Inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system: a new avenue for atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is thought to be functionally active in atherosclerosis (AS) lesions. Aspirin was found to be a potent inhibitor of the UPS in some tumour studies; however, its effect on AS remains to be demonstrated in vivo. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were placed on a normal diet (N) or on a normal diet with aspirin (NI) or on an atherogenic diet without (H) or with aspirin (HI) for 12 weeks. Proteasome activity, concentrations of plasma lipids and levels of peroxidation were determined. Ubiquitin/ubiquitin-conjugates (Ub), IkappaBalpha, phosphorylated IkappaB (pIkappaBalpha) and p65 were investigated by Western blotting or immunochemistry. RESULTS: Concentrations of plasma lipids and peroxidation levels were higher in H or HI vs. N or NI. Histological analysis showed that atheroma was increased in H. Ub and IkappaBalpha were mainly localised in subendothelium and media vascular smooth muscle cells. Western blots revealed that Ub, IkappaBalpha, and pIkappaBalpha were increased, whereas p65 was lower in HI vs. H. The activity of the 20S proteasome was functionally active in H vs. N, NI or HI, while the 26S proteasome was not affected in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin can attenuate the pathogenesis of atheroma formation, the degradation of IkappaBalpha and pIkappaBalpha, and lower the expression of p65, indicating that its therapeutic effects on AS may be via inhibition of the UPS.     

Electrophysiological evaluation in 4 patients with diabetic pseudotabes

BACKGROUND: Researches on diabetic nervous system lesion are mainly focus on peripheral nerve and vegetative nerve, so there are few investigations on diabetic pseudotabes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the electrophysiological examinations on the diagnosis of diabetic pseudotabes. DESIGN: Case study. SETTING: Department of Electrophysiology and Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, including 3 males and 1 female aged from 50 to 72 years, were selected from Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University from March 2002 to February 2005. All accepted subjects met the modified diagnostic criteria of diabetes mellitus, which was set by American Diabetes Mellitus Association (ADA) in 1997. Otherwise, the subjects had typical symptoms and physical signs of spinal posterior funiculus damage. However, patients with spinal cord lesion which was caused by other factors were excluded. All accepted subjects provided the confirmed consent. METHODS: Nicolet NT electromyography (EMG)/evoked potential meter (made in the USA) was used to detect spinal cord conduction velocity (SCCV), somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) of lower limbs, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of extremities. Determining criteria: Measurements were performed based on the laboratory standards. SCCV, which was less than lower limit of normal value (T2–12: 40–55 m/s, T12–L4: 20–41 m/s, T2–L4: 36–45 m/s), was regarded as abnormal. SEP value of lower limbs: P40, P60 and PF, which were more than standard deviation of normal value (x(—)+2.5), were regarded as the abnormality. Normal value of P40, P60 and PF latencies (x(—)±s) in this study: P40, P60 and PF in males were (37.6±1.9) ms, (59.8±3.9) ms and (7.6±0.9) ms, respectively; meanwhile, those in females were (35.5±1.7) ms, (55.2±2.7) ms and (6.3±0.7) ms, respectively. MNCV and SNCV, which were less than 50 m/s in upper limbs and 40 m/s in lower limbs, were regarded as the abnormality. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electrophysiological examinations. RESULTS: All 4 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in the final analysis. ① SCCV: Among 4 patients, SCCV of three patients was decreased in T2–12, T12–L4 and T2–L4, and that of the other one was decreased in T2–12 and T2–L4; however, SCCV in T12–L4 was normal. There was significant difference as compared with normal value (P < 0.01). ② SEP of lower limbs: SEP values of lower limbs were abnormal in all 4 patients. Among them, P40, P60 and PF latencies of two patients were delayed; P40 of one patient was delayed and PF was not drained out; P40 and P60 of the last one were delayed and PF was normal. ③ MNCV and SNCV: The MNCV and SNCV were normal in one patient and abnormal in three patients. The results demonstrated that MNCV and SNCV of extremities decreased; especially, sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) of both lower extremities of one patient were not drained out. CONCLUSION: Detections of SCCV, SEP of lower limbs, MNCV and SNCV of extremities are helpful to investigate whether peripheral nerve and deep sensory passage are damaged or not and determine whether deep sensory damage is caused by peripheral nerve and spinal posterior funiculus.     

风疹易感人群婚前风疹疫苗接种预防先天性风疹综合征

目的探讨婚前风疹易感人群风疹疫苗接种在提高孕妇对风疹的免疫力,预防先天性风疹综合征中的作用.方法对10 913例婚前风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者给予国产风疹减毒活疫苗注射.3个月随防671例,比较风疹疫苗接种前后该地区孕妇近期风疹感染的发病率.结果818例风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者接种后抗体转阳率为99.8%.风疹疫苗接种前后3年孕妇近期风疹感染率分别为0.37%及0.08%,有明显下降,有非常显著差异(P＜0.001).结论应用国产风疹减毒活疫苗对婚前易感人群作预防接种可提高育龄妇女对风疹的免疫力,降低孕期风疹感染的发生率,是预防先天性风疹综合征及风疹致畸的有效、安全措施.     

Correlates of lifetime suicide attempts among individuals with affective disorders in a Chinese rural community.

The aim of this study was to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with affective disorders who had attempted suicide at some time in their lives and those who had not made a suicide attempt. In a Chinese rural community, individuals with suicide attempt (N = 30) and those without suicide attempt (N = 166) were assessed with Present State Examination (PSE). Attempters had a significantly higher level of family economic status, higher rate of lifetime depressed mood and hopelessness, and delusions than nonattempters. The logistic regression models also indicated that depressed mood and hopelessness were the most important predictors of suicide attempts. No significant difference in treatment condition was found between attempters and non-attempters. Early identification and interventions focusing on reducing depressed mood, hopelessness, and controlling psychotic symptoms may be helpful in reducing the risk of suicide attempts among individuals with affective disorders residing in the community.     

Fat and water separation in balanced steady-state free precession using the Dixon method.

In this work the feasibility of separating fat and water signals using the balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) technique is demonstrated. The technique is based on the observation (Scheffler and Hennig, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2003;49:395-397) that at the nominal values of TE = TR/2 in SSFP imaging, phase coherence can be achieved at essentially only two orientations (0 degrees and 180 degrees ) relative to the RF pulses in the rotating frame, under the assumption of TR < T2, and independently of the SSFP angle. This property allows in-phase and out-of-phase SSFP images to be obtained by proper choices of the center frequency offset, and thus allows the Dixon subtraction method to be utilized for effective fat-water separation. The TR and frequency offset for optimal fat-water separation are derived from theories. Experimental results from healthy subjects, using a 3.0 Tesla system, show that nearly complete fat suppression can be accomplished.     

内窥镜下手术在眼科的应用

近年来，内窥镜下手术在眼科的应用有了很大进展，并且逐渐展现出其创伤小、并发症少、直视下操作、安全有效的优点。眼内窥镜联合激光可应用于青光眼前房角手术、青光眼睫状体光凝术、周边部视网膜玻璃体手术等等；另外泪道内窥镜在泪器疾病中的应用、鼻内窥镜在鼻眼相关手术中的应用也有很大的发展。眼内窥镜的应用开创了眼科微创手术时代。本文就眼用内窥镜的基本工作原理、应用现状和发展前景进行综述。     

The Application of Topical Anesthesia Combined with Subconjunctival Anesthesia for Glaucoma Surgery

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, reliability and analgesia effect of topical anesthesia combined with subconjunctival anesthesia in anti-glaucomatous surgery.Methods: Two hundred and four cases (357 eyes) underwent anti-glaucomatous surgeries under topical anesthesia with 0.5％ Alcaine eye drops combined with subconjunctival anesthesia with 2％ Lidocaine. The analgesic effect was analysed with visual analogue pain scale.Results: Among all of 357 eyes, 62 eyes underwent peripheral iridectomy, 67 eyes underwent simple trabeculectomy, 167 eyes underwent compound brabeculectomy and 12 eyes nonpenetrating trabecular surgery. The effects of anesthesia were as follows: 304 eyes (85.2％) were painless (Grade Ⅰ), 50 eyes (14.0％) were slight painful (Grade Ⅱ), and 3 eyes (0.8％) were more painful (Grade Ⅲ) during surgery. And no severe complications were observed in all the cases during surgery and postoperatively. Amaurosis fugax was not observed in the glaucoma patients at the late stage with narrow vi     

实习护生护理程序应用能力的培养

我科开展整体护理以来，将护理程序应用能力作为基础护理技能纳入临床护理教学计划中，提高了实习质量。现将具体做法介绍如下。     

应用前列腺素E1注射治疗勃起功能障碍8年经验

目的观察前列腺素E1(PGE1)注射治疗勃起功能障碍(ED)的长期疗效、副作用及预后。方法使用PGE1行阴茎海绵体注射,阴茎硬度检查仪(Rigiscan)连续记录1h,并根据观察结果,调查PGE1注射剂量,确定每例患者合适的注射量,掌握注射方法后回家自行注射。共筛选出ED患者410例,随访患者阴茎勃起情况、药量调整和副作用。结果410例ED患者中,心理性139例,静脉性83例,动脉性36例,神经性78例,混合性74例。对治疗满意的患者有256例(62.44%),其中21例(5.1%)在使用PGE15次后停用,并能达到满意的性生活而治愈。293例(71.46%)患者自述注射时有胀痛感。171例(43.17%)因疼痛(105例)、操作不便(25例)、副作用顾虑(37例)和其他原因(4例)而于6个月后放弃治疗。204例(49.76%)患者使用时间已超过1年,24例(5.85%)患者使用时间已超过5年,7例(1.7%)使用已有8年。未发现阴茎异常勃起和阴茎海绵体纤维化。注射损伤阴茎表面血管致瘀斑者有20例。有27例患者失访。结论PGE1是治疗ED的一种安全有效的药物,可以长期使用。其最常见的副作用是阴茎疼痛。Rigiscan能帮助确定PGE1的注射剂量。     

Trans fat intake lowers total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels without changing insulin sensitivity index in Wistar rats

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that trans fat intake increases the risk of some chronic diseases. We hypothesize that trans fat intake would increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus by changing the lipid profile in plasma, the secretion of adipokines in adipose tissue, and the insulin sensitivity. Accordingly, the major objective of present study was to investigate the effect of dietary intake of trans fat on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and adipokine levels in plasma. Two groups of Wistar rats were fed a diet containing 4.5% trans fat or a control diet containing no trans fat for 16 weeks. Fasting glucose level was monitored every 2 weeks. At the end of feeding experiment, blood, heart, kidney, liver, omental adipose tissue, and semitendinosus muscle were collected. The trans fat content in organs, lipid profile, adipokine, insulin, and glucose levels in plasma were analyzed. The trans fat content in adipose tissue, heart, kidney, liver, and muscle of rats fed trans fat were 169.9, 0.6, 1.2, 1.7, and 2.5 mg/g samples, respectively. The trans fat content in these organs contributed to 15.9%, 1.2%, 2.3%, 4.3%, and 6.1% of the total fat, respectively. The plasma glucose level, insulin level, and insulin sensitivity index were not significantly different between the trans fat and control groups. The results indicated that trans fat intake might not be related to insulin resistance. However, lipid profile and plasma adipokine levels were significantly changed after trans fat feeding. The trans fat fed group showed significantly lower total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the control group. The decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level may indicate the detrimental effect of trans fat intake on lipid profile. Adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly higher in the trans fat group than the control group. Leptin levels were significantly lower in the trans fat group than the control group. The results indicated that dietary intake of trans fat can significantly change the adipokine levels, but the possible links between adipokine level change caused by trans fat intake and metabolic effects of this change need further investigations.