Imaging features of central nervous system haemangiopericytomas

Intracranial and spinal haemangiopericytomas are uncommon, durally based tumours. They macroscopically resemble meningiomas but are distinct histologically, have a more aggressive natural history and require different management. We present a pictorial review illustrating the radiological manifestations of these tumours that will aid in their preoperative identification.     

Epstein Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 in Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigerians

Background

The burden of lymphomas on the health care system in Nigeria is enormous. Correct diagnosis and identification of aetiological factor are important steps in reducing this burden.

Methods

Eight cases diagnosed as HL within a period of six years at the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria by haematoxylin and eosin (Hand E) only were immunophenotyped using the indirect immunoperoxidase method. Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), CD15 and CD30 immunohistochemistry was also performed. The clinical characteristics of each patient were documented.

Objectives

To document the frequency of involvement of Epstein-Barr virus in cases of HL seen in a university hospital in Nigeria.

Results

Out of the eight cases diagnosed by H&E as HL immunophenotyping showed only five were HL. The rest were non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma (2 diffuse large B-cell and 1 null cell ALCL). All were cases of classical HL with 60% being of the mixed cellularity (MC) subtype. There were 2 males and 3 females with ages ranging from 7 years to 40 years. All presented with cervical lymphadenopathy and three had splenomegaly in addition. 60% of the tumour was EBV positive, all of the MC subtype. Three patients had chemotherapy. Eventually all were lost to follow-up. There was no case of the nodular lymphocyte predominance variant.

Conclusion

Mixed cellularity is the most common subtype and is the only subtype associated with EBV positivity in this study. Epstein-Barr virus probably plays an important role in the aetiology of HL in Nigerians.Running title: Epstein-Barr virus, Hodgkin''s lymphoma in Nigerians     

胰岛素抵抗和非胰岛素抵抗多囊卵巢综合征患者的对比研究

目的探讨多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)胰岛素抵抗(IR)患者的临床特征。方法选取48例PCOS患者,将稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)>3.8或葡萄糖及胰岛素曲线下面积比值(AUC葡萄糖/AUC胰岛素)<1.0的PCOS患者作为IR组(30例),上述两个标准均不符合的PCOS患者作为非IR组(18例)。比较IR组和非IR组患者的体质指数(BMI)、血脂水平及各项性激素水平。结果 (1)IR组患者BMI及肥胖者所占比例均显著高于非IR组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);(2)IR组患者三酰甘油、载脂蛋白B水平均显著高于非IR组,而高密度脂蛋白、载脂蛋白AⅠ水平则显著低于非IR组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);(3)IR组患者黄体生成素水平显著低于非IR组,睾酮水平则显著高于非IR组,差异亦有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 (1)存在IR的PCOS患者更容易出现血脂异常;(2)PCOS患者性激素有不同改变,存在IR者以睾酮升高为主而非IR患者则以黄体生成素升高为主。     

中药复方逆转胃癌前病变的临床研究

目的探讨中药复方对胃癌前期病变(PLGC)的逆转作用。方法将200例符合慢性萎缩性胃炎(CAG)伴肠上皮化生(Im)和(或)异型增生(Dys)诊断标准的病人随机分为中药治疗组(100例)和胃复春对照组(100例),3个月为一个疗程,治疗2个疗程后对临床症状、胃镜及病理结果、幽门螺旋杆菌(Hp)检验结果进行比较。结果治疗后治疗组临床疗效、胃镜及病理(CAG、Im、Dys)结果、Hp检验结果与对照组比较,差异有显著性(χ2=5.308~9.072,P<0.05)。结论中药复方是逆转PLGC的有效方剂。     

青蒿素对变应性接触性皮炎小鼠Treg/Th17免疫平衡的影响

目的探讨青蒿素(Art)在变应性接触性皮炎(ACD)中对Th17和Treg的影响及机制。方法以DNFB致敏和激发制作小鼠ACD模型,局部外涂Art进行干预,采用RT-PCR和ELISA检测Treg/Th17细胞特异性核因子及相关细胞因子的表达与含量,流式细胞术检测Treg细胞数量,West-ern blot方法检测信号转导子和转录激活子STAT3的磷酸化活性表达。结果与正常组相比,模型组IL-6、IL-17含量、ROR-γt及STAT3的活性表达明显升高,同时Foxp3表达降低。Art明显降低ROR-γt表达、下调IL-6及IL-17水平,同时增加Foxp3表达并促进Treg产生,减弱STAT3的磷酸化活性。结论 Art可能通过调节Treg/Th17免疫平衡,对DN-FB诱导的ACD小鼠发挥免疫治疗作用。     

超声评价代谢综合征患者下肢动脉硬化

目的应用高频超声研究代谢综合征患者下肢动脉硬化的特点。方法代谢综合征（Metabolic Syndorme,MS）患者49例行双下肢动脉超声检查,测量动脉内-中膜厚度,斑块检出率、动脉管腔狭窄率。结果49例患者双下肢动脉中内-中膜均有不同程度增厚（0.9～2.5mm）,45例（92%）患者双下肢动脉出现弥漫性斑块,其中6例（12%）患者胫前动脉、足背动脉狭窄,狭窄率52%～79%,3例（0.06%）患者双下肢动脉弥漫性狭窄,双侧胫前、足背动脉重度狭窄,狭窄率72%～99%。结论双下肢动脉硬化、狭窄是代谢综合征患者严重血管并发症,高频超声检查可为临床提供可靠诊断依据。     

针刺治疗慢性无菌性前列腺炎文献系统评价

目的：系统评价针刺治疗慢性无菌性前列腺炎（CNBP）的有效性。方法：按照循证医学的要求,以针刺、体针、电针、头针、CNBP等为主题词,检索国内相关医学数据库,以随机临床对照试验为纳入标准。治疗组为针刺或针刺加其他疗法,对照组为药物,把CNBP痊愈率为测量指标。共纳入33篇文献,并对其中6篇文献采用RevMan4．2．9进行Meta分析。结果：6篇文献的痊愈率合并OR=3．48,95％CI[2．46,4．92],治疗组对CNBP的疗效优于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论：从纳入的国内文献来看,针刺治疗CNBP有效,且效果优于药物,但是仍需要更多的高质量文章来证实。     

Reduced allergic lung inflammation in rats following formaldehyde exposure: Long-term effects on multiple effector systems

Clinical and experimental evidences show that formaldehyde (FA) exposure has an irritant effect on the upper airways. As being an indoor and outdoor pollutant, FA is known to be a causal factor of occupational asthma. This study aimed to investigate the repercussion of FA exposure on the course of a lung allergic process triggered by an antigen unrelated to FA. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were subjected to FA inhalation for 3 consecutive days (1%, 90-min daily), subsequently sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA)-alum via the intraperitoneal route, and 2 weeks later challenged with aerosolized OVA. The OVA challenge in rats after FA inhalation (FA/OVA group) evoked a low-intensity lung inflammation as indicated by the reduced enumerated number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage as compared to FA-untreated allergic rats (OVA/OVA group). Treatment with FA also reduced the number of bone marrow cells and blood leukocytes in sensitized animals challenged with OVA, which suggests that the effects of FA had not been only localized to the airways. As indicated by passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction, FA treatment did not impair the anti-OVA IgE synthesis, but reduced the magnitude of OVA challenge-induced mast cell degranulation. Moreover, FA treatment was associated to a diminished lung expression of PECAM-1 (platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1) in lung endothelial cells after OVA challenge and an exacerbated release of nitrites by BAL-cultured cells. Keeping in mind that rats subjected solely to either FA or OVA challenge were able to significantly increase the cell influx into lung, our study shows that FA inhalation triggers long-lasting effects that affect multiple mediator systems associated to OVA-induced allergic lung such as the reduction of mast cells activation, PECAM-1 expression and exacerbation of NO generation, thereby contributing to the decrease of cell recruitment after the OVA challenge. In conclusion, repeated expositions to air-borne FA may impair the lung cell recruitment after an allergic stimulus, thereby leading to a non-responsive condition against inflammatory stimuli likely those where mast cells are involved.