Blunted renal dopaminergic system activity in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: A primary tubular sodium handling abnormality has been implicated in the edema formation of nephrotic syndrome. Dopamine synthesized by renal proximal tubules behaves as an endogenous natriuretic hormone by activating D(1)-like receptors as a paracrine/autocrine substance. METHODS: We examined the time courses of the urinary excretion of sodium, protein and dopamine in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-treated and control rats. The rats were sacrificed during greatest sodium retention (day 7) as well as during negative sodium balance (day 14) for the evaluation of renal aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activity, the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of renal dopamine. Also, the influence of volume expansion (VE) and the effects of the D(1)-like agonist fenoldopam (10 microg/kg bw/min) on natriuresis and on proximal tubular Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity were examined on day 7. RESULTS: The daily urinary excretion of dopamine was decreased in PAN-treated rats, from day 5 and beyond. This was accompanied by a marked decrease in the renal AADC activity, on days 7 and 14. During VE, the fenoldopam-induced decrease in proximal tubular Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity was more pronounced in PAN-treated rats than in controls. However, the urinary sodium excretion during fenoldopam infusion was markedly increased in control rats but was not altered in PAN-treated animals. CONCLUSION: PAN nephrosis is associated with a blunted renal dopaminergic system activity which may contribute to enhance the proximal tubular Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. However, the lack of renal dopamine appears not to be related with the overall renal sodium retention in a state of proteinuria.     

Familial risk assessment for early-onset coronary heart disease.

PURPOSE: We examined the performance of a familial risk assessment method that stratifies risk for early-onset coronary heart disease by considering the number of relatives with coronary disease, degree of relationship, lineage, and age at diagnosis. METHODS: By using data from the HealthStyles 2003 survey, we assessed the associations between familial risk and early-onset coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity. By using area under the curve statistics, we evaluated the discriminatory ability of various risk assessment models. RESULTS: Of 4,035 respondents, 60% were female and 72% were white, with a mean age of 48.8 years. After adjustment for demographics, strong and moderate risk were significantly associated with approximately a five- and twofold risk of early-onset coronary disease, respectively. After adjustment for demographics and personal history of cardiovascular disease, strong familial risk was also significantly associated with diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity. A risk assessment model that included familial risk, demographics, and personal history of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity was most optimal with an area under the curve statistic of 87.2% CONCLUSIONS: Familial risk assessment can stratify risk for early-onset coronary heart disease. Several conditions associated with increased familial risk can be prevented. These results have important implications for risk assessment and risk-reducing interventions.     

Community pharmacy services to optimise the use of medications for mental illness: a systematic review

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist delivered community-based services to optimise the use of medications for mental illness. Twenty-two controlled (randomised and non-randomised) studies of pharmacists' interventions in community and residential aged care settings identified in international scientific literature were included for review. Papers were assessed for study design, service recipient, country of origin, intervention type, number of participating pharmacists, methodological quality and outcome measurement. Three studies showed that pharmacists' medication counselling and treatment monitoring can improve adherence to antidepressant medications among those commencing treatment when calculated using an intention-to-treat analysis. Four trials demonstrated that pharmacist conducted medication reviews may reduce the number of potentially inappropriate medications prescribed to those at high risk of medication misadventure. The results of this review provide some evidence that pharmacists can contribute to optimising the use of medications for mental illness in the community setting. However, more well designed studies are needed to assess the impact of pharmacists as members of community mental health teams and as providers of comprehensive medicines information to people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder     

缺氧诱导因子-lα与脑缺氧缺血性损伤

缺氧诱导因子-lα（hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha，HIF-lα）是近来发现的广泛存在于哺乳动物和人体内的一种缺氧应答调控因子，在调节缺氧诱导的基因表达中起关键性作用。它可调节表达多种靶基因如血管内皮生长因子、促红细胞生成素等，对改善脑缺氧缺血后能量代谢障碍、促进脑血流动力学恢复、抑制兴奋性氨基酸毒性、减少细胞凋亡等起重要作用。通过进一步对HIF-lα及其靶基因的研究，可能为临床治疗脑缺氧缺血性损伤提供了一种新的治疗策略。     

Validation of the Brazilian-Portuguese Version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Asthma Patients

Background. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire was planned to answer questions about the distribution of asthma. Our objective was to determine the cultural equivalence of the ECRHS into the Brazilian-Portuguese language. Methods. We translated the ECRHS according to international criteria. Results. Small cultural adaptations were necessary. Among the 80 participating patients, the Cronbach indices were higher (0.98-1.00) and the Kappa indices varied from 0.77 to 1.00. Conclusion. The study suggests that the Brazilian version of the ECRHS is conceptually equivalent to the original and similarly reliable and may be used in international studies involving Portuguese-speaking respiratory patients.     

Reframing climate change as a public health issue: an exploratory study of public reactions

Background  

Climate change is taking a toll on human health, and some leaders in the public health community have urged their colleagues to give voice to its health implications. Previous research has shown that Americans are only dimly aware of the health implications of climate change, yet the literature on issue framing suggests that providing a novel frame - such as human health - may be potentially useful in enhancing public engagement. We conducted an exploratory study in the United States of people's reactions to a public health-framed short essay on climate change.     

Efficacy of epoetin-beta 30,000 IU/week in correcting anaemia in patients with gastrointestinal tumours subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy

Objective  

The aim of the project was to assess the effectiveness and safety of weekly epoetin-beta (EB) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCTRT).     

重症急性胰腺炎预防性抗生素治疗的荟萃分析

目的通过对有关文献的荟萃分析,探讨预防性抗生素治疗在重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)中的作用.方法检索1966年到2004年8月期间发表的有关预防性抗生素治疗SAP的作用方面的随机对照临床试验(RCT).按照入选标准,有6项临床试验纳入本研究,由2名作者各自独立地对入选研究中有关试验设计、研究对象的特征、研究结果等内容进行摘录,并用RevMan4.2软件进行分析.结果在SAP患者中,使用能在胰腺组织中达到有效浓度的广谱抗生素并不能减少胰腺感染(RR ＝ 0.77,95%可信区间为0.48 ～ 1.24,P ＝ 0.28),也不能减少手术干预(RR ＝ 0.84,95%可信区间为0.40～1.74,P ＝ 0.64),更不能降低死亡率(RR ＝ 0.54,95%可信区间为0.28 ～ 1.04,P ＝ 0.07),只有胰外感染的发生率有一定的减少(RR ＝ 0.52,95%可信区间为0.31 ～ 0.88,P ＝ 0.01).结论不建议在SAP患者中不加选择地预防性使用抗生素,但对于CT证实的坏死性胰腺炎,可以考虑抗生素预防性治疗.     

Evaluation of bone height and bone density after tooth extraction: an experimental study in minipigs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to radiographically quantify bone density and bone height preservation in tooth extraction alveolus filled with xenograft. STUDY DESIGN: The maxillary and mandibular fourth deciduous molars and fourth premolars of 6 minipigs were removed. Randomly, in 3 animals the right side was used as the test side and in the other 3 animals the left side was the test side. Intraoral radiographs were performed to compare the condition at the initial time and 3 months later. Measurements of bone height and bone density were performed using KS300 (Zeiss) software. RESULTS: After 3 months, there was a statistically significant smaller bone height loss for the test group. The test group presented a statistically greater bone density immediately after tooth extraction. However, after 3 months there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that treatment of postextraction alveolus with xenograft can preserve bone height initially but differences in bone density compared to when no xenograft is used are not sustained.