Higher risk of AIDS or death in patients with lower CD4 cell counts after virally suppressive HAART

Background The clinical implications of a failure to achieve high CD4 cell counts while receiving virally suppressive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are uncertain.
Methods We analysed data from HIV-infected men participating in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) to elucidate associations between CD4 cell counts achieved during virally suppressive HAART and risks of AIDS or death. Inclusion criteria were: CD4 cell count <200 cells/μL before HAART initiation; ≥2 viral load (VL) determinations after HAART initiation; and sustained viral suppression, defined as all VL <50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, but allowing a single VL of 50–1000 copies/mL.
Results One hundred and twenty-one men were included; median age was 42 years. After first VL <50 copies/mL, six participants had a new AIDS diagnosis and seven died. The median CD4 cell count change/year (cells/μL) after first VL <50 copies/mL was zero among patients who either developed AIDS or died vs . 39 among those who did not meet either endpoint ( P =0.119). After controlling for time from HAART initiation to first VL <50 copies/mL, age at first VL <50 copies/mL, history of AIDS and antiretroviral therapy (ART) experience before HAART, the hazard ratio for AIDS or death at CD4 cell count of ≤200 vs . >350 cells/μL was 10.7 ( P =0.013), and at CD4 cell count of 201–350 vs . >350 cells/μL was 8.54 ( P =0.014).
Conclusion In this cohort, lower CD4 cell count at the time of viral suppression was associated with increased risk of AIDS or death.     

组织工程技术仿生构建颅颌骨组织的研究

目的:探索构建组织工程化仿生骨种植体的方法流程,并制备成骨细胞-可吸收载体种植体样品,同时尝试建立组织工程化非承载骨种植体的评价方法。方法:实验于2001-05/2005-12分别在天津市口腔医院组织工程实验室和天津大学材料学院高分子材料研究所完成。①通过相分离技术制备壳聚糖/明胶三维网络多孔支架,在支架材料表面原位沉积纳米级的羟基磷灰石晶体,构筑纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶仿生骨组织工程支架材料,并进行表征和性能检测。②用酶消化法和条件培养法分离、诱导培养中国小型猪成骨细胞作为组织工程种子细胞。③用静态复合共培养法体外构建2种骨组织工程种植体样品:成骨细胞-纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶仿生骨种植体,成骨细胞-纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原种植体。④采用扫描电镜、透射电镜、FDA荧光、LDH、MTT等定期观测仿生骨样品中细胞形态、细胞增殖速率、碱性磷酸酶活性、矿化结节形成等指标,以比较样品的细胞增殖活性和成骨活性。结果:①成功构筑了具有良好的生物相容性和力学相容性的纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶,这种材料具有适于细胞黏附与生长的(90±1)%的孔隙率,孔径为100￣300μm的微孔结构,且原位沉积的纳米羟基磷灰石晶体的粒径为50nm左右,接近与天然骨的组成。②自中国小型猪腿骨成功分离培养了成骨细胞,并在诱导培养条件下,表现出很强的增殖活力和成骨活性,适合作为实验用骨组织工程的种子细胞。③成功构建了两种成骨细胞-可吸收载体种植体样品:经检验仿生构建的小型猪成骨细胞-纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶种植体具有细胞亲和性和体外成骨活性。结论:①在体外成功仿生构建了结构与活性接近天然骨的骨组织工程种植体--纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶种植体。②初步建立了仿生组织工程化非承载骨种植体的评价方法,为其进一步用于体内修复颅颌骨组织损伤的深化研究提供了实验数据和科学依据。     

Effect of Interlukin-1β on proliferation of gastric epithelial cells in culture

Background  

Helicobacter pylori is the main risk factor for the development of non-cardia gastric cancer. Increased proliferation of the gastric mucosa is a feature of H. pylori infection. Mucosal interkeukin-1β production is increased in H. pylori infection and IL-1β genotypes associated with increased pro-inflammatory activity are risk factors for the development of gastric cancer. The effect of IL-1β on gastric epithelial cell proliferation has been examined in this study.     

腹主动脉瘤中定常流动的三维数值模拟

目的讨论定常流动情况下，三维腹主动脉瘤模型内的流动情况。方法应用三维非对称模型进行数值模拟。结果结果表明，在对称面上有一个涡而横截面上有两对涡的存在。壁面切应力在动脉瘤的出口处数值较高且变化大。结论流动和壁面切应力分布反应动脉瘤出口处为破裂的危险区域。     

Helicobacter pylori infection in children with recurrent abdominal pain

Helicobacter pylori was cultured and Helicobacter-like organisms (HLO) were seen in 6 (16%) of 37 children with recurrent abdominal pain. Five children had concomitant histological inflammation, but none had endoscopic changes. All 6 children demonstrated positive serology. Compared with the total group, they were more often from developing countries, larger families and lower Social groups. Treatment with phenoxymethyl penicillin and colloidal bismuth subcitrate did not result in side effects or elevated serum levels of serum bismuth. Three children demonstrated metronidazole-resistant strains and the treatment of these children remained an unsolved problem. Among the 31 H. pylori/ HLO negative children 8 (26%) demonstrated histological changes, 5 (16%) endoscopic changes and 11 (35%) had positive serology. In conclusion, pathological findings at upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are common in children with recurrent abdominal pain. Because of disconcordance between endoscopy, histology and culture, we recommend that biopsies should always be taken to clarify the diagnosis.     

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis complicating cystic fibrosis in childhood

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, known to be associated with cystic fibrosis in older patients, occurred in 7 young atopic children with cystic fibrosis. The diagnosis was suggested by the onset of, or the increase in, asthmatic symptoms accompanied by major chest x-ray changes ranging from total collapse of a lung or lobe to extensive but changing areas of consolidation. Each of the children had a blood eosinophilia, positive type I skin tests to Aspergillus fumigatus, and reversible airways obstruction. Most had a positive type III skin test and circulating precipitins to A. fumigatus, with raised IgE levels which contained specific antibodies to the fungus on radioallergosorbent (RAST) test. None had advanced suppurative chest disease of cystic fibrosis. None was given specific antifungal agents; two received systemic treatment with corticosteroids, the other received additional drugs for their asthma. Two developed total collapse of one lung, one child being only 2 years old. Five have had recurrences of pulmonary shadowing typical of allergic aspergillosis but are not showing significant progression of their cystic fibrosis lung disease. Our experience suggests that there should be an increased awareness of this condition, particularly its association with extensive pulmonary collapse or consolidation in children with cystic fibrosis who are atopic.     

DDAVP in type IIa von Willebrand's disease

1-D-Amino(8-D-arginine)-vasopressin (DDAVP) infusion in three patients with type IIa von Willebrand's disease (vWD) resulted in a normalization of the factor VIII coagulant, factor VIII-related antigen, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) (ristocetin cofactor) activities and the bleeding time. The normalization of these hemostatic parameters persisted for four hours. Over the same time period there was a marked increase in the quantity of the vWF multimers when blood was collected in the presence of protease inhibitors. The vWF multimers present were even larger than the normal. When blood was collected in the absence of protease inhibitors, a smaller increase in the plasma vWF multimers was observed and fewer of the intermediate and larger vWF multimers were seen; multimers larger than those present in normal plasma were not visualized. The platelet vWF multimers and activities did not change with or without inhibitors. These studies suggest that there is a subgroup of patients with type IIa vWD who respond to DDAVP with complete normalization of their hemostatic abnormalities and whose vWF is sensitive to proteolysis.     

Percutaneous cholecystostomy: anatomic considerations

In 100 consecutive patients undergoing abdominal computed tomography, the anatomic relationships among the gallbladder fundus, liver, and right hemicolon were evaluated to assess the feasibility of direct transperitoneal versus percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy. In only 17% of patients was there no interposition of colon or liver between the skin and the gallbladder fundus. In 13% of patients the right hemicolon lay between the gallbladder fundus and skin. In the remaining 70% of patients, the gallbladder fundus was positioned posterior to the liver margin. Thus, in 83% of patients studied, percutaneous cholecystostomy would necessitate a transhepatic approach.