生物标志物与非小细胞肺癌治疗结局相关

血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）和可溶性VEGF受体2（sVEGFR-2）由VEGF通路抑制因子所调控,化疗、VEGFR抑制剂或两者联合治疗是否可引起细胞因子和血管生成因子（CAFs）的改变,而这些改变是否又能预示临床获益？     

Protective Effect of Garcinia Kola (Kolaviron) Extract on Predisposition of Rats to Cardiovascular Diseases Following Separate Administration of Amodiaquine and Artesunate

This study was carried out to investigate the cardiovascular effect of administration of antimalarial drugs amodiaquine and artesunate and the efficacy of Garcinia kola extract (kolaviron) in protecting against such possible effect. Thirty (30) adult male albino rats divided into six (6) groups were used in this study. Groups D, E and F were treated with 100 mg/Kg b. w of the extract twice daily for the first one week and 200 mg/Kg b. w. /day for the subsequent three (3) weeks. Amodiaquine (10mg/Kg. b. w. /day) was administered orally for four (4) days into rats in groups A and E while rats in groups B and F were treated with artesunate (5mg/Kg b. w. /day) for four (4) days. Group C rats (normal control) were treated with normal saline. All the rats were sacrificed after four (4) weeks treatment period. Blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture while the liver, kidney, stomach and heart were removed, cleansed and weigh. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in the serum, while total fibrinogen, platelet count, red blood cell and white blood cell count were measured in the whole blood. The artherogenic and coronary risk index were also determined. Results indicate that both amodiaquine and artesunate predispose to cardiovascular disease, however the effect was more pronounced with artesunate than amodiaquine. The result also suggests that both drugs could increase the risk of coronary and artherogenic diseases and that Garcinia kola do not prevent the cardiotoxicity and coronary risk effect.     

Children are unbeatable!

The Children's Law Centre are members of The Children Are Unbeatable Alliance which is lobbying for effective legal reform to ensure that children and young people are given the same protection from assault as adults. In our view this means that legislative change will be necessary to protect children who are subjected to physical punishment. This needs to be done in conjunction with the promotion of positive, non-violent discipline and education programmes about positive discipline.

The Office of Law Reform in Northern Ireland is about to issue a consultation document on the use of physical punishment on children and we are seeking to extend the Northern Ireland membership of Children Are Unbeatable in an attempt to positively influence the debate which will be going on over the next 12 months about the physical punishment of children in Northern Ireland. We would encourage everyone working with or on behalf of children and young people to become involved in this debate and respond to the consultation document.     

Dermoscopy is a suitable method for the observation of the pregnancy-related changes in melanocytic nevi

BACKGROUND: It is a common opinion that expansion and darkening in melanocytic nevi may occur during pregnancy. The main problem is that whether it is a usual finding, or it is a condition that requires suspicion about melanoma. OBJECTIVES: It was aimed to find the changes that might occur in the sizes and structures of melanocytic nevi during pregnancy. METHODS: Ninety-seven nevi of the 56 pregnant women in the first trimester were evaluated in the study. The localization and size of the nevi were recorded on a standard body diagram. After clinical examination, dermoscopic analyses were applied. Pattern analyses were done, and total dermoscopy scores (TDS) were calculated by applying ABCD scoring system. All subjects were seen again during the third trimester. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the mean diameters of nevi in the first and third trimester (P = 0.001). Of nevi whose diameters increased, 10 (50.00%) were localized on the front of body, 6 (30.00%) on the face and neck, 3 (15.00%) on the legs, and 1 (5.00%) on the back. The enlargement in diameters was more significant on the front of the body, but there was no statistically significant difference. Compared according to the pattern analysis, new dot formation was observed only on the structure of six nevi during the last trimester. Four of them were localized on the front of the body. There was statistically significant increase in mean TDS in comparison between the first and third trimesters (P = 0008). CONCLUSIONS: During the pregnancy, widening in diameters and structure changes of nevi may be seen especially on the front of the body. We also think that these findings might be connected with expansion of the skin during pregnancy. Dermoscopic controls are the first choice of method to analyse the nevi since the patient may not recognize these changes.     

Excessive water drinking. A marker of caretaker interaction disturbance

In children examined at a child development clinic the incidence of excessive water drinking was almost exclusively confined to the foster care population. A series of 11 patients is compared with other reports of excessive water drinking as a marker for parent-child problems and inadequate nurturance. The parent-child interaction patterns were characterized as rejecting and both overprotective and overindulgent. The family adaptational styles tended to be chaotic and rigid, and the family cohesion styles disengaged or separated. Excessive water drinking can be considered a marker for problems in parenting.