Epidermal growth factor therapy and wound healing--past, present and future perspectives

The role ofepidermal growth factor (EGF) has been extensively investigated in normal and pathological wound healing. It is implicated in keratinocyte migration, fibroblast function and the formation of granulation tissue. Since the discovery of EGF, the first growth factor to be isolated, over 45 years ago, growth factor therapy has progressed into clinical practice in the treatment ofwounds. The investigation EGF in wound healing has progressed from the treatment of acute wounds, to its limited effect in chronic wounds. EGF is readily degraded in the chronic wound environment, but with the recent focus of research in new drug delivery systems that are able to protect and stabilise the protein, the potential healing effects of EGF are at the forefront of research. In this review, the history of EGF and wound healing research is considered, as are current and future therapeutic options.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者及其配偶心理状况

目的:认识慢性乙型肝炎患者及其配偶心理健康、生活质量及心理治疗的相关研究现状。资料来源:检索维普期刊全文数据库和中国医院知识仓库(CHKD期刊全文库)1985-01/2006-01有关乙型肝炎与心理方面的文献,检索词为"生活质量,乙型肝炎,心理健康,心理干预,配偶",并限定语言种类为中文;检索Pubmed数据库同期相关文献检索词为"CHB,quality of life,psychology health",并限定语言种类为英语。其他文章查找具体书籍或杂志获得原文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,选择与乙型肝炎患者及配偶心理健康、生活质量及心理治疗等相关的文章。纳入标准:阐述详细,文章内容较新,有助于说明问题的文章。排除标准:去除重复性研究和一般了解性的文章。资料提炼:共收集到204篇文章及2本相关书籍,符合纳入标准的文章48篇,排除158篇。资料综合:慢性乙型肝炎是一种身心疾病,其发病机制复杂,除与病原和免疫因素有关外,心理社会因素起重要作用。同时,与之共同生活的慢性乙型肝炎患者配偶承受了巨大的心理压力,存在许多心理障碍,即夫妇的心理症状可交互影响。心理治疗对于乙型肝炎患者是必要的。结论:慢性乙型肝炎患者及其配偶存在严重的心理问题,心理治疗能取得一定的疗效。     

China’s great wall,Israel’s Bar Lev Line,and passive infectious disease surveillance

Emerging infectious diseases are some of modern society’s greatest threats. Like some great construction efforts designed to protect mankind, current public health measures against these emerging pathogens have not always been successful. This paper highlights the importance of embracing new interdisciplinary approaches towards emerging pathogen threats. One such approach, termed One Health, is quickly being embraced by professional organizations and public health institutions across the world as a way forward. This paper briefly discusses the above problems and preliminary steps taken by Chinese academic institutions to embrace the One Health approach.     

Can mupirocin prevent methicillin-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> infections?

In a retrospective study, Dr Muller and colleagues have assessed the efficacy of mupirocin nasal ointment alongside hygienic measures in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-positive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Their findings, which suggest that intranasal mupirocin can prevent ICU-related MRSA infections, need confirmation in a well-designed clinical trial. In general: early identification, isolation and treatment of all MRSA carriers, including health care workers, and disinfection of contaminated environments, are the main 'ingredients' of an effective MRSA 'search and destroy' program.     

Relation between aerobic fitness and brain structures in amnestic mild cognitive impairment elderly

Mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a clinical condition, with high risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Physical exercise may have positive effect on cognition and brain structure in older adults. However, it is still under research whether these influences are true on aMCI subjects with low Ab_42 and high total tau in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is considered a biomarker for AD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate a possible relation between aerobic fitness (AF) and gray matter (GM) volume and AF and white matter (WM) integrity in aMCI with a CSF biomarker. Twenty-two participants with aMCI acquired the images on a 3.0-T MRI. AF was assessed by a graded exercise test on a treadmill. Voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistic methods were used to analyze the GM volume and WM microstructural integrity, respectively. We correlated AF and GM volume and WM integrity in aMCI (p < 0.05, FWE corrected, cluster with at least five voxels). There was a positive relation between AF and GM volume mostly in frontal superior cortex. In WM integrity, AF was positively correlated with fractional anisotropy and negatively correlated with mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity, all in the same tracts that interconnect frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital areas (longitudinal fasciculus, fronto-occipital fasciculus, and corpus callosum). These results suggest that aerobic fitness may have a positive influence on protection of brain even in aMCI CSF biomarker, a high-risk population to convert to AD.