Short-term increments of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 predict the growth response to growth hormone (GH) therapy in GH-sensitive children

Schwarze CP, Wollmann HA, Binder G, Ranke MB. Short-term increments of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 predict the growth response to growth hormone (GH) therapy in GH-sensitive children. Acta Paediatr 1999; Suppl 428:200-8. Stockholm. ISSN 0803-5326
The present study included a cohort of 42 children aged between 1.7 and 15.4 years, who presented with short stature and growth failure. Basal and generated serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), measured in an IGF generation test following four or seven daily injections of growth hormone (GH), 0.1 IU/kg (0.033 mg/kg), were analysed in these patients. The growth response to 1 year of GH treatment, 0.6 IU/kg/week (0.2 mg/kg/week), was also investigated. Median height velocity of these patients increased from-1.6 SDS (range, -4.6 to -0.3 SDS) to 3.3 SDS (range, -0.2 to 7.1 SDS) after 1 year of GH treatment, and median height SDS increased by 0.7 SDS (range, 0.1 to 2.2 SDS). Strong correlations were observed between basal and generated IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. The increase in IGEBP-3 levels in response to GH in the generation test was a strong predictor of the growth response to GH therapy. All the patients in the present study could be differentiated from patients with GH insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) using the criteria of a diagnostic scoring system for GHIS. The most valuable parameters were the increases in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in the generation test, which excluded 95.2% of the patients from a diagnosis of GHIS. □ Growth hormone treatment, insulin-like growth factor I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, insulin-like growth factor generation test     

Classical galactosaemia in Chinese: A case report and review of disease incidence

We report a case of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT) deficiency in a full-term Chinese neonate, who presented with atypical biochemical features of hyperammonaemia in addition to the classical presenting features of jaundice and lethargy after feeding. Red cell GALT activity was virtually absent in the patient while 50% of normal activity was found in parents and a sibling. Mutation screening excluded both Q188R and N314D as the causative mutation in GALT gene, which suggested a possible genetic segregation among ethnic groups. Data from a Taiwan screening program suggested that the incidence of the disease was approximately 1 in 400 000 in the Chinese population which was a sixth of that in Caucasian populations.     

腺病毒介导RA538及反义c-myc在不同细胞系中作用及其机制

目的比较重组RA538,反义c-myc及LacZ腺病毒(adenovirus,AV)对不同靶细胞的转染效率、生物学特性并探讨其作用的分子机制.方法以人胃癌细胞(SGC7901)、食管癌细胞(EC109)及人胚肺二倍体细胞(2BS)系为靶细胞,采用LacZ基因转染X-gal染色、形态学观察、MTT,RT-PCR等方法,研究重组RA538,反义c-myc及LacZ AV对上述细胞的转染效率,生物学作用及其分子机制.结果 AV-LacZ进行重组腺病毒转导效率检测显示其对SGC7901,2BS细胞具有很高的转导效率,对EC109细胞转导效率较低.AV-RA538及AV-ASc-myc对SGC7901细胞能产生明显的生长抑制效应并诱导凋亡,其生长抑制率分别为76.3%和44.1%.AV-RA538及AV-ASc-myc对SGC7901细胞内源性c-myc,bcl-2基因的表达具有抑制作用.AV-RA538及AV-ASc-myc对EC109细胞及2BS细胞无明显的生长抑制及凋亡诱导作用,AV-RA538对EC109及2BS细胞中内源性c-myc,bcl-2基因的表达无调节作用.结论 AV载体转导效率很高,能实现目的基因在转导细胞中的高水平表达,但对不同靶细胞的转染效率存在差别.AV-RA538,AV-ASc-myc对SGC7901的生长抑制及凋亡诱导作用可能是通过AV的高效转导及抑制c-myc,bcl-2的表达而实现的.AV-RA538,AV-ASc-myc对食管癌、2BS细胞系无类似作用可能与其对上述细胞的转导的作用及内源性基因表达的作用有关.     

中药复方制剂消可宁对高糖诱导大鼠肾小球系膜细胞增殖的影响

目的:观察中药复方制剂消可宁对高糖培养的大鼠肾小球系膜细胞增殖的抑制作用。方法:实验于2004-04/11在南京医科大学第一附属医院内分泌代谢研究中心细胞培养研究室完成。①中药复方制剂消可宁(由制大黄、制附子、生黄芪组成,南京军区南京总医院制剂科生产,药品批号:院临(2003)第01017号,规格为90mL/袋)。大鼠系膜细胞株HBZY-1购自武汉大学中国典型培养物保藏中心。②将购入的系膜细胞株消化培养,取培养4～8代的细胞,吸去培养瓶中的上清液,消化离心后混匀,锥虫蓝染色观察细胞活性。③不同刺激时间系膜细胞增殖实验设立3组,正常糖浓度组每孔加入5.6mmol/L葡萄糖溶液200μL,高糖对照组每孔加入30mmol/L葡萄糖溶液200μL,高糖 消可宁组每孔加入30mmol/L葡萄糖与0.06g/mL消可宁混合液200μL,6孔/组。各组分别于培养24,48,72h后向板孔中加5g/L的4-甲基偶氮四唑蓝20μL,于酶标仪492nm波长处检测吸光度值。④不同浓度消可宁刺激高糖环境下系膜细胞增殖实验设立7组,高糖对照组每孔加入30mmol/L葡萄糖溶液200μL,消可宁20,40,60,80,120,200g/L组每孔加入30mmol/L葡萄糖 对应浓度的消可宁混合液200μL,6孔/组。培养72h后各组向板孔中加5g/L的4-甲基偶氮四唑蓝20μL,同法检测吸光度值。结果:①系膜细胞活性观察:原代培养的4～8代系膜细胞,经锥虫蓝染色,着色的死亡细胞数<5%,未着色活细胞数>95%。②不同刺激时间各组系膜细胞增殖情况的比较:与正常糖浓度组比较,高糖对照组于高糖刺激24h即可促进系膜细胞的增殖,且这种作用在刺激48h时最为明显,至72h细胞数量开始减少,但仍明显高于正常糖浓度组(0.527±0.047,0.659±0.018,P<0.05)。与高糖对照组比较,高糖 消可宁组在24h内并未表现出抑制系膜细胞增殖的作用,而刺激48h后显示出抑制趋势,但差异无显著性意义,于72h后表现出较强的抑制系膜细胞增殖的效应(0.659±0.018,0.538±0.023,P<0.05)。③不同浓度消可宁刺激对高糖环境下系膜细胞增殖的影响:刺激72h后与高糖对照组比较,20,40g/L的消可宁能够部分阻止系膜细胞的增殖;60,80g/L的消可宁则表现出明显阻止高糖对系膜细胞的过度刺激作用,且随着浓度的增加,抑制作用逐渐增强;浓度升至120g/L时出现细胞脱落死亡,高达200g/L时则不见存活的细胞。结论:消可宁能够有效抑制高糖诱导的系膜细胞增殖,可能是其早期防治糖尿病肾病的细胞学基础。     

Antimicrobial effects of Turkish propolis, pollen, and laurel on spoilage and pathogenic food-related microorganisms

The antimicrobial activities of propolis extract, pollen extract, and essential oil of laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) at concentrations from 0.02% to 2.5% (vol/vol) were investigated on bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Enterococcus faecalis, and Listeria monocytogenes), yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida rugosa), and molds (Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae). Pollen has no antimicrobial effects on the bacteria and fungi tested in the concentrations used. Propolis showed a bactericidal effect at 0.02% on B. cereus and B. subtilis, at 1.0% on S. aureus and E. faecalis, and at 0.2% on L. monocytogenes. The minimum inhibitory concentration of propolis for fungi was 2.5%. Propolis and laurel were ineffective against E. coli and S. typhimurium at the concentrations tested. The results showed that the antimicrobial activity were concentration dependent. Propolis and essential oil of laurel may be used as biopreservative agents in food processing and preservation.     

欧前胡素在大鼠血浆和肝脏中的药动学研究

目的 研究欧前胡素在大鼠血浆、肝脏中的药动学.方法 大鼠单剂量灌胃给予欧前胡素后,采用HPLC法测定不同时间内大鼠血浆、肝脏中的欧前胡素.色谱柱为Phenomenex Gemini C18柱(150 mm×4.6 mm,5μm),流动相为甲醇-水(65:35,V/V),UV检测器,内标为醋酸氟轻松.结果 欧前胡素血浆的t1/2(β)=5.893 h,Tmax=0.667 h,Cmax=5.026 mg·L-1,V1为28.238 mL·kg-1,CL为3.3212 mL·h-1·kg-1,AUC0-t为13.947 h·μg·mL-1,AUC0-∞为18.246 h·μg·mL-1;欧前胡素肝脏组织t1/2(β)=5.935 h,Tmax=0.667 h,Cmax=1.2μg·g-1,V1为112.512 mL·kg-1,CL为12.893 mL·h-1·kg-1,AUC0-t为3.678 h·μg·mL-1,AUC0-∞为4.700 h·μg·mL-1;结论 欧前胡素口服给药后迅速进入血液、肝脏,消除也较快.     

Congenital gastrointestinal defects in Down syndrome: a report from the Atlanta and National Down Syndrome Projects

We report Down syndrome (DS)-associated congenital gastrointestinal (GI) defects identified during a 15 year, population-based study of the etiology and phenotypic consequences of trisomy 21. Between 1989 and 2004, six sites collected DNA, clinical and epidemiological information on live-born infants with standard trisomy 21 and their parents. We used chi-squared test and logistic regression to explore relationships between congenital GI defects and infant sex, race, maternal age, origin of the extra chromosome 21, and presence of a congenital heart defect. Congenital GI defects were present in 6.7% of 1892 eligible infants in this large, ethnically diverse, population-based study of DS. Defects included esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (0.4%), pyloric stenosis (0.3%), duodenal stenosis/atresia (3.9%), Hirschsprung disease (0.8%), and anal stenosis/atresia (1.0%). We found no statistically significant associations between these defects and the factors examined. Although not significant, esophageal atresia was observed more often in infants of younger mothers and Hispanics, Hirschsprung disease was more frequent in males and in infants of younger mothers and blacks, and anal stenosis/atresia was found more often among females and Asians.     

Predictability of persistent frequent attendance: a historic 3-year cohort study

Background

Few patients who attend GP consultations frequently continue to do so long term. While transient frequent attendance may be readily explicable, persistent frequent attendance often is not. It increases GPs'' workload while reducing work satisfaction. It is neither reasonable, nor efficient to target diagnostic assessment and intervention at transient frequent attenders.

Aim

To develop a prediction rule for selecting persistent frequent attenders, using readily available information from GPs'' electronic medical records.

Design of study

A historic 3-year cohort study.

Method

Data of 28 860 adult patients from 2003 to 2005 were examined. Frequent attenders were patients whose attendance rate ranked in the (age- and sex-adjusted) top 10% during 1 year (1-year frequent attenders) or 3 years (persistent frequent attenders). Bootstrapped multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine which predictors contained information on persistent frequent attendance.

Results

Of 3045 1-year frequent attenders, 470 (15.4%) became persistent frequent attenders. The prediction rule could update this prior probability to 3.3% (lowest value) or 43.3% (highest value). However, the 10th and 90th centiles of the posterior probability distribution were 7.4% and 26.3% respectively, indicating that the model performs modestly. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.67 (95% confidence limits 0.64 and 0.69).

Conclusion

Among 1-year frequent attenders, six out of seven are transient frequent attenders. With the present indicators, the rule developed performs modestly in selecting those more likely to become persistent frequent attenders.