Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in Korean adolescents

This study evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and investigated its association with being overweight in Korean adolescents. Data were obtained from 1,393 students between 12 and 13 yr of age in a cross-sectional survey. We defined the metabolic syndrome using criteria analogous to the Third Report of the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) as having at least three of the following: fasting triglycerides > or =100 mg/dL; HDL <50 mg/dL; fasting glucose > or =110 mg/dL; waist circumference >75th percentile for age and gender; and systolic blood pressure >90th percentile for age, gender, and height. Weight status was assessed using the age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI), and a BMI > or =85th percentile was classified as overweight. Of the adolescents, 5.5% met the criteria for the metabolic syndrome, and the prevalence increased with weight status; it was 1.6% for normal weight and 22.3% in overweight (p<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses among adolescents, overweight status was independently associated with the metabolic syndrome (odds ratio, 17.7; 95% confidence interval, 10.0-31.2). Since childhood metabolic syndrome and obesity likely persist into adulthood, early identification helps target interventions to improve future cardiovascular health.     

Regulatory role of Peyer's patches for the inhibition of OVA-induced allergic diarrhea

Intestinal allergic diseases are initiated by aberrant Th2-type immune responses, including elevation of IgE antibodies (Abs) and infiltration of eosinophils. However, little is known about the role of Peyer's patches (PP) in the control of allergic diseases. Using a mouse model for food allergy, we here show that mice lacking PP are more susceptible to disease development and show higher levels of antigen-specific IgE Abs than do PP-intact mice. In our study, we noted that high numbers of eosinophils infiltrated into the small intestine of PP-null mice. In contrast, the PP of intact mice contained regulatory CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells (Treg) that are known to produce high levels of IL-10, and inhibited the development of allergic diarrhea. PP-intact mice thus developed allergic diarrhea when treated with anti-CD25 or anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in vivo. These studies demonstrate that PP, as the site where IL-10-producing Treg cells are created, mediate the mucosal regulatory network for the control of undesired allergic responses in the intestine.     

DQB1*0301 and DQB1*0601 modulate narcolepsy susceptibility in Koreans

The association of narcolepsy with HLA-DQB1*0602 is established in Japanese, African-Americans, European, and North American Caucasians. We examined DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, DRB5, DQA1, and DQB1 in 163 patients with centrally mediated daytime sleepiness (100 with narcolepsy) and 211 Korean controls. In this population, the DQB1*0602 association was always evident in the context of the DRB1*1501-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 haplotype. The DQB1*0602 association was highest in cases with hypocretin deficiency (100% vs 13% in controls), most of which had narcolepsy-cataplexy (81%). A weaker DQB1*0602 (45%) association was present in cases without cataplexy. No human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association was present in idiopathic hypersomnia or in cases with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypocretin-1. As in other populations, DQB1*0602 homozygosity increased risk in cases with cataplexy and/or hypocretin deficiency (odds ratio = 2.0 vs heterozygotes). Non-DQB1*0602 allelic effects were also observed but could not be interpreted in the context of DQB1*0602 overabundance and linkage disequilibrium. We therefore next analyzed compound heterozygote effects in 77 subjects with either hypocretin deficiency or cataplexy and one copy of DRB1*1501-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602, a sample constructed to maximize etiologic homogeneity. In this analysis, we found additional predisposing effects of DQB1*0301 and protective effects for DQA1*0103-DQB1*0601. Unexpectedly, the predisposing effects of DQB1*0301 were present in the context of various DQA1-bearing haplotypes. A predisposing effect of DQA1*0303 was also suggested. These results indicate a remarkable consistency in the complex HLA association present in narcolepsy across multiple ethnic groups.     

应用Orem自理理论指导肾移植术后患者68例

目的:以Orem自理理论为指导对肾移植术后患者实行护理干预,观察患者的生活自理能力。方法:选择2003-01/2006-06在广西中医学院附属瑞康医院和湖南省益阳市人民医院行肾移植手术的肾移植术后患者118例,均知情同意。采用随机数字表法分为2组:①Orem自理理论组(n=68)以Orem自理理论为指导,评估患者的自理能力及自理缺陷,采用不同护理系统及健康教育对患者实行护理干预,让患者共同参与护理计划的制定和所有护理活动。②对照组(n=50)进行常规护理服务。术后1,3,6个月对两组患者的生活自理能力进行评估,Ⅰ级:完全恢复日常工作;Ⅱ级:恢复半量日常工作,正常日常生活,Ⅰ级,Ⅱ级为生活质量良好。结果:118例肾移植术后患者全部进入结果分析,无脱落。①Orem自理理论组患者无一例发生护理并发症。②Orem自理理论组患者术后3个月的生活质量良好率(Ⅰ级 Ⅱ级)显著高于术后1个月(59%,13%,P<0.01),术后6个月的生活质量良好率(91%)显著高于术后3个月(P<0.01)。Orem自理理论组患者术后3,6个月的生活质量良好率均显著高于同时段对照组(24%,62%,P均<0.01)。结论:以Orem自理理论为指导对肾移植术后患者实行护理干预可提高患者的自理能力及生存质量。     

穿戴式生理检测技术的研究及应用

目的:就穿戴式检测系统的组成结构、相关技术及其标准、特点和应用等内容进行概述,并展望了穿戴式生理检测技术的发展前景。资料来源:应用计算机检索IEEE/IEE Electronic Library数据库1995-01/2006-12与穿戴式生理检测技术相关文章,检索词“Wearable,wireless”,并限定文章语言种类为“English”;同时计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库1995-01/2006-12相关文章,限定文章语言种类为中文,检索词“穿戴式”。资料选择:初审资料纳入范围包括:①关于穿戴式检测系统结构,原理设计方面的研究文献。②有关穿戴式生理检测的信号采集、信号处理及通讯等相关技术及其标准的研究文献。③反映穿戴式生理检测技术实验研究和开发应用的文献。排除掉一些较陈旧或价值不大的资料以及重复性内容的文章。资料提炼:按照上述要求,共收集到有关文献50余篇,排除重复或类似的研究,筛选出30篇作为参考文献,进而对这30余篇文献进行仔细阅读、分析和归纳。资料综合:穿戴式生理检测是近年来引起人们重视而迅速发展的医学测试技术。目前,国内外文献提出的穿戴式生理检测系统基本上由4部分组成:①检测生理参数的穿戴式传感器及相应的医学测量技术。②具有无线通讯功能的数据记录器执行信号采集与初步处理。③监护基站执行数据接收、监护显示和向上一级传输数据的任务。④提供医疗服务的远程监护中心。穿戴式生理检测技术将向着标准化、智能化、多功能化、个性化、微型化、网络化的方向发展,有关技术将与日常电子产品紧密结合,融入为社区、家庭和个人的医疗健康服务。结论:穿戴式生理检测技术能够实现对使用者生理参数和健康状况信息的长期、持续动态检测,通过实时传输、显示、分析和报警等,有利于改善监护条件,也为社区医疗与保健服务提供了更好的手段。由于蓝牙等无线通信技术的采用,减少了对使用者活动的限制和医护人员的干预,有利于获得自然状况下生理信息,其发展和应用前景广阔。     

小鼠胚胎中脑区神经干细胞体外分离培养的特征

目的:在已成功分离培养皮质神经干细胞的基础上,体外分离培养鼠胚中脑区的神经干细胞,并进行鉴定,为中脑神经干细胞的基础与应用研究建立细胞培养平台。方法:实验于2005-11/2006-07在武汉工业学院完成。①选取孕12～13d昆明小鼠1只,处死后无菌条件下分离胚胎腹侧中脑,胰酶消化和机械吹打制成单细胞悬液,在碱性成纤维生长因子和B27存在的无血清培养基中培养扩增,机械分离法传代,观察细胞生长状况。②将传至第2代的神经球以20～30个/cm2接种于置有预先经左旋多聚赖氨酸包被盖玻片的24孔培养板中,加入含体积分数为0.1胎牛血清的DMEM/F12(不加任何生长因子)诱导分化。③采用免疫细胞化学染色方法鉴定神经干细胞及其传代细胞的分化方向。结果:①孕12～13d的鼠胚中脑细胞体外培养36h后,可见2～5个细胞的团块;48h后有明显球状团块产生,胞间界限不很清楚,出现神经细胞球;培养6d后传代,少部分单细胞于传代2d后出现分裂相,随后渐形成细胞团及神经球,生长性状基本同原代。②将培养的神经细胞球转入有血清培养时,约1周球体可完全分化为神经细胞和胶质细胞。免疫荧光染色显示神经球细胞表达巢蛋白,且神经元特异性烯醇化酶染色和胶质纤维酸性蛋白染色均呈阳性。结论:孕12～13d鼠胚胎腹侧中脑区存在神经干细胞,这些细胞在B27和碱性成纤维生长因子存在的无血清培养基中能够成功的在体外培养和传代。     

耗散结构理论及其在医学上的应用

耗散结构结论内容为一个开放体系在达到远离平衡态的非线性区域时,一旦体系的某个参量达到一定阈值后,通过涨落就可以使体系发生突变,从无序走向有序,产生化学振荡一类的自组织现象。由于人体是由许多子系统组成的复杂系统,是复杂的耗散结构,所以耗散理论在医学上也会有广泛的应用,如酵解的振荡、跳动的心脏、人类的大脑都可被认为是耗散结构。耗散结构理论的提出突破了几个传统观念,如解决了热力学第二定律和达尔文生物进化论的矛盾、使非平衡态研究从被科学界忽视到重视等。目前耗散结构理论已成为横跨整个自然科学和社会科学的理论工具,向高等医学院校学生介绍耗散结构理论及其在医学、生物学等领域的实际应用和意义,有利于学生从一个新的角度考察人体健康。     

Delphinidin, an anthocyanidin in pigmented fruits and vegetables, protects human HaCaT keratinocytes and mouse skin against UVB-mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis

Solar UV radiation, in particular its UVB component, is the primary cause of many adverse biological effects, the most damaging of which is skin cancer. Here, we assessed the photochemopreventive effect of delphinidin, a major anthocyanidin present in many pigmented fruits and vegetables, on UVB-mediated responses in human immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes and SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. We found that pretreatment of cells with delphinidin (1-20 microM for 24 hours) protected against UVB (15-30 mJ/cm2, 24 hours)-mediated (i) decrease in cell viability and (ii) induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that pretreatment of HaCaT cells with delphinidin inhibited UVB-mediated (i) increase in lipid peroxidation; (ii) formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG); (iii) decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression; (iv) increase in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage; (v) activation of caspases; (vi) increase in Bax; (vii) decrease in Bcl-2; (viii) upregulation of Bid and Bak; and (ix) downregulation of Bcl-xL. Topical application of delphinidin (1 mg/0.1 ml DMSO/mouse) to SKH-1 hairless mouse skin inhibited UVB-mediated apoptosis and markers of DNA damage such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 8-OHdG. Taken together our results suggest that treatment of HaCaT cells and mouse skin with delphinidin inhibited UVB-mediated oxidative stress and reduced DNA damage, thereby protecting the cells from UVB-induced apoptosis.     

Homozygous granular corneal dystrophy type II (Avellino corneal dystrophy): natural history and progression after treatment

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of homozygous granular corneal dystrophy type II (GCDII) with age and with several kinds of treatment in 18 homozygous patients in several different conditions. METHODS: Eighteen homozygous GCDII patients, confirmed with DNA analysis, of 13 families were enrolled. Their clinical features that include age at detection by parents, visual acuity, and disease progression were evaluated. We also studied the recurrence patterns for the 13 patients who underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy, penetrating keratoplasty, lamellar keratoplasty, or deep lamellar keratoplasty. RESULTS: The age at detection by the parents ranged from 3 to 5 years; visual loss begins in childhood with progression into the 20s. All of the patients who had undergone surgeries acquired better vision immediately after surgery. Corneal deposits reappeared soon after treatments. Recurrences became progressively more rapid and severe with treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical features of homozygous GCDII are characterized by a severe granular type of corneal dystrophy with an early onset and rapid progression. After surgical treatment, recurrence is rapid and severe.