Soluble CD14 at 2 yr of age: Gender-related effects of tobacco smoke exposure, recurrent infections and atopic diseases

The endotoxin receptor soluble CD14 (sCD14) has been implicated in the 'hygiene hypothesis' suggesting reduced allergic sensitization with bacterial stimulation. However, the relationship between early life sCD14 and allergic diseases is conflicting. We aimed to investigate whether possible risk factors for allergic diseases were associated with sCD14 levels at 2 yr of age. In the nested case-control study of the birth cohort studies 'Environment and Childhood Asthma study in Oslo' 411 children selected with recurrent bronchial obstruction (rBO) (n=241) and no bronchial obstruction (n=170) by 2 yr were investigated with skin prick test and structured parental interview at age 2 yr. Exposure to tobacco smoke, pets and infections was recorded semi-annually by questionnaires (0-2 yr). The sCD14 was analysed from frozen, stored serum by ELISA technique. Regression analyses were performed in all subjects with complete data (n=406, 180 girls), and in girls and in boys separately. Mean sCD14 (ng/ml) was significantly higher among girls 2035 (1973-2096) vs. 1947 (1890-2004) (boys). The sCD14 was significantly reduced among girls exposed to antenatal maternal smoking and with parental asthma, after adjusting for age, parental rhino-conjunctivitis, pet keeping and childhood infections. Recurrent otitis media (OM) increased and common colds significantly decreased sCD14 levels in girls. Boys with atopic dermatitis and rBO had reduced sCD14. Pet exposure was not significantly associated with sCD14. We report novel gender-related effects of sCD14 in early life and suggest that gender, tobacco smoke exposure, age and middle ear disease in particular should be accounted for when assessing the role of sCD14 in childhood allergic diseases.     

Association between cord blood IgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-4, the β-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE, lymphotoxin-α, and tumor Necrosis factor-α

High cord blood immunoglobulin E (cbIgE) is known to be associated with increased risks of atopic diseases in childhood. The relationship between genetic polymorphisms and high cbIgE has not been well documented. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between cbIgE and genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-4 -590C/T, the beta-subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI-beta) E237G, lymphotoxin (LT)-alphaNcoI alleles, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha -308G/A. A total of 320 mother-neonate pairs were recruited from four maternity hospitals from different locations of Taiwan. Cord blood was obtained and assayed for cbIgE. Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to assess the genotypes. Three hundred pairs of mothers and neonates were included in the final analysis. Infants with IL-4 -590 C allele were found to have higher risk of elevated cbIgE (> or =0.35 IU/ml, 24.3%) (p = 0.004). After adjusting for gender, birth order, maternal age, and history of allergic disease in maternal and paternal families, odds ratios for CC and CT genotypes were 4.41 and 3.16 (95% confidence interval 0.78-22.67, and 1.66-6.13), respectively, using TT genotype as reference. The genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha were not associated with cbIgE before or after the adjustment. Our finding suggested a significant association of cbIgE with genetic polymorphism of IL-4 -590C/T, but not with the genotypes of FcepsilonRI-beta, LT-alpha, and TNF-alpha.     

Long-term effectiveness and quality of life improvement in entacapone-treated Parkinson's disease patients: the effects of an early therapeutic intervention

To evaluate the long-term effects of entacapone on both mean daily 'on' time and health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experiencing 'end-of-dose' motor fluctuations and the benefits of an early therapeutic intervention. A prospective, multicenter, observational, 12-month study was performed with an initial 3-month intervention phase, consisting of a phone call to half of the patients from randomly selected investigators to assess if dose adjustment was necessary. Effectiveness was determined by home diaries ('on' time), subscales II and III of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8). After 3 months of treatment, 4.0% of the intervention group patients discontinued the study, versus 18.4% in the control group ( P  < 0.01). The improvement in 'on' time was significantly increased since the 3-month visit (21%, P  < 0.0001) until the end of the study (23% at 12 months, P  < 0.0001). Entacapone also induced significant reductions in the UPDRS scores for subscales II and III and in the PDQ-8 score. 11.2% of patients experienced at least one adverse reaction. This study confirms the effectiveness of entacapone in reducing motor fluctuations by increasing 'on' time, and in improving QoL of PD patients. An early adjustment of entacapone and levodopa doses reduces the number of treatment discontinuations during the first months of treatment.     

腹腔镜结合术中内窥镜治疗结直肠良性病变13例分析

目的 探讨腹腔镜手术结合术中内窥镜治疗结直肠良性病变的方法和临床意义.方法 回顾性分析2004年6月至2006年12月13例结直肠良性病变以腹腔镜结合术中内窥镜治疗的患者的临床资料.结果 结肠多发性息肉1例,息肉3枚,直径1.5 cm～2.5 cm,乙状结肠、降结肠和直肠上段单发息肉或腺瘤11例,病变直径1.5 cm～3.0 cm,降结肠憩室并出血1例,直径1 cm,全部患者均在腹腔镜下结合术中内窥镜定位,经腹壁小切口找到定位处肠管切开后完整切除病变或缝扎憩室.无术后并发症.结论 腹腔镜结合术中内窥镜治疗结直肠良性病变定位准确、创伤小、安全有效,适合结直肠大部分位置良性疾病的治疗.     

肺心病合并脑梗死39例分析

目的:分析肺心病合并脑梗死的临床特点.方法:对39例肺心病合并脑梗死患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果:肺心病合并脑梗死发病率6.2%,48小时内确诊率48.7%.结论:肺心病合并脑梗死临床表现不典型,及时确诊困难.     

后腹腔镜下离断式肾盂成形术

目的探讨后腹腔镜下肾盂成形术的临床疗效. 方法腹腔镜下通过后腹腔途径对9例肾盂输尿管连接部狭窄行离断式肾盂成形术并对技术进行改进. 结果 9例手术均获成功,手术时间110～240 min,平均160 min.术中出血量30～80 ml,平均50 ml.术后住院8～18 d,平均11.2 d.术后并发症:皮下气肿(合并阴囊气肿)1例,漏尿2例.术后1～10个月B超示术侧肾盂无积水5例,轻度积水2例,中度积水2例.3例术后5个月IVU显示吻合口通畅. 结论后腹腔镜肾盂成形术微创、效果好,值得推广.     

小剂量阿司匹林与银可络联用对老年患者血液流变学异常的影响

目的探讨小剂量阿司匹林与银可络联用对老年患者血液流变学异常的影响。方法57例老年病人并伴有高凝、高粘血症者采用小剂量阿司匹林50mg,口服,1次/d,银可络80mg,口服,3次/d。疗程为1个月。并测定治疗前后血液流变学各项参数。结果病例组治疗后血小板粘附率(PadT)、血栓长度、重量与对照组比较均有显著性差异(P均<0.01);治疗后红细胞刚性指数(IR)、血沉(ESR)、红细胞电泳时间(EFT)、全血表现粘度(BAV)与治疗前比较均有显著性差异(P均<0.001);病例组治疗后红细胞比积(HCT)、纤维蛋白原(Fib)、血浆比粘度(PV)与对照组比较均无显著性差异(P均>0.05)。结论小剂量阿司匹林与银可络联合治疗对血栓形成过程有抑制作用,红细胞变形能力和聚集性有所改善。但对Fib,PV,HCT无影响。     

Further evidence of preserved memory function in Alzheimer's disease

Memory performance of elderly patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (DAT) was compared with that of elderly control subjects. In explicit tests of recognition memory, which involve conscious recollection, the DAT patients were grossly impaired. In implicit tests of anagram solution and wordstem completion, which do not require conscious recollection, the DAT patients were not impaired. These findings further support the idea that a separate memory system, episodic memory, underlies conscious recollection, that it is this system which is most commonly damaged in amnesia, and that memory systems not involving conscious recollection may be spared in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.