单次化疗后肿瘤99Tcm-rh-Annexin Ⅴ分布与Survivin、Caspase-3蛋白表达的相关性研究

目的 评价99Tcm-重组人膜联蛋白Ⅴ(rh-Annexin Ⅴ)显像检测单次化疗后肿瘤细胞凋亡的可行性,探讨其在肿瘤组织的分布与凋亡调控蛋白Survivin、Caspase-3表达的相关性.方法 采用99Tcm直接标记法标记rh-Annexin Ⅴ,作为核素凋亡显像剂.将小鼠肝癌细胞Hca-F25接种于小鼠右腋窝皮下;区组随机化分为A(对照组,9只)和B(化疗组,10只)组,肿瘤生长至直径约1 cm时,B组一次性接受环磷酰胺腹腔内注射,剂量为按体质量150 mr,/kg,A组注射同体积生理盐水;20 h后2组同时由鼠尾静脉注入99Tcm-rh-AnnexinⅤ;4 h后行SPECT显像并处死、取肿瘤组织,用井型γ闪烁计数器检测荷瘤小鼠肿瘤组织内放射性分布,以每克组织百分注射剂量率(%ID/g)表示.采用原位末端标记法(TUNEL)检测肿瘤细胞凋亡;采用免疫组织化学SP法检测标本中Survivin、Caspase-3蛋白表达.采用SPSS 10.0软件对数据进行统计学处理.结果 单次化疗后B组肿瘤组织内99Tcm-rh-Annexin Ⅴ分布[(0.478±0.123)%ID/g]、TUNEL检测阳性细胞数[(18.030±5.600)个/视野]及caspase-3蛋白表达[(3.266±0.482)%]均明显高于A组[分别为(0.332±0.061)%ID/g,(6.744±2.325)个/视野,(2.387±0.387)%],A组Survivin蛋白表达[(4.227±0.636)%]明显高于B组[(3.407±0.519)%],差异有统计学意义(F值依次为10.502,31.507,18.971,9.560,P均＜0.01).相关性研究表明,肿瘤组织的放射性摄取(%ID/g)与TUNEL阳性细胞数呈明显正相关(r=0.858,P=0.000);肿瘤组织内Survivin蛋白表达与Caspase-3蛋白表达呈明显负相关(r=-0.818,P=0.000);肿瘤组织内99Tcm-rh-Annexin Ⅴ分布与Caspase-3蛋白表达呈明显正相关,与Survivin蛋白表达呈明显负相关(P＜0.01).结论 肿瘤组织内99Tcm-rh-AnnexinⅤ的分布可以反映化疗后早期肿瘤组织细胞凋亡的状况以及Survivin、Caspase-3表达水平的变化.     

99Tcm-HL91乏氧显像评价小鼠移植瘤放疗疗效

目的为^99Tc^m-4，9-二氮-3，3，10，10-四甲基十二烷-2，11-二酮肟（HL91）乏氧显像评价肿瘤放疗疗效提供依据。方法15只H22肝癌细胞小鼠移植瘤模型分成3组，每组各5只。A组不进行放疗；B组单次放疗25Gy后即刻进行^99Tc^m-HL91显像；C组单次放疗25Gy48h后进行^99Tc^m-HL91显像，计算B、C组放疗前后同一感兴趣区（ROI）内肿瘤组织与正常脑组织放射性计数比值（T／N）；测定A、B、C组凋亡细胞、G1期和S期细胞比例及观察肿瘤组织放疗前后病理变化。结果（1）B组放疗后T／N值较放疗前显著增高（P〈0．05）；C组放疗后T／N值较放疗前显著降低（P〈0．05）。（2）A、B、C组凋亡细胞之间比例差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05，A〈B〈C）。（3）C组S期细胞所占比例明显低于A、B组，G1期细胞比例明显高于A、B组（P〈0．05）；C组肿瘤组织光学显微镜下可见凋亡细胞和大量细胞碎片。结论^99Tc^m-HL91显像是一种有价值的评价放疗疗效的手段。     

99Tcm-MNLS乏氧显像评估肿瘤放疗后乏氧状态变化的实验研究

目的 探讨99Tcm-2-(2-甲基-5-硝基-1H-咪唑-1-基)磷酸乙酯(MNLS,甲硝唑磷酸酯)乏氧显像监测荷瘤小鼠肿瘤放疗后乏氧状态变化的可行性.方法 (1)建立荷H22肝癌细胞小鼠模型,待肿瘤直径约1 cm时,注射7.4 MBq 99Tcm-MNLS后进行显像,观察注射显像剂后30 min,1、2、3、4、6和8h(各时间组小鼠均为6只)乏氧显像情况并确定最佳显像时间.显像后处死荷瘤小鼠,计算各时间点各组织％ ID/g.(2)放疗组及其对照组荷H22肝癌细胞小鼠行即刻、24 h、48 h 99Tcm-MNLS显像(各组小鼠均为6只,放疗组小鼠肿瘤部位给予25 Gy放射治疗,对照组不予放疗),应用ROI技术测定T/NT(对侧部位),肿瘤标本行HIF-1α免疫组织化学染色,探讨放疗组及对照组T/NT与HIF-1α表达量的相关性.(3)应用SPSS 17.0软件对数据进行单因素方差分析、最小显著差异t检验、两样本t检验及Spearman相关分析.结果 (1)99Tcm-MNLS在肿瘤组织摄取早,2h显像最佳,99Tcm-MNLS主要通过肾脏排泄.(2)放疗后24 h显像组T/NT(2.65±0.27)、HIF-1α表达量[(50.62±3.78)％]低于即刻显像组[3.35±0.19、(85.32±0.94)％,t=5.640、6.701,均P＜0.05],高于48 h显像组[2.23±0.52、(21.69±0.75)％,t=7.674、4.911,均P＜0.05];放疗后即刻显像组T/NT比值、HIF-1α表达量均较相应对照组[2.74±0.29、(28.26±1.70)％]增高(t=4.235、3.473,均P＜0.05);放疗后24h显像组T/NT比值、HIF-1α表达量较相应对照组[2.98±0.16、(58.45±0.98)％]差异均无统计学意义(t=0.525、2.043,均P＞0.05);放疗后48 h显像组T/NT比值、HIF-1α表达量均较相应对照组[3.15±0.88、(67.64±3.55)％]降低(t=7.902、3.258,均P＜0.05).放疗组不同时间点各显像组T/NT与HIF-1α表达量呈正相关(rs=0.793,P＜0.05),对照组不同时间点各显像组T/NT与HIF-1α表达量呈正相关(rs=0.756,P＜0.05).结论 99Tcm-MNLS肿瘤乏氧显像可以评估荷瘤小鼠肿瘤放疗后乏氧状态变化.     

99Tcm-His10-Annexin Ⅴ探测非小细胞肺癌细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的 探讨99Tcm标记带有10个连续组氨酸的膜联蛋白Ⅴ(His10-Annexin Ⅴ)探测荷非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)裸小鼠模型化疗后肿瘤细胞凋亡的可行性.方法 用99Tcm直接标记His10-Annexin Ⅴ.荷H460 NSCLC肿瘤裸小鼠模型20只,按体表面积以100 mg/m2剂量紫杉醇化疗诱导,分成未治疗(对照)、化疗诱导后24,48,72 h共4组.99Tcm-His10-Annexin Ⅴ显像探测化疗前后肿瘤组织细胞凋亡,计算肿瘤/对侧正常肌肉组织放射性比值(T/NT),测定每克组织百分注射剂量率(%ID/g).以99Tcm-IgG显像为对照,确定肿瘤的非特异性摄取.用流式细胞术(FCM)测定肿瘤组织活化半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶(Caspase-3),光学显微镜HE及原位末端标记法(TUNEL)染色测定凋亡指数.采用SPSS 12.0软件进行统计学处理,运用单因素方差分析和直线相关分析(Pearson).结果 99Tcm-His10-Annexin V放化纯为(98.01±1.67)%.注射99Tcm-His10-Annexin V后2 h即可得到清晰图像,化疗诱导组肿瘤部位可见明显的放射性浓聚,化疗后24,48,72 h组的T/NT值分别为2.63±0.76,3.41±0.90,3.85±0.62;对照组T/NT值为1.42±0.19,F值分别为12.064,23.322,70.177,P均<0.01.未治疗组肿瘤仅有少量放射性摄取,为(1.09±0.18)%ID/g,化疗后肿瘤摄取明显增加,24,48,72 h肿瘤摄取分别为(2.55±0.73)、(3.60±1.09)、(3.73±0.97)%ID/g,明显高于未治疗组(F值分别为18.733,20.624,35.626,P均<0.01).99Tcm-IgG显像化疗组及对照组肿瘤均未见明显放射性浓聚.未治疗组活化Caspase-3为(3.70±0.74)%,化疗后24,48,72 h分别为(23.46±2.23)%、(62.85±6.13)%、(70.44±6.09)%,3个化疗诱导组和未治疗组相比差异均有统计学意义(F值分别为354.610,459.438,591.052,P均<0.01).光学显微镜HE及TUNEL染色法发现,未治疗组细胞凋亡指数为(3.31±0.61)%,化疗后24,48,72 h细胞凋亡指数分别为(32.90±6.64)%、<70.42±7.54)%、(83.23±9.71)%,化疗诱导组与对照组细胞凋亡指数差异均有统计学意义(F值分别为98.627,393.215,337.386,P均<0.01).T/NT值、肿瘤组织放射性摄取与活化Caspase-3及细胞凋亡指数均有很好的相关性(r=0.847,0.833,0.774,0.850,P均<0.01).结论 99Tcm-His10-Annexin V显像可早期探测NSCLC化疗后细胞凋亡,进而早期预测和评价肿瘤治疗疗效.     

18F-FDG PET/CT显像评估马蔺子素放射增敏作用

目的 探讨18F-FDG PET/CT显像评估马蔺子素(IR)对兔VX2肺癌模型放疗增敏作用的可行性.方法 建立24只兔VX2肺癌模型,按随机数字表法分为A(单纯放疗)组、B(IR+放疗)组及C(对照)组,每组各8只.各组分别于治疗前、治疗后24 h及治疗后1周行18F-FDG PET/CT显像,观察3组肿瘤部位延迟显像SUVmax的变化.显像完成后每组处死2只荷瘤兔,取出肿瘤组织,行HE染色观察病理改变.数据分析采用配对t检验、单因素方差分析及Kaplan-Meier生存分析.结果 全部兔VX2肺肿瘤放疗前PET/CT显像SUVmax为2.200±0.761,延迟显像SUVmax为3.162±0.833,差异有统计学意义(t=-5.582,P＜0.01).放疗后24hA、B、C组延迟显像SUVmax分别为2.614 ±0.654、2.349±0.869和5.663±1.144,3组与治疗前延迟显像SUVmax差异均有统计学意义(t=2.527、3.620和11.011,均P＜0.05);放疗后1周时A、B、C组延迟显像SUVmax分别为3.625±1.064、3.058±0.850及7.424±1.751,各组间差异均有统计学意义(tA∶B=2.652、tA∶C=3.799和tB∶C=4.366,均P＜0.05),病理结果显示B组肿瘤细胞明显少于A、C组,与PET/CT结果相符.A、B、C3组生存时间分别为(62.375±4.534)、(69.000±4.660)和(54.125±5.276)d,Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示B组生存率较A组及C组明显增高(Log-rank检验,x2=7.355和16.943,均P＜0.01).结论 18F-FDG PET/CT可评估放疗早期疗效及马蔺子素对放疗的增敏作用.     

99 Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V荷瘤小鼠肿瘤细胞凋亡显像研究

目的研究99Tcm-联肼尼克酰胺-膜联蛋白V(HYNIC-Annexin V)的制备及其在荷瘤小鼠体内生物分布特性和活体显像.方法用双功能螯合剂法,以99Tcm标记Annexin V,经高效液相色谱仪分离纯化并检测产物的标记率、放化纯及稳定性.建立荷S180肉瘤小鼠模型,于20～25g/只昆明种小白鼠右前腋皮下接种S180肉瘤细胞1周.荷瘤小鼠在环磷酰胺腹膜内化疗72h后,尾静脉注射7.4 MBq(200μl)99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V,分别于5、30min和1、3、6 h进行显像和体内生物分布测定.实验结果应用SPSS 12.0统计软件进行分析.结果 99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V的标记率达95%,放化纯为99%.荷瘤小鼠注射99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V后6 h显像,可见肿瘤组织放射性浓聚明显异常.体内生物分布实验示,注射显像剂后6 h肿瘤组织的放射性摄取最高[每克组织百分注射剂量率(%ID/g)为1.59±0.44],与其他时相比较,差异有显著性(P＜0.05).99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V主要浓聚于肾、肺和肝,经肾脏排泄;其在血液中清除速度快,注射后30 min,血液放射性摄取[(1.59±0.50)%ID/g]较注射后5 min时[(8.85±2.65)%ID/g]减少80%(P＜0.05).注射显像剂后6 h,肿瘤/肌肉放射性摄取比值(3.73±1.42)高于肿瘤/血液(2.80±0.54).结论 99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V活体细胞凋亡显像可应用于荷瘤小鼠模型,其临床应用有待进一步研究.     

用99Tcm标记突触结合蛋白I-C2A片段评价缺血预处理对心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的 应用99TcmO-4标记突触结合蛋白I-C2A片段(99Tcm-Syt I-C2A)评价缺血预处理对心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用.方法 (1)采用2-亚氨基噻吩盐酸盐(2-IT)方法标记Syt I-C2A片段,纸层析法测定99Tcm-Syt I-C2A放化纯,用喜树碱处理的Jurket细胞测定标记蛋白质活性.(2)制备心肌缺血再灌注大鼠模型(A组)和心肌缺血预处理大鼠模型(B组)各6只,分别由尾静脉注射99Tcm-syt I-C2A 7.4 MBq,注射后1h处死动物,取出心脏,用生理盐水将心肌冲洗干净,并进行氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)染色,根据染色结果,分别取2组缺血损伤心肌和正常心肌,测量质量及放射性计数,比较2组缺血损伤心肌和正常心肌的每克组织百分注射剂量率(%ID/g).采用SPSS 12.0软件行统计分析,数据间比较用t检验.结果 (1)标记后的99Tcm-Syt I-C2A放化纯为(98.90±o.43)%,标记蛋白质与喜树碱处理组细胞结合测定的放射性计数是未处理组细胞的(10.99±O.55)倍.(2)A组缺血损伤心肌摄取99Tcm-Syt I-C2A(2.41±0.32)%ID/g,正常心肌为(O.16±O.02)%ID/g;而B组缺血损伤心肌和正常心肌的放射性摄取则分别为(0.46±0.05)和(0.20±0.05)%ID/g.B组缺血损伤心肌的99Tcm-Syt I.C2A摄取量明显低于A组(t=8.52,P相似文献   

99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V动脉粥样硬化显像的实验研究

目的 探讨99Tcm-联肼尼克酰胺(HYNIC)-膜联蛋白V(Annexin V)显像检测兔动脉粥样硬化(AS)病变的价值.方法 5只雄性日本大耳白兔通过免疫损伤血管和12周高脂饮食制备成AS模型(实验组),自兔耳缘静脉按体质量注射99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V 37 MBq/kg,分别行活体和离体血管的99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V显像.5只未经特殊处理的同种白兔行活体显像作为对照.对实验组兔的主动脉分段后,测定各片段质量和放射性计数,并进行病理学和免疫组织化学检查.采用SPSS 13.0软件对数据进行统计学处理.结果 显像剂注射后2h,实验组兔主动脉可见放射性摄取达峰值,而对照组未见明显的放射性摄取,前者靶/非靶(T/NT)比值(2.70±0.26)明显高于后者(1.30±0.13,t=1.99,P＜0.05).实验组兔的主动脉血管斑块片段放射性摄取(每克组织百分注射剂量率,%ID/g)为(0.075±0.016)%ID/g,明显高于非斑块血管片段[(0.035±0.013)%ID/g,前者是后者的(4.55±0.99)倍,t=4.77,P＜0.001];两者的凋亡细胞指数(AI)分别为(40.53±14.94)%和(11.90±7.09)%,差异具有统计学意义(t=2.54,P＜0.01).所有血管片段的放射性摄取(%ID/g值)与AI呈正相关(r=0.98,P＜0.001).结论 99Tcm-HYNIC-Annexin V可以无创性地检测AS斑块的凋亡.     

99Tcm-DTPA-生物素-亲和素预定位技术用于肿瘤放免显像

目的评价用99Tcm替代111In标记生物素-亲和素系统(BAS)在肿瘤放免显像预定位中的价值.方法 DTPA-生物素溶液中加入99Tcm淋洗液,室温放置10 min.荷LA-795肺癌鼠分成荷瘤7 d肺无转移组和荷瘤15 d肿瘤肺转移组.采用三步法预定位技术给药,先注射生物素化C50抗体,1 d后注射亲和素,再过2 d注射99Tcm-DTPA-生物素,设对照和空白组;并与常规99Tcm直接法标记C50抗体放免显像比较.结果 99Tcm-DTPA-生物素的标记率大于90%,亚锡量是影响标记率的重要因素.注射后2 h,三步法组肿瘤摄取量为(1.35±0.45)%ID/g,瘤/血比值(T/B)为5.86,瘤/肌肉比值(T/M)为8.43.而对照直接注射99Tcm-DTPA-生物素组的T/B为0.85,T/M为1.1.99Tcm直接法标记C50放免显像组在注射后8 h的T/B为1.65,T/M为2.0.注射后2 h平面显像,三步法组肿瘤显影清晰,余各组肿瘤均未显影.结论 99Tcm-DTPA-生物素可用于三步法肿瘤放射免疫显像,并优于直接标记法.     

外照射联合瘤内注射~(131)I-chTNT对荷Lewis瘤小鼠肿瘤的治疗作用

目的 研究外照射联合瘤内注射~(131)I-肿瘤细胞核人鼠嵌合单克隆抗体(chTNT)对荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长和体内放射性分布的影响.方法 建立C57BL近交系荷Lewis瘤小鼠模型64只,当肿瘤直径达6.0 mm时,用随机数字法分组进行荷瘤小鼠体内分布实验(18只)及~(131)I-chTNT显像(6只),均分为单药组和外照射联合组(小鼠分配9只×2和3只×2),观察给药后1,3和5 d肿瘤组织及血液、对侧大腿肌肉、胃、肝、肾、心、肺的放射性,用每克组织百分注射剂量率(%ID/g)表示;肿瘤生长效应实验设4个组(每组10只):对照组、单药组、外照射组和联合组,观察指标为肿瘤生长延迟时间.采用SPSS 11.5软件,组间比较行t检验.结果 荷瘤小鼠体内分布实验中联合组肿瘤组织放射性在1[(11.95±1.33)%ID/g]和3 d[(9.38±1.25)%ID/g]均高于单药组[(7.86±0.94)和(6.57±0.71)%ID/g],2组间差异有统计学意义(t值分别为4.326,3.555,P均<0.05).2组中正常组织的放射性差异均无统计学意义(t值0.118～1.445,P>0.05).~(131)I-chTNT显像结果 示外照射可增加荷瘤小鼠瘤内~(131)I-chTNT的滞留量,并延长其滞留时间;生长效应实验示:单药组、外照射组的绝对延迟时间分别为(3.3±1.75)和(6.0 4±2.02)d,联合组的绝对延迟时间为(9.5±1.93)d,标准化延迟时间为6.2 d,~(131)I-chTNT对放射治疗的增效因子为1.03.结论 外照射联合瘤内注射~(131)I-chTNT可增加瘤内~(131)I-chTNT的滞留量,并延长其滞留时间,二者联合应用可提高对荷瘤小鼠肿瘤的治疗效果.     

Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) - validation of a Swedish version

The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) is a self-administered instrument measuring outcome after knee injury at impairment, disability, and handicap level in five subscales. Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of a Swedish version was assessed in 142 patients who underwent arthroscopy because of injury to the menisci, anterior cruciate ligament, or cartilage of the knee. The clinimetric properties were found to be good and comparable to the American version of the KOOS. Comparison to the Short Form-36 and the Lysholm knee scoring scale revealed expected correlations and construct validity. Item by item, symptoms and functional limitations were compared between diagnostic groups. High responsiveness was found three months after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for all subscales but Activities of Daily Living.     

The acutely limping child

Acute limping may be the result of multiple pathologies in children. The differential diagnosis varies based on the age of the child. Irrespective of age, the initial imaging work-up includes AP and frog leg radiographs of the pelvis and ultrasound; MRI may sometimes be helpful. In children less than 3 years, infections and trauma are most frequent. MRI is the imaging modality of choice when osteomyelitis is clinically suspected. Between the ages of 3 and 10 years, transient synovitis of the hip and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease are main considerations but infection, inflammation and focal bony lesions are also considered. In children over 10 years, slipped capital femoral epiphysis also is considered.     

Do Balance Board Training Programs Reduce the Risk of Ankle Sprains in Athletes?

Introduction Ankle sprains are the most common musculo-skeletal injury that occurs in athletes,particularly in sports that require jumping and landing on one foot such as soccer,and basketball(1-4).These injuries often result in significant time loss from participation,long-term disability,and have a major impact on health care costs and resources(5-8).     

High Intensity Interval Training:New Insights

KEY POINTS ·High-intensity interval training(HIT)is characterized by repeated sessions of relatively brief，intermittent exercise.often performed with an“a11 out”effort or at an intensity close to that which elicits peak oxygen uptake(i.e.，≥90%of VO2 peak).     

Endovascular management of carotid-cavernous fistulas

Objective To investigate endovascular treatment of traumatic direct carotid-cavernous fistulas （CCF） and their complications such as pseudoaneurysms. Methods： Over a five-year period, 22 patients with traumatic direct CCFs were treated endovascularly in our institution. Thirteen patients were treated once with the result of CCF occluded, 8 twice and 1 three times. Treatment modalities included balloon occlusion of the CCF, sacrifice of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery with detachable balloon, coll embolization of the cavernous sinus and secondary pseudoaneurysms, and covered-stem management of the pseudoaneurysms. Results All the direct CCFs were successfully managed endovascularly. Four patients developed a pseudoaneurysm after the occlusion of the CCF with an incidence of pseudoaneurysm formation of 18.2% （4/22）. A total number of 8 patients experienced permanent occlusion of the ICA with a rate of ICA occlusion reaching 36.4% （8/22）. Followed up through telephone consultation from 6 months to 5 years, all did well with no recurrence of CCF symptoms and signs. Conclusion Traumatic direct CCFs can be successfully managed with endovascular means. The pseudoaneurysms secondary to the occlusion of the CCFs can be occluded with stent-assisted coiling and implantation of covered stents.     

Developmental validation of the PowerPlex(®) ESI 16 and PowerPlex(®) ESI 17 Systems: STR multiplexes for the new European standard

In response to the ENFSI and EDNAP groups’ call for new STR multiplexes for Europe, Promega^® developed a suite of four new DNA profiling kits. This paper describes the developmental validation study performed on the PowerPlex^® ESI 16 (European Standard Investigator 16) and the PowerPlex^® ESI 17 Systems. The PowerPlex^® ESI 16 System combines the 11 loci compatible with the UK National DNA Database^®, contained within the AmpFlSTR^® SGM Plus^® PCR Amplification Kit, with five additional loci: D2S441, D10S1248, D22S1045, D1S1656 and D12S391. The multiplex was designed to reduce the amplicon size of the loci found in the AmpFlSTR^® SGM Plus^® kit. This design facilitates increased robustness and amplification success for the loci used in the national DNA databases created in many countries, when analyzing degraded DNA samples. The PowerPlex^® ESI 17 System amplifies the same loci as the PowerPlex^® ESI 16 System, but with the addition of a primer pair for the SE33 locus. Tests were designed to address the developmental validation guidelines issued by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), and those of the DNA Advisory Board (DAB). Samples processed include DNA mixtures, PCR reactions spiked with inhibitors, a sensitivity series, and 306 United Kingdom donor samples to determine concordance with data generated with the AmpFlSTR^® SGM Plus^® kit. Allele frequencies from 242 white Caucasian samples collected in the United Kingdom are also presented. The PowerPlex^® ESI 16 and ESI 17 Systems are robust and sensitive tools, suitable for the analysis of forensic DNA samples. Full profiles were routinely observed with 62.5 pg of a fully heterozygous single source DNA template. This high level of sensitivity was found to impact on mixture analyses, where 54–86% of unique minor contributor alleles were routinely observed in a 1:19 mixture ratio. Improved sensitivity combined with the robustness afforded by smaller amplicons has substantially improved the quantity of data obtained from degraded samples, and the improved chemistry confers exceptional tolerance to high levels of laboratory prepared inhibitors.     

Bronchial stump fistula :treatment with covered retrievable hinged metallic stents-preliminary clinical experience

Objective To evaluate the preliminaily clinical efficacy and retrievability of a retrievable hinged covered metallic stent in the treatment of the bronchial stump fistula （BSF）. Methods Between April 2003 and March 2005, 8 patients with bronchial stump fistula after pneumonectomy or lobectomy were treated with two types （A and B） of retrievable hinged covered metallic stents. Type A stent was placed in 6 patients and type B in 2 under fluoroscopic guidance. The stent was removed with a retrieval set when BSF was healed or complications occurred. Results Stent placement in the bronchial tree was technically successful in all patients, without procedure-related complications. Immediate closure of the BSF was achieved in all patients after the procedure. Stents were removed from all patients but one. Removal of the stents was difficult in two patients due to tissue hyperplasia. Patients were followed up for 6 - 21 months. Placement of the stents remained stable in all patients except one due to severe cough. Permanent closure of BSF was achieved in 7 （87.5%） of 8 patients. Conclusion Use of a retrievable hinged covered expandable metallic stent is a simple, safe, and effective procedure for closure of the BSF. Retrieval of the stent seems to be feasible. （J Intervent Radiol, 2007, 16： 253-257）     

Prevalence and severity of hip and groin pain in sub‐elite male football: a cross‐sectional cohort study of 695 players

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to investigate the prevalence of hip and groin pain in sub‐elite male adult football in Denmark and (b) to explore the association between prevalence and duration of hip and groin pain in the previous season with the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) in the beginning of the new season. In total 695 respondents from 40 teams (Division 1–4) were included. Players completed in the beginning of the new season (July–Sept 2011) a self‐reported paper questionnaire on hip and/or groin pain during the previous season and HAGOS. In total 49% (95% CI: 45–52%) reported hip and/or groin pain during the previous season. Of these, 31% (95% CI: 26–36%) reported pain for >6 weeks. Players with the longest duration of pain during the previous season had the lowest HAGOS scores, when assessed at the beginning of the new season, P < 0.001. This study documents that half of sub‐elite male adult football players report pain in the hip and/or groin during a football season. The football players with the longest duration of pain in previous season displayed the lowest HAGOS scores in the beginning of the new season.