Antigenic and immunologic characterization of an allogeneic colon carcinoma vaccine

In the present prospective, census-based study we have investigated the prevalence of organ-specific and non-organ-specific autoantibodies (AAb) in 152 unselected Cameroonians aged 60 years and older living in the community. AAb were detected in 49% of the participants. Non-organ-specific AAb (47%) predominated over organ-specific AAb (7%). Anti-TPO, anti-Tm, anti-Tg and anti-PC AAb were completely absent. RF was the most frequent AAb, being found in 57 (38%) cases. The prevalences of anti-SMA and RF were significantly higher in women than in men (respectively, P=0.023 and P=0.016). Higher serum concentrations of gammaglobulins were accompanied by a higher prevalence of RF (P < 0.0001) and a lower prevalence of ANA (P=0.036). The overall prevalence of AAb was higher in the filaria-infected (60%) compared to the non-infected (42%) participants (P=0.046). There was no significant influence of the vitamin D status, number of pregnancies, physical activity or medication use on the prevalence of AAb. In this study a heterogeneous pattern for the presence of the various AAb was found. Some AAb, which are commonly encountered in other studies on elderly subjects, were completely absent in this population. This diversified pattern of AAb prevalence therefore argues in favour of exogenous influences in the occurrence of AAb in elderly populations.     

The collection and analysis of human fallopian tubal fluid

A technique for the collection of Human Tubal Fluid (HTF) has been presented. It is a one-time procedure, coincident to other adominal surgery. The procedure has shown itself to be safe on 37 consecutive cases. The greatest quantity of HTF was obtained near the day of ovulation from patients with long fallopian tubes. A specimen with little or no turbidity usually could be withdrawn from the collection bag 24 hours after surgery. Electrophoresis of HTF in agarose resulted in patterns different from those found with the patient's serum. An altered albumin peak was noted in 2 cases, while in a third case, the HTF exhibited an increase in the ß globulin fraction. Immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated that many serum constituents are present in HTF. The immunoglobulin content presented a distribution similar to that which occurs in serum. Unlike other external secretions, _γG is the major immunoglobulin constituent present in HTF. The sodium, phosphorus and magnesium content of HTF was similar to that of serum. In comparison with patient's serum, the potassium and chlorides of HTF were augmented while there was a diminution of HTF calcium. Glucose in tubal fluid was usually a half to a third of the patient's serum level. Marked elevations of amylase and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were noted in HTF.     

Adolescent Weight Management and Perceptions: An Analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

Researchers investigated contemporary weight management activities and weight perceptions among adolescents and determined the effects of school health education on these perceptions and activities. This national, random sample of more than 6,500 adolescents (grades 7-12) measured perceived weight, weight change efforts, weight change activities, Body Mass Index, and health education for weight management. Results indicate that most adolescents: 1) take part in efforts to manage their weight, although many struggle with perceiving their weight; 2) engage in appropriate weight change efforts; and 3) report receiving school health education that positively effects some aspects of their weight management behavior. Thus, adolescents are concerned about weight and perceptions of weight and are engaging in a variety of weight change activities for weight maintenance and weight change. School health education appears to have some effect in improving adolescent health behavior, and discussion centers on this topic.     

Decline in lung function and mortality: the Busselton Health Study

BACKGROUND: There is a direct association between level of lung function, measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and mortality rates. A low FEV may result from an increased decline in FEV1 with age, which may be an independent predictor of mortality. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between decline in FEV1 and mortality in a cohort from a community health study. SETTING AND METHODS: From five cross sectional studies in Busselton between 1969 and 1981 a cohort of 751 men and 940 women was identified who had three assessments of lung function over a six year period and had other health related data collected. Each subject's average FEV1 and decline in FEV1 (litre/year) were calculated from these three measurements. Mortality follow up to December 1995 was obtained. Cause of death was taken as the certified cause of death from the death certificate using ICD9 categories. RESULTS: The average decline in FEV1 was 0.04 litre per year (SD = 0.07) for men and 0.03 litre per year (SD = 0.06) for women. Average FEV1 was significantly associated with all cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in both sexes. In women there was a significant association between decline in FEV1 and death from all causes, after adjusting for average FEV1, age, smoking, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease risk factors; a 0.05 litre per year increase in the rate of decline of FEV1 increased the risk of death for all causes by 1.23 (95% confidence interval 1.06, 1.44). In men the effect of decline in FEV1 on death rate was less; for all men the hazard ratio for a 0.05 litre/year greater decline in FEV1 was 1.19 (0.99, 1.21). CONCLUSION: Decline in lung function, measured by FEV1 is a predictor of death, independent of average FEV1 and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.     

Effect of pregnancy during TMI crisis on mothers' mental health and their child's development.

Five years after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident, the mental health of women who had been pregnant and living within 10 miles of Three Mile Island at the time of the accident was similar to that of women from the same area who became pregnant after the accident. Ratings of the development of the two groups of children when they were 5 years old were also similar. However, women who were pregnant during the crisis and had been "extremely disturbed" about their pregnancies rated their children's health as poorer than did the women who were pregnant later.     

慢性硬膜下血肿168例的诊治和预后

0　引言　 1 992 - 0 5～ 1 999- 0 5我科收治慢性硬膜下血肿 (CS-DH) 1 6 8例 ,其中 1 6 4例经颅骨钻孔冲洗引流术治疗 ,4例保守治疗 ,结果 1 6 5例治愈 ,3例死亡 .结论 :CSDH的诊断主要依靠 CT检查 ,手术简单 ,防止并发症可改善预后 .1　临床资料　男 1 6 3例 ,女 5例 ,年龄 32～ 79岁 ,平均 5 4岁 .有明确的外伤史 1 4 5例 (86 .3% ) ,原因不明 2 3例(1 3.7% ) ,病程 3wk～ 6 a.头昏、头痛、呕吐 1 1 6例 ,肢体运动障碍 6 8例 ,智力及精神障碍 46例 ,语言障碍 1 0例 ,感觉障碍2 1例 ,排尿障碍 5例 ,癫痫 3例 ,视乳头水肿 92例 ,锥体…