Mental Well‐Being Mediates the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Perceived Health

The association between stress and health has been well researched in the past; however, comparatively few mediators have been tested to understand the underlying mechanism. With increasing awareness on mental well‐being, this study evaluated the relationship between perceived stress and perceived health and examined mental well‐being as a mediator. Two‐hundred undergraduates aged 21 to 26 years completed the English Perceived Stress Scale, Health Status Questionnaire and Asian Mental Well‐Being Scale that assess perceived stress, perceived health and mental well‐being, respectively. Factor analysis and structural equation modelling on the Perceived Stress Scale replicated the reported two‐factor structure after excluding an insignificant item. Linear multiple regression analyses indicated that perceived stress was negatively associated with perceived health. Results showed that mental well‐being partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and perceived health, although it is acknowledged that this association could be bidirectional. Findings from the present study suggest that future research could focus on reducing stress and improving mental well‐being to alleviate the effect of stress on health. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prostate cancer detection upon transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy in relation to digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen level: what to expect in the Chinese population?

We investigated the prostate cancer detection rates upon transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy in relation to digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and risk factors of prostate cancer detection in the Chinese population. Data from all consecutive Chinese men who underwent first TRUS-guided prostate biopsy from year 2000 to 2013 was retrieved from our database. The prostate cancer detection rates with reference to DRE finding and PSA level of < 4, 4–10, 10.1–20, 20.1–50 and > 50 ng ml⁻¹ were investigated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate for potential risk factors of prostate cancer detection. A total of 2606 Chinese men were included. In patients with normal DRE, the cancer detection rates were 8.6%, 13.4%, 21.8%, 41.7% and 85.2% in patients with PSA < 4, 4–10, 10.1–20, 20.1–50 and > 50 ng ml⁻¹ respectively. In patients with abnormal DRE, the cancer detection rates were 12.4%, 30.2%, 52.7%, 80.6% and 96.4% in patients with PSA < 4, 4–10, 10.1–20, 20.1–50 and > 50 ng ml⁻¹ respectively. Older age, smaller prostate volume, larger number of biopsy cores, presence of abnormal DRE finding and higher PSA level were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer detection upon multivariate logistic regression analyses (P < 0.001). Chinese men appeared to have lower prostate cancer detection rates when compared to the Western population. Taking the different risk factors into account, an individualized approach to the decision of TRUS-guided biopsy can be adopted.     

Vesico-ureteric reflux: occurrence and long-term risks

The prevalence of vesico-ureteric reflux in the general population is unknown, but it is increased in risk groups, such as children with symptomatic urinary tract infection, schoolgirls with asymptomatic bacteriuria, first-degree relatives of patients with reflux and children with prenatal dilatation of their upper urinary tract. Children and adults with pyelonephritic renal scarring are at risk of serious long-term complications, e.g. hypertension and renal failure. Modern paediatric care, with early detection and treatment of urinary tract infections and reflux during childhood and adolescence, may improve long-term prognosis. In the adult patient with established pyelonephritic renal scarring, careful control of hypertension may retard the rate of progression, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors may have renal protective properties.     

The brain‐derived neutrophic factor val66met polymorphism and sudden unexpected infant death

Aim: Findings of hypoxia prior to death and involvement of a dysregulation of the serotonergic network in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may indicate that brain‐derived neutrophic factor (BDNF) also is of importance with regard to sudden unexpected infant death. Based on this, the purpose of this study was to investigate the BDNF val66met polymorphism in SIDS cases, cases of infectious death and controls. Methods: The polymorphism was investigated in 163 SIDS cases, 34 cases of infectious death and 121 controls, using real‐time PCR and fluorescence melting curve analysis. Results: There were no differences in val66met genotype distribution between neither the SIDS cases nor the cases of infectious death and controls (p = 0.95 and p = 0.52, respectively). Conclusion: The study indicates that the val66met polymorphism is not important for sudden unexpected infant death. However, several other SNPs in the BDNF gene, as well as in other genes involved in this pathway, including G‐protein, have to be investigated to fully exclude any involvement of BDNF in SIDS.     

阿克拉霉素A聚氰基丙烯酸异丁酯毫微粒冻干针剂体内外抗肝癌活性

阿克拉霉素A聚氰基丙烯酸异丁酯毫微粒的冻干针剂,能明显抑制体外培养人肝癌细胞株7703的生长,IC50为0.28μg·ml^-1。在0.8μg·ml^-1浓度时,克隆形成抑制率为90%,抑制作用有明显剂量依赖关系而未见明显时间依赖关系。静脉给药后,对常位移植人肝癌模型裸小鼠的抑瘤率为86.84%,肿瘤细胞增殖活性阳性率为20.83%。体内外均显示明显的抗肝癌活性,且体内抗肝癌活性比阿克拉霉素A冻干针剂强。