Progesterone increases circulating endothelial progenitor cells and induces neural regeneration after traumatic brain injury in aged rats

Vascular remodeling plays a key role in neural regeneration in the injured brain. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a mediator of the vascular remodeling process. Previous studies have found that progesterone treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) decreases cerebral edema and cellular apoptosis and inhibits inflammation, which in concert promote neuroprotective effects in young adult rats. However, whether progesterone treatment regulates circulating EPC level and fosters vascular remodeling after TBI have not been investigated. In this study, we hypothesize that progesterone treatment following TBI increases circulating EPC levels and promotes vascular remodeling in the injured brain in aged rats. Male Wistar 20-month-old rats were subjected to a moderate unilateral parietal cortical contusion injury and were treated with or without progesterone (n=54/group). Progesterone was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 16mg/kg at 1?h post-TBI and was subsequently injected subcutaneously daily for 14 days. Neurological functional tests and immnunostaining were performed. Circulating EPCs were measured by flow cytometry. Progesterone treatment significantly improved neurological outcome after TBI measured by the modified neurological severity score, Morris Water Maze and the long term potentiation in the hippocampus as well as increased the circulating EPC levels compared to TBI controls (p<0.05). Progesterone treatment also significantly increased CD34 and CD31 positive cell number and vessel density in the injured brain compared to TBI controls (p<0.05). These data indicate that progesterone treatment of TBI improves multiple neurological functional outcomes, increases the circulating EPC level, and facilitates vascular remodeling in the injured brain after TBI in aged rats.     

Advantages of transurethral rotoresection versus standard transurethral resection in the management of benign hyperplasia of the prostate

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The endourologic community is in search of safer and efficient alternatives to conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This research compared the efficacy of two transurethral resection techniques - conventional loop and rotoresection - in the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2000 through December 2001, we randomized 128 BPH patients aged 55 to 74 years (average 61.4 +/- 2.7 years), all complaining of symptoms for prostatism for 1 to 14 years (average 4.5 +/- 1.5 years), to either transurethral rotoresection (TURotor; N = 58) or TURP (N = 70). The mean ages in the two groups were 67.53 +/- 7.21 years and 62.93 +/- 6.43 years, respectively. The diagnosis of BPH was made on the basis of patient history, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography, uroflowmetry, and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration. Three months after surgery, we again measured the residual urine volume, uroflow, IPSS, and prostate size by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The TURotor took 30.1 +/- 10.2 minutes with an intraoperative blood loss of 130 +/- 25 mL. During the immediate postoperative period, an insignificant amount of blood was visible in the urine and irrigation fluid. We removed the catheter at 1.8 +/- 0.69 days. At 3 months' follow-up, the maximum uroflow rate (Q(max)) had increased to 19.87 +/- 6.77 mL/sec, and the residual urine volume had fallen to 38.75 +/- 18.84 mL. The average TURP lasted 42.1 +/- 13.2 minutes, or almost 30% longer than TURotor. The intraoperative blood loss averaged 21050 mL. The catheter was removed in 2.2 +/- 0.78 days. At 3 months, the Q(max) was 20.78 +/- 6.56 mL/sec, and the average amount of residual urine had fallen to 35.48 +/- 8.71 mL. CONCLUSION: Rotoresection is a promising alternative to conventional TURP because it affords almost bloodless, 30% faster removal of prostate tissue.     

A time series analysis of outdoor air pollution and preterm birth in Shanghai, China

Objective To investigate the relation between air pollution exposure and preterm birth in Shanghai, China. Methods We examined the effect of ambient air pollution on preterm birth using time-series approach in Shanghai in 2004. This method can eliminate potential confounding by individual risk factors that do not change over a short period of time. Daily numbers of preterm births were obtained from the live birth database maintained by Shanghai Municipal Center of Disease Control and Prevention. We used the generalized additive model (GAM) with penalized splines to analyze the relation between preterm birth, air pollution, and covariates. Results We observed a significant effect of outdoor air pollution only with 8-week exposure before preterm births. An increase of 10 μg/m3 of 8-week average PM10, SO2, NO2, and O3 corresponded to 4.42% (95%CI 1.60%, 7.25%), 11.89% (95%CI 6.69%, 17.09%), 5.43% (95%CI 1.78%, 9.08%), and 4.63% (95%CI 0.35%, 8.91%) increase of preterm birth. We did not find any significant acute effect of outdoor air pollution on preterm birth in the week before birth. Conclusion Ambient air pollution may contribute to the risk of preterm birth in Shanghai. Our analyses also strengthen the rationale for further limiting air pollution level in the city.     

Interaction between ambient particles and ozone and its effect on daily mortality

Objective To examine the effect of particulate matter （PM） less than 10 microns in diameter （PM10） and ozone （O3） on daily mortality in Shanghai, China. Methods A generalized additive model with penalized spline function was used to observe the acute effect of PM10 and O3 on daily mortality. Results Higher PM10 significantly increased the effect of 03 on total mortality, and O3 also increased the effect of PM10 although the estimated increment was statistically insignificant. Conclusion Our findings provide further evidence for the effect of PM10 and O3 on daily mortality.     

Antiviral therapy for ＂difficult-to-treat＂ hepatitis C virus-infected patients

Objective To review the updated research on direct antiviral agents （DAAs）-including regimens for hepatitis C virus （HCV）,and focus on ＂difficult-to-treat＂ HCV-infected patients.Data sources The literature concerning DAAs and hepatitis C cited in this review was collected from PubMed and Google Scholar databases published in English up to July 2013.Study selection Data from published articles regarding HCV and DAAs in clinical trials and in clinical use were identified and reviewed.Results It was recognized that some ＂difficult-to-treat＂ patients would still exist,even though stronger treatments using such as DAAs,including telaprevir and boceprevir,which lead to higher sustained virological response rates,are available.Such patients include those with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis,elderly persons,children,HCV-human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients,HCV-infected recipients,and so on.Conclusions Certain ＂difficult-to-treat＂ patients would still exist,even though stronger treatment is available.Although evidence from clinical trials is still lacking,interferon-sparing regimens could have stronger effects for eradicating HCV in such cases.     

北京市农村新发现肺结核传染源控制情况

北京市的农村结核病防治工作从1978年起按照全市防治工作的指导思想(一切防治措施要有充分的科学根据;讲求实效、扎扎实实地稳步前进:讲求高效率;讲求高经济效益;结合本市实际情况.实现现代化;在科学的基础上向简单化、标准化、统一化、制度化的方向发展)和工作重点(控制传染源;充分发挥化学疗法的作用;农村防治工作)进行的。     

中国防痨协会召开第五届会员代表大会 中国防痨协会第四届理事会工作报告

各位代表: 我受第四届理事会的委托,向全体代表作工作报告,请审议。在党中央发展科学技术、文教事业、改革科研体制的正确方针指引下,在中国科学技术协会(以下简称中国科协)、中央卫生部的领导下,在各地分会和广大会员的支持下,结合协会工作的特点,以中国科协“三大”精神为主导,积极开展各项工作,为提高和普及本学科科学技术知识、推动防痨事业发展、出成果、出人才,为加速实现我国社会主义现代化,为提高中华民族的科学文化水平,为把我国建成高度文明、高度民主的社会主义社会国家做出了应有的贡献。以下分八个方面进行汇报: 一、组织建设组织建设是协会开展工作的基础,本届理事会加     

肺结核治疗的进展

肺结核是古老的疾病,在很长的时间里,没有有效的治疗方法。大约一百年以前,开始实行包括休息、营养、空气、阳光的卫生营养疗法。这种方法对于轻病人,固然有一定的效果,但对于痰中排菌较重的病人则效果甚差。应用疗养方法,排菌的病人在四年内的治愈率仅达约20%,而病死率可达约60%,其余的