[Exploration and practice of artificial intelligence assisted primary vision health management]

It has attracted much attention worldwide that the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in primary screening and clinical diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. In recent years, this technology has also been widely used in various grass-roots eye disease management, effectively improving the current situation of weak eye disease diagnosis ability and shortage of human resources in primary medical institutions. At present, there is no reference standard or guideline for the management mode, implementation content and management method of vision health management based on this technology, which are in urgent need of standardization. The article described the work mode exploration of AI-assisted grass-roots visual health management in Shanghai and shared practical experience. The aim is to provide reference for other provinces in China to carry out relevant work.

[Clinicopathological characteristics of anti-PD-1 associated gastroenteritis]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of anti-PD-1 related gastroenteritis, understand and recognize the disease, and avoid misdiagnoses. Methods: Three cases of anti-PD-1 related gastroenteritis diagnosed and treated at the Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China from 2020 to 2021 were collected. The clinical and pathological features were analyzed and the patients were followed up by telephone. Results: The three patients were all male and aged 63, 39 and 73 years, respectively. They had previously developed gastrointestinal symptoms as a result of immunotherapy for a malignant tumor. Endoscopically, 2 patients presented with pancolitis, and 1 patient presented with a large antral ulcer involving the pyloric canal in the stomach. Histologically, there were marked atrophy and thinning of the epithelium, diffuse infiltration of numerous neutrophils in the lamina propria, formation of micro-abscesses in the crypt/glandular lumen, structural changes (branching and distortion) of the glands, and significant glandular dilatation. In addition, chronic inflammatory features (e.g., lymphoplasmacytosis) were focally seen in 2 cases. Cytomegalovirus immunohistochemical stains were negative in all 3 cases. Based on the history and morphology, all 3 cases were diagnosed as anti-PD-1 related gastroenteritis. According to the above diagnosis, the treatment for all 3 patients was to stop anti-PD-1 therapy and use corticosteroids. Clinical follow-up was conducted. The gastrointestinal symptoms of all 3 patients improved significantly and diarrhea symptoms were relieved after stopping immunotherapy. Conclusions: Anti-PD-1 related gastroenteritis is not rare, but pathologists may lack sufficient understanding of it. Combined with clinical history and pathologic characteristics of the lesion, pathologists should consider this disease to avoid the misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses.

[Challenges of artificial intelligence used for eye disease screening in recent China communities]

Due to factors such as medical resources, public awareness, funding for general screening, or optimized screening models, community-based screening is far from meeting the demand. Artificial intelligence (AI) can replace some of the medical work and combine it with the "Internet+" model to transfer medical resources to improve accessibility and availability. However, the application of AI technology to community-based screening still faces many challenges, such as most AI products cannot be directly applied to community-based screening, the inability to integrate multimodal information such as medical history, symptoms, and images, and the lack of relevant regulations and health policies for productization and implementation. Therefore, we suggest that the relevant departments take actions: (1) to build standardized big data sets, unlock data barriers, and accelerate the development and application of AI technology; (2) to train "AI+" medical staffs as soon as possible; (3) to establish relevant laws and regulations; (4) to establish relevant R&D plans and quality standards and regulatory frameworks for AI products; (5) to encourage more investment in medical AI infrastructure in the central and western regions and remote and poor areas.

[Analysis of community intervention effects for diabetic eye diseases in Shanghai Xinjing community from 2016 to 2018]

Objective: To analyze the effects of community-based interventions for diabetic eye diseases in Xinjing community, Shanghai from 2016 to 2018. Methods: Based on the project of "Establishment of Service Model for Comprehensive Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Eye Diseases in Shanghai", the participants were not suffering diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Xinjing community in 2016 before interventions and received community-based interventions for diabetic eye diseases. The incidence of DR, visual acuity and awareness of DR were used as evaluation indicators to analyze the effects of interventions for diabetic eye diseases in the community. Results: A total of 537 patients were included in this study, the incidence of DR among diabetic patients in Xinjing community was 7.6% after interventions. The duration of diabetes (OR= 1.065) and HbA1c (OR= 1.090) were the risk factors of DR. Before and after the interventions, the patients with monocular low vision and binocular low vision were 27 cases (5.0%), 8 cases (1.5%), 19 cases (3.5%) and 7 cases (1.3%) respectively. After interventions, the awareness on the prevention and treatment of DR increased significantly, and the proportion of regular visits to ophthalmology examination, diet control and physical exercise also increased significantly. Conclusion: Community-based interventions for diabetic eye diseases are helpful to improve the awareness of DR prevention and control, reduce the incidence of DR.

The role of vitamin C in pneumonia and COVID-19 infection in adults with European ancestry: a Mendelian randomisation study

BACKGROUND

High dose vitamin C infusion has been proposed to treat critically ill patients, including patients with pneumonia and severe COVID-19. However, trials have shown mixed findings. Here we assessed the unconfounded associations of vitamin C with COVID-19 and pneumonia using the Mendelian randomisation approach.

METHODS

This is a separate-sample Mendelian randomisation study using publicly available data. We applied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were associated with plasma vitamin C, in a recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) as genetic instruments to the GWAS of severe COVID-19, COVID-19 hospitalisation and any infection in the COVID-19 host genetics initiative and the GWAS of pneumonia in the UK Biobank, to assess whether people with genetically predicted higher levels of plasma vitamin C had lower risk of severe COVID-19 and pneumonia.

RESULTS

Genetically predicted circulating levels of vitamin C was not associated with susceptibility to severe COVID-19, COVID-19 hospitalisation, any COVID-19 infection nor pneumonia. Similar results were obtained when a weighted median and MR-Egger methods were used.

CONCLUSIONS

Mendelian randomisation analysis provided little evidence for an association of genetically predicted circulating levels of vitamin C with COVID-19 or pneumonia and thus our findings provided little support to the use of vitamin C in prevention and treatment in these patients, unless high dose vitamin C infusion has therapeutic effects via different biological pathways.

[Energy metabolism characteristic with risk of secondary bacterial infection in patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease]

Objective: To investigate and analyze the energy metabolism characteristics and the correlation between energy metabolism and the risk of secondary bacterial infection in patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease (HBV-CLD). Methods: Data of 183 cases admitted to the Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University from November 2017 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. 79 cases of chronic hepatitis B, 51 cases of hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis, and 53 cases of hepatitis B-related liver failure were collected. Among them patients with liver failure and decompensated liver cirrhosis were defined as severe liver disease group. The Quark RMR indirect calorimetry (COSMED Corporation, Italy) was used to exam the patients' energy metabolism condition, and the incidences of secondary bacterial infection of the patients during hospitalization were recorded. Shapiro-Wilk test and normal QQ plot were used to analyze the normal distribution of continuous variable data, which was consistent with the normal distribution and was described by mean ± standard deviation. In addition, if it did not conform to the normal distribution, the median and interquartile distance were used to describe it. Levene's test was used to test the homogeneity of variance of the data, which was consistent with the normal distribution. The t-test was used to compare the means of the two groups of samples. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the mean values of the three groups of samples, and then the Tukey's test was used to compare the two groups. If the variance was uneven or did not conform to the normal distribution, the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Kruskal-Wallis test (H test) was used to compare the differences between the three groups of samples, and then the Dunnett's test (Z test) was used for comparison between the two groups. Categorical variable data were analyzed using chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors, and the criteria for variable inclusion (P < 0.05). Results: The respiratory entropy (RQ) and non-protein respiratory entropy (npRQ) of the three groups had statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Among them, the RQ and npRQ of the chronic hepatitis B group were higher than hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis group and hepatitis B-related liver failure group. There were statistically significant differences in fat oxidation rate (FAT%) and carbohydrate oxidation rate (CHO%) between the three groups (P < 0.05). Compared with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis group and hepatitis B-related liver failure group, chronic hepatitis B group (P < 0.05) had lower FAT% and higher CHO%. There were no statistically significant differences in the measured and predicted resting energy expenditure and protein oxidation rate (PRO%) between the three groups. The incidence of secondary bacterial infection in patients with severe liver disease was 48.39% (45/93). Compared with the non-infected group, the RQ and npRQ values ​​of the infected group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while FAT% was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that glutamyltransferase, cholesterol, and npRQ were independent risk factors for secondary bacterial infections in patients with severe liver disease. Glutamyltransferase elevation, and cholesterol and npRQ depletion had suggested an increased risk of secondary bacterial infection. Subgroup analysis of patients with hepatitis B-related liver failure also showed that compared with non-infected group, RQ value and npRQ value of secondary bacterial infection group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while FAT% was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease generally have abnormal energy metabolism. Low RQ, npRQ, CHO% and high FAT% are related to the severity of the disease; while npRQ reduction is related to the risk of secondary bacterial infection in patients with severe liver disease, and thus can be used as a clinical prognostic indicator.

[Analysis of cataract surgery status in public hospitals of Shanghai from 2013 to 2015]

Objective: To analyze the reasons that restrict the growth of cataract surgery service capacity in public hospitals in Shanghai in recent years. Methods: The status of surgeries performed in public hospitals are analyzed based on the data related to cataract surgery collected from the database of Shanghai Eye Disease Treatment. Meanwhile, the surgeries performed by ophthalmologists working in the public hospitals are studied based on the National ophthalmology service capacity questionnaire. Results: The cataract surgery volume performed in public hospitals of Shanghai increased from 45 480 in 2013 to 51 941 in 2015. In 2014, the year on year growth rate of cataract surgery volume in tertiary hospitals was 8.54%, while in 2015, it was -0.21% on an annual basis. More than 70% cataract surgeries were performed in tertiary public hospitals. For those performed in tertiary public hospitals, 80% were performed in urban area. The actual surgeons in tertiary account for 70% of the actual surgeons in all public hospitals. Among all cataract surgeries performed in secondary hospitals, half were performed in urban areas. The volume of cataract surgery by cataract surgeon and the number of the ophthalmologist were higher than those in secondary hospitals. The average cataract surgery volume of tertiary hospitals in urban areas and the average annual cataract surgery volume of the actual surgeons are much higher than those of the secondary hospitals in the urban areas, but it is contrary in exurban areas. Conclusion: The excessive density of tertiary hospitals in urban area and poor ophthalmology service capacity in secondary hospitals in suburban and exurban areas have restricted the rapid growth rate of cataract surgery and even a decline in Shanghai public hospitals. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 615-620).

Maternal characteristics and causes associated with refractory postpartum haemorrhage after vaginal birth: a secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data

Objective

To assess the maternal characteristics and causes associated with refractory postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).

Design

Secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data.

Setting

Twenty‐three hospitals in ten countries.

Population

Women from the CHAMPION trial who received uterotonics as first‐line treatment of PPH.

Methods

We assessed the association between sociodemographic, pregnancy and childbirth factors and refractory PPH, and compared the causes of PPH between women with refractory PPH and women responsive to first‐line PPH treatment.

Main outcome measures

Maternal characteristics; causes of PPH.

Results

Women with labour induced or augmented with uterotonics (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.35; 95% CI 1.07–1.72), with episiotomy or tears requiring suturing (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 1.34–2.48) and who had babies with birthweights ≥3500 g (aOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.04–1.69) showed significantly higher odds of refractory PPH compared with the reference categories in the multivariate analysis adjusted by centre and trial arm. While atony was the sole PPH cause in 53.2% (116/218) of the women in the responsive PPH group, it accounted for only 31.5% (45/143) of the causes in the refractory PPH group. Conversely, tears were the sole cause in 12.8% (28/218) and 28% (40/143) of the responsive PPH and refractory PPH groups, respectively. Placental problems were the sole cause in 11 and 5.6% in the responsive and refractory PPH groups, respectively.

Conclusion

Women with refractory PPH showed a different pattern of maternal characteristics and PPH causes compared with those with first‐line treatment responsive PPH.

Tweetable abstract

Women with refractory postpartum haemorrhage are different from those with first‐line treatment responsive PPH.

Women with refractory postpartum haemorrhage are different from those with first‐line treatment responsive PPH.

Rectal Temperature of Corpse and Estimation of Postmortem Interval

Abstract

Measurement of corpse temperature is mainly used for estimation of early postmortem interval, and rectal temperature is often used as a representative of body's core temperature in actual work because it is simple, quick and non-invasive. At present, the rectal temperature postmortem interval estimation method internationally accepted and widely used is HENSSGE's nomogram method, while many domestic scholars also deduced their own regression equations through a large number of case data. Estimation of postmortem interval based on rectal temperature still needs further study. The nomogram method needs to be optimized and extended, and quantification of its influencing factors needs to be dealt with more scientifically. There is still a lack of consensus on the probability and duration of the temperature plateau. There is no clear understanding of the probability and extent of the change in initial temperature caused by various causes. New methods and ideas enrich methodological research, but it still lacks systemicity and practicality. This article reviews the researches on estimation of postmortem interval based on rectal temperature in order to summarize the current situation of previous researches and seek new breakthrough points. Because the decline of body temperature can be easily influenced by many factors in vitro and vivo, and the influencing factors in different regions vary greatly, regionalization research and application may be a practical exploration to improve the accuracy of postmortem interval determination.

[Analysis of intratesticular condition in micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction era]

OBJECTIVE

To summarizes the intratesticular condition of azoospermia patients, to understand azoospermia more intuitively, and improve the ability of clinical doctors to predict the success rate of microsperm extraction in azoospermia patients.

METHODS

Azoospermia patients (excluding Klinefelter's syndrome) who underwent a micro-TESE during January 2014 and January 2018 in a single center were enrolled. The types of seminiferous tubules were summarized, and the clinical characteristics of different types of seminiferous tubules compared with the success rates of sperm extraction. In this study, 472 cases of non-obstructive azoospermia (excluding Klinefelter's syndrome) were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 software package. Relevant data were expressed by median(minimum,maximum).t-test was used to compare the difference of success rate of sperm extraction between each group and the group with the lowest rate (a type).

RESULTS

The 472 patients with non-obstructive azoospermia underwent micro-TESE. The mean age of the patients was 31 (23, 46) years, the mean testicular size was 10 (1, 20) mL, the mean FSH was 15.4 (1.21, 68.4) IU/L, the mean T was 8.34 (0.69, 30.2) nmol/L, and totally 202 patients achieved success in micro-TESE (42.7%, 202/472). According to the seminiferous tubules seen during the operation, they were divided into the following six types: Class a, seminiferous tubules developed well and uniformly; Class b, seminiferous tubules developed well, occasionally slightly thick; Class c, seminiferous tubules were generally thin; Class d, seminiferous tubules basically atrophied, occasionally well-developed seminiferous tubules; Class e, all seminiferous tubules atrophied; Class f, seminiferous tubules were infiltrated by yellow substances. The success rate of micro-TESE varied greatly among different types of the patients. A total of 78 patients with type a were 29 (24, 40) years old, FSH 11.1 (1.21, 15.8) IU/L, T 10.2 (3.29, 26.5) nmol/L), and testicular size 12 (12, 20) mL. The successful rate of sperm extraction was 6.41%; 82 patients with type b were 31 (23, 42) years old, FSH 13.8 (3.23, 19.6) IU/L, T 9.44 (3.58, 30.2) nmol/L), and testicular size 12(8,15) mL. The successful rate of sperm extraction was 74.39%; There were 162 patients in group c, aged 31 (25, 40), FSH 19.6 (9.28, 26.6) IU/L, T 8.75 (5.66, 18.6) nmol/L, and testicular size 8 (5, 12) mL. The successful rate of sperm extraction was 45.06%. There were 36 patients in group d, aged 25 (23,38) years and FSH 28.5 (19.3, 45.6) IU/L, T 6.52 (2.12, 9.83) nmol/L, and testicular size 5 (3, 8) mL, and the success rate of sperm extraction was 94.44%. 26 patients with type e were 28(23, 46) years old, FSH 31.3 (18.5, 68.4) IU/L, T 6.72 (0.69, 18.2) nmol/L, and testicular size 5 (1, 8) mL. The success rate of sperm extraction was 45.38%. 88 patients with type f were 29 (24, 38) years old, FSH 18.5 (5.23, 31.6) IU / L, T 8.32 (3.58, 16.5) nmol/L, and testicular size 12 (6, 20) mL. The success rate of sperm extraction was 28.41%.

CONCLUSION

The success rate of micro-TESE in different types of seminiferous tubules in testis can be helpful to the judgement of the surgeon during the operation.

[Analysis of cataract surgery cases from 2013 to 2015 in Shanghai]

Objective: To analyze the changes of cataract surgery volume and related influencing factors in Shanghai during 2013 and 2015. Methods: The information of Cataract patients during the period of 2013 and 2015 was collected from Shanghai Cataract Operations Database. The cataract surgery volume and CSR of Shanghai residents and non-registered ones were compared. The cataract surgery volume and CSR of registered Shanghai residents in urban, suburban and exurban areas were calculated, respectively. In addition, the sources of surgery cost, hospitals where surgeries were performed were analyzed. Results: In Shanghai, the cataract surgery volume grew from 63 915 to 114 688 and the total CSR grow from 2 686 to 4 729 during the years between 2013 and 2015. In this period, the cataract surgery volume of registered Shanghai residents in urban, suburban and exurban areas increased from 27 203, 21 921, 8 847 to 46 415, 40 463, 18 171, respectively. The CSR1 (CSR of registered Shanghai residents) grew rapidly from 4 081 to 7 363, while the CSR2 (CSR of non-registered Shanghai residents) grew slowly from 619 to 949. According to statistics, 93.08% of the registered Shanghai residents paid the medical expenses with their medical insurance, while more than 80% non-registered Shanghai residents afforded it at their own expenses. The number of total CSR in urban, suburban and exurban areas increased from 5 085, 3 600, 3 205 to 3 600, 6 588, 6 513 respectively. In 2015, the number of cataract surgery cases in non-public hospitals exceeded that in public hospital, accounting for 54.71% of the total cataract surgeries. In the same year, 55.44% of the total cases come from suburban and exurban residents. Conclusions: From 2013 to 2015, there had been a dramatic increase in cataract surgery volume in nonpublic hospitals and exurban area in Shanghai, which effectively solved the problem of low CSR in suburban and exurban area, however the 1ow level of CSR of non-registered Shanghai residents was the key factor that significantly reduced the total CSR in Shanghai. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54:580-585).

Development of Interesting Step-climbing Styles

Objectives: This study was to investigate the influence of stepping styles (forward, side, and cross steppings) and inclinations (25 and 45 degrees) on cardiorespiratory responses (C-R responses).

Methods: Twenty volunteers were recruited and randomly arranged into two ten-people groups, exercising on step-climbing machines respectively of 25 and 45 degrees of inclination. C-R responses were recorded during each test which lasted for six minutes at 50 steps per minute on a step-climbing machine.

Results: The group on 25-degree inclination had significantly lower C-R responses than the group on 45-degree inclination. Although only small differences, probably statistically insignificant, were found among the three step-climbing styles, these differences showed interesting trends independent of inclination.

Conclusions: Climbing stairs with the three interesting step-climbing styles in this study could be considered as an exercise of moderate intensity (60-80% HRmax). Climbing on 25-degree inclination at 50 steps per minute is recommended for less fit individuals because of lower cardiovascular stress as compared with on 45-degree inclination.

Disconnect Between Genes Associated With Ischemic Heart Disease and Targets of Ischemic Heart Disease Treatments

Background

Development of pharmacological treatments to mitigate ischemic heart disease (IHD) has encompassed disappointing results and expensive failures, which has discouraged investment in new approaches to prevention and control. New treatments are most likely to be successful if they act on genetically validated targets. We assessed whether existing pharmacological treatments for IHD reduction are acting on genetically validated targets and whether all such targets for IHD are currently being exploited.

Methods

Genes associated with IHD were obtained from the loci of single nucleotide polymorphisms reported in either of two recent genome wide association studies supplemented by a gene-based analysis (accounting for linkage disequilibrium) of CARDIoGRAMplusC4D 1000 Genomes, a large IHD case (n = 60,801)-control (n = 123,504) study. Treatments targeting the products of these IHD genes and genes with products targeted by current IHD treatments were obtained from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Drugbank. Cohen's kappa was used to assess agreement.

Results

We identified 173 autosomal genes associated with IHD and 236 autosomal genes with products targeted by current IHD treatments, only 8 genes (PCSK9, EDNRA, PLG, LPL, CXCL12, LRP1, CETP and ADORA2A) overlapped, i.e. were both associated with IHD and had products targeted by current IHD treatments. The Cohen's kappa was 0.03. Interventions related to another 29 IHD genes exist, including dietary factors, environmental exposures and existing treatments for other indications.

Conclusions

Closer alignment of IHD treatments with genetically validated physiological targets may represent a major opportunity for combating a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality through repurposing existing interventions.

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Pharmacological treatments for ischemic heart disease (IHD) target < 5% (8/173) of genes strongly predicting IHD.

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Treatments or nutraceuticals targeting products of another 17% (29/173) of genes strongly predicting IHD exist.

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Repurposing represents a major opportunity to prevent and treat a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality.

Development of drugs to mitigate ischemic heart disease, a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, has stalled. We examined the relation between the physiological targets of current drugs for ischemic heart disease and the genetic predictors of ischemic heart disease. We found little correspondence between the genes with products targeted by current ischemic heart disease drugs and the genes associated with ischemic heart disease, but found several drugs for other purposes relevant to ischemic heart disease genes. Refocusing ischemic heart disease drug development on genetically valid targets and repurposing existing drugs represents a major opportunity to improve population health.

A Case of Neurologically Intact Survival after Compression-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation by Two Bystanders

Conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requires chest compression and mouth-to-mouth breathing. We report a 55-year-old man in cardiac arrest who received immediate chest compression but without assisted ventilation by two bystanders for 28 minutes until the arrival of the emergency medical team. His consciousness recovered completely on the third hospital day. According to the literature review, “28 minutes” may possibly be the longest period of time of compression-only CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with neurologically intact survival. Thus, this case supports the present CPR guideline that recommends effective chest compression without assisted ventilation by laypersons for patients in cardiac arrest.

The effect of hematocrit and hemoglobin on the risk of ischemic heart disease: A Mendelian randomization study

Hematocrit and hemoglobin affect viscosity, and have been considered as risk factors for ischemic heart disease (IHD), although observations are inconsistent; randomized controlled trials targeting hematocrit or hemoglobin have not been definitive. To clarify their role, the risk of IHD was assessed according to genetically determined hematocrit and hemoglobin. We applied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly determining hematocrit and hemoglobin, from a genome wide association study, to a large case (64,746) control (130,681) study of coronary artery disease, CARDIoGRAMplusC4D, to obtain unconfounded estimates using instrumental variable analysis by combining the Wald estimators for each SNP taking into account any correlation between SNPs using weighted generalized linear regression. Hematocrit was positively associated with IHD, odds ratio (OR) 1.07 per %, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03 to 1.11, before and after excluding SNPs from gene regions directly functionally relevant to IHD. However, hematocrit was not associated with IHD (OR 0.99, 0.94 to 1.04) after also excluding SNPs associated with lipids at genome wide significance. Hemoglobin was not associated with IHD (OR 1.06 per g/dL, 0.97 to 1.15) which was similar (OR 1.02, 0.94 to 1.11) after excluding SNPs from gene regions directly functionally relevant to IHD. Hemoglobin was negatively associated with IHD after also excluding SNPs associated with lipids at genome wide significance (OR 0.86, 0.78 to 0.94). In conclusion, hematocrit shares genetic determinants with IHD, but whether the genes contribute to IHD via hematocrit or other mechanisms is not entirely clear. Higher Hemoglobin is unlikely to cause IHD.

Effects of dietary selenium deficiency on mRNA levels of twenty-one selenoprotein genes in the liver of layer chicken

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in many life forms due to its occurrence as selenocysteine (Sec) residue in selenoproteins. However, little is known about the expression pattern of selenoproteins in the liver of layer chicken. To investigate the effects of Se deficiency on the mRNA expressions of selenoproteins in the liver tissue of layer chickens, 1-day-old layer chickens were randomly allocated into two groups (n=120/group). The Se-deficient group (-Se) was fed a Se-deficient corn-soy basal diet; the Se-adequate group as control (+Se) was fed the same basal diet supplemented with Se at 0.15 mg/kg (sodium selenite). The liver tissue was collected and examined for mRNA levels of 21 selenoprotein genes at 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, and 65 days old. The data indicated that the mRNA expressions of Gpx1, Gpx2, Gpx3, Gpx4, Sepn1, Sepp1, Selo, Sepx1, Selu, Txnrd1, Txnrd2, Txnrd3, Dio1, Dio2, SPS2, Selm, SelPb, Sep15, and Sels were decreased (p<0.05), but not the levels of Dio3 and Seli (p>0.05). The results showed that the mRNA levels of 19 selenoprotein (except Seli and Dio3) genes in the layer chicken liver were regulated by diet Se level. The present study provided some compensated data about the roles of Se in the regulation of selenoproteins.

The prognostic value of P-cadherin in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVES

This research aims to specify the prognostic value of P-cadherin on recurrence and progression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC).

METHODS

A total of 110 NMIBC cases were collected and P-cadherin protein was assessed by immunohistochemical test in these samples. Correlations between P-cadherin expression and clinicopathologic features were analyzed. For recurrence-free and progression-free survival, Kaplan-Meier log-rank test was used. Then Cox univariate and multivariate analyses were further performed.

RESULTS

P-cadherin high expression correlated with tumor progression (P = 0.031). Kaplan-Meier results showed that patients with high P-cadherin expression had worse progression-free survival (P = 0.034) but not recurrence-free survival (P = 0.133) than low-expression patients. Cox regression results showed P-cadherin expression was an independent predictor for progression (P = 0.042) but not recurrence (P = 0.139) in NMIBC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that P-cadherin expression correlated with tumor progression and could be taken as an independent predictor for progression in NMIBC.

Lack of association between Human Oxoguanine Glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) S326C polymorphism and the risk of gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

Results from published studies on the association of Human Oxoguanine Glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) S326C genetic polymorphism with the risk of gastric cancer are inconsistent. We performed a meta-analysis to summarize the possible association. Eleven case-control studies including 2168 cases and 4058 controls were identified from electronic databases (Pubmed, Elsevier Science Direct, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and the Chinese database, Wanfang). No significant association between hOGG1 S326C genetic polymorphism and risk of gastric cancer was observed in the overall analysis. In the stratified analysis based on ethnicity, still no significant association was observed in Europeans, Asians, or Brazilians. This meta-analysis provided evidence that hOGG1 S326C genetic polymorphism was not associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. However, additional studies with large sample size and better study designs are warranted to verify our finding.

Experiment and simulation of resistance of nanoporous dentin biomaterial to CO₂ laser irradiation

The resistance of nanoporous dentin biomaterial to CO₂ laser irradiation was investigated by experiment and simulation for potential tooth hypersensitivity treatment. The controlled parameters including laser power of 0.03-0.150 W, scanning speeds of 11.4-34.2 mm/s and focus/defocus modes were used for studying interaction between laser energy and dentin of human tooth. Most of the dentin specimens were etched after CO₂ laser irradiation with the power larger than 0.12 W at a scanning speed of 11.4 mm/s. Compared with the simulation results of temperature distribution, the maximum temperature at laser powers from 0.12 to 0.15 W is increased from 1961 to 2245°C, which exceeded the melting point (1570°C) of dentin's main content hydroxyapatite (HA). Increasing scanning speed can reduce the linear density of laser output energy for just locally melting porous microstructure of dentin surface without etching. Varying focus mode can also improve the damage of nanoporous dentin microstructure. At parameters of 0.150 W power and 34.2 mm/s scanning speed under defocus operation, laser treatment was successfully performed on the nano-HA coated dentin with well-molten sealing on tubules of porous microstructure at a simulate surface temperature of about 574°C, which was the potential for dentin hypersensitivity cure application.

Filaggrin polymorphism P478S, IgE level, and atopic phenotypes

BACKGROUND

Whether environmental exposures may modulate the effect of the skin barrier gene on atopic dermatitis (AD) remains to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether filaggrin (FLG) variants can serve as a predictor for atopic disorders in Chinese individuals and if allergen exposures may modify the effect of FLG variants on AD by total IgE levels.

METHODS

In total, 116 children aged 2-5years with AD and 212 control subjects were analysed for the FLG variants using DNA sequencing. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to estimate the association among FLG polymorphisms and atopic phenotypes. Serum total IgE level, standing for the degree of allergen exposures, was later stratified to determine the effects of FLG polymorphisms on AD.

RESULTS

A significant difference in genotype frequency was found among AD cases and controls in FLG P478S polymorphism. FLG P478S GG genotype significantly increased the risk of AD [odds ratio (OR) 4·60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·88-11·24]. In addition, among subjects with AD, GG genotypes also significantly increased the risk of developing asthma (OR 4·68, 95% CI 1·37-16·03). Further, a similar result was obtained for allergic rhinitis (OR 3·23, 95% CI 1·01-10·30). Interestingly, the P478S GG genotype was significantly related to AD (OR 5·67, 95% CI 1·93-16·60) in children with IgE level ≥100 kU L(-1) . However, the association was not evident when IgE level was < 100 kU L(-1) .

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the FLG P478S polymorphism may confer susceptibility to the development of AD among Chinese individuals and may be modified by IgE levels.

Water-assisted CO(2) laser ablated glass and modified thermal bonding for capillary-driven bio-fluidic application

The glass-based microfluidic chip has widely been applied to the lab-on-a-chip for clotting tests. Here, we have demonstrated a capillary driven flow chip using the water-assisted CO(2) laser ablation for crackless fluidic channels and holes as well as the modified low-temperature glass bonding with assistance of adhesive polymer film at 300 degrees Celsius. Effect of water depth on the laser ablation of glass quality was investigated. The surface hydrophilic property of glass and polymer film was measured by static contact angle method for hydrophilicity examination in comparison with the conventional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material. Both low-viscosity deionized water and high-viscosity whole blood were used for testing the capillary-driving flow behavior. The preliminary coagulation testing in the Y-channel chip was also performed using whole blood and CaCl(2) solution. The water-assisted CO(2) laser processing can cool down glass during ablation for less temperature gradient to eliminate the crack. The modified glass bonding can simplify the conventional complex fabrication procedure of glass chips, such as high-temperature bonding, long consuming time and high cost. Moreover, the developed fluidic glass chip has the merit of hydrophilic behavior conquering the problem of traditional hydrophobic recovery of polymer fluidic chips and shows the ability to drive high-viscosity bio-fluids.

Aggressive management of acute myocardial infarction: successful outcome in an older patient with cardiogenic shock

A 71-year-old man was referred to our emergency department presenting with acute inferior and right ventricular myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock. He developed ventricular fibrillation 80 minutes after arrival. Immediate defibrillation, mechanical ventilatory support with oxygenation, and inotropic agents were instituted. Despite restoration of sinus rhythm, his hypotension persisted. He promptly received intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation and cardiac catheterisation. Coronary angiography revealed a subtotal occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and complete occlusion of the right coronary artery. Since the right coronary artery was considered to be the infarct-related coronary artery, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was carried out to the right coronary artery only. The patient was extubated and IABP was removed on the second and third admission day, respectively. He was discharged from the hospital eight days later. A second PCI to the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed successfully three weeks later. This case illustrates that in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, prompt application of IABP and PCI of the infarct-related coronary artery may be beneficial in reducing the catastrophic morbidity and mortality, especially in older patients.

Development of interesting step-climbing styles

OBJECTIVES

This study was to investigate the influence of stepping styles (forward, side, and cross steppings) and inclinations (25 and 45 degrees) on cardiorespiratory responses (C-R responses).

METHODS

Twenty volunteers were recruited and randomly arranged into two ten-people groups, exercising on step-climbing machines respectively of 25 and 45 degrees of inclination. C-R responses were recorded during each test which lasted for six minutes at 50 steps per minute on a step-climbing machine.

RESULTS

The group on 25-degree inclination had significantly lower C-R responses than the group on 45-degree inclination. Although only small differences, probably statistically insignificant, were found among the three step-climbing styles, these differences showed interesting trends independent of inclination.

CONCLUSIONS

Climbing stairs with the three interesting step-climbing styles in this study could be considered as an exercise of moderate intensity (60-80% HRmax ). Climbing on 25-degree inclination at 50 steps per minute is recommended for less fit individuals because of lower cardiovascular stress as compared with on 45-degree inclination.

Neuromuscular hamartoma arising in the brachial plexus

We report a case brachial plexus neuromuscular hamartoma (choristoma) in a 28-year-old man who complained of numbness of the left hand and forearm for several years. MRI revealed a circumscribed, rounded mass in the left brachial plexus. The patient is well 2 years after surgery, with no neurological deficit.

Serum soluble transferrin receptor reflects erythropoiesis but not iron availability in erythropoietin-treated chronic hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of iron deficiency using the current commonly used tests is usually difficult in hemodialysis patients. Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) has caught the attention of physicians recently as regards its use as a parameter for the evaluation of iron status. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the correlation of serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentration with hematological parameters and iron profiles, in the role of identifying iron deficiency among dialysis patients.

METHODS

Seventy-three patients having received chronic hemodialysis and stable maintenance recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy were included. Iron, total iron-binding capacity, ferritin and sTfR were measured in the first week. Following this, these patients began to receive intravenous iron dextran (2 mg/kg/week) for 4 weeks. The hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb) levels and reticulocyte counts were evaluated weekly. At the beginning of fifth week, the sTfR level was measured again. Patients were classified as belonging to one of the following groups: serum ferritin < 100 microg/L - absolute iron-deficient group; initial ferritin level > or = 100 microg/L with an increase in hemoglobin of greater than 1 g/dL at the end of the study occult iron deficiency group; others - non iron-deficient group.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients completed the study. The concentration of sTfR was positively correlated with Hct, Hb and reticulocyte index at the beginning (r = 0.236, p = 0.047; r = 0.257, p = 0.04; r = 0.401, p < 0.01, respectively) and at the end of the study (r = 0.384, p < 0.01; r = 0.338, p < 0.01; r = 0.427, p < 0.001, respectively). After 4 weeks of iron and rHuEPO therapy, the sTfR concentration increased, rather than declined, from 21.85 +/- 8.06 nM to 23.76 +/- 7.42 nM (p = 0.04) and the change was positively correlated with the changes in Hct, Hb and reticulocyte index. The administered rHuEPO doses did not differbetween the iron deficiency group (absolute deficiency, n = 3; occult deficiency, n = 10) and non-iron deficiency group (n = 58). The sTfR levels failed to identify the occult iron deficiency group because there was no difference between occult iron-deficient and non-iron-deficient patients (24.73 +/- 9.09 nM versus 21.60 +/- 7.89 nM, p = 0.34). Instead, transferrin saturation (TS) could be a differential marker between the 2 groups (19.0 +/- 10.9% versus 30.1 +/- 12.7%, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

The serum sTfR concentration is indeed an appropriate marker for erythropoiesis. The erythropoitic effect of administered rHuEPO could mask the effect of iron status on the sTfR concentration. This might make the sTfR concentration no longer an appropriate index to identify the presence of occult iron deficiency. Thus, TS and ferritin currently remain better methods for the evaluation of iron status in rHuEPO-treated chronic hemodialysis patients.

Color encoding of the two-dimensional echocardiograms to analyze the echo texture of thickened mitral leaflets

OBJECTIVE

The visual identification of different brightness of two-dimensional echocardiograms has natural limitations. The aim of this study was to perform a color-encoding technique on the echocardiograms and to evaluate whether the thickened mitral valve due to different etiologies may exhibit different colors and textures.

DESIGN

Two-dimensional echocardiograms in parasternal long axis view in late diastole were digitized in 28 patients with thickened mitral valves and 14 age-matched control subjects. These 28 patients included 14 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and 14 patients with rheumatic change of mitral valve (RMV). The mean gray level of the anterior mitral valve and the skewness of the histogram of gray level distribution of the anterior mitral valve were studied in all cases.

RESULTS

A significantly greater mean gray level of mitral valves in patients with RMV (114 +/- 20, p < 0.001) and lesser mean gray level in patients with MVP (49 +/- 12, p = 0.041) compared to that of control subjects (62 +/- 18) were noted. The mitral valves of the echocardiograms of patients with MVP tended to show a blue-to-green color, while those of RMV tended to show a yellow-to-orange color by this image processing system. Significant differences in skewness of the gray level distribution of mitral valves in control vs RMV (p = 0.001), control vs MVP (p = 0.005), and RMV vs MVP (p < 0.001) were also found.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the thickened mitral valves due to MVP and RMV may exhibit different colors and textures. Digital image processing can provide additional information to conventional echocardiograms in characterizing different echo textures of the heart valves.

High resistive index of the radial artery is related to early primary radiocephalic hemodialysis fistula failure

Forty-nine patients who had received radiocephalic hemodialysis fistula construction were evaluated with duplex Doppler ultrasonography to characterize the Doppler indices of the feed radial arteries just proximal to the site of anastomosis. Forty-four patients had fistulas with good function, and 5 patients had fistulas with inadequate blood flow or thrombosis within 4 weeks after the operation. A preliminary study showed extensive variability in peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity in the feed arteries. The resistive index dropped significantly 1 week after the operation and remained relatively constant over the following 5 weeks. In the success group, the mean resistive index measured 1 week after operation was 0.40+/-0.06. It was higher than that of the failure group (mean resistive index: 0.52+/-0.06). Among patients with well-functioning fistulas, diabetic patients had higher resistive indices than did non-diabetic patients (0.44+/-0.04 vs. 0.37+/-0.06). Our results suggest that a higher resistive index of the feed artery is closely related to early autogenous primary hemodialysis fistula failure.

An ultrasensitive chemical method for polysialic acid analysis

An ultrasensitive method for analysis of polysialic acid (polySia) chains, using fluorescence-assisted high-performance liquid chromatography was developed. The new method is a substantial improvement of our earlier method in which the reducing terminal Sia residues of a homologous series of oligo/polySia hydrolytically released during derivatization reaction were simultaneously labeled with a fluorogenic reagent, 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene (DMB) in situ. We first studied extensively the stability of oligo/polySia in the acid (0.02 M trifluoracetic acid) used for 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene derivatization under various conditions of reaction time and temperature, analyzing the hydrolytic products by high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed electrochemical detection (HPAEC-PED). Then we optimized the reaction conditions to minimize degradation of the parent polySia while maintaining high derivatization rate. Using a DNAPac PA-100 column rather than a MonoQ column, baseline resolution of polySia peaks up to DP 90 with a detection threshold of 1.4 femtomol per resolved peak was achieved. The new method was used to analyze the degree of polymerization of a polySia-containing glycopeptide fraction derived from embryonic chicken brain, and the results were compared with those obtained by HPAEC-PED.

Prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients with myocardial infarction using APACHE II system

BACKGROUND

The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) scoring system has been validated in many different patient populations, however, patients with myocardial infarction (MI) were not included in the original data base. To evaluate the ability of APACHE scoring system in predicting in-hospital mortality, 694 patients with MI were studied.

METHODS

Data had been collected prospectively in an ICU computer database in the past 3 years. Patients admitted in coronary care unit with acute MI or acute coronary syndrome who had previous history of MI were all included. Patients were divided into survivor and non-survivor data sets. Multiple logistic regression analysis was evaluated on the variables of APACHE II score to determine which variables could predict in-hospital mortality. A logistic regression model was used to study the mortality curves. The differences of APACHE II scores between survivors and non-survivors were compared. Correlation between observed and predicted mortality was also assessed.

RESULTS

According to the statistical analysis, the non-survivors tended to have significantly greater APACHE II scores than those of survivors. The APACHE II values of non-survivors and survivors were 23.64 +/- 9.41 versus 13.35 +/- 7.14 (p < 0.001), respectively. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we found that age, creatinine, coma scale, sodium and APACHE II score were capable of predicting the in-hospital mortality (p < 0.05). With use of the logistic model, a good correlation of predicted mortality rate to observed mortality rate was found (r = 0.992). This study demonstrated that lower APACHE II scores predicted survival while high scores predicted mortality. Mortality rate increased significantly when APACHE II score was > 25. An APACHE II score greater than 28.25 predicted a more than 50% in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that the APACHE II scoring system is capable of predicting mortality in patients with MI, which makes this modality more applicable in the busy intensive care unit.

External biliary drainage plus bile acid feeding is not equal to internal drainage in preserving the cellular immunity following prolonged obstructive jaundice

This study investigates the importance of intestinal bile flow in cellular immunity. Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing bile duct ligation (BDL) and sham ceiliotomy (Sham) for 14 and 21 days were investigated. Experimental animals following BDL were further divided into an external drainage (ED) group, an ED group with rat chow mixed with 2:2:1 cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and deoxycholic acid (ED + BF), and an internal drainage (ID) group. Fourteen days later, they were killed and analyzed for spleen lymphocytic [3H] thymidine uptake (LHU) under mitogen stimulation with phytohemagglutinin, blood biochemistry, hemogram, and liver pathology. In the 14-day BDL experiment, LHU and serum albumin level were decreased in the BDL group (P < 0.05). After drainage, they were not significantly different among sham, ED, ED + BF, and ID groups. In the 21-day BDL experiment, the red cell volume was decreased (P < 0.05). After drainage, the ED, ED + BF, and ID groups still had a significantly lower LHU than the sham group (P < 0.05). However, the ID group had higher LHU than the ED and ED + BF groups (P < 0.05). The ED + BF group had a slightly higher LHU than the ED group but not statistically significant. Liver pathology returned to normal after drainage in the 14-day BDL model. In contrast, the 21-day BDL group had prominent periportal necrosis and developed periportal fibrosis after drainage. The present study reveals the duration of BDL determines the severity of hepatic damage. In the 14-day BDL groups, all kinds of drainage completely reverse the impaired liver function and cellular immunity. In the 21-day BDL group, 14-day drainage is inadequate for recovery because irreversible pathological changes are found. The reversal of cellular immunity in ID is better and faster, because it provides a better hepatic functional, nutritional, and hematological recovery besides the presence of primarily secreted bile acids.

Comparison of the APACHE II and APACHE III scoring systems in patients with respiratory failure in a medical intensive care unit

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This retrospective study compared the capability of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and APACHE III scoring systems to predict outcome and determined the independent predictors of survival in these scoring systems for patients with respiratory failure in a medical intensive care unit (ICU).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven hundred and eight patients with respiratory failure admitted to the medical ICU throughout a 9-year period were studied. Patients with an ICU stay of less than 24 hours, patients under 12 years of age, and burn and surgery patients were excluded. APACHE scores were calculated at 24 hours after admission. Student's t-test was used to compare the total APACHE scores of survivor and non-survivor groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine which variables were predictors of mortality. The discriminative power of APACHE scores to predict in-hospital mortality was studied by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the APACHE II and APACHE III systems, respectively.

RESULTS

Both systems showed a significant association between higher scores and higher mortality. The APACHE II system under-predicted the actual hospital mortality rate. The APACHE III systems had a higher discriminative power (area 0.7462) than the APACHE II systems (area 0.6856; p < 0.05). The independent predictors of survival as assessed by APACHE II and III systems were respiratory rate, arterial oxygen pressure, oxygen gradient between alveoli and artery, serum creatinine concentration, and the presence of neurologic abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

The APACHE III systems has greater discriminative power than the APACHE II systems for predicting in-hospital mortality. The variables of oxygenation, mean artery pressure, respiratory rate, serum creatinine concentration, and Glasgow Coma Scale play important roles in predicting survival for patients with respiratory failure.

Significance of cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase release after coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Cardiac troponin I is a highly sensitive and specific marker for early detection of myocardial injury. Whether it can be used to monitor myocardial injury after coronary intervention is uncertain. This study was designed to measure the cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase (CK) after coronary intervention and investigate their clinical significance.

METHODS

We measured cardiac troponin I and CK levels before intervention and 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after apparently successful coronary intervention in 106 eligible patients. Nine patients were excluded due to missing data. We also followed up the clinical outcome to record major cardiac events (MACE).

RESULTS

The frequency of cardiac troponin I increase after coronary intervention was higher than that of CK increase (40.2% vs 8.2%). The frequency of cardiac troponin I increase in the stent group was significantly higher than that in the PTCA group (49.2% vs 21.9%, p < 0.001). The frequency of cardiac troponin I increase was also higher than that of CK increase in patients with in-hospital events (58.8% vs 14.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac troponin I is more sensitive than creatine kinase in detecting myocardial injury after coronary intervention. The incidence of cardiac troponin I increase is significantly higher in patients undergoing stenting than in patients treated with balloon angioplasty only. The cardiac troponin I increase is more highly correlated with in-hospital events than is creatine kinase.

Extremely low sodium hypotonic rehydration solution for young children with acute gastroenteritis

BACKGROUND

The clinical efficacy and safety of a low-sodium hypotonic oral rehydration solution (LSORS) was compared in a pilot study with that of a standard World Health Organization oral rehydration solution (STORS) in young children with acute diarrhea.

METHODS

One hundred and seventeen boys aged 3 to 18 months with acute diarrhea were randomly assigned to groups and received low-sodium (sodium 28 mmol/L) hypotonic oral rehydration solution and standard oral rehydration solution (sodium 90 mmol/L). Outcomes of therapy such as stool volume, duration of diarrhea and fluid intake were recorded at 24 hours, 48 hours, and the discontinuation of disease. Serum electrolytes levels were calculated before and after therapy.

RESULTS

The stool output (gm/kg) in the first 24 hours was 69.2 +/- 38.5 in the LSORS group versus 105 +/- 39.8 in the STORS group (p < 0.05), while the total stool output during the 48-hour period was 151.4 +/- 68.9 in the LSORS group versus 232 +/- 97.3 in the STORS group (p < 0.05). No significant (p > 0.05) reduction in duration of diarrhea was noted (72.3 +/- 25.5 hours versus 69.8 +/- 29.4 hours). Four patients in the LSORS group and 7 patients in the STORS were classified as treatment failure. Forty-four (80%) achieved successful treatment in the LSORS group and 34 (56.7%) in the STORS group (p = 0.07).

CONCLUSION

LSORS is as safe as STORS in treating young children with acute gastroenteritis. No evidence of hyponatremia was found after patient received LSORS. LSORS afforded more efficacious therapy than STORS.

Tumor amplified protein expression therapy: Salmonella as a tumor-selective protein delivery vector

Attenuated strains of Salmonella typhimurium, VNP20009 and YS7212, when injected systemically to tumor-bearing mice, accumulated preferentially in tumors at levels at least 200-fold and, more commonly, 1000-fold greater than in other normal tissues. This selectivity occurred in subcutaneously implanted murine tumors, including B16F10 melanoma, M27 lung carcinoma, and colon 38 carcinoma. The preferential accumulation was also manifested in animals bearing human tumor xenografts, including Lox, C8186, DLD1, SW620, HCT116, HTB177, DU145, MDA-MB-231, and Caki. Four to five days after a single IV injection of 1 x 10(6) colony-forming unit (cfu)/mouse, we routinely detected VNP20009 proliferation and accumulation at levels ranging from 1 x 10(8) to 2 x 10(9) cfu/g tumor. The amount of VNP20009 accumulated in the liver ranged from 3 x 10(4) to 2 x 10(6) cfu/g. The distribution of Salmonella in tumors was homogenous; YS7212 could be detected from the periphery to the interior portion of the tumors. Using mice with various immunodeficiencies, we also discovered the same preferential accumulation of Salmonella in tumors implanted in these mice. The use of Salmonella as a protein delivery vector was shown by IV administration of the bacteria expressing either green fluorescent protein (GFP) or cytosine deaminase (CD) into tumor-bearing mice. GFP and CD were detected in tumors, but not in livers, taken from mice inoculated with Salmonella carrying these genes. Bacteria accumulation and CD expression persisted in the tumors for up to 14 days after a single bolus IV administration of bacteria to tumor-bearing mice.

Influence of erythropoietin treatment on gonadotropic hormone levels and sexual function in male uremic patients

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether levels of sex hormones and sexual function differ in renal failure patients with and without uremia and the effect of treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifteen males with chronic renal failure who were not receiving hemodialysis and 25 male renal failure patients with uremia who were undergoing hemodialysis were enrolled before and after rhuEPO therapy. Fifteen male volunteers matched for age and weight were also studied. Levels of various blood biochemicals were measured in all patients before and 1 week after rhuEPO treatment. Sexual function was also studied in all patients before and 6 months after rhuEPO treatment.

RESULTS

The control group had significantly higher levels of testosterone (6.21 +/- 1.21 ng/ml) and hematocrit (Hct) (43.2 +/- 2.1%) and significantly lower levels of prolactin (5.27 +/- 1.21 ng/ml), follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH) (7.51 +/- 2.36 mIU/ml) and leutinizing hormone (LH) (4.23 +/- 2.10 mIU/ml) than the two patient groups (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Patients with renal failure only had significantly lower levels of testosterone and Hct (2.54 +/- 0.53 ng/ml and 21.4 +/- 1.4%, respectively) than those with uremia (3.65 +/- 0.52 ng/ml and 24.3 +/- 2.5%, respectively; p < 0.001 for both comparisons). After rhuEPO therapy, the testosterone and Hct levels of the two patient groups did not reach the level of the control subjects (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). Similarly, the levels of prolactin, FSH and LH were significantly higher in both patient groups than those of control subjects after rhuEPO therapy (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). However, after rhuEPO therapy, significant increases in testosterone and Hct levels were found in both patient groups (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). Sexual function was also markedly improved in the hemodialysis patient group. While 20/25 (80%) male hemodialysis patients reported improved sexual function after rhuEPO treatment, only 3/15 (20%) chronic renal failure patients reported improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with advanced uremia, rhuEPO therapy may result in improved gonadotropic hormone levels and sexual function. Good dialysis quality may contribute to the increase in the incidence of patients with better sexual function.

A Novel mRNA-cDNA interference phenomenon for silencing bcl-2 expression in human LNCaP cells

The templates required for inducing posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) effects have been investigated in human prostate cancer LNCaP cells. Transfection of a mRNA-cDNA hybrid construct was found to result in a relatively long-term interference of specific gene expression. Androgen-stimulated expression of bcl-2 has been reported to increase the tumorigenic and metastatic potentials of human prostate cancer LNCaP cells, as well as their resistance to many apoptotic stimuli. The addition of bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotides, however, restored apoptosis. Our studies demonstrate gene silencing effects of the mRNA-cDNA transfection that is similar to those of PTGS/RNAi in this in vitro prostate cancer cell model. A potential RNA-directed RNA polymerase activity was also detected which is alpha-amanitin-sensitive. These findings indicate that a novel gene silencing system may exist in mammalian cells.

Laparoscopic closure of patent canal of Nuck for female indirect inguinal hernia

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of concomitant laparoscopic closure of the patent canal of Nuck in treatment of indirect inguinal hernias in women.

DESIGN

Prospective clinical trial (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

University-associated tertiary care referral center.

PATIENTS

Six women scheduled for laparoscopy for gynecologic indications. Intervention. Concomitant simple closure of the patent canal of Nuck from the peritoneal cavity during laparoscopic surgery.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Inguinal hernias were repaired in all six patients, with no recurrence.

CONCLUSION

l Laparoscopic closure of the patent canal of Nuck is an easy, safe, and effective treatment of indirect inguinal hernias in women. (J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 8(1):143-146, 2001)