miR-29 Inhibits Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice

Loss of microRNA-29 (miR-29) is known to be a mechanism of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-mediated pulmonary fibrosis, but the therapeutic implication of miR-29 for pulmonary fibrosis remains unexplored. The present study investigated whether miR-29 had therapeutic potential for lung disease induced by bleomycin in mice. In addition, the signaling mechanisms that regulated miR-29 expression were investigated in vivo and in vitro. We found that miR-29 was a downstream target gene of Smad3 and negatively regulated by TGF-β/Smad signaling in fibrosis. This was evidenced by the findings that mice or pulmonary fibroblasts null for Smad3 were protected against bleomycin or TGF-β1-induced loss of miR-29 along with fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, overexpression of miR-29 could in turn negatively regulated TGF-β and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression and Smad3 signaling. Therefore, Sleeping Beauty (SB)-mediated miR-29 gene transfer into normal and diseased lung tissues was capable of preventing and treating pulmonary fibrosis including inflammatory macrophage infiltration induced by bleomycin in mice. In conclusion, miR-29 is negatively regulated by TGF-β/Smad3 and has a therapeutic potential for pulmonary fibrosis. SB-mediated miR-29 gene therapy is a non-invasive therapeutic strategy for lung disease associated with fibrosis.     

综合性医院开展戒烟干预方法研究的设计和初步结果

为探索综合性医院开展戒烟干预的方法并评价其效果,采用戒烟门诊专科干预、简单干预、义诊干预和集体干预等模式对不同吸烟人群进行包括健康咨询、心理干预和药物治疗等不同形式及内容的戒烟干预,以统一规范的指标和方法评价干预效果.在项目实施的20个月中,共对690名吸烟者进行干预,对其中402名完成6个月随访的干预对象进行的初步统计分析发现:目前已完成的戒烟门诊专科干预、集体干预和戒烟义诊时的简单干预3种模式均有一定干预效果,吸娴者的吸烟量有不同程度下降,吸烟者戒烟的动机、医生采用的干预模式及强度是影响干预效果的主要影响因素;戒烟门诊专科干预和集体干预的效果优于戒烟义诊的简单干预,其6个月随访时的时点戒烟率分别为31.6%、30.9%和15.1%.戒烟者的戒烟动机和医生的态度、戒烟方法的选择及干预技能水平对戒烟成功率影响较大,因此探索适合国情的戒烟服务模式及个体化干预方法十分必要.

Abstract：

To study the intervention programs on smoking cessation in a general hospital and to evaluate its effects of the programs. Four methods including: a) the intervention through specialists in the smoking cessation clinic, b) short-time intervention in the out-patient department,c) free medical intervention, d) group intervention, were adopted for different smokers, with health counseling, psychological intervention and drug treatment. Intervention effect was evaluated by standard methods. During the 20-month period of the project, we treated 690 cases and 402 completed 6-month follow-up. Preliminary results in 402 cases showed that the three methods of smoking cessation interventions could reduce the amount of cigarette smoking and increase the quitting rate. Motivation to quit smoking, intervention methods and intensity of intervention seemed cessation clinic (31.6%) and in the group intervention (30.9%) was higher than short-time intervention in free medical events (15.1%). The successful rate of smoking cessation depended on the motivation of quitters, and the attitude, methods and intervention skills of the physicians.Therefore, it is necessary to explore and develop smoking cessation service models suitable to national context and individual intervention methods in China.     

Pompe's Disease in Childhood: A Metabolic Myopathy

Background

Myopathy of metabolic origin in childhood occurs due to a variety of conditions. Pompe''s Disease also known as Glycogen storage disease Type II, is a rare storage disorder with clinical presentation akin to spinal muscular atrophy.

Methods

A series of patients with suspected metabolic myopathy were reviewed at a tertiary care service hospital over a period of three years. The diagnosis was confirmed by estimation of acid alpha glucosidase activity.

Result

At our centre, these cases presented with generalized hypotonia, organomegaly (hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly) and congestive cardiac failure. Infantile onset, the most severe form of Pompe''s disease, was the commonest form accounting for 75% of the cases. Four of the babies with infantile onset Pompe''s disease expired, three due to refractory heart failure and one to fulminant respiratory infection before 15 months of age.

Conclusion

Pompe''s Disease is now being increasingly diagnosed, due to definitive enzyme estimation facilities. With the recent availability of enzyme replacement therapy with Myozyme, the prognosis is likely to change for the better.Key Words: Metabolic myopathy, Pompe''s disease, Hypotonia, Cardiomegaly, Hepatomegaly, Acid alpha-glucosidase     

Bullet and Blast ENT Injuries in Counter-Insurgency Area

Background

Many ENT injuries are not recognized easily, but they have the potential of increasing the morbidity.

Methods

ENT injuries managed in two tertiary care Level-IV hospitals between 2006 and 2007 were studied with a view to formulate strategy in efficient management of these cases.

Result

Emergency bags did not carry readymade packs to control nasal bleeds. Routinely screening of ears in all blast injury cases in the ‘Blast Injury Program’ helped in early identification of hearing loss. Lack of sufficient stenting of nasal cavities resulted in severe nasal stenosis which was difficult to repair. Splinters lodged in pharyngeal wall escaped detection, resulting in concealed haemorrhage and shock.

Conclusion

Nasal packs and epistaxis catheters must be included in emergency bags to minimize blood loss at first contact. Screening for ear trauma in all blast injuries increases detection rate and is beneficial to the soldier. Stenting of injured nasal cavities and early transfer to a tertiary care hospital could reduce morbidity. Plain radiography of head and neck areas could help detect splinters in vital areas and guide management.Key Words: Combat injuries ENT, Blast injuries ear     

比较急性胸痛非洲裔美国人和白种人冠状动脉粥样硬化的冠状动脉CTA表现特征

目的利用冠状动脉CT血管成像(CTA)比较研究急性胸痛的非洲裔美国人和白种人之间的动脉粥样硬化斑块病变的发生率、程度与成分。材料与方法本回顾性研究符     

Lateral closed wedge osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity

Background:

Lateral closed wedge (LCW) osteotomy is a commonly accepted method for the correction of the cubitus varus deformity. The fixation of osteotomy is required to prevent loss of correction achieved. The fixation of the osteotomy by the two screw and figure of eight wire is not stable enough to maintain the correction achieved during surgery. In this prospective study we supplemented the fixation by Kirschner''s (K-) wires for stable fixation and evaluated the results.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty-one cases of the cubitus varus deformity following supracondylar fractures of the humerus were operated by LCW osteotomy during February 2001 to June 2006. The mean age of the patients at the time of corrective surgery was 8.5 years (range 6.6-14 years). The osteotomy was fixed by two screws with figure of eight tension band wire between them and the fixation was supplemented by passing two to three K-wires from the lateral condyle engaging the proximal medial cortex through the osteotomy site.

Result:

The mean follow-up period was 2.5 years (range seven months to 3.4 years). The results were assessed as per Morrey criteria. Eighteen cases showed excellent results and three cases showed good results. Two cases had superficial pin tract infection.

Conclusion:

The additional fixation by K wires controls rotational forces effectively besides angulation and translation forces and maintains the correction achieved peroperatively.     

Information on Center Characteristics as Costs' Determinants in Multicenter Clinical Trials: Is Modeling Center Effect Worth the Effort?

Objectives:  Several methodological problems arise when health outcomes and resource utilization are collected at different sites. To avoid misleading conclusions in multi-center economic evaluations the center effect needs to be taken into adequate consideration. The aim of this article is to compare several models, which make use of a different amount of information about the enrolling center.
Methods:  To model the association of total medical costs with the levels of two sets of covariates, one at patient and one at center level, we considered four statistical models, based on the Gamma model in the class of the Generalized Linear Models with a log link, which use different amount of information on the enrolling centers. Models were applied to Cost of Strategies after Myocardial Infarction data, an international randomized trial on costs of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Results:  The simple center effect adjustment based on a single random effect results in a more conservative estimation of the parameters as compared with approaches which make use of deeper information on the centers characteristics.
Conclusions:  This study shows, with reference to a real multicenter trial, that center information cannot be neglected and should be collected and inserted in the analysis, better in combination with one or more random effect, taking into account in this way also the heterogeneity among centers because of unobserved centers characteristics.     

The effects of continuous venovenous hemofiltration on coagulation activation

Introduction  

The mechanism of coagulation activation during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) has not yet been elucidated. Insight into the mechanism(s) of hemostatic activation within the extracorporeal circuit could result in a more rational approach to anticoagulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CVVH using cellulose triacetate filters causes activation of the contact factor pathway or of the tissue factor pathway of coagulation. In contrast to previous studies, CVVH was performed without anticoagulation.