A clinical study assessing the tolerability and biological effects of infliximab, a TNF-alpha inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important regulator of the chronic inflammation contributing to tumour progression. Infliximab, an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody was investigated in this trial of patients with advanced cancer. The primary objectives were to determine the safety profile and biological response of infliximab in a cancer population. Clinical response was a secondary objective. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients received infliximab at 5 mg/kg (n = 21) or 10 mg/kg (n = 20) i.v. at 0 and 2 weeks and then every 4 weeks. Post-treatment samples were measured for changes in plasma and serum TNF-alpha, CCL2, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Infliximab was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxic effects. At both doses of infliximab, neutralisation of serum TNF-alpha was observed after 1 h while plasma CCL2, IL-6 and serum CRP were decreased 24 and 48 h following infliximab administration. Seven patients experienced disease stablisation (range 10-50+ weeks). There was no evidence of disease acceleration in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab treatment was safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced cancer. There was evidence of biological activity with baseline TNF-alpha and CCL2 being correlated with infliximab response.     

Molecular analysis of PKU in Ireland

Classical phenylketonuria (PKU: McKusick No. 261600) is caused by mutations occurring at the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) locus on chromosome 12 and has a prevalence in Ireland of 1 in 4500. We examined 304 independent alleles from 350 patients for the presence of six mutations and have characterized VNTR alleles within the minisatellite region 3' to the PAH gene in patients carrying the most prevalent mutation. R408W was the most common mutation found, with a relative frequency of 42%. All other mutations had relative frequencies of <10%. VNTR analysis showed that the R408W mutation is associated with the VNTR-8 allele in the Irish population, indicating that R408W is associated with RFLP haplotype 1. This differs from that reported from eastern Europe where R408W is associated with RFLP haplotype 2/VNTR-3; an observation which has led several groups to propose a Balto-Slavic origin for this mutation. These results support the hypothesis of a second, independent founding event for the R408W mutation on an RFLP haplotype 1 VNTR-8 chromsome background in the Irish/Celtic population.     

静心电针法治疗围绝经期综合征临床研究

目的:观察静心电针法治疗围绝经期综合征的临床疗效。方法:将符合标准的围绝经期患者60例随机分为治疗组(30例)和对照组(30例)。治疗组给予静心电针法治疗,对照组给予克龄蒙治疗,均治疗3个周期。分别于治疗前、治疗1个月、治疗3个月(即治疗结束)、治疗后3个月及治疗后6个月进行随访,采用改良的Kupperman指数(KI)进行症状评分,并于治疗前、治疗结束各检测1次血清雌二醇(E2)、卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成激素(LH)。结果:治疗组和对照组的总有效率比较差异无统计学意义(90.00%vs.93.33%,P>0.05)。2组KI评分,治疗后各时间点与治疗前比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01),2组之间各时间点差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),2组在治疗期间,KI均有下降,当治疗结束后3个月与6个月时,KI评分稍有上升,对照组上升稍多,但2组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。2组治疗后,性激素水平均得到改善(P<0.01),但2组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:静心电针法治疗围绝经期综合征,安全、疗效好,值得推广应用。     

石家庄市社区综合干预预防老年人跌倒的效果评价

目的 了解石家庄市社区老年人跌倒的发生情况,并评价预防老年人跌倒干预措施的效果。方法 采用分层随机抽样方法,于2012年随机抽取石家庄市桥西区维明社区60岁及以上、居住至少满1年的836名老年人作为调查对象,进行基线调查,然后每年对社区老年人进行预防跌倒的社区综合干预,2015年再次对相同社区老年人的跌倒情况进行随访调查。结果 干预后跌倒发生率（5.7%）低于干预前（11.6%）;干预后调查对象关于"跌倒可以预防","老年人选择老花镜时是否需要验光后购买","老年人跌倒后是否应该马上扶起"的知晓率均高于干预前（均有P<0.001）,干预后调查对象在预防跌倒相关行为中关于"采取措施预防跌倒","没有因为担心跌倒而减少自己的日常活动或运动"比例均高于干预前（均有P<0.001）。结论 对社区老年人实施社区综合干预能够提高老年人预防跌倒知识知晓率及相关行为比例,并能有效降低跌倒的发生率。     

新疆维吾尔族成人支气管哮喘的影响因素研究

摘要:目的　探讨新疆乌鲁木齐市维吾尔族人群成人支气管哮喘的影响因素。方法　本研究采用成组匹配病例对照研究方法,病例组为新疆医科大学第一附属医院呼吸内科在2014年1-12月确诊的维吾尔族支气管哮喘成人患者（n＝120例）,对照组为同期体检中心健康维吾尔族体检者（n＝126例）,两组在年龄、性别相匹配。采用问卷调查的方法收集相关暴露资料,并采用单因素分析及多因素非条件Logistic回归模型分析成人支气管哮喘影响因素。结果　多因素Logistic回归分析显示,吸烟（OR＝1.88,95% CI:1.28～2.96）、家族支气管哮喘史（OR＝6.20,95% CI:2.10～18.31）、家中铺有纯毛地毯数量多（OR＝1.87,95% CI:1.18～2.95）,睡眠质量（OR＝1.46,95% CI:1.22～1.75）,患慢性支气管炎（OR＝13.43,95% CI:6.65～25.34）及过敏性鼻炎（OR＝6.27,95% CI:3.63～10.81）是维吾尔族成人支气管哮喘的主要影响因素。结论　维吾尔族成人支气管哮喘是生活方式、环境及遗传等多种因素共同作用的结果,应加强对相关影响因素的预防及治疗,减少哮喘的发生,改善哮喘患者生活质量。     

高效液相色谱法测定小儿磨积片中橙皮苷的含量

目的:建立以高效液相色谱法测定小儿磨积片中橙皮苷含量的方法。方法:色谱柱为SpherisorbC18,流动相为甲醇-冰醋酸-水(25∶4∶71),检测波长为283nm,流速为2·0ml/min,柱温为50℃,灵敏度为0·16AUFS,进样量为20μl。结果:橙皮苷进样量在0·024μg~1·2μg范围内与峰面积积分值呈良好的线性关系(r=0·9999),平均回收率为99·1%(RSD=0·8%)。结论:本方法简便、快捷,灵敏度及准确度高,可为小儿磨积片质量控制提供依据。     

Periodontal disease in children with Down's syndrome

Abstract – The occurrence of supra- and subgingival calculus, gingival inflammation, periodontal pockets ( 5 mm) and alveolar bone loss was determined in children (10-19 yr) with Down's syndrome (D-S) and in an aged- and sex-matched control group ( n = 39). Of D-S children ( n = 71), 39 of the patients (mean age 15.5 yr) cooperated in a clinical and roentgenologic examination. Alveolar bone loss was determined around incisors and first molars on intraoral radiographs when the distance between cementoenamel junction (GEJ) to alveolar crest (AC) exceeded 2.0 mm. Alveolar bone loss was diagnosed in 39% of the D-S children compared to 3% in the control group ( P <0.001). Of the total number of sites examined on radiographs the distance from CEJ to AC exceeded 2.0 mm in 8% in the D-S group compared to 0.2% in the control group ( P <0.001). The frequency of sites with alveolar bone loss in D-S children was significantly ( P <0.001) higher around the mandibular incisors compared to first molars. The study shows that early signs of periodontitis are frequently seen in D-S children as early as 11 yr of age and the lesions are first diagnosed in the mandibular anterior region.