The complex enterprise of modelling prenatal exposure to cigarettes: what is ‘enough’?

While there is a burgeoning body of research linking smoking during pregnancy to problem behaviour in offspring, a major criticism of this work has been the crude measurement of exposure in these studies (e.g. retrospective, self-reported only) that could lead to biased estimates. To address this issue, we used a pregnancy cohort with repeated prospective measures of exposure as well as biological assays to generate estimates of exposure patterns using a range of modelling techniques. In this paper we report on the analytical approaches we have developed, including patterns of exposure over time and best-estimate approaches that combine self-report and cotinine measures, and compare their predictive value in relation to different dimensions of fetal growth as a first step towards examining the utility of greater precision of exposure measurement.
Surprisingly, in this sample the more complex assessments of exposure, including biological measures, generally did not perform better than simple indicators of exposure based on repeated self-report measures, with one exception: a combined self-report cotinine 'best estimate' of third trimester exposure was uniquely associated with lower brain : body ratio. Further study is needed using more sophisticated cotinine assays and testing prediction of a range of outcomes to ascertain whether these findings represent true differences or are specific to the sample, methods and outcomes used. Such research will inform the development of guidelines for adequate exposure characterisation in developmental studies.     

Pathological and biochemical studies on a case of Pick disease with severe white matter atrophy

We report on a male patient with Pick disease who had shown severe white matter atrophy and dilatation of the lateral ventricle in the frontal lobe from an early stage. Upon admission to our hospital 2 years after disease onset, the patient showed apathy, and MRI revealed severe atrophy of the cortex and white matter of the frontal lobe. He died at age 74, 11 years after disease onset. Autopsy revealed severe atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes, severe loss of white matter in the frontal lobe, dilatation of the lateral ventricles, and cortical thinning. Histopathological examination showed severe loss of myelinated fibers in the frontal white matter and severe neuronal loss with gliosis in the frontal and temporal cortices. Many Pick bodies were seen. Our patient had a rare case of Pick disease predominantly affecting the frontal lobe with severe involvement of the white matter from an early stage. This case suggests that myelinated fibers in the white matter as well as cerebral neurons are primarily affected in Pick disease.     

Intentional mis-reporting of food consumption and its relationship with body mass index and psychological scores in women

BACKGROUND: The reasons for mis-reporting food consumption warrant investigation. OBJECTIVE: To document intention to mis-report food consumption and its associations with psychological measures in women. DESIGN: A total of 184 female volunteers aged 18-65 years, comprising 50 seeking help in primary care to lose weight with a body mass index (BMI) >/=30 kg m(-2) (obese-clinical group) and 134 nurses (nonclinical groups) (BMI <25 kg m(-2), n = 52; BMI 25-29.9 kg m(-2), n = 45; BMI >/=30 kg m(-2), n = 37) were studied. A questionnaire was administered containing three psychological tests (self-esteem, psychological well-being and Stunkard's three-factor eating questionnaire) and new items to address food intake mis-reporting. RESULTS: Overall, 68% of participants declared an inclination to mis-report (64% nonclinical, 78% clinical). Inclination to under-report was 29, 33 and 51% in the three nonclinical groups; and 46% among the obese clinical patients. Among the same groups, inclination to over-report were 39, 29, 11 and 32%. After adjusting for social deprivation and BMI, women inclined to mis-report had higher hunger (P = 0.008) and disinhibition (P = 0.005) scores than those intending to report accurately. These variables were associated with current dieting, frequency of dieting, self-reported bingeing and dissatisfaction with body weight. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that intentional under-reporting and over-reporting of food consumption are common in women of all BMI categories and are associated with eating behaviour. Current dieting, frequency of dieting in the past, self-reported bingeing and dissatisfaction with body weight seem to mediate this relationship.     

Effect of a Low-Cost Intervention on Recording Body Mass Index in Patients'' Records

PURPOSE: Evaluate the effectiveness of body mass index (BMI) tables placed in exam rooms as an intervention to encourage providers to calculate and record BMI scores in patients' medical records. DESIGN: In a prospective cohort design, medical record data for 276 adult patients at a federally funded community health center in New England were examined from August 2000 to August 2002 following the intervention. METHODS: Prominent, multicolored, laminated BMI tables were posted in the exam rooms of one of the study site's three primary health care teams. Medical record data collected included documentation of BMI calculation in medical records, documentation of an obesity diagnosis, and inclusion of heights and current weights. Frequency distributions were calculated; chi-square tests were used to identify associations. FINDINGS: In contrast to the comparison teams, patients on the intervention team were more likely to have BMI recorded in the medical record. A statistically significant increase in the diagnosis of obesity was observed throughout the health center after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Posting BMI tables in exam rooms contributed to increased BMI documentation in patients' medical records.     

食管高密度异物(鱼刺)的CT诊断

目的探讨CT在食管异物诊断中的应用价值方法食管异物10例(均为鱼刺),均行常规CT平扫,必要时加CT薄层扫描,再将CT征象与手术及内镜结果比较结果10例食管异物(鱼刺)均为CT所显示,呈大小、形态不一的稍高或高密度影,其中合并食管出血2例,黏膜下血肿1例,脓肿3例及脓胸1例结论常规CT扫描及薄层扫描在食管异物检查中具有重要意义     

重组人白细胞介素10的融合表达及鉴定

目的 研究重组人白细胞介素10(rhIL—10)载体在大肠杆菌B121(DE3)pLyse细胞中的表达，为进一步研究IL-l0在动脉粥样硬化中的作用机制奠定基础。方法 用构建成功的IL-l0—PCRT7/NT-TOPO质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)pLyse细胞，并通过SDS-PAGE鉴定融合表达蛋白。结果 PCRT7/NT—TOPO质粒载体成功载入rhIL-l0基因；在异丙基硫代—β-D-半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导下表达的蛋白质主要以包涵体形式存在。结论 在IPTG诱导下，重组的IL-l0—PCRT7/NT—TOPO质粒载体在大肠杆菌BL2l(DE3)pLyse细胞内成功表达。     

利用主客体分子包结现象选择分离蛇床子有效成分的方法

利用1,1,6-四苯基-2,4-已二炔-1,6-二醇(I)的包结能力,可简单而迅速地从蛇床子中选择分离出有效成分欧前胡素(2)和花椒毒素(3),收率分别为0.054%(2)和0.002%(3)。本文用UV,IR,¹HNMR和¹³CNMR验证了2和3的化学结构,并用HPLC检验了2和3的纯度。X-射线衍射晶体结构分析表明主体分子I与组分2靠氢键形成包结物,它们的摩尔比为1:2,氢键长为2.8612A。包结物晶体属单斜晶系,空间群为已P₂₁/C,晶胞参数:a=15.468(5)A,b=8.595(3)A,c=18.663(7)A,β=93.64(5)°,Z=4和R=0.088。     

Effects of low-dose transdermal scopolamine on autonomic cardiovascular control in healthy young subjects

We studied how posture influences the effects of transdermal scopolamine on autonomic cardiovascular regulation in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 10 healthy young volunteers. We recorded the electrocardiogram and auscultatory sphygmomanometric and continuous non-invasive finger arterial pressure (Finapres device) to obtain signals for the beat-by-beat R–R interval and systolic, mean and diastolic pressures. R–R interval and arterial pressure variabilities were characterized by power spectral analysis. Scopolamine increased the mean R–R intervals and reduced arterial pressure in both the supine and the standing positions, but did not affect blood pressure variability. Scopolamine increased the total variability of R–R interval and its mid- (0·07–0·15 Hz) and high- (0·15–0·40 Hz) frequency band power in the standing position during controlled breathing at 0·25 Hz. In the supine position, scopolamine did not affect R–R interval variability. In the deep breathing test, scopolamine increased the maximal expiratory–inspiratory R–R interval ratio. This study showed that low-dose scopolamine increases vagal cardiac inhibition in both supine and standing positions in healthy volunteers. However, scopolamine increases heart rate variability only in the standing position during partial vagal withdrawal. The study also demonstrates that transdermal scopolamine decreases blood pressure in healthy young subjects.     

我国青年男子理想体重计算方法的探讨

在营养调查的基础上,以975名北方籍和921名南方籍青年为代表,以实测身高体重为依据,分别推出了理想体重计算公式。北方理想体重(kg)=[身高(cm)-150]×0.6+50;南方理想体重(kg)=[身高(cm)-150]×0.6+48。为检验样本的代表性,又另取北方籍783名青年和南方籍883名青年进行了验证,结果表明,推出的计算公式有较好的代表性。用推出的计算公式分别对1464名北方青年和2264名南方青年的身高体重进行分析,结果表明,新推出的计算公式比以往的计算公式更符合我国的情况,因而更具有实用意义。