Novel phytoandrogens and lipidic augmenters from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucommia ulmoides</Emphasis>

Background  

Plants containing compounds such as the isoflavonoids, with female hormone-like effects that bind to human estrogen receptors, are known. But none has been previously shown to have corresponding male hormone-like effects that interact with the human androgen receptor. Here, we report that the tree bark (cortex) of the Gutta-Percha tree Eucommia ulmoides possesses bimodal phytoandrogenic and hormone potentiating effects by lipidic components.     

丝瓜叶中丝瓜皂甙R的化学结构

从丝瓜(Lufa cylindrica Roem.)叶中分得一种新的五环三萜皂甙和丝瓜皂甙G,用光谱和化学方法确定新皂甙的结构为2α,21β-二羟基常春藤皂甙元-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙,命名为丝瓜皂甙R。     

Phonological awareness and early reading skills in children with cochlear implants

Abstract

This paper summarizes findings from a population study on outcomes of children with hearing loss in Australia, the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (http://www.outcomes.nal.gov.au) study. Children were evaluated at several intervals using standardized tests, and the relationship between a range of predictors and the outcomes was examined. This paper reports the performance of children with cochlear implants at 5 years of age together with factors predicting word reading ability. Earlier age at cochlear implantation was significantly associated with better word reading ability, after controlling for the effects of language, receptive vocabulary, nonverbal cognitive ability, and device configuration.     

Polycystic ovary syndrome in patients on antiepileptic drugs

Objective:This study aims to discuss the prevalence of polycystic ovary (PCO) and Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women with epilepsy (WWE) on valproate (VPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), or phenobarbitone (PB), drug naive WWE and women with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) on VPA.Results:Fifty-two women (52/190; 27.4%) had menstrual disturbances, in which oligomenorrhea was the most common (55.8%). There was a significant difference in the occurrence of PCOS in patients on VPA versus normal population (P = 0.05) and patients on other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (P = 0.02). There was, however, no significant difference in the occurrence of PCO between patients on VPA and the untreated epileptic women. VPA group (Epilepsy + BPAD) had a significantly higher occurrence of obesity than other treatment groups (P = 0.043, OR = 2.11).Conclusions:The study observed significantly higher occurrence of PCO in patients on VPA compared to other AEDs and the normal population. The importance of proper clinical evaluation before initiating VPA is highlighted.     

美通宁片中褪黑素的含量测定

目的：制定美通宁片中褪黑素质量控制指标。方法：采用薄层扫描法测定美通宁片中褪黑素的含量。以苯;氯仿：甲醇（4：9：1）为展开剂。结果;通过方法学考察,平均回收率98．5％。变异系数RSD＝4．12％。结论：方法可靠、准确,操作简便可行。     

Successful emergency endovascular treatment of juxtarenal and infrarental mycotic aortic aneurysms in patients with small diameter aortae using Cook? Zenith ESLE Stentgrafts

BACKGROUND:

Endovascular repair of mycotic aneurysm is an alternative to open repair if the patho-anatomy is suitable. The aortic size above and below the mycotic aneurysm may be small.

METHODS:

A retrospective review was made of prospectively collected departmental computerised database.

RESULTS:

Three oriental patients with juxta- and infra-renal mycotic aortic aneurysms with a small aortic diameter of 17 mm to 18 mm underwent successful emergency endovascular treatment using Cook^® Zenith ESLE stentgrafts. These are ancillary devices aimed at iliac extensions usually.

CONCLUSION:

This is to our knowledge the first case series of Cook^® Zenith ESLE iliac component endografts for the treatment of aortic mycotic aneurysms with small aortae, and short- and mid-term results are encouraging.KEY WORDS: Endovascular, Mycotic, Small aorta, Oversizing, Cook^®, Zenith ESLE Stentgrafts     

溶血曼氏杆菌A1粘附因子基因adh的表达及其产物的分布

溶血曼氏杆菌常引起哺乳类动物呼吸道感染，偶可致人类呼吸道感染及败血症。其生物型A血清型1（A1）是主要的致病菌，临床表现有发热、咳嗽、鼻腔分泌物增多、呼吸窘迫，该菌引起的疾病病死率高，但发病机制尚不明确。了解其致病机制对研制疫苗、制备快速诊断试剂，以达到预防、快速诊断及治疗目的有重要意义。     

Long-term Safety and Efficacy Following Systemic Administration of a Self-complementary AAV Vector Encoding Human FIX Pseudotyped With Serotype 5 and 8 Capsid Proteins

Adeno-associated virus vectors (AAV) show promise for liver-targeted gene therapy. In this study, we examined the long-term consequences of a single intravenous administration of a self-complementary AAV vector (scAAV2/ 8-LP1-hFIXco) encoding a codon optimized human factor IX (hFIX) gene in 24 nonhuman primates (NHPs). A dose–response relationship between vector titer and transgene expression was observed. Peak hFIX expression following the highest dose of vector (2 × 10¹² pcr-vector genomes (vg)/kg) was 21 ± 3 µg/ml (~420% of normal). Fluorescent in-situ hybridization demonstrated scAAV provirus in almost 100% of hepatocytes at that dose. No perturbations of clinical or laboratory parameters were noted and vector genomes were cleared from bodily fluids by 10 days. Macaques transduced with 2 × 10¹¹ pcr-vg/kg were followed for the longest period (~5 years), during which time expression of hFIX remained >10% of normal level, despite a gradual decline in transgene copy number and the proportion of transduced hepatocytes. All macaques developed serotype-specific antibodies but no capsid-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were detected. The liver was preferentially transduced with 300-fold more proviral copies than extrahepatic tissues. Long-term biochemical, ultrasound imaging, and histologic follow-up of this large cohort of NHP revealed no toxicity. These data support further evaluation of this vector in hemophilia B patients.