Differentiation of Helicobacter pylori isolates by polymerase chain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism

Objective: To investigate the association between the diversity of urease gene and urease activity of clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of urease gene and rapid urease activity test were used to study the urease activity of different clinical isolates of H. pylori. Results: H. pylori clinical isolates were divided into 4 types according to their PCR-RFLP results of urease gene and urease activity. Type Ⅰ , possessing strong urease activity (0. 11) and presented 1 fragment of 1. 7 kb by PCR-RFLP, had close relations with gastric ulcer; type Ⅱ , with the weakest urease activity (0. 07) and 2 fragments (1. 3 and 0. 4 kb respectively) , was associated with duodenal bulb ulcer; type Ⅲ , with the strongest urease activity (0. 12) and 2 fragments (0. 4 and 0. 17 kb) with or without 1 fragment (0. 23 or 0. 37 kb) , was responsible for gastritis; type Ⅳ , with weak urease activity (0. 09) and 2 fragments     

PGA指数和透明质酸在诊断慢性乙肝肝纤维化中的价值

目的：寻找一种简便实用的诊断慢性乙型肝炎纤维化的方法。方法：以78例经肝穿刺病理证实的慢性乙型肝炎为对象，测定并比较了由PT、GGT、ApoA1组成的PGA指数和HA、LN、PⅢP、C－IV与肝内纤维化程度(S)和炎症活动度（G）的关系。结果：（1）LN、PⅢP、C－IV在轻度慢性乙肝时无明显升高，在中度慢性乙肝时明显高于正常，但与轻度慢性乙肝无差异，而PGA指数和HA不仅在轻度慢性乙肝时显著升高，而且在轻中度间差异明显.因重度慢性乙肝和活动性肝硬化时，五项指标均显著增高。（2）在G2－4期，HA、LN、PⅢP、C－IV均明显高升，但在G1期，只有PGA指数高于正常，且各期间差异显著。（3）在S1－2期，只有PGA指数、HA、C－IV明显上升，但C－IV的上升幅度远低于PGA指数和HA。（4）加以PGA＞4．5或HA＞200μg／L作为判断临界值，则两者判断肝纤维化的敏感性均＞94％，精确性＞91％，特异性＞86％，如两者结合，则分别达到98．3％、95．2％和96．4％。结论：PGA指数和HA均是反映慢性乙型肝炎患者肝内纤维化程度的良好指标，两者联合检测则可达到最大的价值效益比。     

Lithium-induced changes in the body mass index

A total of 117 manic-depressives who had been on lithium for a mean duration of 4.7 years were examined before lithium therapy and subsequently at intervals. Information relating to pre-lithium height and weight and current weight were determined and used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) for each individual. Other relevant variables such as age, sex, cumulative lithium dose, duration of therapy, thyroid profile and serum lithium levels were recorded. The results indicated that, although there was a nonsignificant increase in BMI for the whole population, lithium and sex were not significant predictors of any increase in BMI. In nearly 27% of patients BMI actually slightly decreased during lithium therapy. The overall conclusions from this study are that, in the population studied, lithium may not have exerted any pharmacological effects to increase BMI.     

Comparison between a swim-up and a Percoll gradient technique for the separation of human spermatozoa

Two methods of separating human sperm were compared using twenty-two semen samples. The sperm were separated by a swim-up technique or by self-migration on a Percoll gradient followed by medium change. After separation, the sperm obtained were assessed for progressive motility, ATP content, energy charge index ([ATP + 0.5 ADP]/[ATP + ADP + AMP]) and morphology. In general, and especially for semen samples containing less than 20 X 10(6) sperm/ml, separation by Percoll gradient selected sperm that were superior to those separated by the swim-up technique. The relatively high energy charge index (greater than 0.8) showed that the sperm tolerated the separation conditions well. It is suggested that self-migration on a Percoll gradient should prove useful for obtaining sperm of high quality.     

免疫组化法检测非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中输血传播病毒

目的　检测非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织输血传播病毒(TTV)感染状况,TTV感染与肝组织炎症程度 及与血液学指标的相关性。方法　应用免疫组织化学法检测52例非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中TTV,并经原位 杂交证实;对TTV阳性和阴性组的血液学生化指标,诸如血清丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、血清天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、血 清总胆红素(TBIL)、白蛋白(ALB)、γ 球蛋白(γ G)、凝血酶原活动度(PTA)及组织学活动指数(HAI)进行了比较。 结果　非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中TTV抗原(TTVAg)阳性15例,检出率为28.8%;阳性物质主要定位于肝细 胞浆内,呈棕黄色细小颗粒,偶见肝细胞核内有表达;TTV阳性表达细胞呈单个、散在或片簇状分布;TTVAg阳性的 组织切片经苏木素-伊红(HE)染色后,可观察到病毒性肝炎的一些病理变化,如肝细胞胞浆疏松化、气球样变、嗜酸 样变、灶性坏死、凋亡、小叶内及汇管区炎细胞浸润;从15例TTVAg阳性病例中任选10例进行TTV DNA原位杂交 检测,结果8例阳性,二者符合率80.0%;同时对5例免疫组化TTVAg阴性肝组织进行TTV DNA原位杂交检测,结 果5例均为阴性,二者符合率100%;TTVAg阳性组ALT、AST、TBIL、γ G均值均高于TTVAg阴性组,ALB、PTA 均值均低于TTVAg阴性组,但两组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.0     

Prognostic index to identify patients who may not benefit from whole brain radiotherapy for multiple brain metastases from lung cancer

Palliative whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is often recommended in the management of multiple brain metastases. Allowing for WBRT waiting time, duration of the WBRT course and time to clinical response, it may take 6 weeks from the point of initial assessment for a benefit from WBRT to manifest. Patients who die within 6 weeks (‘early death’) may not benefit from WBRT and may instead experience a decline in quality of life. This study aimed to develop a prognostic index (PI) that identifies the subset of patients with lung cancer with multiple brain metastases who may not benefit from WBRT because of ‘early death’. The medical records of patients with lung cancer who had WBRT recommended for multiple brain metastases over a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified as either having died within 6 weeks or having lived beyond 6 weeks. Potential prognostic indicators were evaluated for correlation with ‘early death’. A PI was constructed by modelling the survival classification to determine the contribution of these factors towards shortened survival. Of the 275 patients recommended WBRT, 64 (23.22%) died within 6 weeks. The main prognostic factor predicting early death was Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status >2. Patients with a high PI score (>13) were at higher risk of ‘early death’. Twenty-three per cent of patients died prior to benefit from WBRT. ECOG status was the most predictive for ‘early death’. Other factors may also contribute towards a poor outcome. With further refinement and validation, the PI could be a valuable clinical decision tool.     

Body mass index and age affect Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores in male subjects

This cross-sectional analysis evaluated the effect of age and body mass index (BMI) on Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores in males. Subjects (n = 60) were recruited according to BMI status. Each completed the 51-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. The group was split at the median age to produce a “younger” and “older” group for statistical analysis. A 2-way between-groups analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of BMI on disinhibition (P = .003) and hunger (P = .041) with higher levels found in overweight males compared to healthy-weight counterparts. A significant main effect of age on hunger (P = .046) demonstrated older males were less susceptible to hunger than younger males. These insights provide a better understanding of eating behavior across the male life cycle and may assist health professionals to better guide men in weight management in the light of rising overweight/obesity.     

对诊断PADAM的游离睾酮指数的评估

目的 评价诊断中老年男子部分雄激素缺乏综合征（PADAM）的游离睾酮指数（FTI）.方法 对129例45岁以上健康男性的FTI进行年龄相关分析.以推算的游离睾酮（CFT）值为依据,对FTI进行有效性检验.结果 男子在中老年期FTI与增龄呈明显的负相关.FTI敏感性97.78%,特异性58.33%.结论 计算简单的FTI可用于PADAM病人的筛选和随访,尤其对70岁以上男子是血清FT较为有效的参数.     

脂肪抽吸对中心型肥胖患者代谢指标的影响

目的 观察脂肪抽吸对中心型肥胖患者代谢指标的影响。方法 筛选中心型肥胖患者30例，采用肿胀麻醉法，脂肪抽吸量在2000～2500ml；分别检测脂肪抽吸前2d和脂肪抽吸后1周、1个月、2个月、3个月的血脂、血清胰岛素、瘦素、脂联素、抵抗素，并换算出胰岛素抵抗指数（HO-MA-IR）、胰岛素敏感指数（ISI）和血糖及胰岛素下面积。结果脂肪抽吸后1个月、2个月血糖下面积及HOMA-IR均有不同程度的降低，ISI则有所升高（术后1周：P〈0.05；术后1月：P〈0．01）；脂肪抽吸后血清瘦素较脂肪抽吸前显著降低（P〈0.01），抵抗素和脂联素较脂肪抽吸前亦有所变化，特别是在术后1个月时变化较为明显（P〈0.05），除血清瘦素、血糖下面积外，其余指标脂肪抽吸后3个月基本恢复原有水平。结论 脂肪抽吸对代谢指标在3个月内有一定的影响，特别是对糖代谢改善显著，但3个月后这种变化基本恢复到原有水平。