Levels of cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus are dependent on the stage of proteinuria.

Levels of cardiovascular risk factors were determined in 75 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patients were divided into three groups according to their urinary protein excretion (UPE): (a) normal proteinuria (less than or equal to 70 mg d-1); (b) microproteinuria (70-500 mg d-1); and (c) macroproteinuria (greater than 500 mg d-1). A significant stepwise increase in mean systolic blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol and fibrinogen levels was observed from the first to the third investigated group of patients. Mean apoprotein B levels were significantly increased in the group with macroproteinuria compared to the other two groups. Significant linear correlations were found between UPE and LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, apoprotein B, creatinine, systolic blood pressure and diabetes duration. In summary, it is concluded that the levels of some cardiovascular risk factors increase with the stage of proteinuria in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Graves病的发病与社会心理因素

对１０７例甲状腺机能亢进症患者和９１名正常人采用艾森克个性问卷及自编社会环境的调查显示：４６．９４％的患者起病前有负性生活事件发生，个性特征甲亢组神经不稳定型及掩饰性评分显著高于正常组，有显著性差异，此结果提示甲亢患者存在明显个性缺陷和负性生活事件，这些因素可作为甲亢发病的一种诱因。     

Irritable bowel syndrome: The role of psychosocial factors

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder of intestinal function characterized by variable symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. The spectrum of severity ranges from mild symptoms, not worthy of clinical attention, to intense and continuous symptoms associated with impaired health-related quality of life and high health care use. Psychosocial disturbance is commonly found among patients with irritable bowel, but until recently, its precise role in the disorder was uncertain. The data now suggest that irritable bowel is not a psychiatric disorder per se, but psychosocial factors including life stress, psychiatric comorbidity and abnormal illness behavior, among others, influence how the illness is experienced and acted upon. Patients with mild symptoms usually respond to education, reassurance, dietary modification and, when needed, antimotility agents. However, patients with more severe symptoms, who usually have greater psychosocial disturbance, will also require behavioral interventions, and possibly psychopharmacological agents. In sum, a graduated, multicomponent plan of care that includes dietary, behavioral and pharmacological treatments is recommended.     

S-100 beta and insulin-like growth factor-II differentially regulate growth of developing serotonin and dopamine neurons in vitro.

To study the phenotypic specificity of S-100 beta and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) for developing monoamine neurons, serotonin (5-HT) neurons from the embryonic day 14 (E14) rostral raphe or dopamine (TH) neurons from the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area were cultured for 3 days in vitro (3 DIV) in the presence of these factors. Neuronotrophic effects were analyzed by computer-assisted morphometry of 5-HT and TH-immunoreactive neurons. S-100 beta and IGF-II differentially regulated the growth of 5-HT and TH neurons but did not affect their survival. S-100 beta significantly increased several parameters of neurite outgrowth by 5-HT neurons but inhibited the spatial extent (field area) of TH neurites. IGF-II promoted growth of cell bodies of both phenotype, but only stimulated neurite outgrowth by TH neurons. S-100 beta and IGF-II differentially affected the number of GFAP immunoreactive cells from raphe and substantia nigra, but these effects did not correlate with the specificity of neuronotrophic effects. S-100 beta and IGF-II immunoreactivities were expressed in glial cultures derived from the same brain regions, raising the possibility that these factors have autocrine effects on glia as well as paracrine actions on neurons. The results of this study suggest that specificity of neurotrophic factors for particular embryonic neurons may be correlated with their neurotransmitter phenotype.     

产后4个月内未能坚持纯母乳喂养的因素分析

通过239对母婴产后4个月的跟踪随访发现,在130位母亲未能自始至终坚持纯母乳喂养的因素中,最主要的是自觉奶量不够或者因孩子哭吵、怕孩子吃不饱而添加辅助液体或食品,其次是按旧习惯从出生后3个月起添加米糊类食品,以及医务人员的错误指导和母亲上班等。纯母乳喂养的关键在于必须排除一切干扰,增强母亲的信心。因此,尽快转变旧观念,大力宣传出生后4～6个月纯母乳喂养的重要性,普及泌乳生理知识和哺乳中常见问题的处理方法,加强随访工作,是提高4个月内纯母乳喂养率的重要措施。     

Sustained low-grade pro-inflammatory state in unmedicated, remitted women with major depressive disorder as evidenced by elevated serum levels of the acute phase proteins C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) shows increased coronary artery disease (CAD) risk of unknown mechanism(s). MDD is more common in women than men; CAD diagnosis can be difficult in women. Elevations of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) predict increased CAD risk in populations; few data on these markers exist in MDD, particularly in remitted patients. METHODS: We measured fasting am serum CRP (high sensitivity, CRP(hs)) and SAA in 18 unmedicated, remitted women with MDD (mean age 41 +/- (SD)12, body mass index (BMI) 25.2 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2)) and 18 BMI-matched healthy control subjects (age 36 +/- 10, BMI 25.3 +/- 3.8 kg/m(2)) on 2 separate occasions, > or = 6 days apart. RESULTS: Repeat SAA and CRP(hs) measurements strongly correlated across study days (SAA: r = .83, p < .001; CRP(hs): r = .94, p < .001). Both SAA (5.30 +/- 3.39 vs. 2.84 +/- 1.87 mg/L, p < .005) and CRP(hs) (3.23 +/- 3.17 vs. 1.12 +/- 1.45 mg/L; p < .01) were significantly elevated in MDD women versus controls. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated SAA and CRP(hs) in remitted, unmedicated women with MDD indicate a pro-inflammatory state unrelated to current depressive symptoms or pharmacotherapy. These findings suggest that inflammatory mechanisms may in part underlie findings of increased CAD risk in MDD.     

活血化瘀中药联合血管内皮生长因子基因转移促进股骨头坏死处新生血管形成的实验研究

目的:观察活血化瘀中药联合血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)基因转移对促进股骨头缺血坏死处新生血管形成情况。方法:日本大耳兔40只,随机分为对照组、模型组、中药组、基因组和综合组。治疗8周后采用免疫组织化学方法观察股骨头滑膜VEGF阳性细胞率及数字减影血管造影股骨头血管数目改变情况。结果:模型组VEGF阳性细胞表达率减低,与对照组、基因组、综合组比较,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01),与中药组比较,有统计学差异(P<0.05),综合组VEGF阳性细胞表达率较高,与中药组及基因组比较,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。血管数目:在A区,各组与模型组比较,均无统计学差异;在B区,各组较模型组血管数目均有增加,对照组、基因组、综合组与模型组比较,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。综合组与基因组比较有统计学差异(P<0.05),中药组虽然血管数目较模型组多,但是无统计学意义。结论:活血化瘀中药及VEGF基因转移均可促进股骨头缺血坏死处局部新生血管形成和侧支循环的建立,尤以活血化瘀中药联合基因疗法效果为好,为临床应用活血化瘀中药联合基因疗法治疗股骨头缺血性坏死提供实验依据。     

The plasma kallikrein–kinin system and risk of cardiovascular disease in men

BACKGROUND: The plasma kallikrein-kinin system (PKKS) has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, but activation of the PKKS has not been directly probed in individuals at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke. OBJECTIVE: To determine the involvement of the PKKS, including factor XI, in cardiovascular disease occurring in a nested case-control study from the Second Northwick Park Heart Study (NPHS-II). METHODS AND RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 287 cases of CHD and stroke had been recorded and 542 age-matched controls were selected. When FXIIa-C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-inhibitor) concentrations were divided into tertiles (lowest tertile as reference), the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% CIs for CHD were 0.52 (0.34-0.80) in the middle tertile and 0.73 (0.49-1.09) in the highest tertile (P = 0.01 for the overall difference; P = 0.01 for CHD and stroke combined). For kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes, the ORs for stroke were 0.29 (0.12-0.72) and 0.67 (0.30-1.52) in the middle and high tertiles, respectively (P = 0.02). FXIIa-C1-inhibitor and kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes were negatively related to smoking and fibrinogen (P < 0.005). FXIa-inhibitor complexes correlated strongly with FXIIa-inhibitor complexes. CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of inhibitory complexes of the PKKS enzymes and particularly of FXIIa contribute to the risk of CHD and stroke in middle-aged men. This observation supports the involvement of the PKKS in atherothrombosis.     

Psychosocial factors at work and perceived health among agricultural meat industry workers in France

Objective  The objective of this study was to describe the perceived health status of the meat industry employees—i.e., working in the slaughtering, cutting, and boning of large animals and poultry—and its relation to their organisational and psychosocial constraints at work. Methods  This postal survey included all 3,000 employees of the meat industry (beef, pork and poultry) in four districts in Brittany, France, whose companies were affiliated with the agricultural branch of the national health insurance fund. The questionnaire asked for social and demographic data and information describing their job and the organisation of their work. The psychosocial factors at work were described according to Karasek’s questionnaire (demand, latitude and social support at work). Perceived health was measured with the Nottingham Health Profile perceived health indicator. Results  This study shows the high prevalence of poor health reported by the workers in this industry. This poor perceived health was worse in women and increased regularly with age. Among the psychosocial factors studied, high quantitative and qualitative demand at work, inadequate resources for good work and to a lesser extent, inadequate prospects for promotion appear especially associated with poor perceived health. Other factors often associated with poor perceived health included young age at the first job and work hours that disrupt sleep rhythms (especially for women). Conclusion  Our results show that this population of workers is especially vulnerable from the point of view of perceived physical and psychological health and is exposed to strong physical, organisational and psychosocial constraints at work. They also demonstrate that poor perceived health is associated with some psychosocial (such as high psychological demand and insufficient resources) and organisational factors at work. These results, in conjunction with those from other disciplines involved in studying this industry, may help the companies to develop preventive activities.     

History of haemophilia

Summary.  Haemophilia, an ancient disease, now has sophisticated methods for diagnosis and treatment. The genetically missing factors can now be supplied by fractionation of human-derived (HD) plasma or with recombinant technology (r). Making therapeutic choices is complicated by past transfusion-transmitted diseases. HD and r products now have similar safety profiles. Several diseases have only HD products for treatment. These products remain important in our treatment armamentarium.