Relationship of MAO-A promoter (u-VNTR) and COMT (V158M) gene polymorphisms to CSF monoamine metabolites levels in a psychiatric sample of caucasians: A preliminary report.

Monoamine oxidase A gene promoter (MAOA-uVNTR) and catechol-O-methyltransferase V158M (COMT-V158M) gene functional polymorphisms are reported to be associated with impulsive-aggression, but a biological intermediate effect remains to be determined. This study assessed the association of these polymorphisms with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites as endophenotypes. Ninety-eight Caucasian psychiatric subjects were assessed for Axis I and II diagnosis. Subjects were genotyped for the functional polymorphisms, MAOA-uVNTR and COMT-V158M. CSF was obtained by lumbar puncture. Relationships of the two polymorphism to monoamine metabolites: HVA, 5-HIAA, and MHPG were examined. The higher-expressing MAOA-uVNTR genotype was associated with higher CSF-HVA levels in males only (n = 46) (195.80 pmol/ml, SD = 61.64 vs. 161.13, SD = 50.23, respectively; P = 0.042). No association was found with diagnosis. COMT-V158M had no association with CSF monoamine metabolites. The association of MAOA-uVNTR with dopaminergic activity in males is a preliminary finding that needs to be replicated in a larger sample of Caucasian males and relationships sought with clinical phenotypes. This article contains supplementary material, which may be viewed at the American Journal of Medical Genetics website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0148-7299:1/suppmat/index.html.     

头皮电烧伤骨外露带毛发皮瓣修复

目的：探讨头皮电烧伤骨外露用头皮扩张皮瓣移植修复的临床效果。方法：采用早期扩创,保留部分坏死骨质,用邻近头皮扩张使带毛发的头皮面积扩大后移植覆盖创面,电性失活骨质在血循环良好的皮瓣覆盖下,为周边及基底健康骨质生长起到支架作用,皮瓣扩张到一定面积后移植到裸露骨质上,使其得以修复。结果：在治疗的9例中,除1例皮瓣边缘在1．5cm×1．5cm坏死外,其余皮瓣全部成活,未发生感染坏死,创面均一次性封闭。结论：头皮电烧伤骨外露扩张后皮瓣带毛发修复,可缩短创面愈合时间,外形较好,易掌握,效果较为满意。     

Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Case report and review of Italian literature

A case of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, as presented by a hypertensive hydrocephalus, is described. To our knowledge, this is the 24th case described in Italy since 1953. The diagnosis was made with ventricular fluid examination: the patient was successfully treated with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine, thus avoiding the risks of surgical treatment of hydrocephalus. Early diagnosis and proper therapy are necessary in order to decrease the high lethality of cryptococcosis.     

Physical Activity Participation by Parental Language Use in 4th, 8th,and 11th Grade Students in Texas,USA

Research on physical activity (PA) by level of acculturation in Hispanic children is limited and findings have been mixed. We examined PA participation by primary language used with parents in a representative sample of 4th, 8th, and 11th grade Texas public school students. Mixed-effects regression models were conducted using cross-sectional data from the 2004–2005 School Physical Activity and Nutrition Study (n = 22,049). Self-reported PA was compared among three language-ethnic groups: Spanish-Hispanic (SH) (referent); English-Hispanic (EH); and English-Other (EO). EH and/or EO girls were generally between 1.25 and 2.58 [OR] times more likely to participate in PA across grade levels, with the largest differences found for school sports in 8th grade girls. EH and EO 8th grade boys were 1.71 (CI: 1.40, 2.10) and 2.06 (CI: 1.68, 2.51) times, respectively, more likely to participate in school sports. Findings indicate important disparities in Spanish-speaking Hispanic children’s PA participation.     

Effect of cross exercise on quadriceps acceleration reaction time and subjective scores (Lysholm questionnaire) following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Background  

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or reconstruction can cause knee impairments and disability. Knee impairments are related to quadriceps performance – accelerated reaction time (ART) – and disability to performance of daily living activities which is assessed by questionnaires such as the Lysholm knee score. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of cross exercise, as supplementary rehabilitation to the early phase of ACL reconstruction: a) on quadriceps ART at the angles 45°, 60° and 90° of knee flexion and, b) on the subjective scores of disability in ACL reconstructed patients.     

Policy determinants affecting the hunger millennium development goal

The possible effect of Government Consumption (a component of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) on attainment of the hunger Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) was analyzed by evaluating the effect of macroeconomic, social, demographic and policy variables on average undernourished population. Eighty-four developing countries with data available on undernourished population were included in an ecological study. Regression models were applied to explore possible determinants of Undernourished between 1990 and 2004 and consequent achievement of the projected 2004 MDG1. In 2004, 1.4% of the overall undernourished population in the studied countries [70.16 million people] was in excess of the projected level required to meet MDG1. The multiple linear regression showed significant associations between Undernourished and poverty levels, the Gini Index, rural population and Government Consumption. The multiple logistic regression showed significant associations between achievement of projected 2004 MDG1 levels and Government Consumption and the Gini Index. The significant associations between Undernourished and Government Consumption suggest that the effects of GDP components on social conditions call for more thorough research and that policymakers such as governments and international financial institutions need to ensure that changes in distributive and redistributive policies do not negatively affect the possibility of achieving MDG1.     

不同针刺深度对前列腺增生症大鼠重量指数的影响及形态学观察

目的与方法 采用深刺和浅刺对丙酸睾酮所致前列增生症（BPH）大鼠模型进行干预，研究其作用殊同。结果 针刺组前列腺，膀胱指数明显小于模型组；形态学观察，针刺组较模型组增生明显减轻，腺上皮呈单层柱状，腺体数目明显减少，间质充血，钙化明显减轻，结缔组织无增生，腺腔内分泌物减少。深刺组好于浅刺组。结论 深刺对实验性BPH大鼠的干预作用好于浅刺方法。     

蜂毒和风痛宁穴位注射治疗骨关节炎468例

目的　探索骨关节炎新的有效治疗途径。方法　运用纯中药制剂蜂毒注射液和风痛宁注射液穴位注射治疗本病 ,并与局封治疗作对照比较。结果　治疗组总有效率为 92 .5 2 % ,对照组为 77.0 0 % ,两组比较有显著差异 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,且两组副作用、复发时间均有显著差异 (P<0 .0 5 )。结论　蜂毒和风痛宁穴位注射治疗本病疗效优于局封治疗 ,且能减少副作用 ,延长复发时间。     

妊高征与眼底视网膜病变的临床探讨

目的 :探讨妊高征患者临床特征与视网膜病变的关系。方法 :观察 2 2 0例妊高征患者的眼底情况。结果 :视网膜病变与水肿关系不密切 ,与平均动脉压、蛋白尿的严重程度、病程及红细胞压积有密切关系 ;有眼底改变者 118例 ,占 5 0 .3%。结论 :眼底镜检查是临床上借以了解视网膜血管的常用方法 ,并可反映妊高征病情的程度 ,为产程处理提供依据