Prevention of stroke in urban China: a community-based intervention trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke has been the second leading cause of death in large cities in China since the 1980s. Meanwhile, the prevalences of hypertension and smoking have steadily increased over the last 2 decades. Therefore, a community-based intervention trial was initiated in 7 Chinese cities in 1987. The overall goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at reducing multiple risk factors for stroke. The primary study objective was to reduce the incidence of stroke by 25% over 3.5 years of intervention. METHODS: In May 1987 in each of 7 the cities, 2 geographically separated communities with a registered population of about 10 000 each were selected as either intervention or control communities. In each community, a cohort containing about 2700 subjects (>/=35 years old) free of stroke was sampled, and a survey was administered to obtain baseline data and screen the eligible subjects for intervention. In each city, a program of treatment for hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes was instituted in the intervention cohort (n approximately 2700) and health education was provided to the full intervention community (n approximately 10 000). A follow-up survey was conducted in 1990. Comparisons of intervention and control cohorts in each city were pooled to yield a single summary. RESULTS: A total of 18 786 subjects were recruited to the intervention cohort and 18 876 to the control cohort from 7 cities. After 3.5 years, 174 new stroke cases had occurred in the intervention cohort and 253 in the control cohort. The 3.5-year cumulative incidence of total stroke was significantly lower in the intervention cohort than the control cohort (0.93% versus 1.34%; RR=0.69; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.84). The incidence rates of nonfatal and fatal stroke, as well as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, were significantly lower in the intervention cohort than the control cohort. The prevalence of hypertension increased by 4.3% in the intervention cohort and by 7.8% in the control cohort. The average systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased more in the control cohort than in the intervention cohort. Among hypertensive individuals in the intervention cohort, awareness of hypertension increased by 6.7% and the percentage of hypertensives who regularly took antihypertensive medication increased 13.2%. All of these indices became worse in the control cohort. The prevalence of heart diseases and diabetes increased significantly in the both cohorts (P<0.01). The prevalence of consumption of alcohol increased slightly, and that of smoking remained constant in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: A community-based intervention for stroke reduction is feasible and effective in the cities of China. The reduction, due to the intervention, in the incidence of stroke in the intervention cohort was statistically significant after 3.5 years of intervention. The sharp reduction in the incidence of stroke may be due to the interventions having blunted the expected increase in hypertension that accompanies aging as well as to better and earlier treatment of hypertension, particularly borderline hypertension. Applied health education to all the residents of the community may have prevented some normotensive individuals from developing hypertension and improved overall health awareness and knowledge.     

Influence of fetal to neonatal transition on nitric oxide synthase expression in the nucleus tractus solitarius in sheep

Transition from fetal to newborn life is accompanied by a marked rise in circulating norepinephrine (NE) concentrations though arterial blood pressure does not substantively change. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the central regulation of sympathetic tone in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) expression is functionally regulated in the brain. The purpose of these studies was to determine the influence of transition at birth on nNOS expression in the brainstem nuclei, particularly in the NTS, associated with changes in arterial pressure and plasma NE concentration. Experiments were performed using time-dated gestational ewes with twin fetuses. Arterial blood pressure was recorded and arterial blood NE concentrations were measured in the term fetus (gestational 147-148 days) and newborn lambs (4 h of postnatal age). The fetal and newborn animals were then perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. Sections of the medulla were examined by using both immunolabeling with a polyclonal antibody directed against nNOS and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd) histochemistry, a marker for expression of nNOS. Micrographs were quantified using a microscope with reticule grid to measure the number of positive cells containing color staining in the brainstem nuclei. Plasma NE concentration in the newborn was more than two-fold greater compared to fetal values but mean arterial blood pressure was similar between fetus and newborn. The nNOS positive cells and NADPHd positive cells were significantly increased in the medial NTS (mNTS) of the newborn compared to fetus. nNOS immunoreactivity and NADPHd reactivity tended to increase in the rostral ventral medulla (RVM) in newborn, but were not altered in other brainstem nuclei during the transition from fetal to newborn life. The results suggest that nNOS expression in the mNTS is predominately enhanced at 4 h of neonatal age vs. the term fetus. We conclude that elevated circulating NE is associated with up-regulation of nNOS in the mNTS which may serve a protective role in central regulation of neonatal arterial blood pressure.     

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein directly inhibits GABAA receptors

The protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor genistein has been widely used to examine potential effects of tyrosine phosphorylation on neurotransmitter function. We report here that genistein inhibits GABAA receptors through a direct effect. Extracellular application of genistein and GABA reversibly inhibited GABA-activated currents recorded from HEK293 cells expressing rat alpha1beta2gamma2S or alpha1beta2 receptors, even when genistein was preequilibrated in the intracellular solution. Daidzein, an analog of genistein that does not block PTK, also inhibited GABA-activated current. Coapplication of lavendustin A, a specific inhibitor of PTK, had no effect on the GABA response. Our results demonstrate that genistein has a direct inhibitory effect on GABAA receptors that is not mediated via inhibition of tyrosine kinase.     

Recovery of visual field function in the optic neuritis treatment trial

PURPOSE: To assess the pattern of recovery of the visual field of patients with optic neuritis and to determine whether all affected portions of the visual field recover similarly or certain portions of the visual field have greater recovery. METHODS: We reviewed the Humphrey Visual Field (Allergan-Humphrey Inc, San Leandro, California) data from the initial and 6-month examination for the involved and fellow eyes of patients enrolled in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT). The average threshold for each patient was calculated for the entire tested field and for locations within concentric rings having a radius 3, 9, 15, 21, and 27 degrees from fixation. The absolute amount of improvement and percentage improvement in average threshold between entry and the 6-month follow-up examination were determined for each patient. These measurements were compared within the concentric rings to assess patterns of recovery. RESULTS: Patients with localized defects recovered 86%+/-20% of their initial defect in average threshold, whereas those having diffuse defects recovered an average of 85%+/-23%. The area about fixation had the greatest relative recovery of threshold (87%+/-21% at 3 degrees); the relative recovery decreased with increasing eccentricity from fixation (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with optic neuritis have a marked return of visual field function that does not appear to differ between patients with diffuse or localized field defects. The reduced redundancy of axons in the periphery of the field compared with near fixation may be responsible for the greater relative recovery of threshold near fixation.     

人眼眩光失能测定及其临床意义

目的:观察国产仪器测定眩光失能的性能与规律,并讨论其临床意义。方法:采用MGT—1多功能视觉眩光测试仪(海军医学研究所研制),按规定方法操作。测定正常人30名56眼(矫正视力全部≥1.0,晶体透明,无其他明显眼病),晶体混浊患者15人27眼。测定目标亮度及眩光亮度设置为中—中及弱—中两档分别模拟白天及夜间眩光失能。结果:中—中状态下,眩光失能值正常人均值为9.22%(全距0～31),低于晶体混浊者(24.05%,全距9～67),两者差异显著。正常眼在弱—中状态眩光失能值较中—中状态明显(均值20.12%,全距0～56)。不同频率条件对正常及晶体混浊眼眩光失能的影响不同,低频及中频较高频区的影响明显。结论:作为视功能评论指标,眩光失能检查是一种实用方法。在眼科临床及人体工效学上具有重要的意义。     

Studies on the sorption of elemental mercury vapor by soils

Mercury vapor sorption by soil increased curvilinearly with the increase of soil moisture content until a maximum was reached. A further increase of moisture content caused a decline in mercury sorption. The percent moisture contents which gave maximal increase of²⁰³Hg vapor sorption in these soils coincide quite closely with their water-holding capacity values at 1/3 bar.Soil microorganisms may play a part in moist soil for the increase of elemental mercury vapor sorption and subsequent transformation to mercuric form.Mercury vapor diffused into both dry and moist soil columns and the diffusion profile can be described by an exponential function of the form, y=ae^–bx, where a is the adsorption characteristics of the soil, b is the diffusivity coefficient and x is the depth of soil. The diffusivity coefficient for mercury vapor varied with the soil type and its moisture content.Supported in part by grant R-803948 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Technical Paper No. 5489, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.     

辨证分期治疗慢性盆腔炎合并免疫性不孕症18例疗效观察

目的：探讨辨证分期治疗慢性盆腔炎合并免疫性不孕症的临床疗效。方法：选择慢性盆腔炎合并免疫性不孕症(血清抗精子抗体阳性)患者18例，采用辨证分期治疗。月经干净后，治以活血化瘀、理气祛湿为主；在(或相当于)排卵期或排卵后，治以补肾养血，活血化瘀为主；在经前期，治以理气活血调经为主；在月经干净后至经前期，加用小剂量阿司匹林。结果：盆腔炎临床症状及体征痊愈7例，显效6例，有效5例；全部患者获得妊娠，宫内妊娠者17例(观察至妊娠3月，均正常)，输卵管妊娠1例；结论：中医辨病辨证结合的周期疗法加小剂量阿司匹林治疗慢性盆腔灸合并免疫性不孕症有一定的疗效。     

磁极化生物平衡离子吸附疗法治疗老年人心脑血管病危险因素的临床研究

目的 探讨磁极化生物平衡离子吸附降脂降粘疗法(也称之为洗血疗法)对老年心脑血管病危险因素的临床疗效。方法 应用磁极化生物平衡离子吸附疗法对22例老年患有心脑血管病危险因素的患者进行治疗,并对临床各项指标进行对照比较。结果 22例患者治疗前后的血流变学指标、血脂等均有明显改善。治疗前患者的TCHO(胆固醇)、TG(甘油三酯)分别为(6.21±1.14)mmol/L和(6.78±5.13)mmol/L;治疗后分别为(4.36±0.99)mmol/L和(2.41±2.10)mmol/L,P<0.05,均显著降低。治疗前患者的HCT(红细胞压积)、PFC(纤维蛋白)、NP(血浆粘度)、NR(全血粘度)、VAI(细胞聚集指数)分别为(0.441±0.042)V、(4.11±1.78)g/L、(3.86±1.98)mpa.s、(5.68±0.79)mpa.s和0.89土0.23;治疗后分别为(0.344±0,061)V、(2.21±1.12)g/L、(1.49±0.40)mpa.s、(3.21±0.56)mpa.s和0.40±0.15,治疗前后对照比较,P<0.02。结论本方法对老年人心脑血管病危险因素的治疗是有效的。     

HPLC法测定拉呋替丁及其片剂的含量

目的　建立拉呋替丁及其片剂的高效液相色谱含量测定法。方法　以Shim packODSC18为色谱柱 ,甲醇 0 2mol·L 1醋酸胺溶液 三乙胺 (70∶30∶0 1)为流动相 ,检测波长为 2 75nm。结果　线性系数r =0 9998,平均回收率为 99 6 % (RSD =1 5 % ,n =9)。结论　本方法简便、快速、准确 ,可用于拉呋替丁及其片剂的质量控制。     

一期手术矫治肾输尿管重复畸形合并异位输尿管囊肿

目的 探讨分析完全性肾输尿管重复畸形合并同侧上输尿管异位囊肿的病人，治疗时是否需要同时切除病变肾和输尿管囊肿。方法 对近8年来我院收治的10名完全性肾输尿臂重复畸形合并同侧上输尿管异位囊肿的病例予以总结。结果 发现其中6名初期治疗中仅切除患侧上半肾输尿管的儿童，平均术后1年都因为膀胱内囊肿增大而再次接受了输尿管囊肿切除术。另3例病人一期同时施行了上半肾输尿管切除术、膀胱内输尿管囊肿切除术和下半肾输尿管再植术，术后随访疗效良好。结论 我们认为对类似疾病应该在切除肾输尿管的同时一并切除异位输尿管囊肿。