Pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and analysis of 642 cases in Chinese population.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an increasingly recognized complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To develop a more comprehensive understanding of the clinical and pathological characteristics of pulmonary hypertension associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (PH/SLE) in the Chinese population, a systematic review of the literature up to 2012 was conducted. Six hundred and forty-two Chinese PH/SLE cases from 22 studies were identified as well documented and further analyzed. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), X-ray, electrocardiogram and right heart catheterization (RHC) were performed to diagnose PH in SLE patients. The mean age of subjects was 35.5 years, the male to female ratio was 1:14, and the mean duration of SLE when PH was diagnosed was 10.7 years. The prevalence of PH in SLE was 2.8-23.3 %. Symptoms were usually nonspecific, and the observed clinical characteristics include Raynaud's phenomenon (41.4 %), serous effusion (27.7 %), positive RNP (51.5 %) and positive ACL (46.6 %). Gold standard RHC is strongly recommended, especially for those who had resting pulmonary arterial systolic pressure >30 mmHg on TTE with the aforementioned clinical characteristics. Corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and vasodilators were the most common medications employed in treatment. Early identification and standard PH treatment with intensive SLE treatment can improve the prognosis.

Familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer. An emerging entity that warrants aggressive treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma behaves like sporadic carcinoma of follicular cell origin. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: Fourteen patients were treated for familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma between 1980 and 1994. Thirteen families were identified, with 30 affected individuals. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were treated with total or completion total thyroidectomy. Thirteen additional operations were performed to control recurrent disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stage, recurrence, and survival. Patients were followed up for a mean of 6.5 years. RESULTS: In our 14 patients, 13 tumors were multifocal, and six of these were bilateral. The incidences of lymph node metastasis and local invasion were both 57% (n = 8). Seven patients (50%) had recurrences during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma has a high incidence of multifocality and invasion and a high rate of local recurrence. Aggressive initial treatment and careful follow-up seem to be indicated.

[Protective effects of Taiwan crude drugs on experimental liver injuries].

Protective effects of 41 Taiwan crude drugs on rat hepatic injuries caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) were investigated. The methanol extracts of Elephantopi Herba and Lonicerae Flos inhibited the release of intrahepatic enzymes and histological changes by CCl4. The methanol extracts of Canarii Radix, Arecae Pericarpium, Cynomorii Caulis, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix, Phyllodii Herba, Junci Caulis Medulla, Rubiae Herba and Rhinacanthi Herba protected the hepatic injury by ANIT. Among them, the water extracts of Cymorii Caulis and Junci Caulis Medulla showed higher protective potency than the methanol extracts. And them this two crude drugs also protected the cholestasis by ANIT.

[Antagonistic effect of re du qing on damage of hepatocytic microsomes in rabbits with endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation].

In this study, the generalized Shwartzman reaction of rabbit induced by endotoxin of Escherichia Coli was built as DIC models. The experiment showed that the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) in the hepatocytic microsomes of model group were increased significantly, whereas the cytochrome P-450 (Cyto. P-450) contents and aniline hydroxylase activities were obviously decreased. In the Re Du Qing (RDQ) group and dexamethasone group the decrease of LPO in hepatocytic microsomes as well as the reduction of Cyto. P-450 contents and aniline hydroxylase activities were alleviated. Furthermore, the correlation analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between levels of LPO in microsomes and the Cyto. P-450 contents as well as aniline hydroxylase activities. This study indicates the LPO may play an important role in the damage of hepatocytic microsomes and RDQ could prevent hepatocytic microsomes from injury of rabbits with endotoxin-induced DIC.

[Protective effects of various methanol extracts of crude drugs on experimental hepatic injury induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate in rats].

Sixty seven methanol extracts of crude drugs were examined for their effects to protect hepatic injury induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) in rats. In terms of the release of intrahepatic enzymes and bilirubin into the serum, 19 extracts were found to suppress the increase in the concentration of serum bilirubin by ANIT. Out of the 19 extracts those of Berchemia Racemosa Caulis, Aurantii Nobilis Pericarpium, Polygoni Avicularis Herba and Gentianae Scabrae Radix, also inhibited the release of several intrahepatic enzymes used as parenchymal injury parameter.