BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The gram-negative bacterium Bartonella henselae is capable of causing angiogenic lesions as a result of infection. Previously, it has been shown that B. henselae infection can result in production of the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8). In this study, we demonstrated that monocytes, endothelial cells, and hepatocytes produce IL-8 in response to B. henselae infection. We also investigated the role of IL-8 in B. henselae-induced endothelial cell proliferation and capillary tube formation. Both in vitro angiogenesis assays were IL-8 dependent. B. henselae-mediated inhibition of apoptosis, as indicated by gene expression of Bax and Bcl-2, was also shown to be IL-8 dependent in endothelial cells. Furthermore, infection of endothelial cells with B. henselae stimulated upregulation of the IL-8 chemokine receptor CXCR2. Infection of human endothelial cells by B. henselae resulting in IL-8 production likely plays a central role in the ability of this organism to cause angiogenesis during infection.

背景与目标： 革兰氏阴性细菌汉氏巴尔通体（Bartonella henselae）能够由于感染而引起血管生成性病变。以前，已经证明，亨氏芽孢杆菌感染可以导致趋化因子白介素8（IL-8）的产生。在这项研究中，我们证明了单核细胞，内皮细胞和肝细胞对B. henselae感染产生IL-8。我们还研究了IL-8在B. henselae诱导的内皮细胞增殖和毛细管形成中的作用。两种体外血管生成测定都是IL-8依赖性的。如Bax和Bcl-2的基因表达所表明的，B。henselae介导的凋亡抑制在内皮细胞中也显示为IL-8依赖性。此外，用汉逊芽孢杆菌感染内皮细胞刺激了IL-8趋化因子受体CXCR2的上调。亨氏芽孢杆菌对人内皮细胞的感染导致IL-8的产生可能在该生物体在感染过程中引起血管生成的能力中起着核心作用。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Neutralizing antibody titers of 47 infants whose mothers sustained measles (measles group) and 70 whose mothers were vaccinated (vaccine group) were compared at birth, 4 and 8 months of age. All children had antibodies at birth and 88% at 4 months. At 8 months, 49% had antibodies in the measles group and 15% in the vaccine group (P < 0.001). The geometric mean titers were significantly lower in the vaccine group than in the measles group and the difference corresponded to the antibody loss occurring in only 1.5 months of life. This small difference may reflect past exposure to wild virus of many vaccinated mothers.

背景与目标： ：在出生时，4和8个月时比较了47例母亲患有麻疹的婴儿（麻疹组）和70例母亲接种了疫苗（疫苗组）的中和抗体滴度。所有儿童在出生时均具有抗体，在4个月时具有88％的抗体。在8个月时，麻疹组中有49％的抗体，疫苗组中有15％（P <0.001）。疫苗组的几何平均滴度显着低于麻疹组，差异对应于仅1.5个月生命中发生的抗体损失。这个很小的差异可能反映了许多接种过疫苗的母亲过去接触野生病毒的情况。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Magnetic resonance has assumed a preeminent role in the imaging evaluation of the spine. Owing to its multiplanar capability and superior soft tissue contrast, magnetic resonance imaging is the procedure of choice for a host of spinal disorders including degenerative disc disease, tumor evaluation, trauma, and spinal deformities. It represents the most accurate means of distinguishing between recurrent disc herniation and epidural fibrosis, and it excels at the assessment of many postoperative abnormalities such as infection, adjacent segment disc degeneration, and arachnoiditis. Magnetic resonance imaging is also helpful in the evaluation of numerous diagnostic challenges that are less well resolved by other means. This includes the distinction between disc herniation and epidural hematoma, synovial cyst from nonspecific fibrous thickening of a facet capsule, and the evaluation of numerous other soft tissue abnormalities. Computed tomography, computed tomography myelography, and scintigraphy continue to be useful for numerous specific disorders and in those patients with metal hardware or contraindications to magnetic resonance scanning. Overall, however, magnetic resonance is the imaging procedure preferred for many spinal disorders. This article is the first installment of a 3-part series discussing the role of magnetic resonance imaging of spinal disorders. Section 1 will describe the varying imaging modalities available and their relative advantages and disadvantages. A consideration of magnetic resonance imaging techniques will follow, followed by a discussion of the imaging manifestations of early degenerative disc disease. Section 2 will be devoted to an in depth discussion of specific pathologic processes encountered in patients with degenerative disc disease. Section 3 will end the series with a consideration of postoperative imaging followed by a discussion of spinal deformities, trauma, and neoplasms.

背景与目标： 磁共振在脊柱的成像评估中发挥了重要作用。由于其多平面能力和出色的软组织对比度，磁共振成像是许多脊柱疾病（包括退行性椎间盘疾病，肿瘤评估，创伤和脊柱畸形）的一种选择程序。它代表了区分复发性椎间盘突出症和硬膜外纤维化的最准确方法，并且擅长评估许多术后异常，例如感染，邻近节段性椎间盘退变和蛛网膜炎。磁共振成像还有助于评估许多诊断挑战，而这些挑战很难通过其他方式解决。这包括区分椎间盘突出症和硬膜外血肿，小囊囊的非特异性纤维增厚引起的滑膜囊肿，以及许多其他软组织异常的评估。计算机体层摄影术，计算机体层摄影术脊髓造影和闪烁显像术继续对许多特定疾病以及那些具有金属硬件或磁共振扫描禁忌症的患者有用。但是，总的来说，磁共振是许多脊柱疾病首选的成像方法。本文是由3部分组成的系列文章的第一部分，该系列讨论了磁共振成像对脊柱疾病的作用。第1节将描述可用的各种成像方式及其相对优缺点。随后将考虑磁共振成像技术，然后讨论早期退行性椎间盘疾病的成像表现。第2节将专门讨论变性椎间盘疾病患者遇到的特定病理过程。第三部分将在结束本系列文章时考虑术后影像学，然后讨论脊柱畸形，创伤和肿瘤。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The human autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is associated with deletions within a complex tandem DNA repeat (D4Z4) on Chromosome (Chr) 4q35. The molecular mechanism underlying this association of FSHD with DNA rearrangements is unknown, and, thus far, no gene has been identified within the repeat. We isolated a gene mapping 100 kb proximal to D4Z4 (FSHD Region Gene 1FRG1), but were unable to detect any alterations in total or allele-specific mRNA levels of FRG1 in FSHD patients. Human Chr 4q35 exhibits synteny homology with the region of mouse Chr 8 containing the gene for the myodystrophy mutation (myd), a possible mouse homolog of FSHD. We report the cloning of the mouse gene (Frg1) and show that it maps to mouse Chr 8. Using a cross segregating the myd mutation and the European Collaborative Interspecific Backcross, we showed that Frg1 maps proximal to the myd locus and to the Clc3 and Ant1 genes.

背景与目标： 人类常染色体显性遗传神经肌肉疾病面肩肱肱型肌营养不良症（FSHD）与染色体（Chr）4q35上复杂的串联DNA重复序列（D4Z4）内的缺失相关。 FSHD与DNA重排相关的分子机制尚不清楚，到目前为止，在重复序列中尚未鉴定出任何基因。我们分离了一个基因，定位到D4Z4（FSHD区域基因1FRG1）近100 kb的基因，但无法检测到FSHD患者FRG1的总或等位基因特异性mRNA水平有任何改变。人Chr 4q35与小鼠Chr 8区域具有同系同源性，该区域包含肌营养不良症突变（myd）的基因，该基因可能是FSHD的小鼠同源物。我们报告了小鼠基因（Frg1）的克隆，并显示其映射到小鼠Chr8。使用myd突变和欧洲合作种间回交的交叉分离，我们显示Frg1映射到myd基因座以及Clc3和Ant1基因。

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，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: STUDY DESIGN:Case report of pedicle screw fixation in an infant with nonaccidental spine trauma. OBJECTIVE:To ensure awareness of nonaccidental pediatric spine trauma and describe a safe and effective method of treating a complex problem of thoracolumbar fracture-dislocation in an infant. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:Nonaccidental pediatric spine trauma is rare, accounting for <1% of abuse. No previous cases of pedicle screw fixation have been described in a patient younger than 1 year of age. Prior treatment of this clinical entity has been treated with casts or wire-fixation. METHODS:An 8-month-old boy had a nonaccidental (also known as child abuse) traumatic T12-L1 fracture-dislocation. This was subsequently surgically corrected with posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation with pedicle screws. RESULTS:After surgery, the patient is doing well with no adverse effects from surgery. CONCLUSIONS:Although child abuse is a rare cause of spinal trauma, clinicians should do a full skeletal survey to ensure no other injuries are overlooked. Pedicle screw fixation can be used in infants with unstable traumatic spinal injuries, allowing earlier rehabilitation and return to normal activity level.

背景与目标： 研究设计：儿童脊柱非偶然性椎弓根螺钉固定的病例报告。
目的：确保对意外的小儿脊柱外伤的认识，并描述一种安全有效的方法来治疗婴儿复杂的胸腰椎骨折脱位问题。
背景资料摘要：偶然的小儿脊柱外伤很少见，占滥用的<1％。在1岁以下的患者中，没有以前的椎弓根螺钉固定病例。该临床实体的先前治疗已通过石膏或金属丝固定治疗。
方法：一个8个月大的男孩患有非偶然的（也称为虐待儿童）创伤性T12-L1骨折脱位。随后通过后路脊柱融合术和椎弓根螺钉器械对其进行手术矫正。
结果：手术后，患者状况良好，无手术不良影响。
结论：虽然虐待儿童是脊柱外伤的罕见原因，但临床医生应进行全面的骨骼检查，以确保不会忽略其他损伤。椎弓根螺钉固定术可用于不稳定的外伤性脊柱损伤的婴儿中，从而使早期康复并恢复到正常活动水平。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring type I collagen degradation products in serum (S-ELISA) was developed. The assay uses a high affinity polyclonal antibody which reacts with an isomerized form of an 8 amino acid sequence of the C-telopeptides of type I collagen (EKAHD-beta-GGR). Cross-reactivity to a nonisomerized synthetic peptide form of the 8 amino acid sequence is less than 0.2%. Values obtained in a group of premenopausal women (age, 33.3 +/- 3.11 years) were 69 +/- 24 ng/ml(n = 22). In a group of early postmenopausal women (age, 51.8 +/- 1.88 years) values obtained were 125 +/- 43 ng/ml (n = 46), which represents an increase of 81% (p < 0.001). Values found in untreated patients with Paget's disease were 234 +/- 95 ng/ml (n = 15), and for primary hyperparathyroidism we found 335 +/- 82 ng/ml (n = 10). Intravenous administration of a bisphosphonate (Pamidronate) to Paget's disease patients for 3 days was reflected in the S-ELISA by a decrease in the values of 55% when compared with values before treatment (n = 15). Following treatment with another bisphosphonate (Alendronate) for 6 months, values were decreased to 48 +/- 19 ng/ml (n = 12), which corresponds to a 62% decrease. Clinical results presented in this context support that the assay is a sensitive and specific index of bone resorption. It may, therefore, prove useful in the follow up of treatment of patients with metabolic bone diseases and in the clinical investigation of osteoporosis.

背景与目标： 开发了一种用于测定血清中I型胶原降解产物的酶联免疫吸附测定（S-ELISA）。该测定法使用高亲和力的多克隆抗体，该抗体与I型胶原C端肽的8个氨基酸序列的异构化形式（EKAHD-β-GGR）反应。与8个氨基酸序列的非异构化合成肽形式的交叉反应性小于0.2％。一组绝经前妇女（年龄33.3 / 3.11岁）获得的值为69 /-24 ng / ml（n = 22）。在一组绝经后的早期妇女（年龄为51.8 / 1.88岁）中，其值是125 /-43 ng / ml（n = 46），增加了81％（p <0.001）。在未接受治疗的Paget病患者中发现的值为234 /-95 ng / ml（n = 15），对于原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进，我们发现的值为335 /-82 ng / ml（n = 10）。在S-ELISA中，与治疗前的值相比降低了55％（n = 15），从而对Paget病患者进行了3天的双膦酸盐（帕米膦酸盐）静脉给药。在用另一种双膦酸盐（阿仑膦酸盐）治疗6个月后，其值下降至48±19 ng / ml（n = 12），相当于下降了62％。在这种情况下提出的临床结果支持该测定是骨吸收的灵敏和特异性指标。因此，它可能被证明对代谢性骨病患者的后续治疗以及骨质疏松症的临床研究有用。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Electrochemotherapy (ECT) has shown to be an effective treatment for cutaneous and subcutaneous Kaposi sarcoma (KS) lesions. However, no study has investigated the impact of ECT treatment on the kinetics of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV8), which is considered the necessary causal agent of KS. We aimed to evaluate HHV8 viral load and expression levels in patients affected by classic KS who received one or more ECT treatments and have been followed semi annually for up to four years. METHODS:A total of 27 classic KS patients were enrolled in this study. Tumour biopsies and blood samples were obtained before ECT treatment. Additional blood samples were collected at six month intervals for 12-48 months. HHV8 viral load and expression profiles of latent (ORF72 and ORF73) and lytic (K2, K8, K8.1, K10/K10.1, K10.5/K10.6 and ORF16) genes were assessed in all samples by real-time PCR. HHV8 ORF26 and K1 regions were amplified and subjected to direct nucleotide sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis for variant identification. RESULTS:All KS biopsies and 46.4% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected before ECT treatment were positive for HHV8 DNA. Viral load ranged from 0.02 to 2.3 copies per cell in KS lesions and 3.0 × 10-7 to 6.9 × 10-4 copies per cell in PBMCs. Overall, latent ORF72 and ORF73 as well as lytic K2, K8 and K10/K10.1 were expressed in all KS biopsies. ORF16 mRNA was detected in 71.4% and both K8.1 and K10.5/K10.6 mRNAs in 57.1% of KS samples. The ORF72, ORF73 and K2 transcripts were amplified in 37.5%, 25% and 25% of PBMCs collected before ECT, respectively. After the first ECT session, complete response was achieved in 20 out of 27 (74.1%) patients and HHV8 DNA was detected in four out of 27 (14.8%) PBMC samples at six month follow up. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF26 amplimers showed that most viral variants belonged to A/C (82.3%), and few to C2 (5.9%) or C3 (11.8%) subtype. The K1/VR1 variants fell into A (33.3%) and C (66.7%) HHV8 clade. No correlation was found between HHV8 subtypes and ECT complete response. CONCLUSIONS:ECT therapy has a significant effect on HHV8 kinetics in patients with classic KS. The complete remission of patients was accompanied by clearance of circulating virus.

背景与目标： 背景：电化学疗法（ECT）已被证明是治疗皮肤和皮下卡波西肉瘤（KS）病变的有效方法。但是，尚无研究调查ECT治疗对人类8型疱疹病毒（HHV8）动力学的影响，后者被认为是KS的必要病因。我们旨在评估经典KS患者的HHV8病毒载量和表达水平，这些患者接受一种或多种ECT治疗，并且每半年进行长达四年的随访。
方法：本研究共纳入27例经典KS患者。在ECT治疗之前获得了肿瘤活检和血液样本。在六个月的时间间隔内（12-48个月）收集更多的血液样本。通过实时评估所有样本中HHV8病毒载量和潜伏（ORF72和ORF73）和溶菌（K2，K8，K8.1，K10 / K10.1，K10.5 / K10.6和ORF16）基因的表达谱PCR。扩增HHV8 ORF26和K1区，并进行直接核苷酸测序，然后进行系统发育分析以鉴定变体。
结果：在ECT治疗前收集的所有KS活检和46.4％的外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）均为HHV8 DNA阳性。 KS病变中的病毒载量为每细胞0.02至2.3拷贝，PBMC中每细胞的病毒载量为3.0×10-7至6.9×10-4拷贝。总体而言，潜在的ORF72和ORF73以及溶解性K2，K8和K10 / K10.1在所有KS活检中均表达。在KS样本中，ORF16 mRNA的检出率为71.4％，K8.1和K10.5 / K10.6 mRNA的检出率为57.1％。 ORF72，ORF73和K2转录本分别在ECT前收集的PBMC中扩增了37.5％，25％和25％。在第一次ECT会议之后，在六个月的随访中，27例患者中有20例（74.1％）获得了完全缓解，27例PBMC中有4例（14.8％）检测到HHV8 DNA。系统发育分析的ORF26扩增子表明，大多数病毒变体属于A / C（82.3％），很少属于C2（5.9％）或C3（11.8％）亚型。 K1 / VR1变异分为A（33.3％）和C（66.7％）HHV8进化枝。在HHV8亚型和ECT完全应答之间未发现相关性。
结论：ECT治疗对经典KS患者的HHV8动力学有显着影响。患者的完全缓解伴随着循环病毒的清除。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The clinical heterogeneity of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with trisomy 8 as the sole abnormality may result from cytogenetically undetectable genetic changes. The purpose of this study was to identify hidden genomic aberrations not detected by metaphase cytogenetics (MC) using high-resolution single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-A)-based karyotyping in AML/MDS patients with a sole trisomy 8. The study group included 8 patients (3 AML and 5 MDS) and array-based karyotyping was done using whole-genome SNP-A (SNP 6.0 and SNP 2.7M). By SNP-A, additional genomic aberrations not detected by MC were identified in 2 patients: 1 AML patient exhibited a copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH) of 3q21.1-q29 and 11q13.1-q25 and the other patient with MDS (refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia) had CN-LOH of 2p25.3-p15. In particular, the latter patient progressed to AML 18 months after the diagnosis. In 3 patients, aberrations in addition to trisomy 8 were not identified by SNP-A. In the remaining 3 patients, SNP-A could not detect trisomy 8, while trisomy 8 was found in 25-67% of metaphase cells by MC. This study suggests that additional genomic aberrations may in fact be present even in cases of trisomy 8 as sole abnormality by MC, and SNP-A could be a useful karyotyping tool to identify hidden aberrations such as CN-LOH.

背景与目标： ：急性髓细胞性白血病（AML）或骨髓增生异常综合症（MDS）的8号三体症为唯一异常的临床异质性可能是由于细胞遗传学上无法检测到的遗传变化所致。这项研究的目的是使用高分辨率三核苷酸多态性阵列（SNP-A）基于核型分型的AML / MDS唯一三体性患者，鉴定中期细胞遗传学（MC）未检测到的隐藏基因组畸变。该研究组包括使用全基因组SNP-A（SNP 6.0和SNP 2.7M）进行了8例患者（3例AML和5例MDS）和基于阵列的核型分析。通过SNP-A，在2例患者中发现了MC未检测到的其他基因组异常：1例AML患者表现出3q21.1-q29和11q13.1-q25的拷贝中性杂合度（CN-LOH）丧失，另一例患者MDS（难治性血细胞减少症伴单系发育不良）患者的CN-LOH为2p25.3-p15。特别是，后者在诊断后18个月发展为AML。在3例患者中，SNP-A未鉴定到8号三体畸变。在剩下的3名患者中，SNP-A无法检测到8三体，而MC在25-67％的中期细胞中发现了8三体。这项研究表明，即使在三体性8病例中，由于MC唯一异常，实际上也可能存在其他基因组畸变，而SNP-A可能是一种有用的核型分析工具，可识别诸如CN-LOH之类的隐藏畸变。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:To analyse the psychometric properties of the structured Satisfaction Questionnaire with Gastrostomy Feeding (SAGA-8) in parents/caregivers of children with home enteral nutrition (HEN) by gastrostomy tube (GT). METHODS:Eighty-six caregivers (mothers) of paediatric patients with HEN by GT were recruited. Patients suffered from neurological disease (61.6%) and other chronic diseases. The SAGA-8 scale, a structured questionnaire to explore satisfaction with HEN by GT, and the Caregiver Burden Inventory (Zarit) were completed. The discriminating power of each of the SAGA-8 items, internal consistency and external validity were evaluated. An exploratory factor analysis and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) was performed as well. RESULTS:Eighty-four percent of the families expressed high satisfaction with GT feeding. All eight items of SAGA-8 gave additional information. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that a significant part of the items' variability could be explained by two independent factors: Factor 1 (direct benefit), which compiled the variables related to the perception of children's overall improvement by GT feeding; Factor 2 (indirect benefit), which grouped the variables related to a decrease in respiratory infections, feeding time and institutional support. Results from KMO (0.628) indicated the high adequacy of the items assessed in the factorial analysis. Moreover, the questionnaire presented high internal consistency (0.76), and the external validation analysis confirmed the correlation between SAGA-8 and Zarit, thereby emphasising the approptiate use of the SAGA-8 to detect carers' satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS:The SAGA-8 questionnaire has a high discriminatory power to assess the degree of satisfaction experienced by parents/caregivers of children with HEN by GT and, subsequently, the patients' wellbeing.

背景与目标： 背景：目的通过胃造口管（GT）分析胃肠道营养喂养（HEN）患儿父母/照顾者的胃造口喂养结构满意度调查表（SAGA-8）的心理计量学特征。
方法：招募了86例小儿HEN患者的GT照护者（母亲）。患者患有神经系统疾病（61.6％）和其他慢性疾病。已完成SAGA-8量表，用于探索GT对HEN满意程度的结构化问卷以及Caregiver Burden清单（Zarit）。评估了每个SAGA-8项目的辨别力，内部一致性和外部有效性。还进行了探索性因素分析和Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin（KMO）。
结果：84％的家庭对GT喂养表示高度满意。 SAGA-8的所有八项均提供了附加信息。探索性因素分析表明，项目差异的很大一部分可以由两个独立的因素解释：因子1（直接收益），该变量汇总了与GT喂养对儿童总体改善知觉有关的变量；因素2（间接收益），将与呼吸道感染减少，进食时间和机构支持有关的变量分组。 KMO（0.628）的结果表明，析因分析中所评估项目的充分性很高。此外，该问卷具有较高的内部一致性（0.76），并且外部验证分析证实了SAGA-8和Zarit之间的相关性，从而强调了合理使用SAGA-8来检测护理人员的满意度。
结论：SAGA-8问卷具有很高的判别力，可以评估GT患儿的父母/监护人对HEN的满意程度，并随后评估患者的幸福感。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVES:To evaluate health related quality of life (HRQOL) using the Medical Outcomes Study 8-items Short Form Health Survey (SF-8) questionnaire in Japanese patients with early prostate cancer. METHODS:A cross-sectional analysis was done in 457 patients with prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and watchful waiting or a combination these therapies. General HRQOL was measured using the Japanese version of the SF-8 questionnaire and disease-specific HRQOL was assessed using the Japanese version of the Extended Prostate Cancer Index Composite. RESULTS:The external beam radiotherapy group reported significantly lower values for the physical health component summary score (PCS) in comparison to the radical prostatectomy and brachytherapy groups (P < 0.05). In the analysis of both the PCS and the mental health component summary score (MCS) over time after treatment, higher scores with time were found in the radical prostatectomy group. No significant change over time after androgen deprivation therapy in the PCS was found. In contrast, the MCS was found to deteriorate in the early period, showing a significant increase over time. CONCLUSIONS:SF-8 in combination with the Extended Prostate Cancer Index Composite has shown to be a helpful tool in the HRQOL assessment of Japanese patients treated for localized prostate cancer.

背景与目标： 目的：使用医疗结果研究8项简式健康调查（SF-8）问卷对日本早期前列腺癌患者进行健康相关生活质量（HRQOL）评估。
方法：对457例前列腺癌患者进行横断面分析，这些患者接受了前列腺癌根治术，外照射，放疗，近距离放射疗法，雄激素剥夺疗法以及警惕的等待或这些疗法的联合治疗。普通HRQOL使用日文版SF-8问卷进行测量，而疾病特异性HRQOL使用日文版扩展前列腺癌指数复合材料进行评估。
结果：与放射根治性前列腺切除术和近距离放射治疗组相比，外束放射治疗组报告的身体健康成分摘要评分（PCS）值明显更低（P <0.05）。在分析治疗后随时间变化的PCS和精神健康成分总评分（MCS）时，根治性前列腺切除术组随时间的推移发现了更高的评分。在PCS中，雄激素剥夺治疗后未发现随时间的显着变化。相反，发现MCS在早期恶化，显示随时间的推移显着增加。
结论：SF-8与前列腺癌指数综合指数的组合已被证明是对接受局部前列腺癌治疗的日本患者进行HRQOL评估的有用工具。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The relative contributions of chain topology and amino acid sequence in directing the folding of a (betaalpha)(8) TIM barrel protein of unknown function encoded by the Bacillus subtilis iolI gene (IOLI) were assessed by reversible urea denaturation and a combination of circular dichroism, fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy spectroscopy. The equilibrium reaction for IOLI involves, in addition to the native and unfolded species, a stable intermediate with significant secondary structure and stability and self-associated forms of both the native and intermediate states. Global kinetic analysis revealed that the unfolded state partitions between an off-pathway refolding intermediate and the on-pathway equilibrium intermediate early in folding. Comparisons with the folding mechanisms of two other TIM barrel proteins, indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase from the thermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus (sIGPS) and the alpha subunit of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase (alphaTS), reveal striking similarities that argue for a dominant role of the topology in both early and late events in folding. Sequence-specific effects are apparent in the magnitudes of the relaxation times and relative stabilities, in the presence of additional monomeric folding intermediates for alphaTS and sIGPS and in rate-limiting proline isomerization reactions for alphaTS.

背景与目标： ：通过可逆的尿素变性和环状结合的方法评估了链拓扑结构和氨基酸序列在指导由枯草芽孢杆菌iolI基因（IOLI）编码的未知功能的βα（8）TIM桶蛋白折叠中的相对贡献二向色性，荧光和时间分辨荧光各向异性光谱。除了天然和未折叠的物种外，IOLI的平衡反应还涉及具有明显二级结构和稳定性以及天然状态和中间状态的自缔合形式的稳定中间体。全局动力学分析显示，折叠初期，未折叠状态在非通路折叠中间体和通路平衡中间体之间分配。与其他两种TIM桶蛋白的折叠机制进行比较，即嗜热嗜盐菌（sulfolobus solfataricus）的吲哚-3-甘油磷酸合酶（sIGPS）和大肠杆菌色氨酸合酶（alphaTS）的α亚基，发现了惊人的相似之处，这些相似之处证明了它们的主导作用折叠中早期和晚期事件中的拓扑。在存在额外的αTS和sIGPS单体折叠中间体的情况下，以及在αTS的限速脯氨酸异构化反应中，序列特异性效应在弛豫时间和相对稳定性的大小上很明显。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:The objective was to investigate the clinical features and metabolic and anatomic risk factors for kidney stone formation in our patient group. METHODS:Between 1998 and 2005, 179 children (94 girls, 85 boys) followed in our department because of urolithiasis were enrolled to participate in our study. Clinical presentation, urinary tract infection, stone localisation, positive family history, stone composition, presence of anatomic abnormalities and urinary metabolic risk factors, and treatment modality were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS:The mean age at diagnosis of stone disease was 4.5 years (range 0.25-15.3 years). The mean follow-up duration was 8 months (range 1-98). The major clinical presentations of our patients were abdominal pain and/or flank pain in 100 children (55.9%) and macroscopic hematuria in 25 (14%). Urinary tract infection was detected in 20% of patients on admission. Forty-three children (24%) had a urinary tract abnormality and ureteropelvic junction obstruction was the most common abnormality. A family history of stone disease was recorded in 98 patients (54.7%). Stones were located within the renal parenchyma in 90 patients. Hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria were detected in 42.3 and 54.8% respectively. Stone analysis was performed in 63 children and calcium oxalate was a major mineral. Surgical treatment was performed in 49 children and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in 41 children. CONCLUSION:We think that urolithiasis remains a serious problem in children in our country. Family history of urolithiasis, urologic abnormalities (especially under the age of 5 years), metabolic disorders and urinary tract infections tend to indicate childhood urolithiasis.

背景与目标： 目的：探讨本组患者肾结石形成的临床特征以及代谢和解剖危险因素。
方法：在1998年至2005年之间，由于尿路结石而在我科随访的179名儿童（94名女孩，85名男孩）参加了我们的研究。回顾性评估临床表现，尿路感染，结石定位，阳性家族史，结石成分，解剖学异常和尿代谢危险因素的存在以及治疗方式。
结果：诊断为结石病的平均年龄为4.5岁（范围为0.25-15.3岁）。平均随访时间为8个月（范围1-98）。我们患者的主要临床表现为100名儿童（55.9％）的腹痛和/或胁腹痛和25名儿童（14％）的肉眼血尿。入院时有20％的患者检测到尿路感染。 43名儿童（占24％）患有尿路异常，输尿管盆腔交界处梗阻是最常见的异常。记录了98例（54.7％）的家族结石病史。结石位于肾实质内的90例患者中。尿钙尿过多和尿尿尿过多的检出率分别为42.3和54.8％。对63名儿童进行了结石分析，草酸钙是主要矿物质。对49例儿童进行了手术治疗，对41例儿童进行了体外冲击波碎石术（ESWL）。
结论：我们认为尿石症在我国儿童中仍然是一个严重的问题。尿石症的家族病史，泌尿系统异常（尤其是5岁以下），代谢异常和尿路感染往往表明儿童期尿石症。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Five dichlorinated 8-quinolinols (2,5- 5,6-, 3,5-, 3,7-, and 4,5-dichloro-8-quinolinol) were tested against Candida albicans and C. tropicalis in Sabouraud dextrose broth with and without bovine serum. The 5,6-, 3,5-, and 3,7-dichloro-8-quinolinols proved to be more effective than the control, 5-fluorocytosine. In cytotoxicity tests employing baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, all test agents proved to be more cytotoxic than the control. However, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3,5-dichloro-8-quinolinol to both fungi was only one tenth the cytotoxic dose, suggesting that the compound may be useful as a topical or systemic antifungal agent.

背景与目标： ：在Sabouraud葡萄糖肉汤中测试了五种二氯8-喹啉醇（2,5- 5,6-，3,5-，3,7-和4,5-二氯8-喹啉醇）对白色念珠菌和热带念珠菌的抵抗力有和没有牛血清。 5,6-，3,5-和3,7-二氯-8-喹啉醇被证明比对照的5-氟胞嘧啶更有效。在使用小仓鼠肾脏（BHK）细胞的细胞毒性测试中，所有测试药物均被证明比对照更具细胞毒性。但是，3,5-二氯-8-喹啉醇对两种真菌的最小抑制浓度（MIC）仅是细胞毒性剂量的十分之一，表明该化合物可用作局部或全身性抗真菌剂。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: 1. The effect of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, CGRP(8-37) on blood flow in the knee joint of the anaesthetized rat was investigated. 2. Synovial blood flow in both exposed and intact, skin-covered knees was measured by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. 3. Topical application of CGRP(8-37) caused a dose-dependent fall in synovial blood flow in the exposed knee joint of the rat. At low (1.5 nmol) doses of CGRP(8-37) there was no significant effect on synovial blood flow. In rats treated with 7.5 nmol CGRP(8-37) there was a fall in synovial blood flow (maximum effect at 10 min-28.8 +/- 4.6%; n=7), which returned to resting levels within 30 min.

The highest dose (15 nmol) of antagonist used in this study caused a marked (maximum at 10 min-35.6 +/- 9.3%; n=8), and prolonged (up to 30 min) fall in blood flow. 4.

Ten days after surgical denervation, CGRP(9-37) (15 nmol, topical) had no significant effect on blood flow in the rat exposed knee joint (change in flux at 10 min-5.1+/-3.6%; n=4). This suggests that CGRP(8-37) acts selectively to antagonize the actions of a neurally derived product, probably CGRP, on the rat synovial vasculature. 5.

In skin-covered knee joints, intra-articular injection of CGRP(8-37) (15 nmol; bolus) elicited a significant fall in synovial blood flow (maximum effect at 10 min-15.5 +/- 5.8%; n=6). 6. CGRP (0.01, 0.1 or 1.0 nmol; topical) caused a dose-dependent increase in exposed knee joint blood flow, which was attenuated by co-administration of 1.5 nmol CGRP(8-37). For example, 1 nmol CGRP elicited a peak increase in flux at 10 min of 94.7 +/- 31.8% (n=8) and 28.8 +/- 8.9% (n=7) in the absence and presence of CGRP(8-37), respectively. The vasodilator responses induced by acetylcholine (ACh) (10 nmol, topical; n=4-5) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (10 nmol, topical; n=4-5) were unaltered in the presence of CGRP(8-37) (1.5 nmol, topical). 7. Thus, the CGRP receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37) elicits vasoconstriction in the rat synovium. This suggests that the endogenous, basal release of CGRP may play a physiological role in the regulation of blood flow in the rat knee joint.

背景与目标： 1.研究了降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）受体拮抗剂CGRP（8-37）对麻醉大鼠膝关节血流的影响。 2.通过激光多普勒灌注成像测量暴露的和完整的，皮肤覆盖的膝盖中的滑膜血流量。 3.局部应用CGRP（8-37）导致大鼠裸露的膝关节滑膜血流量呈剂量依赖性下降。在低剂量（1.5 nmol）的CGRP（8-37）下，滑膜血流没有明显影响。在用7.5 nmol CGRP（8-37）治疗的大鼠中，滑膜血流量下降（在10分钟时达到最大作用，即28.8 /-4.6％； n = 7），并在30分钟内恢复了静息水平。

本研究中使用的最高剂量的拮抗剂（15 nmol）引起明显的症状（最大10min时为35.6 /-9.3％； n = 8），并导致血流持续时间延长（长达30分钟）。 4.

去神经手术后十天，CGRP（9-37）（15 nmol，局部用）对大鼠裸露膝关节的血流没有明显影响（在10分钟时血流变化-5.1 /- 3.6％； n = 4）。这表明CGRP（8-37）选择性地拮抗神经源性产物（可能是CGRP）对大鼠滑膜脉管系统的作用。 5.

在皮肤覆盖的膝关节中，关节腔内注射CGRP（8-37）（15 nmol;推注）引起滑膜血流量显着下降（在10 min-15.5时最大作用） 5.8％； n = 6）。 6. CGRP（0.01、0.1或1.0 nmol；局部用药）引起暴露的膝关节血流量呈剂量依赖性增加，并与1.5 nmol CGRP（8-37）并用可减弱这种作用。例如，在不存在和存在CGRP（8-37）的情况下，1 nmol CGRP在10分钟时引起的通量峰值分别为94.7 /-31.8％（n = 8）和28.8 /-8.9％（n = 7），分别。在存在CGRP（8-37）的情况下，乙酰胆碱（ACh）（10 nmol，局部； n = 4-5）或硝普钠（SNP）（10 nmol，局部； n = 4-5）诱导的血管舒张反应没有改变。 ）（1.5 nmol，局部用）。 7.因此，CGRP受体拮抗剂CGRP（8-37）在大鼠滑膜中引起血管收缩。这表明CGRP的内源性基础释放可能在调节大鼠膝关节血流中起着生理作用。