Linkage between the loci for cystic fibrosis and paraoxonase

In a material of 22 Danish, 26 Canadian, 10 Australian, 5 English and 5 American families with at least 2 children affected with cystic fibrosis (CF) a combined positive LOD score of 3.46 was found for the relationship cystic fibrosis-paraoxonase (PON) at recombination fraction theta = 0.07 in males and theta = 0.13 in females. Assuming a three allele model for PON the LOD score was 4.50 at the same recombination fractions. This confirms our earlier finding of an indication of CF-PON synteny.     

What are people really eating? The relation between energy intake derived from estimated diet records and intake determined to maintain body weight

Two hundred sixty-six free-living human volunteers, 21-64 y old, were trained by dietitians to record daily their food intake for at least 7 d. Subsequently, they were fed diets of conventional foods adjusted in amounts to maintain their body weight for greater than or equal to 45 d. Comparing their estimated energy intake with the intake determined to maintain weight yielded mean differences of 2365 and 1792 kJ (565 and 428 kcal) in men and women, respectively, representing an underreporting of 18%. Twenty-two individuals (8%) overestimated and 29 (11%) were accurate to within 419 kJ (100 kcal) of their maintenance requirement. The remaining 215 individuals (81%) reported their habitual intake at 2930 +/- 1586 kJ (700 +/- 379 kcal) below that subsequently determined as their maintenance requirement. These findings suggest caution in the interpretation of food-consumption data.     

Evaluation of nutrient intakes of rural elders in eleven southern states based on sociodemographic and life style indicators

Nutrient intakes of 2893 rural free-living elderly persons aged 65 and older residing in 11 southern states were studied. Data being reported herein include food intake by a 24-hr recall, meal preparation settings and use of dietary supplements and socioeconomic variables. High percentages of monthly income were spent on food, particularly among black females and participation rates in community service programs, including senior centers and home delivered meals, were low. Caloric intakes by rural males were 1603 and 1365 kcal, respectively, for whites and blacks; 1270 and 1259 kcal for white and black females, respectively. Means for most of the nutrients equalled or exceeded the RDAs for this age group except energy and calcium. Age had little influence on nutrient intake. Race showed as a significant determinant on the nutrient intake index computed from 11 key nutrient intakes; however, the significant effect of race disappeared when either income or educational level was used as covariate. Thus, the disparities in intakes between the black and white elders were due partly to income rather than race. Of these rural elders, 46.5% consumed meals alone. Eating alone per se did not have a significant impact on nutrient consumption, but 35.2% of those eating alone indicated that they ate less, had fewer choices or ate more. Dietary supplements were used by 33.9% of rural elders, and their intakes of several nutrients were higher than by nonusers. More effort by community services to reach rural elders is needed, particularly those in the low socioeconomic spectrum.     

Biochemical differentiation of nascent neurite junctions: unilateral localization of adheron components

Previous work showed that adhesive contacts made by growth cone filopodia involve extracellular filaments that can be labeled with an antiserum to adherons (adhesion-promoting complexes in conditioned medium). Here, adheron antigens were found to be differentially expressed by particular cell types and synaptic layers during chick retina development, and this differential expression at the cellular level was retained in culture. When applied to living cells, adheron antibodies characteristically patched at filopodial junctions. Monospecific antibodies to purpurin and a heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG), two components of adherons, labeled a subpopulation of junctions. Most interestingly, anti-purpurin and anti-HSPG bound only to one end of adhesive filaments. Such localization to discrete microdomains provides support for a heterotypic adhesive mechanism in junction formation.     

广东省中山市处级干部健康体检结果分析

目的了解干部人群的身体健康状况,为预防保健工作提供依据。方法对2006年中山市处级干部(包括副处级)进行全面健康检查。结果1166名参加体检的干部异常检出率100%。患病率高的前几种疾病为高血脂(56.7%),高尿酸(49.7%),高血压(43.3%),脂肪肝(15.5%),高血糖(14.9%),胆囊结石(7.7%)。结论处级干部的健康状况令人担忧,应重视加强处级干部的预防保健工作,坚持定期体检。     

Changes in refractive trends and optical components of Hong Kong Chinese aged over 40 years

The age trends of refractive errors, astigmatism and optical components were studied in 220 Chinese subjects aged over 40 years. Myopia did not dominate in this age group. With increasing age, the prevalence of hyperopia increases from 2% at age 40–45 years to 66% at age > 65 years. Against-the-rule astigmatism was more prevalent than the other types. Significant correlations were found between age and spherical equivalent power, age and vitreous depth and axial length. Sex differences were found among the optical components but not in the refractive error. Myopia appears to be more prevalent among the younger age groups than the older age groups of the Hong Kong Chinese population, and the importance of genetics in determination of refractive error is called into question by these findings.     

Biliary intraepithelial neoplasia: an international interobserver agreement study and proposal for diagnostic criteria.

Cholangiocarcinoma of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts develops through a multistep histopathologic sequence. Premalignant or non-invasive neoplastic lesions of bile ducts have been historically called biliary dysplasia or atypical biliary epithelium. To this date, no standard terminology or classification system has been offered for these lesions. In 2005, a conceptual framework and diagnostic criteria for biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) were proposed using the livers of patients with hepatolithiasis. We report herein an international interobserver agreement study on the diagnosis of biliary non-invasive neoplastic lesions with the goal to obtain a consensus on the terminology and grading. Seventeen pathologists from the United States, Europe and Asia participated in this study. They shared a digital file containing histological pictures of 30 foci of non-invasive neoplastic lesions selected from the biliary system of patients suffering from primary sclerosing cholangitis, choledochal cyst or hepatolithiasis. In the criteria, we proposed in 2005, BilIN was classified into three categories based on the degree of atypia: BilIN-1, BilIN-2 and BilIN-3. In this study, consensus was reached for the terminology of BilIN and the three-grade classification system. Interobserver agreement on the diagnosis was moderate (kappa-value=0.45). On the basis of the suggestions and opinions obtained from the 17 participants, the original criteria for BilIN were revised. We now propose a new consensus classification of BilIN that may assist in allowing a more uniform terminology for the diagnosis of biliary non-invasive neoplastic lesions. This classification should help to advance clinical and research applications.     

CT引导下介入治疗肾囊肿的临床应用

目的探讨CT引导下穿刺硬化剂治疗肾囊肿的方法及疗效。方法经B超或CT诊断的78例84个肾囊肿在CT定位下经皮穿刺抽吸,行无水乙醇反复冲洗法硬化剂治疗,用18~22 G穿刺针抽吸,注入99.7%无水乙醇,注射量为抽出囊液量的25%~30%。术后每隔3个月复查,随访其疗效。结果其中79个囊肿一次穿刺成功,随访3个月~1年,复查见51例54个囊肿消失,22例24个囊肿缩小,4例4个囊肿未见缩小。有效率95.2%,消失率64.2%,无严重并发症。结论CT引导下经皮穿刺硬化剂治疗肾囊肿是一种安全、有效的治疗方法,具有较高的临床实用价值。     

Splenic angiosarcoma metastasis to the brain

Angiosarcoma is a rare primary non-haematolymphoid malignant neoplasm of the spleen. This neoplastic process has a poor prognosis, with disease usually widespread by the time of presentation. In the literature there has been only six case reports of cerebral metastasis from splenic angiosarcomas. We report a 61-year-old woman who presented with a right occipital metastasis of a splenic angiosarcoma, 5 years after initial diagnosis, treated by stereotactic occipital craniotomy and resection of metastasis.