Time-dependent association between metabolic syndrome and risk of CKD in Korean men without hypertension or diabetes

BACKGROUND: The time-dependent association between metabolic syndrome and risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not clear. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: The study cohort was composed of 10,685 healthy men without CKD, hypertension, or diabetes who participated in a health-checkup program at a large work site. PREDICTOR: Metabolic syndrome. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). A standard Cox proportional hazards model and a time-dependent Cox model were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) in the CKD model. RESULTS: During 40,616.8 person-years of follow-up, 291 incident cases of CKD developed; 787 patients (7.4%) had metabolic syndrome at baseline and 1,444 (14.4%) developed incident metabolic syndrome during follow-up. After adjustment for age, baseline GFR, gamma-glutamyltransferase level, and uric acid level, metabolic syndrome at baseline was associated with a significantly increased risk of CKD (HR, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.46 to 2.73). Metabolic syndrome over time as a time-dependent variable also predicted the development of CKD (HR, 1.83; [corrected] 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 2.49) [corrected] The relationship between metabolic syndrome and incident CKD remained significant, even after further adjustment for the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level, current smoking, alcohol consumption, or regular exercise. In addition, there were graded relationships between number of metabolic syndrome traits or quintile of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance over time as a time-dependent variable and risk of CKD. Both increased triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among metabolic syndrome traits were associated with significantly increased risk of CKD. These results were effectively unchanged, even after additional adjustment for incident hypertension and incident diabetes. LIMITATIONS: Estimated GFR was used instead of a directly measured GFR to define CKD. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for the development of CKD in Korean men without hypertension or diabetes, even with changes in status of metabolic syndrome over time.     

Insights into how Malaysian adults with limited health literacy self‐manage and live with asthma: A Photovoice qualitative study

BackgroundAdjusting to life with a chronic condition is challenging, especially for people with limited health literacy, which is associated with low compliance with self‐management activities and poor clinical outcomes.ObjectiveWe explored how people with limited health literacy understand asthma and undertake self‐management practices.DesignWe adapted the arts‐based qualitative methodology Photovoice.Setting and ParticipantsWe sampled ethnically diverse adults with asthma and limited health literacy from four primary healthcare clinics in Malaysia. After a semistructured in‐depth interview, a subset of participants took part in the Photovoice component in which participants undertook a 2‐week photo‐taking activity and subsequent photo‐interview. Interviews, conducted in participants'' preferred language, were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated and analysed thematically. We used the Sorensen''s framework (Domains: access, understand, appraise, apply) to describe participants'' experience of living with asthma, what they understood about asthma and how they decided on self‐management practices.ResultsTwenty‐six participants provided interviews; eight completed the Photovoice activities. Participants with limited health literacy used various sources to access information about asthma and self‐management. Doctor–patient communication had a pivotal role in helping patients understand asthma. The lack of appraisal skills was significant and experiential knowledge influenced how they applied information. Self‐management decisions were influenced by sociocultural norms/practices, stigmatizing experiences, and available social support.ConclusionLocally tailored multilevel interventions (interpersonal, health system, community and policy) will be needed to support people with limited health literacy to live optimally with their asthma in an ethnically diverse population.Patient/Public ContributionPatients were involved in the study design, recruitment, analysis and dissemination.     

Drugs Delivery by Charities: A Possible Epidemiologic Indicator in Children of Undocumented Migrants

Describing the health status of a population is difficult, especially in the case of irregular migrants who are now a growing population in western Countries. Data for children of these families are almost inexistent. In the absence of databases on this peculiar pediatric population, we analyzed drugs dispensation by a major Charity to have an insight into their health needs. This observational retrospective study was carried out during the entire 2015 and enrolled 628 undocumented children. A cohort of 8438 adult patients belonging to the same ethnic groups was used for comparison. Respiratory drugs were those most commonly prescribed, followed by those for skin and ocular diseases and by those for gastrointestinal disorders. Also in adults respiratory medications were the most dispensed, but almost in equal measure than cardiovascular drugs.To our knowledge this is the first study on the health needs of undocumented children residing in a western Country. The method we used seems to be a useful method for epidemiological analysis. As could be expected, respiratory and skin diseases ranked first, possibly owing to environmental factors.     

Two dimensional SDS PAGE analysis of epididymal tissue proteins of normal and castrated bulls (Bos taurus) and identification of an androgen dependant protein

A study was undertaken with an objective of two dimensional SDS-PAGE analysis of protein profile in tissues of all caput, corpus and cauda of epididymis in both castrated and normal bulls and identification of androgen dependent protein/s in the epididymal tissues of bull (Bos taurus). Two dimensional SDS-PAGE analysis for protein spots of different molecular weight (MW) with pI 3.5 to 7.35 and pI > 7.35 to 9.3 between the three regions in the normal and castrated bull as well as between normal and castrated bull of a particular region revealed significant differences. Similarly, comparison between the three regions of the normal and castrated bull epididymis for the number of protein spots irrespective of the MW in pI range of 3.5 to 7.35 and pI range > 7.35 to 9.3 revealed significant differences. The number of protein spots found to be significantly higher in caput, corpus and cauda epididymis of the normal bull when compared to similar region of the castrated bull epididymis. Most of the proteins, which are secreted, are having MW between 20 and 85 kDa. Six proteins, which are known to be highly dependent on androgens, are also of acidic in nature except for one protein having basic pH. A protein spot (pI: 6.55–6.85, and MW: <20 kDa) which appeared at the same site in all the three regions of the epididymis in the normal bull but was absent at the same site in all the three regions of the castrated bull was subjected for identification of the protein by MALDI-MS. The results revealed that this protein is an interferon-stimulated protein and it could be ISG15/UCRP.     

血管紧张素原基因5''''端启动子区A-20C和A-6G单核苷酸多态性与蒙古族人群原发性高血压的相关性

目的分析血管紧张素原基因启动子区A-20C和A-6G单核苷酸多态性与蒙古族人群原发性高血压的相关性.方法实验于2005-08/2006-01在北京华大实验室完成.选取对象均为生活在内蒙古乌拉特后旗的蒙古族牧民,三代血亲内无其他民族.采用基因测序技术对内蒙古蒙古族人群中107例原发性高血压患者和108例正常对照者进行A-20C和A-6G基因分型,观察高血压组和正常对照组不同基因型的分布和等位基因频率的差异.结果①两组受试者在性别、年龄及吸烟、饮酒、体质量指数和l临床化验检查指标有较好的匹配(P均＞0.05).②两组血管紧张素原基因A-20C位点AA,AC,CC基因型频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.51,0.29,0.20;正常对照组分别为0.49,0.28,0.23,x2=0.395,P=0.529).A,C等位基因频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.65,0.35;正常对照组分别为0.63,0.37,x2=0.015,P=0.904).③两组血管紧张素原基因A-6G位点AA,AG,GG基因型频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.50,0.33,0.17;正常对照组分别为0.55,0.34,0.11,x2=1.924,P=0.165).A,G等位基因频率比较差异无显著性意义(高血压组分别为0.66,0.34;正常对照组分别为0.72,0.28,x2=1.728,P=0.189).④高血压组协同存在血管紧张素原基因A-20C基因型CC时,血管紧张素原基因A-6G基因型GG频率稍高于正常对照组,但差异无显著性意义(x2=2.395,P=0.122,OR=7.52,95%CI 0.014～1.250),高血压组G等位基因明显高于正常对照组(分别为0.37,0.22,x2=4.658,P=0.034),携带该等位基因的蒙古族人群发生原发性高血压的相对危险度升高(OR=2.80,95%CI.087～7.271).结论血管紧张素原基因A-20C和A-6G单核苷酸多态性与蒙古族人群原发性高血压相关,并可能具有协同作用.     

Cyclophosphamide in the male rat: cerebral biochemical changes in progeny

Adult male Wistar rats were treated with cyclophosphamide either alone or with both cyclophosphamide and vinblastine. They were then mated with virgin non-treated females. Examination of their offspring showed an increased post-natal mortality rate; and diminished learning capacity and spontaneous activity in the adults. These disorders were also found in the second generation, resulting from mating between animals of the first generation. Biochemical analyses of the brains of the offspring of treated males in the first and second generations showed a diminished activity of hippocampal choline acetyl-transferase. Moreover, the second generation showed a diminution of fronto-parietal cortex norepinephrine. These biochemical results may correspond to the observed behavioral deficits. Furthermore, by studying experimental mutation, they add to our knowledge of the consequences of certain cytostatic treatments.     

等离子体处理胶原锚定PLGA/脱细胞骨基质骨软骨双层支架材料的制备和评估

目的:分别以胶原锚定方法修饰的聚乳酸-聚羟基乙酸共聚物(PLGA)为组织工程软骨支架材料,以脱细胞骨基质为组织工程骨支架材料,将二者结合制备出结合良好的组织工程骨软骨双层支架,并观察结构特征,以评估其作为组织工程化骨软骨复合体支架材料的可行性。方法:实验于2006-02/2007-02在解放军总医院骨科研究所完成。①支架的制备:以犬新鲜松质骨为原料,制备脱细胞骨基质作为骨支架材料;将脱细胞骨基质浸于盛有PLGA溶液的模具中,采用固-液相分离法结合致孔剂溶出法制备出多孔的PLGA/脱细胞骨基质双层支架,然后对PLGA支架部分进行等离子体处理和Ⅰ型胶原锚定修饰。得到的新型组织工程骨软骨双层支架的上层为多孔PLGA,下层为脱细胞骨基质。②支架的特征观察:对支架行扫描电镜检测,并采用乙醇置换法测定PLGA层孔隙率,采用北京亚林公司提供的扫描电镜图像分析系统测定PLGA层支架的平均孔径。结果:扫描电镜显示双层支架的PLGA部分具有良好的孔隙贯通结构,孔径为(211±33)μm,孔隙率为(95.0±1.5)%;脱细胞骨基质骨支架部分具有天然骨的孔径和空隙率;PLGA材料渗入骨支架部分,双层支架结合良好。结论:等离子体处理后胶原锚定修饰的PLGA/脱细胞骨基质双层支架具有良好的结构和孔隙率,结合良好,可作为支架载体应用于组织工程骨软骨复合体的构建。     

医疗器械制造商或其授权代理商的不良事件报告指南

不良事件报告及其后续评价的目的，是通过发布那些能够减少不良事件的发生、防止不良事件的再现、减缓不良事件再现后果的信息，最终提高病人、使用及其他人的健康和安全保证。本介绍了不良事件的决策过程和不良事件报告的豁免原则，以及与使用错误相关的可报告性。     

Aufnahme eines Sozius in eine bestehende Einzelpraxis nach dem Zwei-Stufen-Modell

Abstrakt 1. Veräussert ein Steuerpflichtiger den Anteil an einem Mitunternehmeranteil, ist der dabei erzielte Veräusserungsgewinn bis zum In-Kraft-Treten des x 16 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 EStG i.d.F. des Gesetzes zur Fortentwicklung des Unternehmenssteuerrechts v. 20. 12. 2001 steuerbegünstigt (Anschluss an BFH, Urt. v. 14. 9. 1994 – I R 12/94 –, BFHE 176, 520 = BStBl. II 1995, 407; BFH, Beschl. v. 18. 10. 1999 – GrS 2/98 –, BFHE 189, 465 = BStBl. II 2000, 123).2. Die zweistufige Gründung einer Sozietät stellt sich regelmässig dann nicht als Missbrauch von Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten dar, wenn zwischen dem Vertrag über die Aufnahme des Sozius in die Einzelpraxis und dem über die Erhöhung des Anteils ein Zeitraum von mindestens einem Jahr liegt und wenn sich nicht mindestens einer der Vertragschliessenden bei Gründung der Sozietät unwiderruflich verpflichtet hat, einen weiteren Anteil zu erwerben bzw. zu veräussern.