Uncooked rice of relatively low gelatinization degree resulted in lower metabolic glucose and insulin responses compared with cooked rice in female college students

Cooking processes that gelatinize granules or disrupt structure might increase the glucose and insulin responses because a disruption of the structure of starch by gelatinization increases its availability for digestion and absorption in the small intestine. We hypothesized that the uncooked form of rice, which has a relatively low degree of gelatinization even though in powder form, would result in lower metabolic glucose and insulin responses compared with cooked rice (CR). To assess the effects of the gelatinization of rice on metabolic response of glucose and insulin, we investigated the glucose and insulin responses to 3 rice meals of different gelatinization degree in female college students (n = 12): CR (76.9% gelatinized), uncooked rice powder (UP; 3.5% gelatinized), and uncooked freeze-dried rice powder (UFP; 5.4% gelatinized). Uncooked rice powders (UP and UFP) induced lower glucose and insulin responses compared with CR. The relatively low gelatinization degree of UPs resulted in low metabolic responses in terms of the glycemic index (CR: 72.4% vs UP: 49.7%, UFP: 59.8%) and insulin index (CR: 94.8% vs UP: 74.4%, UFP: 68.0%). In summary, UPs that were less gelatinized than CR induced low postprandial glucose and insulin responses.     

当归对衰老小鼠脑组织细胞凋亡及胸腺指数的影响

目的：研究当归的抗衰老作用及作用机制。方法：用D—半乳糖诱导小鼠制成衰老模型，同时给予不同剂量的当归水煎剂，观察当归对脑组织细胞凋亡及胸腺指数的影响。结果：当归能明显抑制小鼠脑组织细胞凋亡，提高胸腺指数。结论：当归具有抗衰老作用。     

老年人根管治疗疗效的相关因素

目的:研究老年人根管治疗疗效及其影响因素.方法:对56例65岁以上老年人,根管治疗后2年以上的126颗牙齿进行检查,按治疗后年限分3组:2～3年组,4～5年组,6年以上组.应用根尖周指数(Periodicalindex)评定X线片和综合临床检查,对其治疗进行评价.结果:老年人根管治疗成功率为72.2%;三组间根管治疗成功率差异无显著性.恰填根管治疗的成功率(82.2%)比欠填和超填的成功率(47.2%)要高;恰填病例中,冠方修复体质量好的患牙比质量差的患牙根尖周炎发病率低(25.7%和58.4%);去除欠填和超填病例后,桩冠修复患牙的根管治疗成功率为58.8%,而未做桩冠修复的患牙成功率为87.5%.结论:根充质量、冠方修复体质量、桩冠修复是影响老年人根管治疗疗效的主要因素.     

The effects of a 0.12% chlorhexidine-digluconate-containing mouthrinse versus a placebo on plaque and gingival inflammation over a 3-month period

Abstract Several previous studies have evaluated the effects of 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (ChD) mouthrinses on plaque and gingival inflammation. However, previously, none have been based in general dental practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential to conduct controlled periodontal clinical trials in co-operation with general dental practitioners (gdps). The project took place in 5 general dental practices in the South of England. 121 healthy subjects (24 at 4 sites and 25 at the 5th). aged 18-65 years, mean 35 ± 12) years participated in a double-blind, randomised study during which they received full mouth assessments for plaque and gingival bleeding at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. 60 subjects were randomly asigned to use the 0.12% ChD mouth wash and 6i the placebo. The assessments were carried out by 5 gpds, who had previously achieved inter-examiner κ scores of 0.78–0.85 (mean 0.81) for the plaque index (PlI), and of 0.73–0.94 (mean 0.87) for a modified gingival index (mGI), and who maintained κ scores of 0.51–0.90 for PII and of 0.73–1.00 for mGI during the 12 months required to complete the study. 98 subjects (48 ChD and 50 placebo) completed the study. Even though the baseline levels of plaque and gingivitis were low, by week 12, mean whole mouth piaque score of the ChD mouthwash users had fallen from 1.33 at baseline to 0.96 and was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than for the placebo users, 1.31 at baseline to 1.13. Whole-mouth gingival bleeding score fell from 0.56 to 0.42 in the ChD mouthwash group but was unchanged (0.54–0.55) in the placebo group. A subsidiary data analysis which considered the effects at sites indicated that within these overall differences, the ChD users experienced almost 2× the reduction from plaque score 2 at baseline at proximal molar sites over a 12-week period (50.6% ChD versus 27.6% placebo). It was concluded that 0.12% ChD mouthwash reduced plaque accumulation fay 28% and gingival inflammation by 25% over a 12–week period, that it is feasible for a group of gdps to maintain high levels of inter–examiner consistency in the use of PlI and mGI, that it is also feasible to carry out such a multicentre study in general dental practice, and that the use of mean mouth scores per subject to analyse the effects of mouthrinses may well mask variations in response throughout the mouth.     

Quality and standardization in blood component preparation with an automated blood processing technique

The use of automated blood processors in combination with bottom and top blood containers has been found to improve the standardization and quality of blood components. A study was performed to validate a new type of processor (Optipress® II) and compare its performance with a first generation processor (Optipress® I).
Primary separation on the Optipress II was investigated on 570 mL (± 10%) of anticoagulated blood in a nonpaired study. In addition, the quality of the products in routine production was compared between the results of the Optipress I and Optipress II. The whole blood units were kept overnight at room temperature (20 ± 2 °C). Separation was performed under conditions to obtain 55 mL buffy coats with a 50% haematocrit (ht). Platelet concentrate preparation was investigated in a paired study and compared to the routine manual method using PAS II additive solution. Parameters studied were volume, red cell, white cell and platelet counts, ht, haemoglobin (hb, total and free).
Primary separation was more efficient in the Optipress II because the platelet count was lower in the erythrocyte concentrates ( P  < 0.0001), platelets were lower in plasma ( P  < 0.0001) and platelet counts were higher in buffy coats ( P  < 0.0001). Buffy coat volume showed less variation (Optipress II VC = 4%, Optipress I VC = 7.4%). Secondary separation did not show differences between the Optipress II and manual method but was advantageous because of the automatic termination of the procedure.
Further improvement of standardization in blood component preparation is possible with an automated blood processor, leading to improvement of the quality of blood products for patient care.     

The Lewis blood group--a new genetic marker of ischaemic heart disease.

In a cohort of 3383 men aged 53 to 74 in the Copenhagen Male Study we investigated the association between ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and the Lewis blood group, assigned to chromosome 19. Among men with the Le(a-b-) phenotype, 8% had a history of non-fatal myocardial infarction, among others the frequency was 4%. The corresponding odds ratio was (95% confidence interval: CI) 1.9 (1.2-3.0) P < 0.01, men with Le(a-b-) had a risk-factor profile and pattern of disease resembling that of Reaven's syndrome X. In a subsequent prospective study 343 men with arteriosclerotic stigmas were excluded. The men had their morbidity and mortality recorded over the next 4 years. One-hundred-and-one men suffered IHD; 26 dying from IHD. In total 162 men died. Men with Le(a-b-) had an increased risk of death from IHD compared with others. Adjusted for age, relative risk (RR) (95% CI) was: 4.4 (1.9-10.3), P < 0.001, and for all causes of mortality: RR = 1.6 (1.0-2.6), P < 0.05. Men with the Le(a-b-) phenotype had an increased risk of an IHD event compared to men with other phenotypes (RR = 1.6 (0.9-2.8), P = 0.10) and a significantly higher IHD case fatality rate (RR = 2.8 (1.5-5.2), P = 0.01). The finding that the Le(a-b-) phenotype is a genetic marker of IHD risk may have implications in terms of prevention. The Le(a-b-) phenotype may also contribute to providing an explanation for the substantial ethnic differences found in the incidence of IHD. The similar risk-factor profile and pattern of disease found between Le(a-b-) men and individuals with Reaven's syndrome X is hypothesized to be due to a close genetic relationship on chromosome 19.     

Renal vascular resistance in normal children – a color Doppler study

To investigate the relationship between age and renal vascular resistance and to establish nomative data of the systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D ratio), pulsatility index (PI), and resistant index (RI) of the renal artery in the normal pediatric population, we studied 252 normal children aged newborn to 13 years (a total of 449 kidneys) with a color Doppler unit. After the normality of the kidney was established, color flow mapping was performed to localize the segmental portion of the renal artery. Flow velocity waveforms were then obtained by pulsed Doppler, and S/D ratio, PI, and RI were calculated. Multiple regression analysis confirmed the age dependence of the S/D ratio, PI, and RI of the renal artery in normal children. Renal vascular resistance continuously declines after birth and stabilizes at the age of 102 – 130 months. Normative data for S/D ratio, PI, and RI of the renal artery in normal children were established for each age group. Since renal vascular resistance decreases with age and stabilizes at 8 – 10 years, we suggest using different normal ranges for each age group when studying renal vascular resistance in pediatric patients. Received October 5, 1995; received in revised form and accepted April 24, 1996     

胫骨延长后骨痂直径与新生骨预后关系的临床分析

目的探讨胫骨延长后骨痂直径与新生骨预后的关系.方法 1996年1月～2001年12月,对68例胫骨延长者测量达所需延长长度时的骨痂直径,计算骨痂直径率(callus diameter ratios,CDR);统计拆除外固定架后2～4周时新生骨发生骨折例数及畸形角度,比较骨折和成角畸形与CDR的关系.结果拆除外固定架前胫骨前屈角度5度以上畸形19例,其中11例发生骨折;拆除外固定架后胫骨出现5度以上畸形6例,其中2例骨折;其余43例胫骨延长骨痂正常愈合.计算CDR值:CDR值小于80% 23例,其中发生新生骨骨折13例,成角畸形5度以上者21例;CDR在81%～85%之间6例,成角畸形5度以上4例;CDR值超过86% 39例,无畸形或新生骨骨折.结论胫骨延长时CDR小于80%时,容易发生新生骨骨折和畸形;CDR大于85%时,无新生骨骨折和畸形发生;两组间具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).CDR是判断骨痂能否正常愈合较为理想的检测指标.     

Minimizing macrovessel signal in cerebral perfusion imaging using independent component analysis.

The pronounced susceptibility effect of macrovessels in MR bolus-tracking studies induces spots of artificially high blood flow and volume in perfusion parameter images. These high-intensity regions impede the detection of perfusion changes and lead to elevated perfusion parameters in adjacent tissues. The purpose of this work was to explore postprocessing methods to reduce the influence of macrovessel signal in dynamic MRI. After data reduction was performed with the use of a principal component analysis (PCA), an independent component analysis (ICA) was applied to separate signal components of different compartments. Based on this decomposition, the dynamic time series were reconstructed with minimized contributions of macrovessel signal and noise. The influence of the temporal resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the source data were investigated by means of a simulation study. A region-of-interest (ROI)-based analysis of corrected and uncorrected in vivo data demonstrated that the influence of arteries and veins was reduced at least by 50%, while gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) tissues were nearly unaffected by the correction process. Hemodynamic parameter images of the cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) were calculated from corrected and uncorrected scans. The corrected parameter images showed a clearly reduced macrovessel signal and an improved perceptibility of microvascular perfusion changes compared to the uncorrected ones.     

Assessment of long-term quality of life after laparoscopic and open surgery for Crohn''s disease

OBJECTIVE: Surgery for Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with a high recurrence rate and quality of life (QOL) in these patients is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess QOL in patients after laparoscopic and open surgery for CD by two different validated instruments, a generic nonspecific score and a specific gastrointestinal QOL index. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with CD who underwent elective laparoscopic or open ileocaecal resection with primary anastomosis between 1992 and 2000 were followed for recurrence and surgery-related complications. QOL was assessed by the SF-36 Health Survey containing a mental (MCS) and a physical (PCS) component summary score and by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) developed by Eypasch. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients with a mean age of 48.8 +/- 18.4 years including 23 females and 14 males were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 42.6 +/-25.8 months (minimum of 8 months). Twenty-one (57%) patients underwent laparoscopic resection and 16 (43%) open surgery. Both groups were well matched for age, gender, ASA class and body mass index. Fourteen (38%) patients developed recurrent disease and 3 (8%) had postoperative incisional hernias. Overall, QOL scores were 103 +/- 26.8 for the GIQLI, 47.2 +/- 11.8 for the PCS, and 49.2 +/- 11.5 for the MCS. The GIQLI correlated well with the SF36, correlation coefficient = 0.68 for GIQLI vs PCS (95% CI, 0.41,0.95) and 0.67 for GIQLI vs MCS (95%CI, 0.39, 0.95), respectively. When compared to the general US population, mean GIQLI scores (-13.8, P = 0.002) and mean PCS scores (-4.7, P = 0.001) were significantly lower in these patients than in healthy individuals. In a multivariate analysis of impact factors on QOL, recurrence within the follow-up period was the single significant determinant reducing the PCS (-35.1, P = 0.026) and the GIQLI (-36.1, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: QOL is significantly reduced in patients with CD at long-term follow-up after both laparoscopic and open surgery. Recurrence is the only factor adversely affecting QOL of CD patients in remission irrespective of the operative technique applied.