Preliminary results of an operational field study to compare side-effects,complaints and treatment results of a single-drug short-course regimen with a four-drug fixed-dose combination (4FDC) regimen in South Sulawesi,Republic of Indonesia

SETTING: Health centres in the South Sulawesi Province, Republic of Indonesia. OBJECTIVES: To compare complaints, side-effects and treatment outcome in new smear-positive patients treated with a single-drug short-course (National TB Programme (NTP)) regimen with those treated with a four-drug fixed-dose combination (4FDC) regimen. DESIGN: A prospective study in which patients are randomly allocated to the NTP or the 4FDC regimen. RESULTS: Preliminary results of the first 360 patients (162 treated with the NTP regimen and 198 with the 4FDC regimen) show that two patients, treated with the NTP regimen, developed jaundice. During the intensive phase of treatment, gastro-intestinal and muscle-joint complaints of any duration and gastro-intestinal complaints lasting for 2 consecutive weeks or more were more frequent in patients treated with the NTP regimen. Sputum conversion was 89% in patients treated with the NTP regimen and 94% in those treated with the 4FDC regimen. Nine-five per cent of patients, both regimens, were cured. CONCLUSION: The results so far show that complaints during the intensive phase of treatment are less frequent among patients treated with the 4FDC regimen. The lower dose of pyrazinamide might be the reason. Treatment results are excellent for both regimens.     

Luxator微创拔牙刀的临床研究

目的 original Luxator微创拔牙刀和传统拔牙器械的临床应用比较.方法 选择临床需要拔除的患牙100例,按随机数字表达随机分为2组,每组50例,分别用original Luxator微创拔牙刀和传统拔牙器械拔除患牙,比较二者的断根率、拔牙窝不完整率、敲击增隙率和患者畏惧率.结果 original Luxator微创组的断根率、拔牙窝不完整率、敲击增隙率、患者畏惧率明显低于传统组.二者的差异都具有统计学意义.结论 original Luxator微创拔牙刀具有临床使用价值.     

Ganglion cells apoptosis in diabetic rats as early prediction of glaucoma: a study of Brn3b gene expression and association with change of quantity of NO, Caspase-3, NF-κB, and TNF-α

AIM: To find a new concept to show whether or not apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) can be determined in the histology of acute hyperglycemia in the role of expressed Brn3b gene related to nitric oxide (NO), caspase-3, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as an early predictor of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes and their associations. METHODS: Experimental in vivo study was carried out using adult male, white Sprague-Dawley rats aged ≥2mo, weighing 150-200 g. The animals were divided into two groups, one group receiving intraperitoneal injection of STZ 50 mg/kg in 0.01 mol/L citric buffer and pH 4,5 and a comparison made with the control group. Retinal tissue was divided into two parts (both experimental and control groups respectively): a) right retina for IHC (caspase-3 and TNF-α); b) left retina was divided into two parts for the purpose of real-time PCR test (RNA extraction for Brn3b gene expression analysis) and ELISA test (NO and NF-κB). RESULTS: The experimental group showed a decrease in Brn3b gene expression compared to the control group (1,3-fold lower in 2nd month; 1,1-fold lower in 4th month and 2,5-fold lower in 6th month). However, there was a decrease of NO, caspase-3, and an increase of NF-κB and TNF-α quantity. CONCLUSION: The expression of mRNA Brn3b gene is inversely proportional to apoptosis in RGCs. The quantity of NO, caspase-3, NF-κB and TNF-α is influential in expression of Brn3b in RGCs caused by hyperglycemia in diabetic rats.     

Accuracy of mode switch algorithms for detection of atrial tachyarrhythmias

INTRODUCTION: In patients with permanent pacemakers, mode switching events often are interpreted as surrogate markers for atrial tachyarrhythmias. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of automatic mode switching algorithms in patients with permanent pacemakers for the diagnosis of atrial tachyarrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients with tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome and Medtronic Thera or Kappa 700 permanent pacemakers underwent Holter monitoring. Date, time of onset, and duration of each mode switch episode as recorded by the pacemaker and each atrial tachyarrhythmia episode as recorded by the Holter monitor were compared. Sixteen patients had a total of 54 atrial tachyarrhythmias documented on Holter monitoring (47 atrial fibrillation, 7 atrial flutter). Comparison of Holter data with pacemaker interrogation demonstrated that 53 (98.1%) of 54 atrial tachyarrhythmia episodes resulted in mode switching with one 13-second episode of mode switching during sinus rhythm. The sensitivity and specificity of mode switching for the duration of atrial tachyarrhythmias were 98.1% and 100%, respectively. The algorithms detected 98.9% of the total duration of atrial fibrillation and 96.4% of the total duration of atrial flutter. CONCLUSION: In patients with tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome and permanent pacemakers having these mode switching algorithms, mode switching events are reliable surrogate markers for atrial tachyarrhythmias. Therefore, mode switching may serve as a valuable tool for clinical decision making and further research into the natural history and burden of atrial tachyarrhythmias.     

Bcl-2 is an independent prognostic factor and adds to a biological model for predicting outcome in operable non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The underlying biology of a tumour may hold the key to predicting the outcome for an individual patient as well as identifying potential therapeutic targets. Using epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 immunoexpression combined with microvessel counts we have developed a prognostic model for operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which predicts outcome independent of stage (Thorax, 56 (2001) 561-566). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of bcl-2 expression upon survival in this model. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 167 patients with resected stage I-IIIa NSCLC and >60 days post-operative survival. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections for bcl-2, EGFR, MMP-9 and the microvessel marker CD34 to evaluate the relationships between, and impact on survival of these biological markers. RESULTS: Tumour cell MMP-9 (P=0.002), microvessel count > median (P=0.01), bcl-2 (P=0.02) and stage (P=0.02) were independent prognostic factors. Bcl-2 expression was associated with an improved survival in all sub-groups of our prognostic model. CONCLUSION: bcl-2, EGFR and MMP-9 expression and angiogenesis provide prognostic information independent of TNM stage. Prognostic models offer the potential of tailoring the therapeutic management for an individual patient.     

miR-188-5p inhibits tumour growth and metastasis in prostate cancer by repressing LAPTM4B expression

Elucidation of the molecular targets and pathways regulated by the tumour-suppressive miRNAs can shed light on the oncogenic and metastatic processes in prostate cancer (PCa). Using miRNA profiling analysis, we find that miR-188-5p was significantly down-regulated in metastatic PCa. Down-regulation of miR-188-5p is an independent prognostic factor for poor overall and biochemical recurrence-free survival. Restoration of miR-188-5p in PCa cells (PC-3 and LNCaP) significantly suppresses proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and inhibits tumour growth and metastasis in vivo. We also find overexpression of miR-188-5p in PC-3 cells can significantly enhance the cells'' chemosensitivity to adriamycin. LAPTM4B is subsequently identified as a direct target of miR-188-5p in PCa, and is found to be significantly over-expressed in PCa. Knockdown of LAPTM4B phenotypically copies miR-188-5p-induced phenotypes, whereas ectopic expression of LAPTM4B reverses the effects of miR-188-5p. We also find that restoration of miR-188-5p can inhibit the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway via the suppression of LAPTM4B. Taken together, this is the first report unveils that miR-188-5p acts as a tumour suppressor in PCa and may therefore serve as a useful therapeutic target for the development of new anticancer therapy.     

Cross amplification of 15 EST-SSR markers in the genus Fraxinus

Ash (Fraxinus, Oleaceae) species occur on most continents, within a wide range of forest tree communities. Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), introduced into the U.S. from Asia in the late twentieth century, has caused widespread mortality, primarily in green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. (Section: Melioides) and now impacts other North American ash species. The development and successful reintroduction of resistant trees requires genetic tools to evaluate population dynamics and aid in species identification. Here, we report 15 novel EST-SSR markers developed in green ash, most of which amplify and are polymorphic across 18 species of Fraxinus, including six species native to North America. The high average polymorphism information content (0.741) and allelic richness (15.3) revealed in six disparate populations of green ash indicate that these markers also have utility for investigating population dynamics in this species.