The epsilon-4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the pathogenic mechanism is unknown. The 5-repeat allele of a CGG repeat polymorphism in the 5' untranslated region of the very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDL-R) gene, a receptor for apoE, has been found to be associated with increased risk of AD in a Japanese population. Other groups have been unable to replicate this in American Caucasian populations. A case-control study utilizing a clinically well-defined group of late-onset AD patients (n = 108) and age- and sex-matched control subjects (n = 108) from Northern Ireland was performed to test this association in a relatively homogeneous population. The 9,9 genotype of the VLDL-R was found to be significantly increased in patients compared to controls (P = 0.003; Pcorr = 0.035), leading to an increased risk of AD to subjects with this genotype (OR = 3.9; 95% CI, 1.52-11.25). In contrast to results from the Japanese study, the 5-repeat allele was found to be significantly reduced in the patient group when compared to controls (P = 0.008; Pcorr = 0.047). The results from this study suggest that individuals who have the 9,9 genotype of the VLDL-R gene are at increased risk of AD in Northern Ireland. 相似文献
Cetirizine, a derivative of hydroxyzine, is a new compound with potent antihistaminic property without antiserotonin and anticholinergic activities. The effect of both a single dose (15 mg) and 7 days of treatment (15 mg twice daily) with cetirizine, a potent H1 antagonist on bronchoconstriction induced by histamine and leukotriene D4 (LTD4) has been examined in 10 patients with mild atopic asthma in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Cetirizine, after a single dose and 7 days of treatment with placebo, the geometric mean values of the provocative concentration of histamine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (millimolars) were 1.60 (95% confidence interval, 0.82 to 3.11) and 1.67 (0.77 to 3.65), compared with 118.07 (77.22 to 180.54) (p less than 0.0001) and 53.16 (20.50 to 137.84) after cetirizine administration (p less than 0.0002). The mean inhibition after a single dose was twofold higher than after 1 week of treatment (p less than 0.05). After a single dose and 7 days of treatment with placebo, the geometric mean values of the provocative concentration of LTD4 causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (micromolars) were 2.26 (1.74 to 2.94) and 2.37 (1.77 to 3.17), compared with 3.90 (2.60 to 5.86) (p less than 0.05) and 3.21 (2.28 to 4.52) after cetirizine administration. This result suggests that cetirizine is a potent H1 antagonist in the human airways. Diminished activity after 1 week of treatment suggests subsensitivity of H1 receptors developing in human airways. The small protective effect after a single dose against LTD4-induced bronchoconstriction indicates a nonspecific rather than a specific receptor antagonism. 相似文献
Large doses of antiprogestin typically disrupt menstrual cyclicity. A
chronic low-dose regimen of the potent new antiprogestin ZK 137 316, which
permits continued menstrual cyclicity but alters gonadal- reproductive
tract activity, was established. Rhesus monkeys received vehicle (n = 6) or
0.01 (n = 8), 0.03 (n = 8) or 0.1 (n = 5) mg ZK 137 316/kg body weight
daily for five menstrual cycles (C-1 to C-5). Oestradiol, progesterone and
gonadotrophin profiles were normal during cycles involving vehicle and 0.01
and 0.03 mg ZK 137 316/kg body weight. In the 0.1 mg/kg group, mid-cycle
oestradiol and gonadotrophin surges, and subsequent progesterone
production, were absent in C-3 and C-5. Ovarian cyclicity was accompanied
by timely menstruation in the vehicle and 0.01 mg/kg groups. By C-3, half
the animals in the 0.03 mg/kg group and all animals in the 0.1 mg/kg group
were amenorrhoeic. A corpus luteum was noted during the mid-luteal phase of
C-5 in the vehicle, 0.01 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg groups. Large antral and
cystic follicles were evident in the 0.1 mg/kg group. Thus, a daily
treatment with 0.01 mg/kg ZK 136317 permitted normal menstrual cyclicity in
macaques. While the daily administration of 0.03 mg/kg ZK 136 317 allowed
ovarian cyclicity, menstruation was disrupted in some animals. Increasing
the dose to 0.1 mg/kg antagonized pituitary function and resulted in
anovulation and amenorrhoea. A chronic low-dose regimen of the
antiprogestin ZK 137 316, which permits normal ovarian/menstrual cyclicity,
has potential as a contraceptive in women.
相似文献
In some parts of the United Kingdom (UK), family doctors (or "general practitioners" as they are called in the UK) are routinely called upon by the emergency medical services (EMS) system to attend road accidents. The doctors are volunteers and travel to the scene of the accident in their own cars. Members of one such general practitioner accident service operating in Mid-Anglia complete an accident report form after attending each incident. In 1983, the Mid-Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service (MAGPAS) received 1,715 calls for medical assistance, and in 95% of these a doctor was sent immediately. Of these calls, 57% were passed to the doctor within one minute of the receipt of the call in the MAGPAS control room, and 78% were relayed within two minutes. This rapid call-out, combined with the close proximity of the local doctor to the accident site, resulted in the doctors arriving ahead of the ambulance in 42% of the calls. A total of 54 patients with airway obstruction were treated by the doctors prior to the arrival of the ambulance. Ninety-nine patients required immediate intravenous fluid replacement in the pre-hospital phase of their medical care. This report suggests that general practitioners in rural areas can play a vital role in the early management of trauma patients, especially in the absence of ambulance personnel trained in advanced life support skills. 相似文献
The purpose of this study was to characterize presenting imaging findings in women younger than 40 diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the context of pathology and clinical course. Retrospective chart and imaging reviews were performed in patients under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer between July 1, 2004, and December 31, 2013. Patient demographic, imaging, pathology, and clinical data were collected. Overall and recurrence-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate Cox proportional hazards models were performed to identify factors associated with recurrence-free survival. Our study cohort consisted of 110 patients with invasive mammary carcinoma. One hundred one (91.8%) presented with a palpable mass. The mean size of all lesions on imaging was 3.5 cm ± 2.9 cm. Malignant calcifications were present in 54 (49.1%) cases. Imaging demonstrated multifocal or multicentric disease in 45 (40.9%) cases. Seventy four (67.3%) cancers were high grade. Luminal genomic subtypes were the most common (n = 61, 55.5%). At presentation, 4 (3.6%) patients had bilateral malignancy and 8 (7.3%) patients had distant metastatic disease. Ninety seven (88.2%) underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 67 (60.9%) underwent radiation therapy. Seventy five (68.2%) of the patients underwent mastectomy. The restricted mean time to recurrence was 9.01 years (standard error 3.162 months). ER positivity was associated with compromised recurrence-free survival. The overall survival rate was 0.962 at 10 years. Young patients diagnosed with breast cancer typically present with advanced breast imaging findings and undergo aggressive treatment. Recurrence often occurs >5 years from diagnosis, and ER positive subtypes are at increased risk for recurrence. 相似文献
Twenty of 26 (77%) consecutive patients undergoing ileogastrostomy, performed by the same surgeon (IGMC) between February
1989 and May 1992, responded to a mailed quality of life survey. Average present weight was reported as 50.9 kg less than
a mean preoperative weight of 139.7 kg. Mean time of follow-up was 24.75 months. When comparing perceptions before and after
surgery, several quality of life improvements were noted in the areas of vocation, relationships, emotional well-being and
physical well-being. Post-surgery, jobs were rated more satisfying, eating habits improved, self-image and self-confidence
increased and body disparagement declined. Satisfaction with sexual relations increased, as did frequency. In general, relations
with partners, co-workers and friends seemed to improve. Exercise also increased significantly. In contrast, foul flatus,
bloating, and bowel movements regularly hampered activities or caused embarassment when in public. Despite these physical
side-effects, we observed that a large majority of persons undergoing ileogastrostomy noted significant improvements in quality
of life. 相似文献
Objectives. To confirm the observation that has been occasionally reported in the literature that perinatal mortality rate is lower in ethnic Chinese than in ethnic whites, and to assess the reasons for this lower perinatal mortality rate.
Methods. Secondary‐analysis based on published data.
Results. This exercise demonstrates that the perinatal mortality rate was lower in ethnic Chinese than in ethnic whites. The birth weight distribution in ethnic Chinese was more favourable with reduced births at two extremes of the distribution, and the exposure to risk factors for perinatal death by their mothers was also lower.
Conclusion: Perinatal mortality rate is lower in ethnic Chinese than in ethnic whites, and the lower perinatal mortality rate in ethnic Chinese is probably caused by their favourable birth weight distribution and lower exposure to risk factors of perinatal death by their mothers. 相似文献
A retrospective study of all ileogastrostomy procedures (n=26) performed in 1993 by one surgeon (IGMC) was carried out to investigate the hypothesis that Helicobacter pylori may be implicated in certain severe cases of postoperation nausea and diarrhea. Ten of 26 persons (38.5%) displayed nausea
and notable diarrhea (greater than or equal to ten bowel movements per day), seven of which warranted upper GI investigation.
One hundred per cent (seven of seven) of these persons were found to possess H. pylori upon C-14 breath test. In four of six cases eradication therapy (1 g amoxicillin b.i.d./20 mg omeprazole b.i.d. for 2 weeks)
corresponded with a resolution of severe nausea and diarrhea (one additional case involved omeprazole use only), suggesting
that H. pylori should be considered as a possible cause of these symptoms post-ileogastrostomy. Additionally, in four of seven cases persons
were re-tested (C-14 breath analysis) at least 1 month post-therapy and in this group three persons were found to be free
of the organism. All three cases of notable diarrhea and nausea resolved with treatment, providing the strongest evidence
for a possible association between infection and these symptoms. 相似文献
Background Public involvement in health care decision making and priority setting in the UK is being promoted by recent policy initiatives. In 1993, the British Medical Association called for public consultation where rationing of services was to be undertaken. The approach to priority setting advocated by many health economists is the maximization of quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Typically, for a particular health care programme, the QALY calculation takes account of four features: (1) the number of patients receiving the programme, (2) the survival gain, (3) the gain in quality of life and, (4) the probability of treatment success. Only one feature, that relating to quality of life, is based upon public preferences. If the QALY is to be used as a tool for health care resource allocation at a societal level then it should incorporate broader societal preferences. Methods This study used an interview-based survey of 91 members of the general public to explore whether the traditional QALY maximization model is a good predictor of public responses to health care priority setting choices. Results and conclusions Many respondents did not choose consistently in line with a QALY maximization objective and were most influenced by quality of life concerns. There was little support for health care programmes that provided a prognostic improvement but left patients in relatively poor states of health. The level of respondent engagement in the survey exercise was not sensitive to the provision of supporting clinical information. 相似文献