BACKGROUND & AIMS: :A new method for measuring gentamicin in liposomes fluorometrically is described. The assay is based on the reaction between the amino groups in the gentamicin molecule and o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA), under basic pH conditions; the product's fluorescence can be read directly on a simple fluorimeter. The effects of several factors (time of reaction, volume of the OPA reagent, and product stability) were investigated. The standard curve was linear in the concentration range of 0.5-4.0microg, showing an excellent determination coefficient of r(2)=0.99. Additionally, the influence of different liposomal lipids on gentamicin determination was tested. Liposomal lipids containing no free amino groups (PC, Chol, DOTAP) have no influence on the reaction when present in the reaction mixture. In contrast, amino groups containing lipid (SA) showed intense method interference. Therefore, a method of lipid extraction was adapted to remove undesired lipids. The described method was successfully utilised during 2 years of liposomal gentamicin experiments.

背景与目标： ：描述了一种通过荧光法测定脂质体中庆大霉素的新方法。该测定基于庆大霉素分子中的氨基与邻苯二甲醛（OPA）在碱性pH条件下的反应；产品的荧光可以在简单的荧光计上直接读取。研究了几个因素的影响（反应时间，OPA试剂的体积和产品稳定性）。标准曲线在0.5-4.0microg的浓度范围内是线性的，显示出极好的测定系数r（2）= 0.99。另外，测试了不同脂质体脂质对庆大霉素测定的影响。当存在于反应混合物中时，不含游离氨基的脂质体脂质（PC，Chol，DOTAP）对反应没有影响。相反，含脂质（SA）的氨基表现出强烈的方法干扰。因此，脂质提取的方法适用于去除不需要的脂质。所描述的方法在庆大霉素脂质体实验中成功使用了2年。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Extensive literatures have shown significant trend of progressive electrical changes according to the proliferative characteristics of breast epithelial cells. Physiologists also further postulated that malignant transformation resulted from sustained depolarization and a failure of the cell to repolarize after cell division, making the area where cancer develops relatively depolarized when compared to their non-dividing or resting counterparts. In this paper, we present a new approach, the Biofield Diagnostic System (BDS), which might have the potential to augment the process of diagnosing breast cancer. This technique was based on the efficacy of analysing skin surface electrical potentials for the differential diagnosis of breast abnormalities. We developed a female breast model, which was close to the actual, by considering the breast as a hemisphere in supine condition with various layers of unequal thickness. Isotropic homogeneous conductivity was assigned to each of these compartments and the volume conductor problem was solved using finite element method to determine the potential distribution developed due to a dipole source. Furthermore, four important parameters were identified and analysis of variance (ANOVA, Yates' method) was performed using design (n = number of parameters, 4). The effect and importance of these parameters were analysed. The Taguchi method was further used to optimise the parameters in order to ensure that the signal from the tumour is maximum as compared to the noise from other factors. The Taguchi method used proved that probes' source strength, tumour size and location of tumours have great effect on the surface potential field. For best results on the breast surface, while having the biggest possible tumour size, low amplitudes of current should be applied nearest to the breast surface.

背景与目标： ：大量文献显示，根据乳腺上皮细胞的增殖特性，进行性电变化的显着趋势。生理学家还进一步假设，恶性转化是由于持续的去极化和细胞分裂后细胞无法重新极化所致，因此与非分裂或静止状态的癌症相比，癌症发展的区域相对去极化了。在本文中，我们提出了一种新的方法，即Biofield Diagnostic System（BDS），它可能具有增强乳腺癌诊断过程的潜力。该技术基于分析皮肤表面电势以鉴别诊断乳房异常的功效。我们通过将乳房视作处于仰卧状态的半球，且各层厚度不相等，从而开发出了接近实际的女性乳房模型。各向同性的各向同性电导率分配给这些隔室，并使用有限元方法解决了体积导体问题，以确定由于偶极子源而产生的电势分布。此外，确定了四个重要参数，并使用设计进行了方差分析（ANOVA，Yates方法）（n =参数数量4）。分析了这些参数的作用和重要性。 Taguchi方法进一步用于优化参数，以确保与其他因素产生的噪声相比，来自肿瘤的信号最大。使用的Taguchi方法证明了探针的源强度，肿瘤大小和肿瘤位置对表面电势场有很大的影响。为了在乳腺表面获得最佳效果，同时应尽可能增大肿瘤的大小，应在最靠近乳腺表面的地方施加较小的电流。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In a context of automation of cryo-electron microscopy, we developed a novel method for improving visibility of diffraction rings in the power spectra of cryo-electron micrographs of vitreous ice (without carbon film or high concentration of diffracting material). We used these enhanced spectra to semi-automatically detect and remove micrographs and/or local areas introducing errors in the global 3D map (drifted and charged areas) or those unable to increase global signal-to-noise ratio (non-diffracting areas). Our strategy also allows a detection of micrographs/areas with a strong astigmatism. These images should be removed when using algorithms that do not correct astigmatism. Our sorting method is simple and fast since it uses the normalized cross-correlation between enhanced spectra and their copies rotated by 90 degrees. It owes its success mainly to the novel pre-processing of power spectra. The improved visibility also allows an easier visual check of accuracy of sorting. We show that our algorithm can even improve the visibility of diffraction rings of cryo-electron micrographs of pure water. Moreover, we show that this visibility depends strongly on ice thickness. This algorithm is implemented in the Xmipp (open-source image processing package) and is freely available for implementation in any other software package.

背景与目标： ：在低温电子显微镜自动化的背景下，我们开发了一种新颖的方法，用于改善玻璃冰（无碳膜或高浓度衍射材料）的低温电子显微镜照片的功率谱中衍射环的可见性。我们使用这些增强的光谱来半自动检测和移除显微照片和/或局部区域，从而在全局3D地图（漂移和带电区域）或无法增加全局信噪比（非衍射区域）的区域引入误差。我们的策略还允许检测具有强烈散光的显微照片/区域。当使用无法校正像散的算法时，应删除这些图像。我们的排序方法简单而快速，因为它使用了增强频谱与其旋转90度的副本之间的归一化互相关。它的成功主要归功于新颖的功率谱预处理。改进的可见性还可以使目视检查的准确性更加容易。我们证明了我们的算法甚至可以提高纯水冷冻电子显微照片的衍射环的可见性。此外，我们证明了这种能见度在很大程度上取决于冰的厚度。该算法在Xmipp（开源图像处理软件包）中实现，可免费用于任何其他软件包中。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Collapse of the nasal vestibule during inspiration is a frequently encountered symptom, often caused by weak or medially displaced lateral crura in the lower lateral cartilages. Numerous techniques are available for lateralizing and strengthening the lateral crura using cartilage grafts or suture techniques. In most cases, they involve an external rhinoplasty approach or additional incisions. An elegant endonasal method for widening and strengthening the lateral component of the nasal valve area is described herein. The basis of the procedure is a permanent submucosal spanning suture between the piriform aperture and the distal part of the lower lateral cartilage. The effect of this technique is 2-fold. First, it provides superolateral rotation of the lateral crura, increasing the cross-sectional area, and second, the spanning suture provides additional support for the lateral wall of the nasal vestibule.

背景与目标： ：在吸气过程中鼻前庭塌陷是一种常见的症状，通常是由下侧软骨的内侧软小或内侧移位引起的。使用软骨移植物或缝合技术，可以使用多种技术来使外侧结骨侧向化和加固。在大多数情况下，它们涉及外部隆鼻方法或其他切口。本文描述了用于扩大和加强鼻瓣区域的侧向成分的优雅的鼻内方法。手术的基础是在梨状小孔和下部外侧软骨的远端之间的永久性粘膜下跨缝线。此技术的效果是2倍。首先，它提供了外侧小腿的上外侧旋转，增加了横截面积，其次，跨接缝线为鼻前庭的侧壁提供了额外的支撑。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Malfunction of the SLC26A4 protein leads to Pendred syndrome, characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, often associated with mild thyroid dysfunction and goiter. It is generally assumed that SLC26A4 acts as a chloride/anion exchanger, which in the thyroid gland transports iodide, and in the inner ear contributes to the conditioning of the endolymphatic fluid. Here we describe a fast fluorometric method able to be used to functionally scrutinize SLC26A4 and its mutants described in Pendred syndrome. The validation of the method was done by functionally characterizing the chloride/iodide transport of SLC26A4, and a mutant, i.e. SLC26A4(S28R), which we previously described in a patient with sensorineural hearing loss, hypothyroidism and goiter. Using the fluorometric method we describe here we can continuously monitor and quantify the iodide or chloride amounts transported by the cells, and we found that the transport capability of the SLC26A4(S28R) mutant protein is markedly reduced if compared to wild-type SLC26A4.

背景与目标： SLC26A4蛋白的功能异常会导致Pendred综合征，其特征是感觉神经性听力丧失，通常伴有轻度甲状腺功能障碍和甲状腺肿。通常认为SLC26A4充当氯离子/阴离子交换剂，在甲状腺中运输碘化物，而在内耳中则有助于调节内淋巴液。在这里，我们描述了一种快速的荧光分析方法，该方法可用于对SLC26A4及其突变体中描述的Pendred综合征进行功能检查。该方法的验证是通过功能上表征SLC26A4的氯化物/碘化物转运以及突变体即SLC26A4（S28R）的功能来完成的，我们先前在患有感音神经性听力减退，甲状腺功能减退和甲状腺肿大的患者中描述了该突变体。使用此处描述的荧光法，我们可以连续监测和定量细胞转运的碘化物或氯化物的量，并且我们发现，与野生型SLC26A4相比，SLC26A4（S28R）突变蛋白的转运能力显着降低。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The unique role of the EEG alpha rhythm in different states of cortical activity is still debated. The main theories regarding alpha function posit either sensory processing or attention allocation as the main processes governing its modulation. Closing and opening eyes, a well-known manipulation of the alpha rhythm, could be regarded as attention allocation from inward to outward focus though during light is also accompanied by visual change. To disentangle the effects of attention allocation and sensory visual input on alpha modulation, 14 healthy subjects were asked to open and close their eyes during conditions of light and of complete darkness while simultaneous recordings of EEG and fMRI were acquired. Thus, during complete darkness the eyes-open condition is not related to visual input but only to attention allocation, allowing direct examination of its role in alpha modulation. A data-driven ridge regression classifier was applied to the EEG data in order to ascertain the contribution of the alpha rhythm to eyes-open/eyes-closed inference in both lighting conditions. Classifier results revealed significant alpha contribution during both light and dark conditions, suggesting that alpha rhythm modulation is closely linked to the change in the direction of attention regardless of the presence of visual sensory input. Furthermore, fMRI activation maps derived from an alpha modulation time-course during the complete darkness condition exhibited a right frontal cortical network associated with attention allocation. These findings support the importance of top-down processes such as attention allocation to alpha rhythm modulation, possibly as a prerequisite to its known bottom-up processing of sensory input.

背景与目标： ：大脑皮层活动的不同状态中的脑电图阿尔法节律的独特作用仍在争论中。有关阿尔法功能的主要理论将感觉处理或注意力分配作为控制其调制的主要过程。闭眼和睁眼是一种众所周知的阿尔法节奏控制方法，尽管在光照过程中还伴随着视觉变化，但可以将其视为从内向外的注意力分配。为了弄清注意力分配和感觉视觉输入对alpha调制的影响，要求14名健康受试者在明亮和完全黑暗的条件下睁开并闭上眼睛，同时获取EEG和fMRI的同步记录。因此，在完全黑暗的情况下，睁开眼睛的条件与视觉输入无关，而仅与注意力分配有关，从而可以直接检查其在alpha调制中的作用。将数据驱动的岭回归分类器应用于EEG数据，以确定在两种光照条件下阿尔法节律对睁眼/闭眼推断的贡献。分类器的结果表明，在明亮和黑暗条件下，阿尔法贡献都很大，这表明阿尔法节奏调节与注意力方向的变化紧密相关，而与视觉感官输入无关。此外，在完全黑暗的条件下，从α调制时程导出的fMRI激活图显示了与注意力分配相关的右额叶皮层网络。这些发现支持自上而下的过程的重要性，例如将注意力分配到阿尔法节奏调节上，这可能是其已知的自下而上的感觉输入处理的先决条件。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: AIM:To identify the changes of mitochondrial protein expression in diabetic renal parenchyma and to characterize their molecular functions and biological processes in diabetes. METHODS:Mitochondrial proteins extracted from renal parenchyma mitochondria of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and normal rats were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS:Eleven proteins from 533 visualized protein spots displayed significant different expressions in mitochondria of diabetic kidneys compared with those in normal ones. Among these altered proteins, two proteins with the most obvious changes in protein expression were identified as alpha-2u globulin (mature protein, named A2) and its proteolytically modified form (named A2-fragment) respectively. These proteins were found in mitochondria of male rat renal parenchyma and were proved to be down-regulated in diabetic rats simultaneously. CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that down-regulation of alpha-2u globulin may be associated with an abnormal β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids during diabetes. The decreased expression of A2-fragment in renal mitochondria of diabetic nephropathy may reduce fatty acid β-oxidation, which leads to a diminished energy supply from mitochondria to kidney tissue and the deposition of a large number of fatty acids in the kidney, ultimately causing and aggravating kidney damage. In conclusion, these findings may be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.

背景与目标： 目的：确定糖尿病肾实质中线粒体蛋白表达的变化，并对其在糖尿病中的分子功能和生物学过程进行表征。
方法：采用二维聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离从链脲佐菌素诱发的糖尿病大鼠和正常大鼠的肾实质线粒体中提取的线粒体蛋白，并通过基质辅助激光解吸/电离串联时间质谱法进行鉴定。
结果：533个可视化蛋白斑点中的11种蛋白在糖尿病肾线粒体中的表达与正常肾脏相比明显不同。在这些改变的蛋白质中，两个蛋白质表达变化最明显的蛋白质分别被鉴定为alpha-2u球蛋白（成熟蛋白质，称为A2）及其蛋白水解修饰形式（称为A2片段）。这些蛋白在雄性大鼠肾实质的线粒体中发现，并被证明在糖尿病大鼠中同时被下调。
结论：我们的结果表明，糖尿病患者中α-2u球蛋白的下调可能与长链脂肪酸的β-氧化异常有关。糖尿病肾病肾脏线粒体中A2片段的表达降低可能会降低脂肪酸β氧化，从而导致线粒体向肾脏组织的能量供应减少以及大量脂肪酸在肾脏中的沉积，最终导致和加重肾脏损害。总之，这些发现可能有助于理解糖尿病性肾病的分子机制。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Determining effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for specific disease conditions or particular patient groups is a difficult issue that necessitates investigation because of the complicated personalized manifestations in real-world patients and the individualized combination therapies prescribed in clinical settings. In this study, a multistage analysis method that integrates propensity case matching, complex network analysis, and herb set enrichment analysis was proposed to identify effective herb prescriptions for particular diseases (e.g., insomnia). First, propensity case matching was applied to match clinical cases. Then, core network extraction and herb set enrichment were combined to detect core effective herb prescriptions. Effectiveness-based mutual information was used to detect strong herb-symptom relationships. This method was applied on a TCM clinical data set with 955 patients collected from well-designed observational studies. Results revealed that groups of herb prescriptions with higher effectiveness rates (76.9% vs. 42.8% for matched samples; 94.2% vs. 84.9% for all samples) compared with the original prescriptions were found. Particular patient groups with symptom manifestations were also identified to help investigate the indications of the effective herb prescriptions.

背景与目标： 由于在现实世界中患者中复杂的个性化表现以及临床环境中规定的个体化联合疗法，为特定疾病或特定患者群体确定有效的中药（TCM）治疗是一个棘手的问题，因此有必要进行研究。在这项研究中，提出了一种综合了倾向病例匹配，复杂网络分析和草药集富集分析的多阶段分析方法，以识别针对特定疾病（例如失眠）的有效草药处方。首先，应用倾向病例匹配来匹配临床病例。然后，将核心网络提取和草药集富集相结合，以检测核心有效草药处方。基于效果的互信息用于检测强烈的草药症状症状。该方法应用于从精心设计的观察性研究中收集的955例患者的中医临床数据集。结果表明，与原始处方相比，发现了具有更高功效率的草药处方组（匹配样品的有效率分别为76.9％和42.8％；所有样品的有效率分别为94.2％和84.9％）。还确定了具有症状表现的特定患者组，以帮助调查有效草药处方的适应症。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The present work investigated the effects of hydrothermal treatment (HTT) of Tamarix ramosissima by determination of sugar and inhibitor formation in the liquid fraction, and chemical and morphological changes of the pretreated solid material coupled with an evaluation of enzymatic hydrolysis. HTT was carried out in a batch reactor system at a maximal temperature (TMAX 180-240 °C) and evaluated for severities logRo ranging from 2.40 to 4.17. The liquid fractions were analyzed by HPLC, GPC, and GC-MS. The morphology and composition of the solid residues were characterized using an array of techniques, such as SEM, XRD, BET surface area, and CP/MAS (13)C NMR. Using a variety of tools, we have developed a better understanding of how HTT process affects biomass structure and cellulose properties that impact on its digestibility. These results provided new insights into the factors limiting enzymatic digestibility and mechanism of biomass deconstruction during hydrothermal process.

背景与目标： ：本工作通过确定糖和液体部分中抑制剂的形成，预处理固体物质的化学和形态变化以及酶水解的评估，研究了Ta柳的水热处理（HTT）的效果。 HTT在最高温度（TMAX 180-240°C）的间歇反应器系统中进行，评估的严重度logRo在2.40至4.17范围内。通过HPLC，GPC和GC-MS分析液体级分。使用一系列技术（例如SEM，XRD，BET表面积和CP / MAS（13）C NMR）表征固体残留物的形态和组成。通过使用多种工具，我们对HTT工艺如何影响生物质结构和影响其消化率的纤维素特性有了更好的了解。这些结果为限制酶消化率的因素和水热过程中生物质解构的机理提供了新的见解。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We describe a rapid particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay for albumin in urine. Intra- and interassay CVs were less than 5% and less than 10%, respectively, the detection limit is 2 mg/L, and the working range extends to 200 mg/L. Mean analytical recovery of albumin added to centrifuged urines was 100% (SD 10.6%), and, when results were compared with those by the Pharmacia RIA, the correlation coefficient was 0.99. The working reagents are stable for at least six months; thus this assay is suited for both batch and urgent analysis.

背景与目标： ：我们描述了尿中白蛋白的快速颗粒增强比浊免疫测定法。批内和批间CV分别小于5％和小于10％，检出限为2 mg / L，工作范围扩展至200 mg / L。添加到离心尿液中的白蛋白的平均分析回收率为100％（标准差为10.6％），当将结果与Pharmacia RIA的结果进行比较时，相关系数为0.99。工作试剂稳定至少六个月；因此，该分析方法适合批量分析和紧急分析。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In cementless total hip arthroplasty, long-term implant stability is achieved by bone ingrowth. The strength of the new bond gradually increases in time, due to bone maturation and progression of ingrowth. In finite element simulations, osseointegration generally is implemented as an instant change in the mechanical behavior of the implant-bone interface, although this is a simplified interpretation of the bone ingrowth process. The aim of the present study was to build on previous bone ingrowth simulations and propose a new methodology to simulate bone ingrowth as a time-dependent process. We developed an algorithm to calculate the strength of the local implant-bone bond based of the magnitude of interface micromotions and gaps in time. Our algorithm was subsequently tested in multiple hip reconstructions in which the bone quality and implant-bone contact area were varied. The results of the simulations showed that in the ideal situation (good bone quality and no interface gaps), 91% of implant area could achieve ingrowth, while in the worst case only 17% of implant area showed ingrowth. The initial contact area had a significant effect on ingrowth, overruling the effect of variations in bone quality. The progression of ingrowth had a stabilizing effect on adjacent regions, especially in the high contact area cases. Further development and validation of the presented algorithm requires more information on the nature of the relation between the ingrowth rate and the magnitude of micromotions and gap.

背景与目标： ：在非骨水泥全髋关节置换术中，骨向内生长可实现长期的植入物稳定性。由于骨骼成熟和向内生长，新结合的强度会随着时间逐渐增加。在有限元模拟中，骨整合通常是植入物-骨界面机械行为的即时变化，尽管这是对骨长入过程的简化解释。本研究的目的是在以前的骨骼长入模拟的基础上，提出一种新的方法来模拟骨骼长入作为一个与时间有关的过程。我们开发了一种算法，可以根据界面微运动的大小和时间间隔来计算局部植入物-骨结合的强度。我们的算法随后在多种髋关节重建术中进行了测试，在这些重建术中，骨骼质量和植入物与骨的接触面积均发生了变化。仿真结果表明，在理想情况下（良好的骨骼质量和无界面间隙），91％的植入物区域可以实现向内生长，而在最坏的情况下，只有17％的植入物区域可以向内生长。最初的接触面积对内生长有显着影响，但不影响骨质变化的影响。向内生长对邻近区域具有稳定作用，尤其是在高接触面​​积的情况下。所提出算法的进一步开发和验证需要关于长入率与微动和间隙大小之间关系的性质的更多信息。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Families must make decisions about organ donation for a loved one during intensely emotional circumstances in the hospital, where support from others is crucial to their coping. Research about families' experiences during the decision-making process regarding donating their loved ones' organs has shown that quality of hospital care and receiving psychosocial support are important factors influencing their decision. Typically, a donation coordinator from the local organ procurement organization approaches the family about the option of donation, whereas the role of medical and nursing staff is to convey diagnostic and prognostic information to the family. Currently, no requirement is in place for training of professional staff in communication skills for approaching and interacting with families about organ donation. This article discusses a simulated training method in empathic communication used for supporting families who are approached about organ donation. This innovative method can be adapted to and should be tested with professional audiences.

背景与目标： ：在医院情绪激动的情况下，家庭必须为亲人做出器官捐赠的决策，在这种情况下，他人的支持对他们的应对至关重要。有关家庭决策过程中有关捐赠亲人器官的经验的研究表明，医院护理质量和接受社会心理支持是影响其决策的重要因素。通常，当地器官采购组织的捐赠协调员会向家庭询问捐赠的选择，而医护人员的作用是向家庭传达诊断和预后信息。目前，没有要求对专业人员进行有关与器官捐赠有关的沟通技巧的培训，以使其与家人接触和互动。本文讨论了一种用于移情交流的模拟训练方法，该方法用于支持那些接受器官捐赠的家庭。这种创新方法可以适应专业观众，并应经过专业观众的测试。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: AIM:To develop a simple and accurate method for quantifying 8-isoprostane in plasma by employing a combination of two-step solid-phase extraction of samples and a commercially available ELISA kit, and by this method to examine the effects of drinking and smoking habits against the levels of plasma 8-isoprostane in healthy Japanese volunteers. METHODS:Plasma 8-isoprostane was extracted with ODS gel suspension followed by NH(2) Sep-Pak column. The 8-isoprostane fractions were assayed using a commercially available ELISA kit. We measured plasma 8-isoprostane levels in 157 healthy Japanese volunteers divided into three groups (64 non-habitual drinkers, 56 moderate drinkers and 37 habitual drinkers) according to their alcohol consumption per week. Genotypes of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) were also determined to investigate the plasma 8-isoprostane levels with reference to drinking habits. In addition, the plasma 8-isoprostane levels of 96 non-smokers and 61 smokers from the same subjects were compared. RESULTS:Our method fulfilled all the requirements for use in routine clinical assays with respect to sensitivity, intra- and inter-assay reproducibility, accuracy and dynamic assay range. Significant increases of plasma 8-isoprostane levels were observed in female habitual drinkers when compared with those of non-habitual drinkers (t = 5.494, P<0.0001) as well as moderate drinkers (t = 3.542, P<0.005), and 8-isoprostane levels were also significantly different between ALDH2*2/1 and ALDH2*1/1 in the female habitual drinkers (t = 6.930, P<0.0001), suggesting that excessive drinking of alcohol may increase oxidization stress, especially in females. On the contrary, no significant difference of the plasma 8-isoprostane levels was observed between non-smokers and smokers. CONCLUSION:Our present method was proved to be a simple and accurate tool for measuring plasma 8-isoprostane. However, the clinical utility of plasma 8-isoprostane for drinking and smoking habits was limited since elevated 8-isoprostane levels were observed in female heavy drinkers, and no association was found between smokers and nonsmokers.

背景与目标： 目的：通过结合两步固相萃取样品和市售ELISA试剂盒，开发一种简单而准确的定量血浆中8-异前列腺素的方法，并以此方法检查饮酒和吸烟习惯的影响健康的日本志愿者中血浆8-异前列腺素水平的变化。
方法：用ODS凝胶悬浮液，然后用NH（2）Sep-Pak柱提取血浆8-异前列腺素。使用市售ELISA试剂盒测定8-异前列腺素级分。我们根据每周的酒精摄入量，对157名健康的日本志愿者的血浆8-异前列腺素水平进行了测量，这些志愿者分为三组（64名非习惯性饮酒者，56名中度饮酒者和37名习惯性饮酒者）。还确定了醛脱氢酶2（ALDH2）的基因型，以参考饮酒习惯研究血浆8-异前列腺素水平。此外，比较了来自同一受试者的96名非吸烟者和61名吸烟者的血浆8-异前列腺素水平。
结果：我们的方法满足了常规临床测定中灵敏度，测定内和测定间重现性，准确性和动态测定范围的所有要求。与非惯常饮酒者（t = 5.494，P <0.0001）和中度饮酒者（t = 3.542，P <0.005）和8-习惯饮酒者相比，女性惯常饮酒者血浆8-异前列腺素水平显着增加。在女性习惯性饮酒者中，ALDH2 * 2/1和ALDH2 * 1/1之间的异前列腺素水平也存在显着差异（t = 6.930，P <0.0001），这表明过量饮酒可能会增加氧化应激，尤其是女性。相反，在非吸烟者和吸烟者之间未观察到血浆8-异前列腺素水平的显着差异。
结论：我们的现有方法被证明是一种简单而准确的测量血浆8-异前列腺素的工具。但是，血浆8-异前列腺素在饮酒和吸烟习惯中的临床应用受到限制，因为在女性大量饮酒者中观察到8-异前列腺素水平升高，并且在吸烟者和不吸烟者之间未发现关联。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Individuals with HIV disease often must adhere to complex medication regimens. To date, regimen complexity has not been examined in the literature using standardized procedures incorporating all important elements of antiretroviral (ARV) regimens. OBJECTIVE:This article presents a novel method of quantifying regimen complexity using objective criteria addressing the factors that may complicate adherence to ARV regimens. METHODS:Part 1 of this article describes the development of the Antiretroviral Regimen Complexity (ARC) Index scoring system. Based on input from pediatric and adult patients, caregivers of pediatric patients, and health care professionals, this comprehensive system includes the number of medications, dosing schedules, administration methods, special instructions, and required preparations associated with ARV regimens. Weights are applied for each of these factors to produce an overall score representing the regimen's level of complexity. Part 2 of this article presents reliability and validity data for the system. RESULTS:The ARC Index demonstrates excellent test-retest and interrater reliability as well as strong construct and discriminant validity. An on-line version of this system minimizes computation errors. CONCLUSIONS:Although modifications may be necessary for patients requiring nonstandard dosing instructions, preliminary evidence supports the utility of this measure as a reliable and valid indicator of the complexity of antiretroviral treatment regimens.

背景与目标： 背景：艾滋病毒感染者通常必须遵守复杂的药物治疗方案。迄今为止，文献中尚未使用纳入抗逆转录病毒（ARV）方案所有重要要素的标准化程序来检查方案的复杂性。
目的：本文提出了一种新的量化方案复杂性的方法，该方法使用客观标准解决了可能使遵守ARV方案复杂化的因素。
方法：本文的第1部分描述了抗逆转录病毒药物复杂性（ARC）指数评分系统的开发。基于小儿和成年患者，小儿患者的看护者以及医疗保健专业人员的输入，此综合系统包括药物数量，给药方案，给药方法，特殊说明以及与抗逆转录病毒疗法相关的所需制剂。将权重应用于这些因素中的每一个，以产生代表方案复杂程度的总分。本文的第2部分介绍了系统的可靠性和有效性数据。
结果：ARC指数显示出优异的重测性和跨度可靠性，以及强大的构造和判别效度。该系统的在线版本最大程度地减少了计算错误。
结论：尽管对于需要非标准剂量指导的患者可能需要进行修改，但初步证据支持该措施可作为抗逆转录病毒治疗方案复杂性的可靠且有效的指标。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:Our purpose was to determine whether the incidence of postoperative endometritis and wound infection is associated with the method of placental removal at the time of cesarean section.

STUDY DESIGN:Parturients undergoing cesarean delivery were prospectively randomized to have the placenta removed manually or spontaneously. Patients were excluded from participation if they had received intrapartum prophylactic antibiotics or had been determined to have chorioamnionitis. After delivery of the infant women in the manual group had the placenta extracted by the primary surgeon, whereas women in the spontaneous group had the placenta delivered by gentle traction on the umbilical cord. All study subjects received perioperative prophylactic antibiotics. The primary outcome variable was a postcesarean infection, defined as postecsarean endometritis or wound cellulitis requiring drainage and antibiotic therapy.

RESULTS:A total of 333 women were enrolled in the investigation, with 165 assigned to the manual removal group and 168 allocated to have spontaneous removal. There were no statistically significant differences in mean gestational age, frequency or duration of ruptured membranes, frequency or duration of labor, or mean number of vaginal examinations between the two study groups. Postoperative infections occurred in 25 of 168 (15%) women in the spontaneous delivery group compared with 44 of 165 (27%) women in which the placenta was manually extracted (relative risk 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 0.9, p = 0.01). Subset analysis of patients delivered with ruptured membranes similarly demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative infections with spontaneous placental removal compared with manual extraction (20% vs. 38%, relative risk 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 0.9, p = 0.02). There was a similar trend toward a reduction in postdelivery infections associated with spontaneous placental removal in women with intact membranes; however, this difference did not attain statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS:Spontaneous delivery of the placenta after cesarean delivery is associated with a decrease in the incidence of postcesarean infections.

背景与目标： 目的：我们的目的是确定剖宫产时子宫内膜炎和伤口感染的发生率是否与胎盘切除方法有关。

研究设计< / strong>：接受剖腹产的产妇前瞻性随机分组，以手动或自发去除胎盘。如果患者接受了产前预防性抗生素或已确定患有绒膜羊膜炎，则将其排除在研究对象之外。婴儿分娩后，手工组的妇女由主治医师取出胎盘，而自发组的妇女则通过在脐带上轻轻牵引而分娩了胎盘。所有研究对象均接受围手术期预防性抗生素治疗。主要结局变量为剖宫产后感染，定义为剖宫产后子宫内膜炎或伤口蜂窝织炎，需要引流和抗生素治疗。

结果：该研究共纳入333名妇女，其中165名分配给手动删除组，并分配168个自发删除。在两个研究组之间，平均胎龄，胎膜破裂的频率或持续时间，分娩的频率或持续时间，或阴道检查的平均次数在统计学上没有显着差异。自发分娩组中168名女性中有25名（15％）发生了术后感染，而人工抽取胎盘的165名女性中有44名（27％）发生了术后感染（相对危险度0.6，95％置信区间0.4至0.9，p = 0.01 ）。与手工提取相比，对膜破裂患者的亚组分析显示，自发性胎盘切除术术后感染的发生率有统计学意义的降低（20％比38％，相对危险度0.5，95％置信区间0.3到0.9，p = 0.02）。具有完好的胎膜的妇女，自发去除胎盘相关的分娩后感染也有类似的趋势。但是，这种差异没有统计学意义。

结论：剖宫产后胎盘的自然分娩与剖宫产后感染的发生率降低有关。

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