Plasma TGF-β1, MMP-1 and MMP-3 Levels in Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) presenting clinically with upper abdominal pain, as well as exocrine and endocrine insufficiencies, is characterized by irreversible morphological and functional alterations in the pancreas. The objective of the present study is to investigate the plasma levels of transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1 (collagenase) and MMP-3 (stromelysin) in CP. A total of 71 CP patients and 100 control subjects were considered for the study. Plasma levels of TGF-β1, MMP-1 and MMP-3 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients and control subjects. The plasma levels of TGF-β1 and MMP-1 were significantly elevated in patients compared to control group (*P = 0.0301, **P < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in the plasma levels of MMP-3 between patients and controls (P = 0.3756). The elevated levels of TGF-β1 and MMP-1 may influence the inflammatory reactions by enhancing the pancreatic stellate cell activation and deposition of extracellular matrix resulting in pancreatic fibrosis. Thus, the present study highlights the role of fibrogenic cytokine marker TGF-β1 and matrix metalloproteinases in the pathogenesis of CP.     

太极拳运动对改善中老年慢性疾病状况的研究

文章通过调查统计分析,根据太极拳对人体生理机能的影响特点,分别从各个角度进行对比分析,进一步明确太极拳运动的健身作用和防病治病、延年益寿的功效,得出太极拳运动对中老年人预防和减轻慢性疾病具有显著的效果,从而为太极拳运动可以提高中老年人群机体健康和抗病能力提供科学的理论依据。本研究以中老年为研究对象,来证实太极拳可以有效的预防和缓解慢性疾病的发生。     

锰超氧化物歧化酶（Mn—SOD）与运动

Mn—SOD是抵御线粒体氧化损伤的关键性屏障,为延缓运动性疲劳及预防运动性损伤发挥着重要的生理学作用。因此,本文通过查阅相关文献,从Mn—SOD的一般生物学特性及急性和慢性运动对抗氧化酶Mn—SOD的影响等方面进行阐述,为更好地认识Mn—SOD在不同运动方式中的变化特点及其作用提供参考和借鉴。     

电针联合穴位注射治疗慢性盆腔炎的疗效观察

目的:观察电针联合穴位注射治疗慢性盆腔炎的临床疗效。方法:运用电针联合穴位注射方法治疗68例慢性盆腔炎患者,观察其疗效。结果:痊愈48例,显效12例,有效5例,无效3例,总有效率为95.59%。结论:电针联合穴位注射治疗慢性盆腔炎疗效肯定。     

Diagnostic efficiency of amylase and type IV collagen in predicting chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis, an irreversible inflammatory disease of the pancreas, is associated with the replacement of the destroyed parenchyma by extended development of fibrosis. Despite marked progress in diagnostic tools, no consensus has been reached in diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. In this study we examined the hematological and biochemical parameters among 40 chronic pancreatitis patients within 18 to 67 yrs. ESR level and ALP activity was elevated in 40% cases. Serum amylase activity increased in 32 patients and it showed significant correlation with ALP (r=0.458, p=0.003), CA-19.9 (r=0.556, p<0.001), and calcium level (r=−0.472, p=0.002). Type IV collagen level in chronic pancreatitis also elevated (164.4 ± 55.5 ng/ml) and showed negative significant correlation with calcium level (r= −0.505, p=0.001). However, no significant correlation was observed between amylase activity and type IV collagen (r=0.289, p= 0.07).     

Predictors of justice system involvement: Maltreatment and education

Decades of research have established that experience of abuse and/or neglect in childhood is related to negative outcomes, such as juvenile delinquency. Existing research has shown that involvement in child welfare services is also related to juvenile delinquency, particularly for children who are victims of neglect. Research has also identified educational factors such as chronic absenteeism as significant predictors of involvement in the juvenile justice system. However, little research has investigated the combined influence of educational factors, child abuse, and involvement in child protective services on justice system involvement. The current study examined the influence of educational factors and involvement in child protective services on justice system involvement. The study utilized records from an educational database of children who attended a school within a county of Mississippi in any year from 2003 through 2013. Cases were then matched with records from the county Youth Court, Law Enforcement agencies, and Child Protection Services. A multivariate logistic regression controlling for gender, race, current age, and time at risk was conducted to involvement in the justice system. In general, educational factors were stronger predictors of justice system involvement than allegations of maltreatment.     

Communication Efficacy and Couples' Cancer Management: Applying a Dyadic Appraisal Model

The purpose of the present study was to apply Berg and Upchurch's (2007) developmental-conceptual model to understand better how couples cope with cancer. Specifically, we hypothesized a dyadic appraisal model in which proximal factors (relational quality), dyadic appraisal (prognosis uncertainty), and dyadic coping (communication efficacy) predicted adjustment (cancer management). The study was cross-sectional and included 83 dyads in which one partner had been diagnosed with and/or treated for cancer. For both patients and partners, multilevel analyses using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) indicated that proximal contextual factors predicted dyadic appraisal and dyadic coping. Dyadic appraisal predicted dyadic coping, which then predicted dyadic adjustment. Patients' confidence in their ability to talk about the cancer predicted their own cancer management. Partners' confidence predicted their own and the patient's ability to cope with cancer, which then predicted patients' perceptions of their general health. Implications and future research are discussed.     

How young children view mathematical representations: a study using eye-tracking technology

This paper reports on a study which investigated the support needs of pupils in mainstream school with a chronic illness or physical disability. The research was carried out in three local education authorities covering both rural and urban areas. In-depth, qualitative data were collected from 33 pupils in secondary school; 58 parents of primary and secondary school pupils; and 34 primary and secondary school teachers. Overall, the data from young people suggest variability in the support offered to pupils by teachers, even by teachers within the same school, and highlights the importance of teachers' awareness and understanding of special health needs. A number of areas where young people need support from teachers were identified, including: dealing with school absence; taking part in school activities; peer relationships; explaining the condition to other pupils; and having someone to talk to about health-related worries. Data from teachers and parents indicate that school staff need assistance with obtaining health-related information; ensuring health-related information is passed between and within schools; providing emotional support; the provision of medical care; and coordinating support for this group of pupils. The implications of the findings for teachers, schools and educational policy are discussed.     

Pathogenetic and prognostic roles of bloodborne fibrocytes in asthma

Bloodborne fibrocytes are cells mobilized from the bone marrow, which express surface antigens commonly ascribed to hematopoietic progenitors and have phenotypic and functional characteristics similar to those of immature mesenchymal cells. They exhibit predominant proinflammatory or profibrotic activities at tissue sites, depending on the host’s response to environmental insults and on the characteristics of the cell infiltrate and cytokine milieu. In patients with allergic asthma, fibrocytes egress from the bone marrow and are recruited into the airways after every allergen exposure and during viral infections. Recruited fibrocytes amplify the inflammatory responses driven by T helper type 2 lymphokines and favor viral replication and further inflammation on respiratory virus infections. Persistently elevated blood fibrocyte counts and persisting airway fibrocytosis are present in patients with chronically undertreated or corticosteroid-insensitive asthma, and are linked to an enhanced risk of adverse outcomes because of the major involvement of fibrocytes in the development of structural abnormalities that lead to chronic airflow obstruction in these patients. Consequently, blood fibrocyte count is an emerging biomarker of asthma control and disease progression and its clinical applicability as a new outcome measure deserves further evaluation in large clinical trials.     

广州市社区人群慢性疲劳综合征及体育锻炼现状调查

采用问卷法对广州市站前社区人群进行慢性疲劳综合征(CFS)患病率的初步调查以及对查出的CFS受试者进行体育锻炼现状的观察分析,结果显示:200例社区人群中CFS患病率为31.51%(CFS64例),其中半数以上已开展了体育锻炼,但在运动种类、强度、持续时间及频率方面存有某些科学性欠缺现象.CFS受试者还反映有一些主观和客观因素影响体育锻炼.建议:加强普及体育意识教育;扩展社区体育康复建设(如场地,必需设施);加强运动技术科学指导、监督和组织、管理,使社区成为人群体育健身的基地.