Vitamin C Inhibits Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced Cell Cycle Changes Partly via Cyclin D1/E2F Pathway in Human Embryo Lung Fibroblasts

INTRODUCTION Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as B[a]P are widespread environmental contaminants formed as byproducts of combustion[1]. PAHs have been found to be potent mammary carcinogens in rodents[2-3]. It is believed that B[a]P requires biological activation through oxidative metabolism to be carcinogenic. The ultimate carcinogenic metabolite has been considered to be the cytochrome P450 isozyme- and microsomal epoxide hydrolase- derived metabolite, BPDE, which forms…     

理血饮加减治疗紫癜性肾炎血尿40例疗效观察

目的:观察理血汤加减治疗紫癜性肾炎(HSPN)的临床疗效及作用机制。方法:将80例紫癜性肾炎血尿患者随机分为两组,治疗组40例以理血饮加减治疗(处方:黄芪,海螵蛸,茜草,白芍,丹皮,白茅根,藕节,女贞子,旱莲草),对照组40例以血尿安胶囊治疗。两组疗程均为1个月。主要观察临床疗效及对IL-1、TNF-α的影响。结果:总有效率治疗组为95%,对照组为85%,两组比较差异显著,(P<0.05)。且治疗后血中IL-1活性、TNF-α浓度明显降低,与对照组比较差异显著(P<0.01)。治疗组无不良反应发生,而对照组有2例因肝功能受损退出试验。结论:理血汤加减对紫癜性肾炎血尿有显著疗效,其作用机制可能与降低血中IL-1活性、TNF-α浓度,调节免疫有关。     

肝病患者自身抗体特征性的研究

目的：观察抗肝抗原自身抗体在我国不同类型肝病患者中的存在状况；探讨自身免疫性肝脏疾病的自身抗体特征。方法：间接免疫荧光法初筛1412例肝功能异常血清，从中选择28例：①自身免疫性肝病组42例：初步诊断为AIH18例、PBC21例、PSC3例。②HAV组23例；③DBV组70例；④HCV组33例；⑤非甲—非戊型肝炎组60例。结合Western blot、酶免疫条带技术等分别检测ANA、AMA、SMA、LKM—1、LC—1、SLA/LP和AMA-M2亚型、dsDNA及ENA类多种抗体。结果：1412例中诊断AIH、PBC和PSC者分别为送检标本的12．7‰，14．9‰和2．1‰。28例血清中2例LKM—1阳性和2例SLA／LP阳性；按AIH的分型标准，自身免疫性肝病组属于I型AIH者14例(78％)，Ⅱ型2例(11％)，Ⅲ型2例(11％)；AIH患者ANA抗体未见特定的荧光类型。PBC患者AMA和M2全部阳性；其ANA以核膜型为主(7／14)。NonA—E组4例AMA和M2阳性，3例SMA高滴度阳性，4例出现SS-A、SS-B或dsDNA等抗体。结论：三型自身免疫性肝炎在中国都存在，肝抗原自身抗体和ANA及AMA的分型检测有助于自身免疫性肝病的诊断与治疗；少数非甲—非戊型肝炎应考虑自身免疫性肝病诊断。     

The associations between women's empowerment measures,child growth and dietary diversity: Findings from an analysis of demographic and health surveys of seven countries in Eastern Africa

Evidence on the efficacy of women''s empowerment to improve child growth and minimum dietary diversity (MDD) in the Eastern Africa (EA) region is limited. This cross‐sectional study used recent Demographic and Health Survey data of mother–child dyads from seven countries in EA to examine the associations between women''s empowerment measures, child growth and MDD. Length‐for‐age z‐scores, weight‐for‐length z‐scores and weight‐for‐age z‐scores were used to categorize growth indicators of 6–23 months old children. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant associations. Among all countries, 32%–59% of children experienced growth failure. Children meeting MDD were 18%–45%. Women having self‐esteem were associated with lower odds of stunting (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.62 in Rwanda), wasting (AOR = 0.38 in Uganda), underweight (AORs = 0.60 and 0.57 in Tanzania and Uganda, respectively) and growth failure (AOR = 0.64 in Rwanda). Having health decision control in Burundi was associated with lower odds of stunting (AOR = 0.49) and child growth failure (AOR = 0.52) and higher odds of meeting MDD (AOR = 2.50). Having Legal empowerment among women increased the odds of stunting (AOR = 1.79 in Burundi), underweight (AOR = 1.77 in Uganda) and growth failure (AOR = 1.87 in Burundi). Economic empowerment showed mixed associations with child growth and MDD among some countries. Women''s self‐esteem and health decision control were associated with better child growth and MDD for some countries in EA. Nutrition‐sensitive interventions aimed at improving child growth and MDD should consider local contexts when addressing women''s empowerment.     

Diagnosis of loxoscelism in two Turkish patients confirmed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and non-invasive tissue sampling

Confirmed envenomations due to Loxosceles reclusa have not been previously documented in Turkey, to our knowledge. This brief report describes two Turkish patients with suspected envenomation by Loxosceles spider bites on the eyelids. Material obtained by swabbing the lesions with gauze was tested using a venom-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both patients tested positive for the presence of Loxosceles venom.     

Genetic association of cytokines polymorphisms with autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis in the Chinese

AIM: To characterize gene polymorphism of several cytokine gene in-patients with AIH and PBC and to analyze the difference of the polymorphism distribution between Chinese patients and healthy controls. METHODS: The study population consisted of 62 patients with AIH, and 77 patients with PBC. The genetic profile of four cytokines was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism after specific PCR amplification (PCR-RFLP) or sequence-specific primers PCR (SSP-PCR). The analyzed gene polymorphism included interleukin-1 (IL-1) (at position +3 953 and IL-1RN intron 2), IL-6 (at position -174), IL-10 promoter (at position -1082, -819, and -592). The control group consisted of 160 healthy blood donors. RESULTS: The majority of Chinese people including patients and healthy controls exhibited IL-1B 1,1 genotype, and there was no significant difference in AIH, PBC patients and controls. There were highly statistically significant differences in the distribution of the IL-1RN gene polymorphism between the patients with PBC compared with controls. The frequency of IL-1RN 1,1 was significantly higher (90.9% vs 79.4%, P=0.03) and the frequency of IL-1RN 1,2 was significantly lower in PBC patients (6.5% vs 17.5%, P=0.01). No statistical difference was observed between AIH patients and controls. All of the 160 healthy controls and 62 cases of AIH patients exhibited IL-6-174GG genotype, and there were four cases, which expressed IL-6-174GC genotype in 77 cases of PBC patients. The frequency of IL-6-174GC was markedly significantly higher in PBC patients compared with controls (5.2% vs 0%, P=0.004). No statistically significant difference was found in the distribution of IL-10 promoter genotype in AIH and PBC patients compared with controls. CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms of IL-1RN and IL-6-174G/C appear to be associated with PBC in Chinese patients.     

Aflatoxin contamination of human breast milk and complementary foods in southern Ethiopia

Exposure to unsafe level of aflatoxin in early life may lead to growth faltering. However, the extent of contamination of breast milk and complementary foods is poorly examined. We determined aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) and B₁ (AFB₁) contamination of human breast milk and cereal‐based cooked complementary foods, respectively, among households having children 6–23 months of age in Sidama zone, southern Ethiopia. Data were collected through two cross‐sectional surveys implemented in the wet (n = 180) and dry (n = 180) seasons. Eligible households (n = 360) were recruited from three agroecological zones (lowland, midland and highland, each with sample size of 120) using a multistage sampling technique. AFB₁ and AFM₁ levels were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed to compare aflatoxin levels between seasons and across the agroecological zones. Among 360 breast milk samples tested, 64.4% had detectable AFM₁ and 5.3% exceeded the 0.025 parts per billion (ppb) limit set by the European Union for infant milk. The median AFM₁ in the lowlands was significantly higher than in the other agroecological settings (P < 0.001). By season, AFM₁ was higher in breast milk samples collected in the dry season (P = 0.041). AFB₁ was detected in 96.4% of the food samples tested, and 95.0% had concentration exceeding the permissible European Union limit of 0.1 ppb. The median AFB₁ was significantly higher in the lowland (P = 0.002), but there was no difference between the seasons (P = 0.386). The study indicated that, in southern Ethiopia, foods intended for infants are heavily contaminated with AFB₁. Contamination of breast milk is also a significant health concern.     

Cloudy and starry milia‐like cysts: how well do they distinguish seborrheic keratoses from malignant melanomas?

Background Seborrheic keratoses are the most common skin lesions known to contain small white or yellow structures called milia‐like cysts (MLCs). Varied appearances can sometimes make it difficult to differentiate benign lesions from malignant lesions such as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer found in humans. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the statistical occurrence of MLCs in benign vs. malignant lesions. Methods A medical student with 10 months experience in examining approximately 1000 dermoscopy images and a dermoscopy‐naïve observer analysed contact non‐polarized dermoscopy images of 221 malignant melanomas and 175 seborrheic keratoses for presence of MLCs. Results The observers found two different types of MLCs present: large ones described as cloudy and smaller ones described as starry. Starry MLCs were found to be prevalent in both seborrheic keratoses and melanomas. Cloudy MLCs, however, were found to have 99.1% specificity for seborrheic keratoses among this group of seborrheic keratoses and melanomas. Conclusion Cloudy MLCs can be a useful tool for differentiating between seborrheic keratoses and melanomas.