Effects of taurine on metal cations,transthyretin and LRP-1 in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

BackgroundResearches on diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, are still ongoing. Taurine is frequently used in Alzheimer's disease models due to its protective effects. Metal cation dyshomeostasis is an important etiological factor for Alzheimer's disease. Transthyretin protein is thought to act as a transporter for the Aβ protein that accumulates in the brain and is eliminated in the liver and kidneys via the LRP-1 receptor. However, the effect of taurine on this mechanisms is not fully known.Methods30 male rats, aged 28 ± 4 months, were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) as follows: control group, sham group, Aβ 1–42 group, taurine group and taurine+Aβ 1–42 group. Oral taurine pre-supplementation was given as 1000 mg/kg-body weight/day for 6 weeks to taurine and taurine+Aβ 1–42 groups.ResultsPlasma copper, heart transthyretin and Aβ 1–42, brain and kidney LRP-1 levels were found to be decreased in the Aβ 1–42 group. Brain transthyretin was higher in taurine+Aβ 1–42 group and brain Aβ 1–42 was higher in Aβ 1–42 and taurine+Aβ 1–42 groups.ConclusionTaurine pre-supplementation maintained cardiac transthyretin levels, decreased cardiac Aβ 1–42 levels and increased brain and kidney LRP-1 levels. Taurine may have a potential to be used as a protective agent for aged people at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.     

Americans all: Black and single‐parent families in the inner city

Bette J. Dickerson (ed.), AFRICAN AMERICAN SINGLE MOTHERS: UNDERSTANDING THEIR LIVES AND FAMILIES, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1995, xxxii + 200 pp., $24.00 (paper).

Linda Gordon, PITIED BUT NOT ENTITLED: SINGLE MOTHERS AND THE HISTORY OF WELFARE 1890–1935, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994, 433 pp., $15.95 (paper).

Joyce A. Ladner, TOMORROW'S TOMORROW: THE BLACK WOMAN, Lincoln, NE: The University of Nebraska Press, 1995, xxiii + 304 pp., $12.00 (paper).

Carl Husemoller Nightingale, ON THE EDGE: A HISTORY OF POOR BLACK CHILDREN AND THEIR AMERICAN DREAMS, New York: Basic Books, 1993, xv + 254 pp., $14.00 (paper).

M. Belinda Tucker and Claudia Mitchell‐Kernan, (eds), THE DECLINE IN MARRIAGE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS, New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1995, xxiv + 397 pp., $49.95 and $19.95 (paper).     

Book reviews

Andrew Hacker, TWO NATIONS: BLACK AND WHITE, SEPARATE, HOSTILE, UNEQUAL, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1992, vii + 257 pp., $24.95.

Catherine Silk and John Silk, RACISM AND ANTI‐RACISM IN AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1990, x + 186 pp., £27.50.

Therese Daniels and Jane Gerson (eds), THE COLOUR BLACK, BLACK IMAGES IN BRITISH TELEVISION, London: BFI Publishing, 1989, 160 pp., £4.95 (paper).

Jim Pines and Paul Willemen (eds), QUESTIONS OF THIRD CINEMA, London: BFI Publishing, 1989, x + 246 pp., £7.95 (paper).

David R. Roediger, THE WAGES OF WHITENESS: RACE AND THE MAKING OF THE AMERICAN WORKING CLASS, London: Verso, 1991, 191 pp., £12.95 (paper).

William Cohen, AT FREEDOM'S EDGE: BLACK MOBILITY AND THE SOUTHERN WHITE QUEST FOR RACIAL CONTROL, 1861–1915, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1991, 340 pp., $42.50.

Robert L. Cooper, LANGUAGE PLANNING AND SOCIAL CHANGE, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990, 216 pp., £27.50, £9.95 (paper).

Emmanual Sivan and Menachem Friedman (eds), RELIGIOUS RADICALISM AND POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, Albany: State University of New York Press, 1990, 244 pp., n.p.

Eliezer Ben‐Rafael and Stephen Sharot, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, AND CLASS IN ISRAELI SOCIETY, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991, 287 pp., £32.50.     

Global variation in young adult central nervous system tumor incidence by region,age, and sex from 1988 to 2012

BackgroundCentral nervous system (CNS) tumors result in tremendous morbidity and mortality. Incidence of CNS tumors in young adults is less studied. It is unknown how young adult CNS tumor incidence has changed globally in recent decades.MethodsWe used Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) data (1988–2012) to estimate incidence rates (IR), average annual percent change in incidence (AAPC; 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]), and male-to-female incidence rate ratios (IRR; 95% CI) by six histologies and age at diagnosis (20–29years, 30–39years). Tumors were classified as astrocytic, medulloblastoma, ependymal, oligodendroglial, meninges, and other embryonal. Geographic regions were defined using the United Nations Statistics Division geoscheme.ResultsThere were 78,240 CNS tumor cases included. 20–29-year-old (yo) rates were lower than 30–39 yo in most regions for astrocytic, oligodendroglial and ependymal tumors. Globally, astrocytic tumor incidence decreased (20–29 yo AAPC: − 0.70; 95% CI: − 1.32, − 0.08) while incidence increased for oligodendroglial (20–29 yo AAPC: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.57–4.51; 30–39 yo AAPC: 2.67; 95% CI: 0.79–4.58), ependymal (20–29 yo AAPC: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.31–2.03; 30–39 yo AAPC: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.14–3.46), medulloblastoma (30–39 yo AAPC: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.04–1.24) and tumors of the meninges (20–29 yo AAPC: 1.55; 95% CI: 0.04–3.07). There was a 20–40% male incidence excess in all histologies except for meninge tumors (30–39 yo IRR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.84).ConclusionsIncidence of oligodendroglial and ependymal tumors increased globally in 20–39 yo suggesting better diagnoses or changes in risk factors. Males had a higher incidence of CNS tumors for most tumors studied and in most regions.     

Las 3D/3D+ como herramienta de valoración geriátrica rápida y de adecuación del recurso asistencial al alta de los Servicios de Urgencias

ObjectiveAssess the 3D/3D+ rapid geriatric assessment tool for the early detection of frailty, its usefulness to identify the effects of the acute process on the functional, physical, cognitive and socioenvironmental dimensions, as well as the medications that may have triggered the patient's reason for visit. Finally, assess the usefulness of 3D/3D+ together with the clinical diagnosis to adequate care resource at discharge from the emergency department (ED).MethodRetrospective observational cohort study. Patients ≥75 years old, with clinical complexity visited at the ED were included. Basal frailty status was assessed using 3D (basal component), and the multidimensional impact of the acute process using 3D+ (current component). The main dependent variable was adequacy of the care resource at ED discharge.Results278 patients were included, mean age 86 years (interquartile range: 83–90), 59.7% were women. According to the basal component (3D), 83.1% (95%CI: 78.2–87.3) presented some degree of frailty. The current component (3D+) was altered in 60.1% (95%CI: 54.1–65.9). The adequacy of ED discharge was correct in 96.4% (95%CI: 93.0–98.0). One out of 4 patients was admitted to a medicine ward.Conclusions3D/3D+ facilitates an optimal model of emergency care adapted to patients ≥ 75 years old treated in EDs. It stratifies the level of frailty (3D), detects the severity of patients’ acute problems (3D+) and contributes to decision-making regarding the most appropriate care resource at ED discharge.     

Book reviews

Hugh Honour, THE IMAGE OF THE BLACK IN WESTERN ART, IV FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO WORLD WAR I, Cambridge, Mass. and London: Harvard University Press, 1989; part i, 379 pp., 196 ill., part ii, 306 pp., 183 ill., £34.95 each volume.

Deborah Willis‐Thomas, AN ILLUSTRATED BIO‐BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS, 1940–1988, New York & London: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1989, 483 pp., $85.00.

John Hutchinson, THE DYNAMICS OF CULTURAL NATIONALISM: THE GAELIC REVIVAL AND THE CREATION OF THE IRISH NATION STATE, London: Allen and Unwin, 1987, viii + 343 pp., £38.00.

Arthur Aughey, UNDER SIEGE: ULSTER UNIONISM AND THE ANGLO‐IRISH AGREEMENT, London: Hurst & Co, 1989, xv + 214 pp., £18.50.

Richard Jenkins (ed.), NORTHERN IRELAND: STUDIES IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE, London: Avebury, 1989, xii + 197 pp., £23.50.

J. I. Little, NATIONALISM, CAPITALISM, AND COLONIZATION IN NINETEENTH‐CENTURY QUEBEC: THE UPPER ST. FRANCIS DISTRICT, Kingston, Montreal, London: McGill‐Queen's University Press, 1989, 336 pp., £31.45.

Basdeo Mangru, BENEVOLENT NEUTRALITY: INDIAN GOVERNMENT POLICY AND LABOUR MIGRATION TO BRITISH GUIANA 1854–1884, London: Hansib, 1987, 267 pp., £12.95.

Carole Marks, FAREWELL ‐ WE'RE GOOD AND GONE: THE GREAT BLACK MIGRATION, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1989, x + 209 pp., $37.50 and $12.95 (paper).

James R. Grossman, LAND OF HOPE: CHICAGO, BLACK SOUTHERNERS, AND THE GREAT MIGRATION, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1989, 384 pp., £23.95.

Robert M. Jiobu, ETHNICITY AND ASSIMILATION: BLACKS, CHINESE, FILIPINOS, JAPANESE, KOREANS, MEXICANS, VIETNAMESE AND WHITES, Albany: State University of New York Press, 1988, np.

John M. MacKenzie (ed.), IMPERIALISM AND POPULAR CULTURE, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1989, 264 pp., (illus.), £10.95 (paper).

Anne Phillips, THE ENIGMA OF COLONIALISM: BRITISH POLICY IN WEST AFRICA, James Currey and Indiana University Press, vii + 184 pp., £25.00 and £8.95 (paper).

John Darwin, BRITAIN AND DECOLONISATION: THE RETREAT FROM EMPIRE IN THE POST‐WAR WORLD, London: Macmillan, 1988, xiii + 383 pp., £33.00, and £9.95 (paper).

Tony Kushner and Kenneth Lunn (eds), TRADITIONS OF INTOLERANCE: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON FASCISM AND RACE DISCOURSE IN BRITAIN, Manchester University Press, 1989, 245 pp., £29.95.     

Film review

The great New Zealand movie Forgotten Silver. Directed by Peter Jackson and Costa Botes; produced by Sue Rogers. Featuring Sam Neill, Leonard Maltin, etc. Made by Wingnut Films, Wellington, 1995; 52 mins. Available in NTSC and PAL VHS. World sales: New Zealand Film Commission, P.O. Box 11546, Wellington, New Zealand. Tel: +64–4‐382–7680; fax: +64–4‐384–9719. North American distributor: First Run Features, 153 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014; Tel: (212) 243–0600; fax: (212) 989–7649. Rental/sale, US $250.     

Cultural diversity and schooling

Ashley H. Robins, BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN PIGMENTATION, (Cambridge Studies in Biological Anthropology, 7), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991, xiii + 253 pp., £37.50.

Ulfried Geuter, THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF PSYCHOLOGY IN NAZI GERMANY. Cambridge Studies in the History of Psychology, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992, v‐xxi + 335 pp., npl.

Clare Midgley, WOMEN AGAINST SLAVERY. THE BRITISH CAMPAIGNS, 1780–1870, London: Routledge, 1992, xii + 281 pp., £37.50.

Maryinez Lyons, THE COLONIAL DISEASE: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF SLEEPING SICKNESS IN NORTHERN ZAIRE, 1900–1940, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992, xvi + 335 pp., £50.00.

Wim van Binsbergen, TEARS OF RAIN: ETHNICITY AND HISTORY IN CENTRAL WESTERN ZAMBIA, London and New York: Kegan Paul International, 1992, 495 pp., £45.00.

Albert B. Robillard (ed.) SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, London: Kegan Paul International, 1992, xvi + 507 pp., £45.

Sarah Radcliffe and Sallie Westwood (eds) ‘VIVA’: WOMEN AND POPULAR PROTEST IN LATIN AMERICA, London: Routledge, 1993, 270 pp., £12.99 pb; £40.00 hb.

Cindi Katz and Janice Monk (eds) FULL CIRCLES: GEOGRAPHIES OF WOMEN OVER THE LIFECOURSE, London: Routledge, 1993, 317 pp., £12.99 pb; £40 hb.

Hans van Amersfoort and Hans Knippenberg (eds), STATES AND NATIONS. THE REBIRTH OF THE ‘NATIONALITIES QUESTION’ IN EUROPE, Netherlands Geographical Studies 137, Amsterdam: Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap, 1991, 189 pp., Dfl. 29.50.

Elizabeth D. Huttman, Wim Blauw and Juliet Saltman (eds), URBAN HOUSING SEGREGATION OF MINORITIES IN WESTERN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES, Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1991, xiii + 431 pp., npl.

Roger Daniels, Sandra C. Taylor, and Harry H. L. Kitano (eds) JAPANESE AMERICANS: FROM RELOCATION TO REDRESS, Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 1992, 264 pp., $17.95 US (paper only).

David J. O'Brien and Stephen S. Fugita, THE JAPANESE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1991, 178 pp., £8.99 (paper).

Paul James Rutledge, THE VIETNAMESE EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA, Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1992, 173 pp., npl.     

Review article: The challenge of African‐American leadership in an ambiguous world: W.E.B. Du Bois,Carter Woodson,Ralph Bunche and Thurgood Marshall in historical perspective

David Levering Lewis, W.E.B. DU BOIS ‐ BIOGRAPHY OF A RACE, 1868–1919, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1993, xv + 735 pp., $35.00.

Jacqueline Goggin, CARTER G. WOODSON: A LIFE IN BLACK HISTORY, Baton Rouge and London: Louisiana State University Press, 1993. xix + 217 pp., $24.95 (£23.70).

Brian Urquhart, RALPH BUNCHE: AN AMERICAN LIFE, New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1993, 496 pp., $27.50.

Mark V. Tushnet, MAKING CIVIL RIGHTS LAW: THURGOOD MARSHALL AND THE SUPREME COURT, 1936–1961, New York: Oxford University Press, 1994, xi + 399 pp., £27.50.     

血管紧张素受体阻断剂联合冬虫夏草对肾小球肾炎临床疗效观察

目的:探讨血管紧张素受体阻断剂联合冬虫夏草对肾小球肾炎的临床疗效。方法:选取2011年1月至2015年3月期间我院收治的340名尿检符合蛋白尿或血尿的患者作为研究资料,按治疗方式将研究对象分为A组(单纯百令组)、B组(奥美沙坦组)、C组(除去奥美沙坦外的其他ARB组)、D组(所有ARB组)、E组(奥美沙坦联合百令组)、F组(除去奥美沙坦外的其他ARB联合百令组)、G组(所有ARB联合百令组),于服药1、2、3个月跟踪随访尿微量白蛋白、尿a1微量球蛋白、血尿、血生化等指标的变化。结果:与单纯百令组相比,单独应用ARB组或ARB联合百令胶囊组在降低肾小球性蛋白尿方面显示出了良好的疗效(P0.05);在降低肾小管蛋白尿方面,单独应用ARB仅在1月组显示出明显效果,而ARB联合百令治疗则在1-3个月均显示出持续的缓解(P0.05);无论单用ARB还是ARB联合百令对于血生化指标的显著影响仅体现在治疗1个月内(P0.05)。结论:常规应用ARB类药物治疗同时,加用冬虫夏草治疗,可以更加有效的降低蛋白尿,保护肾小管功能,对于改善患者病情及延缓疾病发展具有重要意义。     

巨噬细胞来源外泌体介导心肌梗塞后心脏重塑的作用研究

目的:研究活化的巨噬细胞来源外泌体在心肌梗塞后心脏重塑中的作用。方法:采用超高速离心分离提取溶血磷脂酸作用下巨噬细胞来源的外泌体,将其与心脏成纤维细胞共同孵育48小时,利用Edu细胞增殖实验、Transwell实验及免疫荧光等方法检测溶血磷脂酸刺激(LPS)下巨噬细胞来源外泌体对心脏成纤维细胞的增殖、迁移以及分化的影响。选取正常C57雄性小鼠32只,根据其是否结扎左侧冠状动脉前降支及是否进行心脏原位外泌体注射,将实验小鼠随机分为:正常组,假手术组,心梗+空白外泌体组及心梗组+LPS刺激外泌体组。手术完成4周后行心脏超声、Masson染色以检测各组实验小鼠心功能状态及心脏纤维化程度。结果:在细胞实验中,LPS刺激的巨噬细胞来源外泌体可以显著增加心脏成纤维细胞的增殖、迁移以及分化能力;在动物实验中,相对于正常组、假手术组及心梗+空白-外泌体组,心梗+LPS-外泌体组小鼠的左心室射血分数及短轴收缩率显著下降,左心室舒张末及收缩末内径显著增加。Masson染色检测提示心肌梗塞+LPS-外泌体组小鼠心脏纤维化程度显著高于其余三组。结论:活化的巨噬细胞来源的外泌体可以显著加速心梗后心脏重塑的进程。     

金天格在老年骨质疏松性椎体骨折术后的应用及临床分析

目的:探讨和分析金天格胶囊在老年骨质疏松症导致的椎体骨折术后的作用和临床疗效。方法:将2013.01-2015.01来我院明确诊断为骨质疏松症导致的椎体骨折共计136人经纳入标准和排除标准筛选后,使用随机数字表将其随机分为2组。实验组给予经皮椎体成形术(PVP)+钙剂+维生素D+唑来磷酸+金天格胶囊治疗。对照组则不给予金天格进行治疗。所有患者均至少接受了12个月的系统随访观察。观察和进行比较的指标主要为疼痛(VAS),骨密度,Macnab腰椎功能评分以及血液肝肾功等指标。结果:在术后3月和12个月,两组患者在疼痛、骨密度及腰椎功能评分等方面较术前均有显著改善(P0.05)。两组之间在上述指标中有统计学显著性差异。而在血液肝肾功等指标的比较中,则未发现疼显著统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:金天格胶囊在骨质疏松性椎体骨折术后的应用,能够有效地提高治疗效果,安全程度较高,在临床中可进一步的进行推广应用。     

Trends in cancer incidence in the Republic of Mauritius, 1991–2015

IntroductionMauritius, a small state, is among the few African countries where cancer registration is population based and nationwide. We reported trends in cancer incidence for twenty five years as well as the mortality to incidence ratio (MIR) as main quality indicator of the Mauritius National Cancer Registry (MNCR).Materials and methodsWe calculated age standardised incidence rates (ASRs) of cancers by sex and by 5 year age group for five successive year periods from 1991 to 2015. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) were determined by sex and cancer sites. MIRs were compared for the period 2001–2004 and 2012–2015.ResultsIn males, the most common cancer sites (in terms of ASRs per 100,000) were those of the colon-rectum (17.0), prostate (16.5), trachea-bronchus-lung (13.0), stomach (8.4) and lip-oral cavity-pharynx (7.7). The AAPC were +3.9%, +4.2%, +0.5%, -0.1% and -1.3% respectively. In females, the most frequent sites were breast (53.7), colon-rectum (13.2), cervix uteri (11.2), corpus uteri (7.7) and ovary (5.7). The AAPC were +3.4%, +4.4%, -2%, +5.2% and -0.1% respectively. The most significant decrease in MIRs among males were liver (1.9 to 1.0), stomach (1.3 to 0.8) and lung (1.7 to 1.2) cancers while among females, they were pancreas (3.4 to 1.3), liver (1.8 to 1.2) and stomach (1.5 to 0.8) cancers.ConclusionThe most common cancers were those associated with 'westernisation' of lifestyle. Our figures contrast with other Sub-Saharan Africa countries where infection related cancers are most predominant. The MNCR has also improved its data quality over time.     

Serum tau fragments as predictors of death or poor neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Background: Anoxic brain injury is the primary cause of death after resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and prognostication is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of two fragments of tau as serum biomarkers for neurological outcome.

Methods: Single-center sub-study of 171 patients included in the Target Temperature Management (TTM) Trial randomly assigned to TTM at 33?°C or TTM at 36?°C for 24?h after OHCA. Fragments (tau-A and tau-C) of the neuronal protein tau were measured in serum 24, 48 and 72?h after OHCA. The primary endpoint was neurological outcome.

Results: Median (quartile 1 – quartile 3) tau-A (ng/ml) values were 58 (43–71) versus 51 (43–67), 72 (57–84) versus 71 (59–82) and 76 (61–92) versus 75 (64–89) for good versus unfavourable outcome at 24, 48 and 72?h, respectively (p_group = 0.95). Median tau C (ng/ml) values were 38 (29–50) versus 36 (29–49), 49 (38–58) versus 48 (33–59) and 48 (39–59) versus 48 (36–62) (p_group = 0.95). Tau-A and tau-C did not predict neurological outcome (area under the receiver-operating curve at 48?h; tau-A: 0.51 and tau-C: 0.51).

Conclusions: Serum levels of tau fragments were unable to predict neurological outcome after OHCA.     

Cardiac troponins predict adverse clinical outcomes in stable coronary artery disease: a dose–response meta-analysis of prospective studies

Background: Predictive value of cardiac tropnins (cTns) in stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) has not been fully investigated.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the dose–response relationship between serum detectable/rising cTns and adverse clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF) or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in SCAD.

Results: Sixteen studies involved 34,854 subjects were included. Compared with patients with negative/undetectable cTns, those with rising/detectable cTns were associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, CV mortality, MI, HF and MACEs [the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.83 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.61–2.08), 2.11 (1.80–2.48), 1.43 (1.26–1.62), 2.36 (1.97–2.83) and 1.99 (1.57–2.53), respectively]. Dose–response analysis have revealed that per 1-SD increment of cTnT was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, CV mortality, MI, HF and MACEs [the HR was 1.78 (1.20–2.63), 1.62 (1.41–1.85), 1.26 (1.12–1.42), 1.78 (1.17–2.69) and 1.26 (1.00–1.59), respectively].

Conclusion: Rising/detectable cTns was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, CV mortality, MI, HF and MACEs in SCAD in a dose–response manner.     

Book reviews

John B. Boles (ed.), MASTERS AND SLAVES IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD: RACE AND RELIGION IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, 1740–1870, Lexington, KY: The University of Kentucky Press, 1988, 257 pp.

David E. Swift, BLACK PROPHETS OF JUSTICE: ACTIVIST CLERGY BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1989, xv + 384 pp., £31.50.

Alexander B. Murphy, THE REGIONAL DYNAMICS OF LANGUAGE DIFFERENTIATION IN BELGIUM: A STUDY IN CULTURAL‐POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago, Geography Research Paper No. 227, 1988, xiii + 249 pp., $12.00.

Pierre L. van den Berghe, STRANGER IN THEIR MIDST, Denver, CO: University Press of Colorado, 1989, xvii + 300 pp., $24.95.     

健脾消瘿汤联合优甲乐对脾气亏虚型桥本甲状腺炎患者甲状腺激素、甲状腺自身抗体和CD4+CD45RO+记忆性T细胞的影响

摘要 目的：探讨健脾消瘿汤联合优甲乐对脾气亏虚型桥本甲状腺炎（HT）患者甲状腺激素、甲状腺自身抗体和CD4+CD45RO+记忆性T细胞的影响。方法：选择2020年5月~2021年11月期间我院收治的HT患者60例，采用随机数字表法分为对照组（优甲乐治疗，30例）和研究组（健脾消瘿汤联合优甲乐治疗，30例），两组均治疗12周后观察临床疗效，并对比两组治疗前后中医证候积分、甲状腺激素、甲状腺自身抗体和CD4+CD45RO+记忆性T细胞的变化。结果：研究组临床总有效率较对照组高（P<0.05）。研究组治疗后促甲状腺激素（TSH）水平、中医证候总积分、CD4+CD45RO+记忆性T细胞在外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中的百分比、甲状腺球蛋白抗体（TGAb）、甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（TPOAb）均低于对照组（P<0.05），游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）、游离甲状腺素（FT4）水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：脾气亏虚型HT患者采用健脾消瘿汤联合优甲乐治疗，可改善其甲状腺激素水平，调节甲状腺自身抗体水平和CD4+CD45RO+记忆性T细胞在PBMC中的百分比，进一步提高临床疗效。     

From family to nation: Organizing the Mississippi movement

John Dittmer, LOCAL PEOPLE: THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN MISSISSIPPI, Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1995, 530 pp., $29.95.

Charles M. Payne, I'VE GOT THE LIGHT OF FREEDOM: THE ORGANIZING TRADITION AND THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM STRUGGLE, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1995, xiv + 525 pp, $28.00.     

黄连素对小鼠心肌梗死后心室重构的作用研究

目的:探讨黄连素(Berberine,BBR)在小鼠心肌梗死(myocardial infarction,MI)后心室重构中的作用,并比较BBR预处理(BBR pre-treatment,preBBR)和BBR后处理(BBR post-treatment,postBBR)给药的效果。方法:将60只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为4组,分别为假手术组、单纯MI对照组、MI+preBBR组及MI+postBBR组,每组15只。MI模型采用前降支结扎法制备。MI+preBBR组在MI模型制备前2周开始用BBR(100 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1))每天灌胃,持续至MI后28 d;MI+postBBR组在MI模型制备后4 h开始用BBR(100 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1))每天灌胃,持续至MI后28 d。记录实验期间小鼠生存情况。MI后28天采用小动物超声测定左心室收缩功能;取心脏组织,测定心脏大小和重量;ELISA方法测定血浆BNP水平;Masson染色评价心肌纤维化程度。结果:与单纯MI对照组相比,MI+preBBR组及MI+postBBR组小鼠生存率提高、心脏收缩功能增强、心脏变小、心脏重量减轻、血浆BNP水平降低、心肌纤维化明显改善。其中,MI+preBBR组上述指标的改善程度优于MI+postBBR组。结论:BBR可抑制MI后心室重构,且BBR预处理效果优于后处理。