Status and trend of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan, December, 1991.

From May 1, 1985 to December 31, 1991, a total of 4,962,707 serum samples from 8 population groups in Taiwan were tested for anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (anti-HIV-1). In total, 256 samples were seropositive; of these individuals, 43 developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): 29 were homosexuals; 5 were hemophiliacs; 8 were heterosexuals and 1 was of unknown risk. Although the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and AIDS remains low compared with other countries, since 1988 the increase has been rapid. Before 1977 the majority were homosexuals and hemophiliacs; thereafter the risk groups diversified, with a trend away from homosexuals and hemophiliacs towards heterosexuals and intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs). A few patients have caused serious social problems for the public, health care workers and families. Active community efforts are needed to achieve future success in the control of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan.     

Longitudinal decline in pulmonary function in atopic cough and cough variant asthma

OBJECTIVE: Cough variant asthma and atopic cough are different clinical manifestations of eosinophilic airway inflammation presenting with isolated chronic non-productive cough. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal change in pulmonary function in cough variant asthma and atopic cough. METHODS: Longitudinal change in FEV1 was prospectively examined in 20 patients with cough variant asthma, 14 patients with atopic cough and 271 asymptomatic healthy subjects. All were lifetime non-smokers. Of the 20 cough variant asthma patients, 13 were taking long-term inhaled corticosteroid therapy (ICS) (beclomethasone dipropionate 615 +/- 58 micro g/day) and the other seven were not. Spirometry was taken at first visit, after cough was almost completely relieved on therapy, and at least once every year for 5 or more years afterwards. RESULTS: The slope of longitudinal change in FEV1 was not significantly different among cough variant asthma patients (- 0.029 +/- 0.007/year), atopic cough patients (- 0.021 +/- 0.022/year) and asymptomatic subjects (- 0.028 +/- 0.002 L/year). In patients with cough variant asthma, the slope in patients not taking inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) was 0.032 +/- 0.007 L/year, which was not significantly different from that in patients taking ICS (- 0.027 +/- 0.010 L/year). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary function decline is not greater in cough variant asthma than atopic cough and the normal population, and long-term ICS has no effect on the decline in cough variant asthma.     

Overgrowth of a costochondral graft in reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint.

We report the case of a 3-year-old girl with temporomandibular ankylosis, which was treated with a costochondral graft and required two further resections because the grafted tissue had overgrown.     

隐睾患儿血清FSH、LH、T水平及其临床意义

目的研究隐睾患儿血中促卵泡激素(FSH)、促黄体激素(LID和睾酮(T)激素水平变化,探讨其临床意义及在隐睾症发病中的作用。方法应用化学发光免疫技术检测42例隐睾症和23例斜疝(对照组)患儿血清FSH、LH、T水平。结果单侧隐睾症组和斜疝组之间血清FSH、LH和T水平无显著性差异(P＞0．05)；(2)双侧隐睾组血清FSH水平高于斜疝组,差别有统计学意义(P＜0．05)；单侧隐睾症组血清FSH高于斜疝组,低于双侧隐睾症组,差别无统计学意义(P＞0．05)。结论(1)血清中性激素LH和T水平的变化在隐睾发生中并不起主要作用；(2)血清FSH水平的升高可能反映睾丸功能损害严重程度。     

Low frequency of p53 gene mutation in tumors induced by aflatoxin B1 in nonhuman primates.

Aflatoxin B1 has been suggested as a causative agent for a G to T mutation at codon 249 in the p53 gene in human hepatocellular carcinomas from southern Africa and Qidong in China. To test this hypothesis, nine tumors induced by aflatoxin B1 in nonhuman primates were analyzed for mutations in the p53 gene. These included four hepatocellular carcinomas, two cholangiocarcinomas, a spindle cell carcinoma of the bile duct, a hemangioendothelial sarcoma of the liver, and an osteogenic sarcoma of the tibia. None of the tumors showed changes at the third position of codon 249 by cleavage analysis of the HaeIII enzyme site at codon 249. A point mutation was identified in one hepatocellular carcinoma at the second position of codon 175 (G to T transversion) by sequencing analysis of the four conserved domains (II to V) in the p53 gene. These data suggest that mutations in the p53 gene are not necessary in aflatoxin B1 induced hepatocarcinogenesis in nonhuman primates. The occurrence of mutation in codon 249 of the p53 gene in selective samples of human hepatocellular cancers may indicate involvement of environmental carcinogens other than aflatoxin B1 or that hepatitis B virus-related hepatitis is a prerequisite for aflatoxin B1 induction of G to T transversion in codon 249.     

Prognostic significance of the expression of ras oncogene product in non-small cell lung cancer.

The clinical significance of ras oncogene expression in non-small cell lung cancer was evaluated in 116 surgically treated patients. Archival paraffin sections of the tumors were analyzed immunohistochemically using anti-ras p21 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) rp-35, and p21 staining was correlated with clinicopathologic parameters and survival. Positive reactions (+ and ++) were observed in 72.5% of the adenocarcinomas and 55.6% of the squamous cell carcinomas studied. The T1 tumors showed a ++ reaction less frequently than T2 and T3 tumors (P less than 0.05). Stage I tumors also were less reactive with MoAb rp-35 than tumors in more advanced stages (P less than 0.05). Survival analysis showed that patients with p21-negative tumors had significantly longer survival times (a 5-year survival rate of 64.1%) than those with p21 + tumors (38.0%, P less than 0.05) or those with p21 ++ tumors (11.5%, P less than 0.005). The significant correlation between p21 staining and patient survival was independent of histologic type, stage of disease, tumor or node status, and the resectability of tumors. On Cox's multivariate analysis, p21 staining was a major and independent prognostic determinant of survival. These results suggest that enhanced ras p21 expression may be one of the important biologic and clinical markers indicating the malignant potential of non-small cell lung cancer.     

Alloplastic injectable biomaterials for soft tissue augmentation: a report on two cases with complications associated with a new material (DermaLive) and a review of the literature

A wide variety of biological and alloplastic injectable biomaterials are available for soft tissue augmentation, but the ideal material has not yet been discovered. Biological materials such as collagen and hyaluronan yield temporary results, while injectable alloplasts are apt to cause varying degrees of foreign body reactions that may result in lumps and chronic inflammation.We present two cases (one is the first filed case in the world) of migratory subcutaneous inflammatory masses secondary to injection of acrylic hydrogel (DermaLive), which is an alloplastic biomaterial recently introduced into the market in Europe. Histology revealed foreign body reaction to acrylic hydrogel with granuloma formation containing multinucleated giant cells. Following this, further reports on complications have been reported elsewhere in Europe. The use and development of injectable materials, as well as alternative methods and future directions are reviewed.     

慢性乙型肝炎的中医药生态治疗优势

现代医学的生物、心理与社会医学模式特点之一是对以身心疾病为主的现代疾病的预防和治疗 ,更加注重人体的整体性、强调药物作用的多靶点性 ,即整体调节作用。运用中医学的整体观与辩证论治治疗慢性疾病。如肝病的生态治疗就是发挥绿色天然中药复方的多重综合、双向调节功能 ,调动人体的防御机能 ,强调药物作用的多靶点性及整体调节作用以清除病毒、调节免疫、增强抵抗力、恢复肝功能、防止肝炎的慢性纤维化