Dishonesty in scientific research

Fraudulent business practices, such as those leading to the Enron scandal and the conviction of Bernard Madoff, evoke a strong sense of public outrage. But fraudulent or dishonest actions are not exclusive to the realm of big corporations or to evil individuals without consciences. Dishonest actions are all too prevalent in everyone’s daily lives, because people are constantly encountering situations in which they can gain advantages by cutting corners. Whether it’s adding a few dollars in value to the stolen items reported on an insurance claim form or dropping outlier data points from a figure to make a paper sound more interesting, dishonesty is part of the human condition. Here, we explore how people rationalize dishonesty, the implications for scientific research, and what can be done to foster a culture of research integrity.     

骨碎补化学成分和生物活性研究进展＊

骨碎补是历代临床常用中药，具有疗伤止痛、补肾强骨、消风祛斑等功效。其主要含黄酮、苯丙素、三萜、酚酸及其苷等类化学成分，现代研究表明骨碎补具有抗骨质疏松、促进骨折愈合、促软骨再生、护牙健齿、保护肾功能、抗炎、防治中毒性耳聋、降血脂等多种生物活性，开发前景广阔。本文对近年来骨碎补的化学成分、药理作用及临床应用研究进行综述，以期为骨碎补的进一步深入系统的研究和开发利用提供依据。     

Assessment of sodium and potassium intakes

The sodium, potassium and creatinine contents of three non-consecutive 24-h urine samples collected by 34 selected adult individuals (10 m; 24 f) living in Cork City were determined. The pooled mean 24-h excretion of sodium and potassium in collections adjudged to be complete were 152 mmol and 78 mmol, respectively. There was no significant difference between group average weekday and weekend-day excretion of Na or K, for either males or females. This suggests that weekend 24-h urinary collections, which most subjects find more convenient, are suitable for studies of sodium and potassium intakes of groups. The ratios of intra- to inter-individual variation for 24-h urinary sodium were 1.4 and 2.1 for males and females, respectively. The corresponding ratios for 24-h urinary potassium were 6.6 for males and 4.9 for females. These ratios indicated that there were large individual day-to-day variations in urinary sodium and potassium excretion in this group. It was estimated that a sample size of 35-60 individuals would be required to estimate group mean sodium and potassium intakes by means of single 24-h urine collections.     

成人成骨细胞与珊瑚羟基磷灰石的体外生物相容性

目的：研究成人骨髓成骨细胞与珊瑚羟基磷灰石（carolline hydroxyapatite,CHA)在体外培养条件下的生物相容性。方法：抽取健康成人骨髓组织，置于含体积分数为10％胎牛血清的DMEM培养基中培养，传代后改用含地塞米松、β-甘油磷酸钠和维生素C的条件培养基培养，分为CHA复合细胞组和单纯细胞组，不同时间用倒置相关显微镜，HE染色光镜及扫描电镜观察，MTT法进行细胞增殖测定，并进行细胞微量蛋白含量和碱性磷酸酶的定量检测，结果：成人骨髓成骨细胞体外培养时复合或不复合CHA均生长良好，表现出典型成骨细胞的形态特征和生物学特性，CHA利于细胞的贴附，生长与增殖，并对细胞的功能无不良影响，结论：CHA是较理想的骨组织工程支架材料，成骨细胞复合CHA用于骨缺损的修复，具有广阔的临床应用前景。     

屈颈MRI对青年性上肢远端肌萎缩症的诊断价值

目的评价屈颈MRI对青年性上肢远端肌萎缩症的诊断价值。方法男性患者5例，平均年龄21岁，临床表现为一侧或两侧上肢远端肌萎缩。对照组为健康志愿者，21岁男性8例。2组均行常规及屈颈颈椎MR平扫，矢状、轴面SET1WI、T2WI、液体衰减反转恢复（FLAIR）序列扫描。结果常规颈椎扫描：5例患者下段颈髓变细；屈颈位MR扫描：下颈段颈6以下脊髓前屈、变扁平，矢状径4～6mm，硬膜囊后壁前移，硬膜后间隙明显增宽，可见多发条状、迂曲流空信号影及软组织信号。对照组：常规扫描，下颈段脊髓（颈6～胸2）可见颈膨大，屈颈位脊髓略变细（6～7mm），硬膜囊后壁无前移，硬膜后间隙未见扩张血管影。结论屈颈MRI有助于显示下颈段脊髓及硬膜囊改变，结合临床资料可准确诊断青年性上肢远端肌萎缩症。     

Computerized tomography and Trotter's syndrome in the diagnosis of maxillofacial pain

Trotter's syndrome is a clinical triad of unilateral deafness, neuralgia affecting branches of the trigeminal nerve, and defective mobility of the soft palate, which is caused by malignant tumors involving the lateral pharyngeal recess (Rosenmüller's fossa). It is an ominous presentation, which can masquerade as dental or masticatory pain. Computerized tomography (CT) can be used not only to explain the anatomic basis of Trotter's syndrome but also to determine the extent and distribution of the malignant tumor involved. The advantages of CT over conventional radiography are illustrated by a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma that presented as Trotter's syndrome. Perineural invasion by tumor is shown on the gross level for the first time with CT, and important diagnostic considerations, which may aid in the early diagnosis of future cases, are discussed.