Growth and psychomotor development of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common hereditary degenerative neuromuscular diseases and caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. The objective of the retrospective study was to describe growth and psychomotor development of patients with DMD and to detect a possible genotype–phenotype correlation. Data from 263 patients with DMD (mean age 7.1 years) treated at the Departments of Pediatric Neurology in three German University Hospitals was assessed with respect to body measurements (length, weight, body mass index BMI, head circumference OFC), motor and cognitive development as well as genotype (site of mutation). Anthropometric measures and developmental data were compared to those of a reference population and deviations were analyzed for their frequency in the cohort as well as in relation to the genotypes. Corticosteroid therapy was implemented in 29 from 263 patients. Overall 30% of the patients exhibit a short statue (length < 3rd centile) with onset early in development at 2–5 years of age, and this is even more prevalent when steroid therapy is applied (45% of patients with steroid therapy). The BMI shows a rightwards shift (68% > 50th centile) and the OFC a leftwards shift (65% < 50th centile, 5% microcephaly). Gross motor development is delayed in a third of the patients (mean age at walking 18.3 months, 30% > 18 months, 8% > 24 months). Almost half of the patients show cognitive impairment (26% learning disability, 17% intellectual disability). Although there is no strict genotype–phenotype correlation, particularly mutations in the distal part of the dystrophin gene are frequently associated with short stature and a high rate of microcephaly as well as cognitive impairment.     

Anti-tumor activities of active ingredients in Compound Kushen Injection

Kushen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) has a long history of use for the treatment of tumors, inflammation and other diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) is a mixture of natural compounds extracted from Kushen and Baituling (Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae). The main principles of CKI are matrine (MT) and oxymatrine (OMT) that exhibit a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-fibrotic and cardiovascular protective effects. Recent evidence shows that these compounds also produce anti-cancer actions, such as inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest, accelerating apoptosis, restraining angiogenesis, inducing cell differentiation, inhibiting cancer metastasis and invasion, reversing multidrug resistance, and preventing or reducing chemotherapy- and/or radiotherapy-induced toxicity when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs. In this review, we summarize recent progress in studying the anti-cancer activities of MT, OMT and CKI and their potential molecular targets, which provide clues and references for further study.     

Insulin-like growth factor (IgF)-I,IgF binding protein-3, and prostate cancer: correlation with gleason score

Introduction

Non-androgenic growth factors are involved in the growth regulation of prostate cancer (PCa).

Objective

This is the first Brazilian study to correlate, in a population of patients operated for PCa, PSA, total testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) with Gleason score and to compare with a control group with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Materials and Methods

This retrospective single-center study included 49 men with previously diagnosed PCa and 45 with previously diagnosed BPH. PSA, testosterone, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 were determined in both groups.

Results

PSA and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher in the PCa group as compared to the BPH group (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). There was a significant difference when we compared the PSA before surgery (p<0.001) and at the inclusion in the study (p<0.001) and IGFBP3 (0.016) among patients with Gleason <7, ≥7 and BPH. In the PCa group, PSA, testosterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were comparable between Gleason <7 and ≥7.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that in localized PCa, the quantification of PSA and, not of IGF-1, may provide independent significant information in the aggressiveness. IGFBP-3 could be a biochemical marker of disease control in PCa patients.     

出院后营养管理对新生儿肠道手术后生长速度的影响

目的：探讨出院后科学的营养管理对新生儿肠道术后生长速度的影响。方法通过营养门诊对113例肠道手术后患儿进行出院后营养喂养指导,统计每月生长速度（体质量、身长和头围）,对照正常参考值,分析落后的体格何时出现生长加速。结果新生儿肠道手术后1月时出现体格增长速度低于正常参考值,以男性为著（体质量P＝0．000;身长P＝0．041;头围P＝0．010）。生长加速出现在术后2～3月,男性出现身长的生长加速（月增长值[（4．53±1．22） cm比（3．1±0．4） cm, P＝0．013],女性出现体质量[（1．51±0．76） kg比（0．83±0．39） kg, P＝0．028]和头围[（2．50±0．93） cm比（1．2±0．7） cm, P＝0．021]的生长加速。结论科学的出院后营养管理有助新生儿术后体格生长加速,术后2～3月是生长加速的关键时期。     

多中心完全随机、标准治疗平行对照评价京万红软膏治疗糖尿病足慢性创面的临床研究

目的：：通过多中心完全随机、标准治疗平行对照方法评价京万红软膏治疗糖尿病足慢性创面的疗效。方法：本研究共有11家医院参加,采用多中心完全随机、标准治疗平行对照、前瞻性临床研究设计。131例糖尿病足溃疡患者随机分为京万红软膏组67例和对照组64例,两组创面面积分别为(16.7±6.1)cm2和(15.9±8.3) cm2,创面形成时间(45.7±68.3)d和(52.5±79.6)d 。两组分别用京万红软膏或复方磺胺嘧啶锌凝胶涂于创面,观察疗程均为20周。结果：两组患者年龄、糖尿病病程、血常规、肝功能、肾功能等数据差异无统计学意义。京万红组于2、5、10、15周创面愈合速率明显优于复方磺胺嘧啶锌凝胶组,以第5周、10周最为明显(P<0.01)。京万红组创面达到完全上皮化平均时间为(46.5±15.6)d,复方磺胺嘧啶锌凝胶组为(67.9±17.9)d,差异显著(P<0.05)。结论：京万红软膏与复方磺胺嘧啶锌凝胶均有促进糖尿病足创面愈合的作用,京万红软膏作用更优。     

PDGF-C/-D在IgA肾病肾间质纤维化中的表达及意义

目的 探讨血小板源性生长因子-C(plelet-derived growth fctor-C,PDGF-C)和血小板源性生长因子-D(plelet-derived growth fctor-D,PDGF-D)与IgA肾病患者不同程度肾间质纤维化的关系及意义.方法 将50例肾组织标本按肾间质纤维化程度分为4组(对照组、轻度组、中度组、重度组).应用免疫组化方法检测各组PDGF-C及PDGF-D的表达,并将PDGF-C/-D的表达情况与肾间质纤维化程度及临床指标(24h尿蛋白、尿素氮、肌酐)进行相关性分析.结果 IgA肾病患者肾组织PDGF-C/-D的表达水平明显高于对照组(P＜0.05),且与肾间质纤维化的程度成正相关(r=0.654和r=0.571,P＜0.01).此外,IgA肾病肾组织PDGF-C/-D的表达与血尿素氮(BUN)及血肌酐(Scr)水平呈正相关(P＜0.05),与24h尿蛋白定量无明显相关性.结论 随着肾小管间质病变程度的加重,PDGF-C、PDGF-D的表达量明显上调,PDGF-C/-D可能在IgA肾病肾间质纤维化的发生、发展过程中起着重要的作用.     

霉酚酸酯对IgA肾病患者血清和尿液TGF-β1表达的影响

目的 探讨IgA肾病(IgAN)患者血清、尿液TGF-β1表达以及霉酚酸酯(mycophenolate mofetil,MMF)对其表达的影响,揭示MMF治疗IgAN可能的机制.方法 用ELISA法检测健康对照组19例(Ⅰ组)、与MMF组匹配初诊未治疗IgAN 39例(Ⅱ组)、MMF治疗组48例(Ⅲ组)血清、尿液TGF-β1的水平,并比较各组表达差异性.结果 血清中TGF-β1的表达,Ⅱ组较Ⅰ组表达增加(P＜0.05);Ⅲ组较Ⅱ组表达下降(P ＜0.0001).尿液中TGF-β1的表达,Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组均较Ⅰ组表达增加(P＜0.05);Ⅲ组较Ⅱ组表达下降(P＜0.05).IgAN患者血清TGF-β1的表达与病理级别、尿蛋白排泄呈正相关(P=0.044、0.001),尿液TGF-β1的表达与GFR呈负相关(P=0.012),与病理级别、血肌酐、尿蛋白排泄呈正相关(P=0.01、0.013、＜0.0001).血清TGF-β1与尿液TGF-β1的表达呈正相关(P=0.001).IgAN LEE分级≤3级与＞3级的患者相比,后者血清、尿液TGF-β1表达增加,差别有统计学意义(P =0.049,0.028).MMF治疗组疗程3～6个月与≥6个月的患者相比,后者血清、尿液TGF-β1表达下降,差别有统计学意义(P=0.001,0.026).结论 IgAN患者血清、尿液TGF-β1表达显著增加,并且其表达水平与肾功能进展及严重程度等密切相关,MMF可显著下调IgAN患者血清、尿液中TGF-β1表达.因此,血清、尿液TGF-β1可作为预测IgAN疾病进展及评估MMF疗效的重要指标.