Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

Pathologic findings after recession and resection of extraocular muscles in rabbits

A study on the pathologic findings after recession and resection of extraocular muscles in rabbits was performed. Fibrosis of the extraocular muscles increased with time, which showed no difference between the recessed and resected muscles. Inflammation and foreign body reaction decreased with time, which showed no difference between the recessed and resected muscles. Adhesions of extraocular muscles to the sclera were observed from one month after the operation. The resected muscles showed milder adhesion to the sclera than the recessed ones. The operated extraocular muscles showed atrophies at one month, which showed no difference between the recessed and resected muscles. According to our results, when reoperation is needed, fibrosis of the extraocular muscles after recession and resection should be considered when making a decision on the amount of muscle to be recessed and resected.     

曼氏血吸虫与日本血吸虫交叉免疫原性的血清学实验研究

以曼氏血吸虫的虫卵和成虫免疫家兔后所产生的特异性抗体,可用以日本血吸虫虫卵、尾蚴和成虫为抗原分别进行的COP,CHR和ELACIEP测出,表明两种人体血吸虫存有显著的交叉抗原成分。应用此种血清交叉反应性,以检测抗异种人体血吸虫的抗体,似有效而可取的,可用以辅助诊断援外回国人员是否感染国外人体血吸虫病。     

放疗科病人医院感染原因分析与控制

医院感染是指病人在入院时不存在,也不处于潜伏期,而是在医院内发生的感染,也包括在医院里获得治疗,出院后发病的病人感染[1].癌症病人是一个特殊的群体,是医院感染的易感和高危人群,由于疾病本身引起消瘦无力、营养不良、甚至恶病质,免疫力低下、再加上接受放射线治疗后引起骨髓功能抑制、消化道功能障碍、皮肤反应及其他副反应等危险因素,医院感染发生率高,因此放疗科的医院感染控制是非常重要的工作.本文通过对我院放疗科病房2003年8月-2004年4月住院病人137例中发生医院感染病例12例进行分析,总结出一些控制医院感染的方法,现将其介绍如下.……     

Analysis on origin and evolution of mumps]

There was a preliminary recognition on mumps during the Qin-Han to Sui-Tang dynasty, laying a foundation for the scholastic development on this topic in later generations. The title of this disease was identified in Song-Jin-Yuan dynasty with gradual deepening on its principle-method-formula-medication system, a great progress of recognition as compared with the previous ages. In the Ming-Qing dynasty, the recognition became even more systematic, with certain breakthrough in the system of principle-method-formula-medication. In modern age, the experiences were inherited and developed to integrate to modern biomedicine, so that the theory and clinical practice become even more perfect.     

Molecular determinants of cetuximab efficacy.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether mRNA expression levels of cyclin D1 (CCND1), cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), all members of the EGFR signaling pathway, are associated with clinical outcome in patients with EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with cetuximab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with metastatic CRC, refractory to both irinotecan and oxaliplatin, were enrolled on IMCL-0144 and treated with single-agent cetuximab. The intratumoral mRNA levels of CCND1, Cox-2, EGFR, IL-8, and VEGF were assessed from paraffin-embedded tissue samples using laser-capture microdissection and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There were 21 women and 18 men with a median age of 64 years (range, 35 to 83 years). Higher gene expression levels of VEGF were associated with resistance to cetuximab (P = .038; Kruskal-Wallis test). The combination of low gene expression levels of Cox-2, EGFR, and IL-8 was significantly associated with overall survival (13.5 v 2.3 months; P = .028; log-rank test). Both findings were independent of skin toxicity that was itself significantly correlated to survival. Patients with a lower mRNA amount of EGFR had a longer overall survival compared with patients that had a higher mRNA amount (7.3 v 2.2 months; P = .09; log-rank test). Patients with lower expression of Cox-2 had a significantly higher rate of grade 2 to 3 skin reactions under cetuximab treatment. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that gene expression levels of Cox-2, EGFR, IL-8, and VEGF in patients with metastatic CRC may be useful markers of clinical outcome in single-agent cetuximab treatment.     

慢性丙型肝炎患者α干扰素和α干扰素受体1的检测

目的建立检测外周血单个核细胞α干扰素受体1(IFNAR1)及检测诱导表达α干扰素(IFN-α)的方法,评价慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)细胞免疫功能与α干扰素治疗的关系。方法Poly IC体外刺激正常对照组和慢性丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染组患者PBMC,利用病毒保护试验研究干扰素治疗前后患者PBMC表达的干扰素抗病毒生物学活性差异;IFN-α治疗前后,RT-PCR检测慢性丙型肝炎患者不同干扰素应答组患者PBMC IFNAR1表达的变化。结果对照组PBMC分泌的干扰素活性显著高于慢性丙型肝炎患者应答组患者(P<0.001);干扰素应答组患者PBMC分泌的干扰素活性随治疗时间延长而增加,治疗1个月后显著高于无应答组患者PBMC分泌的干扰素活性(P<0.01),后者始终处于低下水平;IFN-α治疗期间干扰素应答组患者PBMC IFNAR1水平从治疗前的高表达而逐渐减少,正常对照和干扰素无应答组患者PBMC IFNAR1的表达始终较低。结论慢性HCV感染患者的细胞免疫功能受损,不能正常表达IFN-α,但应答组患者经干扰素治疗后IFN-α表达能力逐渐恢复;干扰素无应答组患者PBMC IFNAR1表达受到严重抑制;慢性丙型肝炎患者PBMCIFN-α活性检测及IFNAR1检测结果也许可以作为干扰素治疗预后的判断指标。     

Altered regulation of in-vivo coagulation in orthopedic patients prior to knee or hip replacement surgery.

Up to 20% of patients develop venographically proven deep-vein thrombosis after elective orthopedic surgery even under the cover of heparin or low molecular weight heparin. The extent to which the chronic inflammation of osteoarthritis requiring elective orthopedic surgery alters in-vivo coagulation and whether any specific alteration influences the development of postoperative thrombosis are unknown. This study compared the concentrations of activated factor VII (FVIIa), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), activated factor X (FXa)-TFPI, thrombin-antithrombin, and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) in plasmas of 535 healthy individuals (ages 17-76) with those in the preoperative plasmas of 306 arthritis patients (ages 30-92) scheduled for elective knee or hip replacement surgery. C-reactive protein was also measured in the plasmas of approximately 15% of the participants. Age-adjusted concentrations of FVIIa, F1+2, and C-reactive protein were higher in patients than controls, while the concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin, TFPI and FXa-TFPI were similar. Chronic inflammation in the patients was thus associated with increased coagulation in vivo. Without compensatory increases in the concentrations of TFPI (natural inhibitor of prothrombinase), the elevated concentrations of FVIIa in the preoperative plasmas and the trauma associated with surgery may enhance the risk for developing postoperative deep-vein thrombosis.     

Bone growth patterns in Chinese children and adolescents: a 6-year follow-up study provides evidence for sexual dimorphism and tracking

Summary We prospectively examined bone growth patterns in 894 children aged 6–17 years at the baseline visit, with a 6-year follow-up. Results show bone “tracking” over a six-year interval and sexual dimorphism of bone attained levels and timing of peak bone growth. Our findings underscore childhood and adolescence as critical periods for building bone and developing gender differences. Introduction Bone growth patterns were prospectively examined in 894 Chinese children (496 males), aged 6–17 yrs, from a population-based twin cohort. Whole-body bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured by DEXA at baseline and a 6-yr follow-up. Methods Graphic smoothing plots and generalized estimating equations were used to model bone attained levels, growth, and “tracking”. Results Attained levels of BMC and BA increased curvilinearly with age. Male attained levels were higher than females after age ∼15 yr, but BMD was lower between 13–17 yrs (Tanner stage I to IV). In both genders, peak BMC and BMD growth lagged ∼2 yrs behind peak BA growth, which lagged 2 yrs behind peak height growth. Peak bone growth occurred 1–3 yrs later in males. Over the 6-yr follow-up, all bone measurements “tracked”, but “shifting” across ranks also occurred, and baseline tertile ranking influenced bone growth. Females with early menarche had higher attained levels than females with late menarche at age 12–13 yrs. Conclusion Our findings confirm and expand previous studies on peak bone growth conducted in Caucasian cohorts, particularly sexually dimorphic and maturational effects. The significant “tracking” of bone measurements in this 6-yr follow-up study underscores the importance that osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood and adolescence. Fengxiu Ouyang and Binyan Wang contributed equally to this article. Source(s) of support: This study is supported in part by grant R01 HD049059, R01 HL0864619 and R01 AR045651 from the National Institute of Health and by the Food Allergy Project.