Why some people prefer pickle juice: the research of Dr. Richard P. Lifton

In this essay, the author interviews Dr. Richard P. Lifton and examines the use of genomics throughout his studies on the molecular pathophysiology of hypertensive and hypotensive diseases. To date, Dr. Lifton has identified 10 different gene mutations that result in severe hypertension and another 10 that result in severe hypotension.     

The future direction of cholesterol-lowering therapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Observational studies suggest a continuous positive relationship between vascular risk and cholesterol without any lower threshold level. We review recent and future clinical trials addressing the question of optimal treatment goals for cholesterol reduction and how these relate to present guidelines. With increasing focus on greater cholesterol reduction, new approaches to lipid-lowering therapy are being developed; we discuss some of these agents including the new statin, rosuvastatin and novel cholesterol transport inhibitors such as ezetimibe. RECENT FINDINGS: The Heart Protection Study demonstrated that LDL cholesterol reduction to levels as low as 1.7 mmol/l was associated with significant clinical benefit in a wide range of high-risk individuals, irrespective of baseline cholesterol levels, with no apparent threshold level for LDL cholesterol with respect to cardiovascular risk. The Heart Protection Study also demonstrated that the benefits of LDL cholesterol reduction extend into peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease prevention and suggest that the most recent National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, with LDL cholesterol targets of 2.6 mmol/l, may result in undertreatment of a large number of patients. Various large end-point trials, including Treating to New Targets and Study of Effectiveness of Additional Reductions in Cholesterol and Homocysteine will attempt to further address the issue of optimal LDL cholesterol reduction. New therapies are being developed to meet the challenge of more intensive cholesterol lowering. Rosuvastatin is a potent, hydrophilic enantiomeric statin producing reductions in LDL cholesterol of 40-69% over its dose range of 5-80 mg. Ezetimibe is a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor, with a site of action at the intestinal epithelium. Optimum reductions in LDL cholesterol of up to 25 and 60% reduction in chylomicron cholesterol content are seen with a 10-mg dose. SUMMARY: Evidence is accumulating supporting the safety and benefits of aggressive cholesterol reduction, with no apparent threshold for LDL cholesterol. New therapies will aid in achieving lower cholesterol levels and the use of combination therapies targeting different aspects of cholesterol metabolism may produce additional benefits. Outcome studies are awaited to further address these issues.     

对安贞医院革兰阴性杆菌的耐药趋势调查

目的分析安贞医院感染菌中,居前5位的革兰阴性杆菌的耐药趋势,为临床合理使用抗生素提供必要依据。方法对2000～2002年该院分离的医院感染菌株中,居前5位的革兰阴性杆菌的耐药性,进行回顾性分析。结果革兰阴性杆菌中前5位细菌,对3代头孢菌素的耐药性增高。大多数细菌对亚胺培南和美洛培南敏感。阿米卡星的耐药性有所下降。大肠埃希菌对喹诺酮类抗生素耐药率在85％以上。结论不规范使用抗生素,使细菌的耐药性越来越高,交替使用抗生素可能是降低细菌对抗生素耐药性的有效方法。医院应宏观控制使用抗生素。     

A Scientometric Evaluation of the Chagas Disease Implementation Research Programme of the PAHO and TDR

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) is an independent global programme of scientific collaboration cosponsored by the United Nations Children''s Fund, the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization. TDR''s strategy is based on stewardship for research on infectious diseases of poverty, empowerment of endemic countries, research on neglected priority needs, and the promotion of scientific collaboration influencing global efforts to combat major tropical diseases. In 2001, in view of the achievements obtained in the reduction of transmission of Chagas disease through the Southern Cone Initiative and the improvement in Chagas disease control activities in some countries of the Andean and the Central American Initiatives, TDR transferred the Chagas Disease Implementation Research Programme (CIRP) to the Communicable Diseases Unit of the Pan American Health Organization (CD/PAHO).This paper presents a scientometric evaluation of the 73 projects from 18 Latin American and European countries that were granted by CIRP/PAHO/TDR between 1997 and 2007. We analyzed all final reports of the funded projects and scientific publications, technical reports, and human resource training activities derived from them. Results about the number of projects funded, countries and institutions involved, gender analysis, number of published papers in indexed scientific journals, main topics funded, patents inscribed, and triatomine species studied are presented and discussed.The results indicate that CIRP/PAHO/TDR initiative has contributed significantly, over the 1997–2007 period, to Chagas disease knowledge as well as to the individual and institutional-building capacity.     

The generation of direction selectivity in the auditory system

Both human speech and animal vocal signals contain frequency-modulated (FM) sounds. Although central auditory neurons that selectively respond to the direction of frequency modulation are known, the synaptic mechanisms underlying the generation of direction selectivity (DS) remain elusive. Here we show the emergence of DS neurons in the inferior colliculus by mapping the three major subcortical auditory nuclei. Cell-attached recordings reveal a highly reliable and precise firing of DS neurons to FM sweeps in a preferred direction. By using in vivo whole-cell current-clamp and voltage-clamp recordings, we found that the synaptic inputs to DS neurons are not direction selective, but temporally reversed excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs are evoked in response to opposing directions of FM sweeps. The construction of such temporal asymmetry, resulting DS, and its topography can be attributed to the spectral disparity of the excitatory and the inhibitory synaptic tonal receptive fields.