De Novo Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Following Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly recognized clinico-pathologic entity typically associated with obesity, type II diabetes and hyperlipidemia. It has been noted to recur after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We report four patients who developed de novo NAFLD within 3 months of OLT without the typical predisposing factors of diabetes mellitus or obesity. Three of the four patients underwent OLT for hepatitis C-related cirrhosis, and the other for alcoholic cirrhosis. Examination of the liver explants revealed no evidence of steatosis. No surreptitious alcohol use or a drug-induced process could be identified in these patients. Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C infection in one patient with interferon and ribavirin led to sustained suppression of the viral RNA to undetectable levels, but no improvement in histology or liver enzymes. All four patients had histologic evidence of preservation injury on the initial post-OLT biopsies, but the significance of this finding in relationship to the development of NAFLD is unknown. NAFLD can develop without any of the known predisposing conditions after transplantation, and this raises further questions about the pathogenesis of this condition .     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Susuks</Emphasis> (charm needles) in the craniofacial region

Objectives  We conducted a study to determine the numbers of susuks (charm needles) and their distribution in the craniofacial region of susuk wearers, and the sex, racial affiliation, and age of the wearers. In addition, we sought to determine whether the presence of susuks posed any potential hazard to patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods  We studied various radiographs of 33 susuk wearers (age range, 33–69 years) and investigated the most common sites of insertion in the craniofacial region. A susuk was also suspended inside a 1.5-T MRI machine to determined whether it was attracted by the machine’s magnet. Results  The largest number of susuks that we observed in the craniofacial region was 39 pins, and susuks were particularly numerous in Malay Muslim women. Other sites with susuks were the maxillofacial region (except the temporomandibular region) and the forehead. The susuks showed no ferromagnetic characteristics. Conclusions  As susuks are made from gold, they are generally biocompatible with human tissue and do not cause problems to their wearers. Gold and the other minor metal constituents found in susuks have no ferromagnetic characteristics and therefore pose no hazard to patients undergoing MRI.     

Looking for resilience: Understanding the longitudinal trajectories of responses to stress

Taking advantage of two large, population-based, and longitudinal datasets collected after the 1999 floods in Mexico (n = 561) and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York (n = 1267), we examined the notion that resilience may be best understood and measured as one member of a set of trajectories that may follow exposure to trauma or severe stress. We hypothesized that resistance, resilience, recovery, relapsing/remitting, delayed dysfunction, and chronic dysfunction trajectories were all possible in the aftermath of major disasters. Semi-parametric group-based modeling yielded the strongest evidence for resistance (no or mild and stable symptoms), resilience (initially moderate or severe symptoms followed by a sharp decrease), recovery (initially moderate or severe symptoms followed by a gradual decrease), and chronic dysfunction (moderate or severe and stable symptoms), as these trajectories were prevalent in both samples. Neither Mexico nor New York showed a relapsing/remitting trajectory, and only New York showed a delayed dysfunction trajectory. Understanding patterns of psychological distress over time may present opportunities for interventions that aim to increase resilience, and decrease more adverse trajectories, after mass traumatic events.     

阿托伐他汀对系膜增殖性肾炎大鼠肾组织细胞外基质和纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物-1表达的影响

目的：观察阿托伐他汀对系膜增殖性肾炎（MsPGN）大鼠肾组织细胞外基质（ECM）和纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物-1（PAI-1）表达的影响，探讨其肾脏保护作用的机制。方法：采用抗胸腺细胞血清诱发的MsPGN大鼠模型，将SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、肾炎模型组、小剂量阿托伐他汀治疗组（8mg·kg^-1·d^-1）和大剂量阿托伐他汀治疗组（16mg·kg^-1·d^-1）。治疗12d后。检测各组大鼠血总胆固醇（CHOL）、甘油三酯（TG）、血肌酐（Scr）和24h尿蛋白，以及肾组织Ⅳ型胶原（Col Ⅳ）、纤维结合蛋白（FN）和PAI-1的表达。结果：阿托伐他汀治疗组大鼠24h尿蛋白、肾组织Col Ⅳ、FN和PAI-1 mRNA的表达明显下降。肾组织病理改变明显改善，与模型组相比有统计学差异（P〈0．05），且呈剂量依赖关系。其中肾炎模型组尿蛋白（30．34±0．62）mg／d。阿托伐他汀小剂量治疗组（21．17±0．79）mg／d，大剂量治疗组（9．77±0．54）mg／d。同时，各组血脂水平无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论：阿托伐他汀可显著改善MsPGN大鼠肾脏病变，抑制肾组织ECM成分和PAI-1的表达。     

计算机辅助精液分析男性不育患者精子运动参数与精子活力的相关性

目的探讨计算机辅助精液分析精子运动参数在评价男性不育患者精子活力中的价值。方法按《WHO人类精液及精子-宫颈黏液相互作用实验检验手册》标准,采用国产WLJY-9000伟力彩色精子质量检测系统对276例男性不育患者的精液进行平均直线运动速度、平均曲线运动速度、运动的前向性、运动的直线性、运动的摆动性、平均路径速度、精子活力及分级等进行检测并分析其相关性。结果276名男性不育患者的平均精子活力为（48.93±19.10）%,分级为A级（32.11±17.25）%、B级（17.03±8.91）%、C级（10.14±5.99）%。平均直线运动速度、平均曲线运动速度、运动的前向性、运动的直线性、运动的摆动性、平均路径速度与精子活力的相关系数分别为0.60（P〈0.01）、0.59（P〈0.01）、0.51（P〈0.01）、0.55（P〈0.01）、0.52（P〈0.01）、0.67（P〈0.01）。结论计算机辅助精液分析精子运动参数平均直线运动速度、平均曲线运动速度、平均路径速度是反映精子活力的有效指标,精子运动参数对男性不育的诊断和生育能力的评估具有实用意义。     

光学相干断层成像技术判断心肌缺血损伤程度和范围在体研究的进展

外科手术对心肌缺血的血运重建是目前治疗心肌缺血性疾病的重要手段之一。术中准确判断心肌缺血范围及程度和严密监测心脏停跳后心肌细胞损伤是否加重，对于血运重建的准确性，更好地实施心肌保护及对手术疗效的评估和术后处理方案的拟定有着重要意义。因此，如何在术中判断心肌缺血的损伤程度和范围具有极为重要的实验研究意义与临床现实意义。光学相干层析成像作为一种新颖的成像技术，能对活体组织内部微小结构进行实时、在体、高分辨率断层成像。     

Tape-stripping method in man: comparison of evaporimetric methods

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: If the occlusion time of a closed chamber evaporimeter on the skin is too long, saturation might occur. We previously compared an open chamber and a closed chamber device on healthy volunteers. Comparable data on stripped skin with higher evaporation rates are not available. This study compares the sensitivity and correlation of open and closed chamber devices in a tape-stripping human model. The amount of tape removed SC was also quantified with a protein assay method. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers (six male and four female; seven Caucasians and three Asian; mean age 38+/-16) were enrolled. In a randomized manner, one forearm was measured by an open chamber device and the opposite by a closed chamber device. After recording baseline measurements, 20 strippings were taken on each test site with tape disks. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured at the end of 10 and 20 tape strippings at each test site. Stratum corneum (SC) aggregates in the strips was assayed. RESULTS: The mean values obtained from two devices were similar after 10 trips and 20 strips. There was no statistically significant difference. The closed chamber device showed a slightly higher (but not significant) inter-individual coefficient of variation. SC aggregates in the strips were similar and without a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that both devices might yield similar TEWL values on stripped human skin in vivo.