Recombination pattern of the TCR γ locus in human peripheral T-cell lymphomas

The recombination events of the γ and β T-cell receptor (TCR) loci were analysed in a series of 39 peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) in association with the expression of TCR chains. In TCR αβ PTCLs, 22/23 cases showed a γ-gene rearrangement while only 18/23 showed a concomitant β-gene rearrangement. The germline configuration of the β locus was found in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and lymphoepithelioid lymphomas. Three γδ PTCLs rearranged both γ and β genes. TCR silent PTCLs showed three different patterns of γ- and β-gene rearrangements. Three cases were in germline configuration for both loci; five cases had a rearranged γ and a germline β locus; and five cases had the two loci rearranged. Regarding the variable genes in the γ-rearranged alleles, members of the VγI subgroup were the most frequently presented (39/50), followed by VγII, VγIII, and VγIV (9/50, 1/50, and 1/50, respectively). Joining segment usage was as follows: J1 or J2 (32/50), JP1 or JP2 (17/50), and JP (1/50). Taken together, these data demonstrate that the γ locus is more frequently rearranged whatever the TCR expression. The γ-locus analysis provides a better diagnostic yield than the β locus in the study of PTCL clonality.     

Association between HLA and Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were observed to have a statistical association with HLA-DR4, MT3. Strong association between the clinical severity of RA and HLA was also observed. Male patients had a stronger association with HLA than female patients. Males are more resistant to RA than females. This suggested that the threshold of liability for RA is higher in males than in females. Japanese patients with RA with systemic vasculitis were negative for HLA-Bw44 and had antilymphocytotoxic autoantibody, indicating that RA with systemic vasculitis is different in etiology from RA without systemic vasculitis.     

Effects of Three Different Family-Based Interventions in Overweight and Obese Children: The “4 Your Family” Randomized Controlled Trial

Childhood overweight and obesity prevalence has risen dramatically in the past decades, and family-based interventions may be an effective method to improve children’s eating behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three different family-based interventions: group-based, individual-based, or by website approach. Parents and school aged overweight or obese children, 8–12 years of age, were eligible for the study. A total of 115 children were randomly allocated in one of the three interventions, and 91 completed the study (79% compliance); Group 1 (n = 36) received group-based interventions by various experts; Group 2 (n = 30) had interpersonal family meetings with a dietitian; and Group 3 (n = 25) received training through a specifically developed website. Anthropometric, dietary, physical activity, and screen time outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Within-group comparisons indicated significant improvement in body weight, body mass index (BMI)-z-score, physical activity, and screen time from baseline in all three study groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, total body fat percentage (%TBF) was also decreased in Groups 2 and 3. Between-group differences varied with body weight and %TBF change, being larger in Group 3 compared to Groups 1 and 2, in contrast to BMI-z-score, screen time, and health behaviors, which were significantly larger in Group 2 than the other two groups. In conclusion, personalized family-based interventions are recommended to successfully improve children’s lifestyle and body weight status.     

Assessing the Impact of Salt Reduction Initiatives on the Chronic Disease Burden of Singapore

Globally, many countries are facing an increasing burden of chronic disease due to ageing populations, of which cardiovascular disease forms a large proportion. Excess dietary sodium contributes to cardiovascular disease risk and requires intervention at a population level. This study aimed to quantify the impact of several salt reduction initiatives on population health over a 30-year horizon using GeoDEMOS, a population model from Singapore. Four interventions were modelled in four demographic groups in 2020 for a total of 16 intervention scenarios. The effect of 0.5, 2.0, and 4.0 g/day reductions in daily salt consumption, along with adherence to the World Health Organization guidelines of a maximum of 5.0 g of salt each day, was modelled in the entire population, including the overweight and obese, the elderly, and diabetics. In each scenario, the number of averted incident cases of acute myocardial infarction and stroke, along with the disability-adjusted life years up to 2050, was monitored. We found 4.0 g/day reductions in salt consumption were the most effective when implemented across the entire population, resulting in 24,000 averted incident cases of cardiovascular disease and 215,000 disability-adjusted life years over 30 years. This is a large figure when compared with the 29,200 projected annual incident cases of cardiovascular disease in 2050. When targeted at specific high-risk demographic groups, the largest effects were observed in the overweight and obese, with the same intervention yielding 10,500 averted incident cases of cardiovascular disease and 91,500 disability-adjusted life years. Quantifying the benefits of salt reduction initiatives revealed a significant impact when administered across the entire population or the overweight and obese. Health promotion efforts directed toward sustainably reducing salt consumption will help to lower the chronic disease burden on the healthcare system in years to come.     

Dietary Supplementation with Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 Prevents Increase in Plasma D-Dimer While Lowering Cardiovascular Mortality in an Elderly Swedish Population

A low intake of selenium is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. This could be reduced by supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q₁₀. D-dimer, a fragment of fibrin mirroring fibrinolysis, is a biomarker of thromboembolism, increased inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and is associated with cardiovascular mortality in ischemic heart disease. The objective was to examine the impact of selenium and coenzyme Q₁₀ on the level of D-dimer, and its relationship to cardiovascular mortality. D-dimer was measured in 213 individuals at the start and after 48 months of a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial with selenium yeast (200 µg/day) and coenzyme Q₁₀ (200 mg/day) (n = 106) or placebo (n = 107). The follow-up time was 4.9 years. All included individuals were low in selenium (mean 67 μg/L, SD 16.8). The differences in D-dimer concentration were evaluated by the use of T-tests, repeated measures of variance and ANCOVA analyses. At the end, a significantly lower D-dimer concentration was observed in the active treatment group in comparison with those on placebo (p = 0.006). Although D-dimer values at baseline were weakly associated with high-sensitive CRP, while being more strongly associated with soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 and sP-selectin, controlling for these in the analysis there was an independent effect on D-dimer. In participants with a D-dimer level above median at baseline, the supplementation resulted in significantly lower cardiovascular mortality compared to those on placebo (p = 0.014). All results were validated with a persisting significant difference between the two groups. Therefore, supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q₁₀ in a group of elderly low in selenium and coenzyme Q₁₀ prevented an increase in D-dimer and reduced the risk of cardiovascular mortality in comparison with the placebo group. The obtained results also illustrate important associations between inflammation, endothelial function and cardiovascular risk.     

周围型肺癌的螺旋CT增强扫描

目的 :评价螺旋CT增强薄层扫描对周围型肺癌的诊断价值。方法 :2 7例周围型肺癌 ,对结节进行薄层扫描 ,然后以 3 5ml/s肘静脉注射碘对比剂 10 0ml后 40s、2min、5min、8min于相同几个中心层面进行增强扫描。分析结节的强化类型 ,描绘结节的时间 -密度曲线 ,计算结节的最大增强CT值。结果 :根据病灶的强化特点 ,我们将周围型肺癌强化类型分为二型 ,即均匀强化型和不均匀强化型。本组 2 7例肺癌 ,其中 17例 (6 3 % )在注射对比剂后 2min达到高峰 ,另外 10例 (37% )在注射对比剂后 5min达到峰值。本组病例中肺癌最大强化CT值 2 2～ 5 5HU(2 5 / 2 7) ,平均为 (4 1 8± 14 5 )HU。结论 :螺旋CT增强薄层扫描能准确判断病灶增强程度及方式 ,对提高周围型肺癌的诊断准确率有较大帮助。     

社区精神分裂症综合式家庭干预对照研究

目的：了解综合式家庭干预对社区精神分裂症患者和家属的效果。方法：在宝山区随机抽取186例精神分裂症进行一年的综合式家庭干预对照研究,干预组86例接受综合式家庭干预和常规社区服务,对照组100例仅接受常规社区服务。结果：干预组患者年复发率下降47．3％,社区功能明显改善,干预组家庭对有关疾病知识增长,心理状况改善,照料负担减轻,与对照组比较效果显著。结论：综合式家庭干预对精神分裂症患者家属有良好的效果,应纳入常规社区服务。     

颅脑创伤急性期外周血白细胞变化的临床意义

目的 探讨颅脑创伤急性外周血白细胞（PWBC）数及中性粒细胞（PMN）比例与病情及预后的关系。方法 回顾性分析总结50例颅脑创伤急性期外周血白细胞数及性粒细胞比例,根据病情或预后分组分别进行比较。结果 颅脑创伤病情重者较病情轻者PWBC数与PWM比例显著提高（P＜0．05,P＜0．001）;恢复不良组及死亡组与恢复良好组相比,PWBC数显著增高（P＜0．05,P＜0．01）。结论 临床监测PWBC数及PMN比例可作为颅脑创伤患者的病情判断和预后估计的一项辅助指标。     

银杏黄酮甙和甲基B_(12)联合治疗糖尿病周围神经病变的疗效观察

目的　探讨银杏黄酮甙和甲基B12 对糖尿病周围病变的治疗效果。方法　将 14 9例糖尿病周围神经病变患者随机分为 4组 ,分别为常规治疗组 (对照组 )、银杏黄酮甙组 (第 1组 )、甲基B12 组 (第 2组 )、银杏黄酮甙与甲基B12 联合组(第 3组 )。疗程为 8周。观察治疗前后自觉症状、腱反射和神经传导速度。结果　第 3组总有效率为 95 % ,显著高于对照组 (17% ) (P <0 .0 0 5 )。第 1组和第 2组 ,总有效率分别为 6 9%和 72 % ,与对照组比较均有显著差异 (P <0 .0 1)。第 3组神经传导速度治疗后较冶疗前显著改善 (P <0 .0 1) ,而且显著优于对照组 (P <0 .0 1)、第 1组 (P <0 .0 5 )和第 2组 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　银杏黄酮甙和甲基B12 联合治疗糖尿病周围神经病变较单独应用更为有效。     

周围神经端侧缝合与神经移植的实验研究

目的　比较周围神经端侧缝合与神经移植的效果。方法　选用体重 2 0 0～ 30 0gWistar大白鼠 ,左侧后肢腓总神经与胫神经端侧缝合 ,右侧腓总神经采用神经移植修复。结果　 3个月后运动神经传导速度分别为2 9.6 8± 5 .34m/s、 30 .87± 6 .0m/s(P >0 .0 5 ) ,潜伏期 2 .1± 0 .1ms ,2 .0± 0 .1ms(P >0 .0 5 ) ,波幅 12 .5± 0 .6mV、13.9± 0 .5mV(P >0 .0 5 ) ,组织切片中 ,两组均可见大量神经纤维和髓鞘 ,有髓神经纤维计数分别为 75 7.2± 2 2 .31、775± 2 1.87(P >0 .0 5 )。结论　①正常神经发出侧芽能通过端侧缝合口长入远端神经 ,使变性神经再神经化 ;②周围神经端侧缝合能取得与神经移植相近的结果。