Oral cyclophosphamide versus chlorambucil in the treatment of patients with membranous nephropathy and renal insufficiency

We treated patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMGN) and renal insufficiency, using: (i) (n = 15) monthly cycles of steroids (1 g methyl-prednisolone i.v. on three consecutive days, followed by oral prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/day months 1, 3 and 5) and chlorambucil (0.15 mg/kg/day months 2, 4 and 6); or (ii) (n = 17) oral cyclophosphamide (1.5-2.0 mg/kg/day for 1 year) and steroids in a comparable dose. The groups were comparable in age, renal function and levels of proteinuria. During the 6 months preceding treatment, serum creatinine levels increased from 148 +/- 50 to 219 +/- 73 mumol/l in the chlorambucil group and from 164 +/- 86 to 274 +/- 126 mumol/l in the cyclophosphamide group. Median (range) follow-ups were: chlorambucil 38 months (8-71); cyclophosphamide 26 months (5-68) (NS). Renal function improved in both groups, but the improvement was short-lived in the chlorambucil group; 12 months after starting treatment, mean serum creatinine was 6.3 mumol/l lower in the chlorambucil group and 121 mumol/l lower in the cyclophosphamide group (p < 0.01). Four chlorambucil-treated patients developed ESRD, and five needed a second course of therapy, whereas only one cyclophosphamide-treated patient developed ESRD (p < 0.05). Remissions of proteinuria occurred more frequently after cyclophosphamide treatment (15/17 vs. 5/15; p < 0.01). Side-effects necessitated interruption of treatment in six patients on cyclophosphamide and in 11 on chlorambucil (p < 0.05). In our patients, oral cyclophosphamide was better tolerated than oral chlorambucil. The suggested greater efficacy of the oral cyclophosphamide regimen needs to be ascertained by longer follow-up.      

成纤维细胞生长因子Ⅱ型受体功能获得型点突变影响小鼠颅底软骨发育

目的:对比野生型小鼠和成纤维细胞生长因子Ⅱ型受体(fibroblast growth factor receptor2,fgfr2)基因S252W突变型小鼠颅底软骨的生长发育情况,探讨fgfr2功能持续增强对小鼠颅底软骨发育的影响。方法:实验于2004-03/2005-04在解放军第三军医大学大坪医院野战外科研究所创伤中心实验室,创伤、烧伤与复合伤国家重点实验室完成。①fgfr2 小鼠和C57BL/6J小鼠交配后取F1代,利用聚合酶链反应方法进行fgfr2突变型小鼠基因型的鉴定,得到野生型和fgfr2受体功能获得型点突变型两组小鼠。②标本取材及处理:分别在两组实验动物中,取胚胎期16d(E16)、胚胎期17d(E17)、新生2d(P2)、新生8d(P8)的小鼠的颅底作为标本。一部分体积分数为0.75的乙醇溶液固定。另一部分标本行40g/L多聚甲醛固定,150g/L乙二胺四乙酸溶液脱钙,常规石蜡包埋、切片。③阿尔辛-茜素红骨架染色显示颅底整体骨骼的发育情况。软骨组织染为蓝色,骨组织染为红色。④脱钙骨切片后进行苏木精-伊红染色。未脱钙骨切片后进行Calcein染色,荧光显微镜下观察钙化组织的情况。⑤使用地高辛RNA标记试剂盒按照产品说明制备Col 10(Collagen 10)地高辛标记的互补RNA探针,对颅底软骨联结进行检测软骨分化标志基因表达情况的原位杂交。⑥组织切片染色结果使用SPOT Advanced软件进行数码拍摄。结果:①实验小鼠颅底发育的大体情况:fgfr2受体功能获得型点突变小鼠从胚胎后期开始就表现出短颅现象。②阿尔辛蓝-茜素红骨架染色、Calcein染色和苏木精-伊红染色显示,fgfr2受体功能获得型点突变小鼠出生后颅底软骨联结没有出现提前融合的现象,但是颅底软骨生长发育差,软骨细胞增生区、肥大区缩短。突变小鼠的颅底软骨发育障碍导致颅底骨组织的生长发育也出现障碍。③原位杂交:Col10在野生型和突变型小鼠颅底软骨的表达部位未见明显差异,但是这个软骨细胞分化标志基因的表达强度降低。结论:fgfr2 S252W点突变能够引起小鼠颅底软骨联结处的软骨细胞发育异常,导致颅底骨骼发育畸形。fgfr2可能具有调控软骨细胞系发育的功能,从而可能在骨骼发育、骨折修复等方面发挥重要作用。     

Differential effects of adiposity on peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 and gamma2 messenger ribonucleic acid expression in human adipocytes

Both genetic and pharmacological studies raise the possibility that a primary increase in the amount or activity of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in adipocytes could play a role in common types of human obesity. Using real-time RT-PCR assays we examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and PPARgamma isoform expression in freshly isolated human adipocytes. There were no consistent differences in the expression of either PPARgamma1 mRNA or PPARgamma2 mRNA between omental and sc adipocytes. In a group of 17 subjects (BMI range, 17-34 kg/m(2)) there was a strong and highly significant inverse correlation (r = -0.68; P < 0.005) between PPARgamma1 mRNA expression in adipocytes and BMI, whereas no significant relationship was apparent for PPARgamma2. In an independent study PPARgamma1 mRNA levels were decreased (1.1 +/- 0.1 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.8 arbitrary units; P < 0.01) in adipocytes from morbidly obese (BMI, 50.6 +/- 14.1 kg/m(2)) vs. lean (BMI, 21.1 +/- 1.0 kg/m(2)) subjects. In contrast, there was a significant increase in the expression of PPARgamma2 mRNA levels between the morbidly obese and lean groups (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.2 arbitrary units; P < 0.05). Treatment of isolated human adipocytes with TNFalpha resulted in a significant decrease in both PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2 mRNA levels [40.6 +/- 5.5% relative to control (P = 0.01) and 60.9 +/- 24.8% (P = 0.02) respectively]. The strong inverse relationship between BMI and PPARgamma1 expression in human adipocytes is striking and may represent part of an autoregulatory mechanism restraining the expansion of individual adipocytes in states of positive energy balance. On the other hand, the increase in PPARgamma2 observed in adipocytes of morbidly obese individuals suggests a potential pathogenic effect of this isoform in promoting fat acquisition. Although an autocrine effect of the enhanced TNFalpha secretion seen with increasing obesity might play a role in the changes in PPARgamma1, this would not provide an explanation for the different relationship of PPARgamma2 to adiposity. The significance of the divergent effect of human adiposity on the two isoforms will require a greater understanding of the differential properties of the two isoforms and of the differences in the functions of their respective regulatory elements.     

Progress in laparoscopic anatomy research: A review of the Chinese literature

The development of laparoscopic surgery has generated the new field of study, laparoscopic anatomy. This article reviews the reported literature on laparoscopic anatomy and explores how it has evolved along with advances in abdominal surgery. In addition, the principal concerns in current laparoscopic anatomy research are discussed, including: (1) types of special adjacent anatomical structures; and (2) special surgical planes and anatomical landmarks. Understanding of systematic laparoscopic anatomy can pr...     

The pressure wire in practice

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is increasingly used to evaluate the functional significance of epicardial coronary disease. When compared with non-invasive techniques this index has superior sensitivity and specificity, is largely independent of prevailing haemodynamic conditions and has an unequivocal normal value. Furthermore, it can be used at the time of invasive coronary assessment. FFR measurements are invaluable for evaluation of intermediate coronary lesions but clinical decisions must be based on accurate measurements and an understanding of the limitations of the data supporting its use. This article identifies procedural and clinical issues pertaining to measurement of FFR and identifies potential pitfalls and situations where interpretation can be difficult; for example, the presence of serial stenoses and left main stem disease, its use in specific conditions such as diffuse epicardial disease, microvascular abnormalities, left ventricular dysfunction and acute coronary syndromes.     

An investigation of the quality of breast cancer information provided on the internet by voluntary organisations in Great Britain

Objective

Patients increasingly use the internet to source health information. Voluntary organisations offering information and support often provide such information on their websites. However, the internet is unregulated and information can be of poor quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of breast cancer information provided by 10 Great Britain (GB) voluntary organisations’ websites.

Methods

Quality of websites was evaluated using an investigator-designed appraisal tool based on European Commission (EC) quality criteria for health-related websites. Completeness and transparency of breast cancer information, and usability of websites, were appraised.

Results

Typically, breast cancer-specific organisations provided the highest quality information, particularly in terms of its completeness. However, great variability in quality was identified. Areas of weakness related to transparency of information, in particular disclosure of authorship, and its apparent currency.

Conclusion

Voluntary organisations providing web-based breast cancer information have progress to make to ensure information provided is complete and transparent, and websites are user-friendly. Unfortunately, informed decision-making will not be optimised if patients cannot access quality information.

Practice implications

Voluntary organisations should regularly review the quality of information on their websites. Grading of websites allows healthcare professionals to identify and signpost patients to trustworthy, up-to-date websites. Thus, ensuring patients receive high quality information.     

Exploring the oral bacterial flora: current status and future directions

Oral Diseases (2010) 16 , 136–145 Objective: The oral cavity forms an indispensable part of the human microbiome, for its unique and diverse microflora distributed within various niches. While majority of these organisms exhibit commensalism, shifts in bacterial community dynamics cause pathological changes within oral cavity and distant sites. The aim of this review was to appraise the current and emerging methods of detecting bacteria of the oral cavity paying particular attention to the cultivation independent methods. Design: Literature pertaining to cultivation based and cultivation independent methods of oral bacterial identification was reviewed. Methods: The specific advantages and disadvantages of cultivation based, microscopic, immunological and metagenomic identification methods were appraised. Results: Because of their fastidious and exacting growth requirements, cultivation based studies grossly underestimate the extent of bacterial diversity in these polymicrobial infections. Culture independent methods deemed more sensitive in identifying difficult to culture and novel bacterial species. Conclusion: Apart from characterizing potentially novel bacterial species, the nucleic acid sequence data analyzed using various bioinformatics protocols have revealed that there are in excess of 700 bacterial species inhabiting the mouth. Moreover, the latest pyrosequencing based methods have further broadened the extent of bacterial diversity in oral niches.     

A review of studies of parent-child communication about sexuality and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa

Parent-child sexuality communication has been identified as a protective factor for adolescent sexual and reproductive health, including HIV infection. The available literature on this topic in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing; however a systematic review of studies has not been conducted. This article reviews the literature in the area of parental or caregiver and child communication about sexuality and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. A review of peer reviewed literature published between 1980 and April 2011 was conducted. Communication process studies investigating the frequency, content, style, tone of discussions, preferences, as well as associations with and barriers to sexuality communication are reviewed. In addition, studies which examine behavioral associations with parent-child sexuality communication, and intervention studies to improve parent-child sexuality communication are examined. The findings from process studies suggest wide variation in terms of frequency of discussions, with a range of socio-demographic and other factors associated with sexuality communication. Overall, findings demonstrate that discussions tend to be authoritarian and uni-directional, characterized by vague warnings rather than direct, open discussion. Moreover, parents and young people report a number of barriers to open dialogue, including lack of knowledge and skills, as well as cultural norms and taboos. Findings are less clear when it comes to associations between parental communication and adolescent sexual activity and contraception use. However, nascent indications from intervention research suggest positive findings with increases in frequency and comfort of discussions, among other outcomes. Gaps in the research are identified and discussed with implications for future studies.     

The neurobiology of antidepressants.

Raising neurotransmitter levels is only one means by which antidepressants act. The activity of modern drugs appears to readjust the balance between serotonin and noradrenaline by more fundamental means. Likely mechanisms include correction of the diminished sensitivity and numbers of specific serotonin and noradrenaline receptors found in depression. Also responsible may be changes in the normal pattern of movements of these transmitters across the synaptic membranes within the diffuse modulatory systems. It is possible that by increasing the serotonin levels these drugs may increase neurogenesis, suggesting that neuronal losses may be a fundamental cause of the symptoms.     

抗病毒药物2,5,6-三取代-4(3H)嘧啶酮衍生物的合成及诱导干扰素活性

In order to search for more ideal antiviral drugs,21 substituted pyriiT1idinone derivatives were designed and synthesized,among which 11 were not reported before. The cheinicalstructures were characterized by elemen tal and spectral analysis. The serum interferon - inducing activity was tested in mice. All 2-amino-5-bromo-6-substituted-4-(3H)pyrimidinone compounds were shown to have interferon inducing activity.The corresponding substituted pyrimidine thiones were less active.The new compounds of 6-sulfophenyl derivatives are soluble in、water, but the interferon-inducing activity are not higher than the original compound of ABPP.