in paediatric interventional cardiology.ConclusionThe measured patient doses were above the DRLs available in the literature indicating a need for radiation optimization through, continuous monitoring and recording of patient dose. To promote radiation safety, facilities performing interventional procedures need to establish a radiation monitoring notification threshold for possible deterministic effects, in addition to the use of the newly established national diagnostic reference levels, as a quality assurance measure.     

不同类型妊娠期高血压疾病对高龄孕产妇妊娠结局的影响分析

目的:探讨不同类型妊娠期高血压疾病对高龄孕产妇妊娠结局影响的分析。方法:选择2012年2月至2014年8月在我院诊治的160例不同类型妊娠期高血压疾病(PIH)患者为观察组,其中PIH 95例,子痫前期45例,子痫期20例;年龄22~38岁,平均(26.8±3.5)岁;初产妇94例,经产妇66例;孕期23~38周,平均(30.4±3.8)周。同时选取同期在我院分娩的正常产妇102例,其中年龄21~36岁,平均(24.6±4.1)岁;初产妇72例,经产妇30例;孕期24~39周,平均(31.2±4.1)周。患者一般情况比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结果:观察组孕产妇在分娩方式、早产儿、新生儿窒息、胎儿窘迫、胎盘早剥、围生儿死亡以及产后出血等并发症的发生率明显高于对照组(P0.05);观察组内孕产妇在分娩方式、早产儿、新生儿窒息、胎儿窘迫、胎盘早剥、围生儿死亡以及产后出血等并发症的发生率在PIH、子痫前期、子痫期逐渐增高(P0.05)。结论:正确认识和看待不同类型PIH的进展及并发症的规律,对改善母婴的预后有着重要意义,值得临床进一步深入研究。     

术前促性腺激素释放激素激动剂治疗对子宫内膜异位症患者血清学指标及内膜组织相关基因表达的影响

目的：分析术前促性腺激素释放激素激动剂(GnRH-a)治疗对子宫内膜异位症患者血清学指标及内膜组织相关基因表达的影响。方法选择于2012年12月~2014年12月在湖南省人民医院住院治疗的子宫内膜异位症患者82例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法将其分为观察组和对照组,每组各41例。观察组患者接受术前GnRH-a联合腹腔镜治疗,对照组患者接受单纯腹腔镜治疗。比较两组患者的激素水平、疾病相关指标及复发相关指标、内膜组织基因表达等情况差异。结果观察组患者接受治疗后的雌二醇、卵泡刺激素、孕激素、黄体生成素水平明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组患者接受治疗后的CA125、CA199、基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂-1、血管内皮生长因子水平均显著低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组患者的内皮型一氧化氮合酶、CD34、LIvin表达水平显著低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论术前GnRH-a治疗有助于降低子宫内膜异位症患者的激素水平,有利于腹腔镜手术的病灶彻底切除,降低术后复发可能性。     

胸腔置管引流联合胸腔内注入不同剂量的尿激酶治疗复杂性肺炎旁胸腔积液的疗效探讨

目的：探讨不同剂量的尿激酶在治疗复杂性肺炎旁胸腔积液中的疗效。方法将48复杂性例肺炎旁胸腔积液患者随机分为大剂量尿激酶治疗组和小剂量尿激酶对照组,大剂量治疗组26例,小剂量对照组22例。大剂量治疗组首次胸腔抽液后注入含25万u尿激酶的生理盐水20 mL,小剂量对照组给予含尿激酶10万u的生理盐水20 mL。比较两组胸腔积液引流量、住院时间及治疗效果。结果在规则抗感染的治疗下,大剂量治疗组平均胸液引流量(1840±100)mL、平均住院时间为(20.4±2)d,大剂量治疗组总有效率92.3%;小剂量对照组平均胸液引流量(1420±90) mL,平均住院时间为(27.2±2)d,总有效率63.6%,比较两组平均胸液引流量、平均住院时间及总有效率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。不良反应两组无差异。结论胸腔引流后腔内应用大剂量尿激酶25万u,能显著增加胸水引流量,减少住院时间,疗效满意,且未出现明显的毒副作用。     

Development of Diagnostic Reference Levels Using a Real-Time Radiation Dose Monitoring System at a Cardiovascular Center in Korea

Digital cardiovascular angiography accounts for a major portion of the radiation dose among the examinations performed at cardiovascular centres. However, dose-related information is neither monitored nor recorded systemically. This report concerns the construction of a radiation dose monitoring system based on digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data and its use at the cardiovascular centre of the University Hospitals in Korea. The dose information was analysed according to DICOM standards for a series of procedures, and the formulation of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) at our cardiovascular centre represents the first of its kind in Korea. We determined a dose area product (DAP) DRL for coronary angiography of 75.6 Gy cm² and a fluoroscopic time DRL of 318.0 s. The DAP DRL for percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention was 213.3 Gy cm², and the DRL for fluoroscopic time was 1207.5 s.     

Effects of obesity on the association between long‐term sleep apnea treatment and changes in interleukin‐6 levels: the Icelandic Sleep Apnea Cohort

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in interleukin (IL)‐6 and soluble IL‐6 receptor levels in obstructive sleep apnea patients and assess the role of positive airway pressure treatment and obesity on these changes. A total of 309 newly diagnosed subjects with sleep apnea from the Icelandic Sleep Apnea Cohort were referred for treatment and reassessed at a 2‐year follow‐up. Full treatment was defined objectively as use ≥4 h day^?1 and ≥20 days month^?1. At the 2‐year follow‐up, there were 177 full users, 44 partial users and 88 non‐users. The mean change in biomarker levels from baseline to the 2‐year follow‐up was assessed in a primary model that included adjustment for baseline biomarker levels, baseline body mass index and change in body mass index, as well as after adjustment for numerous relevant covariates. No significant overall difference in IL‐6 level change was found among full, partial and non‐users. However, in severely obese patients (body mass index ≥35), a significant increase in IL‐6 levels during the 2‐year period was found in partial and non‐users, compared to no change in full users. Results were attenuated in a smaller propensity score matched subsample, although similar trends were observed. No differences were found in soluble IL‐6 receptor levels between full users and non‐users, after adjustment for confounders. In conclusion, among untreated obese sleep apnea patients, IL‐6 levels increase substantially during 2 years, while adherence to positive airway pressure treatment may prevent further increases in this inflammatory biomarker.     

Predictors of metformin failure in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Introduction and objective

The role of metformin in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is also increasing. However, almost half of metformin-treated women required additional insulin. Therefore, identifying the characteristics of these women may help define optimal therapeutic strategy.

Stepped‐wedge cluster randomised controlled trials: a generic framework including parallel and multiple‐level designs

Stepped‐wedge cluster randomised trials (SW‐CRTs) are being used with increasing frequency in health service evaluation. Conventionally, these studies are cross‐sectional in design with equally spaced steps, with an equal number of clusters randomised at each step and data collected at each and every step. Here we introduce several variations on this design and consider implications for power. One modification we consider is the incomplete cross‐sectional SW‐CRT, where the number of clusters varies at each step or where at some steps, for example, implementation or transition periods, data are not collected. We show that the parallel CRT with staggered but balanced randomisation can be considered a special case of the incomplete SW‐CRT. As too can the parallel CRT with baseline measures. And we extend these designs to allow for multiple layers of clustering, for example, wards within a hospital. Building on results for complete designs, power and detectable difference are derived using a Wald test and obtaining the variance–covariance matrix of the treatment effect assuming a generalised linear mixed model. These variations are illustrated by several real examples. We recommend that whilst the impact of transition periods on power is likely to be small, where they are a feature of the design they should be incorporated. We also show examples in which the power of a SW‐CRT increases as the intra‐cluster correlation (ICC) increases and demonstrate that the impact of the ICC is likely to be smaller in a SW‐CRT compared with a parallel CRT, especially where there are multiple levels of clustering. Finally, through this unified framework, the efficiency of the SW‐CRT and the parallel CRT can be compared. © 2014 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.