大脑中动脉狭窄的TCD与DSA检查比较研究

目的 :通过大脑中动脉狭窄的TCD检查与DSA检查方法比较 ,为临床提供方便可靠的检查方法。方法 :对经TCD检查确诊为大脑中动脉狭窄 6 0例做DSA检查 ,对两种检查结果进行比较分析。结果 :经TCD确诊为大脑中动脉狭窄病例 ,病变侧狭窄处的血流速度(Vm)均明显高于健侧一倍以上 ,在动脉硬化性狭窄中多伴有“海鸥鸣”或“铁锅炒沙”样杂音 ,且频谱形态呈圆钝或脉动指数值增高的阻力波形。该 6 0例在DSA的检查中均出现不同部位的不同狭窄。结论 :TCD检查具有快速方便、安全、经济、确诊率高的优点 ,可作为脑血管病首选检查手段     

Delineating the sites and progression of in vivo atrophy in multiple system atrophy using fluid-registered MRI.

We describe the pattern and progression of atrophy delineated using fluid registration of serial magnetic resonance imaging scans in a case of multiple system atrophy (MSA). The in vivo findings were consistent with those found at postmortem, including significant supratentorial atrophy concurrent with an unusual degree of cognitive impairment for MSA.     

Lp(a) lipoprotein: relationship to cardiovascular disease risk factors, exercise, and estrogen.

OBJECTIVE: Lp(a) lipoprotein is a distinct lipoprotein particle that recently has been found to be associated with cardiovascular disease. A study was conducted to assess the influence of cardiovascular disease risk factors on levels of Lp(a) and to evaluate the effects of age, exercise, and estrogen on these levels. STUDY DESIGN: Two studies, a cross-sectional study of older men (n = 105) and women (n = 75) (mean age 76 years) and a prospective study of younger postmenopausal women (mean age 48 years), were carried out. Lp(a) and other lipoproteins were measured in the two studies and differences were sought by statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional study, serum Lp(a) was similar in men and women and was not influenced by age. Lp(a) levels in men and women were higher when there was more than one cardiovascular disease risk factor present (p less than 0.028). We could not demonstrate such a relationship with other lipid and lipoprotein measurements. In the prospective study exercise alone had no influence on Lp(a) levels. Oral estrogen decreased Lp(a) levels marginally (p = 0.08). The decrease in Lp(a) with oral estrogen was associated with increases in triglycerides (p less than 0.01) and very-low-density lipoprotein (p less than 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that elevated Lp(a) levels are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) levels are primarily influenced by genetic factors and it appears estrogen may have a minor influence on its hepatic synthesis.     

Expression of pS2, c-erbB-2, and cathepsin D during the menstrual cycle in human breast cancers

Background: Many studies have addressed the effect of the timing of surgery for breast cancer relative to menstrual cycle phase, with conflicting results. Explanations for the possibility that survival could be altered by the appropriate timing of breast cancer surgery in humans remain speculative. Methods: We examined the expression of three estrogen related proteins (c-erbB-2, cathepsin D, pS2) in the breast tumors from 69 premenopausal women sampled in different phases of the menstrual cycle. Data on S-phase fraction and hormone receptor expression were also analyzed. Immunohistochemical assays were used to measure the proteins of interest. S-phase fraction was determined by flow cytometry. Analyses were performed based on fraction of cells staining positive for the protein, density of stain, and a histoscore that combined both fraction of positive cells and density. Results: We found no differences in c-erbB-2, cathepsin D, hormone receptor, or S-phase levels in tumors sampled in the follicular versus luteal phase, or perimenstrual versus periovulatory phase. The exception was pS2, which was expressed at greater levels during the luteal than during the follicular phase of the cycle (p<0.01); but there was no difference in pS2 expression when the patients were classified as periovulatory versus perimenstrual. Conclusions: Our findings do not support a variation in c-erbB-2, cathepsin D, S-phase fraction, or receptor expression as an explanation for the differences in breast cancer prognosis when surgery is timed by menstrual cycle phase. The finding that pS2 (an indicator of hormone sensitivity, and possibly better prognosis) is expressed at higher levels in tumor samples during the luteal phase suggests that the biologic profile of breast tumors may vary with the menstrual cycle and that these variations deserve further study.     

Effects of coal-fired thermal power plant discharges on agricultural soil and crop plants

The physicochemical properties of the upstream and downstream waters from the Upper Ganga canal, discharged cooling tower water, machine washings, and scrubber and bottom ash effluents of a 530 MW Kasimpur coal-fired thermal power plant have been determined, and their effects directly on fertile soil and indirectly on pea (Pisum sativam) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) crops have also been studied. The effluents were found to be alkaline in nature. The scrubber and bottom ash effluent was found to contain large amounts of solids and had high biochemical and chemical oxygen demands. All the effluents were found to be responsible for altering the chemical composition of the soil. The soils irrigated with the different effluents exhibited an increase in pH, organic matter, calcium carbonate, water-soluble salts, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, and nitrogen and phosphorus contents while potassium content decreased, probably due to being leached to the lower layers of the soil. The effects of 100, 50, and 0% (tap water control) dilutions of cooling tower, machine washings, and scrubber and bottom ash effluents on the germination and growth of pea and wheat crops were also monitored. Using the undiluted effluents, there was 100% germination for both the crops when the irrigation was done with cooling tower effluent. The germination was restricted to 90% for the two crops when irrigated with machine washings effluent, and to 80 and 70% for pea and wheat, respectively, when irrigated with scrubber and bottom ash effluent. The samples of upstream and downstream canal water were also used for irrigating soils with and without crop plants in order to ascertain the impact of the effluents on the canal water and its subsequent effect on the crops. The soils irrigated with downstream canal water were found to contain slightly more calcium carbonate, phosphorus, and ammonia-nitrogen than those receiving upstream canal water. Though 100% germination was obtained in both the cases, the growth of the plants irrigated with the downstream canal water was found to be slightly reduced.