Objective To investigate the changes of plasma ghrelin,growth hormone (GH) and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and gastric ghrelin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD ) and to explore their clinical significances.Methods Plasma ghrelin,GH,GHRH,TNFα,IL-6 and C reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 40 COPD patients and 20 controls with chronic bronchitis. Correlated factors of plasma ghrelin,TNFα,IL-6,CRP were analyzed. Body composition was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis.The expression of gastric ghrelin in patients with COPD was detected.Results Plasma ghrelin was higher in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients and in the controls [ ( 1.78 ± 0.46 ) ng/L,( 1.39 ± 0.46 ) ng/L,( 1.36 ± 0.39 ) ng/L,respectively].Plasma GH was lower in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients and in the controls [(4.12 ±0.83) μg,/L,(5.17 ±0.72) μg/L,(6.49 ± 1.13) μg/L,respectively].Plasma GHRH was lower in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients and in the controls [ (20.43 ± 4.41 ) ng/L,(23.47 ± 3.97) ng/L,( 27.48 ± 10.06) ng/L,respectively ].Plasma ghrelin was higher in the underweight patients than in the controls ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Plasma ghrelin was higher in the underweight patients than in the normal weight patients with COPD.Plasma ghrelin (log transformed) was negatively correlated with BMI and percentage of body fat in the COPD patients.Plasma GHRH was positively correlated with ghrelin in the underweight patients ( r =0.515,P ＜ 0.05 ),while no correlation was found between plasma G H and ghrelin in the underweight patients (r =0.415,P ＞ 0.05 ).Plasma ghrelin was positively correlated with TNFα and IL-6 in the underweight patients.The gastric expression of ghrelin showed no evident difference between the patients with COPD and the controls.Conclusions The plasma GH in COPD patients may not be correlated with ghrelin.The plasma ghrelin level may be a useful indicator for malnutrition in COPD patients.Plasma ghrelin might be involved in the pathogenesis of CODP by affecting the body energy metabolism.

The aim of this study was to compare the pain experience among orthodontic patients treated with self-ligating brackets SmartClip® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA) and conventional brackets Victory series® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA). We used a controlled clinical trial study design to compare 69 patients treated with self-ligating to 70 patients treated by conventional brackets. The nickel-titanium archwires 0.012-in were engaged after bonding both arches on the first day; and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain experience of subjects for the first seven treatment days. The pre-treatment dental study models were assessed by the Little’s irregularity index to quantify the groups’ malalignment characteristics. The self-ligating brackets reported lower pain experience than the conventional group on the first five treatment days. However, the sixth day showed 1.75 mm higher visual analogue score than conventional brackets, with almost equal pain level on the seventh day. The group differences throughout the first week were neither clinically nor statistically significant. The pain experiences in both groups decreased steadily from the third treatment day to the end of the first week of treatment. Based on the study findings, the pain experience during initial alignment is not influenced by the brackets’ ligation type. The pain experience tends to decrease steadily from the third treatment day to the end of the first week of treatment irrespective of the bracket type used.
Orthodontic Brackets, Orthodontic Appliances

Objective To develop a new isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry method (ID/GC/MS) for the measurement of serum cholesterol.Methods Serum was mixed with an isotope labeled internal standard ([3,4-~(13)C]-cholesterol) and treated with alcoholic sodium hydroxide to hydrolyze cholesterol ester to cholesterol.Cholesterol and internal standard was extracted and derived by N, O-Bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide to trimethylsilyl ethers.The derivation products were analyzed by capillary column GC combined with electron impact MS using scan and selected ion monitor (SIM) modes. Signals of cholesterol internal standard were corrected for the contributions from cholesterol and the signal ratio of cholesterol to internal standard for the calibrators were linearly regressed against cholesterol concentrations.The resulted regression equation was used for the calculation of serum cholesterol concentrations.Results The new ID/GC/MS method showed a mean within-run coefficient variance (CV) of 0.04%-0.81%.Comparison with two levels of standard reference material (SRM1951a) of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) displayed a bias of 0.19% and 0.90% respectively.Conclusion A time-gaining ID/MS method has been established that is highly precise and accurate and can be used for the measurement of serum cholesterol.