Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

Molecular determinants of cetuximab efficacy.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether mRNA expression levels of cyclin D1 (CCND1), cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), all members of the EGFR signaling pathway, are associated with clinical outcome in patients with EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with cetuximab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with metastatic CRC, refractory to both irinotecan and oxaliplatin, were enrolled on IMCL-0144 and treated with single-agent cetuximab. The intratumoral mRNA levels of CCND1, Cox-2, EGFR, IL-8, and VEGF were assessed from paraffin-embedded tissue samples using laser-capture microdissection and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There were 21 women and 18 men with a median age of 64 years (range, 35 to 83 years). Higher gene expression levels of VEGF were associated with resistance to cetuximab (P = .038; Kruskal-Wallis test). The combination of low gene expression levels of Cox-2, EGFR, and IL-8 was significantly associated with overall survival (13.5 v 2.3 months; P = .028; log-rank test). Both findings were independent of skin toxicity that was itself significantly correlated to survival. Patients with a lower mRNA amount of EGFR had a longer overall survival compared with patients that had a higher mRNA amount (7.3 v 2.2 months; P = .09; log-rank test). Patients with lower expression of Cox-2 had a significantly higher rate of grade 2 to 3 skin reactions under cetuximab treatment. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that gene expression levels of Cox-2, EGFR, IL-8, and VEGF in patients with metastatic CRC may be useful markers of clinical outcome in single-agent cetuximab treatment.     

Uncooked rice of relatively low gelatinization degree resulted in lower metabolic glucose and insulin responses compared with cooked rice in female college students

Cooking processes that gelatinize granules or disrupt structure might increase the glucose and insulin responses because a disruption of the structure of starch by gelatinization increases its availability for digestion and absorption in the small intestine. We hypothesized that the uncooked form of rice, which has a relatively low degree of gelatinization even though in powder form, would result in lower metabolic glucose and insulin responses compared with cooked rice (CR). To assess the effects of the gelatinization of rice on metabolic response of glucose and insulin, we investigated the glucose and insulin responses to 3 rice meals of different gelatinization degree in female college students (n = 12): CR (76.9% gelatinized), uncooked rice powder (UP; 3.5% gelatinized), and uncooked freeze-dried rice powder (UFP; 5.4% gelatinized). Uncooked rice powders (UP and UFP) induced lower glucose and insulin responses compared with CR. The relatively low gelatinization degree of UPs resulted in low metabolic responses in terms of the glycemic index (CR: 72.4% vs UP: 49.7%, UFP: 59.8%) and insulin index (CR: 94.8% vs UP: 74.4%, UFP: 68.0%). In summary, UPs that were less gelatinized than CR induced low postprandial glucose and insulin responses.     

王成荣治疗子宫内膜异位症“火热致瘀”理论探讨

王成荣研究员长于以中医药诊治子宫内膜异位症（EMT），根据其临床经验认为“火热致瘀”是EMT的基本病因、病机，且火热与瘀血互为因果、恶性循环，致使EMT病程缠绵不愈、反复复发。王老据此提出“清热解毒、化瘀散结”的治疗法则，为治疗EMT开辟了另一思路和理论。     

HPLC法测定滑膜炎颗粒中原儿茶醛的含量

目的建立滑膜炎颗粒剂中原儿茶醛的含量测定方法质量。方法采用高效液相色谱法对方中原儿茶醛进行含量测定。结果高效液相色谱法测定结果表明原儿茶醛在0．1005～1．005μg范围内呈线性关系，平均加样回收率为99．22％；RSD为0．72％。结论本法简便，重现性好、结果可靠，可作为控制滑膜炎颗粒剂的质量方法。     

荧光示踪法研究逆行岛状皮瓣静脉回流

目的探讨采用荧光示踪法研究逆行岛状皮瓣静脉回流的可行性，并初步观察静脉回流规律。方法20只新西兰大白兔，每只取耳静脉血0．ImL，分离RBC并用FITC标记。流式细胞仪检测已标记的RBC阳性率及荧光强度，倒置荧光显微镜观察其形态。取20只新西兰大白兔，在动物双侧后肢内侧分别建立4cm&#215;3cm隐动、静脉逆行岛状皮瓣模型（n=10）和顺行岛状皮瓣模型（n=10），血管蒂长3cm。将一侧后肢随机设定为实验组，皮瓣制备后注射已标记的RBC悬液5pL；对侧为对照组，不注射示踪剂。实验组按顺行和逆行皮瓣分成两组，即顺行皮瓣组和逆行皮瓣组，每组10个；再根据注入示踪剂途径不同，分为动脉和静脉2个亚组，每亚组5个皮瓣。注射示踪剂5S后取下皮瓣立即冷冻，取连续的3张冰冻切片（5～7pm），其中2张行HE染色和GENMED染色，另]张不染色直接压片，荧光显微镜观察荧光分布。结果流式细胞仪分析FITC标记的RBC阳性率在99％以上，荧光强度均≥10。；倒置荧光显微镜下标记的RBC呈均匀分布的绿色荧光，荧光强度均匀、稳定。冰冻切片显示实验组皮瓣蒂部均出现荧光，对照组未见荧光。顺行岛状皮瓣组荧光主要分布在静脉腔、静脉壁、动脉内膜和外膜；逆行岛状皮瓣组荧光分布在动脉内膜、外膜和静脉壁。结论荧光示踪剂可用于静脉回流研究，顺行岛状皮瓣静脉主要通过静脉腔、静脉壁、动脉内膜和外膜回流；逆行岛状皮瓣静脉主要通过动脉内膜、外膜和静脉壁的“迷宫式途径”回流。     

MR显微成像检测活体阿尔茨海默病转基因小鼠老年斑沉积的效果

目的利用MR显微成像技术研究阿尔茨海默病转基因小鼠老年斑的沉积情况。方法2只17个月龄阿尔茨海默病转基因[V717I]小鼠和2只野生型小鼠，行活体T2WI，然后对照影像定位结果进行组织学切片及免疫组织化学染色。观察T2WI中老年斑的沉积情况以及其与免疫组织化学染色结果的对应关系。结果转基因小鼠T2WI上显示大脑皮层和海马区可见点状低信号，且部分低信号可以和组织学切片所显示的老年斑相对应；野生型小鼠T2WI未见明显的低信号，免疫组织化学染色也未见到染色阳性的斑块。结论MR显微成像技术检测老年斑的沉积是可行的，且可用来特异性地诊断阿尔茨海默病。     

Anti-inflammatory effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: potential benefits for the prevention of atrial fibrillation: reply

We thank Drs Liu and Li for their interest in our randomizedtrial investigating the anti-arrhythmic effect of perindopriland losartan in the setting of lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(AF). While agreeing on modification of atrial remodelling asthe     

骨髓基质干细胞修复兔关节软骨缺损的实验研究

目的研究以多聚乙醇酸(PGA)为支架的骨髓基质干细胞(BMSCs)复合物修复兔膝关节软骨缺损的情况。方法体外培养扩增的自体BMSCs种植于PGA支架并培养72h,然后将支架-细胞复合物植入兔关节软骨缺损模型。术后12周处死动物,标本行大体观察、组织学检查及Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色。结果BMSCs-PGA复合物植入后形成丰富的透明软骨样修复组织,新生软骨无明显退变。对照组主要为纤维组织及软骨下骨修复。结论BMSCs-PGA复合物可修复关节软骨缺损。     

包皮过长和包茎组织中触觉小体观察

目的观察包茎和包皮过长组织中触觉小体差异情况。方法收集21~25岁年龄组包皮标本44例,按包皮解剖形态分为:①包茎组21例;②包皮过长组23例。用免疫组化方法对两组包皮标本中的触觉小体进行染色,在放大100倍的视野下观察和统计两组包皮标本中触觉小体总数以及视野的总数,并用卡方检验对两组间的差异进行统计学分析。结果两组标本中,分别有8个(8/21包茎组)和10个(10/23包皮过长组)标本中未发现触觉小体,其差异无显著性(P=0.717)。包茎组和包皮过长组中触觉小体的密度分别为33.1%和21.1%,差异具显著性(P=0.022)。结论包茎中触觉小体密度较包皮过长明显升高可能是一种生理性代偿机制,而两种包皮组织中触觉小体的消失可能遵循同一规律。