OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone on serum lipid in aged male patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSEighty seven patients with chronic heart failure(> or = 60 years old) were randomly divided into 2 groups: the CHF control group (n = 46) who received regular therapy and the CHF experimental group (n = 41) who received regular therapy and recombinant human growth hormone. The treatment would be continued for 3 months. Another group was normal control group (n = 10). The detection of serum growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was carried out before and after treatment in the participants.

RESULTSBefore treatment, the levels of GH and IGF-1 were not significantly different among groups. After treatment, the levels of GH (0.71 +/- 0.34 vs 0.96 +/- 0.48) and IGF-1 (95.64 +/- 21.11 vs 111.64 +/- 23.14)in CHF experimental group were higher than those before the treatment. In CHF control group, the levels of GH(0.81 +/- 0.32 vs 0.79 +/- 0.29) and IGF-1 (97.82 +/- 19.74 vs 99.65 +/- 20.11) had no significant change after the treatment. After treatment, the levels of GH (0.96 +/- 0.48 vs 0.79 +/- 0.29) and IGF-1 (111.64 +/- 23.14 vs 99.65 +/- 20.11) in CHF experimental group were higher compared with that of CHF control group. Before treatment, the serum levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, TC and TG had no significant difference among groups. After treatment,the levels of LDL-C (2.11 +/- 0.82 vs 1.76 +/- 0.51) and TC (3.78 +/- 1.34 vs 3.21 +/- 1.17) in CHF experimental group were lower than those before the treatment. However, the levels of HDL-C (1.10 +/- 0.31 vs 0.99 +/- 0.28)and TG (1. 89 +/- 1.07 vs 1.66 +/- 0.95) had no significant change after the treatment compared with before treatment. In CHF control group, the serum lipid levels had no significant change after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONAs the treatment of rhGH for aged male patients with chronic heart failure, GH influences lipid metabolism, which reduces the level of LDL-C, TC. However GH has no effects on the serum HDL-C and TG level. With the treatment of rhGH for long-term, lipid metabolism should be paid attention,and the treatment for blood lipid reduction should be adjusted in time.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Heart Failure ; blood ; therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

Objective:To study the clinical and pathological features of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), and to provide the reference for its diagnosis and treatment.Methods:The manifestation of one LCH patient was retrospectively analyzed.The features of the LCH patients were explored by analyzing the results of skin biopsy, radiological test and follow-up.The associated literatures were reviewed.Results:The patient presented the typical symptoms gradually,including polycystic lung,skin ulcer,diabetes insipidus,and lactation.The skin pathological findings showed the densely distributed mononuclear cell infiltration in dermis and the immunohistological staining result showed positive CD1a. The patient was follwed up for 7 years and died of heart and lung failure. Conclusion:LHC has various manifestations and should be confirmed by clinical features,pathological features and imaging examination.The adult patients with multisystem and vital organ involvement suggest the poor prognosis.

The influence of medium variety、thermal treatment of the soil samples and inhibitor to the isolation effect of actinomycetes was studied by plate paint isolation methods.The results showed that: ①The isolation results of gauze No.1(GA) and straw decay substance agar(SDSA) might reflect basic station of soil actinomycetes. ②Thermal treatment (120℃?1.0h)in soils might promote actinomycetes spore sprouting and increase the quantity and variety of actinomycetes. The quantity and varieties of actinomycetes in the Soils that were treated with 120℃?1.0h were increased by 5.5%～54.9% and 12.5%～100% than the check of none-thermal treatment respectively. But thermal treatment had no effect on reduce the quantity of bacteria. ③The quantity of bacteria had significant reduction by adding 75?g/mL K 2Cr 2O 7 and 1～3?g/mL penicillin at same time to the isolation medium, and had little effect on the quantity and varieties of actinomycetes. Actinomycetes quantity (?10 6cfu/g) and variety of the treating of 75?g/mL K 2Cr 2O 7 and 1～3?g/mL penicillin in No.1 soil on SDSA medium had reductions by 0～58.8% and 0～18.2% compared with treating of 75?g/mL K 2Cr 2O 7, respectively. ④streptomycin might not been used for bacterteria inhabitor in the isolation of actinomycetes.

Objective To investigate HR-MR imaging characteristics of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) of the orbits in extraconal compartment. Methods The HR-MR images of 16 patients with NHL of the orbits identified pathologically were retrospectively analyzed. MRI of the orbit at a 1.5 T scanner was performed with 4-cm surface coil, thin slice, suitable bandwidth, small FOV, and large matrix. T1-weighted (before and after i.v. bolus injection of contrast medium) and fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequences were acquired in all patients. All cases were performed with fat suppression techniques. The analyzed criteria of imaging appearance included location, number, size, shape, margins, extension, adjacent structures, and signal intensity of the lesions. Results The lesions in 13 of 16 cases located in anterior part of extraconal compartment, posterior to the orbital septum, and with irregular cast shape. The other 3 patients showed diffuse lesions with infiltration in extraconal compartment and with irregular shape. Eleven lesions had the large volume above 3.0 ml, 4 lesions with medium volume ranging from 1.0 to 3.0 ml, and only one with small volume less than 1.0 ml. 13 cases had a poor-defined margin with infiltration of extraocular muscles, but without mechanical shift of the muscles. 7 patients had infiltration of eyeball, but only 3 cases with exophthalmos. Destruction of orbital bone was evident in 2 cases with diffuse lesions but never in isolated orbital lymphoma. On the T_1-weighted images, the signal intensity of the lymphoma was isointense compared with that of the muscle in all patients. The T_2-weighted fast SE images showed a hyperintense signal in 13 cases and intermediate in 3 cases. All lesions enhanced after intravenous Gd-DTPA administration, 15 cases with homogeneous enhancement, and 10 cases with reliably visible enhancement in the T_1-weighted fat-suppressed sequences. Conclusion Most NHL of the orbits in extraconal compartment have the characteristic findings on HR-MR imaging, including anterior part of extraconal compartment location, posterior to the orbital septum, irregular cast shape, large volume, poor-defined margin with infiltration but without mechanical shift of extraocular muscles, uniform signal characteristics and marked enhancement after injection of contrast medium, and without bony destruction in isolated orbital lymphoma. The understanding of HR-MRI features of orbital NHL in extraconal compartment is very useful for making the differential diagnosis with other orbital diseases.

AIM:It has been recently proved that either decreased number or impaired function of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells(Treg)can lead to immune dysfunction.Deeper knowledge of CD4+CD25+Treg cells is crucial for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of many diseases,such as autoimmune diseases,graft-versus-host disease,and allergic disease.This study is aimed to investigate the correlation of CD4+CD25+Treg cells in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP)and to analyze the possible immunopathogenesis. METHODS:The experiment was conducted in the laboratory of Institute of Hematology,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College from June to September in 2007.After the patients and their relative signed informed consents, peripheral blood was obtained from ITP patients(n=27)and health people(n=15)admitted in the Hematology Hospital,Peking Union Medical College.All patients accorded with the standards of ITP diagnosis and curative effect.The amount of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in peripheral blood of normal controls and ITP patients before and after therapy was detected by flow cytometry.For those 23 patients who received effective therapy,blood before and after therapy were both obtained,the mononuclear cells(MNCs)were isolated from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation,then reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to analyze the expression of Foxp3 mRNA. RESULTS:The amount of CD4+CD25+Treg cells and the ratio of CD4+CD25+Treg to total CD4+T cells in peripheral blood of ITP patients were obviously decreased than those of the controls(P0.05),but the expression of Foxp3 mRNA in CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was significantly increased(P

PurposeIt is important to keep the consistency of CT perfusion imaging (CTP) measurement in the evaluation of intracranial disorders. The purpose of this paper is to probe into the consistency of basal ganglia hemodynamic characteristics in normal rabbits with CTP measurement in the mode of volume helical shuttle (VHS).Materials and Methods Brain CTP scans of 10 healthy rabbits were carried out in the VHS mode. The images derived from CTP were separately analyzed by two radiologists (A and B) with different experiences. ROIs were placed in the bilateral basal ganglia of the subjects and parameters such as cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF) and mean transit time (MTT) were measured three times in each rabbit. Thirty days later, radiologist A analyzed the CTP images again with the same method. Differences of parameters in bilateral basal ganglia measured by different radiologists at different periods were compared respectively and consistency of the measurements was further assessed.Results There was no significant difference among the three measurements of CBV, CBF and MTT in bilateral basal ganglia (F=0.162, 0.050 and 0.488,P>0.05). TheICC of CBV, CBF and MTT measured by the two radiologists for the first time were 0.84, 0.81 and 0.79; while theICC of CBV, CBF and MTT measured by radiologist A twice were 0.80, 0.89 and 0.84, which showed that the results had good consistency measured by different radiologists at different times.Conclusion With the same post-processing software, the consistency of CTP of basal ganglia in the VHS mode is satisfactory in healthy rabbits, which suggests this technique may be a suitable means in the evaluation of basal ganglia hemodynamics in animal models.

Objective To investigate the concentration of homocysteine (Hcy) and related factors of hyperhomocyste-inemia (hHcy,Hcy≥15μmol/L) among non-hypertensive people aged between 40-70 in Tianjin. Methods Non-hyperten-sive community residents aged 40-70 years were enrolled randomly from May 2011 to December 2012 in six districts in Tian-jin. Plasma Hcy was assessed by enzyme cycling method. Factors related to hHcy were analyzed in multivariate logistic re-gression models. Results Our study included 874 participants (mean age is 57 ± 6 years, 25.5%of all are males) and the con-centration of Hcy was 12.0 μmol/L. The OR (odds ratio)(95%CI; P)for hHcy were 1.048(1.015,1.083; P=0.004), 4.191 (2.359,7.448;P<0.001), 1.280(0.896,1.829;P=0.175), 0.460(0.259,0.816;P=0.008)respectively for age, male, smoking, exercise, and the odd ratio for hHcy were 0.290(0.179, 0.469;P<0.001), 0.168(0.092,0.309;P<0.001)for consumption of vegetable and fruits 250-500 g/d and>500g/d, compared with<250 g/d. Conclusion Male and age were adverse factors for hHcy, consumption of vegetable and fruits, and exercise were positive factors.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of IFN-γon Treg cells from HIV/AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for one year.Methods Thirty HIV/A1DS patients whose CD4+T cells were below 350/μ1 were recruited for HAART therapy.Blood samples were collected at the time points of 0,24,48 weeks after HAART.PBMCs were isolated and randomly divided into two culture groups.One group was cultured directly in medium and another group was co-cultured with IFN-γ (40 pg/ml).The supernatants and cells were separated after 5 days of culture for analysis.The concentrations of IL-12 and CD4+CD25+Foxp3 Treg cells were measured by ELISA and flow cytometry,respectively.Results The levels of IL-12 in the supernatants from the culture without IFN-γ at time points of 0,24,48 weeks after HAART were lower than those from the co-cultured group [(37.02±12.76) vs (41.79± 15.02),t=2.336,P=0.03; (41.76±17.01) vs (47.2±14.26),t=2.702,P=0.014; (48.01± 11.84) vs (53.44± 11.30),t =3.14,P =0.003].The percentages of CD4+ CD25 + Foxp3 Treg cells in CD4+ T cells from the direct-cultured group were higher than those from the co-cultured group at the three time points [(10.41±1.10)％ vs (2.40±1.11)％,t=13.89,P=0.000; (8.33±2.03)％ vs (1.99± 0.86)％,t=12.93,P=0.000; (5.65±1.55)％ vs (1.32±0.73)％,t=10.61,P=0.000].Moreover,the results within the same group at the time points of 0,24,48 weeks upon HAART were also significantly different.Conclusion With the interference of HAART,IL-12 levels were increased,while CD4+CD25+ Foxp3 Treg cells were decreased in patients with HIV/AIDS.IFN-γ plays an important role in this process.

OBJECTIVETo detect the relationship between changes of sex hormone levels and risk factors for atherosclerosis in old patients with castrated prostatic cancer.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty-seven patients, over 65 years old, were divided into three groups: 64 non-prostatic cancer patients (group I), 61 non-castrated prostatic cancer patients (group II) and 122 castrated prostatic cancer patients (group III). Group I and group II served as controls. Testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), luteal hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum homocysteine (Hcy), glucose (GLU), uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL), were measured and compared between any two groups.

RESULTSIn patients with castrated prostatic cancer, T, E2, and P levels decreased significantly, LH and FSH increased significantly, change of PRL was not significant, E2/T was elevated significantly; levels of CRP, Hcy, GLU, UA, TC, TG and LDL-C increased significantly compared with those in control groups.

CONCLUSIONSex hormone levels were imbalanced significantly after castration in old prostatic cancer patients, and the risk factors for atherosclerosis also increased accordingly. There might be relationship between decreased sex hormone levels and risk factors for atherosclerosis in old male patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of propofol on brain regions at different sedation levels and the association between changes in brain region activity and loss of consciousness using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) and bispectral index (BIS) monitoring.

METHODSForty-eight participants were enrolled at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2011 to March 2012 and randomly assigned to a mild or a deep sedation group using computer- generated random numbers. Preliminary tests were performed a week prior to scanning to determine target effect site concentrations based on BIS and concomitant Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scores while under propofol. Within one week of the preliminary tests where propofol dose-response was established, BOLD-fMRI was conducted to examine brain activation with the subject awake, and with propofol infusion at the sedation level.

RESULTSMild propofol sedation inhibited left inferior parietal lobe activation. Deep sedation inhibited activation of the left insula, left superior temporal gyrus, and right middle temporal gyrus. Compared with mild sedation, deep propofol sedation inhibited activation of the left thalamus, precentral gyrus, anterior cingulate, and right basal nuclei.

CONCLUSIONMild and deep propofol sedation are associated with inhibition of different brain regions, possibly explaining differences in the respective loss of consciousness processes.

Adult ; Brain ; drug effects ; Consciousness Monitors ; Deep Sedation ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Propofol ; pharmacology