氟伐他汀对心衰大鼠基质金属蛋白酶、转化生长因子及左室重构的影响

目的:了解基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)及转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)在心肌梗死大鼠左室重构及心衰发展过程中的改变,以及氟伐他汀的干预作用,探讨心梗后心衰的发生机制。方法:选用雄性SD大鼠67只随机分为假手术组、心梗组和心梗他汀组,经冠状动脉前降支结扎术建立心肌梗死后心衰模型,手术24 h后心梗他汀组大鼠管饲氟伐他汀4 mg·kg-1·d-1,假手术组和心梗组大鼠管饲安慰剂。术后3 d、4周、8周检测大鼠非梗死区心肌MMP-2的含量(Western-blot法)、胶原、TGF-β1的改变(免疫组化法),压力传感器记录左室血流动力学改变。结果:术后各时点非梗死区心肌的MMP-2含量,心梗组及心梗他汀组显著高于假手术组(P<0.05),而心梗他汀组显著低于心梗组(P<0.05);术后各组各时点非梗死区心肌TGF-β1表达的变化趋势与MMP-2相同;与心梗组比较,心梗他汀组术后4周和8周的心功能明显改善,胶原容积分数(CVF)及Ⅰ／Ⅲ型胶原比值(Ratio of type Ⅰ／Ⅲ)降低(P<0.05)。结论:氟伐他汀通过减少非梗死区心肌MMP-2和TGF-β1的含量,而减轻心梗后非梗死区心肌胶原网络的破坏及反应性胶原的过度沉积,从而预防和逆转心室重构,改善心脏功能。     

Food Hardship and Obesity in a Sample of Low-Income Immigrants

Very little work has examined the relationship between food hardship (having inconsistent financial resources to buy food) and obesity among immigrant groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a low-income, multi-racial/ethnic adult sample in greater Boston, MA (n = 828). Modified Poisson regression models estimated the association between food hardship obesity (BMI ≥ 30) among adults reporting food hardship; interactions were tested by place of birth. Body mass index (BMI) was based on anthropometric height and weight. In adjusted models, those experiencing food hardship were more likely to be obese (RR 1.17, CI 1.07, 1.29) than those not experiencing food hardship. Participants from Haiti reporting food hardship were more likely to be obese than those not reporting hardship (RR 1.58, CI 1.23, 2.04); this was not the case among other groups (US born, Puerto Rican, Latin American, Other). The relationship between food hardship and weight may vary among immigrant subgroups.     

Erythroid marrow function in anemic patients

Erythropoietic activity is known to be closely associated with marrow iron uptake. A modification of the standard measure of plasma iron turnover has been developed in which erythron transferrin uptake (ETU) rather than iron uptake has been calculated. The ETU has the advantage of providing a parameter of erythroid marrow activity independent of change produced by plasma iron and transferrin saturation. Measurements in 80 patients with anemia were compared to the normal value of 60 +/- 12 mumol/L whole blood/d. The mean ETU for ten patients with severe aplastic anemia and for six patients with pure red-cell aplasia were 12 +/- 8 and 12 +/- 11 mumol/L whole blood/d, respectively. In ten transfusion-dependent patients with renal failure under dialysis therapy, the mean value was 35 +/- 11, while ten other dialyzed patients who were transfusion independent had a mean ETU of 73 +/- 21 mumol/L whole blood/d. Sixteen patients with hemolytic anemia had an average ETU of 400 +/- 130, while 28 patients with ineffective erythropoiesis had a mean value of 474 +/- 147 mumol/L whole blood/d. While patients with hypoproliferative anemia showed no relation between the severity of anemia and ETU, those with hyperproliferative erythroid marrow showed increasing values as the anemia became more severe. Sequential measurements in patients with aplastic anemia under treatment and in thalassemic patients under transfusion therapy showed the value of this measurement in monitoring the effects of treatment on erythroid marrow activity. It is concluded that the measurement of ETU provides a more direct ferrokinetic evaluation of erythroid activity in anemic states.     

Identification of T lymphocytes in human mixed hemopoietic colonies

The addition of a T-cell growth-promoting medium (PHA-TCM) to culture conditions that support growth of multi-lineage hemopoietic colonies enhances the proliferation of cells with lymphoid morphology within these colonies. These cells were identified as T lymphocytes by their ability to form rosettes with SRBC and their reaction with monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4) directed against T-cell-specific surface components. They continue to proliferate extensively under the influence of PHA-TCM after transfer of mixed colonies into liquid suspension culture. Supportive evidence for a common progenitor of myeloid and lymphoid cells within single mixed colonies is provided by Y-chromatin body analysis of E-rosette positive and negative cells in colonies grown in cocultures of male and female bone marrow cells.     

"Early-peak" carbon monoxide production in certain erythropoietic disorders

The "early-labeled" peak (ELP) of 14CO excretion following injection of glycine-2-14C was used to study erythropoiesis in a patient with sideroblastic anemia and in four subjects with myeloproliferative disorders. The ELP was greatly enlarged in all patients, as compared with a normal volunteer. The contour of the peaks from the hematologically abnormal subjects suggested the presence of increased erythroid heme degradation. In the patient with sideroblastic anemia, all hours of the early peak were significantly reduced after transfusion. This was interpreted to mean that even the earliest or "nonerythroid" phase of the peak is influenced by erythropoietic activity, at least under conditions of erythropoietic stress.     

Referral gridlock

BACKGROUND: Patients' barriers to mental health services are well documented and include social stigma, lack of adequate insurance coverage, and underdiagnosis by primary care physicians. Little is known, however, about challenges primary care physicians face arranging mental health referrals and hospitalizations. OBJECTIVE: To examine how practice setting and environment influence primary care physicians' ability to refer patients for medically necessary mental health services. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative survey data from the 1998 to 1999 Community Tracking Study physician survey. The overall survey response rate was 61%. PARTICIPANTS: A 1998 to 1999 telephone survey of 6586 primary care physicians. MEASUREMENTS: Primary care physicians' report of whether they could obtain medically necessary referrals to high-quality mental health specialists or psychiatric admissions. RESULTS: Overall, 54% of primary care physicians reported problems obtaining psychiatric hospital admissions, and 54% reported problems arranging outpatient mental health referrals. Primary care physicians practicing in staff and group model HMOs were much less apt to report difficulties than physicians in solo and small-group practices (P <.001). Reports of inadequate time with patients (P <.001) and smaller numbers of psychiatrists in a market area (P <.01) also were associated with problems obtaining mental health referrals. Pediatricians were more apt to report problems than general internists (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Primary care physicians face greater hurdles obtaining mental health services than other medical services. Primary care is an important entry point for mental health services, yet inadequate referral systems between medical and mental health services may be hampering access.     

瑞香素杀疟原虫裂殖体的作用

[目的 ]研究中药瑞香素在体外和体内的杀裂殖体作用。 [方法 ]在恶性疟原虫FCCl株常规体外培养中测试瑞香素杀裂殖体活性 ,并按“四天抑制性试验”在感染伯氏疟原虫ANKA株的小鼠中测定不同剂量瑞香素的体内抗疟活性。 [结果 ]体外试验中瑞香素在 1～ 10 μmol L剂量范围内有明显杀灭裂殖体作用 ,而体内试验中按D4减虫率与感染鼠在 30d内的平均生存天数评价 ,5 0或 10 0mg kg .d- 1 × 4d瑞香素灌胃以及 10 ,5 0或 10 0mg kg.d- 1 × 4d瑞香素腹腔注射给药在伯氏鼠疟原虫ANKA株感染鼠中的抗疟作用与 10mg kg .d- 1 × 4d氯喹 (CQ)灌胃的疗效相似。 [结论 ]瑞香素在体外和体内均有一定的杀裂殖体作用。