Molecular evaluation of biopsy and autopsy specimens from patients receiving in vivo retroviral gene therapy

We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assay for the presence of retroviral vector and replication-competent retrovirus (RCR) in autopsy and biopsy specimens from patients who received inoculations of retroviral vector producer cells (VPCs) into brain tumors or apparently normal tissues surrounding resected tumors. The PCR assays were capable of detecting 1 or more proviral copies of vector or RCR in 500,000 cells. Of 113 patients treated in clinical trials between 1994 and 1997, autopsy specimens were available from 32 patients. Brain tumor biopsies were also available from 24 patients. A total of 346 specimens was analyzed. Vector DNA was detected in 55% of tumor samples and 22% of brain samples obtained from resection margins. In contrast, most of the nonbrain tissues were negative for vector DNA; only low levels (<0.03%) of vector sequence were detected in 6 of 240 (2.5%) nonbrain tissues. Vector DNA was not detected in gonadal tissues from 12 men and 10 women. More importantly, RCR was not detected in any of the 134 biopsy and autopsy tissues tested, including all brain tumor, brain, and gonadal specimens. These results comprise the largest data set on molecular analysis of autopsy specimens from patients receiving retroviral gene therapy and indicate that distribution of retroviral vectors following injection of high doses of VPCs is limited to the site of inoculation.     

Risk of gonadoblastoma in female patients with Y chromosome abnormalities and dysgenetic gonads

We report two female patients with gonadal dysgenesis and sex chromosome mosaicism involving the Y chromosome. Conventional karyotyping was supplemented with fluorescent in situ hybridisation techniques in order to confirm the presence of Y chromosomes. One patient is a phenotypic female with karyotype 45,X/46,X,idic(Y)(q11.2). She underwent a laparoscopic gonadectomy at which streak ovaries without evidence of gonadoblastoma were removed. The second patient presented as a virilised female with karyotype 45,X/47,XYY. At laparoscopy, she was found to have mixed gonadal dysgenesis with a gonadoblastoma in situ. We recommend early gonadectomy in female children presenting with gonadal dysgenesis and the presence of a Y chromosome although once the gonadoblastoma locus on Y chromosome gene has been cloned it may be possible to identify those patients who have a low risk of developing gonadoblastoma.     

大鼠红细胞流变性变化及抗运动疲劳效应与补服肉碱和糖的作用

目的:观察单独和配合补充肉碱和糖对大鼠红细胞流变性及抗运动疲劳能力的影响。方法:实验于2005-09/11于河北师范大学体育学院运动生理学实验室完成。①选用SD雄性大鼠72只,按随机数字表法分为4组:安静组(n=6)、安静补服组(n=18)、安慰运动组(n=12)和补服运动组(n=36)。安静补服组和补服运动组均给予3种药物形式:左旋肉碱(由沈阳东宇精细化工有限公司生产)、葡萄糖(济南利民制药有限公司生产)、肉碱和葡萄糖。安静补服组和补服运动组每天上午8∶30给予自来水溶解的肉碱和/或糖补剂,安静组和安慰运动组给予相同量的自来水。连续补充7d,补服量:肉碱组、葡萄糖组、肉碱 葡萄糖组分别为650mg/(kg·d),7g/(kg·d),325mg/(kg·d) 3.5g/(kg·d)。②在实验第8天,将安静组取血4mL。安慰运动组和补服运动组进行无负重游泳至力竭,然后取血。采用北京泰诺德新技术研究所生产的BV-100型无摩擦式血液流变仪测全血高切黏度(180s-1)、全血高切还原黏度(180s-1)、全血低切黏度(3s-1)、全血低切还原黏度(3s-1)、刚性指数及聚集指数。③计量资料进行正态分布、方差齐性检验后,再进行方差分析。结果:大鼠72只均进入结果分析。①红细胞流变性指标变化:安静补服组各组虽大部分红细胞流变性指标有改善,但与安静组相比,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。安慰运动组运动后5min全血高切黏度和全血高切还原黏度明显高于安静组(P<0.01),运动24h后全血高、低切黏度和红细胞聚集指数明显高于安静组(P<0.01)。一次力竭运动后5min各补服运动组全血低切黏度明显低于安慰运动组(P<0.01)。各组间红细胞刚性指数和红细胞聚集指数差异不明显(P>0.05)。各补服运动组间相比,补服肉碱组的全血低切还原黏度最高(P<0.01)。各补服运动组运动后24h全血低切还原黏度和红细胞聚集指数明显低于安慰运动组(P<0.05～0.01),补服肉碱和肉碱 葡萄糖运动组全血低切还原黏度和全血低切黏度、红细胞聚集指数明显高于补服葡萄糖运动组(P<0.05～0.01)。②抗疲劳作用:补服肉碱、葡萄糖、肉碱 葡萄糖运动组大鼠游泳时间分别为(334.5±27.81),(321.0±51.83),(326.5±39.9)min,均长于安慰运动组[(252.5±42.69)min,P<0.01];各补服运动组间差异不明显(P>0.05)。结论:单独补充或合用肉碱和糖均有利于力竭运动后大鼠红细胞流变性指标的改善,导致其运动能力的提高。     

Preparedness for Influenza Pandemic in Hong Kong Nursing Units

BACKGROUND: To present preparedness planning for an influenza pandemic for two nursing subunits: nursing services in hospitals and schools of nursing in universities. DISCUSSION: The preparedness plan is modeled on a modified Haddon matrix, a logical approach to identify measures appropriate for the pre-event, event, and postevent phases of an influenza pandemic. For the pre-event phase, the objective is to ensure preparedness for the potential pandemic outbreak through training, communication, surveillance, infection control, and vaccination. Once the pandemic outbreak is declared, the aim is to implement effective measures to ensure a rapid and appropriate response. For the postevent phase, the plan is focused on the restoration of core functions, vigilance for a second or possibly more waves of the pandemic, and psychosocial support to staff and students. CONCLUSION: Measures required to prepare for, respond to, and manage the consequences of influenza pandemic are identified. This planning indicates the need to balance a logical approach with contextual perspectives and the importance for nursing leaders to develop plans for subunits of larger entities.     

福建省高校贫困大学生心理健康水平与人格特征

目的:了解贫困生的心理健康现状和人格特征。方法:于2005-09/11随机抽取福州大学、福建师范大学、福建农林大学、福建中医学院、闽江学院2002-2004级学生2400名。男1478名,女922名,平均(20±1)岁。根据2004-11-04福建省福州市政府办公厅正式下发的《福州市人民政府关于提高城区城镇及农村居民最低生活保障标准的通知》中的规定,即城镇多人户每人每个月210元、单人户230元;农村多人户每人每月155元、单人户175元,本文把家庭人均月收入较少,有一定数额债务,只能缴纳部分学杂费,基本生活费接近于当地居民最低生活保障线(如上规定,本文以230元为基准)的学生定为“贫困生”。采用精神症状自评量表和16种人格因素问卷对高校贫困生的心理健康和人格特征进行调查。结果:发放问卷2400份,收回有效问卷2111份。其中贫困生539份。①贫困生精神症状自评量表的躯体化、强迫、人际敏感、抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐怖、偏执、精神病性、其他、总症状指数得分均高于非贫困生(贫困生:1.61±0.56,2.02±0.64,1.92±0.63,1.71±0.56,1.65±0.58,1.73±0.68,1.57±0.62,1.81±0.65,1.67±0.54,1.76±0.63,1.74±0.49;非贫困生:1.48±0.45,1.89±0.56,1.79±0.57,1.61±0.51,1.54±0.50,1.61±0.56,1.44±0.49,1.66±0.54,1.54±0.46,1.61±0.53,1.62±0.41,P<0.01)。男女贫困生之间各因子分差异均不显著(P>0.05)。②福建省高校贫困大学生的心理问题检出率为24.5%,其中轻度心理问题(2≤因子分<3)为22.6%;中度心理问题(3≤因子分<4)为1.7%;重度心理问题(4≤因子分<5)为0.2%。心理问题以强迫、人际敏感、偏执、忧郁、敌对、焦虑等心理问题最为突出。③16种人格因素问卷中,贫困生乐群性、聪慧性、兴奋性、敏感性、怀疑性上得分低于非贫困生,有恒性、忧虑性、独立性得分高于非贫困生(贫困生:5.20±1.77,4.70±1.93,5.49±1.87,6.46±1.79,4.29±1.71,4.60±1.63,6.64±1.82,5.07±1.82;非贫困生:5.39±1.74,4.95±1.99,5.82±1.91,6.66±1.75,4.55±1.77,4.36±1.69,6.43±1.94,4.89±1.77,P<0.05～0.01)。④影响贫困生心理健康水平的主要人格因素按其影响作用从大到小有怀疑性、忧虑性、稳定性、兴奋性、自律性。结论:福建省高校贫困大学生的心理健康状况令人担忧,其人格特征对心理健康水平有重要影响。     

Real-time biofeedback integrated into neuromuscular training reduces high-risk knee biomechanics and increases functional brain connectivity: A preliminary longitudinal investigation

Prospective evidence indicates that functional biomechanics and brain connectivity may predispose an athlete to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, revealing novel neural linkages for targeted neuromuscular training interventions. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a real-time biofeedback system for altering knee biomechanics and brain functional connectivity. Seventeen healthy, young, physically active female athletes completed 6 weeks of augmented neuromuscular training (aNMT) utilizing real-time, interactive visual biofeedback and 13 served as untrained controls. A drop vertical jump and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging were separately completed at pre- and posttest time points to assess sensorimotor adaptation. The aNMT group had a significant reduction in peak knee abduction moment (pKAM) compared to controls (p = .03, d = 0.71). The aNMT group also exhibited a significant increase in functional connectivity between the right supplementary motor area and the left thalamus (p = .0473 after false discovery rate correction). Greater percent change in pKAM was also related to increased connectivity between the right cerebellum and right thalamus for the aNMT group (p = .0292 after false discovery rate correction, r² = .62). No significant changes were observed for the controls (ps > .05). Our data provide preliminary evidence of potential neural mechanisms for aNMT-induced motor adaptations that reduce injury risk. Future research is warranted to understand the role of neuromuscular training alone and how each component of aNMT influences biomechanics and functional connectivity.