Alcohol-free red wine prevents arterial thrombosis in dietary-induced hypercholesterolemic rats: experimental support for the ''French paradox''

The concept of the 'French paradox' has been recently challenged. As it is difficult in a short period to produce direct clinical evidence of the protective effect of red wine on thrombosis, we evaluated such a possibility in an experimental model mimicking the conditions of the 'French paradox'. Normolipidemic rats (FNL) were fed a standard diet or a 2% cholesterol-rich-diet (Ch-rich-diet) for 5 months: the latter was given either alone (FNL + D) or in combination with 'alcohol-free' red wine (FNL + D + 5 W). Arterial thrombosis was measured as the occlusion time (OT) of an artificial prosthesis inserted into the abdominal aorta. Lipid levels, platelet adhesion to fibrillar collagen, factor VII (FVII) clotting activity and fibrinogen levels were also measured. Compared to animals fed a standard diet, Ch-rich diet induced in FNL rats a several-fold increase in lipids and FVII levels with a concomitant significant increase in both thrombotic tendency (shortening of the OT) and platelet adhesion. 'Alcohol-free' red wine supplementation almost completely reverted the prothrombotic effect of the Ch-rich-diet. Indeed, the OT was prolonged from 78 +/- 3 to 122 +/- 10 h (P < 0.01), while platelet adhesion to fibrillar collagen was reduced from 49 +/- 3.5% to 30 +/- 2.8%. Neither the increase in lipid levels induced by Ch-rich diet nor FVII or fibrinogen levels were modified by wine supplementation. In conclusion, in experimental animals, this study supports the concept of the 'French paradox' that regular consumption of wine (rather than alcohol) was able to prevent arterial thrombosis associated with dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia, an effect mediated by downregulation of platelet function.     

Application of the assay of urine FSH β-subunit in patients with pubertal disorders

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic predictive value in the identification of puberty disorders by means of ELISA of β-FSH subunit levels in successively collected urine samples compared to RIA of intact FSH in serum obtained from the normal control subjects and patients with puberty disorders, respectively.Subjects and Methods: Five male and four female volunteers were recruited as controls. Four patients with the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, five patients with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, four patients with the central precocious puberty and one patient with isosexual peripheral precocious puberty collected successively their early-morning urine samples for 30 to 32 days.The urine β-FSH subunit was assayed with the method of ELISA, then adjusted by creatinine (Cr) concentration.Results:Comparing with their cotemporary groups, patients with the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism had lower levels of urine β-FSH, and patients with idiopathic hypergonadism had higher levels with irregular fluctuation. Meanwhile, patients with the central precocious puberty had much higher levels of urine β-FSH with irregular peaks, and patients with isosexual peripheral precocious puberty had almost normal levels. The patterns were coincident with the clinical characteristics and serum FSH levels.Conclusion: The ELISA of urine β-FSH subunit possesses a number of advantages over the RIA of serum FSH level, such as low cost, simplicity and reliability in the clinical practice. It can be used for the diagnoses of puberty disorders. In addition, it is possible and much easier, comparing with blood samples, to collect successively urine samples for research of pathophysiological dynamics of FSH secretion in puberty disorders and other reproductive dysfunction.     

国人髌骨的髌股接触率比较及其意义

目的研究正常国人髌骨内外侧软骨面的髌股内外侧接触率,探讨其在国人髌骨假体设计中的意义。方法选取W ibergⅡ型的新鲜冷冻膝关节尸体标本10具,利用Instron 8501生物力学测试仪,模拟生理状态下膝关节屈伸过程,用压敏片法测量各屈膝度髌骨内外侧软骨面的髌股接触面积,计算出髌股接触率。结果各屈膝度髌骨外侧软骨面的髌股接触率明显大于内侧(P<0.01),屈膝早期(20°~60°)甚至高出1~2倍。结论在国人髌股关节假体的设计中,其髌骨假体应以W ibergⅡ型为模板,采取偏心型设计,将更符合国人髌骨的形态学特征。     

裙带菜多糖对人外周血单个核细胞的免疫活性作用

目的 观察裙带菜多糖对人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)增殖、淋巴细胞亚群的影响,探讨其免疫调节机制.方法 采用逐步分离法对裙带菜多糖进行分离与纯化.Ficoll密度梯度离心法分离PBMC,随机分为观察组和对照组,观察组分别加入0.5、5、20、100、500 μg/mL裙带菜多糖,对照组仅加入PBS.采用MTT法分析裙带菜多糖对人PBMC体外增殖作用的影响;用流式细胞术检测淋巴细胞亚群的变化.结果 观察组各浓度PBMC增殖活性明显高于对照组(P均＜0.01),且随着浓度的增加增殖反应明显增强.观察组CD8+及CD16+ CD56+细胞比例较对照组明显增加,并呈浓度依赖性(P均＜0.01).结论 裙带菜多糖可通过刺激人PBMC增殖促进CD8+、NK细胞增殖,从而发挥细胞免疫调节作用.     

D-Dimer test in cancer patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND: The safety of a D-dimer (DD) measurement in cancer patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) is unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the DD test in consecutive patients with clinically suspected PE with and without cancer. METHODS: The diagnostic accuracy of DD (Tinaquant D-dimer) was first retrospectively assessed in an unselected group of patients referred for suspected PE (n = 350). Subsequently, the predictive value of the DD was validated in a group of consecutive inpatients and outpatients with clinically suspected PE prospectively enrolled in a management study (n = 519). The results of the DD test in cancer patients were assessed according to the final diagnosis of PE and the 3-month clinical follow-up. RESULTS: In the first study group, DD showed a sensitivity and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% and 100% in patients with cancer and 97% and 98% in those without malignancy, respectively. In the validation cohort, the sensitivity and NPV of DD were both 100% (95% CI 82%-100% and 72%-100%, respectively), whereas in patients without malignancy, the corresponding estimates were 93% (95% CI 87%-98%) and 97% (95% CI, 95%-99%), respectively. The specificity of DD was low in patients with (21%) and without cancer (53%). CONCLUSIONS: A negative DD result safely excludes the diagnosis of PE in patients with cancer. Because of the low specificity, when testing 100 patients with suspected PE, a normal DD concentration safely excludes PE in 15 patients with cancer and in 43 patients without cancer.     

护肝拔毒软膏质量标准研究

目的：建立护肝拔毒软膏(苦参、鲜青蒿、黄芪、赤芍等)的质量控制方法。方法：用TLC法鉴别制剂中的苦参、青蒿、黄芪、赤芍，用TLCS法测定制剂中苦参碱的含量。结果：鉴别方法专属性强，苦参碱平均回收率为97．11％，RSD为2．50％。结论：所建方法为制剂质量标准的制订提供了实验依据。