Increased production of circulating soluble co-stimulatory molecule CTLA-4 in patients with myas-thenia gravis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the role of soluble cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (sCTLA-4) in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) in Fujian province.Methods A total of 80 patients with MG and 80 sex-and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study .MG patients were divided into non-glucocorticoid treatment group and glucocorticoid treatment group , and the latter was further divided into immunosuppressive therapy group and thymusectomy group .Concentrations of sCTLA-4 in ser-ums from above mentioned groups were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The concentrations of sCTLA-4 in both non-glucocorticoid treatment group and glucocorticoid treatment group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (6.03 ng/ml±3.58 ng/ml, 3.44 ng/ml± 2.36 ng/ml vs.0.49 ng/ml±0.95 ng/ml) (χ2=100.67, P<0.001), but sCTLA-4 concentrations in glu-cocorticoid treatment group were lower than those in non-glucocorticoid treatment group (Z=-3.37,P=0.001).With the treatment of glucocorticoid, the sCTLA-4 concentrations were reduced (6.03 ng/ml± 3.58 ng/ml vs.4.56 ng/ml±2.08 ng/ml;t=3.10, P=0.005), and the concentrations of sCTLA-4 were also decreased after thymusectomy therapy (3.86 ng/ml±2.53 ng/ml vs.2.59 ng/ml±2.37 ng/ml; Z=-2.21, P=0.04).However, there was no significant difference in the concentrations of sCTLA-4 before and after immunosuppressive drugs treatment (Z=-1.26,P=0.21).Conclusion The concentration of sCTLA-4 was increased in patients with MG , but with the treatment of glucocorticoid or thymusectomy it could be reduced .

Clinical characteristics of hypothyroid myopathy in 8 patients / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Eight cases of hypothyroid myopthy admitted in Zhanshan Hospital Xiamen University from 1995 to 2011 were retrospectivrely analyzed.The main clinical features were proximal muscle weakness,susceptibility to fatigue,and elevation of muscle enzymes.Electromyography revealed no specific findings.All patients obtained clinical recovery after thyoid hormone replacement.Hypothyroid myopathy should be considered in cases of muscle weakness and elevation of muscle enzymes.