The CLDN5 locus may be involved in the vulnerability to schizophrenia.

The present study was designed to detect three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on 22q11 that was thought as being of particularly importance for genetic research into schizophrenia. We recruited a total of 176 Chinese family trios of Han descent, consisting of mothers, fathers and affected offspring with schizophrenia for the genetic analysis. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) showed that of three SNPs, rs10314 in the 3'-untranslated region of the CLDN5 locus was associated with schizophrenia (chi(2) = 4.75, P = 0.029). The other two SNPs, rs1548359 present in the CDC45L locus centromeric of rs10314 and rs739371 in the 5'-flanking region of the CLDN5 locus, did not show such an association. The global chi-square (chi(2)) test showed that the 3-SNP haplotype system was not associated with schizophrenia although the 1-df test for individual haplotypes showed that the rs1548359(C)-rs10314(G)-rs739371(C) haplotype was excessively non-transmitted (chi(2) = 5.32, P = 0.02). Because the claudin proteins are a major component for barrier-forming tight junctions that could play a crucial role in response to changing natural, physiological and pathological conditions, the CLDN5 association with schizophrenia may be an important clue leading to look into a meeting point of genetic and environmental factors.     

经直肠超声引导下经会阴125I粒子永久植入治疗前列腺癌的初步经验

目的探讨经直肠超声引导下经会阴125I粒子永久植入治疗前列腺癌的疗效和并发症。方法本组前列腺癌患者5例。年龄61￣83岁,平均70.4岁。临床分期T2bN0M0者2例,T3aN0M0者3例。Gleason评分6分者2例,7分者1例,8分者2例。术前前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)4.5￣17.5ng/ml。T3a期患者植入治疗前先行内分泌治疗。术前制定治疗计划,经直肠超声引导下经会阴125I粒子永久植入操作。术后观察PSA水平变化,连续3次PSA升高即为生化复发,观察术后尿路和直肠并发症发生情况。结果5例患者均术后恢复顺利。术后随访18个月,PSA均明显下降,PSA为0.1ng/ml者3例,0.01ng/ml者1例,0.04ng/m1者1例。5例患者术后均出现不同程度的尿路刺激症状,但6个月后逐渐好转。4例术后出现排便次数增多,术后3个月均好转。未发现尿失禁、直肠溃疡等并发症。结论经直肠超声引导下经会阴125I粒子永久植入治疗前列腺癌的疗效确切,创伤较小。     

Outcome in Children With Significantly Abnormal Cerebral Blood Flow Detected by Doppler Ultrasonography: Focus on the Survivors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Doppler waveform patterns of loss of diastolic flow, appearance of retrograde diastolic flow, or no detectable flow in the cerebral arteries suggest significantly abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF). A retrospective study was performed to show that significantly abnormal CBF alone, without clinical criteria, is not necessarily specific to brain death in the young pediatric population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven pediatric patients, from newborn to 4 years of age, were found to have significantly abnormal CBF, including 7 patients with loss of diastolic flow, 28 with retrograde diastolic flow, and 23 with no detectable cerebral flow on serial Doppler sonographic examinations. Their clinical data and sonographic results were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-two patients died, a few of whom had only transient improvement of cerebral flow. All of the patients with no detectable cerebral flow expired. Five patients survived with or without sequelae. Their underlying conditions that caused increased intracranial pressure were treated by medical and/or surgical intervention, and diastolic reversal of CBF corrected within 1 day in all 5. CONCLUSIONS: Although no detectable flow is a lethal sign, pediatric patients with loss or reversal of diastolic flow may survive with prompt and effective treatment. Using Doppler ultrasound to diagnose cerebral circulatory arrest should be done with caution in pediatric patients.     

两种MRI序列对听神经瘤成象的比较与评价

为选择中等场强的ＭＲＩ听神经瘤成像最佳序列。收集手术和病理证实的听神经瘤１３５例，分析序列Ⅰ、Ⅱ对内听道中心层面、三叉神经显示率及ＭＲ征象的显示情况。结果：序列Ｉ择内听道中心层面及三叉神经的显示均优于序列Ⅱ，序列Ⅱ在显示肿瘤内囊变、出血、不肿优于序列Ｉ；对肿瘤钙化、肿瘤血管、脑干移位的观察，两者相仿。结果显示：序列Ｉ在中等场经下作为听神经瘤成像的首选序列，并中运用到小脑角区ＭＲＩ成像。     

The epidemiology and surveillance of blood lead in Taiwan (R.O.C.): A report on the PRESS-BLL project

 To monitor the lead hazards in industries and to investigate the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in lead-exposed workers, a lead surveillance system (PRESS-BLLs) has been established and operated in Taiwan, Republic of China, since July 1993. A cohort of lead-exposed workers who received a periodic annual health examination at 55 accredited hospital laboratories was constructed. A total of 9807 separate BLL measurements were reported to the system in 1994. The mean BLL was 15.8 μg/dl in male workers and 11.6 μg/dl in female workers. The mean BLL of lead-exposed workers was significantly (P<0.05, z-test) higher than that of the general Taiwanese population (8.6 μg/dl for males and 6.7 μg/dl for females). In addition, the BLLs of 983 (10.0%) workers exceeded the regulatory action level (40 μg/dl for males; 30 μg/dl for females). The workplaces and homes of 57% of the workers with elevated BLLs were thoroughly investigated to determine the sources of lead contamination. These actions identified the causes of elevated BLLs and set up strategies to reduce workers’ lead exposure. The establishment of this occupational lead surveillance system represents a method for monitoring of lead hazards from occupational and environmental settings to prevent lead poisoning. The information acquired from the system can help in the setting up of a priority of prevention and the development of control measures. It is also useful for further monitoring of changes in the BLLs of the lead-exposed-worker cohort. The Health Department of Taiwan can use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of current industrial hygiene practice. Subjects with elevated BLLs have been medically treated and placed on long-term follow-up for sequelae. Received: 2 September 1996/Accepted: 29 November 1996     

肾细胞癌伴静脉癌栓15例临床分析

１９８５～１９９４年治疗肾细胞癌伴静脉癌栓１５例。按癌栓水平分为肾型１０例，肝下型４例，肝上型１例。Ｂ超和ＣＴ检查总确诊率７３％。手术１４例均完整取出癌栓，术后１３例接受５－ＦＵ加ＭＭＣ方案化疗。随访３个月～５年，１例肝下型和２例肾型无瘤存活分别３６、４３、５２个月，余均在术后２年内死亡。认为Ｂ超与ＣＴ互补应用可基本确诊静脉癌栓，除肝上型和已有血管壁浸润者外大部分癌栓可采用松解游离同时渐渐拉出的方式取出，癌栓水平除肝上型外对预后影响不大。