Antibody Reactivity Against Thyroid Peroxidase and Myeloperoxidase in Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Systemic Vasculitis

Potential cross-reactivity between thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) molecules was evaluated by analysing the binding of 199 TPO antibody- and 145 MPO antibody- positive sera to TPO and MPO molecules. Sera from six patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AITD) and four patients with systemic vasculitis (SV) with different TPO-MPO antibody findings were then chosen for further analyses. All six patients with AITD had TPO antibodies in enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and four of them had simultaneously MPO antibodies in EIA. In AITD patients antibody binding to TPO could not be inhibited by adding native MPO to the serum diluent, suggesting that the possible cross-reactive epitopes were exposed in the denaturated MPO molecule. Similarly, the MPO ab reactivity of patients with systemic vasculitis could not be inhibited by native TPO. To study whether TPO and MPO antibodies recognize linear epitopes, the binding of antibodies to synthetic TPO and MPO peptides was analysed. Several TPO and MPO peptides were reactive, including peptides reacting with both TPO and MPO antibody-positive sera. One of the most cross-reactive peptides contained AA 586–601 in TPO, showing also particularly high AA homology (88%) with MPO (AA 594–609). The results suggest that TPO and MPO molecules contain cross-reactive epitopes that are exposed in denaturated molecules and may thus cause false positive antibody findings in solid phase EIA assays.     

Adolescents,parents and teachers’ perceptions of risk and protective factors of substance use in Moroccan adolescents: a qualitative study

Background

Substance use in adolescents is a global public health concern that continues to draw attention from academics, policy experts, and government officials. In Morocco, few studies have investigated the influencing factors of substance use in adolescents. Here, we aimed to fill this gap and to better understand factors that protect or influence substance use in adolescents.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions. The semi-structured interview guides were based on the socio-ecological model as a theoretical framework to explore perceptions of students, parents, and teachers regarding substance use risks and protective factors in adolescents. Data from each group were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

From May to July 2016, 17 focus group discussions were conducted at two middle schools in Taza city, Morocco, which included 8 groups of 7 adolescents (28 boys and 28 girls) aged 14 to 16 years, 5 groups of parents (5 females and 21 males), and 4 groups of teachers (13 males and 5 females). Thematic analysis resulted in six common themes that represented the most salient perceived risk and protective factors regarding substance use among adolescents: perceived benefits of substance use, awareness and beliefs, family influence, peer influence, easy accessibility of substances, and social norms.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that multilevel prevention programs in adolescents should address influencing factors from the individual to the societal level, including social norms and the government’s policy toward substance use. Health education programs included as part of the school curriculum can contribute to promoting awareness and reducing risky behaviors of Moroccan adolescents.

     

糖尿病患者消化间期胃肠运动障碍

目的:观察糖尿病患者消化间期胃肠运动的特征。方法:于1998-06/2003-06选择首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院消化内科收治2型糖尿病患者243例,为糖尿病组。同期选择健康志愿者20例,为对照组。使用胃肠测压法进行消化间期胃肠运动功能的检测,6个测压孔分别置于胃窦、十二指肠和近端空肠的位置。根据测压管顶端的3个金属标记物在X射线透视下定位或根据移行性复合运动压力波的频率特征定位,一般胃窦收缩频率约3次/min,十二指肠和近端空肠为8～12次/min,测定时间为240～360min。结果:在两组全部受检测人群中发现3种胃肠运动类型:类型1:发生于胃和小肠发生的移行性复合运动,在糖尿病组占23.05%(56/243),对照组占70.00%(14/20),两组比较差异有显著性意义(χ2=20.86,P<0.01);类型2:单纯发生于小肠的移行性复合运动,胃窦缺乏Ⅲ期收缩活动,在糖尿病组占13.58%(33/243),对照组占15.00%(3/20),两组比较差异无显著性意义;类型3:表现为周期性不规则收缩活动,在胃窦和小肠均缺乏Ⅲ期收缩活动,在糖尿病组占57.20%(139/243),在对照组占15.00%(3/20),两组比较差异有显著性意义(χ2=13.24,P<0.01);连续4h的胃肠动力检测中未出现胃、小肠的收缩活动者,在糖尿病组占6.17%(15/243),在对照组0例,两组比较差异无显著性意义(χ2=1.30,P>0.05)。结论:糖尿病患者消化间期胃肠运动功能障碍的主要特征是周期性不规则收缩活动取代了移行性复合运动,其结果可能会延长食物在小肠停留的时间,加重糖尿病的代谢紊乱和并发症。有效地改善和恢复糖尿病患者的胃肠功能是治疗糖尿病及其并发症的一个重要方面。     

益气生骨颗粒对大鼠骨折愈合骨痂中无机质及钙含量的影响

目的:中药黄芪有补气固表作用,当归、川芎、红花、有补血活血散瘀止痛功效。观察由黄芪、党参、当归、川芎、红花等组成的新药制剂益气生骨颗粒对骨折大鼠骨痂无机物和钙含量的影响,探讨其促进骨折愈合的机制。方法:实验于2006-04/09在河南省正骨研究院生物医学工程研究室完成。实验分组:选择SD雄性大鼠36只,随机分为空白组、模型组、对照组和益气生骨颗粒剂组,每组9只。实验材料:益气生骨颗粒(自行研制,由黄芪、党参、当归、川芎、红花等组成)。实验过程:①除空白组外其余3组动物称质量后,以30g/L戊巴比妥钠(40mg/kg)腹腔注射麻醉,用手术剪剪断左侧桡骨,造成左侧桡骨骨折模型,缝合切口,不包扎。②造模后第2天开始灌胃给药,模型组动物给予颗粒剂辅料9.6g/(kg·d),每日分2次灌胃;对照组给予恒古骨伤愈合剂2.5mL/(kg·d),每2日1次灌胃;益气生骨颗粒组给予益气生骨颗粒12g/(kg·d),每日分2次灌胃;空白组正常喂养。实验评估:6周后动物麻醉后处死。取骨痂,用焚烧法测定骨痂无机质和有机物含量,利用原子吸收分光光度法测定骨痂钙含量。结果:空白组因麻醉死亡2只大鼠,共34只进入结果分析。①骨痂无机质和有机质含量:益气生骨颗粒剂组和阳性药物对照组无机质含量都高于空白组和模型组[(29.039±3.082)%,(27.761±2.885)%比(24.450±3.620)%,(25.989±3.749)%,P<0.05],而有机质含量均低于空白组和模型组(P<0.05)。②骨痂钙含量:益气生骨颗粒剂组骨痂钙含量高于空白组[(4.365±0.435)%,(3.743±0.239)%,P<0.05]。结论:益气生骨颗粒通过提高骨痂无机质含量和促进钙的沉积促进骨折愈合。     

Enhancing Web-Based Mindfulness Training for Mental Health Promotion With the Health Action Process Approach: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

With increasing evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of Web-based interventions and mindfulness-based training in improving health, delivering mindfulness training online is an attractive proposition.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two Internet-based interventions (basic mindfulness and Health Action Process Approach enhanced mindfulness) with waitlist control. Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) principles were used to enhance participants’ efficacy and planning.

Methods

Participants were recruited online and offline among local universities; 321 university students and staff were randomly assigned to three conditions. The basic and HAPA-enhanced groups completed the 8-week fully automated mindfulness training online. All participants (including control) were asked to complete an online questionnaire pre-program, post-program, and at 3-month follow-up.

Results

Significant group by time interaction effect was found. The HAPA-enhanced group showed significantly higher levels of mindfulness from pre-intervention to post-intervention, and such improvement was sustained at follow-up. Both the basic and HAPA-enhanced mindfulness groups showed better mental well-being from pre-intervention to post-intervention, and improvement was sustained at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Online mindfulness training can improve mental health. An online platform is a viable medium to implement and disseminate evidence-based interventions and is a highly scalable approach to reach the general public.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR-TRC-12002954; http://www.chictr.org/en/proj/show.aspx?proj=3904 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6VCdG09pA).     

1141170685Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes contain higher proportion of FOXP3+ T lymphocytes from cervical cancer than that from cervical intraepithelial zneoplasm

Ovine uterine serpin (OvUS) is the major progesterone-induced protein in the uterus of the pregnant sheep. This protein is a member of the serine proteinase inhibitor superfamily and it has been proposed to down-regulate uterine immune function during pregnancy to protect the fetus. In vitro experiments have shown that both the native and the recombinant (r) form of the protein can inhibit mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and growth of canine primary osteogenic sarcoma cells, mouse lymphoma cells, human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells (PC-3 cell line) and bovine preimplantation embryos. The mechanism by which OvUS inhibits cell proliferation is still unknown. Accordingly, experiments were conducted to test whether rOvUS exerts its anti-proliferative action through apoptosis. In the first experiment, the anti-proliferative effect of rOvUS on PC-3 cells was tested to determine the minimal concentration effective at inhibiting proliferation. Proliferation was inhibited by concentrations of OvUS at 8 μg/mL and higher. The incorporation of [³H]thymidine was 4043, 3998, 3464, 2785, 2827, 2310, and 2332 dpm for 0, 0.5, 2, 8, 32, 125, and 250 μg/mL, respectively. In the second experiment, PC-3 cells were cultured for 48 hr with 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL of rOvUS or ovalbumin. Cells were then fixed and apoptotic cells identified using the TUNEL assay to detect DNA fragmentation. There was no effect of OvUS at any concentration tested on the percent of cells that were apoptotic. Percent apoptosis was 1.3% for control cells, 3.8%, 4.8% and 2% for cells cultured with 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL rOvUS, and 2% for cells cultured with 200 μg/mL ovalbumin. Results confirm that OvUS inhibits proliferation of PC-3 cells and indicate that inhibition does not involve induction of apoptosis. Further experiments are warranted to elucidate the anti-proliferative mechanism of action of OvUS.     

Epigenetic change in e-cardherin and COX-2 to predict chronic periodontitis

Background  

DNA methylation of certain genes frequently occurs in neoplastic cells. Although the cause remains unknown, many genes have been identified with such atypical methylation in neoplastic cells. The hypermethylation of E-Cadherin and Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in chronic inflammation such as chronic periodontitis may demonstrate mild lesion/mutation epigenetic level. This study compares the hypermethylation status of E-Cadherin and COX-2 genes which are often found in breast cancer patients with that in chronic periodontitis.     

Circulating noradrenaline and β-adrenergic receptors in children with congestive heart failure

This study was designed to investigate changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations and the number of β-adrenoceptors (β-AR) of circulating lymphocyte in 94 noncyanotic congenital heart patients, in 43 patients with congestive heart failure, β-AR density was significantly lower ( p < 0.001) and plasma noradrenergic levels were significantly higher ( p < 0.001) compared with corresponding values in 51 patients without heart failure. A significant negative correlation between lymphocyte β-AR density and plasma noradrenergic levels was observed ( r =−0.61, p < 0.001). The degree of left-to-right shunt and pulmonary pressure was correlated directly with noradrenaline level and inversely with lymphocyte β-AR density. Both plasma noradrenaline level and lymphocyte β-AR density return to normal in children with heart failure after surgical repair. Our results support the idea that changes in noradrenaline level and lymphocyte β-adrenoceptor density occur concurrently with the presence and severity of heart failure in children.