Immunohistochemical study on distribution of endocrine cells in gastrointestinal tract of flower fish （Pseudophoxinus antalyae）

INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal hormones are secreted by endocrine cells which are distributed throughout the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. They play important roles in the overall regulation of digestive processes such as nutrient absorption, gut m…     

冠状动脉介入术者上肢辐射的影响因素及防护

【摘要】 目的 探讨冠脉介入诊疗中术者上肢暴露部位射线剂量与部位高度、术者站位、造影体位及物理防护强度之间的关系。方法 通过对仿真人体模型进行造影曝光,采集桡动脉途径时2位模拟术者左手、左上臂在不同防护条件、不同造影体位下的体表入射剂量率。采用T检验比较仅穿无袖铅衣时左手和左上臂间的体表入射剂量率及同一部位在两位术者间的体表入射剂量率,比较左手在床旁防护前后的体表入射剂量率;采用单因素方差分析比较仅穿无袖铅衣时同一部位在各体位间的体表入射剂量率,比较左上臂在不同防护条件间的体表入射剂量率;并计算左手、左上臂在不同防护措施下的射线屏蔽率。结果 仅穿无袖铅衣时,第一术者上肢的体表入射剂量率均高于第二术者（左手t=38.9～86.5,左上臂t=13.0～83.8,P＜0.05）;两位术者左上臂大多数体位的体表入射剂量率高于左手（第一术者t=7.1～55.3,第二术者t=9.2～78.8,P＜0.05）。左手给予床旁防护后体表入射剂量率明显较低（第一术者左手t=49.4～181.6,第二术者左手t=5.1～47.3,P＜0.05）;左上臂给予的防护越强,体表入射剂量率越低（第一术者左上臂F=84.6～531.3,第二术者左上臂F=7.0～326.3,P＜0.05）。单纯床旁防护时,第一术者左手、左上臂的射线屏蔽率分别为22.46%～52.93%、23.83%～72.12%,第二术者左手、左上臂的射线屏蔽率分别为2.28%～17.39%、3.45%～50.62%,第一术者上肢的射线屏蔽率均高于第二术者,左上臂的射线屏蔽率在多数体位高于左手。半袖铅衣+床旁防护时第一、第二术者左上臂的射线屏蔽率升至73.32%～89.48%、63.97%～89.55%,两术者之间及各体位之间的射线屏蔽率差值较单纯床旁防护时明显缩小。结论 经桡动脉冠脉介入诊疗中,术者上肢暴露部位的射线剂量受部位高度、术者站位、造影体位、物理防护强度等多种因素综合影响,单纯床旁防护对第一术者上肢尤其上臂的防护效果更好,而半袖铅衣弥补了单纯床旁防护的不足,应充分利用床旁防护及穿戴强化的射线防护用品以减少介入术者的辐射危害。     

Another look at the pertrochanteric fracture of the femur: the relationship to osteoporosis

Eighty-seven pertrochanteric fractures consecutively treated between the years 1978 and 1981 are reviewed. External and internal rotation types are described relative to their aetiology. The final typing of the fracture can be made only on reduction. What we have called 'internal rotation fractures' show an excellent correlation with the unstable fracture gradings described by Boyd, as well as very osteoporotic Singh gradings (1-3). It is contended that the latter is the main factor in its production as opposed to the more common external rotation variety. An appeal is made for recognition of the fracture, its reduction by means of external rotation and adequate fixation. Early weight bearing is not advised, in order to prevent subsequent varus deformity with extrusion of the implant.     

Methamphetamine induces oligodendroglial cell death in vitro

We investigated whether the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH) has a cytotoxic effect on oligodendrocytes and which cell-death pathways are involved in the cytotoxic process. METH caused concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity in rat oligodendrocyte cultures. METH induced apoptotic cell death and mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (bax and DP5), but not anti-apoptotic proteins (bcl-2 and bcl-XL). These results suggest that METH induces cytotoxicity in rat oligodendrocytes via the differential regulation of the expression of genes involved in the apoptotic process.     

Deficiency of a New Protein Associated with Cardiac Syndrome X; Called Adropin

The pathophysiology of cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is still unclear, but most patients with CSX have endothelial dysfunction. It has been shown that adropin uniquely effects the regulation of endothelial function. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of adropin in CSX. Eighty‐six consecutive cardiac syndrome X‐diagnosed patients and 86 age‐sex matched healthy subjects were enrolled into the study. Serum adropin levels, nitrite/nitrate levels were measured in each subject. The adropin levels were significantly lower in patients with CSX than healthy subjects (1.7 ± 0.8 ng/mL and 3.4 ± 1.8 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). The BMI values of patients with CSX were significantly higher than control subjects (28.1 ± 2.4 kg/m² and 26.0 ± 3.7 kg/m², respectively; P < 0.001). Plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were lower in patients with CSX than control subjects (15.9 ± 1.6   μmol/L vs. 25.4 ± 2.8 μmol/L, respectively; P < 0.001), and they have a significantly positive correlation with plasma adropin levels (r = 0.463, P < 0.001). In the multiple linear regression analysis, nitrite/nitrate levels, BMI, and adropin were found to be independent risk factors for CSX. A ROC curve is used to identify the ability of adropin levels to predict the cardiac syndrome X. The area under the ROC curve was 0.854 for adropin levels (P = 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity values of adropin levels were 90.7 and 70.9%, respectively (cut‐off value 2.73). In conclusion, lower serum adropin levels were associated with CSX. Adropin is an independent risk factor for CSX.     

Copeptin and cardiovascular disease: A review of a novel neurohormone

Neurohormones (NHs) in the cascade of the arginine vasopressin (AVP) system have drawn particular attention in the recent years. Copeptin, the C-terminal portion of provasopressin, is a novel NH of the AVP system, and is known to be co-released with AVP from hypothalamus (neurohypophysis). As a surrogate marker of the AVP system, copeptin has gradually replaced AVP in several clinical studies largely due to its structural and methodological advantages. Copeptin has been regarded as a marker of non-specific stress response, and has also been suggested to have clinical implications in a variety of non-cardiovascular (pneumonia, sepsis, etc.) and cardiovascular conditions (heart failure and acute coronary syndromes (ACSs, etc.)). However, current data on relation of copeptin with other cardiovascular conditions ( arrhythmias, etc.) are still insufficient. The present review primarily focuses on general features of copeptin, its general clinical implications, and specifically aims to cover its potential clinical value in a variety of cardiovascular conditions.     

Spontaneous Infarction in a Fibroadenoma of the Breast

SUMMARY: BACKGROUND: Fibroadenomas are common neoplasms in young women but occur in a wide age range from adolescent females to octogenians. CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old female patient presented with a 10-week history of a mass in her breast. Ultrasound examination demonstrated a 3.5 × 3 cm, well-circumscribed, semisolid mass. An excisional biopsy but no fine needle aspiration was performed. The patient had no history of pregnancy or lactation, or trauma or infection to the area of the lesion. The histopathological examination showed a spontaneously infarcted fibroadenoma. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous infarction is an uncommon complication in fibroadenoma of the breast, and there are very few reported cases in the literature.     

Stability of hepatitis C virus RNA in blood samples by TaqMan real‐time PCR

The storage conditions of blood samples for reliable results are very important in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA amplification tests used in routine HCV analyses. According to many studies, storage conditions could affect the RNA stability for HCV RNA detection. We have studied HCV RNA stability in blood samples stored at 4°C. Nineteen blood samples containing different HCV RNA levels were stored at 4°C and they were then analyzed by TaqMAN real‐time PCR method. HCV RNA levels remained almost stable (100%) at least for five weeks at this storage condition. However, among them, the stability period was up to 11 weeks in two of the samples. As with these findings, there was a slightly significant correlation between the positivity time and the beginning HCV RNA levels (r=0.474, P=0.040). We conclude that, blood samples can be stored at 4°C for five weeks without any significant difference in detected HCV RNA level by using TaqMan real‐time PCR. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:134–138, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.