Increased mRNA expression levels of ERCC1, OGG1 and RAI in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas

Background  

The majority of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases develop through the adenoma-carcinoma pathway. If an increase in DNA repair expression is detected in both early adenomas and carcinomas it may indicate that low repair capacity in the normal mucosa is a risk factor for adenoma formation.     

Changes in prevalence and severity of asthma among schoolchildren in a Swedish district between 1985 and 1995

The same questionnaire and study design was used in two surveys of asthma among all the children attending the 9-y compulsory school in Sundsvall in 1985 (n = 10 527) and 1995 (n = 9 165). A detailed questionnaire was distributed by post to the parents of all children who had answered in the affirmative to a simple screening question on asthmatic symptoms at the beginning of the autumn term. The questionnaire contained detailed questions on symptoms and asthma management. Our findings indicated a moderate increase in reported asthma-like symptoms and physician-diagnosed asthma between 1985 and 1995. The severity of symptoms was unchanged, despite a large community-based asthma campaign and a tenfold increase in the number of children receiving inhaled steroids. A validation analysis included an interview by a physician, a skin prick test, determination of specific IgE antibodies and spirometry. The oral interviews suggested that undertreatment was common. Many children had adequate medication at home, but this medication was not used properly. Finally, all 13-14-y-old children also replied to written and video questionnaires from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). It is likely that differences in study design explained the much higher prevalence of wheezing in this part of the study.     

Diagnosis and treatment of hepatic cysts

Hepatic cysts are at the present time of widespread use of abdominal ultrasonography a frequent finding. The authors summarize contemporary diagnostic possibilities of liver cysts and submit variants of the therapeutic procedure in case of symptomatic liver cysts. They present their own experience with the treatment of hepatic cysts by the evaluation method combined with administration of 96% ethanol into the cyst. They compare this therapeutic procedure with the method of simple evaluation of the contents of the cyst. The method of evaluation of hepatic cysts under ultrasonographic control with subsequent administration of 96% alcohol appears to be more successful from the aspect of the long-term effect, manifested by the disappearance of clinical symptoms and non-refilling of the cyst.     

Prognostic markers of sepsis and septic shock

The first stage of systemic inflammatory response during sepsis and septic shock is the massive production of proinflammatory cytokines. Numerous clinical trials were done investigating various agents that were thought to stop this reaction. The results, however, were disappointing. Then it was realised that massive production of antiinflammatory cytokines could also be delirious. Persistent immunosuppression in the course of sepsis increased the risk of death. Therefore the proper balance between pro- and antiinflammatory mediators is extremely important and the methodologies available for monitoring immunological status in patients with sepsis and septic shock are currently of great interest.     

Expression of epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor-alpha in the human fetal inner ear

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), EGF receptor and transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha was analyzed in the human fetal inner ear using immuno-histochemical methods. EGF receptor was observed only in 9.5-week-old fetal vestibular epithelia. In 14- and 16-week-old fetuses, EGF receptor could not be detected. TGF-alpha was observed strongly in the 9- and 11-week-old vestibular epithelia, whereas only trace amounts were detectable in the 14- and 16-week-old vestibular epithelia. These findings suggest that EGF and TGF-alpha probably have a mitogenic effect in the sensory epithelia of the fetal inner ear, especially at early stages of development.     

Multi-frequency tympanometry in experimentally-induced cochlear lesions in chinchillas and guinea pigs

OBJECTIVES: To establish that susceptance-conductance tympanograms at a probe-tone frequency of 2 kHz reflects the status of the annular ligament (AL) and through it of the cochlea. METHODS: Experimental study in 5 chinchillas and 22 guinea pigs. Six validating experiments were used: blockages of the stapes and of the round window membrane (RWM), fistula of the RWM, fluid removal from the cochlea, injection of saline in the scala tympani (ST) and acoustic trauma (AT). Quantitative data (mean values of Y226, FR, Y2000, G2000 and B2000) and shape of the curves were analyzed before and immediately after lesions were done. RESULTS: Guinea pig was the most convenient provided bulla was vented and the same tip was used along the experiments. Only the shape of the curves are discriminant: 1/a supplementary sharp peak, centered around negative pressures, is observed in Y/G tympanograms in every case of RWM fistulas and in some case of AT. 2/injection of saline into ST induces immediate and reproducible Y2000, G2000, et B2000 curves modifications. 3/RWM and stapes blockages provoke foreseeable stiffening and sharpening of the tympanograms at 2 kHz. 4/on the contrary, fluid removal from the cochlea induces multiple peaks curves. CONCLUSIONS: Experimentally-induced modifications at the AL either direct (stapes blockage) or indirect by AT or decrease/increase of pressure load at the cochlear interface at the footplate result in noticeable, constant, reproducible changes of curves registered at 2 kHz. The stapes behaves both as the plotter of the curves and the interpreter of the inner ear pressure.     

甲硝唑的非破坏分析

偏最小二乘（ＰＬＳ）法同近红外漫反射光谱法结合，非破坏分析了粉末药品甲硝唑。讨论了波长对ＰＬＳ定量预测能力的影响。校正样品和预测样品预测结果的相对标准误差分别为０．０８６６％和０．１５５７％。结果满意