Inflammation in the cardia

The detection of chronic inflammation and intestinal metaplasia at the gastric side of a normal-appearing esophagogastric junction started active research on gastric cardia pathology. The main causes for this interest have been the increasing incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and cardia adenocarcinoma. Many controversies still exist. It is even controversial whether noninflamed gastric cardia epithelium is a normal structure present at birth or an acquired lesion as a consequence of GERD. Similarly, the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and intestinal metaplasia of gastric cardia are a matter of debate. Some researchers consider these lesions to be a consequence of Helicobacter pylori infection, whereas others think that chronic cardia inflammation and intestinal metaplasia are consequences of GERD. In this paper we review recent published studies in this field.     

小于胎龄儿的血清脂质浓度、胰岛素抵抗指数、追赶性生长与使用液相色谱串联质谱法测定的氢化可的松／可的松比值之间的相关性

宫内生长受限（IUGR）可以影响胎儿出生后的肾上腺皮质功能、脂类代谢以及葡萄糖耐量。氢化可的松（F）的合成和代谢情况影响血清F的浓度。11β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶2（11β-HSD2）可以将F转化为生物学上无活性的可的松（E）。11β-HSD2活性的降低可以解释IUGR以及其代谢结果。笔者本次研究旨在设计一种分析小于胎龄儿（SGA）血清F和E浓度的特异的液相色谱法一串联质谱法（LC-MS／MS），得出F／E的比值，并将其与血清脂质浓度、胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA．IR）及追赶性生长相比较。SGA组和对照组儿童在12岁时所测得的平均血清F和E浓度，以及F／E比值无差异。F／E比值最高的1／4SGA儿童在0～12岁期间身高增长较慢，其血清总胆固醇和LDL胆固醇水平比F／E比值较低的儿童要高。经过逻辑回归分析表明，高LDL胆固醇、高HOMA-IR以及青春期早与SGA儿童的高F／E比值相关。总之，笔者的LC-MS／MS方法使同时检测单份血清标本中F和E浓度成为可能。在SGA儿童中，高血清F／E比值可能与IUGR、其代谢结果以及追赶性生长较差有关。[编者按]     

Dietary zinc intake and the risk of depression in middle-aged men: A 20-year prospective follow-up study

Background

Zinc is an immunomodulatory trace element suggested to be beneficial in the augmentation of antidepressant therapy. Cross-sectional studies have also suggested an association between low dietary zinc and depression. This study examined the association between dietary zinc intake and depression in a prospective setting in initially depression-free men during a 20-year follow-up.

Methods

The study formed a part of the population-based Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) Study, and comprised 2317 Finnish men aged 42–61 years. Zinc intake was assessed at baseline by a 4-d food record. Baseline depression severity was recorded with the Human Population Laboratory Depression Scale. In the prospective setting, depression was defined as having received a hospital discharge diagnosis of unipolar depressive disorder. Individuals who at baseline had elevated depressive symptoms were excluded (n=283).

Results

Altogether, 60 (2.7%) individuals received a hospital discharge diagnosis of depression during the 20-year follow-up. In Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, baseline depression severity, smoking, alcohol use, physical exercise and the use of dietary supplements, belonging to the lowest tertile of energy-adjusted zinc intake was not associated with an increased depression risk (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.59–1.90).

Limitations

These observations may not be generalizable to women, or to individuals with a depression level not warranting hospitalization.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a low dietary zinc intake may not longitudinally precede depression in men. Dietary zinc intake may not have relevance for the prevention of depression in middle-aged men with a sufficient dietary zinc intake.     

Neurocognitive Functioning in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

There is a paucity of research studying comprehensive neurocognitive profiles of adolescents with higher functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study compared the neurocognitive profiles of higher functioning adolescents with ASD (n = 30, mean age 13.5) with that of typically developing adolescents (n = 30; mean age 13.7). Adolescents with ASD demonstrated a significantly higher mean Verbal Intelligence Quotient compared to the standardized mean. However, the ASD group had significantly lower scores than the control group on the subtests Auditory Attention and Response Set, Memory for Faces, Visuomotor Precision, and Design Copying. Thus, particular strengths were seen in verbal reasoning, while weaknesses were observed in auditory attention, facial recognition memory, and visuomotor functions in adolescents with ASD.     

Kaposi sarcoma in a HIV uninfected man who has sex with men

Kaposi''s sarcoma (KS) is a rare angioproliferative tumor associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection. Four clinical variants of KS have been described: classic, endemic, iatrogenic and HIV-associated. We describe a 53-year-old men who had sex with men with a rapidly growing nodule on his left foot. Histologically KS was confirmed. Our patient did not match the clinical subgroups as HIV infection or other immune disorders could be ruled out. KS in HIV-negative MSM has only been reported sporadically. It was shown that KS in these patients clinically resembles classic KS but occurs at a younger age, is limited to the skin, and is associated with a good prognosis.     

Serum Copper-to-Zinc Ratio and Risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cohort Study

Lung - Serum copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and Cu/Zn-ratio have emerged as ageing-related biomarkers. We sought to assess the association between Cu/Zn-ratio and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease...