Serum transforming growth factor-β1 level reflects disease status in patients with esophageal carcinoma after radiotherapy

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between changes in serum transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) level and curative effect of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with esophageal carcinoma.METHODS: Ninety patients with histologically confirmed esophageal carcinoma were enrolled. Serum samples for TGFβ1 analysis were obtained before and at the end of RT. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum TGFβ1 level. Multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between disease status and changes in serum TGFβ1 level.RESULTS: Serum TGFβ1 level in patients with esophageal carcinoma before RT was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P ＜ 0.001). At the end of RT, serum TGFβ1 level was decreased in 67.82% (59/87) of the patients. The overall survival rate at 1,3 and 5 years was 48.28% (42/87), 19.54% (17/87)and 12.64% (11/87), respectively. Main causes of death were local failure and regional lymph node metastasis.In patients whose serum TGFβ1 level decreased after RT,the survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 61.02% (36/59),28.81% (17/59) and 18.64% (11/59), respectively. The survival rate at 1 year was 17.86% (5/28) in patients whose serum TGFβ1 level increased after RT, and all died within 18 mo (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Serum TGFβ1 level may be a useful marker for monitoring disease status after RT in patients with esophageal carcinoma.     

Evaluation of a mass dispensing exercise in a Cities Readiness Initiative setting.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of a point of dispensing (POD) used in a mass dispensing exercise was evaluated. METHODS: Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC), in conjunction with the University of Washington, conducted a functional exercise of mass dispensing plans to test the effectiveness of a POD. Specifically, the organization and maintenance of patient flow, staffing model, signage, and dissemination of public information were evaluated. A data collection application using cellular telephones was used to record time and patient flow data to evaluate patient flow. Questionnaires distributed to staff and volunteer patients at the end of the exercise obtained feedback regarding the setup, organization, and operations of the POD. RESULTS: The POD was operational for approximately 68 minutes. The majority of POD staff reported feeling comfortable with their specific job tasks and duties within 15 minutes of opening the doors to the POD to the public. Staff questionnaires also revealed a high level of self-reported confidence in their ability and in the ability of their colleagues to perform the job-specific responsibilities required of them or respond to this hypothetical event. The majority of volunteer patients found the signs helpful and easy to follow and the check-in form easy to complete. Despite efforts to provide patients with oral and written information about the medications being dispensed, only 80% indicated that they knew how to take the medication, and only 73% reported understanding the medication instructions for all the individuals for whom they picked up medication. CONCLUSION: The majority of volunteer patients and staff who participated in a functional exercise of mass dispensing plans found the POD to be effective. Time-flow analysis provided preliminary estimates of the total amount of time needed to complete the dispensing process for each head of household.     

甲睾酮对小鼠生殖系统发育及生精功能的影响

目的 探讨甲睾酮对雄性小鼠精子的产生及生殖器官的影响.方法 将48只昆明小白鼠随机分为4组,每组12只,每天分别向各组灌胃甲睾酮16 mg/kg,32 mg/kg,64 mg/kg 和等量蒸馏水(对照组),连续10 d.结果 与对照组比较,甲睾酮16 mg/kg组精子活率最高为66.22%(P<0.05);甲睾酮64mg/kg组睾丸指数、精子畸形率、精子密度都极显著和显著地升高(P<0.01和P<0.05),且睾丸组织有较明显的病理学损伤.结论 适量甲睾酮能提高精子活率,大剂量使精子活率降低且畸形率升高.     

Techniques for performing laparoscopic liver resection in various hepatic locations

Many studies have recently reported on laparoscopic liver resection, although its development has been slow compared to laparoscopy in other fields. The indications for the location of laparoscopic liver resection have previously been limited to easily accessible lesions. Performing laparoscopic liver resection in the posterior and superior parts of the liver has been considered difficult due to inadequate exposure, the poor operative field and the difficulty with parenchymal dissection. Flexible endoscopy, high definition imaging and various kinds of equipment for parenchymal transection have been introduced for clinical use. In addition, much experience with this procedure has been accumulated at many centers. Accordingly, there are an increasing number of reports on laparoscopic liver resection in difficult locations. At our institution, the location of the tumor is no longer a limitation to laparoscopic liver resection. However, for safer laparoscopic liver resection, the patient positioning and trocar placement should be individualized according to the tumor location. The type of resection also may depend on the remaining liver’s functional capacity. We describe here the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection, including the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection for lesions located in the postero-superior segments of the liver.     

维生素D受体基因多态性与汉族人群慢性牙周炎易感性的关系

目的 探讨维生素D受体(VDR)基因多态性与汉族人群慢性牙周炎(CP)易感性的关系。方法 收集汉族轻、中、重度CP患者共166例及80名无牙周炎对照者的颊黏膜拭子，以Chelex-100法提取DNA，采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法测定VDR BsmI、VDR ApaI和VDR TaqI的基因型，分析组间基因型分布和等位基因频率的差异。结果 轻、中、重度CP患者中VDR ApaI等位基因A携带者明显多于对照组，重度CP与中度CP、重度CP与轻度CP患者间VDR ApaI基因型的分布差异均有统计学意义，中度CP与轻度CP患者间VDR ApaI基因型分布差异无统计学意义，而VDR BsmI、TaqI位点的基因型分布在患者组和对照组间差异无统计学意义。结论 VDR ApaI等位基因A可能与汉族人群CP的易感性有关。     

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病神经元烯醇化酶变化的研究

目的　探讨新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病时神经元烯醇化酶的变化,为HIE的诊断和治疗提供依据。方法　采用病历对照研究,将实验组分为三组:轻、中、重度HIE分别为2 1、4 9、8例;正常对照组73例。测定其血中神经元烯醇化酶的浓度变化。比较各组间检测指标的差异。结果　实验组NSE水平明显高于对照组,组间有显著性差异,P <0 .0 1:且实验组轻、中、重度间有显著性差异,P均<0 .0 5。结论　NSE水平与HIE的病情严重程度相关,是反映HIE严重程度比较客观的指标。     

Central metabotropic glutamate receptors differentially participate in interleukin-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area of conscious rats.

The present study investigated the role of central metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area. Experiments were carried out on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230 to 280 g. After administration of 0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 pg of IL-1beta into a subcutaneous area of the vibrissa pad, we examined the withdrawal behavioral responses produced by 10 successive trials of an air-puff ramp pressure applied ipsilaterally or contralaterally to the IL-1beta injection site. Subcutaneous injection of IL-1beta produced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area. Intracisternal administration of CPCCOEt, a mGluR1 antagonist, or MPEP, a mGluR5 antagonist, reduced IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia. Intracisternal administration of APDC, a group II mGluR agonist, or L-AP4, a group III mGluR agonist, reduced both IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia. The antiallodynic effect, induced by APDC or L-AP4, was blocked by intracisternal pretreatment with LY341495, a group II mGluR antagonist, or CPPG, a group III mGluR antagonist. These results suggest that groups I, II, and III mGluRs differentially modulated IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia, as well as mirror-image mechanical allodynia, in the orofacial area. PERSPECTIVE: Central group I mGluR antagonists and groups II and III mGluR agonists modulate IL-1beta-induced mechanical allodynia and mirror-image mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area. Therefore, the central application of group I mGluR antagonists or groups II and III mGluR agonists might be of therapeutic value in treating pain disorder.     

Are ADDH and ADHD the same or different?

To assess the relationship between the DSM-III criteria for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) and the DSM-III-R criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), children from an inner city parochial school were evaluated using a 30-item teacher questionnaire consisting of the DMS-III and DSM-III-R criteria for these disorders, the revised Conners Parent and Teacher Questionnaires, and a continuous performance test. Diagnostic groups were established based on teacher ratings of the DSM items and evaluated in relation to the rating scale data and continuous performance test. While children who were identified by teachers as having ADDH almost always satisfied the criteria for ADHD, a new group of children who were hyperactive and impulsive but less clearly inattentive also met the criteria for ADHD. Implications of the change in diagnostic criteria are discussed.