Objective:To investigate the association of thyrotropin receptor antibodies(TRAb) with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in Graves′s ophthalmopathy(GO) patients.Methods:Total 37 subjects with active GO were treated with prednisone. According to the relieve degree and clinical activity of their eye symptoms post-steroid treatment, patients were grouped into sensitive group(S) and non-sensitive group(NS). TRAb positive rate and antibody titer of the two groups were compared.Results:In S group( n=28 ), the positive rate and titre of TRAb were 76.53% and (12.54?5.62) U/L, respectively; The positive rate and titre of TRAb post-treatment were 22.18% and (7.82?4.91) U/L, respectively, were significant lower than data prior treatment. In NS group( n=9 ), the positive rate and titre of TRAb prior treatment were 67.24% and (11.07?4.63) U/L, respectively; The positive rate and titre of TRAb post-treatment were 59.74% and (10.81?5.96) U/L, there was no significant difference with data prior treatment. Prior treatment, there was no significant difference of TRAb titres between the two groups. Post-treatment, TRAb titres in NS group were significant higher than in S group.Conclusion:The variations of TRAb level were closely correlated with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in GO patients. Serum TRAb level can be used as a major index to evaluate therapeutic sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in GO.

Total aralosides of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (TASAES) from Chinese traditional herb Longya Aralia chinensis L was found to improve cardiac function. The present study was to determine the protective effects of TASAES on diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the possible mechanisms. Therefore, a single dose of streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in Wister rats. Diabetic rats were immediately treated with low, medium and high doses of TASAES at 4.9, 9.8 mg/kg and 19.6 mg/kg body weight by gavage, respectively, for eight weeks. Cardiac function was evaluated by in situ hemodynamic measurements, and patch clamp for the L-type Ca2+ channel current (ICa2+-L) and transient outward K+ channel current (Ito). Histopathological changes were observed under light and electron microscope. The expression of pro-fibrotic factor, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was monitored using immunohistochemistry staining. Compared with diabetic group, medium and high doses, but not low dose, of TASAES showed a significant protection against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction, shown by increased absolute value of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximum rates of pressure development (+/-dp/dt(max)), and enhanced amplitude of ICa2+-L (P < 0.05). Histological staining indicated a significant inhibition of diabetes-caused pathological changes and up-regulation of CTGF expression (P < 0.05). The results suggest that TASAES prevents diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction and pathological damage through up-regulating ICa2+-L in cardiac cells and decreasing CTGF expression.
Animals ; Aralia/*chemistry ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/physiology ; Cardiomyopathies/*drug therapy/etiology/physiopathology ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*chemistry ; Heart/drug effects/physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; Male ; Myocardium/pathology ; *Oleanolic Acid/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels/physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome