Incidence of hospitalizations due to rotavirus gastroenteritis in Denmark

To assess the incidence of rotavirus-related diarrhoea among Danish children <5 y of age, laboratory-based data obtained from inpatients in two major Danish counties were reviewed. In the period January 1995 to December 1999, samples from 1333 children <5 y of age hospitalized with diarrhoea in Copenhagen County and 813 samples from inpatients <5 y of age in Roskilde County were tested for rotavirus. Rotavirus infection was identified in 237 (18%) and 179 (22%) of the cases, respectively. As in other temperate countries a marked seasonality of rotavirus infections was observed, with a peak in winter and the early spring months of March and April. The hospitalization rate was 2.8 per 1000 in children <5 y and 5.4 in children <2 y of age. Conclusion: These findings suggest that rotavirus gastroenteritis remains a common disease in Danish hospitalized children and causes a substantial burden of disease.     

A novel missense mutation in exon 4 of the factor VIII:C gene resulting in moderately severe hemophilia A

A new point mutation due to C----T transition at codon 189 (TCA) of the factor VIII:C gene was found in a Chinese patient with moderately severe hemophilia A. This mutation abolishes the EcoRI site (GAATTC) in exon 4 and can be directly detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of amplified genomic DNA.     

Immortalized mouse mammary cells in vivo do not exhibit increased telomerase activity

The acquisition of immortalization is an early and carefully documented event in mouse mammary tumorigenesis. Activation of telomerase activity is one hypothesis to explain the acquisition of immortalization. We examined the activity of telomerase in well-defined immortalized, non- tumor cell populations of mouse mammary tissue in vivo. The results indicated that normal virgin and mid-pregnant mammary gland had low to moderate levels of telomerase activity, respectively. In comparison with the levels detected in pregnant mammary gland, telomerase activity was elevated in mammary tumors in situ and in established mammary cell lines in vitro, both tumorigenic and nontumorigenic; however, hyperplastic alveolar preneoplastic mammary outgrowths and non- tumorigenic ductal outgrowths, both in vivo immortalized populations, had telomerase activity <12% of the levels detected in normal pregnant mammary gland. These results suggest that elevated telomerase activity is not necessary for the immortalization phenotype in in vivo mouse mammary cell populations and that elevated telomerase activity occurs as a late event in mammary tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the data suggest that low levels of telomerase activity are characteristic for mouse mammary epithelial cells and not sufficient for immortalization. These data suggest that other factors play more important roles in the induction and/or maintenance of the immortalization state in mammary cell populations.      

青石棉诱导AL细胞CD59基因突变和DNA氧化损伤的研究

目的　研究谷胱甘肽合成酶抑制剂buthioninesulfoximine(BSO)和自由基清除剂二甲亚砜 (DMSO)对青石棉诱导人鼠杂交瘤 (AL)细胞CD59基因突变率的影响以及青石棉引发细胞内 8 羟基脱氧鸟苷 (8 OHdG)产生的规律。方法　细胞毒性、遗传毒性检测分别采用克隆法 ;8 OHdG检测采用ABC酶免疫染色法 ;非蛋白巯基化合物 (NPSH)检测采用改进后的Tietze法。结果　 2 5μmol/LBSO预处理AL 细胞 2 4h后的细胞内NPSH含量降为 2nmol/ 10 7细胞 ,仅为对照组的 5%。青石棉单独处理组AL 细胞CD59基因突变率为 2 0 8± 18。BSO预处理 2 4h后与青石棉继续共同孵育组细胞突变率可达到 3 97± 55,是青石棉单独处理组的 2倍左右 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5) ;而DMSO存在时 ,青石棉诱导的CD59基因突变率仅为 57± 8,比青石棉单独处理组降低 72 .6%。细胞内 8 OHdG的产生随着青石棉处理剂量的增加而线性增加 (y =150 2 0x ,r =0 .962 1)。当青石棉处理剂量为 6μg/cm2 时 ,细胞内 8 OHdG含量由对照组的 13 7± 9提高到 2 89± 6,是对照组的 2倍以上。DMSO存在时 ,可使 6μg/cm2 石棉诱导的细胞内 8 OHdG含量由 2 89± 6降低到 170± 3。结论　自由基是青石棉诱导基因突变和DNA损伤过程中重要的调节物 ,具有剂量 -效应关系     

Accuracy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma staging by magnetic resonance imaging

To audit the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in daily reporting, the MR images of 101 adult patients with newly diagnosed NPC reported between December 1996 and February 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer (AJCC/UICC) TNM staging criteria (1997), the tumour staging obtained from the MR reports and the MR films was compared by two experienced head and neck radiologists. The number of patients being upstaged, downstaged or unchanged was noted. In all stages, the NPC staging obtained from the MR reports revealed 18 (17.8%) understaged, eight (7.9%) overstaged and 75 (74.2%) the same stage when compared to the staging obtained from the MR films based on the AJCC/UICC criteria. The percentage of patients being understaged or overstaged, in decreasing order of frequency, were stages II, III, IV and I. Magnetic resonance of NPC should be reported by radiologists who are not only familiar with the pathology of this condition and its pattern of spread but who should also base their reports on the AICC/UICC staging criteria. The necessity to improve our MR staging accuracy is largely because it determines the type of therapy to be given and this has to be appropriate and adequate for a successful treatment.     

Lymphangiomyomatosis: Radiological and measured lung function deterioration after contrast-enhanced computed tomography

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology which occurs exclusively in women, usually of reproductive age. The findings on CT and high-resolution CT (HRCT) are well described and characteristic, and in a young woman they are virtually pathognomonic. A case of symptomatic, radiological and measured lung function deterioration following contrast-enhanced CT in a patient with LAM are reported here. These observations, to the authors’ knowledge, have never been reported before. The authors attempt to explain these observations based on the known pathology of LAM.     

Growth Patterns in Small for Gestational Age Babies and Correlation with Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Levels

Objective

Correlation of catch-up growth and Insulin-like Growth Factor -1 levels (IGF-I) in SGA babies.

Methods

50 Full-term Small for Gestational Age children aged 12–18 months were analyzed for Catch-up growth (gain in weight and/or length, Standard Deviation Score/SDS >0.67). IGF-1 was measured after post-glucose load using ELISA method and correlated with catch-up growth.

Results

Mean (SD) birthweight and length were 2.1 (0.3) Kg and 44.4 (3.1) cm, respectively. At enrollment, mean (SD) age, weight and length were 15.0 (2.1) months, 7.7 (1.3) Kg, and 72.9 (5.6) cm, respectively. Catch-up growth was noted in 60% children. IGF-1 levels were significantly higher in children showing catch-up growth (56.6 (63.2) ng/mL) compared to those not having catch up growth (8.7 (8.3) ng/mL). IGF-1 was positively correlated with both weight and length catch-up.

Conclusion

Majority of Small for Gestational Age showed catch-up growth by 18 months, which had good correlation with IGF-1 levels.

     

Health-related quality of life,and its determinants,among older people in rural Vietnam

Background  

The proportion of people in Vietnam aged 60 and above has increased rapidly in recent decades. However, there is a lack of evidence, particularly in rural settings, on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) within the context of socioeconomic changes and health-sector reform in the country. This study assesses the level and determinants of HRQoL in a rural district in order to provide evidence for designing and implementing appropriate health policies.