Angiogenic and lymphangiogenic microvessel density in breast carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathologic parameters and VEGF-family gene expression.

Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are essential for breast cancer progression and are regulated by vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). To determine clinical and molecular correlates of these processes, we measured blood and lymphatic vascular microvessel density in 29 invasive carcinomas (22 ductal, six lobular, one papillary), using the vascular marker CD31 and the novel lymphatic marker D2-40. Microvessel density was assessed microscopically and by image cytometry, and was compared with tumor histology, grade, stage, lymph node metastasis, hormone receptors, HER2/neu status, and expression of VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGF-D by immunohistochemistry or quantitative RT-PCR. Strong correlation was observed between visual and image cytometric microvessel density using D2-40 but not CD31 (P=0.016 and 0.1521, respectively). Image cytometric CD31 microvessel density correlated with tumor size, grade, stage and lymph node metastasis (P=0.0001, 0.0107, 0.0035 and 0.0395, respectively). D2-40 microvessel density correlated with tumor stage (P=0.0123 by image cytometry) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.0558 by microscopy). Immunohistochemical VEGF signal in peritumoral blood vessels correlated with image cytometric CD31 and D2-40 microvessel density (P=0.022 and 0.0012, respectively), consistent with the role of VEGF in blood and lymphatic vascular growth. Intratumoral VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression by quantitative RT-PCR correlated with D2-40 (P=0.0291 by image cytometry) but not with CD31 microvessel density, which could suggest a selective role of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in lymphangiogenesis. CD31 and D2-40 microvessel density correlated significantly with several prognostic factors, including lymph node metastasis. Thus, measurements of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis may have utility for breast cancer pathology, particularly for estimation of metastatic risk.     

Overweight, obesity, and their associations with insulin resistance and β-cell function among Chinese: a cross-sectional study in China

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of body mass index (BMI) with insulin resistance and β-cell function in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Fujian province by multistratified sampling from July 2007 to May 2008. The sample consisted of 2931 subjects aged from 20 to 79 years. The questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were obtained from all the participants. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was used to estimate insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion was assessed using the HOMA-β index, and β-cell function was quantified as the ratio of the incremental insulin to glucose responses over the first 30 minutes during the oral glucose tolerance test (ΔI30/ΔG30). Another measure was adjusted for insulin sensitivity as it modulates β-cell function ([ΔI30/ΔG30]/HOMA-IR). Associations of BMI with morbidities were estimated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Relationships of BMI to insulin resistance and β-cell function were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis and analysis of covariance. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of overweight and obesity was 23.04% (27.44% in men and 18.40% in women) and 2.65% (2.75% in men and 2.55% in women), respectively. After adjustment for covariables, BMI was independently associated with morbidity conditions; and there were increasing trend for odds ratios of morbidities across the BMI categories. There were independent differences for HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, and ΔI30/ΔG30 between the normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups except for (ΔI30/ΔG30)/HOMA-IR. Body mass index was significantly and independently associated with HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, and ΔI30/ΔG30 in the multiple linear regression analysis. Body mass index was an independent risk factor for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, as well as the indexes of insulin resistance and β-cell function. It is imperative that the whole society pay more attention to the identification and intervention of overweight and obesity to prevent obesity-related diseases at the very early stage.     

Mechanism of hydrogen peroxide-induced cell cycle arrest in vascular smooth muscle

Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) can positively and negatively modulate vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth. To investigate these paradoxical effects of H(2)O(2), we examined its effect on apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and cell cycle proteins. High concentrations of H(2)O(2) (500 microM to 1 mM) induced apoptosis, whereas moderate concentrations (100 microM) caused cell cycle arrest in G1. H(2)O(2) (100 microM) blocked serum-stimulated cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK2) activity, but not CDK4 activity, suggesting that cell cycle arrest occurred in part by inhibiting CDK2 activity. The serum-induced increase in cyclin A mRNA was also completely suppressed by H(2)O(2), whereas cyclin D1 mRNA was not affected. In addition, H(2)O(2) caused a dramatic increase in expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 mRNA (9.67 +/- 0.94-fold at 2 h) and protein (8.75 +/- 0.08-fold at 8 h), but no change in p27 protein. Finally, H(2)O(2 )transiently increased p53 protein levels (3.16 +/- 1.2-fold at 2 h). Thus, whereas high levels of H(2)O(2) induce apoptosis, moderate concentrations of H(2)O(2) coordinate a set of molecular events leading to arrest of VSMCs at the G1/S checkpoint of the cell cycle. These results provide insight into the mechanisms underlying positive and negative regulation of VSMC growth by H(2)O(2) in vascular disease.     

海南省琼中县中小学学生血红蛋白的检测结果分析

目的了解海南省琼中县中小学学生贫血现状,为政府相关部门对相应人群的贫血防治及营养健康改善的决策提供实验依据。方法采用分层整群随机抽样方法,在琼中县小学和初中各2所学校中,每个年级抽取一个班的学生为研究对象,采用氰化高铁法现场检测血红蛋白含量。结果共检测558名学生,贫血检出率为8.1%(45/558),其中男、女生贫血检出率分别为6.2%(17/274)和9.9%(28/284),差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);小学生贫血率为6.1%(22/360),显著低于初中生的11.6%(23/198),两个教育阶段的学生贫血率相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论海南省琼中县中小学学生贫血水平较低,但贫血问题仍有待改善,且该县贫血防治工作重点人群应为初中学生。     

缺血修饰清蛋白自动化检测方法的建立与应用

目的：建立缺血修饰清蛋白（ischemia modified albumin，IMA）自动化检测方法，并应用于原发性癫痫病、急性冠脉综合征（acute coronary syndromes．ACS）患者，探讨癫痫病IMA水平和并发症发生的可能机理。方法：利用清蛋白结合重金属钴的能力随IMA增加而下降的特性，以游离钴显色率方式合理设置自动化参数，连续监测反应体系中游离钴，并和手工清蛋白结合钴（albumin cobalt binding，ACB）实验报告吸光度单位（absorbance units，ABSU）进行比较。结果：建立的IMA自动化检测．在游离钻显色率为100（ABSU：0．6349）内线性良好（回归方程：y=0．9552x-0．0134,r=0．9674，P〈0．01），最低生物检测限为10（ABSU：0，0635）．批内及批间CV分别为0．85％和6．7％，在TG〈4．74mmol／L、Hb〈15g／L时对结果无影响。正常人IMA95％参考上限为59．35（ABSU：0．3768），ROC曲线分析所得最适cutoff值为58．8（ABsu：0．373），曲线下面积0．956，在cutoff值为58．8（ABsU：0．373）时敏感性和特异性分别为90．1％和85．9％。结论：建立的IMA自动化检测，其灵敏度、重复性、线性范围、抗干扰性均优于手工ACB实验；初步应用显示，IMA不仅是评价急性心肌缺血非常有价值的生化指标，有可能提示癫痫病的近期发作情况，对于原发性癫痫病并发症的早期监测和预防，具有十分重要的意义。     

体态语言识别系统对与急诊ICU机械通气患者沟通的效果

探讨体态语言识别系统对与急诊ICU机械通气患者沟通的效果,以提高急诊ICU的护理质量与工作效率。采用随机抽样法选取我院急诊ICU收治的330例患者作为本组研究的观察对象,随机将其分为对照组与观察组,各165例。对照组给予常规护理,观察组在常规护理的基础上应用体态语言识别系统,采用简易精神状况评定量表对护理后2组的认知功能状态进行评估,并采用自制量表评估患者与护理人员对体态语言识别系统满意度。(1)经体态语言识别系统护理干预后,观察组中大学及以上53例,中学74例,小学22例,文盲16例;对照组中大学及以上28例,中学55例,小学42例,文盲30例;观察组显著优于对照组（P＜0.05）。(2)护理后,观察组中非常满意93例,较满意60例,不满意12例,总满意率为92.73%;对照组中非常满意53例,较满意85例,不满意27例,总满意率为83.64%。观察组显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。(3)观察组12例护理人员中,对体态语言识别系统非常满意8例,较满意4例,总满意率为100%。在急诊ICU机械通气患者护理工作中应用体态语言识别系统,可以有效提高护患沟通效果,提高护理质量与工作效率,提高患者与护理人员的满意度,值得在临床护理工作中推广应用。