CONGENITAL ABSENCE OF THE INFERIOR RECTUS MUSCLE

A case of unilateral congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle is presented. Absences of extraocular muscles, either singly or in combination, are rare, but isolated reports have been published. The abnormalities have been reported as occurring with increased frequency in craniofacial dysostoses, notably Crouzon's disease.
In the case reported here, the abnormality was discovered during planned vertical muscle surgery for a large left hypertropia. lnfraplacement of the horizontal recti was performed at a later date. Computerised axial tomography (CAT) scanning confirmed the absence of the inferior rectus. The embryogenesis of the extraocular muscles is briefly discussed.     

N-linked oligosaccharides and metastatic propensity in in vivo selected mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cells

Studies using metastatic variant selected in vivo from a cloned parental cell line demonstrate that the expression of 1-6 branched, N-linked carbohydrates and sialic acid were positively associated with in vitro invasiveness and inversely associated with metastatic potential, adherence, and in vivo growth rate. These results suggest that at least within one tumor model, a negative association occurs between metastatic potential and 1-6 branched oligosaccharide expression. In these studies two metastatic variants, Cl-66M1 and Cl-66M2, were selected following serial in vivo passage of Cl-66, a clonal cell line obtained from a mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line. The parent cell line and the two metastatic variants were approximately equal in their adherence to fibronectin, laminin, and collagen type IV coated plastic. In contrast, both Cl-66M1 and Cl-66M2 had a significantly increased ability to invade through matrigel invasion chambers and expressed significantly increased levels of 1-6 branched, N-linked carbohydrates, and sialic acid compared to the clonal parental cell line, Cl-66. Furthermore, the in vivo tumor growth rates of these selected variants were decreased compared to Cl-66 with the longest tumor volume doubling time observed with Cl-66M2.     

Inflammatory cell infiltration of tumors: Jekyll or Hyde

Inflammatory cell infiltration of tumors contributes either positively or negatively to tumor invasion, growth, metastasis, and patient outcomes, creating a Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde conundrum when examining mechanisms of action. This is due to tumor heterogeneity and the diversity of the inflammatory cell phenotypes that infiltrate primary and metastatic lesions. Tumor infiltration by macrophages is generally associated with neoangiogenesis and negative outcomes, whereas dendritic cell (DC) infiltration is typically associated with a positive clinical outcome in association with their ability to present tumor antigens (Ags) and induce Ag-specific T cell responses. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) also infiltrate tumors, inhibiting immune responses and facilitating tumor growth and metastasis. In contrast, T cell infiltration of tumors provides a positive prognostic surrogate, although subset analyses suggest that not all infiltrating T cells predict a positive outcome. In general, infiltration by CD8⁺ T cells predicts a positive outcome, while CD4⁺ cells predict a negative outcome. Therefore, the analysis of cellular phenotypes and potentially spatial distribution of infiltrating cells are critical for an accurate assessment of outcome. Similarly, cellular infiltration of metastatic foci is also a critical parameter for inducing therapeutic responses, as well as establishing tumor dormancy. Current strategies for cellular, gene, and molecular therapies are focused on the manipulation of infiltrating cellular populations. Within this review, we discuss the role of tumor infiltrating, myeloid-monocytic cells, and T lymphocytes, as well as their potential for tumor control, immunosuppression, and facilitation of metastasis.     

Anticonvulsants and drugs for neurological disease

The use of anticonvulsant drugs in pregnancy presents unique challenges to clinicians and their patients. The need for control of maternal epilepsy must be balanced with the fetal and neonatal risks associated with anticonvulsant drugs. Anticonvulsant drugs may have potential effects on embryogenesis, neurological development, growth and subsequent paediatric progress. Drug selection and dose adjustment must be appropriate and based on a combination of known maternal and fetal risks as well as the clinical status of the patient. Overall, no one drug can be specifically recommended but monotherapy with most of the recognized first-line drugs will result in a satisfactory outcome. Polytherapy is associated with an increase in congenital malformations and should be avoided if possible. It is possible that newer second-line agents, for example, gabapentin, may be safer as add-on therapy.Neurological disorders such as migraine, and the less common conditions of myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis, may require the use of drugs which have not been well studied in pregnancy. Information is provided about the use of drugs to control symptoms and prevent disease progression in these disorders during pregnancy.     

“中国运动员应激应对量表”的编制及检验

目的 :在应激应对理论的基础之上 ,发展“中国运动员应激应对量表”并对其作初步的检验。方法 :( 1)大量阅读相关文献及对中国大陆、香港各 4 0名高水平运动员进行访谈研究 ,确定量表的理论模型 ,完成各分量表中项目的编写 ,形成最初的量表 ;( 2 )对 165名中国大陆高水平运动员进行施测 ,根据测试结果对各分量表中的项目进行修订 ;( 3)分别对 15 0名中国大陆高水平运动员及 10 8名香港高水平运动员进行施测 ,检验修订后的量表的信度和效度。结果 :经过修订后最终形成的“中国运动员应激应对量表”由集中解决问题的应对、集中处理情绪的应对、回避应对、超越应对 4个分量表构成 ,每个分量表包含 6个项目 ,全表共包含 2 4个项目。量表中 4个分量表的内部一致性系数均在 0 70以上 ,验证性因素分析的结果显示量表具有较好的拟合度 (CFI =0 91,TLI =0 90 ,RMSEA =0 0 5 )。结论 :检验的结果表明该量表具有较好的信度和效度。     

美国急性传染病的预防控制体系

急性传染病是美国死亡率最高的疾病之一.(Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC)与联邦政府部门和其他机构合作,提供健康监视和预防体系,落实疾病预防计划和措施,管理全国健康统计数据,提供检疫指导、工作场地安全和环境疾病预防等服务,形成了较为有效和完善的急性传染病预防和控制体系.本文介绍了CDC在预防和控制急性传染病方面的主要做法,包括制定全面控制规划,建立监测体系,提高监测能力.开展应用研究,提高实验室检测能力.及时发布信息,开展全面指导.注重专业人员的培训,推广预防控制传染病的新技术、新方法.推行疫苗接种计划,改善医疗机构防治策略.加强国际合作,提供国际疾病传播监管服务.对医疗和生物恐怖紧急情况的快速反映是预防和控制体系的一个组成部分,包括制订医疗和生物恐怖紧急情况的全国反应计划,制定快速反应程序和规范,及时发布预警信息,协调快速反应力量及时反应,储备医疗物资,健全快速反应机制.CDC成功的预防措施和实践显示了其预防和控制体系的优势.