Ill-health as a household norm: Evidence from other people's health problems

This paper proposes that an individual's self-assessed health (SAH) does not only suffer from systematic reporting bias and adaptation bias but is also biased owing to confounding health norm effects. Using 13 waves of the British Household Panel Survey covering the period 1991–2005, I show that, while there is a negative and statistically significant correlation between SAH and individuals' own health problem index, this negative effect reduces with the average number of health problems per (other) family member. The relative health bias is small, however, which implies that measures of SAH may not suffer seriously from systematic health norm bias. This is an important finding for researchers working with SAH data as it indicates that we do not have to worry too much about controlling for confounding influences from the health of other household members when estimating SAH regression equations.     

Policy determinants affecting the hunger millennium development goal

The possible effect of Government Consumption (a component of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) on attainment of the hunger Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) was analyzed by evaluating the effect of macroeconomic, social, demographic and policy variables on average undernourished population. Eighty-four developing countries with data available on undernourished population were included in an ecological study. Regression models were applied to explore possible determinants of Undernourished between 1990 and 2004 and consequent achievement of the projected 2004 MDG1. In 2004, 1.4% of the overall undernourished population in the studied countries [70.16 million people] was in excess of the projected level required to meet MDG1. The multiple linear regression showed significant associations between Undernourished and poverty levels, the Gini Index, rural population and Government Consumption. The multiple logistic regression showed significant associations between achievement of projected 2004 MDG1 levels and Government Consumption and the Gini Index. The significant associations between Undernourished and Government Consumption suggest that the effects of GDP components on social conditions call for more thorough research and that policymakers such as governments and international financial institutions need to ensure that changes in distributive and redistributive policies do not negatively affect the possibility of achieving MDG1.     

Quantification of Basal and Stimulated ROS Levels as Predictors of Islet Potency and Function

We have developed a luminol-based assay using intact islets, which allows for quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, an index capable of characterizing metabolic and mitochondrial integrity prior to transplantation was created based on the capacity of islets to respond to high glucose and rotenone (mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I inhibitor) by production of ROS. To validate this assay, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative defense capacity were evaluated by detection of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), respectively. Also, flow cytometric analyses of ROS (dihydroethidine), apoptosis (Annexin V, active caspases), necrosis (Topro3), and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1) were done in parallel to correlate with changes in luminol-measured ROS. ATP/ADP ratios were quantified by HPLC and the predictive value of ROS measurement on islet functional potency was correlated with capacity to reverse diabetes in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic NOD.scid mouse model as well as in human transplant recipients. Our data demonstrate that levels of ROS in islets correlate with the percentage of apoptotic cells and their functional potency in vivo. The ROS indices following glucose and rotenone exposure are indicative of metabolic potency and mitochondrial integrity and can be used as surrogate markers to evaluate the quality of islets prior to transplantation.     

Intravenous fate of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-based polyplexes

The objective of this study was to assess the in vivo fate of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (pDMAEMA)-based polyplexes after intravenous administration into mice. Circulation kinetics and tissue distribution in terms of plasmid localization and transfection efficiency were assessed. To gain more insight into the observed biodistribution and gene expression profile, the interaction of pDMAEMA-based polyplexes with blood components (erythrocytes and albumin) was investigated in vitro. In the case of i.v. injection of positively charged polyplexes at a dose of 30 microg DNA most of the radioactivity was found in the lungs and the liver 60 min after injection. In the case of pDMAEMA/DNA polyplexes with a negative charge, uptake occurred mainly by the liver. Administration of positively charged complexes at a 30 microg DNA dose resulted in reporter gene expression primarily in the lungs. Injection of negatively charged complexes and naked plasmid did not result in luciferase expression in any of the organs examined. In vitro turbidity experiments showed the induction of a charge dependent aggregation process upon addition of albumin to the polyplexes pointing out to the involvement of aggregate formation in the dominant lung uptake of the positively charged polyplexes. Also, incubations of polyplexes after pre-incubation with a physiological concentration of albumin with washed erythrocytes confirmed that polyplexes induce the formation of extremely large structures. This paper underlines the need for the design of systems with reduced interaction with blood components to promote the delivery of DNA to target tissues outside the lungs.     

三氧化二砷对CO2气腹下小鼠肿瘤腹壁戳口种植影响的实验研究

目的 研究腹腔内注射三氧化二砷(arsenic trioxide,As2O3)对小鼠CO2气腹下肝癌H22转移的影响. 方法 昆明鼠40只(清洁级),中腹部穿刺置入1 mm套管针,自套管针注入1×106肿瘤细胞后,建立CO2气腹,压力8 mm Hg,时间30 min.术后随机分4组,每组10只,分别腹腔内注入生理盐水,1 ml;As2O3(2 mg/kg),1 ml;As2O3(4 mg/kg),1 ml;As2O3(4mg/kg)+肝素(10 U/ml),共1 ml.气腹后第3、7天测量肿瘤黏附因子(CD44)、血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)的变化;比较各组生存状态、腹围、体重变化及转移瘤直径.结果 气腹后第3、7天,与对照组相比,各As2O3组CD44、VEGF表达均明显降低(P＜0.05).2个高剂量组的气腹后第3天VEGF、第7天CD44比低剂量组降低明显(P＜0.05).4组戳口种植率分别为9/10、8/10、7/10、6/10,差异无显著性(x2=2.667,P=0.446). 结论 As2O3对CO2气腹腹腔镜肿瘤生长转移有抑制作用.     

连续性静脉-静脉血液滤过联合机械通气治疗ARDS的临床观察

目的　观察连续性静脉 -静脉血液滤过 (CVVH)联合机械通气治疗ARDS患者的临床疗效。方法　选择入住ICU符合ARDS诊断标准的患者 4 0例 ,随机分为 2组 :A组 2 1例 ,采用常规治疗 +机械通气 ;B组 1 9例 ,采用常规治疗 +机械通气 +CVVH。分别观察 2组患者在使用呼吸机时间、氧合指数、吸入氧浓度、动脉血氧分压、PEEP水平、心率、血压及病死率等方面的差别。结果　A、B两组患者在病因、年龄、性别、APACHEⅡ评分及平均脏器功能障碍数等方面相似 ,B组患者加用CVVH后 ,各项指标经统计学处理显示 :病死率 ,B组与A组比较 ,差异有显著性意义 (P <0 0 5 ) :其他指标与A组比较 ,差异均有高度显著性意义 (P <0 0 1 )。结论　CVVH疗法可有效清除ARDS患者血管外肺水和各种应激激素、致炎介质 ,明显改善了ARDS患者肺部氧合功能及血流动力学指标 ,提高了抢救成功率     

军队在职干部腰身指数与心血管危险因素相关性探讨

目的 研究用腰身指数（腰围/身高比值WHtR）作为腹型肥胖指标探讨与心血管危险因素的相关性。方法 对2005年3月～2006年12月入住广州疗养院的军队在职干部共495人进行身高、体重、腰围、血压、心率、生化等检测,并进行统计学分析。结果 腰身指数异常组的年龄、体重、SBP、DBP、FBS、TC、TG以及尿酸均显著高于腰身指数正常组,HDL-C的结果则相反（P〈0.01～P〈0.001）;同时腰身指数与年龄、体重、SBP、DBP、FBS、TC、TG呈显著正相关,与HDL-C呈显著负相关（P〈0.05～P〈0.001）。结论 腰身指数可作为有效的腹型肥胖参考指标,腰身指数异常者其心血管危险因素水平比正常者高,及时控制腰身指数可以有效改善人群的健康状况。     

强脉冲光治疗浅表(皮肤)血管瘤临床观察

目的：观察强脉冲光（IPL）治疗浅表（皮肤）血管瘤的疗效。方法：选择60例浅表（皮肤）血管瘤患者,随机分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组用535nm、580nm强脉冲光治疗皮损,每三周治疗一次,三次为一个疗程;对照组采用波长为532nm的Q开关Nd：YAG激光治疗,每两周治疗一次,三次为一个疗程。观察两组皮损的治愈率、并发症等情况,并行统计学处理。结果：治疗组皮损三次治愈率明显高于对照组（P〈0.01）,患处瘢痕形成及炎症性色素沉着发生率均低于对照组。结论：强脉冲光（IPLTM）治疗浅表（皮肤）血管瘤效果满意。     

Iron deficiency down-regulates the Akt/TSC1-TSC2/mammalian Target of Rapamycin signaling pathway in rats and in COS-1 cells

Iron deficiency (ID) is one of the most commonly known forms of nutritional deficiencies. Low body iron is thought to induce neurologic defects but may also play a protective role against cancer development by cell growth arrest. Thus, ID may affect cellular pathways controlling cell growth and proliferation, the mechanism of which is still not fully understood. The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt and its downstream target, the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), is known to play a crucial role in the regulation of cell growth and survival. Therefore, we hypothesized that Akt/mTOR pathway could be influenced by ID. Three-week-old male Wistar-strain rats were divided into 3 groups and the 2 groups had free access to a control diet (C group) or an iron-deficient diet (D group). The third group (PF group) were pair-fed the control diet to the mean intake of the D group. After 4 weeks, rats were killed and their brains were sampled. In separate experiments, COS-1 cells were cultured with or without the iron chelator deferoxamine. Western blots of brain samples and COS-1 lysates were used to analyze the expression and phosphorylation state of Akt, TSC2, mTOR, and S6 kinase proteins implicated in the Akt/mTOR pathway. Using 2 different ID models, we show for the first time that iron deficiency depresses Akt activity in rats and in COS-1 cells, leading to a decrease in mTOR activity.     

稳定表达nucleostemin—siRNA的肿瘤细胞克隆的筛选和鉴定

目的：用脂质体法建立nucleostemin（NS）基因特异性siRNA阳性细胞克隆，为深入研究NS基因在胃癌细胞增殖调控中的作用和机制提供理想的生物学模型。方法：试剂盒法将真核表达载体PCDNA4／C—NS—silencer质粒大量扩增，然后以限制性切酶PVUI酶切线性化处理，用LipofectamineTM2000Reagent将PCDNA4／C—NS—silencer及其对照空载体转染胃癌SGC-7901细胞，经Zeocin抗生素压力筛选后用PCR方法鉴定细胞克隆外源基因整合阳性。结果：经Zeocin抗生素压力筛选后两组细胞均收获多个细胞克隆；PCR结果表明两组细胞克隆外源基因整合阳性。结论：成功建立表达NS～siRNA的胃癌SGC-7901细胞克隆。