Intracardiac transplantation of a mixed population of bone marrow cells improves both regional systolic contractility and diastolic relaxation.

BACKGROUND: Pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that transplantation of bone marrow-derived stem cells can improve global cardiac function. However, no quantitative assessment of regional systolic contraction and correlation with phenotype has been made. Therefore, we used our model of cryoinfarcted rabbit myocardium for intracardiac transplantation of a mixed population of bone marrow-derived cells and assessed both regional function and myogenic conversion of the cells. METHODS: Nineteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent cryoinjury of the left ventricle. Autologous bone marrow (BM) cells were expanded in vitro. After 2 weeks, either 1 x 10(8) mixed BM-derived progenitor cells (BM group, n = 11) or vehicle (control group, n = 8) were injected into the cryoinjured region. Regional systolic function was measured using micromanometry and sonomicrometry before and 4 weeks after cell injection; cell phenotype was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: All animals in the BM group significantly improved both systolic shortening (0.11 +/- 0.7 vs -0.05 +/- 0.05 mm in the control group, p < 0.05) and regional stroke work when compared with control (9.6 +/- 2.4 vs -1.2 +/- 1.2 mm . mm Hg, p < 0.003). In addition, the BM group had improved global diastolic function, as measured by minimum dP/dt and end-diastolic pressure. On histologic assessment, BM cells differentiated toward a myogenic phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Transplanting a mixed population of marrow-derived cells that can adopt a myogenic phenotype improves regional contractility and diastolic relaxation after myocardial infarction.     

应用局部皮瓣修复上睑全层缺损一例报告

目的探讨局部皮瓣修复上睑全层缺损的价值。方法2007年3月,对一例狗咬伤所致的右侧上睑全层缺损进行急诊局部皮瓣修复手术。结果术后随访45d,右侧上睑外形满意,功能良好。结论应用局部皮瓣急诊修复眼睑全层缺损,术后效果满意,可避免Ⅱ期手术和睑缘缝合。     

第三脑室脑膜瘤(九例报告及文献回顾)

目的探讨第三脑室脑膜瘤的组织发生学、临床特点和外科治疗。方法报道9例经影像学、手术和病理学证实的第三脑室脑膜瘤，并回顾相关文献。结果第三脑室前部脑膜瘤5例，第三脑室后部脑膜瘤4例，平均发病年龄25．6岁，无明显性别差异；最常见的症状是梗阻性脑积水，缺乏硬脑膜附着为其影像学特征。肿瘤全切除6例。结论第三脑室脑膜瘤是一种罕见的脑室内脑膜瘤，起源于中间帆脉络组织或脉络丛，经半球间裂-胼胝体-穹隆间入路是合理的手术路径选择。     

Contributions of ovarian failure and aging to blood pressure in normotensive perimenopausal women: a mixed longitudinal study

Epidemiologic studies have shown that blood pressure increases more rapidly in middle-aged women than in middle-aged men. Whether or not ovarian failure contributes to this rapid rise is still not clear. In a follow-up study begun in 1979 and to continue for 10 years, the blood pressure of 193 healthy normotensive perimenopausal women, who lived in the mixed rural/industrial community of Ede, the Netherlands and who were initially aged between 49 and 56 years, was measured annually. During the course of the study, the onset of menopause of each participant could be established. Because of the mixed longitudinal design of the study, it was possible to evaluate the effects of both chronologic aging and time pre- or postmenopause on blood pressure. After the first seven years of follow-up, it was demonstrated that blood pressure did not increase in 168 women whose body weight was relatively stable. After multivariate analyses, systolic as well as diastolic pressure showed a significant negative relation (slope, 1.34 mmHg per year and 0.63 mmHg per year, respectively) with the years since menopause. On the other hand, the observed positive relation (slope, 0.81 mmHg per year) of systolic pressure with chronologic aging was not significant. No consistent association was found between diastolic pressure and chronologic aging. It is concluded that menopause cannot be regarded as a cause of hypertension; on the contrary, ovarian failure appears to have a protective effect on the increase in blood pressure as a result of chronologic aging. on the increase in blood pressure as a result of chronologic aging.     

Small proportions: what to report for confidence intervals?

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 2005; 14: 239–247.