The plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and endothelin (ET) were assayed in 76 patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and 23 healthy subjects, and the changes of CGRP and ET levels after treatment with angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist (ARBS) were observed. The results showed that CGRP level was increased and ET level decreased after treatment with ARBS, which seemed to delay the onset and development of DN.

Objective To investigate the expression of survivin (an apoptosis inhibitor) in thyroid carcinoma and its relationship with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Methods Sixty-eight cases of thyroid carcinoma, 12 cases of thyroid adenoma and 10 cases of normal thyroid tissue were involved. Immunohistochemistry (SABC method) was used to detect the expression of survivin, caspase-3 and VEGF, and then their relationship with the major clinicalpathologicalparametersofthyroidcarcinoma was analysed. Results No survivin was expressedinnormalthyroidtissue,butsurvivinwasweakly expressed in thyroid adenoma (16.7%) and strongly expressed in thyroid carcinoma (57.4%); caspase-3 was obviously expressed in three kinds of tissue (70.0%, 75.0%, 69.1%), and VEGF was expressed in 75.0% of thyroid carcinoma and 41.7% of thyroid adenoma. In thyroid carcinoma, survivin expression had no correlation with caspase-3 expression, but significant positive correlation existed between surviving and VEGF (r=0.302,P

Objective To investigate the prevalence of gestational transient thyrotoxicosis(GTT) and analyze the cause of thyrotoxicosis encountered in this period MethodsAn epidemiologic survey in ten hospitals in Shenyang was performed and 534 pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy filled questionaire,received physical examination and had serum thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH),free T4 (FT4),free T3(FT3),thyroid peroxjdase antibody(TPOAb),thyrotrophin receptor antibody(TRAb),and human chorionic gonadotrophin(hCG)tests.Results(1)The total prevalence of thyrotoxicosis was 9.75%(52/534)in the first trimester and the prevalence of Grrr was 7.86%.which accounted for 80.77%of the thyroxicosis encountered in this period.A total of 88.89%of the overt GTT showed only elevated FT3 level.(2)The level of serum hCG increased gradually in the first trimester.The medians of hCG were 25 300,85 220 and 81 780 IU/L 6,8-10 and 12 weeks after gestation.respectively(P=0.000).The medians of serum TSH were 1.45.1.10 and 0.84 mlU/I,6.8-10 and 12 weeks after gestation,respectively(P＜0.01).(3)When segum hCG was more than 50 000 IU/L,the prevalece of GTT increased obviously.When serum hCG was between 80000 IU/L and 110000 IU/L,subclinical GTT increased significantly.When serum hCG was more than 110000 IU/L,overt GTT increased significantly.Correlation analysis showed that serum hCG was related negatively with TSH(r=-0.402,P=0.000)and positively with FT3(r=0.165,P=0.000),but not related with FT4.Conclusions The prevalence of GTT is 7.86%in the first trimester and it is the main cause of thyrotoxicosis found in the first trimester,accounting for 80.77%of all the causes.The serological characteristic of overt GTT is mainly the elevation of serum FT3 leveL Serum hCG level is related with the severity of GTT.