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@#【Objective】Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase（GGT）has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease（CHD）. We aimed to evaluate the association between the serum GGT level and the 10-year risk score for CHD（Framingham Risk Score，FRS）in a Chinese population.【Methods】We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in 9，544 Guangzhou residents aged 40 years and older. Participants were divided into four quartiles according to their GGT levels：Quartile 1 <15 U/L（n=2 407），Quartile 2 15~19.9 U/L（n=2 302）， Quartile 3 20~28.9 U/L（n=2 442），and Quartile 4 ≥29 U/L（n=2 393）. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the incidence of intermediate and high risk of developing CHD at 10 years（FRS≥10%）in relation to each quartile increase of serum GGT level.【Results】The incidence of FRS≥10% increased with elevating serum GGT levels（P for trend<0.001）. Compared with the lowest quartile of serum GGT level ，the adjusted odds ratio in the highest quartile was 1.72（95% confidence interval 1.28 to 2.29）.【Conclusion】Serum GGT level is associated with the FRS for CHD ，and might be used as an adjuvant marker for identifying patients at increased risk of cardiovascular events and early intervention.
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adrenocorticalcarcinoma；cortisolhypersecretion；hypokalemia；prognosis@#【Objective】To analyze the prognostic determinants of adreno cortical carcinoma（ACC）inadults.【Methods】Alladult patients who were admitted to SunYat-sen Memorial Hospital，SunYat-sen University from December 2011 to March 2017 and pathologically diagnosed ACC were included in this study.Thec linical data and preoperative laboratory examinations of those patients were analyzed retrospectively. Overall survival or disease-free survival was calculated and survivalcurves were plotted by Kaplan-Meier and compared by log-rank test. Harzardratios（HRs） with their 95% confidenceintervals（CIs） were calculated by univariate and multivariate Coxregression model.【Results】The study included 20 adult patients with ACC， with a median follow-up of 13months （6~73 months）. The mean survival time of those patients was 49.2 months（6~73months），with a 1-year survival rate of 70.0%. The results of multivariate Coxregression analysis revealed that the presense of cortisol hypersecretion（HR=23.60，95%CI：2.49-223.79，P=0.006） and hypokalemia（HR=23.60，95%CI：2.49-223.79，P=0.006）were predictors of poorprognosis of ACC. Moreover，in 18 patients with completely resected ACC，the presense of hypokalemia resulted in a worse disease-free survival.【Conclusion】The presense of cortisol hypersecretion and hypokalemiaare independent risk factors associated with poorprognosis of ACC in adults.
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[Objective] The aim of our study is to examine nodule prevalence in a population over 40 years old in order to explore the relation between prevalence of thyroid nodules and metabolic parameters.[Methods] A total of 1875 individuals who were over 40 years of age were received the questionnaire and underwent thyroid ultrasonography examinations.Height,weight,waist circumference,blood pressure were measured.Levels of fasting blood glucose,fasting serum insulin,glycated hemoglobin,blood lipids,thyroid stimulating hormone and free T4 were detected.Body mass index (BMI) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated.[Result] The study included a total of 1875 subjects (513 men and 1362 women).The age of subjects were between 41 and 113 years old,and the mean age was 57.4±7.1 years old.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was 51.2％,and the prevalence of thyroid nodules in women was significantly higher than that in men (53.4％ vs.45.2％,P=0.002).The prevalence of thyroid nodules was significantly higher in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (59.2％ vs.49.5％,P=0.009) and hypertension (56.5％ vs.47.8％,P＜ 0.001).Result of multivariate binary logistic regression revealed that hypertension (OR=1.405,P=0.002),female sex (OR=1.490,P=0.001),older age (OR=1.028,P＜0.001),and hypertriglyceridemia (OR=1.589,P=0.005) were independent risk factors for thyroid nodules.The prevalence of thyroid nodules increased along with age,systolic blood pressure and serum triglyceride level.[Conclusion] The prevalence of thyroid nodules and metabolism-related diseases were high in population over 40 years old.After adjusted for age and sex,hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension were possible independent risk factors for thyroid nodules especially in women.In general,hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension might play an important role in the pathological process of thyroid nodules.
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<p><b>Objective</b>To determine the stability of androgen indexes by analyzing the relationship of androgen indexes with the results of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) questionnaire investigations, and offer some reference for the application of the diagnostic criteria for LOH released by The Chinese Society of Andrology in 2009.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 1 003 males aged 40 years or older who had accomplished the questionnaires of Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM), Aging Males' Symptoms Scale (AMS), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). We evaluated the correlation of androgen indexes with the results of the questionnaire investigation, repeated the examination of androgen indexes for the subjects with total testosterone (TT) ≤11.5 nmol/L after an average of 1.5 years, and analyzed the factors inducing changes of androgen indexes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Free testosterone index (FTI) ≤ 0.42 (OR, 1.369) and calculated free testosterone (cFT) ≤ 0.3 nmol/L (OR, 1.302) were considered as the risk factors of LOH in AMS, and so were testosterone secretion index (TSI) ≤ 2.8 nmol/IU (OR, 1.679) and cFT ≤ 0.3 nmol/L (OR, 1.371) in IIEF-5. Paired t-test on the results of the examination performed twice showed significant differences in the levels of TT, TSI, cFT, and FT (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Decreased testosterone may cause the diversity of LOH symptoms and hence the fluctuation of androgens. Therefore, the diagnosis of LOH depends on androgen indexes, varied symptoms in the questionnaires, and relief of the symptoms after testosterone therapy.</p>
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between the level of serum testosterone and atherosclerosis in middle-aged and elderly men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a population-based study of 413 males aged 40-75 years in a community in Guangzhou. We obtained the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data, physical measurements, and laboratory results of sex hormones, blood glucose, and blood lipid of the subjects. We also measured the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) by color Doppler ultrasonography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The subjects were divided into a carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) group (CIMT ≥ 0.9 mm) and a non-CAS group (CIMT < 0.9 mm). The medians of free testosterone (FT) were 57.41 and 59.72 pmol/L in the CAS and non-CAS groups, respectively (P = 0.005), and no significant difference was found between the two groups in total testosterone (TT). The levels of serum FT and TT were negatively correlated to CIMT, with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients of -0.126 (P = 0.011) and -0.188 (P < 0.001), respectively. The incidence rates of CAS were 23.30, 13.46, 17.48, and 7.77% in the Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups, respectively according to the quartile of FT (P for trend = 0.008) and 17.48, 18.27, 16.50, and 9.71% respectively according to the quartile of TT (P for trend = 0.116). Based on the quartile of FT and after adjustment for age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and HbAlc, the risk of CAS was significantly increased in the Q1 group as compared with Q4 (OR = 2.491, 95% CI 1.01-6.149), but no statistically significant differences were observed according to the quartile of TT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A low serum FT level may be a risk factor of atherosclerosis in Chinese men aged 40 years or older.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Age Factors , Blood Glucose , Blood Pressure , Carotid Artery Diseases , Blood , Epidemiology , Carotid Intima-Media Thickness , Gonadal Steroid Hormones , Blood , Incidence , Lipids , Blood , Risk Factors , Statistics, Nonparametric , Testosterone , BloodABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:The high level of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) is thought to slow down the healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Whether it can influence the biological behaviors of skin fibroblasts and affect wound healing is stillunclear. The present study aimed to observe changes in the biological behaviors of rat dermal fibroblasts induced by high expression of MMP9 and to clarify the possible mechanisms of wound healing for diabetic foot. METHODS:A cellmodel of skin fibroblast with high expression of MMP9 was established by co-culture of high glucose (22.0 mmol/L) and homocysteine (100 μmol/L). A control group was incubated with normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L). Realtime PCR, ELISA and gelatin zymography were used to detect the MMP9 mRNA, protein expression and activity of MMP9. Flow cytometry, CCK-8, ELISA assay, scratch test and transwellwere used to detect cellproliferation, viability, collagen (hydroxyproline) secretion, horizontal migration and vertical migration of cells. The data were expressed as mean±SD. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:The expression of MMP9 mRNA, protein levels and the activity of MMP9 were much higher in the high MMP9 group than in the control group (7.05±1.02 vs. 1.00±0.00, 206.9±33.6 pg/mL vs. 40.4±5.9 pg/mL, and 1.47±0.13 vs. 0.57±0.12, respectively,P<0.01). The proportion of S-phase cells, proliferation index, cellviability, collagen (hydroxyproline) secretion, horizontal migration rate and the number of vertical migration cells were lower in the high MMP9 group than in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Fibroblasts with a high expression of MMP9 decreased proliferation, activity, secretion and migration of collagens, suggesting that MMP9 may inhibit the biological behaviors of fibroblasts.