A critical assessment of allergen component-based in vitro diagnosis in cherry allergy across Europe

BACKGROUND: Food allergy to cherry occurs throughout Europe, typically with restricted oral reactions in the central and northern parts but with frequent systemic reactions in the Mediterranean region. Previous studies have demonstrated insufficient sensitivity of commercially available cherry extract reagents in the diagnosis of cherry allergy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic performance of specific IgE tests based on recombinant cherry allergens in comparison with an extract-based assay and to skin prick test (SPT). A secondary objective was to analyse the frequency of systemic reactions in cherry-allergic subjects across Europe, including the largest population of LTP-sensitized subjects from central Europe studied to date. METHODS: A total of 186 subjects from central Europe and Spain were studied. Serum IgE was analysed with ImmunoCAP tests carrying rPru av 1, 3 and 4, combined and separately, and cherry extract. RESULTS: Among the central European cherry allergics, the mix of rPru av 1, 3 and 4 had a sensitivity of 95%, compared with 65% for cherry extract, and the IgE binding capacity of the recombinant mix was considerably higher. The sensitivity of the two tests was more comparable in the Spanish population, 95% and 86%, respectively. The recombinant allergen ImmunoCAP equalled SPT in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Consistent with previous reports, major geographic differences in sensitization pattern and prevalence of systemic reactions were found. A significantly higher rate of systemic reactions was found in Spanish patients sensitized to Pru av 3 whereas German patients sensitized to LTP only had oral allergy syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant cherry allergen ImmunoCAP is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool, clearly superior to any diagnostic method based on cherry extract. Three cherry allergens are sufficient for detecting sensitization in 95% of cherry-allergic subjects. Systemic reactions are common in LTP-sensitized individuals but seem to require at least one additional causative factor.     

浅谈医疗商业贿赂的成因及预防对策

医疗商业贿赂已引起全社会的高度关注，成为2006年六大重点领域里治理的商业贿赂之一。作者通过分析医疗商业贿赂的危害和原因，提出：①加强思想教育；②坚持依法行政；③完善相关制度；④深化体制改革；⑤完善监督制度等预防对策。     

精神科儿少住院患者的42年资料回顾

目的了解从1958年8月本院正式成立儿童精神科以来,42年中儿童住院病人的情况,以掌握及了解儿童和少年精神障碍的发展趋势。方法从1958年8月到2000年9月之间住院的所有病人的病历共1327份,逐一记载所需资料内容,并将所有资料进行分析。结果患儿年龄主要集中在13—14岁,并涉及3—16岁各年龄段。以儿童和少年期最多,文化程度以初中和小学居多。在早期,精神障碍诊断不规范,90年代后,诊断趋于标准化,位于前五位的诊断是：精神分裂症、精神发育迟滞、脑器质性精神障碍、情感性精神障碍、行为障碍。90年代以来,每年住院儿童病人数量均呈增长趋势。结论在住院期间,儿童少年病人既要接受治疗,又需进行儿童间交友训练,而在成人精神科病房,在这一点上不能满足住院患儿的需要,不利于儿童和少年的综合治疗,所以在我院开设儿童青少年病房有重要的意义。     

心房颤动犬心房肌细胞2型理阿诺受体的分布和表达

目的探讨心房颤动(房颤)时心房肌细胞2型理阿诺受体表达和分布的改变。方法杂种犬10只,分为正常对照组和单纯房颤组,每组5只。单纯房颤组用起搏器进行房颤式快速起搏,起搏频率(500±20)次/min,正常对照组不植入起搏器。24周后取出心脏,用逆转录聚合酶链反应、免疫荧光染色技术检测犬心房肌细胞2型理阿诺受体在mRNA水平的表达和蛋白水平的表达和分布。结果与正常对照组比较,单纯房颤组犬2型理阿诺受体在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达明显低于正常对照组(P<0.05);在细胞质、细胞膜2型理阿诺受体分布均显著减少。结论房颤时心房肌细胞2型理阿诺受体表达下调,2型理阿诺受体可能不是心房肌细胞主要的钙信号调控的受体。     

胃癌组织中KAI1、nm23及P53的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨正常胃黏膜、不典型增生胃黏膜及癌组织中KAI1、nm23及P53蛋白的表达．方法:应用SP法免疫组化检测22例正常胃黏膜,65例不典型增生胃黏膜及74N胃癌组织中的KAI1、nm23及P53蛋白的表达．结果:正常胃黏膜、不典型增生胃黏膜及胃癌组织中,KAI1和nm23阳性率呈降低趋势,组间差异性有统计学意义(x2=20．885, P<0．001;x2=29．133,P<0．05):P53蛋白阳性表达率呈增加趋势,组间差异性有统计学意义(x2=21．954,P<0．001)．Fisher精确概率检验显示:在胃癌组中不同的浸润深度、有无淋巴结转移和脉管侵犯组内KAI1、nm23及 P53组阳性表达率的差异性有统计学意义(x2 =20．885,P<0．001;x2=29．133,P<0．05;x2= 21．954,P<0．001);而在年龄、性别组间的差异性无统计学意义．Spearman等级相关分析显示 KAI1与nm23表达呈正相关(r=0．859,P<0．05); KAI1与P53表达呈负相关(r=-0．859,P<0．05), nm23与P53表达呈负相关(r=-0．874,P<0．05) 结论:抑癌基因KAI1与nm23的缺失以及P53 蛋白的过表达可能是胃癌发生、发展及浸润和转移的重要原因之一．     

食管贲门癌术后早期肠内营养支持的应用研究

目的研究食管贵门癌切除术中放置鼻肠营养管进行早期肠内营养，在维持机体营养、促进恢复履在防治术后并发症的作用。方法将90例管责门癌病人随机分为A、B两组，A组术后常规静脉输液，B组术中放置鼻肠营养管，术后第1天给予肠内营养。两组病人监测术前、术后第10天的体重、肠功能恢复排气时间、疲劳评分，吻合口瘘反感染并发症的发生率。结果两组病人在体重、肠功能恢复方面存在明显差异（P〈0．05），在术后并发症方面差异明显（P〈0．01）。结论鼻肠营养管进行早期肠内营养具有易于维持机体营养，促进机体康复，尽快恢复正氮平衡，减少术后并发症的优点。     

Allogeneic bone marrow stromal cells promote glial–axonal remodeling without immunologic sensitization after stroke in rats

We evaluated the effects of allogeneic bone marrow stromal cell treatment of stroke on functional outcome, glial–axonal architecture, and immune reaction. Female Wistar rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Rats were injected intravenously with PBS, male allogeneic ACI – or syngeneic Wistar –bone marrow stromal cells at 24 h after ischemia and sacrificed at 28 days. Significant functional recovery was found in both cell-treated groups compared to stroke rats that did not receive BMSCs, but no difference was detected between allogeneic and syngeneic cell-treated rats. No evidence of T cell priming or humoral antibody production to marrow stromal cells was found in recipient rats after treatment with allogeneic cells. Similar numbers of Y-chromosome⁺ cells were detected in the female rat brains in both groups. Significantly increased thickness of individual axons and myelin, and areas of the corpus callosum and the numbers of white matter bundles in the striatum were detected in the ischemic boundary zone of cell-treated rats compared to stroked rats. The areas of the contralateral corpus callosum significantly increased after cell treatment compared to normal rats. Processes of astrocytes remodeled from hypertrophic star-like to tadpole-like shape and oriented parallel to the ischemic regions after cell treatment. Axonal projections emanating from individual parenchymal neurons exhibited an overall orientation parallel to elongated radial processes of reactive astrocytes of the cell-treated rats. Allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow stromal cell treatment after stroke in rats improved neurological recovery and enhanced reactive oligodendrocyte and astrocyte related axonal remodeling with no indication of immunologic sensitization in adult rat brain.     

Simple screening test for risk of falls in the elderly

Background:   The aim of this study is to construct a simple screening test for the risk of falls in community-dwelling elder persons.
Methods:   A total of 1378 community-dwelling people aged 65 years and older in five different communities in Japan were asked to answer a self rated questionnaire including 22 items covering physical, cognitive, emotional and social aspects of functioning and environmental factors. At a six-month follow-up, the outcome of fall occurrence and the number of falls was ascertained by social workers, health visitors or nurses.
Results:   Five out of 22 items were selected using a logistic regression model. Using this five-item version, a screening test was constructed, and at the best cut-off point, the sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 70%, respectively. The validity of this scale was tested on persons with cognitive dysfunction.
Conclusion:   The simplicity and the predictive validity of the screening test support the use of this test in health check ups or general outpatient facilities.     

Treatment and prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Survival of patients depends on tumor extension and liver function, but yet there is no consensual prognostic model. AIMS: To evaluate the influence on survival of pretreatment parameters (clinico-laboratorial, liver function, tumor extension, Okuda and Cancer of the Liver Italian program (CLIP) staging) and treatment modalities. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 207 patients, diagnosed between 1993 and 2003. The initial treatment was: surgery--six patients; radiofrequency ablation--21; percutaneous ethanol injection--29; transarterial chemoembolization--49; tamoxifen--49; supportive care alone--53. Factors determining survival were assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models. RESULTS: Median survival was 24 months. In univariate analysis, Child-Pugh classification and Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), tumor size, number of lesions, Okuda and CLIP scores were all associated with prognosis (P < 0.001). Alpha-fetoprotein levels were not predictive of survival. Independent predictors of survival were ascites, bilirubin, PVT and therapeutic modalities (P < 0.001). In early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), survival was similar for both percutaneous ablation modalities, either radiofrequency or ethanol injection (P = NS). In advanced HCC, survival was better in patients receiving tamoxifen than supportive care alone (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study reinforces the importance of baseline liver function (Child-Pugh classification and MELD score) in the survival of patients with HCC, although staging systems allowed the stratification of patients in different prognostic groups. Ascites, bilirubin and PVT were independent pretreatment predictors of survival. All treatments influenced the patient's outcome, whether in early or advanced stages.