Effects of ascorbic acid on levels of fibronectin, laminin and collagen type 1 in bovine trabecular meshwork in organ culture

Non-invasive evaluation of gastric emptying is generally performed by scintigraphy which is, however, not always applicable and is not suitable for children and child-bearing women. Recently, a new method based on stable isotope breath testing has been introduced in clinical practice i.e., the 13C-octanoic acid breath test. An overview is made here of the current knowledge on this technique with special emphasis on the principle of the test, the mathematics used to analyse the results, and the physiological, pathological, and pharmacological aspects of gastric emptying studied with this new method. Possible pitfalls of the test are also reported.     

Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulation of human trabecular meshwork cell growth

PURPOSE: To demonstrate that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a 28-amino acid neuropeptide, is a growth factor of human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells in culture and in a corneoscleral explant organ culture treated with laser trabeculoplasty (LTP). METHODS: Proliferating human TM cells in cell cultures were incubated with VIP for 20 hours, followed by total cell number determination, using a Coulter counter. The percentage of proliferating TM cells was assessed, using an antibody against the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). To test the growth effect of VIP on TM cells in situ, corneoscleral explants in organ cultures were first treated with argon LTP to initiate TM-cell proliferation and then were exposed to VIP for 48 hours. The mitotic TM cells were demonstrated immunocytochemically, using anti-PCNA in paraffin sections of the explants; and the total number of TM cells was determined after paraffin sections were counterstained by hematoxylin. RESULTS: Vasoactive intestinal peptide dose-dependently stimulated the proliferation of TM cells in cell culture. Treatment with 5 x 10(-10) M VIP resulted in a maximal increase of 40% in cell number. The effect of VIP was blocked by a VIP antagonist. The number of PCNA-stained TM cells and the total cell number in the TM in LTP-treated corneoscleral explants were increased by VIP. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenously applied VIP stimulated the proliferation of human TM cells in subconfluent cultures and in LTP-treated corneoscleral explants. In that LTP has been shown to increase the number of TM cells in situ, the growth stimulatory effect of VIP may help enhance this therapy.     

环糊精在纺织染整加工中应用的新进展

环糊精作为一种环保型助剂，越来越被染整研究者所重视。介绍了环糊精的结构和性质以及包合客体分子的机理；同时介绍了环糊精在染色、后整理、水洗以及印染废水处理中应用的新进展。     

Growth hormone improves body composition, fat utilization, physical strength and agility, and growth in Prader-Willi syndrome: A controlled study

BACKGROUND: Obesity and hypotonia in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are accompanied by abnormal body composition and diminished energy expenditure resembling a growth hormone deficient state. Hypothalamic dysfunction in PWS often includes decreased growth hormone (GH) secretion, suggesting a possible therapeutic role for exogenous GH treatment. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: After 6 months of observation to determine baseline growth rate, and with the use of a 12-month randomized controlled study design, the effects of GH treatment (1 mg/m2/d) on growth, body composition, strength and agility, pulmonary function, resting energy expenditure (REE), and fat utilization were assessed in 54 children with PWS (n = 35 treatment and n = 19 control). Percent body fat and bone mineral density were measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Indirect calorimetry was used to determine REE and to calculate respiratory quotients. RESULTS: Stimulated levels of GH in response to clonidine testing were low in all patients (peak, 2.0 ng/mL). After 12 months, GH-treated subjects showed significantly increased height velocity Z scores (mean, 1.0 1.7 to 4.6 2.9; P <.001), decreased percent body fat (mean, 46.3% 8.4% to 38.3% 10.7%; P <.001), and improved respiratory muscle function, physical strength, and agility (sit-ups, weight-lifts, running speed, and coordination). A significant decline in respiratory quotients occurred during GH therapy (0.81 to 0.77, P <.001), but total REE did not change. CONCLUSIONS: GH treatment of children with PWS accelerated growth, decreased percent body fat, and increased fat oxidation but did not significantly increase total REE. Improvements in respiratory muscle strength, physical strength, and agility also occurred, suggesting that GH treatment may have value in reducing some physical disabilities experienced by children with PWS.     

Peripheral neuropathy in acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans - a late Borrelia manifestation

Clinical and/or neurophysiological signs of peripheral neuropathy were found in 64% of 63 consecutive untreated patients with the late borrelial manifestation acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA). The neuropathy frequency was significantly higher in the patients than in 30 age- and sex-matched control persons of whom 27% had neuropathy findings. The most common neuropathy in ACA was a symmetric distal sensory polyneuropathy. In a subgroup of patients with localized or asymmetric neuropathy, the changes were found more often in extremities with than without visible ACA lesions. Neuropathy symptoms, most often pain and/or paresthesia, were present in 64% of the patients, compared to in 13% of the control persons. Thus, both symptoms and signs of neuropathy were significantly more frequent in patients with untreated ACA than in control subjects.     

Chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer: four systematic meta-analyses of individual patient data from 37 randomized trials. Advanced Ovarian Cancer Trialists' Group

The purpose of this systematic study was to provide an up to date and reliable quantitative summary of the relative benefits of various types of chemotherapy (non-platinum vs platinum, single-agent vs combination and carboplatin vs cisplatin) in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Also, to investigate whether well-defined patient subgroups benefit more or less from cisplatin- or carboplatin-based therapy. Meta-analyses were based on updated individual patient data from all available randomized controlled trials (published and unpublished), including 37 trials, 5667 patients and 4664 deaths. The results suggest that platinum-based chemotherapy is better than non-platinum therapy, show a trend in favour of platinum combinations over single-agent platinum, and suggest that cisplatin and carboplatin are equally effective. There is no good evidence that cisplatin is more or less effective than carboplatin in any particular subgroup of patients.     

Hormone replacement therapy and risk of hip fracture: population based case-control study. The Swedish Hip Fracture Study Group

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative risk of hip fracture associated with postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy including the effect of duration and recency of treatment, the addition of progestins, route of administration, and dose. DESIGN: Population based case-control study. Setting: Six counties in Sweden. SUBJECTS: 1327 women aged 50-81 years with hip fracture and 3262 randomly selected controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Use of hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: Compared with women who had never used hormone replacement therapy, current users had an odds ratio of 0.35 (95 % confidence interval 0.24 to 0.53) for hip fracture and former users had an odds ratio of 0.76 (0.57 to 1.01). For every year of therapy, the overall risk decreased by 6% (3% to 9%): 4% (1% to 8%) for regimens without progestin and 11% (6% to 16%) for those with progestin. Last use between one and five years previously, with a duration of use more than five years, was associated with an odds ratio of 0.27 (0.08 to 0.94). After five years without hormone replacement therapy the protective effect was substantially diminished (-7% to 48%). With current use, an initiation of therapy nine or more years after the menopause gave equally strong reduction in risk for hip fracture as an earlier start. Oestrogen treatment with skin patches gave similar risk estimates as oral regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Recent use of hormone replacement therapy is required for optimum fracture protection, but therapy can be started several years after the menopause. The protective effect increases with duration of use, and an oestrogen-sparing effect is achieved when progestins are included in the regimen.