An internal rate of return approach to investigate pharmacist supply in the united states

Internal rates of return were used to examine the status of pharmacist supply in the United States between the years 1987-1991. Age-earnings profiles were estimated for pharmacists, college graduates and high school graduates. Rates of return to pharmacists and college graduates were compared and a ratio of the pharmacist rate to the college graduate rate was computed for each year. Results suggest a shortage of pharmacists in the United States. Enrollments in pharmacy schools and adopted changes in the training of pharmacists are discussed in relation to their effects on the pharmacist labour market.     

Cyclic tensile stretch load and oxidized low density lipoprotein synergistically induce lectin-like oxidized ldl receptor-1 in cultured bovine chondrocytes, resulting in decreased cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis.

Mechanical stimulation is known to be an essential factor in the regulation of cartilage metabolism. We tested the hypothesis that expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) can be modulated by cyclic tensile stretch load in chondrocytes. Cyclic loading of repeated stretch stress at 10 cycles per minute with 10 kPa of stress for 6 h induced expression of LOX-1 to 2.6 times control in cultured bovine articular chondrocytes, equivalent to the addition of 10 microg/mL oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (2.4 times control). Application of the cyclic load to the chondrocytes along with 10 microg/mL ox-LDL resulted in synergistically increased LOX-1 expression to 6.3 times control. Individual application of cyclic loading and 10 microg/mL ox-LDL significantly suppressed chondrocytes viability (84.6% +/- 3.4% and 80.9% +/- 3.2% of control at 24 h, respectively; n = 3; p < 0.05) and proteoglycan synthesis [81.0% +/- 7.1% and 85.7% +/- 5.2% of control at 24 h, respectively; p < 0.05 when compared with 94.6% +/- 4.6% for native-LDL (n = 3)]. Cyclic loading and 10 microg/mL ox-LDL synergistically affected cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis, which were significantly suppressed to 45.6% +/- 4.9% and 48.7% +/- 6.7% of control at 24 h, respectively (n = 3; p < 0.01 when compared with individual application of cyclic loading or 10 microg/mL ox-LDL). In this study, we demonstrated synergistic effects of cyclic tensile stretch load and ox-LDL on cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes, which may be mediated through enhanced expression of LOX-1 and which has important implications in the progression of cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis.     

激光上皮下角膜磨镶术后角膜上皮瓣临床观察

目的 观察及探讨准分子激光上皮下角膜磨镶术(Laser subepithel ialkeratomileusis，LASEK)后，角膜上皮瓣的成活率及其影响因素。方法 对行LASEK治疗的42例(80眼)于术后1、2、3天，1、2、3、4周在裂隙灯显微镜下进行角膜上皮瓣的观察。结果 34例(68眼)，角膜上皮瓣成活，成活占85％(68／80)；未成活8例(12眼)，未成活占15％(12／80)。结论 LASEK术后角膜上皮瓣成活率的高低，决定着LASEK的临床疗效，影响其成活的因素是多方面的。其中角膜上皮瓣边缘不整齐、破裂、对位不良、操作时间过长可能是其主要原因。     

Non-invasive estimation of the diastolic elastic and viscoelastic properties of the left ventricle

The present study applies a non-invasive method to the quantitative evaluation of left ventricular stiffness in normal subjects and in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). We have studied 20 patients with IHD and 25 healthy subjects. The third heart sound (S3) was detectable in all patients. We have correlated the energy spectrum of S3, divided into 15 Hz bands, with a series of echocardiographic parameters. The existence of a significant correlation between the spectrum energy and the diameter and thickness of the left ventricle at the moment of S3 allowed us to explore the possibility of interpreting the origin of S3 based on a mathematical model. Our hypothesis has been that, once the left ventricle starts vibrating, it behaves as a simple physical model composed of a mass and an elastic element. To this purely elastic model one can add a factor accounting for viscosity, with a damping effect, to obtain a more complex viscoelastic model. The stiffness coefficient 'k' was computed in both models from the peak frequency of S3 and the left ventricular mass at the moment of S3. Furthermore, in the viscoelastic model, the damping element 'c' was also computed. Both parameters--k and c--were significantly increased in the group with IHD compared with the control group. Although a simplification of the vibrating system, these models make it possible to obtain non-invasively information on the characteristics of the left ventricle through the combined use of echocardiography and spectral analysis of S3.     

Coronary stenting for coronary artery narrowing in a heart transplant recipient

Transplant atherosclerotic coronary disease remains the leading cause of death in heart transplant recipients. We report the first case of coronary stent implantation in a heart graft for epicardial focal stenosis. Due to the lower rate of restenosis after stenting in the native coronary artery, we suggest that coronary stenting be considered an acceptable, first intention therapeutic option instead of angioplasty alone whenever possible.     

肺心病血液光量子治疗前后血液流变性质变化及机制探讨

１５例肺心病血液高粘滞患者自体血２５０ｍｌ用ＸＺＹ－Ⅰ型量子血液治疗机进行紫外线照射和充以纯氧后再输入，每周一次，最多连续做三次（平均１．８６±０．７１次）后，作者发现血液全血高切、低切粘度，全血高切、低切还原粘度，血浆比粘度，血浆纤维否白原含量，红细胞聚集指数，红细胞电泳率等有显著性改变，单纯常规治疗组１５例患者血液流变无此变化，分析认为，这些变化可能与红细胞聚集性降低、纤维蛋白源溶解度提高及血氧饱和度增加有关。     

直线加速器十年故障分析总结

目的分析和总直线加速器十多年来的故障。方法根据十多年来的故障维修记录，统计和分析直线加速器各阶故障率及故障特点。结果直线加速器使用早期由于机器不稳定故障率比较高，使用中期及其比较稳定，故障率比较低，使用后期由于零部件老化，故障率比较高。     

低血流期间缺钠对心肌缺血再灌注损伤的影响

目的探讨低血流期间无销对再灌注心脏功能恢复的影响。方法采用等客收缩大鼠灌流心脏模型，低血流期以无钠的Krebs-Henseleit（K-H）液灌注．San-ei362型多道重理记录仪，测定再灌注不同时刻左心宝功能及乳酸脱氨酶活性．结果再灌注30min.在各相应时刻，缺钠组左心室收缩压（LVSP）、心率（HR）、左心室内压最大上升速率（dp／dtmax）的恢复均显著高于对照组（P＜0．001），左心室舒张期末压（LVEDP）显著低于对照组（P＜0.001），乳酸脱氢酶数据低于对照组。结论低血流缺血间无销减轻了心脏血液动力学的损害，心肌乳酸脱氢酶的漏出减少，这可能与因低血流期间无销细胞内钠超负荷减轻有关。     

Renal regulation of salt balance: a primer for non-purists

The greater than 40-fold range of voluntary salt intake in humans requires corresponding adjustments in renal excretion to maintain balance. Although many mechanisms have been implicated in the regulation of salt output by the kidney, surprisingly little consideration has been given to their quantitative significance and possible interaction. This survey summarizes the effects of changes in glomerular filtration rate, proximal peritubular physical factors, and plasma concentrations of aldosterone and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), singly and in combination, on the level of salt excretion. Contrary to expectation, even large increases in filtration or decreases in proximal reabsorption have only minor natriuretic effects, due to constancy of fractional reabsorption in downstream nephron segments. Lack of aldosterone release increases salt excretion as much or more than the upstream mechanisms, whereas ANF-induced inhibition of reabsorption in the medullary collccting duct has the largest effect. It may be concluded, therefore, that the potency of these natriuretic factors increases with distance along the nephron, even though each is operating on a progressively small tubular load. However, none of the mechanisms, in isolation, is sufficient to explain salt balance over the range of voluntary intake. Combination of factors demonstrates synergism rather than simple additivity, resulting in more than enough reserve capacity for salt excretion.