Factors associated with quality of life in Menière's disease

The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with better or worse quality of life in a sample of people with Menière's disease drawn from a UK self‐help group (the Menière's Society) and to assess the forms of support on which the respondents could draw. A postal survey was sent to 1000 randomly selected group members, containing validated questionnaires assessing: (1) quality of life (the Short Form 36 (SF‐36)); (2) factors that might predict quality of life; and (3) usage of resources provided to members by the Menière's Society. A total of 509 members completed the main survey, and 370 the second part of the survey. Factors associated with a less good quality of life included more severe vertigo, pressure in the ear, hearing loss and tinnitus, being younger, being female, living alone, having a lower occupational status and believing that the attitude of the consultant is unhelpful. Levels of vertigo severity in this sample were similar to those found in hospital samples, but it is possible that these respondents may differ in other respects from patients who do not join a self‐help group.     

小肠吸收胆固醇的分子生物学研究进展

胆固醇通过分布于十二指肠和近段空肠黏膜上皮细胞刷状缘膜的Niemann—Pick C1样蛋白1摄取，ATP结合盒G5、G8抑制小肠对胆固醇的摄取过程。进入上皮细胞的胆固醇大多数被乙酰辅酶A，胆固醇转乙酰基酶2酯化，随后通过组装形成乳糜微粒，经淋巴管进入血循环；另一部分胆固醇则以未酯化形式直接进入血循环形成高密度脂蛋白颗粒。这些过程受核受体——肝脏X受体的调控。年龄、性别、黏膜屏障和小肠传输速度也影响胆固醇的吸收。     

Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: postoperative neurologic follow-up and evaluation of life quality

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is an effective and safe treatment in hemifacial spasm (HFS). Postoperative evaluations are usually made by neurosurgeons. Follow-up studies performed by neurologists and postoperative quality of life (QoL) investigations are lacking. All 25 HFS patients operated with MVD in our centre between 2000 and 2004 were evaluated with the recently validated HFS-7 scheme, extended with the item 'sleep disturbance due to HFS' (HFS-8). The patients underwent a careful neurological examination median 3 years after the operation. The evaluation focused on clinical aspects, changes in blood pressure and time until observable effect of MVD. The evaluation of HFS-7 questionnaire and the extended form (HFS-8) showed significant improvement in QoL after MVD. Neurological outcome was in almost all cases excellent or good. Eleven (44%) patients had no neurological deficits at all. Only one patient had serious complications with ipsilateral facial palsy, deafness, balance problems and vertigo. The other patients had minor neurological findings or symptoms. Eighteen (72%) patients experienced early effect within 3 months after MVD; seven (28%) patients had late effect between 6 and 14 months. Median age of the patients with late effect (62.6 years) was significantly higher than in those with early effect (52.7 years).     

CA19-9及其同分异构体CD15s在大肠癌表达的对比研究

目的:探讨CA19-9及其同分异构体CD15s在大肠癌中的表达及其与肿瘤发生、分化、转移及预后的关系.方法:应用催化信号放大法(CSA)检测150例大肠癌、84例转移淋巴结和50例远离癌组织的正常大肠黏膜CA19-9及其同分异构体CD15s的表达状况.结果:CA19-9和CD15s阳性物质在远离癌组织的正常大肠黏膜中阳性表达率分别为88.0%(44/50)和18.0%(9/50),在大肠癌组织中阳性率分别为81.3%(122/150)和94.0%(141/150),转移淋巴结标本中阳性率分别为66.7%(56/84)和95.2%(80/84).结论:作为预测大肠癌侵袭、转移及评估患者预后的肿瘤相关抗原,CD15s比CA19-9具有更重要的临床意义.     

Fas/Apo-1在下肢静脉性溃疡的表达

目的 探讨Fas/Apo-1(CD95)在下肢静脉性溃疡的表达及意义.方法 采用流式细胞技术、半定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和免疫组织化学方法检测不同体位下肢外周血和局部皮肤Fas/Apo-l(CD95)的表达.结果 溃疡组平卧位、下垂位血液中Fas/Apo-1(CD95)阳性细胞数分别为41.45±14.25、40.20±12.42,mRNA为0.74±0.33、0.78±0.22,皮肤中阳性细胞数为42.62±22.19、46.50±20.12,分别与无溃疡组和对照组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);无溃疡组和对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);不同体位之间Fas/Apo-1(CD95)阳性细胞数和含量比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 Fas/Apo-1高表达可能与下肢静脉性溃疡发生密切相关.     

弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤中CD40L的表达及意义

目的探讨弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL）组织中CD40L表达与DLBCL预后间的关系及意义。方法免疫组织化学法检测27例弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤、20例淋巴结反应性增生组织中CD40L的表达。结果（1）DLBCL中CD40L过度阳性率（25．93％）显著低于淋巴结反应性增生（63．64％），P〈0．05。（2）CD40L在Ⅲ、Ⅳ期DLBCL过度阳性率（14．29％）低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期（38．46％），P〈0．05。CD40L过度阳性率在有结外浸润DLBCL（11．76％）低于无有结外浸润DLBCL（40％），P〈0．05。（3）DLBCL患者CD40L的过度阳性率与远处转移、临床分期均显著相关，P〈0．05。结论（1）CD40L过度阳性率与结外器官浸润及临床分期密切相关，其可能作为判断DLBCL侵袭性及预后的指标。（2）DLBCL中CD40L表达的减少可能是影响其发病的因素之一。     

CD44v6和组织蛋白酶D表达与食管癌预后的关系

目的　研究CD4 4v6和组织蛋白酶D(cathepsinD ,CD)表达与食管癌生物学行为的关系。方法　应用免疫组化法 ,检测 6 5例食管鳞状细胞癌组织中CD4 4v6和CD表达水平。结果　在食管癌中CD4 4v6和CD表达阳性率分别为 5 8.5 %和 6 4 .6 %。CD4 4v6和CD表达均与肿瘤分级、浸润、淋巴结转移和预后相关。结论　CD4 4v6和CD异常表达与食管癌的病理生物学行为密切相关 ,可作为是预测食管癌转移潜能和评估食管癌预后的客观指标     

Hippocampal EEG responses induced by carbachol and atropine infusions into the septum and the hippocampus in the urethane-anaesthetized rat

Infusion of 1 μg of carbachol, a potent cholinergic agonist, into the lateral septum of the urethane-anaesthetized rat systematically caused the induction of clear-cut hippocampal theta (θ). However, infusion of an equivalent amount of the drug into the hippocampus, close to the recording electrode, failed to induce θ in 50% of the animals and produced a mixture of θ waves and desynchronized activity, resulting in atypical EEG patterns, in the remaining subjects. Both carbachol EEG effects were blocked by intraseptal infusion of the antimuscarinic agent, atropine. Our data demontrate that muscarinic receptors in the septum are predominent sites for cholinergic agonist-antagonist action capable of generating or suppressing hippocampal θ in the rat. They also indicate that intraseptal cholinergic mechanisms play an important role in the initiation and generation of this rhythm.     

The human CD40 gene lies within chromosome 20q deletions associated with myeloid malignancies

Deletions of chromosome 20q are associated with myeloid malignancies and have been previously shown to arise in a multipotent progenitor of both myeloid and B cells. However, B-cell differentiation from the abnormal progenitor was impaired. The CD40 antigen is a surface glycoprotein which is expressed in B cells and haemopoietic stem cells and is important for B-cell growth and development. Following the recent mapping of CD40 to chromosome 20q we sought to determine its position relative to 20q deletions. Analysis of lymphoblastoid cell lines carrying 20q deletions placed CD40 within a 19–21 cM interval which is almost coincidental with the common deleted region defined by previous analysis of patient samples. Our results raise the possibility that genetic alteration of this locus may contribute to the pathogenesis of myeloid disorders associated with 20q deletions.