Novel Approaches to Improve the Intrinsic Microbiological Safety of Powdered Infant Milk Formula

Human milk is recognised as the best form of nutrition for infants. However; in instances where breast-feeding is not possible, unsuitable or inadequate, infant milk formulae are used as breast milk substitutes. These formulae are designed to provide infants with optimum nutrition for normal growth and development and are available in either powdered or liquid forms. Powdered infant formula is widely used for convenience and economic reasons. However; current manufacturing processes are not capable of producing a sterile powdered infant formula. Due to their immature immune systems and permeable gastro-intestinal tracts, infants can be more susceptible to infection via foodborne pathogenic bacteria than other age-groups. Consumption of powdered infant formula contaminated by pathogenic microbes can be a cause of serious illness. In this review paper, we discuss the current manufacturing practices present in the infant formula industry, the pathogens of greatest concern, Cronobacter and Salmonella and methods of improving the intrinsic safety of powdered infant formula via the addition of antimicrobials such as: bioactive peptides; organic acids; probiotics and prebiotics.     

截断逆挽方对慢加急性肝衰竭大鼠肝细胞进入S期关键蛋白的影响

目的:观察截断逆挽方对慢加急性肝衰竭(ACLF)大鼠肝脏细胞进入S期关键蛋白的影响。方法:将150只Wistar大鼠随机分成3组,正常组(NC)、模型组(MC)及截断逆挽方组(JD)。采用人血清白蛋白联合D-氨基半乳糖和脂多糖急性攻击制作ACLF模型。JD组大鼠在急性攻击24 h后连续灌胃,在第5、10、15天平行取材。运用HE染色法观察大鼠肝脏组织结构,Western blot法检测转录因子E2F1的表达量,RT-PCR检测CyclinA、E和Cdc25 mRNA表达量。结果:与模型组相比,JD组大鼠E2F1的表达量明显增高,并在第10天时差异最为显著(P<0.05),CyclinA、E、Cdc25表达量均有不同程度升高;与正常组相比,JD组大鼠10 d、15 d时CyclinA mRNA表达量差异显著,JD组大鼠在10 d、15 d时Cdc25和CyclinE mRNA表达量均差异显著(P<0.05)。结论:截断逆挽方可以通过调节E2F1介导的细胞再生信号通路上的关键蛋白E2F1、CyclinA、CyclinE、Cdc25的表达,从而促使细胞进入S期,加快DNA复制进程,提高肝细胞的增殖率,发挥治疗ACLF的作用。     

Allogeneic Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell immunotherapy exhibits promising clinical safety and prolongs the survival of patients with late-stage lung or liver cancer

Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are promising candidates for cellular tumor immunotherapy. Due to their HLA-independent mode of action, allogeneic Vγ9Vδ2 T cells can be considered for clinical application. To apply allogeneic Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in adoptive immunotherapy, the methodology used to obtain adequate cell numbers with optimal effector function in vitro needs to be optimized, and clinical safety and efficacy also need to be proven. Therefore, we developed a novel formula to improve the expansion of peripheral γδ T cells from healthy donors. Then, we used a humanized mouse model to validate the therapeutic efficacy of expanded γδ T cells in vivo; furthermore, the expanded γδ T cells were adoptively transferred into late-stage liver and lung cancer patients. We found that the expanded cells possessed significantly improved immune effector functions, including proliferation, differentiation, and cancer cell killing, both in vitro and in the humanized mouse model. Furthermore, a phase I clinical trial in 132 late-stage cancer patients with a total of 414 cell infusions unequivocally validated the clinical safety of allogeneic Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. Among these 132 patients, 8 liver cancer patients and 10 lung cancer patients who received ≥5 cell infusions showed greatly prolonged survival, which preliminarily verified the efficacy of allogeneic Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell therapy. Our clinical studies underscore the safety and efficacy of allogeneic Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell immunotherapy, which will inspire further clinical investigations and eventually benefit cancer patients.     

规范化开展医院中药临方炮制工作探讨

通过对湖北省内相关的中医医院进行走访,结合医院实际情况,初步探讨医院如何规范化开展中药临方炮制工作。开展中药临方炮制是中医院个性化给药的充分发挥,也是保障中医临床用药的有效性与安全性,促进中医药文化、技术全面传承的重要体现。医院开展中药临方炮制工作需从人员、设备、技术等多方面努力,以促进中药临方炮制的传承与发展。     

何若苹教授运用二苓和安汤治疗肺腺癌经验

[目的]总结何若苹教授运用二苓和安汤治疗肺腺癌的临证经验。[方法]通过跟师侍诊、收集病例,从中医病因病机、汤药方义、随证加减三个方面对何若苹教授运用二苓和安汤治疗肺腺癌的理论及思路进行分析总结,并举隅医案加以佐证。[结果]何若苹教授认为,肺腺癌病机多以肺脾肾三脏不足为本,以气滞、水湿、痰饮搏结为标,故从益气养阴、补肾填精、利水渗湿、清热解毒等四个方面着手,创制二苓和安汤,随证化裁,治疗肺腺癌。对于阴亏与痰浊并存之患者,何教授先以甘露消毒汤祛其标,再对症治疗。所举验案为老年肺腺癌患者,辨证为气阴不足、痰浊内蕴,治以扶正祛邪、养阴利水,方用二苓和安汤,病情缓解,疗效确切。[结论]何若苹教授运用二苓和安汤治疗肺腺癌,体现出中医专病专方、辨病与辨证相结合的治疗特色,值得学习、总结和推广。     

中药组方联合盐酸帕罗西汀治疗老年脑卒中后抑郁的近期疗效观察

目的探索中药组方联合盐酸帕罗西汀治疗老年脑卒中后抑郁的近期疗效。方法选取2015年5月—2017年5月就诊于清河县中心医院神经内科162例老年脑卒中后抑郁患者,随机分为对照组和治疗组,对照组给予盐酸帕罗西汀治疗,治疗组给予中药组方联合盐酸帕罗西汀治疗,观察两组治疗后汉密尔顿抑郁量表17项(HAMD-17)、日常生活能力量表(ADL)、抑郁缓解情况及不良反应。结果治疗后治疗组HAMD-17和ADL评分均较对照组低(tHAMD-17=11.571,tADL=2.601,P<0.05);治疗组抑郁缓解总有效率高于对照组(χ2=8.783,P=0.003),不良反应低于对照组(t=18.734,P<0.05)。结论中药组方联合盐酸帕罗西汀可有效改善老年脑卒中后抑郁症状,提高患者日常生活能力,值得临床推广应用。     

Prolonged Corrected QT Interval in Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

Background and Purpose

Sudden cardiac death is one of the leading causes of death in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). It has been proposed that a prolonged QT interval is associated with sudden cardiac death in several neurological diseases, including multiple system atrophy, idiopathic Parkinson''s disease, and diabetic autonomic neuropathy. However, analyses of the corrected QT (QTc) interval in DM1 patients are rare in the literature. The purposes of this study were to determine the association between the QT interval and DM1, and the affecting factors.

Methods

Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with DM1 through genetic testing were enrolled. The QTc interval (calculated using Bazett''s formula: QTc=QT/√RR) was compared between these patients and 39 normal healthy controls. The clinical and laboratory factors affecting QTc interval in the patient group were investigated.

Results

The QTc interval was significantly longer in the DM1 group (411.2±44.7 msec, mean±SD) than in the normal control group (355.6±20.6 msec). Intragroup analysis revealed that a prolonged QTc interval in DM1 patients was associated with being female and older, having a longer disease duration, and exhibiting abnormal electrocardiography findings.

Conclusions

The higher incidence of sudden cardiac death in the DM1 population is associated with the observed prolonged QTc interval in those patients.     

Applications of the isolated-check visual evoked potential in primary open angle glaucoma with or without high myopia

AIM: To determine whether the different diameters of a specific intraocular lens (IOL) have significantly different optimised SRK/T A constants and whether these new A constants can improve refractive outcomes. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from Jan 2011 - Dec 2012 on all patients undergoing routine cataract surgery at a district general hospital in the UK. Patients were divided into three groups according to the size of the Akreos AO MI60 IOL used. A constant for the SRK/T formula were optimised according to the size of the IOL. These optimised A constants were then used to select future refractive outcomes. RESULTS: Totally 2398 cataract operations were performed during the study period of which 1131 met the inclusion criteria. The three optimised A constants for the different sized IOLs were 118.98, 119.13 119.32. The difference between them was highly significant (P≤0.0001). Two optimised A constants for three sizes of IOL led to an improvement in refractive outcomes (from 93.4% to 94.6% of refractive outcomes within 1.00 D of predicted spherical equivalent). The optimised A constant for the largest IOL was based on a small number of cases and was not used. CONCLUSION: Optimising the A constant for the three distinct sizes of the Bausch & Lomb Akreos MI60 lens lead to three significantly different A constants. In our practice, using two different optimised A constants for three different sized IOLs give the least refractive error, however, using three optimised A constants may give better results with a larger dataset.     

Response to Sparks and Duncan's “Do No Harm” Critique of the Use of Stimulant Medications to Treat ADHD in Children and Adolescents

The literature on child sexual abuse suggests family functioning and support may be intervening variables which serve to ameliorate the long-term effects of such abuse. We advocate family therapy as effective treatment for extrafamilial child sexual abuse (especially in preschool children), and we present the essential elements of the family treatment process. Our supporting evidence is provided in the clinical evaluation and treatment of 10 children (and their families), ages 2-6 years, who reported sexual abuse in a daycare setting.