The use of etidronate and calcium versus calcium alone in the treatment of postmenopausal osteopenia: Results of three years of treatment

The purpose of this open, prospective, controlled, randomized trial was to study the effect of intermittent, cyclic etidronate on the bone mass of osteoporotic postmenopausal women with or without fractures. Eligible subjects were asymptomatic women less than 75 years old who had been amenorrhoeic for at least 1 year. Those with secondary osteoporosis were excluded. Subjects also had to be ambulant with a bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine >1 SD below that of age matched controls (Z-score < –1 SD). Eighty patients were enrolled, of whom 65 were recruited through a screening programme conducted in the practices of two general practitioners. The remaining patients were from other referrals. The subjects were randomized to two groups of 40 women. Treatment regimens were as follows. The etidronate group was treated with etidronate 400 mg once daily for 14 days followed by 76 days of 500 mg of elementary calcium once daily; this cycle was repeated every 3 months. The calcium group took 500 mg of elementary calcium once daily. The groups were not different in age, height, weight, time since menopause, BMD at baseline and prevalent vertebral fractures. In 50 patients (28 in the etidronate group and 22 in the calcium group) no vertebral fractures were present (67%). Sixty-four patients (35 in the etidronate group and 29 in the calcium group) completed the 3 years of the study. In the etidronate group the mean BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle increased by 5.7%, 1.4%, 7.1% and 10.9% from baseline values respectively (p<0.05 at all sites except for the femoral neck). In the calcium group no significant changes from baseline were found at any time point at any site after 3 years, except for the femoral neck, where BMD at 156 weeks decreased significantly by 3% (p<0.003). In 3 patients, all in the calcium group, six new fractures were found. There were no serious adverse effects. We conclude that intermittent, cyclic treatment with etidronate causes a significant increase in the BMD of the lumbar spine and the proximal femur in osteopenic postmenopausal women, and that treatment is safe and has no serious adverse effects.     

原发性食管癌中胸苷磷酸化酶表达和血管生成的临床意义

目的　观察原发性食管癌中胸苷磷酸化酶 (thymidinephosphorylase,TP)的表达情况 ,探讨肿瘤组织中胸苷磷酸化酶表达、肿瘤微血管密度 (microvesseldensity ,MVD)和临床病理特征之间的关系 ,分析TP表达和肿瘤MVD的预后意义。方法　应用单克隆抗体对 6 5例食管癌标本进行免疫组化染色 ,测定TP表达及MVD。结果　TP在食管癌中的表达 (4 5 / 6 5 ,6 9.2 % )明显 (P <0 .0 0 1)高于正常食管粘膜 (4 / 2 4 ,16 .7% )。食管癌的MVD(4 5 .0 9± 8.76 )与正常食管粘膜的MVD(2 7.4 8± 8.4 4 )的差别显著 (P <0 .0 0 1)。食管癌TP阳性的MVD的均值是 (4 6 .5 3± 7.18) ,TP阴性的MVD的均值是 (4 1.85± 11.0 8) ,前者明显 (P =0 .0 4 6 ) 高于后者。食管癌的TP表达与临床病理特征无相关性 ,MVD却与肿瘤的浸润深度(P =0 .0 35 ) 及分期(P =0 .0 18) 有关 ,而且只有MVD才是食管癌的一个预后指标(P <0 .0 0 1)。结论　食管癌的TP表达与MVD密切相关。TP表达与食管癌的临床病理特征无关。MVD与肿瘤的浸润发展有关 ,同时只有MVD才是食管癌的一个预后指标     

The distribution profiles of very low density and low density lipoproteins in poorly-controlled male,Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients

Summary The distribution and composition of lipoproteins spanning the very low density and low density lipoprotein spectra have been analysed in ten poorly-controlled, male, Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent), diabetic patients pre-disposed to mild, secondary hypertriglyceridaemia. As compared to age-matched control subjects, the diabetic patients displayed grossly modified, distinctly atherogenic lipoprotein profiles. Modifications were not limited to the very low density lipoprotein profile, as would be expected from the pre-treatment hypertriglyceridaemia. There was also an aberrant low density lipoprotein profile, which was not evident from plasma cholesterol measurements, especially as the diabetic patients at entry were well matched to control subjects with respect to plasma levels of this lipid. Compositional abnormalities were also observed in the poorly-controlled diabetic group, although these were less marked than the distributional changes. There were substantial improvements of the abnormalities detailed above, even over a short treatment period (two weeks), with therapy designed primarily to ameliorate metabolic control. The data suggest that, in the presence of poor metabolic control and hypertriglyceridaemia, occult, atherogenic modifications of low density lipoproteins can occur. The results argue in favour of strict control of triglyceride levels even in diabetic patients with apparently acceptable cholesterol levels.     

Improving Femoral Bone Density Measurements

Femoral bone density measurements are clinically important because of their strong relationship with hip fracture. However, current densitometers have not improved upon femoral densitometry since the introduction of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems. Recently, several advances in DXA measurement of the proximal femur have been proposed by various published studies. These advances can be added to existing DXA systems, while maintaining the conventional femoral regions of interest. Both upper neck bone mineral density (BMD) and hip axis length have been reported to be associated with hip fractures. With newer technology that enables a rapid assessment of both hips, bilateral femur measurements are now clinically practical and are of importance in those with T-scores approaching, yet not reaching, diagnostic or therapeutic thresholds. Bilateral femur measurements also reduce precision error compared to a single femur measurement, yielding precision errors less than observed at the spine. With this decrease in precision error, monitoring of bone changes is now possible at the femur with the utility comparable to the spine.     

福善美对绝经后妇女骨密度的影响

目的　评价福善美 (Fosamax)治疗绝经后骨质疏松症妇女的近期及中期疗效 ,以及改善骨量作用。方法　绝经 1年以上女性 80名 ,分成 4组 ,A组 :14例 ,年龄 5 4 . 97± 5. 5 1(47～ 6 2 )岁 ,绝经年限≤10年 ,疗程 6个月～ 1年 ;B组 :2 3例 ,年龄 5 5 . 5 5± 3. 6 6 (5 0～ 6 2岁 ) ,绝经年限≤ 10年 ,疗程 1年以上 ;C组 :18例 ,年龄 6 8. 18± 5 . 5 9(5 9～ 78岁 ) ,绝经年限 >10年 ,疗程 6个月～ 1年 ;D组 :2 5例 ,年龄6 7. 2 5± 6 .19(5 2～ 80岁 ,绝经年限 >10年 ,疗程 1年以上。患者每天接受口服福善美 10mg和元素钙5 0 0mg,疗程 6个月～ 2 8年。治疗前、后应用双能X线吸收仪 (HologicQDR 2 0 0 0型 )进行骨密度(BMD)测定。结果　 4组不论绝经年限长短 ,通过 6个月～ 2年以上福善美治疗 ,腰椎BMD平均增加百分率 3 74 %～ 5 4 5 % ,较基础值均有明显增加 (P <0 . 0 0 1) ,4组间差异无统计学意义 (P >0 . 0 5 )。股骨颈部位治疗后BMD平均增加百分率为 0 84 %～ 4 2 1% ,其中绝经年限相同时 ,疗程长者高于短者 ,即B组高于A组 ,D组高于C组 ;疗程相同时 ,绝经年限长者高于短者 ,即C组高于A组 ,D组高于B组 ,但 4组间差异无显著性 (P >0 . 0 5 )。大转子部位治疗后BMD增加平均变化百分率 1 4. 2 %～     

局限性肾癌微血管侵犯的临床意义

目的　探讨微血管侵犯在肾癌根治术后患者预后判断中的作用。　方法　选取局限性肾癌患者肾癌根治术后标本 70例。临床分期 :PT15例 ,PT2 5 0例 ,PT3 14例 ,PT41例 ;组织学分级 :G17例 ,G2 38例 ,G3 19例 ,G46例。 70例肿瘤平均直径 7.2cm。采用HE染色、弹力纤维染色、Schiff染色制片 ,观察肾癌微血管侵犯情况 ,并与分期、分级等病理因素进行比较研究。　结果　微血管侵犯者 2 4例 (34.3% ) ,其中出现转移 11例 (4 5 .8% ) ,死于肿瘤复发 7例 ,4例仍带瘤存活 ,死于其他疾病者 2例 ;4 6例无微血管侵犯者中出现转移 4例 (8.7% ) ,两组生存时间比较 ,差异有显著性意义 (P <0 .0 1)。微血管侵犯和肿瘤分期、分级、体积均相关 ,多因素分析表明 :微血管侵犯、肿瘤体积均是预测生存率的重要因素 ,微血管侵犯为影响患者预后的最重要的相关因素。　结论　微血管侵犯可作为局限性肾癌根治性肾切除术后重要的预后因素之一 ,并可作为肾癌常规临床病理检查的一种补充形式 ,按照有、无微血管侵犯作进一步分型 ,可为肾癌患者的预后提供更全面的预测。     

Oxidative modification of high density lipoprotein induced by cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells

Objective: To observe the oxidative modification of high density lipoprotein (HDL) induced by culturedhuman arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Methods: HDL cocultured with SMCs at 37℃ in 48 h was subjected,and native HDL (N-HDL) served as control. Oxidative modification of HDL was identified by using agarose gel electro-phoresis. Absorbances of conjugated diene (CD) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) were measured with ultravioletspectrophotometry at 234 and 560 nm respectively, and fluorescence intensity of thiobarbuturic acid reaction substance     

Associations between body morphology and bone mineral density in premenopausal women

To investigate whether body morphology, obesity and its long time evolution were associated with lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women of the same age. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: 72 healthy premenopausal women born in 1950 (42 years) with a regular physical activity. Measurements: BMD measured by dual-X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at lumbar spine and proximal femur; body weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI at 20 years (BMI-20), increase in BMI since age of 20 (BMI->20), body circumferences (breast, waist, hip) and their ratios (WHR, BHR, WBR), smoking and alcohol intake. Results: Lumbar spine BMD did not correlate with any anthropometric measurement. Femoral BMDs correlated positively with weight, BMI, BMI-20, breast, waist, WHR and BHR. The BMI-20 explained the 5% and the current BMI the 13% of variance of total femur BMD. After adjustment for weight or BMI, breast circumference and BHR remained significantly correlated with all femoral BMDs sites except neck. Weight was the best predictor for neck BMD (R² = 0.08; p < 0.02), and BHR for Ward's triangle (R² = 0.12; p < 0.01) and trochanter (R² = 0.10; p < 0.001). Alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and age of menarche were not related to BMDs. Conclusion: In premenopausal women of the same age, lumbar spine BMD was not associated with any anthropometric measurement. Greater BHR and its long time of evolution may be determinants of greater femoral BMD (trabecular), whereas body weight may be determinant of femoral neck BMD (cortical). Further studies are needed to determine whether large breast to hip ratio may be considered as a protective factor for femoral osteoporosis.     

糖尿病患者第3腰椎骨密度测量的意义

糖尿病（ＤＭ）患者继发骨质疏松较多见，为探讨早期诊断，对３０例非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病（ＮＩＤＤＭ）患者和４０例正常对照者，进行血清钙（Ｃａ）、磷（Ｐ）、碱性磷酸酶（ＡＫＰ）的测定，拍照胸部、腰椎和骨盆Ｘ线片，并分别经ＣＴ进行第３腰椎骨密度（ＢＭＤ）测量。结果，ＤＭ组ＢＭＤ均值为１２７．１±２５．７７ｍｇ／ｃｍ３，对照组ＢＭＤ均值为１８９．１１±７１．６８ｍｇ／ｃｍ３，两组比较有非常显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１），提示第３腰椎骨密度测量对ＤＭ患者骨质疏松的早期诊断有一定价值。     

Cholesterol and atherosc lerosis

Cholesterol is an essential component of cellular membranes, but when present in excess in the circulation, can be deposited in the arterial wall, leading to the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. The principal plasma carrier of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), is removed from the circulation by LDL receptors in the liver. This process plays a critical role in regulating plasma LDL levels. The unique structure and composition of the LDL particle makes it particularly susceptible to modification by oxidative reactions. Current evidence suggests that the production of oxidised LDL in the intima, and the removal of oxidised LDL particles by scavenger receptors on macrophages, play a central role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.