BACKGROUND: Decreased plasma adiponectin is associated with impaired endothelial function and, thereby, increased risk for cardiovascular events. Glucocorticoid (GC) affects vascular endothelial cells either favourably or harmfully depending upon the dosages and duration. We examined the effect of GC pulse therapy on vascular endothelial function. METHODS: Fourteen young patients with IgA nephropathy were evaluated for flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), plasma levels of adiponectin both in high molecular weight (HMW adiponectin) form and in single molecular form (total adiponectin), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein, before and after a course of GC pulse therapy. RESULTS: GC pulse therapy significantly decreased FMD (from 7.2 +/- 2.6 to 5.7 +/- 2.5%, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, plasma adiponectin levels were significantly augmented (total adiponectin: from 10.2 +/- 4.0 to 12.1 +/- 6.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05; HMW: from 6.5 +/- 3.2 to 7.7 +/- 3.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05). In parallel, elevated concentrations of serum HGF (from 0.28 +/- 0.12 to 0.63 +/- 0.38 ng/ml, P < 0.01) and plasma ADMA (from 0.45 +/- 0.07 to 0.53 +/- 0.04 nmol/ml, P < 0.05) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: GC pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma adiponectin levels, which may in turn restore the endothelial function in patients with IgA nephropathy. 相似文献
Birth weight on 12,644 singleton infants from 6,196 sibships born in Maryland between 1980 and 1984 were used to estimate the effects of nine maternal and infant covariates on the sibship correlation in birth weight. Assuming a homogeneous correlation across all families, the estimated intraclass correlation was 0.4664 (+/- 0.0099). This high sibship correlation makes it possible to predict, with reasonable accuracy, the birth weight of a child given information on previous sibs, as well as covariates on the mother and/or infant pertinent to a given pregnancy. The reduction in variance associated with incorporating information on the nine covariates used here was approximately equal to that obtained by conditioning on a single previous sib. Testing for heterogeneity in correlation among different groups of families showed that a crude measure of parity (first live birth vs. other), time between births, mother's marital status, and maternal age at the birth of the last child significantly influenced the sibship correlation in birth weight. 相似文献
Background: Among gastric restrictive operations, the procedure of choice is still controversial. The aim of this study is
to compare the results of two different gastric restrictive procedures: vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and stoma adjustable
silicone gastric banding (ASGB). Methods: Between 1991 and 1996, 51 patients were treated surgically for morbid obesity: 27
underwent VBG and 24 underwent ASGB. Preoperative body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI) and percentage of ideal body weight
(% IBW) were (mean ± SD): 145.7 ± 45.3 kg; 53.9 ± 15.9 kg/m2; 249.1 ± 73.5% respectively in the VBG group. Corresponding figures for the ASBG group were 132.5 ± 22.7 kg; 46.9 ± 7.8 kg/m2 and 207.2 ± 35.0%. Results: In the VBG group, the median follow-up period was 26 months (range: 7-47). Eighteen months after
the operation BW, BMI, % IBW and percentage of excess weight loss (% EWL) were 85.5 ± 26.8 kg, 31.9 ± 9.8 kg/m2, 145.4 ± 43.9% and 74 ± 1% respectively. Complications included incisional hernia (n = 1), and bowel obstruction (n = 1).
One patient died of acute myocardial infarction on the third postoperative day. In the ASGB group, median follow-up time was
19.7 months (range: 18-26). At 18 months postoperation BW, BMI, % IBW and % EWL values were 86.6 ± 20.6 kg 30.6 ± 6.6 kg/m2
140.6 ± 29.3% and 64 ± 1% respectively. Gastric wall erosion occurred in two patients and the bands had to be removed. These
patients underwent VBG 6 months later. Complications encountered in this group were incisional hernia (n = 1), outlet stenosis
and reflux esophagitis (n = 1), reservoir leakage (n = 1) and gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 1). Two patients died of pulmonary
embolism and acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusions: Weight reduction was not statistically significant between the
two groups. ASGB was easier to perform and less invasive than VBG. 相似文献
53 patients from a mainly climacteric population were treated monthly with 200 mg dehydro-epiandrosterone (DHEA) oenanthate or with 1 ampoule Gynodian-Depot®. Pronounced adiposity was present in 15 of these cases. Hormonal variables were determined before the treatment and during the depot effect of the preparations in order to study the principle which supports the oestrogenic influence and any weight-reducing influence under administration of DHEA. The elimination of lowpolar oestrogens increased considerably in 4 out of 13 post-menopausal cases treated with DHEA. This effect is probably indirect and presupposes intact ovaries. The incorporation of exogenous DHEA into the excretion of 17-ketosteroids and of 17-ketogenic steroids, such as those of androsterone + aethiocholanolone, depends on the size of the initial pool inasmuch as it is higher in small initial pools than in saturated pools - the size of the pool being age-dependent.
An average weight loss of >1 kg/mth was observed under DHEA treatment in 7 out 15 adipose cases. In comparison to the other 8 adipose cases, these 7 were younger and therefore also displayed higher values for 17-ketosteroids and their individual fractions. These circumstances appeared to explain why the administration of DHEA resulted in higher levels of free plasma DHEA which, in contrast to the cases without loss of weight, also resulted in an increase of renal DHEA-sulphate clearance. It was concluded from the findings that this is the explanation for the catabolic effect of exogenous DHEA.
Post-menopausally increased FSH and LH fractions were markedly suppressed in about half of the determinations after Gynodian-Depot administration, the findings indicating that DHEA is probably involved in suppression of the LH fraction. 相似文献
Background Surgical procedures enhance production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors that play a pivotal
role in the immunological response to surgical trauma and take part in the pathogenesis of tumor growth and adhesions formation.
The purpose of the study was to access the influence of low-pressure CO2 pneumoperitoneum on the inflammatory and angiogenic responses during the postoperative period after laparoscopy.
Methods The study group consisted of 40 patients, operated on due to cholelithiasis using standard-pressure (n = 20) and low-pressure (n = 20) CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, and
endostatin were measured before and at 6, 24, and 48 h after surgery with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA).
Results Concentrations of IL-6 increased significantly after the operations in both groups. No differences were observed between the
groups in regards to IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels. Concentrations of VEGF-A measured at 6 and 48 h were significantly lower
in patients who underwent laparoscopies performed with low-pressure pneumoperitoneum. No significant variations were observed
in endostatin serum concentration. Concentrations of the studied parameters were not influenced by duration of surgery or
by age, gender, or body mass index (BMI) of the patients.
Conclusions The results obtained in our study do not show any significant differences between studied operative procedures with regards
to systemic inflammatory response. Changes in the concentrations of VEGF-A and endostatin observed in the studied population
may suggest this technique is more favorable with regards to angiogenesis process intensity, along with all its consequences
and implications. 相似文献
A woman's partner and the characteristics of their partnership can play an important role in the health of her pregnancy. Yet, with the notable exception of intimate partner violence, there has been little previous research addressing the associations between partner- or partnership-related factors and birth outcomes. This analysis tested the hypothesis that risk factors related specifically to partner or partnership characteristics increased the risk for preterm birth. Between 2003 and 2005, a total of 580 preterm cases (20–36 weeks gestational age at delivery) and 633 term controls (≥37 weeks) were selected from women delivering at an obstetric hospital in Lima, Peru. Each woman completed a confidential, structured interview and provided biological specimens within 48 h after delivery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between partner and partnership characteristics and preterm birth. After adjustment for behavioral, demographic, and obstetric risk factors, ever having had a partner with a history of drug use (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.22–2.99), ever having had anal sex (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.07–1.84), having a current partner with a history of visiting prostitutes (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.33), and perceiving one's current partner as a “womanizer” (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.02–1.77) were significantly associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth when tested in separate models. These four factors were then used to create a composite partnership risk score, which showed an increasing dose-response relationship with preterm birth risk (per additional partner risk factor: aOR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.16–1.49). These results highlight the importance of considering a broader set of risk factors for preterm birth, specifically those related to a woman's partner and partnership characteristics. Further research could clarify the specific mechanisms through which these partner and partnership characteristics may increase the risk of preterm birth. 相似文献