Plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide in diagnosing and predicting paediatric migraine

To investigate the role of plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in paediatric migraine, we prospectively collected 134 blood samples during or between attacks from 66 migraine, 33 non-migraine headache (non-migraine) and 22 non-headache patients, aged 4–18 years. Plasma CGRP concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and disability by Pediatric MIgraine Disability ASsessment (PedMIDAS) questionnaire. Migraineurs had higher plasma CGRP levels than non-migraine patients ( P  = 0.007). The attack level was higher than the non-attack level in migraine ( P  = 0.036), but not in non-migraine, patients. This was also revealed in paired comparison ( n  = 9, P  = 0.015 vs. n  = 4, P  = 0.47). Using a threshold of 55.1 pg/ml, the sensitivity of the attack level in predicting migraine was 0.81, and specificity 0.75. The PedMIDAS score tended to be higher in the high CGRP (> 200 pg/ml, n  = 7) group than in the low (< 200 pg/ml, n  = 33) group (26.07 vs. 19.32, P  = 0.16) using Mann–Whitney test. Plasma CGRP is useful for diagnosis in paediatric migraine.     

肼屈嗪对视网膜色素上皮细胞的抗氧化作用及其治疗老年黄斑变性的潜在作用(英文)

目的:探讨在缺氧性损害下肼屈嗪对视网膜色素上皮(ARPE-19)细胞的抗氧化效果以及活性氧(ROS)在此效果中的作用。方法:用人视网膜色素上皮细胞研究肼屈嗪对氧化应激的作用,包括特丁基氢过氧化物(t-BHP)、过氧化氢(H2O2)、叠氮化钠(NaN3),以及缺氧引起的细胞坏死。用MTT检验测试细胞活性。结果:用ROS诱导的氧化应激治疗ARPE-19细胞,肼屈嗪在抵抗t-BHP、H2O2、缺氧引起的细胞坏死中表现出浓度依赖性,但对NaN3不具有浓度依赖性。这一作用中不涉及到一氧化氮(NO)。结论:肼屈嗪在ARPE-19细胞中表现出抗氧化应激诱导的破坏,这一作用可能是因为对ROS的净化剂作用。所以肼屈嗪可能用于治疗老年黄斑变性。     

Murine response to DNA encoding herpes simplex virus type-1 glycoprotein D targeted to the liver

Plasmid DNA encoding herpes simplex virus type-1 glycoprotein D (gD-1) was complexed with asialoorosomucoid conjugated to poly-L-lysine. Following its intravenous injection into BALB/c mice, this complex was targeted to the liver. Liver cells expressing gD-1 were detected immunohistochemically through day 6 post-immunization, while gD-1 DNA was detectable through 14 days post-immunization. Decline of gD-1 expression and detectable gD-1 DNA in the liver correlated with influx of T cells, predominantly CD4(+). The ASOR-poly-L-lysine DNA carrier system promotes hepatic expression of gD-1 and may be useful in vaccination against herpes simplex virus type-1.     

人工合成白细胞介素-1受体阻断剂对大鼠葡萄膜炎的影响

目的 观察人工合成的白细胞介素－１受体阻断剂对大鼠葡萄膜炎的治疗作用。方法 选择１８只（３６只眼）Ｓｐｒａｇｕｅ＝Ｄａｗｌｅｙ大鼠,采用酶联免疫吸附测定的方法,对人工合成的ＩＬ－１受体阻断剂治疗前、后的大鼠葡萄膜炎动物模型的视网膜内ＩＬ－β和肿瘤坏死因子的含量进行测定。结果 ＩＬ－１受体阻断剂（ＣＫ－１３８,ＣＫ－１３９）治疗组,基 膜内ＩＬ－１β和ＴＮＦα的含量均显著低于对照组的含量。结论 人工     

Long-term arsenic exposure and incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a cohort study in arseniasis-hyperendemic villages in Taiwan

Diabetes prevalence in arseniasis-hyperendemic villages in Taiwan has been reported to be significantly higher than in the general population. The aim of this cohort study was to further evaluate the association between ingested inorganic arsenic and the incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in these villages. A total of 446 nondiabetic residents in these villages were followed biannually by oral glucose tolerance test. Diabetes is defined as a fasting plasma glucose level > or = 7.8 mmol/L and/or a 2-hr post-load glucose level > or = 11.1 mmol/L. During the follow-up period of 1499.5 person-years, 41 cases developed diabetes, showing an overall incidence of 27.4/1,000 person-years. The incidence of diabetes correlated with age, body mass index, and cumulative arsenic exposure. The multivariate-adjusted relative risks were 1.6, 2.3, and 2.1 for age > or = 55 versus < 55 years, a body mass index ¿Greater/Equal to] 25 versus < 25 kg/m(2), and a cumulative arsenic exposure > or = 17 versus < 17 mg/L-years, respectively. The incidence density ratios (95% confidence intervals) between the hyperendemic villages and the two nonendemic control townships were 3.6 (3.5-3.6), 2.3 (1.1-4.9), 4.3 (2.4-7.7), and 5.5 (2.2-13.5), respectively, for the age groups of 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65-74 years. The findings are consistent with our previous cross-sectional observation that ingested inorganic arsenic is diabetogenic in human beings.     

Hepatotoxicity caused by Breynia officinalis

Breynia officinalis has the Chinese proprietary name, Chi R Yun, which means dizziness or vertigo for 7 d. In daily practice, it has been used to treat venereal diseases, contusion, heart failure, growth retardation and conjunctivitis in combination with other traditional Chinese medicines. Two hospital-based cases of Breynia officinalis poisoning have been reported to the Poison Control Center. Case 1 was a 43-y-old female who consumed a mixture of 1500 g lower stem and root of Ji Mu Ju in boiled water in a suicide attempt. Her AST reached 264 and ALT reached 2443. Case 2 was a 51-y-old female who consumed 20 pieces of lower stem and root of Ji Mu Ju stewed with meat and 100 ml of wine to treat chronic contact dermatitis. Her AST reached 3815 and ALT reached 6625. In both cases Breynia officinalis was identified as the cause of poisoning. Poisoning in humans involves the neurologic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, urinary and respiratory systems. Hepatotoxic effects have been reported for some Chinese herbal medicines, but not Breynia officinalis: Breynia officinalis poisoning causes hepatocellular liver injury rather than cholestatic liver injury.     

Tuberculin skin test and anergy in dialysis patients of a tuberculosis-endemic area

BACKGROUND/AIM: Uremic patients are at an increased risk of being affected by tuberculosis (TB). Periodical tuberculin skin tests were suggested to detect TB-infected patients. These were replaced by chest radiographs in endemic areas like Taiwan. However, almost 50% of the TB incidence in dialysis patients was extrapulmonary. In this study, we tried to investigate the value of tuberculin tests in dialysis patients in endemic areas. METHODS: The patients were recruited from our dialysis unit. Purified protein derivative (PPD) and control tests with antigens for Candida and toxoid were performed using the Mantoux method. PPD with >10-mm induration will be considered positive. Skin anergy meant that the indurations of all antigens were less than 5 mm. A follow-up was done 12 months after the tests. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients were evaluated. Anergy was found in 40 patients (22.6%). A positive predictor of anergy was age >45 years (p = 0.03), while a negative predictor was prealbumin >20 mg/dl (p = 0.04). Fifty-three patients (30%) had positive PPD tests. Seven of the positive PPD patients (13.2%) developed active TB during the following years. Among the 40 patients with skin anergy, 6 (15%) were found to have active TB. Of the 48 patients (21.1%) with indurations of the PPD tests between 5 and 10 mm, none was found to have active TB. CONCLUSION: Although anergy will influence the sensitivity of PPD tests, these tests in combination with anergy tests could help to establish the diagnosis of TB in uremic patients, even in TB-endemic areas.