Comparison of bronchial responsiveness to histamine in asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitization at the age of 7 years

BACKGROUND: Bronchial responsiveness (BR) to histamine or methacholin is a common finding in adult non-asthmatic patients with allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: We tested whether BR is also present in children with a comparatively short history of allergic rhinitis in a paediatric cohort. METHODS: We performed pulmonary function tests and histamine challenges in a total of 654 children (age 7 years, participants of the German Multicenter Allergy Study) and compared PC20 FEV1 values in children with asthma, allergic rhinitis, asymptomatic allergic sensitization and non-atopic controls. RESULTS: Most pronounced BR to histamine was observed in allergic asthmatics (n = 28), irrespective of the presence or absence of allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, PC(20)FEV(1) values in non-asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis (n = 24) were not significantly different from those seen in asymptomatic atopic (n = 54) or non-atopic controls (n = 92). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to adult study populations, 7-year-old non-asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis do not show a higher degree of BR than asymptomatic atopic or non-atopic controls. Therefore, secondary preventive measures in non-asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis (such as regular local anti-inflammatory therapy or specific immunotherapy) should be studied and applied more intensely to prevent bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and asthma in this high-risk group.     

Perineal examination as a predictor of underlying external anal sphincter damage

Objective To assess the relation between perineal inspection and sphincter integrity in parous women.
Design Prospective observational study.
Setting District general hospital.
Population Fifty-seven consecutive parous women attending a gynaecology clinic for problems unrelated to the pelvic floor.
Methods A detailed history of bowel function and mode of delivery obtained; the perineum inspected to determine the presence and position of scarring, and anal endosonography performed.
Results In 19 women with an intact perineum on inspection, endosonography showed perineal scarring in five, with both perineal and sphincter scarring in three. Four had urge faecal incontinence. Three patients had a perineal tear only on inspection, but this group was too small for analysis and was discounted. Nine had an episiotomy scar only. Endosonography demonstrated perineal scarring in four, and combined perineal and sphincter scarring in two; one woman in this group had urge faecal incontinence. Twenty-six women had episiotomy and perineal tears on inspection. Endosonography revealed underlying perineal scarring in five women, with combined perineal and sphincter scarring in 14; six women in this group had urge faecal incontinence and one passive incontinence for flatus. Sonographically the scarring was anterior and circumferential rather than radial, and mostly left-sided, whereas on inspection episiotomy and perineal scarring were right sided.
Conclusions A normal perineum on clinical examination does not exclude underlying sphincter damage. The incidence of sphincter damage increases significantly when an episiotomy scar is associated with a perineal tear.     

血清TPS浓度在消化道肿瘤中价值的研究

共选择３０例消化道肿瘤病人，其中食管癌，胃癌，大肠癌各１０例，设健康献血者３０例，对两组血清特异型组织多肽抗原浓度进行了检测，结果肿瘤组血清ＴＰＳ浓度明显高于健康人。消化道肿瘤阳性检出经达７０％，其中食管癌８０％，胃癌６０％，大肠癌７０％。消化道肿瘤合并淋巴转移阳性检出率达７６．９％，其中食管癌１００％，胃癌６６．７％，大肠癌７０．０％。随着病程发展，血清ＴＰＳ浓度呈现升高趋势。     

Properties of circulating IgA molecules in Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis with focus on neutrophil cytoplasmic antigen IgA binding (IgA-ANCA): new insight into a debated issue

Background: The presence and the pathogenetic role of circulating IgA reacting with neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (IgA-ANCA) in patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is still debated. This study was aimed to investigate some characteristics of serum IgA and macromolecular IgA in HSP patients, focusing on IgA-ANCA. Methods: Eighty-seven HSP patients with biopsy proved renal involvement (51 adults and 36 children) enrolled in a multicentre study of the Italian Group of Immunopathology were investigated. Results: Significantly high levels of IgA immune complexes were found in both adults (P <0.05) and children (P <0.01), while the binding of IgA to jacalin, was significantly low in children with HSP (P <0.01) only. Two series of ELISA were done for IgA-ANCA, in two different laboratories. Increased binding to PMN crude extracts (P <0.01) without any modification in IgA binding to proteinase 3 was found by either specific ELISA. Conversely, the binding of IgA to myeloperoxidase (MPO) was found to be significantly (P <0.05) increased with positive values in 25% of patients by one assay only. Three of four sera with positive IgA-MPO ANCA exhibited binding in Western-blot studies with the MPO preparation used in ELISA to a 28-kDa species. D-galactose and N-acetyl-glucosamine decreased the binding of serum IgA to MPO more in HSP than in controls (P <0.05). Conclusions: The conflicting reports on IgA-ANCA may reflect some atypical characteristics of the reaction which can be detected only by some ELISAs. We suggest that not an antigen-antibody reaction but a lectinic interaction due to abnormal composition of IgA carbohydrate side chains may account for the IgA-ANCA reaction in patients with HSP nephritis.     

锰超氧化物岐化酶模型配合物的研究

为探索天然超氧化物岐化酶（ＳＯＤ）岐化超氧离子的机理，及用于临床的可能性，我们合成了乳酸、柠檬酸和酒石酸的锰（Ⅱ）配合物作为Ｍｎ－ＳＯＤ的模拟物，用光照法测定了它们的活性，得到了有意义的结果：锰配合物作为Ｍｎ－ＳＯＤ的模拟物，有肯定的活性，其中以乳酸锰配合物活性最高。     

2型糖尿病患者载脂蛋白E基因多态性的研究

目的：探讨中国人2型糖尿病患者载脂蛋白E（apoE)基因多态性及其与血脂和载脂蛋白水平的关系。方法：采用聚合酶链反应－限制性酶切片段长度多态性法，分别对74例2型糖尿病患者及191例血脂、血糖正常且无糖尿病史者的apoE基因型、空腹血脂及载脂蛋白AI、AⅡ、B100、CⅡ、CⅢ及E进行全面分析。结果：2型糖尿病患者的血清甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC），低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDLC），非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（nHDLC),载脂蛋白B100、CⅡ、CⅢ、E水平及TG／HDLC比值较对照组显著升高（P＜0．01）；血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDLC），apoE/apoCⅢ比值显著降低（P＜0．05）。2型糖尿病组与对照组apoE基因频率分布无显著性差异（P＞0．05）。携带ε2等位基因组血清TG／HDLC比值较E3／3基因型显著降低；而携带ε4等位基因组血清apoAⅡ水平较E3／3基因型及携带ε2等位基因组显著升高（P＜0．001）。结论：2型糖尿病患者apoE基因多态性与血TG／HDLC及apoAⅡ有一定关联。     

SRY基因突变和性腺肿瘤发生的研究Ⅰ．家族性46，XY女性SRY基因检测

近年证明ＳＲＹ男性性基因是性别决定关键。ＳＲＹ突变能引起男性性异常。４６，ＸＹ性腺发育不全（或ＸＹ女性）系ＳＲＹ基因突变所致，并有高发性腺肿瘤特点。ＳＲＹ突变有多种类型；本研究检测一家庭集聚性ＸＹ女性高发肿瘤成员有个ＳＲＹ基因缺失。结合细胞遗传学和病理学检查结果，对ＸＹ女性性腺癌变机理提出了推测。     

A study of the relationship between the delivery to cord clamping interval and the time of cord separation

A randomised controlled trial of 554 women was carried out to compare the effects of late and early umbilical cord clamping on the time of cord separation. In addition data were collected on maternal and neonatal outcomes. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the duration of cord adherence and neonatal and maternal outcomes. There appeared to be a higher rate of jaundice in the late clamped group which did not reach statistical significance. There was an unexpectedly higher rate of breast feeding at home in the late clamped group which did reach statistical significance. Overall the trial provides no clear evidence for the benefit of early cord clamping (the current policy as part of the active management of the third stage in the UK) on the outcomes considered.     

淋巴细胞亚群微核表达的辐射效应研究

简述了淋巴细胞亚群微核检测方法、淋巴细胞亚群自发微核率和影响因素，以及关于电脑射效应的研究现状，为微核法用于辐射生物剂的未来发展提供了有益信息。     

Risk of lung cancer among patients with head and neck cancer

A cohort of 5180 patients with head and neck cancer, who were part of the tumor registry of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results area of western Washington State, was followed up for as many as 15 years to determine the risk of lung cancer. A sample of 522 patients from this cohort was interviewed to determine smoking history. Lung cancer developed in 356 (6.9%) of the 5180 patients. The overall annual incidence of lung cancer remained relatively constant between approximately 1.0% and 2.0% during the 15 years of follow-up. Men had an increased risk of lung cancer compared with women (relative risk [RR] = 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18 to 2.03). Compared with patients with oral cavity cancer (RR = 1.00), the relative risk of lung cancer developing by the site of the index tumor was 0.63 (95% CI = 0.40 to 0.98) for lip, 1.12 (95% CI = 0.81 to 1.56) for intrinsic larynx, 1.73 (95% CI = 1.21 to 2.47) for oropharynx, 1.84 (95% CI = 1.16 to 2.92) for hypopharynx, and 2.28 (95% CI = 1.60 to 3.24) for extrinsic larynx. Among the 522 patients who were interviewed, men smoked more than women ( p < 0.0001), and patients with laryngeal or pharyngeal cancer smoked more than patients with cancer of the lip or the oral cavity ( p < 0.05). Among patients with head and neck cancer, the risk of lung cancer is highest for men and for patients with cancer of the pharynx or extrinsic larynx. These findings may be explained by differences in smoking consumption. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;116:630-6.)