Historical overview of analytical methods for the measurement of transthyretin.

The history of prealbumin dates back to the early forties and may be divided into three parts, based on a chronological and functional approach. The first part--the discovery and the identification of prealbumin--was essentially based on classical protein chemistry methods. The second--the demonstration of prealbumin as a thyroid hormone-binding protein (thyroxine-binding prealbumin)--has greatly benefited from isotopic techniques. The third one--establishing prealbumin as a nutritional marker--was a result of field studies on nutrition. The discovery of the role of prealbumin in retinol binding led to a change in its name, prealbumin becoming transthyretin. Finally, structural studies and mutation analysis of transthyretin in patients with amyloid neuropathy have opened a new area of research.     

Effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on Rhizobium sp. in pure culture

The effects of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on the growth rate, chemical composition, ¹⁴C-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake by Rhizobium sp. M 4 able to nodulate Arachis hypogaea were determined. Cellular growth was diminished by the presence of 10^?3 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the medium. Alterations in cellular chemical composition, in ¹⁴C-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and in ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake were found.     

Pars plana vitrectomy in aphakic and pseudophakic retinal detachment

Eighty-two consecutive aphakic or pseudophakic retinal detachments were treated by buckling and vitrectomy procedures. Functional results (86.6%) and the incidence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (11%) were comparable with reports of cases treated by the classic method.Presented at the 1984 meeting of the Club Jules Gonin in Lausanne, Switzerland     

Clinical trial comparing plasma arc and conventional halogen curing lights for orthodontic bonding.

The purpose of this clinical trial was to evaluate the reliability and time saved with a plasma arc curing unit (Apollo 95E, Dental/Medical Diagnostic Systems, Woodland Hills, Calif) compared with a conventional curing unit (Ortholux XL 3000, 3M Unitek, St Paul, Minn) for direct bracket bonding with resin adhesive. Forty-five patients were involved in the study, and 608 brackets were bonded in a contralateral quadrant pattern. The patients were followed for a mean (+/- standard deviation) period of 11 +/- 3.2 months. Survival analysis was carried out to compare the failure rate for the 2 techniques. The time required for bonding with each technique was also recorded. The mean survival time was 399 days, and there were no significant differences in survival time between the 2 bonding methods. Twelve bonding failures were reported with each technique. The curing time per bracket was significantly reduced with the plasma curing light compared with a conventional curing unit (65 +/- 19 vs 82 +/- 31 seconds). The plasma arc curing light can save chair-time without affecting the bonding failure rate.     

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, quality of life, and prognosis of patients with congestive heart failure and isolated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Prevalence of isolated left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been reported to be as high as one-third of all heart failure (HF) cases, with an increasing prevalence in the elderly population. However, there is a paucity of prospective data about the prevalence and prognosis of isolated LV diastolic dysfunction in an unselected population of patients hospitalized with HF. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated 179 consecutive patients discharged from our hospital with HF to assess the prevalence of systolic versus diastolic LV dysfunction among patients hospitalized with HF and to compare their demographics, clinical features, self-perceived quality of life (QOL), and 6-month readmission rate and mortality. Among them, 133 (59% men, median age 74 years) showed in sinus rhythm and had no significant primary valvular disease. LV diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed on the basis of the European Study Group on Diastolic HF echocardiographic criteria. QOL was assessed at hospital discharge and 6-month follow-up visit using the Minnesota Living with HF questionnaire. Survival of patients with HF was compared with that of age- and sex-matched general population. In all, 29 patients (22%) had isolated LV diastolic dysfunction and 102 (78%) had prevalent LV systolic dysfunction (ie, LV ejection fraction 相似文献   

咽旁间隙原发性肿块流行病学分析

目的：对咽旁间隙原发性肿块进行流行病学分析。方法：对咽旁间隙原发性239例肿块进行统计分析。结果：原发良性肿瘤患病比为61．09％，其中上皮源性肿瘤患病比最高，占19.25％；神经源性肿瘤第二位，占17．57％。原发性恶性肿瘤的患病比为35．15％，其中上皮源性恶性肿瘤的患病比最高，占21.76％；恶性淋巴瘤第2位，占7．95％。炎症的患病比为3．77％，其中淋巴结反应性增生最高。结论：咽旁间隙原发性肿块良性肿瘤的患病比最高，恶性肿瘤次之，炎症居第3位，比例约为17：9：1。     

肾病综合征患者腺苷脱氨酶活性的变化及意义

通过检测对激素不同反应、不同病情的肾病综合征（NS）患者的血清及淋巴细胞内腺苷脱氨酶（ADA）的活性变化，观察ADA活性与临床疗效的关系。     

眼轴线后部眶容积增大与眼球内陷比值的测定研究

目的:通过测量眼眶爆裂性骨折伴有眼眶扩大患者的后部眼眶容积、观察眼球内陷出现的时间及程度,研究后部眶容积扩大与眼球内陷的关系比值,为病情预测和眶内填充手术提供比较精确的参考数据。方法:将96例患者按发病时间分为早期病例组(60例、受伤时间1周以内)和晚期病例组(36例、受伤时间3个月以上),早期组除进行后部眼眶容积测量外,分别于1周、2周、3周测定眼球突出度(相差>1mm为阳性),记录眼球内陷出现时间,用卡方检验进行统计学分析;晚期组测量后部眶容积增大值和眼球内陷量,对其相关性采用Pearson统计方法进行统计学分析,并得出回归方程及相关系数。结果:早期组60例患者中,(58.33%)例患者在1周内出现眼球内陷,4(880%)例在2周内出现内陷,3周时有5(388.33%)例呈现出内陷;2周时出现眼球内陷的例数与1周时有显著性差异(χ2=62.484,P<0.001),2周时出现眼球内陷例数与3周时无差异(χ2=1.563,P>0.05),1周时出现眼球内陷例数与3周时有显著差异(χ2=76.885,P<0.001),后部眶容积增大与眼球内陷的比值约为1.0,两者之间呈正相关(r=0.994,P<0.001),即后部眶容积每增加1ml,产生1.0mm的眼球内陷。结论:眼球内陷通常于伤后2周～3周出现,3个月时趋向稳定;后部眶容积增大与眼球内陷产生比值为1.0,呈正相关;后部眶容积扩大与眼球内陷比值可预测发生眼球内陷的可能性和程度,为手术矫正眼球内陷提供可靠、精确的参考,具有十分重要的临床指导意义。