Ages of Epiphyseal Union Around Wrist Joint - A Radiological Study

Age is an important parameter for medico-legal cases. Many times doctors are called upon togive opinion about age of a person. For this objective methods of age determination are required. Age of epiphyseal union is an objective important method of age determination. But these ages varies with racial, geographic, climatic and various other factors. These variations have suggested need of separate standards of ossification for separate regions.Present work is undertaken to work out ages of epiphyseal union around wrist joint for Vidarbha region. Study is carried out in total 80 healthy subjects (44 girls and 36 boys) aging from 13 to 23 years &; having length of residence in Vidarbha not less than 10 years. The chronological age upto the day of examination is determined &; A-P view of right wrist joint is taken in each case. These radiographs are studied to determine age of union of epiphyses of lower end of radius &; lower end of ulna. These ages are compared with those reported from various states of India &; also from other countries &; found to vary appreciably. Sexual dimorphism for ages of epiphyseal union is also studied.     

血管内皮生长因子在口腔颌面骨组织工程中的应用

目的:了解血管内皮生长因子促进骨再生和修复作用的机制及应用方式,探讨其在口腔颌面骨组织工程中的应用前景。资料来源:应用计算机检索PubMed数据库1994-01/2006-02有关血管内皮生长因子促进成骨的文章,检索词“Vascular endothelial growth factor,Bone formation,Maxillofacial bone,Bone defect”,限定文章语言种类为English。同时计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库1994-01/2006-02期间的相关文章,检索词“血管内皮生长因子、成骨、颌骨”,限定文章语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,选取符合要求的有关文章找全文。纳入标准:①血管内皮生长因子及其受体分子结构方面的文章。②血管内皮生长因子促进成骨作用的基础研究和临床研究。③血管内皮生长因子在颌骨组织工程中应用的基础研究和临床研究。排除标准:重复或类似的同一研究、Meta分析、个案报道。资料提炼:共收集到186篇有关血管内皮生长因子促进成骨作用的文章,排除重复或类似的同一研究,30篇符合要求(其中2篇为血管内皮生长因子及其受体分子结构方面的文献,18篇为血管内皮生长因子促进成骨作用的基础研究和临床研究方面的文献,10篇涉及血管内皮生长因子在颌骨组织工程中应用的研究)。资料综合:①国内外有关血管内皮生长因子促进成骨作用的机制为:通过促进内皮细胞增殖、血管生成,调节骨组织血供并参与骨的发育形成;作为旁分泌因子参与骨形成代谢;通过调节成骨细胞和破骨细胞的活性促进骨组织的再生、修复和重建。②血管内皮生长因子在骨组织工程中的应用方式主要有外源性应用和内源性应用,外源性应用就是将外源性血管内皮细胞生长因子加入到支架和细胞的复合体中,使它通过促进血管化、调节参与成骨的多种因子及成骨细胞和破骨细胞的活性,提高成骨效能。内源性应用就是利用基因技术,将人血管内皮细胞生长因子基因转入种子细胞,使种子细胞持续的产生血管内皮细胞生长因子,为骨形成提供足够的血管化和调节骨细胞的活性。③动物实验已证实血管内皮生长因子对颌骨牵张成骨和颌骨缺损修复起着促进作用。结论:应用外源性和内源性血管内皮生长因子构建的组织工程骨可促进骨形成和骨缺损修复,用它来加快颌面骨组织工程的骨形成和缩短疗程在理论上是可行的。     

Macromolecular delivery of 5-aminolaevulinic acid for photodynamic therapy using dendrimer conjugates

Intracellular porphyrin generation following administration of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) has been widely used in photodynamic therapy. However, cellular uptake of 5-ALA is limited by its hydrophilicity, and improved means of delivery are therefore being sought. Highly branched polymeric drug carriers known as dendrimers present a promising new approach to drug delivery because they have a well-defined structure capable of incorporating a high drug payload. In this work, a dendrimer conjugate was investigated, which incorporated 18 aminolaevulinic acid residues attached via ester linkages to a multipodent aromatic core. The ability of the dendrimer to deliver and release 5-ALA intracellularly for metabolism to the photosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX, was studied in the transformed PAM 212 murine keratinocyte and A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell lines. Up to an optimum concentration of 0.1 mmol/L, the dendrimer was significantly more efficient compared with 5-ALA for porphyrin synthesis. The intracellular porphyrin fluorescence levels showed good correlation with cellular phototoxicity following light exposure, together with minimal dark toxicity. Cellular uptake of the dendrimer occurs through endocytic routes predominantly via a macropinocytosis pathway. In conclusion, macromolecular dendritic derivatives are capable of delivering 5-ALA efficiently to cells for sustained porphyrin synthesis.     

几种抗炎药对白三烯B_4生物合成的影响

白三烯B_4为花生四烯酸5-脂氧酶代谢产物,是炎症反应中的重要介质。目前抑制白三烯B_4生物合成的药物尚不多见。本文建立了测定白细胞来源白三烯B_4的反相高效液相色谱法,并初步探讨了几种抗炎药对白三烯B_4生物合成的影响。结果表明阿斯匹林、消炎痛、炎痛喜康、氢化可的松及麝香第一色带对白三烯B_4生物合成几无影响,而氟灭酸可明显抑制白三烯B_4生成,提示它可能是5-脂氧酶抑制剂。     

Genetic epidemiological study of schizophrenia: reproduction behaviour.

Data from the Tomsk Epidemiological Register and epidemiological family sample were used to study the relationship between schizophrenics' reproductive behaviour (marital status and fertility rate), severity of ICD-9 schizophrenia and risk of illness among relatives of probands. The results are interpreted in terms of multifactorial threshold and single monolocus models. Their importance for the interpretation of epidemiological data (a change of prevalence rate, cohort effect and clinical polymorphism) is discussed.     

Ureaplasma Urealyticum or Mycoplasma Hominis Infections and Semen Quality of Infertile Men in Abidjan

Objective To determine the prevalence of U. urealyticum and M. hominis in semen samples collected from men admitted in clinic for infertility, and to compare the quality of these semen samples.
Methods A total of 1 058 semen samples collected were investigated. Sperm semiological assays were performed according to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation （WHO）. Semen were examined by Mycoplasma IST for the detection of mycoplasma. Semen culture on agar media was used to detect other microorganisms. Chlamydia was detected using direct fluorescent assay （DFA） of Clamydia Trachomatis.
Results Among 1 058 semen samples, microorganisms were detected in 638 （60.3%）. The infected sperms consisted of mycoplasma alone in 507 cases （47.9%）, mycoplasma and other microorganisms in 98 （9.3%）, giving in all 605 （57.2%） samples infected with mycoplasma. The last 33 （3.1%） consisted of other microorganisms alone. The frequency of U. urealyticum, M. hominis and mixed genital infections detected in semen samples of infertile men were 39%, 23.8% and 5.6%, respectively. The rates of abnormal semen parameters recorded among patients infected with mycoplasma were for volume （22.2%-25%）, viscosity （29.6%-43.5%）, pH （64.7%-72.9%）, motility （80.8%-93.8%）, morphology （36.3%-47.9%）, sperm concentration （53.3%-58.3%） and leukocyte count （51.4%-58.3%）.
Conclusion Frequency of U. urealyticum infection was higher than that of M. hominis. Mycoplasma infections were associated with disorders of pH, motility and sperm concentration. In addition M. hominis infection affected spermatozoa morphology. Therefore, screening of U. urealyticum clinically relevant in Abidjan. and M. hominis for routine semen analysis is     

Decompression illness secondary to occupational diving: recommended management based current legistation and practice in Malaysia

Occupational divers are exposed to hazards which contribute to the risk of developing decompression illnesses (DCI). DCI consists of Type I decompression sickness (DCS), Type II DCS and arterial gas embolism (AGE), developed from formation of bubbles in the tissues or circulation as a result of inadequate elimination of inert gas (nitrogen) after a dive. In Malaysia, DCI is one of the significant contributions to mortality and permanent residual morbidity in diving accidents. This is a case of a diver who suffered from Type II DCS with neurological complications due to an occupational diving activity. This article mentions the clinical management of the case and makes several recommendations based on current legislations and practise implemented in Malaysia in order to educate medical and health practitioners on the current management of DCI from the occupational perspective. By following these recommendations, hopefully diving accidents mainly DCI and its sequalae among occupational divers can be minimized and prevented, while divers who become injured receive the proper compensation for their disabilities.     

报道一孟加拉国少年患结外鼻形NK／T细胞淋巴瘤

自然杀伤（NK）细胞瘤是比较罕见的肿瘤。直到2001年世界卫生组织才对其分级进行了明确的说明。在过去10年间，免疫血液学的发展对NK细胞瘤的识别和分类有一定的帮助。结外鼻形NK／T细胞淋巴瘤是这类肿瘤中的一型。这些淋巴细胞表达细胞毒性T细胞或NK细胞表型，包括CD56和TIA-1。鼻形NK／T细胞淋巴瘤起源于皮肤等结外部位，并常与EB病毒感染相关。亚洲成人的感染最常见。文献报道中极少有儿童患病者，且只有5例患者出现皮肤受累。作者报道1例结外鼻型NK／T细胞瘤，患者为一孟加拉国少年，表现为肢端皮肤结节。     

The association of nutritional risk with physical and mental health problems among elderly in a semi-urban area of Mukim Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Imbalances and deficiencies of nutrients are particularly prevalent among the elderly, resulting in increased risk of illness and impaired outcome, as well as reduced quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the nutritional risk and to determine its association with physical and mental health problems among the elderly in a semiurban community in the District of Hulu Langat, Selangor. Elderly people aged 60 years and above were included in the study, conducted from 11th March to 10th May 2004. Data were collected using a questionnaire-guided interview method. The Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist (NSI-13) was used to assess the level (low, moderate, high) of nutritional risk of the subjects. The questionnaire also included the Barthel Index, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) and Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire (ECAQ) to identify functional status, depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment respectively, among the respondents. Out of 316 elderly residents, 300 agreed to participate in the study (response rate 94.9%). Respondents aged from 60 to 93 years old and the mean age was 67.08±6.6. Prevalence of moderate and high nutritional risks were 25.3% and 36.3% respectively. Nutritional risks were found to be significantly associated with age (p=0.015), marital status (p=0.00), chronic illness (p=0.000), functional disability (p=0.000) and depressive symptoms (p=0.010). In conclusion, the health status of the elderly strongly depends on their nutritional risk. Age, marital status, chronic illness, functional disability and depressive symptoms are factors to be emphasised when assessing the nutritional risk of the elderly.