胃癌组织中KAI1、nm23及P53的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨正常胃黏膜、不典型增生胃黏膜及癌组织中KAI1、nm23及P53蛋白的表达．方法:应用SP法免疫组化检测22例正常胃黏膜,65例不典型增生胃黏膜及74N胃癌组织中的KAI1、nm23及P53蛋白的表达．结果:正常胃黏膜、不典型增生胃黏膜及胃癌组织中,KAI1和nm23阳性率呈降低趋势,组间差异性有统计学意义(x2=20．885, P<0．001;x2=29．133,P<0．05):P53蛋白阳性表达率呈增加趋势,组间差异性有统计学意义(x2=21．954,P<0．001)．Fisher精确概率检验显示:在胃癌组中不同的浸润深度、有无淋巴结转移和脉管侵犯组内KAI1、nm23及 P53组阳性表达率的差异性有统计学意义(x2 =20．885,P<0．001;x2=29．133,P<0．05;x2= 21．954,P<0．001);而在年龄、性别组间的差异性无统计学意义．Spearman等级相关分析显示 KAI1与nm23表达呈正相关(r=0．859,P<0．05); KAI1与P53表达呈负相关(r=-0．859,P<0．05), nm23与P53表达呈负相关(r=-0．874,P<0．05) 结论:抑癌基因KAI1与nm23的缺失以及P53 蛋白的过表达可能是胃癌发生、发展及浸润和转移的重要原因之一．     

The effect of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB) on acetylcholine release from the rabbit retina: evidence for on-channel input to cholinergic amacrine cells

The light-evoked release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the rabbit retina was taken as a measure of cholinergic amacrine cell activity. The glutamate analogue DL-(+/-)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB) prevented the light-evoked release of ACh and also selectively abolished the ON-responses of ganglion cells and the ERG b-wave. It is concluded that the input to cholinergic amacrine cells involves mainly the depolarizing bipolar cells, which subserve ON-channels. L-(+)-stereoisomer of APB was 15 times more potent than the D-(-)-isomer in suppressing ACh release and the b-wave, suggesting that the mechanism of action of APB does not involve antagonism of excitatory amino acids.     

Stimulus range influences intensity and hedonic ratings of flavour

Five concentrations of an artificial orange drink were presented for sensory evaluation in three overlapping concentration ranges. Three sensory panels, each of 30 subjects, rated the concentrations for intensity of flavour (intensity scale), relation to ideal flavour intensity (ideal-point scale), and pleasantness (hedonic scale). Except for the two extreme concentrations, neither of which was presented in more than one range, in all three response tasks the mean rating for a given concentration varied with the concentration range in which it was presented. However, the mean ratings showed good correspondence across response tasks (e.g. the concentration perceived as "moderately sweet" on the intensity scale was perceived as "just right" on the ideal-point scale and of maximal pleasantness on the hedonic scale), suggesting a link between the intensity and hedonic dimensions of sensory experience.     

C-peptide secretion and insulin antibodies as determinants of stability in diabetes mellitus

The relative significance of residual beta-cell secretory activity and human insulin antibodies in determining diabetic stability has been examined in 35 diabetic subjects. The response of plasma C-peptide immunoreactivity following 50 g oral glucose has been used as an index of beta-cell function. Glucose-stimulated C-peptide secretion was observed in 58% of stable diabetics, but in no labile diabetics. When present, C-peptide secretion following a glucose load in diabetics was of smaller amplitude and slower in onset, but more prolonged than in normal subjects. In secretors, stability of diabetes was significantly correlated with the magnitude of the C-peptide response. As a group, labile diabetics had lower insulin antibody levels than stable patients, but stability and antibody levels were not correlated in individual patients. In non-secretors there was no difference in antibody levels between the stable and labile groups. Neither the equilibrium binding affinities nor the dissociation rate constants differed significantly for antibodies from stable and labile diabetics. Thus stability of diabetes depends upon residual beta-cell secretory activity, but not on the concentration or binding characteristics of insulin antibodies.     

Human Rights and Review of the Involuntary Status of Patients with a Mental Illness: Kracke after Momcilovic

Arguably, Australia's most significant judicial pronouncement on the human rights of those with mental illnesses was made in 2009 by Justice Bell, the then President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (“VCAT”). The decision is an exhaustive analysis of the application of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) to the involuntary status of a person subject to a community treatment order in Victoria. It occurred in the context of delays in the conduct of reviews of the status of a mentally ill person by Victoria's Mental Health Review Board (“the Board”). The outcome of the hearing was a declaration that the Board had breached the person's human rights to a fair hearing, even though the person's involuntary status on a community treatment order was not disturbed by VCAT. Whilst some important aspects of Justice Bell's decision concerning the general methodology to be applied when analysing human rights were overturned in the subsequent Court of Appeal decision of R v Momcilovic [2010] VSCA 50, the latter decision did not concern mental health and so leaves Kracke as the most detailed articulation and analysis of human rights within this difficult sphere.     

Derivation of in vivo source tracking error thresholds for TRUS-based HDR prostate brachytherapy through simulation of source positioning errors

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to simulate treatment planning source positioning errors in transrectal ultrasound–based real-time high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy treatments and determine appropriate in vivo source tracking error thresholds.Methods and MaterialsTreatment planning source positioning errors were simulated for 20 patient plans in the brachytherapy treatment planning system by manually adjusting the dwell position coordinates within selected catheters without plan reoptimization. The change in dose-volume histogram (DVH) indices was calculated as a function of the source positioning error. The magnitude of the change in the DVH indices was then used to derive appropriate in vivo source tracking error thresholds.ResultsSource positioning error thresholds to prevent potentially significant changes in prostate (target) DVH metrics ranged from 2 to 5 mm, dependent on the direction of the source positioning error, as well as the relative weight of the dwell position within the plan, and its position relative to the patient anatomy. Source positioning error thresholds to prevent potentially clinically significant changes in organ at risk DVH metrics were found to be complex and patient-dependent.ConclusionsIn vivo source tracking error thresholds for transrectal ultrasound–based real-time high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy were investigated via the simulation of treatment planning source positioning errors. These error thresholds were found to be dependent not only on the direction of the error, but also on the endpoint. There is still the potential for larger changes in DVH indices to occur for catheter shifts smaller than the proposed threshold levels in this study.     

Is occupational or leisure physical activity associated with low back pain? Insights from a cross-sectional study of 1059 participants

BackgroundLow back pain is a highly prevalent and disabling musculoskeletal disorder. Physical activity is widely used as a prevention strategy for numerous musculoskeletal disorders; however, there is still conflicting evidence as to whether physical activity is a protective or risk factor for low back pain or whether activity levels differ between people with and without low back pain.ObjectiveTo investigate the association between low back pain and different types (occupational and leisure) and intensities (moderate and vigorous) of physical activity.MethodsThis is cross-sectional observational study. We included in this study a total of 1059 individuals recruited from a Spanish twin registry with data available on low back pain. Outcome: Self-reported leisure and occupational physical activity were the explanatory variables. The low back pain outcome used in this study was recurrent low back pain.ResultsOur results indicate that leisure physical activity is associated with a lower prevalence of recurrent low back pain. In contrast, occupational physical activity, such as carrying, lifting heavy weight while inclined, awkward postures (e.g. bending, twisting, squatting, and kneeling) are associated with a higher prevalence of recurrent low back pain. There was no statistically significant association between other occupational physical activities, such as sitting or standing, and low back pain.ConclusionLeisure and occupational physical activity are likely to have an opposed impact on low back pain. While leisure physical activity appears to be protective, occupational physical activity appears to be harmful to low back pain. Future longitudinal studies should assist in formulating guidelines addressing specific types and intensity of physical activity aimed at effectively preventing low back pain.