Nitric oxide and antioxidant enzyme levels in blood of respiratory distress syndrome – Egyptian preterms and their mothers

Background: The mechanisms of tissue injury in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) have not been completely elucidated but the involvement of oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is important in the pathogenesis of preterm labor and RDS.

Objectives: To assess the oxidative status in preterms with and without RDS and in their mothers.

Patients and methods: Measuring and comparing concentrations of serum nitric oxide (NO), and erythrocytic activities of some antioxidant enzymes in blood of 20 preterms with RDS and 20 preterms without and their mothers, respectively.

Results: Our results confirm significant elevation of mean levels of serum NO and reduced mean levels of erythrocytic activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), in RDS preterms and their mothers compared with controls and their mothers. A significant positive correlations were found between maternal and preterm serum NO (r?=?0.3 &; 0.6) and erythrocytic activity of SOD (r?=?0.5 &; 0.4) for RDS and control groups, respectively. In addition, a significant negative correlations were found between NO and SOD in all groups.

Conclusions: The existence of oxygen metabolites and lipid peroxidation was significantly more obvious in RDS preterms and in their mothers than those without.     

From Networks to Populations: The Development and Application of Respondent-Driven Sampling Among IDUs and Latino Gay Men

One of the challenges in studying HIV-risk behaviors among gay men is gathering information from a non-biased sample, as traditional probability sampling methods cannot be applied in gay populations. Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) has been proposed as a reliable and bias-free method to recruit “hidden” populations, such as gay men. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of RDS to sample Latino gay men and transgender persons. This was carried out when we used RDS to recruit participants into a study that investigated community involvement on HIV/AIDS sexual risk behaviors among Latino gay and bisexual men, and transgender (male-to-female) persons in Chicago and San Francisco. The population coverage of RDS was then compared to simulated time-location sampling (TLS). Recruitment differences were observed across cities, but the samples were comparable. RDS showed broader population coverage than TLS, especially among individuals at high risk for HIV.     

采用同伴推动抽样法进行男男性接触人群 HIV/STD流行病学调查的探索

目的探索同伴推动抽样法(Respondent driven sampling,RDS)在我国男男性接触(MSM)人群调查的可行性。方法使用RDS对北京市MSM进行抽样调查及血清学检测,了解他们艾滋病病毒(HIV)、性病感染状况及行为特点;采用RDSAT软件进行统计分析,NETDRAW和EXCEL作图。结果共征募MSM 325人,其中35岁以下占90.5%,未婚占83.0%(95%CI:76.4~88.9),外地户籍为61.9%(95%CI:54.0~70.1);HIV感染率为0.4%(95%CI:0.1~0.5),梅毒抗体阳性率为13.7%(95%CI:9.1~19.0),梅毒RPR阳性率6.0%(95%CI:3.8~8.7);56.2%(95%CI:50.0~65.0)为男性性取向,88.9%首次性行为年龄≤24岁,56.3%(95%CI:49.5~64.0)半年内有≥2个性伴,近6个月无保护插入性肛交为51.8%(95%CI:44.0~59.4),无保护被插入性肛交为44.8%(95%CI:37.2~52.3)。结论RDS简便易行,无需过多调查员投入前期准备工作,实为开展隐匿人群调查的行之有效的方法之一。北京市MSM人群HIV感染率可能处于低水平,但存在HIV流行隐患。     

低出生体重早产儿宫外发育迟缓的相关因素分析

目的探讨胎龄≤32周低出生体重早产儿宫外发育迟缓（EUGR）发生率及其相关影响因素。方法纳入126例胎龄≤32周低出生体重早产儿,记录胎龄（超声或出生时成熟度分析数据）、出生时体重、身长、头围、性别、是否低于胎龄儿、是否存在呼吸窘迫综合征、最大生理性体重减少率、恢复出生体重的天数、起始肠内喂养时间、完全肠内喂养时间（每天奶量〉100 ml/kg·d）,37～42周时测定早产儿体重、身长、头围,以体重、身长和头围计,分析EUGR发生率、其危险因素以及适于胎龄儿（AGA）和低于胎龄儿（SGA）EUGR发生率。结果 EUGR组胎龄、出生体重、出生身长、出生头围均低于非EUGR组（均P〈0.01）,而体重下降率（%）、恢复出生体重时间、起始肠内喂养时间以及完全肠内喂养时间均大于非EUGR组（均P〈0.01）,SGA比例明显大于非EUGR组（均P〈0.05）。以体重、身长、头围计,所有新生儿EUGR发生率分别为47.6%、39.7%和4.8%。总体上SGA宫外发育迟缓率明显高于AGA（均P〈0.01）。胎龄、恢复出生体重时间、完全肠内喂养时间与EUGR发生密切相关。结论胎龄、宫内发育迟缓、营养摄入差及呼吸窘迫综合症仍是胎龄≤32周早产儿EUGR发生的危险因素。     

同伴推动抽样在中国大陆男男性行为人群中的应用研究

[目的]为了使即将开展的全国男男性行为人群(MSM)艾滋病综合防治调查研究中同伴推动抽样(RDS)方法得到技术保障,使调查人员在现场工作过程中少发生差错,从而提高调查的质量,保证数据的效度,结合国内其他地区的实践,对2006年在广州地区MSM中开展的调查进行了分析。[方法]综合应用参与设计调查、现场观察、日志分析、专家和志愿者访谈和会议培训讨论等定性研究方法,主要分析了RDS的技术关键问题,现场调查中容易发生的差错及其有效解决方法以及RDS应用的优缺点。[结果]RDS在国内MSM研究中已经显示了其可行性、有效性和经济性;开展RDS的人员需要经过严格的技术培训,开展RDS的地区在现场招募开始前的社区动员对招募的进度有积极的作用。RDS在现场开展中依然存在一些不足之处。[结论]当前针对全国MSM开展艾滋病防治中在部分地区试点RDS抽样方法是必要和可行的,但要审慎制定试点方案,严格选拔和培训试点工作人员,并组织专家对RDS应用中的缺陷开展专题研究。     

深圳地区MSM性伴数量及影响因素分析

目的了解深圳地区男男性行为人群（MSM）性伴数量,分析其影响因素。方法应用同伴推动抽样（RDS）法进行抽样调查,收集MsM人群人口学和性伴数等资料。用SAS软件对数据进行Poisson回归分析。结果共抽样调查351例MSM。最近半年,仅31．4％MSM没有肛交性伴或保持单一性伴,25．9％没有口交性伴或保持单一性伴：28．5％有女性性伴,其中11．4％有多个女性性伴。职业为娱乐场所从业人员和曾做过男男性工作者（MB）,是MSM肛交性伴数和口交性伴数的共同危险因素。除此之外,HIV风险感知越高,艾滋病知识得分越高,MSM口交性伴数越多。结论对该人群有针对性的干预行动已刻不容缓,以有效阻断HIV传播和蔓延。     

Neuro-psychopharmacogenetics and Neurological Antecedents of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Unlocking the Mysteries of Resilience and Vulnerability

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Although the biological underpinnings of immediate and protracted trauma-related responses are extremely complex, 40 years of research on humans and other mammals have demonstrated that trauma (particularly trauma early in the life cycle) has long-term effects on neurochemical responses to stressful events. These effects include the magnitude of the catecholamine response and the duration and extent of the cortisol response. In addition, a number of other biological systems are involved, including mesolimbic brain structures and various neurotransmitters. An understanding of the many genetic and environmental interactions contributing to stress-related responses will provide a diagnostic and treatment map, which will illuminate the vulnerability and resilience of individuals to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PROPOSAL AND CONCLUSIONS: We propose that successful treatment of PTSD will involve preliminary genetic testing for specific polymorphisms. Early detection is especially important, because early treatment can improve outcome. When genetic testing reveals deficiencies, vulnerable individuals can be recommended for treatment with "body friendly" pharmacologic substances and/or nutrients. Results of our research suggest the following genes should be tested: serotoninergic, dopaminergic (DRD2, DAT, DBH), glucocorticoid, GABAergic (GABRB), apolipoprotein systems (APOE2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Monamine B, CNR1, Myo6, CRF-1 and CRF-2 receptors, and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Treatment in part should be developed that would up-regulate the expression of these genes to bring about a feeling of well being as well as a reduction in the frequency and intensity of the symptoms of PTSD.