On the natural course of oral lichen lesions in a Swedish population-based sample

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess the natural course of oral lichen lesions (OLL) among unselected, non-consulting individuals. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 327 subjects with OLL, confirmed in 1973-1974 during a population-based survey in two Swedish municipalities, was followed through January 2002 via record linkages with nationwide and essentially complete registers. A sample of 80 drawn from the 194 surviving subjects who still resided in the area in 1993-1995 was invited for interview and oral re-examination. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, one case of oral cancer was detected, while 0.4 were expected. The overall mortality among subjects with OLL was not significantly different from that in the 15,817 OLL-free subjects who participated in the initial population based survey in 1973-1974. The lesion had disappeared in 14 (39%) of 36 re-examined subjects with white OLLs in 1973-1974, and four (11%) had transformed into red types. In the corresponding group of 19 with red forms initially, five (26%) had become lesion free and four (21%) had switched to white types. Although the cohort size does not permit firm conclusions regarding oral cancer risk, the natural course over up to 30 years appears to be benign in the great majority.     

Comparison between a swim-up and a Percoll gradient technique for the separation of human spermatozoa

Two methods of separating human sperm were compared using twenty-two semen samples. The sperm were separated by a swim-up technique or by self-migration on a Percoll gradient followed by medium change. After separation, the sperm obtained were assessed for progressive motility, ATP content, energy charge index ([ATP + 0.5 ADP]/[ATP + ADP + AMP]) and morphology. In general, and especially for semen samples containing less than 20 X 10(6) sperm/ml, separation by Percoll gradient selected sperm that were superior to those separated by the swim-up technique. The relatively high energy charge index (greater than 0.8) showed that the sperm tolerated the separation conditions well. It is suggested that self-migration on a Percoll gradient should prove useful for obtaining sperm of high quality.     

补脾泻肝法治疗腹泻型肠易激综合征临床研究

目的观察补脾泻肝法治疗腹泻型肠易激综合征的临床疗效。方法100例腹泻型肠易激综合征患者随机分为2组,治疗组60例给予白术芍药散加味,对照组40例给予丙咪嗪合替加色罗治疗。2组均4周为1个疗程,观察疗效,并于3-6个月后观察2组病例复发情况。结果治疗组治愈率为65%,总有效率为85%,6个月内复发率为20%,对照组则分别为32.5%、72.5%、55.56%,2组比较差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论补脾泻肝法治疗腹泻型肠易激综合征优于丙咪嗪合替加色罗,疗效确切。     

JAK2激酶抑制剂AG490对结肠癌HT-29细胞侵袭性的影响

目的观察JAK2激酶抑制剂AG490对结肠癌HT-29细胞侵袭以及对基质金属蛋白酶-2（MMP-2）表达的影响，探讨STAT3信号转导通路在结肠癌侵袭转移调控中的作用。方法应用JAK2激酶抑制剂AG490处理结肠癌HT-29细胞，Matrigel肿瘤体外侵袭模型检测肿瘤细胞侵袭；Western blot检测STAT3蛋白表达；逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）检测MMP2mRNA表达。结果AG490可抑制JAK2／STAT3信号转导通路活化及结肠癌HT-29细胞侵袭，在此过程中AG490在mRNA水平抑制MMP-2表达。结论STAT3信号转导通路参与结肠癌细胞侵袭调控，阻断STAT3通路活化可抑制结肠癌细胞侵袭，这一作用可能是通过抑制MMP-2表达实现的。     

Microvascular abnormalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Microvascular involvement represents one of the first apparent steps in many autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Early in the disease, peripheral microangiopathy may be easily recognized and studied by videocapillaroscopy. The aim of this study has been to observe the differences in labial microcirculation between healthy patients and patients suffering from RA. A total of 30 healthy patients and 30 patients suffering from RA were examined. The patients with conditions known to compromise microcirculation, such as diabetes, hypertension, or some pharmacological treatments were not included in the study. All the patients were non-smokers. Labial capillaroscopy was used to investigate the characteristics of microcirculation. Visibility, course, tortuosity, as well as the possible presence of microhemorrhages, the average caliber of the capillary loops and the number of visible capillary loops per square millimeter were evaluated for each patient. The investigation was simple, non-invasive, and repeatable for each patient. In patients suffering from RA, it was possible to observe a reduced caliber of capillaries, as well as greater elongated capillaries, in comparison to controls. This study shows that capillary alterations in patients suffering from RA occur in labial mucosa microcirculation; such evidence could be extremely important in the diagnosis of suspected RA.     

免疫组化法检测非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中输血传播病毒

目的　检测非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织输血传播病毒(TTV)感染状况,TTV感染与肝组织炎症程度 及与血液学指标的相关性。方法　应用免疫组织化学法检测52例非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中TTV,并经原位 杂交证实;对TTV阳性和阴性组的血液学生化指标,诸如血清丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、血清天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、血 清总胆红素(TBIL)、白蛋白(ALB)、γ 球蛋白(γ G)、凝血酶原活动度(PTA)及组织学活动指数(HAI)进行了比较。 结果　非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中TTV抗原(TTVAg)阳性15例,检出率为28.8%;阳性物质主要定位于肝细 胞浆内,呈棕黄色细小颗粒,偶见肝细胞核内有表达;TTV阳性表达细胞呈单个、散在或片簇状分布;TTVAg阳性的 组织切片经苏木素-伊红(HE)染色后,可观察到病毒性肝炎的一些病理变化,如肝细胞胞浆疏松化、气球样变、嗜酸 样变、灶性坏死、凋亡、小叶内及汇管区炎细胞浸润;从15例TTVAg阳性病例中任选10例进行TTV DNA原位杂交 检测,结果8例阳性,二者符合率80.0%;同时对5例免疫组化TTVAg阴性肝组织进行TTV DNA原位杂交检测,结 果5例均为阴性,二者符合率100%;TTVAg阳性组ALT、AST、TBIL、γ G均值均高于TTVAg阴性组,ALB、PTA 均值均低于TTVAg阴性组,但两组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.0     

Focal vulnerability of developing brain: CT studies on disproportionally dilated lateral ventricles

Summary Cranial computed tomography (CT) of 108 cases with dilated lateral ventricles was reviewed to elucidate the relationship between focal vulnerability of developing brain and disproportional dilatation of lateral ventricles. CT findings of 108 cases with symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles were classified into three types by morphometry of lateral ventricles: anterior horn predominant type (31 cases), diffuse type (36 cases), posterior horn predominant type (41 cases). Posterior horn predominant type has a tendency to occur in congenital anomalies and premature brain damage, and anterior horn predominant type in infantile brain damage. This disproportional dilatation of anterior or posterior horns suggests a vulnerability of periventricular structure in developing brain.     

Prognostic index to identify patients who may not benefit from whole brain radiotherapy for multiple brain metastases from lung cancer

Palliative whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is often recommended in the management of multiple brain metastases. Allowing for WBRT waiting time, duration of the WBRT course and time to clinical response, it may take 6 weeks from the point of initial assessment for a benefit from WBRT to manifest. Patients who die within 6 weeks (‘early death’) may not benefit from WBRT and may instead experience a decline in quality of life. This study aimed to develop a prognostic index (PI) that identifies the subset of patients with lung cancer with multiple brain metastases who may not benefit from WBRT because of ‘early death’. The medical records of patients with lung cancer who had WBRT recommended for multiple brain metastases over a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified as either having died within 6 weeks or having lived beyond 6 weeks. Potential prognostic indicators were evaluated for correlation with ‘early death’. A PI was constructed by modelling the survival classification to determine the contribution of these factors towards shortened survival. Of the 275 patients recommended WBRT, 64 (23.22%) died within 6 weeks. The main prognostic factor predicting early death was Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status >2. Patients with a high PI score (>13) were at higher risk of ‘early death’. Twenty-three per cent of patients died prior to benefit from WBRT. ECOG status was the most predictive for ‘early death’. Other factors may also contribute towards a poor outcome. With further refinement and validation, the PI could be a valuable clinical decision tool.     

健肝愈胃汤合西药治疗门脉高压性胃病临床观察

目的探讨中药健肝愈胃汤（自拟）、西药心得安、奥美拉唑、胶态果胶铋胶囊联合治疗门脉高性胃病（PHG）的疗法。方法将136例PHG患者随机分成两组,对照组52例常规口服心得安、奥美拉唑、果胶铋;治疗组84例在常规服用以上西药的同时服用中药健肝愈胃汤。两组疗程均为2个月。结果治疗组临床治疗总有效率89.3%。显效率46.4%;对照组临床治疗总有效率80.7%,显效率13.5%。两组比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。结论中药健肝愈胃汤、西药心得安、奥美拉唑、果胶铋联合治疗PHG疗效显著。     

The aging process and potential interventions to extend life expectancy

Aging is commonly defined as the accumulation of diverse deleterious changes occurring in cells and tissues with advancing age that are responsible for the increased risk of disease and death. The major theories of aging are all specific of a particular cause of aging, providing useful and important insights for the understanding of age-related physiological changes. However, a global view of them is needed when debating of a process which is still obscure in some of its aspects. In this context, the search for a single cause of aging has recently been replaced by the view of aging as an extremely complex, multifactorial process. Therefore, the different theories of aging should not be considered as mutually exclusive, but complementary of others in the explanation of some or all the features of the normal aging process. To date, no convincing evidence showing the administration of existing “anti-aging” remedies can slow aging or increase longevity in humans is available. Nevertheless, several studies on animal models have shown that aging rates and life expectancy can be modified. The present review provides an overlook of the most commonly accepted theories of aging, providing current evidence of those interventions aimed at modifying the aging process.