Predictive value for treatment outcome in acute myeloid leukemia of cellular daunorubicin accumulation and P-glycoprotein expression simultaneously determined by flow cytometry

To evaluate the clinical relevance of multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, the intracellular daunorubicin accumulation (IDA) and P- glycoprotein (P-gp) expression were investigated in 87 adult patients with acute leukemia: 69 patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 10 with AML at relapse, and eight with secondary leukemia to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS-AML). IDA and P-gp expression were determined by double-labeling flow cytometry analysis. Of 87 patients, 36 expressed P-gp (41%). P-gp expression was more frequently observed in AML at relapse and MDS-AML as compared with de novo AML (P = .0001). P-gp expression was significantly associated with CD34 expression (P = .0003) and chromosome 7 abnormalities (P = .027). A significantly reduced IDA was observed in P-gp+ as compared with P-gp- patients (P = .0007). Of the 87 patients, 51 achieved complete remission (CR). A reduced IDA was observed in patients in failure as compared with patients in CR (22% +/- 17% v 42% +/- 21%; P = 10(-4). Twelve of 36 P- gp+ patients as compared with 40 of 51 P-gp- patients achieved CR (33% v 78%; P = 10(-4). The prognostic value of IDA and P-gp expression was confirmed in multivariate analysis. These data suggest that the determination of IDA and P-gp expression may be useful in designing therapy for patients with AML.     

Control of hypertension with medication: a comparative analysis of national surveys in 20 countries

Objective

To examine hypertension management across countries and over time using consistent and comparable methods.

Methods

A systematic search identified nationally representative health examination surveys from 20 countries containing data from 1980 to 2011 on blood pressure measurements, the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and its control with antihypertensive drugs. For each country, the prevalence of hypertension (i.e. systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or antihypertensive use) and the proportion of hypertensive individuals whose condition was diagnosed, treated or controlled with medications (i.e. systolic pressure < 140 mmHg) were estimated.

Findings

The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension varied between countries: for individuals aged 35 to 49 years, it ranged from around 12% in Bangladesh, Egypt and Thailand to around 30% in Armenia, Lesotho and Ukraine; for those aged 35 to 84 years, it ranged from 20% in Bangladesh to more than 40% in Germany, the Russian Federation and Turkey. The age-standardized percentage of hypertensive individuals whose condition was diagnosed, treated or controlled was highest in the United States of America: for those aged 35 to 49 years, it was 84%, 77% and 56%, respectively. Percentages were especially low in Albania, Armenia, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey. Although recent trends in prevalence differed in England, Japan and the United States, treatment coverage and hypertension control improved over time, particularly in England.

Conclusion

Globally the proportion of hypertensive individuals whose condition is treated or controlled with medication remains low. Greater efforts are needed to improve hypertension control, which would reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases.     

AMP-18,一种新发现的胃黏膜保护因子

AMP-18是一种新发现的由胃腺体上皮细胞合成的小分子蛋白质,独特表达于胃黏膜,机体其他部位少见,胃癌组织中表达缺失．AMP-18 由185个氨基酸组成,除去N端信号肽(20个氨基酸)后大小约18 ku,第54-150个氨基酸组成高度保守的结构域(BRICHOS区域)承担主要的生理功能．AMP-18由胃腺体上皮细胞以胞吐的方式分泌到胃黏液中,他的合成和分泌与个体生长发育有关,并受福斯高林、吲哚美辛、地塞米松等药物的影响．目前发现 AMP-18的生理功能主要有促进胃黏膜上皮细胞的有丝分裂,促进细胞的迁徙,促胃肠黏膜损伤的修复,保持胃肠黏膜的完整等．     

B-cell growth factor receptor expression and B-cell growth factor response of leukemic B cell precursors and B lineage lymphoid progenitor cells

The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of B cell growth factor (BCGF) receptors and to elucidate the biologic effects of biochemically purified natural BCGF at the B cell precursor stage of human B lineage lymphoid differentiation. The specific binding of radioiodinated high-mol-wt BCGF (125I-HMW-BCGF) and low-molecular-wt BCGF (125I-LMW-BCGF) to fresh marrow blasts from B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients was initially investigated. The estimated number of radioiodinated BCGF molecules bound per blast ranged from undetectable to 24.3 X 10(3) for HMW-BCGF, and from 11.5 X 10(3) to 457.8 X 10(3) for LMW-BCGF. In 3H-TdR incorporation assays, 75% of cases showed a significant response to LMW-BCGF with a median stimulation index of 9.3. By comparison, only 33% of cases showed a significant response to HMW-BCGF with a median stimulation index of 2.4. Subsequently, B cell precursor colony assays were performed to assess and compare the biologic effects of BCGF on leukemic B lineage lymphoid progenitor cells. Among 28 cases studied, 57% responded to both HMW-BCGF and LMW-BCGF, 21% responded only to LMW-BCGF, and the remaining cases showed no proliferative response to either growth factor. The response patterns of virtually pure populations of FACS- sorted leukemic B cell precursors were essentially identical to the proliferative responses of unsorted leukemic B-cell precursors. Synergistic effects between HMW-BCGF and LMW-BCGF were observed in 80% of the cases that responded to both. The numbers of cell-bound radioiodinated BCGF molecules, the stimulation indices, as well as the number of B cell precursor colonies in BCGF-stimulated cultures showed a marked interpatient variation. Patients with structural chromosomal abnormalities (SCAs) involving 12p11-13 or patients with a Philadelphia chromosome showed a greater HMW-BCGF response at the level of leukemic progenitor cells than did other patients (P = .02). The LMW-BCGF response was significantly greater for patients with SCA than for patients without SCA (P = .04). The response of leukemic progenitor cells to HMW-BCGF or LMW-BCGF did not correlate with sex, age, disease status, FAB morphology, WBC at diagnosis, or immunophenotype. To our knowledge, this study represents the first detailed analyses of BCGF receptor expression and BCGF effects in B cell precursor ALL. The data presented provide direct evidence for the expression of functional receptors for both HMW-BCGF and LMW-BCGF in B cell precursor ALL.     

Epidemiology of tuberculosis and HIV coinfections in Singapore, 2000–2014

Cross‐matching of records between Singapore's tuberculosis and HIV registries showed that 3.3% of individuals with tuberculosis (TB) were coinfected with HIV (2000?2014), the TB incidence among individuals with HIV infection was 1.65 per 100 person‐years, and 53% of coinfections were diagnosed within 1 month of each other. The findings supported joint prevention programmes for early diagnosis and treatment.     

Medicinal plants from the Yanesha (Peru): Evaluation of the leishmanicidal and antimalarial activity of selected extracts

Aim of the study

Ninety-four ethanolic extracts of plants used medicinally by the Yanesha, an Amazonian Peruvian ethnic group, for affections related to leishmaniasis and malaria were screened in vitro against Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes and against a Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant strain.

Materials and methods

The viability of Leishmania amazonensis amastigote stages was assessed by the reduction of tetrazolium salt (MTT) while the impact on Plasmodium falciparum was determined by measuring the incorporation of radio-labelled hypoxanthine.

Results and conclusions

Six plant species displayed good activity against Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant strain (IC₅₀ < 10 μg/ml): a Monimiaceae, Siparuna aspera (Ruiz & Pavon), A. DC., two Zingiberaceae, Renealmia thyrsoidea (Ruiz & Pavon) Poepp. & Endl. and Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.), two Piperaceae (Piper aduncum L. and Piper sp.) and the leaves of Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.) D. Don (Bignoniaceae).Eight species displayed interesting leishmanicidal activities (IC₅₀ < 10 μg/ml): Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae), Piper dennisii Trel (Piperaceae), Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae), Cestrum racemosum Ruiz & Pav. (Solanaceae), Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) Zingiberaceae, Lantana sp. (Verbenaceae), Hyptis lacustris A. St.-Hil. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae) and Calea montana Klat. (Asteraceae). Most of them are used against skin affections by Yanesha people.Results are discussed herein, according to the traditional use of the plants and compared with data obtained from the literature.     

脏器特异性自身免疫疾病

一、脏器特异性自身免疫的研究动向 山村隆本文中的“脏器特异性自身免疫疾病”包括多发性硬化症（multiple sclerosis，MS）和1型糖尿病（DM）等难治性疾病。在最近举行的东西方学会上均以“脏器特异性自身免疫（organ-specific autolmmunity）”为题进行专题研讨。并且盛况空前。然而，关于这一命题至今还是一个本质不甚清晰的领域。其理由之一是本专题几乎同免疫学一切领域均具有一定的关联性。实际上，关于MS和1型DM的探索方面取得了某些成果的学者还是为数不少的。实验中最常用的是实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎（experimental autoimmune encephalomyetltis。EAE）和NOD小鼠（用以研究1型DM）等动物模型。     

Continuous versus interrupted sutures for repair of episiotomy or second-degree perineal tears: a randomised controlled trial

Objective  To evaluate the repair techniques of continuous and interrupted methods for episiotomy or perineal tears.
Design  A randomised controlled trial.
Setting  The Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, a state hospital belonging to the community of Madrid.
Sample  Four hundred forty-five women who had undergone vaginal deliveries with episiotomies or second-grade tearing of the perineum between September 2005 and July 2007.
Methods  One group was repaired with continuous, nonlocking sutures involving the vagina, perineum, and subcutaneous tissues. The other group had continuous, locking sutures of the vagina, interrupted sutures in the perineal muscles, and interrupted transcutaneous sutures. The threads used for stitching were identical in both groups.
Main outcome measures  The participants were questioned regarding the sensation of pain and the use of painkillers on the second and the tenth days, and 3 months postpartum.
Results  When comparing the group with continuous suture to the group with interrupted sutures, the differences included less repair time (1 minute; P = 0.017) and less suture material used (relative risk [RR], 3.2, 95% CI: 2.6–4.0). The comparison of pain on the second and tenth days, and 3 months postpartum were not statistically different between the two techniques (RR, 1.08, 95% CI: 0.74–1.57; RR, 0.96, 95% CI: 0.59–1.55; and RR, 0.68, 95% CI: 0.19–2.46, respectively).
Conclusions  Although we did not demonstrate that one technique was better than the other in the incidence of pain in the short or long term, we showed that episiotomy and perineal tear repairs with continuous suturing were quicker and used less suture material without an increase in complication than interrupted suturing.     

北京市社区妇女人乳头瘤病毒感染率及其对HPV和疫苗认知情况的调查分析

[目的]评估北京市社区妇女人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）的感染率;调查社区人群对HPV的认知情况以及对HPV疫苗接种的态度。[方法]采用横断面调查方法,对北京市展览路社区15￣54岁女性进行HPV认知和流行病学问卷调查,并留取了宫颈脱落细胞或会阴部标本进行HPV DNA检测。[结果]1013名女性接受了问卷调查,832例HPV DNA检测结果纳入了统计学分析。HPV总检出率为15.38%,高、低危型HPV感染率分别为13.34%和3.25%,同时感染高、低危型HPV的检出率为1.20%。1013名调查对象中有30.7%听说过HPV,其中51.78%知道HPV感染与宫颈癌有关;HPV的知晓率与年龄和教育程度有关（P〈0.05）;经过简单宣教后,75.91%愿意接种HPV疫苗。[结论]北京市社区妇女HPV现患率较高,对HPV的知晓率也较高。开展公众健康教育,提高人群的认识水平是疫苗计划获得成功的关键因素。