Hemin preferentially stimulates synthesis of alpha-globin in K562 human erythroleukemia cells

K562 human erythroleukemia cells are an established cell line derived from an adult with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Hemin stimulates their synthesis of embryonic and fetal hemoglobins. We have found that their globin synthetic pattern depends on the concentration of added hemin. Clone RA6 was cultured with 0--100 microM hemin and the globin synthetic pattern determined by 3H-leucine incorporation and analysis of 3H-globins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in Triton X acid urea followed by fluorography and densitometry. The higher the hemin concentration, the greater the synthetic rate of each type of globin. However, the relative increase was greatest for alpha-globin. We propose that the differential dependence of alpha synthesis on added hemin is a reflection of translational inefficiency of alpha messenger RNA and that this property is exposed when the translational capacity of the cell is limited by hemin deficiency. We suggest that the differential dependence of alpha-chain synthesis on added hemin in clone RA6 is evidence of an intrinsic deficiency in heme synthesis.     

Accuracy of a Digital Weight Scale Relative to the Nintendo Wii in Measuring Limb Load Asymmetry

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of a digital weight scale relative to the Wii in limb loading measurement during static standing. [Methods] This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a public university teaching hospital. The sample consisted of 24 participants (12 with osteoarthritis and 12 healthy) recruited through convenient sampling. Limb loading measurements were obtained using a digital weight scale and the Nintendo Wii in static standing with three trials under an eyes-open condition. The limb load asymmetry was computed as the symmetry index. [Results] The accuracy of measurement with the digital weight scale relative to the Nintendo Wii was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (K-S test). The area under the ROC curve was found to be 0.67. Logistic regression confirmed the validity of digital weight scale relative to the Nintendo Wii. The D statistics value from the K-S test was found to be 0.16, which confirmed that there was no significant difference in measurement between the equipment. [Conclusion] The digital weight scale is an accurate tool for measuring limb load asymmetry. The low price, easy availability, and maneuverability make it a good potential tool in clinical settings for measuring limb load asymmetry.Key words: Accuracy, Digital weight scale, Nintendo Wii Fit     

Acid-base homeostasis in children with growth hormone deficiency

BACKGROUND: Although the primary use of growth hormone (GH) is to promote linear growth, it is also known to affect many metabolic processes and to influence renal function. In laboratory animals, growth hormone deficiency (GHD) causes a mild metabolic acidosis that is corrected by GH treatment. We observed a patient with GHD who initially presented with acidosis of unclear etiology and corrected the acidosis with GH treatment. OBJECTIVES: To determine: 1) whether children with GHD have lower mean serum bicarbonate concentrations than do children with short stature because of other causes; and 2) whether the presence of a low serum bicarbonate concentration increases the probability of GHD among children with short stature. METHODS: We collected data from the medical records of 143 children with short stature who had serum electrolyte concentrations measured as part of their initial evaluations, 66 with GHD and 77 with short stature as a result of other causes. We compared mean serum bicarbonate concentrations and bicarbonate standard deviation scores (SDS) between these two groups and determined the probability of GHD for patients according to bicarbonate SDS. RESULTS: The mean serum bicarbonate concentration was significantly lower in patients with GHD (mean standard deviation [SD]; 23.9 [0.4] mEq/L vs 25.2 [0.3] mEq/L) as was the bicarbonate SDS (-0.12 [0.14] SD vs 0.38 [0.10] SD). Twelve (75%) of 16 patients with bicarbonate SDS 1 SD. Patients with bicarbonate SDS between -1 SD and 1 SD had an intermediate probability of GHD, 46/102 (45%), similar to the overall prevalence of GHD in the study population (46%). Mean bicarbonate concentrations and bicarbonate SDS increased significantly in 9 patients who had repeat electrolyte measurements during treatment with GH (mean bicarbonate; 21.7 [1.1] mEq/L vs 26.9 [0.59] mEq/L, mean bicarbonate SDS; -1.24 [0.43] SD vs 0.55 [0.27] SD). CONCLUSIONS: Serum bicarbonate concentrations are lower in patients with GHD than in patients with short stature as a result of other causes. In addition, serum bicarbonate concentrations rise with GH treatment in patients with GHD. The probability of GHD is increased for patients with bicarbonate SDS 1 SD. These findings indicate a role for GH in maintaining normal acid-base homeostasis and suggest that GHD should be considered in children whose growth failure is attributed to other causes of acidosis.     

彩色超声评估强直性脊柱炎患者附着端血流和声像的特征：病例-对照

目的:通过观察强直性脊柱炎患者和健康人的附着端血流的彩色超声声像图,探讨彩色超声在强直性脊柱炎诊断中的价值。方法:选取2005-09/2006-08在上海交通大学附属第六人民医院肾脏风湿科住院的强直性脊柱炎患者30例为强直性脊柱炎组,健康职工和大学生30例作为对照组。①检测方法:用美国GE公司Logiq-700彩色超声诊断仪测定每个被测对象12个附着端的血流情况和声像图。②评估标准:声像图见附着端回声增高或毛糙或彩色血流增多为外周附着端阳性,骶髂关节血流增多,频谱为低阻血流为骶髂关节阳性。结果:除强直性脊柱炎组1例无骶髂关节数据外,60例全部进入结果分析。强直性脊柱炎组中骶髂关节异常血流增多23例(77%),跟腱附着端阳性数13例(43%),髌韧带附着端阳性数10例(33%),股直肌肌腱附着端阳性数3例(10%),腓侧副韧带阳性率和胫侧副韧带阳性数各3例(10%),骶髂 外周阳性率90%,外周附着端阳性率53%。对照组除骶髂 外周阳性率3%以外,其余均为阴性。两组骶髂关节、跟腱附着端、髌韧带附着端、股直肌肌腱附着端超声检查阳性率比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.05),腓侧、胫侧副韧带附着端阳性率比较差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。结论:彩色超声可以检测强直性脊柱炎患者附着端血流的异常,可作为诊断强直性脊柱炎的有效辅助方法。     

Nonpalpable testes in young boys: evaluation with MR imaging

A prospective evaluation of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for localization of a nonpalpable testis was performed in 24 boys aged 11 months to 6 years. Definitive surgical follow-up was obtained for 15 nonpalpable testes in 14 patients who form the basis of this study. MR imaging correctly indicated the unilateral absence of a testis in six of seven patients prospectively and all seven patients retrospectively. Surgically localized undescended testes were identified with MR imaging in five of eight cases prospectively and seven of eight cases retrospectively. Like scrotal testes, undescended testes were hypointense to fat on sequences with a short repetition time (TR) and echo time (TE) in all cases, and hyperintense or isointense to fat on long TR/TE sequences in all but two cases. Inguinal testes were located along the course of a linear low-signal-intensity structure that extended to the scrotum, which may represent the remnant of the gubernaculum testis. A low-signal-intensity band through the testis, presumably the mediastinum testis, was seen in five of the undescended testes. Although MR imaging can often be used to localize a nonpalpable testis, currently MR is not sensitive enough to allow complete exclusion of the diagnosis of an undescended testis; thus failure to localize a testis with MR imaging should not defer laparoscopy or surgical exploration when indicated.