Leukocyte Telomere Length Is Not Associated With BMD,Osteoporosis, or Fracture in Older Adults: Results From the Health,Aging and Body Composition Study

Short leukocyte telomere length (TL), low BMD, and osteoporosis have been associated with increased inflammation. Previous reports suggest an association between TL, BMD, and osteoporosis in women. We sought to verify these associations and to determine whether TL is related to fracture in a cohort of older men and women. Participants included 2750 community‐dwelling older persons from the longitudinal Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (Health ABC) in who average leukocyte TL was measured at baseline using qPCR. We used unconditional logistic regression to determine the association of TL with prevalent fracture, Cox proportional hazards regression for the association with 7‐yr incident fracture, and mixed linear models for the association with BMD, change in BMD, and the number of incident fractures. TL was negatively correlated with age, weight, fasting insulin, and fasting glucose in men and women, and additionally, with C‐reactive protein and IL‐6 in men. TL was not associated with BMD; change in BMD over 1, 3, or 5 yr; osteoporosis; baseline fracture; or 7‐yr incident fracture, before or after adjustment for age, race, smoking, and health characteristics. TL is not associated with BMD, osteoporosis, or fracture in older men or women in this sample.     

Epidemiology, etiology, detection, and treatment of autoantibody-associated congenital heart block in neonatal lupus

Neonatal lupus syndrome is a model of passively acquired autoimmunity in which the pregnant woman’s serum contains specific antibodies to 52 or 60 kd SSA/Ro and/or 48 kd SSB/La, which cross the placenta and are associated with the development of congenital heart block in the fetus and/or a transient rash or various liver and blood cell abnormalities in the newborn. To date, congenital heart block is a permanent condition that entails significant morbidity and mortality, with nearly all affected infants requiring pacemakers and with an 80% cumulative probability of survival at 3 years of age. An intensive search is on for the specific etiopathophysiology and for new clinical tools to approach and treat this disease.     

Childhood depression: a place for psychotherapy

BACKGROUND: Although considered clinically effective, there is little systematic research confirming the use of Individual Psychodynamic Psychotherapy or Family Therapy as treatments for depression in children and young adolescents. AIMS: A clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of these two forms of psychotherapy in treating moderate and severe depression in this age group. METHODS: A randomised control trial was conducted with 72 patients aged 9-15 years allocated to one of two treatment groups. RESULTS: Significant reductions in disorder rates were seen for both Individual Therapy and Family Therapy. A total of 74.3% of cases were no longer clinically depressed following Individual Therapy and 75.7% of cases were no longer clinically depressed following Family Therapy. This included cases of Dysthymia and "Double Depression" (co-existing Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymia). There was also an overall reduction in co-morbid conditions across the study. The changes in both treatment groups were persistent and there was ongoing improvement. At follow up six months after treatment had ended, 100% of cases in the Individual Therapy group, and 81% of cases in the Family Therapy group were no longer clinically depressed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence supporting the use of focused forms of both Individual Psychodynamic Therapy and Family Therapy for moderate to severe depression in children and young adolescents.     

高精度腹腔热灌注治疗系统设备的开发研究

目的 介绍一种高精度腹腔热灌注治疗系统的总体设计原理及系统的总体构成方法.方法 高精度"BR-TRG-Ⅱ型腹腔热灌注治疗系统"由控制系统、外循环系统、热交换器、内循环系统4部分构成.从功能卜分为5个功能子系统:计算机主控子系统包括以AVR单片机为核心的主控制电路,数据采集和处理子系统,加热制冷子系统,循环子系统和报警子系统.结果 本系统具有专用计算机热疗软件,全程动态控制,可实现治疗参数设置、自适应温度控制、治疗数据显示、自动存储、报警等功能.动物实验及临床初步应用结果表明,该设备测温精度达±0.1℃,控温精度±0.16℃,腹腔液体灌注速度精确到5%,各项性能完全达到临床设计要求.结论 高精度"BR-TRG-Ⅱ型腹腔热灌注治疗系统"加温、恒温和降温完全达到临床设计要求,性能稳定、安全可靠、操作便利,便于临床推广应用.     

松果体母细胞瘤一例报告并文献复习

目的 探讨松果体母细胞瘤患者的临床和病理学特征,并复习相关文献.方法 与结果一例12 岁女性患者,无明显诱因头痛3年.头部MRI检查显示松果体区椭圆形等T1、等或低T2信号影,大小约2.70cm×2.00cm,增强扫描呈明显均匀强化.手术中可见肿瘤组织呈暗红色,边界尚清楚,有出血灶,分块切除肿瘤组织和包膜后第三脑室和侧脑室脑脊液通畅流出.光学显微镜观察肿瘤细胞呈弥散或片状密集排列,组织发生大片凝固性坏死;肿瘤细胞形态较小,细胞核呈圆形或不规则形,核深染、异型性明显、分裂象多见,细胞质极少、边界欠清晰;部分区域肿瘤细胞可见微小钙化灶、Homer-Wright菊形团结构和不典型的Flexner-Weinsteiner菊形团结构.免疫组织化学染色肿瘤细胞突触素、嗜铬素A 表达阳性;胶质纤维酸性蛋白、神经元核抗原表达阴性;Ki-67 抗原标记指数约20%.手术后随访6 个月,肿瘤无复发.结论 松果体母细胞瘤是临床少见的发生于松果体实质的幼稚分化肿瘤,以20 岁以下青年人高发,呈高度恶性,患者预后不良.