Serum N-POMC levels were measured by a specific, sensitive and homogeneous radioimmunoassay (RIA). The morning (8AM) serum N-POMC levels in patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease (624.4 ? 196.2 pg/ml, n = 25) were significantly higher than that of normal (182.9?78.2 pg/ml,n = 67) and of obese subjects (164.5 ? 86.4 pg/ml, n = 20) (p

The effect of hydrocortisone (135 nag i.v. as a bolus) on the levels of serum N-POMC was studied in the patients with Cushing's disease [including three groups: untreated (CD, n=8), post-adrenolectomy without Nelson's syndrome (CDA, n=5), and Nelson's syndrome (NS, n=4)]; Addison's disease (AD, n = 13) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH, n=4). The results showed that the levels of serum N-POMC were decreased after the administration of hydrocortisone in all three groups of Cushing's disease, however the suppression rate of N-POMC was much lower in these groups than that in AD and CAH (P

Through analyzing the academic ideas in Shanghan Zhinan written by Wei-Ju ZHU, a modern famous physician, it is pointed out that ZHU's achievement on integrative medicine has been overlooked. Taking the theory of syndrome differentiation of six channels from Shanghan Lun as an example, ZHU presumed that the essence of therapeutic theory of traditional Chinese medicine was to conform to or strengthen human body's self-healing and self-regulating abilities. Since Yangqi is the major force in the body to help heal disease when it occurred, ZHU often took measures to strengthen Yang first in treating disease and also was good at using hot-natured herbs, such as Radix aconiti lateralis preparata. ZHU's thoughts on integrative medicine were concerned with etiology, pathology and therapeutics. In addition, ZHU generalized the syndrome differentiation into the theory of five phases and eight principles, and made important contributions to the history of integrative medicine. His thinking will provide valuable revelation for clinical practice and modern research on traditional Chinese medicine.

To investigate the academic features of Waizheng-YiAn-Huibian and provide references for research and application of it. With research approach in bibliography, the academic features of the book were studied from source of medical cases, writing characteristic, academic thought, etc. The academic features of Waizheng-YiAn-Huibian were summarized into the following 5 points, including multiple chosen medical cases but all with unique individual features, precious discussion after each case, named external symptoms, but covered internal symptoms, encouraging mild treatment and against being broad and complicated, emphasis on veins and arteries, positioning and nature determination. Waizheng-YiAn-Huibian is a wonderful masterpiece in medical cases research and worth learning and studying.

To discuss the academic features of Ding-Ganren’s medical records and to provide the references for learning and applying the theories in the book. With bibliography research method, the academic features of Ding-Ganren’s medical records were investigated in academic thoughts, medication characteristic and clinic experience, etc. The academic features of Ding-Ganren’s medical records were summarized into 4 pointes, which are ①good at classical prescription and determination of treatment based in pathogenesis obtained through differentiation of symptoms and signs of typhus and complicated diseases. ②Focusing on six meridians and proposing the combination of cold and warm treatment. ③Mild treatment and claiming gentle application of the medicine. ④Determination of treatment based in pathogenesis obtained through differentiation of symptoms and signs of scarlet fever and emphasizing to distinguish Qi from Ying. Ding-Ganren YiAn has high academic value in research and clinic application and worth further study.

'Man-Langzhong'is a description for the general impression people have for traditional Chinese medicine.Chinese medicine does in fact emphasize the maintenance of one's health,and promotes taking precautions in order to prevent sickness.But through observations found in Shanghanlun's philosophies,taking into consideration the linguistic views and the world views of the East and the West,we have discovered that this general concept people have for Chinese medicine is inaccurate.This essay raised the notion that'Chinese medicine practices its philosophies and medical procedures based on emergency support and preventative medical science'.

From the beginning of 1980 to the end of 1992, 125 patients with Cushing disease were undergone transsphenoidal microsurgery. 41 patients were operated by selective adenoma resection and 62 patients by radical surgery. 103 cases were available to be analyzed. The results of a long-term follow-up showed: (1) The cure rates were 63. 1% and 48.1% with positive and negative pathological study, respectively. (2) The cure rates were 72.6% and 41. 5% with radical and selective surgery respectively. In cured patients the plasma cortisol level dropped to normal or subnormal within 48 hours after the surgery. However, in uncured patients, it was still above the normal. After operation, 1. 6% of cases (1/60) had secondary hypothyroidism and 62.5 % of cases (30/48) who had abnormal menstruation preoperatively restored normal menstrual cycle. The recurrent rate was 11.4%. Conclusion: (1) The outcome of radical surgery is better than the selective adenoma resection; (2) The pathological study and the analysis of the plasma cortisol level within 48 hours after the surgery may have predictive value for efficacy of the surgery.

Objective To studytherelationshipbetweenhypercortisolismand psychosis. Methods According to pathologic diagnosis, 133 cases of hypercortisolism were dividedinto adrenal lesion group, pituitary adenoma group and ectopic ACTH tumor group, and the relationship between hypercortisolism and psychosis was analyzed. Results (1) There were significant differences between groups regarding cortisol levels and the amplitude of fluctuation. (2) Depression and mania were the main manifestations of psychosis in the patients, and 79.7% of the patients showed symptoms of depression. (3) In ectopic ACTH tumor group, the level and the increased amplitude of 24 h urinary free cortisol were significantly higher than those in the other two groups, all the patients had severe depression, and the rate of suicide tendence (58.3%) was significantly higher than the other two groups. Conclusions (1) Psychosis has a close relationship with hypercortisolism,especially with the marked fluctuation in cortisol level. (2) Sufficient attention should be paid to this relationship, which will improve the diagnosisand treatment of hypercortisolism.

Objective To understand the correlation between insulin resistance(IR) and adrenal androgen excess in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods According to BMI, 90 adolescents with PCOS were divided to groups of normal weight PCOS(NW-PCOS,33 cases,BMI<25.0 kg/m2) and obesity PCOS(OB-PCOS,57 cases, BMI≥ 25.0 kg/m2),and 15 normal weight healthy girls matched for age as controls.All patients had normal OGTT.Acute ACTH stimulating test was performed on patients, and cortisol (F), 17-hydroxyprogesterone(17-OHP), dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) during ACTH testing at 0 and 60 minute (steroid0 and steroid60) were determined. Results Compared with controls, NW-and OB-PCOS patients showed significantly greater levels of total testosterone (T), Luteotropic hormone(LH), FIns, 2 hIns, and HOMA-IR(P<0.01).The freqnencies of hirsuties and acne, and serum level of FIns, 2 hIns, and HOMA-IR were significantly higher and LH levels were much lower in the group of OB-PCOS than those in NW-PCOS(P<0.05 and P<0.01).ACTH stimulating test showed that PCOS patients had significantly higher levels of basal 17-OHP0, DHEA0, as well as 60-minute ACTH-stimulated levels (Steroid60) of 17-OHP60、DHEA60, and net increase of 17-OHP(Δ17-OHP)as compared with normal controls(P<0.05 and P<0.01).The 60-minute ACTH-stimulated levels of 17-OHP60, DHEA60,Δ17-OHP, and ΔDHEA were also higher in group of OB-PCOS than those in group of NW-PCOS(P<0.05 and P<0.01), and there were no obvious discrepancies in basal 17-OHP0, DHEA0 between OB-PCOS and NW-PCOS groups.Spearman correlation analysis showed that in group of OB-PCOS, HOMA-IR value was significantly associated with BMI, 17-OHP60, Δ17-OHP, DHEA60, ΔDHEA(P<0.05 and P<0.01); whereas in group of NW-PCOS, HOMA-IR was associated only with BMI(P<0.01). Conclusions The significantly higher basal and ACTH-stimulated levels of 17-OHP and DHEA indicates adrenal hyperresponsiveness in adolescents with PCOS.Adrenal androgen excess appears to be closely associated with insulin resistance in obese adolescents with PCOS

Objective:It was a part of an overall study of the clinical research literature about ischemic cerebrovascular disease treated by various acupuncture techniques,namely "restoring consciousness and inducing resuscitation technique","needling Baihui(DU20) through Qubin(GB7)","Jiao’s three-needle technique" and "temporal three-needle technique".The papers collection for analysis were designed on the random,control and blind methods.Methods: A data bank was set up with Access 2003.A statistical analysis was made for the method of employing ratio and constituent ratio about the research literature mamaged with the ramdom,control and blind methods.Results: The ratio of those that were designed randomly is as follows: the "restoring consciousness and inducing resuscitation technique"(50%),"needling Baihui(DU20) through Qubin(GB7)"(100%)(Only two articles meet the request and futher exploration is needed),and the "temporal three-needle technique"(50%).And the "Jiao’s three-needle technique"(40%).The ratio of those that were designed with the control method is as follows: the "restoring consciousness and inducing resuscitation technique"(60%),"needling Baihui(DU20) through Qubin(GB7)"(100%)(Only two articles meet the request and further exploration is needed,the "temporal three-needle technique"(75%),and "Jiao’s three-needle technique"(70%).The blind method was not used.Conclusion: It is suggested that the three methods should be stressed in the study of acupuncture in the treatment of ischemic cerebrocvascular disease.Only in this way,can there be a maximum comparability and the sampling error is decreased.The bias due to subjective factors of the researchers and subjects can be overcome.