希—内学习能力测验在中国聋儿中使用的信度和效度

采用经部分修改的希－内学习能力测验（Ｈ－ＮＴＬＡ）量表对全国２１个省、市、自治区１７５８名３－１７岁聋儿逐人测试。样本人群地区分布、家长职业构成与１９９０年全国人口普查资料一致。１７５８名聋儿智商呈现正态分布（ｇ１＝０．０１１Ｐ＞０．０５，ｇ２＝０．０５８Ｐ＞０．０５）。测试员间信度系数０．９８１（Ｎ＝２４），复测信度０．８４１（Ｎ＝１３６），分半信度０．９２７（３－８岁）及０．８５４（９－１７岁）。各分测验得分随年龄增加而增加，小年龄组增加明显，大年龄组增加缓慢。各分测验之间、各分测验和总离差智商之间大多数相关系数有显著统计学意义。智商与学习成绩（语文及数学）相关系数０．２０８（Ｐ＜０．０１Ｎ＝２２４），与教师评语等级相关系数０．４４（Ｐ＜０．０５ｄｆ＝１６），表明经修订的Ｈ－ＮＴＬＡ量表适用于中国听力语言障碍人群进行智力评定。     

Synergy between the genes for butyrylcholinesterase K variant and apolipoprotein E4 in late-onset confirmed Alzheimer's disease

The allelic frequency of the gene for the K variant of butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE-K) was 0.17 in 74 subjects with late-onset (age > 65 years) histopathologically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease (AD), which was higher than the frequencies in 104 elderly control subjects (0.09), in 14 early-onset cases of confirmed AD (0.07) and in 29 confirmed cases of other dementia (0.10). The association of BCHE-K with late-onset AD was limited to carriers of the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), among whom the presence of BCHE-K gave an odds ratio of confirmed late-onset AD of 6.9 (95% C.I. 1.65-29) in subjects > 65 years and of 12.8 (1.9-86) in subjects > 75 years. In APOE epsilon 4 carriers over 75 years, only 1/22 controls, compared with 10/24 confirmed late-onset AD cases, had BCHE-K. We suggest that BCHE-K, or a nearby gene on chromosome 3, acts in synergy with APOE epsilon 4 as a susceptibility gene for late-onset AD.      

创伤病人的手术与焦虑状态调查

采用状态——特质焦虑问卷及１０项躯体性焦虑测试题，对４０例外科创伤病人手术前后的焦虑状态调查显示：术前状态焦虑量表评分显著高于术后；术前躯体性焦虑评分显著高于术后；高特质焦虑评分亚组与低特质焦虑评分亚组术前状态焦虑评分无显著差异，但术后则前者显著高于后者；急诊手术者手术前后状态焦虑评分显著高于择期手术者。     

Effects of water-soluble cigarette smoke extracts upon the release of β-hexosaminidase from RBL-2H3 basophilic leukaemia cells in response to substance P,compound 48/80, concanavalin A and antigen stimulation

Objective and design: To determine whether water-soluble constituents of cigarette smoke affect mast cell function using an in vitro model, RBL-2H3 basophilic leukaemia cells. Materials and methods: RBL-2H3 cells were induced to degranulate in response to compound 48/80 and substance P, as assessed by monitoring the release of the granular enzyme -hexosaminidase, by treatment for 7 days with 20 M quercetin. Responses to concanavalin A and antigen were determined by measuring the -hexosaminidase release from cells cultured on fibronectin-coated plates. Results: The -hexosaminidase release response to compound 48/80 induced by quercetin treatment was accompanied by a release of lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that degranulation is not the only process triggered by compound 48/80 under these conditions. Quercetin treatment reduced the -hexosaminidase release response to concanavalin A. Precoating of the culture wells with rat fibronectin enhanced the -hexosaminidase response to calcimycin, but not to concanavalin A. Under these conditions, concanavalin A did not induce a release of lactate dehydrogenase. The responses to c48/80, substance P, calcimycin, concanavalin A and antigen (after IgE pretreatment) were reduced by treatment with cigarette smoke solution obtained from standard and low-tar cigarettes (IR3 and IR5F). The effect of cigarette smoke solution from IR5F cigarettes upon the -hexosaminidase release elicited by compound 48/80 (in quercetin-treated cells) and by concanavalin A (in cells cultured on fibronectin-coated wells) could be prevented by N-acetyl-L-cysteine, but not with either hemoglobin, -tocopherol, catalase or palmitoylethanolamide. N-acetyl-L-cysteine also reduced the effect of cigarette smoke solution upon the degranulation response to antigen. Conclusion: Under the conditions used, oxidants present in cigarette smoke solution from IR5F cigarettes reduce the ability of RBL-2H3 cells to degranulate in response to both immunological and non-immunological stimuli.Received 6 December 2002; returned for revision 1 April 2003; accepted by I. Ahnfelt-RøJune 2003     

Innate immunity and chronic immune activation in HCV/HIV-1 co-infection

Innate immune responses are critical in the defense against viral infections. NK cells, myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and invariant CD1d-restricted NKT cells mediate both effector and regulatory functions in this early immune response. In chronic uncontrolled viral infections such as HCV and HIV-1, these essential immune functions are compromised and can become a double edged sword contributing to the immunopathogenesis of viral disease. In particular, recent findings indicate that innate immune responses play a central role in the chronic immune activation which is a primary driver of HIV-1 disease progression. HCV/HIV-1 co-infection is affecting millions of people and is associated with faster viral disease progression. Here, we review the role of innate immunity and chronic immune activation in HCV and HIV-1 infection, and discuss how mechanisms of innate immunity may influence protection as well as immunopathogenesis in the HCV/HIV-1 co-infected human host.     

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation analysis in breast-ovarian cancer families from northeastern Poland

Sixty high-risk breast and/or ovarian cancer families from North-Eastern Poland were screened for germline mutations in BRCA1 (MIM# 113705) and BRCA2 (MIM# 600185), using a combination of protein truncation test, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and direct sequencing. Sixteen (27%) of the families were found to carry nine different BRCA mutations, including 14 families with BRCA1 mutation and two families with BRCA2 mutation. The results suggest the presence of two strong BRCA1 founder mutations in the Polish population - 5382insC (6 families) and 300T>G (Cys61Gly; 3 families). The remaining seven mutations were found in single families and included three previously reported BRCA1 mutations (185delAG, 2682C>T [Gln855Ter] and 3819del5), a novel BRCA1 mutation (IVS14+1G>A), as well as two BRCA2 mutations (4088delA and 7985G>A [Trp2586Ter]) not previously observed in Polish families. We confirm the strong influence of two Central-Eastern European BRCA1 founder mutations in familial breast and/or ovarian cancer in Poland. We also conclude that the Polish population has a more dispersed BRCA mutation spectrum than had been earlier thought. This warrants further careful BRCA mutation screening in order to optimise genetic counselling and disease prevention in affected families.     

Reduction of the HIV-1 reservoir in resting CD4+ T-lymphocytes by high dosage intravenous immunoglobulin treatment: a proof-of-concept study

Background  

The latency of HIV-1 in resting CD4⁺ T-lymphocytes constitutes a major obstacle for the eradication of virus in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). As yet, no approach to reduce this viral reservoir has proven effective.     

Response rates for providing a blood specimen for HIV testing in a population-based survey of young adults in Zimbabwe

Background  

To determine differences among persons who provided blood specimens for HIV testing compared with those who did not among those interviewed for the population-based Zimbabwe Young Adult Survey (YAS).     

A comprehensive league table of cost-utility ratios and a sub-table of "panel-worthy" studies.

OBJECTIVES: The authors compiled a comprehensive league table of cost/QALY ratios, and a standardized table of analyses satisfying selected Reference Case criteria from the USPHS Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. METHODS: They identified 228 cost-utility analyses (CUAs) through literature searches, and abstracted data on methods and cost-utility ratios. The subset of "Panel-worthy" analyses used: a societal or broad health-care perspective, community or patient preference weights, net costs, incremental comparisons, and discounting of costs and QALYs. RESULTS: The 228 CUAs included ratios for 647 interventions, ranging from cost-saving to $52,000,000/QALY (median = $12,000/QALY). The standardized table presents 112 ratios that met the "Panel-worthy" criteria, with articles published in recent years more likely to meet all of the criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive league table (available on the Web) provides a useful reference, but ratios may not be comparable because of methodologic variations. The standardized table focuses on studies meeting basic methodologic criteria, potentially allowing for better comparison with future Reference Case analyses. Future studies should investigate the quality of analyses' underlying assumptions in addition to whether certain key procedural protocols were met.