Effects of long-term and low-dose hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of long-term and low-dose hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density (BMD), and the incidence of bone pain in postmenopausal women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 141 postmenopausal women were selected from the medical staff of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Of them, 63 women treated with low-dose sex hormone for over 5 (5-32) years were divided into hormone replacement therapy (HRT) group, and 78 never receiving HRT were divided into control group. The BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at lumbar spine, Ward's triangle, femoral neck, trochanter, and total hip, and the incidence of bone pain was inquired.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The BMD in the HRT group was 9.1% higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of bone pain was significantly lower in the HRT group (71.4%) than that in the control group (89.7%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Long-term and low-dose hormone replacement therapy can reduce bone loss and the incidence of bone pain.</p>

Expression of transforming growth factor alpha, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and vascular endothelial growth factor of human pheochromocytoma tissues / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the expressions of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) between pheochromocytoma (PHEO) tissues and normal adrenal medulla tissues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mRNA expressions of TGFalpha, TNFalpha, and VEGF detected by RT-PCR, were compared between 22 PHEO tissues and 18 normal adrenal medulla tissues (according with the principle of medical ethnics). Immunohistochemistry staining was performed on 27 PHEO tissues and 14 normal adrenal medulla tissues. The comparisons of the protein expression of TGFalpha, TNFalpha, and VEGF were analyzed in both of PHEO tissues and normal adrenal medulla tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with normal adrenal medulla tissues, the expressions of TGFalpha and TNFalpha mRNA and protein were higher in PHEO tissues, and VEGF145 mRNA expression was also higher in PHEO tissues, while there was no significant difference of the mRNA expression of VEGF121 and VEGF165 between these two tissues. Positive staining rates for VEGF of endothelial cells and tumor cells were higher in PHEO tissues than in normal adrenal medulla tissues. Expressions of the TGFalpha, TNFalpha, and VEGF protein were higher in extra-adrenal PHEO than in adrenal PHEO. The TNFalpha immunohistochemistry staining rate was higher in the malignant or multiple PHEO than in the benign or single PHEO.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The mRNA and protein expressions of TGFalpha, TNFalpha, and VEGF are higher in PHEO tissues than those in normal adrenal medulla tissues. Expressions of these cytokines vary in PHEO with different characteristic.</p>

Clinical validity of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical validity of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TgAb).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Serum levels of anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb were assayed using chemiluminescence immunoassay in 434 subjects, including 51 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 58 with Graves' disease, 68 with nodular goiter, 56 with thyroid adenoma and carcinoma, 56 with subacute thyroiditis, 65 with euthyroid non-thyroid endocrine disease, 35 with euthyroid non-thyroid autoimmune diseases, and 45 euthyroid controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The highest level and most positive results of serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were observed in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (median 373 and 6 974 U/ml, positive rate 84.3% and 86.3%), followed by patients with Graves' disease (median 84 and 1 369 U/ml, positive rate 44.8% and 72.4%). Serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were also more common in patients with subacute thyroiditis and other autoimmune diseases than in the controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The assay of serum anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb by chemiluminescence immunoassy are useful in the differential diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease.</p>

Effects of sex hormones on serum levels of nitric oxide and plasma angiotensin II in postmenopausal women / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of estrogen and progestin on the blood levels of nitric oxide and angiotensin II in aid of the application of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum nitric oxide and plasma angiotensin II levels in postmenopausal women were determined before and 3 months after oral intake of estradiol valerate 1 mg/day (n = 10) or estradiol valerate, 1 mg/d plus medroxyprogesterone acetate, 2 mg/d (n = 30).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum nitric oxide levels of postmenopausal women were significantly increased by 3 months of oral estradiol valerate 1 mg/d (P < 0.05), whereas the plasma levels of angiotensin II tended to decrease. The positive correlation between the increases of nitric oxide and the changes of estradial 3 months after oral intake of estradiol valerate 1 mg/d was significant. Compared with the baseline, no significant changes were observed in both serum nitric oxide levels and plasma angiotensin II levels 3 months after oral intake of estradiol valerate, 1 mg/d plus medroxyprogesterone acetate, 2 mg/d (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The vascular functions can be improved through increasing the serum nitric oxide level after 3-month oral intake of estradiol valerate, 1 mg/d in postmenopausal women, and estradiol valerate plus medroxyprogesterone acetate intake may attenuate the beneficial effects.</p>

Right attitude towards the postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy / 中国医学科学院学报

We have gone through decades using hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The first problem encountered was increased endometrial cancer and solved by addition of progesterone. Now we are facing cardiovascular complications and how could we solve in the use of HRT. Research in vitro with HUAR and HUVEC and clinically seemed to show that small physiological doses might be the solution in protection of CVD.