Transferring AAC intervention to the home

Purpose: To evaluate the acquisition of AAC skills during an initial clinical trial and assess subsequent transfer of the training to the home setting. Method: A 12-year-old male with autism was first seen in a clinical setting to establish the use of a voice-output communication device. After learning to use the device to request access to preferred objects in the clinical trial, the intervention was transferred to the home. Follow-up with the parent was conducted via e-mail and telephone. Videotapes were made of initial home-based sessions to enable evaluation of the participant's progress. Results: The programme was successful in teaching the participant to use a portable AAC device to make requests during the clinical trial and then in two home-based activities. Conclusion: An initial clinical trial with follow-up support for parents may be an efficient method for beginning AAC intervention and transferring the training procedures to the home setting.     

Breast cancer incidence after the start of mammography screening in Denmark

Mammography screening may lead to overdiagnosis of asymptomatic breast cancers, that would otherwise not have given rise to clinical symptoms. This aspect was studied in three regional screening programmes in Denmark, which started in Copenhagen municipality, Fyn county, and Frederiksberg municipality in 1991, 1993, and 1994, respectively. In these regions, we compared time trends in incidence of invasive breast cancer with the rest of Denmark. Since the number of clinical mammograms was relatively low, it was reasonable to assume that the breast cancer incidence outside the three screening regions represented the incidence of a population with low-intensity opportunistic screening. In Copenhagen and Fyn, a prevalence peak in incidence was seen during the first invitation round. During the subsequent invitation rounds, the incidence dropped to a level in line with the incidence expected without screening. The pattern was different in the small municipality of Frederiksberg, where the sensitivity was low during the first invitation round. Inclusion of screen-detected ductal carcinoma in situ cases did not change these results. The experiences from Copenhagen and Fyn show that organised mammography screening can operate without overdiagnosis of breast cancer.     

G蛋白偶联受体激酶的研究进展

G蛋白偶联受体激酶(GRKs)属丝氨酸／酪氨酸蛋白激酶家族,其亚型广泛存在于各种组织, 能特异地使活化的G蛋白偶联受体(GPCR)发生磷酸化及脱敏化,从而终止后者介导的信号转导通路．现就G蛋白偶联受体激酶的结构、种类及分布、生物学功能及与疾病关系的新进展进行总结与概括,并对其发展进行了展望．     

脂肪干细胞在体外特定培养液中向软骨细胞表型的分化

目的:应用转化生长因子β1,体外诱导脂肪干细胞向成软骨细胞表型分化,探讨其作为组织工程化软骨种子细胞的可行性。方法:实验于2005-04/2006-06在华中科技大学同济医学院公卫实验室完成。①取大鼠腹股沟处脂肪,酶消化法分离、培养脂肪干细胞,体外传代培养。②取第3代细胞通过转化生长因子β1、地塞米松和维生素C诱导脂肪干细胞向软骨细胞分化。③诱导后14d观察细胞形态变化,进行阿辛蓝染色检测软骨基质的分泌、免疫组织化学检测细胞Ⅱ型胶原的表达,采用Western-blot和反转录-聚合酶链反应检测诱导前后成软骨相关的Sox9,蛋白聚糖与Ⅱ型胶原的表达。结果:①细胞接种的最初几日,细胞呈圆形,1周后贴壁细胞呈长梭形,体积增大;14d后贴壁生长细胞基本长满单层,中心细胞排列紧密,形态与骨髓间充质干细胞相似。诱导培养后,细胞形态逐渐由梭型向多角形、多边形转变。诱导14d后多数细胞呈平坦的多边角形状细胞;其夹杂多角突起状或多角纺锤状细胞。②诱导后阿辛蓝染色示糖胺聚糖均匀分布于基质中。③免疫组织化学染色示基质中Ⅱ型胶原表达阳性。④反转录-聚合酶链反应检测成软骨相关的Sox9、蛋白聚糖、Ⅱ型胶原mRNA表达阳性。⑤Western-blot印迹检测细胞诱导后Ⅱ型胶原蛋白表达阳性。结论:脂肪干细胞在特定培养液的诱导下可向成软骨细胞表型分化,并能分泌软骨细胞特异性基质,有望成为软骨组织工程新的细胞来源。     

Cryptosporidium Spp. Infection in Human and Domestic Animals

Background

Cryptosporidium spp. is a coccidian parasite infected humans and animals. Prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium spp. infection associated with is some parameters such as sampling, age, season, country and contact to domestic animals. This study aimed to determine Cryptosporidium spp. Infection in humans and some animals in rural areas of Shushtar district from Khuzestan Province, south- west of Iran.

Methods

In this study, Stool specimens were randomly collected from 45 cattle, 8 buffalos, 35 calves, 22 turkeys, 3 sheep, 2 geese as well as 62 humans in different seasons selected from rural areas of Shushtar district located in Khuzestan in the south- west of Iran from August 2009 to April 2011. The collected stool samples were examined by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method.

Results

Altogether, 68/115 (59.1%) domestic animals and 9/62 (14.5%) of humans were showed Cryptosporidium spp. infection in the study areas.

Conclusion

In this study we found the high frequency of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in the studied areas.     

Mucosal vulval lichen planus: outcome, clinical and laboratory features

BACKGROUND: Mucosal lichen planus of the vulva is a rare but increasingly recognized condition. It has potentially severe complications such as fusion of the labia and vagina; the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) may be increased. An association between hepatitis B and C infection and skin or oral lichen planus appears to exist in certain geographical areas. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the course of mucosal vulval lichen planus, its response to treatment and associated laboratory features. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-four women with mucosal vulval lichen planus were studied between 1997 and 2000 and laboratory data were collected. RESULTS: Thirty of 44 patients had additional oral lesions, only nine had cutaneous findings compatible with lichen planus. We did not find an association with antibodies to hepatitis B or C virus in this British study population. All women were treated with potent to very potent topical corticosteroids; however, in the majority of patients symptoms persisted. In seven (16%) patients vulval lichen planus was in remission after a disease duration between 2 and 18 years (mean 10.6 years). One patient developed a vulval SCC. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for hepatitis B and C in women with mucosal vulval lichen planus in the UK seems unnecessary. We recommend long-term follow-up, and that all non-healing ulcerative and papular lesions should be biopsied.     

原位PCR技术及其应用

目的：阐述原位PCR技术的基本原理，进展，应用及存在问题。方法：通过检索国内，外相关文献，归纳整理，结合实践操作经验，展开分析，结果：原位PCR技术是一种特异性，敏感性较高的靶序列检测定位技术，作为研究基因信息和细胞，染色体等的形态信息的有力工具，尤其是专用原位PCR仪在医学研究（医学检验，病理学领域）上的广泛应用，结论：原位PCR技术的应用推广及研究深入，也存在其技术应用不完善之处。