R497K polymorphism in epidermal growth factor receptor gene is associated with the risk of acute coronary syndrome

Background  

Previous studies suggested that genetic polymorphisms in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene had been implicated in the susceptibility to some tumors and inflammatory diseases. EGFR has been recently implicated in vascular pathophysiological processes associated with excessive remodeling and atherosclerosis. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a clinical manifestation of preceding atherosclerosis. Our purpose was to investigate the association of the EGFR polymorphism with the risk of ACS. In this context, we analyzed the HER-1 R497K and EGFR intron 1 (CA)_n repeat polymorphisms in 191 patients with ACS and 210 age- and sex-matched controls in a Chinese population, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and direct sequencing.     

人脐血间充质干细胞的培养条件比较

目的摸索人脐血间充质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cell,MSC）的培养条件。方法根据不同采血量、首次换液时间、胎龄、不同培养基对样本分组，比较不同培养条件对脐血中的间充质干细胞原代生长的影响，以流式细胞仪对培养出的间充质干细胞进行细胞表面标志检测。结果在相同条件下，取10ml的脐血能较大程度培养出间充质干细胞；观察首次换液时间在培养后96h较为合适，延长换液时间有利于数量不占优势的单核细胞充分贴壁：早产胎儿的脐血培养出的间充质干细胞成功率较高；胎牛血清的质和量决定了培养成功与否。培养出的间充质干细胞不表达造血细胞系的标志（CD34、CD45、CD14）及内皮细胞的标志（CD106），强表达CD29、CD44、CD13。结论样本量、首次换液时间、胎龄、培养基的质和量对MSCs的成活、生长有关键作用。     

Differential involvement of GABA system in mediating behavioral and neurochemical effect of acupuncture in ethanol-withdrawn rats

In our previous study we demonstrated that acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) points suppressed a decrease of accumbal dopamine (DA) release in ethanol-withdrawn rats. Furthermore, here we found that it inhibited behavioral withdrawal signs of ethanol. In an effort to better understand the mechanisms underlying this inhibition, the potential role of GABA receptor system in acupuncture was investigated. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with 3 g/kg/day of ethanol (20%, w/v) or saline by intraperitoneal injection for 21 days. Following 48 or 72 h of ethanol withdrawal, acupuncture was applied at bilateral HT7 for 1 min. The selective GABA_A antagonist bicuculline and the selective GABA_B antagonist SCH 50911 were injected intraperitoneally 20 min before acupuncture, respectively. Importantly, suppressive effects of acupuncture on DA deficiency were completely abolished by SCH 50911, but not by bicuculline, whereas ameliorating effects of acupuncture on ethanol withdrawal syndrome were completely blocked either by SCH 50911 or bicuculline. These results suggest that acupuncture at specific acupoint HT7 may normalize the DA release in the mesolimbic system and attenuate withdrawal syndrome through the GABA_B receptor system in ethanol-withdrawn rats.     

Web-based Diagnostic Imaging Service Using XML Forms

Traditionally, radiology has been conceived as a support department providing patient scanning services to the other clinical departments in a hospital. However, recent advancements in networking technology and related information systems such as picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and radiology information system (RIS) provide new opportunities for inventing different types of diagnostic imaging businesses such as teleradiology. In this article, we examined the business processes of currently operating imaging centers and proposed a prototype of an information system that can facilitate their workflows in a more efficient way. The principal component of our proposed system is a report management module built on extensible markup language (XML) technologies that allows much flexibility and convenience for both imaging technicians and radiologists.     

Brachydactyly type A3 is caused by a novel 13 bp HOXD13 frameshift deletion in a Chinese family

Brachydactyly type A (BDA) is defined as short middle phalanges of the affected digits and is subdivided into four types (BDA1‐4). To date, the molecular cause is unknown. However, there is some evidence that pathogenic variants of HOXD13 could be associated with BDA3 and BDA4. Here, we report a Chinese autosomal dominant BDA3 pedigree with a novel HOXD13 mutation. The affected individuals presented with an obviously shorter fifth middle phalanx. The radial side of the middle phalanx was shorter than the ulnar side, and the terminal phalanx of the fifth finger inclined radially and formed classical clinodactyly. Interestingly, the index finger was normal. The initial diagnosis was BDA3. However, the distal third and fourth middle phalanges were also slightly affected, resulting in mild radial clinodactyly. Both feet showed shortening of the middle phalanges, which were fused to the distal phalanges of the second to the fifth toes, as reported in BDA4. Therefore, this pedigree had combined BDA3 and atypical BDA4. By direct sequencing, a 13 bp deletion within exon 1 of HOXD13 (NM_000523.4: c.708_720del13; NP_000514.2: p.Gly237fs) was identified. The 13 bp deletion resulted in a frameshift and premature termination of HOXD13. This study provides further evidences that variants in HOXD13 cause BDA3‐BDA4 phenotypes.     

糖尿病患者尿路感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的探讨糖尿病患者合并尿路感染的病原菌分布和耐药性,指导临床合理应用抗生素。方法回顾性分析2003年1月￣2005年9月81例2型糖尿病合并尿路感染患者细菌学培养及病原菌的菌群分布和耐药性。结果①740例糖尿病患者中合并尿路感染的81例,尿路感染发生率占10.95%,其中女性占82.7%,年龄60岁以上占65.4%;②细菌学检查率为77.8%,尿细菌培养阳性率为44.4%,尿细菌培养阴性率为33.4%;③尿细菌培养阳性36例,G-菌株占65.8%,大肠杆菌占52.6%,G 菌株占28.9%,粪肠球菌及葡萄球菌属各占10.5%,真菌2株占5.3%;④大肠杆菌对氨苄青霉素、头孢噻吩、培氟沙星、复方新诺明、阿莫西林/棒酸耐药率较高,粪肠球菌对喹诺酮类及四环素耐药率较高,葡萄球菌属对青霉素G、头孢唑啉、复方新诺明、红霉素、氨苄青霉素、阿莫西林/棒酸、左氧氟沙星、培氟沙星、庆大霉素耐药率较高。结论糖尿病患者由于免疫力低下,局部组织结构功能受损易于被病原菌侵袭和繁殖,故合并尿路感染应重视病原菌及其耐药性检测,对控制尿路感染、合理使用抗生素十分重要。     

锁骨钩钢板治疗肩锁关节脱位和锁骨远端骨折

目的 评价锁骨钩钢板治疗肩锁关节脱位和锁骨远端骨折的疗效。方法 分析我科2002年8月至2006年3月收治并获得随访的15例新鲜的TossyⅡ、Ⅲ型肩锁关节脱住和NeerⅢ型锁骨远端骨折患者的治疗方法及效果。术后随访4～47个月，采用Iazzcan0标准进行临床评价。结果优13例，良2例，优良率达到100％。结论 锁骨钩钢板是治疗肩锁关节脱位和锁骨远端骨折的理想内固定材料。     

Fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C patients with occult hepatitis B co-infection.

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in individuals without hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) can be identified in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. However, its role in fibrosis progression remains uncertain. This retrospective study compared the fibrosis progression (defined as fibrosis progression by at least one stage) and progression to severe fibrosis (fibrosis stage 3 or 4) in HCV patients with occult HBV infection. Occult HBV infection was diagnosed by the detection of HBV DNA in the serum of 74 consecutive anti-HCV positive patients by PCR. Thirty-one patients (41.9%) had occult HBV infection. All 74 patients had a median of 2 (range 2-3) liver biopsies. The median time between the first and last liver biopsy was 57.7 (range 15.0-132.8) months. Eleven of the 31 patients with occult HBV infection compared with 12 of the 43 patients without occult HBV infection had fibrosis progression (35.5% versus 27.9%, respectively, p=0.608). Six of the 31 patients with occult HBV infection compared with 8 of the 43 patients without occult HBV infection developed severe fibrosis (19.4% versus 18.6%, respectively, p=0.946). In conclusion, chronic HCV patients with occult HBV co-infection does not seem to progress more than patients without occult HBV infection. However, more large-scale studies are needed before a definite conclusion can be obtained.     

Relation of latex-specific IgE titer and symptoms in patients allergic to latex

BACKGROUND: The relation between latex-specific IgE titer and the type or total number of latex-induced symptoms has not been previously investigated. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the association of latex-IgE in vitro assay results with the type, number, or severity of symptoms in patients allergic to latex. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with positive histories and positive skin test responses were identified as having type I allergy. Data was collected for reported symptoms after latex exposure. Symptom severity was quantitated by 2 scores: (1) the total number of symptoms to latex exposure and (2) a symptom severity score (3 = anaphylaxis, 2 = asthma, and 1 = rhinoconjunctivitis, urticaria, or both). All subjects underwent AlaSTAT and CAP tests. RESULTS: AlaSTAT class was associated with total number of symptoms (r = 0.32, P <.001) and severity score (r = 0.33, P <.002). Similarly, CAP class was associated with both number of symptoms (r = 0.32, P <. 0001) and severity score (r = 0.31, P <.001). Among the symptoms reported, asthma had the strongest association with a positive in vitro IgE assay (odds ratio = 6.7 [95% confidence interval = 1.9, 25. 6]), followed by urticaria (odds ratio = 1.9 [95% confidence interval = 0.8, 4.6]). Contact dermatitis had no statistical association with in vitro assays in this study. AlaSTAT and CAP class correlated together significantly (r = 0.58, P <.001). CONCLUSION: Patients allergic to latex with higher AlaSTAT or CAP class were more symptomatic. Increasing class or titer also predicted more severe symptoms. Higher class of either the AlaSTAT or CAP assay to latex was strongly associated with latex-related asthma and urticaria and marginally associated with latex-related rhinoconjunctivitis.