Morphogenesis of outflow tract rotation during cardiac development: The pulmonary push concept

Background: Understanding of cardiac outflow tract (OFT) remodeling is essential to explain repositioning of the aorta and pulmonary orifice. In wild type embryos (E9.5–14.5), second heart field contribution (SHF) to the OFT was studied using expression patterns of Islet 1, Nkx2.5, MLC‐2a, WT‐1, and 3D‐reconstructions. Abnormal remodeling was studied in VEGF120/120 embryos. Results: In wild type, Islet 1 and Nkx2.5 positive myocardial precursors formed an asymmetric elongated column almost exclusively at the pulmonary side of the OFT up to the pulmonary orifice. In VEGF120/120 embryos, the Nkx2.5‐positive mesenchymal population was disorganized with a short extension along the pulmonary OFT. Conclusions: We postulate that normally the pulmonary trunk and orifice are pushed in a higher and more frontal position relative to the aortic orifice by asymmetric addition of SHF‐myocardium. Deficient or disorganized right ventricular OFT expansion might explain cardiac malformations with abnormal position of the great arteries, such as double outlet right ventricle. Developmental Dynamics 241:1413–1422, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Microdeletions of the Y chromosome and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: from gene to clinic

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a successful treatment option for severe male infertility, although the aetiology of the disorder remains unclear in most cases. Recently, microdeletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome have been detected in men with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. In this study we investigated the prevalence of microdeletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome in a population of men undergoing ICSI, and looked for clinical characteristics of men with and without this deletion. Blood was drawn from 164 men, who were on the waiting list for ICSI treatment: 19 were azoospermic, 111 oligozoospermic and 34 normozoospermic (after previous total fertilization failure). A total of 100 men with proven fertility served as a control. Microdeletions in the AZFc region were present in seven of the 111 oligozoospermic men (6.3%). Compared with oligozoospermic men without microdeletions, men with microdeletions had a lower concentration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), a lower number of motile spermatozoa and a lower frequency of abnormal findings at andrological history or examination. No microdeletions were found in the azoospermic, normozoospermic and control groups. In conclusion, microdeletions in the AZFc region are relatively frequently found in men with severe unexplained oligozoospermia. In the ICSI era this finding has an important impact because this form of male infertility is now potentially hereditary. Therefore we recommend DNA screening (and genetic counselling) before ICSI, especially in men with normal FSH, severe oligozoospermia and no abnormal clinical andrological findings.      

Pulmonary leukostasis: radiologic-pathologic study

The terminal chest radiographs of ten patients with pulmonary leukostasis were correlated with the autopsy findings. In six patients, no abnormalities attributable to leukostasis were seen on chest radiographs. In four patients, diffuse alveolar consolidations were caused by alveolar edema following leukostasis. Leukostasis should be considered in leukemia patients with severe dyspnea who have normal chest radiographs or diffuse alveolar edema.     

伽玛刀治疗脑转移瘤围手术期的护理

1 临床资料唐都医院神经外科自2001-12/2003-11共收治脑转移瘤患者85(男50,女35)例,年龄31～72(56.5)岁.其中肺癌脑转移71例,乳癌脑转移5例,肝癌脑转移4例,其他5例.脑单发转移病灶24例,多发转移病灶61例.本组病例随访1～21 mo,平均12.3 mo,肿瘤消失或减小达85.8%(75/85),临床有效率为84%.     

高原官兵血清转氨酶异常分析

高原环境对人体的影响方面较多,有些情况下将直接影响到高原环境人群的工作能力．通过我国武警消防官兵体质健康标准课题组在全国不同地区进行抽样调查的过程中发现,血清转氨酶（ALT）普遍异常的现象在青藏高原环境下的武警消防官兵中比较常见,ALT的活性在肝脏疾病,传染性肝炎,肝癌及肝硬化活动期均可增高．通过早期预防,可防止不必要的非战斗减员,     

显微神经外科手术治疗小儿腰骶部脊髓脊膜膨出33例

1 临床资料①一般资料:唐都医院神经外科自1996-10/2003-06共收治先天性腰骶部脊膜脊髓膨出患儿33(男23,女10)例;年龄4 d～13 a,平均4.3 a. 主要症状及体征:33例均有腰骶部包块,伴大小便功能障碍8例,马蹄内翻足5例,双下肢感觉运动障碍3例.     

Isolation, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of bioactive benzoquinones from Miconia lepidota from the Suriname rainforest

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of an EtOAc extract from the leaves of Miconia lepidota afforded the two benzoquinones 2-methoxy-6-heptyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1) and 2-methoxy-6-pentyl-1,4-benzoquinone (primin) (2). This is the first reported isolation of 1. Both quinones 1 and 2 exhibited activity toward mutant yeast strains based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, indicative of their cytotoxicity and potential anticancer activity. A number of previously synthesized and new analogues were prepared and tested in the same strains. Compounds 1, 2, 2-methoxy-6-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (5), and 2-methoxy-6-decyl-1,4-benzoquinone (6) were tested in two cytotoxicity assays. In the M109 tumor cell lines, quinones 1, 2, and 6 had an IC(50) value of 10 microg/mL. In the A2780 cell line, compounds 1, 2 and 5 had IC(50) values of 7.9, 2.9, and 3.2 microg/mL, respectively.     

Using intervention mapping (IM) to develop a self-management programme for employees with a chronic disease in the Netherlands

Background  

Employees with a chronic disease often encounter problems at work because of their chronic disease. The current paper describes the development of a self-management programme based on the Chronic Disease Self-Management programme (CDSMP) of Stanford University to help employees with a chronic somatic disease cope with these problems at work. The objective of this article is to present the systematic development and content of this programme.     

Introduction of a breast cancer care programme including ultra short hospital stay in 4 early adopter centres: framework for an implementation study

Background  

Whereas ultra-short stay (day care or 24 hour hospitalisation) following breast cancer surgery was introduced in the US and Canada in the 1990s, it is not yet common practice in Europe. This paper describes the design of the MaDO study, which involves the implementation of ultra short stay admission for patients after breast cancer surgery, and evaluates whether the targets of the implementation strategy are reached. The ultra short stay programme and the applied implementation strategy will be evaluated from the economic perspective.     

Radiological findings in newborn infants with urinary infection

Selective suprapubic urine aspiration was performed in 905 of 12 942 consecutive live-born infants and showed the presence of infection in 64 (0-5%). A majority (84%) of the infected infants were males. Radiological abnormalities were detected in 35 (55%). Because of this high incidence of abnormalities, which when diagnosed might alter management, it is suggested that radiological investigations be performed in newborn infants with proven urinary infection.