Association of parental hyperhomocysteinemia and C677T Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism with recurrent pregnancy loss

ObjectivesTo investigate the association of parental hyperhomocysteinemia, C677T Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism and DNA damage with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).Design and methodsA case-control study. Reverse phase HPLC, PCR-RFLP and Cytokinesis blocked micronuclei assay were used to assess total plasma homocysteine, C677T MTHFR polymorphism and DNA damage respectively. Student t-test, ANOVA and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis.ResultsMaternal [mean: 11.6 ± 5.0 versus 8.6 ± 4.2 μmol/L, odds ratio (OR): 4.48] and paternal [mean: 19.6 ± 9.5 versus 14.2 ± 7.4 μmol/L, OR: 6.92] hyperhomocysteinemia, paternal age [OR: 1.16], paternal MTHFR 677T allele [OR: 2.30] and DNA damage were found to increase the risk for RPL. DNA damage showed positive correlation with plasma homocysteine and MTHFR 677T allele.ConclusionsParental hyperhomocysteinemia, paternal age, paternal C677T MTHFR polymorphism and DNA damage are risk factors for RPL. DNA damage showed positive correlation with plasma homocysteine and MTHFR 677T allele.     

涂阳肺结核病人发现程序的探讨

目的　探索高发现、操作简便、成本低的病人发现程序。方法 山东省2000年结核病流行病学抽样调查资料。结果 在1715例同时胸透和痰涂片检查的可疑肺结核症状者中,发现涂阳肺结核病人51例,其中胸透诊断正常者15例。结论 对可疑肺结核症状者必须全部查痰。     

Serum cortisol and testosterone levels in idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy

Context:

The preferential occurrence of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSC) in males with a typical Type A personality and behavior and a relative absence in females is a possible indicator towards the role of serum cortisol and /or the male sex hormone testosterone.

Aims:

To study levels of cortisol and testosterone in ICSC.

Settings and Design:

Case-control study in a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted on 23 cases of ICSC. Twelve patients with unilateral sudden painless loss of vision of less than one month duration served as controls. Serum cortisol and testosterone levels at 8.00 a.m. were estimated by radioimmunoassay in both groups.

Statistical analysis used:

Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 13.0 software. Independent Sample t-test was applied to analyze statistical significance between the two groups.

Results:

Mean age of patients with ICSC was 37.1 ± 9.7 years and 96% of the patients were males. Mean serum cortisol levels were significantly higher (P=0.002) in patients with ICSC i.e., 495.02 ± 169.47 nano moles/liter (nmol/L) as compared to controls i.e., 362.25 ± 51.54 nmol/L. Mean serum testosterone levels were 3.85 ± 1.81 nano grams/ml (ngm/ml) and 4.23 ± 1.89 ngm/ml in cases and controls respectively and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.58).

Conclusions:

ICSC is associated with elevated 8.00 a.m. serum cortisol levels. However, mean serum testosterone levels in both patients of ICSC and controls were within normal range.     

BACTEC MGIT 960培养结合INNO-LIPA~(TM) RIF.TBDNA探针新技术快速诊断结核病

目的通过MGIT960培养系统结合国外最新的INNO -LIPATM RIF.TB(LIPA)DNA探针技术的应用 ,探讨其快速诊断结核病的可行性。方法应用BACTECMGIT960系统进行临床疑似结核病例标本的培养 ,筛选了70例结核分枝杆菌 ,35例非结核分枝杆菌 ,用LIPA探针技术诊断是否为结核分枝杆菌。结果用LIPADNA方法在70例结核分枝杆菌中获得阳性69例 ,占98.6 % ;35例非结核分枝杆菌均为阴性。与单纯消化纯化后涂片的82.9 % (58/70)的阳性率相比增加了15.7个百分点 ,两者在统计学上差异有显著性(P<0.05)。BactecMGIT960培养结合LIPADNA探针与传统诊断方法4～8周相比 ,整个过程只需6～37天 ,平均15天 (2周 )。结论LIPADNA探针是一种具有高度敏感性和特异性、能够简便、快速、准确地诊断结核病的新技术。同时还能鉴定rpoβ 基因位点的突变 ,诊断耐利福平 (RMP)性结核 ,有望适用于结核分枝杆菌耐RMP性结核的快速检测 ,进一步为结核病快速准确的治疗提供理论依据。     

Heterogeneity in amount of growth factors secreted by platelets in platelet-rich plasma samples from alopecia patients

Platelet α-granules release growth factors (GFs) that promote healing and tissue regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is shown to be beneficial in treating alopecia, and however, clinical response can be inconsistent. Due to several fold enrichment of platelets secreting large quantities of GFs following PRP injections, heterogeneity in amounts of GFs secreted by platelets may contribute to inconsistent clinical responses. Herein, we evaluated factors that could potentially contribute to heterogeneous secretion of GFs by platelets. We measured platelet secretion of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) in aliquots of de-identified PRP samples from female patients undergoing therapy in the hair disease clinic. Although secretion of GFs by platelets was comparable in PRP samples of patients with non-cicatricial and cicatricial alopecia, a Shapiro-Wilk test for normal distribution indicated significant variability across all patient samples. The amount of GF secreted by platelets was comparable when PRP prepared from two FDA-cleared devices with distinct techniques were compared. We provide evidence of platelets secreting heterogeneous amounts of GFs within each sample as high and low secretion of random factors could be simultaneously detected. These results suggest inherent heterogeneity in secretion of GFs by platelets in patient samples that are not influenced by the device used to prepare PRP. Since some GFs could have antagonistic effects on hair growth, a balance between amounts of growth promoting and inhibiting factors may be crucial in determining clinical response to PRP therapy.     

CANDLE SYNDROME: Orofacial manifestations and dental implications

A South African girl with CANDLE Syndrome is reported with emphasis on the orodental features and dental management. Clinical manifestations included short stature, wasting of the soft tissue of the arms and legs, erythematous skin eruptions and a prominent abdomen due to hepatosplenomegaly. Generalized microdontia, confirmed by tooth measurement and osteopenia of her jaws, confirmed by digitalized radiography, were previously undescribed syndromic components. Intellectual impairment posed problems during dental intervention. The carious dental lesions and poor oral hygiene were treated conservatively under local anaesthetic. Prophylactic antibiotics were administered an hour before all procedures.Due to the nature of her general condition, invasive dental procedures were minimal. Regular follow-ups were scheduled at six monthly intervals. During this period, her overall oral health status had improved markedly.The CANDLE syndrome is a rare condition with grave complications including immunosuppression and diabetes mellitus. As with many genetic disorders, the dental manifestations are often overshadowed by other more conspicuous and complex syndromic features. Recognition of both the clinical and oral changes that occur in the CANDLE syndrome facilitates accurate diagnosis and appropriate dental management of this potentially lethal condition.     

安徽省实施结核病控制日本援助项目两年效果与评价

目的　了解两年来全省日本援助结核病控制项目县的实施情况。方法　按项目实施指南要求 ,检查2 0 0 2 -2 0 0 3年启动项目县有关结核病归口管理、结核病人的发现、治疗及管理情况 ,并现场作督导记录。结果　项目实施两年来 ,发现并入项涂阳结核病人 12 5 14例 ;2 0 0 2年入项的涂阳病人转归初治治愈率 86.3 % ,复治治愈率 70 .0 % ;2 0 0 3年入项的涂阳病人 2个月治疗后痰菌转阴率 ,初复治分别为 84.8%、70 % ;综合医院结核病转诊率平均 47.3 %。结论　项目工作进展较为顺利 ,但各项目县发展不平衡 ;切实落实结核病归口管理 ,加强病人发现工作 ,同时要特别加大对复治涂阳病人的督导管理力度 ,是做好项目“高治愈、高发现”的关键。