Is there a ‘Basque’ profile regarding autosomal recessive deficiencies of coagulation factors?*

When excluding haemophilia and von Willebrand disease, coagulation factors deficiencies constitute rare autosomal recessive disorders (<1 in 500,000) of less precisely defined epidemiology. We have reported herein the distribution of these entities in the French Basque Country, a genetic isolate of very old individualization with peculiar biological specificities. The prevalence of these disorders was markedly high, especially, as already shown, factor XI deficiency. This unusual profile needs to be discussed in the view of population genetics.     

Impaired early bone formation in periodontal fenestration defects in dogs following application of insulin-like growth factor (II). Basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor beta 1

Abstract. Effects of a topically applied growth factor combination on fibroblast migration, collagen fiber formation and bone regeneration were studied in standardized periodontal defects in 4 beagle dogs. Following elevation of facial mucoperiosteal flaps, fenestration defects, 3 mm in diameter, were made through the cortical bone and into the dentin of maxillary and mandibular teeth. Collagen sponges, impregnated with 200 ng insulin-like growth factor II, 20 ng basic fibroblast growth factor and 6 ng transforming growth factor beta 1 were fitted to defects randomly in right or left quadrants and the flaps repositioned and sutured. Contralateral control defects received the collagen with vehicle only. Experimental procedures were staggered to allow observations of healing 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after surgery. Histometric analysis showed no differences in fibroblast and collagen density between control and growth factor defects. Bone regeneration was significantly greater in control than in growth factor defects 10 and 14 days after surgery. The rate of healing generally appeared more affected by intra-dog variations or procedural variations than by the growth factor combination.     

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.     

产后4个月内未能坚持纯母乳喂养的因素分析

通过239对母婴产后4个月的跟踪随访发现,在130位母亲未能自始至终坚持纯母乳喂养的因素中,最主要的是自觉奶量不够或者因孩子哭吵、怕孩子吃不饱而添加辅助液体或食品,其次是按旧习惯从出生后3个月起添加米糊类食品,以及医务人员的错误指导和母亲上班等。纯母乳喂养的关键在于必须排除一切干扰,增强母亲的信心。因此,尽快转变旧观念,大力宣传出生后4～6个月纯母乳喂养的重要性,普及泌乳生理知识和哺乳中常见问题的处理方法,加强随访工作,是提高4个月内纯母乳喂养率的重要措施。     

Sustained low-grade pro-inflammatory state in unmedicated, remitted women with major depressive disorder as evidenced by elevated serum levels of the acute phase proteins C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) shows increased coronary artery disease (CAD) risk of unknown mechanism(s). MDD is more common in women than men; CAD diagnosis can be difficult in women. Elevations of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) predict increased CAD risk in populations; few data on these markers exist in MDD, particularly in remitted patients. METHODS: We measured fasting am serum CRP (high sensitivity, CRP(hs)) and SAA in 18 unmedicated, remitted women with MDD (mean age 41 +/- (SD)12, body mass index (BMI) 25.2 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2)) and 18 BMI-matched healthy control subjects (age 36 +/- 10, BMI 25.3 +/- 3.8 kg/m(2)) on 2 separate occasions, > or = 6 days apart. RESULTS: Repeat SAA and CRP(hs) measurements strongly correlated across study days (SAA: r = .83, p < .001; CRP(hs): r = .94, p < .001). Both SAA (5.30 +/- 3.39 vs. 2.84 +/- 1.87 mg/L, p < .005) and CRP(hs) (3.23 +/- 3.17 vs. 1.12 +/- 1.45 mg/L; p < .01) were significantly elevated in MDD women versus controls. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated SAA and CRP(hs) in remitted, unmedicated women with MDD indicate a pro-inflammatory state unrelated to current depressive symptoms or pharmacotherapy. These findings suggest that inflammatory mechanisms may in part underlie findings of increased CAD risk in MDD.     

活血化瘀中药联合血管内皮生长因子基因转移促进股骨头坏死处新生血管形成的实验研究

目的:观察活血化瘀中药联合血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)基因转移对促进股骨头缺血坏死处新生血管形成情况。方法:日本大耳兔40只,随机分为对照组、模型组、中药组、基因组和综合组。治疗8周后采用免疫组织化学方法观察股骨头滑膜VEGF阳性细胞率及数字减影血管造影股骨头血管数目改变情况。结果:模型组VEGF阳性细胞表达率减低,与对照组、基因组、综合组比较,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01),与中药组比较,有统计学差异(P<0.05),综合组VEGF阳性细胞表达率较高,与中药组及基因组比较,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。血管数目:在A区,各组与模型组比较,均无统计学差异;在B区,各组较模型组血管数目均有增加,对照组、基因组、综合组与模型组比较,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。综合组与基因组比较有统计学差异(P<0.05),中药组虽然血管数目较模型组多,但是无统计学意义。结论:活血化瘀中药及VEGF基因转移均可促进股骨头缺血坏死处局部新生血管形成和侧支循环的建立,尤以活血化瘀中药联合基因疗法效果为好,为临床应用活血化瘀中药联合基因疗法治疗股骨头缺血性坏死提供实验依据。