Lung Transplant Metalloproteinase Levels Are Elevated Prior to Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Parenchymal disease in the allograft lung is associated with interstitial remodeling believed to be mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Recent studies suggest high levels of MMP-9 are associated with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in lung transplant recipients. Since BOS occurs late in the posttransplant period and may be preceded by episodes of acute rejection or infection, which are associated with interstitial remodeling, we examined MMP profiles in allograft bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in the early posttransplant period (preceding BOS). Gelatin zymography, protein array analysis and specific ELISA on BAL fluids from transplanted lungs indicated that MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were strongly expressed in allograft BAL fluid from stable patients, or those with infection or rejection compared to BAL fluid from normal volunteers. Elevated expression of MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 occurred early, and was sustained for the 3.2 years covered in this study. Elevations of MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the first 2 years posttransplant appear to be associated with lung transplantation itself, and not infection or rejection. These data suggest that ongoing and clinically silent MMP activity could perpetuate progressive disease in the allograft lung.     

Inhibition of bone healing by pamidronate in calvarial bony defects.

OBJECTIVE: Pamidronate has been studied as a therapeutic drug for various osteopenic diseases. However, avascular osteonecrosis in the jawbone has been recently reported in patients receiving pamidronate. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of pamidronate on bone regeneration in a controlled animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the effect of parmidronate on bone healing in a local bony defect area, a rabbit calvarial bony defect model was used and poly L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) used as a drug carrier material. Four defect groups were made in each rabbit calvaria and the defects were treated as follows: untreated bony defect (group 1), PLGA only (group 2), 2 mg of pamidronate with PLGA (group 3), and 3 mg of pamidronate with PLGA (group 4). Bone healing was evaluated by radiography and histology at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: In radiographic analysis, radiopacity was lower in pamidronate groups than non-operated rabbit calvarial bone at all observation points (P < .05). In histological analysis, the initial bone formation at 1 week was not different among groups, but it was much lower in the pamidronate groups than in the control or PLGA group after 2 weeks. Newly formed bone at 1 week underwent avascular necrosis after 2 weeks in both pamidronate groups. Avascular necrosis was not observed until 8 weeks in both topically applied pamidronate groups. CONCLUSION: Collectively, pamidronate inhibits bone healing in rabbit calvarial bony defect and it may explain the avascular necrosis of the jaws in patients receiving pamidronate.     

Foot Polydactyly and Polysyndactyly: Genetic Implications in Two Families

The purpose of this study was to determine the genetic characteristics of foot polydactyly and identify its inheritance pattern by analyzing familial pedigree. Five cases from 2 Korean families were studied: 1 is a family whose members have been affected for 4 generations and the other for 2 generations. Using peripheral blood samples, we performed chromosomal analysis using the banding technique with Giemsa stain and karyotyping. We investigated the shape and structure of 46 chromosomes, looking for translation, deletion, inversion, ring chromosome, and isochromosome abnormalities. All peripheral blood samples demonstrated no chromosomal abnormalities, though the genetic nature of foot polydactyly and a new genetic locus was identified recently by other studies. Familial pedigree analysis suggested that polydactyly was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in the first family. The mode of inheritance for the second family could not be determined due to an insufficient number of family members. The result of this study brought us to the conclusion that, while genetic factors play a major role in polydactyly, other factors may contribute to its occurrence.     

CT导向下125I种子源植入治疗恶性肿瘤

目的:探讨CT导向下125I种子源植入治疗恶性肿瘤的安全性及临床疗效。方法:11例患者14个病灶行CT导向下125I种子源植入,其中原发肿瘤5例,转移瘤6例(9个病灶)。根据治疗计划系统(TPS)计算布源,在CT导向下将18.5~29.6MBq活度的125I种子源相隔1.0~1.5cm多层面植入肿瘤内。术后1~10个月复查CT观察种子源在瘤体内的分布、疗效及有无并发症。结果:随诊CT复查,14个病灶完全缓解(CR)5个;明显缓解(OR)7个;部分缓解(PR)2个;无效(P)0。治疗前后病灶平均大小分别为4.23cm和2.07cm(t=5.018,P<0.01)。未见急性并发症和治疗相关的放射损伤。结论:CT导向下125I种子源植入治疗恶性肿瘤是一种安全、有效的方法,近期疗效肯定。     

Association between cord blood IgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-4, the β-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE, lymphotoxin-α, and tumor Necrosis factor-α

High cord blood immunoglobulin E (cbIgE) is known to be associated with increased risks of atopic diseases in childhood. The relationship between genetic polymorphisms and high cbIgE has not been well documented. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between cbIgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-4 -590C/T, the beta-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI-beta) E237G, lymphotoxin (LT)-alphaNcoI alleles, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha -308G/A. A total of 320 mother-neonate pairs were recruited from four maternity hospitals from different locations of Taiwan. Cord blood was obtained and assayed for cbIgE. Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to assess the genotypes. Three hundred pairs of mothers and neonates were included in the final analysis. Infants with IL-4 -590 C allele were found to have higher risk of elevated cbIgE (> or =0.35 IU/ml, 24.3%) (p = 0.004). After adjusting for gender, birth order, maternal age, and history of allergic disease in maternal and paternal families, odds ratios for CC and CT genotypes were 4.41 and 3.16 (95% confidence interval 0.78-22.67, and 1.66-6.13), respectively, using TT genotype as reference. The genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha were not associated with cbIgE before or after the adjustment. Our finding suggested a significant association of cbIgE with genetic polymorphism of IL-4 -590C/T, but not with the genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha.     

上海市长宁区社区居民健康行为咨询点状况评估

目的了解社区居民健康行为咨询点现况,以进一步规范咨询点工作,为居民提供一流健康服务。方法采用资料法、现场观察法及问卷调查方法,对全区所有咨询点的硬件、软件配备情况、工作开展情况和规范程度以及咨询点服务对象对咨询点知晓情况、满意度进行综合评估。结果60.5%的咨询点工作完全达标;99.2%的居民知晓服务信息;97.8%的居民接受过咨询服务,居民对咨询点服务满意率达97.2%;分别有25.7%的咨询员、50.4%的居委干部、23.2%的居民提出增加服务时间、内容,改善服务条件等建议。结论调查对象对健康行为咨询点服务满意度逐年上升,但咨询点的整体服务水平还有待提高,特别在服务时间、服务内容以及服务条件等方面,还有待完善。     

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumor possibly originating from the prostate

We report a case of extragastrointestinal stromal tumor possibly originating from the prostate. The patient underwent radical prostatectomy because of no metastatic evidence. No recurrence and metastasis have been found during 14 months of follow up. To our knowledge, this may be the third such case published in a report in terms of pathological type.