BACKGROUND & AIMS: The exact mechanism for the decrease in intestinal calcium absorption with age is not yet understood. A decrease with age in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) or a decrease in the intestinal vitamin D receptor (VDR) protein concentration are possible causes. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of age on these factors. Fifty-nine young women age 25-35 years were compared with 41 elderly women age 65-83 years who underwent measurements of VDR, calcium absorption using a 20 mg and 100 mg calcium carrier, and calciotropic hormones. Calcium absorption by both tests was lower in the elderly women compared with the young women (p < 0.05). Serum 1,25(OH)2D and duodenal VDR protein concentration were not significantly different between the two age groups. Serum 1,25(OH)2D correlated with the 20 mg calcium absorption test in both young (r = 0.35, p < 0.007) and elderly women (r = 0.58, p < 0.0001) and with the 100 mg calcium absorption in the elderly (r = 0.32; p < 0.05). VDR did not correlate with calcium absorption in young women or elderly women, nor did VDR correlate with serum 1,25(OH)2D and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. In summary, the decrease in calcium absorption cannot be explained by a decrease in intestinal VDR. The correlation between serum 1,25(OH)2D and both calcium absorption tests only accounts for 12-30% of the variance in the age-related change in the calcium absorption tests. Other factors, not yet understood, are responsible for the decline in calcium absorption with age.

背景与目标： 随着年龄的增长，肠道钙吸收减少的确切机制尚不清楚。血清1,25-二羟基维生素D（1,25（OH）2D）随着年龄的增长而减少或肠道维生素D受体（VDR）蛋白质的浓度降低是可能的原因。这项研究的目的是研究年龄对这些因素的影响。比较了59名年龄在25-35岁之间的年轻女性与41位年龄在65-83岁之间的女性，这些女性进行了VDR测量，使用20 mg和100 mg钙载体的钙吸收量以及亲钙性激素。与年轻女性相比，老年女性的两种测试中的钙吸收均较低（p <0.05）。在两个年龄组之间，血清1,25（OH）2D和十二指肠VDR蛋白浓度无显着差异。血清1,25（OH）2D与年轻（r = 0.35，p <0.007）和老年妇女（r = 0.58，p <0.0001）的20 mg钙吸收测试以及老年人的100 mg钙吸收相关（r ＝ 0.32； p ＜0.05）。 VDR与年轻妇女或老年妇女的钙吸收无关，也不与血清1,25（OH）2D和血清25-羟维生素D相关。 VDR。血清1,25（OH）2D与两种钙吸收测试之间的相关性仅占钙吸收测试中与年龄相关的变化方差的12％至30％。钙吸收随着年龄的增长而下降的其他原因尚不明确。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: CONTEXT:Concern has been raised about the safety of assisted reproduction techniques for the offspring. OBJECTIVES:The objective of the study was to investigate postnatal growth and growth factors in children born after intra-cytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). DESIGN:The study had two cohorts: a population-based longitudinal infant cohort 0-36 months [236 ICSI, 173 IVF, 1530 naturally conceived (NC)], and a cross-sectional child cohort at 5 yr (68 ICSI, 67 IVF, 70 NC). INTERVENTION:Anthropometrical measurements were made at birth, 3, 18, 36 (infant cohort), and 60 months (child cohort), and blood samples were collected at 3 or 60 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3, height, weight, head and abdominal circumference, body mass index, and fat folds were the main outcome measures. RESULTS:Anthropometrical measurements showed no significant differences between ICSI and IVF children and controls in either cohort. However, singleton ICSI girls [3.4 (0.6) kg, P = 0.008] had a slightly lower birth weight than IVF [3.5 (0.5) kg] and NC girls [3.5 (0.5) kg]. Birth weights of singleton boys [3.6 (0.5) kg], twin boys [2.6 (0.6) kg], and twin girls [2.4 (0.5) kg] did not differ between types of conception. In the infant cohort in 3-month-old singletons, serum IGF-I was lower in ICSI [78 (26) ng/ml] than NC boys [94 (27) ng/ml, P < 0.001] and IVF [74 (34) ng/ml], compared with NC girls [93 (43) ng/ml, P = 0.011]. ICSI children were also smaller than their target height (sd score) at 3 yr of age [mean -0.91 (1.2)], compared with NC children [-0.61 (0.9), P = 0.033]. In the child cohort, target height attainment (sd score) and growth factors did not differ among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS:The overall growth pattern of ICSI and IVF children in both cohorts was normal. Our findings of subtle differences in target height attainment and serum IGF-I levels between infants born after assisted reproduction techniques and controls may not be clinically significant. However, these observations indicate that further systematic follow-up of growth and puberty in these children is needed.

背景与目标： 背景：人们对后代辅助生殖技术的安全性表示关注。
目的：本研究的目的是调查胞浆内精子注射（ICSI）和体外受精（IVF）后出生的儿童的出生后生长和生长因子。
设计：该研究有两个队列：一个基于人群的纵向婴儿队列0-36个月[236 ICSI，173 IVF，1530自然受孕（NC）]，以及一个横断面儿童队列，在5年时（68 ICSI，67 IVF ，70 NC）。
干预措施：分别在出生时，3、18、36（婴儿队列）和60个月（儿童队列）进行人体测量，并在3或60个月时采集血样。
主要观察指标：血清IGF-I，IGFBP-3，身高，体重，头围和腹围，体重指数和脂肪褶皱是主要的观察指标。
结果：人体测量结果显示，ICSI和IVF儿童与对照组之间均无显着差异。但是，单身ICSI女孩[3.4（0.6）千克，P = 0.008]的出生体重略低于IVF [3.5（0.5）千克]和NC女孩[3.5（0.5）千克]。单胎男孩[3.6（0.5）千克]，双胞胎男孩[2.6（0.6）千克]和双胞胎女孩[2.4（0.5）千克]的出生体重在不同的受孕类型之间没有差异。在3个月大的单胎婴儿队列中，ICSI的血清IGF-I低于NC男孩[94（27）ng / ml，P <0.001]和IVF [74（ 34）ng / ml]，而NC女生则为[93（43）ng / ml，P = 0.011]。与3岁儿童相比，ICSI儿童在3岁时也小于其目标身高（sd评分）[平均-0.91（1.2）]，而NC儿童则为[-0.61（0.9），P = 0.033]。在儿童队列中，三组之间的目标身高获得（sd得分）和生长因子没有差异。
结论：两组人群ICSI和IVF儿童的总体生长方式均正常。我们在辅助生殖技术和对照后出生的婴儿之间的目标高度获得和血清IGF-I水平细微差异的发现可能在临床上并不重要。但是，这些观察结果表明，需要对这些儿童的生长和青春期进行进一步的系统随访。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVES:There are no direct comparisons of blood glucose values in samples collected with barrier serum tubes (SST) and NaF/potassium oxalate (NaF/KOx) plasma tubes. Collection of samples in SST tubes can offer considerable savings and specimen processing advantages for national level surveys. DESIGN AND METHODS:Serum and plasma samples were collected under 'field conditions' from a single draw of 3692 individuals participating in the Canadian Health Measures Survey. The samples were analyzed retrospectively using the VITROS GLU Slide method (glucose oxidase-based). RESULTS:There was a high rate of hemolysis in the NaF/KOx tubes (86.2%) while hemolysis was infrequently observed with the SST tubes (2%). Comparing only blood draws where no hemolysis was observed in both tubes (n=495; paired t-test) showed no effect of tube type on serum/plasma glucose concentrations. This was also observed when data was restricted to cases when only SST samples were not hemolyzed (n=3546; paired t-test). CONCLUSIONS:These data show that both collection tubes can be used under survey collection and processing conditions to measure glucose with our assay system with no difference in reported results.

背景与目标： 目的：尚无直接比较采用屏障血清试管（SST）和NaF /草酸钾（NaF / KOx）血浆试管收集的样本中血糖值的方法。在SST管中收集样品可以为国家级调查提供大量的节省和样品处理的优势。
设计与方法：在“现场条件”下从参加加拿大卫生措施调查的3692个人中抽取了血清和血浆样品。使用VITROS GLU Slide方法（基于葡萄糖氧化酶）对样品进行回顾性分析。
结果：NaF / KOx管的溶血率很高（86.2％），而SST管的溶血率很少（2％）。仅比较在两个试管中均未观察到溶血的抽血情况（n = 495；配对t检验）显示试管类型对血清/血浆葡萄糖浓度无影响。当数据仅限于仅不对SST样品进行溶血的情况时（n = 3546；配对t检验），也可以观察到这一点。
结论：这些数据表明，在我们的测定系统中，两个收集管均可在调查收集和处理条件下用于测量葡萄糖，报道的结果没有差异。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:To investigate the relationship between the levels of serum complement C1q and the risk and severity of acute ischemic stroke, a total of 154 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 42 healthy volunteers as normal controls were enrolled in the present study. METHODS:According to the onset time of stroke, patients were divided into three groups. Using an immune transmission turbidity method, the levels of serum complement C1q were detected to investigate the relationship between the level of serum complement C1q and the incidence and severity of acute ischemic stroke. The risk factors of these groups were calculated using a conditional logistic regression model. The assessment of neurological function impairment was carried out according to the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Then correlation anal- ysis was carried out between the level of serum complement C1q among patients with acute ischemic stroke and the degree of neurological function impairment. RESULTS:The results showed that the level of serum complement C1q was higher in the ischemic stroke group than in the control group. Using a conditional logistic regression model it was discovered that serum complement C1q was the independent pathogenic factor of cerebral infarction. There also was a decreasing trend in the level of serum complement C1q with the extension of the onset time and an increasing trend in the level of serum complement C1q with the increase in the maximum diameter of infarction volume. CONCLUSIONS:Serum complement C1q is an independent risk factor for acute outbreak of ischemic stroke, whose level is closely related to the outbreak and infarct size and neurological function impairment.

背景与目标： 背景：为了研究血清补体C1q水平与急性缺血性中风的风险和严重程度之间的关系，本研究共纳入154例急性缺血性中风患者和42名健康志愿者作为正常对照。
方法：根据中风的发作时间，将患者分为三组。采用免疫传递浊度法检测血清补体C1q水平，以探讨血清补体C1q水平与急性缺血性脑卒中的发生率和严重程度之间的关系。使用条件逻辑回归模型计算这些组的危险因素。根据美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表对神经功能损害进行评估。然后在急性缺血性卒中患者的血清补体C1q水平与神经功能损害程度之间进行相关分析。
结果：缺血性中风组血清补体C1q水平高于对照组。使用条件逻辑回归模型，发现血清补体C1q是脑梗死的独立致病因素。随着发作时间的延长，血清补体C1q的水平也有降低的趋势，并且随着梗死体积的最大直径的增加，血清补体C1q的水平也有增加的趋势。
结论：血清补体C1q是缺血性卒中急性发作的独立危险因素，其水平与发作，梗死面积和神经功能损害密切相关。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Interleukin-17 (IL-17), which is secreted by Th17 cells, is a proinflammatory cytokine that is implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and plays a role in nonresponse of MS patients to interferon-β (IFN-β) therapy. OBJECTIVES:The purpose of this study was to establish a correlation between nonresponders (NR) and IL-17A serum titers and binding antibodies (BAbs) to IFN-β, as well as to find a correlation between IL-17A serum levels and other features of MS patients. METHODS:Our prospective study included 72 inactive relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients that had been treated for at least 18 months with IFN-β and 15 healthy subjects. We determined the serum levels of IL-17A and of BAbs. IL-17A levels were considered elevated (IL-17A+) if the recorded value was greater than 1.6 pg/ml. RESULTS:Twenty-seven patients (37.5%) were NR and had a significantly higher serum IL-17A level compared to the responders group. Nineteen patients (26.4%) were IL-17A+ and had had a significantly higher number of relapses in the previous year and a higher Expanded Disability Status Score. The majority of IL-17A+ patients were NR and had a shorter MS duration. CONCLUSIONS:RRMS patients with high serum IL-17A levels do not respond well to IFN-β therapy and have shorter MS duration compared to patients with low IL-17A levels. This response is not influenced by the presence of BAbs.

背景与目标： 背景：Th17细胞分泌的白细胞介素17（IL-17）是一种促炎细胞因子，与多发性硬化症（MS）的发病机制有关，并且在MS患者对干扰素-β（IFN-α）无反应中起作用β）疗法。
目的：本研究的目的是建立无应答者（NR）与IL-17A血清滴度和针对IFN-β的结合抗体（BAbs）之间的相关性，以及找出IL-17A血清水平与其他特征之间的相关性MS患者。
方法：我们的前瞻性研究包括72例接受IFN-β治疗至少18个月的非活动性复发缓解型多发性硬化症（RRMS）患者和15名健康受试者。我们确定了IL-17A和BAbs的血清水平。如果记录值大于1.6 pg / ml，则认为IL-17A水平升高（IL-17A）。
结果：27名患者（37.5％）为NR，与应答者组相比，血清IL-17A水平显着更高。 19名患者（26.4％）为IL-17A，在前一年中复发率明显更高，而“扩展残疾状态评分”更高。大多数IL-17A患者为NR，MS病程较短。
结论：与低IL-17A水平的患者相比，血清IL-17A水平高的RRMS患者对IFN-β治疗的反应不佳，MS病程较短。该反应不受BAbs的存在的影响。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) is the major target antigen in primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). Previous studies have evaluated the diagnostic value of serum anti-PLA2R antibody. However, the correlation of serum anti-PLA2R antibody and glomerular PLA2R deposition, and their association with clinical characteristics need to be further evaluated.A total of 136 patients were involved as inception group because serum anti-PLA2R antibody and glomerular PLA2R antigen were simultaneously measured. We examined serum anti-PLA2R antibody by ELISA and glomerular PLA2R deposition by immunofluorescence assay.Positive serum anti-PLA2R antibody and glomerular PLA2R deposition were seen in 58.8% (80/136) and 95.6% (130/136) patients, respectively (P < .001). Proteinuria, serum total protein, serum albumin, serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) had significant differences between patients with serum anti-PLA2R antibody and those without. Serum anti-PLA2R antibody levels were correlated with serum albumin, serum creatinine, eGFR, and proteinuria. Glomerular PLA2R deposition intensities were weakly correlated with proteinuria. Unexpectedly, there was a positive correlation rather than a negative correlation between glomerular PLA2R deposition intensity and eGFR.In conclusion, serum anti-PLA2R antibody is more closely correlated with disease activity and renal function than glomerular PLA2R deposition.

背景与目标： ：M型磷脂酶A2受体（PLA2R）是原发性膜性肾病（PMN）的主要靶抗原。先前的研究已经评估了血清抗PLA2R抗体的诊断价值。然而，血清抗PLA2R抗体与肾小球PLA2R沉积的相关性及其与临床特征的相关性需要进一步评估。由于同时检测了血清抗PLA2R抗体和肾小球PLA2R抗原，因此共有136例患者入组。 。我们通过ELISA检测了血清抗PLA2R抗体，并通过免疫荧光法检测了肾小球PLA2R沉积。分别在58.8％（80/136）和95.6％（130/136）患者中观察到阳性血清抗PLA2R抗体和肾小球PLA2R沉积（P <.001）。蛋白尿，血清总蛋白，血清白蛋白，血清肌酐和估计的肾小球滤过率（eGFR）在有血清抗PLA2R抗体的患者和没有血清抗PLA2R抗体的患者之间有显着差异。血清抗PLA2R抗体水平与血清​​白蛋白，血清肌酐，eGFR和蛋白尿相关。肾小球PLA2R沉积强度与蛋白尿弱相关。出乎意料的是，肾小球PLA2R沉积强度与eGFR之间呈正相关而非负相关。总之，血清抗PLA2R抗体与肾小球PLA2R沉积与疾病活动性和肾功能之间的相关性更高。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Objective: To determine the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on serum levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in rats with 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast tumors. Methods: Twenty five female Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups: normal group (N; neither DMBA-induced nor treated with EA); control group (C; DMBA-induced only); EA 3 days : (DMBA-induced + EA for 3 days); EA 5 days: (DMBA-induced + EA for 5 days); EA 10 days: (DMBA-induced + EA for 10 days) group. Animals were acclimatized from day 1 to day 7. Subcutaneus injections of DMBA 10mg/kg BW was administered every second day, from days 7 to 35. Acupuncture was performed every second day from day 42. Rats were sacrificed on the second day after the last acupuncture, breast tumors excised and stained histological sections were analysed by light microscopy. At sacrifice, blood was extracted from the heart for measurement of serum IFN-γ by ELISA. Results: All of the DMBA-induced rats developed tumors. Electro-acupuncture significantly increased IFN-γ levels in DMBA induced rats, when compared to control group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that EA significantly increases IFN-γ levels in DMBA-induced breast tumors.

背景与目标： ：目的：确定电针治疗对血清中干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）水平的影响
在患有7,12-二甲基苯并（α）蒽（DMBA）诱导的乳腺肿瘤的大鼠中。方法：25名女性Wistar
将大鼠随机分为5组：正常组（N；既不是DMBA诱导的，也不是用EA治疗的）。控制
组（C；仅DMBA诱导）； EA 3天：（DMBA诱导的EA 3天）； EA 5天：（DMBA诱导的EA
5天）; EA 10天：（DMBA诱导的EA 10天）组。从第1天到第7天使动物适应环境。
从第二天到第7天至第35天，皮下注射DMBA 10mg / kg体重。
从第42天起每隔第二天进行一次。最后一次针刺后第二天将大鼠处死，
通过光学显微镜分析切除的肿瘤和染色的组织学切片。牺牲时，血液被抽出
从心脏通过ELISA测定血清IFN-γ。结果：所有DMBA诱导的大鼠均出现肿瘤。
与对照组相比，电针显着增加了DMBA诱导的大鼠的IFN-γ水平。
结论：我们的发现表明，EA可以显着增加DMBA诱导的乳腺肿瘤中的IFN-γ水平。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Dermatophagoides farinae-, ovalbumin- and lactalbumin-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG4, IgA and IgM were evaluated in 161 healthy children [Group 1], 84 children with bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis but without atopic dermatitis [Group 2], and 54 children with atopic dermatitis but without bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis [Group 3]. We also studied D. farinae-, egg-white-, and milk-specific IgE of children with allergic diseases. D. farinae-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG4 and IgA in Groups 2 and 3 increased until 5 years of age and thereafter they remained constant. After 2 years of age, D. farinae-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG4 and IgA in Group 2 were higher than those in Groups 1 and 3. Ovalbumin- and lactalbumin-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG4 and IgA in Groups 2 and 3 increased until 1 year of age and thereafter decreased. Until 1 year of age, ovalbumin- and lactalbumin-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 in Groups 3 were higher than those in Groups 1 and 2. D. farinae-, ovalbumin- and lactalbumin-specific IgM were constant in all ages of all groups. These results suggest that atopic dermatitis in young children is related to food-specific immunoglobulins and that respiratory allergic diseases in older children is related to D. farinae-specific immunoglobulins.

背景与目标： ：在161名健康儿童（第1组），84例支气管哮喘和/或过敏性鼻炎但无特应性皮炎的儿童（第2组）中评估了粉状皮癣，卵白蛋白和乳白蛋白特异性IgG，IgG1，IgG4，IgA和IgM。 54例患特应性皮炎但无支气管哮喘和过敏性鼻炎的儿童[3组]。我们还研究了患有过敏性疾病的儿童的D. farinae，蛋清和牛奶特异性IgE。第2组和第3组中的D. farinae特异性IgG，IgG1，IgG4和IgA升高至5岁，此后保持恒定。 2岁后，第2组的粉虱D. farinae特异性IgG，IgG1，IgG4和IgA高于第1和3组。第2和第3组的卵白蛋白和乳白蛋白特异性IgG，IgG1，IgG4和IgA增加。直到1岁，此后有所减少。直到1岁之前，第3组中卵白蛋白和乳白蛋白特异性IgG，IgG1和IgG4高于第1组和第2组。粉虱，卵白蛋白和乳白蛋白特异性IgM在所有组的所有年龄中均保持不变。 。这些结果表明，幼儿的特应性皮炎与食物特异性免疫球蛋白有关，而年龄较大的儿童的呼吸道过敏性疾病与D. farinae特异性免疫球蛋白有关。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:To explore the prognostic value of the postsurgical half-life (HL) of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). BACKGROUND:There is still a paucity of early surrogate indicators of clinical endpoints after liver resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS:The analysis was based on cohorts of 225 (exploration set) and 117 (validation set) treatment-naïve HCC patients undergoing curative liver resection. We defined 3 categories of AFP HL: early complete resolution of AFP, normal HL, and prolonged HL if the HL exceeded 7 days. Overall, probabilities of recurrence and survival were estimated and compared across the AFP HL categories. RESULTS:In the exploration cohort, 48 patients (21.3%) achieved early AFP complete resolution, 116 (51.6%) had normal HL, and 61 (27.1%) had prolonged HL. Long AFP HL was significantly associated with early postoperative recurrence (P < 0.001), as was microvascular invasion. Early recurrence within 2 years of resection was observed in 59% of the patients with prolonged AFP HL compared with only 29.3% of those with normal AFP HL (P < 0.001). A log-rank test followed by multivariate Cox analysis identified an independent function of prolonged AFP HL in predicting shorter recurrence-free survival and overall survival time after HCC resection (hazard ratios, 2.81 and 3.58; P < 0.001). When AFP HL analysis was applied to the validation cohort, the association between prolonged AFP HL and survival endpoints (hazard ratio, 11.63 and 16.39; P < 0.001) was confirmed.

背景与目标： 目的：探讨血清甲胎蛋白（AFP）的术后半衰期（HL）的预后价值。
背景：肝切除肝细胞癌（HCC）后仍缺乏临床终点的早期替代指标。
方法：该分析基于225例（探索组）和117例（验证组）未进行过根治性肝切除的未接受治疗的HCC患者的分析。我们定义了AFP HL的3个类别：AFP的早期完全消退，正常HL和如果HL超过7天则延长HL。总体而言，估计并比较了AFP HL类别中复发和存活的可能性。
结果：在探索队列中，有48例（21.3％）的患者达到了AFP的早期完全缓解，HL正常的116例（51.6％），HL延长的61例（27.1％）。长期AFP HL与微血管浸润与术后早期复发显着相关（P <0.001）。 AFP HL延长的患者中有59％的患者在切除的2年内出现了早期复发，而AFP HL正常的患者中只有29.3％的患者出现了早期复发（P <0.001）。对数秩检验和随后的多元Cox分析确定了AFP HL延长在预测肝癌切除术后较短的无复发生存期和总生存期方面具有独立的功能（危险比，2.81和3.58； P <0.001）。当将AFP HL分析应用于验证队列时，证实了延长的AFP HL与生存终点之间的关联（危险比：11.63和16.39； P <0.001）。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Serum-free mouse embryo (SFME) cells, derived in medium in which serum is replaced with growth factors and other supplements, display distinctive properties: (i) SFME cells do not lose proliferative potential or show gross chromosomal aberration upon extended culture, (ii) these cells depend on epidermal growth factor for survival; and (iii) SFME cell proliferation is reversibly inhibited by serum. Treatment of SFME cells with serum or transforming growth factor beta led to the appearance of glial fibrillary acidic protein, a specific marker for astrocytes. The appearance of glial fibrillary acidic protein in cultures was reversed upon removal of transforming growth factor beta or serum. Cells with properties similar to SFME cells were also isolated from adult mouse brain. These results suggest a role for transforming growth factor beta in astrocyte differentiation in developing organisms and in response to injury and identify the cell type that has the unusual properties of SFME cells.

背景与目标： ：无血清的小鼠胚胎（SFME）细胞衍生于用生长因子和其他补品替代血清的培养基中，显示出独特的特性：（i）SFME细胞在长期培养后不会丧失增殖潜能或显示总体染色体畸变，（ ii）这些细胞的生存依赖于表皮生长因子； （iii）血清可逆地抑制SFME细胞的增殖。用血清或转化生长因子β处理SFME细胞导致出现神经胶质纤维酸性蛋白（星形胶质细胞的特异性标记物）的出现。去除转化生长因子β或血清后，培养物中胶质原纤维酸性蛋白的出现被逆转。还从成年小鼠脑中分离出具有与SFME细胞相似性质的细胞。这些结果表明，在发育中的生物体中星形胶质细胞分化中转化生长因子β的作用以及对损伤的反应，并鉴定出具有SFME细胞异常特性的细胞类型。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Cholesterol lowering has been shown to be of benefit in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in both patients with established CHD (secondary prevention) and those without (primary prevention). In secondary prevention trials, moderate cholesterol lowering reduced the rate of new events and decreased both morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. In primary prevention, a reduction of cholesterol by 20% has produced a 31% reduction in recurrent coronary morbidity, a 33% reduction in coronary mortality, and 22% less total mortality. The target of therapy is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterolin patients with established CHD, goal LDL is < or = 100 mg/dL. In high-risk patients without established CHD, the target goal for LDL cholesterol is < or = 130 mg/dL. Nondrug measures, bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors all play important roles in cholesterol-lowering therapy.

背景与目标： 胆固醇降低已被证明在既有冠心病（二级预防）和非冠心病（一级预防）患者中均能降低冠心病（CHD）的风险。在二级预防试验中，适度降低胆固醇可降低新事件的发生率，并降低心血管疾病的发病率和死亡率。在一级预防中，降低20％的胆固醇可使复发性冠心病的发病率降低31％，使冠状动脉的死亡率降低33％，总死亡率降低22％。治疗的目标是在患有CHD的患者中使用低密度脂蛋白（LDL）胆固醇，目标LDL为<或= 100 mg / dL。在没有建立冠心病的高危患者中，低密度脂蛋白胆固醇的目标目标是<或= 130 mg / dL。非药物措施，胆汁酸螯合剂，烟酸和3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A（HMG-CoA）还原酶抑制剂均在降低胆固醇的治疗中起着重要作用。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVES:A broad range of phenytoin doses is used in clinical practice, with the final 'maintenance' dose normally determined by trial and error. A common functional polymorphism in the SCN1A gene (one of the genes encoding the drug target) has been previously associated with maximum dose of phenytoin used clinically, and also maximum dose of carbamazepine, another antiepileptic drug with the same drug target. METHODS:We have related variation at the SCN1A IVS5-91 G>A polymorphism to maximum dose and to maintenance dose of phenytoin in 168 patients with epilepsy treated with phenytoin. We also related genotype to phenytoin serum levels at maximum dose and at maintenance dose of phenytoin. We genotyped the polymorphism using an Applied Biosystems Taqman assay. RESULTS:The polymorphism is associated with phenytoin serum concentration at maintenance dose (P=0.03). In a reduced cohort of 71 patients receiving phenytoin monotherapy this association is also significant (P=0.03). Neither association remains significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS:These results are not a replication of the original study. They do, however, support the hypothesis that this polymorphism influences the clinical use of phenytoin. They also demonstrate the utility of using multiple phenotypes in pharmacogenetics studies, particularly when attempting to separate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects. As the SCN1A polymorphism affects phenytoin pharmacodynamics, it is particularly useful to obtain data on serum levels in addition to dose because association of a pharmacodynamic variant may be stronger with serum levels than dose as the serum level may eliminate or reduce pharmacokinetic variability.

背景与目标： 目的：临床实践中广泛使用苯妥英钠剂量，最终的“维持”剂量通常由反复试验确定。 SCN1A基因（编码药物靶标的基因之一）中常见的功能多态性先前已与临床使用的苯妥英钠的最大剂量，以及具有相同药物靶点的另一种抗癫痫药卡马西平的最大剂量相关。
方法：在168例接受苯妥英治疗的癫痫患者中，SCN1A IVS5-91 G> A多态性与苯妥英的最大剂量和维持剂量相关。我们还将基因型与苯妥英最大剂量和维持剂量的苯妥英血清水平相关。我们使用Applied Biosystems Taqman分析对基因多态性进行基因分型。
结果：多态性与维持剂量时苯妥英钠的血清浓度有关（P = 0.03）。在减少的接受苯妥英单药治疗的71名患者中，这一关联也很显着（P = 0.03）。在进行Bonferroni校正以进行多次测试后，这两个关联均不显着。
结论：这些结果不是原始研究的重复。但是，他们确实支持这种多态性影响苯妥英钠临床使用的假设。他们还证明了在药物遗传学研究中使用多种表型的效用，特别是在尝试分离药代动力学和药效学作用时。由于SCN1A多态性会影响苯妥英的药效学，因此获得除剂量外的血清水平数据特别有用，因为药理学变异与血药水平的关联可能比剂量更强，因为血清水平可以消除或降低药代动力学的变异性。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Serum uric acid (SUA) was measured in 512 men and 254 women from two English regions and in 337 men from one Scottish region. Mean SUA levels were the same in the men (5-5 mg/100 ml) and similar in the women (3-9 and 4-1 mg/100 ml). The apparent rarity of gout in Scotsmen cannot be explained by regional differences in SUA levels or in the prevalence of hyperuricaemia (defined as SUA of 7-0 mg/100 ml or over) which was present in 6-6% of the English men and 8% of the Scots. SUA was positively correlated with weight and serum urea, and with age in women, but no variation was found with social class. Body weight was the most important predictor of SUA in both men and women and superior to measurements involving correction for height, such as ponderal index and calculated lean body mass.

背景与目标： 对来自两个英国地区的512名男性和254名女性以及来自一个苏格兰地区的337名男性进行了血清尿酸（SUA）测量。男性的平均SUA水平相同（5-5 mg / 100 ml），女性的相似（3-9和4-1 mg / 100 ml）。在苏格兰人中，痛风的稀有性不能用SUA水平的局部差异或高尿酸血症的流行率（定义为7-0 mg / 100 ml或以上的SUA）发生率来解释，这种情况在6-6％的英国男性和苏格兰人的8％。 SUA与体重和血清尿素以及女性年龄呈正相关，但在社会阶层中未发现差异。在男性和女性中，体重都是SUA的最重要预测指标，并且优于涉及校正身高的测量值，例如，腹部指数和计算出的瘦体重。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Patients taking tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) can experience toxicity or severe side effects. As a rapid and less technically demanding alternative to quantitative serum analysis, most laboratories offer qualitative immunoassays to assist in the evaluation of a suspected TCA overdose. However, the relationship between quantitative serum and qualitative urine levels of TCA-related compounds and their metabolites has not been comprehensively studied. Serum high-performance liquid chromatography results were compared to the qualitative urine results using the Syva Rapid Test and the Biosite Triage. Serum concentrations of amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, and nortriptyline ranging from subtherapeutic to toxic triggered a positive response on both urine immunoassay devices. On the other hand, neither immunoassay uniformly detected clomipramine, even at serum levels greater than the therapeutic range. False positives due to cyclobenzaprine were more common with the Biosite assay. For virtually all positive urine TCA findings, it was not possible to determine whether the positive results corresponded to subtherapeutic, therapeutic, supratherapeutic, or toxic serum concentrations. Because urine immunoassays are the only option for many laboratories analyzing specimens for TCAs (especially in an emergency setting), clinicians must understand the limitations and interpret results in conjunction with clinical findings and/or quantitation of serum levels.

背景与目标： ：服用三环抗抑郁药（TCA）的患者可能会出现毒性或严重的副作用。作为定量血清分析的一种快速且对技术要求不高的替代方法，大多数实验室提供定性免疫测定，以协助评估可疑的TCA过量。但是，尚未对TCA相关化合物及其代谢产物的定量血清与定性尿液水平之间的关系进行全面研究。使用Syva快速测试和Biosite Triage将血清高效液相色谱结果与定性尿液结果进行比较。从亚治疗到有毒的血清阿米替林，地昔帕明，多塞平，丙咪嗪和去甲替林的血清浓度在两种尿液免疫测定装置上均引发阳性反应。另一方面，即使在血清水平大于治疗范围的情况下，也没有一种免疫测定能够一致地检测到氯米帕明。在Biosite分析中，环苯扎林引起的假阳性更为常见。对于几乎所有尿液TCA阳性结果，都无法确定阳性结果是否对应于亚治疗，治疗，超治疗或有毒血清浓度。因为尿液免疫分析是许多实验室分析TCA样本的唯一选择（特别是在紧急情况下），所以临床医生必须了解局限性，并结合临床发现和/或血清水平定量来解释结果。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A mass fragmentographic method of high accuracy for determination of serum urea is described. A fixed amount of [15N2]urea is added to a fixed amount of serum, then the urea is converted into 5,5-diallyl barbituric acid by coupling with diallyl malonic acid diethyl ester. The barbiturate is then transferred from an alkaline water phase into an organic phase containing methyl iodine by ion-pair extraction using tetrabutyl ammonium as the positive counterion. The amount of urea is determined from the ratio between the recordings at m/e 236 and m/e 238 obtained after analysis with a combined gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer equipped with an MID-unit (multiple-ion detector). The two ions used correspond to the molecular peak in the mass spectrum of the methyl derivative of unlabeled and labeled 5,5-diallyl barbituric acid, respectively. The relative standard deviation of the method was 3.6%. A comparison between the mass fragmentographic method and a routine method for determination of serum urea based on the urease-Berthelot reaction gave a high correlation (r = 0.99) and a regression coefficient of 0.95.

背景与目标： 描述了用于测定血清尿素的高精度的质量碎片法。将固定量的[15N2]尿素添加到固定量的血清中，然后通过与二烯丙基丙二酸二乙酯偶合，将尿素转化为5,5-二烯丙基巴比妥酸。然后使用四丁基铵作为正抗衡离子，通过离子对萃取将巴比妥酸盐从碱性水相转移到含有甲基碘的有机相中。尿素的量由m / e 236和m / e 238的记录之间的比值确定，该记录是通过配备有MID单元的复合气相色谱-质谱仪（多离子检测器）进行分析后获得的。所使用的两个离子分别对应于未标记和标记的5，5-二烯丙基巴比妥酸的甲基衍生物的质谱中的分子峰。该方法的相对标准偏差为3.6％。质谱分析法与常规方法之间的比较（基于尿素酶-贝塞洛特反应测定血清尿素）具有较高的相关性（r = 0.99），回归系数为0.95。