Endometrial assessment in a group of infertile women on stimulated cycles for IVF: immunohistochemical findings

An immunohistochemical assessment of the endometrium was carried out in a group of IVF patients on stimulated cycles, in order to evaluate this technique against standard histological methods and to consider its application in a clinical situation. Monoclonal antibodies to the two cycle-dependent proteins: pregnancy associated endometrial alpha 2-globulin (alpha 2-PEG) and 24K (a protein originally isolated from an oestrogen-dependent breast tumour line, MCF-7) were used in the experiment. Immunohistochemical results concerning the effect of drug stimulation, age and date of biopsy on the secretory state of the endometrium revealed trends which were consistent with previous histological data, helping to confirm the value of this new technique. In addition, several specimens were found to have a normal, i.e. in phase, histological appearance but to have an atypical pattern of protein secretion. These observations suggest that biochemical monitoring of the uterus should be used in conjunction with routine histological dating.     

Site of bone density measurement may affect therapy decision

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine whether bone mineral density (BMD) measurements at the lumbar spine and femoral neck provided comparable information to women planning to use that knowledge to help them make a decision about hormone replacement therapy. Eighty-eight healthy Caucasian women, aged 44–59 and within 0 to 5 years of menopause, participated in the study. BMD measurements were performed at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and the femoral neck by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Criteria suggested by the National Osteoporosis Foundation were used to categorize women as at risk for osteoporosis, bone density more than one standard deviation (SD) below the young adult mean, or as low risk, bone density at or above this level. The re that 46 women would be classified into the low risk category on the basis of spinal BMD alone. However, 28 of these 46 women would fall into the at risk category when the femoral neck BMD was measured. Sixty-one percent of women informed they were at low risk on the basis of spinal BMD would be considered at risk based on femoral neck BMD. When femoral neck BMD was used as the primary risk indicator, 14% of the women classified as low risk would be at risk if spinal BMD were added. These results suggest that both lumbar spine and proximal femur measurements should be made when women are using bone density measurements as an aid in deciding whether or not to use hormone therapy in their postmenopausal years.     

The contribution of bone loss to postmenopausal osteoporosis

We have addressed the relative importance of peak bone mass and subsequent rate of loss in determining postmenopausal women's bone mass in old age, by examining longitudinal measurements of radial mid-shaft bone mass on various samples of healthy white postmenopausal women. Using both the variance estimate of age-specific rates of bone loss and the population variance in bone mass, we determined that rates of loss could contribute importantly to future bone mass. However, since we found a small negative correlation between initial bone mass and rate of loss, it was necessary to estimate the effect of bone loss as the complement of the contribution of initial bone mass. We found that the influence of bone loss (relative to initial bone mass) increases as the women age, such that by about age 70, the contribution of initial bone mass and rate of loss approached equality. However, estimated rates of bone loss were not very stable over time, so it was difficult to identify long-term fast-losers. We conclude that the rate of postmenopausal bone loss is an important contributor to osteoporosis at old age, but it is difficult to identify long-term fast-losers, thereby reducing the clinical value of assessments of rates of change in bone mass early in the postmenopause.     

小儿急性白血病骨胳X线表现(附10例分析)

结合10例临床资料分析,认为小儿急性白血病浸润骨骼的主要X线表现为骨质稀疏、干骺端横行透明线,溶骨性破坏,骨膜反应及病理骨折等。上述表现可出现于临床症状之前,对小儿急性白血病的诊断起着重要作用,特别是2岁以上患儿长骨干骺端白血病线是本病诊断的重要依据。     

Erbium-YAG and holmium-YAG laser ablation of bone

Results are presented for the latent heat of ablation of bone using an erbium-YAG laser operating at 2.9m, and a holmium-YAG laser operating at 2.1m. The values are 8.2±1.0 kJ cm^–3 and 18±2.0 kJ cm^–3, respectively. Secondary damage to surrounding tissue is found to extend approximately 5m with the erbium laser and is greatly increased to 80m with significant charring in the case of holmium. These secondary damage zones are much smaller than those produced by the CO₂ laser.     

Depression of drug metabolizing activity in the human liver by interferon-α

Summary The depressant effect of interferon- on drug metabolizing activity in the liver has been investigated in 12 patients with chronic active hepatitis B. 7-methoxy-coumarin (7-MC) O-demethylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin (7-EC) O-deethylase, in specimens obtained by liver biopsy, were measured before and after interferon treatment. 7-MC and 7-EC O-dealkylase activity were significantly reduced after interferon treatment, from 13.4 to 9.24 nmol·g^–1 liver·min^–1, and from 3.22 to 2.16 nmol·g^–1 liver·min^–1, respectively. The magnitude of the fall varied widely between individual patients. The study provides the first direct evidence that interferon- can impair the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes in the human liver.     

人内皮细胞和4种细胞因子对正常人和再生障碍性贫血患者粒系造血的影响

通过人脐静脉内皮细胞为铺层的双层细胞培养,观察内皮细胞和几种细胞因子对正常人和再障患者粒系造血的影响。方法以人内皮细胞作铺层,作体外骨髓CFU-GM半固体双层培养,并在培养体系中加入细胞因子GM-CSF、IL-2、IL-6和LAK细胞上清,观察内皮细胞和细胞因子对正常人和再障患者粒系造血的影响。结果在有内皮细胞的培养体系中CFU-GM的产率均显著高于无内皮细胞的相应培养体系。在无内皮细胞时,IL-6和LAK上清显示出与GM-CSF相似的粒系造血刺激作用。对15例初诊慢性再障患者骨髓粒系祖细胞培养结果表明,无内皮细胞存在时,无论向培养体系中加入何种细胞因子,均无集落生成,而在有内皮细胞的双层培养中,部分患者骨髓可见CFU-GM集落生成。结论内皮细胞对正常和再障粒系造血均有明显影响,并提示再障造血障碍有微环境因素。     

胎兔骨髓基质前成骨细胞的培养及鉴定

为了证实体外培养的胎兔骨髓基质骨祖细胞具有成骨细胞系特征。采用胎兔长管骨骨髓细胞 ,加入 DMEM培养 ,传代四代后 ,用活体相差显微镜、透射电镜、组织化学染色、免疫组化等方法进行观测。结果显示体外培养的基质细胞具有成骨细胞系特征。提示胎兔骨髓基质骨祖细胞 ,可以作为修复骨缺损的种子细胞。     

冷冻同种异体骨段移植修复股骨近段大块骨缺损

为观察大块冷冻同种异体骨移植后免疫功能的改变及预后,对13例恶性骨肿瘤瘤段切除后的骨缺损10.8～19.4cm(平均为14.6cm),分别采用冻冷异体松质骨段移植的髋关节加压融合术(6例)和异体股骨近段半关节移植成形术(7例)修复.10例分别于术前4天及术后14和28天检测其空腹外周血各项免疫学指标,以及术后3、6、9、12、24、48个月进行99mSPECT骨扫描(5例)和X-线片检查(12例),以观察宿主的免疫反应和异体骨愈合情况.结果:①外周血T淋巴细胞亚群(OKT3+,OKT4+,OKT8+)及血清补体(C3,C4)和循环免疫复合物(CiC)手术前后比较无显著性差异(P>0.05).②99mTe SPECT骨扫描显示:术后3～6个月移植的异体骨两端及髓腔内同位素浓集明显低于正常,而异体骨两端所对应的自体骨端同位素浓集明显高于正常,此现象于植入后9个月开始减弱,可达数年.X线片显示:异体骨愈合率为92.3%(12/13),2例移植的异体松质骨段于术后4～6年完全成活替代.以上可见:①冻冷异体骨段移植后宿主的全身免疫机能改变不明显,其反应是以局部炎症为主的细胞免疫过程;②异体骨可做为修复大块骨缺损的良好材料.     

骨髓腔内输注复方丹参注射液治疗再生障碍性贫血的临床研究

目的 :观察骨髓腔内输注复方丹参对再生障碍性贫血 50例的疗效 .方法 :采用骨髓腔内输注复方丹参液并中医辨证的方法治疗再生障碍性贫血 ,并对其作用机制进行了探讨。结果 :治愈 2 4例 ,缓解 8例 ,明显进步 1 3例 ,无效 5例 ,总有效率 90 %。结论 :复方丹参注射液骨髓腔内输注与中医辨证结合治疗再障 ,能提高临床疗效