胎盘组织液氨基酸的含量测定及层析鉴别

本文采用层析法进行鉴定,用氨基酸分析仪测氨基酸的含量,为胎盘组织液的质量标准提供可靠依据。本法准确率为99%。     

磁性附着体用于下颌全口义齿的疗效观察

目的 观察磁性附着体的临床效果。方法 采用Magfit磁性附着体修复11例患者下颌全口义齿。观察固位力及基牙情况。结果 11例患者黏固磁体后固位力明显提高，基牙无松动，牙周指标良好。结论 磁性附着体能满意地解决义齿的固位稳定问题，提高义齿的修复质量。     

Spatial frequency content of the Cardiff and related acuity tests

In the Cardiff acuity test, simple pictures on an otherwise neutral grey card are defined by borders consisting of a relatively broad white band flanked by black bands each half the width of the white band. Higher levels of acuity correspond to the ability to detect figures defined by narrower borders, the figure size remaining constant. It is sometimes implied that the acuity limit corresponding to each card can be equated with different levels of grating resolution, the total width of the border corresponding to the overall grating period. It is shown that although the spatial frequency spectra of the Cardiff figures, like those of other vanishing optotypes, lack very low-frequency components, they have a complex two-dimensional form. The figures have wide spatial bandwidth and no well-defined discrete frequency components. As a result, the relationship between measured Cardiff and grating acuity will vary somewhat, depending upon the particular optical, neural or other deficits of the individual being tested.     

Behavioral models in mice. implication of the alpha noradrenergic system

1. The mechanism of action of drugs might change according to the test used. Several noradrenergic drugs were tested in order to understand their implication in the mobility tests.

2. It was found that clonidine, an Alpha 2 agonist, acted differently according to the tast used. It provoked sedation in spontaneous activity test, and anti-immobility effects in the other tests.

3. Tall suspension test is able to show the double acting of clonidine.

4. Idazoxan might act either as an alpha 2 antagonist or as partial alpha 2 agonist. TST shown the unexpected partial alpha agonist effect of the molecule.

5. Forced swimming test is more specific for predicting antidepressant activity than tail suspension test which is close to a spontaneous activity model.     

Postgraduate qualifications of British doctors

Among British-qualified doctors of 1974 and 1977, about 80% held postgraduate qualifications of some kind. The commonest qualifications were DRCOG, MRCP and MRCOG. There were considerable differences between medical schools in the numbers of qualifiers taking various examinations. Apart from the MRC Psych, DRCOG and Family Planning Certificate, qualifications were more commonly held by men than women. Tables show the type of work being done 9-13 years after leaving medical school by holders of various postgraduate qualifications; e.g. 60% of MRCP holders were working in medicine or a medical specialty and 84% of FRCS holders in general surgery or a surgical specialty. Discussion deals with the plurality, specificity, variability, perceived necessity, sufficiency, international utility and career significance of British postgraduate qualifications.     

Conditional estimation of sensitivity and specificity from a phase 2 biomarker study allowing early termination for futility

Development of a disease screening biomarker involves several phases. In phase 2 its sensitivity and specificity is compared with established thresholds for minimally acceptable performance. Since we anticipate that most candidate markers will not prove to be useful and availability of specimens and funding is limited, early termination of a study is appropriate, if accumulating data indicate that the marker is inadequate. Yet, for markers that complete phase 2, we seek estimates of sensitivity and specificity to proceed with the design of subsequent phase 3 studies. We suggest early stopping criteria and estimation procedures that adjust for bias caused by the early termination option. An important aspect of our approach is to focus on properties of estimates conditional on reaching full study enrollment. We propose the conditional‐UMVUE and contrast it with other estimates, including naïve estimators, the well‐studied unconditional‐UMVUE and the mean and median Whitehead‐adjusted estimators. The conditional‐UMVUE appears to be a very good choice. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of anti-inflammatory activity of Poria cocos in sodium lauryl sulphate-induced irritant contact dermatitis

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of Poria cocos (PoCo) on experimentally induced irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) in a repeated sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) irritation model. METHODS: The anti-irritative effect of PoCo was evaluated with a visual score and quantified by non-invasive bioengineering methods, namely chromametry and transepidermal water loss. Three concentrations of PoCo in base cream DAC (amphiphilic emollient; German pharmacopoeia) were tested in a 4-day repetitive irritation test using SLS. RESULTS: A statistically significant anti-inflammatory activity was observed for PoCo by all three methods when applied in parallel to the induction period of ICD. Application of PoCo after induction of ICD once a day for 5 days, starting just at the end of 4 days, was without any effect. CONCLUSION: An anti-inflammatory efficacy of PoCo on the elicitation phase of the ICD induced by repeated SLS test could be observed and quantified by three independent, non-invasive biophysical assessment parameters. This effect can be explained by its influence on pro-inflammatory enzymes, namely phospholipase A2.     

Effect of female sex hormone supplementation and withdrawal on gastrointestinal and colonic transit in postmenopausal women

Females are disproportionately affected by constipation, which is often aggravated during pregnancy. Bowel function also changes during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The aim was to compare the effects of acute administration of female sex steroids on gastric emptying, small bowel transit and colonic transit in healthy postmenopausal subjects. A second aim was to determine whether withdrawal of the hormones was associated with a change in transit. Forty-nine postmenopausal females were randomized to receive for 7 days 400 mg day(-1) micronized progesterone, 0.2 mg day(-1) oestradiol, combination of the two, or placebo. Treatment groups were balanced on age. Participants underwent whole gut transit measurement by scintigraphy using a 99m-labeled technetium-egg meal and 111-labeled indium-charcoal via a delayed-release capsule. Transit measurement was repeated after withdrawal of the study medications. The primary endpoints were ascending colon (AC) emptying half-life time (t1/2) and colonic geometric centre (GC) at 24 h. Secondary analysis variables were GC at 4 and 48 h, gastric emptying t1/2 and colonic filling at 6 h. There was a significant overall effect of progesterone on colonic transit with shorter AC emptying t1/2 and significantly greater colonic GC at 48 h. No transit endpoints were altered by oestradiol or combined hormonal treatment relative to placebo. Oestradiol and progesterone resulted in looser stool consistency. Withdrawal of the hormone supplement was not associated with significant alteration in transit. Micronized progesterone does not retard colonic transit in postmenopausal females.