HIV-1tat induced apoptosis of T-cells is not mediated by TGF-β

Recent reports have demonstrated that the HIV-1 transactivator protein,tat, induces apoptosis in T-lymphocyte cell lines, as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and stimulates a cascade of events resulting in up-regulation of the potent immunosuppressive cytokine, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). In this study we evaluated the ability of TGF-β to mediatetat induced apoptosis in T-lymphocyte cell lines. T-cells treated exogenously with either TGF-β1 or a combination of tat and pan-specific TGF-β neutralizing antibodies showed little change in the amount of apoptosis. When treated with pan-specific TGF-β neutralizing antibodies, Jurkat cells that stably expresstat protein (Jurkat-tat) showed only a modest decrease in apoptosis, while CEM-TART cells (CEM T-cells expressing both HIV-1tat andrev) demonstrated little change in the amount of apoptosis. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that TGF-β does not play a significant role in mediatingtat induced T-cell apoptosis.     

Use of ureteral stents in patients with kidney transplantation

The aim of the study was to determine indications for application of ureteral stents for draining urinary tracts of the renal transplant, after low-invasive surgical interventions, for timing drainage, prevention and correction of complications. Ureteral stent insertion for management of urological complications after transplantation of the kidney was made in 36 patients (25 of them have ureteral stricture, 11 had ureteral necrosis). Low-invasive operations were made in 28 patients, open reconstructive plastic operations were conducted in 12 patients. According to 6-12 follow-up of the stented patients, recurrent ureteral stricture was detected only in 4 patients (11.1%). The stricture was corrected transcutaneously by antegrade ureteral stenting. It is concluded that stenting of the urinary tracts of the transplanted kidney in the treatment of urological complications--necrosis and ureteral stricture--in the course of low-invasive roentgenoendoscopic and open reconstructive-plastic operations raises treatment efficacy and prevents recurrent stricture.     

Intraventricular haemorrhage in the preterm infant without hyaline membrane disease

The clinicopathological associations of 33 singleton infants who died with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) without hyaline membrane disease (HMD) ('IVH only') were compared with those of 39 infants who died with IVH+HMD over the same gestation range in order to determine what factors other than those related to HMD may contribute to the pathogenesis of IVH. The incidence of 'IVH only' was inversely related to gestational age in the Hammersmith birth population, whereas the incidence of IVH+HMD rose to a peak at 28-29 weeks' gestation. Infants with 'IVH only' lived longer on average than those with IVH+HMD despite a lower birthweight and shorter gestation. Infants who died in the first 12 hours from 'IVH only' had suffered severe birth asphyxia but in those who died later the main symptom was recurrent apnoea. Fewer infants with asphyxia but in those who died later the main symptom was.recurrent apnoea. Fewer infants with 'IVH only' were given alkali therapy or were connected to the ventilator as compared to those with IVH+HMD, but there were no differences in alkali therapy in those who lived for 12 hours or more. In the 'IVH only' group there was a high incidence of haemorrhage from other sites and of bacterial infections. It is suggested that, in the absence of HMD, extreme immaturity is the main factor determining the occurrence of IVH. Birth asphyxia, apnoeic attacks, haemorrhage, and infections may play subsidiary roles, possibly through development of metabolic acidosis.     

超长段尿道狭窄术后勃起功能的评估

目的 探讨自体组织替代治疗超长段尿道狭窄对勃起功能的影响.方法 回顾性分析2007年1月至2009年1月采用不同自体组织补片(阴囊纵隔、包皮内板、口腔黏膜)Onlay术式替代治疗超长段男性尿道狭窄患者的临床资料,并随访患者ⅡEF-5评分、QOL评分及最大尿流率,并与术前相应情况进行分析.结果 根据研究标准收集23份有效数据.患者术前及术后3、6、12个月QOL评分分别为5.22±0.75、1.22±1.40、1.82±1.17、2.07±0.46,最大尿流率分别为(3.93±3.62)、(22.46±4.65)、(23.81±6.22)、(21.52±7.44)ml/s,术后不同时期均较术前明显改善(P＜0.01).术前及术后3、6、12个月ⅡEF-5评分分别为14.47±9.55、14.70±5.32、14.26±3.29和14.58±3.62,组间比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).9例狭窄部位累及至后尿道者术后3、6、12个月ⅡEF-5评分分别为11.67±2.59、12.35±1.83、13.19±1.67,14例单纯前尿道狭窄者分别为17.79±6.42、16.57±4.78、16.01±3.85,2组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).狭窄累及后尿道患者多元线性回归分析中,年龄、受伤时间及尿道狭窄段长度与替代术后ⅡEF-5评分呈多元线性相关.结论 自体组织替代治疗男性超长段尿道狭窄对勃起功能影响不明显;狭窄段累及后尿道时可能对患者勃起功能产生一定影响.患者年龄和受伤时间对勃起功能有协同影响作用.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the effect of substitutive reconstruction of long urethral stricture on male erectile function. Methods From January 2007 to January 2009, 23 patients with anterior or posterior long urethral stricture were accepted for a variety of onlay substitutive procedures, including lingual mucosa, perputial skin, and mid-scrotal skin. During the follow-up, data from the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (ⅡEF-5) questionnaire and the Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaire as well as maximal flow rate were recorded. All data were compared with those obtained before surgery. Results Significant improvement in QOL (1.22 ± 1.40, 1.82 ± 1. 17,2.07± 0.46) and maximal flow rate (22.46± 4.65, 23.81 ± 6.22, 21.52 ±7.44 ) could be observed 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery compared with those before surgery (5. 22 ± 0. 75, 3. 93 ± 3. 62)(P＜0.01). No significant differences in the responses to the ⅡEF-5 questionnaire were observed among all patients during the follow-up (P＞0. 05). At the 3, 6 and 12 months after procedure,scores of ⅡEF-5 in patients with anterior urethral stricture ( 17.79 ± 6.42, 16. 57 ± 4. 78, 16.01 ±3.85) were significantly higher than those with posterior urethral stricture (11.67 ± 2.59, 12.35 ±1.83,13. 19±1.67, P＜0.05). In patients with posterior urethral stricture, the multiple linear regression showed that age, time interval of injury and length of stricture were related to the ⅡEF-5score (P＜0.05). Conclusions Substitutive reconstruction for treating the long urethral stricture has little effect on male erectile function. But the location of stricture, especially extended to posterior urethra, may have impact on the erectile function.     

A longitudinal study of otitis media with effusion among 2- to 5-year-old African-American children in child care

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively document the prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) in 86 African-American children between ages 2 and 5 years. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-six children in center-based child care whose ear status had been followed from infancy continued to be observed. Middle ear status was assessed by pneumatic otoscopy and tympanometry biweekly. RESULTS: The prevalence of OME decreased as children became older. The mean proportion of examinations demonstrating bilateral OME (BOME) ranged from 12% between 24 to 30 months to 4% between 54 to 60 months of age. The mean proportion of exams revealing bilateral normal ears increased from 77% at 24 to 30 months to 88% at 54 to 60 months of age. Although 60 children had experienced BOME that lasted 4 months or longer in the 6- to 24-month age period, only 8 of these children experienced at least 4 months of continuous BOME between 24 to 60 months. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of time with BOME decreased progressively with increasing age in this population. Only 8 of 60 children who had experienced more than 4 consecutive months of BOME before 2 years of age continued to manifest persistent effusion or experience recurrences of prolonged BOME after 2 years of age.