Characteristics of serum lipid metabolism in patients with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the serum lipid panels in consecutive autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(APAP)patients and analyze their relationship with anti-granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF)antibody and other markers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two non-diabetic APAP patients were enrolled in the study. Serum lipids of these patients and 100 healthy volunteers were tested after an overnight fasting. Anti-GM-CSF antibody levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation of serum lipids with lactate dehydrogenase,carcinoembryonic antigen,pulmonary function,and artery blood gas parameters were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels [(5.54±0.99)and(3.73±0.83)mmol/L respectively] were significantly higher in APAP patients than in healthy volunteers [(5.05±0.97)and(3.17±0.89)mmol/L respectively](all P<0.05). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)level of the APAP group [(1.10±0.18)mmol/L ]was significantly lower than that of the healthy group(P<0.05). Low-density lipoprotein/HDL and total cholesterol/HDL ratios in the APAP group(3.47±0.90 and 5.14±1.12 respectively)were significantly higher than those in the healthy group[(2.63±0.87)and(4.18±1.12)](all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in triglyceride level between the two groups(P>0.05). HDL-C level was negatively correlated with alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference(r=-0.436,P<0.05)and positively correlated with arterial oxygen saturation(r=0.459,P<0.05). None of the lipid markers correlated with serum anti-GM-CSF antibody levels(all P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>APAP patients were likely to suffer from disturbed lipid metabolism,which was correlated with disease severity to some degree. Lipid markers deserved more attention in the management of APAP patients.</p>

Functional magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistochemical study of hypothalamic function following oral glucose ingestion in rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The hypothalamus plays a central role in the regulation of metabolism by sensing metabolic demands and releasing regulatory neurotransmitters. This study investigated the response of the hypothalamus to glucose ingestion in rats by blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) and immunohistochemical techniques to determine the role of the hypothalamus in glyco-regulation during disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The signal intensity of the hypothalamus was monitored by fMRI for 60 minutes after oral glucose intake in 48 healthy rats (age 14 months), which included 24 normal weight rats (weighing (365 +/- 76.5) g) and 24 overweight rats (weighing (714 +/- 83.5) g). Then, 12 rats (6 normal, 6 overweight) underwent a repeat fMRI scan after consuming an equivalent amount of water without glucose on a separate day. The procedure for fMRI with water intake was the same as for glucose ingestion. fMRI data was processed using time cluster analysis and intensity averaging method. After fMRI, the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the hypothalamus of all rats was determined by immunohistochemistry. Positive cells for NPY or 5-HT were counted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a transient, but significant, decrease in fMRI signal intensity in all rats (mean (3.12 +/- 0.78)%) in the hypothalamus within 19.5 - 25.5 minutes of oral glucose ingestion. In overweight rats, the decrease in signal intensity in response to the glucose ingestion was more markedly attenuated than that observed in normal weight rats ((2.2 +/- 1.5)% vs (4.2 +/- 0.7)% inhibition, t = 2.12, P < 0.05). There was no significant response in the hypothalamus after oral water ingestion. The percentage of NPY positive cells in obese rats were slightly lower than those in control group (21% vs 23%, t = 0.71, P > 0.05); but there was no significant difference between the two groups; the percentage of 5-HT positive cells in obese rats were significantly lower than those in the control group (22% vs 31%, t = 3.25, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is a transient, but significant, decrease in BOLD signal intensity in the hypothalamus following glucose ingestion, which is similar to that observed in humans. The response of the hypothalamus to glucose ingestion was different in overweight and normal weight rats. The percentage of NPY positive cells in obese rats were lower than those in the control group, although this difference was not statistically significant. The percentage of 5-HT positive cells in obese rats was significantly lower than those in the control group.</p>

Differentiation between malignant and benign ovarian tumors by magnetic resonance imaging / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of an ovarian mass which are most predictive of malignancy and assess the value of intravenous gadolinium administration in the characterization of an ovarian mass.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 74 consecutive patients with a clinically or sonographically indeterminate adnexal mass underwent MR imaging, of whom 59 had subsequent surgical resection of 70 adnexal masses. These 59 patients formed the study population. MR imaging studies were prospectively and independently reviewed by a senior and a junior radiologist. The senior radiologist also reevaluated the studies in a blind fashion after a minimum 6 months interval. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of contrast-enhanced and unenhanced MR imaging were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most predictive MR imaging findings for malignancy were presence of vegetations in a cystic lesion and presence of necrosis in a solid lesion. The odds ratio was even higher when the ancillary finding of peritoneal metastasis or ascites was present. Contrast media contributed significantly to lesion characterization. Total 70 ovarian masses were detected by contrast-enhanced MR imaging including 37 malignant ovarian masses and 33 benign ovarian masses with 87% (61/70) accuracy, 86% (32/37) sensitivity, 88% (29/33) specificity, 89% (32/36) positive predictive value, and 85% (29/34) negative predictive value, whereas 70 ovarian masses were detected by unenhanced MR imaging with 74% (52/70) accuracy, 73% (27/37) sensitivity, 76% (25/33) specificity, 77% (27/35) positive predictive value, and 71% (25/35) negative predictive value. There were significant differences in accuracy (P < 0.01), sensitivity (P < 0.01), specificity (P < 0.01) between contrast-enhanced and unenhanced MR imaging.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Contrast-enhanced MR imaging is highly accurate in detection and characterization of complex adnexal masses.</p>

Inhibitory effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on fibrosis of strain injured skeletal muscles in rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the healing of strain injured skeletal muscles in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: no strain control group (C(on)), muscle strained and bFGF treated group (S(b)), or normal saline treated group (S(0)). The gastrocnemius of rats in the S(b) and S(0) groups was strained and the animals were treated with bFGF (200 AU/d) or normal saline for six days. Vimentin expression, an indicator of muscle fibrosis in injured muscles (expressed as integral optical density, IOD), was measured by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IOD of vimentin in the S(0) group [(24.29 +/- 7.91) x 10(3)] was higher than that in the C(on) group [(5.75 +/- 3.87) x 10(3)] (P < 0.01). The IOD of vimentin in bFGF treated group [(15.78 +/- 7.72) x 10(3)] was lower than that in the normal saline treated group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The exogenous bFGF may facilitate the repair of muscle structure and function by reducing vimentin expression and fibrosis in strain injured muscles.</p>

Protective effect of Gastrodia elata and E-gelatin on lead-induced damage to the structure and function of rat hippocampus / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the counteraction of Gastrodia elata and E-gelatin on the effect of subchronic lead poisoning on the ability of learning and memory and the ultrastructure in hippocampus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Subchronic lead acetate exposure was given to rats (0.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)). Single and combined administration of Gastrodia elata (4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and E-gelatin (1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) were conducted at the same time. Pb concentration in blood, and the ability of learning and memory (Y-maze test) of rats were measured. Ultrastructure of CA3 pyramidal cells in hippocampus under transmission electron microscope was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood Pb concentrations in each group (Pb group: 690.6 micro g/L, Pb + Gastodiae eleta group: 688.8 micro g/L, Pb + E-gelatin group: 663.8 micro g/L, Pb + combined group: 667.2 micro g/L) were higher than that in the control (28.24 micro g/L, P < 0.01). But there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) among these groups. In Y-maze test, the number of electric stroke in Pb group is higher than that in control (P < 0.01). Gastrodia elata or E-gelatin used singly could significantly reduce the number of electric stroke of lead-exposed groups (P < 0.05 in the first month and P < 0.01 in the second and third month). And the effect of combined use of them was more efficient than single use (P < 0.01). Under electron microscope, no anomaly was seen in the pyramidal cells of CA3 area in hippocampus of control group. But there was significant anomaly such as neucleus separation in the cells of Pb exposed group. In Pb-Gastrodia elata group, there were some stress response phenomena such as the occurrence of huge mitochondria while in Pb-E-gelatin group, the anomaly was mild. The cells in the CA3 area in hippocampus of the pb-Gastrodia-E-gelatin group were almost normal, and also showed some stress response phenomena.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gastrodia elata and E-gelatin may protect the neurons in CA3 area of hippocampus against damage induced by lead to improve the ability of learning and memory, and they have synergistic effect.</p>

The antagonistic action of Gastrodia elata combined with E-gelatin on lead-induced down regulation of c-fos expression in rat brain / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of lead on the expression of c-fos mRNA in hippocampus and cerebellum and the ability of learning and memory in rat, and to observe the antagonistic action of Gastrodia elata and E-gelatin on the effect mentioned above.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were exposed to lead acetate (0.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) and 0.1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)). The single and combined administration of Gastrodia elata (4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and E-gelatin (1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) were conducted at the same time. Blood lead concentration in rats were measured. The ability of learning and memory by Y-maze test were examined. The expression of c-fos mRNA in hippocampus and cerebellum during Y-maze test were observed by in situ hybridization (ISH).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Blood lead concentrations were significantly increased in both high and low doses of lead-exposed rats (P < 0.01). But there were no differences among high dose groups or low dose groups (P > 0.05). (2) In Y-maze test, the number of electric stroke during learning in lead-exposed group was significantly increased (P < 0.01) while that in Gastrodia elata and E-gelatin groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and that in combined use group was more significantly decreased (P < 0.01). (3) There were much more deep-colored c-fos positive cells in CA3 area of hippocampus in low dose of Pb-exposed with Gastrodia elata + E-gelatin group. These cells were also found in high Pb with combined use or single use group, but which were not so densely distributed as the former. And they were hardly found in high and low doses of Pb alone groups. The changes of expression of c-fos cells in cerebellam were similar to those in hippocampus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The down regulation of c-fos expression may be one of the molecular mechanism of lead-induced impairment of learning and memory. Gastrodia elata and E-gelatin may antagonize the effect of lead on c-fos expression, and combined use of both drugs may potentiate the antagonism.</p>