Cell division rates of primary human precursor B cells in culture reflect in vivo rates

Bone marrow stroma-based cultures provide a powerful model for studying cell division and apoptosis of primary human precursor B cells. Studies using this model are elucidating the mechanisms by which stromal cells inhibit apoptosis of cultured normal precursor B cells and have demonstrated that the apoptotic rate of cultured leukemic precursor B cells can predict clinical outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In contrast to apoptosis, cell division in this model has not been well characterized. In this study, we quantified the rates of cell division in cultured primary human normal and leukemic precursor B cells by labeling precursor B cells with the fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimyl ester. Based on the rate of decreasing fluorescent signal over 3 weeks, normal CD19(+), CD10(+) precursor B cells divided once every 90.5 hours, a number that correlates well with the known in vivo rate of 65.5 hours. The division rates were similar among different cultures and constant throughout the 3 weeks of culture, suggesting that the variable expansions of precursor B cells seen among different samples and culture durations are not secondary to different cell division rates. Unlike normal cells, cultured leukemic B cells had a heterogeneous division rate that ranged from once every 26-240 hours. These rates correlated well with their respective in vivo proliferation index. These findings indicate that the stroma-based cultures faithfully replicate in vivo cell division rates and can be used to elucidate the pathways that regulate cell division of primary human precursor B cells.     

血液感染性安全问题的现状与展望

输血和大多数临床治疗技术一样，存在着一定的风险，输血风险主要由免疫性输血风险和输血感染性风险两大类相关的安全问题。20世纪80年代开始，由于艾滋病的发现迫使输血相关的安全问题更进一步成为公众关注的焦点。随着输血用血医学的不断发展，在已经获得很好治疗效果的同时，如何更加科学的安全用血是挑战当今公共卫生事业发展的一项大课题。     

Dynamic holographic imaging of the beating human heart

Background--Currently, the reporting and archiving of echocardiographic data suffer from the difficulty of representing heart motion on printable 2-dimensional (2D) media. Methods and Results--We studied the capability of holography to integrate motion into 2D echocardiographic prints. Images of normal human hearts and of a variety of mitral valve function abnormalities (mitral valve prolapse, systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflets, and obstruction of the mitral valve by a myxoma) were acquired digitally on standard echocardiographic machines. Images were processed into a data format suitable for holographic printing. Angularly multiplexed holograms were then printed on a prototype holographic "laser" printer, with integration of time in vertical parallax, so that heart motion became visible when the hologram was tilted up and down. The resulting holograms displayed the anatomy with the same resolution as the original acquisition and allowed detailed study of valve motion with side-by-side comparison of normal and abnormal findings. Comparison of standard echocardiographic measurements in original echo frames and corresponding hologram views showed an excellent correlation of both methods (P<0.0001, r2=0.979, mean bias=2.76 mm). In this feasibility study, both 2D and 3D holographic images were produced. The equipment needed to view these holograms consists of only a simple point-light source. Conclusions--Holographic representation of myocardial and valve motion from echocardiographic data is feasible and allows the printing on a 2D medium of the complete heart cycle. Combined with the recent development of online holographic printing, this novel technique has the potential to improve reporting, visualization, and archiving of echocardiographic imaging.     

Intraventricular haemorrhage in the preterm infant without hyaline membrane disease

The clinicopathological associations of 33 singleton infants who died with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) without hyaline membrane disease (HMD) ('IVH only') were compared with those of 39 infants who died with IVH+HMD over the same gestation range in order to determine what factors other than those related to HMD may contribute to the pathogenesis of IVH. The incidence of 'IVH only' was inversely related to gestational age in the Hammersmith birth population, whereas the incidence of IVH+HMD rose to a peak at 28-29 weeks' gestation. Infants with 'IVH only' lived longer on average than those with IVH+HMD despite a lower birthweight and shorter gestation. Infants who died in the first 12 hours from 'IVH only' had suffered severe birth asphyxia but in those who died later the main symptom was recurrent apnoea. Fewer infants with asphyxia but in those who died later the main symptom was.recurrent apnoea. Fewer infants with 'IVH only' were given alkali therapy or were connected to the ventilator as compared to those with IVH+HMD, but there were no differences in alkali therapy in those who lived for 12 hours or more. In the 'IVH only' group there was a high incidence of haemorrhage from other sites and of bacterial infections. It is suggested that, in the absence of HMD, extreme immaturity is the main factor determining the occurrence of IVH. Birth asphyxia, apnoeic attacks, haemorrhage, and infections may play subsidiary roles, possibly through development of metabolic acidosis.     

Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Canadians 55 to 74 years of age: results from the Canadian Heart Health Surveys, 1986-1992

BACKGROUND: By 2016, the proportion of Canadians older than 65 years of age will increase to 16%, and there will be an increase in the absolute number of cases of cardiovascular disease in older Canadians. The Canadian Heart Health Surveys database provides information about this population upon which health policy related to cardiovascular disease can be based. This paper presents for the first time population-based data on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in older Canadians. METHODS: Canadians from all 10 provinces participated in surveys of cardiovascular risk factors; health insurance registries were used as sampling frames. In each province, probability samples of 2200 adults 18 to 74 years old not living in institutions, on reserves or in military camps were asked to participate in interviews and to undergo testing at clinics for major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: A total of 2739 men (response rate 70%) and 2617 women (response rate 66%) aged 55 to 74 years participated in the survey and also provided follow-up clinical measurements at the clinic. Overall, 52% of participants were hypertensive, 26% had isolated systolic hypertension, and 30% had a total blood cholesterol level of 6.2 mmol/L or greater. Rates of current smoking were lower in women than men (17% v. 22%). Overall, 87% of men and 78% of women who were current smokers smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day. Only slightly more than half of participants exercised at least once a week for at least 15 minutes, and almost half had a body mass index of 27 or greater. In only 4% was no major risk factor for cardiovascular disease detected. INTERPRETATION: Significant numbers of older Canadians have one or more major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Many of these risk factors are amenable to modification.     

超长段尿道狭窄术后勃起功能的评估

目的 探讨自体组织替代治疗超长段尿道狭窄对勃起功能的影响.方法 回顾性分析2007年1月至2009年1月采用不同自体组织补片(阴囊纵隔、包皮内板、口腔黏膜)Onlay术式替代治疗超长段男性尿道狭窄患者的临床资料,并随访患者ⅡEF-5评分、QOL评分及最大尿流率,并与术前相应情况进行分析.结果 根据研究标准收集23份有效数据.患者术前及术后3、6、12个月QOL评分分别为5.22±0.75、1.22±1.40、1.82±1.17、2.07±0.46,最大尿流率分别为(3.93±3.62)、(22.46±4.65)、(23.81±6.22)、(21.52±7.44)ml/s,术后不同时期均较术前明显改善(P＜0.01).术前及术后3、6、12个月ⅡEF-5评分分别为14.47±9.55、14.70±5.32、14.26±3.29和14.58±3.62,组间比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).9例狭窄部位累及至后尿道者术后3、6、12个月ⅡEF-5评分分别为11.67±2.59、12.35±1.83、13.19±1.67,14例单纯前尿道狭窄者分别为17.79±6.42、16.57±4.78、16.01±3.85,2组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).狭窄累及后尿道患者多元线性回归分析中,年龄、受伤时间及尿道狭窄段长度与替代术后ⅡEF-5评分呈多元线性相关.结论 自体组织替代治疗男性超长段尿道狭窄对勃起功能影响不明显;狭窄段累及后尿道时可能对患者勃起功能产生一定影响.患者年龄和受伤时间对勃起功能有协同影响作用.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the effect of substitutive reconstruction of long urethral stricture on male erectile function. Methods From January 2007 to January 2009, 23 patients with anterior or posterior long urethral stricture were accepted for a variety of onlay substitutive procedures, including lingual mucosa, perputial skin, and mid-scrotal skin. During the follow-up, data from the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (ⅡEF-5) questionnaire and the Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaire as well as maximal flow rate were recorded. All data were compared with those obtained before surgery. Results Significant improvement in QOL (1.22 ± 1.40, 1.82 ± 1. 17,2.07± 0.46) and maximal flow rate (22.46± 4.65, 23.81 ± 6.22, 21.52 ±7.44 ) could be observed 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery compared with those before surgery (5. 22 ± 0. 75, 3. 93 ± 3. 62)(P＜0.01). No significant differences in the responses to the ⅡEF-5 questionnaire were observed among all patients during the follow-up (P＞0. 05). At the 3, 6 and 12 months after procedure,scores of ⅡEF-5 in patients with anterior urethral stricture ( 17.79 ± 6.42, 16. 57 ± 4. 78, 16.01 ±3.85) were significantly higher than those with posterior urethral stricture (11.67 ± 2.59, 12.35 ±1.83,13. 19±1.67, P＜0.05). In patients with posterior urethral stricture, the multiple linear regression showed that age, time interval of injury and length of stricture were related to the ⅡEF-5score (P＜0.05). Conclusions Substitutive reconstruction for treating the long urethral stricture has little effect on male erectile function. But the location of stricture, especially extended to posterior urethra, may have impact on the erectile function.     

The management of stage I--II Hodgkin's disease with irradiation alone or combined modality therapy: the Stanford experience

At Stanford University, between 1968 and 1978, 230 patients with pathologic stage I--II Hodgkin's disease were treated on prospective clinical trials with either irradiation alone or irradiation followed by 6 cycles of adjuvant combination chemotherapy. The actuarial survival at 10 yr was 84% for patients in either treatment group. Freedom from relapse at 10 yr was 77% among patients treated with irradiation alone and 84% after treatment with combined modality therapy [p(Gehan) = 0.09]. Freedom from second relapse at 10 yr was 89% and 94%, respectively [p(Gehan) = 0.56]. Several prognostic factors were evaluated in order to identify patients at high risk for relapse or with poor ultimate survival after initial treatment with irradiation alone. Systemic symptoms, histologic subtype, age, and limited extranodal involvement (E-lesions) did not affect the prognosis of patients and failed to identify patients whose survival could be improved by the routine use of combined modality therapy. Patients with large mediastinal masses (mediastinal mass ratio greater than or equal to 1/3) had a significantly poorer freedom from relapse when treated with irradiation alone than when treated initially with combined modality therapy [45% versus 81% at 10 yr, p(Gehan) = 0.03). The 10-yr survival of these patients, however, was not significantly different (84% versus 74%). The implications of these observations on the management of patient with early stage Hodgkin's disease are discussed.