新疆和田老人血管紧张素转换酶基因插入/缺失多态性与长寿的关系

目的 研究血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因插入/缺失(I/D)多态性与新疆和田长寿地区维吾尔族老人长寿、寿命间关系。方法 长寿组(n=37),高龄组(n=40),老年组(n=41)均用聚合酶链反应法(PCR)扩增ACE基因第16内含子多态性位点的序列,并比较各年龄组ACE基因型及等位基因频率。结果 长寿组Ⅱ型基因频率及Ⅰ型等位基因频率高于老年组,长寿组D型等位基因频率显著低于老年组。结论 ACE基因插入/缺失多态性与维吾尔族老人长寿、寿命间有关系。     

Capacity of US labs to provide TLI in support of early HIV-1 intervention.

We surveyed laboratories to assess their capacity to perform T-lymphocyte immunophenotyping. Of the 1026 respondents, 279 located in 41 states and the District of Columbia performed this type of testing. Most laboratories were located in hospitals, reported a low weekly test volume, and indicated that it took 6-24 weeks for flow cytometer operators to become proficient. Many laboratories appear to have the capacity to perform additional CD4+ cell testing, but training additional operators may be necessary. The paucity of laboratories performing T-lymphocyte immunophenotyping in the public sector may affect referral patterns from that setting.     

The treatment of congenital hip dislocation between the ages of 1 and 3.

A total of 81 patients (103 hips) with a diagnosis of congenital hip dislocation were reviewed, who had been treated between one and three years of age. All of the patients were initially treated with adhesive band traction prior to non-surgical reduction, which was performed under general anesthesia using gentle reduction maneuvers followed by immobilization in plaster. Non-surgical reduction was performed in 69 hips (67%), surgical in the remaining 34 (33%). A total of 91 associated surgical procedures were performed for the treatment of residual subluxation. Average follow-up was 12 years (minimum 5, maximum 19). The clinical results of the non-surgical reductions were excellent in 75% of the cases. Radiographically, 48% are hips which have a normal aspect, while 42% have a moderate degree of residual dysplasia or deformity of the femoral epiphysis and of the acetabulum. Hips that were initially classified as grade III dislocations show fair results. Hips treated non-surgically included 11 cases of avascular necrosis (16%); recovery was adequate. Hips treated surgically included 14 cases of avascular necrosis (30%), which was more accentuated in those hips that had initially been treated elsewhere, and in those classified as grade III. The clinical and radiographic results obtained for the hips treated surgically demonstrate poor results in 17% of the cases (6 out of 34), as a consequence of types III and IV osteochondrosis. It may be concluded that in this age group congenital hip dislocation is best treated by non-surgical reduction, possibly followed by surgery of the femur and acetabulum. Surgical reduction was only indicated when conservative methods failed.     

Endocrine response determines the clinical outcome of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone ovulation induction in different ovulatory disorders

To accrue systematic information in different ovulatory disorders on the precise relationship among endocrine response, clinical outcome, and the occurrence of complications, we treated 114 patients with pulsatile GnRH (2.5-5.0 micrograms, iv, every 60 min) for 187 cycles and compared them to 20 normal menstrual cycles. Thirty of these patients had primary hypogonadotropic amenorrhea (PHA; 40 cycles), 33 had other forms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH; 55 cycles), and 51 had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS; 92 cycles). Daily blood samples were drawn for hormone determinations. In PCOS, 50 cycles were preceded by GnRH analog suppression. PHA treatment cycles were characterized by the reestablishment of a normal endocrine pattern, almost no dose-related endocrine differences, elevated ovulatory (93%) and conception rates (23%), and no multiple pregnancies. In the HH subjects the ovulatory (91%) and pregnancy rates (31%) were high; however, while the lower GnRH dose elicited a normal endocrine pattern, the 5-micrograms dose induced excessive folliculogenesis and high estradiol levels and was associated with most of the multiple pregnancies of this study (three of four). GnRH analog suppression was successfully used to avoid recurrence of ovarian over-stimulation in two HH subjects. Finally, GnRH analog suppression in PCOS permitted normalization of the follicular phase endocrine pattern, achievement of good ovulatory (76%) and pregnancy (28%) rates, and avoidance of multiple pregnancies; however, luteal phase steroid secretion was abnormal, and the abortion rate remained elevated (43%). Obesity was associated with a reduced ovulatory rate in PCOS, but not in hypogonadotropic, subjects. Thus, we can conclude that in pulsatile GnRH ovulation induction: 1) a profound hypogonadotropic condition, whether spontaneous as in PHA or induced with GnRH analogs as in other ovulatory disorders, is associated with optimal menstrual cycle restoration, high ovulatory and conception rates, and virtually absent risks of multiple pregnancy; 2) residual hypothalamic activity in HH may be responsible for supraphysiological pituitary-ovarian stimulation and result in multiple pregnancy unless a low GnRH dose (2.5 micrograms/bolus) or GnRH analog pretreatment is employed; 3) obesity does not affect treatment outcome in hypogonadotropic patients; and 4) the high spontaneous abortion rate in PCOS may be related to corpus luteum dysfunction.     

Primary care physicians and their HIV prevention practices

A national random-sample survey of 4011 primary care physicians was conducted to determine the extent to which they are providing HIV prevention and clinical services, and to learn what characteristics and attitudes might impede the provision of such services. Physicians were asked about their history-taking practices for new adult and adolescent patients, including asking about the use of illicit drugs (injection and noninjection), the number of sexual partners, use of condoms and contraceptives, past episodes of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sexual orientation, and sexual contact with partner(s) at high risk for HIV. A preliminary analysis was conducted and reported earlier by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), focusing on the HIV-prevention services being provided by primary care physicians. This report provides additional analyses from this study, focusing on characteristics and attitudes that may prevent physicians from providing these services. Male physicians and the physicians' belief that patients would be offended if asked questions about their sex behaviors were strongly predictive of not asking new patients about their sex and drug behaviors. The physician's specialty was also a strong predictor-OB/GYNs were predictive of asking these questions and GP/FPs were predictive of not asking the questions. Physicians who indicated that a majority of their patients were white were less likely to report asking patients about their sex and drug behaviors. The authors conclude that a substantial number of primary care physicians are missing important opportunities to prevent HIV transmission by not adequately assessing patients' risks and not providing necessary risk-reduction counseling during their physician-patient encounters. Physician's attitudes and beliefs about their patients, as well as their level of experience with HIV, may help to explain these observations.     

CDC's Model Performance Evaluation Program: assessment of the quality of laboratory performance for HIV-1 antibody testing

In 1986, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) implemented the Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) to evaluate the performance of laboratories that test for antibody directed against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The impetus for developing this program came from the recognition of a need to assess the quality of existing and changing laboratory technology and to ensure that the quality of testing was sufficient to meet medical and public health needs. To develop the program, CDC chose HIV-1 antibody testing as the first specific application for assessing the quality of laboratory performance because (a) of the importance of accurate and reproducible test results for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) surveillance, prevention, and treatment programs; (b) HIV-1 testing technology is new to many laboratories; and (c) HIV-1 testing practices and applications continue to evolve. Unlike proficiency testing programs, the MPEP is not limited to assessing quality in the analytical step, alone. It will also assess quality in the preanalytical and postanalytical steps of the testing process, that is, from the time a test is requested until the clinician who ordered the test takes an action based on the test result. The participating laboratories furnish the information needed for the performance evaluation program by (a) completing questionnaires designed to describe HIV-1 testing laboratories and their testing practices, (b) analyzing specially prepared sample panels for HIV-1 antibody reactivity, and (c) reporting results to CDC.