Elevated serum levels of the apoptosis related molecules TNF-α, Fas/Apo-1 and Bcl-2 in oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND: The serum circulatory levels of apoptosis related molecules measured in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and healthy individuals in order to investigate possible alterations associated with the clinical forms of OLP. METHODS: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, soluble Fas (sFas) and Bcl-2 studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in whole blood samples in 13 OLP reticular, 13 OLP atrophic-erosive form patients and 26 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Significantly elevated levels of TNF-alpha and sFas detected in OLP patients as compared with controls. Serum concentrations of Bcl-2 although increased in 17/26 patients, they were not statistically significant. Reticular OLP exhibited slightly elevated TNF-alpha and significantly elevated Bcl-2 serum levels, compared with erosive OLP. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a putative dysfunction in the Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis might be involved in the OLP pathogenesis. A downregulation of Bcl-2 serum levels in the atrophic-erosive OLP may be associated with promotion of the disease activity.     

Rapid drop in serum testosterone after bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy.

Bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy was performed in six patients with metastatic prostatic carcinoma. In these patients the serum levels of testosterone were determined serially up to twenty-four hours. Castrate levels of testosterone were achieved in about two and one-half hours. This is the first published report of such a rapid decrease in serum testosterone. Castrate levels of serum testosterone using the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists are achieved in fourteen to twenty-one days. The relative cost of orchiectomy and LH-RH agonists, for thirty-six months, was $2,042.00 and $12,780.00, respectively. LH-RH agonists may be effective for only a year. Urologists are urged to continue using bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy and not use LH-RH agonists in the management of metastatic prostatic carcinoma.     

Fluid-fluid levels in cavernous hemangioma of soft tissue

Five cases of cavernous hemangioma with fluid-fluid levels on magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography are reported. The signal characteristics were those of blood and histological analysis of the fluid-fluid levels showed that they were blood-filled cavities in the tumor. Although this finding itself is not specific, it may help in confirming the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma.     

不同层次护生对临床教学质量的评价

目的分析不同层次护生对临床教学质量评价的差异,以便采取有针对性的教学方法.方法护生在每个科室实习结束后,采用自行设计的临床教学评价表对每名护生进行问卷调查,然后分别从中专、大专、本科护生填写的调查表中各随机抽取30%进行分析.结果对病房教学氛围和护士长教学管理的评价,本科与中专、大专护生间比较,差异有显著性意义(均P<0.05),中专与大专护生间无差异(P>0.05);对带教老师的评价,本科与中专、大专与中专护生间均差异有显著性意义(P<0.01,P<0.05),本科与大专间无差异(P>0.05).结论不同层次护生对临床教学质量评价的侧重点不同,本科生对病房教学氛围及护士长教学管理的要求较高,大专生次之.在临床教学中应根据护生的学历层次,采取有针对性的教学方法,以便不断提高临床教学质量.     

不同海拔高度健康藏汉族青年脉象图研究

本文通过对不同海拔高度藏汉族健康青青年的４００幅脉图分析后认为，健康藏汉族青年的脉象以滑、平、弦、缓为多。结古和西宁的藏汉族青年脉力图的主要生理参数中不同海拔高度上有一定差异，表现为结古青年弦脉较多，而西宁教地区滑脉较多，究其形成原因，主要与高海拔缺氧、寒冷环境有密切关系；在民族间也存在一定差异，表现为汉族弦脉多，藏族滑脉多，它们的形成与移居高原后心血管的反庆和代偿机制有关，在性别间有明星的差异。     

不同方法治疗特殊部位白癜风疗效的比较

目的通过不同方法治疗特殊部位白癜风的疗效观察,以便筛选出对不同部位白癜风的最佳治疗方法.方法随机将l 22例(375区白斑)特殊部位白癜风患者分为5组,移植微型毛胚组42例,磨削去除白斑组52例,毛囊刮取物注射组35例,液氮冷冻起疱去除白斑组30例,外用药物治疗组45例.观察其疗效,对各组病例统一疗效标准判断,统计学处理.结果移植微型毛胚组总有效率97.1 %,磨削去除白斑组总有效率94.7 %,毛囊刮取物注射组总有效率59.7 %,液氮冷冻起疱去除白斑组总有效率57.1%,外用药物治疗组总有效率45.5 %.经统计学处理,各组之间比较,差异有非常显著性意义(χ^2＝111.77,P＜0.005).结论特殊部位白癜风的治疗,目前仍是一个棘手的问题,上述所介绍的方法无疑是在实践中切实可行的方法,各有特色,可以根据不同部位,酌情选择最佳方法,也可以联合应用,相互补充,提高疗效.     

Transforming growth factor alpha treatment alters intracellular calcium levels in hair cells and protects them from ototoxic damage in vitro

To determine if transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) pretreatment protects hair cells from aminoglycoside induced injury by modifying their intracellular calcium concentration, we assayed hair cell calcium levels in organ of Corti explants both before and after aminoglycoside (i.e. neomycin, 10⁻³M) exposure either with or without growth factor pretreatment. After TGFα (500ng/ml) treatment, the intracellular calcium level of hair cells showed a five-fold increase as compared to the levels observed in the hair cells of control cultures. After ototoxin exposure, calcium levels in hair cells of control explants showed an increase relative to their baseline levels, while in the presence of growth factors pretreatment, hair cells showed a relative reduction in calcium levels. Pretreatment of organ of Corti explants afforded significant protection of hair cell stereocilia bundle morphology from ototoxic damage when compared to explants exposed to ototoxin alone. This study correlates a rise in hair cell calcium levels with the otoprotection of hair cells by TGFα in organ of Corti explants.     

Prognostic role of immunosuppressive acidic protein in advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate immunosuppressive acidic protein in the prognostic characterization of advanced ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Serum levels of immunosuppressive protein were prospectively measured in 80 patients with untreated ovarian carcinoma. To evaluate the prognostic significance of immunosuppressive acidic protein levels, cutoff points were studied every 50 μg/ml between 450 and 1350 μg/ml. RESULTS: Pretreatment immunosuppressive acidic protein levels were not significantly associated with stage, histotype, grade of differentiation, postoperative residual tumor, and response to chemotherapy. The most significant association with survival was observed at a cutoff value of 1100 μg/ml (p = 0.0089). In the univariate analysis for overall survival, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and immunosuppressive acidic protein status were found to have a role in predicting ovarian cancer prognosis. In the multivariate analysis only immunosuppressive acidic protein status was significantly associated with survival. A statistical correlation was found between serum levels and overall survival (p = 0.0104, χ² 6.56), including immunosuppressive acidic protein as a continuous variable. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that immunosuppressive acidic protein assay is a potentially useful tool in the prognostic characterization of advanced ovarian cancer. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;175:1606-10.)     

玻璃体切除联合不同手术方式治疗晶状体脱位于玻璃体腔的疗效观察

目的探讨玻璃体切除联合不同手术方式治疗晶状体脱位于玻璃体腔的临床疗效。方法眼外伤、白内障手术中并发症和马凡综合征及不明原因所造成的晶状体脱位于玻璃体腔的患者27例(29只眼),采用玻璃体切除联合不同的手术方式取出晶状体,包括标准睫状体扁平部三通道闭合式玻璃体切除联合晶状体切除术、玻璃体切除联合晶状体超声粉碎术、玻璃体切除联合应用全氟化碳液体角膜缘切口取出晶状体术等。结果29只眼脱位于玻璃体腔之晶状体均被成功地取出,视力均有不同程度的提高。8只眼矫正视力恢复至≥0.3,7只眼继发性青光眼,手术后除1只眼需局部用降眼压药外,眼压均得到控制;6只眼伴有视网膜脱离者,联合视网膜复位手术,使其复位成功;10只眼同期行人工晶状体睫状沟缝线固定。29只眼无1例发生严重并发症。结论脱位于玻璃体腔之晶状体如果长期存留将会产生多种较为严重的并发症,因此,在高眼压和炎症反应得到基本控制的前提下,根据不同情况,应用玻璃切除手术联合不同的手术方式,尽早及时地取出脱位于玻璃体腔之晶状体,对视功能的恢复和减少并发症的发生有着重要的临床治疗价值。