Risk factors for coronary heart disease among inpatients who have mild intellectual disability and mental illness

Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK. The aim of this study was to screen inpatients with mild or borderline intellectual disability, many of whom also have mental illness, for risk factors for CHD. Methods Cross sectional survey. Participants were interviewed, measured and had blood samples taken. Results Of the 53 participants, 20 (37.7%) were overweight and 18 (34.0%) obese. The mean body mass index (BMI) of those participants prescribed regular antipsychotics was higher than those who were not. Nine (20.9%) had waist circumference measurements placing them at increased risk of CHD and 21 (48.8%) were at substantially increased risk. Twenty-eight (52.8%) were current smokers. Of the 49 participants who had their blood pressure measured, 3 (6.1%) had readings above the reference range. Of the 19 participants who had random blood tests, one (5.3%) had an elevated cholesterol level. Conclusions In this population there was a high prevalence of two risk factors for CHD (obesity and smoking), requiring ongoing monitoring and long-term measures to reduce risk.     

The child with recurrent respiratory infections: normal or not?

Respiratory infections (RI) are one of the major complaints in children and adolescents, and represent a demanding challenge for the pediatrician. It has been estimated that at least 6% of Italian children younger than 6 yr of age present recurrent respiratory infections (RRI). Children with RRI are not affected by severe alterations of the immune system. RRI represent essentially the consequence of an increased exposure to infectious agents during the first years of life, when immune functions are still largely immature. Several social and environmental factors, such as day-care attendance, family size, air pollution, parental smoking, and home dampness, represent important risk factors for airway diseases and may contribute in various degrees to determine the incidence of RRI. The main problem for the pediatrician is to discriminate normal children with high RI frequency related to an augmented exposure to environmental risk factors from children affected by other underlying pathological conditions (immunological or not), predisposing to infectious diseases. When RRI diagnosis has been formulated, removal of environmental risk factors (i.e. precocious day-care attendance, smoking in the household) must first be suggested.     

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of ciclesonide 160 μg once daily vs. budesonide 400 μg once daily in children with asthma

Ciclesonide is an onsite-activated inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for the treatment of asthma. This study compared the efficacy, safety and effect on quality of life (QOL) of ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator; nominal dose 200 microg) vs. budesonide 400 microg (nominal dose) in children with asthma. Six hundred and twenty-one children (aged 6-11 yr) with asthma were randomized to receive ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator) once daily (via hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler and AeroChamber Plus spacer) or budesonide 400 microg once daily (via Turbohaler) both given in the evening for 12 wk. The primary efficacy end-point was change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Additional measurements included change in daily peak expiratory flow (PEF), change in asthma symptom score sum, change in use of rescue medication, paediatric and caregiver asthma QOL questionnaire [PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ, respectively] scores, change in body height assessed by stadiometry, change in 24-h urinary cortisol adjusted for creatinine and adverse events. Both ciclesonide and budesonide increased FEV1, morning PEF and PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ scores, and improved asthma symptom score sums and the need for rescue medication after 12 wk vs. baseline. The non-inferiority of ciclesonide vs. budesonide was demonstrated for the change in FEV1 (95% confidence interval: -75, 10 ml, p = 0.0009, one-sided non-inferiority, per-protocol). In addition, ciclesonide and budesonide showed similar efficacy in improving asthma symptoms, morning PEF, use of rescue medication and QOL. Ciclesonide was superior to budesonide with regard to increases in body height (p = 0.003, two-sided). The effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was significantly different in favor of ciclesonide treatment (p < 0.001, one-sided). Both ciclesonide and budesonide were well tolerated. Ciclesonide 160 microg once daily and budesonide 400 microg once daily were effective in children with asthma. In addition, in children treated with ciclesonide there was significantly less reduction in body height and suppression of 24-h urinary cortisol excretion compared with children treated with budesonide after 12 wk.     

子宫肌瘤患者外周静脉与子宫静脉血管内皮细胞生长因子水平测定及临床意义

目的:探讨血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)在子宫肌瘤发生和肌瘤生长中的作用。方法:手术中暴露子宫静脉后,抽取子宫静脉血3ml,同时抽取非输液肢体外周静脉血3ml。抽取配对正常妇女外周静脉血3ml。ELISA法测定VEGF水平。测量子宫重量、肌瘤总重量、肌瘤数目和最大肌瘤最大径线值。结果:子宫肌瘤患者子宫静脉血和外周静脉血VEGF水平分别为159.38±25.63pg/ml和76.35±26.61pg/ml,对照人群外周静脉血VEGF水平为42.53±29.47pg/ml。子宫静脉血中的VEGF水平明显高于外周静脉血(P=0.019),子宫肌瘤患者外周静脉血中的VEGF水平明显高于对照人群外周静脉血的VEGF水平(P=0.013)。子宫重量、肌瘤总重量、肌瘤数目、最大肌瘤最大径线都与子宫肌瘤患者子宫静脉和外周静脉VEGF呈显著正相关。结论:VEGF可能参与了子宫肌瘤的生长和病情发展。     

武汉西马街社区成人健康相关危险因素调查

目的 探讨当地成人健康相关危险因素构成，尝试低费用下开展此类监测的方法。方法 依托教育系统对武汉市江岸区西马街地区成人进行随机抽样入户问卷调查。结果 人群吸烟率32．4％，男性吸烟率60．6％，中年人高于老年人，女性吸烟率5．9％；92．5％的人不愿意自己的孩子在将来成为烟民；人群饮洒率为26．5％，其中男性饮洒率51％，23．5％的饮酒者存在违意饮酒情节；33．3％的成人有体育锻炼习惯，其比例随文化程度的升高而升高；19％的人每周户外活动时间达不到1天1小时；35．6％的人存在体重过重问题，分解19．2％为超重，14．7％为肥胖，1．7％为Ⅱ度肥胖。人群自述（非现场测量）高血压患病率为11．1％，自述糖尿病患病率为2．8％，但自觉有糖尿病典型症状而从未检测血糖的比例达16％。结论 落实社区人群基础医学检查任务迫切，依托教育系统进行的成人健康相关危险因素监测方法足当前经济适用的监测方法。     

A review of incisional hernia repairs: preoperative weight loss and selective use of the mesh repair

At the Shouldice Clinic pre-operative weight loss is used prior to incisional hernia repairs. Mesh repair is selectively used, based on specific hernia characteristics. A series of 236 patients were reviewed and followed up for 36 months. Data were available on 188 patients (80%). There were 15 recurrences (8%). The number of obese patients was reduced from 67 (35.6%) to 25 (13.3%) through the weight loss program. The hernia diameter, gastrointestinal complications, and surgical site infection were significantly related to recurrence but not the type of repair, obesity, location, or previous recurrences. The risk factors of incisional hernias include size, intestinal complications and infections. A selective use has a comparable result to the exclusive use of mesh repair. Weight reduction has yet to be shown to affect the rate of recurrence, and further prospective studies are required.     

Proliferation of DU145 prostate cancer cells is inhibited by suppressing insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is expressed by all human prostate cancer cell lines and dramatically increases in the serum of prostate cancer patients. However, the role of IGFBP-2 in prostatic tumorigenesis is not known. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of IGFBP-2 on the proliferation of DU145 human prostate cancer cells in culture. METHODS: Using cell proliferation assays, we examined the effects of exogenously administered and endogenously modulated levels of IGFBP-2 on the proliferation of DU145 cells. RESULT: Cell growth was stimulated by exogenously administered IGFBP-2, but significantly retarded (P < 0.05) by its neutralizing antibody. Overexpression of IGFBP-2 by transfection also stimulated cell growth, which was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited in transfectants expressing antisense mRNA to IGFBP-2. Furthermore, the proliferation of IGFBP-2 overexpressing cells was significantly dampened by exogenously administered IGFBP-2 antibody. CONCLUSIONS: IGFBP-2 is an autocrine growth factor for DU145 human prostate cancer cells and cell proliferation can be significantly retarded by neutralizing or inhibiting its synthesis. These findings provide a strong rationale for targeting IGFBP-2 in the testing of novel strategies to treat prostate cancer.     

传染病流行的社会因素及社会控制策略刍议

传染病与社会文化因素的关系密切。应重视社会因素对传染病的发生发展影响，从社会根源上探究其发病原理，包括经济因素、科学技术、文化、人口、卫生服务和其它社会因素。人类要有与传染病长期斗争的思想准备，并制定包括大卫生观和技术合作等相应的社会策略。     

妊高征患者胰岛素样生长因子水平及对胎儿生长发育的影响

目的：探讨妊娠高血压综合征(妊高征)患者血清胰岛素样生长因子(IGF-1)和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-3(IGFBP-3)水平与疾病程度及新生儿出生体重之间的关系。方法：用放射免疫方法测定33例妊高征和32例正常血压妊娠妇女的血清IGF-1、IGFBP-3的水平。结果：重度妊高征组IGF-1显著低于正常组，IGFBP-3在各组间的水平浓度差异均无显著性，但IGF-1与IGFBP-3之间呈正相关。新生儿出生体重随妊高征严重程度的加剧而降低，各组间比较差异有显著性(F=5．453，P=0．002)。结论：妊高征患者的发病及严重程度与IGF-1有明显的关系，IGF-1与胎儿的发育及新生儿出生体重有明显的相关性。     

Why study transport of peptides and proteins at the neurovascular interface

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is an immense neurovascular interface. In neurodegenerative, ischemic, and traumatic disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), the BBB may hinder the delivery of many therapeutic peptides and proteins to the brain and spinal cord. Fortunately, the mistaken dogma that peptides and proteins do not cross the BBB has been corrected during the past two decades by the accumulating evidence that peptides and proteins in the periphery exert potent effects in the CNS. Not only can peptides and proteins serve as carriers for selective therapeutic agents, but they themselves may directly cross the BBB after delivery into the bloodstream. Their passage may be mediated by simple diffusion or specific transport, both of which can be affected by interactions in the blood compartment (outside the BBB) and within the endothelial cells (at the BBB level). Although the majority of current delivery strategies focuses on modification of the molecule to be delivered, understanding the mechanisms of transport will eventually facilitate regulation of the BBB directly. We review the different aspects of interactions and discuss recent advances in the cell biology of peptide/protein transport across the BBB. Better understanding of the nature and regulation of the transport systems at the BBB will provide a new direction to enhance the interactions of peripheral peptides and proteins with the CNS.