The effects of androgen on lipid and the cardiovascular system are very important. The relationship between androgen and lipoprotein is rather complicated and influenced by many factors. The effects of endogenous androgen on the metabolism of lipoprotein vary with age, environment, nutrition and gender, while the effects of exogenous androgen on lipoprotein vary with different androgen preparations, administration methods and diseases to be treated. Androgen can impact the metabolism of lipoprotein, vascular endothelium, macrophage, vascular smooth muscle, angiotasis, blood coagulation, platelet and so on. The effects of polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene CAG on the cardiovascular system are important and yet somehow controversial and have to be further investigated.
Androgens ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; physiology

Objective The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been identified as the biomarkers to predict systemic inflammation. However, there is less study to investigate the association between the biomarkers and thyrotoxicosis. Methods A total of 1 012 healthy subjects and 1 599 newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis patients were enrolled in this study, including 978 in Graves′ disease (GD group), 452 in Hashimoto′s thyroiditis (HT group), and 169 in subacute thyroiditis (SAT group) groups. The clinical characteristics were retrospectively extracted from the medical records. The NLR and PLR at the baseline were calculated, the correlations between the NLR, PLR, and the clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results The NLR and PLR in SAT patients were significantly higher than those in the control, GD, and HT groups (all P<0.01), but were similar among the last three groups. The NLRs were positively correlated with white blood cell counts (r=0.5, P<0.01) and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (r=0.4, P<0.01), while the PLR was positively correlated with FT4 (r=0.16, P<0.05) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.47, P<0.01). The SAT patients with abnormal liver function showed higher NLR and PLR compared the patients with normal liver function (all P<0.01). Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, when to predict SAT patient with autoimmune thyrotoxicosis, the best cutoff value of NLR was 2.0 (sensitivity 80.5%, specificity 76.9%, area under curve 0.833), and the best cutoff value of PLR was 150 (sensitivity 64.3%, specificity 84.2%, area under curve 0.801). Conclusions The NLR and PLR values exhibited a dignostic value in the differentiation of SAT from autoimmune thyrotoxicosis.

AIMTo analyze factors influencing the efficacy of hormonal suppression of spermatogenesis for male contraception.

METHODSA nested case-control study was conducted, involving 43 subjects, who did not achieve azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia when given monthly injections of 500 mg testosterone undecanoate (TU), defined as partial suppressors compared with 855 subjects who had suppressed spermatogenesis (complete suppressors). Sperm density, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations at the baseline and the suppression phase were compared between partial and complete suppressors. Polymorphisms of androgen receptor (AR) and three single nucleotide variants and their haplotypes of FSH receptor (FSHR) genes determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing technique were compared between 29 partial and 34 complete suppressors.

RESULTSBaseline serum LH level was higher and serum LH as well as FSH level during the suppression phase was less suppressed in partial suppressors. Additionally, in a logistic regression analysis larger testis volume, higher serum FSH concentrations alone, or interaction of serum LH, FSH, testosterone and sperm concentrations were associated with degree of suppression. The distribution of polymorphisms of AR or FSH receptor genes did not differ between partial and complete suppressors. In cases with incomplete FSH suppression (FSH 0.2 IU/L), the chances of reaching azoospermia were 1.5 times higher in the subjects with more than 22 CAG triplet repeats.

CONCLUSIONPartial suppression of spermatogenesis induced by 500 mg TU monthly injections is weakly influenced by hormonal and clinical features but not polymorphism in AR and FSHR genes.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; administration & dosage ; Drug Resistance ; genetics ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Testosterone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Trinucleotide Repeats

Objective To explore the effect of upgrade of dialysate quality on the microinflammation in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods Fifty-three MHD patients in Kidney Center of the First Affiliated Hospital,Medical College,Zhejiang University in January 2003 were enrolled in the prospectively study.The main end-points were survival at 8 years or weaning from haemodialysis during 8-year period including death, receiving renal transplantation or transferring to peritoneal dialysis.The endotoxin level of dialysate and patients' serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α),C reaction protein (CRP),and albumin were recorded during the observation period. Results After the upgrade of water management system,endotoxin level of dialysate obviously decreased [(0.046±0.012) EU/ml vs (0.454±0.002) EU/ml,P＜0.01],and serum IL-6 [(3.947±3.624) ng/L vs (13.779±7.106) ng/L,P=0.036],TNF-α [(7.935±3.864) ng/L vs (12.804±8.017) ng/L,P=0.012] as well as CRP [(0.194±0.149) mg/L vs (0.561 ±0.309) mg/L,P＜0.01] decreased significantly,while serum albumin increased [(41.900±6.803) g/L vs (38.140±7.083) g/L,P=0.042].Hemoglobin level did not change significantly after the system upgrade,however,the dose of erythropoietin decreased [(93.0±12.7) U·kg-1·week-1 vs (131.0±10.1) U·kg-1·week-1,P=0.015]. Conclusions The upgrade of central dialysis fluid delivery and water management system by application of double reverse osmosis,high frequency heat disinfection and endotoxin filter can improve the quality of dialysate.Improvement of dialysate quality can ameliorate the microinflammation state of MHD patients.

Objective To evaluate the role of gamma curve fitting technique of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in quantitative analysis of microcirculation in renal solid lesions. Methods A total of fifty patients with renal parenchyma solid lesions were performed contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The images were analysed by computer with gamma fitting analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonic system. The quantitative parameters were obtained by the time-intensity curves, such as ascending slope (a3), descending slope (a2), arrival time (AT), time to peak intensity (TTP), basic intensity (BI), peak intensity, amplification (AMP), area under the curve (AUC), mean transit time (MTT) and perfusion index (PI). The parameters were compared between renal malignant and benign solid lesions. Results Fast-in and fast-out was the main perfusion mode in renal malignant tumors while slow-in and slow-out was found in renal angiomyolipoma (AML). The perfusion modes in renal malignant tumors and renal AML were fast-in and fast-out in 28 cases and 0 case, fast-in and slow-out in 4 cases and 1 case, slow-in and fast-out in 5 cases and 1 case, and slow-in and slow-out in 1 case and 10 cases, respectively. There were significant differences in the quantitative parameters such as a2, AUC and PI between renal malignant tumors and renal AML obtained by the time-intensity curves (P<0.05). Conclusion Gamma fitting analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound system can provide quantitative information of microcirculation of renal tumors, which helps to differentiate benign renal tumors from malignant ones.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and relationships with c1inicopatho1ogica1 characteristics and their clinical significance. Methods The concentrations of serum VEGF and bFGF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 40 patients with NSCLC before and after chemotherapy. Results The level of serum VEGF in patients with Ⅳ stage NSCLC was significantly higher than that of Ⅲ stage(P

OBJECTIVETo study the humoral immunity reconstitution and its relationship with infection in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) after undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT).

METHODSForty-two MM patients undergoing auto-HSCT were included in this study. Peripheral blood were obtained for immunoglobulin detection, including IgG, IgA and IgM before transplantation and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after transplantation. The time, type, pathogen of infection between 1 and 24 month after transplantation were analyzed.

RESULTSThe level of IgA at 6 month [(0.75±0.59) g/L] after auto-HSCT was lower than that of pre-auto-HSCT [(1.04±0.70) g/L], and reached the level of pre-auto-HSCT at 9 months [(0.99±0.52) g/L] after auto-HSCT. The level of IgM reached the level of pre-auto-HSCT [(0.45±0.26) g/L] at 3 months after auto-ASCT [(0.50±0.26) g/L]. The level of IgG reached the level of pre-auto-HSCT [(9.80±2.98) g/L] at 1 month after auto-HSCT [(11.09±2.69) g/L], and higher than that of pre-auto-HSCT at 9 months after auto-HSCT [(12.07±3.57) g/L]. The level of IgG with IgG-type MM was higher than that of patients with light-chain type and IgD-type MM at 6, 9 and 12 months after auto-HSCT. The IgA level of patients who obtained complete remission (CR) is much higher than that of patients who obtained nCR in IgG-type patients. The incidence of infection in 6 month after auto-HSCT was higher than that of (6-12) month and >12 month after auto-HSCT. The incidence of infection was strongly negative correlated with IgA (r =-0.943, P=0.005) and IgG (r=-0.943, P=0.005) level. The frequency of viral infection was also negatively correlated with IgA and IgG.

CONCLUSIONThe reconstitution time of IgG, IgA and IgM was different in MM patients after auto-HSCT. IgG recovered first, then IgM, and IgM the last. The incidence of infection was negatively correlated with IgA and IgG. With the recovery of IgG and IgA, the incidence of infection was decreased accordingly.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; immunology ; therapy ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Virus Diseases ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between C825T polymorphism of G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) gene and different Hilit types of essential hypertension (EH) in the Uygur nationality of Xinjiang.

METHODSAccording to Uygur medical theories, EH patients (as the EH group) and non-EH patients (as the control group) were assigned to four Hilit groups. The C825T polymorphism of GNB3 was detected in 161 EH patients and 379 non-EH subjects of different Hilit types by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to explore the difference of the genotypes and allelic frequencies and hypertension.

RESULTS(1) In Xinjiang Uygur population, the distribution frequencies of GNB3 C825T polymorphism were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg (chi2 = 0.871, P = 0.647). (2) There was no statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles of GNB3 between the EH group and the control group (P > 0.05). (3) There was statistical difference in distribution frequencies of three genotypes between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (the sum of abnormal Sewda, abnormal Kan, and abnormal Balhem) (chi2 = 6.905, P = 0.032), especially between the abnormal Sapra and abnormal Balhem groups (chi2 = 10.404, P = 0.006), but there was no statistical difference in distribution frequencies of alleles between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) In 161 EH patients, there was statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (chi2 = 9.034, P = 0.011; chi2 = 4.701, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONSBoth TT genotype and T allele of GNB3 C825T polymorphism might not be associated with EH patients in Xinjiang Uygur populations. However, they were correlated with hypertension patients of non-abnormal Sapra, indicating the pathogeneses of EH with different Hilit types might be different.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; classification ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Minority Groups ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objectives: To study the correlation between plasma matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP 9) concentration and acute lung injury following cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). Methods: Human plasma was obtained after informed consent from twenty patients undergoing CPB. Plasma was collected at the beginning of CPB, 5 minutes after the initiation of CPB, at the termination of CPB, 1 hour after the termination of CPB and 6 hours after the termination of CPB. All samples were analyzed by standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A aDO 2 and respiratory index (RI) was measured at the termination, 1 hour and 6 hours after termination of CPB. The cross clamp times, CPB times and the time to extubation was recorded. Data were expressed as means ?SE and assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA).The regression analysis was utilized to define the correlations of variables measured( A aDO 2 ,RI, cross clamp times, CPB times and the time to extubation ) at the end of CPB. Results: Plasma MMP 9 concentration was significantly increased at the end of CPB (430.6?50)?g/L( P

Objective To investigate the status of suicidal behaviors and suicidal ideation among HIV positive patients in Guangzhou, and to explore its relevant psycho-social factors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of HIV positive adult patients in six districts of Guangzhou to collect social-demographic characteristics, HIV infection time, suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviors and psycho-social factors. Use suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors as the dependent variables to conduct the univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 464 subjects,5.2% and 17.4% of them had suicidal behaviors and suicidal ideation. Analysis showed that the infection route, depression, anxiety, social discrimination, self-discrimination were correlated with the suicidal behaviors(all P<0.05), while age, health status, spouse infection, depression, anxiety and social support, social discrimination, self-discrimination were correlated with the suicidal ideation(all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression model showed that depression and self-discrimination were associated with suicidal behaviors(all P<0.05),depression and social discrimination were associated with suicidal ideation (all P<0.05). Conclusions HIV-positive adult patients in Guangzhou have a high incidence of suicidal ideation and behaviors. Psychological counseling, risk assessment and timely treatment related to depression, social discrimination self-discrimination and early antiviral treatment should be targeted in HIV-positive adult patients.