Cancer-promoting effect of Taiwan betel quid in hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cancer-promoting effect of Taiwan betel quid in hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-two non-inbred mate adult Syrian golden hamsters were randomly divided into six groups, each containing forty-two animalS. A treatment regimen over a 14-week experimental period was employed with six animals per group being killed at seven different periods (every 2 weeks). The right buccal pouch of each animal was painted three times a week with various combinations of 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), Taiwan betel quid extract, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and mineral oil.
RESULT: Both the number and size of tumors in animals concurrently treated with DMBA and betel quid were significantly higher than those in animals treated with DMBA alone in each killing period of 8, 10, 12 and 14 weekS. No visible tumors but hyperkeratosis and acanthosis were observed in pouches treated with betel quid alone for all killing periods.
CONCLUSION: Our results indicate Taiwan betel quid may be a co-carcinogen in human oral carcinogenesis, if extrapolation can be made from the current animal study.     

Coincidental diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis: a case report

The aim of this case report was to present a case of multiple calcified tuberculous lymph nodes found on a panoramic radiograph coincidently diagnosed in an endodontic clinic. A detailed discussion on the differential diagnosis of similar such calcification found in the same region is also presented. A 14‐year‐old girl was referred to our department with the complaint of painless swelling in the left side of the lower jaw. Clinical and radiographical examinations were performed, leading to the initial diagnosis of chronic periapical abscess. The patient's medical history was re‐evaluated. Advanced imaging and excisional biopsy were performed in order to confirm the final diagnosis. Regarding the presenting signs and symptoms of bilateral carious mandibular molars, a periapical inflammatory process was considered in the provisional diagnosis. A thorough examination and investigations were suggestive of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula), and the patient underwent excision of the same. The clinician should consider the possibility of chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesions in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque lesions.     

A double-blind provocative study chocolate as a trigger of headache

A provocative double blind study of headache was performed using chocolate as the active agent and carob as the placebo. The chocolate and carob samples were formulated to duplicate products used in an earlier study (1) in which strong differential effects between the ability of chocolate and carob to trigger headache in migraine were shown. Sixty-three women with chronic headache (50% migraine, 37.5% tension-type, 12.5% combined migraine and tension-type) participated in the study. After 2 weeks of following a diet that restricted vasoactive amine-rich foods, each subject underwent double-blinded provocative trials with two samples of chocolate and two of carob presented in random order. Diaries were maintained by the subjects throughout the study, monitoring diet and headache. The results demonstrated that chocolate was not more likely to provoke headache than was carol in any of the headache diagnostic groups (²(2) 0.36, p =0.83). Interestingly, these results were independent of subjects' beliefs regarding the role of chocolate in the instigation of headache (²(1)=0.73, p =0.39). Headache diagnosis and the concomitant use of additional vasoactive amine-containing foods were also not associated with chocolate acting as a headache trigger. Thus, contrary to the commonly held belief of patients and physicians, chocolate does not appear to play a significant role in triggering headaches in typical migraine, tension-type, or combined headache sufferers.     

胶体磷酸铬^32P关节腔内注射改善佐剂型关节炎大鼠的相关指标

目的:观察胶体磷酸铬32P关节腔内注射治疗大鼠佐剂型关节炎的效果。方法:实验于2006-07/09在南京市第一医院动物实验室完成。选择6～8周龄清洁级SD雌性大鼠30只,按随机数字表法分为3组,正常对照组、模型组、胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组,每组10只。大鼠左足跖皮内注射完全弗氏佐剂0.1mL免疫法制备佐剂型关节炎模型。胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组于造模后10d左踝关节腔内注射37GBq/L胶体磷酸铬32P0.02mL,即0.74MBq,正常对照组和模型组分别给予等量生理盐水左踝关节腔内注射。①每2周观察1次大鼠左踝关节左右径宽度。②关节炎指数评定采用关节炎评分法(0～4分),分数越高,症状越重。③于用药后2,4,6周采用99Tcm-MDP显像感兴趣区分析法计算大鼠左踝关节区和右胫腓骨的放射性计数比。④于用药后4,6周测定血清肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素1β水平。⑤于用药后4,6周观察大鼠滑膜组织和软骨组织病理学改变。结果:纳入大鼠30只,均进入结果分析。①用药后2周模型组大鼠左踝关节左右径宽度大于正常对照组[分别为(7.82±0.36),(5.89±0.35)mm],差异有显著性意义(t=12.16,P<0.001),胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组大鼠左踝关节左右径宽度大于模型组,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。用药后6周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组大鼠左踝关节左右径宽度小于模型组[分别为(6.87±0.27),(7.25±0.26)mm],差异有显著性意义(t=2.87,P<0.05)。②用药后2周和4周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组大鼠关节炎指数高于模型组,用药后6周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组大鼠关节炎指数低于模型组,两组间差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05)。③用药后2周模型组大鼠感兴趣区放射性计数比高于正常对照组(分别为2.05±0.20,1.46±0.15),差异有显著性意义(t=7.46,P<0.001)。用药后6周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组大鼠感兴趣区放射性计数比低于模型组(分别为1.52±0.18,1.78±0.24),差异有显著性意义(t=2.45,P<0.05)。④用药后4,6周模型组大鼠血清肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素1β水平高于正常对照组,差异有显著性意义[用药后4周分别为(2.039±0.344),(1.115±0.192)μg/L;(0.305±0.034),(0.192±0.041)μg/L,t=7.42,6.71,P<0.001。用药后6周分别为(1.694±0.305),(1.126±0.256)μg/L;(0.259±0.027),(0.191±0.019)μg/L,t=4.03,5.83,P<0.01,0.001]。用药后4,6周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组在血清肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素1β水平与模型组比较,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。⑤用药后4周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组和模型组滑膜组织增生和炎症细胞浸润均较明显;用药后6周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组与正常对照组比较仍有滑膜组织增生和炎症细胞浸润,与模型组比较滑膜组织增生程度明显减轻,而炎症细胞浸润程度稍轻。用药后6周胶体磷酸铬32P治疗组大鼠左踝关节的软骨组织未见有异常改变。结论:胶体磷酸铬32P关节腔注射可减轻完全弗氏佐剂免疫大鼠受注射关节的滑膜增生程度,改善关节肿胀症状,疗效肯定。     

Thrombosis in inflammatory bowel disease: clinical setting, procoagulant profile and factor V Leiden

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have an increased frequency of thromboembolism, and microvascular thrombosis has been proposed as a contributory pathogenic factor. The mechanism of enhanced procoagulant activity is not understood. We examined the clinical setting of thromboembolic events in 52 patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and assessed the procoagulant laboratory profile, including Factor V Leiden, in a subset of 20 patients to identify procoagulant risk factors. Patients who developed thrombosis tended to be young; 60% of thrombotic events occurred in patients under 50 years. Multiple thromboembolic episodes occurred in 13% and unusual sites of thrombosis (e.g. intracardiac, cerebral, inominate veins) in 11%. No risk factor was identifiable in 52% of cases and two-thirds of thromboses occurred in an out-patient setting. The mortality rate was 8%. Evidence for inflammatory disease activity was found in only 45% of patients with ulcerative colitis at the time of the thromboembolic event, in contrast to 89% of those with Crohn's disease. Assays for specific coagulation defects were negative in all cases tested (protein S, C were normal in 17/17; anti-thrombin III, anti-phospholipid antibodies and activated protein C resistance were negative in 20/20, and only 1/20 patients was found to be heterozygous for Factor V leiden. Thrombosis in inflammatory bowel disease is important because it occurs in a young population, often in unusual sites, and has a high mortality. The development of thrombosis is related to active inflammatory disease in most patients with Crohn's disease but apparently not in those with ulcerative colitis. Since approximately half of the patients had no other identifiable risk factor, there remains a substantial group of patients with IBD who develop thrombosis for unknown reasons.      

鼠尾静脉流体力学转染技术对绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒器官靶向分布的影响

目的:观察流体力学尾静脉注射对绿色荧光蛋白基因器官靶向性的影响,为今后质粒载体的基因治疗和功能研究寻找潜在的靶器官。方法:实验于2005-12/2006-04在江西省分子医学重点实验室完成。选用健康雄性昆明鼠40只,将32只小鼠按随机数字表法分为流体力学注射和常规注射两大组,每大组再分为转染组和对照组两个小组(n=8),并设正常对照组(n=8)。①流体力学转染组将100μg/只绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒溶液2mL在5s内快速注入尾静脉;对照组仅在5s内注入林格氏液2mL。②常规注射组则将2mL林格氏液或绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒溶液在30s左右注入尾静脉。注射结束后24h采集各组小鼠血清检测转氨酶,并采集肝、脾、心、肾、肺和脑组织进行冰冻切片,部分肝组织采用多聚甲醛固定后切片,荧光显微镜下观察。结果:40只小鼠全部进入结果分析,无脱失。①流体力学注射组和常规注射组小鼠血清转氨酶与正常对照组比较差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05)。②常规尾静脉注射引起少数肾小球细胞表达绿色荧光蛋白,而肝、脾、心、肺及脑等组织未见明显绿色荧光蛋白表达。③流体力学注射引起肝内绿色荧光蛋白高水平表达,肝细胞表达率接近45%,其他组织则无绿色荧光蛋白表达。结论:流体力学方法是肝靶向性的活体基因转染方法,绿色荧光蛋白可作为该方法进行目的基因研究的一个可靠和方便的示踪剂。