Spectroscopic and biochemical correlations during the course of human lens aging

Background  

With age, the human lens accumulates variety of substances that absorbs and fluorescence, which explains the color of yellow, brunescent and nigrescent cataract in terms of aging. The aim of this study was to assess lens fluorophores with properties comparable to those of advanced glycated end products (AGEs) in relation to age in human lenses. These fluorescent compounds are believed to be involved in the development of cataract.     

Neural cell response to multiple novel sites on laminin-1

The basement membrane protein laminin-1 is a potent stimulator of neurite outgrowth for a variety of neuronal cell types. Previous studies have identified neurite outgrowth activity in several distinct regions of the laminin-1 molecule. In this study, 545 overlapping 12- to 14-mer synthetic peptides, corresponding to most of the amino acid sequence of the alpha1, beta1, and gamma1 chains of laminin-1, were screened for cell attachment and neurite outgrowth activity using primary cultures of mouse cerebellar granule neurons and two neuronal cell lines. We identified 48 peptides derived from novel regions of the laminin-1 molecule that were positive for neural cell adhesion activity. Only the cerebellar cells were found to have true neurite outgrowth activity with certain of the peptides, whereas some peptides induced short spike-like process with the cell lines. Although 23 of these peptides were active on all 3 cell types screened, 25 others showed cell-type specificity in their activity. These studies show that (1) there are multiple and distinct sites on laminin-1 for cell adhesion and neurite-like outgrowth and (2) that there are neural cell-type-specific active domains. The multiple active sites found explains, in part, the potent activity of laminin-1 on neurite outgrowth.     

Cancer risk behaviors and screening rates among homeless adults in Los Angeles County.

The homeless encounter many barriers to health care and preventive services, while having an increased prevalence of most risk factors for cancer. A group of homeless adults (221) at nine different locations within Los Angeles County were surveyed during the summers of 1998 and 1999. A portion (71%) reported that they had had at least one rectal exam, 42% had a fecal occult blood test, 24% had a skin exam, and 23% had an endoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy), and of the men aged 50+, only 19% had a prostate-specific antigen test in their lifetime. For women aged 40+, 55% had received a Pap smear, and 53% had a breast exam, but only 32% had a mammogram within the prior year. Among the sampled homeless population, 77% believed in the benefits of cancer screening, 79% were not fatalistic about cancer, 63% believed that early detection was efficacious, and 83% did not think it would be difficult to get screened. The majority of this population demonstrated accurate knowledge of cancer screening guidelines with the exception of endoscopy. Cancer screening rates of those surveyed were lower than the rates in California for endoscopy, prostate-specific antigen, mammography, and Pap smears. Given the lower cancer screening rates compounded by higher cancer risk factors, homeless populations need increased access to cancer screening tests, as well as education on the availability of free services. Additionally, facilities for the homeless and their staff should reinforce the purposes of cancer screening, provide more screening services, and implement institutional efforts, such as providing nutritious meals and sun protection products, to reduce high-risk behaviors and increase further access to cancer screening tests.     

Advanced pancreatic cancer--5 years on.

Some 5 years ago we reviewed the literature on the treatmentof advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. At that time gemcitabinehad recently emerged as the new standard treatment for advanceddisease based on a relatively small North American randomisedtrial, which compared gemcitabine to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) givenby bolus injection. Gemcitabine produced superior response rate,survival and clinical benefit [1], and rapidly gained widespreaduse in North America, but the uptake in Europe was slower—thetrial had been criticised for the suboptimal schedule of 5-FU.However, the agent gradually gained clinical acceptance in Europeand with the publication of the National Institute of ClinicalExcellence (NICE) guidelines supporting gemcitabine in June2001, the UK followed suit. Moreover, during these 5 years     

中西医结合治疗2型糖尿病患者40例临床观察

自 1997年以来 ,我们运用补肾降火、祛瘀化痰法配合胰岛素治疗 2型糖尿病 ,收到了较好疗效 ,现将结果报告如下。资料与方法1　临床资料　所选 76例 2型糖尿病患者均为我院门诊或住院患者 ,符合 2型糖尿病诊断标准( 1) 。均口服降糖药无效 ,且胰岛素用量每日超过 5 0ｕ。按随机数字表法随机分为治疗组和对照组两组。治疗组4 0例 ,其中男 2 6例 ,女 14例 ;年龄 4 8～ 6 9岁 ,平均 5 5岁 ;病程 8～ 15年 ,平均 11年 ;使用胰岛素 5 2～ 10 0Ｕ/日 ,平均 72Ｕ/日。均不同程度患有各种合并症 ,其中患高血压病 15例 ,冠心病 13例 ,糖尿病肾病 2例 ,…     

脑血清颗粒对实验性家兔脑出血模型血液流变学指标的影响

目的通过测定血液流变学指标,探讨脑血清颗粒治疗家兔脑出血急性期的治疗作用机理。方法将造模成功的脑出血家兔随机分为清开灵组、脑血清颗粒剂组及生理盐水(NS)组,并分别于给药3d、7d后测血液流变学指标。结果给药3d后,大部分血液流变学指标(包括全血粘度、红细胞压积及全血还原粘度等)各组间差异均无显著性;给药7d后,NS组主要血液流变学指标都已降至正常值以下,而清开灵组及脑血清组对这种异常均有明显的改善作用。结论脑血清颗粒剂对兔脑出血的血液流变学指标有明显改善作用。     

Psammomatous extra-calvarial meningioma of the neck

A case of Primary extraraniul meningioma of the parapharyngcal space arising simulitueouly as two distinct tumour masses from two sepurae cranial nerves is reported. The paucity of reported eases is the evidence for its rarily.     

Early observations of the effect of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy on blood pressure: a prospective randomized control clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine, in a randomized controlled clinical trial, the effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on blood pressure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The trial included 228 patients with small (< 15 mm) asymptomatic calyceal stones who were randomised to undergo ESWL (113 patients) or to an untreated (observed) control group (115 patients). Blood pressure was recorded at randomization using a standardized protocol. Patients undergoing ESWL received a mean (SD) of 5281 (3462) shocks over a mean of 1.75 sessions on one of two lithotripters. Patients were then followed annually, assessing blood pressure and changes in medication. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: At randomization, 43% of patients in the control group and 53% in the ESWL group were hypertensive. Of the 228 randomized, 200 patients completed at least one annual follow-up, of whom 192 (93 in the control and 99 in the ESWL group) had their blood pressure recorded. The mean follow-up was 2.2 years; 35 (37%) patients in the control and 46 (46%) in the ESWL group were hypertensive (P = 0.19). Seven (7%) patients in the control group and 11 (11%) in the ESWL group were newly diagnosed to be hypertensive (P = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized controlled clinical trial there was no evidence that ESWL causes changes in blood pressure.     

MRSA: predictor of outcome in critically ill patients

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infectionin critically ill patients is associated with considerable morbidity,mortality and cost.^{1 2} In 1994, we studied 29 MRSA positivepatients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Althoughthe size of population studied was too small to be conclusive,there was a suggestion that MRSA did not have a significantimpact on overall mortality (unpublished observation), however,there was an increase in average length of stay. In this retrospective study, microbiology records identifiedMRSA infected/colonised patients admitted to ICU over 36 months(1996–1998). Patient demographics, site of isolation andhospital mortality were recorded. Isolation of MRSA from blood,sterile sites or endotracheal secretions was considered to bea surrogate marker of serious infection. In those patients withMRSA isolated in multiple sites, the most likely site for seriousinfection was selected. One hundred and sixty seven patients were found to be infected/colonizedwith MRSA and of these 59 patients had positive blood or sputumcultures. Hospital mortality of MRSA positive patients was 50.9%compared to 33.8% overall hospital mortality of all ICU patients.Standardized incidence ratio for death was 1.51 (95% confidenceinterval 1.20–1.86) for patients with MRSA. As expectedthe number of deaths rises with age (60 yr was 34.8%, 61–75yr 52.6%, >75 yr 64.4%. Odds ratio 2.74 (95% confidence interval1.09–6.93) for >75 compared with 60 yr old). Diagnosis of MRSA from blood and sputum (group A) had a mortalityof 44.1%, compared to 51.3% in those with MRSA from screeningsites (group B) (P=0.403). Whilst mortality increases with agefor both groups, it rises faster in patients with MRSA in groupB (Table 7). There was no difference in mortality between groups. The poorassociation between mortality and positive blood or sputum culturescorroborates our previous observation that detection of MRSAis more likely to be an indicator of poor prognosis rather thanthe cause of fatal infection.