Objective: To study the anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) effect of the ultrafine granular powder of Houttuynia cordata and the effects in comparison with traditional decoction pieces. Methods: BALB/c mice were injected with LPS through nose to establish lung inflammation model. The number of leukocytes in mice whole blood was examined, and the degree of the inflammation of lung tissue by pathology was observed. Rat inflammatory model was induced by injection of LPS into tail vein. The number of leukocytes in mice whole blood, content of LPS in plasma were examined, the content of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA). The limulus test method was used to detect the anti- lipopolysaccharide effect of the ultrafine granular powder of H. cordata in vitro. Results: The ultrafine granular powder of H. cordata and traditional decoction pieces can reduce the level of leukocytes in mice whole blood in various degrees, and alleviated the infiltration of inflammatory cells in pathological lung tissue, and there was a positive dosage dependent relation. For the two decoction pieces, the number of leukocytes in rat whole blood, the content of LPS in plasma, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in serum decreased in different degrees were found. Compared with traditional decoction pieces group, the content of IL-1β and TNF-α of serum in ultrafine granular powder group were significant decreased. The ultrafine granular powder of H. cordata showed better anti-inflammatory activity than traditional decoction pieces in vitro at the same concentration and same dilution ratio. Conclusion: The ultrafine granular powder of H. cordata has satisfactory anti-lipopolysaccharide effect, and the effect is better than traditional decoction pieces in some extent.

Objective To study the regulation of microRNA 199a (miR-199a) on adhesion,migration and invasion ability of human eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESC) from patients with endometriosis.Methods ESC were transfected with miR-199a mimics or negative control (NC) RNA by lipofectamine 2000.The adhesion,migration and invasion ability of ESC were detected by cell adhesion assay,scratch assay,cell migration assay and matrigel invasion assay,respectively.Luciferase reporter assay was used to evaluate whether IKKβ was the target gene of miR-199a.The expression of ikappa B kinase beta (IKKβ),inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκB-α),phospho-IκB-α (p-IκB-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF κB) protein were measured by western blot.Results ( 1 ) Adhesion potential:the adhesion inhibitory rates were ( 14 ± 4 )％ in miR-199a group and 0 in control group,which showed significant difference (P＜0.01 ).(2) Migration and invasion:in the scratch assay,ESC transfected with miR-199a exhibited a lower scratch closure rate than that of controls.In migration and invasion assays,the migration and invasion ability of miR-199a group were significantly decreased compared with those of NC group [ 130 ± 31 vs.247±36 (P＜0.01); 63 ± 15 vs.133 ± 17 (P＜0.01),respectively].(3) The luciferase activity of miR-199a group was significantly lowered than that of control group [ 0.160 ± 0.006 vs.0.383 ± 0.083 ( P ＜0.01 ) ].The protein levels of IKKβ,p-IκB-α,IκB-α and NF-κB of 0.350 ±0.195,0.443 ±0.076,1.970 ±0.486 and 0.454 ± 0.147 in miR-199a group were significantly different compared with the NC group in which the protein levels were set at 1.000 ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions miR-199a can inhibit the adhesion,migration and invasion of the ESC.IKKβ is the target gene of miR-199a in ESC.One of the mechanisms of the inhibition effect is probably that miR-199a inhibits the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway by targeting IKKβ gene.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between maternal milk and serum thyroid hormones in patients with thyroid-related diseases.

METHODSSerum and breast milk samples were collected from 56 breastfeeding mothers. Milk and serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyrotrophin (TSH) were determined, and T3/T4 was calculated. Using the serum thyroid hormones as the independent variables and milk thyroid hormones as the dependent variables, we performed linear regression analysis.

RESULTSThe milk FT3, FT4, T3, T4, TSH, and T3/T4 were (2.30 ± 0.82) pg/ml ,(0.45 ± 0.26) ng/dl, (0.35 ± 0.20) ng/ml, (2.96 ± 1.55) Μg/dl, (0.12 ± 0.08) ΜU/ml, and 0.12 ± 0.04, respectively. Milk FT3 (r = 0.778, P = 0.000), T3 (r = 0.603, P = 0.000), T4 (r = 0.485, P = 0.004), and TSH (r = 0.605, P = 0.000) concentrations were positively correlated with those in serum.

CONCLUSIONThyroid hormones are present in human milk and are positively correlated with those in serum.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Thyroid Diseases ; blood ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; chemistry ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; chemistry ; Triiodothyronine ; blood ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the incidence, clinical features and related factors of propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hepatic injury in patients with hyperthyroidism.

METHODSA prospective study were carried out in 70 patients of hyperthyroidism with normal liver function. Every patient was treated with PTU 300 mg/d until the thyroid functions recovered to normal, following by decease and maintenance PTU dose in period of six months. Liver function, including serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL), thyroid function (serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and free triiodothyronine and thyrotropin) and blood routine items were measured before therapy and once a month for six months after PTU therapy was begun.

RESULTSSixty-four cases of 70 patients completed the therapy for 6 months. Hepatic injury developed in 33 patients (51.6%). Asymptomatic, transient hepatic injury was shown in 22 patients (34.4%). Slight symptomatic hepatic injury occured in 6 cases (9.4%) and overt hepatic injury in 5 patients (7.8%) after PTU administration. However, all the patients who developed overt hepatic injury did not stop PTU. Hepatic function returned normal one month after stopping PTU. No one finally suffered from viral hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis in patients of symptomatic and overt hepatic injury.

CONCLUSIONSPTU-induced symptomatic hepatic injury is not rare and usually develops within the first few months of PTU administration. Its clinical course is relatively benign. However, it may be difficult to predict its development, so all patients should be monitored for liver function test during the administration in early stage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antithyroid Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; drug therapy ; Liver ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Diseases ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Propylthiouracil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between the incidence of abnormal thyroid function of newborns and maternal hyperthyroidism with antithyroid drug therapy.

METHODThe clinical data of 35 neonates born to mothers with hyperthyroidism from 1983 to 2003 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the maternal thyroid function and the antithyroid drugs taken during pregnancy, subjects were divided into different groups.

RESULTSThe proportion of abnormal thyroid function in newborn was 48.6% (17/35). The prevalences of primary hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroxinemia, and central hypothyroidism were 29.4%, 29.4%, 35.3%, and 5.9%, respectively. The incidence of abnormal thyroid function of neonates whose mothers did not take the antithyroid drugs (ATDs) until the third trimester of pregnancy was significantly higher than those without and with ATDs during the first or second trimester (P < 0.01). The incidence of abnormal thyroid function significantly increased in premature neonates, neonates whose mothers with modest or heavy pregnant hypertension, or neonates whose core serum thyroid-stimulating hormone or serum anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies levels were abnormal.

CONCLUSIONThe risk of abnormal thyroid function of infants whose hyperthyroid mothers did not take ATDs until the third trimester of pregnancy may be increased. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of hyperthyroidism in pregnant women are essential for the prevention of neonatal thyroid functional abnormality.

Adult ; Antithyroid Agents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; complications ; drug therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases ; congenital ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVESThe mutations of growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene results in growth hormone insensitivity (Laron syndrome) or partial growth hormone insensitivity. This study aimed to understand the relation between mutations of GHR gene and short stature with non-growth-hormone deficiency, and the clinical feature of the patients with the GHR gene mutations.

METHODS(1) Forty-seven patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency and short stature were enrolled in this study, 33 were male and 14 female. The age of the patients were at a range of 2 - 16 years. (2) The mutations of GHR gene were identified by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing. (3) The characteristics of the GHR mutation was assumed by screening for the same mutations in patients' family members and the control samples.

RESULTS(1) Four GHR mutations were identified in 5 patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency: H56R, G148E, IVS6-30, -31CA > TG and IVS8 + 10G > C. These mutations were located within the extracellular domain of GHR and not reported before. Five patients were the heterozygous of H56R, G148E, IVS6-30, -31CA > TG and IVS8 + 10G > C. The detection rate of mutant heterozygous individual accounted for 10.6% (5/47). The mutations were considered non-polymorphism by the GHR gene analysis in patients' family members and control samples. (2) Comparison of the amino acid sequence of different species and the position of the mutations H56R and G148E in the GHR protein structure suggested impact of the mutations on the protein function. (3) A polymorphism site was identified in exon 6 of GHR gene: G168G (GGA > GGG). The allelic frequency of G168G had no difference between the patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency and control samples but had significant difference between Chinese and Caucasian. It seems that the G168G was a polymorphism and has no relationship with the height stature. However, there was the allele diversity in different races.

CONCLUSIONThe mutations of GHR gene were detected in the patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency. Special attention should be paid clinically to its potential pathogenesis for short stature.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical validity of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TgAb).

METHODSerum levels of anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb were assayed using chemiluminescence immunoassay in 434 subjects, including 51 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 58 with Graves' disease, 68 with nodular goiter, 56 with thyroid adenoma and carcinoma, 56 with subacute thyroiditis, 65 with euthyroid non-thyroid endocrine disease, 35 with euthyroid non-thyroid autoimmune diseases, and 45 euthyroid controls.

RESULTSThe highest level and most positive results of serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were observed in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (median 373 and 6 974 U/ml, positive rate 84.3% and 86.3%), followed by patients with Graves' disease (median 84 and 1 369 U/ml, positive rate 44.8% and 72.4%). Serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were also more common in patients with subacute thyroiditis and other autoimmune diseases than in the controls.

CONCLUSIONThe assay of serum anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb by chemiluminescence immunoassy are useful in the differential diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Adenoma ; blood ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Female ; Graves Disease ; blood ; Hashimoto Disease ; blood ; Humans ; Iodide Peroxidase ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroglobulin ; immunology ; Thyroid Gland ; immunology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; blood ; Thyroiditis, Subacute ; blood

OBJECTIVETo analyze the features, causes, treatments and outcomes of severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSFifteen patients suffered from massive GI bleeding (blood loss leading to hemorrhagic shock) or subacute GI bleeding (at least 1 or more units of red blood cell transfusion on each of two consecutive days) were observed and analyzed after allo-HSCT.

RESULTSSeventeen severe GI bleeding episodes occurred in 15 patients. The severe bleeding occurred in three periods of time: within 1 week, 1 to 2 months and 4 to 7 months after transplantation. The main manifestation was hematemesis and hematochezia in the first period, and hematochezia alone in the second and third periods. Platelet counts at the onset of severe bleeding were < or = 50 x 10(9)/L in the majority of patients. Causes of bleeding were conditioning regimen-related toxicity in 2 patients/episodes, graft versus host disease (GVHD) or/and intestinal cytomegalovirus (CMV) or fungal infections in 11 patients/12 episodes, intestinal CMV infections in 1 patient/episode, acid-peptic ulcer in 2 patients/episodes, and cause unknown in 1 patient/episode. Supportive care such as transfusions of platelet, red blood cell and fresh frozen plasma, H2 receptor blockers and omeprazole were given to all patients, immunosuppressive drugs to patients developed GVHD and antiviral drugs to patients with complicated CMV infection. Eight patients/9 episodes of bleeding were controlled. Eight patients continued severe GI bleeding and died of acute GVHD or related serious complications.

CONCLUSIONSSevere GI bleeding after allo-HSCT are mainly caused by regimen-related toxicity, GVHD or/and intestinal CMV infection. Bleeding caused by conditioning regimen-related toxicity is self-limited and has a better prognosis. However, treatment failure and mortality are high if the patient's bleeding resulted from GVHD and intestinal CMV infection.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Prognosis

Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; mortality ; therapy ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and major risk factors of fatty liver among adult residents in Shanghai.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey with multiple-stage stratified cluster and random sampling was performed. All residents aged 16 and above were invited to participate in the survey; they came from four communities of Yangpu District and Pudong New District. Questionnaire, physical examination, serum lipid-profile, and 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test and ultrasonographic examination of liver were undertaken. Analysis of data was performed through SPSS 11.0 for Windows statistical package.

RESULTSA total of 3175 residents took part in the survey, which was 75% of adult residents of the investigated communities and 2.26/10 000 of Shanghai municipal residents. Of the 3175, 1218 were males and 1957 were females. The mean age of the participants was 52.4+/-15.1 years and ranged from 16 to 88 years. Fatty liver was detected with ultrasound examination in 661 participants (20.82%), among which 3.48% had alcoholic fatty liver, 4.08% had suspected alcoholic fatty liver, and 92.43% had nonalcoholic fatty liver. The age-adjusted, sex-adjusted prevalence of fatty liver in Shanghai adult residents was 17.29%, the prevalence of alcoholic fatty liver, suspicious alcoholic fatty liver, and nonalcoholic fatty liver in Shanghai adult residents were 0.79%, 1.15%, and 15.35%, respectively. The prevalence of fatty liver was increased with aging in males and in females. Among participants younger than 50 years old, the prevalence of fatty liver in males was significantly higher than that in females, but in participants older than 50 years the case was just the opposite, higher in females. The mean age (years), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting and two hour serum glucose level, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the presence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and gallstones in the fatty liver group was significantly higher than those in the group without fatty liver, but the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level and the educational level were both lower in the fatty liver group. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the prevalence of fatty liver was only positively correlated to nine risk factors, including male sex, educational level, waist circumference, BMI, fasting glucose level, HDL-C, TG, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. In heavy drinkers, obesity increased the risk for fatty liver by 4.8-fold, but heavy drinking only increased the risk for fatty liver 1.5-fold (95% CI 0.9-2.6, P=0.1685).

CONCLUSIONThere is a high prevalence of fatty liver among adult residents in Shanghai, and nonalcoholic fatty liver is the major type. Metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia are more closely associated with fatty liver than heavy drinking in Shanghai.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Fatty Liver ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires