Circulating endothelial cells in vascular disorders: new insights into an old concept

The endothelial contribution to vascular disorders has been widely documented in experimental models. However, its implication in human pathology is difficult to investigate, owing to the paucity of noninvasive methods and of specific endothelial markers. The enumeration of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) released in peripheral blood after vascular injury represents a direct exploration of the endothelium. For this purpose, we have produced a monoclonal antibody (S-Endo 1), which recognizes CD 146, a molecule expressed on all types of human endothelial cells but absent from haemopoietic cells. Using this antibody, we have designed a specific and sensitive immunocapture test, which allowed us to detect high numbers of CEC in thrombotic, infectious or immunological disorders, while CEC were found to be very rare ( < 3/ml) in normal subjects. This quantitative approach using CEC might prove useful as a marker of vascular wall injury. Their enumeration is of interest in the clinical follow-up of vascular disorders, in the evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness or in the direct diagnosis of infectious diseases involving intra-endothelial microbial agents. Furthermore, an immunological and/or functional study of CEC could allow one to assess their procoagulant and proadhesive properties, as well as their viability, opening new perspectives for CEC investigation in vascular pathology.     

Kinematic pharyngeal transit times in myopathy: Evaluation for dysphagia

Measurement of kinematic pharyngeal transit times, a new videofluoroscopy technique, provides useful quantitative data to supplement the qualitative data previously available from videofluoroscopy swallowing studies. Kinematic pharyngeal transit times have not previously been reported for subjects with myopathy. This study demonstrates the use of quantitative kinematic pharyngeal transit times for dysphagia evaluation in 15 patients with myopathy. The successful treatment of dysphagia by cricopharyngeal myotomy is reported in two patients with limb-girdle syndrome.     

Dysphagia in cerebral palsy: A comparative study of the exeter dysphagia assesment technique and a multidisciplinary assessment

Eighteen children with cerebral palsy in a special school, most of whom had feeding difficulties, were studied to compare the diagnostic value of the Exeter Dysphagia Assessment Technique (EDAT) with an exhaustive clinical assessment undertaken by a multidisciplinary team experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia of neurological origin. Four feeding skills were assessed by each method independently, viz. anticipation, intraoral sensory perception, oral-motor efficiency, and pharyngeal triggering. Comparison of the two sets of results showed agreement in at least 78% of the assessed skills. The possible reasons for the few discrepancies are discussed. The noninvasive EDAT equipment was easy to use with the children, who had a range of type and severity of cerebral palsy. The test was undertaken in their familiar surroundings and took 15 to 20 min per child. Interpretation of the results showed that EDAT provided a rapid, reliable diagnostic aid which assisted in the assessment of the degree of feeding impairment within each of the four feeding skills tested. The authors are very grateful for the financial support for this project which was provided partially by Action Research and partially by the Northcott Devon Medical Foundation     

食盐加碘对轻度缺碘地区甲状腺功能亢进症患者住院率的影响

目的 了解常州市区全民食盐加碘(USI)后甲状腺功能亢进症(甲亢)患者住院率的变化情况。方法 采用回顾性调查方法收集常州市区医院1992—1999年甲亢患者住院情况，计算住院率并进行比较。结果 甲亢患者年住院率在实行USI策略后，呈现逐年上升趋势。结论 甲亢患者住院率的升高可能与全民食盐加碘有关，2000年食盐加碘策略的调整是及时、正确的，应进一步对2000年以后的甲亢患者住院情况进行调查。     

Chromosome 15q25.1 genetic markers associated with level of response to alcohol in humans

As with other genetically complex common psychiatric and medical conditions, multiple genetic and environmental components contribute to alcohol use disorders (AUDs), which can confound attempts to identify genetic components. Intermediate phenotypes are often more closely correlated with underlying biology and have often proven invaluable in genetic studies. Level of response (LR) to alcohol is an intermediate phenotype for AUDs, and individuals with a low LR are at increased risk. A high rate of concurrent alcohol and nicotine use and dependence suggests that these conditions may share biochemical and genetic mechanisms. Genetic association studies indicate that a genetic locus, which includes the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 gene cluster, plays a role in nicotine consumption and dependence. Genetic association with alcohol dependence was also recently shown. We show here that two of the markers from the nicotine studies also show an association (multiple testing corrected P < 0.025) with several LR phenotypes in a sample of 367 siblings. Additional markers in the region were analyzed and shown to be located in a 250-kb expanse of high linkage disequilibrium containing three additional genes. These findings indicate that LR intermediate phenotypes have utility in genetic approaches to AUDs and will prove valuable in the identification of other genetic loci conferring susceptibility to AUDs.     

Effect of Liquid Bolus Consistency and Delivery Method on Aspiration and Pharyngeal Retention in Dysphagia Patients

There is no empirically derived consensus as to what food consistency types and method of food delivery (spoon, cup, straw) should be included in the videofluoroscopic swallowing (VFSS) studies. In the present study, we examine the rates of aspiration and pharyngeal retention in 190 dysphagic patients given thin (apple juice) and thick (apricot nectar) liquids delivered by teaspoon and cup and ultrathick (pudding-like) liquid delivered by teaspoon. Each patient was tested with each of the bolus/delivery method combinations. The fractions of patients exhibiting aspiration for each bolus/method of delivery combination were (1) thick liquids (cup), 13.2%; (2) thick liquids (spoon), 8.9%; (3) thin liquids (cup), 23.7%; (4) thin liquids (spoon), 15.8%, (5) ultrathick liquids (spoon), 5.8%. In each comparison [thick liquid (cup) vs. thick liquid (spoon), thin liquid (cup) vs. thin liquid (spoon), thick liquid (cup) vs. thin liquid (cup), thick liquid (spoon) vs. thin liquid (spoon), and thick liquid (spoon) vs. ultrathick liquid (spoon)], the p value for χ² was <0.001. These results suggest that utilizing thin, thick, and ultrathick liquids and delivery by cup and spoon during a VFSS of a patient with mild or moderate dysphagia can increase the chances of identifying a consistency that the patient can swallow without aspirating and without pharyngeal retention after swallowing. Submitted December 22, 1999; accepted September 6, 2000 with revision     

乳腺癌化疗相关认知功能障碍研究进展

化疗相关认知功能障碍是肿瘤患者在化疗中或化疗后出现的认知下降的现象。这不仅严重影响患者的生活质量,还会影响患者重返职场工作。本文介绍目前乳腺癌化疗相关认知功能损伤的概况、可能发生机制、评估手段、影像学发现及治疗方面的研究进展,并对该领域今后的研究方向进行了展望。     

多模态功能MRI对糖尿病脑病的研究

糖尿病是伴随多系统并发症的综合性代谢疾病,其所引起的认知障碍和大脑的神经生理及结构改变已成为研究热点。功能MRI(f MRI)可提供大脑解剖结构、功能、代谢等多方面的信息,近年来,随着人们对糖尿病脑病关注度的不断增加和认识的不断加深,f MRI开始并越来越多地被应用于该疾病的研究。作者就多模态f MRI对糖尿病脑病的研究现状与进展进行综述。     

脑外伤所致精神障碍神经影像学研究进展

脑外伤(traumatic brain injury,TBI)伴发精神障碍损伤机制正逐渐成为认知神经科学研究的焦点。目前对脑外伤后精神障碍的诊断主要依赖临床评估,具体发病机制知之甚少。最近基于影像学的研究发现脑外伤导致的病理改变并非传统观念认为的一过性损伤,其对脑网络功能及属性的破坏可能是终身的,这在一定程度上增加了阿尔茨海默病,创伤性脑病等远期后遗症的患病风险。作者拟对脑外伤出现精神障碍患者影像学改变的研究现状进行综述。