Association between endogenous plasma hormone concentrations and fracture risk in men and women: the EPIC-Oxford prospective cohort study

Sex steroids have an important role in bone health, however previous studies on fracture risk have been carried out in older populations. The EPIC-Oxford study is a prospective cohort of men and women living in the UK. Five years after recruitment, participants self-reported previous fractures. Sex steroid concentrations (plasma estradiol, testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin) were measured in 436 cases (155 men, 46 premenopausal women and 235 postmenopausal women) with an incident fracture and 868 matched controls. Fracture risk was inversely related to concentrations of estradiol among men (RR for a doubling of estradiol 0.35, 95% CI 0.44–0.96) but there was no association between fracture risk and testosterone levels. There were no clear associations between fracture risk and hormone levels among postmenopausal women, however there was suggestion of an inverse association for both estradiol and testosterone as the RR in the highest compared with the lowest tertile for estradiol was 0.74 (95% CI 0.46, 1.18) and testosterone was 0.75 (95% CI 0.49, 1.16). Among premenopausal women fracture risk was inversely associated with levels of testosterone (RR for doubling of testosterone 0.46, 95% CI 0.26–0.81), with no association between estradiol and fracture risk. SHBG was not associated with risk of fracture among either men or women. In summary, this study finds evidence of an inverse association between endogenous estradiol and risk of fracture in men, and between endogenous testosterone and risk of fracture in premenopausal women but no clear associations among postmenopausal women.     

改进型分层聚类方法对中药分类研究

传统分层聚类方法常难以处理高维数据或大样本数据.论文对算术平均、算术平均变化率等概念作了介绍,应用算术平均变化率对样本数据预处理,提出一种基于改进型的分层聚类方法对中药实验数据提取VIP并构建分类模式.实验证明,该方法是可行有效的.     

Changes in corticocerebral morphology in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury following ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ acupuncture

BACKGROUND： Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury has been shown to induce inflammatory reactions, including white blood cell activation and adhesion molecule expression. These reactions often lead to aggravated neuronal injury. OBJECTIVE： To observe corticocerebral pathology, as well as ultrastructural changes, in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through optical and electron microscopy, and to investigate interventional effects of ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ acupuncture （a brain-activating and orifice-opening acupuncture method）. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, neuropathology, animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between April and June 2004. MATERIALS： A total of 50 healthy, male, Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups, with 10 rats per group： control, sham-operated, model, non-acupoint, and ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao ＂. Transmission electron microscope （TEM 400ST） was provided by Philips, Netherlands. Electro-acupuncture treatment apparatus （KWD-8082） was provided by Changzhou Wujin Great Wall Medical Instrument, China. METHODS： Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in the model, non-acupoint, and ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ groups. Rats from the control group did not undergo any treatment. The sham-operated group received identical experimental procedures as the model group, except that the nylon suture was not inserted into the right internal carotid artery. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 hours following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury induction, rats from the Xingnao Kaiqiao group underwent 1-minute acupuncture at the bilateral ＂Neiguan＂ （PC 6） acupoint, using a reducing method of lifting-thrusting and twirling-rotating. Subsequently, the rats were subjected to acupuncture at the ＂Renzhong＂ （DU26） acupoint 10 times by a heavy bird-pecking method. The non-acupoint group     

A model of movement dysfunction provides a classification system guiding diagnosis and therapeutic care in spinal pain and related musculoskeletal syndromes: A paradigm shift—Part 2

An integrative functional model largely based upon the observation and analysis of the more common features of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction encountered in clinical practice was presented as a working hypothesis in Part 1.The functional inter relationships between these regional and general features and their contribution to the development and perpetuation of local and or referred spinal pain syndromes was explored.Here we look more closely at clinical patterns of presentation.A simple classification system of clinical subgroups with back pain and related disorders is offered. These more commonly observed dysfunctional postural and movement strategies have been distilled into a number of dysfunction syndromes which will have predictable consequences.In beginning to provide a map of the tendencies towards, or actual, changed postural and movement responses seen in people with spinal pain and related disorders, this model provides a valuable reference for those working in the body work and movement therapies realm. It is a practical and useful clinical tool to assist diagnosis and help better understand the development and perpetuation of most spinal pain and related disorders. In so doing, more rational, functional and effective therapeutic and research interventions can ensue.