ObjectiveTo study the effects of small-dose glucocorticoid (GC) on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and cellular immune function in critical patients.MethodsForty ICU critical patients admitted in Shanghai Changzheng Hospital from March 2007 to March 2009 were enrolled in the study and were divided into GC group and non-GC group according to the use or absence of GC.Blood samples were collected at days 1,7 and 10 after GC treatment to detect GR binding affinity of mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMLs) in the peripheral blood and the CD4/CD8 ratio in the T lymphocytes.The method of GC use was that the hydrocortisone was given intravenously at a dose of 100 mg every eight hours.ResultsGR binding capacity of MNLs at day 1 and 7 showed no statistical difference between the GC and non-GC groups.GR binding capacity of MNLs in the GC group was lower at day 1 and was much lower at day 7 (P ＜ 0.05 ).However,in the non-GC group,it was lower at day 1,but showed significant improvement at day 7 ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The change of GR binding capacity of PMLs was similar to that of MNLs.There was no significant difference of CD4/CD8 ratio between the GC and non-GC group at day 1.The ratio of CD4/CD8 in the non-GC group was significantly higher than that in the GC group at day 10 (P ＜0.05).CD4/CD8 ratio in the GC group showed a slight reduction at day 10,with no significant difference from that at day 1.While,the non-GC group showed a significant increase of CD4/CD8 ratio at day 10 as compared with that at day 1 (P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionLow-dose GC plays some role in the negative feedback regulation of GR binding capacity of peripheral blood leukocytes and in the inhibition of cellular immune function.

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of sliding hernia of adult urinary bladder. Methods Clinical data of 32 cases of adult sliding hernia of the bladder from 1984 to 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Discomfort was complained in all the 32 patients along with palpable mass. Twentynine cases suffered from urgency of micturition, ascheturesis and dysuria, 15 cases had interruption of urination. The mass was saddle-shaped in 29 cases, when the bladder was filling. In all the 32 cases of hernia block were in a sense of fluctuations and flat on percussion. In 26 cases the bladder appeared a dumbbell-shaped image on cystography. By B-ultrasonic examination an opaque dark area of fluid was detected in 29 cases when there was retention of urine. Results Preoperatively 29 cases were diagnosed of bladder sliding hernia, 3 cases with misdiagnosis ( misdiagnosis rate of 9.4% ). 32 cases were cured by surgical treatment. The prolapsed portion of the bladder including stones in 2 cases were resected. 32 cases were followed up from 1 to 5 years without recurrence. Conclusions Once the sliding hernia of the bladder is diagnosed, patient should receive surgery. Intraoperatively the key of preventing inadvertent cut or missed diagnosis is familiar with pathological anatomy and careful exploration.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between two polymorphisms of the APOC3 gene (T-455C and C-482T) and hereditary risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODSA total of 287 patients with NAFLD and 310 control subjects were genotyped by PCR and direct sequencing. Serum lipid profiles were also detected by standard biochemical

METHODSOne-hundred-and-eighty of the study participants were used to measure the APOC3 content by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inter-group differences and associations were assessed statistically using Chi square and t tests and logistic and linear regression analyses.

RESULTSThe frequencies of neither the genotypes or alleles were significantly different between the NAFLD cases and the controls. Compared with the most common genotypes-455TT or-482CC, none of the variants showed a significant increase in risk of NAFLD or for the clinical and biochemical parameters. The adjusted odds ratios (with 95% confidence intervals) of NAFLD were 1.25 (0.79-1.96) and 1.20 (0.76-1.89) for carriers of the APOC3-455C and-482 T variants respectively (P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe T-455C and C-482T polymorphisms of the APOC3 gene are not associated with risk of NAFLD, pathogenic changes in lipid profiles, or insulin resistance in Han Chinese.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Apolipoprotein C-III ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Young Adult