Modulation of implantation-associated integrin expression but not uteroglobin by steroid hormones in an endometrial cell line

In order to test the hypothesis that integrin and uteroglobin (UG) expression in cultured endometrial cells are affected by hormone treatment, Ishikawa-CH endometrial cancer cells were cultured and exposed to oestradiol or oestradiol and progesterone regimens and assayed using immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the intensity of immunohistochemical staining for the integrin monomers alpha(v) and beta1, the dimers alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta6, and for the secretory protein uteroglobin under various experimental conditions. Cells grown in control media stained positively for the integrin monomers alpha(v) and beta1, the dimer alpha(v)beta3, and for UG. Oestradiol and sequential oestradiol/progesterone reversibly suppressed staining for the dimer alpha(v)beta3. Hormone treatment had no effect on the staining of the beta1 and alpha(v) monomers or UG. The alpha(v)beta6 dimer antibody did not stain under any experimental treatment conditions. These data indicate that expression of the integrin complex alpha(v)beta3 is reversibly suppressed by oestradiol in Ishikawa cells and that these cells may be a good model for studying hormone-driven molecular changes in endometrium.      

Prevention of lens condensation in laparoscopic surgery by lens heating with a thermos flask

Condensation on the scope lens as a result of differences between room and intraabdominal temperatures is a disturbing problem for laparoscopic surgeons. Despite the use of anti-lens condensation solutions, this cannot be entirely avoided. The authors report a simple, cheap, and effective method for preventing lens condensation by lens heating using a sterilized thermos flask filled with hot water.     

尿中睾酮与表睾酮的三甲基硅烷化及其比值的GC—MS测定

对睾酮及表睾酮的三甲基硅烷化进行了详细考察,找到了较好的抗氧剂巯基乙醇,确定了较好的衍生化条件,衍生化产物单一。并采用GC—MS法测定了尿中睾酮与表睾酮的比值。实验条件为:以氦为载气,SE—54熔融石英柔性毛细管柱、程序升温进行样品分离,多离子检测(MID),监测m/z432的离子。该法专属、灵敏、快速。睾酮与表睾酮比值在1:1～10:1(睾酮为20ng/μl)与相应峰面积比呈线性关系(r=0.998),最低检测限为1ng,最低检测尿药浓度为8ng/ml。     

Early supplemental parenteral nutrition is associated with increased infectious complications in critically ill trauma patients

BACKGROUND: Parenteral nutrition (PN) is often used in severely injured patients when caloric goals are not achieved enterally. The purpose of this study is to determine whether early administration of parenteral nutrition is associated with an increased risk for infection after severe injury. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of severely injured blunt trauma patients enrolled from eight trauma centers participating in the "Inflammation and the Host Response to Injury" (Glue Grant) study. We compared patients receiving PN within 7 days after injury with a control group that did not receive early PN. We then focused on patients who tolerated at least some enteral nutrition (EN) during the first week and evaluated the potential influence of supplemental PN on outcomes in this "enteral tolerant" subgroup. Primary outcomes included occurrence of a nosocomial infection after the first postinjury week. Secondary outcomes included type of infection and hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of 567 patients enrolled, 95 (17%) received early PN. Early PN use was associated with a greater risk of nosocomial infection (relative risk [RR] = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.6 to 2.6; p < 0.001). In the enteral-tolerant subgroup (n = 249), early PN was also associated with an increase in nosocomial infections (RR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1; p = 0.005) in part because of an increased risk of bloodstream infection (RR = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5 to 5.3; p = 0.002). Mortality tended to be higher in patients receiving additional EN and PN versus EN alone (RR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 5.2; p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill trauma patients who are able to tolerate at least some EN, early PN administration can contribute to increased infectious morbidity and worse clinical outcomes.     

薄层扫描法测定黄芪生脉颗粒中黄芪甲甙含量

目的：制订黄芪生脉颗粒中黄芪甲甙含量测定方法。方法：双波长薄层扫描法，经乙酰洗涤、正丁醇提取和Ｄ１０１大乳吸附树脂柱层析法制备样品，以氯仿－甲醇－水（１３：７：２）下层液为展开剂，检测波长为５１０ｎｍ，参比波长为７００ｎｍ。结果：加标回收率平均为９８．７％（ＲＳＤ＝２．０％，ｎ＝６），标准曲线ｒ＝０．９９６６，重复性ＲＳＤ＝１．４％（ｎ＝５），精密度ＲＳＤ＝２．０％（ｎ＝６）。结论：方法稳定、可靠     

Scintigraphic pattern in missed testicular torsion

The testicular scintigraphic findings of nine patients with surgically and pathologically proved torsion of the testis of over 24 hours duration are reviewed. In the delayed blood-pool images each showed the classical avascular twisted testicle with a variable peripheral rim of hyperemia. In the dynamic blood-flow phase, eight revealed a perceptible increase of vascular perfusion in the scrotal region on the affected side, in addition to the testicular radionuclide angiogram peculiarities previously described for missed testicular torsion. This pattern of perfusion was seen only in torsion of over one day duration. A low salvage probability is expected in these cases.     

Influence of clinical status on the association between plasma total and unbound bilirubin and death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants

Objectives: To assess the influence of clinical status on the association between total plasma bilirubin and unbound bilirubin on death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18–22 months corrected age in extremely low birth weight infants. Method: Total plasma bilirubin and unbound bilirubin were measured in 1101 extremely low birth weight infants at 5 ± 1 days of age. Clinical criteria were used to classify infants as clinically stable or unstable. Survivors were examined at 18–22 months corrected age by certified examiners. Outcome variables were death or neurodevelopmental impairment, death or cerebral palsy, death or hearing loss, and death prior to follow‐up. For all outcomes, the interaction between bilirubin variables and clinical status was assessed in logistic regression analyses adjusted for multiple risk factors. Results: Regardless of clinical status, an increasing level of unbound bilirubin was associated with higher rates of death or neurodevelopmental impairment, death or cerebral palsy, death or hearing loss and death before follow‐up. Total plasma bilirubin values were directly associated with death or neurodevelopmental impairment, death or cerebral palsy, death or hearing loss, and death before follow‐up in unstable infants, but not in stable infants. An inverse association between total plasma bilirubin and death or cerebral palsy was found in stable infants. Conclusions: In extremely low birth weight infants, clinical status at 5 days of age affects the association between total plasma bilirubin and death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18–22 months of corrected age. An increasing level of UB is associated a higher risk of death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes regardless of clinical status. Increasing levels of total plasma bilirubin are directly associated with increasing risk of death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in unstable, but not in stable infants.