BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:A forearm fracture (Colles' fracture) is often the first sign of osteoporosis and should alert the patient and physician to the possibility of underlying skeletal fragility. Therefore, the establishment of a more accurate and reliable method for the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) at the distal radius would be beneficial for the patients who suffer from osteoporosis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) to assess the change of BMD at the distal radius in early postmenopausal women who receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT). METHODS:Twenty healthy early postmenopausal women who were diagnosed as osteoporosis or osteopenia were randomized to either HRT or placebo treatment. We analyzed BMD of the distal radius by pQCT, lumbar spine by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and the biochemical markers of bone turn over (osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline) every 6 months. RESULTS:The placebo group showed a significant decrease from the baseline in the trabecular BMD of the radius at 12 months (7.4+/-2.5%) (p<0.05), whereas the HRT group showed a slight increase (0.7+/-2.2%). The changes in the trabecular BMD of the radius between the HRT and placebo groups were statistically different at 12 months (p<0.05). On the other hand, in the cortical BMD of the radius, no significant differences were seen between the changes of bone densities in the HRT and control groups after 1 year of treatment. pQCT could detect a significant loss of BMD of the radius in early postmenopausal women after 1 year and HRT prevented its loss. CONCLUSION:Our preliminary clinical trial showed that pQCT might be useful for the early detection of bone loss in early postmenopausal women and for the monitoring BMD of the patients who receive HRT.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Studies were performed to elucidate the possible relationship between microvessel density, proliferative activity and angiogenesis in eutopic endometrium from women with and without endometriosis and peritoneal endometriotic lesions. The question whether changes in these parameters in endometriotic lesions were reflected by the level of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in serum and peritoneal fluid was also studied. Biopsy specimens of both eutopic endometrium and peritoneal endometriotic lesions from women with endometriosis (n = 25) as well as eutopic endometrium from women without endometriosis (n = 14) were analysed immunohistochemically regarding microvessel density, proliferative activity, and expression of VEGF-A and its receptors vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 and 2 (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) in stroma, glands and blood vessels. The VEGF-A concentration was measured in peritoneal fluid and serum. Secretory phase eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis had significantly higher microvessel density, expression of VEGF-A in glandular epithelium and VEGFR-2 in endometrial blood vessels than those from women without endometriosis. Endometriotic lesions with high proliferative activity had a higher microvessel density and showed higher vascular expression of VEGFR-2 as well as being accompanied by higher levels of VEGF-A in peritoneal fluid and serum, compared with lesions with low proliferative activity. In conclusion, there seems to be a dysregulation of angiogenic activity in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and endometriotic lesions with high proliferative activity were accompanied by higher local angiogenic activity and higher levels of VEGF in serum and peritoneal fluid.

背景与目标： : 进行了研究，以阐明患有和不患有子宫内膜异位症和腹膜子宫内膜异位病变的妇女的在位子宫内膜中微血管密度，增殖活性和血管生成之间的可能关系。还研究了血清和腹膜液中血管内皮生长因子-A (vegf-a) 的水平是否反映了子宫内膜异位病变中这些参数的变化的问题。免疫组织化学分析了子宫内膜异位症妇女 (n = 25) 的在位子宫内膜和腹膜子宫内膜异位病变的活检标本以及无子宫内膜异位症妇女 (n = 14) 的在位子宫内膜的活检标本，其微血管密度，增殖活性，并在间质、腺体和血管中表达vegf-a及其受体血管内皮生长因子受体1和2 (VEGFR-1和VEGFR-2)。在腹膜液和血清中测量vegf-a浓度。子宫内膜异位症妇女的分泌期在位子宫内膜的微血管密度，腺上皮和内膜血管VEGFR-2中vegf-a的表达明显高于无子宫内膜异位症妇女。与低增殖活性的病变相比，具有高增殖活性的子宫内膜异位病变具有更高的微血管密度，并且显示出更高的VEGFR-2血管表达，并且在腹膜液和血清中伴有较高的vegf-a水平。总之，子宫内膜异位症妇女的在位子宫内膜中似乎存在血管生成活性失调，而具有高增殖活性的子宫内膜异位病变伴有较高的局部血管生成活性以及血清和腹膜液中较高的VEGF水平。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recent evidence suggests that Chlamydia trachomatis can persist in the female upper genital tract in an unculturable state. Since unsuspected C. trachomatis infection has been associated with adverse in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome we sought to detect further evidence of C. trachomatis in the genital tracts of women undergoing IVF. The prevalence and distribution of antibodies to the major structural proteins of C. trachomatis in paired follicular fluid and sera of women undergoing IVF were examined. Sera and follicular fluid samples from 149 women were assayed for immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA antibodies to two C. trachomatis antigens, the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) and a recombinant lipopolysaccharide (rLPS) fragment. Additionally, the expression of human 60 kDa heat shock protein (hsp 60) in follicular fluid was determined. All cervical and follicular fluid samples were negative for C. trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction, ligase chain reaction and DNA probe. Sera from 60% of the subjects were positive for antichlamydial rLPS IgG; 36% were positive for anti-MOMP IgG. Similarly, rLPS-directed and MOMP-directed IgA were detected in sera of 34 and 14% of the subjects respectively. IgG antibodies to MOMP and rLPS were detected in 42 and 41% of the follicular fluid examined respectively. Anti-MOMP IgA was identified in 8.7% of the follicular fluid while 27.5% were positive for anti-rLPS IgA. Human hsp 60 expression was documented in 11.6% of the follicular fluid tested. IgA antibodies to both MOMP (P = 0.03) and rLPS (P = 0.02) in follicular fluid were associated with a failure to become pregnant after embryo transfer. IgG antibodies in sera and follicular fluid and IgA antibodies in sera were unrelated to IVF outcome. Similarly only anti-MOMP IgA (P = 0.02) and anti-rLPS IgA (P = 0.04) in follicular fluid were correlated with human hsp 60 expression in follicular fluid. The unique association between IgA antibodies to two chlamydial antigens in follicular fluid and both hsp 60 expression and IVF failure provides further support for the possibility that a persistent upper genital tract chlamydial infection contributes to IVF failure in some women.

背景与目标： 最近的证据表明，沙眼衣原体可以在女性上生殖道中以不可培养的状态持续存在。由于未经怀疑的沙眼衣原体感染与不良的体外受精 (IVF) 结果有关，因此我们试图在接受IVF的妇女的生殖道中进一步发现沙眼衣原体的证据。检查了成对的卵泡液和接受IVF的妇女血清中沙眼衣原体主要结构蛋白的抗体的患病率和分布。对来自149名妇女的血清和卵泡液样品进行了免疫球蛋白 (Ig)G和IgA抗体的检测，该抗体针对两种沙眼衣原体抗原，主要外膜蛋白 (MOMP) 和重组脂多糖 (rLPS) 片段。此外，测定了人60 kDa热休克蛋白 (hsp 60) 在卵泡液中的表达。通过聚合酶链反应，连接酶链反应和DNA探针，所有宫颈和卵泡液样品均阴性沙眼衣原体。来自60% 名受试者的血清中抗衣原体rLPS IgG阳性; 36% 抗MOMP IgG阳性。同样，分别在34和14% 名受试者的血清中检测到rLPS导向和MOMP导向的IgA。分别在42和41% 的卵泡液中检测到针对MOMP和rLPS的IgG抗体。在卵泡液8.7% 中鉴定出抗MOMP IgA，而27.5% 对抗rLPS呈阳性igA。人类hsp 60的表达在测试的卵泡液11.6% 中被记录。卵泡液中MOMP (P = 0.03) 和rlp (P = 0.02) 的IgA抗体与胚胎移植后未能怀孕有关。血清和卵泡液中的IgG抗体和血清中的IgA抗体与IVF结果无关。同样，只有卵泡液中的抗MOMP IgA (P = 0.02) 和抗rLPS IgA (P = 0.04) 与人hsp 60在卵泡液中的表达相关。针对两种衣原体抗原的IgA抗体与hsp 60表达和IVF失败为某些女性持续的上生殖道衣原体感染导致IVF失败的可能性提供了进一步的支持。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Varicocele is considered a predominantly unilateral left-sided disease. However, since male fertility is preserved with only one healthy testis, infertility perforce represents bilateral testicular dysfunction. It was hypothesized that: (i) right varicocele cannot be diagnosed by palpation and therefore has not been treated in the past by the traditional treatment, and (ii) right varicocele causes impaired oxygen supply in the right testicular microcirculation, leading to germ cell degeneration. This study performed venographies of both right and left internal spermatic veins during the treatment of 840 infertile men with varicocele and analysed the results using tools of fluid mechanics. Histopathology of the right testis revealed stagnation of blood flow and degenerative changes attributed to lack of adequate oxygenation in all testicular cell types. Right varicocele was found in the vast majority of the patients. We found that due to the destruction of one-way valves, pathologic hydrostatic pressure is produced in the testicular venous microcirculatory system about five times higher than normal, exceeding arteriolar pressure. The pressure gradient between the arterioles and venules in the testicular tissue is therefore reversed, leading to persistent hypoxia. Right varicocele, although undetected, is prevalent in infertile men with varicocele, hence only bilateral occlusion of the internal spermatic veins, including the associated bypasses, eliminating the pathologic hydrostatic pressure will lead to resumption of arterial blood flow in the testicular microcirculation.

背景与目标： : 精索静脉曲张被认为是一种主要的单侧左侧疾病。但是，由于只有一个健康的睾丸可以保留男性的生育能力，因此不育表现为双侧睾丸功能障碍。假设 :( i) 无法通过触诊来诊断右精索静脉曲张，因此过去没有通过传统疗法进行治疗，并且 (ii) 右精索静脉曲张会导致右睾丸微循环中的氧气供应受损，导致生殖细胞变性。这项研究在治疗840名患有精索静脉曲张的不育男性期间对左右精索内静脉进行了静脉造影，并使用流体力学工具分析了结果。右睾丸的组织病理学显示，由于所有睾丸细胞类型缺乏足够的氧合，导致血流停滞和退行性变化。在绝大多数患者中发现了右精索静脉曲张。我们发现，由于单向阀的破坏，睾丸静脉微循环系统中产生的病理性静水压力约为正常水平的五倍，超过了小动脉压力。因此，睾丸组织中小动脉和小静脉之间的压力梯度相反，导致持续的缺氧。右精索静脉曲张虽然未被发现，但在患有精索静脉曲张的不育男性中很普遍，因此只有双侧精索内静脉 (包括相关的旁路) 闭塞，消除病理性静水压将导致睾丸微循环中动脉血流的恢复。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: UNLABELLED:The goal of this study was to measure regional pulmonary perfusion using SPECT and transmission tomography for attenuation correction and density measurements.

METHODS:Regional pulmonary perfusion was studied after intravenous injection of radiolabeled particles in 10 supine healthy volunteers using SPECT. Transmission tomography was used to correct for attenuation, measure lung density and delineate the lungs. The effects of attenuation correction on pulmonary perfusion gradients were investigated.

RESULTS:In perfusion measurements not corrected for attenuation, we found significant perfusion gradients in the direction of gravity but also significant gradients at isogravitational level. After correction for attenuation, the gravitational gradient was significantly greater than before correction, and gradients at isogravitational level were no longer observed. Perfusion in the ventral lung zone was half of that in the dorsal lung zone. Mean lung density was 0.28 +/- 0.03 g/ml, and density showed a significant increase in the direction of gravity and at isogravitational level.

CONCLUSION:We found that SPECT perfusion studies of the lung not corrected for attenuation gave a false impression of nongravitational gradients and underestimate the gradient that is gravity-dependent. Transmission tomography, used for attenuation correction, also quantifies lung density and shows gravity dependent and nondependent density gradients.

背景与目标： 未标记 : 本研究的目的是使用SPECT和透射断层扫描来测量局部肺灌注，以进行衰减校正和密度测量。
方法 : 使用SPECT在10名仰卧健康志愿者中静脉注射放射性标记颗粒后研究了局部肺灌注。透射断层扫描用于校正衰减，测量肺密度并描绘肺。研究了衰减校正对肺灌注梯度的影响。
结果 : 在未校正衰减的灌注测量中，我们发现在重力方向上有明显的灌注梯度，但在等重力水平上也有明显的梯度。校正衰减后，重力梯度明显大于校正前，并且不再观察到等重力水平的梯度。腹侧肺区的灌注是背肺区的一半。平均肺密度为0.28/- 0.03 g/ml，并且密度显示重力方向和等重力水平显着增加。
结论 : 我们发现，未校正衰减的肺部SPECT灌注研究给人以非重力梯度的错误印象，并低估了重力依赖性的梯度。用于衰减校正的透射断层扫描还可以量化肺密度，并显示重力依赖性和非依赖性密度梯度。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A 53-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for management of pneumonia and a giant fluid-filled bulla. He appeared acutely ill and had persistent fever despite prolonged therapy with parenteral antibiotics and aggressive bronchial drainage. Percutaneous placement of an 8.5F catheter into the bulla enabled drainage of both fluid and air within the bulla and led to resolution of his symptoms within 24 h. This report demonstrates that drainage of giant fluid-filled bullae may lead to rapid resolution of symptoms and describes a novel management technique for this condition.

背景与目标： 一名53岁的男子因治疗肺炎和巨大的充满液体的bulla而入院。尽管长期使用肠胃外抗生素治疗和积极的支气管引流，但他似乎病情严重，并持续发热。将8.5F导管经皮放置到大疱中，可以在大疱中排出液体和空气，并在24小时内缓解症状。该报告表明，巨大的充满液体的大疱的引流可能会导致症状的快速解决，并描述了一种针对这种情况的新颖管理技术。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Conventional peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF) is a bioincompatible solution because of several components. These unphysiological compositions might contribute to the development of peritoneal fibrosis. In the present overview we summarize the influence of each composition of PDF (acidic pH, high concentration of glucose and glucose degradation products; advanced glycation end-products and lactate) on the peritoneal fibrotic changes in long peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We also summarized the report of new approaches to the prevention of peritoneal fibrosis in Japan.

背景与目标： : 常规腹膜透析液 (PDF) 是一种生物不相容的解决方案，因为它有多种成分。这些非生理成分可能有助于腹膜纤维化的发展。在本概述中，我们总结了PDF的每种成分 (酸性pH，高浓度的葡萄糖和葡萄糖降解产物; 晚期糖基化终产物和乳酸) 对长腹膜透析 (PD) 患者腹膜纤维化变化的影响。我们还总结了日本预防腹膜纤维化的新方法的报告。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Trabecular bone strength diminishes as a result of osteoporosis and altered biomechanical loading at the vertebral and spinal levels. The spine consists of the anterior, middle and posterior columns and the load supported by the anterior and middle columns will differ across different regions of the spine. Stress shielding of the anterior column can contribute to bone loss and increase the risk of wedge fracture. There is a lack of quantitative data related to regional spinal bone mineral density distribution over time. We hypothesize that there is an increase in the posterior-to-anterior vertebral body bone mineral density ratio and a decrease in whole-body bone mineral density over time. METHODS:Bone mineral density was measured in 33 subjects using quantitative computed tomography scans for L1-L3 vertebrae, region (anterior and posterior vertebral body), and time (baseline and 6 years after). FINDINGS:Lumbar bone mineral density decreased significantly (Δ: ~15%) from baseline to the 6th year visit. Individual vertebra differences over time (L1: ~14%, L2: ~14%, L3: ~17%) showed statistical significance. Anterior bone mineral density change was significantly greater than in the posterior vertebral body region (Δ anterior: ~18%; Δ posterior: ~13%). Posterior-to-anterior bone mineral density ratio was significantly greater in the 6th year compared to baseline values (mean (SD), 1.33 (0.2) vs. 1.23 (0.1)). INTERPRETATION:This study provides longitudinal quantitative measurement of bone mineral density in vertebrae as well as regional changes in the anterior and posterior regions. Understanding bone mineral density distribution over time may help to decrease the risk of wedge fractures if interventions can be developed to bring spine loading to its normal state.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The Z-Scan (ZS) technique in the thermal regime has been used to measure the nonlinear optical response of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The ZS technique is carried out in LDL from 40 patients with chronic periodontitis before and after three, six, and 12 months of periodontal treatment. Clinical parameters such as probing depths, bleeding on probing, total and differential white blood cells counts, lipid profiles, cytokine levels, and antibodies against oxidized LDL are also determined and compared over time. Before the treatment, the ZS experimental results reveal that the LDL particles of these patients are heavily modified. Only after 12 months of the periodontal treatment, the ZS results obtained reveal behavioral characteristics of healthy particles. This conclusion is also supported by complementary laboratorial analysis showing that the periodontal treatment induces systemic changes in several inflammatory markers.

背景与目标： : 热状态下的Z扫描 (ZS) 技术已用于测量低密度脂蛋白 (LDL) 的非线性光学响应。ZS技术是在牙周治疗3、6和12个月之前和之后对40例慢性牙周炎患者的LDL进行的。还可以确定临床参数，例如探测深度，探测出血，白细胞总数和差异计数，脂质分布，细胞因子水平以及针对氧化LDL的抗体，并随时间进行比较。治疗前，ZS实验结果表明，这些患者的LDL颗粒已被严重修饰。仅在牙周治疗12个月后，获得的ZS结果才显示出健康颗粒的行为特征。该结论也得到补充实验室分析的支持，该分析表明牙周治疗可引起几种炎症标志物的全身变化。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:The issue of unidentified volume expansion is well recognized as a cause for resistance to antihypertensive therapy. The aim of study is to identify contribution of negative fluid balance to hypertension control and impact on endothelial and cardiac functions among primary hypertensive patients who do not have kidney failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This is a prospective interventional study with one-year follow-up. Preceded by volume status measurements were performed by a body composition monitor (BCM), the patients were put on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for 24 hours. Then, echocardiographic assessments and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements were completed. Patients in one of the two groups were kept negative hydrated during trial with diuretic treatment. RESULTS:At the end of one-year follow-up, patients in negative hydrated group were found to have significantly lower CIMT, left ventricle mass index, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, mean systolic and diastolic BP, non-dipper patient ratio, and higher FMD. In negatively hydrated group, target organ damage significantly reduced during trial. CONCLUSIONS:The significance of negative hydration status with respect to blood pressure control, endothelial and cardiac functions within primary hypertensive patients who do not suffer from kidney failure has been demonstrated.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: INTRODUCTION:Our objective was to assess the effects of miniscrews on interproximal alveolar bone density and adjacent gingival tissue health. METHODS:Forty-four titanium miniscrews were inserted between maxillary second premolars and first molars on both sides of the dentition in 22 consecutive patients (15 female, 7 male; ages, 14-24 years). A control area (between the maxillary first and second premolars) was also assessed. Both miniscrew (study) and control areas were monitored clinically and radiographically at different time points: before insertion of the miniscrews and at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after insertion. Software associated with a digital intraoral radiography machine was used to assess changes in alveolar bone density. Clinical gingival parameters of the study and control areas were also recorded. A repeated-measures analysis of variance and the Bonferroni post-hoc pairwise comparison tests were used to assess the changes at the different time points. RESULTS:Thirty-nine miniscrews were successful for the study duration. Male subjects had significantly (P <0.001) higher alveolar bone density than did the females at baseline. Alveolar bone density around the miniscrews increased significantly (P <0.001) between 3 and 6 months after insertion upon loading. Alveolar bone density of the control area did not change significantly during the experiment (P >0.05). The width of keratinized gingiva increased significantly (P <0.001) in the study and control areas after insertion of miniscrews and remained with no significant change throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS:Miniscrews increased the alveolar bone density significantly after 3 months of insertion and were not associated with detrimental effects on the adjacent gingival tissues.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVES:The precise role for intraventricular (IVT) antimicrobials in combination with systemic antibiotics in management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion device-associated infections is uncertain. We evaluated our current practice, comparing dual therapy against systemic antimicrobials alone. METHODS:All adult patients with at least two consecutive CSF isolates who were treated for CSF diversion device-related infection over a 5-year period (2005-2010) were identified retrospectively. Clinical and laboratory parameters, microbiology, surgical and antimicrobial management, and treatment outcomes were analysed. RESULTS:Forty-eight patients were identified - 25 received IVT and systemic antibiotics (group A), and 23 systemic antibiotics alone (group B). Clinical features were similar between groups, as were causative organisms. CSF leucocyte counts differed slightly (A > B, p = 0.067) but no laboratory parameters differed significantly. Infected devices were generally revised (A = 92%, B = 91%). Mean times to CSF sterilisation and normalisation of CSF microscopy were significantly shorter for group A (p < 0.05 and p < 0.005 respectively), as was duration of hospital stay (p < 0.002) and required length of systemic antimicrobial therapy (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Our findings indicate that IVT antibiotics enhance clinical and microbiological recovery and should therefore be considered for patients with CSF infection associated with a CSF diversion device. We recommend further evaluation of this approach in a prospective, randomised, controlled trial.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Deposition of alpha-synuclein (alphaS) aggregates inside brain cells is a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Recently, extracellular alphaS was detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of humans. We investigated whether CSF influences alphaS aggregation in vitro using fluorescence spectroscopy with thioflavin S and electron microscopy. We found that CSF obtained from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and DLB patients enhanced the alphaS fibril formation compared with tauopathy and non-central nervous system disease. Thus, CSF of AD and DLB characterized by aggregation of Abeta or alphaS might promote falphaS formation.

背景与目标： : 脑细胞内 α-突触核蛋白 (alpha) 聚集体的沉积是几种神经退行性疾病的病理标志，包括帕金森氏病 (PD) 和路易体痴呆 (DLB)。最近，在人类的脑脊液 (CSF) 和血浆中检测到细胞外alpha。我们使用硫黄素S的荧光光谱法和电子显微镜研究了CSF是否会影响alpha的体外聚集。我们发现，与tauopathy和非中枢神经系统疾病相比，从阿尔茨海默氏病 (AD) 和DLB患者获得的CSF增强了alpha原纤维的形成。因此，以Abeta或alpha聚集为特征的AD和DLB的CSF可能会促进falpha的形成。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:To identify the relationship between epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration in human tears and clinical tear-flow parameters and how these vary with age and gender.

METHODS:Tear samples were collected with minimal stimulation from 68 healthy and asymptomatic adults (33 men, 35 women), aged 21-88 years. EGF concentrations were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 65 cases. Schirmer tests were performed without anesthesia, and the clearance of fluorescein from the tear film assessed. The Tear Function Index (TFI) was calculated from these values.

RESULTS:There were approximately equal numbers of male and female subjects with a similar age distribution for each gender (48 +/- 3 and 51 +/- 3 years, mean +/- SEM, respectively). Ninety percent of tear EGF concentrations were between 0.75 and 7.1 ng/ml. Tear EGF level correlated significantly with Schirmer I value, but not with age. Schirmer I value correlated with tear clearance [LN(TCR)] but not with age. Tear EGF concentrations were significantly higher for men (3.4 +/- 0.3 ng/ml) than for women (2.4 +/- 0.3 ng/ml; p = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS:EGF concentrations is tear samples from normal humans were found to correlate with gender and Schirmer I value but not with tear clearance.

背景与目标： 目的 : 确定人眼泪中表皮生长因子 (EGF) 浓度与临床泪液流量参数之间的关系，以及这些参数随年龄和性别的变化。
方法 : 在最小的刺激下，从68名健康和无症状的成年人 (33名男性，35名女性) 收集了眼泪样本，年龄在21-88岁之间。用夹心酶联免疫吸附法 (ELISA) 测定65例患者的EGF浓度。在没有麻醉的情况下进行Schirmer测试，并评估了泪膜中荧光素的清除率。泪液功能指数 (TFI) 是根据这些值计算得出的。
结果 : 每个性别年龄分布相似的男性和女性受试者数量大致相等 (48/- 3岁和51/- 3岁，分别为平均值 +/- SEM)。90% 的泪液EGF浓度在0.75至7.1 ng/ml之间。泪液EGF水平与Schirmer I值显着相关，但与年龄无关。Schirmer I值与泪液清除率 [LN(TCR)] 相关，但与年龄无关。男性的泪液EGF浓度 (3.4/- 0.3 ng/ml) 显着高于女性 (2.4/- 0.3 ng/ml; p = 0.043)。
结论 :EGF浓度是正常人的泪液样本与性别和Schirmer I值相关，但与泪液清除率无关。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease arises from defective innate defenses, especially defective mucus clearance of microorganisms. Airway submucosal glands secrete most airway mucus, and CF airway glands do not secrete in response to VIP or forskolin. CFTR, the protein that is defective in CF, is expressed in glands, but immunocytochemistry finds the highest expression of CFTR in either the ciliated ducts or in the acini, depending on the antibodies used. CFTR is absolutely required for forskolin-mediated gland secretion; we used this finding to localize the origin of forskolin-stimulated, CFTR-dependent gland fluid secretion. We tested the hypothesis that secretion to forskolin might originate from the gland duct rather than or in addition to the acini. We ligated gland ducts at various points, stimulated the glands with forskolin, and monitored the regions of the glands that swelled. The results supported an acinar rather than ductal origin of secretion. We tracked particles in the mucus using Nomarski time-lapse imaging; particles originated in the acini and traveled toward the duct orifice. Estimated bulk flow accelerated in the acini and mucus tubules, consistent with fluid secretion in those regions, but was constant in the unbranched duct, consistent with a lack of fluid secretion or absorption by the ductal epithelium. We conclude that CFTR-dependent gland fluid secretion originates in the serous acini. The failure to observe either secretion or absorption from the CFTR and epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC)-rich ciliated ducts is unexplained, but may indicate that this epithelium alters the composition rather than the volume of gland mucus.

背景与目标： : 囊性纤维化 (CF) 气道疾病源于先天防御缺陷，尤其是微生物的粘液清除缺陷。气道粘膜下腺体分泌大多数气道粘液，而CF气道腺体对VIP或forskolin不分泌。CFTR是CF中存在缺陷的蛋白质，在腺体中表达，但免疫细胞化学发现CFTR在纤毛导管或腺泡中表达最高，具体取决于所使用的抗体。CFTR是forskolin介导的腺体分泌绝对必需的; 我们使用这一发现来定位forskolin刺激的CFTR依赖性腺液分泌的起源。我们检验了以下假设: 毛喉素的分泌可能起源于腺管，而不是腺泡。我们在各个点结扎腺管，用forskolin刺激腺体，并监测肿胀的腺体区域。结果支持分泌的腺泡而不是导管起源。我们使用Nomarski延时成像技术跟踪了粘液中的颗粒; 颗粒起源于腺泡，并向导管口传播。估计的大量流量在腺泡和粘液小管中加速，与这些区域的液体分泌一致，但在无分支的导管中是恒定的，与导管上皮缺乏液体分泌或吸收相一致。我们得出结论，CFTR依赖性腺液分泌起源于浆液性腺泡。无法观察到CFTR和富含上皮Na () 通道 (ENaC) 的纤毛导管的分泌或吸收是无法解释的，但可能表明该上皮改变了腺体粘液的组成而不是体积。