铁蛋白临床价值的研究进展

铁蛋白被临床医师广泛应用于多种临床疾病的诊断、监测及治疗之中.血清铁蛋白水平降低对缺铁性贫血的诊断具有很高特异性;低铁蛋白血症与儿童及老年患者神经系统疾病的发生密切相关;铁蛋白在慢性肾病及多种自身免疫性疾病、噬血淋巴细胞组织增生症中均有不同程度增高,在这些疾病的诊断、监测中有独特临床价值;慢性肝病患者的铁蛋白水平与肝纤维化程度呈正相关关系;铁蛋白不仅是恶性肿瘤的血清标志物,亦为其治疗恶性肿瘤的绝佳纳米级载体;高血清铁蛋白水平与代谢综合征疾病状态紧密相关.为了全面了解铁蛋白在临床实践中的作用,笔者拟就铁蛋白在临床中的应用价进行综述.     

美沙酮维持治疗的法律困境与选择

美沙酮维持治疗具有预防艾滋病病毒感染和戒毒的双重功能,在我国获得明显绩效。在实际运用中,美沙酮维持治疗管理涉及多部门和多部法律法规,在机构性质、行政许可、药品包装、内部管理等方面面临法律困境,因此需要在方案、责任体系、纠纷解决、监管程序等方面完善。     

The effects of institutional change on geographic variation and health services use in the U.S.A

This paper examines the impact of institutional change on patient care. Using panel data on obstetric deliveries from the state of California in the United States between 1983 and 2001, it develops and tests hypotheses predicting impacts of three features of institutional change-managed care insurance, changing professional controls and public attention to cost-control practices-on cesarean use and geographic variation in cesarean deliveries. It finds that managed care insurance promotes the diffusion of cost-effective patient care practices, reducing cesarean use and increasing variation. I found that over time, managed care patients experience continued lower use and reduced geographic variation as new practices become established. The combined effects of changing professional controls-the growing importance of clinical guidelines-and public attention to cost-control practices also diffuses cost-effective practices, increasing variation and decreasing cesarean use. Cesarean use increases and geographic variation declines in a period of managed care retreat in the late 1990s. The analysis extends prior research by documenting the impact of institutional change on health services use and variation and by suggesting that geographic variation is caused, in part, by the diffusion of new patient care practices.     

Detection of genital tuberculosis among women with infertility using best clinical practices in India: An implementation study

BackgroundDiagnosis of genital tuberculosis (TB) as a cause of infertility still remains a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians, as no standard guidelines exist. The recently proposed best practices for genital TB diagnosis have not been evaluated yet in India.ObjectivesTo implement best practices to diagnose and treat likely genital TB as a cause of infertility.MethodsBetween April 2016 and June 2018, consenting women seen at a tertiary hospital infertility clinic were assessed by thorough TB related clinical history, ultrasonography, tuberculin skin test (TST), and ESR. Those with suspected genital TB underwent laparohysteroscopy. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between likely (microbiologically confirmed or probable TB) and unlikely (possible and no genital TB) genital TB. Fertility outcome was assessed among women initiated on anti-TB treatment (ATT).ResultsOf 185 women seeking infertility care, likely genital TB was identified among 29 (15.7%) women, with 6 (21%) confirmed and 23 (79%) probable genital TB. Compared to unlikely genital TB cases, the likely genital TB group were found to have past history of TB (p < 0.001); positive TST (p = 0.002) and elevated ESR (p = 0.001). Among the likely genital TB group, all 6 confirmed genital TB were started on ATT and 2 (33.3%) conceived. Of 5 probable genital TB started on ATT, 3 (60%) conceived.ConclusionApproximately 1/6th of women seeking infertility care met the criteria for likely genital TB. Conception among over-half of treated probable genital TB cases provides preliminary evidence that best clinical practices can be utilized, but needs further confirmatory studies.     

Therapeutic Dilemma of Sarcoidosis and Treatment-naïve Hepatitis C Manifesting as Tattoo Reactions

A 23-year-old man had an 8-day history of fatigue and dry cough and papulo-nodular reactions on his extensive tattoos. Chest radiography revealed several small granular shadows, and a transbronchial lung biopsy showed non-caseating epithelioid cell granuloma. A skin biopsy of the tattooed area showed histiocytic infiltrates with phagocytized tattoo pigment. Antibody tests for hepatitis C virus were positive. The patient was successfully treated with corticosteroid therapy, and after inflammation was suppressed, he received delayed anti-viral therapy. Sarcoidosis should be considered as a concurrent condition if papules are presented on the tattoos of patients with hepatitis C.     

Common medical ethics dilemmas: Few reflections from a Saudi perspective

Medical ethics plays a crucial role in physicians’ daily practice, as it reflects on themselves, their institution, and, most importantly, the outcome of the treatment they provide to their patients. Common medical ethics dilemmas faced in Saudi Arabia include: end-of-life care, patient rights, which comprise autonomy, informed consent, and confidentiality, reproductive ethics, and equity of resources. The identification of flaws within the healthcare system and the implementation of clear guidelines are important to overcome the risk of malpractice and flawed judgment, and ensure the delivery of the best possible care to patients.     

Long-term Cardiovascular Risk in Astronauts: Comparing NASA Mission Astronauts With a Healthy Cohort From the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

ObjectiveTo determine the long-term cardiovascular disease risk of astronauts with spaceflight exposure compared with a well-matched cohort.MethodsNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts are selected into their profession based upon education, unique skills, and health and are exposed to cardiovascular disease risk factors during spaceflight. The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study (CCLS) is a generally healthy cohort from a preventive medicine clinic in Dallas, Texas. Using a matched cohort design, astronauts who were selected beginning April 1, 1959, (and each subsequent selection class through 2009) and exposed to spaceflight were matched to CCLS participants who met astronaut selection criteria; 1514 CCLS participants matched to 303 astronauts in a 5-to-1 ratio on sex, date of birth, and age. The outcome of cardiovascular mortality through December 31, 2016, was determined by death certificate or National Death Index.ResultsThere were 11 deaths caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) among astronauts and 46 among CCLS participants. There was no evidence of increased mortality risk in astronauts (hazard ratio [HR]=1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50 to 2.45) with adjustment for baseline cardiovascular covariates. However, the secondary outcome of CVD events showed an increased adjusted risk in astronauts (HR=2.41; 95% CI, 1.26 to 4.63).ConclusionNo increased risk of CVD mortality was observed in astronauts with spaceflight exposure compared with a well-matched cohort, but there was evidence of increased total CVD events. Given that the duration of spaceflight will increase, particularly on missions to Mars, continued surveillance and mitigation of CVD risk is needed to ensure the safety of those who venture into space.     

农村住院分娩补助项目效果评价

目的：评价农村孕产妇住院分娩补助项目是否提高了住院分娩率和达到了预期目标。方法：数据来源于卫生部2004--2011年《中国卫生统计年鉴》和2009--2011年的《全国妇幼卫生年报》,分析住院分娩补助项目的目标实现情况,分别计算东、中、西部地区住院分娩率的变化趋势,以及重点地区住院分娩率的提高幅度和不同基线水平下的提高幅度。结果：2010年,全国31个省、自治区、直辖市全部完成住院分娩率提高的目标,西部省份增加幅度较大。全国住院分娩率低于80％的县由2008年的334个减少至2010年的151个。结论：住院分娩补助重大专项的实施大大促进了农村孕产妇住院分娩,尤其是孕产妇住院分娩率基线水平较低的地区,区域不公平的问题在一定程度上得到改善。     

Cross-species comparison of in vivo PK/PD relationships for second-generation antisense oligonucleotides targeting apolipoprotein B-100

The in vivo pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) (2′-MOE) modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), targeting apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100), were characterized in multiple species. The species-specific apoB antisense inhibitors demonstrated target apoB mRNA reduction in a drug concentration and time-dependent fashion in mice, monkeys, and humans. Consistent with the concentration-dependent decreases in liver apoB mRNA, reductions in serum apoB, and LDL-C, and total cholesterol were concurrently observed in animal models and humans. Additionally, the long duration of effect after cessation of dosing correlated well with the elimination half-life of 2′-MOE modified apoB ASOs studied in mice (t_1/2 ≅ 20 days) and humans (t_1/2 ≅ 30 days) following parental administrations. The plasma concentrations of ISIS 301012, observed in the terminal elimination phase of both mice and monkeys were in equilibrium with liver. The partition ratios between liver and plasma were similar, approximately 6000:1, across species, and thus provide a surrogate for tissue exposure in humans. Using an inhibitory E_max model, the ASO liver EC_50s were 101 ± 32, 119 ± 15, and 300 ± 191 μg/g of ASO in high-fat-fed (HF) mice, transgenic mice containing the human apoB transgene, and monkeys, respectively. The estimated liver EC₅₀ in man, extrapolated from trough plasma exposure, was 81 ± 122 μg/g. Therefore, extraordinary consistency of the exposure-response relationship for the apoB antisense inhibitor was observed across species, including human. The cross-species PK/PD relationships provide confidence in the use of pharmacology animal models to predict human dosing for second-generation ASOs targeting the liver.