Hypoxia effects on vascular endothelial growth factor derived epithelial cells of nasal polyps]

OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of nasal mucous epithelial cells to hypoxia in early stage of nasal polyps(NP) formation. METHODS: Epithelial cells of NP and inferior turbinate (IT) were cultured without serum under normal oxygen and hypoxia, and stimulus of inflammatory cytokines. Erythropoietin (EPO) was regarded as hypoxia mark, and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA and protein derived from epithelial cells were detected respectively by in situ hybridization and ELISA. RESULTS: 1. Under hypoxia, EPO mRNA was expressed intensely in epithelial cells from NP and IT, and there was no significant difference between both of them. This result suggested that EPO might be regarded as a hypoxic mark. 2. The ability of producing VEGF mRNA increased with cytokines stimulation, especially under hypoxia. Protein level of VEGF from epithelial cells of NP and IT increased with cytokines stimulation, especially in hypoxia and was time-dependent. CONCLUSION: Epithelial cells actively produce vast VEGF under hypoxia. The VEGF induced by hypoxia of the mucosa in middle meatus is of importance in the formation of nasal polyps(NP) in early stage, which may be the major cause of NP formation in middle meatus.     

医院信息系统设计中的安全分析与建模

本文深入到当前的医院信息系统内部,揭示出这些系统中令人不安的却又极其重要的安全问题.通过比较与分析现实中的两个案例,我们逐步构建起有自身特色的可信赖的安全模型并演示了非常具体的实现过程,从而使医院信息系统可以在当今复杂的网络环境中得以生存.     

Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

Molecular determinants of cetuximab efficacy.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether mRNA expression levels of cyclin D1 (CCND1), cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), all members of the EGFR signaling pathway, are associated with clinical outcome in patients with EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with cetuximab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with metastatic CRC, refractory to both irinotecan and oxaliplatin, were enrolled on IMCL-0144 and treated with single-agent cetuximab. The intratumoral mRNA levels of CCND1, Cox-2, EGFR, IL-8, and VEGF were assessed from paraffin-embedded tissue samples using laser-capture microdissection and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There were 21 women and 18 men with a median age of 64 years (range, 35 to 83 years). Higher gene expression levels of VEGF were associated with resistance to cetuximab (P = .038; Kruskal-Wallis test). The combination of low gene expression levels of Cox-2, EGFR, and IL-8 was significantly associated with overall survival (13.5 v 2.3 months; P = .028; log-rank test). Both findings were independent of skin toxicity that was itself significantly correlated to survival. Patients with a lower mRNA amount of EGFR had a longer overall survival compared with patients that had a higher mRNA amount (7.3 v 2.2 months; P = .09; log-rank test). Patients with lower expression of Cox-2 had a significantly higher rate of grade 2 to 3 skin reactions under cetuximab treatment. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that gene expression levels of Cox-2, EGFR, IL-8, and VEGF in patients with metastatic CRC may be useful markers of clinical outcome in single-agent cetuximab treatment.     

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.     

王成荣治疗子宫内膜异位症“火热致瘀”理论探讨

王成荣研究员长于以中医药诊治子宫内膜异位症（EMT），根据其临床经验认为“火热致瘀”是EMT的基本病因、病机，且火热与瘀血互为因果、恶性循环，致使EMT病程缠绵不愈、反复复发。王老据此提出“清热解毒、化瘀散结”的治疗法则，为治疗EMT开辟了另一思路和理论。     

HPLC法测定滑膜炎颗粒中原儿茶醛的含量

目的建立滑膜炎颗粒剂中原儿茶醛的含量测定方法质量。方法采用高效液相色谱法对方中原儿茶醛进行含量测定。结果高效液相色谱法测定结果表明原儿茶醛在0．1005～1．005μg范围内呈线性关系，平均加样回收率为99．22％；RSD为0．72％。结论本法简便，重现性好、结果可靠，可作为控制滑膜炎颗粒剂的质量方法。     

Mesenteric vein thrombosis associated with primary cytomegalovirus infection: a case report.

In the past few years several studies have supported an interplay between cytomegalovirus infections and a prothrombotic state. We describe a case of primary cytomegalovirus infection in an immunocompetent adult that was complicated with mesenteric vein thrombosis. Transient protein C deficiency, lupus anticoagulant and activated protein C resistance were found, in combination with a heterozygous prothrombin G20210A mutation. We discuss the possible mechanisms of cytomegalovirus-related venous thrombosis.