Objective To evaluate the efficacy of combination treatment of montelukast sodium (singulair TM ) plus mycobacterium phlei F.U.36 (wtilin"s") on young children with asthma.Methods 96 young children with asthma were randomly assigned into GroupⅠ:montelukast sodium (orally 2 5mg,q.n) plus mycobacterium phlei F.U.36 intramuscular injection for a total of 6 ampules,Group Ⅱ only montelukast sodium orally 2 5mg nightly and placebo Group.Participants were followed up for 12 weeks.Resuts Combined treatment of montelukast sodium and mycobacterium phlei F.U.36 was more effective to improve asthma in young children than the treatment with only monstelukast sodium.Conclusion The combination therapy of monkelukast and mycobacterium phlei F.U.36 is a highly effective method for preventing asthma attacks or controlling asthma.

Objective To investigate the correlation between vibration perception thresholds test (VPT) and simple screening tests for peripheral neuropathy in the diabetes clinic in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods VPT and three simple screening tests including 10 g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament examination (SWME), vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork, and temperature sensation test by Tip-Therm were completed in 487 Chinese patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes aged over 30. The relationships between these simple screening tests and VPT were evaluated by Spearman correlation and observed agreement rate. Results Abnormal VPT was significantly associated with aging and fasting plasma glucose by binary logistic regression analysis. VPT was significantly correlated with SWME, temperature sensation test, vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork, and the correlation coefficient was 0.176, 0.152 and 0.240, respectively (P<0.01);Observed agreement between VPT and three simple screening tests including SWME, temperature sensation test, vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork was 49.5%, 59.8% and 51.1%, respectively. The percentage of abnormal results by SWME or vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork with normal result by VPT was very low, only 2.7% and 1.2% respectively. Conclusions VPT should also be considered as a first-choice screening test for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum lipocalin-2 level and the risk of cardiovascular disease(CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:A total of 279 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. Basic information and clinical data were collected. These patients were divided into CVD group and non-CVD group according to their cardiovascular disease status. Serum lipocalin-2 level was assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Compared to non-CVD group, serum lipocalin-2 level was significantly higher in CVD group( P<0.01). The Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum lipocalin-2 level was positively correlated with waist circumstance, diastolic blood pressure, uric acid, triglyceride, and HbA 1C( P<0.05), while negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level( P<0.01). In addition, the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum lipocalin-2 was an independent risk factor for CVD( P<0.01)after adjustment for potential confounders. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the area under curve value of lipocalin-2 was 0.74, with the optimal cutoff value of lipocalin-2 66.84 ng/mL. Conclusion:Serum lipocalin-2 is closely associated with CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes, which might be considered as one of the predictors for CVD in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM:To study the effect of astragalus polysaccharides(Aps)on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.METHODS:After exposed to Aps at different doses,cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 protein levels in cultured THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells were determined by a ? counter and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS:Aps increased cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells with dose dependent pattern and resulted in an increase in the expression of ABCA1 protein in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.CONCLUSION:The increase in cholesterol efflux by Aps might be related to the up-regulation of ABCA1.

Objective To evaluate desmopressin stimulated inferior petrosal sinus sampling in diagnosing Cushing′s disease.Methods Sixteen ACTH-dependent Cushing′s disease patients underwent bilateral desmopressin stimulated inferior petrosal sinus ( IPS ) sampling because of negative or equivocal magnetic resonance imaging.Cortisol response to high-dose dexamethasone suppression test was also evaluated.ACTH sampling was taken from a peripheral vein and bilateral IPS before and both 5 and 10 min after injection of desmopressin.Diagnosis was based on the ratio of ACTH level in between IPS to peripheral vein by desmopressin test.Diagnosis was confirmed after surgery.Results High-dose dexamethasone suppression test showed suppressible in 9 of 16 patients with Cushing′s disease.An IPS gradient ＞2 was found in 14 of the 16 cases (87.5％ )with Cushing′s disease after desmopressin injection,while before injection the respective figure was 12 of 16 (75.0％).No severe adverse effects were observed during or after the procedure.Conclusion Desmopressin test during bilateral IPS sampling is a safe and effective diagnostic procedure in Cushing′s disease.

[Summary] Four patients with hyperthyroid-associated exophthalmos, myxedema, acropachy ( EMA ) syndrome, including three male patients and one female patient were diagnosed with Graves′diseases and treated by 131 I therapy. Complaints of thyrotoxicosis were presented at the onset. Tibia myxedema and acropathy appeared, and eye symptoms aggravated in two patients after anti-thyroid drug therapy and 131 I therapy. Four cases were all given clobetasol propionate, miconazole nitrate, neomycin sulfate and urea cream alone or in combination with compound betamethasone local injection treatment, and three cases were given low-dose oral prednisone treatment. Complaints of tibia myxedema and eye symptoms were significantly improved after the treatment. Therefore, we should be wary of the occurrence of hyperthyroid-associated EMA syndrome after 131 I therapy. Corticosteroid might be the effective therapy for myxedema and eye symptoms of EMA syndrome.

Objective To investigate the outcome of postoperative hypopituitarism and hormone replacement in patients with pituitary adenoma,and to analyze the potential factors related to postoperative hypopituitarism.Methods A total of 215 postoperative patients with pituitary adenoma were analyzed.Pituitary functions( including gonadal,thyroid,and adrenal axes ) were asessed by strict criteria.Data of surgery history and hormone replacement situation were collected for statistical analysis.Results The prevalence of hypopituitarism was 54.0％,including 36.7％ hypogonadism,32.6％ hypothyroidism,and 28.4％ hypoadrenalism.Replacements of gonadal steroid,glucocorticoid,and thyroxine were carried out in 25.6％,84.3％,and 80.6％ of the cases,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that male sex and large tumor were related to hypopituitarism. Conclusion After pituitary adenomectomy,approximately half of the patients present anterior pituitary dysfunction,while quite a number of them have not been treated appropriately.

Objective To raise the level of clinical diagnosis for the patients with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS). Methods Five patients (4 males) with PSIS were retrospectively analyzed with respects to the clinical features, endocrine status and image characteristics. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed at hypothalamic-pituitary region. Results The clinical manifestations of all patients consisted of growth retardation and delayed puberty without polyuria. Deficiency of multiple anterior pituitary hormones was revealed in all patients by the evaluation of endocrine status. The features of MRI included a lack of visible pituitary stalk, absence of posterior lobe hypersignal in the sella turcica and a hyperintense spot in the region of the thalamus opticus. Conclusion The clinical characteristics of patients with PSIS are growth retardation and delayed puberty. The evaluation of anterior pituitary function is necessary. The detection of an anatomical abnormality around hypothalamic-pituitary region by MRI is important diagnostic evidence.

Objective:To assess the correlation between circulating chemerin and two indicators of renal function, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), in individuals with type 2 diabetes and to determine whether chemerin is an independent marker of early renal insufficiency.Methods:A total of 742 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited into the cross-sectional community study. Basic information, anthropometric parameters, and biochemical parameters of these individuals were determined and collected, and serum chemerin level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Chemerin levels were significantly higher in the eGFR-impaired group compared with eGFR-normal group, and macroalbuminuria group compared to the normal or microalbuminuria groups. Spearman′ rank correlation analysis showed serum chemerin level was correlated with eGFR ( r=-0.25, P<0.001), UACR ( r=0.23, P<0.001) and some other biochemical indicators such as triglyceride. And univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed circulating chemerin was an independent risk factor for eGFR impairment or proteinuria after adjusting corresponding covariates. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) of circulating chemerin for predicting early impaired eGFR in type 2 diabetes was 0.747, while the AUC of circulating chemerin for predicting macroalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes was 0.748. Conclusion:Circulating chemerin is associated with eGFR or UACR and may be a potential diagnostic marker for early renal insufficiency in type 2 diabetes.

The clinical characteristics of the pneumonia includes hyperthermia, cough and pectoralgia, etc with simultaneous mixed signs of inflammatory infiltration, consolidation, cavity/air sac and abscess in pulmonary CT scan, and these signs change rapidly. Respiratory failure and septic shock frequently occur in severe such patients, resulting in refractory management and relatively long therapeutic course. The timely diagnosis, use of sensitive antibiotics, respiratory and nutritional support, etc comprehensive effective measures can elevate the rescue success rate with severe hematogenous staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.