Effects of adiponectin on oxidative stress and apoptosis in human cardiac myocytes cultured with high glucose

Background  Diabetic cardiomyopathy is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Oxidative stress plays an important role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adiponectin on oxidative stress and apoptosis in human cardiac myocytes (HCM) cultured with high glucose. 

Methods  The cells were assigned to three group: control group, high glucose group and high glucose plus adiponectin group. After culture for 24, 48, 72 hours, oxidative stress was evaluated by detecting levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the supernatant of culture media. The expression of p66Shc and Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Flow cytometry was designed to observe and detect cellular apoptosis.

Results  Our findings showed significant increase in MDA levels and decrease in SOD activity in the high glucose group compared with the control group (P <0.05). However, MDA levels were significantly decreased and SOD activity was significantly increased in the adiponectin group compared with those in the high-glucose group (P <0.05). The mRNA expression of HO-1 in the high glucose group was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner compared with that in the control group (P <0.05).  Adiponectin further increased the mRNA expression of HO-1 induced by high glucose in a time-dependent manner (P <0.05).The expression of p66Shc was significantly increased in high glucose group compared with that in the control group (P <0.05). Adiponectin significantly suppressed the upregulation of p66Shc induced by high glucose (P <0.05). The apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes was significantly increased in the high glucose group compared with that in the control group while the apoptotic rate in the adiponectin group was remarkably declined in comparison with that in the high glucose group．

Conclusion  Adiponectin reduces high glucose-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and plays a protective role in myocardial cells by upregulating the HO-1 expression and downregulating p66Shc expression.

     

Expression characteristics of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A antibodies and immunoadsorption effect in sensitized recipients of kidney transplantation

Background  Sensitized recipients have a high risk of immunological graft loss due to hyperacute rejection and/or accelerated acute rejection. The presence of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) antibodies has also been described associated with an increased rate of kidney-allograft rejection. The aim of this study was to describe the expression of MICA antibodies in sensitized recipients of renal transplantation and evaluate its influence on the kidney transplantation recipients.

Methods  A total of 29 sensitized recipients were included in this study. All patients received the MICA antibodies detection before and after protein A immunoadsorption. Panel reactive antibody (PRA), HLA-matches, acute rejection and postoperative one to four-week serum creatinine level were also collected and analyzed, respectively. No prisoners were used in this study.

Results  Eight patients (27.6%) in all 29 sensitized recipients expressed the MICA antibodies but did not show higher acute rejection rate than the non-expressed patients (3/8, 37.5% vs. 8/21, 38.1%; P=1.000). Recipients with PRA >40% showed higher expression levels of MICA antibodies than the recipients with PRA <40% (7/16, 43.8% vs. 1/13, 8.3%; P=0.044). HLA mismatch did not have any effect on the expression of MICA antibodies (P=1.000). MICA antibodies positive group had higher serum creatinine level than the control in postoperative one week ((135.4±21.4) µmol/L vs. (108.6±31.6) µmol/L, P=0.036), but no significant difference in postoperative four weeks ((89.0±17.1) µmol/L vs. (77.1±15.9) µmol/L, P=0.089). MICA antibodies decreased significantly after protein A immunoadsorption.

Conclusions  MICA antibodies increase in the sensitized recipients, which have significant effects on the function of allograft in early postoperative period. Protein A immunoadsorption can decrease MICA antibodies effectively in sensitized recipients.

     

Factors affecting the long-term renal allograft survival

Background  In the past decades, the one-year graft survival of cadaveric renal allografts has been markedly improved, but their long-term survival has not kept pace. The attrition rate of renal allografts surviving after one year remains almost unchanged. The causes for late graft loss are multiple. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive factors that impact long-term survival of grafts after kidney transplantation.

Methods  We retrospectively analyzed 524 kidney transplantation patients who were treated in our hospital between January 1991 and January 2000, including 254 patients who had lived more than 10 years with normal graft function (long survival group), and 270 cases whose renal graft had survived less than 10 years (control group). Specifically, we analyzed 10 factors that may potentially affect graft survival by both univariate and Logistic model multivariate analyses to pinpoint the independent risk factors. 

Results  Univariate analyses showed that no significant differences existed in the age or gender of recipients, dialysis time, lymphotoxin levels, or cold ischemia time between the two groups. However, the ratio of delayed graft function and acute rejection, and the uric acid levels of patients in the long survival group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P <0.01). Furthermore, we found that the concentration of cyclosporin A at one year after transplantation and the histocompatibility antigen match of donor-recipients for patients within the long survival group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P <0.01). Furthermore, multivariate analyses showed that these four factors were independent risk factors that impact patient survival.

Conclusions  The ratios of delayed graft function and acute rejection, the concentration of cyclosporin A at one year after transplantation, and serum uric acid levels are very important factors that affect the long-term survival of renal grafts.

     

Overexpression of catalytic subunit M2 in patients with ovarian cancer

Background  The formation and growth of tumors are related to the synthesis of the DNA. The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is an enzyme that regulates the total rate of DNA synthesis and thus plays a pivotal role in cell growth. Catalytic subunit M2 (RRM2) is the main unit modulating the ribonucleotide reductase enzymatic activity. This study aimed to investigate the expression of RRM2 mRNA and protein in patients with ovarian cancer and its relevance to diagnosis and clinical outcome of the patients.

Methods  RRM2 mRNA levels and protein expression were detected in 98 ovarian specimens with immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of the RRM2 protein and correlation of the RRM2 gene expression with clinical pathological features were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier test was used for evaluating RRM2 expression and time to progression and survival. The Cox proportional model was used to analyze the risk factors in prognosis of patients.

Results  Positive RRM2 immunostaining was found in 43 of 62 (69.4%) patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 10 of 15 (66.7%) patients with borderline neoplasm, 4 of 15 (26.7%) patients with benign growths, and none of the normal group. The RRM2 mRNA levels were significantly over expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (1.722±0.639) and borderline ovarian neoplasms (1.365±0.615), compared to the normal group (0.678±0.446) and benign group (0.828±0.545). Patients with ovarian caner in clinical FIGO-stages III–IV presented higher RRM2 gene expression than those in clinical FIGO-stages I–II. Furthermore, the survival of patients with low RRM2 mRNA level was significantly better than patients with high levels (P <0.05). By Cox proportional risk model analysis, the risk of mortality of patients with high level expression of RRM2 mRNA was 2.553 times greater than those with low expression.

Conclusion  RRM2 expression closely correlates with the development of ovarian tumor and may serve as a novel predictive marker for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.     

Effect of pre-transplantation hemoglobin concentration on prognosis of renal transplant recipients

Background  For the renal transplant recipients, anemia is one of the common complications and becomes a major medical issue before transplantation. Haemoglobin (Hb) is used as a prognostic indicator, although the optimal pre-transplantation Hb concentration associated with positive prognosis is still controversial. The aim of this study was to detect the optimal Hb concentration on predicting the graft survival and function.

Methods  A retrospective cohort study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of the patients who received renal transplantations at our center from January 2004 to June 2008. Patients were divided into two groups: high Hb group (≥100 g/L, n=79) and low Hb group (<100 g/L, n=63). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding sex, age, blood type and tissue types. Renal function among the two groups was measured and compared. Panel reacting antigens (PRA) of all the recipients were negative. The effect of preoperative hemoglobin concentration on the postoperative renal function recovery in both groups was further analyzed.

Results  A total of 14 acute rejection episodes occurred, including 5 patients in the high Hb group (7.9%) and 9 in the low Hb group (11.4%, P >0.05). The serum creatinine level at one-year post-transplantation of the low Hb group was significantly higher than that of the high Hb group ((117.8±36.3) μmol/L vs. (103.1±35.5) μmol/L, P <0.05). For one-year actuarial patient and graft survival, incidence of delayed graft function (DGF), serum creatinine concentrations at 1, 3, 6 months post-transplantation, the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, post-transplantation anemia (PTA) and post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) of both groups, there were no statistically significant differences.

Conclusion  Pre-transplantation Hb concentration has significant effect on one-year creatinine concentration, but can not significantly affect acute rejection episodes, DGF, PTA, CMV infection and PTDM.

     

Expression of interleukin-2 in Candidal balanoposthitis and its clinical significance

Background  Candidal balanoposthitis (CB) is a common male genital infection. Autoimmune mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CB. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important molecule in cell-mediated immunity.

Methods  One hundred and one patients were diagnosed with CB using mycology culture in the dermatology and urology clinics in our hospital. Ninety-four healthy males were randomly selected as controls. We studied serum levels of IL-2 of patients with CB using ELISA and analyzed the correlations between serum IL-2 and clinical data.

Results  Serum IL-2 concentrations in CB patients were significantly lower than that in the control group ((7.80±4.78) vs. (15.44±7.90) ng/L; t=2.27, P <0.05). The incidence of CB in the low-level group was significantly higher than that in the high-level group (70% (71/101) vs. 36% (30/84), P <0.05). Low levels of serum IL-2, comorbidity with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and sexual partners with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) increased the risk of CB.

Conclusion  The pathogenesis of CB is a complex procedure that includes internal autoimmune factors.

     

Effect of an Ilex asprella root decoction on the related genes of lipid metabolism from chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats

Background  The gradually increasing changes in a human hyperlipidemic diet along with chronic stress might play an important role in the increased numbers of fatty liver. This study investigated the effects of Ilex asprella root decoction on related genes of lipid metabolism in chronic stress in hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.

Methods  Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model control group, simvastatin group, and Ilex asprella root group. To establish chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver models in rats, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, insulin (INS), insulin resistant (IR) index, adiponectin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-pX), glutathione (GSH), liver X receptor (LXR), and sterol responsive element binding protein (SREBP)-1c in rats were measured.

Results  When compared to the normal control group, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, INS, IR index, and GSH in the model control group significantly increased (P <0.01). The protein levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c increased (P <0.05), and the serum adiponectin and the SOD and GSH-pX decreased significantly (P <0.01). When compared to the model control group, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, INS, IR index, SOD, and GSH-pX in the simvastatin group and Ilex asprella root group increased in varying degrees (P <0.01 or 0.05); the serum adiponectin and GSH decreased (P <0.05), while the protein levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c decreased in varying degrees (P <0.01 or 0.05). When compared to the simvastatin group, the IR index and protein levels of LXRα in the Ilex asprella root group decreased (P <0.05), and the serum adiponectin and SOD increased (P <0.05).

Conclusion  The Ilex asprella root decoction has some protective effects on regulating the related genes of lipid metabolism caused by chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.

     

In vivo administration of Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand effectively stimulates lung dendritic cell expansion in mice

Background  Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important professional antigen presenting cells that play a key role in initiating adaptive immune responses. The depletion and dysfunction of DCs contribute to the development of immunodeficiency or immunoparalysis in some lung diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand (Flt3L) administration in vivo on lung DCs expansion to provide an experimental basis of Flt3L used as a potential therapeutic agent for the related lung disorders.

Methods  Balb/c mice were randomly divided into Flt3L group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Each mouse in the Flt3L group received subcutaneous administration of Flt3L at a dose of 10 μg once daily for nine consecutive days. Lung histology was observed, and CD11c and CD205 were immunologically labeled in lung tissue sections. Low-density lung cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation, and then subsets and MHC-II/I-A^d expression of DCs were analyzed by flow cytometry.  

Results  In the Flt3L group the number and density of DC-like cells were markedly increased compared with the control group, mainly distributed in the alveolar septa. Immunological labeling in situ found that there were significantly higher numbers of CD11c⁺ and CD205⁺ DCs in lung mesenchymal tissue (P <0.05), where they formed a denser reticular formation. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the proportions of myeloid CD11c⁺CD11b⁺ DCs and plasmacytoid CD11c⁺CD45R/B220⁺ DCs in the low-density lung cells in the Flt3L group were significantly higher compared with the control group; showing 3.17- and 3.3-fold increase respectively (P <0.05). The proportion of CD11c⁺ DCs expressing MHC-II/I-A^d+ was significantly increased, with a 2.7-fold increase as compared with the control group (P <0.05).  

Conclusions  Flt3L administration in vivo induces lung DCs expansion, favoring myeloid and plasmacytoid DC subsets, which are phenotypically more mature. Flt3L may be useful in the therapy to augment immune function of the lung.     

Blockade of the OX40/OX40L pathway and induction of PD-L1 synergistically protects mouse islet allografts from rejection

Background OX40/OX40 ligand （OX40/OX40L） and programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 （PD-1/PD-L1） co- stimulator/signals play important roles in T cell-induced immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of OX40/OX40L and PD-1/PD-L1 costimulatory pathways in mouse islet allograft rejection. Methods Lentiviral vectors containing OX40L siRNA sequences and an adenovirus vector containing the PD-L1 gene were constructed. The streptozotocin-induced model of diabetes was established in C57BL/6 （H-2b） mice. Diabetic C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into five groups： group 1, untreated control; group 2, Ad-EGFP treatment; group 3, Ad-PD-L1 treatment; group 4, OX40L-RNAi-LV treatment; group 5, OX40L-RNAi-LV combined with Ad-PD-L1 treatment. Lentiviral vector and the adenovirus vector were injected, singly or combined, into the caudal vein one day before islet transplantation. The islets of DBA/2 （H-2d） mice were transplanted into the renal subcapsular space of the diabetic recipients. Recipient blood glucose and the survival time of the allografts were monitored. Antigen-specific mixed lymphocyte reaction was also evaluated.     

HLA-G expression in the peripheral blood of live kidney transplant recipients

Background The human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) has been considered to be an important tolerogeneic molecule playing an essential role in maternal-fetal tolerance, upregulated in the context of transplantation, malignancy, and inflammation, and has been correlated with various clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of the expression of membrane HLA-G (mHLA-G), intracellular HLA-G (iHLA-G), and soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in the peripheral blood of live kidney transplant recipients.

Methods We compared the expression of the three HLA-G isoforms in three groups, healthy donors (n=20), recipients with acute rejection (n=19), and functioning transplants (n=30). Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of mHLA-G and iHLA-G in the T lymphocytes of peripheral blood from subjects in the three groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to detect sHLA-G in the plasma from the three groups.

Results There were no significant differences in mHLA-G and intracellular HLA-G among the three groups, but the sHLA-G plasma level was higher in the functioning group than in the acute rejection or healthy group. We found a subset of CD4+HLA-G+ and CD8+HLA-G+ T lymphocytes with low rates of mHLA-G expression in the peripheral blood of kidney transplantation recipients. Intracellular expression of HLA-G was detected in T lymphocytes. However, there was no correlation between acute rejection and the mHLA-G or intracellular HLA-G expression.

Conclusion sHLA-G was the major isoform in the peripheral blood of live kidney transplant recipients and high sHLA-G levels were associated with allograft acceptance.

     

Changes in dendritic cells and dendritic cell subpopulations in peripheral blood of recipients during acute rejection after kidney transplantation

Background Advances in transplantation immunology show that the balance between dendritic cells （DCs） and their subsets can maintain stable immune status in the induction of tolerance after transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate if DCs and DC subpopulations in recipient peripheral blood are effective diagnostic indicators of acute rejection following kidney transplantation. Methods Immunofluorescent flow cytometry was used to classify white blood cells （WBCs）, the levels of mononuclear cells and DCs （including the dominant subpopulations, plasmacytoid DC （pDC） and myeloid DC （mDC）） in peripheral blood at 0, 1, 7, and 28 days and 1 year after kidney transplantation in 33 patients. In addition, the blood levels of interleukin-10 （IL-10） and IL-12 were monitored before and after surgery. Fifteen healthy volunteers served as normal controls. Patients were undertaking hemodialysis owing to uremia before surgery. Results The total number of DCs, pDC, and mDC in peripheral blood and the pDC/mDC ratio were significantly lower in patients than controls （P 〈0.05）. Peripheral DCs suddenly decreased at the end of day 1, then gradually increased through day 28 but remained below normal levels. After 1 year, levels were higher than before surgery but lower than normal. The mDC levels were higher in patients with acute rejection before and 1 day after surgery （P 〈0.005）. There was no significant difference in IL-10 and IL-12 levels between patients with and without acute rejection. Conclusion The changes in DCs and DC subpopulations during the acute rejection period may serve as effective markers and referral indices for monitoring the immune state, and predicting rejection and reasonably adjusting immunosuppressants.     

Overexpression of interleukin-l7 in tumor-associated macrophages is correlated with the differentiation and angiogenesis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Background  Interleukin-l7 (IL-17), which exerts strong pro-inflammatory effects, has emerged as an important mediator in inflammation-associated cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between IL-17 and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), and the correlation of the microvessel density in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Methods  Histopathological observations and immunohistochemistry staining for IL-17, CD68, and CD34 were performed on 72 specimens (32 cases of LSCC, 20 cases of adjacent tissues of carcinoma as controls, and 20 cases of chronic hypertrophic laryngitis). Double immunohistochemical staining was done to determine which cells expressed IL-17. Real-time quantitative PCR determined the mRNA expression of IL-17. ELISA was used to detect the expression of the serum level of IL-17 in the three groups.

Results  The inflammation response had increased in LSCC. Overexpression of IL-17 and CD68 protein were seen in LSCC (P <0.01). The expression of IL-17 was different between well and poorly differentiated LSCC (P <0.01). The IL-17 expressing cells were mainly located in macrophages (CD68⁺/IL17⁺) as demonstrated by double immunohistochemical staining. IL-17 expression significantly correlated with high microvessel density (CD34⁺) in LSCC (P <0.05). Relatively higher mRNA expression levels of IL-17 were seen in LSCC compared to the controls (P <0.05). The serum expression of IL-17 was similar among the three groups (P >0.05).

Conclusion  IL-17 was expressed by TAMs, and IL-17 may significantly correlate to the differentiation and angiogenesis in the development of LSCC.

     

Effects of glucose and insulin on the H9c2 （2-1） cell proliferation may be mediated through regulating glucose transporter 4 expression

Background The change of glucose transporter 4 （GLUT4） expression could influence glucose uptake in the myocardial cells and then effect myocardial metabolism, which maybe one of the factor for the diabetes cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to explore the influence of glucose and insulin at different concentrations on H9c2 （2-1） cell proliferation and its GLUT4 expression in vitro, and evaluate the correlation between myocardial cells proliferation and GLUT4 expression. This might be helpful for understanding the relationship between glucose metabolism and cardiovascular disease. Methods According to glucose concentrations in culture medium, cultured H9c2 rat myocardial cells were divided into five groups： control group （NC, glucose concentration 5.0 mmol/L）, low glucose group （LG, glucose concentration 0.1 mmol/L）, high glucose group 1 （HG1, glucose concentration 10 mmol/L）, high glucose group 2 （HG2, glucose concentration 15 mmol/L）, high glucose group 3 （HG3, glucose concentration 20 mmol/L）. Then according to different insulin concentrations in culture medium, each group was further divided into two subgroups： normal insulin subgroup （INSc, insulin concentration 3.8 mU/L）, high insulin subgroup （INSh, insulin concentration 7.6 mU/L）. H9c2 （2-1） cells were cultured for 1, 2, 3 days, the proliferation of cells were assayed by cell counting Kit-8 assay, the expressions of GLUT4 mRNA and protein were detected with RT-PCR and Western Blotting technique, and the relation between myocardial cells proliferation and GLUT4 expression was evaluated.     

Immature CD4+ dendritic cells conditioned with donor kidney antigen prolong renal allograft survival in rats

Background  Allogeneic transplant rejection is currently a major problem encountered during organ transplantation. The dendritic cell (DC) is the most effective powerful known professional antigen-presenting cell, and recent studies have found that DCs can also induce immune tolerance, and avoid or reduce the degree of transplant rejection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of transfused immature CD4⁺ DCs on renal allografts in the rat model.

Methods  In this study, we induced CD4⁺ immature DCs from rat bone marrow cells by a cytokine cocktail. The immature CD4⁺ DCs were identified by morphological analysis and then the suppressive activity of these cells conditioned with donor kidney antigen was evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

Results  Immature CD4⁺ DCs conditioned with donor kidney antigen possessed immunosuppressive activity in vitro and they were able to prolong renal transplant survival in an allograft rat model in vivo.

Conclusions  Our study provides new information on efficacious renal transplantation, which might be useful for understanding the function of immature CD4⁺ DCs in modulating renal transplant rejection and improving clinical outcome in future studies.

     

肾移植后外周血单个核细胞中Foxp3 mRNA的表达

目的:研究外周血单个核细胞中Foxp3 mRNA表达水平与同种异体肾移植术后急性排斥反应及慢性移植肾肾病发生的关系。方法:应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR)的方法检测16例肾移植术后急性排斥患者、8例慢性移植肾肾病患者、8例移植后肾功能正常者、8例尿毒症患者和8例正常人的新鲜外周血单个核细胞中Foxp3 mRNA的表达水平,比较各组的差异及其与急性排斥反应和慢性移植肾肾病发生的关系。结果:急性排斥反应患者外周血中Foxp3 mRNA表达水平低于慢性移植肾肾病患者,差异有统计学意义（P<0.01);慢性移植肾肾病患者外周血中Foxp3 mRNA表达水平明显低于正常人、终末期肾病患者和肾移植后肾功能正常患者,差异有统计学意义（P<0.01);正常人、终末期肾病患者和肾移植后肾功能正常患者之组间Foxp3 mRNA表达水平无显著差异（P>0.05)。结论:外周血中Foxp3 mRNA表达水平可以反应移植肾的功能状态,其可能成为早期诊断移植后急性排斥反应和慢性移植肾肾病的一个无创指标。     

创伤骨科患者创伤严重程度和血浆D二聚体水平的相关分析

Background  The correlation between the plasma D-dimer level and deep vein thrombosis has not been conclusive in various studies. The aim of this research was to study the relationship between plasma D-dimer levels and the severity of orthopedic trauma by retrospective examination of orthopedic trauma cases.

Methods  Clinically acute trauma and non-acute trauma patients were selected and their plasma D-dimer levels were measured. Plasma D-dimer levels in patients of these two groups were compared. The relationship between the plasma D-dimer level and the severity of the trauma was also studied.

Results  There were 548 cases in the acute trauma group and 501 cases in the non-acute trauma group. The levels of plasma D-dimer were significantly higher in the acute trauma group than in the non-acute trauma group (P <0.01). In the acute trauma group, the correlation between the D-dimer level and the number of fractures was a positive linear correlation (r=0.9532).

Conclusions  Elevated plasma D-dimer is common in trauma patients. The D-dimer level and the number of fractures in the trauma patients are closely correlated. D-dimer is not only an indicator for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus, but also an indicator of the severity of trauma in acute trauma patients.

     

Efficacy of the long-acting octreotide formulation in patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas after incomplete surgery and octreotide treatment failure

Background  Little information about the current management of patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas or about the usefulness of the somatostatin analogue octreotide was contained in the literature. This study aimed to report the efficacy and safety of the long-acting octreotide formulation in patients with TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas after incomplete surgery and octreotide treatment failure. 

Methods  Fifteen patients with TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas (8 men and 7 women), who previously underwent incomplete surgical resection and/or adjuvant radiotherapy (n=12) and failure of octreotide treatment (n=15), followed between 2007 and 2010 in Beijing Tiantan Hospital were included in this study. All patients received 1- to 2-months of the long-acting octreotide formulation treatment after the above combination of treatment. Paired samples t-test was used to analysis the variables.

Results  After two-month duration of the long-acting octreotide formulation treatment, the mean serum free or unbound thyroxine (FT4) ((16.02±1.72) pmol/L) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) ((2.87±0.43) pmol/L) levels of 15 patients significantly decreased compared with those after octreotide-treatment (FT4, (35.36±7.42) pmol/L, P <0.001; FT3, (17.85±7.22) pmol/L, P <0.001). Mean TSH levels stayed in the normal range after the long-acting octreotide formulation treatment ((0.72±0.21) mU/L) and were significantly lower than the pretreatment value ((5.27±1.04) mU/L, P <0.001), post-surgery value ((3.37±0.31) mU/L, P <0.001) and post-octreotide-treatment value ((4.52±0.41) mU/L, P <0.001). In these patients with TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas there was no evidence of tachyphylaxis.

Conclusion  The long-acting octreotide formulation may be a useful and safe therapeutic tool to facilitate the medical treatment of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas in patients who underwent incomplete surgery or need long-term somatostatin analog therapy.