Marfan syndrome(MFS)is an autosomal dominant disorder that is prone to fibrodysplasia,lens dislocation and rapid height growth,which needs to be distinguished from gigantism.This article reports a 14-year-old patient with MFS who had a typical binocular lens subluxation in both eyes,with visual impairment and rapid height growth.MRI with contrast to the pituitary suggested a pituitary microadenoma,but growth hor-mone and insulin-like growth factor 1 were in the normal range,thus excluding gigantism or acromegaly.Non-functional pituitary adenoma was considered.MFS patients need long-term follow-up and multidisciplinary col-laboration,and attention should be paid to cardiovascular system monitoring and genetic testing,which can be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of patients and risk prevention and control.

Objective To evaluate the application of exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (eADC)value in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules.Methods Routine MR sequences and axial diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)sequences with different b-values(0, 300,500,800 s/mm2)were performed in 46 patients with 51 histopathologically confirmed thyroid nodules,including 35 malignant nodules and 1 6 benign nodules.The eADC values of each thyroid nodules’solid component with different b-values were measured and assessed by independent samples t test.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curves were drawn and used to determine the diagnostic threshold and assess the screen test.Results The eADC values of the malignant nodules were higher than that of benign nodules (P<0.05)in all of the three different b-values.The eADC values of the malignant nodules and the benign nodules were 0.618±0.080 and 0.492±0.071 (b=300 s/mm2),0.520±0.104 and 0.371±0.077 (b=500 s/mm2)and 0.407±0.114 and 0.286±0.097 (b=800 s/mm2)respectively. According to the ROC curve,the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.883,0.890 and 0.824 when the b-value was set as 300,500 and 800 s/mm2respectively.When the b-value was set as 500 s/mm2and the diagnostic threshold was 0.454,the sensitivity,specificity, positive predictive value,negative predictive value and Youden index were 74.3%,93.8%,96.3%,60.9% and 0.68,respectively.Conclusion The eADC value is helpful in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules,and the best result can be obtained by using DWI with b-value of 500 s/mm2.

In this study we performed Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI), two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D- STI) and three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) on enrolled healthy, overweight and obese groups (34 subjects in each group), respectively, to analyze cardiac structure and its function. Compared with healthy group, global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global area strain(GAS) and global radial strain (GRS) decreased progressively (P < 0.05). The ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to global early diastolic strain rate of left ventricle (E/e'sr) (r = 0.466, P < 0.001), GLS (r = 0.502, P < 0. 001), GCS (r = 0.426, P < 0.001), GAS (r = 0.535, P < 0.001) and GRS (r = -0.554, P < 0.001) were correlated with body mass index (BMI). E/e'sr (r = 0.37, P = 0.003), GLS (r = 0.455, P < 0.001), GCS (r = 0.282, P = 0.02), GAS (r = 0.412, P < 0.001) and GRS (r = -0.471, P < 0.001) were correlated with free fatty acid (FFA). Stepwise multiple linear regression revealed that BMI was independently correlated with E/e'sr, GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) was independently correlated with GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. FFA was independently correlated with E/e'sr (P < 0.05). The study showed that cardiac structure changed and impaired left ventricular global systolic and diastolic function in overweight and obes population. Moreover, BMI, WHR and FFA may be independent influence factors of cardiac function in overweight and obese population.
Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; physiopathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective To discuss the application of spectral CT imaging in evaluating the early therapeutic response of 125I seed interstitial brachytherapy for pancreatic carcinoma in experimental nude mice.Methods BxPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cell xenografts were subcutaneously inoculated at the dorsal part of the limbs in 16 BABL/c nude mice. When the tumor developed to the size of 1-1.5 cm, the tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into the study group (n=8,receiving implantation of 125I seeds of 1.0 mCi) and the control group (n=8,receiving implantation of ghost shell particles of 0 mCi). Two weeks after the procedure, plain spectral CT scan as well as enhanced multiphase (10 s, 25 s and 60 s) spectral CT scan were performed to obtain multi-phasic image series. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and iodine concentration (IC) inside the lesions were determined, and the normalized iodine concentrations (nIC) of tumor were thus obtained. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor was used to measure microvessel density (MVD) within the tumor;the correlation between nIC and MVD was analyzed. Results The lesion's nICs measured on each of three phases (10 s,25 s and 60 s) in the study group were lower than those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). MVD count in the study group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (t=5.957,P<0.01). A parallel linear correlation existed between nIC obtained from each phase of three phases and MVD count (r=0.63,P<0.000 1;r=0.51,P=0.002;and r=0.48,P=0.001 7 for 10 s, 25 s and 60 s phases respectively). Conclusion Spectral CT imaging is an effective method for evaluating the therapeutic effect of 125I seed interstitial brachytherapy for pancreatic carcinoma of experimental mice.

The changes in hypothalamic-pituitary function in older people include the effects of aging per se on hypothalamic-pituitary physiology,such as age-related declines in GH-IFG-1 system and increased activity in CRH-ACTH axis,and the hormone hyposecretion due to anterior pituitary diseases in elderly,including fibrosis and vascular alterations.In considering changes in hypothalamic-pituitary function in older people,it is important to distinguish between what is age-related and what is disease-related.Symptoms associated with hypopituitarism are nonspecific and may be often attributed to normal aging and can be challenging in clinical practice.Furthermore,the benefits and safety of selective pituitary hormonal replacement,including growth hormone replacement,remain controversial in the elderly.The evidence for age-related changes in GH-IGF-1 system and CRH-ACTH axis and their clinical consequences are reviewed.The characteristics in the clinical approach to disease-related hypopituitarism in older person are also briefly discussed.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,peripheral insulin sensitivity,and β-cell function in patients with ketosis-prone diabetes(KPD).Methods Thirty-one patients with newly diagnosed ketosisprone diabetes were admitted to West China Hospital from January 2004 to December 2009.They were divided into 2 groups according to their body mass index (BMI):OB-KPD (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2,n =22) and Lean-KPD (BMI ＜ 23 kg/m2,n =9).10 patients with newly-onset type 2 diabetes free from ketosis (OB-DM:BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2,n =10) were enlisted as control.Detailed assessments of medical history and symptoms of hyperglycemia were performed.The islet cell antibody (ICA),insulin autoantibody (IAA),anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GAD-Ab),fasting plasma glucose,serum insulin,C-peptide and free fat acids concentrations were measured.All of the subjects underwent oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests,euglycemic-hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia clamp test,to evaluate the insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity respectively.Insulin sensitivity was determined by glucose disposal rate (GDR) of steady state during euglycemic clamp and acute insulin secretion was calculated by insulin area under curve(AUCins 0-10 min) during IVGTT.Maximal insulin secretion was determined by glucose infusion rate (GIR) and serum insulin concentration of steady state during hyperglycemic clamp test.Results Age,sex,duration of diabetes were matched among groups.A family history of diabetes was strongly associated with those patients with obesity,compared with lean ketosis prone diabetes(16/22 vs 1/9).GDR was (4.91 ± 1.82) mg · kg 1 · min-1 in subjects with OB-KPD,being lower than that in Lean-KPD patients[(6.26 ± 1.89) mg · kg 1 · min-1] and OB-DM group[(6.78-± 1.69) mg · kg 1 · min-1,P＜0.01].Serum insulin and C-peptide in OB-KPD patients were higher than Lean-KPD patients.Area under the insulin curve [AUCins0-10min (183.86 ± 31.1) mIU/L] and GIR[(2.65 ±1.53) mg · kg-1 · min-1] in OB-KPD patients were lower than those in OB-DM group[(697.06-± 231.9) mIU/L,(6.53 ± 2.21)mg · kg 1 · min-1,P＜0.0 1],but slightly higher than the Lean-KPD group [AUCins0 10min (92.1 ±29.8) mUU/L,GIR (2.55 ± 1.49) mg · kg 1 · min-1,P＜0.05].Glucose disposal rate (GDR) was strongly associated with casual plasma glucose (r =-0.502,P＜0.01),HbA1C(r =-0.553,P＜0.0 1) and FFA eoneentrations (r=-0.504,P＜0.01) on admission.Conclusions Insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction coexist in all KPD patients.OB-KPD patients exhibit more severe insulin resistance,while Lean-KPD patients have lower insulin secretion.KPD patients had severe hyperglycemia,hypertriglyceridemia,and high plasma FFA levels on admission,suggesting that hyperglycemia and elevated FFA levels could result in serious insulin resistance,β-cell dysfunction,and diabetic ketosis in patients with KPD.

Pharmaceutical researchers at home and abroad have been working in pursuit of an effective, easy-to-use and safe way of non-injecting insulin administration. Oral insulin was considered to be one of the ideal administration ways for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this review, we introduce the clinical value and progress of oral insulin delivery in recent years. The mechanisms, therapeutic effect, limitations of oral insulin delivery, and the future perspectives in this research field are also discussed.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Insulin ; administration & dosage

Objective To evaluate the effects of elevated circulating free fatty acids (FFA) level on basal and glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) of islet β-cell and to explore the pathophysiological link between FFA and impaired β-cell dysfunction. Methods Male SD rats underwent infusions with normal saline (C group), intralipid+heparin (FFA group) and N-acetylcysteine+FFA (NAC group) for 2-4 days. Insulin secretion from pancreatic tissues was evaluated during intravenous glucose tolerance test and isolated pancreas perfasion test at the end of 2 and 4 days infusion. Results After 2 days infusion, the basal insulin secretion from isolated perfused pancreas was increased in FFA group [(55.5±19.4 vs 27.4±6.7) mU/L, P<0.01], but the response to 16.7 mmol/L glucose in isolated perfased pancreas was similar in FFA and C groups. The peak value during GSIS was inhibited by 4 days FFA infusion [(46.8±33.0 vs 214.7±27.4)mIU/L,P<0.05]. GSIS was also decreased in FFA group compared with C group in IVGTr. After interfered with NAC, GSIS was partly recovered [(165.4± 14.8)mIU/L, P<0.01]. Conclusion Elevated circulating FFA levels may contribute to the abnormality of pancreatic islet β-cell through oxidative stress.

The effects of elevated levels of glucose and (or) free fatty acids on insulin secretion were studied in obese rats by intravenous glucose tolerance test and isolated pancreas perfusinn. The results showed that both glucose- and arginine-stimulated insulin secretions were severely impaired by glucolipotoxicity and the production of ketone was increased dramatically.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic orlistat and imported orlistat in Chinese overweight and obese patients. Methods In a randomized, double-blinded and positive-controlled study, 228 adults (BMI 24-< 40 kg/m~2) evaluated at seven research centers were randomized to receive domestic orlistat or imported orlistat 120 mg 3 times a day with an energy-controlled diet for 24 weeks. Results After 24 weeks, domestic orlistat treated patients got significant weight-loss (5.0±3.7) kg, which was comparable with that of imported orlistat treated patients (4.5±3.5) kg (P=0.3922).Compared with the findings before treatment, there was significant decrease of systolic blood pressure (4.4±11.5)mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and serum levels of TC (0.54±0.79) mmol/L and LDL-C (0.32±0.64) mmol/L in the domestic orlistat treated group(compared with levels of baseline, P< 0. 0001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the changes of blood pressure and lipid levels. Both groups had similar adverse event profiles, most of which were mild and transient gastrointestinal events. There were no serious adverse events in beth groups. Conclusions Domestic orlistat combined with a light low-energy diet promoted significant weight loss, which was comparable with that of imported orlistat after 24 weeks of treatment. There was also improvement in blood pressure and serum levels of TC and LDL-C. Domestic orlistat was as effective and safe as imported orlistat in the treatment of obesity.