Epstein-Barr virus and familial Hodgkin's disease

Several studies suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is etiologically linked to Hodgkin's disease (HD). This study was undertaken to examine the role of EBV in familial HD (FHD). Among 60 FHD patients from 27 families with two or more cases per family, we tested available paraffinized tumor tissues from 46 cases by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER1) expression. Thirteen of 46 FHD patients (28%) had EBER1 expressed in the Reed-Sternberg cells. Concordance rate of EBV positivity was evaluated among 34 first-degree related pairs from 17 families for which both cases had available paraffinized tumor tissues. Only two of 17 pairs were concordant for EBER1 positivity. There was no excess of positive concordance (P = .18). Serologically, FHD patients had higher geometric mean antibody titers (GMTs) to the viral capsid antigen (VCA) and early antigen D (EA- D). There was no difference in seroprevalence between patients and control groups, nor was there concordance in elevated serology among 15 pairs of first-degree related FHD cases. Young adult unaffected family members (UFM) may not react to EBV in the same way as the general population as evidenced by the lower titer of VCA, although not statistically significant, and significantly lower titers of EA-D, compared with age-matched controls. While EBV might have some role in a subset of HD, lack of concordance of EBER1 expression and EBV serology among the FHD cases in the same family suggest that EBV does not play an important role in FHD.     

Aclacinomycin A and etoposide (VP-16-213): an effective regimen in previously treated patients with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia

Thirty-five patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were treated with aclacinomycin A (60 mg/m2/day for 5 days) and VP-16-213 (100 mg/m2/day for 5 days). All were previously treated and had relapsed or were refractory to primary treatment. Most patients (28) had received prior DAT (daunorubicin, cytosine arabinoside, and 6-thioguanine) induction therapy followed by one or more courses of high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD-Ara C) as consolidation therapy or as treatment for relapse. One patient was in her fourth relapse, one had relapsed acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (following remission with DAT and HD-Ara-C), one had a treatment-induced leukemia, and four patients were treated for primary treatment failures following two induction courses with DAT or a similar regimen. Fourteen patients had infections at start of therapy. Ten patients died within 14 days of treatment, all from sepsis or bleeding, before their marrow could be evaluated for leukemic response. Fourteen patients (40%) responded; 12 (34%) entered complete remission and two (6%) a partial remission (PR). Two of the four patients who were treated for primary treatment failures went into CR. The median CR duration was 99 days (range 30 to 455 days). Side effects from this treatment were similar to the conventional DAT regimen, although the gastrointestinal toxicity and mucositis appeared to be more severe. In addition, two of the patients had severe but reversible ventricular arrhythmias. The overall response (40%) and CR rate (34%) in this group of previously treated AML patients is encouraging, and further studies are needed to evaluate these preliminary findings.     

Combination of narrow band UVB and topical calcipotriol for the treatment of vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy has been used successfully for the treatment of vitiligo. Recently, topical calcipotriol has also been claimed to be effective, either as monotherapy or as a part of combination therapies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of NB-UVB and NB-UVB plus topical calcipotriol in the treatment of vitiligo. METHODS: NB-UVB treatment was given to 24 patients with generalized vitiligo three times weekly. Topical calcipotriol cream was only applied to the lesions located on the right side of the body. Treatment was continued for 6 months. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by determining the average response rates of the lesions at 3-month intervals. RESULTS: The average response rates of patients receiving combination of NB-UVB plus calcipotriol and NB-UVB alone were 51 +/- 19.6% and 39 +/- 18.9%, respectively. The median cumulative UVB dose and number of UVB exposures for initial repigmentation were 6345 mj/cm(2) (range; 2930-30980) and 18 (range; 12-67) for the combination therapy, and 8867.5 mj/cm(2) (range; 2500-30980) and 24 (range; 15-67) for the narrow band UVB therapy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that concurrent topical calcipotriol potentates the efficacy of NB-UVB in the treatment of vitiligo. This combination not only provides earlier pigmentation with lower total UVB dosage and less adverse UVB effects, but also reduces the duration and cost of treatment as well.     

High platelet count associated with venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: results from the Vienna Cancer and Thrombosis Study (CATS)

Summary.  Background:  In cancer patients, laboratory parameters that predict venous thromboembolism (VTE) are scarce. Increased platelet count has been found to be a risk factor for VTE in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (CHT). We have assessed high platelet count as a risk predictor for VTE in patients with cancer undergoing discriminative anti-cancer treatments and investigated whether platelet count correlates with thrombopoietin (TPO) levels. Design and methods:  The Cancer and Thrombosis Study (CATS) is an ongoing prospective observational study of patients with newly diagnosed cancer or progression of disease, which started in October 2003. Occurrence of VTE and information on the patients' anti-cancer treatment during follow-up were recorded. Results: Between October 2003 and February 2008, 665 patients with solid tumors were included (314 female/351 male, mean age 62 years). VTE occurred in 44 patients (18 female/26 male, mean age 62 years). The cumulative probability of VTE after 1 year was 34.3% in patients with a platelet count (PC) above the 95th percentile representing 443 × 10⁹/L compared with 5.9% in those below 443 × 10⁹/L. High platelet count [hazard ratio (HR): 3.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.52–8.06, P  = 0.0032], soluble P-selectin [HR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.42–4.96, P  = 0.0021] and surgery [HR: 4.05, 95% CI: 1.74–9.46, P  = 0.0012] were statistically significant risk factors for VTE in multivariable analysis along with leucocyte count, age, gender, radio- and CHT. We found no correlation between platelet count and TPO levels. Conclusions:  High PC is a clinically important, independent risk predictor for VTE in cancer patients. PC was not found to be associated with TPO levels.     

补肾方药归经与实验性骨质疏松靶器官信号转导分子Smad2的表达

目的:观察补肾方药归经与实验性骨质疏松靶器官信号转导分子Smad2的基因表达,从基因水平研究中医归经理论,为靶向给药提供依据。方法:实验于2004-06/2006-11在河北医科大学中西医结合基础实验室完成。实验分组:选择3个月龄健康雌性SD大鼠(未曾交配)90只,体质量(300±20)g。常规喂养1周后,随机数字表法分成7组:正常对照组、骨质疏松模型组、补肾方药口服组、肾经外贴组、膀胱经外贴组、依普拉封口服组、非经非穴位外贴组,其中正常对照组和骨质疏松模型组每组20只,其余每组各10只。实验处理:除正常对照组喂正常饲料,自由饮水外,其余各组均喂食低钙饲料,饮用蒸馏水,每周2次在大鼠大腿内侧肌肉注射地塞米松1mg/kg体质量,5周后建立骨质疏松模型。实验评估:造模后,用抗骨松穴位贴剂分别外贴肾经和膀胱经穴位、非经非穴位、并与口服补肾方药比较治疗骨质疏松,以双能X线骨密度仪检测连续给药16周后大鼠离体股骨骨密度,采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应、蛋白免疫印迹杂交方法分别检测Smad2的mRNA、蛋白表达,观察其治疗效果。结果:纳入90只大鼠,在实验第5周时,正常对照组、骨质疏松模型组分别取10只,用于验证造模成功,70只进入结果分析。①给药16周后,与骨质疏松模型组比较,补肾方药口服组、肾经外贴组、膀胱经外贴组、依普拉封口服组的股骨骨密度明显增加[(0.161±0.016),(0.206±0.028),(0.196±0.023),(0.202±0.015),(0.205±0.023)g/cm2,P均<0.01]。②应用补肾中药防治16周后,与骨质疏松模型组比较,补肾方药口服组、肾经外贴组、膀胱经外贴组、依普拉封口服组Smad2mRNA的表达明显上调(0.517±0.031,0.524±0.033,0.596±0.033,0.592±0.021,0.583±0.032,P<0.01);Smad2蛋白表达亦明显增强,差异显著(50.901±2.205,71.802±2.100,72.352±2.306,74.012±2.145,73.802±2.203,P<0.01)。结论:①补肾方药通过口服和外贴穴位两种不同途径均发挥“归经”作用,引起靶器官骨组织上调Smad2的表达而有效改善骨密度。②Smad2mRNA表达及蛋白水平的下调可能是原发性骨质疏松症发生的重要机制之一。     

补肾方药归经与实验性骨质疏松靶器官信号转导分子Smad4的表达

目的:观察补肾方药归经与实验性骨质疏松靶器官信号转导分子Smad4的基因表达,从基因水平研究中医归经理论,为靶向给药提供依据。方法:实验于2004-06/2007-05在河北医科大学中西医结合基础实验室完成。①实验分组:选择3月龄健康雌性SD大鼠(未曾交配)70只,体质量(300±20)g。常规喂养1周后,随机数字表法分成7组:正常对照组、病理模型组、补肾方药口服组、肾经外贴组、膀胱经外贴组、依普拉封口服组、非经非穴位外贴组,每组10只。②实验处理:除正常对照组喂正常饲料,自由饮水外,其余各组均喂食低钙饲料,饮用蒸馏水,每周2次在大鼠大腿内侧肌肉注射地塞米松1mg/kg体质量,5周后建立骨质疏松模型。造模后,补肾方药口服组将补肾方药总成分按8g/kg体质量灌喂给药;依普拉封口服组按10mg/kg体质量灌喂给药;正常对照组、模型组每天灌胃等体积的生理盐水,每天上午给药;膀胱经外贴组大鼠在膀胱经取肾俞、飞扬穴;肾经外贴组大鼠在肾经选太溪、大钟穴;非经非穴位外贴组大鼠在大腿内侧肌肉丰厚处选非经非穴位;于脱毛区贴上相应的膏剂,左右交替进行,1次/d。③实验评估:检测连续给药16周后的血清钙、磷、碱性磷酸酶、雌二醇、睾酮,以双能X线骨密度仪检测腰椎骨密度,采用反转录-聚合酶链反应、蛋白免疫印迹杂交方法分别检测Smad4的mRNA、蛋白表达。结果:70只大鼠均进入结果分析。①血清碱性磷酸酶、雌二醇、睾酮、骨密度:给药16周后,与病理模型组比较,补肾方药口服组、肾经外贴组、膀胱经外贴组、依普拉封口服组的血清碱性磷酸酶、雌二醇、睾酮、骨密度明显增加(P均<0.01)。②Smad4mRNA和Smad4蛋白的表达:应用补肾中药防治16周后,与病理模型组比较,补肾方药口服组、肾经外贴组、膀胱经外贴组、依普拉封口服组Smad4mRNA的表达明显上调(P<0.01);Smad4蛋白表达亦明显增强,差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论:①补肾方药通过口服和外贴穴位两种不同途径给药均发挥"归经"作用,使靶器官骨组织上调Smad4的表达而有效改善骨密度。②Smad4mRNA表达及蛋白水平的下调可能是原发性骨质疏松症发生的重要机制之一。     

Prevalence of antibodies to measles and rubella in Sana'a, Yemen

Prevalence of antibodies to measles and rubella was tested in sera collected from 1368 subjects in urban and rural Sana'a. Overall, 11.7% had no antibodies to measles and 14.6% had no antibodies to rubella, despite the fact that measles but not rubella vaccine is included in the vaccination program in Yemen. Of 89 children <5 years of age 49 (55.1%) had no detectable antibodies to measles, demonstrating that supplementary measles immunization campaigns are required to prevent virus circulation. Assessment of measles immune status among infants in the first year of life is required to determine the optimum age for measles vaccination. Rubella vaccination should be considered with care in Yemen.     

Body mass index centile charts to assess fatness of British children

Body mass index (BMI) relates weight to height and reflects the shape of a child, but because of age dependency it has not been used conventionally for the estimation of fatness in children. From measurements of Tayside children (n = 34,533) centile charts were constructed for BMI (wt/ht2) from the raw data of height and weight, using Cole's LMS method for normalised growth standards. These data were compared with the only available European BMI charts published from data of French children obtained over a period of 24 years from 1956-79. British children appear to be 'fatter'. Within a subgroup (n = 445) the BMI values were correlated with estimations of body fat, for boys and girls, from skinfold thickness (r = 0.8 and 0.81) and bioelectrical impedance (r = 0.65 and 0.7). The limits of acceptable BMI have yet to be defined.