Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in cervical cancer patients

Cervical cancer (CaCx) is a global public health problem as it is the second most common cancer leading to the death of women worldwide. Many references revealed that the low levels of antioxidants induce the generation of free radicals leading to DNA damage and further mutations. In the present study attempt have been made to evaluate the levels of serum Lipid peroxide, Nitric Oxide (NO^.) Erythrocytic—Superoxide Dismutase (RBC-SOD), Vitamin-C, serum Copper (Cu) and serum Zinc (Zn). 120 patients were divided in 4 groups according to the increasing CaCx stages i.e. stage I, II, III & IV respectively. All the patients were around the age group of 25–65 years. 30 healthy women between the same age group were treated as controls. Highly significant increased values of MDA, NO^. and Cu were observed (p<0.001) whereas the activity of RBC-SOD, levels of Vitamin-C and Zn were significantly decreased in CaCx patients as compared with healthy controls (p<0.001). Cu/Zn ratio was found to be altered in CaCx patients. From our findings it can be concluded that the oxidative stress is induced among CaCx patients, which inturn increases the risk of CaCx.     

Identifying teenage sexual abuse victims by questions on their daily lives

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an international public health problem. While general practitioners are perhaps ideally positioned to detect CSA, a lack of simple tools and their discomfort in bringing up such a sensitive subject reduce the likelihood of its being brought up and flagged in primary care. However, it may be possible to identify victims of CSA by observing its consequences on student well-being, overall well-being and risk behavior. This study investigate the predictive value of daily life events possibly associated with CSA: relationship difficulties with peers and teachers, autolytic attempts, self-mutilation, low self-esteem, addiction, poor body image, physical and psychological violence, low quality of sleep. We carried out a crosssectional survey involving a representative sample of 1719 15 year-old adolescents enrolled in 192 randomly drawn schools from two French regions. In their classrooms, they filled out a version of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children international (HBSC) self-questionnaire. Compared to their coevals, these youth were more likely to regularly consume cannabis, OR 4.40 [1.85; 10.48] and to express fear of violence, OR 2.05 [1.28; 3,28]. They were less likely to feel satisfied about their weight, OR 2.24 [1.13; 4.40] and more likely to feel unaccepted by others, OR 1.65 [1.03; 2.65]. The C-index (concordance statistic) taking into account gender, regular cannabis consumption, fear of violence, not having the right weight and not being accepted by others, was 0.79. The C-index also including self mutilation and autolytic attempts was 0.83. Indirect thematic could likewise facilitate detection and identification of CSA.     

Screening homeless youth for histories of abuse: prevalence, enduring effects, and interest in treatment

Objectives

To identify the incidence of self-reported physical and sexual child abuse among homeless youth, the self-perceived effects of past abuse, and current interest in treatment for past abuse among homeless youth with histories of abuse.

Methods

Homeless and street-involved persons aged 18-23 filled out a questionnaire and participated in a structured assessment of histories of abuse, tobacco use and substance abuse.

Results

Sixty-four homeless youth in Salt Lake City, Utah completed the study, 43 males and 21 females. Eighty-four percent screened positive for childhood physical and/or sexual abuse occurring before the age of 18; 42% screened positive for both physical and sexual abuse; 72% reported still being affected by their abuse. Among all abuse victims, 44% were interested in treatment for their abuse history and 62% of homeless youth who reported still being affected by their abuse were interested in treatment. Individuals were more likely to be interested in treatment if they were female, had not completed high school or had been previously asked about family dysfunction. Many victims who declined treatment offered spontaneous insight into their decision. Interest in treatment was similar to interest in treatment for other behaviors such as smoking and substance abuse.

Conclusions

Histories of abuse are common among homeless youth. A majority of those reporting a history of abuse are still affected by their abuse. Interest in treatment for a history of abuse was comparable to interest in treatment for other morbidities in the homeless youth population such as tobacco use and substance abuse. Our finding that homeless youth continue to be impacted by their abuse and are interested in treatment should prompt more screening for histories of abuse.     

Science Letters： Vascular architecture： is it a helpful histopathological biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma？

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） remains one of the major public health problems throughout the world. Although originally associated with tumorigenic processes, liver angiogenesis has also been observed in the context of different liver inflammatory, fibrotic, and ischemic conditions. Here we investigate the fractal dimension as a quantitator of non-Euclidean two-dimensional vascular geometry in a series of paired specimens of primary HCC and surrounding non-tumoral tissue, and discuss why this parameter might provide additional information regarding cancer behavior. The application of fractal geometry to the measurement of liver vascularity and the availability of a computer-aided quantitative method can eliminate errors in visual interpretation, and make it possible to obtain closer-to-reality numerals that are compulsory for any measurement process.     

茶与人体健康：茶叶活性组分的生物医学效应和当前关注的若干问题

饮茶有益于健康的观念在我国已沿传多个世纪,并在很大程度上为全世界所接受。本文简述了茶叶的药用历史以及从中国传播到世界各地的历史进程,重点对国内外关于饮茶预防癌症、代谢综合症、心血管疾病以及神经退行性疾病等人体重要疾病的最新研究成果进行了综述。在此基础上,针对当前在动物实验和人体流行病学调查结果上存在差异的原因,特别是对茶叶中儿茶素类化合物在人体组织中生物可利用度低的问题、高剂量绿茶提取物对人体可能存在毒性等安全性问题进行了讨论。此外,还介绍了近几年在提高儿茶素类化合物生物可利用度和对癌症的预防和治疗效果上的最新进展。     

The Plasma DNA Concentration as a Potential Breast Cancer Screening Marker

Increased levels of plasma DNA have frequently been noticed in the blood plasma of cancer patients. The possibility of using plasma DNA level as the indicator of tumor stage in breast cancer was investigated in plasma samples obtained from 100 breast cancer patients and 100 healthy women who were included as controls. Circulatory plasma free DNA was extracted from plasma samples and quantified by fluorometer. The median concentration of plasma DNA in the plasma samples from breast cancer patients classified by TNM staging system as stage I, II, III, IV and breast surgical patients were 0.5, 235, 422, 1,280 and 0.5 ng/ml, respectively. The level of plasma DNA in the stage II- IV group was significantly higher than those in the surgical group with breast cancer and control group (P value < 0.001). The plasma DNA concentration in stage II, III and IV of breast cancer were higher when compared with healthy group. These tumor size, TNM stage and metastasis were significantly correlated with plasma DNA. The cut point of 120 ng/ml was early screening and treatment follow up breast cancer.     

中国医学期刊的国际化之路 ——《癌症》杂志的探索

【目的】 为中国医学期刊的国际化提供借鉴。 【方法】 以《癌症》杂志为例,介绍了杂志在国际化道路上采取的一系列新举措,探索中国科技期刊特别是医学期刊的国际化之路。 【结果】 《癌症》杂志自2010年变更文种为英文出版后,通过组建国际性编委会、聘请美国编辑、主办国际性学术会议等多种举措,使杂志国际影响力不断提升,于2014年7月被SCI收录。 【结论】 在科技期刊国际化这条路上,相信没有最好的,只有最适合的。老牌的中文期刊在传承历史的前提下,也可以在国际化的道路上走得更远。     

图像存储传输系统多维测量在颈椎椎弓根内固定中的个体化应用

目的：探索利用图像存储传输系统（PACS）多维测量颈椎椎弓根64排CT片指导术中置钉,提高置钉一次成功率的效果。方法：应用PACS结合64排CT片,由5名医师对2000例正常人颈椎椎弓根的冠状位、矢状位及轴位进行精确测量,得出国人椎弓根的长度、宽度、高度及向内侧倾斜、向头、尾侧倾斜角度的数据值,以指导术中选钉及置钉。颈椎椎弓根内固定术前参考上述内容,对拟固定颈椎椎弓根的283例患者进行多维精确测量,得出椎弓根的上述数据值,其中上颈椎疾患91例,下颈椎疾患192例。术中应用自行研制的颈椎椎弓根定位导向器,准确定位人钉点及角度,置钉1198枚。结果：257例患者获得8～73个月随访,平均随访时间18．16个月。上颈椎患者3例螺钉穿破寰椎左侧椎弓根外侧壁,未发现脊髓、椎动脉损伤,未行二次手术,未发现钉板断裂,CT片示螺钉与椎动脉及脊髓位置关系良好。下颈椎患者中,16例患者17枚椎弓根螺钉术后拍片位置不理想,行二次手术调整位置满意,一次成功率98．58％。该组患者采用JOA评分标准,优132例,良102例,可18例,差5例,优良率91．05％。结论：应用PACS结合64排CT片术前三维精确测量,指导术中置入颈椎椎弓根螺钉,明显提高植钉的一次成功率,是一种可行的方法。     

基于机器视觉技术的钨矿初选工艺研究

本文首先分析了机器视觉技术应用在钨矿初选环节的可行性,其次对钨矿初选系统实现、工艺算法分析进行了详细介绍,最后通过钨矿筛选的具体算法分析表明机器视觉技术在钨矿初选环节使用的可行性、高效性。     

The Child Abuse Potential Inventory: Development of an Arabic version

The Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI) is a well-validated screening tool for assessing potential for child physical abuse, and has been translated into many different languages. To date the CAPI has not been translated into Arabic or used in any studies in Arabic-speaking populations. This study reports on the process of adapting the CAPI into Arabic Language which was undertaken following the International Society of Pharma-economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines. The translation/adaptation process was multi-stage, and involved the use of a Delphi process, cognitive debriefing, back translation, and a pilot testing of the Arabic CAPI at two primary health care centers with a population of pregnant women (n = 60). Following “literal translation” 73 out of the 160 items needed re-phrasing to adapt the items to the Oman context. No differences were found when comparing results of the translated or back-translated versions to source; however, eight items needed further amendment following translated to back-translated comparison and feedback from the pilot. Iterations were resolved following in-depth interviews. Discrepancies were due to differences in culture, parenting practices, and religion. Piloting of the tool indicated mean score value of 155.8 (SD = 59.4) and eleven women (18%) scored above the cut off value of 215. This Arabic translation of the CAPI was undertaken using rigorous methodology and sets the scene for further research on the Arabic CAPI within Arabic-speaking populations.