Prostate cancer old problems and new approaches

Rates of prostate cancer (PCa) have increased so dramatically over the last decade that the age adjusted incidence rate for PCa is now greater than that any other cancer among men in the United States. This review, published as a three part series, provides a state-of-art assessment of the PCa problem in its divergent aspects.Part 1 covers epidemiology, incidence and progression. Several epidemiological studies have demostrated that first degree male relatives of men with PCa are at increased risk of developing the disease. Familial and genetic factors as well as medical, anthropometric, dietary, hormonal and occupational factors involved in PCa are discussed. Postmortem examination of the prostate in men without evidence of PCa documented a high frequency of adenocarcinoma. Latent disease occurred as early as the second decade of life. Although there is no significant difference in incidence between Caucasian and African-American males, high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) is higher in the latter group. While dietary fat, androgens and certain environmental factors may be determinants for PCa, the exact mechanism of tumorigenesis is still relatively unknown. The current thinking of the role of genomic instability, chromosomal alterations, tumor suppressor genes and the androgen receptor are explored.     

Attitudes to smoking and smoking habits among hospital staff.

BACKGROUND: Health professionals should take an active role against smoking, so it is relevant to have information on their smoking habits and their attitudes towards smoking, especially with a view to identifying and offering help to those smokers who wish to stop. Staff in Llandough Hospital were surveyed to determine their smoking habits and attitudes, and the findings were compared with those of a similar survey at Llandough in 1987. METHODS: In October 1991 a questionnaire was sent to each member of staff employed half time or more requesting data on age, sex, department, smoking habit, attitudes to smoking in various areas of the hospital, and attitudes to access to smoking rest rooms for patients, staff, and visitors. Smokers were asked whether they would like to join a "quit smoking" group. Non-responders were sent a reminder four weeks later and all replies returned by 31 December 1991 were analysed. RESULTS: The response rate was 82%; of the respondents, 65% were non-smokers, 15% ex-smokers, and 20% current smokers. The prevalence of current smokers was 5% among doctors, 20% among nurses, 18% among administrative and clerical staff, and 40-42% among domestics, catering, and portering staff. Thirty eight per cent of responders wished smoking to be completely forbidden in all areas of the hospital and 90% in certain areas such as wards, offices, cafeteria, and laboratories. Nearly half wanted smoking to be allowed in rest rooms and over 60% wanted a 24 hour facility for smoking for staff, 56% for patients, and 44% for visitors. Only 39% of smokers wished to join a "quit smoking" support group. In comparison with the 1987 survey, the response rate in this study was higher (82% v 70%), the proportion of non-smokers had increased (65% v 59%), and more smokers wanted help (39% v 26%). Fewer wanted 24 hour access to smoking areas for staff and for visitors. CONCLUSION: This hospital should capitalise on these changes of attitude among staff and proceed more rapidly with the implementation of policies to further reduce smoking among staff, visitors, and patients. As a first step a smoking cessation counsellor has been appointed.     

神阙穴敷贴对原发性骨质疏松症骨钙素的影响

目的　观察神阙穴贴补血益精透皮贴对原发性骨质疏松症骨钙素 (BGP)的影响。方法　选择原发性骨质疏松症患者130名 ,分神阙穴贴药组 (补血益精穴位透皮贴剂 )、西药组 (羟乙磷酸钠片 )、中药组 (补血益精药丸 )、空白对照组。结果和结论　穴位敷贴组能显著提高骨钙素 (7.69± 1.65 )。穴位敷贴组与中药组 (7.82± 0 .99)和西药对照组 (7.13± 0 .89)对原发性骨质疏松症的骨钙素调整作用基本一致 (P>0 .0 5 )。     

葡萄糖对豚鼠心室肌细胞跨膜离子电流的影响

目的观察葡萄糖对豚鼠心室肌细胞膜APD,IK1,IK,ICa-L的影响.方法采用全细胞膜片技术记录单个豚鼠心室肌细胞膜的动作电位时程和离子电流.比较0、10和20mmol·L-1葡萄糖对心室肌细胞跨膜离子电流的作用.结果(1)与10 mmol·L-1葡萄糖相比,0和20mmol·L-1均可使豚鼠心室肌细胞的APD缩短(P＜0.05);(2)在细胞外葡萄糖浓度为10 mmol·L-1时,内向整流钾电流IK1的电流密度最大,标准化I-V曲线显示0和20mmol·L-1葡萄糖均可抑制IK1,并使I-V曲线左移,其翻转电位从-72.4移至-64.6 mV;(3)与mmol·L-1葡萄糖相比,0和20mmol·L-1葡萄糖均可增加ICa-L的电流幅度和电流密度.当钳制电位为10 mV,细胞外葡萄糖浓度为0 mmol·L-1时,ICa-L的电流密度为(-8.03±0.82)pA/pF(n=8),而10mmol·L-1和20mmol·L-1葡萄糖分别使电流密度增加为(-5.45±0.67)pA/pF和(-6.50±0.56)pA/pF;(4)当钳制电压为 70mV,细胞外葡萄糖浓度为0、10和20 mmol·L-1时,IK的电流密度分别为(18.96±2.86)pA/pF,(8.66±1.87)pA/pF,(15.32±3.12)pA/pF.结论细胞外不同浓度的葡萄糖可使豚鼠心室肌细胞APD,IK1,IK,ICa-L发生改变.细胞外葡萄糖浓度为0和20mmol·L-1对细胞膜离子电流产生相似的影响.     

药食两用中药复方对去卵巢大鼠内分泌激素的影响

目的：探讨药食两用中药复方治疗绝经期综合征的作用机理。方法：以去卵巢大鼠为动物模型，已烯雌酚片为阳性对照药物，采用放射免疫测定法观察该复方对血清E2，FSH，LH，T，P，T3，T4及TSH等激素水平的影响。结果：与去卵巢空白对照组比较，该中药复方能升高血清E2值，降低血清FSH，LH，T3，T4值，差异均有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论：该中药复方能多途径调节卵巢大鼠生殖内分泌功能，改善甲状腺功能。提示其能够稳定机体内环境，缓解绝经期综合征症状。     

人类禽流行性感冒疫苗的研究展望

通过回顾人类禽流行性感冒(流感)疫苗的研究进展,展望疫苗的使用前景,探讨可能存在的问题。综述人类禽流感疫苗的研究现状,提出:基因工程疫苗是人类禽流感疫苗的发展方向,但在疫苗从实验室走向使用的过程中仍存在一些问题。为安全、有效、快速应对下一次疫情,应全面评估疫苗安全性,正确面对成本-效益问题,从法律、人力、物力、资金和技术层面支持疫苗研究、生产,提高疫苗生产力,正确评价疫苗的适用人群。     

关于我国公共卫生体系建设现状及对策的思考

公共卫生问题直接关系到群众的身心健康，特别是全球化进程的加快，食品卫生、疾病控制等问题是各国共同面临的问题。作者通过对奥地利卫生管理、体系建设、食品安全等方面的考察，进行分析、思考，对我国卫生体制改革提出了建议。作者认为，深化卫生改革，要进一步加强食品卫生监督执法，要重视和加强职业卫生，要加强医疗救治和医疗机构监督管理，要进一步完善社会医疗保险体系，要加强卫生管理理论的培训。     

松果菊润喉片的免疫药理学研究

目的 观察松果菊润喉片对小鼠免疫功能及其化痰的影响。方法 进行免疫及化痰实验。结果 松果菊润喉片能增强小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞碳粒廓清速度,促进抗体(溶血素)水平的产生,促进二硝基氯苯所引发的迟发性变态性反应的足趾肿胀;对气管黏膜排泄酚红有明显促进作用。结论 松果菊润喉片有促进排痰、提高机体免疫功能的作用。