Poliovirus detection in wastewater and stools following an immunization campaign in Havana, Cuba

BACKGROUND: Recent outbreaks of poliomyelitis caused by vaccine-derived virus have raised concerns that vaccine-derived poliovirus may continue to circulate after eradication. In these outbreaks, the virus appears to have replicated for > or =2 years before detection. Early detection is critical for an effective response to these outbreaks. Although acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance will remain the standard for poliovirus detection, wastewater sampling could be a useful supplement. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity of wastewater sampling by concurrently collecting stools from children aged < 3 years attending two neighbourhood clinics in Havana, Cuba, and wastewater from the same neighbourhoods. METHODS: Sample collection was begun during the third week after the national immunization campaign, continued weekly through the seventh week, and was repeated during weeks 15 and 19. Virus detection and titration were performed using both cell culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques. RESULTS: Wastewater sampling was found to be at least as sensitive as stool sampling under these conditions. Poliovirus was isolated from children through week 7, suggesting that viral shedding reached undetectable levels between weeks 8 and 14. The last virus-positive wastewater sample was collected during week 15. CONCLUSIONS: Wastewater sampling under the conditions studied can be a sensitive supplement to AFP surveillance. Similar studies under different conditions are needed to determine the role of wastewater sampling in post-eradication surveillance.     

Phase II trial and pharmacokinetic study of thalidomide in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Introduction. This study was designed to estimate the percentage of objective tumor responses, toxicity profile, and obtain additional information about the plasma pharmacokinetics of thalidomide in patients with refractory and progressing metastatic colorectal cancer. Study design. This phase II clinical trial was conducted according to the two-stage Simon method with the inclusion of consecutive patients. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Academic Hospital (HCPA) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil. Patients and methods. Seventeen patients with previously treated, refractory progressive metastatic colorectal cancer were eligible. Six patients had prior radiotherapy. The patients had a median of one previous chemotherapy regimen. Patients were initially treated with 200mg/day of thalidomide with an increase in dose by 200mg/day every 2 weeks until a final daily dose of 800mg/day was achieved. Patients were evaluated every 8 weeks for response by radiographic criteria. Plasma pharmacokinetics studies were performed in four patients at 200mg level and in one patient at 600mg during the first 24h. Main outcome measures and results. A total of 17 patients were accrued, all of them being evaluable for toxicity and 14 for response. Thalidomide was well tolerated, with constipation, somnolence, dizziness, and dry mouth being the major toxicities. There were no objective response or stable disease. The median survival was 3.6 months. Single-agent thalidomide is a generally well-tolerated drug that showed no antitumor activity in patients with advanced pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer. Although thalidomide did not show antitumor activity in this patient population, future studies of this agent in patients at initial stages of the disease (when its antiangiogenic properties may be more relevant to disease progression) could be considered.     

Follow-up of users of intrauterine device with and without bacterial vaginosis and other cervicovaginal infections

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and other cervicovaginal infections, as well as the incidence of complications among new users of IUD, 1 and 6 months after its insertion, in the City of Campinas, Brazil. A total of 223 women who had a TCu-380A IUD inserted from May through November 2001, were included in the study. After the IUD insertion all women were scheduled to two additional visits: after 1 month and after 6 months, when they were interviewed and a pelvic examination was performed, along with a collection of specimens from the vagina and the endocervix for laboratory testing. The Nugent's criterion was used for the BV diagnosis. They were also evaluated with regard to presence of complications possibly related to IUD insertion and use, i.e., abnormal bleeding, dysmenorrhea, expulsion and pelvic inflammatory disease. The prevalence of cervicovaginal infections was 29.1%, BV being the most frequent (19.7%). Dysmenorrhea was more frequent among women with BV than among women without BV (p = 0.03). A trend of abnormal bleeding being more frequent among women with BV was also found. In conclusion, BV after 1 month of IUD insertion was not associated with IUD complications, with the exception of dysmenorrhea.     

Excel97在药物分析中的应用

目的：在药物分析中,电子表格软件ＭｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔＥｘｃｅ１９７ｆｏｒ Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ。方法：利用Ｅｘｃｅｌ的数据处理功能,进行药物的图表绘制、数据计算和统计处理,回归分析,特别是计算分析,并可建立分析数据库。结果和结论：Ｅｘｃｅｌ操作简单,功能强大,数据分析工作直观。     

辛伐他汀(舒降之)治疗原发性高胆固醇血症的临床比较研究

目的：比较国产辛伐他汀与进口辛伐他汀治疗原发性高胆固醇血症的疗效及安全性。方法：采用开放区组随机对照、多中心的临床设计。１５０例高胆 固醇血症病人分为验证组（５０例）、对照组（４８例）和开放组（５２例）,剂量均为每晚顿服１０ｍｇ,服药８周。结果：验证组与对照组服药前后比较,血清总胆 固醇（ＴＣ）分别降低２６．３６％和２８．３％,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ＬＤＬ－Ｃ）分别降低３３．１７％和３５．５１％;验     

Diet and cancer prevention: the fiber first diet

Diet can play a major role in cancer prevention. The international differences in cancer incidence are largely accounted for by lifestyle practices that include nutrition, exercise, and alcohol and tobacco use. About 50% of cancer incidence and 35% of cancer mortality in the U.S., represented by cancers of the breast, prostate, pancreas, ovary, endometrium, and colon, are associated with Western dietary habits. Cancer of the stomach, currently a major disease in the Far East, relates to distinct, specific nutritional elements such as excessive salt intake. For these cancers, information is available on possible initiating genotoxic factors, promoting elements, and prophylactic agents. In general, the typical diet in the United States contains low levels of the potent carcinogenic agents, heterocyclic amines, formed during the cooking of meats. It provides only about half the potent appropriate fiber intake and is high in calories. About twice as many calories as would be desirable come from fat, certain kinds of which enhance the development of cancers. Other foods with functional properties, such as soy products and tea, can be beneficial. To achieve reduction in risk of certain cancers, diet must be optimized, primarily to reduce caloric intake and the fat component. The latter should be 20% or less of total caloric intake and fiber should be increased to 25- 35 g per day for adults. One approach to achieving these goals is the Fiber First Diet, a diet designed around adequate fiber intake from grains, especially cereals, vegetables, legumes, and fruits, which thereby reduces both calorie and fat intake. Such dietary improvements will not only reduce cancer and other chronic disease risks, but will contribute to a healthy life to an advanced age. A corollary benefit is a lower cost of medical care.      

高效液相色谱法测定人血浆中阿莫西林浓度及药代动力学

高效液相色谱法测定人血浆中阿莫西林浓度及药代动力学谭力周继红罗楠袁倚盛（南京军区南京总医院中心仪器分析科，南京２１０００１）阿莫西林（ａｍｏｘｉｃｉｌｉｎ）为β内酰胺类抗生素，其抗菌谱广，口服受食物影响小，对大多数病人耐受性良好，因而在临床上得以广泛...