Peritoneal dialysis patient survival: a comparison between a Swedish and a Korean centre.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patient mortality remains high, and this high mortality may be due to many factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, old age, co-morbid diseases, malnutrition, low residual renal function (RRF) and a high peritoneal transport rate have been shown to influence survival, but the relative importance of these factors may differ between different patient populations. Besides, centre practice patterns may differ between centres and may influence patient survival. In addition, the literature suggests that dialysis patient survival may be better in Asian than in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The influence of centre and patient characteristics on patient survival was investigated in 132 Korean and 106 Swedish incident PD patients, who underwent initial biochemical measurements and assessment of adequacy of dialysis, nutritional status, RRF and peritoneal transport characteristics. RESULTS: At the start of PD, Korean patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes, peritoneal Kt/V(urea), peritoneal creatinine clearance and peritoneal fluid removal, and lower body mass index, RRF and dialysate to plasma creatinine concentration ratio (D/P Cr) compared with Swedish patients. Significantly more patients from Korea were placed on temporary haemodialysis before PD (100 out of 132) when compared with Swedish patients (21 out of 106). During the follow-up, there was a significantly higher rate of transfer to other units in Korea and a significantly higher rate of kidney transplantation in Sweden. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall patient survival did not differ and relative risk for death was also not different between the two centres even after adjustment for age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, RRF and D/P Cr. On Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age, diabetes, RRF and D/P Cr were found to be independent predictors of mortality in the combined cohort of patients. While age, diabetes and D/P Cr were independent predictors of mortality in Korean patients, age and RRF independently predicted mortality in Swedish patients. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in centre and patient characteristics, we were unable to confirm a survival advantage for Korean over Swedish PD patients. The results of this study suggest that the reported difference in survival between Asian and Caucasian dialysis patients may have been due, in part, to differences in centre and patient characteristics rather than to race as such. The genetic influence on patient characteristics remains, however, to be elucidated.     

三氧化二砷对CO2气腹下小鼠肿瘤腹壁戳口种植影响的实验研究

目的 研究腹腔内注射三氧化二砷(arsenic trioxide,As2O3)对小鼠CO2气腹下肝癌H22转移的影响. 方法 昆明鼠40只(清洁级),中腹部穿刺置入1 mm套管针,自套管针注入1×106肿瘤细胞后,建立CO2气腹,压力8 mm Hg,时间30 min.术后随机分4组,每组10只,分别腹腔内注入生理盐水,1 ml;As2O3(2 mg/kg),1 ml;As2O3(4 mg/kg),1 ml;As2O3(4mg/kg)+肝素(10 U/ml),共1 ml.气腹后第3、7天测量肿瘤黏附因子(CD44)、血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)的变化;比较各组生存状态、腹围、体重变化及转移瘤直径.结果 气腹后第3、7天,与对照组相比,各As2O3组CD44、VEGF表达均明显降低(P＜0.05).2个高剂量组的气腹后第3天VEGF、第7天CD44比低剂量组降低明显(P＜0.05).4组戳口种植率分别为9/10、8/10、7/10、6/10,差异无显著性(x2=2.667,P=0.446). 结论 As2O3对CO2气腹腹腔镜肿瘤生长转移有抑制作用.     

Genetics in multiple sclerosis: past and future perspectives

The enormous development in the field of molecular genetics during the last decades has lead to optimism concerning the possibilities for identifying the causes of multiple sclerosis (MS) through genetic studies. However, we have learned that dense mapping of large sample sets is needed, which only can be achieved through large collaborative studies. The contribution from each yet unidentified gene is probably weaker than that of the well established human leukocyte antigen association. The ultimate goal of the search for susceptibility genes in MS is to develop diagnostic tools and better treatments that can prevent or reduce the development of symptoms of this often devastating disease.     

Kidney Transplantation in Patients with Antibodies against Donor HLA Class II

The immunologic risk associated with donor-specific antibodies (DSA) against Class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of KTx when DSA was detected only against HLA Class II. To isolate the impact of anti-Class II DSA, we retrospectively analyzed 12 KTx recipients who at baseline had a positive B-cell flow cytometric crossmatch (FXM) and a negative T-cell FXM. Using alloantibody specification analysis, 58.3% (7/12) had DSA against donor Class II and 41.7% had no demonstrable DSA. Biopsy-proven AMR occurred in 57% (4/7) in the Class II(+) group and 0% in the Class II(-) group (p > 0.05). Peritubular capillaries stained positive for C4d in 86% (6/7) of the Class II(+) patients and in 40% (2/5) of the Class II(-) patients (p > 0.05). One patient in the Class II(+) group lost their graft at 3 months to accelerated transplant glomerulopathy, while all other grafts were functioning 3-37 months posttransplant despite the persistence of anti-Class II DSA. We conclude that KTx recipients with clearly defined anti-Class II DSA are at risk for humoral rejection suggesting that desensitization and/or close posttransplant monitoring may be needed to prevent AMR.     

社区人群痛风危险因素的病例对照研究

目的 探讨社区人群(20岁以上)痛风的危险因素。方法 采用1：3病例对照研究方法，进行单因素与多因素与多因素logistic回归分析。结果 经单因素筛选和多因素分析，在P=0．05水平，高尿酸(OR=8．601)、肥胖(OR=2．910)、伴有高血压病史(OR=2．330)是痛风的独立危险因素。结论 痛风是一种在遗传基础上的与环境和生活方式有关的疾病，改变生活方式、控制相关疾病可能预防或减少高尿酸血症的发生，进而减少痛风的发生。     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

人胎冠状动脉原位杂交c-myc和jun原癌基因表达

目的研究原癌基因c-myc和jun在人胎冠状动脉发育过程中的表达与平滑肌细胞增殖的关系.方法用原位杂交方法检测,胎龄分别为16周、22周(因治疗需要引产)的胎儿和意外死亡的足月胎儿冠状动脉前降支c-myc mRNA和jun mRNA的表达水平.杂交反应产物用图像分析仪(MIAS300)作定量分析.结果C-myc mRNA原位杂交反应产物与被测血管区域面积的百分比在16周、22周和足月胎儿分别是70、56和10;Jun mRNA的杂交信反应产物与被测血管区域面积的百分比在这三个时期分别是68、53和8.两个原癌基因在不同阶段的表达均具有显著性差异.结论本实验首次报道c-myc和jun在人胎冠状动脉发育过程中平滑肌的表达图型,c-myc和jun在胎儿冠状动脉平滑肌细胞增殖和内膜的形成过程中可能具有重要的调控作用.     

bFGF和硫糖铝局部应用促扩张术方法研究

目的探讨碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)不同剂量、用药方法对扩张组织的影响.方法以白色家猪为实验动物,采用持续恒压扩张技术,观察不同剂量和不同给药时间,bFGF和硫糖铝对扩张组织的影响及组织结构变化.结果扩张术同时每日2次局部应用bFGF 9AU/cm2 硫糖铝100μg/ml,共7 d,浸于明胶海绵上缓慢持续释放对扩张组织的影响最明显,效果最佳,扩张器内实际注液量、扩张所获得的皮肤净增面积明显增加,皮瓣回缩率降低.表皮细胞层数增多,胶原纤维、弹力纤维、成纤维细胞密度和毛细血管密度显著增高.药量增加效果未随之增加.结论持续恒压扩张术时合用bF-GF 9AU/cm2 硫糖铝100μg/ml,每日2次注药浸入明胶海绵持续缓慢释放效果最佳.     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在实验性硬脑膜重建中的应用

[目的] 探讨碱性成纤维细胞生长因子( bFGF)在实验性自体筋膜硬脑膜重建中的应用价值.[方法]取 SD大鼠 35只,分成 5组.其中 A组 3只,直接将背部筋膜覆盖在硬膜外, B组 5只,采用自体筋膜硬脑膜重建模型,通过免疫组织化学方法观察这两组大鼠自体筋膜硬脑膜移植的愈合过程及细胞因子 bFGF在其中的表达; C组、 D组、 E组各 9只,分别进行自体筋膜硬脑膜重建, D组加用外源性 bFGF, E组仅用明胶海绵,通过脑脊液漏研究、免疫组织化学方法研究外源性 bFGF对自体筋膜重建硬脑膜愈合过程的影响并用 RT- PCR方法研究内源性 bFGF mRNA的表达情况.[结果] 大鼠自体筋膜移植硬脑膜部位 bFGF表达明显; C、 D、 E组大鼠重建硬脑膜抵抗脑脊液漏压力值( mmH2O)分别为 311± 75, 497± 153, 338± 88,Ⅰ型胶原纤维表达值分别为 4.9± 0.8, 10.9± 1.6, 5.3± 0.9, D组均好于对照组( P< 0.05);内源性 bFGF mRNA的表达没有明显变化.[结论] 在自体筋膜移植硬脑膜的愈合过程中 bFGF可能起了重要的作用;外源性 bFGF处理的大鼠其移植筋膜愈合要好于对照组.     

Relaxin down-regulates renal fibroblast function and promotes matrix remodelling in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Renal fibroblasts are important effector cells in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, with experimental antifibrotic strategies focusing on the functional down-regulation of these cells. Several experimental models of fibrosis have provided evidence for the effectiveness of the polypeptide hormone relaxin as a potential antifibrotic agent. This study was conducted to further elucidate the antifibrotic mechanisms of relaxin on renal fibroblasts in vitro. METHODS: Rat cortical fibroblasts were obtained from outgrowth culture of renal tissue isolated from kidneys 3 days post-unilateral ureteric obstruction and constituted 100% of cells studied. A relaxin radio-receptor assay was used to establish binding of relaxin to renal fibroblasts in vitro. Functional studies then examined the effects of H2 relaxin (0, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml) on fibroblast kinetics, expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), total collagen synthesis, collagenase production and collagen-I lattice contraction. CTGF mRNA expression was also measured by northern analysis. RESULTS: H2 relaxin bound with high affinity to rat renal fibroblasts, but receptor numbers were low. Consistent with its previously reported bimodal effect, transforming growth factor (TGF-beta 1) reduced fibroblast proliferation, an effect abrogated by H2 relaxin. Fibroblasts exposed to H2 relaxin (100 ng/ml) for 24 h demonstrated decreased immunostaining for alpha-SMA and reduced alpha-SMA protein expression compared with controls. There was a trend for a relaxin-mediated reduction in total collagen synthesis and alpha 1(I) mRNA expression with large dose-related increases in collagenase protein expression being observed. TGF-beta 1-stimulated collagen-I lattice contraction was significantly inhibited following co-incubation with 100 ng/ml relaxin. Incremental doses of H2 relaxin had no significant effect on CTGF mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that the antifibrotic effects of relaxin involve down-regulation of fibroblast activity, increase in collagenase synthesis and restructuring of collagen-I lattices, which are consistent with its known physiological role of matrix remodelling. Although there appears to be an interaction between TGF-beta 1 and H2 relaxin, this does not appear to involve a reduction in CTGF mRNA expression.