锥度角对弯曲动脉血管的血流动力学影响

运用血流动力学的基本原理和计算流体力学方法,对具有锥度角的弯曲血管内的血液二维定常流动流场进行数值模拟和分析.计算出具有锥度角的弯曲动脉内血液流动的压力和速度的分布情况.计算结果表明由于弯曲血管的曲率和沿血管渐缩的锥度角使得血管截面血流速度分布尤其是径向速度分布发生较大畸变;锥度角对弯曲动脉血管的血流动力学影响主要体现在对血流径向速度分布的影响.     

Incidence and determinants of moderate COPD (GOLD II) in male smokers aged 40–65 years: 5-year follow up

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem with an estimated prevalence of 10-15% among smokers. The incidence of moderate COPD, as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), is largely unknown. AIM: To determine the cumulative incidence of moderate COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio [FEV1/FVC] <0.7 and FEV1 <80% predicted) and its association with patient characteristics in a cohort of male smokers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The city of IJsselstein, a small town in the Netherlands. METHOD: Smokers aged 40-65 years who were registered with local GPs, participated in a study to identify undetected COPD. Baseline measurements were taken in 1998 of 399 smokers with normal spirometry (n = 292) or mild COPD (FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1 >or=80% predicted, n = 107) and follow-up measurements were conducted in 2003. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 5.2 years, 33 participants developed moderate COPD (GOLD II). This showed an estimated cumulative incidence of 8.3% (95% CI = 5.8 to 11.4) and a mean annual incidence of 1.6%. No participant developed severe airflow obstruction. The risk of developing moderate COPD in smokers with baseline mild COPD (GOLD I) was five times higher than in those with baseline normal spirometry (one in five versus one in 25). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of middle-aged male smokers, the estimated cumulative incidence of moderate COPD (GOLD II) over 5 years was relatively high (8.3%). Age, childhood smoking, cough, and one or more GP contacts for lower respiratory tract problems were independently associated with incident moderate COPD.     

LRTOMT: a new tone in understanding the symphony of non-syndromic deafness

Mutations of LRTOMT, a fusion gene with alternative reading frames, cause nonsyndromic deafness in humans
Ahmed et al. (2008)
Nature Genetics 40: 1335–1340.     

The effectiveness of a treatment protocol for male lower urinary tract symptoms in general practice: a practical randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials have shown the efficacy of several treatment modalities for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in selected populations. The effectiveness in daily practice has hardly been investigated, especially in primary care and is dependent on choices between all possible treatment options and best investigated in a comprehensive study, including all treatment modalities (watchful waiting, alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, and surgery). AIM: Assessment of the effectiveness of a comprehensive treatment protocol for LUTS in primary care. DESIGN OF STUDY: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Fourteen general practices in the Netherlands. METHOD: Intervention: treatment protocol based on a formalised expert opinion. Control condition: usual care. Study population: 208 subjects with moderate to severe LUTS (IPSS > or =8, median = 13). OUTCOME MEASURES: symptom severity (IPSS [International Prostate Symptom Score]), bother score (Dan-PSS [Danish Prostate Symptom Score]), and maximum urinary flow (Q(max)); incidence of acute urinary retention and urinary tract infections. RESULTS: In the intervention group markedly more subjects used an alpha-blocker at end of follow-up than in the usual care group (24% versus 6%). No significant differences were found between intervention and control group in IPSS, Q(max) or Dan-PSS. CONCLUSION: alpha-blockers and watchful waiting are the most frequent treatment modalities for LUTS in primary care. Our study showed no evidence that a protocol using well-defined indications for all possible treatment modalities based on a formalised expert opinion procedure has added value. Based on our results, we cannot recommend a broadening of the indication for alpha-blockers, which, however, seems to be the current trend.     

The salivary microbiota as a diagnostic indicator of oral cancer: A descriptive,non-randomized study of cancer-free and oral squamous cell carcinoma subjects

Background  

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if the salivary counts of 40 common oral bacteria in subjects with an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) lesion would differ from those found in cancer-free (OSCC-free) controls.     

Antimicrobial Activities of Skincare Preparations from Plant Extracts

In this study, Tithonia diversifolia Helms. (A Gray), Aloe secundiflora (Miller) and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) plant extracts were used to make herbal soaps while Thevetia peruviana (Schum) seed oil was used to make a herbal lotion for skincare. The soaps were tested for the growth inhibition of Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The lotion was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and E.coli. Although Tithonia diversifolia soap exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on the test bacterial strains, it had the least inhibition against C. albicans. Results from this study indicated that the ‘Tithonia diversifolia’ soap would have superior skin protection against the tested bacteria but would offer the least skin protection against C. albicans. The herbal lotion inhibited S. aureus and E. coli in a concentration dependent manner, however, the inhibitory effect was more pronounced on S. aureus.     

A comparative study of proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells on akermanite and beta-TCP ceramics

This study investigated the in vitro effects of akermanite, a new kind of Ca-, Mg-, Si-containing bioceramic, on the attachment, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). Parallel comparison of the cellular behaviors of hASCs on the akermanite was made with those on beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation and fluorescent DiO labeling were carried out to reveal the attachment and growth of hASCs on the two ceramic surfaces, while the quantitative assay of cell proliferation with time was detected by DNA assay. Osteogenic differentiation of hASCs cultured on the akermanite and beta-TCP was assayed by ALP expression and osteocalcin (OCN) deposition, which was further confirmed by Real-time PCR analysis for markers of osteogenic differentiation. It was shown that hASCs attached and spread well on the akermanite as those on beta-TCP, and similar proliferation behaviors of hASCs were observed on the two ceramics. Both of them exhibited good compatibility to hASCs with only minor cytotoxicity as compared with the tissue culture plates. Interestingly, the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs could be enhanced on the akermanite compared with that on the beta-TCP when the culture time was extended to approximately 10 days. Thus, it can be ascertained that akermanite ceramics may serve as a potential scaffold for bone tissue engineering.     

Physical activity modulates the effect of a lipoprotein lipase mutation (D9N) on plasma lipids and lipoproteins

We investigated interactions between a mutation (D9N) in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene and physical activity, as well as other lifestyle factors, on lipid traits in a population-based sample of Dutch men and women (n = 379). We used questionnaire information to classify physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits, while overweight was defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2. Non-fasting blood samples were used for the determination of lipid traits and the D9N genotype. Fifteen subjects (4%) carried the mutation. They presented with higher levels of total cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) B and triglycerides compared to non-carriers. While no interactions with overweight, alcohol consumption, and smoking were found, a strong interaction between the D9N mutation and physical activity became apparent. Physically inactive D9N carriers (n = 5) had considerably higher total cholesterol (+2 mmol/l, p < or = 0.0001) and apo B levels (+63 mg/dl, p < or = 0.0001) compared to non-carriers of this mutation, whereas their high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations were lower (-0.22 mmol/l, p < 0.05). This was not the case for physically active D9N carriers (n = 10). In conclusion, a common variant of the LPL gene (D9N) adversely affects plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles. However, the unfavorable consequences may be counteracted by physical activity.     

微创克氏针置入并外固定架修复桡骨远端不稳定骨骺骨折

背景：单纯使用克氏针或外固定架治疗桡骨远端骨骺骨折的临床实践中,仍存在桡骨短缩、骨折移位等固定后并发症,尤其在不稳定骨骺骨折情况下。克氏针主要治疗桡骨远端骨折,对其骨骺骨折使用相对较少。 目的：观察外固定支架结合经皮克氏针复位固定微创治疗桡骨远端不稳定性骨骺骨折的临床效果。 方法：对90例桡骨远端骨骺骨折患儿行固定治疗,在不切开情况下微创闭合复位骨折骨骺,随机分成2组,对照组采用单纯跨腕关节外固定支架固定方案;观察组采用跨腕关节外固定支架结合经皮克氏针闭合帮助复位固定骨骺骨折方案。固定后行腕关节功能锻炼,分别于固定后9周及24个月随访观察。对比两组患者固定后中远期的临床疗效、腕关节功能恢复及X射线检查情况。 结果与结论：固定后24个月随访按Cooney标准评定腕关节功能,对照组优良率77%,X射线评定优良率63%;观察组腕关节功能优良率93%,X射线评定优良率为90%,两组差异具有显著性意义(P < 0.01)。两组骨骺骨折患者均获临床骨愈合,腕关节均功能恢复。提示外固定支架结合克氏针闭合复位微创治疗桡骨远端不稳定骨骺骨折,可应用克氏针辅助复位掌倾角及尺偏角,治疗简单,固定可靠,腕关节功能恢复良好,骨骺畸形愈合并发症少,固定后基本生活学习功能恢复正常,疗效稳定满意,其临床疗效明显优于单纯跨外固定支架固定。