Heterogeneity of autosomal dominant osteopetrosis

A review of the radiographs of 26 patients with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis disclosed two distinct and strictly family-related radiographic types. Both types had universal osteosclerosis. In type 1 the most striking finding was pronounced sclerosis of the cranial vault while the spine was almost unaffected. In type 2 the sclerosis of the skull was most pronounced at the base, the vertebrae always had end-plate thickening, and in the pelvis the iliac wings contained convex arcs of sclerotic bone. Age and sex distribution did not differ between the types. Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis may be a heterogeneous group of inherited bone disorders.     

Mechanism of human accommodation as analyzed by nonlinear finite element analysis

Results of nonlinear finite element analysis support the Schachar theory of accommodation and demonstrate that the long-held Helmholtz theory of accommodation is impossible.     

ART results with frozen oocytes: data from the Italian ART registry (2005–2013)

Purpose

This study is a retrospective collection of aggregated data from all the Italian ART centers reporting to the Italian National Register from cycles started between January 2005 and December 2013.

Methods

Data from both slow freezing (SF) and vitrification (V) were assessed for the period 2007–2013, while during the years 2005–2006 cryopreservation was exclusively performed by SF.

Results

In the study period, a total of 2,526,024 oocytes were retrieved (from 378,543 retrievals), of which 1,346,061 (53.3 %) were inseminated in fresh cycles and 214,481 (8.5 %) were cryopreserved. Cryopreserved oocytes were used in 24,173 cycles yielding 19,453 transfer cycles (80.5 % of the thawing/warming cycles) and 3043 clinical pregnancies (15.6 % per transfer). A significant difference in implantation (8.7 vs 12.9 % OR 1.30 CI 1.20–1.40) and pregnancy rates per transfer (12.2 vs 14.9 % OR 1.34 CI 1.23–1.46) was found between SF and V. Complete outcome data was available for 2708 pregnancies (89.8 %), leading to 1882 deliveries and 2152 live births. Neonatal major congenital anomalies were 0.9 % (20/2152).

Conclusions

A wide variation in pregnancy rates were found among different centers and lower rates were reported in donor cycles and in centers with more experience.

     

Undetected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in people over 50 years with persistent cough

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are underdiagnosed in primary care.

Aim

To determine how often COPD or asthma are present in middle-aged and older patients who consult their GP for persistent cough.

Design of study

A cross-sectional study in 353 patients older than 50 years, visiting their GP for persistent cough and not known to have COPD or asthma.

Setting

General practice in the Netherlands.

Method

All participants underwent extensive diagnostic work-up, including symptoms, signs, spirometry, and body plethysmography. All results were studied by an expert panel to diagnose or exclude COPD and/or asthma. The reproducibility of the panel diagnosis was assessed by calculation of Cohen''s κ statistic in a sample of 41 participants.

Results

Of the 353 participants, 102 (29%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 24 to 34%) were diagnosed with COPD. In 14 of these 102 participants, both COPD and asthma were diagnosed (4%, 95% CI = 2 to 7%). Asthma (without COPD) was diagnosed in 23 (7%, 95% CI = 4 to 10%) participants. Mean duration of cough was 93 days (median 40 days). The reproducibility of the expert panel was good (Cohen''s κ = 0.90).

Conclusion

In patients aged over 50 years who consult their GP for persistent cough, undetected COPD or asthma is frequently present.     

老年人群亚健康成因及运动处方干预探讨

从当前我国老年退休人群亚健康现状出发,运用文献资料法对老年人群这一特殊群体的亚健康成因进行了探讨与分析,指出社会环境因素、饮食营养因素、生活行为因素、精神心理因素以及自身躯体因素是其产生亚健康状态的主要原因,同时提出了相应的运动干预对策,以其为改善老年人群亚健康状态提供科学依据。     

聚丙交酯复合乙交酯微球经肝动脉化疗栓塞术治疗肝癌的动物实验

目的：在肝细胞癌动物模型上观察聚丙交酯复合乙交酯（PLcG)微球经肝动脉化疗栓塞术（TACE）治疗肝癌的疗效。方法：在雄性ACI大鼠（15例）肝包膜下植入Morris Hepatoma 3924A肝癌小瘤块（1mm3),移植术中13天时行磁共振检查,再经正中腹切开术和经胃十二指肠动脉逆行插管进行以下介入治疗：治疗组A（40mg PLcG 0.05mg丝裂霉素,4例）,对照组B（0．05mg丝裂霉素＋0．04mg碘化油＋肝动脉结扎,4例）和对照组C（1．5ml生理盐水,7例）,插管术后13天再次行磁共振术观察肝肿瘤体积变化。结果：在C组,肿瘤体积在实验期间增长27．12倍,在B组,肿瘤体积增长3．76倍,而在A组,肿瘤体积仅增长2．87倍。A组与C组肿瘤体积增长率在t检验时均有显著性差异（P＜0．05）,结论：在动物实验中将PLcG微球运用于TACE可明显抑制肝肿瘤生长。     

Ultrastructural analysis of murine megakaryocyte maturation in vitro: comparison of big-cell and heterogeneous megakaryocyte colonies

Two morphologically distinct types of murine megakaryocyte (MK) colonies are present after three to seven days in soft agar culture: (a) "big-cell" colonies composed of ten to 30 large, mature-appearing megakaryocytes and (b) "heterogeneous" colonies consisting of approximately 100 or more cells at various stages of differentiation. Cytochemical and immunocytochemical techniques were used to study MK maturation in colonies as well as normal mouse bone marrow. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a specific marker for murine platelets and MK, was found in the perinuclear cisterna, endoplasmic reticulum, and occasionally, Golgi cisternae of MK in three-day big-cell colonies and immature bone marrow MK. MK in seven-day big-cell colonies and mature bone marrow MK showed additional reaction sites in the demarcation membrane system and occasional granules. In seven-day heterogeneous colonies, small cells resembled immature bone marrow MK with respect to AChE localization, whereas large cells corresponded to mature bone marrow MK. With immunogold procedures at the ultrastructural level, polyclonal antibodies against human platelet membrane glycoprotein IIIa and antimouse platelet antiserum labeled bone marrow MK and all MK from colonies grown in soft agar cultures for three to seven days. Granulocytes and macrophages in both bone marrow and soft agar cultures were negative for AChE and these immunocytochemical markers. These data indicate that the pattern of expression of AChE during maturation of MK is similar in vivo and in vitro and demonstrate, when using this marker at the fine-structural level, that a greater range of MK maturational stages is present in heterogeneous colonies than is observed in MK in big-cell colonies. Furthermore, we have confirmed that small cells in heterogeneous colonies are MK and that these colonies are composed solely of MK and their precursors.