Increased incidence of congenital hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency

BACKGROUND: The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is expected to be elevated in iodine-deficient areas. In this study, the authors aimed to determine the incidence of transient and permanent CH in a large city which is known to be in the zone of moderate iodine deficiency. METHODS: Newborn babies in Bursa, Turkey, were screened by measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) obtained by heel prick. The babies who had a serum TSH >20 mIU/L were recalled for measurement of T4 and TSH in venous serum. RESULTS: A total of 11 770 newborns were screened over a period of 9 years. The incidence of CH was found to be 1/840. However, after excluding the transient cases, permanent CH was diagnosed in 1/2354. It was impossible to distinguish transient patients from permanent CH by initial laboratory tests (P > 0.05). The estimated power of the study in determining the incidence of CH in the population was 90% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that the incidence of CH is very high in their population which warrants a country-wide neonatal screening program. Since transient cases cannot be distinguished and untreated transient hypothyroidism may also cause mental retardation, treatment must be started as early as possible with frequent monitoring to optimize the outcome and identify the transient patients.     

国际体力活动问卷中体力活动强度对中老年人糖尿病患病率的影响

目的 采用国际体力活动问卷(IPAQ)评价广州市中老年人体力活动状况对糖尿病患病率的影响.方法 2006年11月至2007年9月从"广州生物库队列研究"第三期招募研究对象中随机选出1996名年龄≥50岁的广州市居民,进行包括详细的生活方式、疾病史等调查,以及身高、体重、腰围、臀围和空腹血糖及葡萄糖耐量等指标的测量和检测.采用IPAQ调查并评价受检者体力活动状况.结果 共1932名(96.8%)受试者接受IPAQ体力活动调查,其中体力活动活跃(60.0%)、充分(中等,29.8%)和不足者(10.2%)糖尿病患病率分别为9.1%、12.0%和14.2%.多因素logistic回归分析,在调整了年龄、性别、肥胖等多种潜在混杂因素之后,相对体力活动不足组,体力活动充分和活跃组患糖尿病的OR值分别为0.75(95%CI:0.46～1.26)和0.60(95%CI:0.38～0.97),趋势分析P=0.03.结论 经常性的适度体力活动有助于降低中老年人糖尿病患病风险.     

Effect of sumac extract on serum oxidative status,RANKL/OPG system and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rats

Objectives

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is widely used spice which has several properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The purpose of this animal study was to evaluate the effects of sumac extract on levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression, serum oxidative status, and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis.

Material and Methods

Twenty-four Wistar rats were separated into three groups: non-ligated (NL, n=8), ligature only (LO, n=8), and ligature and treated with sumac extract (S, n=8) (20 mg/kg per day for 11 days). A 4/0 silk suture was placed around the mandibular right first molars subgingivally; after 11 days, the rats were sacrificed, and alveolar bone loss was histometrically measured. The detection of RANKL and OPG were immunohistochemically performed. Levels of serum total antioxidant status (TAS)/total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were also analyzed.

Results

Alveolar bone loss was significantly greater in the LO group compared to the S and NL groups (p<0.05). The number of inflammatory cell infiltrate (ICI) and osteoclasts in the LO group was significantly higher than that of the NL and S groups (p<0.05). The number of osteoblasts in the LO and S groups was significantly higher than that of the NL group (p<0.05). There were significantly more RANKL-positive cells in the LO group than in the S and NL groups (p<0.05). OPG-positive cells were higher in S group than in LO and NL groups (p<0.05). TOS and OSI levels were significantly reduced in S group compared to LO group (P<0.05) and TAS levels were similar in S and NL group (p>0.05).

Conclusions

The present study showed that systemic administration of sumac extract may reduce alveolar bone loss by affecting RANKL/OPG balance, TOS and OSI levels in periodontal disease in rats.     

Inhibitory effects of aspirin and indometacin on the growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro

OBJECTIVE: The interactions between non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and Helicobacter pylori have not been sufficiently documented to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of aspirin and indometacin on the growth of H. pylori and to determine the effects of aspirin on the susceptibility of H. pylori to some antimicrobials. METHODS: Kinetic studies were performed by inoculating strains of H. pylori in brucella broth with different concentrations of aspirin and indometacin. Growth of bacteria in the broth was assessed spectrophotometrically and by viable colony counts after incubation for 24 and 48 h. Bacterial morphology was determined by Gram stain under light microscopy. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of aspirin and indometacin was determined by the standard agar dilution method. The MIC of amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole was measured in the presence and absence of aspirin by the E‐test method. RESULTS: Kinetic studies revealed that aspirin and indometacin inhibited the growth of H. pylori in a dose‐dependent manner. The bactericidal activity of these agents was expressed by cell lysis. Aspirin at 400 µg/mL produced an almost 2‐log decrease in the number of CFU/mL at 48 h. Similar inhibitory effects were obtained when 100 µg/mL indometacin was tested. The MIC at which 90% of H. pylori was inhibited was 512 µg/mL and 128 µg/mL for aspirin and indometacin, respectively. Increased susceptibility of H. pylori to amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metro­nidazole was found in the presence of aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin and indometacin could significantly inhibit the growth of H. pylori when incubated in brucella broth in vitro. A subinhibitory concentration of aspirin enhanced the susceptibility of H. pylori to some antimicrobial agents.     

"一珠一化合物"组合化学方法筛选抗万古霉素耐药菌活性化合物

目的 寻找新的抗万古霉素耐药菌活性化合物。方法 首次采用固相法合成了分别用生物素（Biotin）和^125I标记的D－Ala-D-Lactate和D－Ala-D-Ala探针化合物以及18个结构限定性的多肽和多肽衍生物化学库,并建立了“一珠一化合物”组合正交筛选实验方法。结果 发现了一个新的体外抑制低水平万古霉素耐药菌的化合物（Enterococcus faecalis,ATCC 51299,MIC值为17.5mg/L）。该化合物对万古霉素敏感菌菌株的抑制活性为MIC6.25mg/L(Staphylococcus aurreus,ATCC 25923）。结论 “一珠一化合物”组合正交筛选方法可以用于研究小分子间的相互作用。     

CT与磁共振成像在儿童人工耳蜗植入术前研究

目的　评价CT与磁共振成像 (magneticresonanceimaging ,MRI)在儿童人工耳蜗植入术前的诊断作用 ,以及对手术选择的影响。方法　 71例 ( 142耳 )双耳重度耳聋、拟行人工耳蜗植入的患儿进行术前CT与MRI检查。结果　CT与MRI均发现 ,12例 ( 2 2耳 )患者有前庭水管扩大 ( 15 5 % ) ;14例 ( 2 5耳 )患儿有Mondini畸形 ( 17 6% ) ;3例 ( 5耳 )患儿有内耳道扩大 ( 3 5 % ) ;2例 ( 4耳 )患者有可疑内耳道底骨质缺损 ( 2 8% )。MRI发现有 5例 ( 5耳 )患者单侧耳蜗纤维化 ( 3 5 % ) ,而CT未见异常。1例 ( 2耳 )患儿的CT显示面神经裸露 ( 1 4% ) ,MRI正常。结论　人工耳蜗植入术前应该进行CT与MRI检查。对于发现前庭水管综合征、Mondini畸形、内耳道扩张及内耳道底骨质缺损有重要意义。这二种影像学检查结果可以相互补充诊断耳蜗纤维化与面神经裸露。对手术适应证的选择以及保证手术正常进行有重要意义     

THE EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTAL DIVISION OF THE VASCULAR PEDICLE OF A TRANSPOSED SUBCUTANEOUS ILEAL LOOP

The effects of immediate division of the neurovascular pedicles of ileal loops implanted in the subcutaneous tissues for four weeks were studied In eight mongrel dogs. The structural and functional changes were studied by examining sections under light and electron microscopy and by comparing D-xylose absorption and motility patterns. Arteriograms were done to show the new subcutaneous collaterals supplying the loops. Of the eight dogs, four had loops showing normal histological appearances and D-xylose absorptive functions after division of the pedicles. In the remaining four dogs, the loops showed evidence of pseudomembranous changes in some areas, resulting in patching necrosis possibly due to inadequate collaterals. The absorption of D-xylose was impaired in these dogs. Perhaps a longer period of transposition and a gradual division of the vascular pedicle would improve the results. The motility pattern did not change after division of the pedicle, though the response to intravenous carbachol was significantly delayed.