The periodontal health of homosexual men with HIV infection: a controlled study

OBJECTIVE Identify types, prevalence and severity of periodontal changes associated with HIV infection. DESIGN: Cross-sectional controlled blinded study. SETTING: Open access genito-urinary medicine clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 794 homosexual men aged 18–65.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence, extent and severity of probing attachment loss (PAL), pocketing, gingival ulceration, gingivitis, bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival red bands and diffuse and punctate erythema of the attached gingiva (selected a priori ).
RESULTS: Prevalences in men with (n = 312) and without HIV (n = 260) were: PAL (≥l site ≥4 mm), 59.6% and 28.5% respectively (P < 0.001. x²); pocketing (≥1 site ≥4 mm) 51.0% and 31.9% (P < 0.001); BOP, 96.5% and 92.3% (P = 0.038); gingival ulceration. 3.2% and 1.0% (P = 0.031), red banding, 12.2% and 10.0% (P = 0.410); diffuse erythema, 12.5% and 3.1% (P < 0.001) and punctate erythema, 9.6% and 1.1% (P < 0.001). Decreased CD4 lymphocyte counts predicted the presence, extent and severity of PAL (P = 0.023, 0.027 and 0.060) but not pocketing. Oral candidiasis predicted the extent and severity of gingivitis and the presence of diffuse and punctate erythema (P = 0.037, 0.011, 0.002 and <0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Destruction of periodontal attachment is associated with progression of HIV disease whereas pocketing is associated with HIV infection but not disease progression. Gingival ulceration is associated with HIV but gingivitis and erythema of the attached gingiva are most strongly associated with oral candidiasis. Gingival red bands were not associated with HIV infection.     

Precision error in dual-photon absorptiometry related to source age

An average, variable precision error of up to 6% related to source age was observed for dual-photon absorptiometry of the spine in a longitudinal study of bone mineral content involving 393 women. Application of a software correction for source decay compensated for only a portion of this error. The authors conclude that measurement of bone-loss rates using serial dual-photon bone mineral measurements must be interpreted with caution.     

A monoclonal antibody to the membrane glycoprotein complex CD18 inhibits polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation and plasma leakage in vivo

Previous in vitro findings suggest a critical role for the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane glycoprotein complex CD18 in PMN adherence and chemotaxis. We examined the effect of the murine monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 60.3, recognizing CD18, on induced PMN accumulation in vivo. Rabbits were pretreated with MoAb 60.3, and the chemotactic factors fMLP, leukotriene (LT)B4, and C5a, as well as histamine, were injected intradermally; 4 hours later, plasma leakage (125I-albumin) and the PMN accumulation (myeloperoxidase) were determined. Both PMN accumulation and PMN-dependent plasma leakage were abolished in the inflammatory skin lesions of rabbits pretreated with MoAb 60.3 as compared with control animals, whereas histamine-induced PMN-independent plasma leakage was unaffected. Intravital microscopy of the rabbit tenuissimus muscle revealed that MoAb 60.3 inhibited both PMN adherence in the venules and migration into the tissue following application of LTB4 and zymosan-activated serum (ZAS). Rolling of PMNs along the venular endothelium was unaffected. Thus, these experiments confirm and extend earlier in vitro findings of the critical role of the membrane glycoprotein complex, CD18, in PMN adherence and chemotaxis.     

药典内5种淫羊藿中黄酮类成分的反相高效液相色谱分析

报道了药典规定的5种淫羊藿──淫羊藿、箭叶淫羊藿、巫山淫羊藿、柔毛淫羊藿和朝鲜淫羊藿中9种黄酮──淫羊藿甙(icariin)、宝藿甙-Ⅰ(baohuosideI)、宝藿甙-Ⅱ(baohuosideⅡ)、淫羊藿甙A(epimedosideA)、箭藿甙B(sagittatosideB)、朝藿定B(epimedinB)、朝藿定C(epimedinC)、大花淫羊藿甙C(ikarisosideC)和大花淫羊藿甙F(ikarisosideF)的反相高效液相色谱测定。色谱柱为DISK-C_phenlyl,流动相为乙腈-乙酸液(水:36%乙酸=100:4),梯度洗脱,检测波长为272nm。     

Pancreatin preparations used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis-- lipase content and in vitro release.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic extracts are essential in the treatment of the majority of cystic fibrosis patients. The clinical response to different preparations is often unpredictable and at present there is no sure method of determining the best preparation for a particular patient. METHODS: Creon, Nutrizym GR, Pancrease and the high-lipase versions, Creon 25,000, Nutrizym 22 and Pancrease HL, were investigated for lipase content and resistance to simulated gastric conditions. The rates of lipase release in response to pH change, bile salts and duodenal solids were investigated. The stability of lipase and its binding to duodenal solids were also investigated. RESULTS: Declared values for lipase content were exceeded in all preparations. All preparations were acid resistant. The release of lipase in response to pH change showed notable differences in release rates. After 20 min at pH 5.5, Creon released three times the amount of lipase compared with Pancrease, the other preparations coming within the range. Above pH 5.75, the release rates were comparable amongst the preparations. Bile salts influenced release variably whilst release in a solid-rich duodenal fluid was much slower than in buffers. The released lipase was susceptible to proteolysis and pH-dependent binding to duodenal solids; these effects may compromise lipolysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results show some factors contributing to variable clinical responses to pancreatic supplements. Improvements may result if a patient is assessed on different preparations.     

Aortic lacerations: fatal complications of thoracic aortography

Traumatic aortic lacerations are life-threatening injuries that require a prompt diagnosis and surgery if patients are to survive. Most authors recommend transfemoral catheterization when performing thoracic aortography in patients with suspected aortic lacerations. The authors of this study describe two patients in whom transfemoral catheterization and contrast material injection were directly related to their deaths. These cases illustrate the need for cautious catheter manipulation in patients with aortic lacerations.