CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS AND THE USE OF DIURETIC AND ACE INHIBITOR THERAPY IN SEVERE HEART FAILURE

The underlying cause of heart failure should be established, where possible. In particular the failure to respond to diuretic and vasodilator therapy requires careful evaluation.     

Establishing high‐quality reference values for nerve conduction studies: A report from the normative data task force of the American Association Of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Introduction: There are not uniform standards for nerve conduction testing across the United States. The objective of this study is to present a set of methodologically sound criteria to evaluate the literature for the purpose of identifying high‐quality normative nerve conduction studies (NCS) suitable for widespread use. Methods: The Normative Data Task Force (NDTF) was formed to review published studies on methodological issues related to NCS. A set of criteria was then developed to evaluate the literature. These criteria and their rationale are described. Results: We identified 7 key issues that reflect high quality in NCS. For each issue, specific review criteria were developed. Conclusion: Rigorous criteria enable identification of high‐quality studies dealing with nerve conduction reference values. This represents the first step toward the overarching goal of recommending NCS techniques and reference values for electrodiagnostic medicine. Muscle Nerve 54 : 366–370, 2016     

Dqβ polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to felty's syndrome

We used an oligonucleotide probe specific for a polymorphic sequence in the HLA-DQβ gene to investigate the role of DQ polymorphism in genetic susceptibility to Felty's syndrome (FS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The sequence of this gene was identified from a complementary DNA library derived from an RA patient's B lymphoblastoid cell line. With this probe, we studied the prevalence of the specific DQβ allele in DR4 positive FS patients, RA patients, and normal control subjects. Significantly more FS patients (17 of 25) showed hybridization with this oligonucleotide probe, compared with the number of DR4 positive non-FS RA patients (7 of 23) and normal controls (7 of 21). The findings indicate that genes linked to the DQ region are important in determining susceptibility to FS.     

帕罗西汀对皮质酮抑制成年大鼠海马细胞增殖的调制作用(英文)

目的慢性糖皮质激素治疗可能导致认知和情感变化,这或许是由于糖皮质激素对海马神经发生及细胞增殖的抑制作用造成。帕罗西汀是一种选择性血清素重摄取抑制剂,临床常用作减轻抑郁症状,近几年来发现它能促进海马神经发生。本研究探讨帕罗西汀与慢性糖皮质激素的相互作用。方法成年大鼠被分成四组,分别给予芝麻油、皮质酮、帕罗西汀或皮质酮和帕罗西汀十四天。溴脱氧尿嘧啶核苷(5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine,BrdU)免疫组化法被用于定量齿状回的细胞增殖。结果皮质酮抑制了海马的细胞增殖,帕罗西汀增加了海马的细胞增殖。同时给药组还显示帕罗西汀能逆转皮质酮的抑制作用。结论本研究结果对防止海马在类固醇治疗以后的损害或许有临床意义。     

Immunological response to Helicobacter pylori among healthy volunteers in Agbor,Nigeria

ObjectiveTo determine Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) immunologically.MethodThe seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was determined by ELISA technique in 380 individuals who gave informed consent, comprising 180 males (47.4%) and 200 females (52.6%) in Agbor, Nigeria. 124 (27.4%) of the subjects lived in the rural communities while 276 (72.6%) lived in the urban areas of Agbor. They were aged 1 to over 70 yr [(mean age±SD)=(39±9. 42) yr]. Five milliliter of clotted blood was obtained from each subject for specific HP-IgG antibodies.ResultsAntibodies to H. pylori were detected in serum of 159 males (88.3%) and 182 females (91.0%). This was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). A total of 341 (89.7±21.4%) subjects presented anti-H. pylori antibodies. The prevalence of H. pylori increased with age from 14.8% in age group 1–9 yr to 100% in age group 30-39 yr and 60–69 yr. At above 70 yr, the seroprevalence decreased to 93.3%.ConclusionsThe prevalence of H. pylori in Agbor is very high among adults while comparatively low among children. Since a lot of factors have been attributed to affect the rate of infection, increased standard of living and improved public health measures are encouraged and studies on the development and administration of an effective vaccine is recommended.     

Overexpression of p53 in hepatocellular carcinomas: A clinicopathological and prognostic correlation

Abstract Overexpression of the p53 tumour suppressor gene is one of the most common abnormalities in primary human cancers and appears to be a result of point mutation within a highly conserved region of the gene with subsequent encoding for a mutant, more stable protein. In this study, 71 surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were examined to study the expression of the p53 gene, its relation with clinicopathological parameters and its prognostic significance. Using immunohistochemical detection for mutant p53 protein with monoclonal antibody PAb1801, p53 overexpression was found in 22 tumours (31%) but in none of the non-tumorous liver specimens. Overexpression of p53 was more frequent in tumours with poor cellular differentiation ( P = 0.01), in tumours > 5 cm in diameter ( P = 0.05), and in those with giant cells present ( P = 0.03) and, less significantly, of massive type of Eggel's classification ( P = 0.06). It did not have any significant correlation with hepatitis B or C status, background liver disease or serum α-fetoprotein levels, nor was it related to tumour invasiveness (venous permeation, direct liver invasion and tumour microsatellite formation). In addition, the presence of p53 mutant protein did not influence tumour recurrence or patients' survival rates. The data suggested that p53 mutation in HCC was associated with a later stage of oncogenesis. However, it was not apparently related to tumour invasiveness/aggressiveness and prognosis.