Academic Degrees and Clinical Practice Characteristics: The University of Washington Physician Assistant Program: 1969-2000

CONTEXT: The physician assistant profession has been moving toward requiring master's degrees for new practitioners, but some argue this could change the face of the discipline. PURPOSE: To see if there is an association between physician assistants' academic degrees and practice in primary care, in rural areas, and with the medically underserved. METHODS: Surveys were sent to 880 graduates of the first 32 University of Washington physician assistant classes through 2000. Respondents noted their academic degree at program entry and the highest degree attained at any time up to the time of survey. Relationships between practice characteristics and academic degree levels were tested by unadjusted odds ratios and logistic regression after controlling for year of graduation and sex. RESULTS: Of the 478 respondents, 54% worked in primary care, about 30% practiced in nonmetropolitan communities, and 42% reported providing care for the medically underserved. Respondents with no degree (33% of total at entry, 24% at survey) were significantly more likely than degree holders to work in primary care and nonmetropolitan areas. Respondents with no degree at program entry were significantly more likely, and those with no degree at the time of the survey were marginally more likely, to self-report work with the medically underserved. CONCLUSION: Respondents with no academic degree are significantly more likely to demonstrate a commitment to primary, rural, and underserved health care. These findings may inform the national debate about the impact of required advanced degrees on the practice patterns of nonphysician providers.     

MPO和NAT2基因多态性与成人急性白血病易感性

目的研究髓过氧化物酶（MPO）和N-乙酰基转移酶2（NAT2）基因多态性与成人急性白血病易感性的关系.方法用1∶1配对病例-对照研究方法,收集成人急性白血病患者和对照各139例,应用聚合酶链-内切酶片段（PCR-RFLP）方法分析病例组和对照组MPO和NAT2的基因多态性,比较不同基因型与成人急性白血病易感性.结果 MPO-463A等位基因分布频率病例组低于对照组,MPO（G-463A）各基因型在病例组与对照组中的分布差异有统计学意义（χ^2=7.026,P〈0.05,OR=0.505,95%CI=0.325～0.847）.NAT2乙酰化表型频率在病例组与对照组的分布差异无统计学意义（χ^2=2.260,P〉0.05）;但NAT2＊5 481T等位基因和NAT2＊6 590A等位基因分布频率病例组高于对照组（P〈0.05）.结论 MPO与成人急性白血病易感性相关,携带MPO（G-463A）突变基因型（GA/AA）个体可降低白血病的发病风险;NAT2乙酰化表型可能与白血病的易感性无关,但NAT2＊5（C481T）、NAT2＊6（G590A）单核苷酸突变频率病例组明显高于对照组.     

重庆市主要交通干道机动车尾气污染状况

目的：探讨重庆市机动车尾气污染状况,为研究其对人群健康的影响提供依据.方法：测定重庆市主要交通干道空气中铅含量、苯并（a）芘[B（a）P]浓度、总悬浮颗粒、PM10、PM2.5和PM1浓度并进行相关分析.结果：重庆市各主要交通干道尾气污染物浓度均超过国家环境卫生标准.结论：该市应采取措施控制机动车尾气污染环境.     

Delayed and persistent suppression of bronchoconstriction by trypsin in the airway lumen.

Mucosal trypsin, a protease-activated receptor (PAR) stimulant, may have an endogenous bronchoprotective role on airway smooth muscle. To test this possibility the effects of lumenal trypsin on airway tone in segments of pig bronchus were tested. Bronchial segments from pigs were mounted in an organ chamber containing Kreb's solution. Contractions were assessed from isovolumetric lumen pressure induced by acetylcholine (ACh) or carbachol added to the adventitia. Trypsin, added to the airway lumen (300 microg x mL(-1)), had no immediate effect on smooth muscle tone but suppressed ACh-induced contractions after 60 min, for at least 3 h. Synthetic activating peptides (AP) for PAR1, PAR2 or PAR3 were without effect, but PAR4 AP caused rapid, weak suppression of contractions. Lumenal thrombin was without effect and did not prevent the effects of trypsin. Effects of trypsin were reduced by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester but not indomethacin. Trypsin, thrombin and PAR4 AP released prostaglandin E2. Adventitially, trypsin, thrombin and PAR4 AP (but not PAR2 AP) relaxed carbachol-toned airways after <3 min. The findings of this study show that trypsin causes delayed and persistent bronchoprotection by interacting with airway cells accessible from the lumen. The signalling mechanism may involve nitric oxide synthase but not prostanoids or protease-activated receptors.     

Mycophenolate Mofetil Use Is Associated with Decreased Risk of Late Acute Rejection in Adult Liver Transplant Recipients

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) used in a triple-drug regimen has been shown to decrease acute rejection rates, compared to a double-drug regimen. The impact of MMF on late acute rejection (LAR) episodes has not been well described. To investigate the risk of LAR (rejection > or = 6 months post-transplantation) data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) were used. We studied adult primary liver transplant recipients transplanted between June 1, 1995, and April 30, 2004, with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (n = 3356), hepatitis B virus (HBV) (n = 550) or a nonviral (n = 5740) primary cause of liver disease who were recorded as receiving continuous 3-(MMF + Tacro + steroids) versus 2-drug (Tacro + steroids) therapy for at least 6 months immediately post transplantation. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significantly lower LAR rates 4 years post-transplant in 3- versus 2-drug HCV, HBV and nonviral disease patients. Multivariate regression confirmed 3- versus 2-drug therapy to be associated with a decreased risk of LAR. Late graft survival was significantly lower at 4 years post-transplant for patients with LAR 6-12 months post-transplantation versus patients with early rejection (78.0% vs. 87.0%, p < 0.001) and no rejection (88.1%, p < 0.001). Three-drug versus 2-drug therapy for a minimum of 6 months may offer a better treatment strategy to avoid the consequences and expense of LAR episodes.