The value of gene expression profiles using micoarrays for the individualisation of adjuvant therapy after surgery for breast cancer

Gene-expression profiles are a promising development in determining the prognosis of patients with primary breast cancer. They accurately assess the risk on distant recurrence of disease and show if the patient might benefit from adjuvant therapy after surgery thus minimising the risk of distant metastases. Three clinically relevant profiles on prognosis have now been published, two of which come from the Netherlands, and whose results are an improvement on those using traditional clinical parameters i.e. the St. Gallen and the National Institutes of Health criteria. These gene-expression profiles mean that 25-40% of patients need no longer undergo adjuvant systemic therapy (chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy). Although the risk-stratifying power of these profiles has been established, their power in predicting the response of the patients to adjuvant systemic therapy still awaits scientific proof.     

Metabolomics in the opening decade of the 21st century: building the roads to individualized health

It is rapidly becoming possible to measure hundreds or thousands of metabolites in small samples of biological fluids or tissues. This makes it possible to assess the metabolic component of nutritional phenotypes and will allow individualized dietary recommendations. ASNS has to take action to ensure that appropriate technologies are developed and that metabolic databases are constructed with the right inputs and organization. The relations between diet and metabolomic profiles and between those profiles and health and disease must be established. ASNS also should consider the social implications of these advances and plan for their appropriate utilization.     

Hospice--an update on the cost of patient care.

This follow-up survey to a study into the cost of providing Hospice in-patient care in 1984 examines in detail the cost profiles of up to 40 well established Hospices in the UK. The results are analysed in order to provide up to date financial and statistical information on the major areas of current Hospice activity.     

Increase of electronegative-LDL-fraction ratio and IDL-cholesterol in chronic kidney disease patients with hemodialysis treatment

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: It is known that the increased level of IDL and oxidized LDL are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease, and the lipoprotein abnormalities accelerate atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in chronic kidney disease patients with hemodialysis treatment (HD-Ps). Therefore, the estimation of lipoprotein profiles is important for prevention of cardiovascular disease in HD-Ps. We previously established an anion-exchange chromatographic method for measurement of cholesterol level in subclasses of HDL and LDL, IDL, VLDL, and chylomicron. An electronegative-LDL-fraction contained minimally oxidized-LDL. Lipoprotein profile can be accurately and conveniently determined by the new method.FindingIn this study, lipoprotein profiles in HD-Ps and age-matched healthy subjects were estimated by using our established anion-exchange chromatographic method. The ratio of electronegative-LDL-cholesterol to total LDL-cholesterol and IDL-cholesterol in HD-Ps were significant higher than those in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the ratio of electronegative-LDL-cholesterol to total LDL-cholesterol and IDL-cholesterol obtained by the new method may serve as useful markers for risk of cardiovascular disease in HD-Ps.     

应用PCR-RFLP方法鉴定幽门螺杆菌菌株

本文建立了一种准确、方便、易于重复的幽门螺杆菌（ＨＰ）菌株鉴定的ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ方法。应用该法检测３５株来自不同患者的ＨＰ临床分离菌株、４０份来自不同患者的ＨＰ－ＤＮＡ阳性的胃粘液标本, 显示独特的ＲＦＬＰ图谱;检测来自５名ＨＰ感染患者隧和治疗中的胃粘液标本１０份、３名ＨＰ感染复转阳性的患者治疗和治疗后胃粘液标本６份５名患者治疗前和治疗中的双份标本显示同样的图谱,而３名ＨＰ感染复转阳性患者中,２名     

布氏杆菌分子亚型分析方法的建立与应用研究

目的应用高变八聚体寡核苷酸指纹(hypervariable octameric oligonucleotide finger_prints,HOOF_Prints)分析法对我国的布氏杆菌进行亚型和分子流行病学的研究。方法根据布氏杆菌8个数目可变串联重复单元(variable number of tandem repeats,VNTR)位点序列设计8对特异性的引物,用PCR方法扩增两株临床分离株并测序,得到8个位点的重复次数,进一步与国际上已公布的布氏杆菌VNTR数据进行比对及构建基因树,从而建立布氏杆菌亚型的分型方法。结果通过基因树得到我院两例布氏杆菌,均属猪二型,与我国流行的牛种与羊种布氏杆菌菌型存在基因型上的差异。结论HOOF_Prints分析法可在分子水平分析我国布氏杆菌的流行特点。     

Evaluation of a community-based participatory physical activity promotion project: effect on cardiovascular disease risk profiles of school employees

Background  

The efficacy of physical activity in improving cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profiles has been well established. However, the effectiveness of health promotion programs implemented at the community level remains controversial. This study evaluated a school-based work-site physical activity program.     

MPCR-DHPLC检测大肠杆菌O157研究

目的:建立多重PCR(Multiplex PCR,MPCR)结合变性高效液相色谱(Denaturing High-PerformanceLiquid Chromatography,DHPLC)检测大肠杆菌O157的方法,并了解食品中分离的O157毒力基因携带情况。方法:针对大肠杆菌O157的rfbE、flicH7、eaeA、stx1、stx2基因设计引物,其单一PCR扩增产物在DHPLC上出现的色谱峰为标准色谱峰,建立MPCR-DHPLC检测方法。结果:MPCR扩增产物在DHPLC上的色谱峰,在位置和峰型上与标准色谱峰有较好的对应性。DHPLC能分离大小4个碱基差异的DNA片段。4株分离株检测结果,O157-1出现rfbE、flicH7、eaeA基因色谱峰,O157-2、O157-3、O157-4只出现rfbE基因色谱峰。结论:建立的MPCR-DHPLC方法可用于大肠杆菌O157及其毒力基因的检测。     

人绒癌耐药细胞株JAR/MTX蛋白质组双向凝胶电泳图谱的建立

目的:建立人绒癌耐药细胞株JAR/MTX蛋白质组双向凝胶电泳图谱。方法:用含10%胎牛血清的RPMI-1640培养液培养JAR/MTX细胞,胰酶消化后收集细胞,加入细胞裂解液使细胞充分裂解,离心后取上清液进行双向凝胶电泳和考马斯亮蓝染色,应用PDQuest图像分析系统进行凝胶图谱分析,从凝胶图中选取1个分离较好的蛋白质点,应用四极杆-飞行时间质谱(Q-TOF-MS)和数据库搜索鉴定蛋白质。结果:获得了背景清晰、分辨率和重复性较好的双向凝胶电泳图谱;在17cmpH3～10IPG胶条上可分离到(810±45)个重复性及分辨率均较好的蛋白位点,蛋白斑点的匹配率为80.2%;1个蛋白点通过质谱分析和数据库检索得到了初步的鉴定。结论:建立了人绒癌耐药细胞株JAR/MTX双向凝胶电泳参考图谱,为其蛋白质组学的进一步研究奠定了基础。     

职业健康监护网络管理系统的应用

目的应用简单、快捷、适用的职业健康检查网络系统,提高职业健康监护管理效率。方法采用Oracleqi数据库,将职业健康技术服务机构所有体检相关部门计算机联网,开发职业健康检查系统;并建立劳动者、用人单位及技术服务机构基本档案,生成职业健康监护各类报表,建立职业健康监护网络管理系统。结果经过4年多的开发与应用,实现了各部门体检数据网络传输,简化了体检流程,减少了重复劳动,提高了职业健康监护效率。结论该系统是简单、快捷、适用的职业健康监护管理系统,功能强大,具有很好的应用价值,适合地（市）级以上职业健康监护部门采用。     

A step forward in the understanding of the presence and expansion of Echinococcus multilocularis in Eastern Europe using microsatellite EmsB genotyping in Poland

Alveolar echinococcosis is a severe zoonotic disease caused by the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. In Europe, the lifecycle of this cestode is mainly sylvatic based on a prey-predator interaction between the red fox and small rodents as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. National surveillance of E. multilocularis in red foxes in Poland has reported a clear distinction between low endemic areas (from 2 to 5.7%) in the western half and high endemic areas (11.8 to 50.0%) in the eastern half of the country. A drastic increase of prevalence has been observed in the eastern half of Poland since the 2000's. Microsatellite EmsB genotyping was performed on 301 E. multilocularis worms from 87 foxes sampled throughout Poland, leading to identification of 29 EmsB profiles. The main profile, Pol19, was identified across the country and accounted for 44.9% of the worms collected. The conformity of 18 Polish profiles was established by comparison with previous profiles identified in Europe, but none corresponded to the most common European profiles. Poland was confirmed as a peripheral area of the main European focus, with more recent colonization by the parasite. The sharing of common profiles mainly by neighboring provinces was confirmed by a clustering analysis identifying four main groups. Expansion of the parasite in Poland in these four groups appears to be influenced by the situation in neighboring countries. Acquiring EmsB genotyping data from eastern European countries, for which very few data are reported, is necessary to understand the expansion of the parasite in the whole of Europe.     

Monitoring human radiation exposure by gene expression profiling: possibilities and pitfalls

Advances in high throughput analysis of mRNA expression have made it possible to establish gene expression profiles for different cells, tissues, diseases and exposure states. For instance, recent studies have demonstrated the utility of such an approach to classify sub-types of cancers with more detail than was previously possible. In addition, gene expression studies of ionizing radiation exposure both in vitro and in vivo are affording insight into the molecular mechanisms of mammalian radiation response. We have demonstrated that radiation expression profiles are a good predictor of p53 function in cell lines, and such profiles also indicate a major role for p53-regulated genes in the in vivo radiation response. Gene expression can be a sensitive indicator of radiation response as we have shown linear dose-responses for induction of several genes down to doses as low as 2 cGy. As profiles are established from radiation studies, it is hoped that they may be useful for identifying individuals with specific exposures or predisposition to negative outcome of exposure. Although this technology holds great promise, some obstacles remain to be overcome before it can be successfully applied to population studies.     

Dietary guidelines in the Czech Republic. II.: Nutritional profiles of food groups

Modern dietary guidelines set in terms of food groups are easy to use and understand for target populations, but rather complicated from the point of view of quantification, i.e. the correctly set number of recommended servings in different population groups according to age, sex, physical activity and physiological status on the basis of required intake of energy and individual nutrients. It is the use of abstract comprehensive food groups that makes it impossible to use a simple database of food tables based on the content of nutrients in individual foods, rather than their groups. Using groups requires that their nutritional profiles be established, i.e. that an average content of nutrients and energy for individual groups be calculated. To calculate nutritional profiles for Czech dietary guidelines, the authors used three different methods: (1) Simple profiles, with all commodities with significant representation in the Czech food basket represented in equal amounts. (2) Profiles based on typical servings, with the same commodities as in (1) but in characteristic intake quantities (typical servings). (3) Food basket-based profiles with commodities constituting the Czech food basket in quantities identical for that basket. The results showed significant differences in profiles calculated by different methods. Calculated nutrient intakes were particularly influenced by the size of typical servings and it is therefore essential that a realistic size of servings be used in calculations. The consistent use of recommended food items throughout all food groups and subgroups is very important. The number of servings of foods from the five food groups is not enough if a suitable food item is not chosen within individual groups. On the basis of their findings, the authors fully recommend the use of nutritional profiles based on typical servings that give a realistic idea of the probable energy and nutrient content in the recommended daily intake. In view of regional cultural differences, national nutritional profiles play a vital importance. Population studies investigating the size of the typical servings and the most frequently occurring commodities in the food basket should be made every three years. Nutritional profiles designed in this way constitute an important starting point for setting national dietary guidelines, their implementation and revisions.     

Influence of historical industrial epochs on pore water and partitioning profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in Oslo Harbor, Norway, sediment cores

Contaminant levels in urban harbor sediments vary with contaminant emission levels, sedimentation rates, and sediment resuspension processes such as propeller wash. Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are decreasing in many urban harbors, as heavily contaminated sediments that accumulated during past decades are being buried by less-contaminated sediments. However, PAHs and PCBs remain a concern in areas where burial is slow or resuspension processes re-expose heavily contaminated older layers. Chronostratigraphic sediment core studies typically characterize contaminant level histories by using total sediment concentrations, C(sed) , and do not determine the freely dissolved porewater concentrations, C(pw) , which provide a better measure of bioavailability. Here both C(sed) and C(pw) profiles were established for PAHs and PCBs in dated sediment cores from diverse areas of Oslo Harbor, Norway. Sediment-porewater partitioning profiles were established alongside profiles of various sorbing carbonaceous phases, including total organic carbon (TOC), black carbon, and diverse carbonaceous geosorbents identified by petrographic analysis. Stratigraphic trends in carbonaceous phases and C(sed) could be associated with different industrial epochs: hydropower (post-1960, approximately), manufactured gas (～1925-1960), coal (～1910-1925), and early industry (～1860-1910). Partitioning was highly variable and correlated best with the TOC. Hydropower-epoch sediments exhibit decreasing C(sed) with time and a relatively strong sorption capacity compared with the manufactured-gas epoch. Sediments from the manufactured-gas epoch exhibit substantial PAH and metal contamination, large amounts of coke and char, and a low sorption capacity. Reexposure of sediments of this epoch increases risks to local benthic species. Implications on natural recovery as a sediment management strategy are discussed.     

Composite scoring--methods and predictive validity: insights from the Framingham Study.

After three decades of epidemiologic research at Framingham and elsewhere, the risk factor concept is now firmly established. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease can now be predicted and highly vulnerable candidates identified from profiles derived from ordinary office procedures and simple laboratory tests [1]. Risk can be estimated over a 20--30-fold range, and close to half of the cardiovascular events are found to occur in a tenth of the population at highest multivariate risk. Categorical risk assessments focusing on the number of "risk factors" present also identify high-risk subjects but tend to overlook high-risk individuals with multiple marginal abnormalities. Multivariate cardiovascular risk profiles made up of the major cardiovascular risk factors can predict all of the major cardiovascular events, even in advanced age, with reasonable efficiency. Such multivariate risk assessments can be made convenient by reproduction of handbooks and use of small programmed calculators, software for personal computers, and slide rules to facilitate office and public health assessments. The sensitivity and specificity of these risk profiles can probably be improved by more detailed lipid information, including HDL-cholesterol [12], vital capacity determination, and other ECG abnormalities. General cardiovascular risk profiles can be devised to predict efficiently all of the major cardiovascular events.     

Relationship of pulsed-field profiles with key phage types of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis in Europe: results of an international multi-centre study

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne infection in Europe with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) being the most commonly identified serovar. The predominant phage type for S. Enteritidis is phage type (PT) 4, although PT 8 has increased in incidence. Within these phage types, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) provides a method of further subdivision. The international project, Salm-gene, was established in 2001 to develop a database of PFGE profiles within nine European countries and to establish criteria for real-time pattern recognition. It uses DNA fingerprints of salmonellas to investigate outbreaks and to evaluate trends and emerging issues of foodborne infection within Europe. The Salm-gene database contains details of about 11 700 S. Enteritidis isolates, demonstrating more than 65 unique PFGE profiles. The clonal nature of S. Enteritidis is evidenced by the high similarity and distribution of PFGE profiles. Over 56% (6603/11 716) of the submitted isolates of several different phage types were profile SENTXB.0001, although this profile is most closely associated with PT 4. The next most common profiles, SENTXB.0002 and SENTXB.0005, were closely associated with PT 8 and PT 21 respectively. Studies to investigate the relationship of profile types with outbreaks and possible vehicles of infection suggest that the incidence of PFGE profile SENTXB.0002, and thus PT 8, in some countries may be due to importation of foods or food production animals from Eastern Europe, where PT 8 is amongst the most frequently identified phage types. Collation of subtyping data, especially in the commonly recognized phage types, is necessary in order to evaluate trends and emerging issues in salmonella infection.     

Multiple drug resistance patterns and plasmid profiles of non-typhi salmonellae in Turkey.

A total of 259 clinical isolates of nonrepetitive non-typhi salmonellae (NTS) were examined for antibiotic resistance patterns and plasmid content. The antibiotics used were amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC), ampicillin (AM), aztreonam (ATM), carbenicillin (CB), cefixime (CFM), cefotaxime (CTX), cefoxitin (FOX), ceftazidime (CAZ), ceftriaxone (CRO), chloramphenicol (C), ciprofloxacin (CIP), gentamicin (GM), imipenem (IPM), ofloxacin (OFX), tetracycline (TE), trimethoprim-sulfomethoxazole (SXT). Multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains comprised 19.3% of the total isolates (50/259) and almost all were S. typhimurium (49/50). Fifteen different patterns of resistance was observed, AM/CB/C/AMC/TE and AM/CB/C/AMC/SXT/GM/CTX/CRO/CAZ/CFM/ATM being the most frequent patterns. Twenty-eight out of 50 multiresistant isolates were found to contain at least one plasmid (mean five) and the size of the plasmids ranged between 1.7 and 158 kb. Plasmid profiles of multiresistant NTS strains were heterogenous as 21 different profiles were detected in a total of 28 plasmid-bearing isolates. No direct correlation was established between antibiotic resistance patterns and plasmid profiles.     

Cultural differences in functional status measurement: Analyses of person fit according to the Rasch model

For many reasons it is preferable to use established health related outcome instruments. The validity of an instrument, however, can be affected when used in another culture or language other than what it was originally developed. In this paper, the outcome on functional status measurement using a preliminary version of the Dutch translated ‘Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory’ (PEDI) was studied involving a sample of 20 non-disabled Dutch children and American peers, to see if a cross-cultural validation procedure is needed before using the instrument in the Netherlands. The Rasch model was used to analyse the Dutch data. Score profiles were not found to be compatible with the score profiles of American children. In particular, ten items were scored differently with strong indications that these were based on inter-cultural differences. Based on our study, it is argued that cross-cultural validation of the PEDI is necessary before using the instrument in the Netherlands. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

4种药物致小鼠肝脏毒性的基因表达谱聚类分析

目的在基因表达谱水平上观察红霉素、四环素、环磷酰胺、异环磷酰胺4种药物对Balb/c小鼠肝脏毒性效应。方法利用本室构建的小鼠毒理基因芯片和4种药物致Balb/c小鼠肝毒性动物模型,观察在药物作用不同时相点和剂量点上小鼠肝脏基因表达谱变化,结合层次聚类等手段对差异表达基因的生物学功能进行初步信息分析。结果共筛选出差异表达基因302个,其中282个参加了聚类分析。结果表明,环磷酰胺和异环磷酰胺组归为一类,红霉素和四环素归为另一类,不同时相和剂量组存在不同的聚类特征,一些差异表达基因在各药物组呈现共同上调或下调趋势。所有差异基因经genecards分析表明涉及脂肪代谢、蛋白质应激合成、抗氧化、炎症发生、细胞周期调控及药物代谢等多种生理功能。结论本研究揭示了与4种药物致Balb/c小鼠肝脏毒性相关的基因表达谱模式和特征基因群,为深入分析药物致小鼠肝毒性效应分子机制提供线索。