Genetic evolution of breast cancers III: Age-dependent variations in the correlations between biological indicators of prognosis

The influence of age on the occurrence of phenotypic features of prognostic significance was studied in relation to the DNA index values, measured on DNA histograms from a series of 1019 breast cancer patients. Globally, the distributions of all parameters showed variations with age, the most prominent being the decreases in the percentage of estrogen receptor-negative and high proliferative activity cases with increasing age. When analyzed according to the DNA index classes, all parameters were found to some extent linked with the stage of genetic evolution. However, the associations varied with age, defining two extreme groups. The younger patients (less than 40 years) presented a more complete acquisition of the aggressive phenotype and near-triploid tumors from this group were very frequently steroid hormone receptor-negative, high proliferation, and grade III. By contrast, near-triploid tumors in patients above 65 presented relatively frequently as receptor-positive, low proliferative activity, and even grade I. The correlation of the proliferative status with steroid hormone receptor content led to similar conclusions, high proliferation being more strongly correlated with the absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in younger patients. Interestingly, the association between high proliferation and negative progesterone receptors was much weaker in patients above 55. Our results suggest that the currently established biological prognostic factors, including DNA profile, steroid hormone receptors, and histopathological grade, show patterns of association which vary with age. Of these, only progesterone receptor could be influenced by menopausal status. These findings have to be taken into consideration for future prognostic factor-related treatment decisions, but also for future methodological improvements of multivariate survival analyses.     

Endometrial pinopodes indicate a shift in the window of receptivity in IVF cycles

The formation of endometrial pinopodes detected by scanning electron microscopy may be a specific marker for uterine receptivity. Aiming to assess the effects of ovarian stimulation on pinopode formation, we examined sequential endometrial biopsies from 17 oocyte donors. Seven normally menstruating women served as controls. Up to four samples were taken from each woman at 24-72 h intervals between days 14 and 24, giving a total of 69 samples. The day of oocyte retrieval was designated day 14 in ovarian stimulation cycles and the day of luteinizing hormone surge was designated day 13 in natural cycles. Endometrial morphology and pinopode numbers were similar in both groups. Fully developed pinopodes appeared in only one sample per cycle, indicating their short life span. However, the cycle day these structures appeared varied up to 5 days between women and the distribution was as follows: day 18 (n = 2), day 19 (n = 7), day 20 (n = 4), day 21 (n = 3), day 22 (n = 1) in ovarian stimulation cycles, and day 20 (n = 2), day 21 (n = 2), day 22 (n = 3) in natural cycles. Furthermore, accelerated pinopode formation in ovarian stimulation cycles was positively correlated with day 13 progesterone. Our findings show that ovarian stimulation does not affect endometrial pinopode formation in terms of quantity and life span. The cycle days when pinopodes form are specific to the individual, being on average 1-2 days earlier in ovarian stimulation than in natural cycles. These changes in pinopode expression may reflect shifts in the window of receptivity, resulting in ovo-endometrial asynchrony and limiting implantation success in in-vitro fertilization.     

针刺关元穴对小鼠红细胞免疫功能影响的实验研究

目的：探讨针刺关元穴对机体红细胞免疫的影响。方法：将小鼠随机分为对照组和针刺组,针刺组每日针刺关元穴,对照组不予针刺。１１ 日后采用补体致敏酵母菌血凝法,并分别测定各组小鼠的脾脏系数,检测针刺关元穴对小鼠红细胞免疫粘附功能的影响。结果：在血凝滴度为１：１６ 时,对照组与针刺组小鼠的阳性率有显著性差异（Ｐ＜ ０．０１）;脾脏系数分别为：对照组（５．７９±０．８８ｍ ｇ／ｇ）,针刺组（６．０８±０．３４）ｍ ｇ／ｇ。针刺组明显高于对照组（Ｐ＜ ０．０５）。结论：针刺关元穴对小鼠的红细胞免疫粘附功能有增强作用。     

LIF对体外培养小鼠孕早期胚胎发育及ICAM-1表达的影响

目的研究白血病抑制因子（ＬＩＦ）在胚胎发育中的作用并探讨其参与胚泡着床的机制。方法收集昆明种小鼠的单细胞受精卵,连续培养１２０ｈ,观察不同浓度ＬＩＦ对胚胎发育的影响;用免疫印迹法测定培养液中细胞间粘附分子（ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达水平。结果ＬＩＦ在０．１～１０ｎｇ／ｍｌ浓度之间对胚胎发育有促进作用,其作用在桑椹胚及胚泡期最明显（Ｐ＜０．０５）;ＬＩＦ增加胚胎ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达,其作用在０．１ｎｇ／ｍｌ浓度时最强,并随着浓度的增加而减弱。结论适应浓度的ＬＩＦ可促进胚胎发育,增加ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达,从而参与胚胎着床过程。     

大鼠梗阻性黄疸对血液流变性的影响

64只大鼠随机分为阻黄组及假手术组,术前及术后分期测定全血高切粘度、全血低切粘度及血浆粘度,计算红细胞刚性指数和红细胞聚集指数。结果：阻黄术后1天全血高切粘度、全血低切粘度明显上升,红细胞刚性指数、红细胞聚集指数明显增大（与假手术组比,P＜0．05）,并随时间推移而加重。血浆粘度变化不大。认为阻黄时血液流变学特性的改变,使红细胞不易通过毛细血管且易于聚集,引起微循环障碍,导致组织缺血、缺氧,这可能是阻黄时多器官功能不全的原因之一。     

青光眼减压阀植入治疗无晶体眼和人工晶体眼青光眼的疗效

目的 :评价青光眼减压阀植入术治疗无晶体眼和人工晶体眼青光眼的疗效 ,探讨术后并发症和预防措施。方法 :回顾性分析19例 ( 2 0眼 )无晶体眼和人工晶体眼青光眼患者行青光眼减压阀植入术。其中 13眼行 Ahmed减压阀植入 ,7眼行 Krupin减压阀。结果 :术后一周平均眼压 1.93± 0 .69k Pa,95 %术眼眼压控制正常。平均随访 18.9± 6.9月的 14只术眼平均眼压 2 .4 0± 0 .4 7k Pa,64 .3 %术眼眼压控制正常。术后常见并发症有前房导管口阻塞、导管接触角膜、前房积血、低眼压等。结论 :青光眼减压阀植入术是治疗无晶体眼和人工晶体眼青光眼的较为有效的方法 ,但仍存在一定的并发症     

儿童角膜穿通伤合并外伤性白内障人工晶体植入术临床分析

本文回顾分析２６ 例 （２６ 眼） ５～１４ 岁儿童角膜穿通伤合并外伤性白内障植入后房型人工晶体的临床结果。对麻醉、人工晶体植入、后囊纤维膜样混浊进行了分析讨论。提示 ８ 周岁以上儿童常能在眼局部麻醉下顺利地完成手术。认为对儿童角膜穿通伤合并外伤性白内障植入人工晶体, 应视眼部伤情及术中情况, 权衡利弊, 区别选择Ⅰ期或Ⅱ期植入。作者观察到, 这类联合手术的后囊纤维膜样改变, 在术后一至二周即在不同程度上有所表现。     

Study of a new oral beta-adrenergic drug,clenbuterol, in patients with chronic bronchitis

Summary In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, incomplete cross-over study the bronchodilator, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic effects of 3 different oral doses of clenbuterol were studied in 12 patients suffering from partly reversible airways obstruction due to chronic bronchitis. The ventilatory response to oral clenbuterol or placebo was assessed by measurement of specific airway resistance (sRaw) to detect changes in central airways, and of flow at 85% of vital capacity ( _{85% VC}) to detect change in peripheral airways. Clenbuterol 20, 30 and 40 µg produced a significant decrease in sRaw between 15 and 480 min after administration. Its effect on the large airways was not related to the dose. Clenbuterol 30 and 40 µg caused a significant increase in _{85% VC} between 60 and 480 min after administration. After 20 µg a significant improvement in _{85% VC} was found between 120 and 240 min. The over-all effect of 30 µg on the small airways was significantly more pronounced than that of 20 µg and was more sustained than that of 40 µg 120 min after administration. No significant changes in heart rate, ECG or blood pressure were noted. Decreases in PaO₂ and O₂-saturation after clenbuterol were not related to dose. Slight falls in PaO₂ and O₂-saturation were also observed after placebo. These observations are briefly discussed. There was negligible lipid mobilization after either the placebo or bronchodilator. A slight but insignificant rise in blood glucose was observed after both 30 and 40 µg of clenbuterol.     

Dietary antioxidants and the biochemical response to oxidant inhalation. II. Influence of dietary selenium on the biochemical effects of ozone exposure in mouse lung

We examined the influence of dietary selenium (Se) on the pulmonary biochemical response to ozone (O3) exposure. For 11 weeks, weanling female strain A/St mice were fed a test diet containing Se either at 0 ppm (-Se) or 1 ppm (+Se). Each diet contained 55 ppm vitamin E (vit E). Mice from each dietary group were exposed to 0.8 +/- 0.05 ppm (1568 +/- 98 micrograms/m3) O3 continuously for 5 days. After O3 exposure, they were killed along with a matched number of unexposed controls, and their lungs were analyzed for various biochemical parameters. The Se contents of lung tissue and whole blood were determined, and the levels were seven- to eightfold higher in +Se mice than in -Se mice, reflecting the Se intake of the animals. In unexposed control mice, Se deficiency caused a decline in glutathione peroxidase (GP) activity relative to +Se group. After O3 exposure, the GP activity in the -Se group was associated with a lack of stimulation of glutathione reductase (GR) activity and the pentose phosphate cycle (PPC) as assessed by measuring glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) activities. In contrast, the +Se group after O3 exposure exhibited increases in all four enzyme activities. Other parameters, e.g., lung weight, total lung protein, DNA and nonprotein sulfhydryl contents, and O2 consumption, were not affected by dietary Se in the presence or absence of O3 exposure. The data indicate that dietary Se alters the GP activity, which in turn influences the GR and PPC activities in the lung evidently through a reduced demand for NADPH. The level of vit E in the lung was found to be twofold higher in the -Se group than in the +Se group, suggesting a compensatory relationship between Se and vit E in the lung. With O3 exposure, both Se and vit E contents further increased in the lungs of each dietary group. It is plausible that Se and vit E under oxidant stress are "mobilized" to the lung from other body sites.