Effect of carnitine supplementation on cardiac function in hemodialyzed children

Thirteen carnitine-deficient children (mean age, 16.1 ±2.56 years) on a three-times-weekly hemodialysis program for at least 1 year, and 11 healthy age matched children were involved in the study. All the patients had stable blood pressure and hemoglobin (Hb) levels with a maintenance dose of erythropoetin and none were digitalized. The total carnitine (TC) and free carnitine (FC) plasma levels were sampled prior to hemodialysis (HD) before and after 3 months of carnitine supplementation. A free carnitine (FC) to acylcarnitine (AC) ratio less than 4 was defined as carnitine deficiency. Intravenous L-carnitine was injected at a dose of 20–4.0 mg/kg three times weekly at the end of each dialysis session for a 3-month period. Echocardiographic examination was performed the day following HD, before and after carnitine treatment. Systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle, including the ejection fraction, were measured. Almost all the parameters were significantly different in controls and hemodiaiyzed patients. In carnitine-deficient hemodiaiyzed patients. 3 months of L-carnitine supplementation resulted in a significant increase in blood carnitine levels and the FC/AC ratio, but this was not associated with any significant improvement of cardiac function. Furthermore no significant changes were observed in plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol or other lipoprotein parameters before or after carnitine supplementation. Although there was a moderate increase in mean hematocrit (Hct) and Hb levels, these also did not reach statistically significant levels. These results suggest that the 3 months of carnitine supplementation is not sufficient to ameliorate cardiac function or increase Hb levels in children.     

CDKN2A promoter methylation is related to the tumor location and histological subtype and associated with Helicobacter pylori flaA(+) strains in gastric adenocarcinomas

Alves MKS, Lima VP, Ferrasi AC, Rodrigues MA, de Moura Campos Pardini MI, Rabenhorst SHB. CDKN2A promoter methylation is related to the tumor location and histological subtype and associated with Helicobacter pylori flaA(+) strains in gastric adenocarcinomas. APMIS 2010; 118: 297–307. Promoter hypermethylation of CDKN2A (p16^INK4A protein) is the main mechanism of gene inactivation. However, its association with Helicobacter pylori infection is a controversial issue. Therefore, we examined a series of gastric adenocarcinomas to assess the association between p16^INK4A inactivation and H. pylori genotype (vacA, cagA, cagE, virB11 and flaA) according to the location and histological subtype of the tumors. p16^INK4A expression and CDKN2A promoter methylation were found in 77 gastric adenocarcinoma samples by immunohistochemistry and methylation‐specific PCR, respectively. Helicobacter pylori infection and genotype were determined by PCR. A strong negative correlation between immunostaining and CDKN2A promoter region methylation was found. In diffuse subtype tumors, the inactivation of p16^INK4A by promoter methylation was unique in noncardia tumors (p = 0.022). In addition, H. pylori‐bearing flaA was associated with non‐methylation tumors (p = 0.008) and H. pylori strain bearing cagA or vacAs1m1 genes but without flaA was associated with methylated tumors (p = 0.022 and 0.003, respectively). Inactivation of p16^INK4A in intestinal and diffuse subtypes showed distinct carcinogenic pathways, depending on the tumor location. Moreover, the process of methylation of the CDKN2A promoter seems to depend on the H. pylori genotype. The present data suggest that there is a differential influence and relevance of H. pylori genotype in gastric cancer development.     

Immune Response to Haemophilus influenzae Type b Vaccination in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Adult chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis are at an increased risk of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease due to the lack of functionally active anti-Hib antibodies. The pediatric Hib polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine is highly immunogenic in these patients and can provide protection against invasive Hib infection for at least 1 year.     

rhBMP-2对骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖与粘附的影响

目的：探讨人重组骨形态发生蛋白(rhBMP)一2对骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖与粘附的影响。方法：体外分离与培养骨骼肌卫星细胞，分别用0、50、100、500、1000ng/ml的rhBMP-2诱导培养基培养48h。利用MTT法测定细胞增殖能力的变化，通过荧光法测定接种后1h的粘附细胞率。结果：rhBMP-2可促进骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖，这种作用从BMP浓度为500ng/ml即可表现出来，并随着浓度的增加而越发明显。在rhBMP-2作用下骨骼肌卫星细胞的粘附率增高，在500ng/ml的浓度时达最高，但当BMP浓度进一步增加时，细胞粘附率却不再增加。结论：rhBMP-2可促进骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖，增强其粘附特性。     

The prognostic significance of post-infarction angina pectoris and the effect of verapamil on the incidence of angina pectoris and prognosis

The prognostic sign of angina pectoris and the effect of interventionwith verapamil on the incidence of angina pectoris were studiedin patients recovering from myocardial infarction and includedin the Danish Verapamil Infarction Trial II. During the secondweek after admission patients were double-blindly randomizedto treatment with verapamil 360 mg. day^–1 or placebo.Treatment was continued for up to 18 months. At discharge anginapectoris was reported in 11% of 869 patients randomized to verapamiland in 12% of 888 randomized to placebo (ns). One month afterdischarge a significantly increase in the prevalance of anginapectoris was reported in both the verapamil (33%) (P<0·001)and the placebo groups (39%) (P <0·001). The one monthprevalence of angina pectoris (P=0·03) and the 18 monthsoverall incidence of angina pectoris (P= 0·002) wereboth .sigificant lower in the verapamil group compared withplacebo. Stable angina pectoris during the first month of follow-upwas a significant predictor of major events (i.e. death or reinfarction)(hazard ratio = 1·45; 95% confidence limits: 1·101·89). As verapamil significantly reduced the incidenceof angina pectoris during daily activities, and thereby thenumber of patients at high risk, the beneficial effect of verapamilin reducing major events in patients recovering from myocardialinfarction is likely to be due to abolishing myocardial ischaemia.     

Prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among Korean adults

Background and Aim: Differences in the prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) between Eastern and Western populations are primarily attributable to differences in definitions and biased population selection. Thus, the aim of the present study was to accurately determine the actual prevalence of NAFLD by sonography and to characterize the risk factors for NAFLD. Methods: The present cross‐sectional study was performed with data obtained from 6648 subjects, all of whom were older than 20 years of age (3530 men and 3118 women). The term ‘non‐drinker’ was applied to men who consumed less than 30 g alcohol/day and to women who consumed less than 20 g alcohol/day. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease was defined as a sonographically detected fatty liver in the absence of viral hepatitis in a non‐drinker. Results: Of the 1613 subjects who were diagnosed with sonographic fatty liver, 1240 were non‐drinkers and had no viral hepatitis. Overall, the unadjusted and age‐adjusted prevalences of NAFLD were 18.7% (23% in men, 13.7% in women) and 16.1% (21.6% in men, 11.2% in women), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that several risk factors were profoundly associated with the prevalence of NAFLD, including obesity, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in both genders, as well as age, menopausal status and estrogen medication in women only. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the prevalence of NAFLD in Korean adults, according to sonographic surveys, is comparable to that seen in more developed countries. From the perspective of increasing obesity, the high prevalence rates noted in the study may herald an increased burden of chronic liver disease in the Korean population.     

Optical monitoring of stress-related changes in the brain tissues and vessels associated with hemorrhagic stroke in newborn rats

Stress is a major factor for a risk of cerebrovascular catastrophes. Studying of mechanisms underlying stress-related brain-injures in neonates is crucial for development of strategy to prevent of neonatal stroke. Here, using a model of sound-stress-induced intracranial hemorrhages in newborn rats and optical methods, we found that cerebral veins are more sensitive to the deleterious effect of stress than arteries and microvessels. The development of venous insufficiency with decreased blood outflow from the brain accompanied by hypoxia, reduction of complexity of venous blood flow and high production of beta-arrestin-1 are possible mechanisms responsible for a risk of neonatal hemorrhagic stroke.OCIS codes: (170.0170) Medical optics and biotechnology, (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging, (170.1470) Blood or tissue constituent monitoring, (170.2655) Functional monitoring and imaging     

慢性重型乙型肝炎Th1／Th2平衡状态与预后关系的研究

目的研究慢性重型乙型肝炎Th1／Th2类细胞因子的水平及其对预后的影响。方法采集112例慢性重型乙型肝炎患者外周血,以30例慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者和30名健康体检者作为对照,应用ELISA法检测IL-4和IFN-γ水平,荧光PCR法检测HBVDNA载量,分析重型肝炎患者不同分期细胞因子水平以及与HBVDNA载量及短期预后的关系。结果慢性重型乙型肝炎患者外周血IL-4、IFN-γ水平和Th1／Th2比值明显高于CHB患者和健康体检者（z值分别为8．968,10．004和26．067,P值分别为0．009,0．007和0．000）;晚期重型肝炎患者的IL-4水平明显高于早、中期患者（z值分别为3．672和3．158,P值分别为0．000和0．002）,但Th1／Th2比值低于早、中期患者（Z值分别为3．161和2．166,P值分别为0．002和0．030）;不同HBVDNA复制水平的重型肝炎患者IL4、IFN-γ及Th1／Th2比值差异无统计学意义（z值分别为4．431,2．626和0．140,P值分别为0．219,0．403和0．987）;但患者外周血IL4浓度越高,12周的病死率越高。结论Th1／Th2失衡导致重型肝炎的发生,随着病情加重,Th1／Th2比值下降,提示短期预后不良。