Subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with some adverse outcomes during maternal pregnancy.The present study investigated thyroid function parameters measured by electroehemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassays in subclinical hypothyroid women treated with levothyroxine (L-T4) during pregnancy.The results showed that in evaluating thyroid function with ECL immunoassays during replacement with L-T4,determination of serum TT4 appears to have a closer correlation with TSH and may better reflect the effìcacy of treatment.

Objective To study the levothyroxine doses and related factors in the treatment of pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH).Methods Fifty-six pregnant women with SCH (diagnosed before 12 weeks of gestation) were recruited and divided into 2 groups according to the baseline TSH levels,SCH group 1 (2.5 mIU/L ≤ TSH ≤ 5.0 mIU/L,n =24) and SCH group 2 (TSH＞5.0 mIU/L,n =32).Thyroid autoantibodies [thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody(TGAb)] were detected.All the subjects were treated with levothyroxine and the doses were adjusted according to the TSH level.The therapeutic target was to keep the TSH levels under control,0.3 to 2.5 mIU/L for the first trimester and 0.3 to 3.0 mIU/L for the second and third trimesters.Results There was a positive correlation between the levothyroxine doses and baseline TSH levels (r =0.533,P＜0.01) in pregnant women with SCH.A significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between SCH group 1 and SCH group 2 was found [(0.583 ± 0.341) vs (0.961 ± 0.405) μg/kg,t =-3.695,P＜ 0.01].The levothyroxine doses in SCH group 2 were 64.84％ higher than those in group 1.There was a significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between thyroid autoantibody negative and positive subjects [(0.680 ± 0.370) vs (0.918 ±0.440) μg/kg,t =-2.197,P =0.032].The levothyroxine doses in thyroid autoantibody positive subjects were 35 ％ higher than those in the negative subjects.In addition,there was a significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between subjects with negative and positive thyroid autoantibody [(0.421 ± 0.192) vs (0.720 ± 0.385)μg/kg,t =-2.331,P =0.029] in SCH group 1.While in SCH group 2,the difference did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion The baseline TSH levels and status of thyroid autoantibodies may affect the levothyroxine dosage in pregnant women with SCH.

Objective:To investigate the factors and mechanisms in forming uric acid stones in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods:106 patients with diabetes were divided into observation group and control group according to the combination of urinary calculi,53 cases in each group,The differences of clinical data and biochemical indexes between the two groups were compared,The relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and urinary stones was analyzed by multi factor regression analysis.Results:There were no significant difference in observation group and control group in age,sex,SBP,DBP,TC,FBG,2hPBG and HbA1C (P＞0.05),and there were of statistical difference significance in BMI,urinary pH,HOMA-IR,SUA,TUA in the two gruops (P ＜0.05) and the Logistic regression analysis showed blood uric acid,the urinary pH,HOMA-IR,SUA were independent risk factors in urolithiasis in T2DM (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion:High uric acid hematic disease,high uric acid excretion,insulin resistance,overweight or obesity,high blood triglycerides in patients with type 2 diabetes is risk factors for urinary stone formation,in which blood uric acid,urinary pH,HOMA-IR is the independent risk factor for type 2 diabetic patients with urinary calculi.

OBJECTIVETo obtain the nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) cDNA from the tree shrew (Tupaia glis).

METHODSThe cDNA sequence of the tree shrew CETP was obtained by utilizing the technique of switching mechanism at 5' end of RNA transcript (SMART) and rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) from the first strand of the cDNA. The amino acid sequence of CETP was deduced from the cDNA sequence and its primary and secondary structures were predicted.

RESULTSThe sequence of CETP cDNA from tree shrew (GenBank accession number AF334033) covers 1636 bp, including 178 bp at the 3' end of the untranslated region and a 1458 bp fragment in a coding region, which provides the complete sequence of mature tree shrew CETP, although not the initiator methionine. The first 24 bp encodes a partial signal peptide. The mature protein consists of 477 amino acids and is longer than the human version by one amino acid (Gly318). Comparing this amino acid sequence with those of other animals' CETPs, the identity between tree shrew and human and rabbit CETP is 88% and 82%, respectively. The protein is extremely hydrophobic as it contains many hydrophobic residues, especially at the C-terminal, consistent with its function in the transfer of neutral lipids. The amino acid residues concerning with binding and transferring neutral lipids are highly conserved. There is a deletion of an N-linked glycosylation site at Asn342 in the tree shrew CETP protein that may participate in the removal of peripheral cholesterol and cholesteryl ester by increasing its activity of transferring cholesteryl ester.

CONCLUSIONThe possible glycosylation in the tree shrew CETP may be involved in the molecular mechanism of its insusceptibility to atherosclerosis.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Arteriosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; Glycoproteins ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Tupaiidae ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the promoting effects of cograft of auto-microskin and allo-dermal matrix on burn wound healing.

METHODSForty-six patches of full skin loss wounds were made in the backs of 6 small white swines. Auto-microskin and meshed acellular allo-dermal matrix were simultaneously prepared. The 46 wounds were averagely divided into test (T) and control (C) groups. The wounds in T group were covered with auto-microskin and allo-dermal matrix (1:4) and split-thick allo-porcine skin. While the wounds in C group were grafted with autoskin and allo-dermal matrix.

RESULTSThe skin survival rate exhibited no difference between C and T groups (P > 0.05). There was similar histological exhibition in the two groups after skin grafting. The structure of collagen fibres appeared integrated, clear with regular arrangement and steady diameter at 8 - 20 post-operative weeks. Simultaneously, it was revealed by histological examination that normal vascular structure could be identified in the grafted skin and that inflammatory reaction ameliorated gradually and that epithelium combined well with dermis. It was also found that the epidermal papillar across the basement membrane fixed well to allo-dermis. The skin appeared smooth, elastic and functioned well at 5 months after skin grafting.

CONCLUSIONThe grafted skin survived well after the cograft of auto-microskin and allo-dermal matrix, which might be ideal covering material for the major deep burn wound healing.

Animals ; Burns ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Male ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin, Artificial ; Swine