Effect of Anthralin on Cell Viability in Human Prostate Adenocarcinoma

The study revealed the key role of serine protease hepsin activity in transition of in situ prostate adenocarcinoma into the metastasizing form. Inhibition of hepsin activity suppresses the invasive growth of the tumor. Hepsin is an convenient target for pharmacological agents, so the study of its inhibitory mechanisms is a promising avenue in drug development. Assay of proteolytic activity in various tumor cell lines in vitro showed that this activity in prostate adenocarcinoma cells significantly surpasses proteolytic activity in other examined tumor cell lines. Selective cytotoxic action of anthralin, an inhibitor of hepsin activity, on human adenocarcinoma cells was demonstrated in comparison with other tumor cell lines.     

大豆甙元—PVP共沉淀物的制备及其体外溶出度的研究

以乙醇为溶媒用溶剂蒸发法制备了大豆甙元—PVP共沉淀物。X-衍射分析和偏光显微镜观察的结果表明,形成共沉淀物所需的PVP比例应大于5:1。体外溶出度试验结果表明,共沉淀物可以显著提高大豆甙元的体外溶出度。大豆甙元:PVP(1:10)的共沉淀物制成片剂后,在1 h内,90%以上的大豆甙元释放于蒸馏水或人工肠液中。     

Fronto-occipital EEG power gradients in human sleep

The brain topography of power spectra along the antero-posterior (A-P) axis was studied in the all-night human sleep EEG. Spectra (0.25–25.0 Hz) were computed for an anterior (A; F3-C3), a middle (M; C3-P3) and a posterior (P; P3-O1) bipolar derivation, and the spectral gradients between two adjacent derivations were expressed by power ratios (A/M and M/P). At NREM-REM sleep transitions a power shift from A to M was present over almost the entire frequency range, while the direction of shifts between M and P differed between frequency bands. Within NREM sleep, frequency specific power gradients were present: In the low delta band power in both A (0.25 Hz bin) and P (0.25–1.0 Hz bins) was higher than in M. In the 4–9 Hz range the relation was A>M>P, and in the 15–25 Hz range power was largest in M. Power in the spindle frequency range was highest at 11.75 Hz in M, and at 13.5–13.75 Hz in A. Topographical differences were seen also in the temporal changes of power across and within NREM sleep episodes. Whereas NREM sleep power in the 2-Hz bin was higher in A than in M in the first episode, this difference vanished in the course of the night. This result points to a specific involvement of frontal parts of the cortex in sleep homeostasis. The regional differences in sleep EEG spectra indicate that sleep is not only a global phenomenon but also a local brain process with a different regional involvement of neuronal populations.     

Weight-for-age and weight-for-height references for Hong Kong children from birth to 18 years

Objective : Childhood obesity is an emerging problem in Asia. Sequential monitoring of the growth of an individual can detect a change in body fatness, provided there are ethnically appropriate growth references.
Methodology : A territory wide cross-sectional growth survey of Hong Kong on 24 709 individuals from the age of newborn to 18 years was performed in 1993. Weight-for-age and weight-for-height percentile charts were prepared separately for boys and girls.
Results : There was an average increase of 8.5 kg and 5.1 kg in the 18 year old boys and girls, respectively, compared to those surveyed 30 years ago. The percentile curves between 6 and 18 years were similar to those of Singapore. Weight-for-height percentile curves were close to those of America in the prepubertal years.
Conclusions : These Hong Kong growth standards for weight-for-age and weight-for-height are important tools for the assessment of nutritional status of an individual and for monitoring changes in nutritional status of the population.     

Chronic lung disease in very low birthweight infants: A 5-year review

To determine the incidence, clinical spectrum and outcome of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants with chronic lung disease (CLD), and evaluate associated factors.

Methodology:

Retrospective review of 265 VLBW infants managed in the NICU from January 1988 to December 1992.

Results:

The overall neonatal survival rate for VLBW infants was 83%. Sixty-five (25%) infants had CLD, of whom 42% had severe CLD. Mortality in infants with CLD was 11%. In contrast with infants without CLD, CLD infants had significantly higher risk of adverse neurodevelopment with cerebral palsy documented in 13.5% and functional disability recorded in 34.6% at 2 years corrected age. Factors associated with the development of CLD included; decreasing birthweight (OR 0.98, Cl 0.97–0.99), septicaemia (OR 4.96, Cl 1.57–15.65), necrotizing enterocolitis (OR 119.07, Cl 4.98–2845.04), hyaline membrane disease (OR 5.34, Cl 1.83–15.55), patent ductus arteriosus (OR 4.46, CI 1.75–11.36) and increasing fraction of inspired oxygen concentration in the first week of life (OR 1.09, Cl 1.04–1.14).

Conclusions:

Chronic lung disease occurs frequently in VLBW infants and is associated with a high incidence of adverse neurodevelopment. Further studies to clarify the role of non-respiratory factors such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and sepsis in the pathogenesis of CLD may reduce the incidence or prevent the development of CLD in these preterm infants.     

Increased expression of integrin α2 and abnormal response to TGF-β1 in hereditary gingival fibromatosis

Objective:  To investigate the possible correlation between integrin α1, α2, and β1 expression and excessive collagen synthesis in fibroblasts from 3 unrelated Chinese families with hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF).
Design:  Gingival fibroblasts from three Chinese HGF patients and three healthy subjects were included. The expression of α1, α2, and β1 integrin subunits was examined by immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR, and flow cytometry. We also investigated the effects of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on the expression of these integrin subunits.
Results:  Our results demonstrate that the expression of α2 was significantly higher in HGF fibroblasts compared with control fibroblasts ( P  < 0.01). No significant differences in the expression of α1 and β1 were detected. Furthermore, TGF-β1 promoted the expression of α1 and α2 in fibroblasts from both HGF patients and controls. However, it had a larger effect on the expression of α2 in HGF fibroblasts than in control cells. In contrast, α1 expression was stimulated more in control fibroblasts.
Conclusion:  The increased expression of integrin α2 and the increased response to TGF-β1 of HGF fibroblasts may be related to the excessive collagen deposition in HGF patients.     

Will the community nurse continue to function during H1N1 influenza pandemic: a cross-sectional study of Hong Kong community nurses?

Background  

Healthcare workers have been identified as one of the high risk groups for being infected with influenza during influenza pandemic. Potential levels of absenteeism among healthcare workers in hospital settings are high. However, there was no study to explore the attitudes of healthcare workers in community setting towards the preparedness to the novel H1N1 influenza pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore the willingness of community nurses in Hong Kong to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic.     

休克、创伤、手术后胃肠道动力障碍

休克、创伤、手术后的胃肠道动力障碍称为创伤、手术后肠麻痹或麻痹性肠梗阻,以缺乏推进性蠕动为特征,表现为呕吐、不排便排气,肠鸣音消失,腹胀等,导致内容物传输障碍.肠麻痹指自限性,持续2 d～3 d者,如果超过3 d以上则为麻痹性肠梗阻.休克、创伤情况下,胃肠道在MODS的发生发展中起重要作用[1,2].胃肠道动力改变是创伤、休克、手术后肠道吸收、屏障等功能障碍中不可忽视的一个方面,多年来恰恰未引起足够重视.本文综述有关休克、创伤、手术后胃肠道动力障碍的研究现状.