Plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase level as a cardiovascular risk factor in elderly patients with hypertension or hypertension with diabetes mellitus / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT) level as a cardiovascular risk factor in elderly patients with hypertension or hypertension with diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-nine elderly patients of hypertension and 42 elderly patients of hypertension with diabetes mellitus and 39 healthy elderly subjects were enrolled in the study. The height, weight and blood pressure of patients were measured, serum C reactive protein and other biochemical indicators were detected. The relation between plasma γ-GGT and cardiovascular risk factors in three groups were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in plasma γ-GGT levels among three groups. There was a positive correlation of plasma γ-GGT levels with systolic pressure, pulse pressure, hemoglobin A1c and CRP in control group. While in hypertension with diabetes mellitus group, plasma γ-GGT levels were correlated with systolic pressure, mean arterial pressure, fasting blood sugar and cystatin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plasma γ-GGT might be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and may be used as a predictive indicator for kidney injury in early patients with hypertension with diabetes mellitus.</p>

Changes of blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids levels after intensive treatment in incipient diabetes II patients / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of intensive treatment on the blood sugar, blood lipids and blood pressure levels in incipient diabetes II patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and sixty incipient diabetes patients were allocated into two groups according to chronological order: 80 cases received routine treatment and 80 cases received intensive treatment. Fasting blood-glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), blood pressure, blood cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL cholesterol-C (LDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspertate aminotransferase (AST) were tested before treatment. For intensive treatment group blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids were regularly tested, and the therapeutic protocols were adjusted according to the test results until the therapeutic target reached. After six months, HbA1C, blood pressure, TC, LDL-C, ALT and AST were tested again and comparison was made between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant decrease in TC and LDL-C in the intensive treatment group compared with those in the routine treatment group (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The intensive treatment on the incipient diabetes II patients facilitate the control of the blood lipids and blood sugar.</p>

Resistin does not down-regulate the transcription of insulin receptor promoter / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the effect of resistin on the transcription of insulin receptor promoter.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Luciferase reporter gene was fused downstream of human insulin receptor promoter and the enzymatic activity of luciferase was determined in the presence or absence of resistin. The resistin expressed with plasmid was stained with antibody against Myc tag which was in frame fused with resistin coding sequence, and then imaged with confocal microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The treatment of pIRP-LUC transfected cells with recombinant resistin did not result in significant difference in the enzymatic activity of luciferase compared to the untreated cells. Cell staining showed that green fluorescence could be observed in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that the endogenous resistin may functionally locate in the cytoplasm, but does not enter the nucleus and not down-regulate the transcription of insulin receptor promoter.</p>

Effect of testosterone on neointimal proliferation and blood lipids after balloon-induced aorta injury in rabbits / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of testosterone on neointimal proliferation and blood lipids after balloon-induced aorta injury in male rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five male white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups with 5 in each. G1 underwent sham castration served as control group, rabbits in remaining 4 groups were castrated. One week after the castration, rabbits in G3, G4, G5 groups received 3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg testosterone undecanoate i.m, respectively, G2 was not received. Two weeks after the castration, deendothelializing balloon-induced injury in right iliac artery was performed in all animals. Two weeks after the injury, blood samples were drawn for measurement of plasma testosterone and lipids, and the right iliac arteries were excised for computer imagining analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with G1, plasma levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL) in G3, G4 and G5, gradually decreased, plasma levels of high density lipoprotein(HDL)gradually increased. There were most significant differences of plasma TC, TG and LDL(P<0.05) between G2 and G1. There were not significant differences of plasma TC, TG, HDL and LDL among all groups before endothelial denudation and 2 weeks after endothelial denudation (P>0.05). In G3, G4 and G5 the intimal area and radio of intima/media gradually decreased, there were significant differences between G2, G3, G4 and G1(P<0.05), the differences between G1 and G2 were most significant, and those of G5 were close to G1. Endothelial cell repair was observed with electron microscope. Endothelial cells from G2 to G5 became smoother gradually, which in G5 were very close to G1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Testosterone inhibits the intima proliferation induced by balloon-induced injury and improves blood lipids levels. The effects are enhanced by the dose increasing.</p>

Relationship between androgen levels and pathological changes of coronary atherosclerosis in elderly males / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between androgen levels and pathological changes of coronary artery in elderly males.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-eight in-patients who received coronary angiography were divided into four groups: single vessel lesion group (SV group), double vessel lesion group (DV group), three vessel lesion group (TV group) and control group. The levels of serum total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were assayed by ELISA, and free testosterone (FT) calculated with the Vermeulen formula.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was significant difference in FT levels among these four groups, while there was no statistical difference in TT levels. FT level in TV group was lower than that in DV group and SV group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum levels of free testosterone may be correlated with pathological degree of coronary artery.</p>

Relationship between resistin level in serum and acute coronary syndrome or stable angina pectoris / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between serum resistin level and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stable angina pectoris (SAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-five patients, with coronary artery disease, were enrolled and divided into three subgroups: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and SAP, and 26 healthy people were recruited as controls in the cross-sectional study. Serum resistin levels were determined by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and WBC (white blood cell count), hsCRP (high sensitive C-reaction protein), CK(max) (maximum of creatinkinase), CK-MB(max) (maximum of isozyme of creatinkinase) and cTnI(max) (maximum of troponin) were measured by standard laboratory methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum resistin levels were 4 folds higher in AMI patients, 2.43 folds in UAP patients and 1.12 folds in SAP patients than in the healthy controls (P<0.05). The resistin levels were also significantly different between AMI [(8.16+/-0.79) ng/ml], UAP [(5.59+/-0.75) ng/ml] and SAP [(3.45+/-0.56) ng/ml] groups (P<0.01); WBC, hsCRP, CK(max), CK-MB(max) and cTnI(max) were significantly increased in AMI patients over UAP and SAP patients. Spearman analysis showed that serum resistin levels were positively correlated with WBC (r=0.412, P=0.046), hsCRP (r=0.427, P=0.037), CK(max), CK-MB(max) and cTnI(max) (r=0.731, 0.678, 0.656; P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum resistin levels increased with inflammatory factors and myocardial impairment. The results suggest that human resistin might play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and AMI as an inflammatory factor.</p>

Study of Resistin gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell and its gene polymorphism in a small range population / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expression of Resistin mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and its gene polymorphism in coding region in a small range population in Zhejiang Province of China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-three cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus and 53 healthy people were included. The expression of Resistin mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected by RT-PCR and semi-quantitative PCR assay. The sequencing work was done in Resistin cDNA and gene polymorphism was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the same condition, in 83 diabetes patients, Resistin mRNA was detected in 23 cases (11 males and 12 females). There was no Resistin mRNA expression in 53 healthy people. The ratio of PCR products between Resistin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was from 0.564 to 1.238, averaging 0.804+/-0.436. The sequence of Resistin cDNA is almost identical with each other and with that in GenBank with no single nucleotide polymorphism being found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Resistin mRNA is expressed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in some type 2 diabetes mellitus, but its expression is at a low level. Among the experiment population we did not find polymorphism phenomenon in Resistin coding region. The different individual's Resistin coding region is highly coincident.</p>

Changes of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline after mechanical ventilation in patients with acute cerebral injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the levels of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) in the sputum of the patients with acute cerebral injury without primary pulmonary injury after mechanical ventilation treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DPPC levels in sputum of 35 patients with acute cerebral injury but without pulmonary injury were detected with high performance liquid chromatography at the beginning of ventilation and 16-20 days, 21-40 days, and 41-60 days after ventilation, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference of the DPPC levels between 16-20 days after ventilation (3.36+/-0.49) and at the beginning of ventilation (3.37+/-0.58) (P>0.05). The mean levels of DPPC decreased significantly at 21-40 days (2.87 mg/ml+/-0.26 mg/ml, P<0.05) and 41-60 days (1.93 mg/ml+/-0.21 mg/ml, P<0.01) after ventilation compared with that at the beginning of ventilation. At the same period, the peak inspiratory pressure and the mean pressure of airway increased significantly, whereas the static compliance and the partial pressure of oxygen in artery decreased significantly. Among the 25 patients who received ventilation for more than 20 days, 8 (32%) had slightly-decreased partial pressure of oxygen in artery compared with that at the beginning of ventilation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Mechanical ventilation can decrease the DPPC levels, decrease the lung compliance and increase the airway pressure, even impair the oxygenation function in patients with acute cerebral injury. Abnormal DPPC is one of the major causes of ventilator-associated lung injury.</p>

Association of Graves' disease and Graves' ophthalmopathy with the polymorphisms in promoter and exon 1 of cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 gene / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of Graves' disease and Graves' ophthalmopathy with the C/T transition polymorphism at position -318 of promoter and the A/G transition polymorphism at position 49 of exon 1 within cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-three patients with ophthalmopathy of Graves' disease, fifty-six Graves' patients without ophthalmopathy and sixty normal subjects as control were involved in the present case-control study. The polymorphisms were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Comparisons were made of gene frequencies and allele frequencies between the groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The gene frequencies of CT and allele frequencies of T were much higher in Graves' patients with ophthalmopathy than that in the group without ophthalmopathy (P=0.020, P=0.019). The gene frequencies of GG and allele frequencies of G in patients with Graves' disease were significantly increased as compared with control group (P=0.008, P=0.007). The data suggest that smokers with Graves' disease seemed to be more predisposed to ophthalmopathy than non-smokers (P=0.018).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results suggest that an allele of T at position -318 of promoter is associated with genetic susceptibility to Graves' ophthalmopathy while an allele of G at position 49 of exon 1 is associated with genetic susceptibility to Graves' disease instead. Smoking is believed to be a major risk factor for ophthalmopathy.</p>

Atherosclerosis and androgen levels in elderly males / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the relation of androgen levels and atherosclerosis (AS) in elderly males.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Both carotid arteries and arteries of lower extremity were examined with Doppler ultrasonography. Those with arteriosclerosis and much atheromatous plaque were designated as case group, and those with normal results formed control group. Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and estradiol (E2) were measure by radioimmunoassay, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC and TG were assayed by colorimetry, vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) were determined by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>FT was significantly lower in case group than in control group (P<0.01), no differences were found in TT, E2. HDL-C in control group was higher than that in case group (P<0.01), TC and TG were higher in case group than those in control group (P<0.05). HDL-C was correlated positively and LDL-C was negatively with FT level, while both TC and TG in case group had negative relation with FT. VEGF was higher in case group (P<0.05), and it had negative relation with FT in both groups. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly higher in case group (P<0.05), and they had negative relation with FT. sICAM-1 was significantly lower in control group than it in case group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The normal androgen levels, especially FT, have beneficial effect in AS development in elderly males. Low FT level may be an independent risk factor in AS development.</p>

Comparative study of pressure-control ventilation and volume-control ventilation in treating traumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical therapeutic effect and side effect of pressure-control ventilation (PCV) on traumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) compared with volume-control ventilation (VCV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients with traumatic ARDS were hospitalized in our department from June 1996 to December 2002. Twenty were treated with PCV (PCV group) and 20 with VCV (VCV group). The changes of the peak inflating pressure and the mean pressure of the airway were observed at the very beginning of the mechanical ventilation and the following 12 and 24 hours, respectively. The transcutaneous saturation of oxygen pressure, the pressure of oxygen in artery, the mean blood pressure, the central venous pressure, the heart rate and the incidence of the pressure injury were also monitored before ventilation and 12 hours after ventilation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pressure of oxygen in artery, the transcutaneous saturation of oxygen pressure, the heart rate and the respiratory rate in the PCV group were obviously improved after ventilation treatment. The peak inflating pressure, the mean pressure of the airway and the central venous pressure in the PCV group were lower than in the VCV group. The incidence of pressure injury was 0 in the PCV group while 10% in the VCV group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clinical effect of PCV on traumatic ARDS is better and the incidence rate of pressure injury is lower than that of VCV. PCV has minimal effects on the hemodynamics.</p>

Study of androgen and atherosclerosis in old-age male / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the difference of androgen and inflammatory cytokines level in atherosclerosis and analyse their relations.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Both carotid arteries and arteries of lower extremity were subjected to ultrasonic examination by Doppler's method. Those with much atheromatous plaque formation were ranged into case group, and those with normal result formed control group. Total, free testosterone and estradiol were assayed by radioimmunoassay. C reactive protein (CRP) was assayed by nepheloturbidity. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were assayed by ELISA. The mean difference between two groups and the correlation between free testosterone and cytokines were analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Free testosterone was (6.337+/-3.371) pg/L in case group and (11.375+/-4.733) pg/L in control group, P<0.01. No differences were found in total testosterone and estradiol. CRP was (27.294+/-10.238) mg/L in case group and (12.843+/-6.318) mg/L in control group, P<0.01. IL-6 was (41.700+/-31.385) pg/L in case group and (25.396+/-20.772) pg/L in control group, P<0.05. IL-8 was (89.249+/-58.357) pg/L in case group and (67.873+/-31.227) pg/L in control group, P<0.05. sICAM-1 was (470.491+/-134.078) pg/L in case group and (368.487+/-97.183) pg/L in control group, P<0.01. sVCAM-1 was (537.808+/-213.172) pg/L in case group and (457.275+/-157.273) pg/L in control group, P<0.05. There were no differences in TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-18. Correlation analysis showed that FT (free testosterone) had negative correlation with CRP, IL-6 and sICAM-1. Among them FT had well correlation with CRP, correlation index was -0.678.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Free testosterone was in negative correlation with atherosclerosis in old-age male. Free testosterone may have the role of anti-atherosclerosis, and this effect was not achieved by its transformation to estradiol. Low free testosterone level was followed by increased level of inflammatory cytokines. Low free testosterones coexist with inflammation and they both affect the process of atherosclerosis in old-age male.</p>

Changes of arginine vasopressin in elderly patients with acute traumatic cerebral injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes and clinical significance of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in elderly patients with acute traumatic cerebral injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With radioimmunoassay, the plasma levels of AVP were measured in 32 elderly patients with acute traumatic cerebral injury, 30 traumatic patients without cerebral injury and 30 healthy elderly volunteers, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma level of AVP in patients with acute traumatic cerebral injury in the early stage (48.30 ng/L +/- 8.28 ng/L) was much higher than that of the traumatic patients without cerebral injury (25.56 ng/L +/- 4.64 ng/L, P<0.01), which was much higher than that of the healthy volunteers (5.06 ng/L +/- 4.12 ng/L, P<0.01). The level of AVP in the patients with acute traumatic cerebral injury was negatively related with GCS scores.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>AVP may play an important role in the pathophysiological process in patients with acute traumatic cerebral injury in the early stage. The severer the cerebral injury is, the higher the level of AVP is, which indicates that the level of AVP may be one of the severity indices of traumatic cerebral injury in elderly patients.</p>

Effect of thymosin alpha 1 on cellular immune function in elderly patients with malignant tumor / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of thymosin alpha 1 on cellular immune function in the elderly patients with malignant tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty patients with malignant tumor were injected with thymosin alpha 1 subcutaneously at the dose of 1.6 mg q.d. for the first month and q.o.d. for the following month. The number of T cell subgroups and the activity of NK cell in peripheral blood were detected and the quality of life of the patients were evaluated before treatment and at the end of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Treatment of thymosin alpha 1 increased the number of CD4 cells and improved the NK activity, and also improved the quality of life of the elderly patients with malignant tumor. There were no side effects found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Thymosin alpha 1 can enhance the cellular immune function of the elderly patients with malignant tumor.</p>