Effects of exposure to air pollution on blood coagulation

BACKGROUND: Consistent evidence has indicated that air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The underlying mechanisms linking air pollutants to increased cardiovascular risk are unclear. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between the pollution levels and changes in such global coagulation tests as the prothrombin time (PT) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in 1218 normal subjects from the Lombardia Region, Italy. Plasma fibrinogen and naturally occurring anticoagulant proteins were also evaluated. METHODS: Hourly concentrations of particulate (PM10) and gaseous pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, and O3) were obtained from 53 monitoring sites covering the study area. Generalized additive models were applied to compute standardized regression coefficients controlled for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, hormone use, temperature, day of the year, and long-term trends. RESULTS: The PT became shorter with higher ambient air concentrations at the time of the study of PM10 (coefficient = -0.06; P < 0.05), CO (coefficient = -0.11; P < 0.001) and NO2 (coefficient =-0.06; P < 0.05). In the 30 days before blood sampling, the PT was also negatively associated with the average PM(10) (coefficient = -0.08; P < 0.05) and NO2 (coefficient = -0.08; P < 0.05). No association was found between the APTT and air pollutant levels. In addition, no consistent relations with air pollution were found for fibrinogen, antithrombin, protein C and protein S. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation shows that air pollution is associated with changes in the global coagulation function, suggesting a tendency towards hypercoagulability after short-term exposure to air pollution. Whether these changes contribute to trigger cardiovascular events remains to be established.     

Evaluating risk factors associated with severe hypoglycaemia in epidemiology studies—what method should we use?

AIMS: To determine the most appropriate regression models to use when assessing risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia and to investigate the impact of model misspecification and its clinical implications. METHODS: A total of 1229 children with Type 1 diabetes (mean age 11.7 years sd 4.1), of which 605 (49.2%) were males, were studied. Prospective assessment of severe hypoglycaemia (an event leading to loss of consciousness or seizure) was made over the 9-year period, 1992-2001. Patients were seen every 3 months and episodes of hypoglycaemia along with clinical data were recorded. Over 70% of children never experienced a severe hypoglycaemic event. Data were analysed using the Poisson regression, negative binomial, zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) and zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) models. The over-dispersion and likelihood ratio statistics were calculated and the analytical methods compared. RESULTS: The Poisson regression model did not fit the data well. The negative binomial and the zero inflated Poisson and negative binomial models fitted the data better than Poisson. CONCLUSIONS: The commonly used Poisson regression models to analyse hypoglycaemia epidemiology may lead to biased parameter estimates and incorrect determination of risk factors for hypoglycaemia. We recommend the use of the negative binomial or zero inflated models to examine any risk factors associated with severe hypoglycaemia. Careful consideration must be given to the interpretation of hypoglycaemia surveys and their analysis.     

Genetic contributions to Parkinson's disease

Sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the loss of midbrain dopamine neurons and Lewy body inclusions. It is thought to result from a complex interaction between multiple predisposing genes and environmental influences, although these interactions are still poorly understood. Several causative genes have been identified in different families. Mutations in two genes [α-synuclein and nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1)] cause the same pathology, and a third locus on chromosome 2 also causes this pathology. Other familial PD mutations have identified genes involved in the ubiquitin–proteasome system [parkin and ubiquitin C-terminal hydroxylase L1 (UCHL1)], although such cases do not produce Lewy bodies. These studies highlight critical cellular proteins and mechanisms for dopamine neuron survival as disrupted in Parkinson's disease. Understanding the genetic variations impacting on dopamine neurons may illuminate other molecular mechanisms involved. Additional candidate genes involved in dopamine cell survival, dopamine synthesis, metabolism and function, energy supply, oxidative stress, and cellular detoxification have been indicated by transgenic animal models and/or screened in human populations with differing results. Genetic variation in genes known to produce different patterns and types of neurodegeneration that may impact on the function of dopamine neurons are also reviewed. These studies suggest that environment and genetic background are likely to have a significant influence on susceptibility to Parkinson's disease. The identification of multiple genes predisposing to Parkinson's disease will assist in determining the cellular pathway/s leading to the neurodegeneration observed in this disease.     

Cost-effectiveness of human papillomavirus testing after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE: To compare current cytological follow up of women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) with follow up by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing together with cytology. DESIGN: A cost-effectiveness modelling study. SETTING: Gynaecology clinics in the Netherlands. POPULATION: Women treated for high-grade CIN. METHODS: A Markov model was developed to compare six follow-up strategies with HPV testing with current cytological follow up at 6, 12, and 24 months. Model parameter estimation was based on three Dutch follow-up studies and a Dutch population-based screening cohort. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of CIN2/3 cases missed after 5 years follow up, the number of diagnostic procedures, and costs involved. RESULTS: Strategies with adjunct HPV testing were more effective than current follow up (reduction in missed CIN2/3 cases 32-77%, corresponding to a number needed to treat of 192-455) and less inconvenient (reduction in repeat smears 28-65%). A particularly attractive strategy was HPV testing alone at 6 months and both HPV and cytological testing at 24 months after treatment. This strategy yielded a high detection rate of post-treatment CIN, did not lead to an increase in colposcopy rate, and was 49 Euro per woman cheaper than the current strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Our model supports the use of high-risk HPV testing for monitoring women treated for high-grade CIN.     

Evaluation of four elastomeric interocclusal recording materials

Background: The fabrication of dental prosthesis requires the transfer of interocclusal records from patient's mouth to semiadjustable articulators using different kinds of recording media. Any inaccuracy in these interocclusal records leads to occlusal errors in the final prosthesis. This study was conducted to evaluate the dimensional changes occurring in the interocclusal recording material over a given period of time and the material's resistance to compression during the cast mounting on the articulator.     

Studies on the effects of Pluchea indica less root extract on gastroduodenal ulcer models in rats and guineapigs

The methanolic fraction of P. indica root extract was found to possess significant antiulcer activity in different experimental animal models. In preventive antiulcer tests, significant protective actions in acetylsalicylic acid, serotonin and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions were observed in experimental rats. The extract also afforded significant protection to chemically-induced duodenal lesion in guineapigs. Significant enhancement of healing process in acetic acid-induced chronic gastric lesions were also observed in the extract-treated animals.     

新胆碱酯酶抑制剂对实验性重症肌无力的治疗作用

本文应用实验性重症肌无力模型研究了7种新的胆碱酯酶抑制剂对实验性重症肌无力的治疗作用,其中包括6种二甲氨基甲酸烷氧(烷硫)基苯酯及1种中草药提取物,大多数化合物对乙酰胆碱酯酶有较强的抑制作用,并见到有不同程度的治疗效果。二甲氨基甲酸-3-叔丁基-4〔2-(1-哌啶基)乙氧基〕苯酯不仅明显改善肌无力症状,而且毒性小、副作用较新斯的明轻,值得进一步研究。     

急性软脑膜微循环障碍实验模型的研究

本文报道应用高分子右旋糖酐制成软脑膜微循环障碍的动物实验模型。软脑膜微循环障碍模型的标志;软脑膜微血管血流速度减慢,血液流态呈粒状流或絮状流,血细胞聚集。 将98只家兔分成甲、乙二组。甲组38只,静脉注射平均分子量为25万的高分子右旋糖酐,乙组60只,静脉注射平均分子量为49万的高分子右旋糖酐。实验结果发现,甲组38只家兔仅28只可复制成软脑膜微循环障碍的实验模型,模型复制成功率为73.6％;乙组60只家兔,59只可形成软脑膜微循环障碍实验模型,成功率为98.3％。本实验证明复制动物模型以49万分子量的高分子有旋糖酐为宜。 本实验模型可用于脑微循环障碍和改善脑微循环药物的研究工作。