Body Height ; Child ; Female ; Ghrelin ; pharmacology ; Growth Disorders ; physiopathology ; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone ; pharmacology ; Human Growth Hormone ; blood ; physiology ; urine ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; physiology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the androgenic and anti-androgenic effects of GH (growth hormone) transgenic carp in male rats.

METHODSHershberger assay was carried out in castrated male SD rats aged 4-5 weeks. Testosterone propionate (TP) (0.4 mg/kg BW) was administrated for a positive control, GH transgenic carp (3.0 g/kg BW)+TP (0.4 mg/kg BW), parental carp (3.0 g/kg BW) + TP (0.4 mg/kg BW), and flutamide (Flu) (3.0 g/kg BW) were used for negative controls, and vehicle was administered orally for a blank control. All groups were administrated for 10 consecutive days. At the end of the test, animals were anesthetized, then weights of accessory sex organ were measured. Serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels were detected.

RESULTSThe weights ratios of the accessory sex organs and body weights showed no significant differences between the solvent control and the GH transgenic carp-treated groups. Serum concentrations of FSH, LH, and T of the rats treated with GH transgenic carp + TP showed no significant changes, compared with those treated with TP only.

CONCLUSIONGH transgenic carp does not have any androgenic agonist or antagonist properties in vivo screening tests.

Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Carps ; genetics ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Genitalia, Male ; drug effects ; Growth Hormone ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Testosterone ; blood

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

Animals ; Benzodiazepines ; pharmacology ; Ducks ; physiology ; Growth Hormone ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Serum ; metabolism ; Weight Gain ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo probe into the mechanisms of thread implantation at Zusanli(ST 36) and Chinese herbs in treatment of chronic renal failure(CRF).

METHODSCRF rat model was made by Platt subtotal nephrectomy. They were divided into 5 groups, sham operation group, model group, Chinese herbs group, thread implantation group and thread implantation plus Chinese herbs group. After treatment of 8 weeks, serum parathyroid hormone (PHT), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression in residual renal cells, malondialdehyde(MDA) content in the residual renal tissue, serum urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatinine(Scr), protein in urine and pathological changes were investigated.

RESULTSThe above indexes after treatment by thread implantation at acupoint, Chinese herbs, and acupoint thread implantation plus Chinese herbs showed begin reversion, especially, the most obviously improvement in the acupoint thread implantation plus Chinese herbs treatment group.

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of acupoint thread implantation and Chinese herbs in improvement of CRF is related with decrease of PTH, inhibition of TGF-beta1 expression, decrease of MDA content and resisting lesion of renal fibrosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo determine the relatively appropriate actuation time for ovarian super-stimulation of IVF-ET by comparing the influences of different down-regulation days of chorionic gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) upon the follicular diameter, endometrial thickness and the levels of follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) , luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2).

METHODSWe adopted the long protocol of GnRH-a down-regulation in the midluteal phase for 42 patients undergoing IVF-ET. According to the time of GnRH-a down-regulation, we divided the patients into a 10 d, a 15 d and an 18 d group, measured their follicular diameters and endometrial thickness by B-mode ultrasonography, detected the levels of FSH, LH and E2 in the blood, and analyzed the influences of different days of GnRH-a down-regulation on the follicular diameter, endometrial thickness and sexual hormone levels. At 1, 7, 10 and 14 d of down-regulation, we compared the levels of FSH and LH in the blood before the injection of GnRH-a with those 2 and 3 h after it.

RESULTSAt 10, 15 and 18 d after down-regulation, the ovarian follicles with the diameter of 3-4 mm accounted for 16.8, 7.09 and 10.38% (P < 0.05, 10 d vs 15 d and 18 d), those with the diameter of 4.5-7.0 mm made up 80.24, 89.55 and 84.62% (P < 0.05, 15 d vs 10 d and 18 d), and those with the diameter of 7.5-10 mm constituted 2.96, 3.36 and 5%, respectively. Endometrial thickness was (7.73 +/- 2.48) mm in the 10 d group, significantly thicker than (5.41 +/- 0.79) mm and (5.24 +/- 0.85) mm in the 15 d and 18 d groups (P < 0.05). The FSH levels in the 10 d, 15 d and 18 d groups were (3.70 +/- 1.10), (3.51 +/- 0.72) and (3.47 +/- 0.61) mIU/ml, the LH levels were (1.23 +/- 1.00), (1.09 +/- 0.47) and (1.22 +/- 0.72) mIU/ml, and the E2 levels were 41.84 +/- 36.81, 32.84 +/- 14.32 and 9.50 +/- 8.23, respectively, with no significant differences among the three groups. At 1, 7, 10 and 14 d of down-regulation, both FSH and LH levels in the blood were increased at 2 and 3 h after GnRH-a injection, most significantly at 1 d (1.87 +/- 1.49 vs 13.33 +/- 7.81 for FSH, 1.06 +/- 1.13 vs 47.40 +/- 29.97 for LH, (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the long protocol of ovarian super-stimulation of IVF-ET, endometrial thickness and the levels of FSH, LH and E2 tended to be stable at 10 d of GnRH-a down-regulation. The percentage of the follicles with the diameter of 4.5-7.0 mm was higher at 15 d than at 10 d, but rose no more at 18 d except for an increased number of smaller follicles 3-4 mm in diameter. Therefore, appropriate prolongation of GnRH-a down-regulation can improve the synchronism of follicular development.

Adult ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Follicular Phase ; blood ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Ovarian Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Ovulation Induction ; Uterus

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of recombinant human growth hormones (rhGH) postburn systemic metabolism.

METHODSTwenty-four burn patients were randomly and equally divided into treatment and control groups. Same amount of rhGH (9 U/d) or isotonic saline was injected subcutaneously to respective patients during 3 approximately 17 postburn days (PBDs). Blood samples were harvested at 3, 10 and 17 PBDs for the determination of serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), serum proteins, plasma insulin, plasma glucagons and blood glucose, which were then compared and analyzed between two the groups.

RESULTSThe serum levels of GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, serum prealbumin and transferrin in rhGH treatment group were evidently higher than those in control groups at 10 and 17 PBDs (P < 0.05 approximately 0.01). But there was no obvious difference in serum albumin, plasma insulin, glucagon and blood glucose (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSmall dose of rhGH could promote systemic protein synthesis with no side effects on blood glucose levels.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Proteins ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Burns ; blood ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; blood ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of amino acid solution and recombinant human growth hormone on growth hormone/insulin like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis after partial hepatectomy in rats with liver cirrhosis.

METHODSSix normal rats severed as normal group, while 30 rats with liver cirrhosis were randomly divided into preoperation group, 1 day postoperative group, 8.5% Novamin PN for 5 days postoperative group, 10% Hepa PN for 5 days postoperative group and rhGH + 10% Hepa PN for 5 days postoperative group. Liver function, blood glucose and serum GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3 were determined. ALB mRNA, IGF-1 mRNA and IGFBP-3 mRNA levels in liver tissues were detected by RT-PCR. Liver Ki67 immunohistochemistry staining was studied.

RESULTSCompared with the 8.5% Novamine PN group, serum ALT [(103 +/- 23) IU/L vs (154 +/- 45) IU/L], ALP [(571 +/- 92) IU/L vs (972 +/- 252) IU/L], GH [(1.55 +/- 0.12) ng/ml vs (1.81 +/- 0.11) ng/ml] level were lower (P < 0.05), serum IGF-1 [(966 +/- 55) ng/ml vs (813 +/- 43) ng/ml] and IGFBP-3 [(8.1 +/- 0.3) ng/ml vs (6.9 +/- 0.2) ng/ml] level and the expression of hepatic ALB mRNA (1.24 +/- 0.06 vs 1.02 +/- 0.09), IGF-1 mRNA (0.85 +/- 0.00 vs 0.60 +/- 0.03), IGFBP-3 mRNA (0.69 +/- 0.02 vs 0.58 +/- 0.09) were higher in the 10% Hepa PN group (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in liver Ki67 labeling index [(4.8 +/- 0.3)% vs (4.4 +/- 0.4%)] (P > 0.05). Compared with the 10% Hepa PN group, serum ALP [(434 +/- 41) IU/L vs (571 +/- 92) IU/L] was much lower (P < 0.05), serum ALB [(37.0 +/- 1.8) g/L vs (32.8 +/- 1.2) g/L], blood glucose [(7.6 +/- 1.3) mmol/L vs (4.9 +/- 0.7) mmol/L], GH [(3.00 +/- 0.61) ng/ml vs (1.55 +/- 0.12) ng/ml], IGF-1 [(1100 +/- 32) ng/ml vs (966 +/- 55) ng/ml], IGFBP-3 [(9.3 +/- 0.2) ng/ml vs (8.1 +/- 0.3) ng/ml] level, the expression of hepatic ALB mRNA (1.35 +/- 0.04 vs 1.24 +/- 0.06), IGF-1 mRNA (0.97 +/- 0.00 vs 0.85 +/- 0.00) and liver Ki67 labeling index [(5.4 +/- 0.3)% vs (4.8 +/- 0.3%)] were higher (P < 0.05) in the rhGH + 10% Hepa PN group.

CONCLUSIONSAmino acid solution and recombinant human growth hormone can influence the GH/IGF-1 axis in rats with liver cirrhosis. It may be helpful in selecting and evaluating nutrient by measuring the serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 level.

Amino Acids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Human Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) when applied postoperatively on the metabolism of branch chain amino acid in severely burned patients.

METHODSFifty burn patients, aged 12 - 50 years and inflicted by more than 30% TBSA with 10% or more of III degree burn and admitted from the January of 1999 to the January of 2001 were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into rhGH treating (rhGH group) and control groups. Escharectomy was performed within 3 postburn day (PBDs). rhGH (0.3 IU/kg) was injected percutaneously every evening for ten days since the 1st postoperative day (POD). The changes of the plasma levels of GH and branch chain amino acid and the urine level of 3-methyl histidine (3-MH) were observed in the morning in the patients from the two groups.

RESULTSThe plasma GH level before operation decreased obviously in two groups of patients when comparing with normal value (P < 0.05). The plasma GH level in rhGH group was evidently higher than that in control group since the 3rd POD (P < 0.05). There was significant increase of the output amount of urine 3-MH in all patients, but which was obviously higher in control group than that in rhGH group (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of branch chain amino acid in burn patients before and one day after operation were lower than normal levels. The plasma levels of valine, isoleucine and leucine increased to peak values at POD 3 in rhGH group and at POD 7 in control group and decreased thereafter. The plasma branch chain amino acid level in rhGH group was evidently lower than that in control group since POD 7 (P < 0.05). The plasma GH level in rhGH group was negatively and significantly correlated with the urine output amount of 3-MH (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPostoperative application of rhGH in major burn patients might be beneficial to the protein synthesis from amino acids by skeletal muscles and to the decrease of muscle protein degrading rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; urine ; Burns ; blood ; metabolism ; urine ; Child ; Female ; Human Growth Hormone ; blood ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; blood ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Ronghuang granule on serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFRs) and Klotho protein levels in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and kidney deficiency and damp heat syndrome. METHODS: Seventy non-dialysis CKD-MBD patients with kidney deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome were randomized into control group (=35) and treatment group (=35). All the patients were given routine treatment combined with traditional Chinese medicine retention enema, and the patients in the treatment group received additional Ronghuang granule treatment (3 times a day). After the 12-week treatments, the patients were examined for changes of TCM syndromes. Serum levels of Ca, P, parathyroid hormone (iPTH), FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho proteins were detected before and after treatment. These parameters were also examined in 20 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients completed the study, including 33 in the control group and 32 in the treatment group. The patients in the treatment group showed significantly better treatment responses than those in the control group ( < 0.05 or 0.01). At 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment, the patients in the treatment group had significantly lowered scores of TCM syndromes compared with the score before treatment ( < 0.05 or 0.01), while in the control group, significant reduction of the scores occurred only at 12 weeks ( < 0.05); at each of the time points, the treatment group had significantly greater reductions in the score than the control group ( < 0.01). Significant improvements in serum Ca, P and iPTH levels were observed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the treatment group ( < 0.05) but only at 12 weeks in the control group ( < 0.05). The patients in the control and treatment groups all showed elevated serum levels of FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho protein compared with the normal subjects ( < 0.01); FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho levels were significantly reduced in the treatment group ( < 0.05) but remained unchanged in the control group (>0.05), showing significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Ronghuang granule improves the clinical symptoms of non-dialysis CKD-MBD patients with kidney deficiency and dampness heat syndrome by reducing serum levels of FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho, improving calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorder, and inhibiting secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Calcium ; blood ; Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder ; blood ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enema ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; blood ; Glucuronidase ; blood ; Humans ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Phosphorus ; blood ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; blood ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; blood ; therapy ; Sweating Sickness ; blood ; therapy ; Syndrome