盐酸美金刚改善缺血性脑卒中患者神经认知功能的回顾性研究

目的 探讨盐酸美金刚（简称"美金刚"）改善缺血性脑卒中患者神经认知功能的效果。方法 对2016年6月至12月于解放军总医院干部诊疗科进行治疗的缺血性脑卒中患者进行回顾性研究,根据其是否规律服用美金刚,分为美金刚组和非美金刚组,对两组患者的年龄、性别、BMI、随访时间及神经认知功能评分进行统计,神经认知功能评分采用蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）。结果 两组患者的年龄、BMI、随访时间均无明显差异。初诊时,美金刚组MoCA评分（19.19±3.23）,非美金刚组评分（18.47±3.03）,P=0.651;2周时,美金刚组（21.06±2.62）,非美金刚组（19.19±2.87）,P=0.038;4周时,美金刚组（23.50±2.00）,非美金刚组（21.30±2.16）,P=0.002;末次随访时,美金刚组（24.69±2.09）,非美金刚组（23.22±2.08）,P=0.031。结论 美金刚可有效改善缺血性脑卒中患者的神经认知功能。     

旋转皮瓣和改良菱形皮瓣修复面部缺损的效果比较

目的 探讨旋转皮瓣和改良菱形皮瓣在修复面部缺损方面的效果差异。方法 选取2012年12月至2015年7月在西安市第九医院接受治疗的面部缺损中度以上的患者共83例,并随机分为两组,即旋转皮瓣组35例,改良菱形皮瓣组48例,对比两组术前皮损面积、术后切口长度以及术后满意程度。结果 旋转皮瓣组患者术前皮肤缺损面积为（2.41±1.86）cm²,改良菱形皮瓣组为（2.49±1.93）cm²,差异无统计学意义（t=0.189,P=0.850）。旋转皮瓣组患者术后切口长度（5.29±0.82）cm,高于改良菱形皮瓣组的（2.62±0.76）cm,差异有统计学意义（t=8.985,P<0.001）。旋转皮瓣组额部满意度评分为（8.40±1.30）分,改良菱形皮瓣组为（8.50±1.10）分,差异无统计学意义（t=0.161,P=0.874）;旋转皮瓣组鼻部满意度评分为（7.20±1.00）,改良菱形皮瓣组为（7.10±1.20）,差异无统计学意义（t=0.208,P=0.837）;旋转皮瓣组面侧颧颊部满意度评分为（8.5±1.00）,高于改良菱形皮瓣组的（7.2±1.20）,差异有统计学意义（t=3.292,P=0.003）。结论 中等大小的皮肤缺损,旋转皮瓣和改良菱形皮瓣均拥有良好的治疗效果,但旋转皮瓣对颧颊部皮肤缺损的修复效果优于改良菱形皮瓣。     

急性阑尾炎病理分型与血小板参数的相关性

目的 探讨血小板参数PLT、PDW、MPV与急性阑尾炎（AA）病情进展程度的相关性。方法 选取2017年1月至2019年7月在蚌埠市第三人民医院接受阑尾切除术的116例AA患者作为研究对象,所有患者术前均行PLT、PDW、MPV检查,术后均将切除的标本送病理检查。根据病理检查结果,将患者分为单纯性阑尾炎组（41例）与复杂性阑尾炎组（75例）,评估PLT、PDW、MPV与AA病情进展的相关性。结果 单纯性阑尾炎组患者PDW为（13.37±3.00）%、MPV为（11.42±1.27）fL、PLT为（220.96±58.79）×10⁹/L,与复杂性阑尾炎组相比,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。PLT和MPV、PDW均呈负相关（r=-0.499,P=0.000;r=-0.464,P=0.000）,MPV和PDW则呈正相关（r=0.933,P=0.000）。结论 PLT、PDW、MPV与AA病理类型及病情严重程度有一定关联,可作为AA临床诊断参考。     

核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3在病毒性心肌炎中的作用研究

目的 探讨核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3（NLRP3）在柯萨奇B组3型病毒（CVB3）诱导的病毒性心肌炎中的作用。方法 40只6～8周龄BALB/c雄性小鼠使用随机数字表法随机分为对照组和病毒性心肌炎模型组,每组20只。对照组ip 0.1 mL生理盐水,模型组ip 0.1 mL含有CVB3病毒（1×10⁶ PFU/mL）的病毒液进行造模。造模第7天,处死所有小鼠。酶联免疫吸附法（Elisa）检测血清NLRP3、白介素（IL）-1β和IL-18炎症因子。结果 模型组NLRP3、IL-1β和IL-18表达水平分别为（26.43±4.14）、（31.25±5.63）、（38.57±6.45） μg/L,显著高于对照组的（4.53±1.06）、（6.35±1.24）、（7.83±1.36） μg/L（P<0.01）。模型组心肌炎评分为（2.36±0.27）分,显著高于对照组的（0.18±0.04）分（P<0.01）。模型组心肌细胞NLRP3表达评分为（1.82±0.24）分,显著高于对照组的（0.16±0.03）分（P<0.01）。相关性分析显示模型鼠NLRP3与体质量呈显著负相关（r=-0.517,P<0.05）,和心肌炎评分呈显著正相关（r=0.624,P<0.05）。结论 NLRP3炎症小体可能参与了柯萨奇B组3型病毒致小鼠病毒性心肌炎的的发生过程。     

HPLC测定肾炎宁片中大黄酸、大黄素、大黄酚及雷公藤甲素的含量

目的 建立HPLC测定肾炎宁片中大黄酸、大黄素、大黄酚及雷公藤甲素的含量。方法 大黄酸、大黄素、大黄酚的测定采用流动相为甲醇-0.1%磷酸（70∶30）,检测波长为254 nm;雷公藤甲素采用流动相为乙腈-水（25∶75）,检测波长为220 nm;两者均采用Lichrospher-C₁₈柱（4.6 mm×250 mm,5 mm）,流速均为1.0 ml·min^-1。结果 大黄酸、大黄素、大黄酚以及雷公藤甲素分别在1.83~14.64 μg·ml^-1（r=0.999 9）,2.895~23.16 μg·ml^-1（r=0.999 8）,7.625~61.00 μg·ml^-1 （r=0.999 8）以及1.52~24.32 μg·ml^-1（r=0.999 6）内与峰面积呈良好的线性关系,大黄酸平均回收率为103.2%,RSD=1.73% （n=9）;大黄素平均回收率为98.6%,RSD=3.94%（n=9）;大黄酚平均回收率为98.3%,RSD=2.54%（n=9）;雷公藤甲素平均回收率为99.61%,RSD=2.83%（n=9）。结论 本方法准确、可靠、专属性强,可作为该制剂的定量控制方法。     

HPLC波长切换联合梯度洗脱法同时测定参苏宣肺丸中的6种成分

目的 建立HPLC波长切换联合梯度洗脱法同时测定参苏宣肺丸中咖啡酸、迷迭香酸、3’-羟基葛根素、葛根素、3’-甲氧基葛根素、大豆苷的含量。方法 采用ZOBAX SB-C₁₈色谱柱（4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm）;流动相A为甲醇-乙腈（1：1）,流动相B为0.1%冰醋酸溶液,进行梯度洗脱;流速为1.0 mL·min^-1;咖啡酸和迷迭香酸的检测波长为320 nm,3’-羟基葛根素、葛根素、3’-甲氧基葛根素和大豆苷的检测波长为250 nm;进样量为20 μL。结果 咖啡酸、迷迭香酸、3’-羟基葛根素、葛根素、3’-甲氧基葛根素、大豆苷的浓度与峰面积分别在2.32~46.40 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 8）、3.06~61.20 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 5）、4.45~89.00 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 9）、14.48~289.60 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 9）、4.86~97.20 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 7）、3.69~73.80 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 6）内具有较好的线性关系,平均加样回收率和相应的RSD分别为99.0%（1.6%）,97.5%（0.6%）,99.3%（0.9%）,98.6%（1.3%）,97.6%（1.3%）,97.0%（0.9%）。结论 方法操作准确、简便,可用于参苏宣肺丸的质量控制。     

益气活血方联合沙库巴曲缬沙坦对慢性心衰患者的疗效观察

目的 观察中药益气活血方配合沙库巴曲缬沙坦在慢性心衰治疗中的疗效及对患者心率变异性指标、血清NT-proBNP、MMP-9水平的影响。方法 将2017年7月-2018年8月期间收治的126例慢性心衰患者随机分为沙库巴曲组（61例）和益气沙库组（65例）,沙库巴曲组均给予常规抗慢性心衰基本治疗和沙库巴曲缬沙坦治疗,益气沙库组在沙库巴曲组基础上加以益气活血方治疗,观察2组治疗6个月后的临床疗效、心率变异性指标、血清NT-proBNP、MMP-9及不良反应情况。结果 益气沙库组的临床总有效率显著优于沙库巴曲组（89.23%vs 72.13%）（χ²=5.979,P=0.031）;治疗后,2组心率变异性指标（SDNN、SDANN、pNN50）及NT-proBNP、MMP-9比较均较治疗前改善和降低。益气沙库组治疗后心率变异性指标SDNN、SDANN、pNN50显著高于沙库巴曲组[（129.53±34.26 vs 114.28±31.84）ms、（112.31±36.02 vs 101.44±29.59）ms、（8.71±7.64 vs 6.37±5.80）%]（P<0.05）;益气沙库组治疗后血清NT-proBNP、MMP-9显著低于沙库巴曲组[（207.45±51.71 vs 268.62±74.15）pg·mL^-1、（561.79±64.03 vs 688.19±87.94）pg·mL^-1]（P<0.05）。结论 中药益气活血方配合沙库巴曲缬沙坦在慢性心衰治疗中的疗效显著,该治疗方案可改善患者心率变异性指标、NT-proBNP、MMP-9指标的异常情况。     

膝骨性关节炎患者膝关节疼痛指数与足底压力变化的相关性研究

目的 探讨膝骨性关节炎患者足底压力改变及疼痛对足底压力的影响。方法 运用足底压力测试系统对28例单侧膝骨性关节炎疼痛患者自然行走时的步态进行测试,观察受试者单足支撑分期时段参数、足角及膝关节疼痛指数,对健、患侧足底压力各指标进行统计学分析并分析膝关节疼痛指数与各指标相关性。结果 膝骨性关节炎患者患侧前足着地阶段时间百分比为(57.90±32.93)、全足支撑阶段时间百分比为(57.93±2.93)低于健侧对应百分比(60.26±2.66,P=0.007; 51.53±3.84, P < 0.001);患侧足角(16.24±4.50)明显高于健侧足角(14.67±4.09),差异有统计学意义(P=0.014);膝关节疼痛指数与患侧前足着地阶段时间百分比(r=-0.53,P=0.004)、全足支撑阶段时间百分比(r=-0.56,P=0.002)呈负相关;与患侧足角无明显相关性(r=0.245,P=0.193)。结论 膝骨性关节炎患者足底压力具有特征性,前足着地时段、全足支撑时段明显缩短、足角变大,疼痛严重影响膝骨性关节炎患者步态。     

CO2超临界流体色谱法同时测定莪术油中3个倍半萜类成分的含量

目的 建立CO₂超临界流体色谱法测定莪术油中呋喃二烯、牻牛儿酮和莪术二酮含量的方法。方法 采用ACQUITY UPC² HSS C₁₈ SB色谱柱（3.0 mm×150 mm,1.8 μm）,以CO₂-乙腈为流动相,梯度洗脱;流速为1.0 mL·min^-1;检测波长为216 nm,柱温为55℃,背压为2 000 psi。结果 呋喃二烯在2.67~1 337.26μg·mL^-1内线性关系良好（r=1.000）,加样回收率为97.94%（n=6,RSD=1.50%）。牻牛儿酮在2.77~1 386.00 μg·mL^-1内线性关系良好（r=1.000）,加样回收率为96.07%（n=6,RSD=1.68%）;莪术二酮在6.99~3 493.00 μg·mL^-1内线性关系良好（r=1.000）,加样回收率为99.33%（n=6,RSD=1.88%）。结论 本方法快捷准确、稳定且绿色环保,可用于莪术油中上述3个倍半萜类成分的质量控制。     

腹腔镜下肛门成形术治疗高位肛门闭锁的疗效

目的 探讨腹腔镜下高位肛门闭锁成形术的临床疗效。方法 2010年6月至2014年6月安徽省立医院收治高位肛门闭锁患儿45例，23例行腹腔镜下肛门成形术（LAARP），22例行后矢状路肛门成形术（PSARP），比较两种肛门成形术手术时间、出血量，以及住院时间和肛门括约肌功能。结果 LAARP与PSARP比较，出血量[（12.1±3.6）mL vs（16.1±2.6）mL，t=-4.25，P<0.05）]、住院时间[（10.2±2.7）d vs（15.2±1.9）d，t=-7.1，P<0.05）]降低，肛门括约肌功能[（1.5±0.5）分vs（1.1±0.4）分，t=2.94，P=0.005）]改善；而手术时间及术后大便失禁、直肠积粪状况无明显差异。结论 高位肛门闭锁患儿LAARP术后肛门括约肌功能恢复较好，且住院时间、出血量较PSARP明显降低，LAARP值得推广应用。     

Clozapine metabolism rate as a possible index of drug-induced granulocytopenia

A possible relationship between haematological adverse reactions and clozapine (CLZ) metabolism rate was studied. Sixteen chronic schizophrenic outpatients (mean age 34.62 years ± 7.56 SD) were treated with CLZ, 75–600 mg/daily for 9 weeks. CLZ and norclozapine (NCLZ) plasma levels were determined weekly, contemporarily with blood cell counts.  CLZ plasma levels ranged from 25 to 1270 ng/ml (mean 266.27 ng/ml ± 197.44 SD), while NCLZ plasma levels ranged from 25 to 1280 ng/ml (mean 169.0 ng/ml ± 127.94 SD). NCLZ/CLZ ratio ranged from 0.13 to 1.72 (mean 0.72 ± 0.28 SD). Leukocyte count ranged from 5.2 to 18.8 10⁹/l (mean 9.37 10⁹/l ± 2.94 SD) and neutrophil count ranged from 1.8 to 13.4 10⁹/l (mean 5.73 ± 2.57 SD). No correlation was found between CLZ dosage and NCLZ plasma levels. Both CLZ and NCLZ plasma levels correlated positively with neutrophil count (CLZ: P = 0.001, r = 0.26; NCLZ: P = 0.01, r = 0.20). The correlation between NCLZ/CLZ plasma level ratio and neutrophil count was significantly negative (P = 0.002, r  = 0.25). These preliminary data suggest that the NCLZ/CLZ ratio, as an index of CLZ metabolism, might be a possible risk factor associated with CLZ treatment. Received: 15 May 1997/Final version: 3 October 1997     

α2C-Adrenoceptors mediate contractile responses to noradrenaline in the human saphenous vein

We have investigated the subtype of α₂-adrenoceptor mediating isometric contractions of human saphenous vein in comparison with α₂-adrenoceptor ligand binding sites. Postjunctional α₂-adrenoceptors in the human saphenous vein were investigated in terms of the ability of α₂-adrenoceptor antagonists to shift the contractile potency of noradrenaline. The following antagonists were employed (potencies, pKB, in human saphenous vein in parentheses): chlorpromazine (6.98±0.24), BDF 8933 (7.60±0.06), prazosin (6.62±0.15), ARC 239 (7.19±0.15), yohimbine (7.23±0.09), HV 723 (7.52±0.14), WB 4101 (7.90±0.06), SKF 104078 (6.55±0.08), BRL 44408 (5.72±0.21). Antagonist potency at postjunctional α₂-adrenoceptors was correlated with antagonist affinity at α₂-adrenoceptor ligand binding sites in membranes of human platelet (α_2A), rat kidney (α_2B) and Sf9 cells expressing human recombinant receptors (α_2C), labelled with [³H]yohimbine. The correlation with the postjunctional α₂-adrenoceptor mediating contraction of the human saphenous vein was best for the human recombinant α_2C-adrenoceptor ligand binding site (r=0.92, n=8, P<0.001), as compared to correlations with the α_2B-adrenoceptor ligand binding site of rat kidney (r=0.62, n=8, n.s.) and with the α_2A-adrenoceptor ligand binding site of human platelet (r=0.23, n=8, n.s.). It is concluded that the functional postjunctional α₂-adrenoceptor mediating contractions of the human saphenous vein closely resembles the human recombinant α_2C-adrenoceptor ligand binding site. Received: 23 September 1996 / Accepted: 3 December 1996     

Contribution of age,body weight,and CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype to the anticoagulant response to warfarin: proposal for a new dosing regimen in Chinese patients

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the contribution of the VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genotypes and age, body size, and weight of the patients to the warfarin dose requirement in a Chinese population. Methods Blood samples were collected from 178 Chinese patients with stable warfarin dose requirements and an international normalized ratio (INR) of the prothrombin time within the target range (1.5–3.0). The polymorphisms for the VKORC1 (-1639GA) and CYP2C9*3 genotypes, venous INR, and plasma concentration and unbound concentration of warfarin were then analyzed. Results VKORC1 (-1639G>A) genotyping showed that 149 patients were homozygous AA, 28 were heterozygous GA, and one was homozygous for the GG genotype. CYP2C9*3 genotyping showed that 162 patients were *1/*1, and 16 patients were heterozygous *1/*3. Patients with the VKORC1(-1639 GG+GA) (3.32 ± 1.02 mg/day) and CYP2C9*1/*1 (2.06 ± 0.82 mg/day) genotypes required a significantly higher warfarin dose than those with the -1639 AA (1.76 ± 0.57 mg/day; P < 0.001) or CYP2C9*1/*3 (1.60 ± 1.29 mg/day; P < 0.001), genotype. The multiple linear regression model for warfarin dose indicated significant contributions from age (r ² = 0.084; P < 0.001), weight (r ² = 0.063; P < 0.001), VKORC1 genotype (r ² = 0.494; P < 0.001), and age, weight, and CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype together (r ² = 0.628; P < 0.001). Conclusion This study shows that age, weight and the VKORC1 and CYP2C9 polymorphism affect warfarin dose requirements in our sample of Chinese patients receiving long-term therapy and showing stable control of anticoagulation. It is anticipated that the use of dosing regimens modified by taking into account the contribution of age, weight, and the CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotypes has the potential to improve the safety of warfarin therapy.     

老年原发免疫性血小板减少症患者治疗前后T淋巴细胞亚群的临床研究

目的 检测老年原发免疫性血小板减少症(ITP)患者治疗前后T淋巴细胞亚群的动态变化, 探讨其在ITP发生发展中的作用。方法 采用流式细胞术测定ITP患者治疗前后及正常对照组外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的水平。结果 ITP患者治疗前后T淋巴细胞绝对值、CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD4⁺CD25⁺T淋巴细胞比例及CD4⁺/CD8⁺比值分别为(0.83±0.16)vs(1.74±0.36)、(71.71±1.07)% vs(72.69±1.35)%、(41.78±0.71)% vs(42.46±1.20)%、(29.67±0.97)% vs(28.56±1.75)%、(8.76±0.56)% vs(9.39±1.26)%、(1.42±0.07)vs(1.49±0.13), CD8⁺T淋巴细胞比例治疗后显著降低, 其余均显著升高, 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 T淋巴细胞亚群的异常改变, 破坏自身免疫, 与病情相关, 可指导临床治疗, 并作为评估预后的参考指标。     

Pharmacological characterisation of human cerebral cortex somatostatin SRIF1 and SRIF2 receptors

Radioligand binding studies were performed in membranes of human cerebral cortex using [¹²⁵I]Tyr³-octreotide in the presence of 5 mM MgCl₂, [¹²⁵I]SRIF-14 ([¹²⁵I]Tyr¹¹-SRIF-14) and [¹²⁵I]CGP 23996 ([¹²⁵I]c[Asu-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Ser]) both in the presence of 120 mM NaCl, to characterise the nature of the somatostatin (SRIF) receptors. The pharmacological profile of human brain SRIF recognition sites was compared with that of recombinant human SRIF₁ (sst₂-sst₃-sst₅) or SRIF₂ receptors (sst₁-sst₄) and with that of native rat sst₁, sst₂ and sst₄ receptors. [¹²⁵I]Tyr³-octreotide labelled binding sites in human cerebral cortex: B _max = 238 ± 36 fmol/mg protein and pK_d = 9.73 ± 0.08. The pharmacological profile of [¹²⁵I]Tyr³-octreotide labelled sites correlated very significantly with that of recombinant human sst₂ receptors (r = 0.98) and much less with those of recombinant human sst₃ (r = 0.65) or sst₅ receptors (r = 0.72). The correlation between [¹²⁵I]Tyr³-octreotide binding to native sst₂ receptors in human and rat cerebral cortex was also highly significant (r = 0.97). [¹²⁵I]SRIF-14 and [¹²⁵I]CGP 23996 binding (performed in the presence of 120 mM NaCl) in the human cerebral cortex identified very similar populations of sites B _max = 44 ± 7 and 36 ± 5 fmol/mg protein and pK_d = 9.44 ± 0.08 and 9.48 ± 0.10, respectively. The pharmacological profiles of the sites labelled with [¹²⁵I]SRIF-14 and [¹²⁵I]CGP 23996 correlated highly significantly with those of recombinant human sst₁ (r = 0.97–0.99) or sst₄ receptors (r = 0.91–0.94). Similarly, the correlations between [¹²⁵I]SRIF-14 or [¹²⁵I]CGP 23996 binding in human cortex and [¹²⁵I]SRIF-14 binding to native sst₁ sites in rat cerebral cortex were also highly significant (r = 0.97 and 0.94, respectively). Finally, the pharmacological profile of native rat lung sst₄ sites determined with [¹²⁵I]LTT-SRIF-28 ([Leu⁸,D-Trp²²,¹²⁵I-Tyr²⁵]SRIF-28) correlated with [¹²⁵I]SRIF-14 and [¹²⁵I]CGP 23996 binding in human cortex; r = 0.91 and 0.87, respectively. The present data show that in human cerebral cortex, [¹²⁵I]Tyr³-octreotide labels SRIF₁ receptor sites which are best characterised as of the sst₂ type, whereas [¹²⁵I]SRIF-14 and [¹²⁵I]CGP 23996 (both in the presence of 120 mM NaCl), label sites which fit almost equally well with sst₁ or sst₄ receptors and therefore are best described as of the SRIF₂ type. Under the conditions used, there was no evidence that either of these ligands would label sst₃ or sst₅ receptors in human cerebral cortex. Received: 8 August 1996 / Accepted: 8 November 1996     

高血压患者前瞻性记忆功能研究

目的 探讨高血压患者（HP）与健康人群（HC）前瞻性记忆方面的差异,并分析HP组血压升高水平与前瞻性记忆损伤的相关性。方法 选取2014年11月至2015年12月淮南第一人民医院50名HP患者及同时期50例HC作为研究对象,前瞻性记忆检测采取基于事件前瞻记忆任务正确数和基于时间前瞻记忆任务正确数,比较两组间前瞻性记忆的差异;采用Pearson相关分析比较HP血压升高与前瞻性记忆之间的相关性。结果 采用焦虑自评量表和抑郁自评量表排除焦虑及抑郁情绪,HP组在基于事件和时间的前瞻性记忆差于HC组[（3.74±0.78）分vs（4.16±0.79）分;（3.32±1.11）分vs（4.08±0.75）分],差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;HP组舒张压水平与基于时间前瞻记忆得分呈负相关（r=-0.284,P=0.046）。结论 HP存在前瞻记忆方面的损伤,HP基于事件前瞻记忆损伤程度与舒张压水平密切相关。     

Lack of genotoxic effect in workers exposed to very low doses of 1,3-butadiene

1,3-butadiene (BD), a probable carcinogen to humans, has been shown to have an ill-defined genotoxicity in occupationally exposed workers. In the present study, the influence of exposure to very low doses of BD and to cigarette smoking was investigated on some cytogenetic endpoints, namely, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), chromosomal aberrations (CA) and cells with a high frequency of SCE (HFC), in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Twenty-seven male workers employed in a petrochemical plant and 26 matched controls were included in the study. As regards the airborne BD values, there was a significant difference between exposed (median BD value 1.5, min–max 0.2–69.0 μg/m³) and non-exposed workers (median BD value 0.4, min–max <0.1–3.8 μg/m³). Genotoxic biomarkers were not able to distinguish between the two groups. The frequency of SCE was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (p=0.001), with a positive correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and both SCE (r=0.4; p=0.004) and HFC frequency (r=0.3; p=0.04). Multiple regression analysis confirmed the influence of cigarette smoking on the level of SCE and HFC, while these parameters were not affected by personal exposure to BD. Overall, the biomarkers of genotoxic effect investigated in our study were not able to discriminate between workers with a very low exposure to BD and controls, while it was possible to distinguish between smokers and non-smokers on the basis of SCE.Piero Lovreglio and Nenad Bukvic have contributed equally to this study     

Abnormal APP processing in platelets of patients with Alzheimer’s disease: correlations with membrane fluidity and cognitive decline

Rationale Previous studies have implicated platelet amyloid precursor protein (APP) as a candidate biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Platelets contain more than 95% of the circulating APP and enclose the enzymatic machinery for the APP metabolism yielding both soluble APP and amyloid-β peptides. Objectives The objective of this study is to compare the ratio of 130- to 110-kDa fragments of APP in platelets from patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and elderly controls. Materials and methods After subjects were grouped according to diagnosis, APP ratio in platelets was evaluated by means of Western blot analysis. Results The APP ratio was significantly lower in AD patients (1.01 ± 0.21) as compared to controls (1.24 ± 0.21, p = 0.001) and MCI patients (1.18 ± 0.21, p = 0.027), but no significant differences were found between MCI and controls (p = 0.904). In addition, we found positive correlations between the APP ratio and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene anisotropy (r = 0.3, p = 0.01), as well as with certain parameters of cognitive decline, namely, the mini-mental state examination score (r = 0.33, p = 0.003), the total Cambridge cognitive test (CAMCOG) score (r = 0.37, p = 0.001), and the score on the memory subscale of the CAMCOG (r = 0.38, p = 0.001). Conclusions The pattern of platelet APP fragments was altered in patients with AD but not in patients with MCI. The alteration of APP fragments was correlated with membrane fluidity and the cognitive decline.