Evaluation of vertebral volumetric vs. areal bone mineral density during growth

Bone mineral “density” (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) does not represent the volumetric density (grams per cubic centimeter), but rather the areal density (grams per square centimeter). This distinction is important during growth. The purpose of this study was to measure vertebral dimensions in cadavers of young pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina), and to derive equations to predict the volumetric bone density from noninvasive measurements. We measured the areal bone density by DEXA, vertebral volume by underwater weighing, mineral content by ashing, dimensions of lumbar vertebrae by calipers, and dimensions of vertebrae by radiography. Somatometric measurements of the female lumbar vertebral bodies showed that the shape changed during growth. The bone mineral content from the densitometer correlated significantly with the ash weight (r = 0.99, error 8.7%). The correlation coefficient between the volumetric bone mineral density and areal BMD measurement was significant (r = 0.68, p < 0.0001) with a 9.5% error; this improved significantly to 0.82 (7.2% error) when the BMD was divided by the vertebral depth from the radiograph. Areal BMD showed a strong correlation with age (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001), with an average increase of 7.4%/year. In contrast, volumetric mineral density showed a weak relationship with age (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), for an average increase of 1.5%/year. When studying bone mineral density during growth, the differences between volumetric and areal bone mineral density should be taken into consideration. (     

Lipoprotein lipase in relation to inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To evaluate the impact of chronic inflammation on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) levels and triglyceride metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Design. Plasma levels of LPL activity and mass before and after heparin were determined in post-menopausal women with active RA and in controls. The results were related to lipid levels and inflammatory variables. The LPL activity and mass together with triglyceride levels were also measured before and 6 h after an oral fat load. Setting. The study was performed on in- and out-patients at a University Rheumatology clinic. The controls came from the same reference area. Subjects. Altogether 17 consecutive post-menopausal female patients with RA and 16 age and sex matched controls were enrolled for the initial determination of LPL. Fifteen of the patients and 15 of the controls agreed to take part in the fat load. Of these, one patient and one control were excluded. Main outcome measures. LPL determination: basal levels and post-heparin levels of LPL activity and mass. Correlations between LPL and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides), lipoprotein levels (high density lipoprotein, HDL; low density lipoprotein, LDL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) acute phase proteins (orosomucoid, haptoglobin, fibrinogen mass) and cytokines (tumour necrosis factor α, TNF-α; interleukin 1β, IL-1β; and interleukin-6, IL-6). Fat tolerance test: LPL activity, mass and triglyceride levels before and 6 h after a per oral fat load. Results. Pre-heparin LPL mass (P<0.01) and activity (P<0.01) were significantly lower in the rheumatoid patients. Pre-heparin LPL mass showed no correlation to the lipid levels, but an inverse correlation to several inflammatory parameters; it was significant for orosomucoid (r_s=?0.63, P<0.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r_s=?0.54, P<0.05) and close to significant for haptoglobin (r_s=?0.48, P=0.087) and IL-6 (r_s=?0.52, P=0.061). Six hours after a lipid load the LPL activity and mass were significantly lower in RA (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) but the triglyceride level was not significantly different compared to controls. Conclusion. An inverse relationship exists between inflammatory status and pre-heparin LPL mass. Pre-heparin LPL mass reflects mainly the inactive monomeric fraction of LPL. This has been shown to hinder the uptake of remnant lipoprotein particles through competition with lipoprotein bound dimeric LPL for the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP receptor) on hepatocytes and macrophages in culture. A decrease of the level of monomeric LPL in plasma may thus be beneficial for remnant catabolism. The same mechanism may on the other hand increase macrophage uptake of lipids. This may not affect global lipid metabolism but may be important in driving the atherosclerotic process in the vessel wall.     

Bone Density in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Advances in combination chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and bone marrow transplantation have resulted in markedly improved survival rates for many children with cancer. Advancements in therapy, however, have led to new concerns, namely long-term consequences of effective treatments. Young adult and adult survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for a number of disorders related to therapy. Specifically, the young adult who has survived cancer, attendant treatments, and their complications is at risk for factors that can lead to suboptimal acquisition of peak bone mass. These factors include chronic illness, nutritional deficiencies, limited physical activity, and treatment with glucocorticoids, multiagent chemotherapy, and radiation. The long-term adverse effects of these therapies on endocrine systems, especially sex steroid and growth hormone deficiencies, are additional risk factors for some patients. After a brief review of the processes associated with acquisition of peak bone mass in the young adult, this article examines the impact of cancer and cancer therapy on bone mineral density in survivors of childhood cancer.     

一阶导数光谱法测定丙吡胺尿药浓度及其缓释片的相对生物利用度

本文报道了用导数光谱法测定磷酸丙吡胺的尿药浓度,本方法能消除尿中杂质干扰,测定结果准确。6名受试者交叉口服磷酸丙吡胺缓释片和普通片,测得尿药浓度计算消除速度常数K,排泄速率(Δx/Δt)_(max) 所需时间,证明缓稀片药物排泄慢,药效维持时间长,且缓释片的相对生物利用度与普通片基本相同。     

广西武鸣华侨农场心血管病危险因素的调查研究

对广西武鸣华侨农场4158人进行基线普查,410人进行膳食调查和作8小时夜尿电解质测定,并将高血压低发区广西的资料与高发区的北京作对比.结果显示,体重指数高是高血压一个重要的危险因素,而体重过重又与膳食中摄入碳水化合物和总热量大有关.另一主要的危险因素是钠,膳食中摄入钠高,尿Na和Na/K比值高者,血压水平和高血压的患病率亦高.     

Orthogonal solid-phase synthesis of a monobiotinylated analog of Neuropeptide Y

Analogs of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) were synthesized with conventional Boc/benzyl protective group strategy. Instead of Asn⁷ in the native scquence, Boc-Lys(Alloc)-OH was incorporated. At the end of the synthesis the Alloc group was selectively removed by palladium-catalyzed hydrostannolysis and biotin coupled to the e-amino group of Lys⁷. After cleavage and characterization with plasma desorption mass spectrometry the N^e-7-biotinyl-[Lys⁷]-NPY and the nonbiotinylated analog [Lys⁷]-NPY were investigated as ligands to the NPY receptor from rat cerebral cortex. Both analogs were found to be high affinity ligands to the NPY receptor and bound with essentially the same affinity as unmodified NPY.     

颈椎侧块钢板在脊髓型颈椎病治疗中应用

目的 对15例脊髓型颈椎病患者行后入路椎管减压、椎板成型术的同时使用颈椎侧块钢板固定，探讨和分析该手术方法的优点和手术治疗效果。方法 从自2000年3月—2002年12月，对15例脊髓型颈椎病患者(术前颈椎MR显示有三个节段颈椎椎间盘水平病变并有黄韧带增厚突入椎管)，行颈椎后入路双开门椎板成型术加双侧颈椎侧块钢板固定。按JOA评分法评定患者手术前后恢复情况。结果 本组患者男10例，女5例，随访5个月—1年2个月，平均9个月，术后2—7天(平均3．5天)可戴颈围坐起，颈围外固定时间12周，融合时间3—5个月，(平均为3．5个月)，术后JOA评分明显提高，所有病人无术中血管、神经根损伤，无植骨不愈合，无内固定断裂。结论 行颈椎后入路双开门椎板成型术联合应用颈椎侧块钢板固定，从后方扩大椎管容积，对脊髓进行减压，辅助以侧块钢板对减压后的颈椎行即时的稳定的固定，增加后方所植髂骨的融合成功率，大大地减少颈椎术后后突畸形发生和术后卧床并发症的发生率。     

城市污灌废水的致突变性检测及色谱/质谱分析

应用Ames致突变试验,对比研究了武汉市易家墩、黄孝河污灌区污灌废水与土壤的致突变性。同时应用色谱/质谱(GC/MS)分析技术。测定了主要污水中有机污染物的化学组成。结果表明:罗家渠废水的致突变活性最强;受各条污水灌溉的土壤的致突变活性顺序与相应废水的强弱顺序一致;罗家渠废水中致突变致癌物主要是萘、联苯等。     

Simple screening test for risk of falls in the elderly

Background:   The aim of this study is to construct a simple screening test for the risk of falls in community-dwelling elder persons.
Methods:   A total of 1378 community-dwelling people aged 65 years and older in five different communities in Japan were asked to answer a self rated questionnaire including 22 items covering physical, cognitive, emotional and social aspects of functioning and environmental factors. At a six-month follow-up, the outcome of fall occurrence and the number of falls was ascertained by social workers, health visitors or nurses.
Results:   Five out of 22 items were selected using a logistic regression model. Using this five-item version, a screening test was constructed, and at the best cut-off point, the sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 70%, respectively. The validity of this scale was tested on persons with cognitive dysfunction.
Conclusion:   The simplicity and the predictive validity of the screening test support the use of this test in health check ups or general outpatient facilities.     

Fertilization and early embrology: Monozygotic twinning in the human is associated with the zona pellucida architecture

Six cases of identical twin pregnancies which occurred in 2163cycles of in-vitro fertilization during a 3 year period arereported. Monozygosity was confirmed when the number of fetusesexceeded the number of embryos replaced (n = 4) or when twoconcepti were observed in a single amniotic sac (n = 2). Eachof the reported pregnancies resulted from replacement of embryoseither with naturally thin zonae pellucida or embryos whosezonae had been breached during micromanipulation for assistedfertilization (subzonal sperminsertion) or assisted hatching.That such cases exclusively gave rise to monozygosity suggestsa link between the physical state of the zona pellucida, hatching,and generation of identical twins.