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.     

Inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system: a new avenue for atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is thought to be functionally active in atherosclerosis (AS) lesions. Aspirin was found to be a potent inhibitor of the UPS in some tumour studies; however, its effect on AS remains to be demonstrated in vivo. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were placed on a normal diet (N) or on a normal diet with aspirin (NI) or on an atherogenic diet without (H) or with aspirin (HI) for 12 weeks. Proteasome activity, concentrations of plasma lipids and levels of peroxidation were determined. Ubiquitin/ubiquitin-conjugates (Ub), IkappaBalpha, phosphorylated IkappaB (pIkappaBalpha) and p65 were investigated by Western blotting or immunochemistry. RESULTS: Concentrations of plasma lipids and peroxidation levels were higher in H or HI vs. N or NI. Histological analysis showed that atheroma was increased in H. Ub and IkappaBalpha were mainly localised in subendothelium and media vascular smooth muscle cells. Western blots revealed that Ub, IkappaBalpha, and pIkappaBalpha were increased, whereas p65 was lower in HI vs. H. The activity of the 20S proteasome was functionally active in H vs. N, NI or HI, while the 26S proteasome was not affected in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin can attenuate the pathogenesis of atheroma formation, the degradation of IkappaBalpha and pIkappaBalpha, and lower the expression of p65, indicating that its therapeutic effects on AS may be via inhibition of the UPS.     

电针治疗周围性面瘫疗效观察

目的:寻找能提高治疗周围性面瘫疗效的适宜的电针波型.方法:将147例周围性面瘫患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组进行穴位分组,电针波型先用连续波后用疏密波治疗;对照组穴位不分组,并单纯采用连续波治疗.结果:两组的总有效率和痊愈所用时间经统计学处理,差异有非常显著性意义(P＜0.01).结论:在电针治疗周围性面瘫中,将疏密波和连续波配合使用,效果显著优于单纯使用连续波者.     

一种适用于聚合酶链反应的常见念珠菌基因组DNA提取方法的研究

目的介绍一种简单、快速的真菌DNA提取方法,提高真菌DNA提取效率,减少毒性和污染性,以适应临床研究需要。方法同时用溶细胞酶结合Biospin真菌基因组DNA提取试剂盒和十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)法,提取白色念珠菌、热带念珠菌、克柔念珠菌和净平滑念珠菌基因组DNA,用A260/A280的比值检测DNA的纯度并计算质量浓度,同时行聚合酶链反应(PCR)以评价其可靠性。结果溶细胞酶结合Biospin真菌基因组DNA提取试剂成功提取所用真菌基因组DNA,其纯度及质量浓度能满足PCR反应的要求。结论用溶细胞酶结合Biospin真菌基因组DNA提取试剂提取DNA,简单、快速、高效,可用于PCR反应。     

手足口病的预防控制及护理对策

从手足口病概述,流行概况,预防措施、护理对策及健康教育等方面综述了近年来手足口病的流行及护理进展,并阐述了手足口病的预防及健康教育措施.     

五白散胶囊治疗慢性消化道溃疡出血15例观察

目的:观察五白散胶囊治疗慢性消化道出血的疗效.方法:治疗组15例用五白散胶囊治疗,对照组15例用维霉素、果胶铋、止血敏治疗.结果:治疗组总有效率100%,对照组总有效率86.6%,两组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05).结论:五白散胶囊治疗消化道溃疡出血止血功效良好.     

PRO 1000 V3型心电监护仪LCD逆变器的升级及注意事项

介绍了该型心电监护仪黑屏故障的常见原因，对升级前后的LCD逆变器电路作了对比分析，并详细介绍了升级更换的方法和注意事项。     

Histamine and tryptase modulate asthmatic airway smooth muscle GM-CSF and RANTES release.

Degranulating mast cells are increased in the airway smooth muscle (ASM) of asthmatics, where they may influence ASM function. The aim of the present study was to determine whether histamine and tryptase modulate ASM cell granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) release and also to examine which receptors are involved in this release. Confluent, quiescent ASM cells from asthmatic and nonasthmatic donors were treated with histamine (1 microM-100 microM) with and without histamine receptor antagonist pre-treatment, or the protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 agonists tryptase (0.5-5 nM) and SLIGKV (100 and 400 microM). The cells were then stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1beta and/or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (10 ng.mL(-1)) or left unstimulated for 24 h. Release of GM-CSF and RANTES was determined by ELISA and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) measured by enzyme immunoassay. Neither histamine nor tryptase induced ASM GM-CSF or RANTES secretion. However, histamine increased IL-1beta-induced GM-CSF release and markedly reduced TNF-alpha-induced RANTES release by both asthmatic and nonasthmatic cells to a similar extent, but did not modulate PGE(2) release. All changes involved activation of the histamine H1 receptor as they were partially or fully blocked by chlorpheniramine, but not ranitidine. Tryptase, via its proteolytic activity, also potentiated GM-CSF, but not RANTES, release from asthmatic and nonasthmatic ASM cells induced by both cytokines. PAR-2 involvement in the tryptase potentiation was unlikely because SLIGKV had no effect. In conclusion, mast cells, through histamine and tryptase, may locally modulate airway smooth muscle-induced inflammation in asthma.