Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic condition characterized by pain of the bladder and pelvic region, urgent micturition, frequent micturition and urine increased. Despite intense investigation to our knowledge, the etiology of this disease was unknown, and treatment is empirical. Recrudesce of IC was inextricable and hard to radical cure. This paper reviewed the literature published in the last years.

Thyroid diseases are often accompanied with dyslipidemia.In me past,low level of myroid hormone(TH) was considered a main factor in causing elevated level of blood cholesterol in hypothyroid patients.However,some clinical features can not be explained by this traditional theory. For example,in subclinical hypothyroid cases,both levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and serum total cholesterol (TC) increase,while TH level remains normal.From this phenomenon,we speculate that in case with hypothyroidism,not only there is a relationship between serum TC and TH levels,but also serum TC level change is related to TSH in some way,which has not been noticed.The purpose of this paper is to review the new and most advanced progress in the research of TSH and cholesterol.

Objective To study the effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on human vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells and to explore the roles of TSH in the development of atherosclerosis.Methods Human vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro.MTT method was used to assay the effect of TSH on cell viability.Real-time PCR was used to determine the levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS),prostacyclin(PGI2),endothelin-1 (ET-1),plasminagen activator inhibitor(PAI-1) (mRNA) in endothelial cells and the phenotype transition of smooth muscle cells.The effect of TSH to the cycle of smooth muscle cells was detected by using flow cytometry.Immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to investigate the expression of the cell cyclin A,D1,and the expression of endothelial cell associated factors eNOS and ET-1.Results Compared with the control group,eNOS and PGI2 mRNA levels decreased while ET-1 and PAI-1 mRNA levels increased when different concentrations of TSH were applied to endothelial cells(P＜0.05).The level of eNOS protein was decreased gradually while the level of ET-1 protein was gradually increased(P＜0.05).Different concentrations of TSH applied to smooth muscle cells could promote the transition of cell cycle phase G2 to phase M and increase the expression of cell cyclin A and D1.Conclusion TSH may damage the function of vascular endothelial cells and promote the proliferation of smooth muscle cells.

Two hundred and fifty patients with subclinical hypothyroidism ( SCH) and 120 euthyroid volunteers were recruited for the study, SCH patients were stratified into 2 groups according to TSH levels(group A:TSH<10 mIU/ L; group B: TSH>10 mIU/ L). All subjects were examined for clinical characteristics, thyroid profile, lipid profile, and biomarkers of early atherosclerosis. Patients in group B received L-thyroxine replacement treatment to achieve euthyroidism. After 6 months of stable euthyroidism all measurements were repeated. SCH patients had higher levels of total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), carotid artery intima media thickness(CIMT), thromboxane B2(TXB2), and C-reactive protein(CRP) but with lower nitric oxide(NO) level compared with euthyroid subjects. Levels of TC, LDL-C, CIMT, TXB2, and ADMA decreased, and NO level increased significantly after 6 months of euthyroidism. TSH was positively correlated with TC, LDL-C, CIMT, ADMA, and TXB2; and negatively correlated with NO. Based on multivariate regression analysis, TSH was an independent influential factor of CIMT and NO. We conclude that raised TSH is an important risk factor of atherosclerosis in SCH.

Established rat models with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) were divided into three groups:subclinical hypothyroid(SCH),SCH treated with levothyroxine (L-T4),and control group.The L-T4 group displayed lowered total cholesterol and endothelin levels compared with the SCH group[(1.29 ±0.05 vs 2.38 ±0.55) mmol/L,(98.54 ± 32.43 vs 160.62 ±37.25) nmol/L,both P＜0.05].Nitric oxide levels,left ventricular systolic pressure,and blood flow in abdominal aorta were significantly higher in the L-T4 group than those in the SCH group.The results of this study indicate that L-T4 treatment may improve endothclial dysfunction and hemodynamic changes in rats with SCH.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the method to control the quality of Qilian suppository.METHODS:TLC was per?formed to identify Rhizoma coptidis and Radix Notoginseng.A reverse phase HPLC-ELSD method was adopted to determine the content of ginsenoside Rg 1 and ginsenoside Rb 1 in Radix Notoginseng.RESULTS:The study on the quality control showed that the characteristic of identification by TLC was distinct and highly specific.In this quantification method,the linear ranges of ginsenoside Rg 1 and Rb 1 were1.56?g～3.74?g(r=0.9993,RSD=1.6%)and1.44?g～3.46?g(r=0.9981,RSD=1.2%)respectively.The average recovery rate of ginsenoside Rg 1 was99.10%,and RSD=1.6%(n=3);the average recovery rate of ginsenoside Rb 1 was102.13%,and RSD=1.2%(n=3).CONCLUSION:The method is simple,sensitive,accurate and re?peatable.It can be used for the quality control of Qilian suppository.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of solifenacin in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). Methods 50 patients with NDO received solifenacin 5 mg/d. During the treatment period, the voiding diary, Patient Perception of Bladder Condition-Scale (PPBC-S) and side effects were recorded. Results 2 weeks and 12 weeks later, the volume of the catheterization every time increased from (224.2±15.7) ml at baseline to (302.6±23.3) ml and (301.3±21.1) ml (P<0.05); the volume of leakage every day decreased from (753.9±121.7) ml to (444.1±87.1) ml and (449.1±89.2) ml (P<0.05); PPBC-S score decreased from (5.12±0.072) to (4.36±0.073) and (4.36±0.068) (P<0.05). There were 3 cases (6%) with dry mouth, and no patients complained dry eyes and blurred vision. Conclusion Solifenacin is safe and effective, and can significantly improve the quality of life in patients with NDO.

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a mild impairment of thyroid function. Several existing studies suggest that SCH is associated with an increased risk of depression, but some studies have also found no correlation between SCH and depression. Therefore, whether there is an association between SCH and depression and the mechanism of interaction between the two remains controversial. Growing evidence suggested that SCH patients should not be routinely treated with levothyroxine, and the effect of the treatment of thyroid disease on various clinical psychiatric outcomes is also controversial. This article reviews the current research on the correlation between SCH and depression risk and whether drug intervention is needed.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of simvastatin preconditioning on the expression of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS,eNOS) in thoracic aorta in a rat model of sepsis.Methods Eighty pathogen-free female Wistar rats aged 4 months weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 4 groups:group normal control (group Ⅰ,n =8) ; group sham operation (group Ⅱ,n =8) ; group sepsis (group Ⅲ,n =32) and group simvastatin preconditioning (group Ⅳ,n =32).Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ.In group Ⅳ simvastatin 20 mg/kg was given via a gastric tube once a day for 2 weeksbefore CLP.The thoracic aorta specimens were taken at 3,6,24 and 48 h after CLP (n =8 at each time point)for detection of iNOS and eNOS protein expression by Western blot analysis.ResultsCLP significantly up-regulated iNOS expression and down-regulated eNOS expression in group Ⅲ as compared with groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ.Simvastatin pretreatment significantly attenuated CLP-induced increase in iNOS expression and decrease in eNOS expression in group Ⅳ as compared with group Ⅲ.ConclusionSimvastatin preconditioning can protect vascular endothelial cells from septic injury by down-regulating iNOS expression and up-regulating eNOS expression in vascular endothelial cells.

Objective To identify interleukin (IL)-17-producing T cells and Foxp3 positive CD4 positive T ceils from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and investigate their cytokine levels as well as their correlations. Methods Flow cytometry was used to analyze the subsets of T cells in peripheral blood from 39 RA patients and 40 healthy donors. IL-17, IL-6, IL-23 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta levels in sera of these subjects were tested by ELISA. Results IL-17+CD4+ T cells increased significantly and IL-17, IL-6 and IL-23 elevated markedly in peripheral blood of RA patients compared to healthy donors (P< 0.01 ). However,Foxp3+CD4+T cells decreased evidently (P<0.01) and TGF-beta did not increase in RA pati-ents when compared to healthy donors (P>0.05). Conclusion This study suggests that Th17 cells predomin-ance coupled with relatively insufficient CD4+ regulatory T cells in RA is mainly caused by alterations of rela-ted cytokines.