Liver microsomal cytochrome: P-450p and P-450h activity and blood corticosteroid levels of experimental animals exposed to physical factors

Laboratory of Experimental Therapy, Institute of Balneology, Ministry of Health of the Ukraine, Odessa. Department of Cell Physiology and Pathology, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences V. Ya. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 113, No. 5, pp. 498–500, May, 1992.     

Levels of cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus are dependent on the stage of proteinuria.

Levels of cardiovascular risk factors were determined in 75 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patients were divided into three groups according to their urinary protein excretion (UPE): (a) normal proteinuria (less than or equal to 70 mg d-1); (b) microproteinuria (70-500 mg d-1); and (c) macroproteinuria (greater than 500 mg d-1). A significant stepwise increase in mean systolic blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol and fibrinogen levels was observed from the first to the third investigated group of patients. Mean apoprotein B levels were significantly increased in the group with macroproteinuria compared to the other two groups. Significant linear correlations were found between UPE and LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, apoprotein B, creatinine, systolic blood pressure and diabetes duration. In summary, it is concluded that the levels of some cardiovascular risk factors increase with the stage of proteinuria in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Graves病的发病与社会心理因素

对１０７例甲状腺机能亢进症患者和９１名正常人采用艾森克个性问卷及自编社会环境的调查显示：４６．９４％的患者起病前有负性生活事件发生，个性特征甲亢组神经不稳定型及掩饰性评分显著高于正常组，有显著性差异，此结果提示甲亢患者存在明显个性缺陷和负性生活事件，这些因素可作为甲亢发病的一种诱因。     

Irritable bowel syndrome: The role of psychosocial factors

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder of intestinal function characterized by variable symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. The spectrum of severity ranges from mild symptoms, not worthy of clinical attention, to intense and continuous symptoms associated with impaired health-related quality of life and high health care use. Psychosocial disturbance is commonly found among patients with irritable bowel, but until recently, its precise role in the disorder was uncertain. The data now suggest that irritable bowel is not a psychiatric disorder per se, but psychosocial factors including life stress, psychiatric comorbidity and abnormal illness behavior, among others, influence how the illness is experienced and acted upon. Patients with mild symptoms usually respond to education, reassurance, dietary modification and, when needed, antimotility agents. However, patients with more severe symptoms, who usually have greater psychosocial disturbance, will also require behavioral interventions, and possibly psychopharmacological agents. In sum, a graduated, multicomponent plan of care that includes dietary, behavioral and pharmacological treatments is recommended.     

S-100 beta and insulin-like growth factor-II differentially regulate growth of developing serotonin and dopamine neurons in vitro.

To study the phenotypic specificity of S-100 beta and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) for developing monoamine neurons, serotonin (5-HT) neurons from the embryonic day 14 (E14) rostral raphe or dopamine (TH) neurons from the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area were cultured for 3 days in vitro (3 DIV) in the presence of these factors. Neuronotrophic effects were analyzed by computer-assisted morphometry of 5-HT and TH-immunoreactive neurons. S-100 beta and IGF-II differentially regulated the growth of 5-HT and TH neurons but did not affect their survival. S-100 beta significantly increased several parameters of neurite outgrowth by 5-HT neurons but inhibited the spatial extent (field area) of TH neurites. IGF-II promoted growth of cell bodies of both phenotype, but only stimulated neurite outgrowth by TH neurons. S-100 beta and IGF-II differentially affected the number of GFAP immunoreactive cells from raphe and substantia nigra, but these effects did not correlate with the specificity of neuronotrophic effects. S-100 beta and IGF-II immunoreactivities were expressed in glial cultures derived from the same brain regions, raising the possibility that these factors have autocrine effects on glia as well as paracrine actions on neurons. The results of this study suggest that specificity of neurotrophic factors for particular embryonic neurons may be correlated with their neurotransmitter phenotype.     

The plasma kallikrein–kinin system and risk of cardiovascular disease in men

BACKGROUND: The plasma kallikrein-kinin system (PKKS) has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, but activation of the PKKS has not been directly probed in individuals at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke. OBJECTIVE: To determine the involvement of the PKKS, including factor XI, in cardiovascular disease occurring in a nested case-control study from the Second Northwick Park Heart Study (NPHS-II). METHODS AND RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 287 cases of CHD and stroke had been recorded and 542 age-matched controls were selected. When FXIIa-C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-inhibitor) concentrations were divided into tertiles (lowest tertile as reference), the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% CIs for CHD were 0.52 (0.34-0.80) in the middle tertile and 0.73 (0.49-1.09) in the highest tertile (P = 0.01 for the overall difference; P = 0.01 for CHD and stroke combined). For kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes, the ORs for stroke were 0.29 (0.12-0.72) and 0.67 (0.30-1.52) in the middle and high tertiles, respectively (P = 0.02). FXIIa-C1-inhibitor and kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes were negatively related to smoking and fibrinogen (P < 0.005). FXIa-inhibitor complexes correlated strongly with FXIIa-inhibitor complexes. CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of inhibitory complexes of the PKKS enzymes and particularly of FXIIa contribute to the risk of CHD and stroke in middle-aged men. This observation supports the involvement of the PKKS in atherothrombosis.     

History of haemophilia

Summary.  Haemophilia, an ancient disease, now has sophisticated methods for diagnosis and treatment. The genetically missing factors can now be supplied by fractionation of human-derived (HD) plasma or with recombinant technology (r). Making therapeutic choices is complicated by past transfusion-transmitted diseases. HD and r products now have similar safety profiles. Several diseases have only HD products for treatment. These products remain important in our treatment armamentarium.     

影响下尿路尿动力学检查准确性的因素及护理措施

笔者通过对270例患者进行尿动力学检查,认为环境、病人的配合程度、检查体位、导管的型号、膀胱灌注情况及护士操作技术、服务态度对尿动力学检查有一定的影响。针对影响因素采取护理措施:积极创造良好的检查环境,加强对患者的宣教与沟通,正确放置体位和选择导管、冲洗液的速度,操作护士熟练的技术和人性化服务,是获得准确检查结果的关键。     

Endocrinology: Predictive value of serum oestradiol concentrations and oocyte number in severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complicationof gonadotrophin usage but it is difficult to accurately predictits occurrence. Previous investigators have identified the combinationof high oestradiol concentrations and oocyte number as beingpredictive in 80% of cases. In this study we sought to identifythe incidence of severe OHSS in patients with high oestradiolconcentrations and large numbers of oocytes and to evaluatethe importance of pregnancy in the development of OHSS. Between1990 and 1993, we studied 139 cycles using two assisted reproductivetechniques [oocyte donor, n =72; in-vitro fertilization (IVF),n = 67] in which either oestradiol (>4000 pg/ml), oocytenumber (>25), or both were elevated. OHSS was diagnosed bystandard criteria. There were no cases of severe OHSS in theoocyte donor group and six in the IVF group. Among 10 patientswith oestradiol concentration >6000 pg/ml and >30 oocytes,only one had OHSS (10%). The relative risk of OHSS with pregnancywas 12 (confidence interval 2.18–66.14). We conclude thatthe risk of OHSS even at high levels of stimulation is lowerthan previously believed. Secondly, donors have a very low riskof OHSS, probably because of the absence of pregnancy. As such,cryopreservation of all oocytes in IVF cycles is a reasonablealternative to cycle cancellation or use of adjunctive medication.     

Medical education for minorities at a US medical school

The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSM) has initiated new efforts to build a regional minority applicant pool and to expand its educational programmes to accommodate students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Specific interventions include: establishment of medical career planner position to coordinate region-wide outreach; pre-entry education; and support activities once enrolled. This study describes specific services and presents sociodemographic and performance data on 56 minority and 280 majority students entering the UWSM between 1981 and 1985. Economic status and educational background of minority students were significantly below that of majority students, several flexible academic policies enabled most students to achieve mastery in courses and to progress through the curriculum. The educational data base utilized in this study, and those at other institutions, can assume important roles in the identification of problem areas in the education of disadvantaged students and in evaluation of the interventions attempted.